Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 The daughter of country music superstar Wynonna Judd appeared last month in Albemarle County, but she wasnt on stage or even backstage. Instead, after allegedly stealing a Charlottesville churchs van, 28-year-old Grace Pauline Kelley remains held without bail at Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail. She didnt seem like she was in her right mind at all, Kent Hart, pastor of Charlottesville-based Ground Zero Church of the Nazarene, told The Daily Progress. Hart chased down the woman who has pending charges in multiple states and now faces seven charges in Albemarle, including three felony counts of grand larceny for allegedly stealing the van and a trailer that Hart used to move church gear. Hart said he was in the kitchen at his Scottsville-area home on the afternoon of Oct. 27, when he suddenly saw the van leaving his driveway. Im talking to my daughter, and I look out the window and I see the van leaving my house, said Hart. After determining that nobody in the family borrowed the van, Hart gave chase and found the vehicle stopped at the edge of the road with a woman behind the wheel. Im like, You stole my van, get out of my van, beating on the door, he recounted. And at this point, I see her very clearly. I saw her buzz cut and face tattoo. Kelley has convictions in Tennessee, where her mothers music empire is headquartered, for methamphetamine production, evading arrest and driving while intoxicated. She has pending cases in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee, where shes been charged with aggravated assault, trespassing, violation of a no-contact order, manufacturing methamphetamine and multiple allegations of failure to appear and allegations of probation violations. It looked to me like she could have been high, like she didnt really seem like she was completely in her right mind, Hart said. The chase resumed and moved from Rolling Road to Virginia Route 20, Hart said, shortly after he said Kelley drove around his Chevrolet Yukon, with which he had attempted to box her in. Eventually, Albemarle police officer Corey Legg initiated a traffic stop at Massie Branch Lane, just south of Simeon. Grace advised that a male suspect had exited the driver seat and ran into the woods, Legg wrote in a report. Legg reviewed his dashcam footage just to make sure, and he determined that Kelley was the driver and sole occupant of the now-damaged van. Unusual assertions continued during the booking process. She began stating she had sold her soul to the devil, wrote Legg, noting that Kelley asked to be committed to a mental institution. I advised the jail staff that she may have taken something, he wrote. I was later informed that the jail staff observed something inside of Ms. Kelley during her body scan. She was transported to the University of Virginia Medical Center to investigate. They found out it was just gas, Legg wrote, but when they conducted Ms. Kelleys bloodwork, she tested positive for heroin. Legg subsequently filed a search warrant and obtained medical records to assist his investigation into whether Kelley was under the influence of a drug while driving. Such a charge, however, is not among the seven pending charges against Kelley. Kelleys mother, herself the daughter of country music star Naomi Judd and sister of movie star Ashely Judd, has been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, earned five Grammy Awards and sold more than 20 million records. Kelley, meanwhile, has no fixed address and no reported income, according to her arrest paperwork. Her case returns to Albemarle General District Court on Jan. 2, when she will be represented by the Office of the Public Defender. With his house located far from any thoroughfare in a rural part of the county, Hart theorizes that Kelley surreptitiously climbed inside the trailer when the van was parked that day in Charlottesville. But why Kelley was in Charlottesville is unknown. The Daily Progress efforts to reach her mother were not successful. Hart said he and his church want the best for Kelley. We devoted an entire service to her, Hart said. We cut the livestream off, and we, as a church, prayed for her and her family. He said that while he doesnt oppose consequences for Kelleys actions, he hopes she gets help. On a personal level level, we forgive her, Hart said. If theres ever an opportunity for us to be a part of her redemptive process in any way, were absolutely open to that. Ground Zero Church of the Nazarene has launched a fundraiser for a new van. That fundraiser can be found at www.gofundme.com/f/ground-zero-church-seeks-van-after-theft. Washington has steadily increased arms sales to Taiwan in recent years as part of its efforts to bolster the islands defences and counter Beijings growing military capabilities read more China vowed Sunday (December 1) to take resolute countermeasures in response to the United States approval of $385 million in arms sales to Taiwan, escalating tensions between the two nations. Chinas foreign ministry called the move a violation of its sovereignty, warning it would harm relations with the US and urging Washington to halt arms sales to Taiwan. The sales seriously undermine Chinas sovereignty and security interests, seriously violate international law and send a gravely wrong message to Taiwan independence separatist forces, the ministry said in a statement. China will take strong measures to resolutely counter and firmly defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. Advertisement The Pentagons Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced Friday that the US State Department had approved Taiwans request for $320 million in spare parts and support for its fleet of F-16 fighter jets and radar equipment. Additionally, $65 million in technical support for communications systems was also approved. The DSCA said the sale would improve the recipients ability to meet current and future threats by maintaining the operational readiness of the recipients fleet of F-16 aircraft, and would not alter the military balance in the region. Deliveries are expected to begin next year. Taiwans office of President William Lai Ching-te said the sale marks the 18th U.S. military package for the island since President Joe Biden took office in 2021. The announcement coincided with Lais departure for visits to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau, three of Taiwans diplomatic allies in the Pacific. His trip includes stopovers in Hawaii and Guam, drawing further condemnation from Beijing. Chinas foreign ministry strongly criticized the stopovers and said it had lodged formal protests with Washington. China resolutely opposes any form of official interaction between the U.S. and the Taiwan region, the ministry said. The Taiwan issue is the core of Chinas core interests and the first red line that cannot be crossed in China-U.S. relations. Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out reunification by force. The U.S., which does not recognize Taiwan as an independent state, opposes any use of force and remains committed to arming the self-governed island under the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979. The latest arms sale comes amid heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait. In October, the Pentagon approved a nearly $2 billion arms package for Taiwan, including National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems. China similarly condemned that sale, saying it harmed peace and stability in the region. Advertisement Taiwans defense ministry welcomed the new sale, stating it would help maintain its F-16 fleets readiness and build a credible defense force. Taiwan and the U.S. will continue to strengthen their security partnership and work together to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region, the ministry said. Washington has steadily increased arms sales to Taiwan in recent years as part of its efforts to bolster the islands defences and counter Beijings growing military capabilities. The U.S. maintains that such sales are aimed at ensuring regional stability and deterring potential aggression. Hypersonic missiles, which travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 five times the speed of sound offer significant advantages over conventional ballistic missiles read more Yemens Houthi rebels said they launched a hypersonic missile targeting central Israel on Sunday (December 1). The Iran-backed rebels, claiming responsibility for the attack, said they used a Palestine 2 missile, described as a hypersonic ballistic missile manufactured in Yemen, to target a vital location in the Israeli capital city of Tel Aviv. How dangerous are hypersonic missiles? Hypersonic missiles, which travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 five times the speed of sound offer significant advantages over conventional ballistic missiles. These missiles are highly manoeuverable, making them difficult to track and intercept using traditional missile defence systems. Their speed also reduces response time for targeted regions, adding to the destructive and deterrence value of the missiles. Advertisement More about Houthi-Israel conflict The Houthis, part of Irans axis of resistance against Israel and the United States, have periodically launched drones and missiles at Israel since the Gaza conflict erupted in October. Sundays incident marks the latest in a series of long-range missile attacks attributed to the group. The Houthis have increasingly aligned themselves with regional actors opposing Israel, with the group escalating its rhetoric and actions amid the ongoing war in Gaza. The latest missile launch shows that apart from the geographically widening scope of the conflict, the war is also increasingly becoming open towards use of much deadlier, new-age weapons. What Israel said An Israeli military statement confirmed the interception, stating, One projectile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the Israeli Air Force prior to its crossing into Israeli territory. The interception followed early-morning sirens that sounded in several areas of central Israel. The fact that the missile was intercepted raises doubts about whether it was in fact hypersonic. Israel has not reported any casualties or damage from the intercepted projectile, and officials are investigating the nature of the missile. With inputs from agencies In October, UK PM Keir Starmers favourability went below far-right Reform UK Party Leader Nigel Farage. Heres a look at how Starmer lost his charm a few months after a landslide victory and how Farage is paving the way for a bigger political career read more Months after an intense general election, the United Kingdom is witnessing a slight shift in its political landscape. While the countrys Prime Minister Keir Starmer is seeing a decline in his administrations popularity, the stars of far-right pariah Nigel Farage are on the rise. Five months after Starmer clinched a landslide victory in the general election, two-thirds of Britons have already said that they are worse off since the last unpopular government of Tories, led by former UK PM Rishi Sunak. Advertisement Britains Labour Party leader Keir Starmer celebrates with his wife Victoria after the party secured a massive win in the elections. File Image / AP While Starmers popularity is plummeting, Farages favourability is on the rise. What is helping the far-right leaders cause is the fact that his new Reform UK Party has managed to absorb several Conservative Party defectors, who bring significant supporters to the table. Heres a look at how UK politics witnessed this peculiar change in just three months. Labour Party loses its popularity as Starmers charm fades. In October this year, Starmer suffered the biggest post-election fall in approval ratings of any British prime minister in the modern era. According to the Opinium Poll conducted by The Observer, Starmers favourable rating collapsed by 45 points from July to -26. The figures remain bad for Starmer in November with the British premier standing at -30 points. While 20 per cent of voters surveyed in the polls thought that the Labour Party has been good at providing hope and optimism following its landslide general election victory, 56 per cent of people dont agree with that assertion. Britains Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a summit on violence against women, hosted at 10 Downing Street, in central London, on November 25, 2024. - Image- AFP Starmers low ratings came ahead of the Labour governments first budget, which saw tax rises in a bid to pump more funding into some key public services. The scandalous freebie row, which questioned Starmers integrity as a politician did not help the cause as well. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is looking to boost investment in the UK economy via pension reforms. File image The rise of Nigel Farage and how he attracts the Tories What makes things surprising is that according to the polls conducted by YouGov survey, Starmer is more unpopular than Farage. The poll released on October 8 with 2,121 adults in Great Britain found that only 27 per cent of those asked had a positive view of the Labour PM. Thats his lowest rating with the pollster since Sept. 2021. The figure puts him below Farage, who played a crucial role in dividing the British opinions during the Brexit. Around 28 per cent of people polled by YouGov have a favourable view of Farage, compared to 63 per cent with a negative view. That gives him a net favorability score of -35. This is not the only thing that is contributing to Farages rise. Advertisement UK Reform Party Leader Nigel Farage. File Image: AP Last month, Farages Reform Party announced that it had passed 100,000 paying members for the first time since its inception. The newest addition to the team was Conservative MP Andrea Jenkyns, who was an ardent supporter of ex-PM and Tory leader Boris Johnson. After joining the party, Jenkyns argued that the Conservatives have now lost their way, and stressed that leaving a party she had cherished for decades was not easy. I stayed loyal and fought to the bitter end in the general election, going down with the proverbial ship. But the truth is undeniable, the ship is sinking and perhaps, sadly, beyond salvage. Enough is enough," she said. Advertisement Andrea Jenkyns a dyed-in-the-wool Brexiteer and one of the most vocal supporters of Boris Johnson as his government collapsed in 2022 will stand to be mayor of Greater Lincolnshire in May. X Months before Jenkynss defection, former Conservative Deputy Chairman Lee Anderson became the first Conservative leader to join Reform UK. Anderson was suspended by the Conservatives after he claimed that Islamists have got control while speaking about London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Reform party did encourage the defection after they wrote to every Tory councillor facing re-election, calling on them to defect to Reform UK. In the letter which was sent to the 1,352 Tory councillors, Farage wrote that the Tory party is busted and Flush. Hence, it wont be surprising if other Conservative leaders decide to jump ship. Lessons From America: The incumbent cannot take it lightly A similar trend was in the making in a country across the Atlantic Ocean. Ever since US President Joe Biden became the President of the country in 2020, people raised questions about his age and mental acuity. These concerns were reflected in the polls that came out while Biden was briefly running against the current President-elect Donald Trump. While Biden still had a lead over the former president, the gap between them was extremely narrow. After a poor performance at the first presidential debate of the 2024 cycle, the POTUS passed the baton to the second in command, i.e. Vice President Kamala Harris. Advertisement Former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump (left), President Joe Biden during presidential debate hosted by CNN (right) in Atlanta. AP Taking the burden of the Biden administrations lacklustre approach towards the economy and a limited time, Harris lost the race to Trump. With multiple assassination attempts and a polarised outlook over a host of issues, Trump managed to bag a landslide victory in the November 5 polls. After the elections, many critics including Senator Bernie Sanders pointed out how the Biden-Harris team abandoned the working class, some were also upset about their handling of the border crisis in hand. US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris (R) shakes hands with former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. AFP Hence, the American saga and the latest polls reflect that the incumbency cannot take things lightly and just rest on past laurels. To bring in new support, many are looking for change from the old establishment way of things. Advertisement President Joe Biden meets with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office. File Image: AP So can Labour bounce back? It is pertinent to note that it has just been six months since the Labour Party has been in power, so the paucity of time will not be a major problem for the Starmer administration. Hence, the British premier can bounce back. Starmer still has four and a half years to boost the countrys economy and deliver on the promises the party made before the polls. Meanwhile, Labours biggest rival, Conservatives is also facing a leadership crisis. UK PM Keir Starmer conducts first Cabinet meeting after coming to power. X - @Keir_Starmer While the party has a new leader in the face of Kemi Bandenoch, the popularity of the new Tory leader is only better than diabolical former UK PM Liz Truss, who resigned on the 50th day in office. As far as Farages popularity is concerned, it will be interesting to see if the far-right politician will be able to make any significant impact on British politics. With inputs from agencies. The man Israeli forces claimed was a Hamas terrorist, who was involved in the October 7 attack, was a charity worker from the World Central Kitchen. The organisation confirmed the news after the employee was killed in an Israeli strike read more A member of the World Central Kitchen prepares a pallet with the humanitarian aid for transport to the port of Larnaca from where it will be shipped to Gaza, at a warehouse near Larnaca, Cyprus. File image/AP As the war in Gaza continues to escalate, the Israeli military announced on Saturday that it has killed a charity worker, claiming that he was a Hamas operative. The volunteer was part of the World Central Kitchen, an organisation which has been harassed by the Israeli forces in Gaza in the past. In their military update, the Israel Defence Force (IDF) alleged that the person targeted in the attack was a Hamas militant who was involved in the groups deadly October 7 attack in southern Israel that killed over 1,200 people and triggered the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. After the IDF statement, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that three employees of World Central Kitchen were killed when an Israeli strike targeted a civilian vehicle in southern Gaza. Advertisement The IDF is yet to give any sort of evidence the man they killed was a terrorist. Meanwhile, the World Central Kitchen released a statement over the matter, insisting that it was heartbroken to learn about the charity workers death and temporarily paused its operation in Gaza. Our hearts are with our colleagues and their families in this unimaginable moment, a statement on X read. We are heartbroken to share that a vehicle carrying World Central Kitchen colleagues was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. At this time, we are working with incomplete information and are urgently seeking more details. World Central Kitchen had no knowledge that any pic.twitter.com/7fPLZ8z9Vy World Central Kitchen (@WCKitchen) November 30, 2024 WCK claims no knowledge of worker being linked to Hamas In the statement, the organisation claimed that it does not have any knowledge that the victim in the vehicle had links to the October 7 attacks. At this time, we are working with incomplete information and are urgently seeking more details. World Central Kitchen had no knowledge that any individual in the vehicle had alleged ties to the October 7th Hamas attack. World Central Kitchen is pausing operations in Gaza at this time, the statement further reads. Meanwhile, Hamas is yet to respond to the matter. There is still uncertainty over the death toll of the Saturday incident. Medics in the territory said five people were killed in the strike, which they said targeted a vehicle east of Khan Younis. In a later attack in the same region, Palestinian medics said that at least nine people were killed in the strike when Israeli forces hit a car near a crowd receiving flour. Advertisement At Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, a woman allegedly held up an employee badge bearing the WCK logo, the word contractor and the name of one of the men said to have been killed in the strike. A heap of belongings - burnt phones, a watch and stickers with the WCK logo - lay on the hospital floor. This is not the first time an employee of the WCK has been attacked by Israeli forces. In April, a WCK convoy was hit by an Israeli strike, killing seven of its workers, most of them foreigners. The IDF eventually referred to the attack as a mistake. While there is a ceasefire deal in place between Israel and Lebanon, a similar proposal did not emerge in Gaza despite a plethora of negotiations. Advertisement With inputs from agencies. While many of the nearly 900,000 civilians who were displaced in Lebanon have hurried back to their homes, many of the 60,000 Israelis who fled have been more reluctant read more Despite the relative calm in the Israeli border town of Kiryat Shmona since a ceasefire took effect between Israel and Hezbollah, Rakhel Revach said she was not moving back just yet. Why am I not returning to live here? I want to return with full security, the 57-year-old said on a brief visit to pick up some personal belongings. As long as there is no full security and I still hear booms and see the army inside (Lebanon), I am not willing to return. Advertisement The ceasefire deal, which was intended to end more than a year of cross-border exchanges of fire and two months of all-out war, went into effect early on Wednesday. While many of the nearly 900,000 civilians who were displaced in Lebanon have hurried back to their homes, many of the 60,000 Israelis who fled have been more reluctant. The damage from the war between Israel and Hezbollah is evident across Kiryat Shmona in shattered windows, pockmarked walls, broken roof tiles and burnt-out cars. The town, just two kilometres (1.2 miles) from the Lebanese border, was repeatedly hit by rocket fire during the war. No education, no jobs Revach said returning to Kiryat Shmona would be difficult. There is no infrastructure here, no education, no jobs, nothing, she said. Many homes are destroyed, many people have been harmed here All these things need to be addressed first, and only then can we return to normal life. While the Israeli government has said it wants residents to return home, it has yet to indicate when or how they should do so. Advertisement Doron Shnaper, spokesman for the Kiryat Shmona municipality, said most residents had yet to return home. They will not return until the war is officially declared over, Shnaper said. Kiryat Shmona was declared a closed military zone for several months and on October 9 rocket fire from Lebanon killed two people in the town. Another resident, Meir Ben Hemo, who stayed throughout the fighting, described what he said was a very difficult situation. Restoring the town to what it once was: safe, it will take a long time. Its not something that can happen overnight, like come back, and everything will be fine. Thats a lie, the 51-year-old told AFP. Advertisement Absolute victory Spokesman Shnaper said there are mixed feelings about the truce in Kiryat Shmona. Right now, we are only in a ceasefire. From the experience of past years ceasefires have always been fragile, he said. What if the residents return and again missiles fall. Then what was the point of being displaced for a year and two months? Shnaper asked. A few kilometres (couple of miles) to the east at Kibbutz Menara, an AFP correspondent heard artillery and automatic weapons fire still coming from over the border. We very much want the war to end, but we want it to end in absolute victory, with the threat removed, and not with someone signing a piece of paper that we dont believe in, Shnaper said. Advertisement We demand that the Hezbollah organisation no longer exists, he added. Under the terms of the deal, the Lebanese army will deploy in south Lebanon as the Israeli army withdraws over a period of 60 days. Hezbollah is required to withdraw its forces north of the Litani River, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) north of the border, and dismantle its military infrastructure in the south. As long as they (Hezbollah) are not pushed back beyond the Litani River, there wont be peace here, Ben Hemo said. Sayan Ghosh, 22, who hais from West Bengal, said he was beaten and his phone and wallet were taken from him at knife-point read more A Kolkata youth had alleged that he was beaten by miscreants after they found out he was an Indian and a Hindu. File image/Reuters Amid reports of attacks on Hindus and other minorities in neighbouring Bangladesh, a youth from Kolkata claimed he was beaten up in Dhaka by unidentified persons after they learnt he was a Hindu from India. Twenty-two-year-old Sayan Ghosh, who hails from Belgharia area on the northern fringes of the West Bengal capital, had gone to Bangladesh on November 23 and had put up at a friends place, and the family treated him as their own son. Advertisement However, as me and my friend went out for a stroll late in the evening on November 26, a group of four-five youths accosted me around 70 metres from my friends residence. They asked me about my identity. As I told them I was from India and a Hindu, they started kicking and punching me and even attacked my friend who tried to save me, Ghosh told PTI on Sunday. They even snatched my mobile phone and wallet at knife-point. No bystander came to our rescue. There was no policeman nearby. After the incident, we went to Shyampur police station but they refused to lodge any complaint. Instead, they repeatedly asked me why I visited Bangladesh. After I showed them my passport and visa, and after speaking to my friend and his family members, they were satisfied and asked me to get my wounds treated, he said. Ghosh claimed that, however, that he was denied treatment at two private medical facilities and finally went to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. I received treatment there three hours after the incident. I had several stitches done on my forehead and head and even had injury in my mouth, Ghosh, still struck by horror, said. Ghosh could finally lodge a complaint with Belgharia police station upon his return to Kolkata on November 30 as neither the immigration nor Bangladesh Border Guards at Darshana border outpost registered his complaint officially. I was too scared to visit the Indian High Commission in Dhaka fearing for the safety of me and my friends family, he added. Advertisement After staying at his friends house for three days after the incident, Ghosh was taken to the railway station by his friend in the early hours of November 29 and he took a train for Darshana. From Darshana, he crossed over to Gede, on the Indian side, in the morning of November 29 and took a Sealdah-bound local train to reach Belgharia. The young man, who wished that the issue not be politicised, said he intended to lodge a complaint with the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata. The youths were locals having some connections and probably that is why the police did not initiate any action against them and did not lodge my complaint, he said. Advertisement I could not imagine such a nightmarish situation awaiting me in a neighbouring country where people speak the same language as us and share similar food habits, he said. A Bangladesh Deputy High Commission official here said the interim government was committed to ensuring the safety of every citizen, from all communities, as well as tourists and look into complaints once lodged for fair investigation. Shortly after the incident, Pristina labelled the blast as a terrorist attack, accusing neighbouring Serbia for orchestrating it read more Workers work near the damaged canal in northern Kosovo supplying water to two coal-fired power plants that generate nearly all of the country's electricity, in Varage, Kosovo. Reuters On Saturday, Kosovos Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla stated that the police had arrested eight people after the canal explosion that rocked the country. Earlier this week, a massive blast hit a canal that sends water to Kosovos two main power plants. Shortly after the incident, Pristina labelled the blast as a terrorist attack, accusing neighbouring Serbia. Meanwhile, Serbias President Aleksandar Vucic, denied what he said were baseless accusations about Belgrades involvement in the incident. Somehow we managed to fix the damage, arrest the suspects and confiscate a huge arsenal of weapons, Svecla said during a live-streamed press conference. Advertisement Police commander Gazmend Hoxha said those who were arrested are suspected of inciting, organising and even executing these recent terrorist acts and in particular the one in the canal of Iber Lepenc. The police chief said that the preliminary investigation indicated that between 15 and 20 kilos of explosives were used in the attack that rocked Kosovo on Friday. Police raid 10 locations to make the arrests During the press briefing, Hoxha mentioned that the authorities raided 10 locations, confiscating more than 200 military uniforms, six shoulder-fired rocket launchers, long weapons, pistols and ammunition. He also mentioned that most people who were arrested in the case belonged to the local Serb organisation Civilna Zastita (Civil Protection), which the government in Kosovo has declared a terrorist group. Hence, the Friday explosion has invariably increased the tensions between the two Balkan nations. It is pertinent to note that the Ethnic Albanian-majority nation of Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. But Serbia still does not recognise it as an independent state. Relations between the two nations are extremely frayed in the north of the country where the blast occurred, and where the Serb minority refuses to recognise Kosovos statehood and still sees Belgrade as their capital. Kosovo takes measures to prevent such attacks Meanwhile, Kosovos security council held emergency talks, a day after the incident in which they agreed to activate armed forces to prevent such attacks in the future. Security in the region was already at an all-time high following two recent attacks where hand grenades were hurled at a police station and municipality building in northern Kosovo where ethnic Serbians live. The security council has approved additional measures to strengthen security around critical facilities and services such as bridges, transformer stations, antennas, lakes, and canals, the council said in a statement on Saturday. NATO, which has maintained a peacekeeping force in Kosovo since 1999, condemned the attack in a statement on Saturday. According to Reuters, power supply in the region remained largely intact but there was disruption of drinking water in some areas after the blast. Meanwhile, Economy Minister Artane Rizvanolli said Kosovo was coordinating with Albanias power company to provide more electricity. She maintained that water would be trucked to affected areas. Advertisement With inputs from Reuters. French troops have been ousted in recent years from Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso after years of fighting Islamic extremists alongside regional troops. Earlier this week, Chad, one of the last countries in the region in which France had maintained a large military presence, ended a military cooperation agreement with Paris read more Biram Senghor regularly goes to pay his respects at a military cemetery in Thiaroye, a fishing village near Senegals capital Dakar, bowing in front of a different grave each time. The 86-year-old has no way of knowing which grave belongs to his father, MBap Senghor, one of the likely hundreds of West African riflemen who fought for France during World War II but were killed on Dec. 1, 1944, by the French army after demanding unpaid wages. Advertisement In this cemetery where they are supposedly buried, all the graves are anonymous and the exact location of the remains is unknown, as is the number of victims. The true scale and circumstances of the killings remain unclear as Senegal commemorates the 80th anniversary of the massacre on Sunday, threatening to reignite smouldering tensions between France and the former colony. I have been fighting to get answers for over 80 years, said Biram Senghor. (French President Emmanuel) Macron cannot do what the other French presidents before him did; France has to repent. The West Africans were members of the unit called Tirailleurs Senegalais, a corps of colonial infantry in the French Army that fought in both World Wars. According to historians, there were disputes over unpaid wages in the days before the massacre and on Dec. 1, French troops turned on the unarmed African soldiers and shot them dead. For decades, French authorities tried to minimize what had happened in Thiaroye. Reports by the French military shortly after the massacre determined that 35 West African soldiers were killed in response to a mutiny. Other reports by the French army mention 70 deaths. But today, many French and Senegalese historians agree the true death toll is likely in the hundreds, with some speaking of almost 400 soldiers killed, based on estimates of the number of riflemen present at the camp on the day of the massacre. On Thursday, Macron officially recognized the events of Thiaroye as a massacre for the first time in a letter to Senegals President Diomaye Faye, which was seen by The Associated Press. Advertisement France must recognize that on that day, the confrontation between soldiers and riflemen who demanded their full legitimate wages be paid, triggered a chain of events that resulted in a massacre, read Macrons letter. But many historians dispute the idea of a confrontation between the French soldiers and the riflemen. What happened on December 1st was the execution of unarmed soldiers, said Martin Mourre, a French historian and author of Thiaroye 1944, History and Memory of a Colonial Massacre. He points to the fact that no weapons were mentioned during the trial of the African riflemen accused of mutiny and the absence of any injuries among the French soldiers as evidence that no confrontation took place. Advertisement In his letter to the Senegalese president, Macron did not mention the number of soldiers killed. The controversies and unknowns about the massacre are in part due to a lack of transparency by French authorities regarding the military reports and testimonies. In 2014, French President Francois Hollande handed over the European nations archives on Thiaroye to Macky Sall, then-president of Senegal. But historians say that key documents, including ones indicating the site of the mass graves and the number of West African soldiers present at the camp on the day of the massacre, are still missing. It is unclear if France holds such archives or if they even exist. Advertisement Macrons office and the French foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment. Additionally, very little was done by the Senegalese authorities under former president Sall to allow historians to delve into the historical documents. The archives remained inaccessible until this year, for obscure reasons, says Mourre. Mamadou Diouf, a Senegalese historian who heads the commemoration committee for the Thiaroye massacre this year, says Sall did not show much interest in the subject in order to avoid diplomatic tensions with France. But Senegals President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who was elected in March in part on a promise of redefining Senegals relationship with the former colonizer, has vowed to regain control of the historical narrative on Thiaroye. Advertisement His administration has organized major commemorations of the massacre from Dec. 1 to April 2025 across the country. The authorities goal behind the major commemorations is to make Thiaroye part of Senegals national story, said Babacar Ndiaye, political analyst at the Wathi think tank, which focuses on political and economic issues in West Africa. It will be talked about a lot on television, in the press and most importantly on social media, he adds. This will reach a younger audience who might know little about the events of Thiaroye. The 80th anniversary of the massacre comes as Frances influence is declining in the region, with Paris losing its sway in its former West African colonies. French troops have been ousted in recent years from Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso after years of fighting Islamic extremists alongside regional troops. Earlier this week, Chad, one of the last countries in the region in which France had maintained a large military presence, ended a military cooperation agreement with Paris. France still has around 350 troops in Senegal, mainly in a supportive role. Asked about their continued presence, Faye suggested it is not be something the Senegalese would want. Historically, France enslaved, colonized and stayed here, he said. Obviously, I think that when you reverse the roles a little, you will have a hard time conceiving that another army of China, Russia, Senegal, or any other country could have a military base in France. The former prime minister, already serving a six-year jail term for corruption related to the plunder of sovereign wealth fund 1MDB, faces several other cases linked to the financial scandal that led to his defeat in 2018 elections read more Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak escorted by prison officers as the jailed politician left the court after court proceedings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. File image/ Reuters Malaysias jailed ex-leader Najib Razak will begin his defence this week against graft charges tied to more than $500 million in alleged bribes, and argue to serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest. The former prime minister, already serving a six-year jail term for corruption related to the plunder of sovereign wealth fund 1MDB, faces several other cases linked to the financial scandal that led to his defeat in 2018 elections. Advertisement At the High Court on Monday, the 71-year-old will start his defence against four counts of abuse of power linked to 2.27 billion ringgit ($510 million) in alleged bribes and 21 counts of money laundering. The case involves Tanore Finance Corp, which US authorities have said was used to siphon money from 1MDB. Najib issued an apology in October that the 1MDB scandal happened during his tenure, but maintained he had no knowledge of illegal transfers from the now-defunct state fund. If convicted, Najib faces hefty fines and sentences of up to 20 years for each count of abuse of power. Najibs lead lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, has said they were more determined than ever to fight the case. Bid for house arrest Separately, the Court of Appeal will on Thursday hear Najibs challenge against a lower courts refusal to hear his request for house arrest. His application for a judicial review centres on the purported existence of an order by the former king, granting him permission to serve the rest of his sentence at home. Najib asked the court to compel the government to confirm the royal decrees existence and to implement its order. But the court ruled in July that affidavits supporting Najibs claim were inadmissible as evidence, because they were hearsay. Advertisement The supposed document has not been made public and there has been no comment from the former king, whose term in the largely ceremonial role ended in January. If the appeals court rules in Najibs favour, the case will go back to the lower court. There has also been speculation he could benefit from a proposed law allowing house arrest as an alternative punishment for select offences next year. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahims government has denied the bill was tailored to get Najib out of jail. Andrew Khoo, a lawyer in Kuala Lumpur, said Najib faces an uphill battle in his bid for house arrest, as he was sentenced for a serious offence. Advertisement It would send the wrong message to the public at large that even those convicted of serious offences can serve their jail sentence from home, he told AFP. Superyacht and art Allegations that billions of dollars were pilfered from investment vehicle 1MDB and used to buy everything from a superyacht to artwork played a major role in prompting voters to oust Najib and the long-ruling United Malays National Organisation party in the 2018 elections. The 1MDB scandal sparked investigations in the United States, Switzerland and Singapore, whose financial systems were believed to have been used to launder the money. The US Justice Department has said more than $4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB between 2009 and 2015 by high-level officials at the fund and their associates. Advertisement Najib began serving a 12-year jail term in August 2022 for offences linked to the misuse of public money from former 1MDB unit SRC International. The sentence was later halved by Malaysias pardons board. Since then, Najib has won some legal victories. On November 27, a Malaysian court allowed corruption charges in one of the five cases linked to 1MDB to be dropped against him. Those charges were related to payments of more than $1 billion allegedly made to Abu Dhabis International Petroleum Investment Company. Another charge of audit tampering ended with an acquittal in 2023. The ruling Georgian Dream partys disputed victory in the countrys Oct. 26 parliamentary election, which was widely seen as a referendum on Georgias aspirations to join the European Union, has sparked major demonstrations and led to an opposition boycott of the parliament read more Demonstrators stand in front of police during a rally outside the parliament's building to protest the government's decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years in Tbilisi, Georgia. AP Protesters gathered across Georgia on Saturday night in a third straight night of demonstrations against the governments decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union. More than 100 demonstrators were arrested as crowds clashed with police Friday night, the countrys Interior Ministry said. The Associated Press saw protesters in Tbilisi being chased and beaten by police as demonstrators rallied in front of the countrys parliament building. On the same night, police also used heavy force against members of the media and deployed water cannons to push protesters back along the capitals central boulevard, Rustaveli Avenue. Advertisement The ruling Georgian Dream partys disputed victory in the countrys Oct. 26 parliamentary election, which was widely seen as a referendum on Georgias aspirations to join the European Union, has sparked major demonstrations and led to an opposition boycott of the parliament. The opposition has said that the vote was rigged with the help of Russia, Georgias former imperial master, with Moscow hoping to keep Tbilisi in its orbit. Speaking to the AP on Saturday, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili said that Georgia was becoming a quasi-Russian state and that Georgian Dream controlled the countrys major institutions. We have seen happening in the country which is a country where we do not have any longer independent institutions, not the courts, not the Central Bank, and not, of course, the parliament, she said. We have been moving more and more rapidly into a quasi-Russian model. Zourabichvili also rejected statements made by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who characterized the protests as violent demonstrations. In a statement on Saturday, he said Tbilisi remained committed to European integration. However, he said that unspecified foreign entities wished to see the Ukrainization of Georgia with a Maidan-style scenario a reference to Ukraines 2014 Maidan revolution. Advertisement We are not demanding a revolution. We are asking for new elections, but in conditions that will ensure that the will of the people will not be misrepresented or stolen again, Zourabichvili said. Georgia has been always resisting Russian influence and will not accept having its vote stolen and its destiny stolen. The governments announcement that it was suspending negotiations to join the EU came hours after the European Parliament adopted a resolution that condemned last months vote as neither free nor fair. It said the election represented another manifestation of Georgias continued democratic backsliding for which the ruling Georgian Dream party is fully responsible. Advertisement European election observers said Octobers vote took place in a divisive atmosphere marked by instances of bribery, double voting and physical violence. The EU granted Georgia candidate status in December 2023 on condition that it meet the blocs recommendations, but put its accession on hold and cut financial support earlier this year after the passage of a foreign influence law widely seen as a blow to democratic freedoms. EU lawmakers urged a rerun of the parliamentary vote within a year under thorough international supervision and by an independent election administration. They also called on the EU to impose sanctions and limit formal contacts with the Georgian government. Advertisement The Georgian prime minister fired back, denouncing what he described as a cascade of insults from the EU politicians and declaring that the ill-wishers of our country have turned the European Parliament into a blunt weapon of blackmail against Georgia, which is a great disgrace for the European Union. Kobakhidze also said Georgia would reject any budgetary grants from the EU until the end of 2028. Critics have accused Georgian Dream established by Bidzina Ivanishvili, a shadowy billionaire who made his fortune in Russia of becoming increasingly authoritarian and tilted toward Moscow. The party recently pushed through laws similar to those used by the Kremlin to crack down on freedom of speech and LGBTQ+ rights. Advertisement EASA and UK authorities suspended permission for PIA to operate in the region after Pakistan began investigating the validity of pilots licenses following a deadly plane crash that killed 97 people read more Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) passenger plane sits on tarmac, as seen through a plane window, at the Islamabad International Airport, Islamabad, Pakistan. Reuters Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) said on Sunday it expects to resume European routes soon and is eyeing several UK destinations after the EU aviation regulator lifted its bar on the flag carrier. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) suspended PIAs authorisation to operate in the EU in June 2020 over concerns about the ability of Pakistani authorities and its Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) to ensure compliance with international aviation standards. PIA plans to approach the UKs Department for Transport (DfT) for UK route resumption, as EASA clearance is a prerequisite for their decision, PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez Khan told Reuters. Advertisement EASA and UK authorities suspended permission for PIA to operate in the region after Pakistan began investigating the validity of pilots licenses following a deadly plane crash that killed 97 people. Khan said the airline expects to resume flights to Europe, starting with Paris, within the next three to four weeks. Once PIA gets approval for UK flights, Khan said London, Manchester, and Birmingham would be the most sought-after destinations. PIA and the government, which is aiming to sell a 60% stake in the carrier, had urged EASA to lift the ban, even provisionally. The ban cost the airline 40 billion rupees ($144 million) annually in revenue. Khan said the company has sufficient cash flow to add new routes. Decisions on leasing new aircraft will be made after the government finalises privatisation discussions, he said. The loss-making national carrier has a 23% stake in Pakistans domestic aviation market, but its 34-plane fleet cant compete with Middle Eastern carriers which hold a 60% market share, due to a lack of direct flights, despite having agreements with 87 countries and key landing slots. The governments attempt to privatise the airline fell flat when it received only a single offer, well below its asking price. Advertisement With Europe now, and upcoming UK routes, we anticipate increased revenue potential and hence a rise in PIAs value during the privatisation process," Khan said. In a major turn of events, Syrian forces announced their withdrawal from the city of Aleppo after a rebel group took over the countrys second-largest city. This is the first time since 2016 that insurgents have managed to make inroads in the city read more In a major turn of events, the Syrian government forces withdrew from the city of Aleppo, a day after rebels opposing the rule of President Bashar al-Assad took over the city. On Saturday, the Syrian army acknowledged that rebels have entered large parts of the countrys second-largest city. While the Syrian forces maintained that they had to withdraw from the city, they pledged to stage a counterattack soon. It is pertinent to note that the recent offensive marks the most significant fighting in Syria since the devastating civil war, which established Assads regime. According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), more than 300 people, including at least 20 civilians, have been killed since the insurgency began on Wednesday. Advertisement The conflict between the Assad regime and the rebel groups has largely remained dormant since a ceasefire agreed in 2020, but opposition forces have maintained control of the north-western city of Idlib and much of the surrounding province. It is pertinent to note that the city of Idlib sits just 55 km from Aleppo, which itself was a rebel stronghold until it fell to government forces in 2016. Assad vows to defend Syria While speaking on the insurgency on Sunday, the Syrian president vowed to defend [Syrias] stability and territorial integrity in the face of all terrorists and their backers. [The country] is capable, with the help of its allies and friends, of defeating and eliminating them, no matter how intense their terrorist attacks are, his office quoted him as saying after the rebel groups took over Aleppo. The latest attacks have been led by an Islamist militant group called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied factions backed by Turkey. It is pertinent to note that HTS was regarded as one of the most effective and deadly of the groups fighting the Assad government and was already the dominant force in Idlib. On Friday, the rebel group took control of Aleppos airport and dozens of nearby towns. Following this, they announced a curfew which came into force at 17:00 local time on Friday and will remain in place until Sunday. Meanwhile, the Syrian army maintained that rebels had launched a broad attack from multiple axes on the Aleppo and Idlib fronts and that battles had taken place over a strip exceeding 100km (60 miles). The forces defending the Assad regime maintained that dozens of soldiers had been killed in the fighting. Amid the chaos, the Russian air force, which played a significant role in keeping Assad in power during the peak of the civil war, carried out air strikes in Aleppo on Saturday. The strikes marked the first time Russian forces have conducted operations in the city since 2016. Pictures that are circulating online showed roads leading out of Aleppo jammed with cars as people try to flee their homes. As the tussle between both sides continues to escalate, the fate of Syria remains unclear. Advertisement With inputs from agencies. Tehran has been a staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during the civil war that broke out in 2011. Iran maintains it does not have combat troops in Syria, only officers who provide military advice and training read more Irans top diplomat Abbas Araghchi said Sunday he will leave Tehran for Damascus to deliver a message of support for Syrias government and armed forces, state media said, after a lighting advance by rebels. Tehran has been a staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during the civil war that broke out in 2011. Iran maintains it does not have combat troops in Syria, only officers who provide military advice and training. Advertisement Iran-backed Hezbollah, of Lebanon, has for years fought on the side of the Syrian government. I am going to Damascus to convey the message of the Islamic Republic to the Syrian government, Araghchi said, emphasising Tehran will firmly support the Syrian government and army, the IRNA state news agency reported. Islamist-led rebels on Saturday seized Aleppos airport and dozens of nearby towns after overrunning most of Syrias second city Aleppo, a war monitor said. Syrias army confirmed that the rebels had entered large parts of the city of around two million people and said dozens of men from our armed forces were killed. Araghchi again called the surprise rebel offensive a plot by the United States and Israel. The Syrian army will once again win over these terrorist groups as in the past, the foreign minister added. An Iranian news agency reported earlier that a general in Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was killed in Syria on Thursday during the fighting. On Saturday, Irans foreign ministry said its consulate in Aleppo had come under attack, but staff members were safe. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Araghchi who will visit Ankara for consultations with Turkish officials after his stop in Damascus. Advertisement Since 2020, the rebel enclave in Syrias northwestern Idlib region has been subject to a Turkish- and Russian-brokered truce that had largely been holding despite repeated violations. But the insurgents launch on Wednesday of a surprise offensive against the city of Aleppo shattered the truce, the same day a fragile ceasefire took effect in neighbouring Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah. The Syrian government had regained control of a large part of the country in 2015 with the support of its Russian and Iranian allies, and in 2016 the entire city of Aleppo. The European Unions new leadership team is keen to demonstrate it remains firm on backing Kyiv at a perilous moment for Ukraine nearly three years into its fight against Russias all-out invasion read more European Commission Vice-President-designate and High Representative-designate for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas looks on as President Ursula von der Leyen (not pictured) speaks on the day of a plenary session of the European Parliament, before a vote to approve the new European Commission, in Strasbourg, France. File image/ Reuters The EUs new top diplomat Kaja Kallas and head of the European Council Antonio Costa arrived in Kyiv Sunday in a symbolic show of support for Ukraine on their first day in office. We came to give a clear message that we stand with Ukraine, and we continue to give our full support, Costa told media outlets including AFP accompanying them on the trip. The European Unions new leadership team is keen to demonstrate it remains firm on backing Kyiv at a perilous moment for Ukraine nearly three years into its fight against Russias all-out invasion. Advertisement Questions are swirling around the future of US support once Donald Trump assumes office in January and there are fears he could force Kyiv to make painful concessions in pursuit of a quick peace deal. Meanwhile, tensions have escalated as Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to strike government buildings in Kyiv with his new Oreshnik missile after firing it at Ukraine for the first time last month. The Kremlin leader said the move is a response to Kyiv getting the green light to strike inside Russia with American and British missiles, and he has threatened to hit back against the countries supplying the weaponry. As winter begins Russia has also unleashed devastating barrages against Ukraines power grid and on the frontline Kyivs fatigued forces are losing ground to Moscows grinding offensive. The situation in Ukraine is very, very grave, Kallas, a former prime minister of Estonia, said. But its clear that it comes at a very high cost for Russia as well. Ceasefire? The new EU leaders the blocs top officials along with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen were set to hold talks with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky. Advertisement Zelensky on Friday appeared to begin staking out his position ahead of any potential peace talks. He called on NATO to offer guaranteed protections to parts of Ukraine controlled by Kyiv in order to stop the hot stage of the war, and implied he would then be willing to wait to regain other territory seized by Russia. If we speak ceasefire, (we need) guarantees that Putin will not come back, Zelensky told Britains Sky News. Kallas said that the strongest security guarantee is NATO membership. We need to definitely discuss this if Ukraine decides to draw the line somewhere then how can we secure peace so that Putin doesnt go any further, she said. Advertisement Diplomats at NATO say there appears little prospect of the alliance granting Ukraine membership soon given opposition from a raft of members cautious of getting dragged into war with Russia. Kallas said the EU shouldnt really rule out anything in terms of the question of sending European troops to help enforce any ceasefire. We should have this strategic ambiguity around this, she said. Transactional language Trump has cast doubt on continuing Washingtons vast aid for Ukraine and called on EU countries to do more. Europe together has spent around $125 billion on supporting Ukraine since Russias 2022 invasion, while the United States alone has coughed up over $90 billion, according to a tracker from the Kiel Institute. Advertisement Kallas said the EU would use a transactional language to try to convince Trump that backing Kyiv was in the interest of the US. Aid for Ukraine is not charity, she said. A victory for Russia definitely emboldens China, Iran, North Korea. The new EU foreign policy chief said the bloc would continue seeking to put Ukraine in the strongest position - if and when Kyiv chose it was time to negotiate with Moscow. But she conceded that it was becoming increasingly difficult for the 27-nation bloc to agree on new ways to ramp up support for Ukraine. This war has been going on for quite some time and it is harder and harder to explain it to our own people, she said. But I dont see any option. Advertisement President-elect Donald Trump said that he would appoint hardline loyalist and conspiracy theorist Kash Patel to be the next director of the FBI. Kash will eventually replace Trumps 2017 pick Christopher Wray, whose term will be ending in 2027 read more After weeks of speculation, President-elect Donald Trump confirmed that he wants to replace Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher A. Wray with a hardline critic of the deep state, Kash Patel. Trump made his intentions clear on Saturday, paving the way for the firebrand loyalist to take the helm of the agency he wanted to bring to heel. It is pertinent to note that Patel has the experience of working with Trump in the past. He advised the secretary of defence under Trumps previous bid for the White House. However, what makes his appointment controversial is his problematic stance against law enforcement agencies. Advertisement In the past, Patel has called for shutting down the FBIs Washington headquarters, firing its leadership, and bringing the nations law enforcement agencies to heel, The New York Times reported. He also suggested removing the FBIs intelligence-gathering function and purging its ranks of any employees who do not support Trump. I am proud to announce that Kashyap Kash Patel will serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Trump wrote on his social media website, Truth Social, on Saturday night. Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and America First fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending Justice, and protecting the American People. This FBI will end the growing crime epidemic in America, dismantle the migrant criminal gangs, and stop the evil scourge of human and drug trafficking across the Border, the Republican leader added. Kash Patel: A Trump loyalist and conspiracy theorist When it comes to Patels resume, the Trump loyalist has worked as a federal prosecutor and public defender in the past. However, he does not have any experience when it comes to working in a law enforcement agency. Just like other hardcore Trump loyalists, Patel also believes that the 2020 election results were rigged against the former president. Last year, Patel vowed to investigate and come after journalists who lied and helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections. Whether its criminally or civilly, well figure that out, Patel wrote at that time. In his controversial book titled Government Gangsters, Patel elucidated the list of top reforms to defeat the deep state. The list included moving the FBI headquarters out of Washington and shrinking the agencys work strength. Interestingly, it was Trump who appointed Wray in 2017, and the latters term does not expire until 2027. Over the years, the business mogul turned politician has been openly critical of Wray, particularly after law enforcement officials searched his residence in search of classified documents. Trump described Boulos as a respected leader in the business world with extensive international experience and referred to him as a dealmaker capable of fostering connections and building coalitions read more Donald Trump, right, signs autographs as Massad Boulos watches during a visit to Dearborn, Michigan on November 1, 2024. AP President-elect Donald Trump has named Massad Boulos, a Lebanese-American businessman and the father-in-law of his daughter Tiffany, as senior advisor on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs, placing a close family connection at the heart of a challenging foreign policy portfolio. Boulos played a key role in Trumps campaign, particularly in outreach to Arab American and Muslim voters. His efforts aimed to attract support from groups disillusioned with current US policies in the region, including the ongoing war in Gaza. Advertisement Trump described Boulos as a respected leader in the business world with extensive international experience and referred to him as a dealmaker capable of fostering connections and building coalitions. The appointment gives Boulos significant influence over US policy in the West Asia, a region facing major challenges. These include Israels war in Gaza, a tenuous ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon, and escalating conflict in Syria, where rebel forces have made gains against Bashar al-Assads government. Ties to Trump family Boulos is the father of Michael Boulos, who married Tiffany Trump in 2022. His selection follows Trumps recent nomination of Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, as US ambassador to France. The choice highlights the prominent roles family connections are expected to play in the incoming administration. Career and political involvement Bouloss career spans the legal and business sectors, with a focus on international affairs. Though he has not held public office, he has been a vocal advocate for conservative Republican values and has built ties within the Arab American community. His involvement in Trumps campaign was instrumental in mobilising support from this demographic. Policy challenges ahead Bouloss new role places him at the center of efforts to address some of the Middle Easts most intractable issues. Trump has pledged to end conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, but has yet to provide specifics on how his administration plans to achieve these goals. Advertisement With decades of experience in business negotiations, Boulos is expected to bring a pragmatic approach to the Middle East advisor position. However, his appointment has drawn scrutiny for its close familial ties, raising questions about the blending of personal and official relationships in the Trump administration. With inputs from agencies Lai is making a sensitive two-day trip to Hawaii that is officially only a stopover on the way to three Pacific island nations that maintain formal ties with Taiwan, which China claims as its territory read more Hawaii Governor Josh Green greets Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te on his arrival at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. November 30, 2024. Reuters War has no winners and peace is priceless, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Saturday in Hawaii after visiting a memorial to the attack on Pearl Harbor on a trip to the United States that has angered Beijing. Lai is making a sensitive two-day trip to Hawaii that is officially only a stopover on the way to three Pacific island nations that maintain formal ties with Taiwan, which China claims as its territory. Advertisement Speaking to members of the overseas Taiwan community and Hawaii politicians, including members of Congress Ed Case and Jill Tokuda, Lai referred to his visit to the USS Arizona Memorial earlier in the day and laid a wreath in memory of those who died in the 1941 Japanese attack. Our visit to the memorial today in particular reminds us of the importance of ensuring peace. Peace is priceless and war has no winner. We have to fight - fight together - to prevent war, Lai said in English, in a speech carried live on television in Taiwan. As Lai was attending the event, China said it had complained to Washington for arranging for his transit through U.S. territory, while vowing resolute countermeasures against a potential arms sale to Taiwan that the U.S. announced hours before Lai started his trip. Chinas foreign ministry lodged stern representations over the transit, Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office said in a statement. We are firmly opposed to official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan, and we are firmly opposed to the transit of leaders of the Taiwan region to the United States under any name and for any reason, it said. Security sources have told Reuters that China could launch a new round of war games around Taiwan in response to his visit, his first overseas trip since assuming office in May, having won election in January. China has staged two rounds of major war games around Taiwan so far this year. In his speech Lai switched to Taiwanese, also known as Hokkien, and said that by uniting together, all difficulties could be overcome. Taiwans democracy can become a model for the international community, he said. Advertisement Lai and his government reject Beijings sovereignty claims and say they have a right to visit other countries. After Hawaii, Lai will go to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau, with another stopover in the U.S. territory of Guam. Hawaii and Guam are home to large U.S. military bases. KOSOVO: Accusations fly after blast hits key Kosovo water system A detonation on a critical aqueduct comes after a series of smaller incidents in the tense Serb-majority north of the country. An explosion late Friday damaged a key aqueduct in Kosovo that sends water to the countrys two main power plants, prompting allegations and recriminations with neighboring Serbia amid rising tensions in the region. Pristina labeled the blast a terrorist attack by neighboring Serbia, a charge that Belgrade quickly called baseless. A sprawling police raid across northern Kosovo hours after the attack uncovered more than two hundred military uniforms, anti-tank grenade launchers, Kalashnikovs and Russian and Serbian army patches, Kosovo authorities said. This is the single most serious attack on the countrys critical infrastructure since the end of the conflict in the country, Kosovos Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla told reporters Saturday evening. According to the police, around 20 kilograms of explosives in a black bag were placed on a section of the aqueduct in Zubin Potok and ignited by means of a wired detonator. This is not a random attack; it was well-organized and planned by a professional group aiming to maximize the damage done to Kosovo and its citizens, Svecla said. Eight people were arrested on suspicion of planning and organizing the attack. Kosovo remains the most volatile area of the Balkans, with tensions constantly running high between the country, which declared independence in 2008, and its northern neighbor, Serbia. In September of last year, in the same part of the country where Fridays explosion took place, armed clashes erupted between local gunmen and the Kosovo police, with one police officer and three attackers being killed. Since then, police forces have bolstered their presence in areas inhabited by the local Serb minority, who remain wary of Kosovo authorities and have protested multiple times in recent months, citing what they perceive as excessive measures by the government in Pristina. Kosovo authorities immediately placed the blame for Fridays blast on Serbia. This is a criminal and terrorist attack aimed at damaging our critical infrastructure carried out by gangs organized and led by Serbia, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in a statement on Saturday. Belgrade shot down the accusation, calling it baseless hastily made and without evidence. The two countries have been in an EU-facilitated dialogue for more than a decade aimed at ironing out their differences before they can potentially become members of the bloc. The talks have recently stalled, largely due to the tense relationship between Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Their larger-than-life personalities are widely seen as ill-suited for a sensitive negotiation process that demands significant compromises from both sides. Meetings in the Brussels dialogue are often delayed or fail to produce results when tensions escalate on the ground. The European External Action Service shared Kosovos assessment of the blast as an act of terrorism. The European Union condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist attack committed on Friday on the Iber Lepenc/Ibar Lepenac water canal in Zubin Potok in north Kosovo, the EEAS said a statement, offering its support for the investigation into the explosion. In the past couple of months, the NATO peacekeeping mission, which has operated as Kosovos de facto army since the 1998-1999 conflict, has steadily increased its presence in anticipation of possible escalations, including a 45-day mission by British troops that only recently concluded its deployment. The attack will land on the desk of the brand-new EU High Representative for foreign policy, Kaja Kallas, due to assume her role next week. Some in the region predict that Kallas will take a more direct role in the Kosovo situation due to her strong anti-Russian convictions, which could include a more confrontational approach toward Serbia. To read original article, please click HERE Nearly 200 nations are in South Korea's Busan for negotiations that are supposed to result in the world's first accord on the issue after two years of discussions Dennis received bachelor's degrees in communication and political science with a TAG degree in Spanish from The University of Akron in Ohio. He grew up in Ohio with two sisters and two brothers, one being his fraternal twin. He and his wife have two dogs: Bacio, and Cal. Dennis currently covers natural resource and environmental issues for The Daily Sentinel Russo-Ukraine War - 30 November 2024 - Day 1011 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 So far, 211 combat clashes have taken place. For today, Russia has launched two missile strikes on the territory of Ukraine with two rockets, used 503 kamikaze drones to impress. Conducted more than three thousand shelling of the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements. In the Kharkiv direction, the Russian aggressor nine times attacked the vicinity of vovchans k, cossack lopana and goptivka, one battle continues so far. In the kupans komu direction, the Russian enemy during the day seven times tried to advance to Ukrainian positions near the pi any, kolisnikivki, lozovai and zagrizovoye. In the Lyman direction, the Russian zagarbnic ka army attacked 19 times in the areas of Grekivka, Druzelubivka, Novoegorivka, Zarichny, Terniv and Torsky. In the Kramatorsky direction, the activity of the Russian enemy spilled into 16 combat clashes near the settlements of Chasiv Yar, Predtechyn and Stupochka. In the Toretsky direction there are 10 clashes near the settlements of Toretsk, Nelipivka and Scherbinivka, six enemy assaults have been stopped by Ukrainian defenders. Russian forces tried to infiltrate Ukrainian defense 46 times in the Intercession direction. Since the beginning of the day, Russian forces attacked in the areas of the settlements of Mirolyubivka, Beam, Mirnograd, Lisivka, Krasny Yar, Dacens ke, Zhovte, Chumakke, Elizavetivka and New Labor. Thirty-nine Russian offensive actions have been stopped by the Defense Forces, seven attacks continue so far. The enemy suffers significant losses - according to preliminary information, today Ukrainian warriors damaged more than 250 Russian invaders in this direction, 160 of them - irrevocably. One combat armored car, two units of automobiles and three units of occupiers' motor equipment have been destroyed, and one vehicle unit and one buggy were also damaged. In the Kurakhiv direction, Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions near Sontsivka, Berestkiv, Zora, Novodmitrivka, Kurakhovoy, Dachnyo, Dalnogo, Katerinivka, Romanivka, Antonivka, Hanivka, Elizabeth and Uspenivka. At the moment Ukrainian warriors have fought 37 attacks, 11 boezitknen is still ongoing. Enemy losses in this direction since the beginning of the day have been 43 occupants killed and 64 wounded, two armored vehicles, 4 units of motor equipment and one portable radio-electronic combat station destroyed. In the Vremivsky direction, Ukrainian troops repelled Russian attacks near the settlements of Vesely Gai, Konstantinopolsk, Rozliv, Velika Novosilka, Novodarivka and Novopil - eight attacks repelled, seven assaults continue so far. In the Pridniprovsk direction, the Defense Forces repelled three Russian attacks. Russian forces did not perform active actions in the Siversky, Orihivskky and Gulyaipilsky directions today. The Defense Forces of Ukraine continue its operation in the Kursk region, at this time 22 clashes, 299 shelling of settlements and positions of Ukrainian units are known. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation. In Kharkov direction, the units of the Sever Group of Forces have inflicted losses on formations of the 92nd Air Assault Brigade of the AFU and the 5th Border Detachment of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine near Liptsy, Kazachaya Lopan, and Slatino (Kharkov region). The AFU losses were more than 30 troops, four motor vehicles, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer. One electronic warfare station and three ammunition depots have been neutralised. The Zapad Group of Forces' units have improved the tactical situation and delivered strikes at manpower and hardware of the AFU 67th Mechanised Brigade, the 241st Territorial Defence Brigade, 1st and 27th National Guard brigades, the 3rd Border Detachment of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine close to Glushkovka, Novoosinovo, Kupyansk (Kharkov region), Novolyubovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Seversk (Donetsk People's Republic). In addition, six counter-attacks of the 116th Mechanised Brigade, 113th and 117th territorial defence brigades of the AFU have been repelled. The AFU losses were up to 505 troops, eight motor vehicles, one UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzer, one U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer, and two U.S.-made 105-mm M119 howitzers. Two Anklav-N electronic warfare stations and two field ammunition depots have been eliminated. The units of the Yug Group of Forces have improved the situation along the front line, defeated 23rd, 28th mechanised brigades, the 81st Airmobile Brigade, the 79th Air Assault Brigade, the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade, and the 24th Aidar Assault Battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Predtechino, Konstantinovka, Dachnoye, Serebryanka, and Zvanovka (Donetsk People's Republic). One counter-attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 24th Mechanised Brigade has been repelled. The AFU losses were up to 345 troops, two motor vehicles, one M113 armoured personnel carrier, and one U.S.-made HMMWV armoured vehicle. One field ammunition depot has been destroyed. The Tsentr Group of Forces' units have captured more advantageous lines and positions, inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the 154th Mechanised Brigade, the 59th Motorised Brigade, the 68th Jaeger Brigade, the 38th Marine Brigade, the 116th Territorial Defence Brigade, the 14th National Guard Brigade close to Andreyevka, Mirolyubovka, Shevchenko, Grodovka, Novoolenovka, and Dimitrov (Donetsk People's Republic). In addition, 11 counter-attacks of assault detachments of 14th, 100th, 117th, 151st mechanised brigades, the 152nd Jaeger Brigade, 425th and 49th assault battalions of the AFU, the 35th Marine Brigade, and the Lyut Brigade of the National Police of Ukraine have been repelled. The AFU losses were more than 510 troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, two U.S.-made M113 and M1117 armoured personnel carriers, two Kozak armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, two 122-mm D-30 howitzers, and one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 gun. The Vostok Group of Forces' units have advanced further into the depths of enemy defences and defeated the 32nd Mechanised Brigade of the AFU, 120th and 241st territorial defence brigades close to Volnoye Pole, Novosyolka, and Novy Komar (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses were up to 50 troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, one motor vehicle, and two 152-mm D-20 guns. The units of the Dnepr Group of Forces have engaged manpower and hardware of the AFU 141st Infantry Brigade, 124th and 126th territorial defence brigades close to Orekhov (Zaporozhye region), Molodyozhnoye, and Nikolskoye (Kherson region). The AFU losses were up to 70 troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, two motor vehicles, and one electronic warfare station. Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have delivered strikes at infrastructure of military airfields, power objects ensuring operation of the Ukrainian defence industry as well as engaged manpower clusters and military hardware in 132 areas Air defence facilities have shot down one Neptune guided long-range missile, one HIMARS MLRS projectile, and 45 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles. In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 649 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 36,958 unmanned aerial vehicles, 586 anti-aircraft missile systems, 19,572 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,497 MLRS combat vehicles, 18,748 field artillery guns and mortars, and 28,889 units of support military vehicles have been neutralised. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation also reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the operation to neutralise an enemy group, which broke into the territory of Kursk region. The units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of 21st, 41st, 44th, 47th mechanised brigades, the 17th Heavy Mechanised Brigade, the 5th Tank Brigade, 80th, 82nd, 95th air assault brigades, the 36th Marine Brigade, 112th, 116th, 117th, and 129th territorial defence brigades of the AFU near Aleksandriya, Viktorovka, Kurilovka, Lebedevka, Leonidovka, Martynovka, Nizhny Klin, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Nikolsky, Novoivanovka, Plyokhovo, and Sverdlikovo. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the enemy near Aleksandriya, Guyevo, Daryino, Kazachya Loknya, Kruglenkoye, Kubatkin, Lebedevka, Martynovka, Nizhny Klin, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Novoivanovka, Plyokhovo, Sverdlikovo, Basovka, Belovody, Vodolagi, Zhuravka, and Loknya (Sumy region). Over the past 24 hours, the AFU losses were more than 250 troops, two tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, one armoured fighting vehicle, four motor vehicles, and two mortars were neutralised. Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses amounted to more than 36,850 troops, 225 tanks, 160 infantry fighting vehicles, 123 armoured personnel carriers, 1,202 armoured fighting vehicles, 1,060 motor vehicles, 305 artillery guns, 40 MLRS launchers, including 11 of HIMARS and six of MLRS made by the USA, 13 anti-aircraft missile launchers, seven transport-loading vehicles, 70 EW stations, 13 counter-battery warfare radars, four air defence radars, 27 units of engineering and other materiel, including 13 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, six armoured recovery vehicles, and one command post vehicle. The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Tustin, Ca, Dec. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canon Medical Systems USA is proud to announce the launch of its AI-powered Automation Platform, an advanced, zero-click solution that leverages deep learning technology to streamline clinical workflows. Designed to deliver fast, actionable results, this innovative platform integrates seamlessly from scanner to clinical decision-making, empowering healthcare providers with precise tools to help with patient triage and confident treatment planning. The Automation Platform includes Canon Medicals Stroke CT package, Stroke MR package and the Chest Pain CT package, designed to support critical decision-making when time is of the essence. With a simple user experience that delivers the right insights at the right time, the Stroke CT package includes mobile applications to engage care teams anytime and anywhere. All packages feature a modality-attached, cybersecure deployment for seamless integration into existing workflows and multimodality clinical applications tailored for emergency department needs such as stroke and chest pain assessment. To keep care teams connected, the platform sends real-time notifications and alerts within minutes after a CT scan. Critical cases are flagged in the automation Platform via the Canon Secure Analytics Server, promptly informing clinicians of urgent situations. The Mobile DICOM Viewer also offers remote access to images and results, allowing clinicians to review critical information from any location. Through a unified Mobile App, users can access images and insights from various clinical AI applications in one place, streamlining workflows and enhancing efficiency. Canon Medical's Automation Platform introduces three AI-powered packages to enhance diagnostic precision and speed. The Automated Stroke CT Package delivers fast and accurate clinical insights to emergency and stroke teams, reducing response time for effective stroke treatment. The Stroke MR Package will help timely screening and triage of stroke patients to help clinicians detect the disease fast and accurately. The Chest Pain CT Package identifies, and flags suspected pulmonary embolisms and potential aortic dissection, enabling prompted lifesaving rapid intervention and treatment when needed. "Canon Medical's Automation Platform is designed to help healthcare providers focus on what matters mostpatient careby reducing the burden of routine tasks," said Suresh Narayan, Managing Director, Enterprise Solutions and HIT Business at Canon Medical. "With AI-powered tools and deep learning technology, we're making it easier for clinicians to make fast, confident decisions that can profoundly impact patient outcomes." Through the Automation Platform, Canon Medical continues to deliver innovative AI-based solutions that address the urgent demands of healthcare providers, empowering them to make well-informed decisions that significantly enhance patient outcomes. Canon Medical will showcase these solutions at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 2024 conference in Chicago, Illinois, from December 1 to 6, 2024. For more information or to schedule a demonstration, visit Canon Medical's booth, North Hall, #6713, #7313 or contact your local Canon representative. Please visit Canon Medical's website for more information on its Automation Platform and suite of AI-powered solutions. About Canon Medical Systems USA, Inc. Canon Medical Systems USA, Inc., headquartered in Tustin, Calif., markets, sells, distributes and services radiology and cardiovascular systems, including CT, MR, molecular imaging, ultrasound, X-ray, and interventional X-ray equipment as well as a full suite of Healthcare IT. For more information, visit Canon Medical Systems website: https://us.medical.canon/ About Canon Medical Systems Corporation Canon Medical offers a full range of diagnostic medical imaging solutions, including CT, MR, X-Ray, Ultrasound, Vascular and MR, as well as a full suite of Healthcare IT solutions across the globe. In line with our continued Made for Life philosophy, patients are at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is to provide medical professionals with solutions that support their efforts in contributing to the health and wellbeing of patients worldwide. Our goal is to deliver optimum health opportunities for patients through uncompromised performance, comfort, and safety features. At Canon Medical, we work hand-in-hand with our partners our medical, academic and research communities. We build relationships based on transparency, trust, and respect. Together, we strive to create industry-leading solutions that deliver an enriched quality of life. For more information, visit the Canon Medical website: https://global.medical.canon/ *Images are not intended for diagnostic use WAYNE, N.J., Dec. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc. announced today several new digital radiography (DR) solutions designed to help streamline radiology workflows and efficiently manage imaging department assets and resources. These solutions will be introduced at the 2024 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, being held December 1-4 in Chicago, IL. The company is also proud to announce four papers on Dynamic Digital Radiography (DDR) as part of the RSNA 2024 Scientific Program. Konica Minolta is introducing Bone Suppression Imaging (BSI) for chest X-rays. The recently FDA-cleared BSI suppresses the ribs and the clavicle to enable clearer visualization of the lung, enhancing diagnostic clarity and efficiency. BSI will be available as a stand-alone solution with Konica Minolta DR systems and Exa PACS. The AeroDR PDR is the newest addition to the AeroDR family of wireless flat panel detectors. This 14 x 17-inch value-based panel combines the advanced technology and design improvements from Konica Minoltas current glass-based and glassless models while also addressing the needs of budget-constrained and cost-conscious customers. AeroDR PDR is designed for the retrofit market to help facilities upgrade existing systems and modernize their technology. Konica Minolta builds on the quality, durability and reliability of the AeroDR family of detectors and image processing software with these new solutions that provide clinical and economic value to our customers, says Lisette Carrara, Senior Marketing Manager, Radiology, Konica Minolta. Data Analytics/Service Solutions Konica Minolta will launch the next generation of AeroRemote Insights, a comprehensive analytics solution that collects and aggregates DR system health and usage data into dashboards to help radiology department and imaging center administrators best manage DR assets and personnel. AeroRemote Insights 4.0 represents a significant leap forward in innovation and user experience with a platform that is substantially faster and simpler to navigate. A new AI-powered chatbot swiftly curates the required data and answers user questions for quicker and more efficient support. Also new are a Superuser profile that provides greater control and customization, including changing operator, workstation and facility names, as well as a global data filtration tool that provides selectors over all pages of the dashboard. Konica Minolta dealers now have access to their own Dealer Dashboard, providing the ability for dealers to manage their customer system status, streamline system management and identify revenue opportunities for their customer sites that are using AeroRemote Insights. All user and dealer dashboards are fully HIPAA compliant, contain no personal health information and adhere to the highest security standards. "With AeroRemote Insights 4.0, we are empowering healthcare providers and dealers with an unparalleled tool that enhances efficiency, supports informed decision making and ultimately improves patient care," said Robert Kenley, Vice President of Commercial Services at Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas. "We are proud to bring this cutting-edge solution to the forefront of medical imaging technology." DDR Studies at RSNA 2024 Konica Minolta is proud to announce that for the fourth consecutive year, clinical studies featuring DDR are part of the RSNA 2024 Scientific Program. Michaela Cellina, MD, Head of Imaging Research and radiologist with ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco in Milan, Italy, will present two posters: Chest Bedside Applications of Portable Dynamic Digital Radiography (DDR): Bringing the Dynamic Acquisition to the Patients Bed (CHEE-113). This poster, part of the Chest Imaging Education Exhibits (CHEE), discusses the use of DDR to evaluate diaphragmatic dysfunction in patients at the bedside, including post-surgery. In the ICU, DDR can provide lung ventilation data to help identify regional differences and assess the effectiveness of different respiratory treatments. DDR was found to be useful in diagnosing breathing abnormalities in lung cancer patients and pulmonary perfusion abnormalities related to chronic and acute conditions. Dynamic Digital Radiography: A Novel Imaging Technique to Investigate Patients with Cervical Pain (M5A-SPNR-16). As part of the Neuroradiology Poster Discussions on Monday, December 2, Dr. Cellina will discuss the results of a prospective study of 20 patients evaluated for long-term cervical pain who had poor response conservative treatments. Each patient previously had an MRI and underwent cervical DDR that included consecutive movement of the cervical spine (C-spine) flexion and extension. The study found that C-spine imaging with DDR allows an optimal evaluation of spondylarthrosis and adds functional information about the range of movement excursion and about the presence of stiff discs. In a poster co-authored by Yuzo Yamasaki, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor at Kyushu University, DDR will be highlighted as a functional lung imaging technology, including perfusion and ventilation, in an Educational Exhibit, Finding Pneumo: Advanced Pulmonary Functional Imaging Methods (CHEE-119). The exhibit is a multi-institutional collaboration that describes the pros and cons of several imaging techniques. Mauricio Stanzione Galizia, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Radiology, Division of Cardiothroacic Radiology, University of Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, will present the data. Yun Wang of Peking Union Medical College will demonstrate the use of DDR in pediatrics to evaluate spine flexibility and discuss key aspects of the acquisition including positioning, movement and exposure in the poster, Dynamic Spine Flexibility Evaluation With Dynamic Digital Radiography for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (MKEE-126). Konica Minolta Healthcare will showcase these technologies and more at RSNA 2024 in Booth #2352. About Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc. Konica Minolta Healthcare is a world-class provider and market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and healthcare information technology. The companys focus is to contribute to life changing advances through the transformation of primary imaging, allowing the invisible to be seen. Primary imaging, the most commonly used medical imaging technologies, include X-ray, ultrasound and imaging management systems. By advancing these readily available technologies, we can bring greater diagnostic capabilities to the greatest number of people. With 150 years of endless innovation, imaging is in Konica Minoltas DNA. From roots as a camera and film manufacturer, the company has cultivated its own technologies and continues to evolve techniques for visualizing what is not visible. Innovation allows the company to be a strong strategic partner, understanding what value means to customers and how Konica Minoltas innovations can address specific needs and lead to better decisions, sooner. Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc., headquartered in Wayne, NJ, is a division of Konica Minolta, Inc. For more information on Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc., follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, or visit https://healthcare.konicaminolta.us. Contact: Mary Beth Massat 224.578.2388 mbmassat@massatmedia.com https://healthcare.konicaminolta.us A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/89a1ad2c-ea4a-4eea-8da3-96cf3275a417 December 1, 2024 Philips' intelligent diagnostic and treatment solutions, combined with its advanced capabilities in healthcare informatics, uniquely position the company to drive precision imaging for a greater number of patients Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Chicago, USA Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today unveiled the companys latest AI-powered diagnostic and treatment imaging innovations to advance precise imaging with faster, easier and more efficient workflows. Addressing key challenges faced by radiologists, these innovations are complemented by Philips industry-leading expertise in cloud-based data management, advanced visualization, automation, and AI. Together, they aim to reduce the administrative burden and empower clinicians with insights to deliver better care for more people. The healthcare industry is facing a perfect storm of challenges in radiology: increasing patient volumes, skyrocketing demand for imaging studies, and an explosion in imaging data. At the same time, staff shortages are creating mounting pressure on already strained resources, said Bert van Meurs, Chief Business Leader of Diagnosis and Treatment at Philips. Our intelligent imaging systems combined with our world-class informatics support healthcare providers in embracing innovative solutions that enhance efficiency, reduce the administrative burden, and empower radiologists to focus on delivering precise, high-quality care. The Philips Future Health Index 2024 Report shows 99% of radiology leaders surveyed struggle with staff shortages, with nearly 4 in 5 facing financial pressures, and 45% experiencing symptoms of burnout. Radiologists are also seeing a 40% increase in patients with complex diseases [1] in clinical areas like cardiology and neurology, which is driving the need for imaging exams and a 60% increase in imaging data [2]. At this years RSNA, Philips will demonstrate how it is uniquely positioned to help mitigate these challenges with breakthrough innovations that advance precision imaging for more patients and enhance productivity through seamless integration of imaging and informatics. Leadership in innovative helium-free MRI operations Philips will unveil the industrys first and only wide-bore, high-performance helium-free [3] MR scanner with fully integrated cloud-based, AI-driven, automated quantitative reporting capabilities [4] for specific disease areas like neurology and oncology. With AI assistance at every step of the workflow, from planning to imaging and reporting, Philips next generation BlueSeal 1.5T MRI boosts productivity, ease of use and access to precision diagnosis around the world, while caring for the planet. Philips revolutionary BlueSeal technology sets new standards in MRI as the lightest 70 cm system available today [5], making it easier to install and cost-effective to maintain, enabling flexible installations and wider access in new locations. Breakthrough innovations in Diagnosis and Treatment Making its debut in North America at RSNA is the fully AI-enabled CT 5300, featuring Precise Image AI-based reconstruction software to assist at every step of the CT workflow, while reducing radiation dose and improving image quality for complex exams like cardiac imaging. Philips will also spotlight Spectral CT 7500, providing spectral CT solutions across a wide range of clinical areas including cardiology, oncology, neurology, musculoskeletal, and pediatrics. With more than 24 million spectral exams performed to date, Spectral CT 7500 has been shown to deliver up to 97% diagnostic sensitivity compared to 55% with conventional CT [6]; 96% certainty of cyst vs. lesion compared to 30% with conventional CT [7]; and a 26% reduction in follow-up scans due to incomplete diagnosis [8]. Philips is elevating image quality in ultrasound with the newest releases of its EPIQ Elite and Affiniti systems featuring new workflow and quantification automation to make exams faster and reproducible to help increase clinical confidence. With more than 100 optimized presets across multiple clinical applications, Philips latest innovations in ultrasound help reduce exam times and variability. This is meant to increase efficiency with over 50% reduction in time for image optimization during abdominal and obstetrics exams [9]. Also showcased will be the latest Azurion 7 platform to support image-guided interventional procedures with a 17% reduction in procedure time and a 12% reduction in patient preparation time, bringing the ability to treat one more patient per day [10]. Expanded strategic collaboration with AWS At RSNA Philips will showcase its advanced Healthcare Informatics capabilities for data management, advanced visualization, automation, and AI to help reduce administrative burdens and empower clinicians with insights to deliver better care. In the run-up to the event, Philips expanded its strategic collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to offer Philips integrated diagnostics portfolio in the cloud, including radiology, digital pathology, cardiology [11], and AI advanced visualization [11] solutions. As part of the agreement, Philips aims to create robust and scalable generative AI applications that leverage state-of-the-art foundation models from Amazon Bedrock, and seamlessly integrate into clinical workflows. Philips will also debut the latest 510(k) clearance of its Radiology Operations Command Center remote scanning and remote protocol management features [12] enabling real-time collaboration between imaging experts and on-site technologists, virtually anywhere, to help streamline radiology operations and workflows to provide high-quality imaging to more patients at lower costs. Paired with the worlds first and only helium-free mobile MRI solution, Philips continues to expand quality care to large populations of traditionally underserved patients in a more accessible and sustainable way. Visit Philips at RSNA for more information. [1] 3 Key market trends source: The Burden of Chronic Disease (Karen Hacker); The healthcare data explosion (RBC Capital Markets); Radiologist burnout (Catalina imaging) [2] 3 Key market trends source: The Burden of Chronic Disease (Karen Hacker); The healthcare data explosion (RBC Capital Markets); Radiologist burnout (Catalina imaging) [3] Helium-free operations. 7 liters of helium is permanently enclosed in the cryogenic circuit. [4] BlueSeal XE/SE and Smart Reading are not yet CE marked, not cleared in all countries, and not yet available for delivery in any country. Please consult your Philips contact person for further information. [5] Compared to conventional 1.5T zero boil off systems in the industry BlueSeal MR system weight (with cryogen) 2,300 kg (5,071 lbs). [6] Mellander, et al. (Skane University Hospital, Lund, Sweden), Acta Radiology (2022) DOI: 10.1177/02841851221130612 [7] Andersen MB, Ebbesen D, Thygesen J, Kruis M, Rasmussen F. Impact of spectral body imaging in patients suspected for occult cancer: a prospective study of 503 patients. Eur Radiol. 2020 Oct;30(10):5539-5550. doi: 10.1007/s00330-020-06878-7 [8] Follow-up Recommendation Rates Associated with Spectral Detector Dual-Energy CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis: A Retrospective Comparison to Single-Energy CT. Atwi, Noah E. et al. J Am Coll Radiol. 2020;17:940-950 [9] D001833994, Marketing Claim Evidence for VM12.0 Workflow Efficiency Quick Launch Preset [10] Results from study conducted at St. Antonius Hospital. Results verified by NAMSA, independent third-party expert on study design and analytics. Results are specific to the institution where they were obtained and may not reflect the results achievable at other institutions. [11] Available on cloud in 2025. [11] Available on cloud in 2025. [12] Remote editing and protocol management are functionalities powered by the 510(k) cleared ROCC Console solution. ROCC Console is not to be used without a trained and qualified user at the scanner. For further information, please contact: Kathy OReilly Philips Global External Relations Tel.: +1 978-221-8919 E-mail : kathy.oreilly@philips.com About Royal Philips Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and well-being through meaningful innovation. Philips patient- and people-centric innovation leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver personal health solutions for consumers and professional health solutions for healthcare providers and their patients in the hospital and the home. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, ultrasound, image-guided therapy, monitoring and enterprise informatics, as well as in personal health. Philips generated 2023 sales of EUR 18.2 billion and employs approximately 69,300 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter. Attachments On September 5, 2024, China officially announced adjustments to its international adoption policy. Moving forward, except for foreign nationals adopting children who are direct relatives within three generations or stepchildren, the country will no longer send children abroad for adoption. According to statistics, since the Adoption Law legalized international adoptions in 1992, over 160,000 Chinese children have been adopted by foreign families. With international adoptions largely halted (except in special circumstances), what will happen to orphans who remain unadopted? In response to this question, Brother Fan, a leader of a related ministry in southern China, believes that many Chinese people, including Christians, have long harbored deep misunderstandings about adoption. He asserts that the church has a responsibility to promote an adoption culture among believers. Widespread Misconceptions About Adoption Many foreigners come to China to adopt abandoned children, many of whom have disabilities. While deeply moved by their compassion, Fan is puzzled: why do so few Chinese Christians adopt children? At the time, Fan was young and new to the church, and he struggled to make sense of this observation. He came to realize later that adoption is considered a disgrace in Chinese culture. In China, when a couple adopts a child, it is often assumed they are unable to have children of their owna condition viewed as a significant issue. Furthermore, traditional Chinese beliefs hold that the relationship between adoptive parents and adopted children is unreliable and unstable, always at risk of breaking down. It makes many adoptive parents concerned that one day their child will discover their origins and leave to search for their biological parents. Alternatively, the biological parents might reappear and demand the childs return. In such scenarios, adoptive parents find themselves in a dilemma. Fan explained that these views are not unique to China but are pervasive throughout the East Asian culture. Under the influence of these traditional views, adoption is often seen as a source of shame and is considered only as a last resort. When adopting, families often hide the childs origins. In traditional Chinese society, adoption in the modern sense was rare. Most adoptions were guoji (succession adoption), which primarily took place among blood relatives. Cultural Prejudice Against Adoption Has Even Influenced Chinese Bible Translations Traditional Chinese cultural views on adoption have left a mark on the translation of the Bible into Chinese. In versions like the Chinese Union Version and the Chinese Contemporary Bible, the term adoption is notably absent. However, the original biblical texts, as well as many English translations, frequently use the word adoption. Historically, due to Chinese cultural aversion to the concept of adoption, translators chose an alternative expression: being granted the status of sonship. In traditional Chinese thought, adopted children lacked formal status, whereas true adoption, in its proper sense, conferred legitimate status. This status includes inheritance rights, recognition as a member of the family, inclusion in genealogical records, and a voice in family decisions. However, in the past, many adopted children in China were denied such status or granted only partial rights. For example, only in rare cases were adopted children allowed inheritance rights, and even then, their shares were significantly smaller than those of biological heirs. Additionally, adopted children were often excluded from family genealogies and ancestral halls. This was a significant issue for many Chinese people in the past and remains so today. Against this backdrop, if missionaries 100 years ago had said, God loves you, so He is willing to adopt you, it might have been perceived as an insult. Such a statement would imply that the individual was an orphanan unwanted childa notion deeply offensive in that cultural context. At the time, adoption carried negative connotations, whereas being granted the status of sonship was a more acceptable and respectful expression. Christians Need to Understand the Biblical Perspective on Adoption In traditional Chinese culture, adoption is often viewed as a disgrace. However, in Christian theology, adoption is considered a noble and loving act. Fan emphasizes the need for people to reshape their understanding of adoption and regain a proper perspective. Most importantly, the church and Christians must cultivate a biblical view of adoption. Fan explains that every Christian becomes a child of God through His act of adoption. First, our relationship with God is one of adoption. Ephesians states: In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will (Ephesians 1:45, NIV). The original text means precisely, He predestined us to be adopted by God. Secondly, God adopts us not because He needs children, but because humanity needs a home. Spiritually speaking, every person is an orphan in need of a family. Lastly, Gods adoption came at a great cost. He paid the ultimate price by giving His one and only Son, Jesus. In making us His children, God bore the full cost, adopting us unconditionally. Only by understanding Gods love can we extend love to orphans and abandoned children. Scripture says, We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19, NIV). Gods love is an adoptive love. We may help a homeless person by giving them money, food, or clothes. We may love a sinner by sharing the gospel and helping them leave a life of sin. But would we welcome them into our family? Fan asks, Would we make them family members? The answer is no for most people because human love is temporary and limited. No family willingly chooses to give birth to a child with disabilities; even biological parents often struggle in such situations. How much less likely, then, are adoptive parents to embrace children with disabilities who are not their flesh and blood? "But thats exactly what God did," Fan indicates, "He adopted ussick, disabled, and unloved. Thats the biblical view of adoption." He contrasts the Old and New Testament eras, summarizing that the Old Testament was the age of the Law, while the New Testament is the age of the Gospel. For example, an employer may tolerate a difficult employee, but if that person were family, it would change everything. This shift reflects the relational difference between the Old and New Testaments. The Apostle Paul repeatedly emphasizes that the Spirit you receive does not make you slaves. Rather, the Spirit you received brings about your adoption to sonship. In ancient times, adoption often meant taking in a child as a servantsomeone who lived in fear of being abandoned or sold if they failed to meet expectations. In contrast, Gods adoption is rooted in love and unconditional acceptance. Without understanding Gods adoptive love, we cannot hope to renew our perspective on adoption or find the strength to love the unlovable. The Chinese Church Should Be the Guardian of Ethical Values Fan has high hopes for the Chinese Church. In todays world, traditional values are crumbling across the globe. Amid this trend, few groups are actively committed to safeguarding moral principles. Can the Chinese Church become the guardian of moral values? Fan asks. We must rise to this responsibilityit is an undeniable duty of the Chinese Church to stand firm in upholding ethical values. In the first century, Christians endured severe persecution under the Roman Empire, yet many adopted abandoned Roman babies. At a time when Rome was marked by moral decay and incapable of establishing a public ethical order, the Church and Christians stepped forward. Their compassionate actions, such as adopting abandoned infants, bore witness to society and set a powerful example. Today, the Church shows similar signs of function. For example, in recent years, some non-Christians have joined churches seeking life partners because the broader community is rife with confusion and falsehoods about marriage. Although the Church has its share of diverse individuals, people still expect that Christians are different. Can the Church embody a new public moral order? Can it establish consensus on basic ethics, such as the nature of marriage and the roles of husbands and wives? For a community to develop a healthy structure, families must first achieve that health. Yet, contemporary notions of family are deeply confused, making it difficult to reach a consensus. The more disordered society becomes, the greater the need for the Church and Christians to take action. (Reposted with permission from China Christian Daily) Marko plays down Colapinto's Red Bull chances Dr Helmut Marko has played down Franco Colapinto's chances of securing a Red Bull race seat in 2025. Franco Colapinto, Qatar GP 2024 Williams It is clear that, despite Sergio Perez's protestations, the Mexican driver's continuing performance struggles could lead to his exit at Red Bull Racing. We lost the constructors' title this year, unless a huge miracle happens, Marko told Viaplay in Qatar. "The employees only get a bonus if we become constructors' champions. So they miss out on a lot of money. It becomes a difficult story for a driver when you lose the support or the faith of the people who work with you, the Austrian ominously added. Marko says a post-Abu Dhabi meeting will decide Perez's fate. Colapinto, 21, has been linked with the seat, or a place at the junior squad RB in the event that Liam Lawson or Yuki Tsunoda is promoted. Marko admits the current RB duo are the most likely candidates, rather than Colapinto, who remains under long-term contract to Williams. I think so, said the Austrian. We need to have the best drivers in our car, but so far the best candidates come from our own talent program. I do not see anyone outside our own program who is available and of a higher level than our own drivers. Colapinto's manager, Jamie Campbell-Walter, hints that the Argentine's chances have been hurt by his series of recent crashes in his Williams. It comes from the pressure of not knowing what your future holds, which is sometimes worse than knowing, he told motorsport-magazin.com. Campbell-Walter also sounds unhappy with Williams, especially when it comes to one particular crash in Brazil. Franco had never driven in the rain, and he asked for rain tyres, he said. "They told him to survive, survive, survive. He also has a whole nation on his shoulders. I can't imagine what that's like. And it's very easy to criticise from the outside. Sky Italia asked Colapinto in Qatar about the rumours linking him with Red Bull and Alpine. I don't know, let's hope, he answered. It's difficult. It's something I'm not looking at right now. But obviously for me it's the most important thing. He also insisted to RTBF that his spate of recent crashes hasn't destroyed his confidence. No. I am confident in what I can do, Colapinto told the Belgian broadcaster. "In Vegas, I felt good, I was confident, I was doing good times. But I found myself in a situation where I had to drive on the limit and brush the walls a little more and unfortunately I got a little too close. But that is part of the learning process. (GMM) Mick Schumacher never got a chance in F1 says Wolff Mick Schumacher "never really got a chance" to show what he can do in Formula 1. Mick Schumacher, Brazilian GP 2022 Haas That's the lament of Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who took the son of the great Michael Schumacher on as a reserve driver in 2023 and 2024 following the demise of his race career with Haas. Mercedes declared in Qatar that Schumacher, 25, has chosen to leave that role after next weekend's Abu Dhabi finale, but also true is that he is almost certainly to be replaced by former team race winner Valtteri Bottas in 2025. The young German will now focus on the WEC with Alpine, including Le Mans. He is a really great young man with the right values, Wolff told Sky Deutschland in Qatar. He is very intelligent, but unfortunately he never really got a chance in Formula 1 with the right environment. Wolff thinks Schumacher has made a very wise decision in deciding to depart the F1 paddock for now. It has come to a point where the constant waiting makes little sense and he now wants to race. He will certainly do that very successfully, the Austrian added. (GMM) Qualifying format needs to change says Alonso Fernando Alonso has renewed his criticism of the weekend format in Formula 1. Fernando Alonso, Qatar GP 2024 Aston Martin Racing The sprint race in Qatar was a notably unexciting affair, with many blaming the sweeping and constant fast corners, making passing very difficult. It's difficult to overtake on this circuit, F1 veteran Alonso, who drives for Aston Martin, told Spanish reporters after the sprint race. But I think the format doesn't help more than the circuit itself, he added. "Because in a qualifying with Q1, Q2 and Q3, the best drivers will always start in front and finish in front. We started 11th and finished 11th. In my opinion, the format needs to be changed. Alonso, 43, has made clear on multiple occasions in the past that he would prefer Formula 1 revert to single-lap qualifying - which was scrapped because it was unpopular with the fans. Well, if you don't want to do a reverse grid, which I guess the best teams especially don't want to, or you don't want to make the qualifying format more interesting - perhaps one lap - then the teams behind won't get many opportunities. Especially on these Saturdays, all we see is a repeat of the first laps of Sunday's grand prix, said Alonso. It's happened now at all of the circuits - only Brazil had a sprint with more position changes and that's because there is more degradation there and more things happen. Alonso is expecting another unexciting affair on Sunday in Qatar. I think it will be similar, with one stop for everyone, he said. But instead of 40 minutes, it will be an hour and a half. So I recommend that people who are thinking of watching, maybe get some food ready, Alonso joked. (GMM) Following a law the state legislature passed this year, Virginias water regulators are beginning a process to identify sources of chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS or forever chemicals, which were found above regulatory limits in drinking water in 28 water systems across the state. The systems include eight from Fauquier and Loudoun counties, with a smattering of results from the rest of the state, including Fairfax County, the Hampton Roads region and Roanoke County in Southwest Virginia. Combined, the systems serve about 2.29 million people, with the Loudoun and Faquier counties systems serving about 360,000. Six systems, consisting of the Loudoun Water Central System, and one in Newport News, Norfolk, Stafford County and Fairfax County, serve about 2.2 million people. A lot of this data has been publicly available for some time so there werent any big surprises, said Carroll Courtenay, a staff attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center. Im glad to see that some water systems took advantage of self-reporting data to DEQ [Department of Environmental Quality] to make sure the PFAS assessment process is as comprehensive as possible. PFAS are found in several household items, including clothing and cookware. Theyre used in firefighting foam because of their tight chemical bond which repels liquid and quells heat. That bond also makes them incredibly difficult to break down once theyre in the environment. Identification DEQ became aware of the drinking water results after a transfer of reporting data from the Virginia Department of Health, as required by legislation from Democratic state Sens. Jeremy McPike of Prince William and Sam Rasoul of Roanoke. The transfer included results from past testing by VDH and results from a test called the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, or UCMR 5, and self-reporting from Loudoun and Fauquier counties. Those results found the level of PFAS to be above the maximum contaminant levels to prevent death and reduce exposure for certain types of PFAS, which is four or 10 parts per trillion. One part per trillion is the equivalent of one drop of water in 20 Olympic-size swimming pools. Voluntary reporting The findings from Fauquier and Loudoun counties were self-reported, which DEQ spokeswoman Irina Calos said is the result of their proactive approach to sampling and voluntarily sharing the data. Ben Shoemaker, executive director at Fauquier County Water and Sanitation Authority, said staff conducted sampling at the countys 48 groundwater wells supplying its system to correct a lab issue with contamination. The testing method for PFAS is similar to other water sampling methods, but since the chemicals are pervasive, its easy for them to transfer from clothing and infiltrate samples, creating false positives. You always have to be careful sampling drinking water. For PFAS, you have to be even more careful, said Shoemaker. Theres a whole set of guidelines out there. The sampling was also done to meet requirements for funding from class action lawsuits to deal with PFAS, Shoemaker said. It cost about $500 per test, meaning it cost about $25,000 to test all their wells. Ben Shoemaker Let's just go sample everything we have. That way we're not guessing, there's no questions. We can find out what we got and we can deal with it. -Ben Shoemaker, executive director of Fauquier County Water and Sanitation Authority Lets just go sample everything we have, Shoemaker said of his agencys reasoning. That way were not guessing, theres no questions. We can find out what we got and we can deal with it. In a similar sense, Loudoun Water, the provider for the Loudoun Water Central System, Beacon Hill-Loudoun County Sanitation Authority and Creighton Farms systems, has worked to understand its situation and provide information on its website for customers. We value coordination with our regional water community to improve our collective understanding of PFAS occurrence, identify sources and how to mitigate it, said Sue Crosby, executive director of communications for Loudoun Water. Assessment Now that the results have been revealed, the law from McPike and Rasoul requires DEQ to evaluate potential sources and notify them to either self-report, self-report and monitor, or just monitor, Calos said, which could be done by relying on past information. Sources of PFAS are typically thought to be manufacturing facilities that discharge them into wastewater and landfills, from which the chemicals can leak without protections like liners. DEQ could use a past voluntary survey it sent out in 2022 to identify PFAS sources, Calos acknowledged, but the 10% response rate was low, and the information is dated. Another potential source is the Danville Northside Wastewater Treatment plant, which the Southern Environmental Law Center rand environmental advisory group Wild Virginia said is known to discharge PFAS. If in surface water, the sources could be anywhere upstream in the watershed, including discharges permitted by DEQ under the VPDES program and/or places where DEQ allows land application for sludge, said David Sligh, conservation director of Wild Virginia. If in groundwater, as is the case for the majority in this list, the source could be anything that happens on the land. The difficulty for groundwater wells, Shoemaker said, is that the source could be biosolids spread on agricultural land as fertilizers or other activity. For example, an explosive car crash could have occurred on a property a decade ago and firefighting foam couldve been used to squelch the fire. PFAS could leak into one well but not another on the same property. The short answer [is] we dont know, Shoemaker said about where the PFAS came from in Fauquier County water. He was surprised the initial results showed exceedances of the chemicals, since the area doesnt have much industrial activity and is pretty rural. The ubiquitous nature of PFAS chemicals is one reason lawmakers crafted the law to require DEQ to identify potential sources, and then prioritize requirements for reporting and monitoring. PFAS Advisory Committee The PFAS Advisory Committee, created by the law and seen as a way to provide oversight of DEQs actions to address PFAS, is now determining the prioritization process for identifying sources. But environmental groups are concerned about their lack of participation so far in that process. The committee is evaluating how other states such as Arizona, North Carolina and Maryland have made assessments, and the public health impacts, drinking water system characteristics, and environmental considerations for potential sources, Calos said. Surface waters are looking at the entire watershed upstream of the water treatment plant, Calos said. For groundwater sources we are looking at a three [mile] radius from the well. The prioritization process is expected to be put into a draft plan and shared with the committee at a Dec. 16 meeting and finalized in January. But absent from the committee is an environmental group, as required by law. DEQ Director Mike Rolband is in charge of making appointments, according to the measure. It is absolutely unacceptable that DEQ has failed to include conservation group representatives on the committee well before the first meeting was held on November 8th, said Sligh, who added that he notified DEQ of his qualifications, which include being a former employee for the state Water Control Board and DEQ who oversaw pollution permits. By that failure, Director Rolband is violating the express command of the statute and I hope legislators will insist that he correct it immediately, Sligh said. In response to the claim, Calos said DEQ consulted with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, James River Association and Southern Environmental Law Center, which led the agency to offer the position to a Duke University professor whom the groups recommended, but she declined the invitation. DEQ has reached back out to these environmental groups to obtain additional recommendations that will be considered, Calos said. DEQ will evaluate the credentials of those individuals recommended and appoint additional members to the committee as needed. The agency has hired two of three additional staff to carry out the legislations goals and will continue its rotating fish tissue sampling to support the identification process, which has already happened in the basins of Tennessee-Big Sandy, Chowan, James, Potomac-Shenandoah, Rappahannock and Roanoke rivers. The New River basin, the York River basin, and the small coastal basin remain to be sampled. This story was originally published in the Virginia Mercury. Wolff defends despondent Lewis Hamilton Toto Wolff has defended Lewis Hamilton, after the seven time world champion frankly admitted that he is simply "slow" in the 2024 Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton, Las Vegas GP 2024 Mercedes Once one of Formula 1's strongest ever qualifiers, the Ferrari-bound Briton's record against George Russell this year is a dire 5-18 - with the gap blowing out to half a second in Qatar. I'm slow - the same every weekend, Hamilton, 39, said. The car has felt relatively decent, no problems. I'm just not fast anymore. When asked if he thinks the situation will improve once he's in a Ferrari and going up against Charles Leclerc, Hamilton added: "I have no idea. At this point I don't care. I'm looking forward to the winter break. Mercedes team boss Wolff, however, played down any interpretation that Hamilton has simply arrived at the point in a F1 driver's career where he starts to lose his edge. He just doesn't like this car, the Austrian told Viaplay in Qatar. In a strong car Lewis can do incredible things, but the development of the car has gone in a direction that he is just not happy with, Wolff added. You can see that he is trying to get more out of it, but it is not how he naturally wants to drive. He wants to be able to steer sharply and brake hard, and that is just not possible now. Mercedes struggled with the 'ground effect'-era cars since 2022, but the inconsistency of performance is something most teams have also grappled with. Max Verstappen, meanwhile, compared his Red Bull with one of his father's rally cars after the sprint sessions - only to go fast enough for pole on Saturday. This Formula 1 is impossible to understand anymore, team advisor Dr Helmut Marko said. In the sprint, Max is in an undriveable car and even overtaken by (Nico) Hulkenberg. Three hours later, he drives to pole position. With the title now in the bag, Verstappen joins Hamilton in looking forward to the end of a very long season. I am happy that it is almost over, said the Dutchman. I am not so much tired, but it is more that I'm living in the dark all the time lately. That was also the case last week in Las Vegas and same for Abu Dhabi. I don't want to say it's depressing, but we all need a bit of sunlight. I'm not a bat." (GMM) Nobody made you judges Afia Ayiwah to critics of divorced gospel acts Gifty Owusu-Amoah Showbiz News Nov - 30 - 2024 , 20:37 3 minutes read GOSPEL artiste, Afia Ayiwah, has clapped back at critics who judge Gospel artistes, especially the females, who have gone through divorce. Her beef is that most of the critics who have no right to sit in judgement over these artistes are always quick to form opinions without knowing details of what might have caused the breakdown of marriages. Speaking with Graphic Showbiz on Tuesday, November 26, Afia Ayiwah, who is married, pointed out that no one was expected to remain in an abusive relationship which could even end in fatality. Marriage is supposed to be enjoyed and not endured. Yes, it gets tough sometimes and you are expected to overcome the challenges. However, when it gets abusive and your mental health is at stake, you need to walk out of the fire. Advertisement Nobody deserves to die because of marriage. As a Christian, Ive read the Bible and I dont know which part of it that states that marriage is a requirement to heaven and that without it, you cant make it to the City of God, she said. Earlier this year, Gospel artiste Ohemaa Mercy was heavily bashed when she disclosed that she was led by God through prayers to divorce her husband. According to Ohemaa, her marriage was taking a toll on her music career, and was in a dilemma to either save it or walk out of her union. She eventually chose the latter which didnt go down well with critics when she openly talked about her divorce a few months ago. (Read also: Dancehall isn't the enemy of Ghana's music industry, says Stonebwoy, Its difficult not to cheat in marriage Mr. Macaroni) Afia Ayiwah explained that Gospel artistes were human beings with feelings too and shouldnt be dragged when they take bold decisions to save their mental well-being and in some case, their lives. When a secular artiste's marriage is on the rocks, people dont make much of it and even tend to overlook it. But when a gospel artistes marriage ends, it becomes such a big deal. Thats how I see it. As a Christian, the Bible requires that there should be peace in a marriage, but I believe if its not working, you can walk out of it. Why should you risk your life, mental health because of marriage? Sometimes, people spread false information without knowing the facts. They dont even understand what led to the collapse of the union, yet they put out unverified stories just to taint the artistes reputation, she stated. Omotola Jalade in hospital bed, battles life threatening illness Gifty Owusu-Amoah Showbiz News Nov - 30 - 2024 , 23:59 2 minutes read Famous Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, has opened up about her battle with a life threatening illness. In a recent post on Instagram, the 46-year-old disclosed in a video that she has survived a surgery to remove her gallbladder. While expressing gratitude to God, Omolola said have you been told by the doctor that theres nothing more we can do at this time? And you still feel like you are dying. She wrote: Please, join me as I thank God for Life and Good health. ( so my first caption didnt post and this is another not as passionate as the first one ) arghhh Advertisement Have you been told by a Doctor Theres Nothing more we can do at this time ? And you still feel like youre dying ? A Read . As you know by now, I had been getting my Films ready and After the days edit, I proceeded for the Academy Voting Members viewing of the Gladiator 11 . but all through the viewing , I could not sit up you see , I had been rushed to the ER twice that week already for back - chest pains that would come intensely and leave the Next day ! The doctors were checking for my now Hbp and intense Acid reflux ! On the second admission the Doctor gave all the Drips , blood work and sent me home to manage ? Luckily it left |However after the movie , I knew there will be No talks with Denzel or Ridley Scott today. I needed to go! I threw up all Night till there was Nothing to throw up anymore . By Morning the Most Dilapidating Stomach pain started and so I was rushed Again to Emergency the Third time ! This time , I was wheeled in , straight for a CT scan , Ultrasound and the MRI . Then the Doctor came in and said you have to go in immediately for Surgery! to Remove your Gall-gladder !!! It was so Dilated, the Doctors wandered how I was not in more pain. More pain???!| See post below: Next article: Mahama or Bawumia: Who is taking Ghana to Africas Tourism Elite? Ewando D/A School pupils endure snake bites, injuries, and academic disruptions due to poor infrastructure Simon Unyan Features Dec - 01 - 2024 , 10:47 4 minutes read In the rural community of Ewando in the Kpandai District of Ghana's Northern Region, pupils of Ewando D/A Basic School face daily struggles far beyond the usual challenges of education. Their makeshift school, a crumbling thatched structure with broken walls and a leaking grass roof, exemplifies the educational disparities between urban and rural Ghana. Despite the 1992 Constitution's promise to provide quality education for all, Ewando D/A School, which caters to 320 pupilsincluding 60 in the Junior High School (JHS) sectionis plagued by poor infrastructure, inadequate furniture, and dangerous conditions that regularly disrupt learning. Learning environment that endangers pupils The school operates in six classrooms constructed from broken sticks and grass, unable to withstand the region's harsh weather. Heavy rains and extreme heat frequently halt lessons, causing students to miss up to three classes a week and leaving them struggling to keep up with their syllabus. Advertisement Monica Donkor, a final-year student and Girls' Prefect, shared her frustrations: "When it rains at night, the roof leaks and the floors flood, making it impossible to concentrate during class. Sometimes, we dont even meet for class three times a week, and this leaves us falling behind on our syllabus. We're supposed to be preparing for B.E.C.E., but it feels like were getting nowhere." The conditions also pose significant dangers. Pupils are often required to repair the school building themselves by gathering grass and sticks, exposing them to injury. Talon Yabicha Elliott, a Basic Six pupil, described their perilous task: "Weve been bitten by snakes and injured by cutlasses while trying to fix the building. It's a dangerous task for children our age." The lack of proper facilities has already caused serious incidents. During one repair effort, the thatched roof collapsed, injuring five students. Call for urgent action The community is calling for urgent intervention. Mr. Gbepi Sanja, chairman of the School Management Committee (SMC), voiced his frustrations over the lack of progress since the school was officially absorbed by the government in 2014: "Since the government took over, nothing has changed. Last year, we had two snake bites, and this year, one. What does this say about the governments commitment to our childrens safety? We pay taxes, we vote in national elections, but what has that done for us? Our childrens well-being seems to be of little importance." Mr. Sanja also highlighted other challenges: "We have fewer than 30 desks for over 300 students, and only seven permanent teachers. Its incredibly difficult for both students and teachers to work effectively under these conditions." Symptom of rural Ghanas educational Ewando D/A Schools plight is not unique. Across rural Ghana, schools face similar issues, including overcrowded classrooms, a lack of qualified teachers, and inadequate teaching materials. While Ghana remains committed to achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 4ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for allthese systemic failures continue to hinder progress. For the children of Ewando D/A School, the absence of proper infrastructure undermines their academic performance and future opportunities. Their call for improved facilities and safe learning environments is a cry for justice for students in underserved areas nationwide. Way forward The pupils, teachers, and the local community are appealing to the government, the Ministry of Education, and organisations such as the MTN Foundation and Members of Parliament for immediate support. Their request is for the construction of a modern school building equipped with basic necessities to create a conducive learning environment. Without urgent action, these children will remain trapped in a cycle of neglect. They hope that their cries for help will be heard and that one day, Ewando D/A Basic School will be transformed from a symbol of abandonment into a beacon of hope and opportunity for a better future. Next article: 10 key issues of consideration towards building the Ghana we want: A call to action for the December 7, 2024 Elections How Joyce Bawah Mogtari sees the man John Dramani Mahama Joyce Bawah Mogtari Opinion Dec - 01 - 2024 , 11:43 3 minutes read Let me share something extraordinary about the humanity, alluring personality and leadership of the man John Dramani Mahama. Over the past several months, we have engaged diligently with the voter population throughout our beloved country. Now in the 15th region and approaching the conclusion of what has been a masterfully orchestrated campaign, we have confidently shared our message of hope and advocated for change with optimism and purpose. Mahamas ability to connect with people is unparalleled. This mainly stems from his fluency in multiple Ghanaian languages, including Twi, Ga, Hausa, Dagbani and Gonja his native tongue. His linguistic dexterity enables him to communicate effectively across a diverse mix of Ghanaians and makes him relatable and deeply respected. From region to constituency, his rallies consistently draw large crowds, and influence a new generation of young politicians and volunteers from around the world. Brand Today, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) brand is stronger and better positioned for victory under Mahamas leadership. As a seasoned communicator, he exemplifies Political Communication 101 at its finest. His calm and composed demeanour, paired with a semi-casual but firm communication style, makes him approachable yet authoritative. Advertisement Mahamas strongest attributes his humility, strategic insight and openness to diverse perspectives are strongly evident in his interactions. Passion One thing that I have come to appreciate is the fact that notwithstanding his willingness to listen intently and his ability to process information with clarity and in real time, he will always have the last word, summarize his words and state very clearly his position on specific issues. But what truly sets Mahama apart is his humility and passion for fresh ideas and this is irrespective of their source. His ability to distill complex issues into simple, compelling narratives is unmatched. Whether addressing development, democracy or critical sectors such as the economy, education, agriculture or infrastructure, Mahama communicates with depth and command. His passion for Ghanas progress remains the driving force behind his bid to lead once more. As one of his closest aides, Ive witnessed firsthand his dedication to excellence. From strategic discussions to casual moments like serving him coffee, Mahama consistently surrounds himself with intelligent, talented individuals. His decisiveness, whether saying yes or no, is delivered without hesitation, reflecting a leader who is both pragmatic and principled. Campaign Beyond policy and rhetoric, Mahamas campaign style is always well-intentioned and authentic. His carefully curated apparel of vivid colours which exudes confidence, mirrors his dynamic and versatile leadership. Over the past six months, he has traversed the political terrain with finesse, showcasing his unmatched ability as both a statesman serving Ghanas interest and the NDCs best spokesperson. His campaign engagements have been nothing short of phenomenal. The energy, interest and enthusiasm generated across the grassroots and broader public are ample proof of his dynamic leadership. Whether through humour, references to literature, history, or popular songs, Mahamas nuanced communication style resonates deeply with diverse audiences. His speeches, backed by solid data and facts, strike a balance between intellect and accessibility, leaving lasting impressions on all who listen. Qualities John Dramani Mahama embodies the qualities of a quintessential progressive leader. His vision for Ghana is bold, intentional and inclusive. He is a man who is determined to build the nation we all want and ensure shared prosperity. As we approach the decisive moment in this campaign, it is clear: few leaders can match his charisma, strategic insight and dogged commitment to Ghanas development. The writer is a Special Aide to NDC Presidential candidate, John Mahama and Spokesperson, Mahama 2024 Campaign. Next article: US President Biden makes historic first visit to Africa Previous article: Trump threatens 100% tariff on Brics nations if they try to replace dollar Kash Patel: Trump picks loyalist ex-aide as FBI director bbc.com International News Dec - 01 - 2024 , 09:57 4 minutes read US President-elect Donald Trump has picked a former aide, Kash Patel, to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation, an agency Patel has often criticised. A former US defence department chief of staff in the first Trump administration, Patel has been a steadfast supporter of the incoming Republican president. For Patel to take the job, the current FBI director Christopher Wray would need to resign or be fired - although Trump did not call on him to do so in his post. Separately, Trump said he plans to nominate Chad Chronister, sheriff of Florida's Hillsborough County, as head of the Drug Enforcement Agency. Advertisement Patel and Chronister join Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi in filling out Trump's law enforcement picks. Also on Saturday, Trump announced he had has selected Charles Kushner to be ambassador to France. Mr Kushner is a real-estate developer and the father of Jared Kushner, husband of his daughter Ivanka Trump. The nomination appears to be the first administration position that Trump has formally offered to a relative since his re-election. All three choices will have to be confirmed by a majority vote in the US Senate. Patel is Trump loyalist who shares the president-elect's suspicion of government institutions. "Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and 'America First' fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending justice, and protecting the American people," Trump posted on Truth Social, his social media platform, adding that Patel was "an advocate for truth, accountability, and the constitution". His past proposals have included dramatically limiting the FBIs authority. In his memoir, Government Gangsters, Patel called for an eradication of what he called "government tyranny" within the FBI by firing "the top ranks. Patel would replace current FBI director Christopher Wray, who Trump appointed in 2017 for a 10-year term. But Wray fell out of favour with the president elect when the FBI assisted with a federal probe into Trump's handling of classified records, a case that has since been dropped. In a statement following Trump's announcement, the FBI said: "Every day, the men and women of the FBI continue to work to protect Americans from a growing array of threats. "Director Wray's focus remains on the men and women of the FBI, the people we do the work with, and the people we do the work for." The son of Indian immigrants, Patel is a former defence lawyer and federal prosecutor who caught Trumps eye after he became a senior counsel to the House of Representatives intelligence committee in 2017. He was hired by Trump as a national security aide in 2019 and a year later was appointed chief of staff to the head of the Pentagon. As well as his 2023 memoir, he has published two pro-Trump childrens books. One of the titles, The Plot Against the King, features a villain, Hillary Queenton, trying to depose King Donald, who is aided by a wizard called Kash the Distinguished Discoverer. Another villain is called Keeper Komey - a thinly-veiled reference to former FBI Director James Comey - and his spying slugs, according to the books blurb. Patel has often railed against the so-called deep state, which some Americans believe is an unelected bureaucratic machine that secretly runs the country for sinister purposes. Patel has also excoriated the media, which he has called the most powerful enemy the United States has ever seen. He is also on the board of Trump Media and Technology Group, which owns the incoming presidents social media platform Truth Social. Patel reportedly has had a consulting contract with the company that paid him at least $120,000 a year. Chronister also comes with a long background in law enforcement. He has worked in law enforcement in Florida for 32 years, according to his official bio, and he has served as the top law enforcement officer in Hillsborough County, Florida, since 2017. On social media, Trump praised Chronister's experience and reiterated his focus on drugs and the US border. "As DEA Administrator, Chad will work with our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to secure the border, stop the flow of fentanyl, and other illegal drugs, across the southern border, and SAVE LIVES", Trump wrote. Writing on social media, Chronister said it was "the honor of a lifetime to be nominated" by Trump. "I am deeply humbled by this opportunity to serve our nation." US President Biden makes historic first visit to Africa www.voanews.com International News Dec - 01 - 2024 , 08:19 3 minutes read THE WHITE HOUSE U.S. President Joe Biden is "excited" to make his first trip to the African continent next week and will first stop briefly in the small island nation of Cabo Verde before making landfall in the Southwest African nation of Angola, a top White House official told VOA Friday. "He is excited and really looking forward to the trip," Frances Brown, senior director for African affairs at the National Security Council, told VOA at the White House. "I think the president really sees this as a way to sum up all that he's tried to put forward during this administration on our Africa strategy." While there, she said, he will work on three objectives: on bolstering regional security, notably in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo; on growing economic opportunities in the region; and on improving technological and scientific cooperation. "He sees Angola as the perfect place for this," she said. Advertisement Some analysts say the fulfillment of Biden's vow to visit Africa made in 2022 is well overdue. Biden originally planned to visit Angola in October; he postponed that trip because Hurricane Milton was bearing down on the eastern United States. "I think coming, as it does, at the very tail end of his administration, without much to, I think, really celebrate in terms of his involvement in Africa, that I think the visit will ring rather hollow," Cameron Hudson, a senior fellow in the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told VOA. The main attraction of the short visit is a major U.S.-financed development project: the 1,300-kilometer Lobito rail corridor, which connects the mineral-rich African interior to the southwestern port. The U.S. says it has pulled together more than $4 billion in U.S. investment on the project. When asked by VOA if Biden will attempt to discuss Angola's many documented human rights problems, Brown repeated a refrain often voiced by Biden administration officials, saying: "he never shies away from talking about democracy and human rights issues with counterparts." The short stop in the island nation of Cabo Verde could be seen as a way to balance this concern, Michael Walsh, a visiting researcher at the Lasky Center of the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, told VOA. "They're trying to, you know, add a stop that provides an opportunity for the Biden administration to say, look, we actually are visiting a flawed democracy as well as a hybrid regime," he said. He added, "That provides them with an opportunity to try to, I guess, mitigate some of the criticism that would be forthcoming during the visit by saying that the Biden administration isn't just stopping in one African country. They actually stopped in two and one of those is on the other side of the democracy spectrum." Angola's president, Joao Lourenco, is a prominent figure on the African continent, using his status as leader of a subcontinental oil giant to build his influence and to work to settle conflicts near and far, both in neighboring Congo and in the West African "coup belt." This, Brown said, ties into one of Biden's core beliefs as he prepares to leave office: That the U.S. sees African nations as partners and problem-solvers. While there, she said, Biden plans to deliver remarks on how he sees the future of relations between Washington and the continent. "I think he wants to leave behind his recognition that African leadership for solving some of these challenges is essential, and that's why he'll be amplifying Angola's role mediating in the Democratic Republic of Congo and elsewhere," she said. "And I think he wants to convey the remarkable evolution of the U.S.-Angolan partnership, which is in many ways the story of the remarkable evolution of the U.S.-African relationship over many centuries." Ghana waives pre-approval for visa-on-arrival during December in GH 2024 GraphicOnline Dec - 01 - 2024 , 15:17 2 minutes read In a move to boost tourism and enhance the travel experience, the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has announced the waiver of the pre-approval requirement for visas-on-arrival from December 1, 2024, to January 15, 2025. The initiative is part of the countrys celebrated December in GH campaign under the broader Beyond the Return programme. The policy, aimed at simplifying entry into Ghana, is expected to attract an influx of global travellers eager to experience the countrys vibrant cultural offerings, festivals, and events during the holiday season. The directive to implement the waiver was issued on November 28, 2024, by the Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah. Airlines have been instructed to update their systems to reflect the new policy, ensuring a seamless travel experience for visitors. Advertisement This visa waiver underscores Ghanas commitment to fostering cultural exchange and strengthening ties with the global African community. It also aligns with the governments vision to position Ghana as a leading global destination for tourism and investment. "The pre-approval waiver exemplifies Ghanas commitment to welcoming the African diaspora and international visitors, ensuring a smoother, more accessible travel experience," the GTA stated on its website. Mr. Akwasi Agyeman, CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, highlighted the importance of the new visa regime: "We urge travellers to take advantage of this exceptional opportunity and fully immerse themselves in the exciting December in GH festivities." The December in GH campaign features a dynamic calendar of officially endorsed events designed to attract visitors keen on exploring Ghanas rich arts, culture, and heritage. Since its inception in 2019, the campaign has become a cornerstone of Ghanas tourism drive, drawing thousands of travellers from across the globe each year. Reconnecting the African family December in GH serves as a rallying point for the global African family, offering an opportunity for reconnection and celebration. By waiving the visa pre-approval requirement, Ghana is making a bold statement about its openness and hospitality, ensuring that visitors from all corners of the world feel welcome. With the visa-on-arrival policy and a packed calendar of festivities, Ghana is set to cement its position as a top holiday destination this season. Next article: Man arrested for beating, stripping his mother naked for hating his wife LIST: These 20 hospitals will provide free dialysis from December 1, 2024, in Ghana Kweku Zurek Dec - 01 - 2024 , 13:26 3 minutes read The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has officially launched its national free dialysis programme, with 20 accredited health facilities set to provide free dialysis services across Ghana starting today. The NHIS initiative, which follows a successful six-month pilot phase, will offer kidney patients registered under the scheme access to up to eight free dialysis sessions per month at participating facilities. The programme aims to alleviate the financial burden on patients and families, with each session valued at GH491. NHIAs commitment to accessible healthcare In a statement, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) outlined its commitment to ensuring the successful rollout of the programme: "The NHIA is pleased to announce the official commencement of the national free dialysis programme today, December 1, 2024, in NHIA-credentialed facilities. All participating facilities have received letters of commencement, ensuring the smooth implementation of this critical service." Advertisement The NHIA has also confirmed the release of GH200 million for claims to healthcare facilities across the country for September and October 2024, part of its GH1 billion commitment over the past two months to support healthcare providers. Participating hospitals The 20 hospitals providing free dialysis from December 1 include: 1. Hart Adventist Hospital (Ashanti Region) 2. Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (Ashanti Region) 3. FirstCare Hospital (Ashanti Region) 4. Holy Family Hospital, Berekum (Bono Region) 5. Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (Central Region) 6. Eastern Regional Hospital (Eastern Region) 7. Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (Greater Accra Region) 8. 37 Military Hospital (Greater Accra Region) 9. Newtown Islamic Hospital Ltd (Greater Accra Region) 10. Ghana Police Hospital (Greater Accra Region) 11. Trust Hospital Premium Centre (Greater Accra Region) 12. Ridge Regional Hospital (Greater Accra Region) 13. International Maritime Hospital (Greater Accra Region) 14. Tamale Teaching Hospital (Northern Region) 15. Regional Hospital, Bolgatanga (Upper East Region) 16. Upper West Regional Hospital (Upper West Region) 17. Ho Teaching Hospital (Volta Region) 18. Volta Regional Hospital, Hohoe (Volta Region) 19. Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital (Western Region) 20. Takoradi Hospital (Western Region) Support from stakeholders The NHIA has worked in partnership with healthcare providers, dialysis unit leaders, the Private Health Association, and the leadership of the Dialysis Patient Group to ensure a seamless rollout. The government, supported by the World Bank, has procured 45 dialysis machines, seven of which have already been delivered, with 23 currently being cleared and 15 on order. "To enhance this initiative, the government, in partnership with the World Bank, has secured 45 dialysis machines nationwide... More of such facilities will be procured in the coming years to ensure continued service delivery to patients," the NHIA statement added. Impact of free dialysis programme The free dialysis programme is expected to benefit approximately 1,200 patients nationwide and will cost an estimated GH57 million annually. Patients are advised to report any charges for dialysis services, as participating facilities are required to refund such payments in full. The statement signed by the NHIA Chief Executive, Dr Da-Costa Aboagye, expressed gratitude to stakeholders for their cooperation and reaffirmed the Authoritys dedication to ensuring quality healthcare for all: "The NHIA remains committed to ensuring the availability of quality healthcare services for all Ghanaians, and we will continue to work collaboratively with all partners to build a sustainable and efficient healthcare system." With this initiative, the NHIA and its partners aim to provide critical support to kidney patients while strengthening Ghanas healthcare infrastructure. President Akufo-Addo presents aviator wing badges to 12 new pilots GraphicOnline Dec - 01 - 2024 , 15:59 3 minutes read President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has at the 2024 Wings Parade, presented Aviator Wings or Air Crew Badges and Awards to twelve pilots at the the Ghana Air Force Base. The new pilots who received their honours upon completion of the requisite training, are Flt. Lt. Christopher Yaw Asuka, Flt. Lt. Wisdom Seshie Deku, Flt. Lt. Akrashie Appoe, Fg Offr Papa kojo Ayensu Abrokwa, Fg Offr Manaen Twum Ampadu and Fg Offr Isaac Tuobewere Tanle. The rest are Flt. Lt. Abdul-Baasit Salifu, Flt Lt. Michael Adjei-Banin, Flt Lt. Obil Paa Kwesi Grant, Fg Offr. Selase Akotia, Fg Offr. David Afo-Kangah and Fg Offr Julius Etroo. Attending in his capacity as the reviewing officer, President Akufo-Addo, said upon the culmination of the rigorous journey of the new pilots, the country is reminded of the Ghana Air Force's indispensable role in safeguarding our sovereignty and advancing the developmental aspirations of our beloved nation and charged the new Wing Officers to make our Ghana Air Force an enduring symbol of strength, resilience and progress. Advertisement You carry with you the hopes and expectations of a grateful nation. The path ahead will not be without its challenges, but I am confident that you will rise to the occasion with courage, integrity and an unyielding commitment to our great Republic, he said. Commending the accomplishment of the new officers as not merely a reflection of their technical and professional prowess, he said, it is proof of your perseverance, resilience and unyielding commitment to excellence. He touched on governments unshaken commitment to the retooling and modernisation of the Ghana Armed Forces to ensure that they are equipped to execute their mandate with precision and efficiency. In recent years, he said, we have prioritized investments in the Armed Forces, with specific attention to enhancing the operational capacity of the Ghana Air Force. The refurbishment of our fleet, coupled with the planned procurement of advanced fighter aircraft, represents an impressive stride toward realising the vision of a Smart Air Forcean Air Force poised to defend our territorial airspace with unmatched capability, while contributing meaningfully to national development, he added. The President lauded the contribution of the Air Force aside their military mandate, in areas of disaster relief, search and rescue operations, and support for critical national infrastructure, and underscored its versatility and value to our nation. He noted their collaboration the Air Forces collaboration with entities, such as the Volta River Authority and Ghana Gas as instrumental in safeguarding Ghanas energy infrastructure and the consistent demonstration of its commitment to democracy by facilitating the seamless transport of personnel and electoral materials during national elections. Flt. Lt. Christopher Yaw Asuka, received the Speed Bird Trophy, for attaining the highest standard in flying and airmanship, and the JE Barnor Award for being the officer with the most outstanding flying skills on the rotary wing aircraft. Flt. Lt. Abdul-Baasit Salifu, also received the JA Bruce Award, which is also presented to the officer with the most outstanding flying skills on the fixed wing aircraft. Next article: LIST: These 20 hospitals will provide free dialysis from December 1, 2024, in Ghana Ras Mubarak: Former MP sues MTN Ghana for $5million Kweku Zurek Dec - 01 - 2024 , 14:12 3 minutes read Former Member of Parliament for Kumbungu and ex-Chief Executive of the National Youth Authority, Abdulai Mohammed Mubarak alias Ras Mubarak, has filed a lawsuit against leading telecommunications company MTN Ghana (Scancom PLC) at the High Court in Accra. Mubarak is seeking $5 million in damages for what he describes as the telecommunications giants failure to provide him with roaming services during an international business trip. The suit, filed on November 27, 2024, outlines the former MPs grievances, alleging breach of contract, reputational damage, and financial loss due to MTN Ghanas inability to activate its roaming service despite prior arrangements. Details of the claim In his statement of claim, Mubarak asserts that he had relied on MTNs services for over two decades to conduct business, manage personal affairs, and fulfil family obligations both locally and internationally. Advertisement Before embarking on a business trip in September 2024 to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, Mubarak activated MTNs roaming service. However, upon arrival at his first destination, he discovered he could not access the network. "I attempted to access my mobile phone service many times without success, making it impossible to receive calls, send or receive SMS, and access internet data service," Mubarak stated in the court filing. He further alleged that MTN Ghanas failure to resolve the issue despite multiple complaints caused him immense hardship. "The disruption occasioned by the Defendant's failure... caused immeasurable damage to my business, including loss of business opportunities and severe reputational injury," Mubarak said. The former MP also detailed how the service failure left his family stranded as he could not receive one-time passwords (OTPs) for financial transactions. "I was forced to practically go begging for funds from employees and associates to honour my responsibilities towards my family and businesses," Mubarak added. Demands for compensation Mubaraks suit seeks several reliefs, including: - $1 million as damages for breach of contract. - $4 million for hardship, inconvenience, and reputational injury. - Interest on the amounts awarded at commercial bank lending rates. - Full indemnity for the cost of the action, including attorneys fees. He also called for a declaration from the court that MTN Ghanas failure to provide roaming services constituted a breach of contract. The court filings reveal that MTN Ghana issued an apology dated October 17, 2024, after Mubaraks lawyers sent a demand notice seeking compensation. However, Mubarak criticised the apology as inadequate, describing it as dismissive of the gravity of his ordeal. "The Defendant offered a mere waiver of my post-paid bill for September as compensation, trivialising the extent and duration of my ordeal," Mubarak claimed. Despite further correspondence from his lawyers, Mubarak stated that MTN Ghana failed to address his concerns, prompting him to file the lawsuit. "Having exhausted all options to amicably resolve my grievances... I am fortified in my opinion that the Defendant will continue to ignore or trivialise my ordeal unless compelled by the orders of this Honourable Court to compensate me," he said. Mubaraks Facebook statement Following the filing of the lawsuit, Mubarak took to Facebook to explain his decision: "I sued MTN Ghana (Scancom PLC LTD) yesterday at the High Court of Justice, praying the Honourable Court awards compensation in the sum of $5 million USD for damages caused by MTNs inability to offer services. Before initiating the suit, my lawyers had given MTN Ghana reasonable time to offer an apology and reasonable compensation, but alas, they dithered. Never must we allow big corporations to take customers for granted." Bawumia pledges to empower Ghanaian youth with digital skills GraphicOnline Politics Dec - 01 - 2024 , 11:52 2 minutes read Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has reaffirmed his commitment to creating job opportunities for Ghanaian youth by equipping them with digital skills. Speaking to a crowd of young Ghanaians at a community connect event in Koforidua on Saturday, Dr. Bawumia unveiled his flagship proposal to train one million youth in digital skills to prepare them for global opportunities. "There are so many jobs and opportunities in the digital space; that is why I want to give 1 million Ghanaian youth training in digital skills," Dr. Bawumia said, stressing the need for Ghanaian youth to capitalise on the burgeoning digital economy. Opportunities beyond borders Dr. Bawumia highlighted the transformative potential of digital training, noting that it would open up avenues for employment both locally and internationally. Advertisement "With training in digital skills, you can sit here in Koforidua and work for any company here in Ghana and even abroad. This is the direction the world is going, so I want to prepare our youth to benefit from the immense opportunities of the digital space," he explained. Believing in the ingenuity of Ghanaian youth, Dr Bawumia emphasised the need to support them in navigating the global digital landscape. "It will open more opportunities for them both in Ghana and abroad, and I believe in the ingenuity of the Ghanaian youth, so we have to support them," he added. Making digital tools accessible As part of his vision for a digitally skilled Ghanaian workforce, Dr. Bawumia reiterated his plan to eliminate taxes on mobile phones to make them more affordable. He explained that this policy would ensure that the youth have access to the tools they need to thrive in the digital economy. "With the work we are doing, the digitalisation and the work we want to do with the youth, taxes on mobile phones ought to go, and I will take them off to make mobile phones cheaper and more affordable in Ghana," Dr. Bawumia promised. Bawumia pledges to remove mobile phone taxes to make them cheaper in Ghana GraphicOnline Politics Dec - 01 - 2024 , 11:58 2 minutes read Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has reaffirmed his commitment to eliminating taxes on mobile phones to reduce their cost and make them more accessible to Ghanaians. Addressing a massive crowd in Koforidua during his tour of the Eastern Region, Dr Bawumia highlighted the critical role mobile phones play in a digitised economy and stressed the need for citizens to have affordable access to such essential tools. "One of the things I want to do as President, by the grace of God, is to remove taxes on mobile phones," he said. "We will remove the taxes so that the cost of mobile phones in Ghana will be cheaper." Dr. Bawumia added that this policy aligns with his broader vision for digital transformation and youth empowerment. "With the work we are doing, the digitalisation, and the work we want to do with the youth, taxes on mobile phones ought to go, and I will take them off to make mobile phones cheaper and more affordable in Ghana," he promised. Advertisement Advancing Ghanas digital revolution Dr. Bawumia, widely credited with spearheading Ghanas digital transformation over the past eight years, reiterated his intention to elevate the countrys digitalisation efforts to unprecedented heights if elected President. He has outlined an ambitious plan to position Ghana as Africas digital hub. Central to this vision is a proposal to train one million Ghanaian youth in digital skills, equipping them with the expertise needed to access global opportunities in the digital space. This commitment, he noted, reflects his belief in the transformative potential of technology to create jobs, boost economic growth, and enhance the quality of life for Ghanaians. Previous article: We have to chase the 'elephant' back into the bush - Mahama to voters in Kumasi [VIDEO] Go for change, Mahama to voters in Ashanti Region Kester Aburam Korankye Politics Dec - 01 - 2024 , 12:46 3 minutes read The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential Candidate, John Dramani Mahama has urged the electorate in the Ashanti Region to reflect on their current living conditions and vote him back to power to reset the country and position the economy on the path of growth. Mr Mahama outlined a number of challenges faced by Ghanaians, including high unemployment, economic hardships, and widespread dissatisfaction with the state of the nation as reason for voters in the region to reconsider their voting pattern on December 7, 2024. The last eight years have been tough for many of you due to rising cost of living, lack of jobs, and mismanagement of the economy has left families struggling to make ends meet. Im asking you to vote not out of fear or for material gain but based on the realities of your lives, Mr Mahama said to an enthusiastic crowd at Kofiase in the Mampong Constituency on Saturday [Nov 30]. Ashanti tour The former president kicked off his campaign in the Ashanti Region on Saturday with a courtesy call on the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, in a meeting that was held behind closed doors. Advertisement The region, a strong hold of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and crucial battleground in Ghana's presidential election is the last among the 16 regions in the country that Mr Mahama is visiting on his nationwide campaign tour. Mr Mahama is expected to spend six days in the region. On Saturday, the campaign team held mini campaign rallies in Ejura in the Ejura-Sekyedumase constituency and Wiamoase in the Afigya Kwabre East constituency, and engaged with communities in Kofiase in the Mampong constituency, Nsuta in the Nsuta/Kwamang/Beposo constituency, Ahenkro in the Afigya Kwabre North constituency, and Buoho in the Afigya Kwabre South constituency. The NDC is seeking to make inroads in the Ashanti Region, which has traditionally been voting more for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) since 1992. Mr Mahama's campaign is focused on winning over voters who are dissatisfied with the current state of the economy and are looking for change. Farmers service centre In Ejura, Mr Mahama criticised Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for failing to sustain the agricultural growth achieved under his administration, which he said has led to increased hunger and poverty. The economy we handed over to them was far better than what we are experiencing today, they have failed to sustain growth in agriculture, and their policies have left farmers neglected and struggling, he said. With Ejura Sekyedumase being a food-producing constituency, Mr Mahama said the NDCs proposed Farmers Service Centre initiative aimed at ensuring growth in the agricultural sector would be established to particularly help farmers to scale up. This constituency is known for its food-growing potential, yet the current government has turned its back on farmers. That is why I am here to remind you of my vision for agriculture and to assure you that the NDC will do better for farmers, he said. Read also: NDC supporters 'flood' Kumasi streets for "Enti Asanteman aseda ni" walk NDC supporters 'flood' Kumasi streets for 'Enti Asanteman aseda ni' walk Kester Aburam Korankye Politics Dec - 01 - 2024 , 11:36 2 minutes read Supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ashanti region on Sunday morning marched in Kumasi to welcome John Dramani Mahama, who is on a tour of the Ashanti Region as part of the 2024 election campaign. Dubbed "Enti Asanteman aseda ni" walk, it was aimed at stressing the call of the NDC for a change of government and a shift from the Ashanti Regions voting pattern on December 7 election. Clad in NDC-branded T-shirts, amidst the chanting of slogans and singing of songs in support of John Mahama's 2024 presidential bid and with the sound of vuvuzelas filling the air, the march was expected to end at the Kumasi Jubliee Park. Activities After the Jubilee Park activity, former President Mahama will proceed to Akumadan in the Offinso North constituency for a community engagement. The NDC will also hold a mini campaign durbar at Offinso Denkyi in the Offinso South constituency. Advertisement Later, Mr Mahama will engage with the Barekese community in the Atwima Nwabiagya North constituency. He will also meet with supporters in Nyinahin in the Atwima Mponua constituency. Finally, the Kwanwoma community will welcome Mr Mahama in the Atwima Kwanwoma constituency. The former president kicked off his campaign in the Ashanti Region on Saturday with a courtesy call on the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, in a meeting. The region, a strong hold of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and crucial battleground in Ghana's presidential election is the last among the 16 regions in the country that Mr Mahama is visiting on his nationwide campaign tour. Mr Mahama is expected to spend six days in the region with a packed itinerary. Opoku-Agyemang: Police launch investigation into attack on NDC running mate's convoy Kweku Zurek Politics Dec - 01 - 2024 , 11:24 2 minutes read The Ghana Police Service has launched an investigation into an incident involving the convoy of Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, running mate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), during her campaign in the Eastern Region. In a statement issued on Sunday, December 1, the Police confirmed that the incident occurred on Friday, November 29, 2024, along the Akosombo-Accra Highway, between Akuse and Kpong. "Preliminary Police report indicates that the incident occurred between Akuse and Kpong, along the Akosombo-Accra Highway in the Eastern Region, when a dispatch rider from the opposite direction allegedly threw an object at the windscreen of a vehicle in the running mate's convoy, causing damage to the windscreen," the statement revealed. Commitment to safety The incident has raised concerns about the safety of political figures as Ghana prepares for the December 7 general election. The police assured the public of their dedication to maintaining safety and order during the election period. Advertisement "We would like to assure the public that the matter will be thoroughly investigated as we are committed to ensuring the safety of all persons before, during and after the 2024 General Elections," the Police Service emphasised. According to the police, efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the individual responsible for the attack. They have promised that the perpetrator will face full legal consequences once captured. The incident has sparked discussions about the security of political convoys and the need for enhanced measures to safeguard political leaders and their teams on the campaign trail. As the investigation continues, the Police Service has urged the public to remain calm and cooperate with law enforcement to ensure a peaceful election season. Next article: This is why the Electoral Commission recalled ballot papers for reprinting in the Western and Eastern Regions Philadelphia Church Founder prays for Dr. Bawumias victory in December 7 Elections GraphicOnline Politics Dec - 01 - 2024 , 21:41 1 minute read The founder and leader of the Philadelphia Church of Ghana, Stephen Adom Kyei-Duah, has fervently prayed for Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, ahead of Saturdays elections. Dr Bawumia, who is in the Ashanti Region to conclude his campaign tour, visited the popular church in Kumasi on Sunday. Accompanied by his Running Mate, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, and several prominent members of the NPP, Dr Bawumia received an enthusiastic welcome from the churchs large congregation. Heartfelt gesture remembered Before leading the intercessory prayers, Pastor Adom Kyei-Duah shared a personal story about Dr Bawumias kindness during his fathers funeral. "Dr Bawumia surprised me with a busload of items to support my fathers funeral," he recounted, describing the Vice President as a man of remarkable character. Prayers for favour and victory In a powerful session of prayer, Pastor Adom Kyei-Duah called on divine intervention for Dr Bawumias success in the elections. Advertisement "Lord, it is you who installs kings, and we plead for your favours on your servant," he repeated multiple times during the intercession. The pastor continued to glorify God, invoking His sovereignty and praying fervently for Dr Bawumias victory. "Let it be possible," Pastor Adom Kyei-Duah prayed, referring to the possibility of Dr Bawumia becoming Ghanas next President on December 7. Philadelphia Church Founder reveals Bawumias generosity during his fathers funeral GraphicOnline Politics Dec - 01 - 2024 , 21:54 2 minutes read The Founder and Leader of the Philadelphia Church of Yahweh, Pastor Stephen Adom Kyei-Duah, has shared a heartfelt account of Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Candidate Dr Mahamudu Bawumias remarkable act of kindness during the funeral of his late father. Dr Bawumia, accompanied by his Running Mate, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, and other leading members of the NPP, visited the Philadelphia Church on Sunday as part of his final campaign activities in the Ashanti Region. Unexpected Gesture Welcoming Dr Bawumia to the church, Pastor Adom Kyei-Duah lauded his character, describing him as a thoughtful and generous leader. The pastor revealed how Dr Bawumias support during his fathers funeral left him deeply moved. "At the funeral, I saw a container arrive, and I asked, Where is this from? They said it is from Vice President Bawumia to support the funeral," Pastor Adom Kyei-Duah recounted to the thousands of congregants present. Advertisement "The container was opened, and everything was inside. I was so surprised that I asked, Is it really from the Vice President? And they said yes." The pastor admitted he did not expect such a gesture from Dr Bawumia and expressed gratitude for the Vice Presidents benevolence during such a significant moment. Prayers for favour and success Moved by Dr Bawumias actions and his presence at the church, Pastor Adom Kyei-Duah led an extensive prayer session alongside thousands of congregants, invoking divine blessings for the NPP Presidential Candidates success in Saturdays general elections. The session underscored the strong connection between faith and politics in Ghana, with leaders often turning to spiritual support during critical moments. Police announce toll-free number for reporting suspicious election-related activity GraphicOnline Politics Dec - 01 - 2024 , 11:09 2 minutes read The Ghana Police Service has introduced a dedicated toll-free number, 0800311311, for citizens to report any suspicious election-related activities during the presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for December 7. This initiative aims to bolster public safety and ensure a peaceful electoral process as Ghanaians head to the polls to elect the nations leadership for the next four years. The hotline serves as a proactive measure to address concerns in areas identified as potential election flashpoints, where tensions have been rising. In a notice on social media, the Police Service emphasised its commitment to maintaining peace: "Suspicious Activity? Lets Act Together! Dial 0800311311 to alert us and protect all. Your report matters for a peaceful Election 2024." Advertisement Ensuring media safety and collaboration Meanwhile, the Police Administration has also outlined measures to enhance the safety of journalists covering the elections and facilitate their work. Among these are the deployment of two plainclothes officers to media organisations nationwide, a dedicated communication line for journalists, and the establishment of a National Security Taskforce Press Briefing Centre. Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Dr George Akuffo Dampare highlighted these measures during an engagement with media editors at the Police Headquarters in Accra last month. "We know the critical role that you are playing in this country and how vital it is during this election. We are concerned about your safety," Dr Dampare said, assuring journalists of the Police Services commitment to creating an environment where they can work without fear. The Press Briefing Centre, described as a tent with a capacity for 100 reporters, will operate around the clock, providing journalists with a space to relax and receive real-time updates from the police. Combating misinformation Dr Dampare stressed the importance of tackling misinformation and disinformation during the election period. He urged the media to verify information thoroughly before publication: "Please lets be patient. Check with us or any relevant institution before putting information out. That would save a lot of lives." He added that once people realised the media would cross-check information, they would be less likely to disseminate false claims. Stakeholder collaboration The IGP commended the media and other stakeholders for their support in ensuring a peaceful election, describing the collaboration as vital to Ghanas democratic process. "Without the media, the equation of ensuring that our democratic dispensation becomes the envy of others would not be realised. We hold you in high esteem," he said. Next article: We have to chase the 'elephant' back into the bush - Mahama to voters in Kumasi [VIDEO] Previous article: VIDEO: EC recalls ballot papers for Western and Eastern regions, special voting in 2 regions rescheduled to Dec 5 Police investigate incident involving NDC Wassa Amenfi Central Parliamentary candidate GraphicOnline Politics Dec - 01 - 2024 , 16:25 2 minutes read The Ghana Police Service has commenced investigations into an altercation involving Joana Gyan Cudjoe, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Wassa Amenfi Central, and a section of the Adjakaa Manso community in the Western Region. The incident occurred on Saturday, November 30, 2024. According to a statement released by the Police, the situation unfolded when Joana Gyan Cudjoe and her team encountered a vehicle parked in the middle of the road at Adjakaa Manso township while returning from a political event. "Some members of her team engaged the driver, leading to a misunderstanding. A section of the community later became involved in the misunderstanding, leading to the injury of two persons and damage to two vehicles," the Police statement read. The Police have assured the public that efforts are underway to identify and apprehend those responsible for the altercation. "We urge members of the community to remain calm as the Police investigation continues to get the perpetrators arrested to face justice," the statement added. This incident has raised concerns about the potential for violence during the election season, underscoring the importance of maintaining peace and order as Ghana prepares for the December general elections. The Police Service has called for calm and cooperation from the public to ensure a thorough investigation and a swift resolution to the matter. 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The exercise, held ahead of the main election on Saturday, December 7, 2024, would allow eligible voters involved in election-related duties, including election officials, security personnel, and media practitioners, to cast their ballots early. Some 131,478 voters, representing 0.007 per cent of the total registered voters (18,741,159), are expected to participate in the Special Voting. The exercise will begin at 7am and end at 5pm. Advertisement The EC has confirmed that all election materials have been deployed to the centres and is fully prepared for the exercise. We are ready to conduct transparent, credible and peaceful elections, Mrs. Jean Mensa, Chairperson, EC told journalists on Friday. However, Mrs. Mensa clarified that security personnel and journalists who did not apply for the Special Voting will not be eligible to vote on December 2 but can participate in the main election on December 7. She said votes cast during the Special Voting will not be counted on the day of the exercise. Instead, they will be counted on December 7 at the Constituency Collation Centres and added to the results from the main election. The Returning Officer at each Constituency Collation Centre will record these results separately on both the Presidential and Parliamentary Election Results Form [PINK SHEET], before including them in the final tally from all polling stations. To ensure security, all ballot boxes will be sealed and stored in a secured room at a Police Station within each constituency. The EC has also directed that Presiding Officers do not count the ballots cast during the Special Voting on that day. The National Elections Security Taskforce, chaired by Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, the Inspector-General of Police, has reassured the public of its readiness to provide maximum security to ensure the peaceful and safe conduct of the elections. Ghanas general elections for President and 276 Members of Parliament will take place on Saturday, December 7, 2024. This is why the Electoral Commission recalled ballot papers for reprinting in the Western and Eastern Regions Kweku Zurek Politics Dec - 01 - 2024 , 18:23 3 minutes read The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has taken the extraordinary step of recalling ballot papers intended for the Western and Eastern Regions following an incident involving a defaced ballot paper. The decision has led to the rescheduling of the special voting exercise for these regions to Thursday, December 5. At an emergency press briefing on Sunday, December 1, EC Chairperson Jean Mensa addressed concerns about why the entire batch of ballots was recalled despite the issue being limited to a single defaced paper. "Some have posed the question why would you reprint all the ballots when it's only a single defaced ballot paper that was taken out of the printing house? Our avowed intention is to ensure and guarantee the integrity of the 2024 election," Mrs Mensa explained. Advertisement Although the defaced ballot paper was reportedly found outside a printing house, Mrs. Mensa noted that the incident warranted a broader response to preserve public confidence in the electoral process. "It has not been an easy decision to recall a ballot simply because a defaced ballot paper has been taken out of the printing press. But we are of the view that this is important to guarantee and ensure the integrity of the elections," she emphasised. Enhanced security and new measures To address the incident, the EC will engage three printing housesBuck Press, Acts Commercial, and Innolinkto reprint the ballots with enhanced security features. "There would be new features added onto the ballots, and the serial numbers would also be revised to ensure a marked difference between what has already been printed and what is about to be printed," Mrs Mensa stated. The EC has collaborated with security agencies and political parties to bolster security around the reprinting process. *"Our parties have pledged their commitment to protect and heighten the security around the reprinting of the ballots," she added. Impact on Special Voting Special voting for the rest of the country will proceed as planned on Monday, December 2. However, voters in the Eastern and Western Regions, including security personnel, election officials, and media practitioners, will cast their ballots on December 5 instead. "We ask the special voters in these two regions to bear with us. Our sole objective as a Commission is to ensure the integrity of the election in both regions," Mrs Mensa appealed. Collaborative effort for electoral integrity Mrs. Mensa expressed gratitude to political parties for their cooperation, highlighting the consensus reached during an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting. "There has been consensus around the issue of recall and reprint, and we have all agreed that ballots for the Eastern Region and the Western Region should be reprinted. We thank the political parties and the agents of the presidential candidates for their support," she said. As the EC works to rectify the situation, Mrs Mensa reassured Ghanaians of the Commissions dedication to upholding democratic principles: "We call on all citizens to support us in our effort to guarantee the integrity of the 2024 election." The reprinting process is underway, with the EC promising timely updates to ensure a transparent and credible election for all stakeholders. Phones have generally been getting bigger and bigger for a while now. Proper compact flagships are bigger now than they have ever been. Today, we are looking at Google's current Pixel 9 compared directly to the vanilla Samsung Galaxy S24. Both phones are compact by today's standards and don't cut back on any of the respective flagship features of their family. The Pixel 9 is the more expensive of the two devices, currently retailing for around 750 for a base model, compared to about 650 for a base Galaxy S24. Table of Contents: For starters, you can compare the complete specs sheets or directly continue with our editor's assessment in the following video or in the text below. Size comparison Google Pixel 9 152.8 x 72.0 x 8.5 mm (6.02 x 2.83 x 0.33 in) 198 g Samsung Galaxy S24 147.0 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm (5.79 x 2.78 x 0.3 in) 167 g As mentioned, both phones are considered compact flagships by modern standards. While they are pretty similar in their footprint, the Galaxy S24 is still smaller. It is shorter, narrower and thinner. Despite that, the difference in the display diagonal between the two phones isn't that major 6.2 inches on the S24 vs. 6.3 inches on the Pixel 9. Granted, with slightly different aspect ratios, but even so, the S24 arguably makes better use of the space, with noticeably thinner display bezels than the Pixel 9. The most noticeable physical difference between the two phones is probably weight. The Galaxy S24 tips the scale at 167 grams, while the Pixel 9 is just shy of 200 grams. That said, the Pixel 9 packs a notably bigger 4,700 mAh battery, compared to the 4,000 mAh pack of Galaxy S24. So, we can't exactly criticize the Pixel 9 too much for being heavier. Design-wise, the two phones are actually surprisingly similar, rocking what we would describe as a "non-offensive" modern styling. Nicely rounded metal frames, glass backs and fronts, the usual. In our opinion, the camera island on the Pixel 9 is a bit more polarizing. It sticks out quite a bit from the rest of the phone's body if nothing else. Regarding materials, since we mentioned these briefly, the two phones are constructed quite similarly with an aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 sheets on the front and back. Samsung has some lofty claims regarding its particular aluminum, but that's neither here nor there. Both phones have excellent IP68 ingress protection. Since this is as good a time as any, let's briefly compare the overall connectivity of the two phones as well. Both have pretty stacked location services, including dual-band GPS support. Both phones also offer tri-band Wi-Fi, though the Pixel 9 supports the more modern Wi-Fi 7 standard, while the S24 is stuck on Wi-Fi 6E. Both phones also offer Bluetooth 5.3 with LE support and have NFC. Both phones also have fairly capable USB ports backed up by USB 3.2 Gen 1 connectivity (5 Gbps max), and even though it is not well documented on the Pixel 9, both phones also support Display Port video output. That said, Samsung has its superior dedicated DeX desktop environment. Display comparison Google Pixel 9 OLED 120Hz 1080x2424 pixels 422 ppi 6.3" Samsung Galaxy S24 LTPO OLED 120Hz 1080x2340 pixels 416 ppi 6.2" As already mentioned, the Pixel 9 has a slightly larger display of the two, though not by a lot. You are looking at a 6.3-inch diagonal at a 20:9 aspect ratio on the Pixel 9 and a 6.2-inch diagonal at a 19.5:9 aspect ratio on the S24. Both panels also have very similar resolutions at FullHD+ and, hence, are similarly sharp in pixel density. Both panels also support a 120Hz dynamic refresh rate. That said, there is a small but potentially big difference in terms of efficiency here, namely that the Galaxy S24 uses LTPO tech for more dynamic refresh rate switching, which is lacking on the Pixel 9. Both phones advertise very similar display brightness figures. However, our standardized testing discovered that the Pixel 9 Pro has a significant brightness advantage over the Galaxy S24. It manages to go as high as 2,232 nits, while the Galaxy S24 tops out at around 1,401 nits. Battery life The Pixel 9 might be the slightly bigger and heavier phone, but it also has a notably bigger 4,700 mAh battery pack compared to 4,000 mAh on the Galaxy S24. While both phones offer what we would consider solid battery life, given their size, the Pixel 9 has a clear advantage, scoring 13:05 hours of Active use score, compared to 12:06 hours on the Galaxy S24. Charging speed Google Pixel 9 4700 mAh 15min 29% 30min 55% Full 85min 27W Samsung Galaxy S24 4000 mAh 15min 29% 30min 59% Full 75min 25W The two phones are actually quite similar in their charging capabilities. The Pixel 9 supports up to 27W wired via PD 3.0 + PPS, while the Galaxy S24 supports up to 25W wired via Samsung Fast Charge, which is essentially also PD 3.0 + PPS. Both phones also support up to 15W of wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. For one reason or another (different charging curve, different battery capacity), the Galaxy S24 actually has a slight edge when it comes to a full battery charge. It is hardly a huge difference, though. Speaker test Both phones use a hybrid stereo speaker system, with a dedicated bottom-firing speaker and an amplified earpiece as the second channel. Both phones correctly handle channel output through said speakers based on device orientation and do some clever tricks for crosstalk cancellation. The speakers on both phones are pretty loud and sit in the Very Good category. As for the quality of audio output, we would say it's comparable, though the Pixel 9 might have a very slight edge thanks to better mids and highs. Its lows are pretty thin, though. Not that the Galaxy S24 is a bass champ itself. Performance Google Pixel 9 Google Tensor G4 4 nm 128GB 12GB RAM base config Samsung Galaxy S24 Exynos 2400 4 nm 128GB 8GB RAM base config Both the Google Pixel 9 and Samsung Galaxy S24 are flagship devices with flagship chipsets. The Tensor G4 is not performing great in benchmarks. The Galaxy S24, on the other hand, finds itself in a rather typical Samsung-constructed pickle of its own. Depending on where you purchase your unit, it will be running the Samsung Exynos 2400 chipset (like our review unit) or Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Neither phone has expandable storage, and both come with 128GB of space as a base via UFS 3.1 storage chips. You can also get the Pixel 9 with 256GB of space but with the same UFS 3.1 speeds. Meanwhile, Samsung uses faster UFS 4.0 chips for its 256GB and 512GB models. The Pixel 9 has 12GB of RAM in every configuration, while most Galaxy S24 units out there only have 8GB. It is hard to say how much that affects actual performance and usability today. Presumably, Google went for the extra memory to ensure the Pixel 9 can handle better AI tasks and more complex local models. Both companies are leaning heavily into AI at the moment, and it is hard to say that Google or Samsung is "winning". With the Pixel 9, you get a full year of complimentary access to Gemini Advanced, which is Google's most advanced language model. At least, you won't have to worry about software support regardless of which of the two phones you choose since, currently, both are expected to get up to a whopping seven major OS upgrades. Benchmark performance Google Pixel 9 AnTuTu 10 1,224,020 Geekbench 6 4,489 3D Mark Wild Life 2,587 Samsung Galaxy S24 AnTuTu 10 1,696,727 Geekbench 6 6,747 3D Mark Wild Life 4,183 Our Exynos 2400-based Galaxy S24 far outscores the Pixel 9 in benchmarks. Real-life performance in daily use, though, seems to be on par. Camera comparison Both phones have great cameras. The Google Pixel 9 has a bit of a lead in hardware as it uses a larger sensor for its main camera and a higher-resolution sensor for its ultra-wide camera with autofocus. The Galaxy S24 has an ace up its sleeve too the dedicated 3x optical telephoto. Image quality Let's start with the main camera. Both phones capture binned photos 12.5MP for the Pixel 9 and 12MP flat, for some reason, for the Galaxy S24. There is no point in beating about the bush here; the Pixel 9 has a clear advantage over the S24. The frame has more detail, better sharpness, less noise and better dynamic range. The S24 perhaps has slightly more realistic colors, but not by a lot. Google Pixel 9: ultrawide main zoom portrait Samsung Galaxy S24: ultrawide main telephoto portrait Neither phone has a particularly impressive ultrawide camera. We like the color rendition and dynamic range better on the Pixel 9. The difference is marginal, though. While the Pixel 9 captures excellent 2x zoomed shots with its main camera, these are not really comparable to the 3x shots from the telephoto of the S24. The extra detail and sharpness you get are clearly noticeable with the S24. Hence, we would say that the Pixel 9 has the more powerful camera setup, while the S24 has the more versatile one if that makes any sense. The two main cameras are seemingly a bit closer in low-light performance, especially when it comes to detail and dynamic range. However, the Pixel 9 low-light photos are much cleaner, with practically no noise and a lot sharper. Another win for the Pixel 9. Neither ultrawide manages to impress in low light. The S24 has a more natural look with a lot of noise left behind. The Pixel 9 does some heavy processing, which exposes the darker areas a lot better, almost unnaturally so, but doesn't result in more detail. Everything just looks a bit artificial. The Pixel 9 is capable of some very clean and overly impressive 2x zoom crop photos from its main camera. There is a lot of detail in these shots and practically no noise. The S24 and its dedicated 3x telephoto still manage to capture more detail. Samsung is keeping things more natural and less processed, which is why there is plenty of noise on surfaces. Google Pixel 9: ultrawide main zoom Samsung Galaxy S24: ultrawide main telephoto Both phones have pretty impressive selfie cameras with autofocus. The quality race between the two is a bit of a toss-up. We kind of like the skin texture better on the Pixel 9, but we prefer the more natural skin tones on the S24. Google Pixel 9: selfies Samsung Galaxy S24: selfies Video quality In terms of video recording capabilities, only the S24 can do 8K. Other than that, both phones can do 4K@30fps and 4K@60fps. The Galaxy S24 seems to have a slight edge when it comes to 4K video capture on the main camera. There is more detail than on the Pixel 9, and everything just looks sharper. We also like the color rendition more. As with photos, ultrawide videos are a bit of a toss-up. Neither phone impressed us in this department. Perhaps the S24 has a slight edge. When it comes to zoomed videos, there is simply no competition. The dedicated 3x telephoto on the S24 blows the Pixel 9 out of the water. Below we have a few framegrabs from the videos taken by the two phones at each focal length so it's easier to compare to one another. Google Pixel 9: ultrawide main zoom low-light Samsung Galaxy S24: ultrawide main telephoto low-light The main camera on the Galaxy S24 seems to capture slightly better 4K low-light videos. They are a bit more detailed, sharper, and cleaner than those from the Pixel 9. Verdict We have to say that the choice between the Google Pixel 9 and the Samsung Galaxy S24 is a really tough one. Both are excellent and well-rounded flagships. Looking at things purely quantitatively, the S24 seems to be the victor here. It has more "pros", even if some of these are quite subjective. You'll get better performance out of it than the Pixel 9. The dedicated 3x telephoto camera is an indisputable advantage, and the video recording quality is much better across all three cameras, not to mention it goes up to 8K. It's also the lighter and more compact phone of the two. And Google's phones don't have an alternative to Samsung's Dex functionality. And it's comparably cheaper - you can get the 256GB version at the price of the 128GB Pixel 9. The Pixel 9, however, is no slouch either. The photo image quality of the main camera was better in all scenarios, and you get AF on the ultrawide. It also has better battery life and a noticeably brighter display for a more comfortable outdoor experience, so you could say it beats the Galaxy in the areas where it counts the most. Frankly, choosing between the two will depend on your priorities. Either phone is going to be a great pick and one that will surely last a long time, thanks to both companies promising up to seven major OS upgrades. Get the Google Pixel 9 for: The significantly brighter display. The bigger battery and better battery life. The better main camera and AF on the UW. Guam will be part of the largest climate hearings before the worlds highest court in the Hague, Netherlands starting on Dec. 2. Attorney Julian Aguon, founder of Blue Ocean Law, will be one of the attorneys speaking before the International Court of Justice to discuss the human rights implications of climate change. The worlds top court will start unprecedented hearings aimed at finding a legal blueprint for how countries should protect the environment from damaging greenhouse gases and what the consequences are if they do not. The oral hearings in the case start on Monday, Dec. 2. Led by a coalition of groups from the Pacific, the unprecedented case will be heard at The Peace Palace in the Hague, Netherlands, where legal teams and international organizations from 100 countries will gather to present arguments about the obligations of all states to prevent and redress the adverse effects of climate change, a release from Blue Ocean Law states. Just as climate change threatens to unravel the fabric of life across Oceania, the many peoples of the Pacific are fighting back. In 2019, a group of law students from the University of the South Pacific came together to put pressure on Pacific leaders to take the climate crisis to the ICJ, according to the release. We are campaigning to refer the worlds biggest problem to the worlds highest court, the group, Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, stated. Since then, PISFCCs grassroots campaign has spurred regional action. The Republic of Vanuatu, with the legal support of Blue Ocean Law, successfully led a coalition of 132 countries in adopting by consensus a historic UNGA resolution calling for an ICJ Advisory Opinion on climate change. These countries are seeking legal clarity on how existing international laws can be applied to strengthen collective action on climate change in order to protect the environment and climate vulnerable countries like small island states. It seeks to place the nexus between climate change on the one hand and human rights on the other on firm international law footing, Aguon said in a statement. By seeking clarification not only on the obligations of states concerning climate change but also on the legal consequences that flow from violations of primary rules of international law, the question could finally unlock the door to the secondary rules of state responsibility, and ultimately, to climate reparations. Activists hope the legal opinion from the ICJ judges will have far-reaching consequences in the fight against climate change, the Agence France-Presse reported. But others fear the UN-backed request for a non-binding advisory opinion will have limited impact and it could take the UNs top court months, or even years, to deliver. The hearings at the Peace Palace come days after a bitterly negotiated climate deal at the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan, which said developed countries must provide at least $300 billion a year by 2035 for climate finance. Poorer countries have slammed the pledge from wealthy polluters as insultingly low and the final deal failed to mention a global pledge to move away from planet-heating fossil fuels. The UN General Assembly last year adopted a resolution in which it referred two key questions to the ICJ judges. First, what obligations did states have under international law to protect the Earths climate system from greenhouse gas emissions? Second, what are the legal consequences under these obligations, where states, by their acts and omissions, have caused significant harm to the climate system and other parts of the environment? The second question was also linked to the legal responsibilities of states for harm caused to small, more vulnerable countries and their populations. This applied especially to countries under threat from rising sea levels and harsher weather patterns in places like the Pacific Ocean. Some of the worlds largest carbon polluters including the worlds top three greenhouse gas emitters, China, the United States and India will be among some 98 countries and 12 organizations and groups expected to make submissions. On Monday, proceedings will open with a statement from Vanuatu and the Melanesian Spearhead Group which also represents the vulnerable island states of Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands as well as Indonesia and East Timor. At the end of the two-week hearings, organizations including the European Union and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries are to give their statements. Scholars, artists, community experts, and students are invited to start submitting their work for consideration at the 46th Annual Research Conference, scheduled for March 6 and 7, 2025, according to the University of Guams College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. This years theme is Tapestries of Resilience: Securing Our Island Communities. It explores the innovative and interconnected approaches that island communities use to address pressing challenges, from food security and climate change to cultural preservation and economic inequality, UOG said. Abstracts should relate to the conference theme or address other topics of local and regional importance. The deadline for submissions is Dec. 20. Submissions for the research conference may include: Research papers or presentations Thematic panels Posters and visual presentations Creative works such as artwork or performances The March 6 and 7 conference will be held on the UOG campus. The keynote speaker will be Mary Therese Perez Hattori, director of the Pacific Islands Development Program and affiliate faculty at the East-West Center. The conference will open on the evening of March 6 with Hattoris keynote address. A full day of presentations will follow on March 7, culminating in the unveiling of an art exhibit at the Isla Gallery. For more information, or to submit a proposal, visit https://url.uog.edu/46th-class-arc or contact arc@triton.uog.edu before the Dec. 20 deadline. Submissions and requests made after the deadline may not be accommodated. Presentations of all types are limited to: 20 minutes for presentation 5 minutes for discussion An abstract of no more than 150 words Real-time presentations only (not pre-recorded) The UOG CLASS Annual Research Conference fosters innovation, collaboration, and academic excellence within Guam and across the Western Pacific. Haiti - Politic : Towards a Summit on Haiti bringing together 33 countries The President of the Republic of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, announced that she would convene a summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to seek an urgent and solidarity-based solution to the crisis in Haiti. "I will convene the CELAC Heads of State so that we can define together a position of absolute and urgent solidarity with Haiti," said President Castro, who has held the pro tempore presidency of the regional organization since March 1, 2024. Xiomara Castro advocates seeking solutions to regional problems "without interference or external pressure, with dialogue as a tool and always thinking about regional well-being and the self-determination of peoples." "It is urgent to raise our voices for the Haitian people, who are today plunged into a spiral of violence," she stressed. No details have been released on the location and date of this summit. As of Saturday morning, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not yet addressed the subject, nor published a message on its website. Learn more about CELAC : CELAC was founded on February 23, 2010, at the Latin American and Caribbean Unity Summit in Mexico, and officially constituted by the Heads of State and Government of its 33 member countries at a meeting in Caracas, Venezuela, on December 3, 2011. Member countries : Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, El Salvador, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela. S/ HaitiLibre At the end of November, more than 400 scientists with links to Russian research institutes will have to leave the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva. This marks the end of decades of collaboration. Russia has had observer status at what is probably the largest research machine in the world (also known as the "world machine") since 1991, as has the USA. Anzeige Following the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation in violation of international law, the highest body of the research center, the CERN Council, initially suspended Russia's observer status and rejected new collaborations with Russia and its institutions. At the end of December 2023, the Council then decided to end cooperation with Russia and its ally Belarus a decision that was not without controversy. Contracts not extended In accordance with the CERN resolution, cooperation with Russia will end on November 30, when the current International Cooperation Agreement (ICA) expires. For Belarus, this was already the case on June 27, 2024. The agreements were not renewed, which normally happens tacitly at the end of their five-year term. According to CERN, more than 400 people from both countries are affected, up from 1000 at the beginning of the invasion. Researchers from Russia or Belarus who work at institutions outside their sanctioned home countries are not affected by the cooperation freeze, CERN emphasizes. However, in order to continue working with the research center, around 100 Russian researchers have relocated. Nevertheless, some researchers associated with CERN are concerned. For example, the Professor of Particle Physics and Rector of ETH Zurich, who used to work at CERN. In an interview with the Swiss broadcaster SRG, Gunther Dissertori fears that "a lot of know-how will be lost" with the exclusion of Russia. "CERN still has to cope with this loss." "An extreme pity" Markus Klute, Head of the Institute for Experimental Particle Physics at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), told dpa: "At CERN, we also worked together with Russia during the Cold War, driven by scientific curiosity, in a peaceful environment. That no longer seems to be possible, and that is an extreme pity". Like Desy (Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron) in Hamburg, KIT works closely with CERN. Anzeige Hannes Jung, physicist and professor emeritus at Desy, also fears the consequences: "There are so many conflicts in the world. If scientific cooperation is restricted, this will have consequences for CERN's future projects and collaborations." He also expects a financial hole in CERN's budget and thus possibly a bigger problem. The member states pay higher contributions to CERN's budget than the observer states such as Russia. Switzerland, for example, contributes around 40 million Swiss francs (42.6 million euros) per year, while Germany is the largest contributor with around 220 million euros per year out of a total budget of over 1.2 billion Swiss francs. The contributions are based on the gross domestic product of the respective country. However, Russia has also made a significant financial and material contribution to CERN in the past, which will now be discontinued, CERN spokesperson Arnaud Marsollier confirmed to heise online. Russia contributed around 2.7 million Swiss francs per year. This corresponds to around 4.5 percent of the running costs of the experiments at the world's largest particle accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). In addition, CERN says it will now have to raise at least an additional 40 million Swiss francs by 2028 because various Russian parts for the accelerator and components for the experiments will no longer be supplied due to the sanctions against Russia. However, the huge research machine has repeatedly faced financial challenges. Financing problems In view of CERN's huge development projects, such as the construction of a new ring accelerator with a circumference of almost 91 kilometers, these difficulties are likely to increase. The estimated costs of this Future Circular Collider (FCC) vary depending on the source and range from 10 billion to over 20 billion euros, at least three times as expensive as the current LHC. And it doesn't even have to stop there. The German government has already indicated that Germany does not have endlessly deep pockets. At a workshop for German particle physicists, Eckart Lilienthal from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) caused a stir by criticizing the inaccurate cost and funding estimates. "Under the current economic conditions, Germany is not in a position to provide the planned funding for the FCC," Lilienthal is quoted as saying by the Neue Zurcher Zeitung. Hannes Jung therefore considers it "important and positive if Russia were to continue to devote financial and intellectual resources to support experiments and research at CERN", he told the news portal SWI Swissinfo.ch. Meanwhile, it is to be feared that Russian money and Russian scientists will now benefit military research. In a guest article for the in-house magazine CERN Courier, physicist Jung, who is also Chairman of the Science4Peace Forum, firmly expresses his rejection of decisions to impose sanctions on researchers and states which, according to internal information, were not unanimous. Political pressure ultimately led to the exclusion of Russia. ETH Rector Gunther Dissertori also told SRF that he was "not happy with the decision". He could understand it and "also understands the positions of the countries that were particularly committed to it. But personally I would have preferred a different solution," said Dissertori. Criticism from Ukraine However, CERN is not cutting all ties with Russia much to the displeasure of Ukraine. CERN has not terminated a cooperation agreement with the United Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in the scientific city of Dubna, not far from Moscow. CERN has been working with the organization, which is similar to CERN, since 1957: an association of mostly former Eastern Bloc countries that conducts comparable research. The JINR is more than 80 percent financed by the Russian state, Ukrainian researchers criticize. Nevertheless, the CERN Council decided in June of this year not to terminate the agreement. However, the mutual observer status between CERN and JINR and, above all, the initiation of new collaborations were suspended. CERN itself has around 2500 permanent employees. In addition, thousands of people from 110 nations conduct research in the organization; a total of around 14,000 scientists at research institutes around the world are part of the international network. CERN currently has 24 member states, 10 associated member states and two states and two multilateral organizations with observer status, plus cooperation agreements with 48 states, including Belarus and the Russian Federation. (nie) VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) is coming to the Amazon cloud: AWS is the latest major provider to follow suit and now offers Broadcom's virtualization package as a native service under the name Elastic VMware Service (EVS). This follows a lengthy dispute with the new owner over the existing VMware Cloud on AWS. However, the latter is incompatible with VCF, so customers cannot, for example, move their licenses and virtualized services between cloud providers and their own data center as they wish, unlike the new EVS . Anzeige VMware Cloud on AWS is a formerly central component of the virtualization provider: VMware provided the management of the service, while Amazon was responsible for hosting. At the same time, AWS was able to resell the service, but Broadcom stopped this after the takeover in order to subsequently distribute VMware Cloud on AWS as the sole provider. This is also associated with a subscription for customers. At the same time, Amazon expanded its migration offerings for VMware alternatives, while Microsoft and Google as well as many smaller cloud providers gradually opted for VCF. AWS: VMware services need to modernize users anyway AWS does not provide any information on the reasons for the current change of course in the brief announcement. Instead, the provider emphasizes the known advantages such as license portability and compatibility of the virtualized services. However, Amazon cannot resist one last side blow: The provider wants to offer EVS customers native AWS services with which they can modernize their VMware-based services. Nevertheless, Broadcom should also benefit from EVS, as VCF has now established itself as the standard for all key cloud providers. What this means for the future of VMware Cloud on AWS, however, remains to be seen. An initial preview of EVS will be available at the AWS in-house exhibition re:Invent 2024, which will take place in Las Vegas from December 2 to 6. Further details and the full announcement of the Elastic VMware Service can be found on the AWS blog. (fo) MPs Teemu Keskisarja and Sheikki Laakso announced last week that they would forgo the traditional Independence Day reception to attend the 612 event in Helsinki. Riikka Purra , Finlands finance minister and leader of the Finns Party, has defended two of her partys MPs for choosing to participate in the controversial 612 torch march on Independence Day rather than attending the Presidential Palace gala. Keskisarja is also scheduled to speak at the event, which has drawn criticism in previous years for including far-right participants. In a statement issued on Sunday, Purra emphasised the MPs right to participate. The 612 event is a nationalist and patriotic event that upholds values such as freedom of assembly and freedom of speech, Purra wrote. She added, Members of Parliament have the same rights as any citizen in a democracy, and they are free to exercise them. A controversial march The 612 torch march, first held in 2014, honours Finlands war dead but has been criticised for attracting far-right and extremist groups. While organisers promote the event as non-partisan and patriotic, counter-protests, such as the Helsinki without Nazis demonstration, have opposed its associations with nationalist and far-right ideologies. Keskisarja, who revealed his decision in the nationalist Sarastus magazine, argued the event aligned more closely with his personal values than the palace gala. He stated that the march moves "in the right direction, unlike the handshake queue." Laakso shared his decision to join the event on social media. Both MPs have faced scrutiny for associating with a march that police regularly monitor due to tensions between participants and counter-protesters. Party leadership's stance Purra acknowledged concerns about the events associations but distanced her party from extremist activities. The Finns Party does not condone undemocratic methods or far-right actions, she said. She also urged participants to respect the events purpose by leaving political slogans and symbols at home. Purra compared the criticism of the 612 march to other politically charged demonstrations. She pointed out that violence-inciting materials have appeared at protests against the government, but such actions do not define the broader gatherings. Similarly, the questionable actions of a few individuals do not represent the majority of participants in the 612 event, she stated. Political rights and responsibilities Purra defended the principle that MPs, regardless of political affiliation, have the right to choose their engagements. She highlighted a previous instance where an MP from another party spoke at an event described as anti-Semitic. While I do not support such actions, Members of Parliament are entitled to make these decisions, she noted. As the 612 march continues to attract both participants and critics, it highlights ongoing debates in Finland over nationalism, freedom of expression, and political accountability. Police are expected to maintain a significant presence at this years event to ensure public safety. HT There's a $30 billion hole in Helene recovery funding Without question, Tropical Storm Helene generated historic costs for North Carolina in terms of structural damages, disruptions to government operations and loss of life. Calculating just how expensive the storm was and also figuring out who is footing the bill is a trickier equation to solve for state officials. More than half of the estimated costs associated with Helene, upwards of $30 billion, have yet to be funded by either the state or federal government. A preliminary damage and needs assessment published by the Office of the State Budget and Management on Oct. 23 estimated $48.8 billion in direct or induced damages from the storm, and recommends investing another $4.8 billion for strengthening and mitigation efforts for a total cost of $53.6 billion. That number dwarfs the expenses incurred by Hurricane Florence in 2018 and Hurricane Matthew in 2016, which cost about $17 billion and $5 billion respectively. The total bill for Helene will likely increase once the complete damage and needs assessment is released by OSBME. The preliminary report, for example, did not include any estimates for the costs to tribal and federal lands because field assessments were still ongoing when it was published. The preliminary report projected Nov. 19 as the publication date of the final assessment, but governors office spokesperson Jordan Monaghan told Carolina Public Press on Monday that it will be released in the coming weeks. Preliminary report reveals details of Helene costs The Oct. 23 report estimated $12.2 billion in damages to residential housing in the 27 counties included in the federally declared disaster area. That number may be adjusted as data from FEMA individual assistance claims, FEMA public assistance claims and insurance claims are made available. Individuals can submit individual assistance claims to FEMA until Wednesday, Nov. 27. According to the report, nonagricultural businesses and nonprofit organizations suffered $2.8 billion in physical damages to structures, equipment and vehicles. The storm also caused an estimated $13.1 billion in economic losses as a result of business disruptions. As for North Carolina farms, Helene caused $2.6 billion in crop losses and another $557 million in expenses for land restoration, debris removal and repair to agricultural infrastructure, the report says. Other notable items from the report include: $1.4 billion in damages to electrical infrastructure $3.7 billion in damages to water and sewer systems and distribution pipes $6 billion in damages to state highways and bridges $1.7 billion in damages to municipal roads and bridges $1.4 billion in costs for government operations and recovery efforts $844 million in costs for public education facilities and operations $724 million in costs for health care facilities and other health and human services needs According to the report, North Carolina expects to receive at least $13.6 billion in federal support and another $6.3 billion in aid from the private sector and other sources to help pay for its recovery. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, in his capacity as the state budget director, requested that the state invest $3.9 billion in recovery efforts. The Republican-dominated state legislature must appropriate and allocate all state spending, and up to this point it has provided only around $900 million in relief via three spending bills. That means more than $30 billion in estimated costs from the hurricane have no funding source, and no clear answers are in sight for how that deficiency will be made up. Political battle over recovery costs Last week, as the state legislature debated over a $227 million relief bill that included a controversial overhaul of the state board of elections, Gov. Cooper was in Washington petitioning President Joe Biden and other federal officials for an additional $25.6 billion in aid for the state. Hurricane Helene was the deadliest and most damaging storm our state has ever faced, and Western North Carolina needs our help to rebuild, a press release from Cooper read. There is a long, complex and expensive recovery ahead that will be difficult to accomplish without significant and immediate funding from federal and state governments. The press release went on to criticize the states General Assembly both for its seemingly inadequate hurricane relief bills and also its recent veto override of a bill that expanded funding for private school vouchers. The state legislature has failed to approve meaningful funding for Western North Carolina while making plans to lock in billions of dollars for taxpayer-funded vouchers for unaccountable, unregulated private schools in the near future, the press release read. Its uncertain whether the state legislature will appropriate more money for hurricane relief anytime soon. The most recent bill, titled the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 Part III, was criticized by some as a power grab that takes powers away from Council of State positions that will soon be filled by recently elected Democrats. Although included in the relief bill, the measures are not related to recovery efforts. State Rep. Lindsay Prather, D-Buncombe, was one of the lawmakers who spoke out against the bill on the house floor. When the time comes for so many of you to visit your favorite mountain restaurant or rent your favorite cabin for a summer weekend, theres a good chance its not gonna be there anymore, and youre gonna wish that youd done more today, Prather said. Western North Carolina needs your help now. This is a transparent power grab pushed through by a supermajority thats not happy with the recent election results, and youre calling it a disaster relief bill. This is shameful, and Western North Carolina isnt going to stand for it. Helene-related death count Unfortunately, another measure of costs cannot be value in dollars, the loss of human lives. Helene was the deadliest tropical system to hit North Carolina since 1857, killing at least 103 people. Below is the latest tabulation of county-by-county fatalities, as confirmed by the state Department of Health and Human Services as of Nov. 21. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to the President of Romania, Klaus Werner Iohannis. According to Azernews, the letter reads: To His Excellency Mr. Klaus Werner Iohannis, President of Romania, On behalf of myself and the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to you and your entire nation on the occasion of the national holiday of Romania. Azerbaijan and Romania are bound by traditional relations of friendship and cooperation. Our mutually beneficial collaboration in political, economic, and cultural spheres is among the key factors driving the dynamic development of our interstate relations. Currently, there are favorable opportunities to further advance our partnership in several areas. I believe that cooperation between Azerbaijan and Romania, both bilaterally and within multilateral frameworks, will continue to contribute to the well-being of our peoples and countries. On this joyous occasion, I wish you robust health, happiness, success in your endeavors, and the friendly people of Romania everlasting peace and prosperity. Sincerely, Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku, 28 November 2024 December 1 is World AIDS Day, observed since 1988 as part of an effort to raise awareness of the AIDS pandemic, and for mourning those who have died of the disease or as a result of it. This years theme is Take the rights path: My health, my right. It is a reminder that everyone has a right to access the health services they need, including HIV prevention, treatment, and care services when and where they need them. This right must extend to everyone, regardless of their HIV status, background, ethnicity, gender, or where they live. The HIV virus kills its victims by undermining their immune systems. When World AIDS Day was first observed 36 years ago, a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS was a death sentence, with patient life expectancy of two years. And yet today, we are within sight of achieving an AIDS-free generation in the foreseeable future. Nonetheless, despite tremendous progress in prevention and treatment, marginalized populations remain at disproportionate risk of acquiring HIV. Individuals belonging to key populations frequently experience stigma, discrimination, and violence and may even find themselves running afoul of laws aimed at certain marginalized groups such as sex workers or men who have sex with men. But HIV/AIDS cannot be eliminated as a threat to public health without addressing the unique needs of these and other key populations. For our part, the United States is working through the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR. Since its inception in 2003, the program has successfully reduced transmissions, expanded testing, and saved more than 25 million lives in some 50 partner countries over the last two decades. PEPFAR is focusing on forging a future where every HIV infection is prevented, every person has access to treatment, and every generation can live free from the stigma that too often surrounds HIV, said President Joe Biden in a written statement. We are within striking distance of eliminating HIV-transmission. We have the science. We have the treatments. Most of all, we have each other, he said. Let us honor all the families who have lost a loved one to this disease and all the people currently living with HIV/AIDS. Let us remember the activists, scientists, doctors, and caregivers who have never given up in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Let us recommit to finishing this fight together. Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, meets with Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou in Athens, Greece, Nov. 28, 2024. Zhao paid an official goodwill visit to Greece at the invitation of Constantine Tassoulas, president of the Greek parliament, from Wednesday to Saturday. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) China's top legislator Zhao Leji expressed China's commitment to carrying forward the traditional friendship with Greece and strengthening mutual support during his official goodwill visit to Greece from Wednesday to Saturday. Zhao, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), met in Athens with Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis respectively, and held talks with Constantine Tassoulas, president of the Greek parliament. When meeting with Sakellaropoulou, Zhao conveyed to her the cordial greetings and best wishes from Chinese President Xi Jinping, noting that since the establishment of diplomatic ties more than half a century ago, bilateral ties have been developing in a sound and steady manner. Zhao also noted that Xi and Sakellaropoulou jointly sent congratulatory letters to the inaugural World Conference of Classics, advocating the inheritance, development, exchange and mutual learning of civilizations, showcasing the sense of responsibility of two ancient civilizations. Guided by the implementation of the important consensus reached by the two countries' leaders, China is willing to work with Greece to carry forward traditional friendship, firmly support each other, and be good partners that trust each other, seek common development and enjoy cultural affinity, jointly implementing the Global Civilization Initiative and contributing to building a community with a shared future for mankind, said Zhao. For her part, Sakellaropoulou asked Zhao to convey her heartfelt greetings to Xi. The Greek president said the two countries have always respected and supported each other's major concerns and adhered to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, which have laid a solid foundation for developing bilateral relations and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation. As countries with ancient civilizations, Greece and China's cultural exchanges and dialogues are based on a deep foundation and have yielded fruitful results, setting an example for the international community of exchanges and mutual learning between different civilizations, said Sakellaropoulou. She expressed her hope to strengthen cooperation with China in areas such as trade, investment, culture and tourism to achieve mutual development and prosperity. When meeting with Mitsotakis, Zhao said Xi's successful state visit to Greece in 2019 opened a new chapter in bilateral relations. China appreciates Greece's firm adherence to the one-China principle and is willing to work with Greece to consolidate political mutual trust, strengthen strategic communication, promote exchanges and collaboration, advance high-quality cooperation on the Port of Piraeus, drive cooperation in areas such as trade, finance and shipping and continue to deepen people-to-people exchanges. China will maintain communication and coordination with Greece within multilateral frameworks to promote world peace and stability and drive the healthy and stable development of China-Europe relations, said Zhao. Mitsotakis said that Greece abides by the one-China policy. The Greek government continues to optimize its trade and investment policies, hopes to strengthen cooperation with China in areas such as trade, investment, shipping, artificial intelligence and culture, and welcomes Chinese companies to deepen their presence in the Greek market, he said. He noted that Greece speaks highly of the mutually beneficial cooperation on projects including the Port of Piraeus, and supports strengthening dialogue between Europe and China to jointly address global challenges such as climate change. In talks with Tassoulas, Zhao said that, in conjunction with the implementation of the major strategic and development goals of both countries, the NPC of China is willing to work with the Greek parliament to strengthen friendly exchanges at all levels of the legislatures, learn from each other's experience in legislation and supervision in social governance, ecological protection and opening up, and timely approve or formulate legal documents conducive to bilateral cooperation. Zhao called for close communication and coordination on multilateral platforms such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union. He also introduced the progress in advancing Chinese modernization, expressing readiness to move forward together with Greece on the path of development and revitalization, injecting new vitality into the two ancient civilizations in the new era. Tassoulas said the legislatures of the two countries can make greater efforts in legislation to facilitate bilateral cooperation in economy and trade and shipping to promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Before the talks, Zhao received a golden medal of the Greek parliament awarded by Tassoulas. During his visit, Zhao also attended the launching ceremony of the Chinese School of Classical Studies in Athens and visited the Port of Piraeus. He also toured the Region of Crete where he visited agricultural projects. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Fariz Rzayev has visited the Kingdom of Morocco, the countrys MFA told Trend. According to the ministry, Rzayev participated in a roundtable discussion at the Moroccan Academy of Diplomatic Studies in Rabat, attended by young diplomats from Morocco and several other African countries. In his speech on "Azerbaijan's Foreign Policy," Rzayev elaborated on the country's foreign policy course in both bilateral and multilateral contexts, current regional developments, and Azerbaijan-Morocco cooperation within international organizations. He also addressed questions regarding Azerbaijans successful chairmanship of the 29th session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP29) and the decisions made during this event. During his visit, Rzayev also attended the 16th International MEDays Forum held in Tangier, under the patronage of the King of Morocco. The forum, which focused on "Sovereignty and Resilience: Towards a New Global Balance," hosted nearly 6,000 representatives from over 100 countries. In the panel session dedicated to energy transitions, Rzayev spoke about Azerbaijan's policies on green energy transition and the use of alternative energy sources, as well as the achievements made during the COP29 presidency. On November 29, Rzayev participated in another panel discussion on "Global Governance Crisis and Multilateralism." He provided forum participants with an update on Azerbaijan's foreign and security policies, emphasizing the countrys commitment to international law and multilateralism since regaining its independence. The Deputy Minister also discussed the challenges Azerbaijan faces, including the consequences of Armenian occupation, and highlighted Azerbaijan's significant contributions to regional integration through key energy and transport projects. He also pointed out Azerbaijan's successful chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) for a four-year term. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. The 35th session of the UN Expert Working Group on the Rights of People of African Descent will be held at the UN Headquarters in New York from December 2 to 6, Trend reports. The event is recognized as a major international platform for advocating the rights of people of African descent and addressing the legacy of historical injustices. The Baku Initiative Group (BIG) announced to Trend that during the session, a side event on "Restoring Justice and Eradicating Colonialism: Protecting the Rights of African Descent People in Colonized Territories" will be organized by the Bonaire Human Rights Organization, the Permanent Mission of the Bahamas to the UN, and the UN Expert Working Group on the Rights of People of African Descent. Abbas Abbasov, Executive Director of the BIG, will participate in this prestigious event. The BIG will present its ongoing projects on colonialism and the eradication of its consequences, focusing on initiatives aimed at restoring the rights of colonized peoples. The session and side event will highlight the historical injustices, socio-economic inequalities, and human rights challenges faced by people of African descent. The main objective of the event is to work towards the restoration of their rights, remove barriers under international law, and offer recommendations for long-term solutions. In addition to participating in the session, BIG will showcase its activities, achievements, and upcoming priorities. The organization continues its efforts to ensure the international recognition of the rights of peoples suffering from colonialism, address historical injustices, and support their struggles for freedom. BIG has made significant contributions to the fight for the independence of the people of Bonaire from colonial rule. The organization cooperates on issues such as cultural heritage protection, human rights, and the development of concrete solutions under international law. A key highlight of BIGs work in this area was the international conference on "The Path to Self-Determination for Bonaire Island at the UN General Assembly from Baku" held on August twenty-second, 2024, in Baku. The event saw participation from representatives of the Bonaire people's struggle for freedom, as well as senior officials from Belize, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Saint Lucia, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and the Netherlands, alongside human rights defenders, NGO leaders, decolonization experts, and academics. The conference focused on international legal mechanisms to help the people of Bonaire achieve independence and efforts to reinstate Bonaire on the UN's list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. BIGs participation in such initiatives demonstrates Azerbaijans leadership role in the international decolonization process, reflecting the country's contributions to the restoration of rights for peoples affected by colonialism. The international community highly values the BIG's activities in this field, positioning it at the center of global efforts supporting the freedom and rights struggles of colonized peoples. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan (MFA) congratulated Romania on its national holiday, Trend reports "Sincere congratulations to friendly Romania on its National Day!," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote on its page on X. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. Students from countries that are members of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will have the opportunity to study at Karabakh University, Emin Amrullayev, Azerbaijan's Minister of Science and Education, told local media, Trend reports. "By the order of President Ilham Aliyev, it is planned that starting next year, Karabakh University will accept students from Turkic-speaking countries as well as those from OIC member states," the Minister said. Amrullayev also noted that the university would begin admitting students from countries with friendly relations with Azerbaijan starting next year. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 1. Uzbekistan's foreign trade turnover with Turkmenistan totaled $947.7 million from January through October of this year. The data from the country's Statistics Agency, obtained by Trend, indicates a 0.92 percent increase from the same period last year ($939.1 million) from January to October 2023. Turkmenistan became one of the top three largest trading partners of Uzbekistan during the mentioned period. Uzbekistan's exports to Turkmenistan amounted to $99.2 million, which is 44.8 percent less compared to last year ($143.7 million from January through October 2023). However, Uzbekistan's imports from Turkmenistan reached $848.5 million from January through October 2024. This figure increased by 6.6 percent compared to the same period last year ($795.5 million in JanuaryOctober, 2023). To note, Uzbekistan's foreign trade turnover amounted to $54.3 billion in the period from January through October 2024. This indicator increased by 6.7 percent year-on-year ($50.9 billion in January-October 2023). Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. Governor Healey Signs Breast Cancer Screening Bill BOSTON Today, Governor Maura Healey signed An Act Relative to Medically Necessary Breast Screenings and Exams for Equity and Early Detection. This comprehensive legislation will ensure that patients have access to follow-up breast cancer screenings and exams, while also preventing any increase in patient cost-sharing by 2026. "We know that early detection of breast cancer saves lives. This legislation will help ensure that cost is not a barrier for women to get the screenings and care they need," said Governor Healey. "I'm grateful to the Legislature for their leadership on this bill, and to the patients, providers and advocates who made their voices heard in support of more affordable and accessible care for Massachusetts residents." This legislation would, starting in 2026, require insurers to cover diagnostic exams for breast cancer, digital breast tomosynthesis screening, and medically necessary and appropriate screening with breast MRIs and ultrasounds. This legislation would also prevent any increase in patient cost-sharing, thus removing cost barriers for patients who need more rigorous screenings due to dense breast tissue or abnormalities seen in their initial preventive screening mammograms. Bird feeders offer an easy and safe way to interact with wildlife, and installing them after Dec. 1 limits the potential to attract bears, keeping you and the birds safe. December is the Start of Bird Feeding Season MONTPELIER, Mass. According to Vermont Fish and Wildlife, December is the Start of bird feeding season. "Winter bird feeding is a great way to observe and learn about our year-round bird residents such as black capped chickadees, nuthatches and blue jays. It's also a great time to learn about winter visitors such as evening and pine grosbeaks." said Jillian Kilborn, Vermont Fish and Wildlife's bird project leader. Here are some basic bird feeding tips from Vermont Fish and Wildlife: Make your own feeding mixture to maximize the number of species visiting your yard. Black oil sunflower seed is a favorite of many birds, but when mixed with "thistle" (or "nyjer") or cracked corn you will be sure to attract a wide variety of species. Don't forget the suet to attract woodpeckers and even chickadees. Mix up the type of feeders you use. Hopper feeders are great for large birds such as blue jays, while tube feeders are best for smaller birds. Elevated tray feeders will attract birds that usually feed on the ground including juncos and larger bodied winter visitors such as evening grosbeaks. Place your feeders near natural habitat, or even add a habitat for birds to hide. A Christmas tree is a great addition to a snowbank next to your feeder to provide quick cover. Keep your feeders clean. Only put out enough food for a day, and wash feeders every couple of weeks in a 10 percent bleach solution and let dry to prevent the spread of bacteria and disease. If you decide to feed birds, remember: Feeding can expose birds to hazards they might otherwise avoid. The risks of predation are higher close to people, especially from domestic cats -- the leading cause of bird deaths in North America. Keep cats inside and take feeders down if predators become frequent visitors. Also, we recommend placing feeders within three feet of windows to minimize high speed window strikes. Don't feed birds when bears are active. Most bears are in dens from Dec. 1 to April 1, but some will delay hibernation or re-emerge to feed during periods of warmer weather. Remove bird feeders immediately if you see signs of bears or know a bear is active in your community. Bears that learn to associate food with a house will continue to return, potentially leading to property damage and dangerous encounters with people. Further, it is illegal to feed bears in Vermont. Once you've started feeding the birds, keep your feeders stocked. Although wild birds are not entirely dependent on bird feeders, they can become accustomed to this easy food source. If you wish to stop feeding during winter months, gradually taper off the amount of food you provide rather than stopping abruptly, giving the birds a chance to find other food sources. This is especially important when food is scarce in late winter or during periods of extreme weather. Immediately remove feeders if there are reports of HPAI (Avian Influenza) or even a bacterial infection outbreak. Concentrating birds at a feeder only contributes to the spread of diseases. If you find a dead bird visit the Avian Influenza Wildlife Health Bulletin on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife website for more information on when to report, and what to do. Finally, report your observations. While watching your bird feeders, you can participate in one or more bird monitoring projects by looking up the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, the Great Backyard Bird Count and Project Feeder Watch and eBird -- all collect important information for understanding bird populations. As winter sets in, find a comfortable spot inside where you can watch the birds visiting your feeders. Figure out what birds they are, observe how they interact with each other, and see what they prefer to eat. It's a perfect way to get to know the birds around you better. Saturday 30 November 2024, 19:52 - Last updated: 19:55 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED This article is automatically translated Everyone believed that Gertrude had died at Auschwitz. One of the many children swallowed by the death machinery of the extermination camps, which killed the most defenseless first. Searched for decades, there were traces of Gertrude only in relation to her father, Isidor Stricks, a Polish Jewish citizen who fled to Italy from France, captured near Rome, deported, and died in the camp. But the fate of little Trudy deviated from that tragic path of her father, and she survived. However, in the folds of history, that name, Gertrude Stricks, appeared only alongside her father's, next to a note that left no hope: dead in a camp. The Discovery After 81 years, it was Maria Grazia Lancellotti's research that brought Gertrude back to life, as part of the project 'Il Civico giusto' (thecivicogiusto.com), which aims to uncover stories of solidarity and courage in Fascist Italy during the racial laws. Episodes of humanity and beauty in one of the darkest hours of history. Maria Grazia, who is also the principal of the Roman high school Orazio, stumbled upon Trudy's story while researching the Monaco couple: Alfredo, a young doctor at Regina Coeli in '44, and his wife Marcella Ficca, who had already saved Sandro Pertini and Giuseppe Saragat by helping them in a daring escape. The Rescue It was at Regina Coeli in February '44 that Marcella took Trudy's life into her hands, just 5 years old: her father Isidor was about to be taken to Fossoli and from the truck, he could only hand the child over to that unknown woman. His wife no longer knew where he was: he had been rounded up with the child for getting off the train that was taking him from France to Rome. The Fate War and despair stories where words are superfluous. Trudy did not speak a word of Italian, Marcella did not understand Polish, but she added a third child to her family, which already had two. The little girl stayed with that family, given to her by destiny, until June. Then her mother Fanny learned from the Jewish community in Rome where her daughter was and went to get her. For a month, they lived in captivity in a convent. Then salvation came: they were among the thousand refugees who, aboard the ship Gibbons, departed from Naples on July 20, 1944, managed to reach the USA and stayed in the refugee camp in Oswego. Trudy still lives in the USA and has a son named Brian. She is 86 years old and is alive thanks to solidarity but also to the fatality of events that determined many lives in those inhumane years. Alfredo and Marcella Monaco never stopped looking for her but died without knowing if she had truly been saved. For this reason, Maria Grazia Lancellotti wanted to reconnect the memory and made Gertrude and her son Brian meet with the descendants of the Monaco couple, that wartime family who saved a Jewish girl fleeing from death. Now, thanks to the discovery of this corner of history, the procedures have been initiated at Yad Vashem to honor the Monacos with the title of 'Righteous Among the Nations.' And a small justice has also been done for Isidor: he did not end up at Auschwitz from Fossoli but Mauthausen and died there. In the sad accounting of the Nazi mass death, at least a place to lay a memory. (The stories of Trudy, the Monaco couple who helped Pertini and Saragat, and the Gibbons ship, along with many others, can be read on the website ilcivicogiusto.com) BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. The Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, announced the appointment of new ministers after the parliament expressed confidence in the reshuffled government, Trend reports. "I am pleased to inform you that yesterday I appointed 12 new ministers, completing the formation of the new government following the results of the parliamentary election on October 26," Kobakhidze said at a briefing. Levan Davitashvili has become the First Deputy Prime Minister in the new government, and will also serve as the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia. Defense Minister Irakli Chikovani has taken the post of Second Deputy Prime Minister. Maka Bochorishvili has been appointed the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Vakhtang Gomelauri will be the Minister of Internal Affairs. Anri Okhanashvili has been appointed the Minister of Justice, Lasha Khutsishvili has been appointed the Minister of Finance, and Irakli Karseladze has been appointed the head of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure. Aleksandre Tsuladze has been appointed the Minister of Education, Science and Youth, Tinatin Rukhadze has been appointed the head of the Ministry of Culture, and David Songulashvili has been appointed the head of the Ministry of Agriculture. Mikheil Sarjveladze has been appointed the head of the Ministry of Health. Tea Akhvlediani has been appointed the State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civic Equality. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Musicals Week had plenty of things fans have come to expect from this years Strictly Come Dancing. Vito Coppola practically launched Sarah Hadland into the air, Chris McCausland aced another ballroom routine and Pete Wicks finished bottom of the leaderboard (for the third week running). Wicks performed a Waltz to Somewhere from West Side Story and while he delivered on the storytelling elements, he struggled with the more technical aspects of the performance. And once again, he sparked conversations on social media, as fans questioned whether the former TOWIE star should still be in the competition. However, armchair critics would do well to remember that Wicks is still in the show because enough fans have kept voting for him. And while, skills wise, he is significantly behind series leaders Tasha Ghouri and JB Gill, theres plenty he deserves praise for. Lets start with this week. Was Wickss Waltz quarter final-worthy? Not exactly. Anton du Beke labelled one section of the routine a disaster and Craig Revel Horwood added: You dont have the swing and sway, the footwork is shoddy and you went completely wrong. But, as the judges also pointed out, he has genuinely improved in the competition. If you look back at how Wicks (who was a total dance novice) fared in the first few shows, his efforts in recent episodes are nothing short of jaw-dropping. In week one, Wicks and his professional partner Jowita Przysta were joint first from bottom, after a Paso Doble that left Revel Horwood remarking: "It looked like you were going through a stroll of the Port Talbot steelworks. Its fair to say it seemed they wouldnt last long but Wicks has constantly come back fighting. Strictly's Pete Wicks reveals he's received death threats for staying in dance competition As the judges observed on Saturday, he dances well out of hold, and hes often thrived in routines that have required getting into character. Putting his Couples Choice to one side, Wicks highest score came in Halloween Week when he transformed into the Joker, for a Viennese Waltz set to Frank Sinatras Thats Life!. For every viewer arguing Wicks shouldnt have lasted this long, theres been another who has rushed to vote for him. Theres nothing fans love more than a feisty underdog and as Wicks himself said, he owes it to the fans whove kept him in Strictly to keep giving it his all. Every time my name gets called, I know its down to the people who voted and I wish I knew how to repay you, he said in his most recent VT. All I can do is keep dancing and try my best. And isnt that what Strictly is all about? Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Frankie Muniz has revealed that he still stays in contact with his former Malcolm in the Middle co-star Bryan Cranston. Cranston, 68, played Munizs on-screen father on Foxs popular seven-season sitcom, which ran from 2000 to 2006. Speaking on a recent episode of Michael Rosenbaums Inside of You podcast, Muniz, 38, recalled first working with Cranston on the show. I started working with him when I was 11, 12 years old. He really became like a father figure to me, the Big Fat Liar star said. And then even still to this day, hes essentially like a Hollywood god at this point. You know what I mean? Hes done incredible films, incredible shows, won tons of awards. Hes literally it. Muniz continued: He still reaches out to me every couple of weeks, check in on me. He really cares about what Im doing, comes to the races, if my band was playing, came to shows. I mean, hes such an inspiration, and like I said, thats what I strive to be that for someone else in the future. Muniz led the hit series as the titular Malcolm about a dysfunctional working-class family. It also featured Jane Kaczmarek as Malcolms mother and Erik Per Sullivan, Christopher Kennedy Masterson and Justin Berfield as his three brothers. In season four, a fourth brother named Jamie was introduced. Frankie Muniz, Jane Kaczmarek and Bryan Cranston in Malcolm in the Middle. Muniz has said that Cranston is like a father to him and they still talk ( Saeed Adyani/20th Century Fox Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock ) While he still makes the odd guest appearance in shows like Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens and The Rookie, Muniz has mostly taken a pause from acting to pursue a career in race car driving. According to IMDb, he has three upcoming projects, including the horror movie Reapers Night, a sci-fi titled Renner and a sequel to the unreleased Western Hot Bath and a Stiff Drink. Last month, Reaume Brothers Racing announced that Muniz would be the full-time driver of its No. 33 Ford for the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Im incredibly excited to join Reaume Brothers Racing full-time in 2025, Muniz said in a statement at the time. My longstanding relationship with Ford has been a game changer, and I am thrilled to help facilitate additional support allowing us to tap into their exceptional technical and engineering resources. Im confident that this synergy will elevate Reaume Brothers Racing and help us achieve great things together. I cant wait to get started. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy John Torodes rare comments about Gregg Wallace are being dredged up in the wake of the allegations against his co-host. On Thursday (28 November), it was revealed that Wallace had stepped down as host of the BBC cookery series amid an investigation into alleged inappropriate comments made across a 17-year period. Since news broke of the scandal, several stars to have appeared on Celebrity MasterChef, including former Newsnight host Kirsty Wark and Geordie Shores Charlotte Crosby, have hit out at the host for alleged remarks they heard when they were filming episodes and Katy Brand addressed being subjected to a crass comment made by the former host. Speaking about the allegations, Wallace shared a video stating: I can see the complaints coming from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age, just from Celebrity MasterChef. This isnt right. One person who has remained silent on the subject is Torode, who has hosted MasterChef, and its celebrity spin-off, alongside Wallace since it was revamped in 2005. In 2017, Torode made headlines after claiming that he had never been friends with Wallace. He said in an interview with The Mirror: Its funny, weve never been friends. Weve not been to each others houses. If we go away to somewhere like South Africa, we do things separately. If we do go out for a drink, Ill invariably be at one end of a big old table and hell be at the other. However, Torode was best man during Wallaces wedding to Anne-Maire Sterpini in 2016 and, despite his attempts to seemingly distance himself from his co-host, Wallace said on an episode of Lorraine that same year: I film with John six or seven months of the year, so we are very close to each other physically, and emotionally we are very close to each other. Whats great about having a partnership is that if one of you is a bit off, a bit down, the other one naturally steps up, so I rely on John a lot. Earlier this week, in the wake of the allegations against Wallace, former Celebrity MasterChef contestant Aggie McKenzie said that Torode behaves very differently to his former co-host. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free open image in gallery John Torode has remained silent on Gregg Wallace allegations ( BBC ) She told Times Radio: I observed that when the cameras were off, they would go to separate ends of the room. They didnt really communicate or have a connection off screen. The BBC said of the allegations Wallace: We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them. We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated. Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them. BBC News sent a letter to Wallaces representatives on Tuesday detailing allegations of inappropriate sexual comments by 13 people who worked with him across a range of shows over a 17-year period. Wallaces lawyers have said it is entirely false Wallace engages in behaviours of a sexually harassing nature, the outlet reported. open image in gallery Gregg Wallace on MasterChef' ( BBC ) In October, Wallace hit back at reports he made sexually inappropriate comments to a female colleague at the BBC in 2018. Wallace was accused of bragging about his sex life with wife, and taking his top off in front of the employee, according to The Sun. The TV personality vehemently denied the accusations in a video he shared to Instagram, saying the allegations had been investigated by the BBC six years ago. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Sean Locks brutal assessment of Gregg Wallace has resurfaced after the MasterChef hosts allegations of inappropriate remarks. On Thursday (28 November), it was revealed that Wallace had stepped down as host of the BBC cookery series amid an investigation into alleged inappropriate comments made across a 17-year period. Since news broke of the scandal, several stars to have appeared on Celebrity MasterChef, including former Newsnight host Kirsty Wark and Geordie Shores Charlotte Crosby, have hit out at the host for alleged remarks they heard when they were filming episodes. Katy Brand also addressed a crass comment she was subjected to during her appearance on the show. Now, a video of Lock, who died in 2021 at the age of 58, discussing Wallace is doing the rounds on social media in the wake of the news. Lock, who was known for sharing his razor sharp critiques on many subjects spoke about Wallace during a segment on Channel 4 panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown that saw him tasked with choosing which celebrities should be deemed national treasures. After rejecting both Ed Sheeran and Ant McPartlin, Lock selected a photo of Wallace, joking to the audience that he came close as he wears a hair net even though hes bald. Lock was referencing a photo in which the bald Wallace was wearing a hair net while visiting a food factory. The comedian continued: No, I like him because hes got no sense of irony or humour. He then delivered his brutal reasoning for why Wallace shouldnt be called a national treasure, stating: But Ive met him. Sean Lock made a damning joke about Gregg Wallace ( Channel 4 / BBC ) He then stamped a big NO on Wallaces face, adding: No, Gregg. He tried to put his spoon in my pudding. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free In the wake of the news that the BBC was investigating Wallaces behaviour, Sir Rod Stewart shared a post in which he claimed the host treated his wife Penny Lancaster in a nasty manner when she was on Celebrity MasterChef in 2021. Banijay UK, the production company behind Masterchef, has launched an investigation into the multiple allegations against Wallace, who is cooperating. The company said in a statement: Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met, are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately. A BBC spokesperson said: We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them. We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated. Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy At least 13 people died and tens of thousands evacuated in one of the worst floods in decades to batter southern Thailand and northern Malaysia. The floods have impacted nearly 534,000 households in Thailand, with the death toll climbing to nine from four reported on Friday and leaving thousands in 200 temporary shelters that have been set up in affected areas. The Chana district of Songkhla province suffered the worst floods in 50 years, with video showing people being carried out to trucks from their homes inundated by a torrent of flood water. Another video footage showed rescuers in Sateng Nok District of Yala province carrying a baby out from the roof of a home hit by the floods on Saturday. open image in gallery A woman walks in a submerged restaurant during flooding in Tumpat, state of Kelantan, Malaysia ( EPA ) In Malaysia, at least 122,000 people have been forced out of their homes as floods in several northern states worsened over the weekend. The death toll climbed to four in the most affected parts of Kelantan, Terengganu and Sarawak. The Kelantan state accounted for 63 per cent of all the evacuaions, according to the National Disaster Management Agency. "My area has been flooded since Wednesday. The water has already reached my house corridor and is just two inches away from coming inside," Pasir Puteh resident and school janitor Zamrah Majid, 59, told AFP. "Luckily, I moved my two cars to a higher ground before the water level rose." open image in gallery Volunteers distribute food supplies to flood-affected residents at Mueang district in Thailands southern province of Narathiwat ( AFP via Getty Images ) Thailand's Metereological Department warned several areas in the south can expect more heavy rain and more flash floods in affected areas. Malaysias deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said last week that floods this year were expected to the worse than 2014, when more than 250,000 people were displaced and 21 killed. Nearly 83,000 personnel and thousands of rescue boats, four-wheel vehicles and life jackets as well as 31 helicopters are ready, he said. Floods are common in parts of Malaysia during the annual monsoon season, which starts in November and could last until March. The Met Department said the country can expect between five and seven episodes of heavy rainfall during this period. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has released a new plan to protect the state's iconic Joshua trees, which are imperiled by wildfires, human development and climate change. The 294-page draft plan includes calls for avoiding or minimizing direct and indirect impacts from overgrazing, pesticide use and unauthorized off-roading; relocating trees when projects require their removal or could harm them; and identifying and protecting lands where they could thrive in a future projected to be drier and hotter. "In many ways, it's a good comprehensive plan of the things we need to do if the western Joshua tree is going to survive the very, very difficult decades ahead," said Brendan Cummings, conservation director with the Center for Biological Diversity, a nonprofit that in 2019 petitioned to list the western Joshua tree as threatened under the state's Endangered Species Act. The conservation plan is a requirement of the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act that passed last year, making it the first law in the state to protect a species from the threats of climate change. The law also prohibits anyone from killing, damaging or removing a tree without a state permit. The plan lists criteria and attributes to help identify land that should be prioritized for conservation, such as large areas with Joshua trees or areas with a high density of healthy and adult trees. It also suggests protecting regions where there is low risk of such threats as fires, invasive species and development, and where pollinators like moths or small mammal seed dispersers exist. It aims to identify these lands by December 2025 and permanently protect 70% of them by 2033. open image in gallery California officials have released a new plan to protect the Joshua tree ( AP ) The plan also calls on land managers and wildfire responders to create procedures to reduce and fight wildfires that threaten the species and their habitat, and develop measures to minimize impacts from rehabilitating burned areas. That includes protecting trees, replanting lost ones and other native species, and controlling invasives. But as the proposed plan notes, its effectiveness and the survival of the trees will depend largely on whether humanity can limit and reduce the planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions from burning coal, oil and gas that are causing climate change. Under a business-as-usual scenario, climate change could wipe out most, if not all, of the tree's habitat, Cummings said "Assuming we can keep to a mid-level emissions trajectory, we have a very good chance of saving the species if all the things outlined in this plan are carried out," he said. "And primarily that's doing what we can to protect as many of them as possible." The draft plan will have to be approved by the California Fish and Game Commission. Sir Keir Starmers time in government was summed up on Sunday by Skys Trevor Phillips as the Taylor Swift tickets, the suits, the dresses, the glasses, the No 10 passes, the chief of staff sacked inside six months. And, alarmingly for the prime minister, it is these issues many will remember of Labours early record as well as the decision to scrap pensioners winter fuel payments, hike national insurance contributions and levy inheritance tax on many family farmers for the first time. So, after five months of plummeting popularity, it is no surprise Sir Keir will launch a major reset of his government in a speech on Thursday. open image in gallery Keir Starmer will set out his plan for change on Thursday ( PA ) The Independent looks at what the PMs plan for change will entail, and whether it will be enough to reverse his fortunes. In his speech this week, Sir Keir is planning to set numerical targets for the economy, the NHS, public safety, energy security and social mobility against which the public can judge him and his government at the next general election, expected in 2029. They will run alongside public sector reform, Downing Street said, and will include a focus on reforming Whitehall, spearheaded by an as-yet-unannounced new chief civil servant and cabinet ministers, so it is geared towards the delivery of the missions Labour promised to be driven by in July. Labour insiders say the plan for change has been in the works since this summer. However, the need to establish concrete numerical targets has taken on additional importance since the re-election of Donald Trump in the United States and against the backdrop of Nigel Farages Reform UK continuing to gain support. open image in gallery The return of Donald Trump has heightened the PMs focus on delivering tangible improvements for voters ( AP ) The lesson Labour has taken from its sister partys loss in the US is that if the incumbent government does not deliver tangible improvements for voters, those voters will take the opportunity to boot it out. But, in a stark assessment of the PMs chances, Britains top polling guru Professor Sir John Curtice told The Independent it will be hard for a man with no ability to construct a narrative to sell the plan to voters. And whether the plan is to work or not, the fact Sir Keir is having to embark on a relaunch so soon into his tenure may be indicative of a wider problem. Speaking to LBC on Sunday, chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden insisted it is no relaunch, but an extension of what we were talking about before the election. But, having billed itself as the party of change after 14 years of chaos under the Conservatives, the resignation of the first member of Sir Keirs cabinet on Thursday was just the latest example of the trouble Labour has had demonstrating that change. After Labours general election Change slogan and its Change Begins party conference slogan, it remains to be seen whether Sir Keirs plan for change will be enough to turn things around. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A private New York island is up for sale for only $700,000 but there are a few details prospective buyers should keep in mind. Just outside Albany, Campbell Island sits on the Hudson River with lush greenery, thick woods, flowers, multiple beach fronts, and a little cove. Up until this year, Jeanne Casatelli has been the owner of the 92-acre land. In 1960, her father purchased the property for just $25,000, taking advantage of the islands resources to aid his concrete business. When her father passed, she inherited only a portion of the property. She then bought the rest a few years later. Now, Casatelli is ready to leave the undeveloped property behind and hand it off to someone willing to pay around $700,000. I hope to find a buyer who appreciates Campbell like I do to pass the baton to, she told Gothamist. I want it to hold onto its unique natural features, but also allow people to come there, by water, by bike, by foot and with vehicles. According to Private Islands Inc., the most expensive New York island listed right now is Thompson Island. For $3.495 million, a buyer can become the owner of the 45 acres that sits between the Adirondacks and Vermonts Green Mountains. Meanwhile, the 0.60-acre Twin Island is up for $699,000. Campbell Island in New York is up for sale for $700,000 ( YouTube/@jcrenss1 ) So, while Campbell Island is on the affordable side of islands for sale in New York, theres one aspect of the property that shouldnt be overlooked. Casatelli told Gothamistthat the property isnt all that accessible. Campbell Island is connected to the mainland by railroad tracks, which makes the legal access more complicated. Whats more, the island is close to a nature preserve, which Casatelli says isnt ideal for future development projects. For the most part, no one really knows about Campbell except for a the regulars who come to fish and walk or bike the trails. Casatelli said: When I walk down there, people are sometimes walking out. Theyll stop and chat and they tell me how much they love it. I like to hear that. I have no idea how many people know about it, she continued. Some of the most expensive islands in the United States for sale right now are located in Florida. Captiva Key, 13 acres, and Enchanted Island, 4 acres, are listed for $22 million and $20 million respectively. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy People are convinced movie theater etiquette is dead following Wickeds opening weekend. Director John M Chus film adaption of the hit Broadway musical Wicked starring Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba hit theaters this past weekend (November 22), prompting many fans to sell out showtimes at their local cinemas worldwide. However, those who didnt buy tickets for the movie musicals opening weekend have likely already seen several sneak peeks and full scenes on social media. Across TikTok, Instagram, and X/Twitter, pictures and videos of Wicked are being posted from inside the theater, spoiling some of the movies best moments. Scenes from fan favorite numbers such as Defying Gravity and Popular have flooded timelines and For You Pages, sparking outrage among the fans who havent been to the cinema yet. On X/Twitter, one person shared a photo of the opening credits and asked others to show ur wicked part 1 photos. The post quickly received more than 18.4 million views and 2,100 comments, prompting a debate over movie theater etiquette. open image in gallery Wicked fans are furious movie-goers are posting pictures and videos of the film from inside the theater ( Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. ) Several fans slammed the individual for encouraging others to share spoilers, as one person said: This is SO illegal. Disgraceful thread. Have some respect for the people in the same cinema as you, another added. Theater etiquette is dead, a third commented, while a fourth wrote: Its people like you that ruin cinema experiences. Even Alamo Drafthouse, a popular chain of dinner theater cinemas, commented from its official X/Twitter account: Or, dont do that. open image in gallery Fan encourages others to post pictures from inside the theater ( X/@nat_dwbua_ ) Despite pleas from fans to stop ruining the movie, many people continued to post pictures and videos throughout the two-hour and 40-minute long film. Before Wickeds release, some theaters issued a reminder to fans that singing is not permitted unless the screening is a sing-along version. At AMC Theaters, silence is golden. No talking. No texting. No singing. No wailing. No Flirting. And absolutely no name-calling. Enjoy the magic of movies, a short, Wicked-themed preshow advisory video said. According to USA Today, Wicked: Part One brought in $114 million at U.S. and Canadian theaters within the first weekend. The first part of the Universal Pictures film grossed $50.2 million in international markets, for a combined global total of $164.2 million. However, the double premiere of Wicked and Gladiator 2failed to surpass the success of Barbenheimer last summers dual release of Barbie and Oppenheimer on opening weekend, coming in at $169.5 million domestically compared to $244 million. Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy As ocean temperatures and acidity continue to rise, scientists are racing to protect the worlds coral reefs from the ever-growing threats of climate change and one solution sounds more like something youd find in your bathroom cabinet. Researchers say they could use a multivitamin to help make these critical ecosystems more resilient to heat stress and boost their health. This is not a Vitamin C and calcium concoction swallowed with a glass of water to boost your immune system, although it does have more similarities than you might think. Members of Massachusetts Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the University of the Virgin Islands joined forces to lab test nutrient-infused tiles that will be embedded in a 20-foot artificial reef. After the juvenile corals are planted on the structure, the tiles will emit essential nutrients and vitamins for the corals to absorb. We are studying how corals react when grown on substrates that have been infused with essential metal micronutrients, like manganese, zinc, and iron, Colleen Hansel, a senior scientist and marine chemist at WHOI, said in a news release. The rapidly warming waters coupled with an active hurricane season has made it difficult to conduct field trials of our substrates. But preliminary data collected during more than a year of lab experiments shows that corals that had the early benefit of multivitamins were more resistant and resilient to heat stress, Hansel said. open image in gallery The team plans to embed nutrient-infused tiles in the concrete structure of an artificial reef. The structure will provide a solid foundation to plant juvenile corals and for coral larvae to settle on. ( Colleen Hansel, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution ) The artificial reef will also serve another purpose, according to Marilyn Brandt a coral disease ecologist at the University of the Virgin Islands. The artificial reef will protect the shoreline from storm surge and erosion while providing habitat for corals struggling from climate change, as we work toward restoring natural reefs in the area, she explained. Although field testing is still necessary to make sure that additional nutrients in the environment dont cater to one specific kind of coral or promote the growth of invasive species, the scientists hope the artificial reef will create a diverse environment for the species that rely on them. We need to be sure an artificial reef looks and sounds as similar to a natural reef as possible. That doesnt consist of just coral, but also sponges, anemones and other biogeochemical components of the reef ecosystem, said Hansel. These interactions and feedback are necessary to make the whole habitat healthy. In addition to providing critical habitat for at least 25 percent of the worlds marine life, coral reefs are considered key to finding new drugs and medicines. They also protect shorelines, reducing impacts from waves, storms, and floods, made more severe and frequent by climate change. They are home to important filter feeders that take contaminants out of the oceans and support large amounts of plant life that take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. They have a hand in building our beaches and much of the sand is made of coral skeletons. And, US fisheries rely on coral reefs to provide food. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates the commercial value of US fisheries from coral reefs to be over $100 million. open image in gallery The team plans to embed nutrient-infused tiles in the concrete structure of an artificial reef. The structure will provide a solid foundation to plant juvenile corals and for coral larvae to settle on. ( Colleen Hansel, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution ) This research comes after the agency confirmed the worlds fourth global coral bleaching event on record and the second in the last 10 years. Bleaching occurs when corals are stressed by changes in conditions, causing them to expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues and turn completely white. When a coral bleaches, it is not dead. They can survive a bleaching event, but they are under more stress and are subject to mortality. As the worlds oceans continue to warm, coral bleaching is becoming more frequent and severe, Manzello said. When these events are sufficiently severe or prolonged, they can cause coral mortality, which hurts the people who depend on the coral reefs for their livelihoods. Dr. Derek Manzello, the coordinator of NOAAs Coral Reef Watch program, said in a statement. A report released by the International Union for Conservation of Nature earlier this month showed 44 percent of the worlds 892 warm-water reef-building coral species are at risk of extinction. The majority of the worlds corals are found across the Indo-Pacific. The protection of our biodiversity is not only vital for our well-being but crucial for our survival. Climate change remains the leading threat to reef-building corals and is devastating the natural systems we depend on, IUCN Director General Dr Grethel Aguilar said in a statement. We must take bold, decisive action to cut greenhouse gas emissions if we are to secure a sustainable future for humanity. by Qaiser Nawab The 2024 U.S. presidential election has culminated in one of the most tumultuous and divisive outcomes in recent American history. Donald Trump has secured a landslide victory, winning 270 electoral votes against Kamala Harriss 224, thus becoming only the second Republican president in two decades to clinch a second termthe first being George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009. This election was not merely a domestic affair; it served as a global barometer, reflecting and influencing socio-political dynamics across the world. Trumps triumph is emblematic of the enduring strength of populist rhetoric and the persistent appeal of an America First agenda. His victory in key swing states, often the battlegrounds that determine the electoral outcome, highlights a significant realignment in the American electorate. These states, previously leaning towards progressive policies, swung decisively towards Trump, signaling a robust support base that remains loyal despite widespread controversies and policy debates. Trump's platform promises further deregulation, particularly in the energy and real estate sectors, aligning closely with corporate interests that have long benefited from reduced governmental oversight. This continuity suggests a reinforcement of neoliberal policies that prioritize market dynamics over collective civic welfare, perpetuating an economic status quo that favors corporate profitability over public good. The election campaign was characterized by extreme polarization, with both sides entrenched in their ideological stances. The intense partisanship was not merely a reflection of differing political ideologies but also a manifestation of deeper societal fractures. The assassination attempts on Trump, though unsuccessful, are stark reminders of the heightened tensions and the potential for political violence in such a polarized environment. These events have further eroded public trust in the electoral process, casting a shadow over the legitimacy of the democratic institutions that underpin American governance. The chaotic nature of the election also reflects broader theoretical critiques of neoliberalism and its impact on democracy. Neoliberalism, which gained prominence in the 1980s, has redefined political priorities, transforming elections into commodified spectacles where corporate interests and market forces dominate policy-making. The 2024 election exemplifies this transformation, as campaign financing, media manipulation, and branding strategies have turned candidates into marketable brands rather than public servants. Donald Trumps campaign, with its emphasis on branding and direct communication via social media, underscores the shift towards a market-driven electoral process where economic interests often overshadow democratic ideals. Trump's skepticism towards int'l alliances On a global scale, Trumps victory carries significant implications, particularly in relation to China and the broader global economy. Trump's administration has been known for its hawkish stance towards China, characterized by aggressive trade policies and efforts to decouple the U.S. economy from Chinese manufacturing and technology sectors. A second term is likely to see an intensification of these policies, which could lead to further economic decoupling and heightened trade tensions. Such measures not only disrupt bilateral relations but also have a cascading effect on global supply chains, potentially destabilizing markets worldwide. Multinational corporations may find themselves navigating an increasingly fragmented global economy, as trade wars and tariffs create an unpredictable business environment. Moreover, Trumps approach to international alliances and trade agreements is poised to reshape global partnerships. His administrations skepticism towards multilateral institutions and agreements, such as the BRICS, the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the Paris Climate Accord, suggests a pivot towards unilateralism. This shift could undermine global cooperation on critical issues like climate change, economic inequality, and international security, leading to a more fragmented and competitive global landscape. Countries that have built their economic strategies around U.S. policies may need to reassess their alliances and trade partnerships, potentially fostering a more multipolar world where power is distributed among various national and regional blocs. The impact of Trumps victory extends beyond economic policies to influence geopolitical strategies and international relations. In regions like the Middle East and South Asia, U.S. foreign policy decisions can significantly alter power dynamics and economic dependencies. Trumps administration has historically pursued an isolationist and transactional approach to diplomacy, prioritizing American interests over multilateral cooperation. This stance can lead to the reinforcement of neo-colonial dependencies, where developing nations find themselves economically and politically constrained by U.S. policies. Trade agreements and military alliances under a Trump administration may continue to prioritize American economic interests, perpetuating systems of economic dependency and limiting the sovereignty of less powerful nations. Furthermore, Trumps policies are likely to fuel global economic inequality. His administrations focus on deregulation and tax cuts for corporations can lead to increased economic inequality, both domestically and internationally. As multinational corporations benefit from favorable tax policies and reduced regulations, wealth concentration may intensify, exacerbating social and economic disparities. This trend aligns with neo-Marxist critiques of capitalism, where economic power is concentrated in the hands of a few, undermining the democratic principle of equal representation and opportunity. Despite these challenges, there remains a glimmer of hope for electoral emancipation. Social movements advocating for electoral reform, climate justice, and social equity signal a growing demand for a more inclusive and representative democratic process. These movements challenge the dominance of corporate interests and seek to restore the primacy of citizen engagement in the political arena. However, achieving meaningful change requires a concerted effort to dismantle the entrenched neoliberal structures that perpetuate economic inequalities and limit democratic participation. Donald Trumps victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election underscores the profound divisions and chaotic nature of contemporary American politics. The election serves as a critical juncture, reflecting the deep-seated influence of neoliberalism on democratic institutions and global power dynamics. Trumps second term is poised to reinforce market-driven policies, intensify economic tensions with China, and reshape international alliances in ways that may destabilize the global economy. The election also highlights the limitations of neoliberal democracy, where corporate interests overshadow genuine democratic engagement, perpetuating a system that prioritizes profit over people. As the world watches the United States navigate its political landscape, the 2024 election stands as a testament to the enduring struggle between economic power and democratic ideals, leaving many to ponder the future trajectory of both American democracy and the global order it seeks to influence. The views and opinions expressed by guest columnists in their op-eds may differ from and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili will be forced to resign and leave the Presidential Palace on December 29, the day of the inauguration of the new head of state, despite her statements expressing reluctance to vacate the position, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said during a briefing, Trend reports. "I understand Ms. Zourabichvili's emotional state, but on December 29, she will indeed have to leave the residence and hand over the building to the legally elected president," Kobakhidze said. The Georgian Prime Minister also stated that the government is not considering the possibility of holding new parliamentary election. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A 34-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of rape at Sohos famous private members club The Groucho, Metropolitan Police have said. Police are investigating an alleged rape that is said to have taken place at the London venue on 13 November. They have now arrested a man at an address in Hertfordshire and he remains in custody. A woman is being supported by specialist officers, Met Police added. The celebrity haunt, which costs up to 1,500 a year to join, had its operating licence suspended for up to 28 days from 26 November following the incident. In an initial hearing over the suspension, the police raised concerns that the venue had breached its licensing conditions and was the scene of a serious criminal offence. The force said that at this stage there was no suggestion that employees of the venue were involved in the offence. Last Tuesday, The Groucho Clubs chief executive Elli Jafari reportedly wrote to members and apologised for the temporary closure, saying: The clubs licence has been suspended by agreement with Westminster City Council and we have made the decision to close the club pending a full hearing before Christmas. open image in gallery A sign outside The Groucho Club in Soho, London, which remains closed amid a police investigation ( PA ) In a statement, Scotland Yard said: Officers have arrested a man as part of an investigation into an allegation of rape at a venue in Soho. The investigation, which is led by detectives from the Central West Public Protection Team, was launched following reports of a woman being raped inside The Groucho Club, in Dean Street [in November]. The woman is being supported by specialist officers. open image in gallery The Groucho Clubs licence has been suspended while the investigation is carried out ( PA ) The statement continued: On the evening of Saturday, 30 November, officers arrested a 34-year-old man at an address in Hertfordshire on suspicion of rape. He remains in custody. It added: At this stage, there is no suggestion that employees of the venue were involved in the commission of the offence. The Groucho Club, in Dean Street, Soho, was founded in 1985 by a group of publishers and agents, including Australian writer Carmen Callil, publisher Liz Calder and American literary agent Ed Victor. The venue was sold to independent hospitality business Artfarm in 2022 in a deal reported to be worth around 40m. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A Tui plane with 193 people on board failed to pressurise because crew members did not realise a switch had been left off by maintenance workers, forcing the pilots to abort the flight, an investigation has found. The Boeing 737-8K5 took off from Manchester Airport for Kos, Greece, on 17 October last year, but only got as far as northern Lincolnshire before having to return. The 193 people on board, six crew and 187 passengers, were at risk of oxygen deprivation after a major error was made by both pilots. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch found the pilots had failed to spot that switches that controlled the engine air bleed systems had been left off by maintenance workers. The aircraft failed to pressurise and a cabin altitude warning sign turned on. The warning sign was on for 43 minutes, the report found. The jet returned to Manchester, with no injuries reported, but investigators said that the crew and passengers were exposed to the risk of hypoxia. Hypoxia is low levels of oxygen in the body, which can lead to confusion, difficulty breathing, and eventually people passing out. While the risk of loss of consciousness was small for the altitude the plane was at when the fault was discovered, it would have been higher if the plane continued to climb. The lack of oxygen could have contributed to bad decision-making by the crew, investigators found. According to the report, both pilots had thought that the bleed switch was on before take off, but when the plane passed around 15,000 feet the altitude warning sign came on. The commander said it was quickly noticed that both engine bleeds were off, these were placed straight back on and the problem was resolved. The crew did not don oxygen masks and continued as normal until a fault was noticed with the right air conditioning unit. The commander then stopped the climb and sought advice from bosses on the ground, with the decision being made to return to Manchester Airport. The report found that the crew did not complete prescribed drills from a Quick Reaction Handbook in response to the cabin altitude warning. Neither of the pilots had been originally scheduled to operate the flight, and were both on standby duty starting at 3am that day. The commander was woken up by his phone at 1am with the news that he had been assigned the Manchester to Kos flight. The co-pilot received a call at 2.30am and they were both told to turn up for work at 4.30am. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Sir Keir Starmer will set out a plan for change this week as part of what he is calling the next phase of government after a tumultuous start in No 10 but Britains top pollster has raised serious doubts about whether he can convince the public. After five months which have seen the prime ministers poll rating plummet, Sir Keir is planning to set numerical targets for the economy, the NHS, public safety, energy security and social mobility against which the public can judge him and his government at the next general election, expected in 2029. The milestones will run alongside public sector reform, Downing Street said, and will include a focus on reforming Whitehall, spearheaded by an as-yet-unannounced new chief civil servant and cabinet ministers, so it is geared towards the delivery of Labours missions. But polling guru Sir John Curtice has warned that Sir Keirs government has hit significant political trouble rather early on in its life, adding that the fundamental question is whether a politician who has shown so far absolutely no ability to construct a narrative can suddenly construct a narrative. Speaking to The Independent, Sir John Curtice said the government lacks a story of what it is about. open image in gallery Keir Starmer will attempt a major reset after just five months in power ( PA ) There is an appreciation that what you need to do is improve things, and if you improve things, people will vote for you, he said. That is not sufficient, because you had to persuade people you have done things. I presume part of the idea of plan for change is that all they had to say during the election was change and that is all they campaigned on, and now they have to be a wee bit more specific on what kind of change they have in mind which was an obvious gap six months ago. Since being elected in July with a landslide majority, Sir Keir has made a series of hugely unpopular changes, including cutting winter fuel payments to millions of pensioners, hiking national insurance contributions for employers and extending inheritance tax to cover agricultural properties, which farmers claim will force a generation of family farms out of business. Next week, he will claim to have made the moves after inheriting the unprecedented twin challenge of crumbling public services and crippled public finances, framing changes including the winter fuel cuts and family farm tax as difficult decisions Labour had to take. open image in gallery Sir John Curtice said the SNP faced a challenge from Labour ( Strathclyde University/PA ) The PM will claim that despite the challenges, his government has acted to stabilise the economy, crack down on illegal immigration and ploughed an extra 22bn into the NHS since coming to power. The reset comes after Sir Keirs transport secretary Louise Haigh was forced to quit for making a false report to police over a stolen mobile phone 10 years ago, becoming the first major cabinet casualty of his government. Ahead of the speech, Sir Keir said: This plan for change is the most ambitious yet honest programme for government in a generation. Mission-led government does not mean picking milestones because they are easy or will happen anyway. It means relentlessly driving real improvements in the lives of working people. We are already fixing the foundations and have kickstarted our first steps for change, stabilising the economy, setting up a new Border Security Command, and investing 22bn in an NHS that is fit for the future. open image in gallery Donald Trumps win in the US election has prompted Keir Starmer to pursue a government reset ( Reuters ) Our plan for change is the next phase of delivering this governments mission. Some may oppose what we are doing and no doubt there will be obstacles along the way, but this government was elected on a mandate of change and our plan reflects the priorities of working people. Given the unprecedented challenges we have inherited, we will not achieve this by simply doing more of the same which is why investment comes alongside a programme of innovation and reform. Since the general election, which saw Labour win a 174-seat majority with 34 per cent of the vote, Sir Keirs party has fallen within touching distance of the Conservatives in the polls, with just a three-point lead. Responding to Sir Keirs plans, Tory co-chairman Nigel Huddleston mocked the prime minister for launching his 17th reset, a reference to his repeated changes of direction in opposition. He said: Keir Starmers 17th relaunch will do nothing to hide the chaos Labour have unleashed on the country. In four short months, his Labour government has been engulfed in a cronyism row, cut the winter fuel payment for 10 million pensioners, hit farmers with the family farm tax and hammered businesses and working people with higher taxes. Keir Starmer has serious questions to answer about why he let someone serve in his cabinet who he knew had a fraud conviction. The British people will rightly be wondering why they have been short-changed by the party that claimed to offer change. The Reform UK party which Nigel Farage said on Thursday now numbers more than 100,000 members was equally sceptical. A Reform UK spokesperson said: We are a matter of months into this new government and it would appear they are already trying to have a reset. After freezing pensioners, hiking taxes and risking the future of British farming, the damage has already been done. We were promised growth and change, instead we have had sleaze, dishonesty and more of the same that failed the Tories. Sir Keir will promise his priorities will be at the heart of an upcoming spending review, vowing to ensure every pound the government spends goes toward improving peoples living standards. And he will promise to charge his new cabinet secretary and ministers with a Whitehall shake-up to focus departments on the delivery of Labours missions, rather than working in the traditional silos that focus on fiefdoms not outcomes. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Sir Keir Starmer has been warned a comprehensive trade deal with the US under Donald Trump would destroy our family farms and healthy food standards. The prime minister has been urged to rule out any agreement with the Americans that includes food and farming, with farmers warning their industry is already facing huge challenges after Labours tractor tax which they say will do irreparable damage to farming businesses. Thousands of farmers descended on London to protest the changes, announced by Rachel Reeves in October, which mean farms valued at 1m or more will be liable for 20 per cent inheritance tax. And despite farmers gearing up for another mass tractor rally in the capital, on Wednesday, 11 December, the outrage would pale in comparison to the backlash Sir Keir would face if he allowed American exports to undercut UK farmers by stocking chlorinated chicken and hormone-fed beef on Britains shelves. Liz Webster, founder of the Save British Farming campaign group, told The Independent Sir Keir doesnt have a mandate for a US deal and pointed to the PMs promise to negotiate a veterinary agreement covering food and farm products with the EU. Campaigners say consumers do not want chlorinated chicken from the US ( Getty/iStock ) If Starmer allows US low-standard foods to dominate our supermarket shelves, there will be no chance of the EU agreeing to a veterinary agreement, she said. Ms Webster added: Having won the keys to No 10, had Keir Starmer begun by dropping his ludicrous red lines on Brexit, growth wouldve returned, business would be happy and his popularity wouldve soared. Instead he has continued with intransigence on Brexit which is stifling growth and he has alienated most of the country by cutting the winter fuel payment, betraying farmers with a farm tax and hurting businesses with unaffordable tax hikes. Brexit was sold to the public with endless lies but in truth, Brexit was always about leaving the EU to join the US with a trade deal. But a USA deal means allowing chlorinated chicken and hormone-fed beef to destroy our family farms and healthy food standards. Her comments came after government sources told the Mail on Sunday the PM would not sell out British farmers with a US trade deal, in a boost for the beleaguered sector. They indicated Sir Keir would pursue a deal on food trade with Brussels and pointed to the last four Conservative prime ministers, all of whom refused a deal with the US over the thorny issue of food standards. Sir Keir has come under huge pressure from British farmers since Labours first Budget, which saw him dubbed Keir Starmer the farmer harmer. But, in a sign Labour is worried about the fallout from the protests, the PM invited National Farmers Union (NFU) president Tom Bradshaw to Downing Street, where he said Sir Keir struck a more conciliatory tone. Mr Bradshaw said: We are trying to give it a bit of room to breathe. He hasnt guaranteed me anything but I think there is a general softening of lines and I dont want to stoke the fire. He added: The prime minister is very much in listening mode, and I hope that hes able to act on what hes heard this afternoon. We will continue to fight this. I want to work with the government but they are making it incredibly difficult. The NFU has previously said it would welcome a trade deal with the US if it ensured a level playing field, especially around animal welfare. But it has said the priority should be the government striking a comprehensive deal with the EU. Reacting to the anger over her decision to impose inheritance tax on farmers in the Budget, the chancellor last month stressed that she would protect British farming. Were not going to allow British farmers to be undercut by different rules and regulations, Ms Reeves said. A key sticking point in free-trade talks between the UK and the US is the issue of chlorinated chicken and hormone-fed beef, both of which are practices associated with factory farms in America. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The U.S. Coast Guard says it's searching for five people after a fishing boat reportedly capsized in cold seas off Point Couverden, southwest of Alaska's capital of Juneau. The Coast Guard announced the search Sunday morning, and responders could face tough conditions because part of the region, located in the Gulf of Alaska, is under a winter storm warning. Good Samaritans and various Coast Guard units are part of the search, according to the agency. Coast Guard stations received a Mayday call around 12:10 a.m. Sunday from the crew aboard the Wind Walker ship that they were overturning, according to agency officials. Those at the station tried to get more information but never heard back. The ship is about 50 feet long. A nearby ferry heard the mayday call, offered to help and was first at the scene, according to the Coast Guard. Rescue crews found seven cold-water immersion suits and two strobe lights in the water, but not the five missing people. The names of those missing have not been released. Temperatures in Juneau hit a high of around 22 degrees on Sunday. Winds were up to 60 mph with 6-foot seas. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A couple spotted Keymydre Anderson hanging out of the window of a moving car before the 16-year-old was thrown to the pavement. They shrouded the boy in their coats and jackets and offered prayers as he lay half-naked and covered in grazes on the floor of Clay Mathis Road, in Mesquite, Texas, on January 22, 2022. The witness says he was dangling, Andersons mother Shenika told local news WFAA at the time. My baby was holding on. He didnt want to go. Anderson was pronounced dead soon after paramedics rushed him to a local hospital. Authorities initially believed the victim was involved in a car accident, before they noticed a puncture wound to his chest. Then the gravity of the situation became clear: he had been shot and thrown from a moving car, just a mile from his home. Four people, including three teens and one of their mothers, were charged with his death after investigators gleaned intel from their TikTok and Instagram activity. One of the alleged killers, Johnathan Pyle, 21, went to trial last week at a Dallas County courthouse charged with capital murder. If convicted, he faces the possibility of life in prison without parole. He wasnt in danger open image in gallery Keymydre Anderson was just 16-years-old when he was shot in the chest and allegedly thrown from a moving car ( Facebook ) Anderson was described as a hardworking student at John Horn High School, whom his family affectionately nicknamed Ears. The sophomore had an after-school job as a cook at a Sonic Drive-In fast food restaurant to help his single mother buy groceries and support his five younger siblings. After finishing a shift at the restaurant on January 22, 2022, Anderson jumped into the shower and then met with his grandmother Tonya Palmer to buy groceries. Later that day, between 6:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m, Anderson got into a black Honda Civic. Shenika said she had seen the vehicle outside her house before, and that her son knew the individual inside. But there was a twist: Anderson had been communicating with one or more of the defendants and had gotten into the vehicle to allegedly purchase a firearm, authorities said. I dont know why my grandson was buying a weapon, Palmer said at the time to KDFW. He wasnt in danger or any kind or harm or anything like that. Not that we know of. Robbery gone wrong At 7:05 p.m., a witness dialled 911 at 2800 block of Clay Mathis Road and told the dispatcher that they had seen someone fall from the moving car. Anderson was only wearing a t-shirt and underwear when police arrived at the scene. His jeans were torn from his body as he was allegedly pushed out the vehicle. His death, the Mesquite Police Department revealed, was ultimately over the $250 in his pocket, which he earned from his after-school job. Police said that the teen died from a gunshot wound to the chest, sustained during a failed robbery attempt. It is unclear if Anderson was shot while inside the vehicle. When they agreed to meet up, the suspects attempted a robbery of the individual, and our victim was shot during the course of that robbery, MPD Captain Stephen Bigg said. TikTok provides evidence open image in gallery Shenika Palmer, the victims mother, sobbed as she spoke to press at Andersons vigil days after his death ( CBS Texas/YouTube ) Police began their investigation on the evening Anderson was shot dead. Doorbell video footage from the surrounding area was reviewed before detectives looked at Andersons cellphone and social media history, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. Evidence was gleaned from TikTok and Instagram accounts which alleged that Pyle, then 19, and Simon Guillen, then 18, conspired to rob Anderson. Guillens mother Crystal, who was 34 during the alleged murder, and an unidentified boy, who was 15 at the time, were also arrested following the investigation. All four were charged with capital murder. Thats not a parent, Palmer, Andersons grandmother, said of Crystal. A parent wouldnt do things like that. Thats called a madman, not a mother. It is not clear how Guillens mother and the 15-year-old are connected to the case nor when the three other defendants are due in court. In the days that followed, teddy bears and flowers lined the road where Anderson spent his last moments. A vigil was held at the Cornerstone Baptist Church just two minutes from the victims home. The problem in our city is not so much the presence of the demonic, as it is the absence of the glory of God, said Mesquite mayor Dan Aleman, who is also a pastor, during the vigil, according to Dallas Morning News. Anderson was laid to rest on February 2, 2022 at a funeral home in South Cedar Hill. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy More than three decades after the body of a slain Washington woman was found in a riverbed, investigators have identified her suspected killer with the help of DNA technology. Tracy Whitney was 18 years old when she vanished on August 28, 1988, after leaving a Burger King restaurant following an argument with friends. The next day, fishermen found her nude body in a gravel bed right where the Puyallup and White Rivers meet. Tracy had several blunt-force injuries and was believed to have been sexually assaulted. Her cause of death was asphyxia caused by strangulation and probable smothering. It was ruled a homicide and police took DNA swabs from her body. Despite countless interviews with everyone who knew or had dated Tracy, Pierce County detectives were not able to link anyone to her murder. In 2005, the suspect DNA found on her body was sent to a federal database, but no matches could be found and the case went cold. open image in gallery Tracy Whitney, 18, vanished on August 28, 1988, after leaving a Burger King restaurant following an argument with friends. Her body was found the next day ( Pierce County Sheriffs Department ) Then in 2022, with the help of a grant offered by the WA State Attorney Generals Office, a Cold Case Detective Sergeant submitted the DNA to a lab for Genetic Genealogy and got a match. John Guillot Jr. was revealed to be the suspect, according to a press release from the Pierce County Sheriffs Office. However, he died in 2022 at age 65, just eight months before being identified. Detectives matched the suspect DNA to his biological son to confirm Guillot Jr. was in fact their suspect. If John G. Jr. had been alive today, law enforcement would have probable cause to arrest, Pierce County Sheriffs Detective Lindsay Kirkegaard said. From our standard, he was the suspect, and he would have been arrested for the crime. open image in gallery The scene where Tracy Whitneys body was found in the riverbed in 1988 ( Pierce County Sheriffs Department ) Guillot Jr. was questioned in connection to the death of his girlfriend in 2010 and the death of his wife in 2020, though he was never arrested or charged with eithers death, according to records obtained by KING5. There were no known connections between Tracy and Guillot Jr and detectives believe this was a stranger abduction, rape and murder, according to the release. In an interview with KING5 News, Tracys father Ronald Whitney noted the importances of advances in DNA technology and genetic genealogy and how significant developments in other cases inspired hope for his daughters case. When the Golden State Killer got busted, I said, This is it, this is the break that weve been waiting for, he said, referencing how DNA helped nab the Golden State Killer after years. For years, Tracys family held onto hope for answers in her murder. But that hope faded with each year that passed with no news. I came to the conclusion that the only way we were going to find out what happened or who murdered my daughter was if he walked into the front door of the police station, her father said. Whitney remembers Tracy as a happy girl who always had a sparkle in her eye. He said the pain of losing his daughter has not faded. Its something that never leaves your mind, every day, I dont think the grief will ever go away, he said. Its the first thing I think about in the morning, its the last thing I think about at night. The case is now officially closed and classified as "Cleared Exceptional - Death of Offender, according to the Pierce County Sheriffs Department. open image in gallery Ron Whitney remembers his daughter, Tracy, as a happy girl who always had a sparkle in her eye ( Pierce County Sheriffs Department ) While the identification of a suspect in Tracys murder brings some closure, the family continues to grapple with the idea that they will never find out exactly what happened. In my head, I imagined that wed be going to court, and Id be sitting in the courtroom looking him in the eyes and watching him get sentenced to death or life in prison, Robin Whitney said. Its kind of an empty feeling because now we know who did it. We know some background on him, but well never find out the true story of what actually happened. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Oregon officials have arrested a man they say murdered his wife weeks after she filed for divorce. Michel Fournier, 71, of Brightwood, was charged in connection with the death of his wife, Susan Lane-Fournier, 61, who went missing on November 22 along with the couples two dogs. She had failed to show up at her workplace. The couple had been together for 12 years. A resident found the womans body this week near East Highway 26 and East Miller Road in Clackamas County near Welches, Clackamas County Sheriffs Office said in a statement. Her manner of death has been ruled a homicide. It concluded a four-day search to find Lane-Fournier. Her truck had previously been found in the area of the Mount Hood National Forest. The two dogs remain missing. Fournier has been booked on a second-degree murder charge. Hes currently being held in the Clackamas County Jail without bail. open image in gallery Officials are still searching for the womans two dogs ( Provided ) Officials did not disclose any other information surrounding the womans death but are working to determine the circumstances of what happened. According to the Portland Tribune, the woman had expressed fear for her and her dogs in the days leading up to the disappearance. A group called Team Phoenix that worked to find Lane-Fournier issued a statement on Facebook after her body was found. Lane-Fourniers nickname was Phoenix. The mission for justice has begun, the group wrote. We have all been quiet, we are all processing our grief. This is not the outcome we had hoped for, but we were under no delusions that this might not be the outcome. A candlelit vigil is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, December 2 at Hoodland Bazaar in Welches. open image in gallery Michel Fournier, 71, of Brightwood, has been arrested on a charge of second-degree murder ( Clackamas County Sheriffs Office ) Ultimately, what we would like is for Phoenixs light to not go out but shine brighter, Cari Gesch, one of the womans friends, told the newspaper. We dont want her death to mean nothing. Our community is all hurting and we all need to get together and just grieve and cry together. We want to turn this senseless tragedy into something positive. I think thats what Phoenix wouldve wanted. Maybe it can spark some positive change. Anyone with information about the missing dogs is being encouraged to call the sheriffs office. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A former mayoral candidate in Florida who is reportedly part of a religious group has been arrested and charged with the murder of another member in Tennessee, according to jail records. Adam Arthur Rosenthal, 39, is charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault and tampering with evidence in connection to the death of Darren Gambrel. Gambrels body was found Tuesday afternoon on property in Pulaski, a town about 75 miles south of Nashville, and Rosenthal was named a suspect, according to the Pulaski Citizen. The discovery of the body prompted the execution of two search warrants on the eastern edge of the Pulaski city limits, which is owned by local communal religious group, The Twelve Tribes. Giles County Sheriff Joe Purvis believes the victim had been a member of the religious group for several years and believes that Rosenthal has been affiliated with the group for possibly six to nine months, the Pulaski Citizen reported. A motive for the alleged murder has not been released. Rosenthal, who ran for Gainesville mayor in 2022, was reported missing on June 18, Gainesville Police Department spokesman Brandon Hatzel told the Mainstreet Daily News. According to Missing People In Americas website, Rosenthal was last seen in April at the Space Bar near Cypress & Grove Brewing Co. in Gainesville, which is now closed. With the help of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Giles County Sheriffs Office continues to investigate Gambrels death as a homicide. Rosenthal is in the Giles County Jail. He is scheduled to be back in court on December 10. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. The mass slaying of West African soldiers by colonial forces at the end of World War II in Senegal remains shrouded in secrecy, but Senegals new government wont abide the mystery, Trend reports citing The New York Times. The middle school students in Senegal listened quietly one afternoon this past week as their history teacher told a story most of them knew already. In 1944, French colonial forces massacred West African soldiers who had returned from France after fighting in World War II, said the teacher, Aminata Diedhiou. Their school, in the town of Thiaroye, stands near the site of the killings. Why did the French massacre them, one student asked. How were they killed, wondered another. I want to know more, said Amy Sall, 16. So does Senegal. Ahead of the 80th anniversary of what is known as the Thiaroye Massacre, Senegals government has pressured France to fully explain one of the most sinister episodes of its colonial rule in Africa. And Senegal wont let it go, the latest signal sent by an African government that the relationship with the former colonizer is up for reconsideration. After President Emmanuel Macron of France last week referred to the events as a massacre in a letter addressed to his Senegalese counterpart the first French president to ever to describe it as such President Bassirou Diomaye Faye had a blunt answer. That is not enough, Mr. Faye said in an interview with Le Monde. We still dont know how many people were killed nor why, how and where they were buried. The calls for reparations echo campaigns demanding truth and justice for colonial-era crimes committed across the continent. In the former French colonies of West and Central Africa, where several governments have curtailed ties with France in recent years, few incidents resonate as much as the memory of Thiaroye. Thiaroye could be the foundation for a Pan-African consciousness shared by all African countries who have lost citizens in the tragedy, said Mamadou Diouf, a Senegalese historian and director of Columbia Universitys Institute for African Studies. Mr. Diouf, who was appointed by the Senegalese government this summer to lead a research committee on Thiaroye, called Senegals new attitude indicative of a breakaway, a strong assertion of sovereignty. A 15-Second Blood Bath On the morning of Dec. 1, 1944, French colonial forces gathered hundreds of West African men temporarily stationed at a garrison in Thiaroye, on the outskirts of Dakar, the then-capital of French West Africa. It was supposed to be their last stop before home: Hailing from a dozen African colonies, the men had fought for France in the war, been detained in Nazi-run camps for years, and were now awaiting financial compensation for years of service. The money wasnt coming. As tensions escalated between French and West African soldiers who had once been brothers in arms, French officers vowed to bring back order, according to a French military report written a day before the killings. They brought machine guns to Thiaroye, two battalions, a tank and other military vehicles to show so much superiority that the mutineers dont think about resisting, the report read. Around 9:30 a.m., they fired more than 500 rounds of ammunition within 15 seconds, according to archives consulted by Martin Mourre, a French historian. The first official death toll mentioned 35 West African deaths an indispensable surgical operation, an act of self-defense against armed and aggressive men, claimed the French officer in charge, in a report written days later. But historians from France and Senegal say the real death toll is likely closer to 400, and that the West African soldiers were not armed. They argue that discrepancies in military reports and the preparedness of French troops pointed to a premeditated massacre. The lack of information around the identities of the victims and the whereabouts of their remains, are other signs that France tried to cover up a crime, they say. Hiding documents was a part of the imperial policy, Mr. Diouf said. We have the French version. We need to write our own narrative. Keeping Thiaroye Alive While much remains undisclosed about the events of 1944, Thiaroye has permeated Senegals public psyche in plays, poems and hip-hop songs. Camp de Thiaroye, released in 1988 by the filmmaker Ousmane Sembene, is a classic of Senegalese cinema. Now, Senegals new pro-sovereignty government is making it a political issue. Dozens of billboards commemorating the 80th anniversary of the massacre have been displayed along Dakars main avenues. In Thiaroye this past week, construction workers were renovating a military cemetery, which will be the site of the official commemoration ceremony. At the middle school where Ms. Diedhiou gathered students, commemorations are held every year: Senegalese soldiers raise the countrys flag in the middle of the playground, surrounded by students donning uniforms similar to those worn in 1944. We are happy to pay tribute, Awa Samateh, 17, said as she sat with half a dozen schoolmates under an orange tree between two lessons. But it pains us because the white men killed them for no good reason. The school was built on the site of the military camp where the West African soldiers were slain. Ms. Diedhiou said she was haunted by the possibility of teaching close to where the victims may have been buried. The nearby military cemetery contains 35 graves, the official death toll. But many in Senegal suspect that they are empty. These graves are a joke, said Biram Senghor, whose father, Mbap, was killed in 1944. At 86, Mr. Senghor said he had little hope that he would ever learn the whereabouts of his fathers remains. A Taboo No More The economic, cultural and political ties between Senegal and France have run deep since Senegals independence in 1960. For the sake of preserving those ties, Senegalese presidents never confronted France about the atrocities committed in Thiaroye, according to historians and intellectuals from both countries. Previous governments thought they had to beg France to commemorate, said Boubacar Boris Diop, a writer and intellectual who has written a play on Thiaroye. It is changing now. France has long maintained that it had given access to all its archives on the killings, but cracks in that assertion have begun to appear. For the 70th anniversary of the killings in 2014, then-President Francois Hollande said the death toll was more likely 70 double the toll France had previously acknowledged, but still far below historians estimates. France isnt itself when it looks away from events that may have tarnished its image, Mr. Hollande said. Last month, Senegalese archivists working for Mr. Dioufs research group traveled to France to examine all of the archives that could contain information about the killings. We will be able to come up with some information that will allow people to ask for reparations, Mr. Diouf said. Only truth, President Faye said in his interview with Le Monde, will help Senegal and France move toward a partnership ridden of painful remnants. He also called on hundreds of French troops still present in Senegal to leave. In another blow to Frances already-waning military influence in Africa, the government of Chad ended a longstanding defense partnership between the two countries last month. Mr. Senghor, who was 6 years old in 1944, is still waiting for the financial compensation that France owes his deceased father for his service in France. Mr. Macron said he wouldnt travel to Senegal for the commemorations. Whether France will heed Senegals requests is also unclear. While France has under Mr. Macrons leadership returned looted artworks and acknowledged crimes committed in Algeria and Rwanda, acknowledging responsibility for the Thiaroye killings could fuel calls for reparations in other former colonies. But, Mr. Senghor said, If the French want to get well with Africans, they must apologize and pay. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy At 45, Tracy Norton went to her doctor to discuss menopause. Her period hadnt come for four months and it seemed clear to her that shed entered the next stage of her reproductive life. Would you be surprised to learn you were 11 weeks pregnant? her ultrasound technician told her. Surprised was an understatement. The doctor had only ordered an ultrasound to check nothing was wrong. Norton, a law professor at Louisiana State University, thought there was no way she was pregnant at her age. She already had three children, the youngest at the time was her 8-year-old stepson. With the transducer pressed to Nortons abdomen, the tech turned on the sound, revealing a good, steady, strong heartbeat. It was pretty dramatic, actually, after that, she told The Independent. Middle-aged women finding themselves unexpectedly pregnant is not a common occurrence. But on the off-chance it happens, a specific combination of factors weight gain, a lack of period, and a rush of hormones can often be mistaken as the end of ones fertility rather than early signs of pregnancy. A delay in recognizing these symptoms can add to the already increased pregnancy risks that come with older mothers, such as miscarriage and fetal chromosomal differences, doctors say. A delay in getting pregnancy care could also mean fewer options, especially in this post-Roe reproductive health landscape. The last time Norton had been pregnant was 11 years prior her body had changed in the meantime. Each time she stepped into a doctors office, other patients and staff met her with shock and awe that she was older and pregnant. With her full head of prematurely gray hair, everyone believed she had endured a successful in vitro fertilization process. open image in gallery Tracy Norton, pregnant with her daughter Lizzie, in January 2014 ( Courtesy of Tracy Norton ) That wasnt the case. I did what every teenager could do, Norton said. I just wasnt using birth control and got pregnant. But the pregnancy wasnt like that of a young person. Her gynecologist recommended she see a cardiologist, for the high blood pressure she was treated for, and a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, due to her age. The maternal-fetal medicine specialist warned: If the baby does go to term, its very unlikely that this is going to be a healthy baby. Norton then underwent tons of genetic testing, sparking conversations with her husband about what they would do with the results. We had decided that there were some mild developmental disabilities that we felt like we were equipped to handle, she said. But if the child had needs that the couple didnt think they could afford or handle emotionally or physically or without impacting the other kids, or if the child was going to suffer any kind of pain or have a really short life expectancy, then termination was on the table. I was prepared to have an abortion if I needed to, she said. This was 2013 in New York, a different time for reproductive health. Now, she lives in Louisiana, where a total abortion ban has been in place since June 2022. If she found out now, in post-Roe Louisiana, that she was 11 weeks pregnant, Norton said she and her husband would have traveled out of state and definitely would have aborted at that point, because there were too many things that could go wrong and we werent going to have any of that information for a couple more weeks. Dr. Shannon Clark, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, told The Independent that a short timeline is crucial for older pregnant patients: Someone who finds out theyre pregnant at 50, that would be a pregnancy with more concern where they would need to get more care established quickly to have some things assessed. Its not uncommon for patients who conceive at a later age to discover theyre pregnant halfway through their pregnancy, at about 18-20 weeks, since they think theyre in menopause, she said. Common signs of both menopause and pregnancy, like weight gain or stopped periods, complicate matters and could delay seeking care. But menopause is marked by more than a few missed periods; its defined as not having a period for a full year, Dr. Monica Christmas, a gynecologist and the associate medical director of the Menopause Society, told The Independent. About 95 percent of women will go through menopause between 45 and 55, with the median age of 51 or 52, Dr. Christmas said. Perimenopause, or the transition period leading up to menopause, takes shape first, when some may experience lighter periods that are more spaced out while others could experience heavier periods with more frequent cycles. Even though some may not be getting regular periods, its still possible to get pregnant during this stage and birth control is recommended. While becoming pregnant is much harder as we get older, Dr. Christmas said, when it does happen, the risk of the pregnancy being impacted by a genetic or chromosomal abnormality or miscarriage is significantly higher. Thats because even if women are still ovulating into their fifties, theres a decline of fertility based on egg quantity and egg quality, Dr. Clark said. No matter how rare these pregnancies are, everyone still seems to know someone who had a similar experience to Norton. After one 51-year-old woman posted that her gynecologist said she could stop using birth control due to her age, others on social media werent so sure. I have a cousin who fell for that line and now shes 57 with a 5 year old, one X user wrote. Another remarked: My aunt thought she was in menopause and she was pregnant. A 64-year-old woman found out was unexpectedly eight weeks pregnant and told her daughter in a now-viral TikTok video: What am I gonna do?... I am too old for that. One Reddit user said: My 41 yo coworker is pregnant, she thought it was menopause! She has an 18 yo and a 21yo. The positive stories on social media capturing women successfully conceiving later in life can be deceiving, Dr. Clark said: Thats the minority of patients, not the majority. open image in gallery Tracy Norton and her 10-year-old daughter Lizzie on a hike along the Rio Grande in El Paso in 2024 ( Courtesy of Tracy Norton ) After completing scores of tests, Nortons baby was healthy; she had an emergency C-section and her daughter, Lizzie, was born at 32 weeks. Ten years later, her daughter is healthy, Norton has gone through menopause and her life now revolves around the elementary school calendar. The one thing the 56-year-old wishes she had known was to get Lizzie screened for autism earlier. After she found out her daughter was autistic, Norton recalled her doctor telling her autism was common in children of older parents. I wish somebody had told me that earlier, so that I could have had her tested, because we could have saved her a lot of duress if we had been able to get educational accommodations in place for her earlier than we did, Norton said. We adore her and her autism is one of the things that makes her who she is, she said. Raising a child in middle age definitely has its advantages, Norton said. Rather than the loosely controlled chaos that came with raising three children at the same age, Norton said she and her husband are much more patient raising Lizzie because she is the only one in need of parenting at this point. She said shes also a more confident mother and no longer worried about what her childs teachers and friends parents think. After all, she said, Im old enough to be their mother. Norton summarized: Everybody gets to be this age and theyre like, God, I would be, I would be a much better parent at this age. And its true, you are a much better parent at this age. Its fantastic. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Reyna Montoya was 10 when she and her family fled violence in Tijuana and illegally immigrated to the U.S. Growing up in Arizona, she worried even a minor traffic violation could lead to her deportation. She didn't feel relief until 11 years later in 2012, when she received a letter confirming she had been accepted to a new program for immigrants who came to the country illegally as children. "All of the sudden, all these possibilities opened up," Montoya said, fighting back tears. The Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program granted her and hundreds of thousands of others two-year, renewable permits to live and work in the U.S. legally. But as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, after an unsuccessful bid to end DACA in his first term, the roughly 535,000 current recipients are bracing yet again for a whirlwind of uncertainty. Meanwhile, a years-long challenge to DACA could ultimately render it illegal, leaving people like Montoya without a shield from deportation. "I have to take his (Trump's) words very seriously, that when they say 'mass deportation,' it also includes people like me," said Montoya, who runs Aliento, an Arizona-based advocacy organization for immigrant rights. open image in gallery More than 500,000 immigrants protected under DACA are bracing for Donald Trumps return to the White House and the uncertainty that comes with it ( AP ) Uncertainty is nothing new for DACA recipients. As many matured from school age to adulthood, they have witnessed a barrage of legal threats to the program. DACA hasn't accepted new applicants since 2021, when a federal judge deemed it illegal and ordered that new applications not be processed, though current recipients could still renew their permits. The Biden administration appealed the ruling, and the case is currently pending. For those who secured and renewed DACA permits, the benefits have been life-changing. With DACA, Montoya for the first time was able to work legally, get health and dental care, and obtain a driver's license. Many recipients had hoped Vice President Kamala Harris would win the presidency and continue fighting for them. But the reelection of Trump, who has repeatedly accused immigrants of fueling violent crime and "poisoning the blood" of the United States, has heightened their fears that DACA could end and they could face deportation. Out of caution, some are rushing to renew their permits, according to the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, which has been providing free legal aid to help them through the extensive process. Others are preparing for potential family separations. Phoenix native and DACA recipient Pedro Gonzalez-Aboyte said he and his immigrant parents, along with his two U.S.-born brothers, recently discussed the possibility of being split. Gonzalez-Aboyte recalled his parents, who immigrated from Mexico, saying that even if they were unable to stay in the country, "as long as the three of you are here and you're OK, then that's what we want." "That was a very real conversation we had," Gonzalez-Aboyte said. Officials for the Trump transition team did not respond to emailed requests for comment. open image in gallery Aliento CEO Reyna Montoya is greeted after speaking at an immigration forum on Capitol Hill. She was one of hte people protected under DACA ( AP ) While it is unclear how Trump could impact DACA this time, he has suggested scaling back other programs that offer temporary protection for immigrants and is staffing his incoming administration with immigration hardliners, including Stephen Miller and Thomas Homan. During his first term, Trump tried to rescind DACA. But in 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court concluded his administration ended the program improperly, though it didn't rule on the program's legality. But DACA's fate won't be immediately left up to Trump, if at all. A three-judge panel on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals regarded as the country's most conservative appeals court heard arguments in October concerning the legality of DACA. The case, initially filed by Texas and other Republican-led states in 2018, now focuses on a Biden administration rule intended to preserve and fortify DACA. Attorneys for DACA opponents argued that immigrants in the country illegally are a financial burden on states. Meanwhile, the Biden administration, along with intervenors, contend that Texas has not shown the costs it cites are traceable to the policy and, therefore, lacks standing. The panel doesn't have a deadline to issue a ruling. Regardless, its ruling will likely be appealed, potentially elevating the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Stephen Yale-Loehr, a professor of immigration law practice at Cornell University, said the most likely scenario is the panel affirming that DACA is illegal and that the case goes before the Supreme Court. He doesn't anticipate Trump immediately trying to end DACA but didn't rule out the possibility. "I don't know that they could actually terminate the program any faster than the current ligation is going," he said. "They could still do it, but they've got an awful lot of immigration policy matters on their plate." Yale-Loehr said the Biden administration is limited in how it could help DACA recipients at this stage, but it could enable recipients to renew their permits early and process them as quickly as possible. Greisa Martinez Rosas is a DACA recipient and executive director of United We Dream, a youth-led advocacy network for immigrants that boasts more than a million members nationwide. She said the immigrant rights movement has grown so much since Trump's first term, and it's been preparing for this moment for years, "building a nimble and responsive infrastructure so that we will make shifts as threats emerge." She said they're calling on Americans to offer immigrants sanctuary, preparing to ensure people's physical and psychological safety in case of mass deportations, planning demonstrations and asking for help from the current administration. "We still have a couple of months for the Biden administration to use every single tool at its disposal to protect and defend as many people as possible," Martinez Rosas said at a recent press briefing. "We're expecting for them to do that now more than ever." Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Donald Trumps controversial decision to have Kash Patel to head up the FBIwas not his first choice, according to a new report. The MAGA loyalist was being considered as deputy director of the bureau, an appointment that may have raised fewer eyebrows, with Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey a frontrunner for the top job. However, a source in the Trump transition team told Axios that Baileys interview at Mar-a-Lago did not go well and that he looked the part but just didnt have the presence in the room. It is understood that chemistry with the President-elect is very important when appointments are being made. Patel is a long-standing and loyal Trump supporter. Patel has for years been a loyal ally to Trump, finding common cause over their shared skepticism of government surveillance and the deep state a pejorative catchall used by Trump to refer to government bureaucracy. open image in gallery Sources told Axios that Missouri AG Andrew Bailey was the frontrunner for the FBI director job, but flunked the interview with Trump ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) He was part of a small group of supporters during Trumps recent criminal trial in New York who accompanied him to the courthouse, where he told reporters that Trump was the victim of an unconstitutional circus. His appointment is somewhat of a departure from the modern-day precedent of FBI directors looking to keep presidents at arms length. But a transition insider told Axios the choice of Patel was a "personal message to the left that was cheering on Jack Smith" the special counsel who was prosecuting Trump, who has since called off his cases. open image in gallery Patel has proven himself a long-time Trump supporter and MAGA loylalist ( AFP via Getty Images ) Patels loyalty was also demonstrated by his outspoken criticism of the FBIs investigation into potential ties between Russia and Trumps 2016 presidential campaign. He has also played a role in several of the legal investigations into Trump. He appeared in 2022 before the Washington grand jury investigating Trumps hoarding of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after receiving immunity for his testimony one of the cases dropped by Smith. He also testified at a Colorado court hearing related to Trumps efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the run-up to the violent January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy With their party hollowed out on the national stage, the eyes of many Democrats are now turning to state leaders as they search for a new bench of candidates for 2028 as well as signs of life for the resistance to the GOP White House. After Kamala Harris was virtually swept in across the battleground states by Donald Trump and Democrats in the Senate suffered key losses, the partys leadership in Washington is as unpopular as ever. Members of Congress who were previously playing nice with the administration are now coming forward to say they wished theyd spoken out sooner about the need for Joe Biden to step aside. The chair of the party, Jaime Harrison, is reportedly not seeking another term. Now, Democrats are turning to governors as it becomes clear that Democratic minorities in both chambers will be able to do little to block the agenda of Donald Trumps second term without support from some of their Republican colleagues. Some of those same governors are seen as the partys likeliest prospects for the next presidential election cycle as many in Washington are now tainted somewhat by the stink of the Harris campaigns defeat. One of those Democrats is Andy Beshear of Kentucky, who won reelection in Kentucky last year at a time when his party was facing a serious branding issue nationally, especially among voters in rural areas and across the industrial Midwest. An op-ed in the Kentucky Lantern described the governor as firmly in the hunt to succeed Trump as president in 2028 following Harriss loss. open image in gallery Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear at his reelection victory party in 2023. He is one of the governors helping to lead Democrats' efforts to slow the Trump agenda and look to 2028 ( Getty Images ) In a post-election interview, Beshear said that he planned to lobby the administration to keep the Biden administrations grants and tax credits for electric vehicle manufacturing flowing. Its a priority hell likely share with Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and the newest member of the incoming presidents inner circle, but one that puts him at odds with fossil fuel interests and conservatives (including, at times, Trump himself) who have derided the policy as an EV mandate killing American jobs. "I will work with any administration when it benefits Kentucky. I will oppose any administration when it hurts Kentucky or threatens our democracy, Beshear said. He hasnt said yet how his state will react to one of the cornerstone policies planned for a second Trump term: a supposed mass deportation program that will aim to boot more than 1 million undocumented immigrants before the end of his presidency. Beshear has repeatedly criticized the president-elect for his demeaning and dehumanizing language about immigrants from Central and South America, and elsewhere, while maintaining his support for border control policies. Other Democrat governors are already pledging to resist the deportation effort. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey said last month that state police would not assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in conducting deportation operations within the state, while other governors including JB Pritzker of Illinois, Jared Polis of Colorado and Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, to name a few, have offered similar statements. open image in gallery Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has won allies for his willingness to champion progressive policies and make the case against Republicans ( REUTERS ) Pritzker, another figure widely viewed as a potential candidate for the Democratic nomination in 2028, even dared Trumps incoming administration to attempt deportation raids in his state. A favorite of many younger Democrats and even some progressives, Pritzkers challenge is a sign that many of the partys newer generations are seeking a different kind of champion after four years of Bidens whispery sort-of jabs at his onetime opponent. "If you come for my people, you come through me, warned Pritzker. Another Democrat widely seen to be preemptively building a national profile ahead of a possible bid for higher office is Gavin Newsom of California. Newsom was also seen as a potential contender in the hours after Joe Biden dropped out, before it became clear that the Democrats would not endure an accelerated battle for the nomination. open image in gallery California Governor Gavin Newsoms deep pockets, Hollywood ties and connections in the party put him at the top of the list for many listing potential replacements for Joe Biden in 2024. ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Last month, the California governor called a special session of the state legislature in order to Trump-proof his states laws and statutes before the president-elect takes office in January. Part of that effort also includes searching for more funding for state programs likely to be targeted by the Trump White House, such as drug addiction treatment, homelessness outreach and LGBTQ+ support organizations. Newsom has hit Washington directly to lobby for federal funding on those points, while his team is also seeking alternative funding avenues. This is the first of several actions by the Newsom administration, in partnership with the Legislature, as the governor begins shoring up Californias defenses against an incoming federal administration that has threatened the state on multiple fronts, his office said in a statement, adding: The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack and we wont sit idle. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The nomination of Kash Patel to serve as Americas next FBI director is a warning shot across the bow for journalists as Donald Trumps threats to attack the First Amendement intensifies. Patel, a longtime Trump loyalist, served in the previous administration in a political appointment at the Pentagon. Now, hell be in charge of the nations largest law enforcement agency, pending approval by the Senate. His nomination, coupled with president-elect Trumps clear desire for a similar close ally at the head of the Justice Department, is a sign that the incoming president wants those agencies firmly in his pocket. And Patel has largely laid out his vision for what that will look like. Were going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections. Were going to come after you, whether its criminally or civilly, he said on an episode of Steve Bannons War Room podcast. He expanded on the threat, using very similar language, in an interview with the Washington Examiner. What the president has stated simply, whether its DOJ, FBI, DOD were just going to stop the politicization of law enforcement, intelligence, he said. Its simple. If they broke the law, you prosecute them, criminally or civilly, he added. If they broke the law, use the Constitution, thats it. open image in gallery Kash Patel, Donald Trumps pick to run the FBI, has vowed to come after journalists criminally or civilly as he has threatened to attack the First Amendment ( AP ) The implicit threat also may have tipped Patels hand: the admission that civil law may come into play is as clear as a sign that even Trumps closest loyalists understand the limitations of criminal statutes. For all the president-elects bluster on the campaign trail and the vows of Bannon and his circle to come after the media, there is little in terms of criminal prosecution with which the DOJ or FBI can threaten journalists who report on the Trump administration either past or present. Neither the FBI nor the DOJ actually has the power to make up new statutes with which to criminally charge journalists, and the vast majority of published media works in the US fall under the First Amendments protected speech and debate clause. The best Trumpworld and its fans on social media will be able to hope for, in this regard, will be civil suits filed against major media organizations, but the incoming president has no track record of success on that front even after promising virtually the same thing during the 2016 campaign. The DOK was previously utilized by Trump ally-turned-inconvenience Bill Barr to defend the commander-in-chief from a defamation suit during his first presidency. Despite Barrs efforts to pit the resources of the federal government against E Jean Carroll, the author who accused Trump of sexual abuse and defamation for supposedly lying about it, Carroll prevailed in the end. One real red flag is raised for journalists in the national security field in particular with Patels nomination, however. His appointment would likely mean the FBI would eagerly prosecute journalists who publish classified documents or other documents obtained from government whistleblowers, a somewhat ironic outcome given Trumpworlds support for Julian Assange and Wikileaks role in exposing leaked documents stolen from the servers of the Democratic Party in 2016. That support aside, it was Barr in 2019 who led the DOJ in prosecuting Assange after the Obama administration declined to do so, citing press freedom concerns. open image in gallery Patel previously served at the Department of Defense during Trumps first term, and is a close ally of Steve Bannon. ( Getty Images ) Most experts agree that this is the most likely avenue for Trumps team to take if they are truly serious about coming after the press. The reason? A decades-long failure by the Washington class to address press freedom concerns surrounding the Espionage Act, which was first used by the Obama administration to aggressively pursue leakers despite those efforts having been criticized at the time as having a chilling effect on journalism (and perhaps being unconstitutional, too) by First Amendment groups. It would be the most likely statute under which charges would be brought for a direct prosecution, David McGraw, general counsel for The New York Times, told the Columbia Journalism Review in the leadup to Trumps election victory this year. Journalist and author Kyle Paoletta added in a separate piece for CJR: For all the danger that Trump represents to the media, the uncomfortable truth is that the risks journalists now face were created by widespread inattention to the gradual encroachment on press freedom that the Espionage Act made possible over the past century. Importantly, no journalists were prosecuted under Trumps first term in office, with the exception of Assange. The last time a reporter was jailed by the federal government for refusing to reveal a classified source was during the George W. Bush administration. Unless the law changes, thats likely to be the same reality under four years of Trump 2.0. The people in real danger for prosecution will be, as it was from 2017-2021, the various federal employees of different agencies who leak unauthorized documents and materials to the press the FBI and DOJ were laserlike in their focus on prosecuting leakers as the president was confronted with officials in many agencies alarmed and worried about his teams policies and directives. Theres also the constitutional question of whether journalists even could be prosecuted under the Espionage Act, the law governing classified information which Bannon and his allies have long argued is the rights best course of action for silencing the media. While the Supreme Court is now firmly conservative, it is not wholly deferential to the incoming president. A battle over that would likely be escalated to the nations highest court, which has consistently bucked Trump on his more outlandish legal pushes. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A young British man has died after fatally injuring himself in a lift shaft while on a family holiday in Turkey. Tyler Kerry had been staying in the seaside city of Antalya with his grandparents, girlfriend and other relatives when he was discovered on Friday morning in the hotel. The 20-year-old labourer from Basildon, Essex, has been described by his family as a young man full of personality, kindness and compassion with his whole life ahead of him. His uncle, Alex Price told the BBC that he was found at 7am local time (4am GMT) and that paramedics had attempted to resuscitate him before he was pronounced dead. "I got a phone call from my sister and she just said that Tyler had been found in the lift shaft at the hotel," Mr Price told the PA news agency. "An ambulance team were attending to him but unfortunately they weren't able to resuscitate him, and he was pronounced dead at the scene." open image in gallery Tyler Kerry was on holiday with his family when the tragedy occurred (Alex Price/PA) Mr Kerry, who was on holiday with his girlfriend Molly and grandparents Colette and Ray, has been described as a "lovely young man". "He had a stable girlfriend and they were thinking about moving in together," Mr Price said. "They were very settled, he was quite a mature young man for his age, very compassionate and kind, caring towards his family members and his younger siblings." A GoFundMe page towards his funeral costs has already raised more than 4,500 and his family are hoping his body will be repatriated by Tuesday. Writing on a GoFundMe page, Mr Price added the family was "completely devastated and thanked people for their "kindness and consideration" following his nephews death. A UK government spokeswoman said: "We are assisting the family of a British man who has died in Turkey." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Volodymyr Zelenskys suggestion that Ukraine could temporarily cede territory to Russia in exchange for joining Nato would mark a major concession to Vladimir Putin, the UKs former ambassador to Russia has said. In a significant development on the route to a potential ceasefire after 33 months of conflict, the Ukrainian president indicated for the first time that Kyiv could accept Russian control over some of its territory in order to end the hot phase of the war. With Moscow appearing to ramp up its push for territory in Ukraines east ahead of Donald Trumps return to the White House in January, Mr Zelensky told Sky News that peace could be struck if territory he controls is taken under the Nato umbrella, allowing him to negotiate the return of the rest later in a diplomatic way. Praising Mr Zelensky for playing a very sophisticated game, Sir Tony Brenton who served as ambassador to Russia between 2004 and 2008 told the broadcaster: He knows that Trump is about to descend on him and on Russia. He is already arranging to have something to offer Trump. What he is suggesting in many ways is bringing us much closer to the obvious target area, which is a freeze in the fighting where the lines actually currently are, and then an eventual negotiation about who retains which bit of territory, and then security guarantees for Ukraine in the course of that ceasefire. Warning that Nato membership for Ukraine is frankly going to be very, very difficult, Sir Tony said that Mr Zelenskys statement that he is prepared to see a ceasefire and then negotiate the return of Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine over the longer term would be viewed by Mr Putin as a concession. That is actually quite a major concession, because the longer term could be a very long time indeed, he said, adding: [Putin] will say to himself, Ah, they are feeling weak, I can press for more. That is a danger if we go into this. The Russian president is currently keeping his cards very close to his chest in terms of his views on how to end the conflict, which he believes he is winning, said Sir Tony. Moscows troops have been making steady gains in Ukraines east but at a cost of incurring potentially record casualties. open image in gallery Zelensky has suggested that the parts of Ukraine under his control should be taken under the Nato umbrella ( Sky News ) Concurring with this view, James Nixey, of the Chatham House think tank, warned that any part of Ukraine being in Nato would be unacceptable to Mr Putin. After all, it is, for him, an abhorrence. Putin doesnt want a pause anyway he believes hes on the brink of an historic and strategic victory, kindly deal-sealed by Donald Trump, Mr Nixey told The Independent. But if such a deal were to be struck, both Kyiv and its allies would be able to present it as a victory in securing a free democratic Ukraine linked to the West, Sir Tony said. In further remarks to Sky News, the UKs former representative to Nato, Sir Adam Thomson, said Mr Zelensky appeared to be preparing domestic audiences for compromises, while making opening moves in a likely extended negotiation with Mr Trump over which line to take with the Kremlin. Hes moving Ukraine to a much more realistic position still not necessarily an achievable one, but more realistic, said Sir Adam, adding that around three-quarters of Natos members believe membership for Kyiv would be the least bad outcome, in the sense of being the least expensive and the most stable. open image in gallery US president-elect Donald Trump has claimed he could end the war in Ukraine in a day ( AFP via Getty Images ) Were such a deal to be struck, it would require Nato troops including from Britain to defend Ukraines borders, including its northern border with Belarus, said Mr Nixey, adding: Whether Nato is fully prepared for this eventuality is open to question. Throughout the conflict, Mr Zelensky has never said he would cede any occupied Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which Russia occupied in February 2014. In September 2022, Russia unilaterally declared its annexation of four Ukrainian regions Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia despite not controlling all of those territories. Yet war analysts say Russia has been gaining territory in recent weeks on Ukraines eastern front at the fastest pace since the early days of the war, as both Moscow and Kyiv look ahead to Mr Trumps return in January. The US president-elect has claimed he could end the war in a day. Historian Dr Mark Galeotti, author of Forged in War: A Military History of Russia, said Mr Zelenskys comments in part likely reflect the unfolding political and military realities, as the Russians continue to advance and Donald Trump's shadow looms over everything. But I think it may also be Zelensky's attempt to, in effect, call the Wests bluff, Dr Galeotti told The Independent. Actually getting all Natos 32 members to agree to a quick membership would be very difficult, but in effect he is asking, If not the Article 5 security guarantee, what else could be offered? Mr Zelenskys ex-foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said earlier this week it was inconceivable that he could sign a deal surrendering territory, telling Politico: The Russians keep the Donbas, they keep Crimea, no Nato membership. Can Zelensky sign? He cannot because of the constitution. And because it will be the end of Zelensky politically. Last month, Mr Zelensky unveiled his victory plan, which calls for Ukraines unconditional accession to Nato, a refusal to trade Ukraines territories currently occupied by Russian forces, and the continuation of the Ukrainian incursion into Russias Kursk region. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy They set off on Sunday morning, looking forward to a five-day diving trip in the Red Sea; a popular worldwide destination filled with beautiful coral reefs and plentiful marine life. But for the 31 tourists on the luxury Sea Story yacht, the dream excursion turned into a nightmare when the vessel was reportedly struck by high waves on Monday, sinking in less than seven minutes. In total, 44 people, including staff, were on the 44-metre boat when the distress signal was sent not far from the Egyptian town of Marsa Alam - of those, just 33 people have so far been rescued. They include Britons Colin Sharratt and Sally Jones, keen sailors, according to The Times. However, Egyptian authorities searching the sunken ship have also found four dead bodies. Seven people are still reported missing, including British couple Jenny Cawson, 36, and her husband Tariq Sinada, 49. Ms Cawsons family told the BBC on Saturday they are continuing to receive daily updates from the Foreign Office but voiced their frustration as there is still no news. For those rescued, their stories of survival are now emerging with some said to have spent 30 hours trapped in air pockets inside the yacht before being dramatically saved. open image in gallery Colin Sharratt and Sally Jones are believed to have been among the survivors on the Sea Story yacht ( Tim Postin/Facebook ) Its a sickening end to a diving trip the tourists onboard, who came from many different countries including UK, United States, Germany and Ireland for the trip operated by Dive Pro Liveaboard. Life on board the four-deck wooden boat was luxurious. The tourists enjoyed a plush lounge, complete with a bar and 18 air-conditioned en-suite rooms. But the trip took a turn for the worse after the boat departed Marsa Alam on Sunday despite weather warnings from the Egyptian Meteorological Authority. open image in gallery Rescue workers carry a survivor to safety ( Red Sea Governorate/AFP/Getty ) The authority warned of the possibility of large waves and advised boats against any maritime activity on Sunday and Monday. On Monday morning, at 5.30am, the distress signal was sent. Red Sea governor Amr Hanafi said the sinking began after a huge wave crashed into the vessel, and the ship went down in between five and seven minutes. open image in gallery Dive boat Sea Story as shown on Dive Pro Liveaboard website ( Dive Pro Liveaboard ) Within moments, water was gushing through the structure and passengers were screaming from inside the cabins as the boat was toppled over, the father of a survivor told The Times. One of the British survivors told investigators they tried to swim up but the current was too strong and I felt like I was choking. That tourist survived thanks to their life jacket, which kept them on the surface until rescue teams arrived, the outlet reported. open image in gallery The boat capsized near the popular resort town of Marsa Alam ( The Independent ) A major rescue operation ensued, led by Egyptian naval forces, the military and the Red Sea Governorate. On Monday, 28 people were rescued and brought to safety, images showing the moment the shocked group made it to safe ground. The search paused overnight, before resuming on Tuesday morning. Little news has come from authorities since. Khattab al-Faramawy, Youssefs uncle, who was part of the rescue operation, told the BBC: We dived 12m (40ft) underwater, describing it as a complicated mission, as they used torchlight to find their way into the darkness. open image in gallery 28 survivors were rescued on Monday and five on Tuesday ( AFP/Getty ) Incredibly, they reached five survivors still trapped in the boat - including Youssef - who had survived for 30 hours underwater thanks to a 20cm-large air pocket that allowed them to breathe. Its very nice to be back, one Belgian tourist told officials, as he thanked the Egyptian military for their rescue efforts, and for the warm shower after an ordeal which left him shaking with cold. On the same day, four bodies were recovered from the boat. They are yet to be officially identified. Some doubts have been raised over the cause of the boat sinking, despite conflicting with witness reports. Oceanographer Simon Boxall told Sky News that there was no evidence of a huge wave, arguing that the wind conditions werent that strong and wouldnt create these alleged three- to four-metre waves. He added: I still feel that this is probably not a wave that caused the capsize. We need to see an investigation coming out of this. Its still early days, but the information coming out from the Egyptian authorities is still very sparse. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy In the early hours of Wednesday morning a breakthrough ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect after 13 months of almost daily fire exchanged across the Israeli-Lebanon border and weeks of a intense ground and airstrike operation. While residents of Beirut and southern Lebanon celebrated, returning to their neighbourhoods in droves hours after intense Israeli bombardments despite warnings from the Israeli military to stay clear the mood was different in Israel, with some northern communities fearful of going home and believing the deal didnt go far enough. The Lebanese health ministry says nearly 3,800 people have been killed in Lebanon since fighting erupted in the wake of Israels retaliatory war against Hamas an ally of Hezbollah, which is also backed by Iran in Gaza. The vast majority of deaths have come in the wake of the intensified bombing and ground campaign that began in September. At least 73 Israeli soldiers have been killed in northern Israel, in the Golan Heights, and in combat in southern Lebanon, according to Israeli authorities. International pressure is on Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Najib Mikati, Lebanons caretaker prime minister, to maintain the peace. What is the ceasefire deal? Under the terms of the agreement, Israel will gradually withdraw its forces from Lebanon over a period of 60 days, with the Lebanese army then set to control territory near its border to ensure Hezbollah does not rebuild its infrastructure there. open image in gallery Women hug in Lebanon after returning to their neighbourhood ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All right reserved ) Thousands of Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers are to deploy to the region south of the Litani River. Lebanons Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said on Tuesday the Lebanese army was ready to deploy 5,000 troops into the region as Israeli forces withdraw. The US is expected to lead a five-country monitoring committee to enforce the truce, which US president Joe Biden said was designed to be permanent. Mr Biden and French president Emmanuel Macron issued a joint statement in which they said France and the United States would both work to ensure that the ceasefire was fully implemented. Will it hold? Israel has demanded the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations, but Lebanese officials rejected writing that into the proposal. Still, Mr Netanyahu said Tuesday that the military would strike Hezbollah if the UN peacekeeping force, known as UNIFIL, did not enforce the deal. open image in gallery Rescuers in the Beirut rubble after an Israeli airstrike ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Israel's military said on Wednesday its forces were still on Lebanese territory and urged residents of southern Lebanese villages who had been ordered to evacuate in recent months to delay returning home until further notice from the Israeli military. Israeli troops have pushed around four miles (six kilometres) into Lebanon in a series of ground assaults. Israel said it identified Hezbollah operatives returning to areas near the border and had opened fire to prevent them from coming closer. There were no immediate signs that the incident would undermine the ceasefire. Defense Minister Israel Katz said he instructed the military to "act firmly and without compromise" should it happen again. Hezbollah has indicated it will give the pact a chance, but one of the groups leaders told Al Jazeera the groups support for the deal hinged on certainty that Israel would not renew its attacks. After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials, Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollahs political council, said. We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state [of Lebanon]. Rana Sahili, a media spokesperson for Hezbollah, told the Independent that the militant group does not trust the Israelis. The countries that support [the Israelis] must provide guarantees, Ms Sahili added. What about Gaza? The landing of an agreement between Israel and Hezbollah without a similar deal with Hamas in Gaza has left Palestinians feeling abandoned and fearful that Israel would now turn its focus squarely on the territory, with Mr Netanyahu said Israel would now concentrate on Hamas militants in Gaza along with his top security concern, Iran. Both the war inside Gaza and the Hezbollah-Isaraeli cross-border fire was triggered in 7 October last year, when Hamas launched a terror attack inside Israel. They killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took some 250 hostages into Gaza. In response, Israel launched a devastating air and ground offensive against Hamas, and Mr Netanyahu has vowed to keep fighting until all hostages are freed. Some 100 remain, although about a third of those are believed to be dead. More than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in the largely devastated Gaza, according to local health officials, while around 90 per cent of the population of around 2.3 million have been forced from their homes. open image in gallery A child in Gaza injured in an Israeli strike ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Mr Biden said the US would now make another push with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and others, to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza with a hostage release. British prime minister Keir Starmer backed up his US counterpart in calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, as well as the removal of restrictions on desperately needed humanitarian aid. BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. Syria continues to defend its territorial integrity and is "capable of destroying terrorists with the help of its friends and allies" in attacking rebels in the north of the country, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said during a telephone conversation with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Trend reports. The UAE President supported Syria. The Syrian army said it had successfully and decisively repelled the attack and would soon launch a counterattack. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A stutter of gunfire rips through the silence that envelops the destroyed centre of Bint Jbeil, a southern Lebanese town just three kilometres from the border with Israel. Did you hear that? a member of Hezbollah asks, dwarfed by the smashed remains of a central marketplace. This is what we call violating the ceasefire. This Shia town is on a list of more than 60 Lebanese settlements in the area that the Israeli military has forbidden residents from entering or returning toamid a fragile and increasingly tense ceasefire. It was also the battlefield of some of the fiercest fighting during the 13-month war between the Israeli military and the Hezbollah militant group that decimated swathes of Lebanon and killed 4,000 people, including hundreds of women and children. On Saturday, first responders were still pulling decomposed bodies of Hezbollah fighters from the collapsed remains of buildings. A widow of a fighter and her family gathered by a smashed mosque, its severed minaret lying on its side, to collect their dead. Behind them, bulldozers clawed at multi-storey piles of ashen concrete and snarled rebar. Members of the Lebanese armydeployed to enforce the trucemanned checkpoints and handed out leaflets warning civilians about unexploded bombs, shells and grenades. open image in gallery The destroyed central souk of Beit Jbeil, where gunfire still rings in the background despite a truce ( Bel Trew ) Both Hezbollah and Israel have traded accusations of violating the fragile truce brokered by the United States last week. Under its terms, Hezbollah and Israeli forces are supposed to withdraw from southern Lebanon within the first 60 days, allowing the Lebanese military to take over. There are growing concerns that soaring tensions on both sides of the border could cause the hard-fought truce to collapse, dragging the region back into all-out war. In Bint Jbeil, large swathes of which have been reduced to rubble, the atmosphere is tense. We were warned not to walk further down one street due to the potential for incoming Israeli fire. On Thursday and Friday, local media and residents reported that the Israeli army fired on and injured civilians here.The Independent could not immediately verify these reports. The violence continued on Saturday. An Israeli strike on a car in Majdal Zun, in the southwest of the country, injured three people, including a seven-year-old child, according to the health ministry. Later, the ministry reported that another strike wounded one person in Al Bissariya, a town just east of Saida. Lebanons state-run national news agency also reported two deaths in a drone strike on Rab Thalateen, located just two kilometres from the border. open image in gallery An image of Lebanons deceased leading Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah amid the rubble ( Bel Trew ) The Israeli military has denied breaking the ceasefire agreement and has instead repeatedly accused Hezbollah of violating the terms. On Saturday, they defended the drone and air raids, saying they had observed armed operatives loading a vehicle with RPGs, boxes of ammunition, and other military equipment and noted Hezbollah activity in its facilities involving rocket launches and militants approaching Hezbollah structures in southern Lebanon. The IDF is deployed in the southern Lebanon area, operating against any threat to the State of Israel and enforcing any violation of the ceasefire agreement, they added. The Independent reached out to Hezbollah for comment but has yet to receive a response. The head of Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, however, pledged on Friday to coordinate closely with the Lebanese army to implement a ceasefire deal with Israel, which he said his group had agreed to with heads held high. In his first public address since the ceasefire, Qassem said there will be high-level coordination between the Resistance (Hezbollah) and the Lebanese army to implement the commitments of the deal. open image in gallery The destroyed remains of the Matyr Salah Ghandour Hospital in Bint Jbeil that was hit during the war ( Bel Trew ) But recent developments have still raised concerns that the ceasefire will not hold. In Bint Jbeil, Salim Mourad, head of the municipality in the nearby village of Aitaroun, said he was worried that the truce was being so undermined it lacked credibility. Israel took measures around the perimeter of the frontline villagesincluding Aitarounby resuming fire and making some breaches and advances in these areas, which has undermined the fragility of the ceasefire, he said, standing next to a partially bombed hospital and a shot-up ambulance. We demand that the entire international community, especially those concerned with implementing United Nations resolutions, fully enforce these resolutions. People only talk about the obligations of the Lebanese and what they are supposed to do. We, too, demand the implementation of... measures requiring Israel to cease its aggressions. The talk in the town, meanwhile, is of another big war on the horizon. One man, a local who asked not to be identified for security reasons, said the conflict was not done. Even if it is stopped for now, Israel is still on our border. open image in gallery A family return to their destroyed house in Hanouiyeh, southern Lebanon, to collect the remains of their belongings ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All right reserved ) Jacqueline, a widow of a Hezbollah fighter who was collecting her husbands body, was equally defiant. The mother-of-six expressed pride in her husband and her willingness to lose [her] whole family for her country. We do not trust them, said the 49-year-old, speaking about Israel and its commitment to the ceasefire terms. If they think they can end Hezbollah, they must know it will never end. If they want to destroy Hezbollah, they will have to destroy all of Lebanon. Even if they kill every single last one of us, we will defend the country with our last breath. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The attack by Syrian opposition forces was so swift and unexpected that Abu Obaida only first realised it was happening when he stepped out of his building to go to work and saw a group of rebels passing by. He lives in the heart of regime-held Aleppo, a city devastated by a brutal four-year war between rebels and regime soldiers, so severe that the International Committee of the Red Cross has described it as one of the most devastating conflicts in modern times. Government forces eventually ousted the rebels from the scorched city in 2016, most of whom were displaced to Turkish-held Idlib, southwest of Aleppo. But on Friday, for the first time in eight years, a coalition of rebel forces led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) seized the city. They forced regime forces to retreat at an extraordinary pace, gaining control of most of the area. I never would have expected this. I was just at my door when I saw them, said Abu Obaida, 38, adding that the insurgents did not shoot at anyone. The opposition forces took control of the city in just two hours. Now the entire city is under their power, except for two neighbourhoods controlled by the [Kurdish-led] Syrian Democratic Forces. open image in gallery Armed groups capture most of Aleppo city center in Syria ( Anadolu via Getty Images ) He said that while people were relieved the opposition had taken over, they were terrified of retaliation from the regime and its close ally, Russia. On Saturday the regime and Russian aircraft pounded the city. Abu Obaida feared further bloodshed and division, possibly even the federalisation of the country. I hope we can reach some kind of peace agreement because we need to stop the killing of civilians, he added. On Friday, thousands of Turkish-backed rebels, led by HTS, launched a bold attack on regime-held Aleppo, seizing control of the city for the first time in 13 years. Once aligned with al-Qaeda, HTS has since distanced itself from its jihadi past but is still designated a terrorist organisation by the US and Russia. Aleppo had been firmly under government control since 2016a key turning point in the war when Russian-backed Syrian forces besieged and destroyed rebel-held eastern districts of what was once Syrias largest city. That has now changed. The Syrian army claimed to have repelled some attacks and to have retaken parts of the territory. Defiant, Assad has vowed revenge. Terrorists only understand the language of force, and it is the language with which we will crush them, he said. open image in gallery Anti-government fighters celebrate in a street in Maaret al-Numan in Syria's northwestern Idlib province ( Photos AFP/Getty ) But, rebel commanders, usually based in Idlib, told The Independent that over the weekend, they had taken control of the entire Idlib countryside, the city of Aleppo, and areas further south, including the outskirts and airport of Hama. In summary, battles are raging on three main fronts: northern Hama countryside, eastern Aleppo countryside, and southeastern Aleppo countryside, with continuous progress on all fronts, by the grace of God, one commander said. And so the sudden offensive poses the greatest challenge in years to the rule of autocrat Bashar al-Assad, who reportedly made frantic calls to Middle Eastern countries that normalised relations with him last year, asking for help. Inside the newly rebel-held areas outside Aleppo and further, civilians said this moment may even mark the beginning of the end for Assads regime. In Maarat al-Numan, a city between Aleppo and Hama seized by the regime in January 2020, displaced residents returned for the first time in nearly five years. Its an overwhelming feeling of joy, smiles, and happiness. Theyve come back to their homes, livelihoods, and lands, said Mohamed Mandil, a resident who himself entered his home for the first time over the weekend after years living displaced in Idlib. Most of the homes have been destroyed, burned or looted but he said people were still optimistic. They believe they can rebuild and establish stability. Everyone is filled with hope for the future and the days to come. Bashir Al-Qazaz, another internally displaced resident of the town echoed the sentiment, saying that people were desperate to return just to escape the tents and the bitterness of displacement and exile. open image in gallery Syria ( Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) But there are also people who might wait longer, holding off until things become clearer and more stable, he added as Russia and the regime launched a wave of airstrikes across rebel-held territory. Deep inside, theres this lingering fear about the future, where are we headed? Theres this sense of uncertainty that were all grappling with. That uncertainty was felt in the south of the country. There reports emerged that former rebels who reconciled with the regime during earlier offensive, apparently inspired by the northern oppositions success. Clashes with regime forces were reported in multiple areas. Abu Ali Al-Mohammed, a resident of the city told The Independent people in Daraa were celebrating Aleppos take over and that he felt indescribable joy. I believe this is the beginning of a path toward profound change on the Syrian scene, with regional and international coordination, he said. There is widespread expectation that what happened in Aleppo will lead to a fundamental change in Syria. For years, the world forgot about Syria. Many believed it was lost in an unsolvable abyss following the collapse of the 2011 revolution into a bloody civil war made increasingly complex by the intervention of a mess of international actors. Most assumed that the immovable regime of Bashar al-Assad had won, and that nothing would ever change. Few could even tell you if the war was still ongoing, let alone what stage it was at. That changed just a few days ago, when the success of a shock offensive by a hodgepodge of anti-Assad forces took everyone including the insurgents themselves by surprise. Regime forces appeared to dissolve as tens of thousands of fighters stormed Syrias second city, Aleppo, and then continued their advance southward towards Hama. This appears to have triggered uprisings and offensives from multiple factions across the country, with clashes reported in the north, south, east and west. open image in gallery Armed groups have captured most of Aleppo city centre in Syria ( Anadolu via Getty ) Assad hurried back to Damascus from Moscow and spent hours frantically calling Middle Eastern governments that had normalised relations with him last year, according to Charles Lister, director of the Syria programme at the Middle East Institute (MEI). The embattled autocrat reportedly demanded their support in countering terrorism, the analyst wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Whether anyone will come to Assads rescue remains to be seen. But for the first time in years, the paper tiger that is his regime corrupt, broken, and deeply indebted to its backers, Russia and Iran was exposed. The offensive was launched by a coalition of over a dozen factions based in the Turkish-controlled northwestern province of Idlib. It was spearheaded by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist group once aligned with al-Qaeda, that over the years has worked hard to distance itself from its shadowy jihadi past. Syrian journalists on the ground told me this coalition has regained control of Aleppo, the military and civilian airport, and the once-revolutionary towns along the road to Hama, another major city south of Aleppo. Internally displaced people who were forced to flee this area during the regimes takeover five years ago have returned for the first time. Further east, there were reports that Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) (led by their Arab factions), which nominally control the northeast of the country, were looking to exploit the situation, prepping an offensive against regime forces in Raqqa and Deir Ezzor. In the south, inspired by the oppositions swift gains in the north, former opposition figures who had reconciled with the regime are also rising up. open image in gallery Syria had almost been forgotten but now the international community is once more paying attention ( AP ) Lister said that these former rebels have taken towns in rural Homs from the regime, and are now threatening to march on the provincial capital. Similar clashes have erupted around Syrias capital, Damascus, and in the southern province of Daraa once the cradle of the revolution. There, former opposition factions were also reportedly fighting regime forces in six towns, with regime soldiers abandoning their positions. Syrias crisis was dismissed as over, frozen, or otherwise irrelevant by so many in recent years, Lister wrote on X. Those of us warning of how fragile the situation was and how weak Assads regime was becoming were dismissed as alarmist. Truth prevails. Eventually. In Aleppo province, one journalist, Omar al-Bam, who for years has been internally displaced in Idlib, spoke to The Independent about returning to his family home in Maarat al-Numan outside Aleppo for the first time in five years. He said there were no words to describe how he felt. In Aleppo, everyone was shocked; we didnt think it would take just three days to overcome the regime. But the seeds of this crisis have been steadily growing for some time. Assad has been diminishing his internal support for years, because he hasnt changed the way he rules, and because of a lack of peace dividends even after normalisation with neighbouring countries, explains Emma Beals, a non-resident fellow at the MEI. open image in gallery People check the damage at the scene of a Syrian regime airforce strike that targeted a neighbourhood in Syria's rebel-held northern city of Idlib ( Muhammad Haj Kadour/AFP via Getty ) [His government] continued to operate as an extractive, corrupt regime, running illicit economies and squirrelling most of their wealth out of the country. Theres a huge economic crisis, and the troops have poor morale and minimal support, she told me. This is compounded by the extraordinary circumstances affecting Assads main backers. Russia is bogged down in an increasingly costly war in Ukraine. The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has suffered devastating losses in its recent conflict with Israel, which killed its top commanders, including chief Hassan Nasrallah. Iran and its other proxies are also on the back foot due to the war in Gaza and the remote conflict with Israel. Both Iran and Hezbollah have had to moderate their involvement in Syria to avoid extensive Israeli strikes. I dont see any external actor with the bandwidth to support Assad in retaking all this territory, Beals adds. I think all actors are probably recalibrating. Meanwhile, most Syrian civilians Ive spoken to are conflicted about how they feel. Theres excitement about change, the potential for the return of internally displaced people to their homes, the release of political prisoners from jail a future not under the punishing yoke of an autocratic regime. But theres also alarm about HTSs jihadi past, the destabilising nature of such a large-scale takeover, and the potential for war between Turkish-backed groups and Kurdish-led forces as well as other factions. Many are terrified Russia will intervene with full force. Syria has a history of regime forces using chemical weapons. But one thing is certain: Syria, and the plight of its tortured population so forgotten, so abandoned by the world can no longer be ignored. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Syrian regime has rushed in reinforcements to hold off a rebel advance into the Hama countryside, after insurgents seized the countrys second city Aleppo in the biggest threat to autocratic ruler Bashar al-Assad in years. In tandem, Russian and Syrian warplanes pounded the rebel-held enclave of Idlib in the northwest for a second consecutive day. Residents said one of the raids hit a crowded residential area, killing at least seven people and wounding dozens. Following a shock offensive, insurgents led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took over most of Aleppo on Saturday, forcing the army to redeploy. This shift altered front lines that had been frozen since 2020. The insurgents marched south, taking control of towns along the road to Hama, which they also claimed to have entered. Syrias army which is propped up by Russia, Iran, and their proxies claimed it had recaptured several towns that had been taken by the rebels in recent days. open image in gallery Anti-government fighters celebrate in a street in Maaret al-Numan in Syrias northwestern Idlib province ( Photos AFP/Getty ) In remarks published on state media, President Assad said: Terrorists only know the language of force, and it is the language we will crush them with. But rebel commander Colonel Hassan Abdul Aziz told The Independent in a statement that the regimes claims were untrue. He asserted that insurgents had completely taken control of the Idlib countryside, and were pushing back Mr Assads forces in the countryside to the east and southeast of Aleppo. The forces continue to advance southward in the northern countryside of Hama, approaching the outskirts of the city and its airport, he said. In the centre of Aleppo, residents hiding in their homes said they were shocked at how quickly the regimes forces had fled. They took the centre of Aleppo in a few hours; it was very, very sudden, said Abu Obaida, who added that families were sheltering at home for fear of Russian and regime strikes, which pounded multiple areas of Aleppo on Saturday. The people are happy with the opposition, but they are scared of regime and Russian planes, he said. All the people are in their homes. They only go out for bread or medicine, but everything else is closed. We are worried about a large-scale attack from Russia. open image in gallery People check the damage at the scene of a Syrian regime airforce strike that targeted a neighbourhood in Syria's rebel-held northwestern city of Idlib ( Muhammad Haj Kadour/AFP via Getty ) In the towns south of Aleppo once strongholds of Syrias opposition residents displaced to Idlib were able to check their homes for the first time in the five years since regime forces took control. I dont have words to explain what Im feeling, said Omar, a journalist displaced to Idlib who returned to his family home in Maarat al-Numan. I never thought we could return, he added. Thousands of opposition forces launched a surprise attack on regime positions late last week, taking control of Aleppo and other areas that had been regime strongholds. The insurgents include a coalition of Turkey-backed mainstream secular armed groups along with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamist group that is the oppositions most formidable military force. Once aligned with al-Qaeda, it is now designated a terrorist group by the US, Russia, Turkey, and others, although it has spent years distancing itself from its jihadi past. The war, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions, has dragged on since 2011 with no formal end. Most major fighting halted years ago after Iran and Russia helped Mr Assads government to regain control of most of the country, including all of its major cities. open image in gallery A defaced portrait of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad lies on the ground in the town of Maarat al-Numan, southwest of Aleppo ( AP Photo/Omar Albam ) In a show of support, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi was set to travel to the Syrian capital Damascus later on Sunday, telling reporters that Tehran would back the Syrian regime and army. This comes at a time when Hezbollah, another key ally of the Syrian regime, has been severely weakened by Israeli attacks. President Assads other major ally, Russia whose brutal air campaign helped him retake Aleppo after it was last seized in 2016 is also preoccupied with its war in Ukraine. However, reports on Saturday claimed that Moscow had again taken part in airstrikes, with monitors saying dozens of civilians had been killed. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said on Sunday that regime forces had sent in heavy reinforcements and set up a strict defence line in the city of Taybat Al-Imam and towns in the countryside north of Hama. Syrian state television claimed that government forces had killed nearly 1,000 insurgents over the past three days, without providing evidence or details. This toll is significantly higher than the figure recorded by war monitors. Overnight, government airstrikes on Idlib city, the rebel-held bastion near Hama province, killed four civilians and injured 54 others, according to the Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, which operates in opposition-held areas. At least 372 people have been killed since the fighting began earlier this week, SOHR reported on Sunday. This includes 114 members of the regimes forces and their proxy militias. The toll also includes 48 civilians, most of whom were killed in airstrikes, according to war monitors. In his first public comments since the start of the offensive, released by the state news agency on Saturday evening, Mr Assad insisted his regime would continue to defend its stability and territorial integrity against terrorists and their supporters. He emphasised that Syria is capable of defeating the rebels, even if their attacks intensify. Yet the swift and surprise offensive is a huge embarrassment for President Assad, and raises questions about the preparedness of his armed forces. The 2016 battle for Aleppo was a turning point in the war between Syrian government forces and rebel fighters. After the 2011 protests against Assads rule turned into an all-out war, the fall of Aleppo secured the presidents hold on strategic areas of Syria, with opposition factions and their foreign backers controlling areas on the periphery. Speaking from Aleppo on Friday, Abd Alghani al-Aryan, a journalist from Idlib who joined the forces sweeping into Aleppo, said it was his first time entering the city in 13 years. The regime is collapsing dramatically, he said. It feels like a dream. I cant even describe it, he told The Independent from inside the city. The regimes return is out of the question, especially if they accept the current reality in the region especially after losing its most critical elements that were protecting it: Russian airpower, followed by the Iranian and Lebanese militias, particularly Hezbollah. Additional reporting by agencies For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A humanitarian aid organisation has suspended its operations in Gaza after a number of its workers were reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike. World Central Kitchen (WCK) said it was heartbroken to share that a vehicle carrying employees, with the group now urgently seeking more details on what happened. Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that three employees of WCK were killed in the strike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Earlier, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it had targeted a WCK worker who, it claimed, was involved in the 7 October massacre last year. The military has not offered any evidence and The Independent has been unable to independently verify the claim. In a statement responding to the attack, WCK said it had no knowledge that any individual in the vehicle had alleged ties to the October 7th Hamas attack. open image in gallery A person holds a cap next to a vehicle in which employees of the World Central Kitchen (WCK) were reportedly killed in an Israeli strike ( REUTERS ) The statement said: We are heartbroken to share that a vehicle carrying World Central Kitchen colleagues was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. At this time, we are working with incomplete information and are urgently seeking more details. It added: World Central Kitchen is pausing operations in Gaza at this time. Our hearts are with our colleagues and their families in this unimaginable moment. Medics in the enclave said that a total of five people were killed in the strike. An aid worker in Gaza said that three of those killed were WCK workers. The strike on the vehicle was the latest in what aid agencies have described as the dangerous work of delivering aid in Gaza, where the war has sparked a humanitarian crisis that has displaced much of the territorys 2.3 million population and triggered widespread hunger. open image in gallery An aid worker in Gaza said that three killed were workers with the WCK. ( REUTERS ) WCK provide meals to people in need following natural disasters or to those enduring conflict. Its teams have often served as a lifeline for people in Gaza who have struggled to feed themselves. The groups aid delivery efforts in Gaza were temporarily suspended in April after an Israeli strike killed seven of its workers - three British citizens, Polish and Australian nationals, a Canadian-American dual national and a Palestinian. The Israeli military called the strike a mistake. Gaza officials say at least 44,382 people have been killed since October 7, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and capturing over 250 hostages, according to Israeli officials. It was as if a photograph had suddenly come to life and begun to talk, smile, nod its head and look this way and that, the New York Times wrote in 1927, following a demonstration at Bell Telephone Laboratories in which Herbert Hoover appeared on a screen. The headline called it a test of television but noted that it was unclear how it would be used; commercial use in doubt one of the sub-headlines read, and the creators the American Telephone and Telegraph Company were not actually sure either. For the nearly 90 years that followed, those skeptics didnt seem to have been entirely wrong. The early research that Hoover was showing off at Bell Labs eventually gave rise to the Picturephone in 1964; the public were encouraged to try them out at a stand at that years Worlds Fair where they could make calls to Disneyland while engineers evaluated their response, but it was largely negative. Those behind it tried repeatedly the Picturephone became the VideoPhone, through repeated revisions well into the 1990s but nobody much wanted it. It was the internet and the smartphone that finally helped the video call take off but even then it was primarily between two people. It wasnt until 2018 that Apple added group calls to its FaceTime service, for instance. In professional settings, an array of different services BlueJeans, WebEx, and others launched tools that were used, although not habitually. open image in gallery ( Getty Images ) And then the pandemic arrived. Whole new services suddenly came to prominence as working from home became the default. People hung out on Houseparty; they conducted work meetings on BlueJeans. Videoconferencing went from being a niche technology to the primary and often only way that people could live and work together. Within a couple of years, however, the likes of Houseparty and Bluejeans were dead. The arguments about working from home continue, but the technology companies that led the original lockdowns seem to have come to a consensus around a hybrid model that sees many workers come in for a couple of days each week. Google and Microsoft were noticeably late and forgotten during the initial switch to video conferencing, but both have caught up and offer meeting software of their own. Other platforms, such as Slack, have built in new video calling tools in an attempt to take some of that market. open image in gallery ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images ) And yet standing among all that disruption and change is one name, now so prevalent as to be on its way to become a generic verb: Zoom. The video conferencing app became the place in which much of our lives happened. The company was founded in 2011 by Eric Yuan, who remains its chief executive, who left conferencing pioneer WebEx in the hope of building a new video chat company. Its first early version arrived a year later, and at the start of 2013 it launched in its first form. It was doing fine until the pandemic came, when its fortunes took off. From the start of 2020 to October of that year, when its share price hit an all-time high amid ongoing pandemic restrictions, Zooms value shot up by 730 per cent. Today however, Zooms shares trade around the same price they were in early February 2020. Some of that plunge the result of a move away from working from home, not least at Zoom itself, which now expects hybrid working from staff who live near its offices. open image in gallery ( Getty Images ) Its announcement came long after similar changes at Google and Apple. Business Insider reported the change with the headline the remote-work revolution is officially dead, and while those reports might have been exaggerated, the sense of doom felt appropriate. Zoom now has a plan to deal with that doom. First is a name change. The Zoom will stay, but it was previously officially followed by a Video Communications Inc. Now the company is just Zoom Communications. The rebrand comes with a move away from focusing on its video communications software, and towards a new way of working. Zoom 2.0 is about, of course, artificial intelligence. To deliver on our mission over the long-term, we must stay ahead of trends ... This is most evident in the AI explosion that has disrupted the workplace over the past year, wrote Yuan. He pointed to the Zoom AI Companion, which he says is the heartbeat of our evolution into an AI-first company and is critical in helping our customers uncover new opportunities for greater productivity. For now that is a relatively limited technology that can perform functions such as summarising chats on Zooms messaging platforms. But Yuan has much grander ambitions. Eventually, he says, the technology could be so powerful that it allows people to work one fewer day each week; that extra work would be done by a digital copy of yourself that could, for instance, answer common questions that colleagues might ask. The idea of a digital twin is almost as appealing to those managing tech companies as artificial intelligence. It refers to systems that create a precise and real-time model of a real-world object anything from a bacterium to a city so that it can be used for testing or other purposes. Like AI it is both an important development and an easy go-to for a consultant in a rush. But Yuans claims about the digital twin are more specific, and already embodied in some of what Zoom is offering. The idea is that peoples knowledge will be integrated into a virtual, AI agent version of themselves and that much of the data used to train it will come from those people themselves. That could, eventually, mean them spending less time at work. Over time, we believe these capabilities will translate into a fully customizable digital twin equipped with your institutional knowledge, freeing up a whole days worth of work and allowing you to work just four days per week, wrote Eric Yuan in Zooms blog post. Zoom 1.0, as the company didnt call it, found its fortunes in people leaving the office and working from home. Zoom 2.0 seems to be staking its fortunes on an even more radical idea: that people might not need to go to work at all. Both the future of the company and all of all companies might depend on whether that happens. Protesters used fireworks against riot police in Tbilisi, Georgia, late on Saturday (30 November), during a third night of demonstrations against the governments decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union. The ruling Georgian Dream partys disputed victory in the October parliamentary election, widely seen as a referendum on the countrys aspirations to join the EU, prompted backlash and led to an opposition boycott of the parliament. Opposition politicians said that the vote was rigged with the help of Russia with Moscow hoping to keep Tbilisi in its orbit. Police dispersed the rally in front of the Parliament building using tear gas, but some protesters resumed demonstrating in nearby streets. Footage showed a protester using fireworks against riot police. The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Someone close to Tony Blair says that Keir Starmers problem, apart from the fact that his ministers and aides are not very good, is that they are a bunch of librarians and academics in charge of a government. This may be unfair to librarians and academics, but we know what is meant. I am told that this person thinks that Starmers government is unimaginative and out of touch; that it lacks the dexterity to manage the daily crises that besiege 10 Downing Street, and that there isnt much diversity of thought at the top of government, that they all think the same. There is a plodding, bookish other-worldliness about the government that worries a lot of Blairites although Blair himself remains sphinx-like in his inscrutability. Some of his acolytes say that although Starmers aides admire the prime ministers ruthlessness, they are confusing ruthless sackings (Sue Gray, Louise Haigh) and the macho adoption of hardcore Blairite positions (such as on immigration) with a clear sense of purpose communicated to the public and pursued single-mindedly. Not that the Blairites are a united bloc. Many of them, indeed, are working for Starmer. Morgan McSweeney, his most important adviser, is no conventional Blairite, but he has Peter Mandelsons blessing as a tough centrist operator. Matthew Doyle, Starmers head of communications, has been with him for years and is New Labour through and through. The cabinet is stuffed with Blairites: Pat McFadden, Wes Streeting, Liz Kendall, Peter Kyle, Steve Reed, Ian Murray, Angela Smith (the leader in the Lords) and now Heidi Alexander, the new transport secretary. The answer is not clear, but the sense of disappointment with Starmer remains palpable ( PA Wire ) Reinforcements have been drafted in since the election: Jonathan Powell, Blairs former chief of staff, is national security adviser, and Liz Lloyd, Powells former deputy, is in charge of delivery in No 10. Alan Milburn and Michael Barber, the two people who did the most to improve public services in the Blair years, are advising on how to repeat their success. And yet the policies that define the new government seem shot through with an unmistakable Old Labour streak. A huge employment rights bill that threatens to calcify Britains flexible labour market. The tax on private school fees. A tax on family farms. Above all the big tax rise on employers. One Blairite observer said the Starmer government seemed stuck on the playlist of Old Labour tunes: They are only listening to classic Seventies pop they dont seem to have realised that Spotify has changed the world of music. There are so many CEOs who felt that the Budget was a slap in the face. They were wooed by Starmer and Rachel Reeves and believed them when they said that the changed Labour Party was pro-business as well as pro-worker which was a very Blairite elision of the contradiction between the two. But now they feel betrayed. The sophisticated response is to ask: were they not paying attention? Did they not realise that the fiscal position was unsustainable going into the election and that Reeves had boxed herself in with promises on tax that would have to be broken? Maybe they did, on one level, which only makes the feeling worse that they have been played for fools. And Reeves would address the same response to her Blairite critics that she deploys against the Conservatives who criticise her for breaking her promise not to raise taxes on working people. She starts by relying on the sophistry of employers national insurance not being a tax on the bottom line of a payslip, but her more effective response is simply to ask: what would you do? Rishi Sunak had no answer in his response to the Budget, and Kemi Badenoch now retreats into a rather Blairite approach of setting out general principles rather than policy detail. Those around Blair dont have much of an answer either. Tony would never have done that, they say, about private schools, winter fuel, farms and employers national insurance. Yet they agree that Labour was right to rule out general tax rises before the election so what taxes would they raise, and what spending would they cut? The answer is not clear, but the sense of disappointment with Starmer remains palpable. Maybe the tax rise was unavoidable, but it could have been sold better, and instead of being accompanied by taking money away from pensioners on 12,000 a year, the symbolic gesture of fiscal rectitude could have been, say, to make the winter fuel payment taxable and to put higher taxes on expensive cars and air travel. Above all, what some Blairites fear is that Starmer lacks the ability to communicate a sense of hope that the work of his government will be organised around delivering just two or three believable improvements in peoples lives. Instead, as Ian Leslie, the cultural commentator, observes about the election: What have been the three biggest political debates since then, all initiated by the government? Means-testing of the winter fuel allowance for pensioners, inheritance tax for farmers, and assisted dying. Ageing, death, death. For some Blairites I dont think Leslie will mind being called a Blairite the prime minister is not just a librarian or an academic but a funeral director. Enterprise Ireland at the TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 event The Bay Area continues to be an attractive location for start-ups looking to scale. Photo: Getty While the transformative power of technology has disrupted every field of business, theres still no doubting the power of face-to-face interactions even for tech start-ups. Nine Irish companies recently had the invaluable opportunity to mix with the best of the tech industry at the TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 event in San Francisco. It was Enterprise Irelands second year attending what is one of the tech sectors most influential global conferences. Hosted annually by TechCrunch, the three-day event gathers 10,000 entrepreneurs, investors and tech specialists to showcase emerging solutions, explore new trends, and network with industry leaders. The nine EI-supported start-ups which participated brought a diverse range of innovative products, designed to capture the attention of Silicon Valley investors, potential partners and customers. Among the Irish delegation were eAltra and Meta-Flux, which are driving advancements in cancer care and drug development, and Sulu and Glitch, two ventures pioneering an API monetisation platform and a digital marketing optimisation engine, respectively. The firms also participated in a pitch night at Ireland House in San Francisco FinOps start-up Numra introduced Mary, an AI virtual assistant set to streamline finance departments. Meanwhile, Coso AIs social media copilot helps brands generate high-quality content without the need for dedicated in-house social media teams. VisionRs Scout Camera enables brick-and-mortar retailers make more informed decisions using in-store computer vision analytics. Two Irish firms, DevAlly and Marker Video, earned spots in the Start-up Battlefield Program, TechCrunchs landmark pitch competition, where start-ups compete for prize money, investor attention, and high-profile media exposure. The TechCrunch conference is a huge event DevAlly has created a software development AI copilot that allows developers to build digitally accessible products, providing real-time code remediation and accessibility testing. Marker Video has built a video platform that acts as a content marketplace, where creators can market products that they love for use by brands and agencies seeking authentic branded content. Founders Cormac Chisholm of DevAlly and Greta Dunne of Marker Video gave two-minute pitches, followed by Q&A sessions in front of a live audience of tech enthusiasts and a panel of judges. Enterprise Irelands presence extended beyond the conference floor, with a dedicated booth in the exhibition hall. Here, each start-up could present their solutions to a global audience. The firms also participated in a pitch night at Ireland House in San Francisco, where Silicon Valley venture capitalists, angel investors, and senior tech executives gathered to meet the Irish companies, and each founder had the opportunity to deliver a three-minute pitch on stage to this audience of key stakeholders. The Bay Area continues to be an attractive location for early-stage Irish companies looking to scale. Its VC networks, strong entrepreneurial ecosystem, established tech infrastructure and risk-taking culture allow Irish companies to benchmark themselves against the worlds best. Many Irish-owned tech firms have achieved global scale with the support and encouragement of the regions tech ecosystem and these nine Irish companies in San Francisco are now looking to replicate this scaling journey. To learn more about how Enterprise Ireland supports Irish tech start-ups and its activities in the Bay Area, please contact emma.laffey@enterprise-ireland.com or ben.cummins@enterprise-ireland.com Emma Laffey and Ben Cummins are market executives in EIs San Francisco office Marketing The owner of Proper No 12 Whiskey last week announced it will no longer use Conor McGregors name or image on the drink. Above, McGregor with Proper No 12 When Conor McGregor launched his Forged Irish Stout brand to retailers last year, it felt like the former UFC star had landed another knockout in his stable of business ventures. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, McGregor proclaimed when the stout was launched into the UK. We're not here to take part, we're here to take over. King Charles III of Great Britain did not invite his youngest son Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle to join the family for Christmas, which the monarchs traditionally celebrate at Sandringham Palace. Unlike the Welsh royals, William and Kate Middleton, who will celebrate Christmas Eve with their families, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have to put up with a "bitter" feeling of homesickness. ADVERTISIMENT The couple, as an insider told People magazine, and their children, Prince Archie, 4, and Princess Lilibeth, 3, will spend the holiday in the United States. Harry and Meghan have not celebrated Christmas with their royal relatives since they got married in 2018. According to The Mirror, the New Year's Eve season is particularly upsetting for Charles' youngest son. "For Harry, it reminds him that he has no one in his family to celebrate with. The kids won't get to see their cousins, and that was one of his favorite things as a kid - all the cousins playing together at Sandringham. It may even hurt him to see all the royals together, going to church and just enjoying each other's company," said a source close to the Duke. ADVERTISIMENT Meanwhile, Markle also faces emotional swings during the holidays due to family tensions. While Meghan will likely celebrate with her mother, Doria Ragland, she remains estranged from her father, Thomas Markle. Speaking to OK! Magazine, the source added: "Meghan has only her mother, as the chances of reconciliation between her and her father are almost zero." In her documentary for Netflix, the Duchess of Sussex revealed that she broke off relations with her father before marrying Prince Harry after he was caught collaborating with the paparazzi for money. ADVERTISIMENT As a reminder, Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, were also not invited to the Trooping the Color parade in June this year, the annual celebration of King Charles's birthday, which took place a month after the prince and his father did not meet when the Duke of Sussex was at home. At the time, the Duke's spokesman explained the missed meeting by the King's "tight schedule" amid ongoing tensions between Harry, his father Charles and his older brother, Prince William. Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote about what Elizabeth II really thought of Meghan Markle. In 2017, the crown princess invited the American to celebrate Christmas together at Sandringham Palace - even before Harry and Meghan officially tied the knot. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Ryanairs rival budget airline, Wizz, was also noted as a potential beneficiary of a peace deal. Photo: Getty Images Analysts expect strong demand for short-haul air travel between Europe and 'the territory of the future Ukrainian state'. Photo: Getty Images Ryanair could benefit from a potential peace deal in Ukraine as citizens return to the war-torn country, according to analysts at investment bank Barclays. US president-elect Donald Trump has promised to stop the war in Ukraine on his first day back in office, but he has not provided any details on how he planned to do so. In an equity research report, analysts at investment bank Barclays said if there is a peace deal in Ukraine, the impact on airlines would depend on the context of that settlement. Should an appropriate peace deal happen, the analysts expect strong demand for short-haul air travel between Europe and the territory of the future Ukrainian state. Ryanairs rival budget airline, Wizz, was also noted as a potential beneficiary of a peace deal. Photo: Getty Images This could be fuelled by citizens who migrated out of Ukraine returning home, and Ukrainians who remained in the country visiting those who left. They added that there could be a significant inward flow of people to work on the reconstruction of Ukraine. Ryanairs rival budget airline, Wizz, was also noted as a potential beneficiary of a peace deal. The analysts noted Ryanair could deploy up to 10 aircraft into the Ukrainian market, should a peace deal take hold. They said both Ryanair and Wizz could treat the opportunity in Ukraine as too important an opportunity to miss and may redeploy capacity from other markets. Ryanair entered the Ukrainian market in 2018, halting flights there due to Russias invasion The timing of any peace deal is highly uncertain; moreover, should there be a peace deal, the timing of any reopening of the Ukrainian aviation market is also uncertain, they wrote. Despite the opportunity in Ukraine, other European airlines could benefit from Ryanair and Wizz moving capacity from elsewhere to the newly reopened market, said the analysts. Ryanair entered the Ukrainian market in 2018, halting flights there due to Russias invasion in February 2022. In July 2023, Ryanair Group CEO Michael OLeary travelled to Kyiv and said he would base $3bn (2.68bn) of aircraft in Ukraine and resume flights to the country within weeks once travel is deemed safe again. Gurriers: I dont think its the worst thing [to be compared to Fontaines]. I feel like we are a little bit louder or a little bit more aggressive Dan Hoff on the bands appearance on Later With Jools Holland and the vagaries of being the next big thing Gurriers are tipped for success in their own right. Photo: Joshua Mulholland Ed Power Sun 1 Dec 2024 at 03:30 The title of Irelands hottest new band is fiercely contested, but Gurriers are surely in with a shout. The Dublin post-punk five-piece went viral with a vengeance in October with a debut on Laterwith Jools Holland that shook the BBCs institution to its foundations. A county council was able to buy a historic house and gardens for 10m after being told it could fetch as much as 15m on the open market. South Dublin County Council bought Lucan House and Demesne from the Italian government this year with a view to transforming it into a visitor attraction along the banks of the River Liffey. A private real estate company told the owners it could have secured a price of between 12.5m and 15m in an auction. However, a deal was struck for 10m which was 500,000 less than a valuation given in an independent assessment by Dublin City Councils Valuation Office. It said Lucan House and Demesne consists of a Palladian country house of over 15,000 square feet along with a boathouse, a stable block, two gate lodges, worker cottages, and other structures of archaeological note. The demesne is around 30 acres in size and is situated along the banks of the Liffey and even has a small island in the river connected by an iron footbridge. A view of Lucan House by John James Barralet (17471815) Photo: Sepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty The valuation said South Dublin County Council should seek agreement on the inventory of fixtures, fittings, furniture, and art inside Lucan House, which were also of considerable value. It said: There is scope perhaps, for the council to purchase certain bespoke items of intrinsic historical value, which would support and enhance the future use of this important heritage property. Up to 150,000 people could visit each year with an estimated 1.5m in direct visitor revenue The valuation said a similar Palladian mansion, Seafield House in Donabate, North Dublin, had achieved a sale price of over 9m. Smaller property, inferior location, layout and scale of rooms not as impressive. Doesnt have the same architectural prestige, it said. A separate appraisal report from South Dublin County Council said they had a long-held interest in the property given its location. It said up to 150,000 people could visit each year with an estimated 1.5m in direct visitor revenue. The appraisal said purchase by the council had potential to deliver a tourism project to the area within three years. It added that there were risks involved in the project including the bill for renovations, cost overruns, and the environmental impact. The document said South Dublin County Council could learn from other heritage properties like Malahide Castle, Russborough House, and the Airfield Estate on how best to develop Lucan House. It said a further sum of between 200,000 and 300,000 would be needed to best decide how to develop it as a public amenity and visitor attraction. Asked about the purchase, a spokesperson for South Dublin County Council said: In acquiring the property, we are about to commence the preparation of a masterplan for Lucan House and Demesne as a public amenity and visitor destination within the county. Seats filled: 5 10.15pm Niamh Smyth and Brendan Smith take final two seats Elected; David Maxwell (Fine Gael), Matt Carthy (Sinn Fein), Cathy Bennett (Sinn Fein), Niamh Smyth (Fianna Fail), Brendan Smith (Fianna Fail). The longest three days! At last its all over at the Cavan Monaghan count after almost 47 hours of counting as Fianna Fails Niamh Smyth and Brendan Smith were elected without reaching the quota Niamh Smyth got 202 votes from Cathy Bennetts surplus which put her on 11,058 and Brendan Smith got 270 votes which brought him to 10,886 and Aontus Sarah OReilly got a considerable 938 votes which gave her a tally 10,067. Niamh Smyth And if Sinn Fein are good at celebrating then Fianna Fail got quite vocal too as loudly cheering supporters lifted Niamh Smyth and Brendan Smith shoulder high. Brendan Smith Mr Smith has now won eight General Elections in this constituency while Niamh Smyth is in her third term as a TD in the region And then the elected TDs gave the litany of thank you to their supporters. Over and out. 8.15pm: Cathy Bennett elected It was elation once again for Sinn Fein as first time candidate Cathy Bennett won a seat to Dail Eireann amid wild celebrations in the Cavan Leisure when she was elected- as she prevailed on a final tally. Bennetts supporters sang Oro Se Do Bheatha Abhaile at full pitch this evening. Cathy Bennett got 3,281 votes from Matt Carthys transfers putting her on 13,383 and giving her a surplus of 1,841 to be distributed between Fianna Fails Brendan Smith and Niamh Smyth and Aontus Sarah OReilly who had an impressive campaign. Niamh Smyth is on 10,856 after getting 73 from Carthys surplus while Brendan Smith got 94 pushing him to 10,616. Aontus Sara OReilly got 131 from Carthys surplus and is on 9,129 and looks like she will finish in sixth place. Cathy Bennett But, there was a heavy feeling of inevitability on the 13th count as Cathy Bennett, Brendan Smith, and Niamh Smyth relaxed with their families and friends so you had none of the quaintly manic nail biting of other elections where a delicious sense of hope and wonder filled the air. Smith and Smyth are sitting TDs and Fianna Fails vote has increased by around 600 votes while Sinn Feins overall vote is down around 2000 votes while Fine Gaels vote is down around 5,000 votes. But they will be happy to have held the seat that ex Minister Heather Humphreys worked so hard to win and first timer David Maxwell has big shoes to fill. But for those who won, it was all worth the trudging of the winding roads of Cavan and Monaghan in the deep winter was all worthwhile. For, seats in Dail Eireann are becoming increasingly popular not to mention lucrative as shown by the large number of various candidates who go forward with no hope of being elected. But, hey, thats democracy and many died for that right. And while we rightly gurn about late hours-there is still something truly egalitarian about the old ballot box. Losing narrowly can also, be cruel as evidenced by Sinn Pauline Tullys clear distress and Aontus Sarah OReilly who fought a valiant campaign but just came up short. But with one more count to go, Brendan Smith and Niamh Smyth will be elected. 6.15pm Carthy is elected Matt Carthy of Sinn Fein was mobbed by a big phalanx of supporters when he was finally elected at 5.45 pm on the 12th count at Cavan Leisure Centre. The poll topper finished on a tally of 15,121 votes which was 3579 votes above the quota of 11,542. He received 4,140 of his eliminated colleague Pauline Tullys distributed votes while his party colleague Cathy Bennett got 1,882 and is on 10,102 votes and looks certain to take a second Sinn Fein seat when Carthys distribution of his 3579 surplus votes take place. Meanwhile it also looks certain that Fianna Fail will take the other two seats as Niamh Smyth is on 10,787 after getting 470 transfers from Pauline Tully. Her party colleague Brendan Smith is on 10,522 votes after getting 460 votes from Tullys votes. And Aontu candidate Sarah OReilly got 8990 after getting 508 transfers from Tullys tally. We are now on the 13th count where Carthys surplus of 3579 will be distributed among the remaining four candidates. This count is expected to take an houror so. 5.40 pm day three The canteen in the Cavan Leisure Centre has been doing great business as some grumpy, hungry dehydrated hacks and other exhausted parties are stocking up on sandwiches and sugar rushes as we come to terms with the fact that this is the longest running count in the country. Counting of eliminated Sinn Fein candidate Pauline Tully's votes began at 2.20 and it is still continuing at 5.30 pm as some count followers fight to stay awake. It is expected (health warning) that their votes will be distributed around 6pm and we might be finished by 7pm. That's a big might as we go into our 44th hour of counting...a marathon among the rolling hills of Breffni. Cavan/Monaghan has the unenviable record of being the slowest count in the country to elect a TD so all hands were determined to put in a strong finish-but they should not have been asked to work totally unacceptable hours. 3pm Monday - Pauline Tully loses her seat Sitting Sinn Fein TD Pauline Tully has lost her seat, as Sinn Feins bold strategy of fielding three candidates just fell short in the Cavan Leisure Centre. The Kilnaleck County Cavan secondary school teacher finished with a total 7868, votes just behind her party colleague Cathy Bennett who is now set to take her first seat from Tullys transfers. Bennett, who is a theatre manager in Monaghan has a total of 8,220 votes and will be a first time TD. She benefited from 110 transfer votes from fellow North Monaghan elected candidate David Maxwell while Tully received just six votes. Maxwell had a surplus of 811 and the remainder of his votes were 83 to Matt Carthy, 83 to Sarah OReilly Aontu, 255 to Fianna Fails Brendan Smith and 274 to Niamh Smyth. At present, Maxwell is leading the poll on 12,353 votes with Carthy second on 10,981, Niamh Smyth third on 10,313, Brendan Smith, on 10,062 in fourth and Aontus Sarah OReilly on 10,062 in fifth place. Carthy will exceed the quota after Tullys votes are distributed and they might just earn a seat for Bennett as well. No candidate has reached the quota of 11,542 but Carthy will exceed that on the 12th count. We are now awaiting the results of the distribution of Tullys 7868 votes which could take quite some time. 1pm Monday Counting resumes Counting has resumed in Cavan. Counting has just begun at 1pm today at the Cavan Monaghan election count after Fine Gaels David Maxwell took his first seat for the party amid scenes of wild jubilation in the Cavan Leisure Centre around 4.20 am last night. Only one of the five seats have been filled. At present it looks likely that Sinn Fein will have two elected along with two from Fianna Fail. The consensus here is that Brendan Smith and Niamh Smyth will take seats for Fianna Fail. Matt Carthy is a cert for Sinn Fein and will top the poll. And had Cathy Bennett not been put forward in North Monaghan, Carthy would possibly have finished with an impressive almost 19,000 votes. But sitting Cavan Monaghan TD Pauline Tully could have a battle on her hands to keep her seat. She is on 7,862 with fellow Sinn Fein candidate Cathy Bennett on 8110 with observers suggesting that Tully might just be edged out by Bennett. At present David Maxwells surplus of 811 will be distributed. We have just started the 11th count-but with six candidates still in the running, it could be quite a long day here-especially given the remarkably slow pace of counting. 4.15 am Maxwell takes seat Fine Gaels David Maxwell was elected TD for Cavan Monaghan for the first time- after a 43 hour count in the Cavan Leisure Centre. The 58-year-old North Monaghan councillor and undertaker finished with a whopping 12,353 and fills the shoes of his long time mentor Heather Humphreys who was at the count to share in her proteges triumph. The father-of two has been a councillor for 20 years. Geography played a part in his triumph as he got 1788 votes from the eliminated North Monaghan Fianna Fail candidate Robbie Gallagher. He was duly elected with a surplus of 811 votes to loud cheers from his supporters. Matt Carthy of Sinn Fein finished with 10,898 and Niamh Smyth had 10,039 votes in third place with Brendan Smith of Fianna Fail had 9807 votes and Sara OReilly of Aontu on 8407 was in fifth place. Announcing the outcome at 4.18 am, Returning Officer Joe Smith said he was adjourning the count until 1 pm on Monday. 2.40 am Smith certain to take a seat for Fianna Fail Veteran Cavan Fianna Fail politician Brendan Smith is certain to take a seat-but the ex- Minister of Agriculture was taking nothing for granted. With a fair bulk of votes likely to come from Fianna Fail colleague Robbie Gallagher-Smith will take a seat without reaching the quota. When asked why he arrived so late at the poll, Smith said it was the habit of a lifetime. I like to sit it out at home and look at what is going on in the rest of the country and call colleagues who are doing well and colleagues who are struggling and after an election campaign you like to sit down and relax for a few hours. I have never gone to the count until very late in the day or when I need to. He added that even though Robbie Gallagher has a big vote spread to distribute-Brendan does not expect to get half of Gallaghers votes. No I did not canvass in Monaghan and he is a colleague and I would hope to get around 1000 and of course Niamh Smyth will get some of his transfers as well and his votes could go to other candidates and Cathy Bennett and Matt Carthy could benefit as well. 1.50 am Maxwell overtakes Carthy Count: 9 Eliminated on this count. Robbie Gallagher Redistributed from TP OReillys 6425 votes Non-transferable papers; Quota : 11,542. For the very first time Fine Gael candidate David Maxwell has overtaken Sinn Feins Matt Carthy, reaching 10565 votes to 10,337 for Carthy. This was done courtesy of a hefty 2,870 votes transferred from party colleague T P OReilly who had 6425 votes to distribute. Eliminated Fianna Fail candidate Robbie Gallagher could guarantee a seat for colleague Brendan Smith who is now on 8523 in count 10. But Gallaghers massive 6857 votes could be hugely significant for another sitting Fianna Fail TD Niamh Smyth who is on 8680 and Aontus Sarah 0Reilly is on 8060. Sinn Feins Cathy Bennett has 7542 but that could be boosted by Gallaghers transfers as geography might kick in as they are both from North Monaghan. Her party colleague Pauline Tully has 7817 and it looks like only one of these candidates will get a second seat for the party. 1.35 am Humphreys happy to see Fine Gael retain seat Heather Humphreys Just after 1am former Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys entered the count Her departure from politics has been a big blow to Fine Gael locally as the vote has dropped by 30 per cent; although David Maxwell will take a seat for Fine Gael. Ms Humphreys said she was delighted that Fine Gael were going to retain their seat in Monaghan and she had known David Maxwell for a long time. When asked for a comment on the drop in their votes she said: The Fine Gael vote was down but obviously its new candidates and that is well known. I got a lot of votes but I worked hard to get them and I started off here in 2011 and the margin was only 365 and it was 5 am in the morning. It was very late and I did not think I was going to make it but I did and the work started then. So work hard for the people and build that trust and the people will reward you and I have no doubt that David Maxwell will do a good job in the Dail. She added: It is great that David Maxwell will replace me in the Dail and I have known him for over 20 years and I am delighted for him and I will be there to give him advice and help him. When asked what advice she would give her leader Simon Harris, who will be back in government she said: "I would say he did a tremendous job and gave it everything and he should be allowed to take a few days off and reflect on the serious business of forming a government." 0.06am Monday: Count 8 complete It took just over two hours to count the distribution of eliminated Fine Gael candidate Carmel Bradys vote. The Fine Gael has collapsed by a considerable 30 per cent but David Maxwell is confident that the transfers from fellow Fine Gael man T P OReilly could gain him a seat without reaching the quota as T P OReilly has 6425 votes He got 1170 transfers from Carmel Brady which has put him on 7695 and put him in second place. Matt Carthy is on 10,257 and still over 1000 votes shy of the quota on a night when it looks like nobody will reach the quota. His colleague Pauline Tully is on 7520 while first timer Cathy Bennett has 7490 votes and it looks like Sinn Fein may take two seats but it is uncertain who will join Carthy Ex Minister Heather Humphreys is expected at the count shortly and could be asked about the dramatic drop in the Fine Gael vote. For Fianna Fail, Brendan Smith on 7512 looks a safe bet especially as Robbie Gallaghers transfers should put him in a strong position. Aontus Sarah OReilly has gained an impressive 7487 votes and she could be neck in neck with Niamh Smyth for a final seat. 10pm: Sinn Fein in the top three at present Sinn Fein are in the top three after the seventh count in Cavan/Monaghan with Matt Carthy on 10,094, Pauline Tully on 7384 and Cathy Bennett on 7373 which is a remarkable stat indeed. And, once again Aontu candidate Sarah OReilly got a whopping transfer-this time 969 votes from Shane P OReilly to move to 7122. Fianna Fails Brendan Smith is on 7154 but he is expected to get transfers when Robbie Gallagher is eliminated and could be fighting with Cathy Bennett or Pauline Tully or Sarah O'Reilly for the final seat. Fine Gaels David Maxwell will be hoping to get a bounce from Carmel Bradys 4519 votes as he is on 6,525. Fianna Fails Niamh Smyth is not out of the reckoning either as she is on 6472 and we have five counts to go. But with Matt Carthy not expected to get transfers from Carmel Brady it could be another hour or two before he reaches the quota and there is strong speculation that a number of candidates could be elected without reaching the quota. And the word from the count is that we could be here to 4 am. 8.40pm: Independent Ireland candidate eliminated Shane P OReilly has been eliminated after count but a candidate has yet to reach the quota. But the performance of Aontu candidate and ex Fianna Fail member Sarah OReilly has cause a bit of a stir as she got a healthy 675 votes from the combined vote of 2,785 from eliminated candidates Emma Hendrick and Val Martin bringing her to an impressive 6153 votes. And another big talking point has been the destination of eliminated candidate and ex Fianna Fail councillor Shane P OReilly who has 3,717 votes to be distributed. His votes will certainly swell the tally of the Fianna Fail candidates with Brendan Smith and Niamh Smyth set to benefit mainly, as well as Fine Gaels T P OReilly who is a neighbour of Shane P. Meanwhile, Sinn Feins Matt Carthy leads the field on 9857 which is still 1685 votes short of the quota. Cathy Bennett of Sinn Fein is in second slot on 7,273 while Pauline Tully of the same party is on 6958. Fine Gaels David Maxwell is on 6,452 and will benefit from the transfers of colleagues T P OReilly and Carmel Brady. Fine Gael candidate TP O'Reilly 7.30pm: Independent Ireland candidate pleased with showing Independent Ireland candidate Shane P OReilly says his party could be in power with a Coalition government after the election. The Mullagh, County Cavan native polled 3.106 votes and while not elected he says he happy with his showing. I was happy with the tally and I was in Fianna Fail for many years but parted company with party leader Micheal Martin as we did not have the same ideals at the time but he seems to have softened his stance since. I am happy with my vote as I did not have too many helpers and it cost me around 12,000 and I was realistic enough as to my chances. Independent Ireland could be in government and I would not be one bit surprised if there was a phone call from the city of Cork to Michael Collins. Shane P reckons that Sarah OReilly, Niamh Smyth, Brendan Smith and T P OReilly could all get some of his transfers and he could help his old party capture one if not two seats. 6.30pm: No-one elected after five counts After five counts, nine candidates have been eliminated from the counts and we still have nobody elected. Emma Hendrick (PBP) and Val Martin (Irish Freedom Party) were eliminated and their total vote tally amounts to 3,185 and some observers are predicting that Matt Carthy could get elected if he were to get a healthy slice of the combined vote as he is 1992 off the quota. He is still well out in front with colleague Cathy Bennett in second, with Brendan Smith of Fianna Fail in third slot, and Pauline Tully of Sinn Fein in fourth spot and Robbie Gallagher in fifth spot. No candidate has reached the quota yet but the distribution of the votes of the two eliminated candidates could push Carthy closer to the quota although the candidate is playing this down. 2pm: Second count complete Fianna Fail's Robbie Gallagher The 405 total votes from eliminated candidates Fergal Deery, Joe Duffy, Mark Moore and Jimmy Mee have been distributed and nobody has reached the quota. Shane Mulligan who got 544 votes on the first count has been eliminated and his votes will be distributed in the third count. 12.45pm: First count has been concluded. Electorate: 109, 152 Total Poll: 69,904. Spoiled:658 Valid Poll:69,246 Quota: 11,542 Eliminated on this count: Fergal, Joe Duffy, Val Martin, Jimmy Mee The big news from the first count here in Cavan Monaghan is that the tally first preferences were pretty accurate with Matt Carthy of Sinn Fein topping the poll on 9.363 votes followed his party colleague Cathy Bennett on 6,455 with Fianna Fail veteran Brenan Smith third on 6,653 and Sinn Feins Pauline Tully on 6455 fourth place and Fianna Fails Robbie Gallagher in fifth place after the count results were announced at 12.15 am. Fergal Deery Independent, Joseph Duffy, Independent, Mark Moore, The National Party and Jimmy Mee Independent were all eliminated and their votes will be distributed in the second round. Carthy is now 2,179 votes short of the quota. 10.30am: Weighing of ballot papers at the count centre in Cavan. The count has resumed in Cavan. The count has resumed here in Cavan. Late last night five miraculous medals were found in a few boxes prompting speculation among some bleary eyed journalists that it might take some divine intervention to get the count finished by tonight. Miraculous medals were found in ballot boxes in Cavan/Monaghan Looking at the main contenders generally, the Sinn Fein vote is down from just over 26,000 last time out to just over 22,000. Meanwhile Fine Gaels vote is down from just over 19,000 to just over 14,000. Fianna Fails vote has increased by 547 from 18,161 to 18,178 and they are the only one of the three parties to make a gain from the last election. Speculation that Sinn Fein might take and historic three seats has cooled over night with the predictions veering towards two seats for Sinn Fein the only question is will it be Cathy Bennett or sitting TD Pauline Tully who will be joining him. Fine Gaels David Maxwell looks like taking Heather Humphreys old seat as he will get transfers from party colleagues Carmel Brady and TP OReilly. Fianna Fail are certain to get one seat at least and it looks like the experienced Brendan Smith will get in on transfers from sitting TD Niamh Smyth and Robbie Gallagher. Sunday 1.15am At 1.14 am Presiding Officer Joe Smith said he was adjourning the count until 10am on Sunday morning so there will be no first count until Sunday morning. 10.30pm: Fianna Fail candidates yet to appear As of almost 10 pm there were no Fianna Fail candidates at the count. But chairperson of the Municipal District of Carrickmacross/Castleblayney P J OHanlon told the Irish Independent that the party were expecting to win one seat and would be in the hunt for a second. I have been in regular contact with the candidates and it is now 10pm and we have not yet got to the first count. It should be finished by midnight tonight and the real business will begin tomorrow. We are sitting on 18,500 and Brendan Smith has 6628 votes, Robbie Gallagher has 6299 votes and Niamh Smyth has 5281. We have between 25 and 26 % of the vote and there are 4,700 votes to be taken and 1200 are in Monaghan and 3,500 are in Cavan so its all to play for. We have to get a seat on the votes, we have almost 19,000 and we are hoping to get two and we will be looking for transfers. The first three seats could be decided tomorrow afternoon but the last two seats could be a very long drawn affair. 9pm: First timer Sinn Fein candidate pleased with showing For some observers the story of this election so far has been the performance of Sinn Feins Cathy Bennett who came out with 6,936 votes in her first outing. But while very pleased with the tallies, the Monaghan Theatre manager was not going to speculate on three possible seats for Sinn Fein. I am delighted with the tallies but it is still much too early to call as that is just the tallies. Its a big ask to get that from the people and I had North Monaghan and Matt had South Monaghan so we divided it up between us and my team worked very hard for me. It is the people who decide in the end and we have done very well and the vote was well managed and Pauline Tully will pick up a few Cavan votes as the count goes on. But there is a long way to go and it will depend on the transfers but no matter what happens it has been a memorable day for me. 8.20pm: Still waiting for first count Counting of ballot papers for the first count began at 3.30pm and the results of the count are not expected until 10 pm. It is not expected that we will have the second count tonight. There has been a lull between the results of the tallies as some candidates took a break and left the count. At present, there is a lull in proceedings and the general consensus is that nobody will be elected until at least tomorrow morning. 7.45pm: Fine Gael confident of taking a seat When Fine Gael candidate David Maxwell was picked to try to keep the seat of ex Minister Heather Humphreys, he had big shoes to fill. But he is still reasonably confident of taking the seat after finishing on 6,109 after the tallies. And with Fine Gael party colleagues T P OReilly on 4260, Carmel Brady on 4332 it would be reasonable to assume that he would be transfer friendly if either failed to make the cut. I am in it to win it, he told the Irish Independent. I think there is a Fine Gael seat but there is a clatter of us, around eight people sitting within 2,000 votes so it could be well drawn out. I came in at 6th at the end of the tally and I had three and a half weeks to canvass after Heather announced that she was retiring. So that was pretty challenging, he said. I want to lead from the front and you would hope that a Fine Gael voter will vote for a Fine Gael candidate, but sometimes people go for the next local candidate. And he paid tribute to the discipline of the Sinn Fein vote. They ran a super campaign and Matt Carthy is back on his 2020 numbers but there are not many parties who can do that to have that discipline. "If every party did that they would get more seats. It is hard to say if they will take three seats and after the first count we could see quite a few of the Independents eliminated and that might clear the way for the shake up. 6.40pm: Carthy lauds vote management that could see three seats for Sinn Fein Matt Carthy (right) at the count in Cavan. Sinn Feins likely poll topper Matt Carthy said there was a real chance the party could take three seats with running mate Cathy Bennett and incumbent Pauline Tully in Cavan. The trio have polled a total of 22,785 votes which represents 32.94 per cent of the total tally. Its a phenomenal first count if the tallies transpire and I have no doubt that they will. And to come in first, second and fourth on the first count is incredible and shows the huge effort put in by the Sinn Fein team across both counties. Carthy pointed to good vote management that maximised the vote for Sinn Fein. We got 26,000 votes between Pauline Tully and I the last time but people have done what we asked them to do and Cathy Bennett is a formidable candidate and it is a great vote for a first time candidate. We are in contention for a third seat but a lot depends on the geographical spread of transfers and we might get some transfers from Fianna Fail and I can see Pauline Tullys vote going up as there are a number of Cavan candidates to be eliminated. If Robbie Gallaghers votes come into play in Monaghan I think some of them would go to Cathy Bennet so it is all to play for. I have over 9,000 votes and I need over 11,500 votes to get over the quota and I would be shocked if anybody gets elected tonight as so many candidates are neck and neck in the first six. Follow Independent Cavan on Facebook 4pm: Final tally in Cavan-Monaghan Bennett Cathy (Sinn Fein); 6936 Brady Carmel (Fine Gael); 4260. Carthy Matt; (Sinn Fein) 9371 Deery Fergal (Independent):; 81 Duffy Joseph (Independent); 124 Gallagher Robbie (Fianna Fail); 6299 Gordon Lester (Independent); 918 Hendrick Emma (People Before Profit); 963 Martin Val (Irish Freedom Party); Votes; 1249 Maxwell David (Fine Gael); 6129 Mee Jimmy (Independent); 27 Moore Mark (National Party); 179 Mulligan Shane (Liberty Party); 514 OGara Eddie (Green Party); 731 OReilly Sarah (Aontu); 5098; OReilly Shane P (Independent Ireland); 3080 OReilly T P (Fine Gael); 4332 Smith Brendan (Fianna Fail) 6628 Smyth Niamh (Fianna Fail);5781. Tully Pauline (Sinn Fein); 6478 3pm: Sinn Fein could potentially be on target to take three seats for the first time according to the results of the tally at the Cavan/Monaghan count at the Cavan Leisure Centre. And while this comes with a health warning as transfers will be crucial, its three candidates Matt Carthy and Cathy Bennett and Pauline Tully have polled a total of 22,785 votes which represents 32.94 per cent of the total tally of first preference votes. Matt Carthy got 9371 votes according to the tallies which is short of a quota with a running mate in Monaghan, Geraldine Bennett who got 6936 votes. The other sitting TD Pauline Tully in Cavan got 6478 votes and she got in on the second count from Carthys transfers in 2020. Meanwhile, it is shaping up to be a bit of a dog fight for Fianna Fail who have three candidates breathing down each others neck with ex Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith in third place overall with 6628 votes. He is closely followed by Senator Robbie Gallagher of Fianna Fail on 6299 votes with Niamh Smyth on 5781 votes. Fine Gaels David Maxwell will be hoping to take the seat left vacant by the departure of ex Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys is on 6129 but he might struggle to get transfers in Cavan. T P OReilly is on 4,332 and Carmel Brady is on 4,260 and it would be a major surprise if they do not take one seat. Of the minor parties, Sarah OReilly of Aontu has polled well with 5098 votes but she might struggle for transfers. Meet Cavan-Monaghan's 5 TDs Tallies indicate first major wins and casualties in tight race 1.30pm: With just 82 more boxes to be tallied, the only real change is that Sinn Feins Cathy Bennett is looking in a better position than earlier tallies indicated. And Fianna Fails Robbie Gallagher is also performing well, while Sinn Feins Matt Carthy continues to romp clear. Niamh Smyth and David Maxwell are also among those performing well. Sinn Fein sitting candidate Pauline Tully is not performing as well as was predicted, but will likely do well from transfers. Sinn Fein have 32.80%, Fine Gael have 21.83%, Independents 1.74%, Fianna Fail 25.20%, Aontu 7.9%, and Independent Ireland 5.03%. 11.50am: Maxwell now in top five Fine Gael hopeful David Maxwell has broken into the top five after 106 boxes have been tallied in a fast moving Cavan/Monaghan tally count. The Monaghan County Councillor is on 2471 as Matt Carthy of Sinn Fein is now on 5490. Niamh Smyth (FF) and Sarah O Reilly (Aontu) are neck and neck some are speculating that they could be contesting the last seat. Sinn Fein's Cathy Bennett with Monaghan councillors Alan Johnston and Raymond Aughey. Another Fianna Fail candidate Robbie Gallagher has slipped a bit. At present 40 pc of the boxes have been tallied. 11.10am: Carthy well out in front Sinn Feins Matt Carthy remains well clear of the field after 72 boxes have been tallied and already has a whopping 4,063 votes, again mainly from County Cavan boxes. Niamh Smyth, who only just scraped in on the 11th count in 2020 on 10,951 without reaching the quota on the last occasion has also made a strong start polling 2096. Sarah OReilly of Aontu stays in third position on 1953 while Carmel Brady has slipped to fourth place on 1879. And Robbie Gallagher of Fianna Fail remains in line for the fifth slot on 1547 and he is tipped to take a seat for the party. It is early in the day but some observers are saying that Fianna Fail ex Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith could already be in trouble as he has polled just 983 votes so far. Follow Independent Monaghan on Facebook Meanwhile Fine Gael candidate David Maxwell will be hoping to hoover up ex Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys vote has come in at 1509 votes but he will be hoping that Humphreys traditional north Monaghan vote will see him through. Sinn Feins third candidate Cathy Bennett could benefit hugely from Carthys transfers which ironically could put sitting Sinn Fein TD Pauline Tully who is on 1457 votes in a bit of jeopardy. The remaining mix of Green, and various other Independents have not made any real impression yet. 10.30am: Carthy out in front in tallies After 45 of the 259 boxes tallied mostly in Cavan, Sinn Feins Matt Carthy from Monaghan leads the way with 2416 votes. Most of the boxes were from Cavan, so Carthy has made a strong start. Fine Gaels Carmel Brady is second on 1545 and ex Fianna Fail candidate Sarah OReilly is third with 1280 votes. Current Fianna Fail candidate Niamh Smyth has been polling steadily as well with 1271 votes and another Fianna Fail candidate Robbie Gallagher is fifth on 1001 votes. So far Sinn Fein have 32.98 per cent of the votes, Fine Gael 24.9 percent and Fianna Fail have 22.69 per cent. But its very early days yet. The count centre in Cavan Town. 10.15am: Early tallies Around 10% of the tallies are done, indicating that Sinn Feins Matt Carthy is out in front, with Fine Gaels Carmel Brady, Fianna Fails Niamh Smyth and Aontus Sarah OReilly also performing well. 10am: Counting underway Counting is underway in Cavan Town for the Cavan Monaghan constituency where the picture could reflect the national picture. Tally men and women are busy adding up the tallies as boxes are being opened. As expected, Sinn Feins Matt Carthy is performing well in the early tallies. The calm before the storm in the Clare Count Centre at Treacys West County Hotel in Ennis. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. The ballot boxes have been opened in Treacys West County Hotel in Ennis and sorting for General Election 2024 in Clare is officially underway! Photo by Fergus Dennehy. A very busy count centre in Treacys West County Hotel in Ennis with over 50 boxes now opened and tallies flying in. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. The sorting and talllying continues at pace here at the Treacy's West County Hotel in Ennis. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. Final tally figures are in for Clare and the sorting of votes is in full flow here ahead of the first count later today. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. Vote sorting continues in Clare ahead of a first count later this evening. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. Count staff in Ennis are 'aiming for' the first count to take place at 6pm. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. Fianna Fail's Timmy Dooley arriving to the count centre in Clare to hugs and handshakes. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. Candidates in Clare and their campaign agents look at the spoilt votes with Returning Officer, Rita Considine. Notably, former Clare TD, Michael McNamara (IND) is among them. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. Fianna Fail's Timmy Dooley arriving to the count centre in Clare to hugs and handshakes. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. Incumbent TD Cathal Crowe (FF) pictured arriving to the count centre in Ennis with his family. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. The first count results are in from Clare. The sixth count is underway in Treacys West County Hotel in Ennis as we await Timmy Dooley of FF being the first man over the line. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. We're onto Count 11 here on day number two here in Ennis. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. Fianna Fail's Timmy Dooley has, on Count 13, finally surpassed the quota and has regained the seat FF's Cathal Crowe is hoisted aloft in celebration after he became the second TD elected in Clare. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. Fianna Fail's Timmy Dooley being hoisted aloft after becoming the first TD to be elected in Clare in the 2024 General Election. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. Seats filled: 4 9.10pm (Sunday): Right, the dust has settled on a hectic half an hour or so but just a quick final round up. Fianna Fail are very happy with the last two days. They have two experienced TDs heading back to Dail Eireann. Sinn Fein meanwhile are delighted to take back a seat that they did initially win last time around through Violet-Anne Wynne but who then subsequently left the party so they will be delighted to have a Clare representative once again. Finally, Fine Gael will obviously be delighted with Joe Cooneys win but questions have to be asked about the partys strategy. They originally had Leonora Carey as their sole candidate in the election but then introduced Dr Tom Nolan and Joe Cooney as last minute candidates. Did they stretch themselves too thin? Did they pull votes away from Leonora by introducing a political heavyweight in Clare such as Joe Cooney? Very strange decisions all together. Leonoras loss means that she will not be able to carry on the Carey family name in Clare and follow in the foot steps of her father and brother who bother represented the county as TDs over the years. Anyway, they are questions for another time and for a more less-exhausted mind. Thanks for following along with these little updates of mine over the past few days. I hope you got even a sliver of knowledge or enjoyment out of them. Good night and until the next election, adieu! 8.30pm (Sunday): What just happened? Things have moved very quickly here. We have somehow just elected the final two candidates here in Clare. Donna McGettigan of Sinn Fein and Joe Cooney of Fine Gael have both been deemed elected despite not reaching the quota. The final two seats have been filled! Here is how the final standings look: Timmy Dooley (FF) Cathal Crowe (FF) Donna McGettigan (SF) Joe Cooney (FG) 6.45pm (Sunday): We have our second TD elected in the Banner county. Incumbent TD Cathal Crowe has retained his seat in Clare. He was elected on count 15 thanks to transfers from eliminated Eddie Punch. He received 920 transfer votes and ended up with a total of 12,344, just above the quota of 12,182. There were very wholesome scenes as the results were announced as he kissed his wife and three kids in celebration before he was hoisted aloft by friends and colleagues. Unlike his FF colleague Timmy Dooley though, Cathal enjoyed the hoist a lot. You could say his favourite movies are hoist films. Two seats down, two to go! 4.40pm (Sunday): We have our first election in Clare! Fianna Fail's Timmy Dooley has, on Count 13, finally surpassed the quota and has regained the seat that he lost narrowly in 2020. He is the first TD elected here in Clare. He got 1,487 in transfer votes from his eliminated FF colleague Rita McInerney and this pushed his total votes to 13,566, well above the needed quota of 12,182. He was hoisted aloft by friends and family here in the count centre after the announcement was made. It must be said though that he didn't look to be a fan of the hoist at all! Here are the results of count 13: Quota: 12,182 Timmy Dooley (FF) 13566 (+1487) Cathal Crowe (FF) 10470 (+1374) Donna McGettigan (SF) 9971 (+187) Joe Cooney (FG) 8767 (+375) Leonora Carey (FG) 6427 (+334) Roisin Garvey (GP) 5425 (+300) Eddie Punch (II) 4922 (+251) 3.20pm (Sunday): As we head into count 13, Fianna Fails Timmy Dooley is just 103 votes short of reaching the quota which he is almost certainly going to get from the transfers of his fellow FF colleague Rita McInerney who was just eliminated on count 12. Stay tuned, an honest to god election is coming! Here are the results of the twelfth count: 2857 transfers from Dillon Quota: 12,182 Timmy Dooley (FF) 12079 (+167) Donna McGettigan (SF) 9784 (+413) Cathal Crowe (FF) 9096 (+289) Joe Cooney (FG) 8392 (+125) Leonora Carey (FG) 6093 (+102) Roisin Garvey (GP) 5125 (+179) Eddie Punch (II) 4671 (+895) Rita McInerney (FF) 4592 (+224) 1.50pm (Sunday): Remember my earlier prediction that Timmy Dooley (FF) would get elected on count 12? Scrap it. Im now confidently saying that its going to be count 13. The quota is 12,182. With count 12 soon to take place, Dooley is still 270 votes short of the quota but I dont see him getting that amount in transfers from Aontus June Dillon so count 13 is more likely. Sinn Feins Donna McGettigan got a whopping 840 transfer votes in count 11 which has cemented her position in second place. Cathal Crowe of FF has 8,807 votes in third while FGs Joe Cooney has 8,267 in the fourth and final position. Im also running out of space on my count sheets as I never thought it would go beyond count 12 so I need to source more paper. Here are the full count 11 results: 2723 transfers from Tonge Quota: 12,182 Timmy Dooley (FF) 11912 (+111) Donna McGettigan (SF) 9371 (+840) Cathal Crowe (FF) 8807 (+158) Joe Cooney (FG) 8267 (+112) Leonora Carey (FG) 5991 (+131) Roisin Garvey (GP) 4946 (+808) Rita McInerney (FF) 4368 (+73) Eddie Punch (II) 3776 (+169) June Dillon (AON) 2857 (+124) June Dillon was eliminated on this count. Follow Independent Clare on Facebook The sixth count is underway in Treacys West County Hotel in Ennis as we await Timmy Dooley of FF being the first man over the line. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. 12.50pm (Sunday): Since the last update, weve had counts nine and 10 and yet, we still wait for the first candidate to be elected. We are now down to nine candidates for four seats. Its looking more and more likely that the seats will go to Timmy Dooley (FF), Donna McGettigan (SF), Cathal Crowe (FF) and Joe Cooney (FG). My new prediction is count 12 as to when well see Dooley elected. Hilary Tonges 2,723 votes are currently being distributed. Fianna Fail's Timmy Dooley arriving to the count centre in Clare to hugs and handshakes. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. 11.10am (Sunday): Count eight is in the bag and another candidate has been eliminated. Nine down and eleven to go. The crowd is picking up here again now in anticipation of that long-awaited first election. Heres the results of the eighth count: 924 transfers from Caitriona Ni Chathain (SOC) Quota: 12,182 Timmy Dooley (FF) 11542 (+14) Cathal Crowe (FF) 8426 (+22) Donna McGettigan (SF) 8342 (+242) Joe Cooney (FG) 7783 (+11) Leonora Carey (FG) 5344 (+16) Roisin Garvey (GP) 4000 (+105) Rita McInerney (FF) 3694 (+10) Eddie Punch (II) 2943 (+44) Hilary Tonge (SD) 2650 (+367) June Dillon (AON) 2284 (+39) Tom Nolan (FG) 2247 (+8) Michael Leahy (IFP) 1472 (+11) Michael Leahy (IFP was eliminated on the eight count. On non-vote news, I finally sourced myself a sandwich from the petrol station across the road so the breakfast mishap has finally been rectified. Incumbent TD Cathal Crowe (FF) pictured arriving to the count centre in Ennis with his family. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. 10.30am (Sunday): Counts six and seven have come and gone now with no-one elected but a few people eliminated. We are whittling away at candidates slowly but surely. We have 12 candidates left out of a starting field of 20. Heres how count six went: Quota: 12,182 Timmy Dooley (FF) 11481 (+69) Cathal Crowe (FF) 8368 (+53) Donna McGettigan (SF) 8050 (+71) Joe Cooney (FG) 7736 (+89) Leonora Carey (FG) 5313 (+15) Roisin Garvey (GP) 3882 (+7) Rita McInerney (FF) 3548 (+17) Eddie Punch (II) 2768 (+75) Hilary Tonge (SD) 2268 (+18) June Dillon (AON) 2180 (+25) Tom Nolan (FG) 2169 (+10) Michael Leahy (IFP) 1388 (+22) Catriona Ni Chathain (SOC) 907 (+13) Kevin Hassett (IND) 789 (+82) Kevin Hassett was eliminated on the sixth count. Heres the results of the seventh count: Quota: 12,182 Timmy Dooley (FF) 11528 (+47) Cathal Crowe (FF) 8404 (+36) Donna McGettigan (SF) 8100 (+50) Joe Cooney (FG) 7772 (+36) Leonora Carey (FG) 5328 (+15) Roisin Garvey (GP) 3895 (+13) Rita McInerney (FF) 3684 (+136) Eddie Punch (II) 2899 (+131) Hilary Tonge (SD) 2283 (+15) June Dillon (AON) 2245 (+65) Tom Nolan (FG) 2239 (+70) Michael Leahy (IFP) 1461 (+73) Catriona Ni Chathain (SOC) 924 (+17) Caitriona Ni Chathain was eliminated on the seventh count. 9.20am (Sunday): We are back up and running this morning for day two. Despite a slight hiccup with hotel breakfast, things are looking good. No-one elected just yet here in Clare. The sixth count is currently underway and FFs Timmy Dooley is still out in front and is a shoe-in to get over the line first. Its just a matter of waiting to see what way the transfers go as to whether it will be the sixth, seventh or eighth count that he gets the few hundred votes he needs. Heres a reminder of the standings: Quota: 12,182 Timmy Dooley (FF) 11412 (+57) Cathal Crowe (FF) 8315 (+29) Donna McGettigan (SF) 7979 (+26) Joe Cooney (FG) 7647 (+59) Leonora Carey (FG) 5298 (+21) Roisin Garvey (GP) 3875 (+55) Rita McInerney (FF) 3531 (+30) Eddie Punch (II) 2693 (+58) Hilary Tonge (SD) 2250 (+13) Tom Nolan (FG) 2159 (+8) June Dillon (AON) 2155 (+22) Michael Leahy (IFP) 1366 (+20) Catriona Ni Chathain (SOC) 894 (+7) Kevin Hassett (IND) 707 (+18) Matthew Moroney (IND) 596 (+28) Matthew Moroney (IND) was eliminated on the fifth count. 12am (Sunday): The results of the fifth count are in and more importantly the counting has been suspended until 9am on Sunday morning meaning that we can go to bed! Im too tired to beat around the bush so here are the fifth count results: Quota: 12,182 Timmy Dooley (FF) 11412 (+57) Cathal Crowe (FF) 8315 (+29) Donna McGettigan (SF) 7979 (+26) Joe Cooney (FG) 7647 (+59) Leonora Carey (FG) 5298 (+21) Roisin Garvey (GP) 3875 (+55) Rita McInerney (FF) 3531 (+30) Eddie Punch (II) 2693 (+58) Hilary Tonge (SD) 2250 (+13) Tom Nolan (FG) 2159 (+8) June Dillon (AON) 2155 (+22) Michael Leahy (IFP) 1366 (+20) Catriona Ni Chathain (SOC) 894 (+7) Kevin Hassett (IND) 707 (+18) Matthew Moroney (IND) 596 (+28) Matthew Moroney (IND) has been eliminated on the fifth count. Until tomorrow morning, good night! 11.30pm (Saturday): The results of the fourth count are in with the news that counting is set to be suspended for tonight after the upcoming fifth count. Heres how things stand after count four: Quota: 12,182 Timmy Dooley (FF) 11355 (+15) Cathal Crowe (FF) 8286 (+9) Donna McGettigan (SF) 7953 (+73) Joe Cooney (FG) 7588 (+8) Leonora Carey (FG) 5277 (+8) Roisin Garvey (GP) 3820 (+18) Rita McInerney (FF) 3501 (+17) Eddie Punch (II) 2635 (+27) Hilary Tonge (SD) 2237 (+45) Tom Nolan (FG) 2151 (+6) June Dillon (AON) 2133 (+22) Michael Leahy (IFP) 1346 (+12) Catriona Ni Chathain (SOC) 887 (+26) Kevin Hassett (IND) 689 (+9) Matthew Moroney (IND) 568 (+12) Paddy Murphy (IND) 464 (+12) Paddy Murphy (IND) eliminated on the fourth count in Clare. 842 votes needed for Timmy Dooley to hit the quota. That wont be tonight though. Bed is calling very soon for everyone here. 11pm (Saturday): A second and third count have taken place taken. Is this real life? The wheels of democracy turn slowly...but importantly, they do turn. That quote is stolen from Ellen Gough of Clare Live sitting next to me but who is not reading this blog so were good. Here are the results from count two: Quota: 12,182 Second Count Timmy Dooley (FF) 11319 (+6) Cathal Crowe (FF) 8266 (+5) Donna McGettigan (SF) 7853 (+10) Joe Cooney (FG) 7578 (+3) Leonora Carey (FG) 5254 (+3) Roisin Garvey (GP) 3781 (+11) Rita McInerney (FF) 3475 (2) Eddie Punch (II) 2601 (+18) Hilary Tonge (SD) 2169 (+25) Tom Nolan (FG) 2141 (+2) June Dillon (AON) 2108 (+9) Michael Leahy (IFP) 1333 (+51) Catriona Ni Chathain (SOC) 835 (+15) Kevin Hassett (IND) 675 (+5) Matthew Moroney (IND) 543 (+5) Paddy Murphy (IND) 448 (+5) Violet-Anne Wynne (IND) 316 (+6) Amanda Major (IND) 208 (+3) 188 votes distributed 4 non transferrable papers Amanda Major (IND) eliminated. Here are the results from count three: Third Count Timmy Dooley (FF) 11340 (+21) Cathal Crowe (FF) 8277 (+11) Donna McGettigan (SF) 7880 (+27) Joe Cooney (FG) 7580 (+2) Leonora Carey (FG) 5269 (+15) Roisin Garvey (GP) 3802 (+21) Rita McInerney (FF) 3484 (+9) Eddie Punch (II) 2608 (+7) Hilary Tonge (SD) 2192 (+23) Tom Nolan (FG) 2145 (+4) June Dillon (AON) 2111 (+3) Michael Leahy (IFP) 1334 (+1) Catriona Ni Chathain (SOC) 861 (+26) Kevin Hassett (IND) 680 (+5) Matthew Moroney (IND) 556 (+13) Paddy Murphy (IND) 452 (+4) Violet-Anne Wynne (IND) 328 (+12) 208 votes distributed 4 non transferrable papers Sitting TD Violet-Anne Wynne eliminated on this count. 10.15pm (Saturday): A miracle has happened. The first count has taken place. The following are the results: Count 1: Electorate: 96, 398 Total Poll: 61,366 Invalid/Spoiled Votes: 459 Valid Poll: 60,907 Quota: 12,182 Timmy Dooley (FF) 11,313 Cathal Crowe (FF) 8,261 Donna McGettigan (SF) 7,843 Joe Cooney (FG) 7,575 Leonora Carey (FG) 5,241 Roisin Garvey (GP) 3,770 Rita McInerney (FF) 3,473 Eddie Punch (II) 2,583 Hilary Tonge (SD) 2,144 Tom Nolan (FG) 2,139 June Dillon (AON) 2,099 Michael Leahy (IFP) 1,282 Catriona Ni Chathain (SOC) 820 Kevin Hassett (IND) 670 Matthew Moroney (IND) 538 Paddy Murphy (IND) 443 Violet-Anne Wynne (IND) 310 Amanda Major (IND) 205 Michael Loughrey (IP) 101 Barry ODonovan (RAB) 87 Barry ODonovan (RAB) & Michael Loughrey (IP) eliminated on the first count. 9:30pm (Saturday): Incumbent TD Cathal Crowe of Fianna Fail has arrived to the count centre with his family. He is looking well-placed to retain his seat. Still. No. First. Count. 9pm (Saturday): Candidates in Clare and their campaign agents are still looking at the spoilt votes with Returning Officer, Rita Considine. Former Clare TD, Michael McNamara (IND) and current MEP is among them. There is not a lot of optimism that any candidate will get over the line tonight. We are still waiting on a first count. I have forgotten what life is like outside the count centre. 8.20pm (Saturday): Returning Officer Rita Considine says the ruling in relation to invalid papers will take place in ten minutes. A sign of things finally starting to move hopefully. Spoiled votes and the length of the ballot paper there was a record 20 candidates are said to have been big reasons behind the delay in getting to the first count. 7.25pm (Saturday): Were STILL waiting on the first official count but FFs Timmy Dooley is all but in. In between the hugs, high-fives, handshakes and well-wishes that hes been receiving from everyone Ive finally been able to nab the man of the hour, poll topper Timmy Dooley for a few words though. He said he is delighted that not only has he reclaimed his seat but that his fellow FF man Cathal Crowe looks on course to retain his seat in the county too. "Im very pleased to get a good result. Whats particularly good is that it looks like were going to get two seats, he told the Irish Independent. "We tried really hard last time out (the 2020 General Election), we tried to divide up the constituency and we missed out narrowly and I, unfortunately, fell off the bottom run of the ladder on that occasion, he continued. "I always felt that there was still strong support there though. I felt having lost last time, it wasnt a rejection of me but rather a reflection of the strategy we had last time around. I felt like it was worth going at it again and thankfully people togged out on this occasion, he added. When asked if he ever expected to top the poll, he laughed and said certainly not. Our interview is cut short by, yes, you guessed it, more well-wishers, all of whom want to congratulate the comeback kid. 6.40pm (Saturday): There were hugs and warm handshakes all around just now as Fianna Fails Timmy Dooley arrived to the count centre with his family. The Tulla man is expected to top the poll here in Clare and take back the seat he narrowly lost in the 2020 election. His arrival seems to indicate that a first count will be sooner rather than later. Fingers crossed! 5.10pm (Saturday): Not much of note to report from the past few hours well, apart from me enjoying a nice carvery in the hotel restaurant since the final tally update. The centre went into a bit of a lull for a while as more sorting of the votes took place ahead of the first count later tonight. Things are starting to pick slightly again now but we could still be a while away yet from a first count (famous last words hopefully though). We could see Timmy Dooley elected on the first count though so thats some excitement to look forward to! 2:50pm (Saturday): Big excitement and buzz at the moment here in Ennis as the final tally figures are in after all 180 boxes have been opened. To say that the crowd around the poor tally teams laptop with the spreadsheet and graph on it was crowded would be an understatement. The final tally figures are as follows: Timmy Dooley (FF) 11,041 - 18.29% Cathal Crowe (FF) 8,264 - 13.69% Joe Cooney (FG) 7,636 - 12.65% Donna McGettigan (SF) 7,509 - 12.44% Leonora Carey (FG) 5,228 - 8.66% Roisin Garvey (GP) 3,636 - 6.02% Rita McInerney (FF) 3,469 - 5.75% Eddie Punch (II) 2,492 - 4.13% June Dillon (AON) 2,347 - 3.89% Tom Nolan (FG) 2,139 - 3.54% Hilary Tonge (SD) 2,020 - 3.35% Michael Leahy (IFP) 1,204 - 1.99% Catriona Ni Chathain (SOC) 784 - 1.30% Kevin Hassett (IND) 713 - 1.18% Matthew Moroney (IND) 528 - 0.87% Paddy Murphy (IND) 453 - 0.75% Amanda Major (IND) 330 - 0.55% Violet-Anne Wynne (IND) 286 - 0.47% Barry ODonovan (RAB) 0.26% - 0.26% Michael Loughrey (IP) 0.20% Count Supervisor has said that the quota could likely be over 12,000 votes. This will be finalised after all the votes have been split and analysed. The sorting and talllying continues at pace here at the Treacy's West County Hotel in Ennis. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. 1:45pm (Saturday): Update from Ennis: the official tally numbers from the first 90 boxes out of 180 have been released, and the estimated quota been put at 6,072. It's very much as you were in Clare for now with Timmy Dooley of Fianna Fail out in front and looking set to regain the seat that he lost in 2020 election. As things stand, he would be elected on the first count with 6,320 votes, just over 20% of the 30,358 votes counted so far. In the chasing pack, it's still a tight contest between Joe Cooney of Fine Gael (4,356 votes), Donna McGettigan of Sinn Fein (3,366 votes) and incumbent TD Cathal Crowe (FF -3,187) still in second, third and fourth place. All ballot boxes have now been opened. In an update on that long awaited first count, staff have said they are aiming for it to take place at 6pm but that this is in no way certain. They said that the first count back in 2020 didnt take place until closer to 9pm. Final tally figures are in for Clare and the sorting of votes is in full flow here ahead of the first count later today. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. 12:30pm (Saturday): 81 out of 180 boxes opened here in Clare and here's how things are looking tally wise: Fianna Fail's Timmy Dooley still looks to have a healthy lead with 5,319 votes (20.9%) Joe Cooney of Fine Gael is still maintaining his hold on second place with 3,837 votes (15%) Sinn Fein's Donna McGettigan has 2,704 votes meanwhile (10%) Incumbent TD Cathal Crowe has 2,375 votes (9%) while his fellow FG colleague Leonora Carey has 1,978 votes (almost 8%) Rita McInerney of FF has 1,757 votes (almost 7%) while Green Party Deputy Leader Roisin Garvey has 1,547 (6%) We're now almost at the halfway mark of boxes opened. Follow Independent Clare on Facebook 11.14am (Saturday): The spreadsheet is back working (ish!) so were in action once more. 49 boxes out of 180 opened here in Ennis and Fianna Fails Timmy Dooley is still well out in front with 3,307 votes while Fine Gaels Joe Cooney is in second place with 2,413 votes. Sinn Feins Donna McGettigan meanwhile has 1,644 votes giving her a healthy enough lead on incumbent TD Cathal Crowe of Fianna Fail (1,278 votes) and Fine Gael hopeful Leonora Carey (1,107 votes). Still though, over 100 boxes still to be opened so stay tuned for potential changes. 10.52am (Saturday): Bad news from Ennis...the spreadsheet has broken. Pray for Mojo. 10.35am (Saturday): Good news from Ennis! The tally team's printer may be broken but that means we now have access to the tally spreadsheets - life just got a lot easier...and a lot more eco friendly! With 33 boxes out of 180 opened so far, here is how the tallies are looking: Fianna Fail's Timmy Dooley is out in front with almost 23 per cent Fine Gael's Joe Cooney meanwhile has 19 per cent Sinn Fein's Donna McGettigan meanwhile rounds out the top three with almost 11 per cent At the time of writing, Fianna Fail have 36 per cent of the vote while Fine Gael have 29 per cent. Sinn Fein meanwhile have 11 per cent. A very busy count centre in Treacys West County Hotel in Ennis with over 50 boxes now opened and tallies flying in. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. Bear in mind though that there are still a lot of boxes to be opened so the picture may yet change here in Clare as the day goes on. 10.10am (Saturday): Early tally indications are that Fianna Fails Timmy Dooley and Fine Gaels Joe Cooney are having a very good morning indeed. Sinn Feins Donna McGettigan also seeing some strong support from the early tallies too. Fianna Fails incumbent TD Cathal Crowe and Fine Gaels Leonora Carey are neck and neck too, the early tallies seem to indicate. 9.10am (Saturday): The ballot boxes have been opened here in Ennis and the sorting of the ballot papers has officially begun. Count staff have a busy few hours/day ahead of them. The tally staff too are hard at work already taking notes too. Sinn Fein candidate Cllr Donna McGettigan is here bright and early surveying the field. 8.50am (Saturday): Hello and a very good morning from Treacys West County Hotel in Ennis. Its here that the counting for the votes in the Clare constituency for the 2024 General Election will be taking place over the next two (or even three!) days. My name is Fergus Dennehy and Ill be your guide through everything thats happening here in the count centre. From tallies to count results to the official elections, youll find it all right here throughout over the weekend. As well that, therell hopefully be photos and videos galore while Ill also keep an eye out for any and all quirky happenings throughout. There are 20 candidates hoping to nab themselves one of the four seats on offer. Heres a full list of the 20 candidates: Leonora Carey (FG) Joe Cooney (FG) Cathal Crowe (FF) (incumbent/sitting TD) June Dillon (Aontu) Timmy Dooley (FF) Roisin Garvey (GP) Kevin Hassett (IND) Michael Leahy (Irish Freedom Party) Michael Loughrey (Irish People Party) Amanda Major (IND) Donna McGettigan (SF) Rita McInerney (FF) Matthew Moroney (IND) Patrick Murphy (IND) Caitriona Ni Chathain (People Before Profit-Solidarity) Dr Tom Nolan (FG) Barry ODonovan (Rabharta) Eddie Punch (Independent Ireland) Hilary Tonge (SD) Violet-Anne Wynne (IND) Boxes are set to open at 9am on the dot so stay tuned! Two of those elected to Cork East have secured their first Dail seats Social Democrats tally man Ken Curtin photographed in his custom 'dog shirt' at Mallow Count Centre. The Cork East vote being counted at Mallow GAA Complex Fermoy councillor Deirdre O'Brien (FF) and sons at Mallow GAA Complex on Saturday. Phot by Sheila Fitzgerald Supporters of candidates awaiting the tenth count to be declared for Cork East at Mallow Count Centre. Fianna Fail's James O'Connor speaks to the media following his re-election to Cork East. James OConnor (FF) was elected to the constituency with 9,924 votes. All 4 seats have been filled in Cork-East Seats filled: 4 4:15pm: Two news faces elected to Cork East after remaining three seats filled Fine Gaels Noel McCarthy (9,561), Sinn Feins Pat Buckley (9,194) and the Social Democrats Liam Quaide (7,925) have been elected following the 12th count. The redistribution of the 322-vote surplus of James OConnor (FF) saw the final three seats of the constituency filled. Fine Gaels Mark Stanton (7,169), who was attempting to secure the long-held seat of his retiring father David, was the candidate to miss out. The result means outgoing TDs James OConnor and Pat Buckley have retained their seats. Noel McCarthys election has sees Fine Gael keep its spot while Liam Quaide will be the first Social Democrat to represent Cork East. 3:51pm: The results of the crucial upcoming count will not be declared for at least another half an hour, according to the returning officer at Mallow GAA Complex 3:50pm: Cllr Liam Quaide (SD) reveals his campaign suffered a serious setback due to illness Midleton councillor Liam Quaide is currently locked in a close fight with Fine Gael candidate Mark Stanton for the fourth seat in Cork East and anxiously awaiting the count of the surplus vote of James OConnor (FF), who became the first candidate elected to the constituency earlier today. Speaking to The Corkman before the results of the previous (eleventh) count, which saw him surpass Stanton and take a 200 vote lead courtesy of 781 transfers from Fermoy councillor William OLeary (Ind), Cllr Quaide said his election campaign had many serious setbacks. Chief amongst them was a period of illness he endured before the General Election was called. I was actually quite unwell for the most of October. And for a period of time I thought that would derail the whole campaign, Cllr Quaide revealed. But I just got back into it as the election was being called. I was completely out of action for three weeks. I had a kind of post-viral syndrome for another three weeks so I was back but I was operating at about 50pc capacity. It was a very difficult time. 3:05pm: Fine Gael councillor Noel McCarthy is in position to secure the second seat after receiving a massive haul of transfers in the eleventh count Cllr McCarthy received 2,184 transfers from the his eliminated Fermoy LEA colleague Cllr William OLeary. On his way to become the first Government TD from Fermoy for some time, Cllr McCarthy (9,173) is now 227 votes ahead of Pat Buckley (SF). Cllr Liam Quaide (SD) has 7,889 votes while Mark Stanton (FG) sits on 7,689. Counters are now redistributing the 322 surplus votes of the elected James OConnor to decide the makeup of the constituency. All 4 seats have been filled in Cork-East Election 2024 update from Political Reporter Tabitha Monahan 2pm: First Fermoy man to be elected as TD in over 30 years Cllr Noel McCarthy said he is delighted that he will become the first Fermoy man in 33 years to be elected to Dail Eireann, in anticipation of his election in the upcoming eleventh count. 1.15pm: Outgoing Fianna Fail TD elected to first seat in tenth count James OConnor (FF) was elected to the constituency with 9,924 votes. Four candidates are now vying for the remaining three seats, with the 6,643 votes of William OLeary (Ind) set to be redistributed. Pat Buckley (SF) 8,261 Cllr Noel McCarthy (FG) 7,216 Cllr Liam Quaide (SD) 7,108 Mark Stanton (FG) 7,169 11:30am: Fianna Fail candidate out of running in first big elimination while Soc Dems improve position FF would have hoped Cllr Deirdre OBrien could secure a seat alongside outgoing TD James OConnor, but that is now impossible. The Fermoy councillors 5,810 votes will be redistributed in the next count and where her votes go will prove pivotal. Cllr Liam Quaide looks more likely to secure the seat long-held by the retiring Sean Sherlock (Labour Party) as he now leads Fine Gael Cllr Noel McCarthy, a former Labour Party member, by 960 votes. He leads Mark Stanton (FG) by 81 votes. However, he will have to make it through the upcoming count, as Cllr OBriens transfers will likely favour Cllr McCarthy and Independent Cllr William OLeary, who like her hail from the north of the constituency, as well as FGs Mark Stanton. 10:30am: The eighth count saw most votes transferred from Aontus Mona Stromsoe to Pat Buckley (SF) and Cllr Liam Quaide (SD). Independent councillor Mary Linehan-Foley was eliminated, and her 4,526 votes will prove vital to this race. Here is how things stand this morning: Pat Buckley (SF) 7,187 Cllr Noel McCarthy (FG) 5790 Cllr Deirdre OBrien (FF) 5,568 James OConnor (FF) 6,322 Cllr William OLeary (Ind) 5,421 Cllr Liam Quaide (SD) 6,203 Mark Stanton (FG) 6,255 2.20am: Counting for Cork East has been suspended after the seventh count, which has seen Cllr Liam Quaide (SD) move over 200 votes ahead of Noel McCarthy (FG). Cllr Quaide received 673 transfers from Cliona OHalloran (GP) but may not fair so well from the candidates who will be eliminated in the coming counts. Mona Stromsoes (Aontu) vote of 2,1778 will be transferred when counting resumes later this morning. 1.40am: No huge change after sixth count, as Cllr Mary Linehan-Foley received the bulk of Kathryn Berminghams 1,067 transfers. One more count is expected in the early hours. 12:40am: Kathryn Bermingham eliminated in fifth count The Independent Ireland candidates 1,067 votes will be redistributed in the sixth count. SFs Pat Buckley (6,609) remains closest to achieving the quota of 9,502. Five in contention for Cork East following fourth count Pat Buckley (SF) 6,096 James OConnor (FF) 5,956 Mark Stanton (FG) 5,809 Cllr Noel McCarthy (FG) 5,450 Cllr Deirdre OBrien (FF) 5,301 The 739 votes of Medhi Ozcinar (SF) will be transferred in the fifth count. 11:05pm: Fianna Fail candidate Cllr Deirdre OBrien received the biggest share of transfers (93) from former Fermoy councillor Frank Roches 615 votes. The transfers have done little to change the state of the race, with SFs Pat Buckley, FFs James Buckley, FGs Mark Stanton and Cllr Noel McCarthy still in contention for the four-seater alongside Cllr OBrien. The 685 votes of Asch Ni Finn (PBP) will be redistributed in the next count. 10.15pm: Little change after second count declared for Cork East Pat Buckley remains most likely to be elected first in Cork East, while Frank Roche (Ind) has been eliminated. His 615 votes will be redistributed in the third count. 9.05pm: Fine Gael hopeful of winning two seats in Cork East constituency following first count Cllr Noel McCarthy is hopeful that Fine Gael will win two seats in the Cork East constituency. The two Fine Gael candidates Mark Stanton and Cllr McCarthy are well placed following the first count in the constituency. Mr Stanton received 5,740 votes, while Fermoy based councillor Noel McCarthy received 5,364 votes. I am delighted with the first count, said Cllr Noel McCarthy: I got over 5,300 votes. I am honoured to get it. I have given myself a fighting change. It is a great chance. I am very humbled. I want to thank the people of East Cork. I am sweating like everyone else now for transfers. Cllr McCarthy is hopeful his party will win two seats. I think we have a great chance of winning two seats. No-one gave us a chance before it. There is a long way to go. I hope I wont be eating my words later. Sitting Sinn Fein TD Pat Buckley received the most votes in Cork East on 5,901. There are four seats to be filled in the constituency. Sitting Fianna Fail TD James OConnor also appears well placed. Deputy OConnor received 5,891 votes. Cllr Deirdre OBrien (FF) on 5,196, Independent councillor William OLeary on 4,615 and Social Democrats councillor Liam Quaide on 4,791 are also in contention for the final seats. All 4 seats have been filled in Cork-East Election 2024 update from Political correspondent, Gabija Gataveckaite 6pm: The results of the first count for Cork East are set to be announced at approximately 6.30pm. 4.15pm: Complete tally shows seven-horse race in Cork East With all 127 boxes of votes sorted, outgoing TDs Pat Buckley (SF) and James OConnor (FF) are leading the way alongside Mark Stanton (FG) on 12pc each. Just behind on 11pc are Fermoy councillors Noel McCarthy (FG) and Deirdre OBrien. Liam Quaide (SD) and William OLeary (Ind) are each on 10pc and are still in with a shout. Despite an early lead, Independent councillor Mary Linehan-Foley has fallen behind (8pc). 3.40pm: Soc Dems Tally man is best dressed at Mallow Count Centre courtesy of custom dog shirt The best-dressed in Mallow count centre is most certainly Ken Curtin, who is donning a fantastic custom-made shirt emblazoned with the faces of his beloved pet dogs Toffee and Milo. Ken, a Social Democrats tally man from Cobh, told The Corkman that he had his shirt made through an online company. In a sea of sensible attire donned by those observing the three Cork County vote counts at Mallow GAA Complex, Ken has added some much-needed colour to the serious proceedings courtesy of his flamboyant top. Ken said he is hopeful that his partys Cork East candidate, councillor Liam Quaide, can secure one of the four Dail seats on offer. Tallies indicate that Cllr Quaide currently has around 11pc of the vote. The tally man said he is also happy with how the Social Democrats have done in the election nationally, and would support them going into Government if the conditions were right. A left alliance, consisting of the Soc Dems, Labour and the Greens, is also something that might appeal to Ken in the future. 3pm: Voter turnout was 57pc in Cork East Counting is taking place in Mallow GAA Complex after a lull in activity as counters ate their lunch. Beef stroganoff and chicken curry was on the menu RTE journos the only media to have a table reserved in dining room 12:50pm: Tallies portray close race in Cork East With most boxes opened, the race for the four seats of Cork East remains tight. Tallies suggest outgoing TD James OConnor (FF) is leading the way with 13pc of the vote while Pat Buckley (SF) and Mark Stanton (FG) each have 12pc. Councillor Mary Linehan-Foley (Ind), Deirdre OBrien (FF) and Liam Quaide (SD) each have 11pc. Noel McCarthy (FG) and William OLeary (Ind) are still in contention too, with each sitting on 9pc. 11:45am: Early tallies suggest Independent candidate strong in Cork East Independent candidate Mary Linehan-Foley could secure her first Dail seat as she is currently tallying on 13% in Cork East. Fermoy councillor Deirdre OBrien (FF) is looking even more likely to secure her first seat in Dublin, currently topping the tallies with 14%. The tallies indicate Outgoing TDs Pat Buckley (SF) and James OConnor (FF) are each on 11%. Noel McCarthy (10%) and William OLeary (9%) are posing a strong challenge in the constituency. Just over half the boxes have been opened. 10:30: The first count for Cork East is well underway The count has been underway since 9am at Mallow GAA Complex. With three counts taking place, there is a big crowd present at the state of the art facility. Seats filled: 5 6pm The youngest TD in the new Dail Eoghan Kenny of Labour has said that he feels privileged to have the opportunity to work on behalf of his constituents in Cork North Central. Mr Kenny, who is just 24-years-old, described the Labour Party as being alive and kicking following a successful weekend which has seen the election of 11 party TDs nationwide. He stressed that he was pleased to be able to bring a younger perspective to the Dail. It has been very evident that there is a real need for a new generation of politicians to tackle the issues that we are facing in housing, healthcare, childcare and many issues across the board. Being the youngest TD in Dail Eireann is a real privilege. Hopefully we will set the world alight in Dail Eireann with our 11 (Labour TDs) elected. It is a fantastic weekend for the Labour Party as well that we have 11 TDs elected. That is with Sean Sherlock and Brendan Howlin both hanging up their political boots. I am absolutely privileged and extremely honoured to get this mandate from the people of Cork North Central and in particular the people of my home town of Mallow who backed me here. Mr Kenny, who is a county councillor, works as a business and religion teacher at Mayfield Community School on the northside of Cork. A full recount was ordered in the constituency last night after just 35 votes separated the final candidates Councillor Kenny of Labour and outgoing TD Mick Barry. Mr Barry of People Before Profit/Solidarity withdrew his request for a recount shortly after 5pm today. 5PM Deputy Mick Barry of People Before Profit/Solidarity has withdrawn his request for a recount in Cork North Central. Cllr Eoghan Kenny (Labour) will take the fifth seat. 11.20am A full recount was ordered in the five seat Cork North Central constituency last night after just 35 votes separated the final candidates Councillor Eoghan Kenny of Labour and outgoing People Before Profit Solidarity TD Mick Barry. Counting of bundles is underway in Nemo Rangers with a full decision to be made at lunchtime on whether a full recount will take place to decide the fifth seat in the constituency. Mr Kenny was deemed elected with 7,461 votes on the 17th count shortly after 12.30am. However, with just 35 votes between Kenny and Mick Barry a full recount was launched. Deputy Barry said that they were keeping their options open at this point. We are going to start with a check of the bundles. If we are going to overhaul 35 votes, it is more likely to be on the basis of a bundle error rather than one here, one there. We are going to do the bundles but we will keep our options open after that. A full recount, if it goes ahead, could take up to three days as it involves the counting of 59,071 papers. 1am A RECOUNT has been ordered in the five seat Cork North Central constituency after just 35 votes separated the final two candidates. The fifth and final seat was going to Labour's Councillor Eoghan Kenny ahead of outgoing People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Mick Barry by a mere 35 votes - but after the two candidates had been separated by just one vote earlier in the count. The same count had seen two different candidates separated by just three votes for one earlier elimination. On the 17th count the distribution of the surplus from Independent Ireland's Councillor Ken O'Flynn had seen Councillor Kenny poised to win the final seat with a transfer of 68 votes bringing him to 7461. The outgoing PBP-Solidarity TD had received a transfer of 117 from Councillor O'Flynn, leaving him on a total of 7426 - just 35 ballots behind the Labour candidate for the final seat. The recount will begin at 10am on Monday. Mr Barry confirmed he had sought and was granted a recount. Cork North Central returning officer Martin Harvey is supervising his final general election after 32 years in the role. In his first general election in 1992, the same constituency had witnessed a lengthy recount after just a handful of votes separated Liam Burke of Fine Gael and Billy Kelleher of Fianna Fail for the fifth and final seat. The Fianna Fail and Fine Gael candidates were cousins. The other four seats in the constituency were won by Sinn Fein's Thomas Gould, Fianna Fail's Padraig O'Sullivan, Fine Gael's Colm Burke and Independent Ireland's Ken O'Flynn. Nemo Rangers GAA complex is serving as the count centre for both Cork North Central and Cork South Central. 10.40pm INDEPENDENT Ireland's Councillor Ken O'Flynn and Fine Gael's Junior Minister Colm Burke have been elected in Cork North Central. Both were elected after the 14th count. Councillor O'Flynn is the son of veteran former Fianna Fail TD Noel O'Flynn who held a seat in Cork North Central for 14 years before his retirement in 2011. Colm Burke The councillor - a former member of Fianna Fail - narrowly failed to win a seat in the 2020 General Election as an independent. Last June he delivered one of the biggest votes in the Local Government election as he was re-elected to Cork City Council. Mr Burke - a former Ireland South MEP - has successfully defended his Dail berth. The first two seats in Cork North Central were taken by outgoing TDs, Thomas Gould of Sinn Fein and Padraig O'Sullivan of Fianna Fail. Mick Barry (PBP) and Eoghan Kenny (Labour) are in a dogfight for the final seat with just 300 votes currently separating them. 7.30pm FIANNA Fail poll topper in Cork North Central, Padraig OSullivan, has been re-elected. The outgoing TD took the second seat after fellow outgoing TD Thomas Gould of Sinn Fein was elected marginally ahead of him on transfers. Ken O'Flynn He was elected on the twelfth count. Fianna Fail are also battling for the fifth and final seat with outgoing TD Colm Burke and Independent Irelands Councillor Ken OFlynn poised to take the third and fourth seats. The final seat will be determined by a nail biting battle between Fianna Fail, Labour and People Before Profit. 4.30pm Cork North Central is shaping up to prove a cliffhanger with just three votes now separating two candidates battling for the fifth and final seat - after three votes determined an earlier elimination involving two other candidates. Outgoing TD Mick Barry of People Before Profit-Solidarity is at 4,724 votes after the tenth count - just three votes behind Councillor Eoghan Kenny of Labour as both battle for the final seat in the five seat constituency. In an earlier count, three ballots determined the elimination of Councillor John Maher ahead of Sinn Fein's Councillor Joe Lynch. The order of final eliminations and candidate geography will now determine the destination of the final seat. Outgoing TD Thomas Gould of Sinn Fein was elected on the tenth count with outgoing Fianna Fail TD Padraig O'Sullivan set to be re-elected within an hour. Outgoing TD Colm Burke of Fine Gael will be re-elected while Councillor Ken O'Flynn of Independent Ireland, a son of veteran former Fianna Fail TD Noel O'Flynn, is also set to take a seat. Counting in Cork North Central is expected to continue into the early hours of Monday morning. 1pm Fianna Fails outgoing TD Padraig OSullivan is expected to be elected within the next two hours after he edged within 700 votes of the quota in Cork North Central by 1pm. Mr OSullivan topped the poll in Cork North Central where none of the five Dail seats have been filled as yet. The ninth count is now underway with the elimination of Labours Councillor John Maher who was just three votes behind Councillor Joe Lynch of Sinn Fein set to prove crucial. Councillor Maher is expected to transfer heavily to his Labour running mate, Councillor Eoghan Kenny who is now engaged in a tense five way battle for the fifth and final seat. Outgoing TDs Thomas Gould of Sinn Fein and Colm Burke of Fine Gael are all set to be returned to the 34th Dail. Independent Ireland challenger Councillor Ken OFlynn will take a seat after a strong first preference vote and heavy transfers from other independents and small parties. Councillor OFlynn got a massive transfer from Ireland Firsts Derek Blighe of 1,280 votes pushing him well ahead of Mr Burke. The quota in Cork North Central is 9,846. 9am Counting has resumed at the Nemo Rangers GAA complex for Cork North Central where officials expect the fifth and final seat not to be filled until the early hours of Monday morning. Poll-topper and outgoing Fianna Fail TD Padraig OSullivan is around 1,900 votes shy of the 9,846 quota and is expected to be elected by early afternoon. Sinn Feins outgoing TD Thomas Gould is also expected to be re-elected by early afternoon with outgoing Fine Gael TD Colm Burke also set to hold his Dail berth. Independent Ireland challenger Councillor Ken OFlynn the son of former Fianna Fail TD Noel O'Flynn will also be elected. However, the fifth and final seat is expected to prove a tense battle between Fianna Fails councillor Tony Fitzgerald (4,084), People Before Profits outgoing TD Mick Barry (3,494) , Labours Councillor Eoghan Kenny (3,329) and Councillor John Maher (2,687), as well as Fine Gaels Councillor Garret Kelleher (2,790) and Sinn Feins Councillor Joe Lynch (2,894). Analysts stressed that the order of eliminations will be critical to determining who wins the fifth and final seat. Read more Cork South Central General Election 2024 updates: Seamus McGrath takes second seat but three still to be filled 7.30pm OUTGOING Fianna Fail TD Padraig OSullivan topped the poll in Cork North Central, marginally ahead of outgoing Sinn Fein TD Thomas Gould, with both now set to be re-elected. Mr OSullivan polled 7,708 votes compared to Mr Goulds 7,399 with both men about 2,000 votes short of the 9,846 quota. Fine Gaels Junior Minister Colm Burke also looks set to be re-elected after he polled 5,736. Independent Ireland challenger Councillor Ken OFlynn who narrowly failed to get elected at the 2020 General Election is also certain to secure a Dail berth as he polled 5,733. However, the fifth and final seat is expected to prove a tight battle between Fianna Fails councillor Tony Fitzgerald (4,084), People Before Profits outgoing TD Mick Barry (3,494) , Labours Councillor Eoghan Kenny (3,329) and Councillor John Maher (2,687), as well as Fine Gaels Councillor Garret Kelleher (2,790) and Sinn Feins Councillor Joe Lynch (2,894). Social Democrat Susan Doyle appears to face an uphill battle to get into contention for the final seat at 2,255. Geography is expected to prove crucial in terms of the destination of late count transfers with Cork North Central having the towns of Ballincollig and Mallow added to the constituency. 5.45pm A five-way battle is looming for the fifth and final seat in Cork North Central as Fianna Fails outgoing TD Padraig OSullivan is set to top the poll. A first count for Cork North Central which reverts to a five seat constituency is expected at the Nemo Rangers GAA count centre around 6.30pm. Mr OSullivan will top the poll, marginally ahead of Sinn Feins outgoing TD Thomas Gould, as both are set to be over 1,000 votes short of the quota. Independent Irelands Councillor Ken OFlynn and Junior Minister Colm Burke for Fine Gael are both also well placed to win Dail berths. However, a tight battle is looming between Fianna Fails councillor Tony Fitzgerald, People Before Profits outgoing TD Mick Barry, Labours Councillor Eoghan Kenny and Councillor John Maher, as well as Fine Gaels Councillor Garret Kelleher and Sinn Feins Councillor Joe Lynch for the final seat. Tanaiste Micheal Martin admitted that geography will prove crucial in a constituency which has been massively expanded by the addition of the Cork towns of Ballincollig and Mallow. 2pm Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein, Fine Gael and Independent Ireland are poised to take the first four seats in Cork North Central with a tense battle between People Before Profit, Labour, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael for the fifth and final seat. The final tally in Cork North Central showed outgoing TD Padraig O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) set to top the poll at 13.2pc Fellow outgoing TD Thomas Gould (Sinn Fein) will also comfortably be re-elected at 12.6pc. Also likely to secure a Dail berth are Councillor Ken O'Flynn (Ind Ire) with a final tally of 9.82pc and outgoing TD Colm Burke (Fine Gael) at 9.77pc. However a tense battle is likely for the fifth and final seat with six candidates within striking distance of each other. Councillor Tony Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail) is on 7.04pc while outgoing TD Mick Barry (PBP-Sol) is on 6pc. A strong challenge is also being mounted by Councillor Eoghan Kenny (Labour) on 5.63pc and Councillor Joe Lynch (Sinn Fein) on 4.94pc, both of whom are from the two additions to Cork North Central, Mallow and Ballincollig. Fine Gael have not given up hopes of contesting the final seat if transfers are kind with Councillor Garret Kelleher (Fine Gael) on 4.79pc while Councillor John Maher (Labour) may also in contention on 4.54pc 11am: Early tallies indicate that Independent Irelands Councillor Ken OFlynn is poised to make a breakthrough in Cork North Central. The constituency is reverting back to a five seater and early tallies indicated a major battle for the fifth and final seat. Cork North Central dropped to a four seat constituency at the 2016 and 2020 general elections. However, early boxes have indicated a strong poll showing for Councillor OFlynn, the son of veteran former Fianna Fail TD Noel OFlynn, with 13pc of first preferences. Councillor OFlynn enjoyed one of the strongest electoral performances in the Local Government Election last June with a huge vote as he was re-elected to Cork City Council. It appears that he has repeated that electoral performance and is poised to win a seat. His vote has been particularly strong in Blackpool, Mayfield and The Glen. With one-third of the ballot boxes opened for Cork North Central, Sinn Fein's outgoing TD Thomas Gould is topping the poll. With 50 of the 160 boxes tallied, Mr Gould is on 16pc. He is followed by Fianna Fail's Padraig O'Sullivan on 14pc, Independent Ireland's Councillor Ken O'Flynn on 13pc and Fine Gael's outgoing TD Colm Burke on almost 9pc. All four look set to be comfortably elected. The fifth and final seat appears to be a battle between outgoing People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Mick Barry (8.6pc), Fianna Fail's Councillor Tony Fitzgerald (6.9pc) and Labour's Councillor John Maher (7.6pc). However, tallymen warned that predicting the fourth and fifth seats will be difficult given that the constituency has been expanded to include Ballincollig from Cork North West and Mallow from Cork East. Analysts warned that the Ballincollig and Mallow votes will be critical in determining the destination of the final two seats. Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein have adopted a specific geographic strategy in the constituency. Tallymen warned that a more accurate picture will be known around 11am when the majority of the constituency ballot boxes will be opened. Analysts are carefully watching transfers to determine whether left-wing candidates are supporting each other with outgoing People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Mick Barry expected to be vying with Labour and others to remain in the hunt for the fifth seat. For residents of megacities, commuting in the morning almost always turns into hours of waiting in traffic jams. Regardless of which country you live in, rush hour occurs in every city. ADVERTISIMENT OBOZREVATEL has collected photos of traffic jams in the most densely populated cities in the world. Sometimes crowds are not only on highways, but also in the subway and trains. In Beijing, there are traffic jams even on a road with 50 lanes. On the eve of the holidays, when the load on the transportation network in Bangladesh is particularly high, people try to leave the metropolis to celebrate the New Year with their families. Many people die in traffic jams in Mumbai. ADVERTISIMENT People can wait for a train in Sao Paulo for more than 3 hours. Cramped space, anxiety, fighting for a seat and just trying to survive on the way to work - a regular day in Brazil. People waiting for a minibus to get to Kampala city center in Uganda. The most unusual profession in the world is a train pusher. In the capital of Bangladesh, it takes 2-3 hours to drive a few kilometers. It's also impossible to move on foot, as pedestrians walk right along the road, where there is a lot of traffic. The result means that a candidate with the surname Creed name has not been elected to Cork North-West for only the second time ever All 120 boxes have been counted for Cork North-West. Fianna Fail's Aindrias Moynihan photographer with Fine Gael councillor for Macroom, Eileen Lynch, and supporters at the Mallow Count centre. The first count for Cork North-West is underway at Mallow GAA complex. Michael Moynihan is hauled into the air in celebration of retaining his seat. John Paul O'Shea celebrates winning the second seat in Cork North-West. Aindrias Moynihan celebrates winning the first seat in Cor North-West. Seats filled: 3 3:00am: Fianna Fail retains majority in Cork North-West The fifth count, declared in the early hours of Sunday morning, saw Fianna Fails Aindrias Moynihan (10,094) and Michael Moynihan (9,057) retain their seats while Fine Gael councillor John Paul OShea (9,351) secured his first Dail seat at the third attempt. Macroom councillor Michael Creed (8,692) was the man left on the outside, and this means that for the first time ever, a Fine Gael representative with the surname Creed will not represent Cork North-West. 1:30am: Sinn Fein transfers to decide traditional constituency of Cork North-West Following the distribution of Becky Kealys (Aontu) share, contenders Aindrias Moynihan (FF) has 9,020 votes, Cllr John Paul OShea (FG) has 8,451, Michael Moynihan (FF) sits on 8,321 and Cllr Michael Creed (FG) has 8,020. The transfer of Nicole Ryans (SF) sizeable 7,530 votes in the next count will be decisive. Cork North-West seats 12:15am: Fight for Cork North-West far from over following fourth count While it looks like Aindrias Moynihan will retain his seat, it does not look certain who will secure the final two seats. The fourth count saw John Paul OShea (FG) creep past outgoing TD Michael Moynihan (FF). Michael Creed (FG) also gained ground and now stands within 151 votes of Moynihan thanks to transfers from Ellen Barry (II) and Colette Finn (GP). The 4,054 votes of eliminated Becky Kealy will go along way in deciding the race in the next count. 10:50pm: Collette Finn (Green Party) and Ellen Barry (II) have been eliminated following the third count 10:15pm: Independent Ireland candidate benefits most from second count Ellen Barry (II) won 123 transfers in the second count courtesy of eliminated candidates John OLeary (Ind) and Walter Ryan-Purcell (Ind). The race remains the same however, with FF TDs Aindrias Moynihan and Michael Moynihan and FGs John Paul OShea best placed to secure a seat. Michael Creed remains in the race, over 300 votes down on Cllr OShea. The votes of Joe Moore (PBP) will be transferred in the third count. 9:15pm: Fianna Fail looking likely to retain majority in Cork North-West following first count Outgoing TD Aindrias Moynihan (FF) topped the poll with 8,047 first preferences while long-standing FF representative Michael Moynihan secured 7,678 votes. Kanturk councillor John Paul OShea (FG) looks likeliest to retain the seat evacuated by his party colleague Michael Creed after garnering 7,603 votes. Macroom councillor Michael Creed, who told The Corkman he does not expect to be elected ahead of the count, won 7,321 votes. SFs Nicole Ryan (5,452) and Aontus Becky Kealy (3,364) were the next best. 8.38pm: Fine Gael candidate expected to challenge for seat does not believe he will be elected to Cork North-West As the results of the first count are due to be declared, Fine Gael councillor Michael Creed told The Corkman that his tally team have informed him that he will be about 250 votes short of winning election. Unfortunately, if the tallies are correct, which I presume they are, I will not win a seat, Cllr Creed said. But I will be eternally grateful for the people who supported me and backed me. I always knew it was going to be an uphill battle with the way the constituency was and I told all my supporters numerous times that there would be two seats north and one seat south and thats how its going to pan out. Unfortunately Im the man that has lost out. The people have spoken, Im a democrat and I completely respect their wishes. Cllr Creed said he does not think transfers from eliminated candidates will benefit him, because they are largely based in the north of the constituency while he hails from the south. Read more Fine Gael candidate expected to challenge for Cork North-West believes he will fall short of election 5.55pm: The results of the first count for Cork North-West is due after 7pm. 3pm: Cork North-West voter turnout was 64pc 2.30pm: Counting of Cork County constituencies commencing in Mallow Counting is taking place in Mallow GAA Complex after a lull in activity as counters ate their lunch. Beef stroganoff and chicken curry was on the menu RTE journos the only media to have a table reserved in dining room. 1:15pm: Cork North-West too close to call after tally completed. The completed tally for Cork North-West indicates that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are once again locked in battle to secure a majority in the constituency. Outgoing Aindrias Moynihan (FF) is in the lead with close to 18.85pc of the vote while his party colleague Michael Moynihan, also outgoing, has edged just ahead of the Fine Gael contingent with 17.67pc. John Paul OShea (FG) is just behind on 17.56pc while his running mate Michael Creed sits on 16.9pc. Transfers will prove vital in this race. 11:20: Early tallies suggest change on the cards in Cork North-West The latest tally figures indicate that Fine Gael could secure an additional seat in Cork North-West, reducing Fianna Fail to a single seat Outgoing FF TD Aindrias Moynihan is leading the charge with 22% of the vote but FGs Michael Creed, cousin of the outgoing TD Michael Creed, and his running mate John Paul OShea each have in excess of 18%. Given Fine Gaels early strength, long-time FF TD Michael Moynihan (13%) could be under pressure. There was an expectation that Aontus Becky Kealy (7%) would be the best of the rest but SFs Nicole Ryan is currently outpacing her on 13%. 10:15am: Counting well underway at Mallow GAA Complex Counting the Cork-North West vote has been underway for over an hour at Mallow GAA Complex, where all three counts for Cork County are taking place. Tally figures to follow soon. Micheal Martin comfortably topped poll on SaturdaySeamus McGrath, brother of European Commissioner, Michael, is electedTallies indicate two seats for FF, while FG and SF set to take seat one each Counting continues in the Cork North Central and South Central at Nemo Rangers Gaa club for the General election 2024 Pic:Mark Condren 30.11.2024 Counting continues in the Cork North Central and South Central at Nemo Rangers Gaa club for the General election 2024 Pic:Mark Condren 30.11.2024 Tanaiste Micheal Martin to the Cork North Central and South Central count centre at Nemo Rangers Gaa club for the General election 2024 Pic:Mark Condren 30.11.2024 Counting continues in the Cork North Central and South Central at Nemo Rangers Gaa club for the General election 2024 Pic:Mark Condren 30.11.2024 Tanaiste Micheal Martin celebrates as he is elected to Dail in first count (REUTERS/Damien Eagers) Fianna Fail's Councillor Seamus McGrath has been elected in Cork South Central on the tenth count Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin did not make the same mistakes as Simon Harris on the campaign trail. Picture by Damien Eagers Tanaiste Micheal Martin to the Cork North Central and South Central count centre at Nemo Rangers Gaa club for the General election 2024 Pic:Mark Condren 30.11.2024 Seats filled: 3 7:45pm Outgoing Sinn Fein TD Donnchadh O Laoghaire was elected on the 16th count in Cork South Central. Padraig Rice He takes the third seat after Tanaiste Michael Martin was elected on the first count on Saturday and his running mate Councillor Seamus McGrath was elected on Sunday morning. There are still two seats still to be filled with Padraig Rice and Jerry Buttimer poised to take them, but transfers will tell the tale. Jerry Buttimer 1.05pm Fianna Fail's Councillor Seamus McGrath has been elected in Cork South Central on the tenth count, successfully defending the Dail berth previously held by his younger brother, EU Commissioner Michael McGrath. Michael McGrath, a former Finance Minister, retired from the Dail after being appointed to his Brussels role - with his brother, a longtime political supporter, being selected as a running-mate for Tanaiste Micheal Martin. He becomes the second person to be elected in Cork South Central, Councillor McGrath garnered 7,794 first preference votes with the Cork South Central quota at 10,451. He was elected having reached 10,758 on transfers. Cork-South Central's 5 TDs Tanaiste Micheal Martin: There is a clear route back to government 9am Counting has resumed in Cork South Central at the Nemo Rangers GAA complex with officials increasingly hopeful that all five seats can be filled by midnight. Only Tanaiste Micheal Martin has been elected so far but his running mate, Councillor Seamus McGrath, is expected to reach the 10,451 quota by mid afternoon. Fianna Fail will retain their two seats in Cork South Central while Sinn Feins outgoing TD Donnchadh will also be elected. A tight battle is underway within Fine Gael to secure the Dail berth vacated by former Tanaiste Simon Coveney with Senator Jerry Buttimer having a critical edge over Councillor Shane OCallaghan. The fifth seat is expected to be taken by Social Democrats surprisingly strong challenger, Councillor Padraig Rice. 7.00pm Cork South-Central Count 1: Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has been re-elected by a margin on the first count in the five-seat Cork South-Central constituency with 14,526 first preference votes The Tanaiste secured a massive 23pc first preference vote. He celebrated with his family as he was hoisted into the air by his sons Cillian and Micheal Aodh after topping the poll. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin did not make the same mistakes as Simon Harris on the campaign trail. Picture by Damien Eagers Mr Martin was elected with a massive first preference vote of 14,526 ballots - almost one-of-four of all votes cast in the sprawling southside constituency. Tanaiste Micheal Martin celebrates as he is elected to Dail in first count (REUTERS/Damien Eagers) The Tanaiste has been returned at every election in Cork South Central since 1989. His surplus of over 4,000 votes will now be counted and distributed - with Mr Martin's running mate, Councillor Seamus McGrath, the older brother of Ireland's new EU Commissioner Michael McGrath, also set to take a seat for Fianna Fail, being just 2,700 votes short of the quota. The remaining seats are tipped to be filled by Sinn Fein's outgoing TD Donnchadh O'Laoghaire (6,947) and either Fine Gael's Sen Jerry Buttimer (4407) or Councillor Shane O'Callaghan (3,664). Social Democrat's surprisingly strong challenger Councillor Padraig Rice (5,368) has an edge over rivals including Labour's Councillor Laura Harmon (3,005) and Independent Mick Finn (3,582) in the battle for the final seat. 5.45pm Tanaiste Micheal Martin arrived at the Cork South Central count centre at Nemo Rangers GAA club to cheers as he will be elected on the first count. The first count which is due around 6.30pm will see the former Taoiseach returned to the Dail after he was successful at every election he contested since 1989. He secured a whopping first preference vote of 23pc almost one-in-four of every first preference vote cast in the sprawling Cork constituency. His surplus is set to guarantee the election of his running-mate, Councillor Seamus McGrath, the older brother of Irelands new EU Commissioner Michael McGrath. Cork South Central is set to return two Fianna Fail TDs, one Fine Gael TD and outgoing Sinn Fein TD Donnchadh OLaoghaire. Social Democrats Councillor Padraig Rice has also polled very well and has an advantage over rivals from the Labour Party and Independents. Counting continues in the Cork North Central and South Central at Nemo Rangers Gaa club for the General election 2024 Pic:Mark Condren 30.11.2024 1pm: Tanaiste Micheal Martin is poised to be elected on the first count after a strong performance in Cork South Central. With 90pc of boxes tallied, the former Taoiseach is at 23pc, almost 11pc ahead of his nearest challenger. With the first count expected at the Nemo Rangers GAA complex around 6pm where both Cork South Central and Cork North Central are being counted, Mr Martin will be elected on the first count. Outgoing Sinn Fein TD Donnchadh OLaoghaire is a 11.6pc and is also poised to hold his Dail berth. The Tanaistes running mate, Councillor Seamus McGrath, a brother for former Finance Minister and current EU Commissioner Michael McGrath, is at just over 10pc. Fine Gaels Senator Jerry Buttimer is at 7.9pc, critically ahead of his running mate Councillor Shane OCallaghan (5.8pc). The surprise challenger has been Social Democrats Councillor Padraig Rice who was tallied at 8.7pc which puts him firmly in contention for a seat. Independent challenger and former Lord Mayor of Cork Mick Finn is on 6.4pc and Labours Councillor Laura Harmon is on 5.1pc. Tanaiste Micheal Martin to the Cork North Central and South Central count centre at Nemo Rangers Gaa club for the General election 2024 Pic:Mark Condren 30.11.2024 11am: Tanaiste Micheal Martin looks set to top the poll in Cork South Central with one third of the ballot boxes tallied. Mr Martin - a TD for 25 years and a former Taoiseach - is at 24pc of first preference votes from the city centre boxes tallied so far. His running mate, Councillor Seamus McGrath, is on 17pc though boxes from his Cork harbour heartland have yet to be analysed. Senator Jerry Buttimer is on 6.8pc, critically ahead of his running mates Councillor Shane O'Callaghan on 4.2pc and Una McCarthy on 4.4pc. Sinn Fein's outgoing TD Donnchach O'Laoghaire has been tallied at 9.2pc and should comfortably be re-elected. The battle for the fifth and final seat appears to be a complex battle between Fine Gael, Labour's Councillor Laura Harmon (4.3pc) and Social Democrats Padraig Rice (8.2pc). Green Party challenger Dr Monika Oikeh has been tallied at 4.2pc. Tallymen indicated that the Social Democrat candidate is polling very well across both urban and rural ballot boxes and has a good chance of taking a seat, depending on transfers. Former Cork South Central TD and incoming EU Commissioner Michael McGrath warned that caution is needed over reading too much into the General Election 2024 exit poll. "Everything is still to play for - I certainly would urge caution over reading too much into the exit poll," he said as he arrived at the Nemo Rangers GAA count centre for both Cork North Central and Cork South Central. Early tallies have indicated Fianna Fail is likely to take two seats in CSC with Fine Gael and Sinn Fein each likely to take one seat and a battle royal looming over the destination of the fifth and final seat. Mr McGrath stepped down as a Fianna Fail TD for Cork South Central after securing his Brussels post having served as Finance Minister in the former three-party Coalition Government. Counting continues in the Cork North Central and South Central at Nemo Rangers Gaa club for the General election 2024 Pic:Mark Condren 30.11.2024 His brother, Seamus, is now seeking to defend his brother's old Dail seat as Cork South Central reverts to a five seat constituency. "I am here today in a different capacity. It is the first time in a long time that I have not been on the ballot paper. "I am here today to do for my brother what he has done for me (tallies) over many elections." Councillor McGrath is strongly tipped to take a seat in Cork South Central alongside party leader and former Taoiseach Micheal Martin. Mr McGrath said that it was far too early to read into how the General Election will transpire in terms of seat numbers nationally and possible Coalition structures. However, he noted that it was apparent there were strong transfers between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail candidates - and this could prove critical in determining the destination of the fourth and fifth seats in many constituencies. Counting continues in the Cork North Central and South Central at Nemo Rangers Gaa club for the General election 2024 Pic:Mark Condren 30.11.2024 Fianna Fail officials have also warned that polls traditionally underestimate the strength of the party - and its renowned "ground game" is being able to utilise late count transfers to win late seats in both urban and rural constituencies. "I think that was inevitable given that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have been in Government together for the past four years." Mr McGrath said that Irish democracy remains strong given the turnout despite the appalling weather conditions on Friday/ "I think it is very important we appreciate just how fortunate we are with Irish democracy and that we have free and fair elections here unlike other parts of the world." Mr McGrath also said it was noteworthy how many independent and non-party candidates were competing - and could be in with a chance of getting elected. But he warned it was vital that any incoming Government have a working majority. "I think having a significant majority will be very important for them," he said. Seats filled: 3 4.45am: Christopher OSullivan elected on eleventh count Fianna Fail TD Christopher OSullivan retained his seat in the Cork South West constituency after he was elected on the eleventh count. Deputy OSullivan who was first elected to Dail Eireann in 2020 secured his seat in convincing fashion following a very strong vote. Deputy OSullivan received 9,115 first preference votes. He ultimately finished with 11,959 votes. His nearest challenger Cllr Noel ODonovan finished up with 9,856 votes. Mr OSullivan joins Michael Collins and Holly Cairns in reclaiming their seats in Cork South West. 3.25am: Holly Cairns elected on tenth count Social Democrats party leader Holly Cairns retained her seat in the Cork South West constituency after she was elected on the tenth count. Deputy Cairns who gave birth to a baby girl on polling day secured the second seat in the constituency. Deputy Cairns who was first elected to Dail Eireann in 2020 secured her seat in convincing fashion following a very strong vote. The Social Democrats party leader initially secured 9,421 first preference votes. She proved very transfer friendly and was finally elected with 11,962 votes. Ms Cairns joins Michael Collins in reclaiming their seats in Cork South West. Sitting Fianna Fail TD Christopher OSullivan is also expected to retain his seat. He holds a commanding lead over Fine Gael duo Cllr Noel ODonovan and Senator Tim Lombard. 2.20am: Michael Collins elected on eighth count Independent Ireland party leader Michael Collins retained his seat in the Cork South West constituency after he was elected on the eighth count. Deputy Collins received 574 transfers from Sinn Fein candidate Clare OCallaghan which enabled him to exceed the quota. Mr Collins who was first elected to Dail Eireann in 2016 initially received 11,002 first preference votes was thrilled to get re-elected. I am delighted to top the poll. It is a great achievement for Independent Ireland which is hugely important. Deputy Collins said he will talk to all party leaders after all the seats are filled. We will certainly be talking to every party going forward that wants to talk to us. They will want to have a strong and deep look at our policies. Our policies are going to make changes for the people of this country. This country has money but it is appalling the way it is being spent. There are four candidates battling for the final two seats. Social Democrats party leader Holly Cairns and sitting Fianna Fail TD Christopher OSullivan appear well placed to secure the final two seats. 9.40pm: Michael Collins tops poll after first count Independent Ireland party leader Michael Collins heads the poll after the first count in Cork South West. Deputy Collins received 11,002 votes which is 800 votes short of the quota. Social Democrats party leader Holly Cairns looks certain to retain her seat. Deputy Cairns received 9,421 votes. Sitting Fianna Fail TD Christopher OSullivan also seems well placed to retain his seat. Deputy OSullivan received 9,115 first preference votes. The next two candidates in the hunt are Fine Gael duo Cllr Noel ODonovan with 6,122 votes and Senator Tim Lombard on 5,003 votes. Long serving Independent councillor Alan Coleman secured 2,191 votes, while Sinn Fein candidate Clare OCallaghan got 1,448 votes. Sinn Fein ran two candidates in Cork South West and their second candidate Donnchadh O Seaghdha received 835 votes. Mairead Ruane (Aontu) received 707 votes, Evie Nevin (Labour Party) got 436 votes, Zoe Laplaud (People Before Profit/Solidarity) received 349 votes, Deborah ODriscoll (The Irish People) with 287 votes, while Independent candidate John OLeary received 29 votes. 5.15pm: Michael Collins and Holly Cairns well placed to retain seats Independent Ireland party leader Michael Collins is on course to retain his seat and top the poll in the Cork South West constituency. After the completion of the final tally, Deputy Collins had 23.5% of the vote. Social Party Democrats party leader Holly Cairns who gave birth to a baby girl on polling day is well poised to retain her seat after she secured 20%. Fianna Fail TD Christopher OSullivan is also well placed to retain his seat after he secured 19.2%. Fine Gael duo Cllr Noel ODonovan and Senator Tim Lombard are the closest challengers on 13.1% and 9.8% respectively. 1.50pm: Tallies showing Michael Collins and Holly Cairns polling very well in Cork South West The tallying of votes is nearly completed in the Cork South West constituency. The tallies are indicating that Independent Ireland party leader Michael Collins and Social Democrats party leader Holly Cairns are polling very well throughout the constituency and they are heavily expected to retain their seats. It is also anticipated that the last seat will be won by Fianna Fail TD Christopher OSullivan who has polled very well. With 97% of the boxes tallied in Cork South West, Deputy Collins is currently on 24.5%, with 10,720 votes. Deputy Cairns is on 20% of the first preference votes with 9,139 votes. Sitting Fianna Fail TD Christopher OSullivan is on 19.2% with 8,739 votes. Cllr Noel ODonovan (Fine Gael)is on 13.1% with 5,979 votes. His party colleague Senator Tim Lombard is on 9.8% with 4,459 votes. 11.45am: Tallies showing Michael Collins and Holly Cairns polling very well in Cork South West The tallying of votes is well under way in the Cork South West constituency. Early tallies are indicating that Independent Ireland party leader Michael Collins and Social Democrats party leader Holly Cairns are polling very well throughout the constituency. With 70% of the boxes tallied in Cork South West, Deputy Collins is on 24.5%, while Deputy Cairns is on 20.3% of the first preference votes. Sitting Fianna Fail TD Christopher OSullivan is on 19.1%. Cllr Noel ODonovan (Fine Gael) who is expected to be in contention for the final seat is on 12.5%. His party colleague Senator Tim Lombard is currently on 9.4%. 10.55am: Michael Collins and Holly Cairns polling well in Cork South West Counting has commenced for the Cork South-West constituency in Mallow. Early tallies are forecasting that Independent Ireland party leader Michael Collins has polled well across the constituency. It is widely expected that Deputy Michael Collins will claim the first seat. It is anticipated that the battle for the final two seats will be closely contested between four candidates. They include Fianna Fail TD Christopher OSullivan, Social Democrats party leader Holly Cairns, Fine Gael duo Senator Tim Lombard and Cllr Noel ODonovan. Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns TD and her partner Barry Looney welcomed a baby girl on the same day that the country went to the polls. Early tallies from throughout the constituency are indicating that Deputy Cairns is polling very well. Sorting is underway in Co Donegal. Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher at the Count Centre Padraig MacLochainn celebrates as he is elected on the second count. Day two is underway in Donegal. Pearse Doherty celebrates as he is elected on the first count. Kim McMenamin has been eliminated from the count. Mary T Sweeney on the phone to party colleagues. Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher with family and supporters have arrived in the count centre ahead of his election. All five seats in the Donegal constituency have been filled Seats filled: 5 2am: and thats the end! Charles Ward of the 100% Redress Party and Fianna Fail Minister Charlie McConalogue have been elected in Donegal. Charles Ward (11,714) was elected to the fourth seat while Charlie McConalogue (11,683) took the fifth seat. Both were elected without reaching the quota of 12,771. Outgoing TD Thomas Pringle failed to retain his seat. Following his defeat, he said it has been a pleasure to represent the people of Donegal. All five seats have now been filled and the election has concluded. Charlie McConalogue celebrates his election. 12.30am: Pat The Cope Gallagher elected to third seat in Donegal Pat The Cope Gallagher has been elected on count 15 in Donegal. The Fianna Fail political veteran said his return to the Dail is a major achievement for him and his team, Team Cope. He was elected with 13,660 votes, after receiving 1,350 transfers from Fine Gaels Nikki Bradley. His surplus is now being transferred with Charlie McConalogue and Charles Ward set to be elected on the next count. Outgoing TD Thomas Pringle is set to lose out on his seat. Pat The Cope Gallagher (FF) 13,660 Charlie McConalogue (FF) 11,019 Thomas Pringle (NP) 10,255 Charles Ward (100% Redress) 11,629 Pat 'The Cope' ahead of his election. 11.15pm: Thomas Pringle jumps ahead of McConalogue but lead expected to be short lived Independent candidate Thomas Pringle has jumped ahead of Charlie McConalogue thanks to Noel Jordans transfers. Outgoing TD Pringle has been behind on the race for the fifth seat until the fourteenth count when he received 2,147 transfers, leaving him 341 votes ahead of McConalogue (9,172). However, Pringles lead is expected to be short lived as Fine Gael candidate Nikki Bradleys 6,176 votes are now being distributed and will be transfer friendly to Charlie McConalogue, pushing him into the fifth seat. Pat The Cope Gallagher (12,310) and Charles Ward (10,855) are expected to be elected at the next count. Nikki Bradley (FG) 6,176 Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) 12,310 Charlie McConalogue (FF) 9,127 Thomas Pringle (NP) 9,513 Charles Ward (100% Redress) 10,855 10pm: Sinn Feins Noel Jordan eliminated on the thirteenth count. Sinn Feins third candidate Noel Jordan has been eliminated on count 13. No candidates have been elected since Sinn Feins Pearse Doherty and Padraig MacLochliann on the first and second count. Mr Jordans votes will now be distributed. Nikki Bradley (FG) 6,001 Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) 11,751 Noel Jordan (SF) 5,513 Charlie McConalogue (FF) 9,029 Thomas Pringle (NP) 7,366 Charles Ward (100% Redress) 9,909 Charles Ward chatting with supporters. 8pm: Transfers from Mary T Sweeney sees Charles Ward overtake Charlie McConalogue as the battle for the fourth seat heats up. In the twelfth seat, Charles Ward was gifted 1,318 votes, taking his vote to 9,784 and leaving him in the lead for the fourth seat in Donegal. Fianna Fails Charlie McConalogue is now behind Ward for the first time in the race with 8,771 votes. The fifth seat is set to be a tight race between McConalogue and Independent Thomas Pringle. Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher with family and supporters have arrived in the count centre ahead of his election. Pat The Cope Gallagher will take the third seat. He recently arrived in the count centre. Fine Gaels John McNulty was eliminated and his votes are now being distributed. Nikki Bradley (FG) 4,280 Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) 11,294 Noel Jordan (SF) 5,339 Charlie McConalogue (FF) 8,771 John McNulty (FG) 3,434 Thomas Pringle (NP) 6,795 Charles Ward (100% Redress) 9,784 Pat 'The Cope' Gallgher speaks to Lisa Hone of MAG. 7.30pm: Mary T Sweeney has sought a recheck of Niall McConnells votes. The request has been prompted by the fact that there is only three votes between Ms Sweeney and Fine Gaels John McNulty. Ms Sweeney was eliminated on the eleventh count and her vote is still being distributed. She is currently speaking with Aontu colleagues about her next course of action. No official decision has been made. 6.30pm: Mary T Sweeney eliminated as 100% Redress make further gains Count 11 in the Donegal count and still just two TDs elected. Aontus Mary T Sweeney has been eliminated after receiving 3,376 votes. It was a close call as there was just three votes between Ms Sweeney and Fine Gaels John McNulty (3,379). Mary Ts votes are now being distributed. Nikki Bradley (FG) 4,134 Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) 10,922 Noel Jordan (SF) 5,155 Charlie McConalogue (FF) 8,531 John McNulty (FG) 3,379 Thomas Pringle (NP) 6,457 Mary T. Sweeney (Aontu) 3,376 Charles Ward (100% Redress) 8,466 Mary T Sweeney on the phone to party colleagues. 5.45pm: Gap narrowing between Charles Ward and Charlie McConalogue Count ten sees Castlefinn man Niall McConnell eliminated. His 2,156 votes are being distributed. With the help of the transfers, 100% Redress party candidate Charles Ward has closed the gap between himself and former Minister Charlie McConalogue to 602 votes. Still three seats to be filled here. Nikki Bradley (FG) 4,080 Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) 10,798 Noel Jordan (SF) 5,013 Charlie McConalogue (FF) 8,470 Niall McConnell (NP) 2,185 John McNulty (FG) 3,349 Thomas Pringle (NP) 6,179 Mary T. Sweeney (Aontu) 2,883 Charles Ward (100% Redress) 7,868 Thomas Pringle deep in conversation at the count centre. 4.45pm: Two candidates eliminated Count nine sees Naula Carr (Green Party) and Carol Gallagher (People before Profit) eliminated from the process. Their votes are currently being distributed as the fight continues for three seats. Ahead of the tenth count, Pat The Cope Gallagher is edging closer to the quota and claiming a seat. The fourth and fifth seat remain tight in Donegal with former Minister Charlie McConalogue, former Deputy Thomas Pringle and 100% Redress Party candidate Charles Ward all in contention. Nikki Bradley (FG) 3,830 Nuala Carr (Green) 931 Carol Gallagher (PBP) 707 Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) 10,680 Noel Jordan (SF) 4,733 Charlie McConalogue (FF) 8,338 Niall McConnell (NP) 2,156 John McNulty (FG) 3,306 Thomas Pringle (NP) 5,825 Mary T. Sweeney (Aontu) 2,808 Charles Ward (100% Redress) 7,632 3.45pm: Kim McMenamin eliminated on eighth count Still three seats up for grabs in Donegal as no candidate elected on the eighth count. Kim McMenamin of the The Irish People party was eliminated and his 621 votes will now be distributed. Nikki Bradley (FG) 3,823 Nuala Carr (Green) 930 Carol Gallagher (PBP) 699 Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) 10,675 Noel Jordan (SF) 4,709 Charlie McConalogue (FF) 8,315 Niall McConnell (NP) 1,910 Kim McMenamin (TIP) 621 John McNulty (FG) 3,302 Thomas Pringle (NP) 5,798 Mary T. Sweeney (Aontu) 2,685 Charles Ward (100% Redress) 7,522 3pm: Eamon McGee eliminated as no further candidate elected on count 7 Eamon McGee of the Irish Freedom Party has been eliminated on count seven in Donegal. His votes will now be distributed. No candidate was elected. Nikki Bradley (FG) 3,818 Nuala Carr (Green) 930 Carol Gallagher (PBP) 692 Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) 10,667 Noel Jordan (SF) 4,695 Charlie McConalogue (FF) 8,310 Niall McConnell (NP) 1,751 Eamon McGee (IFP) 422 Kim McMenamin (TIP) 554 John McNulty (FG) 3,297 Thomas Pringle (NP) 5,776 Mary T. Sweeney (Aontu) 2,637 Charles Ward (100% Redress) 7,469 Mica Redress Party supporters crunching numbers while waiting on count results. 2pm: The wait continues No candidate has been elected in Donegal on the sixth count, following the distribution of Frank ODonnells 370 votes. Independent candidate Gerry McKeever has been eliminated and his votes will now be distributed. Nikki Bradley (FG) 3,782 Nuala Carr (Green) 917 Carol Gallagher (PBP) 691 Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) 10,636 Noel Jordan (SF) 4,673 Charlie McConalogue (FF) 8,261 Niall McConnell (NP) 1,728 Eamon McGee (IFP) 417 Gerry McKeever (NP) 378 Kim McMenamin (TIP) 550 John McNulty (FG) 3,293 Thomas Pringle (NP) 5,740 Mary T. Sweeney (Aontu) 2,589 Charles Ward (100% Redress) 7,378 1.30pm: The counts are coming fast in Co Donegal now, but the elections are slow. No candidate was elected on the fifth count after Claudia Kennedys votes were distributed. Independent Candidate Frank ODonnell was eliminated. His votes will now be distributed. Nikki Bradley (FG) 3,761 Nuala Carr (Green) 913 Carol Gallagher (PBP) 688 Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) 10,604 Noel Jordan (SF) 4,638 Charlie McConalogue (FF) 8,233 Niall McConnell (NP) 1,708 Eamon McGee (IFP) 409 Gerry McKeever (NP) 359 Kim McMenamin (TIP) 547 John McNulty (FG) 3,293 Frank O'Donnell (NP) 337 Thomas Pringle (NP) 5,708 Mary T. Sweeney (Aontu) 2,561 Charles Ward (100% Redress) 7,300 Team Cope has arrived in the count centre. 12.40pm: No candidates elected on count four in Donegal. Fianna Fails Claudia Kennedy has been eliminated. Fourth Vote: Nikki Bradley (FG) 3,729 Nuala Carr (Green) 905 Carol Gallagher (PBP) 684 Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) 10,528 Noel Jordan (SF) 4,623 Claudia Kennedy (FF) 292 Charlie McConalogue (FF) 8,149 Niall McConnell (NP) 1,705 Eamon McGee (IFP) 408 Gerry McKeever (NP) 359 Kim McMenamin (TIP) 545 John McNulty (FG) 3,283 Frank O'Donnell (NP) 336 Thomas Pringle (NP) 5,693 Mary T. Sweeney (Aontu) 2,550 Charles Ward (100% Redress) 7,283 Fianna Fails Claudia Kennedys votes will now be distributed. 11.45am No candidate was elected on the third count in Donegal. Vincent J Bradley (NP) and Arthur Desmond McGuinness (NP) were eliminated. Count three: Vincent J Bradley (NP) 116 Nikki Bradley (FG) 3,722 Nuala Carr (Green) 904 Pearse Doherty (SF)* Carol Gallagher (PBP) 674 Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) 10,517 Noel Jordan (SF) 4,620 Claudia Kennedy (FF) 291 Padraig Mac Lochlainn (SF)* Charlie McConalogue (FF) 8,137 Niall McConnell (NP) 1,667 Eamon McGee (IFP) 400 Arthur Desmond McGuinness (NP) 35 Gerry McKeever (NP) 355 Kim McMenamin (TIP) 544 John McNulty (FG) 3,277 Frank O'Donnell (NP) 330 Thomas Pringle (NP) 5,691 Mary T. Sweeney (Aontu) 2,534 Charles Ward (100% Redress) 7,268 Arthur Desmond McGuinness and Vincent Bradleys votes will now be distributed. 11.30am: Fate of 100% Redress Party candidate Charles Ward depending on transfers 100% Redress Party candidate Charles Ward is in for a tense wait at the Aura Leisure Centre. His fate and the fate of his new party will come down to transfers. As things stands, Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) is now sitting with 10,504 votes, while Charlie McConalogue (FF) has 8,127 and remains in line for the fourth seat. Charles Ward (100% Redress) has 7,236 votes and is in the running for the fifth seat but Thomas Pringle is closely behind with 5,664 votes. Mr Ward has arrived in the count centre for day two of the count and is anxiously waiting on the results. It is all about transfers. We have to keep at it and hopefully the transfers will be favourable. This is the end stages where we try to make history and take the fight to Dublin. There are 10,000 families affected it is an humanitarian crisis and we had no choice but to run. Our voice is not getting heard in Dublin, said Mr Ward. Sunday, 10.30am: Counting underway in day two of the count Counting is underway at the Donegal Count Centre with three seats still to be filled. Pat The Cope Gallagher is expected to be elected to the third seat, while it is all to play for with former Fianna Fail Minister Charlie McConalogue, outgoing TD Thomas Pringle and 100% Redress Partys Charles Ward vying for the final two seats. 2am: Double celebrations for Sinn Fein in Donegal as Padraig MacLochlainn elected on count two Padraig MacLochlainn has been elected on the second count in Donegal. The Sinn Fein TD received 9,799 first preference votes before Pearse Dohertys surplus votes were distributed. He received 3,296 of Dohertys surplus votes and he was pushed over the line to retain his seat. Doherty topped the poll in the county with 18,898 first preferences, greatly exceeding the quota of 12,771 by more than 6,000 votes. Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) is now sitting with 10,504 votes, while Charlie McConalogue (FF) has 8,127 and remains in line for the fourth seat. Charles Ward (100% Redress) has 7,236 votes and is in the running for the fifth seat but Thomas Pringle is closely behind with 5,664 votes. The count has now been adjourned to the morning and will resume at 10am with the distribution of MacLochlainns surplus. Count 2: Vincent J Bradley (NP) 116 Nikki Bradley (FG) 3,719 Nuala Carr (Green) 903 Pearse Doherty (SF) Carol Gallagher (PBP) 669 Pat 'the Cope'Gallagher (FF) 10,504 Noel Jordan (SF) 4,405 Claudia Kennedy (FF) 290 Padraig Mac Lochlainn (SF) 13,095 Charlie McConalogue (FF) 8,127 Niall McConnell (NP) 1,661 Eamon McGee (IFP) 399 Arthur Desmond McGuinness (NP) 35 Gerry McKeever (NP) 354 Kim McMenamin (TIP) 542 John McNulty (FG) 3,276 Frank O'Donnell (NP) 328 Thomas Pringle (NP) 5,664 Mary T. Sweeney (Aontu) 2,530 Charles Ward (100% Redress) 7,236 Padraig MacLochainn and Pearse Doherty celebrate. 11.30pm: Sinn Feins Pearse Doherty elected on first count. After a long evening, celebrations are underway in Letterkenny as Sinn Feins Pearse Doherty has been elected on the first count. Pearse Doherty topped the poll in the county with 18,898 first preferences, greatly exceeding the quota of 12,771 by more than 6,000 votes. Doherty is followed by Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) with 10,024 votes and Padraig MacLochlainn is in the running for a second Sinn Fein seat with 9,799 votes. Former Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue is in fourth position with 8,019 votes while the fifth seat will be hotly contested by Charles Ward of 100% Redress (6,862) and outgoing Independent TD Thomas Pringle (5,289). Dohertys surplus votes are now being distributed. Costituency: Donegal Count: 1 Electorate: 131,306 Total Poll: 77,321 Spoiled: 697 Valid Poll: 76,624 Quota: 12,771 Vincent J Bradley (NP) 111 Nikki Bradley (FG) 3,658 Nuala Carr (Green) 880 Pearse Doherty (SF) 18,898 Carol Gallagher (PBP) 606 Pat 'the Cope'Gallagher (FF) 10,024 Noel Jordan (SF) 3,321 Claudia Kennedy (FF) 273 Padraig Mac Lochlainn (SF) 9,799 Charlie McConalogue (FF) 8,019 Niall McConnell (NP) 1,565 Eamon McGee (IFP) 383 Arthur Desmond McGuinness (NP) 34 Gerry McKeever (NP) 342 Kim McMenamin (TIP) 531 John McNulty (FG) 3,247 Frank O'Donnell (NP) 313 Thomas Pringle (NP) 5,289 Mary T. Sweeney (Aontu) 2,469 Charles Ward (100% Redress) 6,862 Pearse Doherty has been elected on the first count in Donegal. 10.10pm: First count results expected around 10.30pm. After a long lull and very little movement, the results of the first count in Co Donegal are expected to be announced shortly. Sinn Feins Pearse Doherty is expected to claim the first seat in the county. The count is then expected to be adjourned for the night. It will resume at 9am tomorrow morning, Sunday. Padraig MacLochlainn with supporters in the count centre. 7.40pm: I thought I got the P60, but it was only the P45 Pat The Cope Gallagher delights at likely election Pat The Cope Gallagher could not keep the smile off his face this evening as he walked around the Aura Leisure Centre. The Burtonport man has polled well and is set to be elected as a TD once again. Mr Gallagher served as a Donegal County Councillor from 1979 and was first elected as a TD in 1981. He boasts a long standing political career having served as a TD from 1981 to 1997, 2002 to 2009 and 2016 to 2020, Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dail Eireann from 2016 to 2020 and as a Minister of State from 1987 to 1994 and from 2002 to 2008. He also served as an MEP from 1994 to 2002 and from 2009 to 2014. He lost his seat in 2020 but he announced his intention to run again for Fianna Fail earlier this year. He said he is delighted with the outcome of yesterdays vote. I am very happy that I am going to be declared elected. To me, it is a major achievement. Not just for me but for the organisation around me, Team Cope, said Mr Gallagher. All five seats in the Donegal constituency have been filled The shock is the Sinn Fein vote 6.30pm Thomas Pringle and Pat The Cope Gallagher have arrived in the count centre in Letterkenny. Pringle said he is confident he will pick up enough transfers from candidates from the south of the county who are due to be eliminated to pass out 100pc Redress candidate Charles Ward and retain his seat. Tallies show Ward in fifth place in five-seater Donegal with Pringle in sixth place, some 1,500 votes behind. The first count is still ongoing and the spoiled votes are currently being scrutinised. Thomas Pringle has arrived at the count centre. 5.45pm: Fine Gaels Nikki Bradley disappointed in partys election performance Letterkenny Fine Gael candidate Nikki Bradley who was appointed as a Senator earlier this year, admitted it is a real shame that the county could lose its Fine Gael TD. She believes there is room for change within certain parts of the party. I have visited some of the branches and I have listened to them. Some of them feel they have not been listened too. In certain parts, we do need to start again. We certainly need to have people coming up from Dublin sitting down and having those very open conservations and as a Senator, I will be as involved in that as I can. I really want Fine Gael to still exist in this county. We have so much going for us and so much work to do, said Senator Bradley. Pat 'The Cope' has arrived at the camp centre. 4.10pm: First count is underway After a long and interesting morning, the first count is now underway in Donegal, starting with Sinn Feins Pearse Doherty. 3.20pm: Final tallies are in! The final tallies are in for Donegal and there is a strong indication that Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail will claim two seats each. According to the tallies, Sinn Fein are set to top the poll with Pearse Doherty, closely followed by Padraig MacLochlainn, while Fianna Fail are breathing a sigh of relief as Charlie McConalogue and Pat The Cope Gallagher look set to claim two seats following a morning of uncertainty. Independent TD Thomas Pringle and 100% Redress Party Candidate Charles Ward look set to battle it out for the fifth seat. Padraig MacLochlainn SF 9,879 (12.7%) Pearse Doherty SF- 19,213 (24.7%) Charlie McConalogue FF 8,100 (10.4%) Pat the Cope Gallagher FF 10,262 (13.2%) Charles Ward 100% Redress 6,857 (8.8%) Thomas Pringle Ind 5,344 (6.9%) Noel Jordan SF 3,382 (4.4%) Nikki Bradley FG 3,680 (4.7%) John Mc Nulty FG 3,365 (4.3%) Mary T Sweeney Aontu 2,481 (3.2%) Niall McConnell Ind- 1,572 (2%) Nuala Carr GP - 895 (1.2%) Carol Gallagher PBPS- 602 (0.8%) Kim McMenamin IP 540 (0.7%) Eamon McGee IFP 384 (0.5%) Claudia Kennedy FF- 297 (0.4%) Arthur McGuinness - Ind 61(0.1%) Frank O'donnell IND 328 (0.4%) Vincent Bradley Ind - 141 (0.2%) Gerry McKeever IND 364 (0.5%) 2.10pm: Fine Gael look set to be without a seat in Donegal According to the latest tallies, Senator Nikki Bradley currently has a 5% share of the vote. In her local area of Milford, Senator Bradley recorded 781 votes and 10.2% of the tally. Meanwhile, newcomer John McNulty has recorded 2,679 votes overall, 4.3% of the tally. TD Joe McHugh has been a Fine Gael TD for Donegal since 2016, having been a TD in the Donegal North-East constituency between 2007 and 2016. In July 2022, Deputy McHugh resigned the party whip after voting against the Government's defective blocks Bill. He carried out the remaining government term as an Independent TD and he announced his decision not to contest the upcoming general election. One source close to Fine Gael said things have not gone well for the party. Pearse Doherty crunching numbers. 1.20pm: Doherty believes Sinn Fein has a mandate to try and form a government Sinn Fein deputy leader Pearse Doherty said Sinn Fein absolutely has a mandate to try and form a government. Doherty looks set to top the poll in Donegal, according to tallies. I've been in this count centre and these count centres for 22 years now, contesting elections, and I never thought I would be standing in a count centre and saying, potentially for the second time in a general election, according to the exit poll, that Sinn Fein is the most popular party and the party that most people support in the state. "That would have been unheard of 20 years ago, indeed 10 years ago. So that gives you a mandate for government. "It will be interesting now to see how things play out over the next couple of days, but our job is to do what we set out to do in this election, which is to see if we can have a government without Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. "And therefore, if there is an option to deliver a government of change after the all the seats are filled, that's exactly what Sinn Fein will be trying to do. 1pm: Niall Blaney says Sinn Feins vote is the real shock Senator Niall Blaney, who is Charlie McConalogue and Pat the Cope Gallaghers Director of Elections said the tallies revealed that Charlie McConalogues vote in Inishowen was down but his vote has increased in other areas such as Letterkenny. Admitting Sinn Fein has had a good outing in the county, Senator Blaney said it is still all to play for but the party hopes to gain a seat in the county. "For Charlie, Inishowen was down a bit and we were expecting that anyway, but as Milford and Letterkenny come through, Charlie is increasing his vote there. "That is bringing him back closer to his vote in 2020 so we are still in there with a good fight. "Sinn Fein have had a good outing but it is early days to decide where seats are going to fall, said Senator Blaney. He added Pat The Cope Gallagher seems to have polled well and is expected to take a seat. He said Sinn Feins performance in Donegal has been the shock of the election. "A lot of people felt that the Mica candidate would be the shock of the election, but that is not fully transpiring yet. "The shock is the Sinn Fein vote. They have taken a very strong vote and they are taking first and second seat and they could be in the running for a third and that is the shock of the day, said Senator Blaney. A ring was lost in a ballot box in Co Donegal. 12pm: Wedding ring found in ballot box A voter is casting a sigh of relief today after a wedding ring was found in a ballot box in Co Donegal. A note taped to the top of the ballot box from Scoil Eoghain in Moville from the presiding officer alerted counting staff in Letterkenny this morning to the missing treasure among the cast ballots. Count staff say they quickly found the ring this morning and contacted local 100pc Redress Councillor Ali Farren as per the notes instruction. Ali Farren, a 100pc Redress councillor in Donegal, said he was alerted to a man who lost his wedding ring in a ballot box in Donegal yesterday as he visited voting locations in the Inishowen area. Farren was given the ring this morning by count staff in Letterkenny. As Farren is busying tallying votes for 100pc Redress candidate Charles Ward he has not had a chance to return the ring to its owner yet. 11am: Sinn Fein polling well, early tallies suggest There are now over 40 boxes open in Co Donegal and early indications are suggesting that Sinn Fein is polling well. The boxes from the Inishowen area indicating that Sinn Fein are on course to secure two seats in sitting TDs with Padraig MacLochlainn and Pearse Doherty leading the way. Donegal Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue (FF), who is a native of Inishowen, and 100% Redress Partys Charles Ward are following behind, while Fine Gaels Nikki Bradley seems to have picked up the Partys vote in Inishowen. However, it is still all to play for in Donegal with over 200 boxes still to be opened. 10.15am: McConalogue and MacLochlainn neck in neck in Inishowen Culdaff tallies. There is concern among Fianna Fail activists about the seat of Minister of Agriculture to keep his seat in Donegal. Fianna Fail operatives in the count centre in Letterkenny say they are confident that Pat The Cope Gallagher, the 76-year old former junior minister, will comfortably be elected on his return to front-line politics. However, Fianna Fail operatives say McConalogue could be in trouble. Donegal is a five-seat constituency and Sinn Fein are expected to take two seats through Pearse Doherty and Padraig Mac Lochlainn. The final two seats are expected to be a battle between independent Thomas Pringle, 100pc Redress Party candidate Charles Ward, one of the two Fine Gael candidates and McConalogue. In Culdaff, which is close to McConalogues hometown of Gleneely, Sinn Feins Padraig MacLochlainn and McConalague are neck in neck, according to the tallies. The first official tallies are expected soon. Sorting is underway in the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny. 9.15pm: Sorting gets underway Sorting is underway in the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny as the first boxes from across Co Donegal have been opened. Richard Boyd Barrett speaking to media at the Count Centre at the RDS. Photo by Steve Humphreys 30th November 2024. Eamon Ryan speaking to media at the Count Centre at the RDS. Photo by Steve Humphreys 30th November 2024. Seats filled: 5 1am: After a long slog, its all over in Dublin Bay North. Fine Gaels Naoise O Muiri retained the seat left vacant by outgoing TD Richard Bruton and surpassed the quota with 11, 574 votes. The final two seats were filled by candidates who did not reach the quota, Fianna Fails Tom Brabazon and Independent candidate, Barry Heneghan. It was a surprise change when Mr Heneghan, a relative newcomer to politics only elected this year to Dublin City Counil, overtook Fianna Fails Deirdre Heney on transfers on count 11. But he secured strong transfers from a spectrum of candidates including from Aontu and Sinn Fein. Asked how he felt about the win, Mr Heneghan said he was humbled and thanked his team. "I think people want an independent young voice to represent them in Dail Eireann and thats exactly what Im going to do, he said. Asked if he would support a Fianna Fail and Fine Gael government, Mr Heneghan said he would have to speak with his team. "At the moment, Im just going to go back, celebrate with my team and well discuss it with the kitchen cabinet, he said. 11:45pm: After count 13, Aoibhinn Tormey of Fine Gael has been excluded from the count and her transfers will be distributed. We still have three seats to fill and it is looking likely that after the next lowest candidate is eliminated, it will mean all three will be filled without candidates meeting the quota. 10.08pm: True to form and another count came and went with no candidate elected. Micheal Mac Donncha from Sinn Fein is now excluded and we await his transfers to see how that will impact the race. 9:30pm: As expected, Denise Mitchell of Sinn Fein is across the line has is the second candidate in the area to be elected. Now we wait for the distribution of Labours Shane Folan who was eliminated on the last count. Interestingly, Independent candidate Barry Heneghen is back in contention for the last seat after he benefitted from Aontu candidate James Morris transfers and has leapfrogged Fianna Fails Deirdre Heney. He is now ahead by 125 votes. 4pm: Social Democrats Deputy Leader Cian OCallaghan is the first candidate to be elected in Dublin Bay North in Count 8, after he surpassed the quota with 11,908 votes. Speaking after he was elected, Mr OCallaghan said he its been a brilliant day for the party. "Were really happy that voters have supported us in so many different constituencies around the country. We are looking forward to a much expanded parliamentary party, he said. He added that his party are expected have at least ten seats entering into the next Dail and said there were a few constituencies that are too close to call. 3pm: We are edging ever closer to the first candidate elected in Dublin Bay North. Count 7 didnt see that happen after the transfers from the Green Partys David Healy was distributed. This count saw Cian OCallaghan do the best out of the count, securing 726 transfers. With just 104 votes between him and the quota, we will hopefully soon see him get across the line. From there, the hope is things will begin to speed up. It has taken a long time to get even this far, which is understandable when you have 20 candidates on the ballot. 1pm: Count 6 has now come and gone and still nobody elected for Dublin Bay North. While it is getting closer, poll topper Cian OCallaghan is still 825 votes away from the quota. David Healy of the Green Party has been eliminated and his votes will be transfered during this next count. 11.13am: Good morning from the RDS where we have just received the results of count five in Dublin Bay North. Still nobody elected on this count and it may take a few more counts before we some a candidate reach the quota. John Lyons has now been eliminated so we await to see where his 2122 votes transfer to. ***** 11pm: After Count 4, still no candidate elected. Paul Fitzsimons has now been excluded and his 1,469 votes will be distributed. But not until tomorrow! The counting for Dublin Bay North has been suspended until 10am tomorrow morning, when we are sure to see a number of candidates get across the line throughout the day. 10pm: Still nobody elected after Count 3 here in Dublin Bay North. Brian Garrigan has now been excluded and his votes will be distributed. 8.39pm: We finally have the first count for Dublin Bay North and as expected, Cian OCallaghan has topped the poll with 9,738 votes. The quota is 10,929. Denise Mitchell followed with 9,012 votes. As nobody was elected, three candidates have been excluded, Stephen Doyle, Jamie McGlue and Diarmaid O Conarain 7.05pm: Candidates and their representatives are gathered at the Dublin Bay North section of the RDS, examining all the spoiled votes that are to be rejected. The first pile were ballots that dont have the official stamp. Other bundles had ballots that had an X beside candidates, other marks like circles or lines, some that had multiple number one votes, and others that saw no number one votes but the sequence starting from preference two or three. 3:30pm: Social Democrats deputy leader Cian OCallaghan has said he is delighted with the support his party has received across the country and hopes the Social Democrats will become the fourth largest party in the Dail. Weve doubled our vote. Hopefully well emerge as the fourth largest party and there is a number of constituencies where we are hoping to make gains, Mr OCallaghan has said. According to the tallies, Mr OCallaghan is set to top the poll, just ahead of last elections poll topper, Denise Mitchell. "Delighted to be topping the poll in Dublin Bay North. Its a huge privilege for people to vote for you and put their trust in you and was delighted with the feedback during the campaign from people, he said. Dublin Bay North seats filled Tallies indicate first major wins and casualties in tight race 1.50pm: Cian O'Callaghan has overtaken Denise Mitchell according to the latest tally numbers, which come after 98pc of the boxes in the area have been opened. In the last election, Denise Mitchell topped the poll in the constituency and got the most first preference votes in the country in 2020. Cian O'Callaghan is currently on 14pc, with 8283 first preference votes while Denise Mitchell is also on 14pc but with 8148 votes. Very little between the two as it stands. 12:20am: Slowly but surely we are getting more tallies and 46pc of boxes have been opened in the constituency. There are a number of areas that dont factor into these tallies yet, including Donnycarney, Raheny, parts of Howth and Kinsealy. With five seats to fill, here are the five candidates with the most first preference votes right now: Denise Mitchell is set to top the poll again. Currently she has 14.8pc of the first preference votes. Next is Cian OCallaghan on 12.5pc, followed by Tom Brabazon on 11.5pc. Naoise O Muiri is on 9.8pc and Deirdre Heney is on 8.7pc. 10:50am: Now on to Raheny and Bayside. Cian OCallaghan and Aoibhinn Tormey doing well in Bayside, and Deirdre Heney has a decent showing here too. Voting in Raheny Library showing a strong preference for Tom Brabazon but Cian OCallaghan and Aoibhinn Tormey are also picking up plenty of first preference votes here too. 10am: Some boxes in Donaghmede and Priorswood being counted at the moment. So far Sinn Fein have strong support here, with Micheal Mac Donncha taking many first preference votes from the St Benedicts polling centre and Denise Mitchell running away with the first preference votes in St Francis school polling centre in Priorswood. 9am: Good morning from the RDS where the boxes are open from Dublin Bary North and the ballots are being closely watched by the tally people. Its a large constituency and with five seats to fill and three outgoing TDs not running this time round, it will be an interesting race. The first boxes open are from the Clontarf area of the constituency, more specifically from the St Garbiel's polling station and the Belgrove junior boys school. Some very early indications from these boxes are first preferences are going to local Independent Barry Heneghen and Fine Gaels Naoise O Muiri. Social Democrats deputy leader Cian OCallaghan has a decent showing here too. With only a few boxes open from one area, there is a strong health warning with these figures before the first tallies come in. Stay tuned. It would seem that there should be no unsolved mysteries in a time of discovery and progress, as new technologies are developing at an incredible rate. However, there are many puzzles related to both modern history and ancient civilizations. ADVERTISIMENT OBOZREVATEL has collected five of the most mysterious places on the planet that still raise many questions and confuse researchers. Each of them is stunning. Moving stones in California In the US state of California, there is a dry lake called Racetrack Playa, where rocks weighing up to 25 kg move. Studies by geologists have shown that they have moved 200 meters in 7 years. 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ADVERTISIMENT Shanay Timpishka (La Bomba) River in the Amazon In the depths of the Peruvian Amazon jungle, the stormy hot river Shanay Timpishka is hidden. Its length is about 6.4 kilometers, it flows among the rocks and is one of the tributaries of the Amazon. The maximum water temperature is 93 degrees Celsius. The phenomenon of this river is still unsolved, as there is no seismic activity, active volcanoes, or thermal springs nearby. Sinkholes on the Mount Baldy hill The sinkholes of the southern shore of Lake Michigan are called living - every year they move several meters due to strong winds. But scientists cannot explain the ability to "swallow" people into the sand. Huge sinkholes up to 4 meters in diameter take tourists into sandy captivity. Some time, a six-year-old boy fell underground. Fortunately, he was rescued. All four seats have now been filledMary Lou McDonald (SF), Gary Gannon (SD), Paschal Donohoe (FG) and Marie Sherlock (Lab) Seats filled: 4 3.40pm So convicted criminal, Gerry 'the Monk Hutch loses out on the last count. As the ballot boxes were emptied in RDS Simmonscourt yesterday the early tallies were strong for Hutch, but with the health warning that the early boxes being counted were from areas like North Strand where he would have a popular base. That will be diluted when boxes outside his area are opened, said one tally man. But throughout the morning that tally did not dilute much, and when the counts started and the day progressed, others fell off the list. Clare Daly, Janice Boylan, Andrew Kelly, Ian Noel Smith, Eoghan O Ceannabhain, and Malachy Steenson all fell. Hutch remained. Dublin Central seats filled This morning when Malachy Steensons votes were transferred Hutch got a shot in the arm. Neasa Hourigan of the Greens was then eliminated, and the field got smaller. Sinn Feins Mary Lou McDonald had been elected yesterday, then Gary Gannon of the Soc Dems was elected, and at this point his votes were distributed. The rumour mill began that Hutch might arrive, and photographers started watching the doors again. After Mary Fitzpatrick from Fiann Fail was eliminated on the 10th count that left her surplus to be distributed among Hutch and Sherlock. Then, just after 3pm, Hutch arrived. It took a good half hour for things to calm down, and everyone waited for that all important Count 11, where Paschal Donohoe surplus put Marie Sherlock on 6,102 votes, almost 800 more than Hutch in the end. 3.32pm The Labour Partys Marie Sherlock pips Gerry the Monk Hutch to the fourth and final seat in Dublin Central. 2.23pm Paschal Donohoe elected, leaving just one seat left to play for. Donohoes 1,518 surplus will be redistributed. Gerry the Monk Hutch is 124 votes ahead of Labours Marie Sherlock with 5,194 to 5,070. It is set to be a nail biting finish. 1.15pm Mary Fitzpatrick (FF) has now been eliminated after Count 9. The expectation is transfers will not be Hutch friendly, and that Labours Marie Sherlock could be the eventual holder of the last seat. Still no sign of Gerard Hutch in the RDS. Paschal Donohoe is yet to be elected but will take the third seat. 12:20pm Social Democrat Gary Gannon is the second to be elected in what proving to be one of the most interesting constituencies. With the quota being 6,551, Gannon has almost 1,000 votes to be redistributed. Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe is expected to be the third TD to be elected, leaving a battle between Gerry the Monk Hutch and Labours Marie Sherlock for the fourth and final seat. Hutch is in a stronger position, with Sherlock set to need a large proportion of Gannons surplus to stay in contention. Donohoe, Paschal (FG) 6162 Fitzpatrick, Mary (FF) 2768 Gannon, Gary (Soc Dems) 7481 Hutch, Gerard (Ind) 5021 Sherlock, Marie (LAB) 3841 Indo Daily Election Extra: Where do Sinn Fein go from here and the box-office battle for Dublin Central (Live from the RDS) 9.18am After a long day yesterday, and six counts, Malachy Steenson was eliminated in Dublin Central last night. It is believed a lot of his surplus will transfer to Gerry Hutch, but whether or not this will help get him over the line for the fourth seat is up in the air. Neasa Hourigan of the Green Party is likely to be out of the race later today, and where her transfers go will dictate the running. Mary Lou McDonald (SF) was first past the post in this race yesterday. Paschal Donohoe (FG) and Gary Gannon (Soc Dems) will take seats today because they are well ahead of the field. Hutch is still in the running, but there's a hurdle or two yet before the finish line. Counting resumes at 10am 11.16pm After a long day and six counts, Malachy Steenson has now been eliminated in Dublin Central. It is believed a lot of his surplus will transfer to Gerry Hutch, but there is doubt now as to whether it is enough to get him over the line for the fourth seat. If Neasa Hourigan is next to go then her surplus would more likely stretch to Labour's Marie Sherlock. We're back at 10am to find out. 10.30pm: After Count 5 we still have Paschal Donohoe, Mary Fitzpatrick, Gary Gannon, Neasa Hourigan, Gerry 'The Monk Hutch, Marie Sherlock and Malachy Steenson in the race for four seats. The quota is 6,551 and Paschal Donohoe (FG) is on 5,701. Gannon (Soc Dems) is on 5,027. Mary Lou McDonald has already been elected, and it looks like a battle for the fourth seat. Nobody is writing-off The Monk yet, but there is a sense that other candidates are more transfer friendly, and this could benefit Labour's Marie Sherlock. 10pm: Mr Donohoe, Fine Gael Minister for Public Expenditure, said the main theme of the election is "one of the centre holding", describing Sinn Fein as "the weakest opposition party in Europe". He told reporters at the RDS in Dublin: "I think we're on the verge of a very, very positive election for the party and a very, very strong electoral performance." On the potential election of Gerard Hutch in his constituency, he said: "I think it's worth noting that the vast majority of people in Dublin Central have not voted for him, and the vast majority of voters in Dublin Central have chosen to put their votes behind other candidates and we will have to reflect in due course regarding why he performed like he did, but the big picture today is one of the centre holding, that's the big picture. "The big picture is, at a time in which incumbent governments all over Europe are struggling to get re-elected, the two larger parties within this government, in particular Fine Gael, are going to deliver a very strong performance." Referring to Sinn Fein he added: "It's now very evident that they're the weakest opposition party in Europe." 9.30pm: Clare Daly has been eliminated in Dublin Central after the fourth count. Mary Lou McDonald has already been re-elected. Gerrry 'The Monk' Hutch is now looking very likely to take the fourth seat, after Paschal Donohoe and Gary Gannon. Fine Gael's Paschal Donohoe and Gary Gannon of the Social Democrats also look secure to win seats 8.30pm Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has been elected on the third count in Dublin Central. There were loud cheers from supporters as her election was announced. 7.47pm After two counts in Dublin Central Mary Lou McDonald is nearly across the line for the first seat. She needs 41 more votes, and seeing how her running mate Janice Boylan has been eliminated she will benefit from her transfers. Also eliminated now are Andrew Kelly (Centre Party Ireland), and Ian Noel Smyth (Aontu) 7.30pm: After Count 2, Mary Lou McDonald's running mate Janice Boylan has been eliminated. Full results after the second count, with no one yet elected: McDonald, Mary Lou (SF) 6,510 Donohoe, Paschal (FG) 5,569 Gannon, Gary (soc Dems) 4,397 Hutch, Gerard (Ind) 3,187 Sherlock, Marie (LAB) 2,505 Fitzpatrick, Mary (FF) 2,427 Hourigan, Neasa (Green) 1,986 Steenson, Malachy (IND) 1,955 OCeannabhain, Eoghan (PBP/SOL) 1,497 Daly, Clare (Ind 4 Change) 1,367 Boylan, Janice (SF) 1,295 Eliminated this round: Janice Boylan (SF) 6.30pm Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has topped the first count votes in Dublin Central but no candidate has yet been elected in the constituency as no one has yet reached the quota. Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch is currently in fourth place, after Paschal Donohoe and Gary Gannon. Things are not looking good for sitting Green TD Neasa Hourigan in the four seater, polling 1952 first preference votes. Full results: Mary Lou McDonald 6389 Paschal Donohoe FG 5493 Gary Gannon - Soc Dems - 4353 Gerard Hutch - Independent - 3098 Marie Sherlock Lab 2465 Mary Fitzpatrick FF 2344 Neasa Hourigan Green 1952 Malachy Steenson - Non party - 1602 Eoin O Ceannabhain PBP 1471 Clare Daly Indepdents for Change 1317 Janice Boylan SF 1257 Eliminated Ian Noel Smyth Aontu 715 Andrew Kelly Centre Party 298 The second count has now commenced, with the eliminated candidates' votes being redistributed according to preferences. 5.30pm Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said her party had delivered an incredible performance in the general election. She made clear she wanted to engage with other parties about the possibilities of government. Ms McDonald arrived at the count centre in the RDS in a very positive mood ahead of the first official Dublin counts. The first thing I want to say is to acknowledge every single person right across the state who came out to vote for Sinn Fein, she told reporters in the RDS count centre in Dublin this evening. Mary Lou McDonald (right) and deputy Michelle O'Neill (centre) arrive at the RDS (Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire) You have given us again a powerful and a strong mandate, and we understand the trust that you have placed in us to make life better for you, and we are determined to do just that. This has been really an incredible performance by all of our candidates, by Sinn Fein across the state. Over a short number of weeks we have achieved a result that many people a few weeks ago would have thought impossible. So thank you. Thank you to every single person who voted for us. I said in the course of the campaign that I believe another five years of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail is bad news for our society, for our communities, for families who are struggling, for our housing crisis, which is deepening, and nobody should miss the record homeless numbers that we saw on election day itself. Were now at a really important decision point for Irish society and politics, and we need change. We intend when the votes are counted and when we know the lie of the land, we will be talking to people about the possibilities of government. I do not want to see another five years of the kind of chaos, the kind of disregard that we have seen under Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. I think that is a bad outcome for our society. Speaking to Newstalk later, Ms MacDonald was asked if she had a message for Gerry The Monk Hutch: Not particularly, she said. "This is a democratic system; the people make the call. If he is a representative of the people to the Dail he will have the same rights and responsibilities as the rest of us. I look forward to and hope to be working with other colleagues on the left in the Dail, she added. 5.07pm Independent 4 Change candidate Clare Daly, who polled poorly in Dublin Central, said the fact that Gerry Hutch did well was an anti-establishment vote that could bring a needed focus on the area. Its incredibly interesting. Its not a place I would have wanted to be obviously but I think weve seen the massive galvanising of that anti-establishment vote around the candidacy of Gerard Hutch, she said. I think all progressive Independents across Dublin probably suffered a little bit in favour of the parties as well, so it left me where I am. Theres huge goodwill out there and all the rest but Im not going to get to see the benefit of all of the massive transfers that we got, but thats life and I think it has put the worlds attention and the countrys attention on a constituency that has been so badly neglected, and for me thats a really good thing. I hope that attention can be maintained and the people in this wonderful area can get the attention that they so badly deserve and havent got, she added. Asked if she welcomes the fact that Hutch appears to have the level of support he has, Ms Daly said the fact that he is there in the constituency will focus attention on it. The challenge will be to him to build on that. I do believe the constituency needs that. I dont see him being a national parliamentarian or a legislator per se, which is part of the job, but if elected he could, if the will was there, really keep a focus on an area that has been left behind and is crying out, she said. There are so many people in that community trying their best. It is an incredibly diverse constituency with a lot of division within it. Lets see what happens. Either way the constituency has spoken and by voting for Gerard Hutch in such numbers theyve sent that signal anyway, and the political establishment should take note, she added. 1.57pm Social Democrats candidate Gary Gannon has said he is humbled by the vote in Dublin Central. I'm humbled and also determined to vindicate that over the course of the next five years. We've done a massive amount of work in Dublin Central. In terms of the work that we are doing on the ground, the strength of conviction we have bringing through issues in the Dail that was really starting to come back for us, and we were picking up a lot of momentum in Dublin Central. And I think today you'll see the results of that, he said. Asked about the effect that Gerry Hutch had being on the ballot paper, Gannon said it was something that none of us expected. He came in and he got a lot of media with this announcement, and that's going to be expected. But I think, for me, it's not just about what happens and who takes the fourth seat. I think it's a reflection of the fact that there's a lot of hurt, there's a huge amount of pain. I mean, that period of austerity in 2011 to 2016 destroyed the fabric of communities, and you're still seeing the tentacles of that now, he added. I appreciate what the headlines will be today and tomorrow, but I do encourage everybody to go beyond them and look deeper. Because when people are hurting to the extent that they are in, some of the communities that I represent the length and breadth of Ireland, and you're going to see outcries of that, and it'll manifest in different ways. And I think we're seeing one manifestation of that today, he said. Asked if he thought the Hutch vote was a protest vote he said he didnt think so. Soc Dems leader Holly Cairns gave birth to her first baby yesterday as the nation went to the polls, and Gary Gannon was delighted for her. For me, I just want to say how in awe I am of Holly Cairns. She's not only our leader, she's my friend. She is somebody that has took the reins of this party two exceptional TDs in Catherine Murphy and Roisin Shortall, and she's really brought us on, he explained. Regarding future plans and possible negotiations for government, he said the next step is to see exactly what's in the boxes. 1.30pm Independent candidate Malachy Steenson has said it looks like Mary Lou McDonald will take the first seat in Dublin Central, followed by Paschal Donohoe, and Gary Gannon for the Social Democrats will take the third seat. The battle for fourth seat could be between Gerry Hutch (Ind), Marie Sherlock (Lab) and Mary Fitzpatrick (FF) in his opinion. He thinks Sherlock may take it on likely transfers. The Monk is in the mix as Malachy Steenson gives his view on the tallies from Dublin Central Its a disappointing day for the Nationalist movement but it shows what acres of media coverage can do for a celebrity candidate, he said in reference to Gerry Hutchs entry. The media have to look at the role they have played in this election in excluding people they didnt agree with. Sadly, the people will pay the price, he told the Irish Independent. 12pm With practically all the boxes tallied in Dublin Central the news of the day is how well convicted criminal Gerry Hutch has polled. From the outset he was doing well on tally sheets from his own inner city areas like North Strand, and there was an expectation among some of the tally crews that this would change as more boxes were opened. But his vote was strong across the city, and when it comes to the first count he looks destined to come fourth. Transfers in later counts will erode this, but the fact that he has featured so strongly has surprised many. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald will top the poll on around 20pc it appears, followed by Fine Gaels Paschal Donohoe on around 17pc. Gary Gannon of the Social Democrats is polling in third place at 13pc followed by Hutch on 9pc. The fact that Hutch entered the race in the first place will have hurt the ambitions of right wing candidate Malachy Steenson, and Independent 4 Change Clare Daly, who are in ar around the 5pc mark. The Green Partys Neasa Hourigans ambitions to retain her seat appeare to have taken a bruising, with the tallies indicating 6pc of the vote. Transfers will play around with the placings a lot, but this constituency is one to watch today. All seats filled on the ninth countFirst-time TD Rory Hearne secures the seat for Social DemocratsFianna Fails Paul McAuliffe, following a large boost of transferable votes, defends his seatSinn Feins Dessie Ellis, who received the most first-preference votes, grabs the third seatFar-right independent candidate Gavin Pepper out of the race on sixth count We'll pick up the pieces, keep working and hopefully we'll see a Sinn Fein government in the future Seats filled: 3 4pm: All seats filled on the ninth count Social Democrats' Rory Hearne, Fianna Fail's Paul McAuliffe and Sinn Fein's Dessie Ellis were all deemed elected on the ninth count. Rory Hearne has been elected TD for the first time and secured a seat for Social Democrats in Dublin North West, following the departure of the partys co-founder Roisin Shortall. After the distribution of Fine Gael's Noel Rock's votes, Mr Hearne surpassed Dessie Ellis on the poll by 862 votes and grabbed the first seat in Dublin North West. The second seat was taken by Fianna Fail's Paul McAuliffe, who received a large boost from the Fine Gael candidate of 2,930 votes. Meanwhile, the third and last seat went to Dessie Ellis, who has been a TD for the area since 2011 and had topped the poll through the majority of the counts. Rory Hearne and his family celebrating after the announcement After getting elected this evening, Rory Hearne said he is delighted to continue the work of Roisin Shortall. An academic and housing expert will replace Ms Shortall following her departure after 32 years of being a TD in the area. Absolutely delighted, delighted to continue the work of Roisin Shortall, Mr Hearne told the Irish Independent. It's an incredible result for the Social Democrats to top this board. In this seat, I am going to work day and night for the people of Dublin North West, from Ballymun to Beaumont. This vote was a vote for the issues of housing, the generation that's locked out of a home, for people affected by disability, it was one of the biggest issues that came up on the doors. The Social Democrats are standing for a really positive change and I'm so delighted for my family, for the team who did so much, were just really, really happy today, he said. He added it has been a really strong performance for Social Democrats in this general election. We have to see how many seats we get today. It's been a really strong performance for the party. Disability services, affordable housing - they are the issues that we stood on. People responded. People looked to us and we're offering an alternative, and we're just really delighted for how we did, he added. Roisin Shortall, who was standing by Mr Hearnes side, said she couldnt have gotten a better replacement. I have to say, Rory has been a wonderful candidate. Im delighted, she said. Dessie Ellis and Paul McAuliffe Meanwhile, Fianna Fails TD Paul McAuliffe, who successfully defended his seat, said hes really delighted to exceed the quota and its a huge honour to do so. "I first want to thank all my team, everyone worked so hard and, also, to people of Dublin North West who returned me. Its the first time a Government TD has been returned since 2007, he told the Irish Independent. Government can have a lot of difficult decisions, but it also means you can deliver for your constituency, and I want to keep doing that so Im really looking forward to it. Formation of the Government is all ahead of us but Im really delighted to be back working for the people of Dublin North West, he said. Rory Hearne and Dessie Ellis after the announcement Full results for Dublin North West below: Cathleen Carney Boud (SF) (+155) - 5,987 Dessie Ellis (SF) (+139) - 7,562 Rory Hearne (SD) (+977) - 8,400 Paul McAuliffe (FF) (+2,930) - 8,189 12.20pm: People Before Profit's Conor Reddy eliminated People Before Profit's candidate Conor Reddy has been eliminated on the seventh count. After Gavin Pepper's 1,543 transferrable votes were redistributed, Reddy received the biggest surplus of 631 votes. Sinn Feins Dessie Ellis also got a big boost from Pepper - 530 votes. Full results on the seventh count below: Carney Boud (+309) - 5,139 Dessie Ellis (+530) - 6,545 Rory Hearne (+195) - 5,883 Paul McAuliffe (+124) - 5,037 Conor Reddy (+631) - 4,199 - ELIMINATED Noel Rock (+78) - 4,387 11.30am: 'Hopefully, we will see Sinn Fein government in the future' - Dessie Ellis Sitting Sinn Fein TD, Dessie Ellis, who was first elected in 2011, said he hopes to see the Sinn Fein government in the future. Speaking about his party's performance in this general election this morning, he told the Irish Independent: "We've done quite well. It's just disappointing that we didn't do better." "But, unfortunately, that's life in politics and we just pick up the pieces and keep working and, hopefully, we will see Sinn Fein government in the future," he added. Speaking after the sixth count announcement, Mr Ellis is on his way to becoming the first TD elected in Dublin North West. "I'm delighted that we've returned a seat here in Dublin North West and now, obviously, we've a bit more counting to do but we're fairly secure in a seat. "There's a disappointment that we may fall short on the second seat, we've given it a good, good try but, unfortunately, it looks as though we're going to fall short. "I thank everyone that has voted for us, I thank all the supporters, it's a great feeling and it's a great honour so I am truly grateful to everyone who supported us," he added. Mr Ellis has topped the poll in the constituency since the early tallies. Dessie Ellis 'hopes to see Sinn Fein government in the future' 10.30am: Gavin Pepper eliminated Far-right independent candidate Gavin Pepper ha dropped out of the race in Dublin North West. It comes as on the polling day, he told his voters on X that he "could be in a bit of a trouble". This morning, Mr Pepper was seen taking down his election posters. "7am and me misses is helping me cut down the posters," he said. "Well done to all who got elected yesterday, ready for next time." We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Full results after the sixth count here: Cathleen Carney Boud (SF) - 4,830 Dessie Ellis (SF) - 6,015 Rory Hearne (Soc Dems) - 5,688 Paul McAuliffe (FF) - 4,913 Conor Reddy (PBP) - 3,568 Noel Rock (FG) - 4,309 10am: The count resumes Good morning from the RDS! The Dublin City count centre is slowly filling up this morning as the count for Dublin North West has resumed at 10am today. There were no candidates elected yesterday and no one is currently near the quota so we can expect a few more counts today. Speaking on stage, the returning officer Joseph Burke said: "We are now going to resume the count for Dublin City constituencies." 11pm: Stephen Redmond and Edward McManus eliminated After five counts, no candidates have been elected in Dublin North West today. The National Party's Stephen Redmond and Aontu's Edward McManus have been eliminated on counts four and five. After a long day, the count has now been adjourned to tomorrow morning. Back tomorrow! 8.50pm: Green Party's Caroline Conroy eliminated Green Partys Caroline Conroy, former Lord Mayor of Dublin, has fallen short of a seat on the third count in Dublin North West. 7.50pm: Roisin Shortall very hopeful Rory Hearne will win a seat Social Democrats' outgoing TD Roisin Shortall said she is "very hopeful" that Rory Hearne will win the seat in Dublin North West. Speaking to the Irish Independent in the RDS, she said: "I'm very hopeful that he will [win the seat]." "Just trying to forecast what's going to happen with the transfers," she said. Ms Shortall was speaking with Mr Hearne during the long wait for the count results this evening. "I think he will stay ahead of the second Sinn Fein candidate, which places the final results with Dessie Ellis, Paul McAuliffe and, hopefully, Rory Hearne. "It's looking like that - it's not absolutely watertight but that's the way it's looking at the moment and we're quite hopeful at this stage," she added. 7.20pm: Labours John Nisbet eliminated on second count Labour's John Nisbet was eliminated on the second count in Dublin North West. No one has been elected yet in the three-seater constituency. With the quota at 8,184 it will be a while before anyone is elected. 6.40pm: First count results are here with no one elected The long-awaited first count results have been announced for Dublin North West around 6.40pm. It might have come as a surprise that Sinn Fein TD Dessie Ellis didn't get elected on the first count like he did in the previous general election. No one has reached a quota but Ellis is in the lead, followed by Soc Dems' Rory Hearne, Sinn Fein's Cathleen Carney Boud and incumbent Fianna Fail TD Paul McAuliffe. Two independent candidates have been eliminated on the first count - Ian Croft and Diarmuid Mac Dubhghlais. Full results here: Cathleen Carney Boud (SF) - 4,503 Ian Croft (Ind) - 183 Caroline Conroy (GP) - 943 Dessie Ellis (SF)* - 5,562 Rory Hearne (SD) - 4,631 Diarmuid Dougie Mac Dubhghlais (Ind) - 463 Edward Mac Manus (Aon) - 1,367 Paul McAuliffe (FF)* - 4,463 John Nisbet (LP) - 779 Gavin Pepper (Ind) - 1,820 Conor Reddy (PBP) - 2,917 Stephen Redmond (NP) - 1,209 Noel Rock (FG) - 3,893 *Indicates sitting TDs 3.50pm: Tallies recap The first count for Dublin North West is underway, with the results expected to be announced soon. Heres a recap of where the candidates stand after the tallies: Cathleen Carney Boud (SF) 13.76pc Ian Croft (Ind) 0.55pc Caroline Conroy (GP) 2.85pc Dessie Ellis (SF)* 17.12pc Rory Hearne (SD) 14.11pc Diarmuid Dougie Mac Dubhghlais (Ind) 1.45pc Edward Mac Manus (Aon) 4.16pc Paul McAuliffe (FF)* 13.55pc John Nisbet (LP) 2.39pc Gavin Pepper (Ind) 5.57pc Conor Reddy (PBP) 8.90pc Stephen Redmond (NP) 3.72pc Noel Rock (FG) 11.86pc *Indicates sitting TDs The first count is underway for Dublin North West 1pm: Rory Hearne second in the poll as all boxes now tallied All boxes have now been tallied in Dublin North West, with Sinn Fein's Dessie Ellis in the lead with 17.12pc. Social Democrats' Rory Hearne is next, with 14.11pc, and likely to take the second seat in the constituency. There is a tight race between incumbent Fianna Fail's Paul McAuliffe and Sinn Fein's Cathleen Carney Boud, with 13.55pc and 13.76pc respectively, as Sinn Fein is chasing a second seat. Next up is Noel Rock as the Fine Gael candidate is at 11.86pc. People Before Profit's Conor Reddy and independent candidate Gavin Pepper might have fallen out of the race, with tallies showing 8.90pc and 5.57pc respectively. It comes as yesterday Pepper posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he "could be in a bit of a trouble". All boxes now tallied in Dublin North West 12.20pm: Rory Hearne on his way to keep Social Democrats seat As 90pc of the boxes have been tallied in Dublin North West, Rory Hearne is on his way to keeping a seat for Social Democrats after Roisin Shorthalls departure. Roisin Shortall, a TD for 32 years and founding co-leader of the Social Democrats, announced earlier this year she would retire from politics and not seek re-election, with Hearne to run in her place. As of now, Sinn Fein's Dessie Ellis is topping the poll with 16pc but Rory Hearne is hot on the heels of Ellis with 15pc. They are followed by incumbent Fianna Fail's Paul McAuliffe with 14pc but Sinn Fein's Cathleen Carney Boud is not far behind with 13pc, as Fine Gael's Noel Rock has 12pc. The electorate for the constituency is 56,047. Tallies indicate first major wins and casualties in tight race 10.50am: Sinn Feins TD Dessie Ellis likely to be elected on the first count as 23 boxes now open No surprises in Dublin North West as early tallies show that Sinn Fein's Dessie Ellis is likely to be elected on the first count with the most first-preference votes. Ellis, a well-known TD in the area since 2011, is currently at 18pc, after only 23 boxes out of 75 have been opened. The next is another Sinn Fein candidate Catherine Carney Bound with 16pc, followed closely by People Before Profit's Conor Reddy at 14pc. There might be a battle between the sitting Fianna Fail TD Paul McAuliffe and Social Democrats' Rory Hearne, who is hoping to take the seat of the outgoing TD Roisin Shortall, as both candidates are currently at 11pc. Fine Gael's Noel Rock is at 8pc which might not be enough to secure a seat. Early tallies for Dublin North West 9.50am: Boxes open in the RDS for Dublin North West The boxes have been officially opened for Dublin North West in the Simmonscourt Pavillion in the RDS. The counting has begun, with the tallymen keeping a close eye on the first-preference votes. The Dublin City returning officer Joseph Burke announced the opening of the ballot boxes for Dublin City at 9am. Count is underway for Dublin North West Dublin North West Dublin City returning officer announces the opening of ballot boxes Neal Richmond re-elected on first countGreen Party minister Catherine Martin loses seat The count continues in Ballinteer Community School as Rathdown looks to elect four TDs. Seats filled: 4 9.30pm: As the dust settles in Rathdown, here are the full results of the tenth and final count, which saw Social Democrats SInead Gibney, Fine Gael councillor Maeve OConnell and Fianna Fail councillor Shay Brennan all elected to the Dail as first-time TDs. Fine Gael junior minister was elected on the first count on Saturday, having topped the poll with having topped the poll and surpassed the quota with 10,044 first preference votes. Social Democrats TD Sinead Gibney surpassed the quota of 9,752 following the re-distribution of Green Party minister Catherine Martin's votes after her elimination in the ninth count. She received 2,487 transfers, bringing her to 10,612 total votes. She has become the first Social Democrats TD for Rathdown. Fine Gael councillor Maeve O'Connell was elected with 9,752 total votes - exactly the quota. She joins her husband, Dublin South-West TD Colm Brophy, in the next Dail. Fianna Fail councillor Shay Brennan was also elected on the tenth and final count with 8,999 total votes. His father, the late Seamus Brennan, held several portfolios as a Fianna Fail minister and it is the first time Fianna Fail has held a seat in the area since his father died in 2008. Independent candidate Michael Fleming was 997 votes behind Shay Brennan on the tenth count. All four seats have now been filled following a tense contest. Here are the results of the final count, including the transfers received from the re-distribution of Green Party minister Catherine Martins votes: Shay Brennan (FF) + 903 = 8999 Michael Fleming (IND) + 516 = 8002 Sinead Gibney (SD) + 2487 = 10612 Maeve OConnell (FG) + 1534 = 9752 8.25pm: Fianna Fail councillor Shay Brennan, the son of the late Fianna Fail minister Seamus Brennan, has described his election as a very emotional and very poignant moment as he wins the first seat for the party in the area since his fathers death. "I am delighted to be elected, delighted for the team that has worked so hard to make this happen, to restore Dublin Rathdown to its flagship status as a constituency for Fianna Fail and yes, of course, I would like to think my dad is very proud of me today as I, of course, am of him. He said he was blessed to have his siblings around him during the campaign. 8.30pm: Social Democrats candidate Sinead Gibney said she was "absolutely over the moon" upon her election to the Dail for Rathdown, paying tribute to her campaign team who "worked so hard" despite being "written off as a campaign". Ms Gibney surpassed the quota in the tenth count to achieve 10,612 total votes, receiving the majority of transfers from the elimination of Green Party TD Catherine Martin. Ms Gibney, who ran in the Dublin constituency in the European election for the party, sold her car and left her job as the chief commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission to work on the campaign. "You cannot believe the year I've had, it was amazing but it was tough, it was three-and-a-half months, I gave up my job as well as selling my car so I could work on it full-time," she said. "Just before I was selected to run for the European (election), my dad died so this whole year has been on the back of saying goodbye to one of the biggest people in my life and he would be so proud of me today and I'm going to do him so proud in the Dail." She is a first-time TD and the first Social Democrats TD - and candidate - for Rathdown, with Ms Gibney saying her campaign team "slogged our guts out" and knocked on over 11,000 doors. "We were clear with the electorate as a party on exactly what we can offer and I think the people of Rathdown said, 'Yes, thanks'." She said the party has made huge progress in this election and have been "so straight with the electorate about what we want to do as a government" with a focus on housing, public services, disability services and the cost-of-living. 8.20pm: Fine Gael councillor Maeve OConnell said her life will be changed completely by entering the Dail as a first-time TD. She and her husband, Colm Brophy, who is a TD in Dublin South-West, have become the only husband-and-wife to both be elected to the new Dail. It was a title previously held by Green Party minister Catherine Martin and her husband Francis Noel Duffy, both of whom lost their seats this weekend. Speaking after her election, Ms OConnell said: "My life will be changed completely. She said she will finish off the semester with her students at TU Dublin, where she is a lecturer, and joked that herself and her husband have already discussed "carpooling. 8.15pm: Fine Gael councillor Maeve O'Connell, Fianna Fail councillor Shay Brennan and Social Democrats candidate Sinead Gibney have been elected in Rathdown on the tenth and final count. All seats are now filled. Fine Gael minister Neale Richmond topped the poll yesterday and was elected in the first count. Green Party minister Catherine Martin lost her seat here earlier tonight, one which had been considered safe before disastrous tallies exposed the danger the junior coalition party was in yesterday morning. 7pm: Green Party minister Catherine Martin has thanked the people of Rathdown and her campaign team following her elimination from the count. She was not present during the count results, but had yesterday attended the count centre where she had told reporters that the Green Party will come back stronger than ever before after a very disappointing election. "Thank you to the people of Dublin Rathdown who entrusted me to represent them since 2016. Thank you to my campaign team and local members who canvassed with me in #GE24, she said in a statement shared to X. "It wasn't to be this time. I wish all who were successful the very best. Beir bua. Speaking yesterday in the count centre in Ballinteer Community School, Ms Martin said: "We'll see what happens but its a very, very disappointing day for the Green Party and my heart goes out to everyone, all of the candidates. "We ran in every single constituency and it's a tough day but this has happened before and we will come back and we will come back stronger than ever before, that I can be sure of." Ms Martin said there was a warm reception on doors but "maybe it was just a case of the smaller party get edged out". "I am incredibly proud to be here having represented Rathdown," she said, adding that the fate of the party is "in the hands of the electorate and I respect that". "I was in the hands of the electorate and I'm still in the hands of the electorate," she said, adding that the Green party term in government was "challenging at times" but it was also "rewarding". "It is an absolute privilege to serve at Cabinet and be one of the few women, I was very conscious of that at all times. I never forgot that honour and every day I've been in Leinster House I look back and go 'It's an honour to be here'." 6.45pm: The transfers of former Green Party minister Catherine Martin will decide the result here in Rathdown after she was eliminated on the ninth count, losing her seat in what has become an incredibly tight race in the four-seat constituency. The battle for the final two seats is now even tighter that was originally anticipated this morning. There are three seats left to fill in the constituency and four candidates remain. Fine Gael councillor Maeve O'Connell leads with 8,218 votes, now followed by Social Democrats candidate Sinead Gibney, who has overtaken Fianna Fail's Shay Brennan by 122 votes to land on 8,125. Mr Brennan has 8,096 votes. Independent Michael Fleming has received 7,486 votes and remains in the running for the fourth and final seat in a constituency which will be decided by the transfers of Ms Martin. There are just 608 votes between Mr Brennan and Mr Fleming. 6.30pm: Green Party minister Catherine Martin has lost her seat in Rathdown. 6pm: Fianna Fail candidate Shay Brennan is cautiously optimistic as he looks poised to take a seat in a narrowing race in Rathdown. Speaking to the Irish Independent as the gaps close and a ninth count is imminent, Mr Brennan said the progress being made by Fianna Fail in Dublin is a sign of a resurgence of the party in the capital. If elected, Mr Brennan will be the first Fianna Fail TD in Rathdown since the constituency was first created in 2016, having been separated from Dun Laoghaire. Mr Brennan said the initial tallies were around about what we expected yesterday morning, putting him in contention with two Fine Gael candidates in a constituency that has become a very contested battle. It put him in a strong position, he said, and the seat would mark a gain for Fianna Fail. Its the second last count so were almost there, but there is still a way to go. 5.40pm: Sinn Fein candidate Shaun Tracey has been eliminated on the eighth count here in Rathdown, his 4,382 votes will now be distributed between the remaining candidates. Fine Gael councillor Maeve OConnell leads with 8,123 votes, followed by Fianna Fails Shay Brennan with 7,908 votes. The fight for the final seat has still not been made clear, with suspense now rising here in Rathdown. Independent Michael Fleming has 6,291 votes, just 47 votes ahead of Social Democrats candidate Sinead Gibney, who has 5,480 votes. Green Party minister Catherine Martin is in danger of being eliminated in this next count if she cannot bridge the gap based on transfers from Sinn Feins Shaun Tracey. She is 811 votes behind independent candidate Michael Fleming and 764 votes behind Ms Gibney. 4.20pm: A recheck of the seventh count in Rathdown has found a discrepancy in the results. Fianna Fail's Shay Brennan should have received 300 more votes in the re-distribution of Aontu candidate Liam Coughlan's votes, while the second look has also found that Sinead Gibney received 296 less votes than had first been counted. The amended results do not change that Labour candidate Lettie McCarthy has been eliminated in the seventh count, but it has widened the gap between independent Michael Fleming and Social Democrats candidate Sinead Gibney. There are now 647 votes between the two candidates. There are 1,301 votes between Mr Fleming and Green Party minister Catherine Martin. The redistribution of votes from Labour's Lettie McCarthy could be crucial in determining whether Ms Martin will remain roughly in contention or if her re-election is outside the realm of possibility. Count 8 is now underway with three seats left to fill. 3.45pm: The recheck appears to be coming to a close here in Rathdown. Counters were positioned in groups of two, one looked over the order of preferences on the ballot before passing it to the other to take another look. The returning officer in Rathdown is expected to make an announcement shortly on where things currently stand. 2.30pm: A recheck of Count 7 is due to begin shortly, with experienced counters drafted in to take a second look at the results after Fianna Fail flagged a discrepancy between their tallies and the outcome. Preparations underway for a recheck in Rathdown. The Fianna Fail team had tallied that councillor Shay Brennan would receive 398 votes from Mr Coughlan but received 102 votes in the official count. 1.20pm: The Fianna Fail team in Rathdown are seeking a recheck of votes in most recent count as they said they have tallied a larger redistribution of votes for councillor Shay Brennan from Aontus Liam Coughlan than were received in the last count. 1.10pm: Labour councillor Lettie McCarthy has been eliminated on the seventh count, having received 3,480 votes that could prove crucial in deciding the fate of the final seat. Independent councillor Michael Fleming, who received more than double the quota of necessary votes at the local elections in June, received a huge 833 votes from the distribution of Aontu candidate Liam Coughlans votes. He has leapfrogged Social Democrats candidate Sinead Gibney by 358 votes, but she is expected to benefit substantially from Labour candidate Lettie McCarthys redistribution. Green Party minister Catherine Martin could also benefit from these transfers, as all three parties are likely to target the same left-leaning voter base. 12.30pm: There are just 45 votes between Social Democrats candidate Sinead Gibney and independent councillor Michael Fleming as we enter the seventh count, proving the contest for the final seat will be a nail-biter and heavily dependent on transfers. Green Party minister Catherine Martin is now 608 votes behind Ms Gibney and 563 votes behind Mr Fleming. Her path to re-election has narrowed with each count. Aontu candidate Liam Coughlan was eliminated in the sixth count. It is unlikely Ms Martin can expect enough transfers from his 170 votes to bring her closer into contention. While ex-Fine Gael independent candidate Alan Shatter received just 10 votes in the re-distribution of Neale Richmond's surplus votes yesterday, the distribution of his votes gave Fine Gael councillor Maeve O'Connell a surge of 582 votes. There are three seats left to fill, with Fianna Fail's Shay Brennan and Fine Gael's Maeve O'Connell making progress towards the quota. Things have picked up pace significantly here in Ballinteer Community School. Here is how we are fixed in Rathdown after the sixth count: Shay Brennan (FF) - 7199 Liam Coughlan (Aon) - 2267 ELIMINATED Michael Fleming (IND) - 5035 Sinead Gibney (SD) - 5080 Catherine Martin (GP) - 4472 Lettie McCarthy (LAB) - 3382 Maeve O'Connell (FG) - 7440 Shaun Tracey (SF) - 3976 11.30am: Former Fine Gael justice minister Alan Shatter has been ruled out of the running in the fifth count, having receiving 1,925 votes in total which will now be re-distributed. Mr Shatter ran in this race as an independent and lost his seat in 2016, when he was leapfrogged in a strong performance at the polls by Catherine Martin, who became a first-time Green Party TD. Ms Martin went on to top the poll here in 2020, but has been left, alongside her party colleagues, struggling to make the same impact as four years ago. 11.15am: Fianna Fail candidate Elaine Dunne has been eliminated on the fourth count in Rathdown as Green Party Minister Catherine Martin continues to trail two candidates in the fight for a seat. The redistribution of People Before Profit candidate Siomha Ni Aonghusa's votes has allowed for Social Democrats candidate Sinead Gibney to overtake independent Michael Fleming in the race for the embattled final seat. Ms Gibney benefitted substantially with 643 votes, bringing her to 4,939 in total. Labour candidate Lettie McCarthy received 114 votes, while Sinn Fein candidate Shaun Tracey received 306 votes. Green Party minister Catherine Martin received just 87 votes, bringing her total to 4,262, meaning the gap between herself and Ms Gibney has widened to 677 votes. Independent Michael Fleming also remains ahead of Ms Martin by 384 votes. The next counts will be crucial as her path to re-election still appears in doubt. Ms Dunne's running mate Shay Brennan remains well-placed to take the third seat here, while Fine Gael's Maeve O'Connell is expected to take the second seat. Things are moving quickly here in Rathdown this morning, another count result is expected shortly. 10am: Another day of counting has resumed here in Ballinteer Community School as we begin to work towards the rest of the result in Rathdown. Fine Gael junior minister Neale Richmond was re-elected on the first count yesterday. People Before Profits Siomha Ni Aonghusa was eliminated after the third count, just before counting was adjourned last night. It is expected that her transfers will favour Social Democrats candidate Sinead Gibney, who is among those vying for the final two seats alongside Fianna Fails Shay Brennan, independent Michael Fleming and Green Party minister Catherine Martin. It became clear quite early on Saturday morning, as tally results rolled in across the country, that the Green Party were going to have a difficult few days ahead. Whenever safe seats were discussed by the party in the weeks leading up to polling day, those of Ossian Smyth in Dun Laoghaire, party leader Roderic OGorman in Dublin West and minister Catherine Martin here in Rathdown were all pointed to. Mr Smyth lost his seat yesterday, while both Mr OGorman and Ms Martin have been left fighting for the final seats in their constituencies. The quota is 9,752. Fine Gael councillor Maeve OConnell is expected to take the next seat, followed by Fianna Fails Shay Brennan. The final seat will be a tense battle, with independent Michael Fleming currently in the lead with 4,582 votes, followed by Social Democrats candidate Sinead Gibney with 4,296 and Ms Martin with 4,175. Transfers remain the key to victory here in Rathdown. **** 11.30pm: Counting has been suspended here in Rathdown until 10am tomorrow morning following the results of the third count, which saw the elimination of People Before Profit candidate Siomha Ni Aonghusa. Her 1,351 votes will be redistributed tomorrow morning. 10.45pm: The redistribution of the 292 surplus votes of Neale Richmond has resulted in the elimination of Independents, Kevin Daly and Conor Murphy and National Party candidate Garrett McCafferty in the second count. The largest beneficiary of Mr Richmonds surplus was, as expected, his running mate Maeve OConnell with 198 votes. 9.15pm: As the dust settles after the first count, here are the full results as counting staff work to redistribute Mr Richmonds surplus of 292 votes. Candidates are battling it out to reach the quota of 9,752 votes. Turnout was 61pc in Rathdown, with a total valid poll of 48,759. Shay Brennan (FF) 5913 Liam Coughlan (Aon) 1808 Kevin Daly (IND) 253 Elaine Dunne (FF) 1417 Michael Fleming (IND) 4380 Sinead Gibney (SD) 4277 Catherine Martin (GP) 4146 Garrett McCafferty (NP) 367 Lettie McCarthy (LAB) 3043 Conor Murphy (IND) 66 Siomha Ni Aonghusa (PBP) 1336 Maeve O'Connell (FG) 6375 Neale Richmond (FG) 10044 Alan Shatter (IND) 1783 Shaun Tracey (SF) 3551 8.45pm: Fine Gael junior minister Neale Richmond has been re-elected on the first count, topping the poll with 10,044 first preference votes. Speaking after his election and surpassing the quota of 9,752 by 292 votes, Mr Richmond said he was lucky to be backed by his team of supporters through an exhaustive campaign. "Myself and Maeve OConnell were given a very clear task by Simon Harris, to deliver two seats here and it looks like we will. Personally, obviously, Im chuffed and hopefully we will see a lot more Fine Gael seats elected over the next couple of hours and days, he said. Mr Richmond, who grew up "500 metres from the count centre at Ballinteer Community School, said he fully expects his running mate Ms OConnell to be elected as the pair ran a united campaign in their constituency. "We ran a really united ticket that delivered two seats for Fine Gael in Dublin Rathdown again even though many people said that we couldnt do it. 6pm: A first count looks imminent in Rathdown as Green Party minister Catherine Martin has said it has been a "disappointing day" for her party. Speaking to reporters as she arrived at the count centre, she said her seat remains in the "hands of the electorate" after initial tallies of first preferences placed her in sixth-place in her constituency of Rathdown. She thanked those who voted for her in what has become a "very, very tight" race in her constituency. "It's very, very tight here (in Rathdown) but still, all is to play for but we will have to see what unfolds in the next few counts." Asked what she believes may have "gone wrong" for the party, Ms Martin said she believes it could be "the old story of the junior coalition partner gets the punishment of a government". "I remember being at the count centre in 2011 when Eamon lost his seat and at that time there was a feeling or a sense that the Green Party hadn't delivered enough in that government. I certainly felt coming into this election that we had a track record of delivery and certainly punched above our weight." She said she had been "hopeful" that the party would have retained seats in this election, adding that the party remains "in contention" for her own seat and for the seats held by party leader Roderic O'Gorman and Dun Laoghaire incumbent Ossian Smyth. "They are very tight, tight battles. I felt throughout the campaign that there was no anger on the doorsteps and I congratulate all the candidates actually on really terrific campaigns, very respectful campaigns in Dublin Rathdown by everybody too. We'll see what happens but its a very, very disappointing day for the Green Party and my heart goes out to everyone, all of the candidates. "We ran in every single constituency and it's a tough day but this has happened before and we will come back and we will come back stronger than ever before, that I can be sure of." She said climate action did not feature in the campaign even though constituents had raised the issue on the doors, adding that she is "proud" of her work and the work of the Green Party in government. Ms Martin said there was a warm reception on doors but "maybe it was just a case of the smaller party get edged out". "I am incredibly proud to be here having represented Rathdown," she said, adding that the fate of the party is "in the hands of the electorate and I respect that". She said the issue of climate is "much more important than us as a political party". "I was in the hands of the electorate and I'm still in the hands of the electorate," she said, adding that the Green party term in government was "challenging at times" but it was also "rewarding". "It is an absolute privilege to serve at Cabinet and be one of the few women, I was very conscious of that at all times. I never forgot that honour and every day I've been in Leinster House I look back and go 'It's an honour to be here'." Ms Martin said she was surprised by the scale at which the Green Party appears to be struggling across the country as counting continues. She paid tribute the Green Party teams working on campaigns across the country, adding that even as the exit poll results came in last night that she believed the party would maintain at least "5 or 6 seats" but the party is now looking at three tight contests in Dublin. 4pm: Rathdown is still counting in a quiet Ballinteer Community School. Conversation has turned to speculation over when the first count can be expected a fairly inexact science. 2.20pm: There is a sense of calm before the storm as the count chugs steadily onwards in Rathdown, with Fine Gael junior minister Neale Richmond expected to top the poll. It is a conclusion foreseen since ballot boxes were first opened this morning, with the real race beginning once transfers enter the state of play after the first count later today. His running mate Maeve OConnell is well placed to take the second seat. The count continues in Ballinteer Community School as Rathdown looks to elect four TDs. 1pm: Counters have taken a break here in the hall of Ballinteer Community School, with party supporters making peace with the results of their tallies before the official outcome of the first count rolls in later this afternoon. The electorate in Rathdown has often dealt the blows of what can only be described as a mild curse of the minister in elections past, with sitting Media minister Catherine Martin likely to now face an uphill battle for the final seat in this four-seater with a sixth-place finish in the tallies with 8pc of first preferences. Transport minister Shane Ross lost his seat in Rathdown four years ago, while former justice minister Alan Shatter also lost his seat here in 2016. It remains to be seen whether Ms Martin will be the latest casualty of this curse, having been the one to benefit from Mr Shatters loss eight years ago when she was first elected to the Dail. 12pm: We are close to a full tally in Rathdown, with 99pc of the boxes open and a clear trend emerging for Fine Gael based on first preferences. Junior minister Neale Richmond looks likely to take 20pc, now followed by his running mate Maeve OConnell on 13pc. It shows signs of two seats for Fine Gael here once our first count is completed and transfers are taken into account. Fianna Fail candidate Shay Brennan is on 12pc, followed by both independent Michael Fleming and Social Democrats candidate Sinead Gibney on 9pc. Catherine Martin is still in the race with 8pc of first preferences based on these tallies, but she could face an uphill battle for the final seat and be more reliant on transfers than anticipated. Sinn Feins Shaun Tracey is on 7pc, followed by Labours Lettie McCarthy on 6pc. Dublin Rathdown's four TDs. Tallies indicate first major wins and casualties in tight race 11.10am: Tallies are showing it will be a tight race in Rathdown as first preferences are keeping multiple candidates in with a fighting chance of a seat, including Green Party minister Catherine Martin. With 66pc of the boxes opened, Neale Richmond continues to lead based on tallies with 21pc of the first preference vote share. He is followed by Fianna Fail candidate Shay Brennan on 12pc, who is closely followed by independent Michael Fleming on 10pc and Social Democrat Sinead Gibney, Green Party minister Catherine Martin and Sinn Feins Shaun Tracey all on 9pc. Fine Gael councillor Maeve OConnell has an 8pc share of first preferences based on these tallies and she will be expected to benefit from the transfers of her running mate on the ticket, Mr Richmond. Former Fine Gael minister Alan Shatter, who is running as an independent, does not appear to be fulfilling the disruptive role he was initially cast in when he announced his candidacy. Based on first preference tallies, Mr Shatter is performing at around 4pc. Transfers will be the key to victory in Rathdown. 10.25am: Initial tallies are being calculated as parties and supporters keep a close eye on the counting here. Tally people have told each other it is early days when others have optimistically pointed to strong first preference showings for their candidates in boxes across the constituency. Although just 24pc of the boxes have been opened, initial tallies show Fine Gael minister Neale Richmond leading the pack with around 21pc of first preferences, followed by Fianna Fail councillor Shay Brennan with 14.3pc, Social Democrats candidate Sinead Gibney on 10pc, Green Party minister Catherine Martin on 9.8pc and Sinn Fein candidate Shaun Tracey on 9.2pc. Turnout is around 59pc based on these initial tallies. There are candidates here which will do better in some parts of the constituency over others. A local election poll topper like independent Michael Fleming is a prime example of this, who appears to be polling well in his own local electoral area of Glencullen-Sandyford. It remains to be seen whether his local success can translate across the constituency. Counting begins in Ballinteer Community School. 9am: Boxes have been opened in Rathdown The ballot boxes have now been opened in Ballinteer Community School, where the constituency of Rathdown will soon return four seats to the Dail. There are just two incumbent candidates seeking re-election in Green Party minister Catherine Martin and Fine Gael junior minister Neale Richmond after Fine Gaels Josepha Madigan left politics and an additional seat was added to the constituency. Tally people have received their instructions and will be keeping a close eye on first preference votes throughout the morning to see which way the wind has blown in Rathdown. While both incumbents have been considered safe throughout the election campaign, the remaining two seats will make for an interesting contest. Former Fine Gael minister Alan Shatter has run in this election as an independent, while Fianna Fail councillor Shay Brennan will be looking to make a gain for the party in this constituency alongside his running mate Elaine Dunne. Local councillor Michael Fleming, who was elected to the local council in June with more than double the necessary quota of votes, has been among the favourites to pick up the new fourth seat in Rathdown. Social Democrats candidate Sinead Gibney, the former chief commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission who raised her profile in the European elections earlier this summer, and the Labour Partys well-tested local poll topper Lettie McCarthy also cannot be ruled out. It all remains to play for in Rathdown as counting begins and the early tallying gets underway. John Tolkien's iconic novel The Lord of the Rings continues to inspire artists, creators, and architects around the world. Recently, a new tourist development for the Gulf of Aqaba was announced. The project deeply resembles the motifs of the popular film adaptation. ADVERTISIMENT As part of the highly controversial NEOM megacity project, Saudi leaders have unveiled plans for Siranna, a new hexagonal-column hotel with 65 rooms and 35 private residences. The details were reported by the Mirror. Fans of the Lord of the Rings world quickly noticed the similarity of the building to Minas Tirith - a white walled fortress rising above the dusty plains and built into the mountain. "Siranna is an example of NEOMs uncompromising efforts to create spaces in nature that support sustainable future living and nurture creativity, while offering the ultimate luxury hospitality experience," NEOM said in a statement on its website. ADVERTISIMENT In addition to the original design, the hotel will have a beach club, a wellness center and a spa. Designed by Woods Bagot, the surrounding landscape of Siranna includes cliffs and nature trails. Although the exact cost of the extremely ambitious hotel has not been made public, the NEOM project is estimated to come in at between $1 trillion and $1.5 trillion. That's more than Saudi Arabia's massive public investment fund, which stood at $925 billion as of July of this year. "As NEOM enters a new phase of delivery, this new leadership will ensure operational continuity, agility and efficiency to match the overall vision and objectives of the project," Neom said in a statement. In total, the NEOM project is to include 10 regions, including an octagon-shaped port city called Oxagon, a mirror megacity called The Line, and an island resort called Sindalah. ADVERTISIMENT In recent months, many have been criticizing the project over its human rights. ALQST reported that 21,000 workers have died since the broader Vision 2030 project began in Saudi Arabia in 2016. In October, an ITV documentary titled Kingdom Uncovered: Inside Saudi Arabia also claimed that around 100,000 people have gone missing since the launch of Vision 2030 plans. According to Reuters, project managers worked under extremely tight deadlines, but still had to face some delays. Earlier this year, experts from the UN Human Rights Council expressed "alarm" about the execution of workers. Saudi Arabia denied these allegations, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the ruler of the Kingdom, promised to spend trillions to improve the country's international image. Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events. Seats Filled: 5 8:20pm As the 11th and final count concludes People Before Profit's Paul Murphy and Labours Ciaran Ahern have both been elected after exceeding the quota at 9,928 and 11,349 respectively. Murphy managed to gain a massive surplus of 1,411 while Murphy trailed behind slightly at 396. 7.30pm Dublin South-West: Fianna Fail's John Lahart has been elected. Fianna Fail TD John Lahart has been re-elected after achieving an impressive 4,016 transfers following the elimination of his running mate Theresa Costello. Count ten also saw Labour's Ciaran Ahern pick up 725 transfers reaching 9,958 votes still short of the 11,138 needed to win. Trailing behind him is Paul Murphy who managed to achieve a sizeable number of transfers after count nine of 2,311 following the elimination of Sinn Fein councillor Niamh Whelan. There are two seats left to fill, with Ciaran Ahern and Paul Murphy favoured to land them. The state of play for now is as follows: Ciaran Ahern 9958 (725) Alan Edge 7563 (635) Paul Murphy 9532 (513) 6:15pm Fianna Fails Theresa Costello has been eliminated on the ninth count here at Weston Airport with her impressive 6,695 votes to be distributed. Her running mate John Lahart needs 1,340 votes to reach the quota a feat most believe he is capable of achieving. As it stands: Ciaran Ahern 9213 (435) Alan Edge 6928 (844) John Lahart 9798 (126) Paul Murphy 9019 (2311) 4:49pm No candidate has been elected on the 8th count, however, Councillor Niamh Whelan of Sinn Fein has been eliminated with her 5,192 set to be distributed. As of the now the results are as follows: Ciaran Ahern 8778 (252) Theresa Costello 6406 (546) Alan Edge 6084 (88) John Lahart 9672 (413) Paul Murphy 6708 (42) 4:10pm Fine Gaels Colm Brophy has been elected on the 7th count with 12,498 votes after securing a whopping 3,455 transfers. Brophy, who was joined by his wife Fine Gael Councillor Maeve OConnell who was also elected in Dublin Rathdown, said that hes delighted with the result and mentioned working with like-minded parties to form a government. "Obviously we had an outgoing partner in Fianna Fail.. and we can also talk to likeminded independents, he said. 2:30pm Sinn Feins Sean Crowe has been re-elected on the sixth count after surpassing the quota of 11,138 with 11,226 votes in total. Meanwhile, Fine Gael are confident incumbent Colm Brophy with his 9043 will get elected on the next count. Speaking after his victory Crowe said that he is delighted and mentioned that his party would be open to forming a government. "Theres a lot of things we need to do we fought this election, we fought for change and people are still there that want to see that change happen, he said. When asked how the party would recover some of the lost support from the previous election he mentioned that the party would aim to capitalise on its young membership. "I think were in a new phase, its a new dawn and a lot of new members coming in a lot of young members, he said. 12:30pm With the fifth count underway things are moving faster today than they did yesterday. This latest count has seen Aontus Soirse Ni Chonarain eliminated with Independent Alan Edge expected to be the beneficiary. It seems our prediction for where Holohans transfers would go came to pass with around 500 going to Sinn Feins Crowe who has 629 left to reach the quota of 11,138. He has been telling journalists he expects the next count to be his one. So far as things stand: Ciaran Ahern 6485 (40) Sarah Barnes 4472 (14) Colm Brophy 8751 (17) Teresa Costello 4994 (135) Sean Crowe 10509 (518) Alan Edge 4564 (620) John Lahart 8512 (41) Paul Murphy 5577 (344) Ross OMullane 4305 (57) Niamh Whelan 4398 (295) 11:15am Count 4 is underway for the Dublin South West constituency with former MMA Fighter Paddy Holohan eliminated and his 3,034 votes set to be distributed. The result has surprised many as Holohan managed to secure tow local areas in this years local elections. While no candidate has reached the quota of 11,138 a result is expected soon. It is unclear where his transfers will go with some suspecting less than 500 going mainly to Sinn Fein.. Some suspect that voters may have just voted for Holohan due to his recognition without giving transfers to other candidates. Heres how we stand at present: Ciaran Ahern 6445 (637) Sarah Barnes 4458 (156) Colm Brophy 8734 (217) Teresa Costello 4859 (82) Sean Crowe 9991 (52) Alan Edge 3944 (145) Patrick Pearse Holohan 3034 (15) John Lahart 8471 (178) Paul Murphy 5233 (97) Saorise Ni Chonarain 3148 (26) Ross OMullane 4248 (286) Niamh Whelan 4103 (22) *** 10pm It seems Dublin South West is not immune to the national rejection of the Green Party with Francis Noel Duffy losing his seat on count 3. As of now, he is the third Green TD to lose his seat. Currently, 4 out of 5 incumbents look to retain their seat with Labour's Ciaran Ahern the likley beneficary of the Duffys lost seat. Mr Duffy is the party's housing spokesman and is married to Arts Minister Catherine Martin, whose seat is in danger, as are the seats of TDs Brian Leddin in Limerick and party leader Roderic O'Gorman. It follows a disastrous day in which the Greens have already lost TDs Ossian Smyth in Dun Laoghaire and Joe O'Brien in Fingal. 9pm With the first count announced no candidate has reached the quota of 11,138. The candidates eliminated are Yan Mac Oireachtaigh (1,450) of the National Party, Independent Niall Hade (2,457) and another Independent Colm OKeefe (117). Most of the transfers are going to Paddy Holohan and Saoirse Ni Chonarain. Sean Crowe continues to lead with 9,869 votes followed by Colm Brophy on 8,498 and John Lahart on 8,263. 8pm Despite being one of the first constituencies to finishing tallying Dublin South West looks to be one of the last to announce the first count 6pm Fianna Fail TD John Lahart says he is pleased with the early election vote noting a potential 20pc vote share up from 18pc previously and a personal increase of 2,000 votes. "I'm particularly pleased there were two very strong campaigns and 20% for Fianna Fail candidates in a Dublin constituency a competitive Dublin constituency is a good day by any marker," he said referencing his running mate Theresa Costello. On the boundary changes Lahart said he would've liked to have had more time to engage with new constituents. "I would just say for myself, I'd like to have had more time to get people acquainted with me there. There was a short run in and we didn't get to every door. "I'd like to have had an opportunity to give it the proper service of a TD, so was it a positive addition, I'll have to look at the results. Theoretically, some good votes came in. And did we have enough time to work them all? No," he mentioned. 16:00: As the first count gets underway Sinn Fein, People Before Profit and other left-leaning parties can breathe a sigh of relief as the inevitable collapse in support as a result of boundary changes proved illusory. The transfer of Fettercairn to Dublin Mid West and with that over 11,000 voters many of whom are inclined towards the likes of Sinn Fein and micro left wing parties, spelled potential disaster for the likes of Sean Crowe and Paul Murphy. However, both managed to persevere with Crowe topping the poll currently at 14.8pc with Murphy coming fifth on 7.6pc. Speaking with the Irish Independent Crowe said that he is confident about the party's performance in the early election rallies, predicting a strong showing and potentially gaining more seats in Dublin. "We're doing very well. It's really good day for ourselves in Dublin. So it looks like... by the tallies that... we're going to get on top of the poll, and we're in for a shout for one of those, one of those seats with the second seat." People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy expressed gratitude for holding onto his seat despite the boundary changes. "I'm thankful that it looks like we will be able to hold on to the seat here. That's not guaranteed. There's still a lot of transfers come into play but based on what we look on the transfers and so on, I think we're about to hold on," he said. Meanwhile, politicians expected to benefit from the inclusion of the likes of Rathfarnham and Templeogue have performed well including incumbent Fine Gael's Colm Brophy coming second at 12.7pc and Fianna Fails John Lahart coming third at 12.4pc. Meanwhile, anti-establishment candidates and right leaning parties failed to reach the top with vote splitting and an incumbent heavy constituency acting against them. Former MMA fighter Paddy Holohan failed to capture enough votes in his stronghold of Tallaght despite winning both Tallaght South and Central in this years local elections. When 50pc of votes were counted, mainly in Tallaght, he was on just over 6pc. The Irish National Party candidate Yan Mac Oireachtaigh said that despite the party's performance he noted a significant increase from the last general election. "Listen, we got 2.1pc of tallies. That's what came in... I was aiming for about 3pc and because, let's be realistic here, the National Party in Dublin South West in 2020 got 0.75pc we didn't even break 1pc of the mark," he said. With 100pc of the tallies counted Sinn Feins Sean Crowe is topping the poll at 14.8 pc with Fine Gaels Colm Brophy trailing behind him at 12,7pc. Fianna Fails John Lahart is currently coming in at 12.4pc ahead of Labours Ciaran Ahern at 8.7pc Both candidates would be vying for the same affluent regions of the constituency in the Rathfarnham Templeogue region. People Before Profit's Paul Murphy, who expressed agnst over the loss of his traditional stronghold in the Fettercairn region, is polling at 7.6pc with Fianna Fails Theresa Costollo just behind at 7.1pc. 12pm: With 67pc tallied in Dublin South West Sinn Feins Sean Crowe and Fine Gaels Colm Brophy have emerged on top with Crowe capturing close to 20pc while Brophy is over 12pc. While initially Fianna Fails Theresa Costello was outperforming her running mate John Lahart in the Tallaght region, the latter has managed to garner more votes in the Rathfarnham Templogue region. Some smaller parties and independents were confident in acquiring votes, but this has not come to pass. Former MMA fighter Paddy Holohan is on just over 6pc with 50pc of votes counted mainly in the Tallaght area. Seats filled: 4 10.30pm All seats in Dun Laoghaire have been filled on the seventh count. People Before Profit Solidaritys Richard Boyd Barrett, Fine Gaels Barry Ward and Fianna Fails Cormac Devlin have secured the three remaining seats in the constituency. Social Democrat Hugo Mills was eliminated. The first seat was filled earlier in the day by Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Fine Gael). 9pm Green Party TD and junior minister Ossian Smyth has been eliminated in the fifth count tonight. Mr Smyth joins another former Green minister, Joe O'Brien (Fingal), in losing their seats in what was a disastrous election for the party. All seats filled Tallies indicate first major wins and casualties in tight race 5:57pm: Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: I hope Fine Gael will be in government and I hope to have a role in that government in some way To win on the first count with a surplus is extraordinary and its a privilege, said Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Fine Gael TD, who has become the first TD to be elected in this general election. Its a huge privilege to be elected, its a completely different level of privilege to be re-elected because people had a chance to try me out and see. The only reason I ran for re-elections was to help the children in my area. I have worked really hard to try and expand special education access in my constituency, she said. She also added that she hopes to have a role in the new government: Of course I hope Fine Gael will be in government and I hope to have a role in that government in some way. Thats for tomorrow but for now yes, Im the first TD to be elected in Ireland but theres an awful lot more to come. Lets see who they are and lets see how we move forward together. Jennifer Carroll MacNeill MacNeill spoke about how she worked closely with her constituents in Dun Laoghaire during the past few years and why she thinks it made a difference. What gives me most satisfaction is that we have expanded the number of special classes and mainstream schools in my constituency by 23 which is a 109 pc increase. We were able to get the funding for more speech and language therapists but theres more work to be done, we need to fill those posts, she said. The last five and the next five years for me will be about helping the children I repeat this because were one of the only affluent constituencies in Ireland where theres a gap. I know what its like to struggle with a child when you need more for them. If I didnt look for this second chance for any other reason, it was for that. 5:15pm: Fine Gaels Jennifer Carroll MacNeill wins first seat in the constituency The first count for Dun Laoghaire was announced with Fine Gaels Jennifer Carroll MacNeill winning enough votes to exceed the quota and securing the first of four seats in the constituency with 11685 votes. Fine Gael supporters cheered at the count centre in Leopardstown Racecourse. Another candidate from the party, Barry Ward also won a high share of the votes 8337 according to the official count. MacNeill with supporters Other candidates at the top of the list included Fianna Fails Cormac Devlin winning 8831 seats and People Before Profit Solidaritys Richard Boyd Barrett with 6795 votes. It was also announced that the remaining votes would be redistributed proportionately. 2:16pm: Aontus candidate request voters not to post pictures of ballots online When asked about some Aontu voters under criticism for illegally posting pictures of their ballots online, the partys Dun Laoghaire candidate Mairead Toibin made a request to voters to refrain from doing so. There was a lot of education about voting before the election, and one thing we always need to remind people is to not take pictures, she said, I just noticed that it was busy when I was voting yesterday and I wondered how well-supervised it was. Aontu supporters illegally breaching the idea of a secret ballot @gardainfo https://t.co/Ap6sDOXY3R Jack Nolan (@jacknolan__) November 29, 2024 With all the ballots opened for votes from Dun Laoghaire, Aontus votes have reportedly gone up from 1.9 pc to 4.3 pc. Im feeling good, my vote has doubled here, she said, We were just months old last time, and now people are much more familiar with Aontu, with our distinctive policies. Weve made some unique inroads in the last few years. Mairead Toibin Toibin also spoke about the Aontu Accountablity campaign saying, It means that if people make decisions that affect us, we should know who made those decisions and have them take responsibility for it. One of the shocking stories for me of Aoife Johnston who went to A&E with a queried sepsis diagnosis and very little was done for her, and she died there. It was well known that the hospital was overwhelmed constantly who made that decision and what happened to the person who made it? If were going to fix healthcare in Ireland, we need these questions answered. 11:35am: Richard Boyd Barrett: The left should have come together sooner, but its still a historic decline for Fine Gael and Fianna Fail Sitting Dun Laoghairie TD and People Before Profit leader Richard Boyd Barrett called the electoral counting a nail biter as there wasnt a clear left alternative. Mary Lou called at the very end for a transfer to the left with ourselves and the Social Democrats but that message should have gotten out much earlier, I think the #VoteLeftTransferLeft campaign could have made a big difference, he said. Richard Boyd Barrett at the count centre in Leopardstown Racecourse Speaking at the Leopardstown Racecourse count centre where the ballot boxes from his constituency were being opened, Mr Barrett was confident about their own results. With 65 pc of the boxes open, he follows Fine Gaels Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Fianna Fails Cormac Devlin with over 13 pc of the total counted votes. He worried that the lack of a clear left alliance had led to a smaller voter turnout than parties like his own had hoped for. We argued from the beginning that there should have been a clear left alliance, I think that would have created momentum and one consequence of that is it looks like a low turnout in working class areas and among young people which will favour the government and wont be great for the left, he said. I think for the big picture, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are still down from the last election so the historical decline of that coalition is still a feature in this election. If the left had come out clearly and told people were providing an alternative without propping up the government, the people who didnt turn out would have turned up. 10:35am: Fine Gaels Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has an early lead With 37 pc of boxes opened, tally people at Leopardstown Racecourse have already begun speculating about trends. A total 49 out of 132 boxes opened, sitting Fine Gael TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has the lead having gathered up over 20 pc of the votes so far. Another Fine Gael candidate and the partys Seanad spokesperson Barry Ward is also strongly in the running with over 13 pc of the votes. MacNeill is followed closely by Fianna Fails Cormac Devlin and People Before Profit Solidaritys Richard Boyd Barrett who respectively have 15.5 pc and 12.9 of votes calculated so far. A 57 pc turnout has been projected among the 95,462 electorate in Dun Laoghaire. As tallies continue at a steady place, a small crowd watches on patiently at the count centre in Leopardstown Racecourse. Sinn Fein's Cathy Bennett elected in Cavan-Monaghan Ms Bennett joins running mate Matt Carthy and Fine Gael's David Maxwell on the ticket, with just two seats in the constituency, and the country, left to be filled. It was elation once again for Sinn Fein as first time candidate Cathy Bennett won a seat to Dail Eireann amid wild celebrations in the Cavan Leisure when she was elected. Her supporters sang 'Oro Se Do Bheatha Abhaile' at full pitch this evening. Cathy Bennett got 3,281 votes from Matt Carthys transfers putting her on 13,383 and giving her a surplus of 1,841 to be distributed between Fianna Fails Brendan Smith and Niamh Smyth and Aontus Sarah OReilly. Niamh Smyth is on 10,856 after getting 73 from Carthys surplus while Brendan Smith got 94 pushing him to 10,616. Aontus Sara OReilly got 131 from Carthys surplus and is on 9,129 and looks like she will finish in sixth place. But, there was a heavy feeling of inevitability on the 13th count as Cathy Bennett, Brendan Smith, and Niamh Smyth relaxed with their families and friends so you had none of the quaintly manic nail biting of other elections where a delicious sense of hope and wonder filled the air. Smith and Smyth are sitting TDs and Fianna Fails vote has increased by around 600 votes while Sinn Feins overall vote is down around 2000 votes while Fine Gaels vote is down around 5,000 votes. But they will be happy to have held the seat that ex Minister Heather Humphreys worked so hard to win and first timer David Maxwell has big shoes to fill. But for those who won, it was all worth the trudging of the winding roads of Cavan and Monaghan in the deep winter was all worthwhile. But with one more count to go, Brendan Smith and Niamh Smyth look set be elected. Gerry McLaughlin Outgoing Fianna Fail TD Darragh OBrien has been elected after the seventh countOutgoing Labour TD Duncan Smyth has been re-electedFine Gael suffer major blow as Alan Farrell loses his seat to Sinn Feins Ann GravesCounting has been complete and all three seats have been filled Fianna Fail Outgoing TD and Housing Minister Darragh OBrien elected on the seventh count for Fingal East Seats filled: 3 4pm: Labours Duncan Smith and Sinn Feins Ann Graves have taken the second and third Dail seats in Dublin Fingal East. Here are the results from Count 11: Votes redistributed: 5,774 Quota: 9,475 Duncan Smith (LP) 10,265 (+2,928) Ann Graves (SF) 8,394 (+1,229) Alan Farrell (FG) 7242 (+712) Fine Gael suffer major blow as Alan Farrell eliminated, Duncan Smith retains his seat gaining seat 2, Sinn Feins Ann Graves takes seat 3. Fingal East seats filled 2.30pm: Social Democrats candidate and councillor Joan Hopkins has been eliminated on the tenth count. There was a redistribution of 3428 votes from Independents4Change candidate Dean Mulligan. Here is the results of the tenth count for Fingal East - Alan Farrell (FG) +320=6530 - Ann Graves (SF) +804=7115 - Joan Hopkins (SD) +711= 5774 - Duncan Smyth (LAB) +831=7337 There was 762 non-transferable votes. As no candidate reached the Quota of 9,475, Social Democrats Joan Hopkins was eliminated. Social Democrat's Joan Hopkins was eliminated on Count 10 2pm: Independents4Change candidate Dean Mulligan has been eliminated and Aontu's candidate Margaret McGovern's 2140 votes were distributed to candidates in the ninth count. It looks like Fine Gael will be taking a serious blow here as outgoing TD Alan Farrell looks set to lose his seat to Sinn Fein councillor Ann Graves. Alan Farrell (FG) +242 = 6210 Ann Graves (SF) +333 = 6311 Joan Hopkins (SD) +217= 5063 Dean Mulligan (I4C) +548 = 3428 Duncan Smyth +236=6506 The race for the second seat is on between Labours Duncan Smyth and Sinn Feins Ann Graves, it looks like it will be a narrow path for Fine Gael's Alan Farrell to keep his seat in Fingal East. He has admitted himself that it's "very narrow" for him to be elected. Calling it now it looks like Social Democrat's councillor Joan Hopkins will be eliminated in the next count and we may have our final two seats filled. 12.20pm: Count 8 results Redistributed: 1506 Quota: 9475 Duncan Smith (LAB) 6,270 (+509) Ann Graves (SF) 5978 (+46) Alan Farrell (FG) 5968 (+324) Joan Hopkins (SD) 4896 (+423) Dean Mulligan (I4C) 2,880 (+88) Margaret McGovern (AON) 2140 (+29) No candidate elected on count 8, Margaret McGovern (2140) eliminated. Duncan Smith is after taking the lead again ahead of Sinn Fein's Ann Graves after a strong transfer from eliminated Green Party candidate Ian Carey and Housing Minister Darragh OBriens surplus of 23 votes. 12pm: Outgoing Housing Minister Darragh OBrien has said that he would be delighted if he can work in housing again. "I have loved every day of being a housing minister, and we've made significant progress, he said. "Not everyone is seeing that progressI get that, I know that toobut I am very determined that we see through the job at hand. "If I'm fortunate enough to be asked to serve in cabinet and take nothing for granted, I will serve in whatever capacity Im asked to. "If I can work in housing again, I'll be delighted, he added. Asked by the Irish Independent what the number one priority for the next housing minister should be he said that they need to focus on "accelerating the number of homes to get people out of emergency accommodation. 11.10am: Fianna Fail candidate and outgoing Housing Minister Darragh OBrien has been elected in Dublin Fingal East. Here are the results from the seventh count, Green Party candidate Ian Carey has been eliminated. Ann Graves (SF) +191 5932 Alan Farrell (FG) +37 5644 Ian Carey (GP) + 19 1483 Joan Hopkins (SD) + 64 4423 Margaret McGovern (AON) +143 2111 Dean Mulligan (I4C) + 248 2792 Darragh OBrien (FF) +87 9498 Duncan Smyth (LAB) +139 5761 Its neck and neck at the moment for the second and third seats between Outgoing Fine Gael TD Alan Farrell, Sinn Feins Ann Graves and Labours outgoing TD Duncan Smyth 10.20am: Here are the results from the sixth count for Fingal East Ian Carey (GP): 1388 1464 (+32) Alan Farrell (FG): 5386 5607 (+199) Ann Graves (SF): 5466 5741 (+165) Joan Hopkins (SD): 4042 4359 (+66) Darren Jack Kelly (Non-Party): 900 1052 (+10) Margaret McGovern (Aontu): 1561 1968 (+25) Dean Mulligan (IN4C): 2259 2544 (+161) Darragh O'Brien (FF): 8913 9411 (+454) Duncan Smith (LAB): 5424 5622 (+68) Darragh O'Brien (FF) received the most substantial vote increase (+454), further solidifying his lead. He continues to maintain a strong position and will be elected on the seventh count if he gets at least 64 transferable votes. Alan Farrell (FG) also saw a strong boost (+199), maintaining a solid vote count that puts him in a good position to compete for a seat. Ann Graves (SF) (+165) and Duncan Smith (LAB) (+68) have been consistently increasing their votes and may be vying for the remaining available seats. Graves, in particular, has gained more than Smith in this count, suggesting her position is stronger. The overall trend shows that Darragh O'Brien is on track to secure a seat, followed by Alan Farrell and Ann Graves, with Duncan Smith and others like Dean Mulligan or Joan Hopkins possibly in contention for the final available seats. 10am: Heres what has happened so far in Fingal East In Fingal East, the race is still tight, with the battle for the third seat intensifying. Outgoing Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien is expected to be elected soon, with the count on track to continue through the day. The results at the close of Count 5 show: Darragh O'Brien (FF): 8,957 Duncan Smith (Lab): 5,554 Ann Graves (SF): 5,711 Alan Farrell (FG): 5408 Joan Hopkins (SD): 4293 Dean Mulligan (I4C): 2518 Margaret McGovern (AON): 1943 Ian Carey (GP): 1432 Counting resumes at 10am. 9.50pm: Count adjourned until 10am tomorrow. 9.10pm: The race between Labour's Duncan Smyth and Sinn Fein's Ann Graves is getting closer! Count 5 results: Ian Carey (GP): +27 = 1,432 Alan Farrell (FG): +6 = 5,408 Ann Graves (SF): +165 = 5,711 Joan Hopkins (SD): +227 = 4,293 Darren Jack Kelly (Non Party): +15 = 1,042 Margaret McGovern (Aontu): +41 = 1,943 Dean Mulligan (IN4C): +161 = 2,518 Darragh O'Brien (FF): +23 = 8,957 Duncan Smith (LAB): +105 = 5,554 8.30pm: Constituency: Dublin Fingal East At Count 4, Ollie Power (PBP) was eliminated after receiving 791 votes, his votes will be redistributed in the fifth count. From Count 3, 675 votes were redistributed from Victoria Byrne of the Irish Freedom Party (IFP), with 51 non-transferable papers. Sinn Fein's Ann Graves has now surpassed Labour's Duncan Smith with shy of 100 votes in the difference which has the TD looking a little nervous. It's all still to play for here in Fingal East Candidate Results at Count 4: Ian Carey (GP): 1383 votes 1388 (Count 2) 1390 (Count 3) 1405 Manju Devi (FF): 940 votes 941 (Count 2) 943 (Count 3) 955 Alan Farrell (FG): 5379 votes 5386 (Count 2) 5389 (Count 3) 5402 Ann Graves (SF): 5450 votes 5466 (Count 2) 5490 (Count 3) 5546 Joan Hopkins (SD): 4025 votes 4042 (Count 2) 4048 (Count 3) 4066 Darren Jack Kelly (IND): 834 votes 900 (Count 2) 923 (Count 3) 1027 Margaret McGovern (Aontu): 1549 votes 1561 (Count 2) 1625 (Count 3) 1902 Dean Mulligan (IN4C): 2234 votes 2259 (Count 2) 2279 (Count 3) 2357 Darragh O'Brien (FF): 8906 votes 8913 (Count 2) 8919 (Count 3) 8934 Ollie Power (PBP): 750 votes 762 (Count 2) 774 (Count 3) 791 Duncan Smith (LAB): 5396 votes 5424 (Count 2) 5430 (Count 3) 5449 7.30pm: Here are the results for Count 3 in the Dublin Fingal East constituency: Victoria Byrne (Irish Freedom Party) was eliminated with a total of 675 votes after the redistribution. Ian Carey (Green Party) + 2 votes = 1,390 Manju Devi (Fianna Fail) + 2 votes = 943 Tony 'Theo' Donnelly (Independent) did not have any transfers, remaining at 149 votes Alan Farrell (Fine Gael) + 3 votes = 5,389 Ann Graves (Sinn Fein) + 24 votes = 5,490 Joan Hopkins (Social Democrats) + 6 votes = 4,048 Darren Jack Kelly (Independent) + 23 votes = 923 Margaret McGovern (Aontu) + 64 votes = 1,625 Dean Mulligan (Independent 4 Change) + 20 votes = 2,279 Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) + 6 votes = 8,919 Ollie Power (People Before Profit) + 12 votes = 774 Duncan Smith (Labour) + 6 votes = 5,430. 6.30pm: In the second count for Dublin Fingal East, the total electorate stood at 62,465, with 38,055 voters participating. Of these, 156 ballots were spoiled, leaving a valid poll of 37,899 votes. The quota required for candidates to be elected was 9,475 votes. Ben Gilroy of Liberty Republic was eliminated in this count. Redistribution of votes commenced from Independent candidates Fergal O'Connell and Tony 'Theo' Donnelly. Results of the second count for Fingal East: Victoria Byrne (IFP): 513 votes, plus 14 votes, totaling 527 votes. Ian Carey (Green Party): 1,383 votes, plus 5 votes, totaling 1,388 votes. Manju Devi (Fianna Fail): 940 votes, plus 1 vote, totaling 941 votes. Tony 'Theo' Donnelly (Independent): 149 votes, with no votes transferred. Alan Farrell (Fine Gael): 5,379 votes, plus 7 votes, totaling 5,386 votes. Ben Gilroy (Liberty Republic): 308 votes, plus 10 votes, totaling 318 votes. Ann Graves (Sinn Fein): 5,450 votes, plus 16 votes, totaling 5,466 votes. Joan Hopkins (Social Democrats): 4,025 votes, plus 17 votes, totaling 4,042 votes. Darren Jack Kelly (Independent): 834 votes, plus 66 votes, totaling 900 votes. Margaret McGovern (Aontu): 1,549 votes, plus 12 votes, totaling 1,561 votes. Dean Mulligan (IN4C): 2,234 votes, plus 25 votes, totaling 2,259 votes. Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail): 8,906 votes, plus 7 votes, totaling 8,913 votes. Fergal O'Connell (Independent): 83 votes, with no votes transferred. Ollie Power (People Before Profit): 750 votes, plus 12 votes, totaling 762 votes. Duncan Smith (Labour Party): 5,396 votes, plus 28 votes, totaling 5,424 votes. 5.49pm: Here is the first count results for Fingal East Electorate: 62,465 Total Poll: 38,055 Spoiled: 156 Valid Poll: 37,899 Quota: 9,475 Candidates' Results on Count 1: Victoria Byrne (IFP): 513 Ian Carey (GP): 1,383 Manju Devi (FF): 940 Tony 'Theo' Donnelly (IND): 149 (Eliminated) Alan Farrell (FG): 5,379 Ben Gilroy Liberty Republic: 308 Ann Graves (SF): 5,450 Joan Hopkins (SD): 4,025 Darren Jack Kelly (IND): 834 Margaret McGovern (Aontu): 1,549 Dean Mulligan (IN4C): 2,234 Darragh O'Brien (FF): 8,906 Fergal O'Connell (IND): 83 (Eliminated) Ollie Power (PBP): 750 Duncan Smith (LAB): 5,396 Tallies indicate first major wins and casualties in tight race 4.30pm: Outgoing Housing Minister and Fianna Fail TD Darragh OBrien arrived to a warm welcome at the Fingal East count centre. He is expected to top the poll with around 23.5pc of the first preference vote. "I have the best team in the country here, he said. "We are really absolutely delighted with the results. I spoke to the Tanaiste about an hour ago and Fianna Fail are performing well. "We are hoping the first count here will be done very shortly but its amazing to receive nearly 25pc of first preference votes in this area. "I think this is the start of a really significant chapter of history for Fianna Fail and in Dublin in particular we are doing really well, and it looks like we will retain what we have and possibly gain three or four additional seats. "I want to thank all the Dubs who have come out and supported us and we acknowledge there is many more challenges that need to be addressed, he added. Asked if he wants to continue with his work as Housing Minister, he said that if he is fortunate to be a part of a government he will serve in whatever capacity hes asked to serve in. Outgoing Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien will likely be elected on the second count 1pm: The first count is well underway with rumours that we will get results after 3pm. 11:05am: 85pc of boxes so far have been tallied here in Fingal East. 100pc of the boxes from Malahide have been tallied and 92pc of Swords has also been sorted through. 10.45am: Box sorting is progressing very well in the Dublin Fingal East constituency at the National Show Centre. With an electorate of 62,934, a total of 96 boxes are to be counted. So far, just under 44pc of the boxes have been processed, with tallies from Malahide 59pc, Donabate 50pc, Portmarnock 21.43pc, and Swords 42.5pc. Boxes in Kinsealy havent been opened yet. The current TDs, Darragh O'Brien (FF) from Malahide and Duncan Smith (LAB) from Swords, are performing strongly with 3,970 and 2,711 first preference votes, respectively. Fianna Fail staff are confident that O'Brien, the outgoing housing minister, will hold on to his seat and will likely be elected upon the first count. The race for the third and final seat is tightly contested among Fine Gaels Alan Farrell from Malahide, Sinn Feins Ann Graves from Swords, and Social Democrats councillor Joan Hopkins. Early tallies suggest that Independent 4 Change Councillor Dean Mulligan is lagging behind. There have been 92 spoiled votes so far. The first count is well underway in Fingal East at 2.30pm TALLIES SO FAR Byrne, Victoria, IFP: 206 votes (1.2pc) Carey, Ian, GP: 630 votes (3.7pc) Devi, Manju, FF: 371 votes (2.2pc) Donnelly, Tony, IND: 70 votes (0.4pc) Farrell, Alan, FG: 2,410 votes (14.3pc) Gilroy, Ben, LR: 102 votes (0.6pc) Graves, Ann, SF: 2,345 votes (14.0pc) Hopkins, Joan, SD: 1,810 votes (10.8pc) Kelly, Darren Jack, IND: 462 votes (2.7pc) McGovern, Margaret, Aontu: 731 votes (4.3pc) Mulligan, Dean, I4C: 793 votes (4.7pc) O'Brien, Darragh, FF: 3,970 votes (23.6pc) O'Connell, Fergal, IND: 53 votes (0.3pc) Power, Ollie, PBP: 304 votes (1.8pc) Smith, Duncan, LAB: 2,711 votes (16.1pc) 10am: Early tallies are giving us indications that the current TDs in this constituency notably Fianna Fails Minister for Housing Darragh OBrien is looking strong to hold onto his seat. Leading the race at the moment is Fianna Fail TD Darragh OBrien with 2,381 first preference votes, he is currently making up 22pc of the total votes counted so far. Following him is current Labour TD Duncan Smith who has a total of 1,885 first preference votes making up 17.4pc of the total votes so far. In third place is Sinn Feins Ann Graves who is looking to snap up a seat, she has 1,561 first preference votes so far. Right behind her is current TD Fine Gaels Alan Farrell who may have to battle Ms Graves for the final seat in the constituency. Also doing well is Social Democrats candidate Joan Hopkins with 10.9pc of the first preference votes counted so far. Votes by candidate in Fingal East at 10am 9am: Boxes have opened in Fingal East and the counting of first preference votes has gotten underway. For all the talk of bank heists and gangland, Gerry The Monk Hutch hasnt had a conviction in 40 years From alleged bank heists, to a seven-figure Cab settlement and a deadly criminal feud, the Monks road to politics has been anything but routine Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch. Photo: Mark Condren Robin Schiller Sun 1 Dec 2024 at 15:35 In April last year, Gerard The Monk Hutch was sitting in the dock of the Special Criminal Court, waiting to hear whether three judges had found him guilty of murder. Seats filled: 4 Sean Canney (Independent), Albert Dolan (Fianna Fail), Louis OHara (Sinn Fein), Pete Roche (Fine Gael) All seats are filled. 3pm - Last count sees OHara and Roche elected On the 11th and final count, Louis OHara has become the first Sinn Fein candidate since Liam Mellows in 1918 to be elected in Galway East. He said it was a similar story to his unsuccessful campaign in 2020 when he performed strongly in first preferences but couldnt pick up enough transfers. This time he built enough of a lead to get over the line and he took the new fourth seat in this redrawn constituency. He said he has big boots to fill with the legacy of the revolutionary Mellows. He said being elected for his party in a constituency that has been a traditional Fianna Fail and Fine Gael stronghold shows Galway East has absolutely changed. "We have supporters here who have been involved in the party for a very long time. Before it was a popular thing to do, there was a time it was a risky thing to do, to be a republican. "Im absolutely overjoyed for them. The constituency has certainly changed dramatically in that time. The old loyalties have gone to an extent and people are much more open-minded about where they want to cast their vote and a lot of them voted for change in this election. While the path to power for Sinn Fein remains unclear, Mr OHara said entering government without Fianna Fail and Fine Gael remains his partys preference. If there is potential for a government without those two parties, we need to explore that and Im sure the party is already working on that to see if it can be progressed. We desperately need change in this country, a huge amount of people voted for change and we want to get the chance to be able to deliver for them in government. Pete Roche of Fine Gael has held on to the seat vacated by the retiring Ciaran Cannon. He said he initially had concerns over the partys three candidate strategy but in the end, he was brought over the line by the transfers of Clodagh Higgins and finished with the highest number of votes overall to take the third seat. "That in itself is very heartwarming. I had concerns about the three candidate strategy initially but I certainly saw the benefits of that. In the end, on Clodagh Higgins elimination I got 4,500 plus which romped me home. "My faith in the people supporting the party down the line has been restored. Mr Roche said voters on the doors said they wanted to see Fine Gael back in government and the overriding view was the country is being well managed. "They genuinely voted for Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. Im not so sure at the end of it will there be enough to form a government on their own but positively, the policies and ideology is pretty similar. It shouldnt be as complex and protracted to form a government as it was five years ago. It remains unclear based on numbers and eventual talks who a coalition partner might be, but Labour and the Social Democrats are seen as contenders. Mr Roche said he doesnt have a preference but there is strong ideology shared between his party, Fianna Fail and Labour. "Its about having the right fit because policies matter hugely to people, particularly at a difficult and challenging time. The economy is pretty solid, what we musnt ever do is have a party that might push policies that will ultimately hurt people and hurt the nation. Declan Geraghty of Independent Ireland performed well in this rural constituency and finished in fifth. Transfers to Mr Roche from his two running mates saw Mr Geraghty lose out. Sean Canney celebrates re-election in Galway East. 11.45am Rabbitte loses seat The redistribution of Albert Dolans surplus confirmed what we have known since the first count Anne Rabbitte has lost her seat, meaning Fianna Fail will hold return just one TD here. The outgoing Minister of State for disabilities had been a TD since 2016. Mr Dolan said it was disappointing Ms Rabbitte would not be returning to the Dail and praised her for her work as a Junior Minister. He said a two candidate strategy was seen as the best way to go when the constituency expanded to four seats and Fianna Fail saw an opportunity when Fine Gael made a potential misstep in running three, but it will be just the one seat in the end. All seats are filled. First-time candidate Albert Dolan celebrates topping the poll in Galway East 10.45am Albert Dolan elected Albert Dolans wait is finally over and he now gets to celebrate a Dail seat on the same day he turns 26. Transfers from Niamh Madden got him over the line and his surplus is now being redistributed. Things should move very quickly now towards Louis OHara and Pete Roche being elected, though Declan Geraghty of Independent Ireland is still in the mix. Mr Roche has another running mates transfers for come from Clodagh Higgins. Mr Dolan said he was delighted with his result and looked forward to taking his seat. He said Fianna Fail have rebounded from 2011 when his father Michael F Dolan ran for the party unsuccessfully. Weve shown that while were in a position of power, we can manage it well. Ive never been in government before, Ive never been at the table but now Im going to have that opportunity and I want to do a good job, he said. 12.45am Wait goes into night for Dolan Were through seven counts after the redistribution of Sean Canneys surplus and the wait for Albert Dolan will stretch into tonight and tomorrow morning. He is 131 votes short of the quota with Niamh Madden of Fine Gael next to be eliminated. Its not an if but a when, but after waiting all night with family and supporters, he surely would have liked to get home to Monivea as a new TD. The count continues at 9.30am on Sunday morning here in Headford. 12am Canney elected On the sixth count, we have a seat filled at last in Galway East just as the clocks strike midnight. He didnt quite win the most first preferences but independent Sean Canney has got over the line first. The wait goes on for Albert Dolan while the longer things go on, the more they look eerily like 2020 for Louis OHara. He was consistently a few thousand votes ahead of his nearest competitor four years ago, just as he is now. But with only Fine Gael and Fianna Fail candidates left to be eliminated once Mr Canneys surplus is distributed, will the transfers dry up again for the Sinn Fein councillor? If they do, Declan Geraghty is ready to pounce and potentially make a gain for Independent Ireland he picked up 545 of Luke Silkes transfers to get over the 6,000. 11pm Five counts in, no seats filled Weve completed five counts here in Galway East and its more or less as you were. Albert Dolan has fallen around 100 votes behind Sean Canney and while theyre getting closer by the count, both are still just short of the 10,843 quota. Strong transfers from Conor Burke of People Before Profit-Solidarity and Eoin Madden of the Green Party have solidified Louis OHaras position in third on 8,608 and Sinn Fein will have high hopes of a seat for him. With the elimination of Aontus Luke Silke, the transfer of his 1,865 is seen as a crucial turning point. The votes are expected to favour Independent Ireland and Declan Geraghty, putting him ahead of Pete Roche for Fine Gael. Mr Roche will take comfort knowing transfers are on the way from his running mates Clodagh Higgins and Niamh Madden when they are eliminated. 8pm First count results The results of the first count are in at last and as it happened, it was a full recount that caused the delay. Albert Dolan has just edged ahead of Sean Canney with 110 more first preference votes (10,140 to 10,030). Unseating Mr Canney as Galway Easts biggest vote getter is an achievement in itself. Both will have to wait to reach the quota of 10,843. Louis OHara is in third for Sinn Fein at 7,459 votes, followed by Pete Roche (Fine Gael) on 5,521 and Declan Geraghty (Independent Ireland) on 5,150. Mr Roche will wait to see how much of a transfer hell get from running mates Clodagh Higgins on 3,458 votes and Niamh Madden on 2,765. Mr Geraghty is expecting a large amount of Luke Silkes (Aontu) 1,554. Fear of trouble for Anne Rabbitte (Fianna Fail) are confirmed with the sitting TD well behind Mr Dolan on 4,056. Fergal Landy, running as an independent after a run for the Labour Party in the recent European Elections, has been eliminated. 7pm The wait goes on Were still waiting on first count results here in Headford. There was optimism it could be done for mid-afternoon. That waned to 6pm, now at 7pm the earliest were expecting a result in 45 minutes at the very earliest. There are murmurings of some rechecking of votes going on and counting staff are still working hard. Fine Gaels local team have grown nervous over the chances for their leading candidte Pete Roche. They have an eye on Declan Geraghty of Independent Ireland who is close behind him, who is set to be the beneficiary of Aontus transfers once Luke Silke is eliminated. Louis OHara has once again pulled in an impressive first preference vote for Sinn Fein but much like 2020, he will be wondering where the 3,000 or so transfers hell need to get over the line are coming from. 13.30pm Dolan the potential poll topper With a final tally complete, its Albert Dolan of Fianna Fail who looks set to top the poll just ahead of independent Sean Canney. Mr Dolan was hotly tipped to pick up a seat here with a proven track record for getting a big vote out in the 2019 and 2024 local elections. He became the youngest ever Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council in June and beating Mr Canney in the race for first preferences would be another great achievement in its own right. With Mr Dolan and Mr Canney certainties to be elected, Louis OHara (Sinn Fein) is in third and looks comfortable on 13.7pc. Next is Pete Roche of Fine Gael on 9.7pc and Independent Irelands Declan Geraghty just behind on 9.4pc. Mr Roche will get a boost from transfers by way of his two running mates Clodagh Higgins and Niamh Madden and will benefit from Mr Canneys surplus once he is elected. Mr Geraghty meanwhile, is expected to benefit from the potential elimination of outgoing Fianna Fail TD Anne Rabbitte. An outgoing Minister of State, Ms Rabbitte hasnt made up enough ground in the tallies and those who tipped Mr Dolan to overtake her for the constituencys Fianna Fail seat look set to be proven right. 11.30am Anne Rabbitte in trouble? We have a tally for 57 boxes now and Sean Canney continues to lead at 34pc. His bigger early lead was down to most boxes having been opened for his area around Tuam and north Galway, so candidates from other parts of the constituency are performing better now. The potential big news early doors here is that Anne Rabbitte, an outgoing Minister of State for Fianna Fail, could be in trouble. She was trailing significantly earlier on but would have expected to claw back into contention once Portumna and south Galway boxes were opened. Some of those boxes have been opened and she trails still, on 5.6pc. Fine Gaels Pete Roche remains second in the tallies on 13.3pc and is a solid bet to retain the seat vacated by the retiring TD Ciaran Cannon. He is followed by Louis OHara of Sinn Fein (11.9pc) and Albert Dolan of Fianna Fail (11.2pc). Both Mr Dolan and Mr OHara are in their mid-20s and represent the same LEA on Galway County Council, Athenry/Oranmore. Mr OHara has the advantage of name recognition across the constituency after coming close to taking the last seat here in 2020, while Mr Dolan has more experience as a councillor and a proven-track record as a vote-getter. The Galway East count centre in Presentation College Headford. 10.15am Canney leading the way With 30 boxes tallied out of a total of 169, we have confirmation of what we knew all along health warnings for tallies notwithstanding Sean Canneys seat is safe and the outgoing independent TD is on his way to topping the poll in Galway East yet again. Mr Canney is on a massive 44pc of the more than 9,400 votes tallied the boxes being counted in the early going have largely been in his local area around Tuam and north Galway, where he will poll strongest. Next up is Fine Gael councillor Pete Roche on 15.3pc. He was expected to do best out of his partys field of three candidates and should be in line for a seat. Then comes Louis OHara of Sinn Fein, who came agonisingly close to a seat here in 2020, on 11.3pc. Albert Dolan of Fianna Fail is on 9.3pc, out ahead of party colleague and outgoing TD Anne Rabbitte. Some have tipped Dolan to overtake the outgoing Minister of State, but she should have no cause for concern yet with the boxes in her locality around Portumna yet to be opened. The state of the main parties in the early tallying: Fine Gael on 18.3pc, Fianna Fail on 11.9pc, and Sinn Fein 11.3pc. Independent Irelands candidate and Williamstown-based councillor Declan Geraghty, tipped by some to perform well in this rural constituency, is the best of the rest on 6.2pc. 9.45am Counting underway Counting is well under way and going at pace here in Presentation College Headford. A big team of tally people are hard at work putting an early picture of the first preferences together. We should have an idea which direction the wind is blowing in very soon expect outgoing independent TD Sean Canney to do very well in the early going, particularly in his local Tuam boxes. The fact that the newly elected President of the United States Donald Trump wants to appoint Joseph Keith Kellogg as special representative for Ukraine has "reassured Kyiv." That is why in his recent speeches and interviews, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been talking about the possibility of a diplomatic way out of the war. In this way, the Ukrainian leader signals to Trump that he can cooperate with Kellogg. ADVERTISIMENT This is how former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba explained Zelensky's statements to Politico. He also noted that neither Zelensky nor Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is interested in "a quick solution to end the war." "Listen to Zelensky's recent interviews, in which he says that we need to look for diplomatic solutions and we must return Crimea diplomatically, that we are not strong enough to restore our 1991 borders. This is all a message to Trump," Kuleba was quoted as saying. According to him, the Kremlin leader is lying when he says he is ready for negotiations. "Putin firmly believes that he is close to getting everything. So why would he agree to anything?" asks Kuleba. Kuleba also adds that the conditions for possible negotiations with Ukraine, which are voiced by the Russian dictator, contradict the conditions that "peace through strength advocate Keith Kellogg" should put forward to Russia. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZ.UA, the point is that Russia must provide reliable security guarantees to Ukraine, which will not only ensure peace but also prevent Russia from invading Ukraine in the future. "In short, Kellogg is exactly the kind of person that President Zelenskyy and his team can work with. Ukraine's leader is adept at adapting to changing policies in Washington, demonstrating a willingness to come to the table," Politico notes. However, "the Ukrainian leader has made it clear that he wants to work with Trump one-on-one," the publication says, adding that in his speeches about a "diplomatic way out of the war," Zelensky has already outplayed Putin in the eyes of Trump and Kellogg, who will not agree to the "diplomatic efforts" of the new US presidential administration. Earlier, Kellogg said that he would work to ensure peace through force in the Russian-Ukrainian war, while taking into account the interests of the United States. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Supporters of James Lawless who is topping the poll wait for his election with hopes running mate Naoise O Cearuil might also get in Bernard Durkan will retire from politics after serving as a TD for 42 years. Seats filled: 5 Kildare North 3pm Its all over in Kildare North with the last three candidates being elected on the 12th and final count. Reada Cronin of Sinn Fein exceeded the quota with the help of transfers from Independent Bill Clear after his elimination on the 11th count. Joe Neville of Fine Gael and Naoise O Cearuil of Fianna Fail were elected in fourth and fifth place without reaching the quota. On Sunday, the first and second elected were James Lawless of Fianna Fail and Aidan Farrelly of the Social Democrats. Kildare North went from a four-seat constituency to a five-seater for this election with Fianna Fail picking up the extra seat so that the final line-up is two seats for Fianna Fail and one each for Fine Gael, Sinn Fein and the Social Democrats. The most notable changes include the farewell to Bernard Durkan, the Dails longest serving TD with 42 years service in Kildare. Kildare North seats Election of Cronin, Neville and O Cearuil in Kildare North The Fine Gael stalwarts vote suffered from the partys decision to run three candidates but he hung on until the final count. Catherine Murphy of the Social Democrats also said farewell but by her own choice as she retired to make way for councillor Aidan Farrelly. Reada Cronin and James Lawless were sitting TDs now returned to their seats while Naoise O Cearuil will join the 50-plus new deputies who will be stepping into the Dail for the first time on December 18. James Lawless in his acceptance speech pledged that he would work with all the Kildare North TDs to get the best for the area when Dail work resumed. We have a strong team, he said. We will have our differences, we will have our debates, but when it comes to local issues we will tackle it together. 11am Bill Clear has been eliminated on the 11th count in Kildare North, two hours after counting began for a third day in the Punchestown venue. His 5,458 votes are now being distributed and the likelihood is that will take to lunchtime or beyond. The result of that could see Sinn Feins Reada Cronin over the line. She currently needs another 272 votes to reach the quota of 9505. Behind her are Joe Neville of Fine Gael and Naoise O Cearuil of Fianna Fail who are likely to take the last two seats although in what order is not clear. Bill Clear, a local councillor, did well to hold on so long without a party behind him. He represented the Social Democrats until Aidan Farrelly was selected to fight for the seat being vacated by party co-founder Catherine Murphy. Mr Farrelly was elected on the 10th count on Sunday night. **** 12.00 midnight Social Democrats councillor Aidan Farrelly has taken the second seat in Kildare North but further elections will have to wait for Monday after counting was suspended for the night. Shortly before midnight returning officer Mark Stafford read the results of the 10th count that confirmed Mr Farrellys election to the seat vacated by retiring party co-founder, Catherine Murphy, Three seats remain to be filled with Sinn Feins Reada Cronin, Fine Gaels Joe Neville, Fianna Fails Naoise O Cearuil the candidates expected to take them. Counting resumes at 9am on Monday. 9pm Veteran TD Bernard Durkan is to retire from politics after conceding he would not retake the seat he held in Kildare North for 42 years. One doesnt feel elated after a defeat, he said, but at the same time one has to accept the inevitable. These things come and when they do come, you have to be prepared to accept them and be philosophical about it and move on. Kildare North seats Veteran TD Bernard Durkan on accepting he won't be returned to the seat he has held in Kildare North since 1982 Mr Durkan, who is 79, said he had come to realise he was in trouble in the days before the election but had no intention of looking back with regret as it would poison the atmosphere. I had many, many good times, he said of his time in public life, which began he became an accidental candidate for Kildare County Council in 1974, taking the place of a would-be candidate who changed his mind. There were many challenging times to but I feel that I made a contribution and I feel like I made a difference. In public life you have to have a vocation and feel that you are making a difference. He said he would not be running for the Seanad but would have to find something to occupy himself. Im a person that would suffer from boredom easily. I like to be active and to keep going and Ill have to find some other interest to keep the brain working. He said he would not offer advice to party leader Simon Harris in the government formation talks ahead but he had general advice for all politicians which was not to make promises for popularity. I worry about public representatives making too many promises. I dont think its a good habit because invariably many promises cant be kept. He said one issue that must be the priority for the next government was housing, he said. Things cant continue as they are. It must be sorted. Mr Durkan was speaking after the first seat was finally filled in the constituency on Sunday evening. It went to Fianna Fail minister of state James Lawless who exceeded the quota on the eighth count. Hot on his heels was Cllr Aidan Farrelly of the Social Democrats, followed by Sinn Feins Reada Cronin, Joe Neville of Fine Gael and Naoise O Cearuil of Fianna Fail. Mr Durkan stood in sixth place after that count followed by Independent Bill Clear and Labours Angela Feeney James Lawless 2.30pm After four counts in Kildare North, James Lawless of Fianna Fail remains in position to take the first seat, with 712 votes between him and the 9,505 quota. Aidan Farrelly of the Social Democrats has been steadily gaining from transfers too, however, and is in second place 445 votes behind the leader. The race is quite evenly spaced as Reada Cronin of Sinn Fein is in third place, 421 votes behind him. After that the main competition is between Naoise O Cearuil of Fianna Fail and Joe Neville of Fine Gael. The Fine Gael vote is split three ways in what many viewed as a risky approach, with the party fielding Bernard Durkan, Neville and Evie Sammon. Whether they will trip each other up or deliver a landslide of transfers to help the frontrunner pass the post will become clearer in the next few counts. There have still only been four counts in the Punchestown venue after a delay due to a discrepancy in ballot numbers that needed to be resolved before a first count was called. 10am We have a white flag, declared returning officer Mark Stafford just before 10am this morning. Thankfully, he meant the white smoke of a first count result rather than the white flag of surrender from one defeated by a complex counting system. After starting the morning as one of just two constituencies in the country with no first count in, the numbers finally began flowing. As the tallies predicted, James Lawless of Fianna Fail has taken the top spot on 8,734 votes with a not-too-distant quota of 9,505 to reach. Aidan Farrelly of the Social Democrats is second with 7,611, followed by Reada Cronin of Sinn Fein with 6,806 and Naoise O Cearuil of Fianna Fail on 5,872. Fine Gaels Joe Neville and Bernard Durkan are next followed by Angela Feeney of Labour, Evie Sammon of Fine Gael, former Social Democrat but now Independent Bill Clear, Una OConnor of Aontu and Vincent P Martin of the Green Party. Leah Whelan of People Before Profit-Solidarity, Gerry Waters of the Irish Freedom Party and Caroline Hogan of Sinn Fein are clustered at the bottom while Avril Corcoran of the Irish People and Sean Gill of the Centre Party were eliminated. *** 10.15pm Counting has been suspended for the night with no first count result declared yet. Returning officer Mark Stafford made the announcement just after 10pm, telling candidates and staff that proceedings would resume at 9am on Sunday. 5pm It took a while to complete but the methodical tally of the 160 boxes in Kildare North has thrown up some intriguing potential outcomes. Fianna Fail minister of state James Lawless tops the poll with 15.4pc of the tallied first preferences which was not unexpected, but newcomer Aidan Farrelly of the Social Democrats has performed better than the pundits predicted with 13.2pc. That would put him in a good position to hold the seat vacated by his retiring party colleague, Catherine Murphy. Fine Gael are also expecting to hold a seat and possibly take a second. Incumbent Bernard Durkan is on 8.3pc of the first preferences while running mate, newcomer Joe Neville, is ahead of him on 9.5pc. Evie Sammons transfers could push either ahead of the other. Reada Cronins vote looks strong enough to hold her seat for Sinn Fein. Shes on 11.9pc of the first preferences. Naoise O Cearuil of Fianna Fail is also putting in a strong showing on 10.3pc. Independent candidates have not polled well and, in keeping with their disappointing result nationwide, Green Party candidate Senator Vincent P Martin has just 3.6pc of the vote. A formal first count is now expected some time after 6pm. 1.30pm The Kildare North count is on Half the boxes have been tallied in Kildare North and the early indications are that there will be new faces in old seats. Fine Gaels Joe Neville, who topped the poll in his local electoral area in the summers local elections, has 15pc of the first preferences, putting him well ahead of his sitting party colleague, Bernard Durkan who is on 9pc. Aidan Farrelly of the Social Democrats is only a whisker behind on 14.8pc, boosting his hopes of holding on to the party seat being vacated by retiring TD Catherine Murphy. Sitting TD Reada Cronin of Sinn Fein is polling well on 12.1pc but Fianna Fail are right beside her with Naoise O Cearuil on 12pc and James Lawless on 11.3pc. If that trend continues, Lawless could, like Durkan, be out-run by his newcomer party colleague. Catherine Murphy in Kildare North 10.50am: Social Democrats co-founder and former leader, Catherine Murphy, has said she is confident her seat in Kildare North will be held by newcomer Aidan Farrelly. Ms Murphy, who is retiring from politics, said the seat was not personal to her but was a party vote. The key objective in Kildare North was to get Aidan Farrelly elected and Im very optimistic, she said. We had a very good local election here. We ran seven candidates and got eight in. That tells you the party is very solid and its not just about me. The opening of boxes in the Punchestown count centre began promptly at 9am and the first tallies in the five-seater contest are due by mid-morning. Ms Murphy was the first of the outgoing TDs to make their way to the count venue, and was still absorbing the exit poll results from the previous night which showed Social Democrats on 5.8pc of the first preferences. Given that were contesting 25 of the 43 constituencies, the 5.8pc is very good for us, she said. Its double what we were in the last exit poll in the last general election. Itll be a long weekend for us but Im very optimistic. Im optimistic about us improving on the number of seats we have [six]. A lot of people were talking us down but we knew we were going well. She said the party would talk to everyone when it came to government formation negotiations. Weve a lot to talk about after this. We said we would talk to everyone and we will do that. We did that the last time. We spent days and days talking to others and well certainly do that again. Weve been very clear about what red lines we have but red lines wont be the extent of what wed be looking for. On retiring from politics, she said: Theres things I will definitely miss but theres many things I wont miss and I have to say, Im absolutely exhausted because weve been knocking on doors since September. But Im very upbeat too. Sean O Fearghail already elected as ceann comhairle of last Dail Champagne will have to be kept on ice for a while in Kildare South as long weekend of counting looms Twins Tilly and Pierce Stafford who are helping with the tally Outgoing Independent TD Cathal Berry who had conceded he will lose his seat in the coming counts All seats in Kildare South have been filled Seats filled: 3 (plus Sean O Fearghail) All seats in Kildare South have been filled Martin Heydon claims seat in Kildare South 5.30pm Its all over in Kildare South with two new and two familiar faces holding the four seats. Sean O Fearghail was automatically returned for Fianna Fail without a vote being cast and Martin Heydons poll-topping performance for Fine Gael was no surprise. But the outcome of a tight three-way battle for the second and third seats was not clear to the end. It was a famous victory for Labour Senator Mark Wall who regained the seat formerly held by his father Jack on his third attempt. Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh meanwhile has had a spectacular few months for Sinn Fein, taking a council seat on her first attempt last June and now becoming a first-time TD. Fianna Fail Senator Fiona OLoughlins hopes of a comeback after losing her seat in 2020 were dashed despite the transfers from elected Martin Heydon favouring her strongly. The final result was 1. Martin Heydon, 2. Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh and 3. Mark Wall. 4pm Fine Gaels Martin Heydon has been returned to the Dail for Kildare South on the 11th count. The minster of state took the first seat, exceeding the quota of 10,734 by 630 after transfers from eliminated Cathal Berry. His surplus is more than the difference between Fiona OLoughin and Mark Wall and could also get Shonagh O Raghallaigh over the line so thats what count staff are distributing now. It could all be wrapped up in Count 12. 1.20pm Independent TD Cathal Berry has said he will consider a run for the Seanad after conceding he will not hold his seat in Kildare South. While he had not been eliminated and no seats had been filled, with Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein and Labour all ahead of him after the eighth count, he said he was not in the running for the three seats. He insisted, however, his five years in the Dail had been hugely positive and left him with a hunger to do more. We have a load of progress made over the last five years and a load of that progress is permanent, he said. He cited the 30m investment in building projects in the Curragh Camp and improvements to soldiers pay and navy allowances among his proudest achievements. Getting the navy back to sea that has a knock-on effect for the presence of narcotics in towns like Newbridge, he said. So theres a great sense of achievement. My only regret is what could have been achieved over the next five years but you can still have a lot of influence outside the Dail. Who knows what the future brings? The Seanad elections are only a few weeks away and well see how that plays out. Mr Berry said the result was expected, chiefly because of the boundary changes that lost him a stronghold in Portarlington. There are a lot of independents right now and that would have diluted the brand, and a shift back towards the established political parties because of concern about the formation of the next government, he added. An ideal way to end his run would be to see his transfers go to Mark Wall, he said. Were hoping that our transfers when they come will hopefully nudge Senator Mark Wall in the right direction because hes a very good fella and from an honorable political family. He said he would encourage anyone interested in running for election to absolutely go for it . He hoped he might have opened doors for other defence force members as there were now councillors who were ex-military in a number of local authorities around the country. Military skills are very, very transferable and I would say that ideal preparation for political life. 10am Sunday has begun with two more counts in swift succession in Kildare South but still no candidate elected. Counts six and seven have concluded with Martin Heydon (FG) in top place, still steadily gaining transfers but, at 9595 votes, still a way off the quota of 10,734. There are now seven candidates remaining of the original 16 and with three seats to fill, the majority of those are going to go home unhappy. Martin Heydons seat is secure but theres a battle ahead between Fiona OLoughlin (FF), Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh (SF) and Mark Wall (Lab) for the remaining two. 11.50pm Counting in Kildare South has been suspended for the night after completion of the fifth count with still no seats filled. Six of the 15 candidates have now been eliminated: Rob Cosgrave, Edel Doran, Tom McDonnell, Leanne ONeill, Monaa K Sood and Patricia Ryan. Ms Ryan was the biggest casualty of the day. A poll-topper in 2020 for Sinn Fein, she ran this time as an Independent having quit the party in acrimonious circumstances in October. Martin Heydon is in first place with 9,407 votes but that is still a way off the quota of 10,734 so there will be several more counts before he is home and dry. Counting resumes at 9am on Sunday. 8.40pm: The first count has been completed in Kildare South and leaves Martin Heydon the poll-topper with 9,263 votes. The quota is 10,734, however, so it is likely to be another few counts before he is formally elected. Independent Leanne ONeill and Independent Ireland candidate Edel Doran were eliminated but the transfers from their votes of 152 and 123 respectively are unlikely to make much of a difference to the state of play. Fianna Fails Fiona OLoughlin is in second place with 7,489 votes with Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh of Sinn Fein close behind on 7,241. Labours Mark Wall has 6,654, Chris Pender of the Social Democrats is next with 3,157 and Independent Cathal Berry follows with 3,007 with Melissa Byrne of Aontu on 1,677. All other candidates have taken less than 1,000 votes. Champagne will have to be kept on ice for a while in Kildare South as long weekend of counting looms 7pm: A thrilled Martin Heydon arrived at the Punchestown count centre safe in the knowledge that he would top the poll in Kildare South. I wouldnt switch my position with anyone else. Im really thrilled and so grateful to so many people who worked and volunteered and supported me over the campaign, he said. Thats what I put my success down to a real team effort across Kildare South. Currently, the Fine Gael Minister of State has 21.5pc of the first preferences according to the tallies but he said the indications were that the first count would show he took an even greater portion of the vote. 3.40pm: Tallies are complete in Kildare South and Fine Gael minister of state Martin Heydon is firmly ahead with 21.5pc of first preference votes. Second place is a scrap between Fiona OLoughlin, who is looking to make a comeback for Fianna Fail and is on 17.3pc; Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh of Sinn Fein who has 16.9pc and Mark Wall of Labour on 15.8pc. The Social Democrats Chris Pender has 7.2pc and outgoing Independent TD Cathal Berry has 7pc. Melissa Byrne of Aontu is on 3.9pc, Monaa K Sood of the Green Party has 1.3pc and Independent Irelands two candidates have 2.5pc between them. A first formal count is some hours away yet. 1pm: With almost half of the boxes tallied in Kildare South, there is a clear leader but jostling due for the second and third seats. Fine Gaels Martin Heydon has 26pc of the first preferences, followed by Fiona OLoughlin of Fianna Fail on 16.3pc, Shonaigh Ni Raghallaigh of Sinn Fein on 15.9pc and Mark Wall of Labour on 13.9pc. There is a long way to go though so those figures come with a word of caution. What is more certain, however, is the difficult position that outgoing TDs Cathal Berry (Ind) and Patricia Ryan (SF) are in. Ryan, who quit Sinn Fein to run as an Independent a few months ago, has just 0.9pc of the first preferences a far cry from 2020 when she topped the poll. Berry, who lost one of his strongholds, Portarlington, in the redrawing of constituency boundaries, is on 6.7pc, neck and neck with Chris Pender of the Social Democrats on 6.8pc. 10am Counting has begun in Kildare South and two of the youngest tallypeople are also among the most conflicted in their political loyalties. Twins Tilly and Pierce Stafford, aged 12, are ticking the boxes at the Punchestown count centre, primarily watching the performance of Fine Gaels Martin Heydon. Were a Fine Gael family, explained mum, Marianne Thynne. But theyre also keeping a keen eye on the numbers one going to Sinn Feins Shonagh Ni Raghallagh who happens to be the siblings teacher at Gaelscoil Mhic Aodha in Kildare town. Pierce said the best result would be if both got a seat although it would mean muinteoir Ni Raghallagh leaving her class for the Dail. This isnt their first rodeo, said Marianne of her capable tally team. Theyve been at counts since they were very small and theyve tallied before. We did the Europeans and the local elections, said Pierce. Its not that hard and its fun watching for the number ones. We canvassed too and that was good. We spoke to people and asked them to vote for Martin. Martin Heydon shouldnt have to worry too much about his prospects in the four-seater in which only three seats are up for grabs as ceann comhairle Sean O Fearghail is automatically returned. There are 15 candidates for the three seats and very early indications from the first boxes open show that Pierces preference could become a reality with both Heydon and Ni Raghallaigh polling strong. School Principal, Thomas Sharkey with a group of Dundalk Grammar School students at the Louth Constituency count centre in Colaiste Chu Chulainn, Dundalk. Photo: Aidan Dullaghan/Newspics The count is underway at the Louth Count Centre in Colaiste Chu Chulainn. Joanna Byrne, Sinn Fein celebrating her election to the 34th Dail at the Louth Constituency count centre in Colaiste Chu Chulainn, Dundalk. Photo: Aidan Dullaghan/Newspics Ruairi O Murchu celelbrates with Sinn Fein supporters after his election to the 34th Dail. Photo: Aidan Dullaghan / Newspics Seats filled: 5 Louth's five TDs. Election 2024 update from Political Reporter Tabitha Monahan 17.15 Five TDs elected After 20 counts and two re-checks, Louth has elected three brand new TDs and returned two incumbents to Leinster House. With Sinn Fein pair, Ruairi O Murchu and Joanna Byrne, crossing the finish line on Sunday night, it took most of Monday to complete the line-up, wiith Ged Nash (Lab), Paula Butterly (FG) and Erin McGreehan (FF) securing seats as darkness engulfs the count centre here at Colaiste Chu Chulainn. Having only elected its first female TD in history in 2016, Louth returned three first-time female TDs in one fell swoop. So here are the five TDs that will be representing Louth in the 34th Dail Eireann: 14.30 Re-check complete The Re-check of the 19th is complete and there is no change so Kevin Callans (ind) elimination stands and the count moves to his distribution. 1.30pm Another re-count underway There was more drama at the Dundalk count centre early this afternoon as the 19th count revealed just four votes between Fianna Fails Alison Comyn and Independent, Kevin Callan, triggering a recheck. Callan is four votes behind Comyn and in danger of elimination after the 19th count and has asked for a recheck which has begun at the count centre in Dundalk. John McGahons redistribution fell as follows (total vote in brackets): Ged Nash =369 (10,573); Paula Butterly +2,042 (8,502); Erin McGreehan +1,166 (8,284); Alison Comyn +228 (5,686); Kevin Callan +182 (5,682). Ged Nash (lab) is now less than a hundred votes short of the quota of 10,623, so regardless of who is eliminated, the fact that both Comyn and Callan are from Drogheda should see him through with a healthy surplus after count 20. Both Callan and Comyn will be hoping Nash gains a big surplus, as many of those transfers are likely to fall their way. Independent candidate, Kevin Callan at the Louth Constituency count centre in Dundalk. Photo: Aidan Dullaghan/Newspics However, the gap to fifth placed Erin McGreehan is still considerable and she still looks likely to take the fifth seat. Paula Butterly now looks nailed on for the fourth seat. Speaking about his decision to ask for a recount, Callan said: With the recount, Im absolutely somebody that does not want to see recounts but when its four votes, I have an obligation to the people who voted for me to make sure thats actually correct. I know its taking time, and Im extremely sorry its taking time, but I have no option. If it was anything beyond that (four votes), I wouldnt but its too close. "Its an important process and people do take the time to go in and vote and make their mark on that sheet so I have to make sure that this is spot on, for them. 12.31pm We havent gone away you know School Principal, Thomas Sharkey with a group of Dundalk Grammar School students at the Louth Constituency count centre in Colaiste Chu Chulainn, Dundalk. Photo: Aidan Dullaghan/Newspics Yes, it's us, the nation might be moving on from the election but here in Louth we are still waiting to elect three TDs to complete the five from Louth heading to Leinster House and Dail Eireann in the coming weeks. The only buzz this morning has come from a visiting group of secondary school students from Dundalk Grammar School who witnessed the count process in action and then were treated to a tour of the host school by Principal, Thomas Sharkey. We have just heard the ping of the WhatsApp message to say the 19th count is coming up in five minutes. 10.20am Two down, three to go With two seats safely in the bag for Sinn Fein, the race has resumed to fill the final three seats in Louth. Ged Nashs coronation is a formality at this stage as he just needs 400-odd votes to reach the quota. Whether he can get over on the line on the next count John McGahons re-distribution remains to be seen, but he will definitely get there when either of his fellow Drogheda candidates Kevin Callan or Alison Comyn are eliminated. As things stand, Nash, McGreehan and Butterly are firmly in the driving seat, but transfers and the order of eliminations could make things interesting on the home straight. The elimination of Comyn or Callan will give one or the other a healthy boost when their votes are re-distributed. Also, if Nash doesnt make it with McGahons transfers, he too should have a healthy surplus following Callan or Comyns elimination, and if that is distributed, it too could favour the south Louth candidates, Comyn, Callan and Butterly. 01.09 Count suspended Counting has been suspended for the night following the distribution of Joanna Byrnes surplus. John McGahon has been eliminated and his 4,587 votes will be distributed on Monday morning. With three seats still to be filled, the remaining candidates and their current vote are as follows (quota: 10,623) Ged Nash (Lab) 10,204; Erin McGreehan (FF) 7,118; Paula Butterly (FG) 6,460; Kevin Callan (Ind) 5,500; Alison Comyn (FF) 5,458 00.22 Two Sinn Fein seats confirmed As expected Joanna Byrne has taken a second seat for Sinn Fein after receiving 2,077 transfers from Ruairi O Murchus surplus. The first-time Drogheda candidate takes over from Imelda Munster, who became Louths first ever female TD when elected in 2016. There will be two more female TDs representing the Wee County in the next Dail. As things stand Erin McGreehan (FF) and Paula Butterly (FG) will also be elected, although Alison Comyn (FF) still has an outside chance of taking the last seat. Joanna Byrnes surplus of 1,366 is now being counted. Joanna Byrne, Sinn Fein celebrating her election to the 34th Dail at the Louth Constituency count centre in Colaiste Chu Chulainn, Dundalk. Photo: Aidan Dullaghan/Newspics 23.00 Ruairi O Murchu elected Ruairi O Murchu took an impressive 2,815 from party colleague Antoin Watters redistribution to take the first seat in Louth. The Sinn Fein TD was elected on the 16th count. Relieved to finally get over the line the Dundalk TD said: You never are completely sure until you see the votes, I suppose, until you seem them in the boxes. "We stood three candidates and we got a really good showing. I think it was the correct strategy to do. "Would I prefer if we got a slightly higher percentage and got Antoin (Watters) across the line? Yes, but we still have great support and you could sense that when we were canvassing and its great to see it here, on the day. They are now counting O Murchus surplus, which should take party colleague, Joanna Byrne, over the line on the next count. 21.30 Light at the end of the tunnell We should have at least one seat filled after the next count, with both Ruairi O Murchu and Joanna Byrne set to win big from the re-distribution of Antoin Watters ballots. Sinn Fein added Watters to the ticket late in the day, but he performed well and now has 4,325 votes to divide out. Barring an epic shock, O Murchu will pass the quota after count 16, and Byrne may also get across the line. Ged Nash is edging closer to the quota too, but may have to wait for a couple more counts. Heres the remaining candidates and their current standings, the quota is 10,623: Ruairi O Murchu (SF) 10201; Ged Nash (Lab) 9,714; Joanna Byrne (SF) 9,358; Paul Butterly 6,359; Erin McGreehan (FF) 6,463; Alison Comyn (FF) 5,391; Kevin Callan (Ind) 5,197; John McGahon (FG) 4,440. 20:18 Yes folks we are still here. I hope you are on the edge of your seat for count 14. No candidate has been elected following the distribution of Michael ODowds votes and Hermann Kelly of the Irish Freedom Party has been eliminated. Ruairi O Murchu is less than a thousand votes shy of the quota, with 9845 votes, the quota being 10,623. On a separate note, it pays to know the electoral rules as Aontus Michael ODowds request for a re-check has paid a rich dividend as he is now entitled to claim upwards of 11,500 in election expenses, having fulfilled the requirement of reaching a quarter of a quota upon his elimination. He was a happy man as he left the count centre a short while ago. 16.29: John McGahon has arrived at the count centre John McGahon has arrived at the count centre here. Speaking briefly with the media he congratulated all the winning candidates particularly his running mate Paula Butterly. He thanked the people of Dundalk for their support and said after years in politics now was the time to concentrate on his family. MORE TO FOLLOW 16.27: Re-check ongoing Just a quick update on the re-check for Michael ODowd following count 13. It is still ongoing and while no official communication, there is rumours in the count centre that he has picked up 3 or 4 votes 14.43: Recheck granted Aontu's Michael O'Dowd. The first bit of real drama of the day following the announcement of the 13th count which resulted in the elmination of Aontus Michael ODowd. Minutes later Assistant Returning Officer, Mr Paddy Donnelly was back to the mircophone stating that the candidate for a re-check which was granted and the distribution of his votes has been suspended until the outcome of the re-check. Explaining his request, Michael ODowd stated that he is six votes short of being able to claim his election expenses to the value of 8,500. I probably wont get the votes. Im getting some dagger looks from the other candidates, he explained but agreed that any candidate in his position would do the same. 1.10pm: Nash in a Sinn Fein sandwich Ged Nash (+585) leap-frogged Joanna Byrne to become Ruairi O Murchus closest challenger as the Labour TD and James Renaghan (+423) were the big winners from the re-distribution of 1,781 votes from Niall McCreanor (Soc Dems) in count 12. It wasnt enough to grant Renaghan a stay of execution as he is now eliminated and his re-distribution is currently being counted. 12.45pm And then there 12 Heres the final 12 candidates and their current vote. The quota is 10,623. Ruairi O Murchu 8960 Joanna Byrne 8373 Ged Nash 8120 Erin McGreehan 6090 Paula Butterly 6087 Alison Comyn 5118 John McGahon 4198 Antoin Watters 3849 Kevin Callan 3677 Hermann Kelly 2842 Michael ODowd 2538 James Renaghan 1855 12.30 Paula proving transfer-friendly Fine Gaels Paula Butterly is proving transfer-friendly this morning. She picked up 181 votes from Thomas Clare and David Brennan on count 10 and then swallowed up 231 from Marianne Butler. Erin McGreehan (+204) also did well out of Butlers redistribution, as did Ged Nash who collected 373 no Dundalk/Drogheda divide there! Social Democrats candidate Niall McCreanor was the latest casualty and his vote is now being re-distributed. Paula Butterly wtaching the count with party colleagues. Photo: Aidan Dullaghan/Newspics 12.00 state of play So heres the state of play after count 10, only remaining candidates listed. The magic number is 10,623. Ruairi O Murchu 8879 Joanna Byrne 8318 Ged Nash 7747 Erin McGreehan 5886 Paula Butterly 5856 Alison Comyn 5029 John McGahon 4111 Antoin Watters 3827 Kevin Callan 3604 Hermann Kelly 2829 Michael O'Dowd 2517 James Renaghan 1764 Niall McCreanor 1614 11.20am Green Party candidate, Marianne Butler has bowed out after count 10. The re-distribution of votes from David Brennan (Ind) and Thomas Clare (Ind) saw Kevin Callan (+265) and Paula Butterly (+181) make gains. Ruairi O Murchu (SF), Joanna Byrne (SF) and Ged Nash remain on track for a seat. There are now just 30 votes between Paula Butterly (FG) and Erin McGreehan (FF) in fourth and fifth respectively, with their nearest rival, Alison Comyn (FF) some 800 votes back. The quota still hasnt been reach with O Murchu (SF) now 1,744 votes short. Marianne Butlers votes will now be re-distributed. 8.59 Day two Good morning everyone, day two counting in Louth is about to commence with the tenth count. A quick re-cap on where we are at. No candidate has reached the quota as yet, with Ruairi O Murchu leading the way at this point closely followed by party colleague Joanna Byrne. The tenth count in progress is dealing with the distribution of Thomas Clare and Ryan McKeowns votes. 23.59 Louth count suspended The Louth count has been suspended after the ninth count which led to the elimination of Thomas Clare (Ind) on 482 votes and David Brennan (Ind) on 805 votes. A little earlier, Ryan McKeown (Independent Ireland) was eliminated after the 8th count. Counting resumes at 9am on Sunday morning with the tenth count. There are still 14 candidates standing and none of the five seats up for grabs have been filled. Well be back bright and early to bring you every twist and turn in the race for Dail Eireann. 10.15pm Minister? Yes, please With a seat seemingly safe in his hands as the count goes on in Louth, Labour TD, Ged Nash said his party wants to be in government and he wants to be a minister. The incumbent TD who seems destined to regain his seat said: We want to be in government, Labour wants to be in government and I want to be a senior minister. "Our own area has never had that privilege before. Theres things we can do that can transform this area. Asked what party Labour might play in the formation of the next government, Deputy Nash said: Weve said from day one, and Ivana (Bacik) has been clear on this for the last year, the first thing we would do is assess the landscape on the centre-left, whether that is progressive parties like the Social Democrats and the Green Party and including centre-left-leaning independents, to try and form some form of progressive alliance before we would enter into negotiations with anyone. Paul Butterly (FG) and Ged Nash (Lab) share a joke at the Louth count. Photo: Aidan Dullaghan/Newspics We have big difficulties with the three main parties and they would have difficulties with us as well. "So, I think we may be some way off forming a government thats going to run this country for the next five years, the result is very, very fragmented and one of the things we have learned from this is that actually, there hasnt been much change since 2020, across the country, despite what some people might have said. He added: We are a party of government and we are party that helped to found this county and we are very, very proud of that. James Renaghan at the count in Dundalk. Photo: Aidan Dullaghan/Newspics 10.00pm Age is just a number Among the 24 candidates running in Louth there were not only candidates with contrasting politics, but also a very wide range of ages from 21-years-old, all the way to 76. The youngest candidate in the field was James Renaghan from Dundalk who secured 1,672 first preference votes. James was happy with his showing and explained his reasons for running: I think we are happy, we ran off the back anti-fascist protests over the summer. I could see unfortunately, politics across the world is shifting right and I was seeing it materialise in my own home town. "But it was heartening to see so many people coming out to defend the streets from turning reactionary. Independent candidate, David Brennan, has more than 50 years on James and fairly contrasting politics too, as a businessman who believes in an entrepreneurial approach. Despite failing to gain a seat this time around, Mr Brennan looks set to be the second highest independent, behind Kevin Callan and he he said he had enjoyed his first election campaign at the tender age of 76. Im an independent, I think I will be the second highest independent. Im obviously not going to make it but Im glad I ran. It was a great experience, Im 76 years of age and its the first time Ive ever ran. I see theres a young man here that is 21 so Ill have to get my picture taken with him. David Brennan. Photo: Aidan Dullaghan/Newspics 9.45pm Small gains With the highest number of candidates in the country, the Louth count was always going to be slow moving to begin with due to the redistribution of what are essentially small numbers. David Carroll (40), Albert Byrne (100) and Alan Fagan (116) have been divided out already, making no real difference to the race for the five seats. This trend is set to continue as the next five candidates to be eliminated dont have 1,000 votes between them: Derek McElearney (121), Peter James Nugent (149), David Bradley (161), Tracey OHanlon (239) and Ryan McKeown (308). 9.00pm Irish Freedom Party leader will be back While nationally anti-immigration candidates failed to make the mark many anticipated they might in this general election, the leader of the Irish Freedom Party said he had no intentions of walking away from politics. At the Louth constituency count in Dundalk, Hermann Kelly polled just shy of 4pc in first preferences, a long way from securing a seat but showing a marked improvement on the partys performance in 2020. He said: Given its the first run-out for myself in County Louth in a General Election, I think to get almost 4pc first preferences, I think is pretty good. Now, four years ago, the Irish Freedom Party got 570 votes so weve gone up almost five-fold in four years. "Myself, individually, compared to the European Election results, Ive doubled my vote since June. So, I think its positive. Mr Kelly has been among the speakers at anti-immigration protests in Louth but he rejected the suggestion that his party was a party of street protest. He said: I think I only spoke at one of those (protests) and it wasnt my type of thing. "We are a political party, were not about street protest. Were a political party and were looking to make progress by the ballot box and that will be our priority. People have to realise that theres no use walking up and down the street, shouting about one politician or another. People voted for these people, they may be destroying our country but people put them in there, he said. 8.45pm Heres that first count in full David Bradley 157 David Brennan 671 Marianne Butler 1504 Paula Butterly 5646 Joanna Byrne 8169 Albert David Byrne 99 Kevin Callan 3223 David Carroll 40 Thomas Clare 416 Alison Comyn 4913 Alan Fagan 114 Hermann Kelly 2546 Niall McCreanor 1547 Derek McElearney 119 John McGahon 4021 Erin McGreehan 5772 Ryan McKeown 305 Ged Nash 7594 Peter James Nugent 149 Ruairi O Murchu 8728 Michael O'Dowd 2330 Tracey Marie O'Hanlon 234 James Renaghan 1671 Antoin Watters 3767 8.33pm We go again As expected, none of the candidates reached the quota in the first count. Ruairi O Murchu (SF) topped the poll with running mate, Joanna Byrne, a close second. The tallies had the order spot on with Ged Nash (Lab) in third, Erin McGreehan (FF) fourth, Paula Butterly (FG) in fifth and Alison Comyn (FF) just outside the seats, as things currently stand. Count 2, which was David Carrolls redistribution of 40 votes, didnt take long, so on to count 3 we go. 6.00pm Sinn Fein flying high First-time Sinn Fein candidate, Joanna Byrne, turned off her phone and stayed away from the news until early afternoon, but when the Drogheda United chairperson eventually checked in at the Count Centre she was over the moon to learn that Sinn Fein again look set for a 1-2 in Louth. I'm over the moon, she said. It's been a very positive, vibrant and short enough campaign and I didn't envisage the results that are coming in front of us at the moment. But obviously I'm chuffed. I'm chuffed for me, I'm chuffed for my team, I'm chuffed for Sinn Fein, but more importantly I'm chuffed for the people of Louth. Imelda [Munster] made history in many ways and it was always a fear of mine that they were big boots to fill. But thankfully I brought my own game to the table and my record has stood to me as well. The Louth county councillor kept a low profile before arriving at the county centre at 4pm, adding: My intention was actually to put up the Christmas tree this morning. But I've been unwell. I've been in hospital this week, so I just took a few hours to rest and recuperate and stayed off the news until early afternoon. I was eager to get here as early as I could, but I also had to think of my health and make sure that when I did get here, I was able to last the pace of the evening. 5.25pm Final tally...at last! Its been a long day for tally staff in Louth, but they got there in the end and its a 1-2 for Sinn Fein, with outgoing TD, Ruairi O Murchu and first-timer, Joanna Byrne, out in front. Ged Nash looks set to hold a seat for Labour and, barring a miraculous recovery from John McGahon or Antoin Watters, the final two seats will be contested by Erin McGreehan (FF), Paula Butterly (FG) and Alison Comyn (FF). The official first count result is expected sometime after 6pm. For the record, the final tally in Louth is as follows: The final tally in Louth. 4.40pm As you were ahead of final tally Sinn Fein is still leading the way based on party tallies, which are now 92pc complete. Incumbent, Ruairi O Murchu has edged marginally in front of party colleague Joanna Byrne, but its as you were thereafter with Ged Nash (Lab) in third, Paul Butterly (FG) in fourth and Fianna Fail pair Erin McGreehan and Alison Comyn currently in fifth and sixth respectively. Again, based on tallies, Antoin Watters is now up to seventh spot, leaving Sinn Fein with an outside shot at three seats. Heres the lie of the land with the tally 92 pc complete. Still no indication when the actual first count might be, but word is it could be sooner rather than later. The Louth tally is 92pc complete as the first count eagerly awaited in Dundalk. 2.50pm Good day for Fianna Fail? Fianna Fails mission was to regain a seat in Louth and that objective appears to be firmly on track but who actually takes the seat is another matter entirely. Tallies show Erin McGreehan marginally ahead of running mate, Alison Comyn, so they do look likely to take one seat. If tallies ring true the party has increased its share of the vote by 2.64pc since 2020. Sinn Fein are down by almost 10pc and Fine Gael is virtually unchanged, while Ged Nashs solid first preference showing has Labour up by 4.43pc. Party share of the vote in Louth with 74pc of boxes opened and tallied. 1.50pm 60% tally Sorting of the ballot papers is well underway in the count centre in Louth, meanwhile we have reached the 60pc of the tally. The trend continues as previous posts, with Joanna Byrne and Ruairi O Murchu both Sinn Fein leading the way, followed by Ged Nash. Thereafter it is getting tight between the two Fianna Fail candidates, Erin McGreehan on 3197 and Alison Comyn on 3032. Fine Gaels Paula Butterly has polled extremely well across Mid Louth, her homebase and is on 3600. Antoin Watters (SF) and John McGahon (FG) are next on 2366 and 2217. However as ever, it is all going to come down to transfers and the order of elminations in later counts with the drama reserved until counts tomorrow. A first count is estimated late in the afternoon, early evening. 12.40pm While Sinn Fein will likely return Ruairi O Murchu and Joanna Byrne to the next Dail, one of the emerging stories in Louth is that their share of the vote is down 8.74pc on their 2020 vote, when both O Murchu and former Deputy Imelda Munster raced past the winning line on the first count. 42pc of the tally is complete and is still weighted towards Drogheda, giving Labour a showing of 12pc in Ged Nashs hometown. The party share of the vote with 43pc of boxes open and tallied. 12.30pm The state of play with 43pc of boxes open in Louth. The state of play with 43pc of boxes open. 12.00am The students from Colaiste Chu Chulainn are looking after the hospitality side of things at the Louth Count Centre. Colaiste Chu Chulainn students in The Food Village area at the Louth Constituency count centre. Photo: Aidan Dullaghan/Newspics 11.45am 32pc of the boxes are now open and the update below provides a better county spread of boxes. Its early days, but first count tallies show newcomer Joanna Byrne (SF) and incumbents Ged Nash (Lab) and Ruairi O Murchu (SF) in strong positions. It gets a lot closer after that with Paul Butterly (FG) and Erin McGreehan (FF) neck and neck, followed closely by Alison Comyn (FF). Antoin Watters, is also showing up well. Is a third Sinn Fein seat possible? John McGahon (FG) and Kevin Callan (Ind) wont be throwing in the towel just yet, but are trailing already. Transfers will be crucial for those fourth and fifth seats. The Louth tally with 32pc of boxes opened. 11.10am Tasty treats Its time for a tasty treat thanks to the 4th year Home Economics stdudents in Colaiste Chu Chulainn who have baked election themed cup cakes which are available from the student coffee dock. John Mulligan 10.55am Heres the first official tally from Louth, with just over 20pc of boxes opened. It comes with the health warning that the majority of the early boxes opened were from the greater Drogheda area. Early indication that the Independent surge around the country may not be replicated here, as Droghedas Kevin Callan is trailing party candidates such as Alison Comyn (FF) and Paula Butterly (FG). But these are only tallies, of course. The first tally from Louth. 10.30am Good morning, and welcome to Colaiste Chu Chulainn in Dundalk. The count centre has been a hive of activity since early morning. With 19pc of boxes open, the tallies suggest its already looking good for Sinn Fein first-time candidate Joanna Byrne, who is stepping into the breach following Imelda Munsters retirement. Official tally report due in the next few minutes, so stick with us h Sinn Feins share of the vote fallsGreens facing another wipeoutHutchs vote rocks Dublin Central Very little separates the parties led by Simon Harris, Micheal Martin and Mary Lou McDonald Micheal Martin looks set to return to the Taoiseachs Office, with Fianna Fail edging ahead of Fine Gael in a general election that will return the Grand Coalition for another five years. However, it will be into the new year before a government is formed, as the two main parties go in search of a replacement for the battered Greens. Speaking at his local count centre, Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Simon Harris said the outcome of the election was too close to call, while Mr Martin said there is a very clear route back to government for Fianna Fail. Sinn Fein performed better than would have been expected after Junes local elections, leading Mary Lou McDonald to insist she will try to build a left-wing coalition. However, in reality her ambition to lead the country will have to wait yet again as the numbers simply do not add up for her. As counts continued last night, the Green Party was all but wiped out; Health Minister Stephen Donnelly was on the verge of losing his seat; and criminal Gerry The Monk Hutch was in the shake-up for a seat in Dublin Central. Celebrity candidate Grainne Seoiges political career is over before it really begins after she failed to make an impact with voters in Galway West. Very little separates the parties led by Simon Harris, Micheal Martin and Mary Lou McDonald With the two Civil War parties taking more than 40pc of the national vote, coalition discussions will turn to the smaller centre-left parties and Independents. Fine Gael is playing down doing any business with the Social Democrats, with senior party figures pointing out that Mr Harris had called for voters to transfer to Labour. Wed find it hard to do business with the Social Democrats. They have never been in government and I dont even know if they know how to do government, a party source said. Another said Holly Cairnss party would be a nightmare to deal with day to day. Holly Cairns of the Social Democrats at Leinster House. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins If Fianna Fail and Fine Gael secure more than 80 seats, government negotiations could turn to small groupings of Independents. The plight of the Greens will serve as a warning to other small parties thinking of entering government, with the majority of their TDs looking set to lose their seats. Green Party leader Roderic OGorman, along with Arts Minister Catherine Martin and Minister of State Ossian Smyth were in dogfights to hang on. Mr OGorman said he was hoping to buck the trend of smaller parties in coalition governments suffering most in elections, but conceded it was a bad day for the Greens. Its very easy for parties on the left to look at what has happened to the Greens and say, Were not going into government, but thats not us Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik said she wanted to talk to left-wing parties about forming a significant bloc that could have a strengthened hand in negotiations with the larger parties. Its very easy for parties on the left to look at what has happened to the Greens and say, Were not going into government, but thats not us. Were serious about delivering change, and we want to chart a pathway to do that, Ms Bacik said. She added that the first parties she should seek to talk to will be the Social Democrats and the Green Party. We want to see a left block, a common platform, come together to deliver on the change we want, she said. Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik. Photo: Sam Boal/Collins Social Democrats deputy leader Cian OCallaghan said he hopes his party will be the fourth-largest in government and will enter coalition negotiations. Weve said throughout the campaign, we will talk to other parties and we will be doing that in the coming days and weeks, he said. Senior Fianna Fail sources insisted they would not be going into Government with Sinn Fein due to policy differences Fianna Fail is keen to speak to Labour and the Social Democrats. The party expects it will come away with the greatest number of TDs as we were the least transfer-toxic. Sinn Fein has broken the political hold here in this State, and two-party politics is now gone. Mary Lou McDonald said Sinn Fein had broken the political hold here in this State, and two-party politics is now gone. Her party will try to form a minority government with the Social Democrats and Labour, aiming for 60 seats. However, this is unlikely to result in a programme for government, especially with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael holding the balance of power. Mr Martin said it is too early to predict the formation of the next government, but said he wanted a sufficiency of seats that aligns with Fianna Fails core principles. He said he hoped government talks would be quicker than the months it took to form the current coalition, but admitted it will not be easy. Whatever group of parties engage in discussions during negotiations, it will mean that very detailed work will have to be done in terms of a programme for government, he said. Mr Harris took aim at Sinn Fein when he was questioned about the election results. I think thats what weve seen, a very close and very competitive election, but certainly we havent seen a Sinn Fein surge or anything like it, he said. I mean, it looks likely, on the figures that weve seen now, fewer people many fewer people would have voted Sinn Fein in this election than the last one. In fact, I think theyre down by around 5pc and, actually, the parties, particularly the two parties, the two larger parties in government, are likely to receive significant support from the electorate. So definitely, politics in Ireland has got much more fragmented. In relation to Gerry The Monk Hutch, I always buy into the very basic tenet of a democracy that the people are sovereign, whoever the people choose to elect is entirely a matter for them. But I remain to be convinced that he will be a TD. I think theres a long way to go in relation to that, and as I talk to people on the ground at Dublin Central, I dont think hes nailed-on yet at all. Scanlon returns to the DailMarian Harkin beats off challenge of ClarkeFeighan and Kenny retain seats Former Fianna Fail councillor Seamus Kilgannon keeps a close eye on the tallies. Counting of votes in Sligo/Leitrim has officially got underway. Counting is underway at the count centre in the Clayton Hotel. Former Fine Gael TD Tony McLoughlin with Deputy Martin Kenny (SF) at the count in the Clayton Hotel, Sligo. Eamon Scanlon (FF) and Marian Harkin (Independent) took the final two seats in Sligo-Leitrim Seats filled: 4 Marian Harkin (Ind) retained her seat 1am Monday The final two seats have been filled in Sligo/Leitrim with Eamon Scanlon (FF) and Marian Harkin (Independent) both elected on the 13th and final count without reaching the quota. Harkin held off the challenge of Michael Clarke (Independent Ireland) to hold on to her seat while Scanlon returns to the Dail having lost his seat narrowly in 2020. The final count is: Frank Feighan (FG) 12,241 elected Martin Kenny (SF) 11,381 elected Eamon Scanlon (FF) 10,285 elected Marian Harkin (Ind) 10,168 elected Michael Clarke (II) 9,287 The party line-up is the same as in 2020 with one seat each for Sinn Fein, Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and one Independent. 11.50pm: Shamrock Rovers' goal-scoring hero from Thursday night is here Celtic's Johnny Kenny, on loan at Shamrock Rovers, is at the count centre here in Sligo for the final stages. Johnny Kenny (second from right) with friends at the count centre in Sligo. Pic: Carl Brennan The Sligo native scored the equaliser for Stephen Bradley's men against Rapid Wien on Thursday night in the Europa Conference League, and is here tonight now as the count enters the final stages. It is expected that the 13th count will be the final one, and should be enough to elect the final two candidates here with Marian Harkin (Ind), Eamon Scanlon (FF) and Independent Ireland (II) in contention for the final two seats. 11pm: Kenny retains seat Outgoing Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny retained his seat following the 12th count. Two of the seats have now been filled in Sligo/Leitrim. Fine Gaels Frank Feighan was elected on count 11. Kenny was elected with 15,433 votes following the distribution of party colleague Chris MacManuss votes of 8,932. Kenny got a massive 5,215 of these. Martin Kenny Eamon Scanlon (FF) got 227 but crucially outgoing Independent TD Marian Harkin picked up 523 to leave her on 8, 829 and ahead of Michael Clarke of Independent Ireland on 8,318 who received 349. The 13th count is now underway and it could prove unlucky for Clarke. The count involves the distribution of Kennys surplus of 4,052 votes. Clarke is 500 votes behind Harkin and has to hope he gets more from these transfers. Tally people are predicting that Harkin will stay ahead and take the final seat. The next count should also see the election of Eamon Scanlon (FF). The state of the candidates after count 12: Martin Kenny 15,433 elected Frank Feighan 12,241 elected Eamon Scanlon 9,967 Marian Harkin 8,829 Michael Clarke 8,318 Surplus of 4,052 from Kenny now being distributed in count 13 Martin Kenny (SF) celebrates his election. Pic: Carl Brennan. 9.20pm: Feighan eyes ministerial position Fine Gael's Frank Feighan has taken the first seat in Sligo Leitrim on the 11th count, having been the frontrunner from the very early stages. The party opted to go with just one candidate in Sligo Leitrim this time, and it certainly paid off, while Feighan admits it was somewhat risky. "I'm delighted and honoured. It tells me that this country is a wonderful country, with wonderful people, despite the challenges that we face. We can face them all together. Frank Feighan takes the first seat. Pic: Carl Brennan "Democracy can be cruel, but that is democracy. I want to pay tribute to all the people who put their name forward, from all parties and none. "It was a risky strategy I suppose, however Fine Gael felt that I was a candidate that was able to get votes in county Sligo, Leitrim and South Donegal." And he has his eyes on a ministerial position now that he is the only Fine Gael TD across Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal and Roscommon. "I have a view, I was a minister in the Department of Health and I really enjoyed it. I'm the only Fine Gael representative in Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal and Roscommon so I feel now, I expect to show ambition, not just for myself but also for the constituents." No of seats: 4 Seats filled: 1 Frank Feighan has been re-elected. 8.45pm First TD elected after 11 counts Fine Gaels Frank Feighan has become the first TD elected in Sligo/Leitrim following 11 counts. He was elected with 12,241 votes, well over the quota of 11,381. Feighan proved transfer friendly right throughout the count and secured 1,177 votes from the eliminated Edel McSharry of Fianna Fail in count 11. After this count, Martin Kenny (SF) and Eamon Scanlon (FF) have moved closer to being elected. Kenny stands on 10,218 votes and Scanlon on 9,740. Outgoing Independent TD Marian Harkin and Independent Irelands Michael Clarke are locked in a battle for the last seat. Harkin has overtaken Clarke after count 11. She has 8,306 votes and Clarke is on 7,969. Sinn Feins Chris MacManus has now been eliminated and his 6,932 votes are being distributed. His votes will go a long way in deciding who gets the final seat. Former Fine Gael TD Tony McLoughlin. 7.30pm: Supporting Coolera Strandhill! Former Sligo Leitrim TD Tony McLoughlin has arrived at the count centre in his Coolera Strandhill colours after the Sligo senior champions won the Connacht Senior Football Championship today for the first time, beating Padraig Pearses of Roscommon by a point after extra-time at Markievicz Park. It's the first time since 1983 that a Sligo side has won the Connacht Senior Football Championship. They will take on Cuala in the All Ireland semi-final. McLoughlin is here to support Fine Gael's Frank Feighan who will be elected on the next count. 6.30pm: Feighan is nearly there Fine Gaels Frank Feighan got a massive 848 votes from Fianna Fails Paddy ORourke when the latter was eliminated after count ten putting him just shy by 317 votes of the 11,381 quota. Poll topper Feighan should be elected on count 11. Count ten also saw Martin Kenny (SF) get boosted by 1,020 votes in transfers from fellow Leitrim man ORourke while 977 votes when to fellow Fianna Fail candidate Eamon Scanlon. Its now down to just six candidates in Sligo with Edel McSharry now eliminated as count 11 gets underway. McSharrys 6,698 votes will have a big say on whether Michael Clarke of Independent Ireland or Marian Harkin (Ind) gets the final seat. Sinn Fein will not get a second seat with Chris MacManus next up for elimination Result after count 10: Frank Feighan 11, 064 Martin Kenny - 9,947 Michael Clarke - 7,573 Eamon Scanlon 7,312 Marian Harkin - 7,145 Chris MacManus - 6,698 Edel McSharry - 6,062 5pm: Harkin and Clarke to battle for final seat As the Sligo/Leitrim count enters its final few counts, its becoming clear that the final seat will be between outgoing TD Marian Harkin (Ind) and Independent Ireland candidate Michael Clarke. Following the 9th count which saw the distribution of Marie Casserllys 3,480 votes, the candidates are edging towards taking the seats. Seven are now left in the field. Harkin has closed the gap on Clarke to around 500 votes. The next two candidates to be eliminated are both from Fianna Fail, Paddy ORourke and Edel McSharry and their transfers will have a big say on who wins the final seat. Paddy ORourke (FF) has now been eliminated and his 4,406 votes are now being distributed which should boost Eamon Scanlon (FF) and fellow Leitrim candidate Martin Kenny (SF). The state of the parties after the 9th count is: Frank Feighan 10,216 Martin Kenny - 8,927 Michael Clarke - 7297 Marian Harkin - 6791 Chris MacManus - 6847 Eamon Scanlon 6,335 Edel McSharry - 5390 Paddy O'Rourke - 4360 Marie Casserly - 3480 Sligo - Leitrim Returning Officer Paraic O'Grady. 3.20pm Down to eight candidates in Sligo/Leitrim Eight candidates remain in Sligo/Leitrim following the conclusion of count 8 which saw the elimination of Labours Nessa Cosgrove and distribution of her 2,846 votes. Frank Feighan (FG) got 426, Marian Harkin got (558) and Marie Casserly (Ind) (586). Casserly has now been eliminated and tthe Grange based councillors 3,480 votes are now being distributed. No candidate is close to the quota of 11,381 with poll topper Frank Feighan of Fine Gael the closest on 9,743 and along with Martin Kenny of Sinn Fein and Eamon Scanlon (FF) are favourites to fill the seats. Outgoing Independent TD Marian Harkin remains very much at risk of losing her seat to Independent Irelands Michael Clarke though a case can still be made for Sinn Feins second candidate Chris MacManus. Fianna Fails Edel McSharry has too much to make up at this stage it would appear to win a second seat for Fianna Fail. The numbers after count 8: Frank Feighan - 9743 Martin Kenny - 8717 Michael Clarke - 6879 Chris MacManus - 6369 Eamon Scanlon 6,137 Marian Harkin - 5688 Edel McSharry - 4948 Paddy O'Rourke - 4360 Marie Casserly - 3480 2.10pm: Count seven complete, no-one elected yet We're flying through the counts now in the Clayton Hotel in Sligo, some of us had even skipped out for lunch and got caught having to rush back to catch count 7. PBP's Gino O'Boyle's 1954 votes have given a big boost to candidates on the left, with Sinn Fein's Martin Kenny and Chris MacManus the beneficiaries, MacManus receiving 655 votes on this occasion. Marian Harkin is still in with an outside chance, and she will be the big winner of Marie Casserly's vote when she is eliminated. Labour's Nessa Cosgrove has been eliminated, and it's likely that her votes will boost the two Sinn Fein candidates again. Here's how it stands: Frank Feighan - 9317 Martin Kenny - 8431 Michael Clarke - 6785 Eamon Scanlon 6059 Chris MacManus - 6042 Marian Harkin - 5130 Edel McSharry - 4673 Paddy O'Rourke - 4329 Marie Casserly - 2894 Nessa Cosgrove - 2846 1pm: Count six done (L-R), Finbar Diamond, Seamus Kilgannon, Keith Henry and Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, CLLR. Declan Bree. Count six has been completed in Sligo with Independent Irelands Michael Clarke and outgoing Independent TD Marian Harkin making the most gains from the elimination of Aontus Graham Monaghan and the distribution of his 1,425 votes. Clarke is edging towards 7,000 votes and an historic seat for Independent Ireland with Harkin also gaining ground keeping her ahead of Edel McShary (FF) and getting closer to Chris MacManus of Sinn Fein though she remains an outsider to take the final seat Clarke remains favourite to take the final seat after Feighan (FG), Kenny (SF), Scanlon (FF). No candidate is near the quota of 11,381 and the 7th count is now underway with the elimination of Gino OBoyle (PBP) and the distribution of his 1,954 votes. There are 11 candidates remaining. Frank Feighan (FG) 9,278 Martin Kenny (SF) 8,173 Michael Clarke (II) 6,697 Eamon Scanlon (FF) 6,027 Chris MacManus (SF) 5,387 Edel MacSharry (FF) 4,950 Marian Harkin (Ind) 4,602 Paddy ORourke (FF) 4,310 Marie Casserly (Ind) 2,726 Nessa Cosgrove (Lab) 2,527 12.15 pm Count five has been completed which outgoing Independent TD Marian Harkin will draw some comfort from as she overtakes Fianna Fail candidate Edel McSharry. The state of the candidates now with 12 remaining after count 5. Graham Monaghan of Aontu has now been eliminated and his 1,425 votes are being distributed. Feighan, Kenny and Scanlon remain favourite but Harkin will be pleased to have overtaken McSharry and will be hoping for big transfers from Casserly and Cosgrove also from Sligo to push her closer to Clarke. Frank Feighan (FG) 9,213 Martin Kenny (SF) 8,056 Michael Clarke (II) 6,330 Eamon Scanlon (FF) 5,965 Chris MacManus (SF) 5,276 Edel MacSharry (FF) 4,560 Marian Harkin (Ind) 4,678 Paddy ORourke (FF) 4,272 Marie Casserly (Ind) 2,631 Nessa Cosgrove (Lab) 2,487 Gino OBoyle (PBP) 1,862 11.30: Count four finished with 13 candidates now remaining Independent County Leitrim candidate Des Guckian has been eliminated following the conclusion of count four. His 991 votes are now being distributed. 13 candidates now remain in the field. The state of the count is: Frank Feighan (FG) 9,103 Martin Kenny (SF) 7,867 Michael Clarke (II) 6,213 Eamon Scanlon (FF) 5,952 Chris MacManus (SF) 5,259 Edel MacSharry (FF) 4,531 Marian Harkin (Ind) 4,524 Paddy ORourke (FF) 4,101 Marie Casserly (Ind) 2,589 Nessa Cosgrove (Lab) 2,481 Gino OBoyle (PBP) 1,845 Graham Monaghan (Ant) 1,347 10.40am: Third count completed in Sligo/Leitrim Third count has been completed in Sligo/Leitrim but great movement in order of candidates after distribution of Green Party candidate's Blaithin Gallaghers 782 votes. Michael Kelly of The Irish People has now been eliminated and his 810 votes are now being distributed in count 4. The quota is 11,381 The state of the count is: Frank Feighan (FG) 9,090 Martin Kenny (SF) 7,839 Michael Clarke (II) 6,039 Eamon Scanlon (FF) 5,942 Chris MacManus (SF) 5,225 Edel MacSharry (FF) 4,521 Marian Harkin (Ind) 4,457 Paddy ORourke (FF) 4,096 Marie Casserly (Ind) 2,532 Nessa Cosgrove (Lab) 2,470 Feighan, Kenny and Scanlon remain favourite to win seats with Clarke, McSharry and MacManus in the running for the last seat. 10am: Second count completed with Green Party candidate now eliminated Former Fine Gael TD Tony McLoughlin with Deputy Martin Kenny (SF) at the count in the Clayton Hotel, Sligo. The second count has been completed in Sligo/Leitrim with no great change in the order of candidates. Fine Gaels Frank Feighan remains in poll position on 9,004 followed in Martin Kenny (SF) on 7,794, Michael Clarke (II) 6,033, Eamon Scanlon (FF) 5,926, Chris MacManus (SF) 5,200, Edel McSharry (FF) 4,486, Marian Harkin (Ind) 4,378 and Paddy ORourke (FF) 4,076. The third count has now commenced following the elimination of the Green Partys Blaithin Gallagher and the distribution of her 782 votes. The second count took just 45 minutes this morning and follows the marathon 15 hour first count on Saturday. Its unlikely any candidate will be elected in Sligo/Leitrim for at least four or five more counts. Results after the second count Marie Casserly (Ind) - 2494 (+75) Michael Clarke (II) - 6033 (+54) Nessa Cosgrove (Lab) - 2149 (+63) Frank Feighan (FG) - 9004 (+24) Blaithin Gallagher (GP) - 782 (+57) Des Guckian (Ind) - 909 (+22) Marian Harkin (Ind) - 4378 (+31) Michael Kelly (IFP) - 809 (+39) Martin Kenny (SF) - 7794 (+30) Chris MacManus (SF) - 5200 (+27) Edel MacSharry (FF) - 4486 (+20) Graham Monaghan (Aon) - 1126 (+14) Gino O'Boyle (PBP) - 1722 (+65) Paddy O'Rourke (FF) - 4076 (+10) Eamon Scanlon (FF) - 5926 (+13) 9am Sunday: Counting gets underway again Counting is back underway at the count centre in the Clayton Hotel, Sligo. Counting is underway here at the Clayton Hotel in Sligo after being adjourned late on Saturday night. So far, just three candidates have been eliminated. Those are Molly Candon (Party for Animal Welfare), Caroline Corcoron (Independent Ireland) and Diarmuid MacConville (Ind) were all eliminiated. 12.15am Sunday: First count declared Fifteen hours after the count began a first count result was declared in Sligo/Leitrim. Topping the poll is Fine Gaels Frank Feighan on 8,980 followed by Martin Kenny of Sinn Fein on 7,764, Michael Clarke of Independent Ireland on 5,979 and Eamon Scanlon of Fianna Fail on 5,913. Sinn Feins Chris MacManus is on 5,173 and outgoing TD, Independent Marian Harkin is on 4,347. Three candidates have now been eliminated, Molly Candon (Party for Animal Welfare), Caroline Corcoran (Independent Ireland) and Diarmuid McConville (Independent). The Count will resume on Sunday at 9am. 11.40pm: Sligo Leitrim still waiting for a first count We are still waiting for a first count here in Sligo. The count centre is getting quieter and quieter as the wait continues. There are still hopes that we will have at least one count tonight, but it could be late. 10.40pm: MacSharry believes three of four seats can be predicted Former Fianna Fail TD Marc MacSharry believes that the fourth seat in the Sligo Leitrim constituency is too close to call at this early stage. MacSharry is confident that Frank Feighan (FF), Martin Kenny (SF) and Eamon Scanlon (FF) have secured three of the four seats on offer, but says the fourth seat can go anyway. MacSharry is at the count working as a commentator for local radio station Ocean FM. He told Independent.ie: "It's been very interesting. Super performance by Fine Gael here by Frankie Feighan. There had been some suggestions from some quarters that there may have been a vulnerability there, well, it certainly doesn't show with such a resounding performance. Congratulations to him, and his family and his team on that. "Martin Kenny very strong as expected, and once the Fianna Fail strategy extended to three candidates to include such a legendary vote-getter as Eamon Scanlon it was inevitable that he was going to poll very strongly. "They very much look to be three seats. The surprise beyond that is that Marian Harkin's vote is substantially down, not unexpected that it was going to be affected when you've Councillor Marie Casserly who was always in her corner and on her campaign team. "Clarke also running, a portion of his voters would have supported Harkin in the past. Then you have three professional ladies in Casserly, Edel McSharry and Nessa Cosgrove running in the broader Sligo town area. "It looks likely that Clarke gets the fourth seat at this early stage, there's an awful lot to happen. I certainly wouldn't be calling it. There's approximately seven or eight thousand votes, we don't know where they're going to go. "And you have Chris MacManus and Michael Clarke about 1500 ahead of a pack and theoretically that could all come into play. There's no predictions for that last seat until tomorrow." And MacSharry was quick to dismiss any suggestions that he misses being involved in an election himself. "No (don't miss it). I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I'm here effectively as a pundit, getting the figures. I've a front row seat. My heart goes out, we talk about the 18 candidates as if they're animals in a sale in a mart or something. "There's a huge amount of emotion. All 18 candidates for the most part put in the same, some over the course over the last year and some intensely over the last few months. Unfortunately, only four will celebrate. "We owe a great debt of thanks to all those from parties and no parties who are prepared to put their names forward and get involved. "It's a good sign of a healthy democracy. It's going to be a very difficult weekend for some, unfortunately." 10.15pm: Harkin says she will be fighting for last seat Marian Harkin speaking with Paul Deering of The Sligo Champion Outgoing Independent TD Marian Harkin says she hopes to be fighting for the last seat and admits she thought the picture was bleak earlier in the day. "I keep saying the same thing. There's a narrow pathway and its slipping. We have looked at the numbers twos and at 12 Oclock today Id have thought Im finished. I thought there might have been 2,000 2,500 between myself and Michael Clarke (Ind) but theres 1,600 and thats a huge gap but theres a lot of votes to be transferred. The samples we have done, and Im not saying they are representative, generally the tend to be fairly towards us. It would show there is a possibility for me to fight for the last seat. One of her chief rivals for her seat is that of Cllr Clarke whom she said has just swept up votes to put himself strongly in contention. "The number of votes he got in some of the polling booths I dont think has ever been equalled. He did exceptionally well and then coming into South Donegal and Leitrim his vote dropped back a little but he still ran a great campaign. "Look, I dont know, maybe at 12 Oclock tomorrow Ill be saying, look, we didnt get it right, the samples we looked at werent representative and if they are and thats all you can say then I think theres a chance that Ill be fighting for the last seat. "But, therell be people elected, therell be surpluses, therell be distributions of all kinds and I think whoever takes the last seat actually, whether Im in the frame or not, will not take it by more than a couple of hundred votes at most, whether Im there or not. 10pm: Edging closer to a first count The final doubtful ballots are being dealt with here, and it looks like we could be getting closer to that first count. 9.30pm: Still waiting for a first count We have still not heard the results of the first count yet, but there are hopes that there will be at least two counts completed today. Looks like we are set for another long day here at the Clayton Hotel on Sunday. 8.15pm: Doubtful votes being examined An examination of the doubtful votes is currently underway. We still have not had a first count in Sligo Leitrim, but it is hoped that well have it by 9pm. More candidates have arrived in the last few minutes. Sinn Fein's Chris MacManus is here and PBPs Gino OBoyle has arrived. 6.30pm: Scanlon delighted with his performance Fianna Fail candidate Eamoin Scanlon with Deputy Frank Feighan.(FG) Fianna Fail candidate Eamon Scanlon says he hadn't intended standing but now finds himself in with a strong chance of winning back the seat he narrowly lost in 2020. "It was a very close call in 2020. I didn't intend to run again, that's the truth. The convention was called, three people were nominated and I was delighted and then two decided they weren't going to contest it and we were down to one candidate. "The party felt that we needed a second candidate to try to secure a seat either I or the other candidate. So, that's why I reconsidered and let my name go forward. "There's no guarantee just yet that i'll take a seat. There'll be a couple of tough counts to come. All I can do is to try to stay ahead and get one of those two last seats." 5.30pm: Feighan sympathises with Catherine Martin Outgoing TD and likely poll topper Frank Feighan (FG) has expressed his sadness on hearing that Green Party minister Catherine Martin could lose her seat in Dublin Rathdown. "We had a good relationship with the Green Party and I have to say that a very good colleague of mine, Catherine Martin, who was instrumental in securing funding for Sligo Rovers is under pressure at the moment and I'd love to see her and some other colleagues survive. "A lot of people put their names forward and some are successful and others aren't and you always feel sorry for those who aren't but that's democracy." Asked about the formation of Government, he said: "The two main parties are obviously there in a strong position and after that I don't know whether it will be Labour or Social Democrats or independents. That'll be a matter for people higher up in my party." Deputy Frank Feighan with his daughter Francesca 4.45pm: Candidates arrive Candidates have been arriving at the Clayton Hotel in the last few minutes ahead of the first count, which we expect sometime around 8-9pm. Fianna Fails Eamon Scanlon has just arrived, and Fine Gaels Frank Feighan has arrived. Labours Nessa Cosgrove arrived minutes later. Sinn Feins Martin Kenny has been here all day. 3.55pm: Counting of votes begins Counting of votes has officially got underway at the Sligo count centre. Counting of votes is underway at the Clayton Hotel in Sligo following the completion of tallies and the sorting of votes earlier. A first count is not expected until after 8pm tonight and going by the tallies its unlikely therell be any candidate elected until the second or third count with the quota likely to be around 11,300. 3.45pm: Quiet period as counting underway We have a lull here in the Clayton Hotel in Sligo as we await the first count. Sligo Rovers defender Ollie Denham was spotted in the car park looking for a space, probably going to the gym to prepare for the 2025 season. Car park spaces are hard to come by here with a huge crowd at the hotel for the count. 2.45pm: Tallies complete Tallies are complete here in Sligo Leitrim and we do hope to have a first count sometime around 8pm. Here is how it stands with the tallies done. Candon (Ind) - 415 Casserly (Ind) - 2411 Clarke (II) - 5938 Corcoron (II) - 79 Cosgrove (Lab) - 2072 Feighan (FG) - 8947 Gallagher (GP) - 745 Guckian (Ind) - 901 Harkin (Ind) - 4307 Kelly (IFP) - 776 Kenny (SF) - 7733 MacConville (Ind) - 67 MacManus (SF) - 5158 McSharry (FF) - 4453 Monaghan (Aon) - 1106 O'Boyle (PBP) - 1658 O'Rourke (FF) - 4082 Scanlon (FF) - 5908 1.45pm: Lunch time! Break time The counters have taken a break here in the Clayton Hotel in Sligo. The tallies are almost complete, and we have a better idea of who will be fighting for seats. The Leitrim tallies are yet to be complete, but if the early tallies are anything to go by, both Martin Kenny (SF) and Paddy ORourke (FF) are looking good from their home county of Leitrim, as expected. The overall tally so far has FGs Frank Feighan at 15%, Eamon Scanlon and Michael Clarke at 12%, Chris MacManus at 11% and Martin Kenny at 10%. 1.20pm: Donegal tallies complete, Leitrim almost finished The South Donegal tallies are now complete, and Sinn Feins Martin Kenny is the big winner in that area. The outgoing TD is on 29% from those tallies, with Feighan (FG), MacSharry (FF), Harkin (Ind) and MacManus (SF) almost performing well in Donegal. Eamon Scanlon and Michael Clarke, two of the frontrunners in Sligo, are well behind in South Donegal. We expect to have a full tally by 2pm, with Leitrim well underway. With 16pc of the tallies complete in Leitrim, Kenny is on 26pc from his home county, while FFs Paddy ORourke is ahead on 29pc, although he has performed poorly in Sligo and Donegal. Sinn Fein's Martin Kenny checks over the tallies. 1pm: SF still in with a chance of two seats, says Kenny Outgoing Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny says each of the main parties are likely to win a seat in Sligo/Leitrim with his own in with an outside chance of a second. "Well, I think we're looking at a situation where we're going to have one seat for each party and the last seat uncertain at this stage. "Obviously, Marian Harkin is the sitting TD has got a poor vote and that's very disappointing for her. It looks like Michael Clarke (Independent Ireland) could take that last seat and Chris MacManus (SF) could possibly be in with a shout for it too. "We'll have to see how the first counts come in. It depends on how much of a left wing vote there is in Sligo town that he (Chris) could capitalise on in terms of transfers. "From what I have seen from the tallies so far, that vote is lower than the exit poll would have indicated last night both for Gino O'Boyle (PBP) and Nessa Cosgrove (Labour). so that when they go out they won't have as much to transfer to Chris. "So, you're looking at either Clarke or possibly McSharry for the last seat with MacManus an outside chance." 12.45pm: Sligo tallies now complete The Sligo tallies are now complete, and the South Donegal boxes are open. Fine Gaels Frank Feighan is out in front from the Sligo tallies with 16pc, with Eamon Scanlon (FF) and Michael Clarke (II) close behind. Chris MacManus (SF) is next, followed by Edel MacSharry (FF) on 10pc. Sinn Feins Martin Kenny will likely do well from the South Donegal vote, while his vote from his home county of Leitrim will likely put him back into contention. 12pm: Sligo tallies almost complete The Sligo tallies are almost complete, and we will then move on to both Leitrim and South Donegal. With 87pc of the boxes tallied, Eamon Scanlon (FF), Michael Clarke (II), Frank Feighan (FG) and Chris MacManus (SF) are the frontrunners. Tallies should be complete by early afternoon, and it is hoped that we will have a first count later in the afternoon or early evening. Former Fianna Fail councillor Seamus Kilgannon keeps an eye on tallies 11.21am: Three quarters of Sligo boxes tallied Three quarters of Sligo boxes have been tallied, and its former Fianna Fail TD Eamon Scanlon who is out in front, but only just. The early indications are that will be very tight, but it should be noted that Leitrim and South Donegal boxes are yet to be opened. Ballymote based Scanlon continues to perform well, particularly with votes from rural areas. Independent Irelands Michael Clarke is just behind Scanlon, and is doing well again from rural areas. Outgoing Independent TD Marian Harkin will be disappointed with just from the Sligo boxes. Sinn Feins Martin Kenny too, who picked up 24.8pc of first preference votes in 2020, is on just 5pc from the early tallies. But, he will get a large vote from Leitrim so that needs to be considered. 10.40am: Tallies show it could be tight With almost 50pc of the Sligo boxes tallied, its looking like Sligo Leitrim could look similar to the national picture. Boxes from around the county have been tallied, with Fianna Fails Eamon Scanlon picking up votes in his hometown of Ballymote and surrounding areas, while Fine Gaels Frank Feighan continues to pick up votes around the county. Boxes from West Sligo have been opened, and the Independent Ireland candidate is performing well in his home area and in rural areas. Sinn Feins Chris McManus is tied with Fine Gaels Frank Feighan, while Scanlon and Clarke are close behind. Leitrim and South Donegal boxes are yet to be tallied. 10am: Sligo town candidates performing well in tallies Over 20 boxes have been opened in Sligo town, with the Sligo town candidates doing well as expected. Sinn Fein's Chris MacManus, a former MEP, is performing better than at the 2020 General Election. Fine Gael's Frank Feighan, Fianna Fail's Edel McSharry and People Before Profit's Gino O'Boyle also performing well, which would be expected given that they are based in Sligo town. 9.30am: Counting is underway Counting is underway in the Clayton Hotel for the four-seater Sligo Leitrim constituency. All the main parties appear to be well represented with tally workers. A speedy and accurate tally is expected around lunchtime. Counting underway in the Clayton Hotel. Pic: Carl Brennan. Outgoing TD for Sinn Fein Martin Kenny has been present at the Clayton Hotel since early. Former Fianna Fail TD Marc MacSharry is also at the count centre. The new President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, and the Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, arrived in Kyiv. The top EU officials are scheduled to meet with Ukrainian politicians. ADVERTISIMENT The trip took place on Sunday, December 1. The news was shared by the former Prime Minister of Estonia, who replaced Josep Borrell as the EU's high representative, Kaja Kallas, on X. "During my first visit after taking office, I am clear: the European Union wants Ukraine to win this war. We will do everything we can to make it happen," Kaja Kallas wrote. The President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, echoed her. "From day one of the war, the EU has stood by the side of Ukraine. From day one of our mandate, we are reaffirming our unwavering support to the Ukrainian people. Proud to be in Kyiv with Kaja Kallas and Marta Kos," he emphasized. It should be noted that this is their first visit to Kyiv since the appointment to new positions. The composition of the new European Commission was approved on November 27, and it officially began work on December 1, 2024. As reported, the European Union recently signed a memorandum on providing Ukraine with 18.1 billion in macro-financial assistance as part of the G7 package. These funds are the proceeds of frozen Russian assets. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Former Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley, who topped the poll in the last general election, has been elected to the final seat in the Laois constituency. The Independent, who left the republican party in a high-profile resignation last month, was elected on the eighth count with 9,512 votes. "We started off a few weeks ago with zero, with no campaign and no resources. "I really enjoyed the campaign. There was a negative side to it in that one party decided to run a very negative campaign targeting me on doorsteps on every opportunity that they got, including right up to late Thursday night. "With disgraceful comments and allegations. We kept our campaign positive, told the Irish Independent, in reference to his former party. He added: The people of Laois have made their judgment of me and I am happy about that. Mr Stanley, who was previously chair of the Public Account Committee (PAC) quit the party in October, citing a kangaroo court following an internal party inquiry into allegations of sexual misconduct against him, which he denies. Former Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley. Photo: PA Sean Fleming (FF) and Brian Stanley (Ind) elected on final count at Laois Count Centre Speaking following his re-election, Mr Stanley said: Ive had a number of women who helped me during the campaign. From the first hour of canvassing I knew we were doing the right thing. Mary Lou McDonald said he was responsible for his own political demise and that Sinn Fein no longer wanted to be associated with him, to which the Laois TD replied: She has been shown to be untruthful about these matters. Her words ring hollow. Asked whether he would have anything to do with the party he said: I am an independent leftist republican. I will be representing the people of Laois in the 34th Dail as an independent. I will be supporting policies that will support workers and families. Thats what Ill be doing over the next five years. Asked which Independent forces he might join forces with he said: As a progressive left republican I will be seeing who I can coalesce with and then combine with them. I believe in doing what you can where you are with what you have. Sinn Fein will not be in government thats dead certain. As Independents well have to use whatever political clout they have to try and push the issues that matter to our electors. Mr Stanley and his wife Carmel Dwane Stanley arrived in Scoil Chriost Ri shortly before 11am yesterday morning with family, having avoided the Portlaoise count centre on the first day. The deputy, who founded Sinn Fein in Laois by knocking on doors, went back to basics in a quiet campaign trail this time around, following tensions between him and his previous party. His wife Mrs Stanley, is a Sinn Fein councillor, and she campaigned beside her husband, while managing to remain a member of the political party that he repeatedly castigated. Speaking in Portlaoise to the Irish Independent ahead of her husbands re-election to Dail Eireann, Mrs Stanley said this tsunami came our way five months ago. "As a family we have been dealing with it behind the scenes, but unfortunately that wasnt to be, she said, adding that she will remain in Sinn Fein, while seeking answers from party leadership on how her family has been treated. County Laois remains a republican stronghold, with the republican vote in this General Election hitting around the 30pc mark. Following Mr Stanleys resignation from Sinn Fein, the party fielded unelected contestant Maria McCormack, who came fourth. Sean Fleming (FF) joined deputy Stanley on the eighth count while Willie Aird (FG) took the first seat yesterday on the fifth count. Count concludes with Verona Murphy, James Browne, Johnny Mythen and George Lawlor taking the four seatsFine Gaels two-candidate strategy looks to have backfiredMick Wallace eliminated on Count 8 Seats filled: 4 The four TDs for the Wexford constituency. Election 2024 update from Political Reporter Tabitha Monahan 5.15 p.m. The Wexford count has completed. With Verona Murphy (IND) having topped the poll and been elected on the first count on Saturday night, James Browne (FF) followed her across the line surpassing the quota on Sunday evening with 11,292. Also reaching the quota was Johnny Mythen (SF), who finished with 10,550. Although he didnt manage to reach the quota, finishing with 10,066, George Lawlor (LAB) was also deemed elected as he couldnt be caught by Cathal Byrne of Fine Gael, who will be disappointed to lose the seat which was occupied by his party colleague Paul Kehoe since 2002. James Browne. 3.51 p.m. Almost there in Wexford as just four candidates remain with three seats to fill after count ten. That count saw the eliminated Bridin Murphys (FG) 3,756 votes distributed to remaining candidates with party colleague Cathal Byrne receiving 1,877 of those. This brings him to 7,069 but still behind James Browne (FF) 10,397, Johnny Mythen (SF) 9,352, and George Lawlor (LAB) 8,991. Aontus Jim Codd has now been eliminated and his 5,078 votes will be distributed in what is expected to be the last count in Wexford. With a quota of 10,502, James Browne is set to surpass that and will be eventually be joined by Mythen and Lawlor on the next count. Johnny Mythen 2.26 p.m. As expected, Bridin Murphy (FG) is eliminated on the ninth count with 3,756 votes. That count saw Johnny Mythen (SF) receive 688 of the eliminated Mick Wallaces votes bringing him to 9,213 in total. He is still behind Fianna Fails James Browne (9,647), and ahead of Labours George Lawlor (8,552). Cathal Byrne (FG) is on 5,192 and Aontus Jim Codd is on 4,869. With no one having reached the 10,502 quota, Bridins votes will now be distributed among the five remaining candidates with Byrne expected to receive the majority from his party colleague. George Lawlor. 2.10 p.m. As we await Count 9 here in Wexford, Fine Gaels Bridin Murphy looks set to be eliminated. While she hasnt attended the count centre, she posted on social media to say it wasnt meant to be this time and to thank her team and everyone who voted for her in this election. 1.05 p.m. While it looks almost certain that Fine Gael will lose the long-held seat occupied by Paul Kehoe here in Wexford, the partys Director of Elections in Wexford Martin Lawlor is defiant that our strategy was correct. There are even those within the party that believe running both Cathal Byrne and Bridin Murphy had been a mistake, however, Mr Lawlor says running a single candidate wouldnt have made any material difference to the outcome as were simply not picking up any transfers. He also cites the redrawing of the electoral boundaries and the votes lost into the new Wicklow/Wexford constituency and states that the partys analysis of surpluses shows that poll-topper, and former Fine Gael candidate, Verona Murphy is sitting on 1,500 to 2,000 soft Fine Gael votes Verona Murphy elected on the first count receiving a kiss from her daughter Robyn. Pic: Jim Campbell 12.50 p.m. Count eight here in Wexford and the big news is that former MEP and TD Mick Wallace has been eliminated. Currently in Italy attending a fundraiser in memory of his late son, who passed away in June, the Wellingtonbridge native is not in attendance as his race comes to an end. Geography is likely to have played a part as Bridin Murphy (FG) did the best out of Michael Sheehans transfers, taking an additional 354 votes. James Browne (FF) also did well from his former party colleague, moving another 350 votes closer to the quota, while Johnny Mythen (SF) took 233 and George Lawlor (LAB) 189. Cathal Byrne (FG) picked up another 56 votes, while Jim Codd took 189. Mick Wallaces 2,420 votes will now be distributed among the remaining candidates, as we move into Count 9 still awaiting a second TD in Wexford. 11.48 a.m. Count seven sees George Lawlor (LAB) benefit from Peader McDonalds (GREEN) transfers as he receives 596 votes. This brings him to a total of 7,991. Johnny Mythen (SF) also did well in this count receiving 369 transfers from the eliminated McDonald and Martina Stafford (PBP) bringing him to 8,292. Both remain short of the quota of 10,502 and behind Fianna Fails James Browne (9,068) but ahead of Cathal Byrne (FG) 5,057 and Jim Codd (Aontu) 4,192. Michael Sheehan (IND) has been eliminated on this count and his 1,890 votes will now be distributed among the remaining seven candidates with former party colleague Browne expected to be transfer friendly. 10.28 a.m. Two more candidates have been eliminated on count six here in Wexford, but no further elections. Peadar McDonald (Green Party) has been eliminated with 757 and Martina Stafford (PBP) with 814. Their votes will now be distributed to the remaining candidates. The transfers from Jackser Owens (IND) largely went to Johnny Mythen (SF) who picked up 148 to bring him to 7,923 and James Browne who received 106 to take him that bit closer to the 10,502 quota, now sitting on 8,986. 9.48 a.m. First count of the day and fifth in total is already in as Jason Murphys (NP) 449 votes are distributed. Jim Codd (Aontu) is the main beneficiary with 183, this brings him to 4,114 and ever closer to Cathal Byrne (FG) whos on 4,960. Its been suggested in some quarters that Codd could surpass Byrne and finish fifth overall. However, the pair are effectively fighting for the minor positions as James Browne (FF) 8,880, Johnny Mythen (SF) 7,775, and George Lawlor (Lab) 7,372 remain primed to take the remaining three seats. Jackser Owens has now been eliminated and his 561 votes will be distributed for the sixth count. SUNDAY 8.51 a.m. Good morning from the Wexford Count Centre where we are about to resume the count to see who will fill the remaining three of the four seats here. Last night, Verona Murphy (IND) was elected on the first count surpassing the quota of 10,502 with a whopping first preference vote of 11,340. Since then weve had Stephen Power (Irish People) and Michelle ONeill (FF) eliminated, along with Jason Murphy (NP) on count four where we stopped for the night. With counting to resume at any minute, we will see his 449 votes redistributed among the remaining candidates. James Browne (FF) is next closest to the quota with 8,870 votes, followed by Johnny Mythen (SF) 7,748 and George Lawlor (LAB) 7,359, who are likely to take the remaining seats. Cathal Byrne (FG) has some distance to make up with 4,955 and is extremely unlikely to retain the seat vacated by outgoing TD Paul Kehoe here. 10.38 p.m. Count four is now in, with Michelle ONeills 306 votes being distributed among the remaining candidates. Predictably, her party colleague James Browne picked up the highest number of these with 154, bringing him to 8,870 and ever closer to the quota. Bridin Murphy (FG) received 44 of Ms ONiells votes, but is still some way off at 3,139. George Lawlor received 27 votes this time bringing him to 7,359, while Johnny Mythen picked up 12 to put him just ahead on 7,748. Cathal Byrne still trailing behind and looking increasingly unlikely for that fourth seat having picked up 13 to put him at 4,955. Jason Murphy (Natinoal Party) has now been eliminated and his 449 votes will be distributed among the remaining candidates. However, the count has now concluded for the day and we will resume tomorrow (Sunday) at 9 a.m. 9.59 p.m. Motoring along nicely here now as Stephen Powers (Irish People) 175 votes are transferred for the third count in Wexford. The bulk of those votes go to Jason Murphy (National Party) who receives 110 and moves up to 448 in total. Neither James Browne, Michelle ONeill (both FF) nor Cathal Byrne (FG) receive any of Powers votes. Little has changed at the top of the poll with Browne (8,716), Johnny Mythen (7,736)m, and George Lawlor (7,332) almost certain to be elected tomorrow. Michelle ONeill has now been eliminated and her 306 votes will be distributed for the fourth and last count of the evening. 9.18 p.m. The second count is in with Verona Murphys surplus of 838 distributed to the remaining 14 candidates. Aontus Jim Codd received the most second preferences from Deputy Murphy with 129 votes, this brings him to 3,904. James Browne (FF) received 120 bringing him to 8,716, while Michael Sheehan (IND) received 113 bringing him to 1,736. George Lawlor (LAB) received 99 which brings him to 7,327. No one is elected in this count so Stephen Power (Irish People), as the lowest polling candidate, is eliminated with his 175 votes to be distributed. James Browne, George Lawlor, and Johnny Mythen (SF) remain on course to be elected with Cathal Byrne (FG) still over two thousand votes behind with transfers from party colleague Bridin Murphy to come. 8.15 p.m. Speaking following her poll-topping performance here in Wexford, Independent TD Verona Murphy said that it was unexpected to top the poll and the goal first and foremost was to retain the seat, but that it was reflection of the hard work being done on the ground. Thanking her team, she said it was a very proud moment for her. In terms of the future, Ms Murphy says that she is willing to speak to anyone in terms of government formation talks, but she wouldnt be drawn on whether any of the main parties had yet been in touch. If I was Minister for Housing, I have solutions to the housing crisis, she noted, before heading off to celebrate the large crowd of followers that had travelled to the count centre to witness her election. 8.02 p.m. Though the results of the first count have currently placed Fine Gael candidate Cathal Byrne in fifth place with 4,891 votes, behind Sinn Feins Johnny Mythen with 7,633 votes, he is still optimistic about securing one of the four coveted seats. "I will be keeping a close eye on the transferrable votes. I am very grateful for the nearly 5,000 people who put a number one next to my name. There is still a long way to go in this count, he said. In response to if he felt any apprehension coming into the count hall today, given the backlash the party has received amidst a call for change, he said the reactions on the door tell a different story. "The feedback I have been getting from the people of Wexford has been very positive, honestly. The biggest challenge for me in this election, being almost the youngest candidate, has been getting my name out there, he added. As of yet, whether or not running two candidates in the same constituency was perhaps a bad strategy, he believes it is too soon to tell. 7.20 p.m. As he watched votes pile up in cubby holes at the Wexford count centre, Fianna Fails James Browne had reason to be cheerful. While Verona Murphy comfortably topped the poll, Browne looks set to follow his fellow incumbent across the line, although he concedes that he might have to wait until tomorrow. Congratulations to Verona and her team, he said. They obviously worked very hard. My own team worked exceptionally hard. We canvassed every house in the constituency, which is no mean feat given its size. Feeling that he lost a considerable amount of votes with North Wexford now falling into the Wicklow South/Wexford North three-seater, he was particularly proud of this campaign. We started off on the back foot, he said. We lost half the Enniscorthy hinterland with the changing of the boundaries. We lost 2,500 number ones, including my own half parish. Our backs were to the wall. We canvassed like never before because of the way the county would have been divided under different Fianna Fail candidates. We never wouldve had south New Ross or Rosslare to canvass for example, even in my Dads or my grand uncles time. It was a huge effort by the team. Im delighted with the result. It certainly wasnt easy. 6.50 p.m. The first count has finally arrived in Wexford and, as predicted, Verona Murphy (IND) has exceeded the quota of 10,502 with 11,340 first preference votes and is deemed elected. James Browne (FF) looks set to follow her into the second seat, having managed 8,596 first preference votes, but he will probably have to wait until tomorrow. Next in line currently is Johnny Mythen (SF) on 7,633 with George Lawlor (LAB) following close behind on 7,228 first preference votes. Cathal Byrne (FG) is the best of the rest with 4,891 first preference votes, but it would be a major task to catch either Lawlor or Mythen at this point. Aontu councillor Jim Codd managed 3,775 first preference votes and was followed by Bridin Murphy (FG) 2,997; Michael Sheehan (IND) 1,623; Mick Wallace (IND) 1,615; Martina Stafford (PBP) 782; Peadar McDonald (GREEN) 731; Jackser Owens (IND) 498; Jason Murphy (NP) 333; Michelle ONeill (FF) 296 and finally Stephen Power (Irish People) 170. Verona Murphys surplus of 838 will now be distributed among the remaining candidates. The total electorate was 85,744, the total poll was 52,844 and there were 336 invalid ballot papers. The valid poll was 52,508. Verona Murphy elected on the first count. Pic: Jim Campbell 5.42 p.m. Those disputed votes are now being distributed. The estimated quota is likely to be 10,526 and on the combined tallies, Verona Murphy has 11,074. 5.32 p.m. Things have ground to a halt here in Wexford as representatives of each of the candidates are huddled around a table to discuss disputed votes. Were still awaiting the first official count, but when it does finally arrive, Verona Murphy (IND) is set to be elected. 5 p.m. Its been an unusual day for former Labour Party leader and veteran Wexford TD Brendan Howlin. Today was the first time in 40 years I went to vote and my name wasnt on the ballot paper, he reflects. With Wexford traditionally returning a Labour TD, there was relief in the party that George Lawlor looks set to continue the tradition. "George will be elected, Howlin said emphatically. A transition is always difficult. When Brendan Corish transitioned, there was a difficulty for a year or two. His brother Des stood and didnt win the seat, but thankfully there were three elections in a row very quickly and I was a new young candidate, 26 years of age, put into the senate and then I won the seat in 87 and the rest in history. "Its tricky. Transitioning to George, we didnt know how it would turn out. But hes not a young new candidate. Hes a tried and tested worker for Wexford. Hes ambitious for this town and county. Id be very confident that George will be elected. When pushed whether Cllr Lawlor will take seat three or four in Wexford, Howlin says: It doesnt matter. Any seat is a seat! But he does believe that his party is on to take the third of four seats here in Wexford. 3.50 p.m. Labour candidate George Lawlor is feeling confident having arrived at the Wexford Count Centre. Hes only putting in a brief appearance, however, as he has a date with Santa Claus turning on the Christmas lights on Wexford Quay as Mayor. "Im going down to turn the lights on with Santa Claus on the quay now, which could be my last function as Mayor of Wexford, he said. Theres not too much I can do here, the die is cast, so Im going down to don the robes one more time. While confident, the Labour man is not taking anything for granted just yet. "Obviously still a way to go, but Im very happy with what appears to be the first preference votes, he said. Although there are a number of hurdles to jump, Im in a position to take the third or fourth seat. Thats how it looks at the moment, but the beauty of the Irish system is it can throw so many different variations on the outcome. But Im pleased to be in the position Im in and I think weve a very good chance. While some on the count centre floor suggested that Lawlor may not be the most transfer friendly, the current Mayor of Wexford says that the indications are good on that front. "The indications from my own team is that were doing well on transfers, he said. Geography will come into and policy will come into it, but it would seem were quite transfer friendly, which will help us. 3.33 p.m. Having received 720 first preference votes according to tallies, Green Party candidate Peadar McDonald said he is a little disappointed at the outcome of his first foray into politics. Accepting that he was running against a strong Wexford town candidate in Labours George Lawlor, the Green Party man said, The climate crisis isnt on peoples agenda at the moment, but I really appreciate the people who voted for me, a huge thank you to them. However, a lot of work needs to be done to increase the vote for the Greens in the county. 2.58 p.m. Despite being well-positioned after the tallies, Sinn Feins Johnny Mythen says he is still apprehensive about his prospects of being re-elected in Wexford. Citing transfers between the two Fine Gael candidates, Mythen said the battle for the third and fourth seats in the constituency will continue into tomorrow with nothing decided until the last count. On a separate note, Mythen congratulated his party colleague Fionntan O Suilleabhain on his strong performance in the newly created Wexford-Wicklow constituency with the Gorey man looking like taking a seat for Sinn Fein there. 2.50 p.m. With Fine Gael looking set to lose a seat thats been occupied by Paul Kehoe for the past 22 years, the outgoing TD feels that the party got its strategy wrong in the Wexford constituency, running both Cathal Byrne and Bridin Murphy. "I do feel genuinely feel sorry for Cathal," he said when contacted. I think he would make a brilliant TD. While disappointed to see his Fine Gael seat lost, Kehoe reflects that the party will still have a seat in the county with Brian Brennan set to take one of the three seats on offer in the South Wicklow/North Wexford constituency. Currently, it's looking like Co Wexford will have 7 TDs across the two constituencies. 2.17 p.m. Aontus Jim Codd has declared himself absolutely delighted with the results of the first tallies, having almost doubled the vote he received in 2020. Sitting sixth after the tallies, he said, My party is only five years old while some of the major parties are close to a hundred years old, so its a great day for Aontu as we have almost doubled our vote in Wexford since the last General Election. 2.01 p.m. In a departure from standard practise, Sinn Fein, Fianna Fail, and Fine Gael have worked together on the tallies in Wexford and, in a further sign of unity, they have called an impromptu press conference to announce the results of those tallies. Speaking to the press, Fine Gael director of elections Martin Lawlor revealed that Verona Murphy (IND) is almost certain to top the poll as she has 11,074 first preference votes according to the tallies. She is followed by James Browne (FF) 8,679, Johnny Mythen (SF) 7,553, George Lawlor (LAB) 7,274, Cathal Byrne (FG) 5,012, Jim Codd (Aontu) 3,893, Bridin Murphy (FG) 3,032, Michael Sheehan (IND) 1,583, and Mick Wallace (IND) 1,577. While the consensus is that the top four is already set in stone, Mr Lawlor wasnt conceding just yet. I am a realist, he said, it will be a struggle for us to retain a seat, we will still be trying to put it up George and Johnny. I dont want to encourage false hope but you never know with transfers. The counting of votes at the Wexford count centre in the Loreto Secondary School on Saturday. Pic: Jim Campbell 1.29 p.m. All boxes tallied in Wexford and a very clear picture has emerged. Verona Murphy (IND) sits on 21.1 per cent, followed by James Browne (FF) on 16.3 per cent, Johnny Mythen (SF) on 14.4 per cent, George Lawlor (LAB) 13.8 per cent, Cathal Byrne (FG) on 9.5 per cent, Jim Codd (Aontu) 7.35 per cent, Bridin Murphy (FG) 5.76 per cent, and Mick Wallace (IND) 3 per cent. Transfers will obviously play a part but the first four are sitting pretty as we await the first official count which is expected between 4-5 p.m. today. 12.28 p.m. Following the early tally results, sitting Enniscorthy Fianna Fail councillor Aidan Browne, and cousin of candidate James Browne, said he is not surprised that James is leading the pack. We are very happy, he said. The response on the door was great and he has put in an enormous amount of work but we will wait until the official count to celebrate. When asked what the partys reaction to Sinn Fein coming out on top of the exit polls, he admitted, look everyone probably had them wrote off, but they have come back in fairness to them. 12.11 p.m. Perhaps further evidence of the split within Fine Gael in Wexford. Some members of the Fine Gael camp unhappy with word being put out that they are in any way conceding. I dont know who youve been talking to, the party member said. But were conceding nothing! This comes after another party source had indicated they were likely to lose the seat vacated by the outgoing Paul Kehoe and that it wont even be close. 11.38 a.m. The first provisional cross-party tallies are in here in Wexford with 76 boxes open. They come with a major caveat that a lot of the town boxes are yet to be opened. Leading the way on the initial tallies is James Browne (FF), followed by Verona Murphy (Ind), Cathal Byrne (FG), Bridin Murphy (FG), Michael Sheehan (Ind) and George Lawlor (LAB). These 76 boxes would predominantly be from the New Ross and Enniscorthy areas. 11.31 a.m. Aontus Jim Codd has now arrived at the count as well. He may not be overly happy at what he sees though as Verona Murphy has taken a lot of votes in Carrig-on-Bannow and Mayglass, areas Codd was expected to be strong. Jim Codd at the count centre in Wexford. 11.24 a.m. The mood is quite downbeat in the Fine Gael camp here in the Wexford Count Centre at the moment as they bid to retain their seat vacated by veteran TD Paul Kehoe. A senior Fine Gael source has already indicated its over" and that its not even going to be close. They predict that Verona Murphy (IND), James Browne (FF), George Lawlor (LAB) and Johnny Mythen (SF) will take the four seats. 11.13 a.m. First candidate sightings in the Wexford count centre as Peadar McDonald (Green) and Jason Murphy (National Party) are spotted perusing the boxes. Perhaps unhappy at what he sees, Peadar departs as quickly as he arrives. Jason remains at the centre but, with the first tally over an hour away, is not expected to poll particularly well. 10.46 a.m. Word from the count centre floor is that Verona Murphy (Ind) and James Browne (FF) are looking good in boxes from the rural New Ross area. A few whispers that George Lawlor (LAB) might not be as certain to take a seat as some had predicted, although its a regular occurrence for people to write Labour off before the Wexford town boxes are opened. Coming up to half the boxes opened here in Wexford and still awaiting the first official tally. 10.40 a.m. Confirmation has come that Mick Wallace (Ind) is not likely to appear at the count centre here in Wexford this weekend, as he is attending a memorial fundraising event for his late son Joseph in Turin. 10.00 a.m. Early indications from the rural Enniscorthy boxes are that Johnny Mythen (SF), Cathal Byrne (FG), and James Browne (FF) are neck and neck. Local independent candidate Jackser Owens not polling well at the moment but is expected to pick up first preferences in the urban areas. First official tallies expected at 12.30 p.m. 9.00 a.m. Were under way and the first boxes have been opened here in the Wexford constituency count centre at the Loreto Secondary School. With 15 candidates vying for four seats, it looks set to be one hell of a scrap for the final seat in particular. Ahead of polling, bookmakers had seemingly reached a consensus that Independent Verona Murphy was the favourite to top the poll. She had taken the top spot from Fianna Fails James Browne in recent days. Outside the first two seats, bookmakers had a harder time separating things. Most had Labours George Lawlor and Fine Gaels Cathal Byrne more or less neck and neck, with last elections poll-topper, Sinn Fein's Johnny Mythen, following very close behind. Stating he was an outsider from the start, it wont come as a shock to Mick Wallace (Independent) to find himself just outside the fray as the sixth most likely to take one of the four seats. Bridin Murphy (FG) is next in the list for the bookies, followed by Jim Codd (Aontu), Jackser Owens (Ind), Michael Sheehan (Ind), Michelle ONeill (FF), Peadar McDonald (Green Party), Jason Murphy (National Party), Martina Stafford (PBP) and Stephen Power (Irish People). Will the bookie's have called it right? Last night's exit polls showed that the main three parties were neck and neck. Well find out the state of play soon here in Wexford as we await the first tallies. Recovery of body gave family and friends space to grieve the loss of sea swimmer Maire Ni Fhatharta, who died after going for a swim nearly three weeks ago Maire Ni Fhatharta and her partner Dan King, who took a leading role in the search for her body Volunteers at Silverstrand in Galway during the search for Maire Ni Fhatharta. Picture by Andy Newman. Maire Ni Fhatharta was described as 'kind' and 'dedicated' in tributes from family and her employer Thick fog enveloped the northern shores of Galway Bay on the morning of November 12, and it never really lifted for the next 10 days. True, there were days of bright sunshine and falls of snow that transformed the Burren, along with icy winds that stung the skin. But over the second week of the search for Maire Ni Fhatharta, there was no talk of elections in Galway West only a growing sense of apprehension as Storm Bert approached. The 32-year-old teacher would have known the bays vagaries, growing up close to its shores at Doire Lochain Thoir between na Forbacha and An Spideal. Like musician Johnny Duhan, she was a morning sea swimmer. Silverstrand, a popular spot west of Salthills Blackrock, with a commanding view of Black Head, became busier for winter dippers during the Covid-19 pandemic. On that fateful morning nearly three weeks ago, the sea was calm and still below dense and freezing fog. For anyone there early, low tide at 7.42am required a walk out from the shoreline. Disorientation and hypothermia could have set in within minutes. The initial alarm was for Mr Duhan, who had not returned home. It was only when Ms Ni Fhatharta did not arrive at work that a second search ensued in the early afternoon, led by the Irish Coast Guards Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Valentia, Co Kerry, and Galway gardai. By then, the 74-year-old songwriters body had been recovered on the incoming tide. However, the lingering fog precluded a helicopter search for the young woman. Galway Bay inshore lifeboat was launched and was quickly joined by kayakers, stand-up paddleboarders, inshore fishing and sea angling vessels, sailing club members and others with access to rigid inflatable boats (RIBs). Volunteers at Silverstrand in Galway during the search for Maire Ni Fhatharta. Picture by Andy Newman. Down at Silverstrand, gardai set up a command structure where volunteers were encouraged to register. The Civil Defence joined in, as did Coast Guard units from Costelloe Bay, Cleggan and Killaloe, and drone searches were initiated by Cleggan and Doolin Coast Guard. Meanwhile, a WhatsApp group had been set up by friends and family, named Bring Maire Home, where volunteers were given regular updates on the location and time of shore team searches extending from Oranmore to An Cheathru Rua. Family, including Ms Ni Fhathartas sisters, Fionnuala and Maighread, moved into a camper van parked at Silverstrand, where friends joined them to help provide support. Onshore searches were co-ordinated from there by Ms Ni Fhathartas brother Tomas and brother-in-law Jack. Many who have had direct experience of the bays hazards were first to offer help, including Deirdre and Johnny Glynn. In August 2020, their daughter Ellen and her cousin Sara Feeney were rescued after over 15 hours at sea when their paddleboards were swept out from Na Forbacha beach by a northerly wind. She was the kindest, funniest, most special person Ive ever known and probably will ever know As the Glynns and others discovered during their own long night of darkness, Galway Bay may be named Loch Lurgan, but it is a vast territory of over 300 square kilometres. The paddleboarders were rescued by Patrick and Morgan Oliver, but many families have not been so fortunate. During the early days of the search for Ms Ni Fhatharta, the body of a 45-year old woman from Cork, whose car had been found in Liscannor, Co Clare, was recovered from the water off the Aran island of Inis Oirr. Ms Ni Fhatharta had a lot to live for. She had taught in Scoil Iognaid and Gaeilscoil de hIde, and had just started a new job in August as an Irish language planning officer with Foram Cois Fharraige in An Spideal. Her sisters painted a portrait of her in an interview with RTE Radio News at One. Everyone who met her fell instantly in love with her, she was just something else, Maighread said. She was the kindest, funniest, most special person Ive ever known and probably will ever know. She was the best sister and friend, and partner to Dan, and were all very lucky to have known her. Maire Ni Fhatharta and her partner Dan King, who took a leading role in the search for her body Describing her as a woman with a wealth of skills, Foram Cois Fharraige said: It was clear from that first day that she was a dedicated, serious, energetic woman, with a particular commitment to the Irish language and the Gaeltacht. The shape of each day was framed by the checking of tide tables and the weather as family and work routines were amended or suspended. At night, and under a full moon during the first week, the beams of hundreds of torches became a regular feature on the many parts of the long, rocky, indented shoreline, stretching 45km from Oranmore to Indreabhan alone. Young friends and family, some of whom flew long distances to help, were assigned zones and team leaders. There were regular reminders that safety was paramount, but there were several minor incidents in challenging weather. Ms Ni Fhathartas partner, Dan King, knew how to co-ordinate the community element of the search at sea. An experienced sailor, he was previously a member of the Galway RNLI inshore lifeboat crew. He has windsurfed and stand-up paddleboarded at a high level for most of his life. In a cutting north-easterly wind, six layers of clothing could not keep the cold out in RIBs Search tracks were uploaded daily by boats and diving teams from Galway and Athlone and as far away as Mallow and Monaghan. There were also updates of the Marine Institutes Adrift tool, which uses tidal, weather and river-flow data to provide a realistic simulation of missing persons at sea. By Sunday, November 17, the weather was more challenging, and by early that second week the forecast was for ice and snow. In a cutting north-easterly wind, six layers of clothing could not keep the cold out in RIBs. For kayakers and jet-skiers, it was a particularly arduous endurance test. Our WhatsApp group for the on-land search was capped at 2,000 people and we frequently exceeded this cap, said Mr King. On water, we had over 60 vessels, 300 people per day ranging from commercial fishing vessels from the Aran islands, Rossaveal and Clogherhead, Co Louth to the Coast Guard, RNLI, Civil Defence, along with private boats, sub-aqua clubs, stand-up paddle boards, kayaks and swimmers. Maire Ni Fhatharta, who died after going for a swim nearly three weeks ago In another cruel twist, there was a power cut in the early hours of Thursday, November 21, across much of south Connemara. The ESB network infrastructure had been badly damaged by snow. With the weekend storm approaching, word was that the state rescue agencies would have to stand down at some point. Those with experience of searches knew days seven to 10 would be key. That Thursday evening on WhatsApp, Mr King gave a rallying call to all the volunteers: Lets hope tomorrow is the day. Across the city and county, quiet tears were shed And so it was. At around 4pm on Friday, November 22, just hours before Storm Bert, there was a sighting by the Rescue 115 helicopter near Silverstrand. A kayaker was asked to investigate. Ms Ni Fhathartas body was located, not far from where she had left for her swim. Across the city and county, quiet tears were shed. One volunteer who had been on many searches tried to articulate the feeling. Its the power of the collective at a time of wider bleak world events beyond our control, and it was so palpable, they said. Every torch on the shore, every light at sea, that represented someone who cares. The man was spotted by gardai, who were patrolling the main shopping thoroughfare in Dublin city, yesterday (Saturday). A man arrested under suspicion of being intoxicated while driving a small lorry down Grafton Street in Dublin, has been released. The driver, in his 30s, was arrested after gardai suspected the man had been drinking. Officers spotted the man had driven the vehicle through a pedestrianised Grafton Street at around 5.20 pm yesterday. The citys main shopping thoroughfare was filled with Christmas shoppers at the time. Officers were patrolling the area when they saw the driver in the small truck. They stopped the vehicle and the man was arrested and a blood sample was taken. However, the driver was later released without charge, pending a further investigation. Gardai posted on X that the officers were quick to step in and stop him before he could go much further. A garda spokesperson said: This incident occurred at approximately 5.20 pm yesterday, 30th of November 2024 on Grafton Street, Dublin 2. The driver, a male aged in his 30s, was arrested at the scene and has since been released pending further enquiries. All further details are available in the original post. This detection falls under the remit of Operation Citizen. As part of Operation Citizen, gardai across Dublin city continue to conduct high visibility patrols on foot, on bicycle and in Garda vehicles at locations identified where instances of anti-social behaviour and public order offences occur. Enhanced uniformed Garda resources will be deployed over the holiday season. He just about got away with it, but Simon Harris must stop trying to be a brand and get back to basics At his most popular, former taoiseach Leo Varadkar enjoyed greater favourability ratings than Simon Harris. Photo: Gerry Mooney Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin did not make the same mistakes as Simon Harris on the campaign trail. Photo: Damien Eagers The Taoiseachs main priority at this election seemed to be that he should still be Taoiseach afterwards. Given the setbacks in the last week or so of the campaign, Simon Harris may therefore be inclined to feel some relief that the state of play last night left him almost certain to lead the country again at some point during the term of the 34th Dail even if the counts were strongly suggesting he will have to settle for being tanaiste for a while in the first instance, with Micheal Martin returning again as taoiseach. So, should Harris be happy with the outcome? The answer, surely, is: No. Scraping back in as Taoiseach by the skin of his teeth was not in the script that Harris was writing for himself. He has effectively come neck and neck in a three-horse race that, not long ago, Fine Gael believed they would win well. From shortly after he became leader of the party in March, the narrative was that Harriss supposed popularity with voters was a novel phenomenon, the like of which hadnt been seen in many years. In truth, the so-called Harris Hop never felt as solid as the Taoiseachs supporters were desperate to believe. Even at his most superficially popular, the Wicklow mans personal satisfaction ratings still lagged behind those of his predecessor, Leo Varadkar, at his height. At one point during Brexit talks, Fine Gael had a commanding 11pc lead over Fianna Fail. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin did not make the same mistakes as Simon Harris on the campaign trail. Photo: Damien Eagers It never came close to replicating those figures under Harris, but Fine Gael became almost giddy in recent months at its perceived favour with the public. Thats why the entire election campaign was built around Harris. Arguably, that was driven by a certain necessity, considering that so many TDs stood down at this election, leaving the party with far fewer recognisable faces. It was also, though, a deliberate choice based on an over-calculation of the leaders common touch, as exemplified in the hubristic slogan a new energy. The message of Harriss passion and vitality was reinforced by TikTok videos which showed him bouncing around the country like Tigger on a sugar rush. That image became something of a weight around his neck, to the point that he couldnt even blame tiredness for his petty, petulant response to some fairly temperate criticism from care worker Charlotte Fallon in Kanturk, Co Cork. The likelihood is that exhaustion did play a part in it though only a part. The thin-skinnedness it exposed was what made the encounter really damaging. Nonetheless, the campaign was so wedded to the image of Harriss infinite energy supply that to concede he was only human would have been regarded as a humiliating climbdown. He had to keep up the act of a youthful man in a hurry. If a party constructs its entire campaign around one individual, then any failure to achieve a breakthrough inevitably becomes their personal responsibility. In order to front such a campaign, you also need to be a big character a Bertie Ahern or a Boris Johnson. Simon Harris is simply not that kind of person. Bertie and Boris connected with voters. Ebullience comes naturally to them. The attempt to play the part of the man of the people always felt like a laboured act from the awkward, nerdy Taoiseach. The Fine Gael leader ultimately made the fatal mistake of believing his own publicity, then stretched the performance to its limit on the campaign trail until there wasnt enough of it to go round. The attacks on Fianna Fail were a nasty surprise He didnt energise; he irritated. It was a relief when Paschal Donohoe was finally put centre stage in recent days to steady the ship. Donohoes calm steadiness suddenly felt like a welcome break from all that over-eager, puppy-like dashing about. The decision early on in the campaign to go after Fianna Fail with such vehemence was another extraordinary blunder. We can only assume it was authorised from the top of the party. The attacks on Fianna Fail were a nasty surprise from someone who had set himself up as the supposed nice Taoiseach. That he is seen as decent and restrained is obviously important to him. Indeed, it was the insinuation that he was not a good man that triggered him in Kanturk. So why risk undermining that image of agreeability by trying, all of a sudden, to get macho with his own partners in government? It made no sense, given that both parties needed one another to do well. That may have been his inexperience showing, but it was still an extraordinary lapse of political judgment. Trying to pretend that Harris represented a fresh start was equally foolish. Voters are not stupid. They know that Fine Gael has been in government for nearly 14 years. If they were going to be won round for the fourth election in a row, it would be by an appeal to stability and continuity, not by a fake promise that returning them amounted to some great change. The measure of how badly Fine Gael messed up this campaign can be found in one significant detail in the exit poll, which is that Simon Harris is not the preferred taoiseach of any age group in the country. Micheal Martin is the first choice for the over-35s, and Mary Lou McDonald among over half of younger voters. Having the humility to recognise that hes not as popular as he might have led himself to believe could do Simon Harris some good. At his most popular, former taoiseach Leo Varadkar enjoyed greater favourability ratings than Simon Harris. Photo: Gerry Mooney Going forward, he should take a leaf from Micheal Martins book and just get on with doing his job rather than trying to turn himself into a brand. Harriss biggest mistake of all, though, might have been to believe he could manufacture enthusiasm where none exists. Voters may be resigned to the status quo, but you cant fool them with a slick marketing campaign to cheer it on. Turnout at this election is down on 2020, which was already down on 2016, which was down on 2011. There is a worrying pattern of democratic apathy. That was most marked in Dublin, epicentre of the housing crisis, suggesting a certain enervation of spirit. There was certainly no momentum behind any party. People have been beaten down by a housing and cost-of-living crisis. Theyre demoralised. Maybe sick of politics itself. It still ought to concern them to see so many people opt out of the democratic process At the end of a grey week in November, many people who may have planned to vote after work decided, feck it, theyd just go home or out for a drink instead. Harris and Martin are entitled to feel some relief that they just about got away with it in the end. A collective phew has been earned. It still ought to concern them to see so many people opt out of the democratic process. Such disengagement from life is a kind of societal depression. Not only do many voters not share this new energy. They have no energy at all. Politics US Jewish groups hit out at Occupied Territories Bill and vilification of Israel in Ireland in meeting with Taoiseach President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Ukrainian military has to repel Russian missile and drone attacks every night. The Head of State emphasized that over the past week, the enemy had used more than 500 guided bombs, almost 660 attack drones and about 120 missiles of various types against Ukrainians. ADVERTISIMENT According to the President, no country in the world has ever faced such attacks. Zelenskyy said this on his Telegram. Zelenskyy noted that air defense forces, mobile fire groups and all other units work 24/7 to protect Ukrainians from Russian air terror. The president added that 30 attack drones were destroyed on the night of December 1. In total, Russia used 1,280 various types of munitions against Ukrainians over the past week. The Head of State said that Ukrainian soldiers continue to fight the aggressor, Ukrainians work for a strong country, and partners provide support. "No country in the world has faced such attacks every day for this long. Our state has survived, our Armed Forces continue to fight the aggressor, our people work for a strong Ukraine, and our partners support us. And together we are the power that will force Russia to follow the just peace and restore security in Europe. I thank everyone who understands this and supports us," the President of Ukraine said. As a reminder, on the morning of December 1, Russians attacked public transport in Kherson with a drone. At least three citizens were killed and seven more were injured. Earlier, it was reported that the aggressor country Russia targeted Kyiv during a drone attack on the night of December 1. An enemy UAV was destroyed over the city, but its fragments damaged a high-rise building. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! When Gemma Hussey, who has died aged of 86, was appointed education minister in Garret FitzGeralds 1982 government she was Fine Gaels first female ministerial appointment since the foundation of the State. Although she entered politics as an independent, Hussey was a natural acolyte of the liberal wing of Fine Gael, a close friend of the party leader and his wife Joan and a strong supporter of his constitutional crusade to legalise contraception and divorce. However, it wasnt always easy. She was unpopular with the conservative wing of her party and there was an outbreak of rebellion within Fine Gael when she unilaterally closed the Carysfort Teacher Training College in Blackrock, Co Dublin, in early 1986. The move was denounced by her colleague Liam Cosgrave and she was branded a disgrace by the partys maverick backbencher Liam Skelly. She was completely shattered by this abrupt change of fortune, and was reduced to tears Taken in tandem with hospital closures because of fiscal rectitude, government popularity ratings plummeted, with an opinion poll showing Fine Gael two points behind the Progressive Democrats that February. Hussey relented, giving the college a two-year reprieve, but FitzGerald decided to move her to a newly created European affairs ministry in a cabinet reshuffle soon afterwards. As she was celebrating her new post with friends it emerged that FitzGeralds reshuffle was in tatters, because Labour Party stalwart Barry Desmond declined to move from the Department of Health and Social Welfare. Thus, FitzGerald had to break the news to his longtime personal friend, Gemma Hussey, that he was now offering her Social Welfare, Barry Desmonds part-time portfolio, Stephen OByrnes wrote in his book, Hiding Behind A Face. She was completely shattered by this abrupt change of fortune, and was reduced to tears, he added. It was the beginning of the end for FitzGeralds coalition It was the beginning of the end for FitzGeralds coalition, which was not helped by internal strife which pitted pro-divorce ministers such as Hussey and Alan Shatter against traditionalists led by Alice Glenn and Tom ODonnell. Despite her zeal for the liberal agenda, a referendum to introduce divorce was soundly defeated in 1986. As well as her support for FitzGeralds constitutional crusade Hussey is remembered as the first government minister to publish a memoir, in her case in the form of a diary, just a year after leaving politics. At The Cutting Edge Cabinet Diaries 1982-1987, published in 1990, gave an insight into the torturous world of top-level politics during the FitzGerald years, but was denounced by some as breaking cabinet confidentiality. It was a cabinet which had to deal with a massive financial crisis at a time when no political consensus existed, she wrote in one entry. It was therefore tense and difficult as Labour came under fierce pressure from their left wing who never gave the impression of being able or willing to undertake the responsibilities of government. Those of us in high-spending ministries were put under particular strain, therefore, and faced weekly Dail storms from Fianna Fail as well as constituency unpopularity and continual public controversy in every county in Ireland. Of course, the main problem was that the minister for finance, Alan Dukes, rarely agreed to any spending proposal and fought the battles at full cabinet, while the taoiseach (FitzGerald) was always so concerned to allow such full freedom of speech that cabinet meetings took too long. It was, she said, a time of warm gin and cold chips It was, she said, a time of warm gin and cold chips. She was the only cabinet member not to support Dukes when he campaigned for the party leadership following FitzGeralds resignation, according to her cabinet colleague Ivan Yates. Barry Desmond was scathing of her diaries. In his book Finally and in Conclusion, he wrote that she would have been better to remain in the Seanad rather than seeking high office and having battles with the teachers unions which she lost. Her career would have lasted longer than 1989, when she retired at the age of 51, he wrote. She and her husband, Derry, a successful businessman and an influential backroom adviser to Fine Gael, were the embodiment of Dublin 4 and Dublin 6; well-off, well-connected, the elite middle-class Fine Gael activists. And they knew that too, Desmond wrote. I had expected a serious analysis of the fundamental issues we faced in government in Gemmas diaries on the 1982-1987 government. Instead, she sounded like a Mount Anville prefect ensuring the reverend mother taoiseach (FitzGerald) was aware of the problem pupils in the class. Unfortunately, Gemma failed to record in any coherent way the social perspectives of our government decisions on divorce, the pro-life amendment, family planning and legislation affecting children. The only real sympathy I had for her was her ordeal in facing cynical opposition from Mary ORourke, the Fianna Fail opposition spokesperson, the Cilla Black of the Fianna Fail front bench. He said the diaries were disloyal to FitzGerald, who was the first leader of the party to promote women, like Hussey and the justice minister Nora Owen, to high office. Gemma Hussey (nee Moran) was born on November 11, 1938, and grew up in Bray, Co Wicklow. She attended Loreto College, Bray, and finished her education at Mount Anville School before going to University College Dublin. She then founded Speak-Consultants, a language, learning and drama college, with her husband Dermot Derry Hussey. She founded the Womans Political Association in 1973 and was on the board of the Abbey Theatre from 1974 to 1978. She served as an independent senator for the National University of Ireland from 1977 to 1982, joining Fine Gael after three years. She was first elected to the Dail for the Wicklow constituency in 1982 and became the party spokesman on broadcasting and the arts. Later the same year she was appointed education minister, a position she held until 1986. She was social welfare minister from 1986 to 1987 and labour minister from January to March 1987; she retired from political life in 1989. She is mainly remembered for introducing lasting reforms such as oral exams during her time in the education portfolio and for being a leading advocate of womens rights and gender equality and for social issues such as contraception and divorce often in opposition to leading figures within Fine Gael. She was a very proud Europhile and, after exiting politics in 1989, she immersed herself in the European Womens Federation, encouraging women in former Eastern bloc countries to become active in politics for the first time her family said following her death last Tuesday. We are deeply proud of her contribution to a better Ireland and a better Europe over a lifetime of service. She was also the author of Ireland Today: An Anatomy Of A Changing State (1993), which offered insights into Irish politics and the changes in society that occurred during her brief but influential time in the Oireachtas. She was also a supporter of Mary Robinsons candidacy for president in 1990 and supported a Yes vote in the 2015 same-sex marriage referendum. Gemma Hussey, who was predeceased by husband Derry, is survived by her children, Rachel, Ruth and Andrew, and her brother Paddy. Colin Murphy: Cop29 not the disaster it was made out to be. And heres why Until Baku, agreement on carbon trading as per the Paris Agreement had been evasive Climate activists during a protest at the UN climate summit Cop29. Photo: Larissa Schwedes/Getty Colin Murphy Sun 1 Dec 2024 at 03:30 Cop29 ends in betrayal, announced Greenpeace. The deal reached was a big F U to those on the frontlines of climate breakdown, said Friends of the Earth. A flop, according to the Huffington Post, which left a bad aftertaste, said Sky News. They tell us to ring around when prices rise. Politicians sound like they think you are stupid to be paying almost anything at all for insurance. It is glib advice. The reality is that ringing around for services is stressful, confusing and often futile. As I found last week, even trying to compare three of the 351 health insurance policies on the Irish market is baffling and frustrating. European Election Ive always left it up to the members Taoiseach says Josepha Madigan was not partys preferred European election candidate Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris appears primed to go back into power with Fianna Fail. Picture by Colin Keegan After a turbulent few years, Fridays election ended with only one credible government on the cards. That is a continuation of the current Fine Gael/Fianna Fail coalition, alongside whoever is drawn into the tent to make up the numbers. Those who insist that the country wants change will be deeply frustrated by the status quo remaining in place. However, Irish voters are not known for taking a gamble and they have stayed true to form. The Coalition is not being swept back to power on a wave of acclamation. A sufficient proportion of voters are simply of a mind that ministers have performed competently enough to get the nod again. Voters are evidently not willing to risk the stability they have on the off chance that a mix of other parties and Independents, led by Sinn Fein, might magic up new solutions to our ills. In a world increasingly shaken by the winds of populism, the natural centrism of the Irish people offers a welcome buffer against uncertainty. It is clear from the transfer patterns that started to emerge once the first boxes were opened yesterday that voters now see little difference between what used to be called the Civil War parties. That rivalry has been dead for some time. Sinn Feins attempt to present topping the exit poll as an electoral victory is a strange one. The partys director of elections, Matt Carthy, said on RTEs coverage of the count yesterday that they were incredibly happy with how things had turned out. By what metric is this happiness being measured? Sinn Fein did not go into the election hoping for an increase in its number of Dail seats, but to install Mary Lou McDonald as taoiseach with a mandate for radical economic change. The party has fallen well short of that goal once more, despite the election coming at the end of a five-year period during which rents increased by 43pc, homelessness spiralled out of control and increasing numbers of young people have been locked out of the property market. Against that backdrop, this will be the first election since 1989 when Sinn Feins percentage of the vote went into reverse. Little more than 18 months ago, it was possible to imagine a left-wing coalition being formed. Instead, this has been another dismal failure to challenge the status quo of Irish politics. Once they digest this result, smaller parties must interrogate themselves ruthlessly to determine how they can expect to turn that situation around before the next election in five years. There is a solid left vote in Ireland, but it is consistently being weakened. Young voters who want such an alternative are let down time and again by those who claim to represent them. The generational gap between voters is only growing wider. Older voters who are financially comfortable and own their own homes live in an entirely different Ireland to young people. Friday proved it again. All votes are equal. The people have spoken. Despite this, the next government must get serious about providing young people with the same opportunities older voters already enjoy. Seats filled: 5 7.05pm Seats filled in Dublin Mid-West All five TDS of Dublin Mid-West Green Party TD Paul Gogarty says 'F**k You' to Emmet Stagg in the Dail Paul Nicholas Gogarty (Independent) and Shane Moynihan (FF) took the two final seats in Dublin Mid-West knocking Eoin O Broin from the Social Democrats at the last hurdle. Paul Nicholas Gogarty (Independent). Shane Moynihan (FF). Heres the 2024 TDs for the area: Eoin O Broin (SF) Mark Ward (SF) Emer Higgins (FG) Paul Nicholas Gogarty (Independent) Shane Moynihan (FF) Vicki Casserly (FG), Robert Coyle (Irish People) , Linda De Courcy (Ind Ire), Karla Doran (Green), Alan Hayes (Independent), Gino Kenny (PBP), Glen Moore (IFP), Eoin O'Brion (SocDem), Seanan O Coistin (Independent), Lynda Prendergast (FF) and Colm Quinn (Aontu) were eliminated. 5.55pm Fine Gaels Emer Higgins reclaimed her seat on the 12th count in Dublin Mid-West. Fine Gael's Emer Higgins. 4.50pm Dublin Midwest: 4 candidates left and 3 seats remaining Fine Gael Councillor Vicki Casserly has been knocked out of the race. 3pm That's the legacy of this government comes to mental health, theyve failed, says Sinn Feins Mark Ward Mark Ward has been deemed elected on the 9th count. Sinn Feins spokesperson for Mental Health, Mark Ward, says the current government have failed those with the need for mental health services. The Dublin Mid-West man spoke to the Irish Independent shortly after being elected. Sinn Fein's Mark Ward. He said: Im over the moon, absolutely ecstatic. It was a really good effort with the whole team. I think we managed the vote absolutely fantastically in relation to myself and Eoin O Broin. He got in during the first count and then I was the second candidate elected in the area. We came to this election looking for change that people are asking for and that's what we're still looking to do. Change is really needed in housing and in health. Sinn Fein's Eoin O Broin. Im the party spokesperson for mental health and weve just seen lists skyrocket over the last number of years, so we need to see real change. Mental health is not rocket science. People with mental health needs need to get a service straight away. It's all about getting the care in the right place at the right time. Ward said that Sinn Fein are ready to hit the ground running in a bid to get into government. When this government was formed in 2020, there were just over 2000 young people waiting for an appointment with CAHMS. That's over 4000, it's almost doubled in the four years of this government. So that's how. That's one of the reasons they failed. There were 250 children waiting for a year for a first-time appointment. Now that stands at 746. That's the record of this government. That's the legacy of this government when it comes to mental health, theyve failed. We have a plan for mental health, health, policies for housing. Were ready to hit the ground running if we get the opportunity. We don't know where these last number of seats are going to go. Everything is still to play for. We're willing to talk to anybody and everybody. We'd rather have a coalition of the left if that's possible. If not, we're still willing to talk to anybody because we really need to see change at the end of the day. What you will see is the vast majority of people in this country didn't vote for government parties, so there's an answer itself. 2.40pm People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny loses seat in Dublin Mid-West Kenny was eliminated in the 9th count. He said: Unfortunately, its not to be today. Its been a privilege to represent the people of DMW for the past 16 years. Sincere thanks to all those who have supported me throughout that time. I have met some extraordinary people in the past nine years as a TD. Ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances, that overcame adversity to make things better for the greater good. This I hope reflected in some small way over them 9 years. Political activism doesnt stop when this type of conventional politics ceases, in fact it can give clarity in what political activism really is. With humility, Im very proud of the issues that we managed to bring forward from the margins, hopefully to be legislated in the future. Everything is temporary and nothing is permanent. Thanks again everybody, you were great! Long Live the Workers and Palestine. 1.10pm Labour Party Francis Timmons eliminated on eighth count Francis Timmons who has been a councillor for 10 years and was hoping for a seat in Dublin Mid-West for the Labour Party is out of contention. Timmons said: 2625 votes (10th place) I'll admit I'm disappointed more so because I wanted to be part of a change but thanks to everyone that voted for me. I'll rest now and consider my place in politics over the next few days. Thanks to everyone that supported me. Mr Timmons has previously been elected to South Dublin County Council as an Independent candidate. However, he said he was asked by the Labour Party to run for them in this upcoming General Election. The history and values of the Labour Party as a progressive centre-Left party are ones I share," he said. 12pm Between yesterday and today, there have been six counts in Dublin Mid-West. Sinn Feins Eoin O Broin was elected on the first count last night. 10 candidates remain and four seats are available. *** 9.55pm Robert Coyle (The Irish People), Karla Doran (Green), and Seanan OCoistin (Independent) have been eliminated from Dublin Mid-West count. The count begins again at 10am tomorrow morning. One seat is filled by Sinn Feins Eoin O Broin and four are still up for grabs. 7.20pm If I was given the opportunity to be housing minister, I would grasp it with both hands. It desperately needs the greatest level of change in this country, says Eoin O Broin Eoin O Broin admits that he would absolutely relish the opportunity to try and fix housing, as a minister if he got the chance. If I was given the opportunity to do that (be housing minister), I would grasp it with both hands because that's one of the areas we desperately need the greatest level of change in this country, he told the Irish Independent. I would absolutely relish the opportunity to try and fix housing. I've been a housing activist as long as I've been a political activist and housing is just the single biggest issue, both in my own constituency and across the State. I'd like it not because I want to be a minister, I'd like it because I really think the plan that we have and the people around us could do so much better for people, whether it's people waiting on council list, people who are homeless, people who are looking to buy or rent affordably, also older people approaching pension age and living in the private rental sector and scared of what's going to happen in the future. O Broin is proud of his united, campaign with Mark Ward, and hopes more Sinn Fein TDs are elected this weekend. Both myself and Mark Ward ran a really strong united campaign here in Dublin Mid-West and the objective was to try and take the first two seats. I've been declared and my surplus is now going to be distributed. Mark will get the lion's share of that. While it might not bring him in this count, he'll certainly take the second seat, if not tonight, early tomorrow. Two Sinn Fein TD's return from Dublin Mid-West with the plan and hopefully by tomorrow afternoon that will be achieved. David Cullinane has beat me to be the first elected, and he will never let me hear the end of that. I'm delighted David did really, really well. It looks like Connor McGuinness, his running mate, has a really good chance of getting a second Sinn Fein seat in Waterford, which will be a huge gain. 7pm Im scarlet, Sinn Feins Eoin O Broin first elected in Dublin Mid-West Whilst being lifted up in the air, Sinn Feins Eoin O Broin laughed Im scarlet. The spokesperson for housing got a total of 9892 votes in the first count. His colleague Mark Ward followed with 5325, and O Broin hopes that hell be elected later tonight or early tomorrow morning. 5.35pm Labour Partys Cllr Francis Timmons bids farewell to Dublin Midwest election race. Cllr Francis Timmons, who was previously an Independent politician, ran as a Labour candidate in the General Election 2024. But with 5.3pc (2500) votes, he has thanked the public for the votes, but admitted this is not the change that he wanted. He said: Thanks everyone that voted for me! Not the change I desperately wanted but the people that voted have spoken! Whoever forms the government I wish them well - there is no shortage of challenges but I hope they change direction or it will be the same issues in 5 years time! 5:20pm First count is underway Social Democrats Councillor Eoin O Broin brings his number one supporter, to the count centre at the Adamstown Community Centre. His daughter Eanna is keeping an eye on the proceedings, ahead of the first count result. Social Democrats Councillor Eoin O Broin brings his daughter Eanna to the count centre. 12pm:In the tallies, Sinn Fein have come out on top with 32.3pc of the votes in Dublin Midwest. Fine Gael followed with 17.7pc with Fianna Fail third with 11.4pc. SFs O'Broin has 20.7pc of the overall votes and his colleague, Ward is behind him with 11.7pc. The following in the top spots is Emer Higgins (FG) with 10.8pc and Shane Moynihan (FF) with 9.6pc of the votes. Paul Nicolas Gogarty, who is an Independent candidate, has 7.9pc of tally votes. Fine Gaels Vicki Casserly is currently in sixth place with 7.7pc of the votes. Social Democrats Eoin OBroin has 6.2pc of the final tally. With the official count taking place this afternoon and transfers on the cards, it could still be anyones game. 10am: Sinn Fein are dominating the tallies so far in Dublin Midwest with 36.3pc of the total votes in the bag. So far, 35pc of the boxes have been opened and tallied. In the candidate breakdown, Sinn Feins Eoin OBrion has 29.9pc and his colleague Mark Ward has 15.4pc. Many of us love to give an Irish, or locally made gift for Christmas. I know that many of you love to give an Irish, or locally made gift for Christmas. What better way to support some of the fantastic companies and people making products that we have here in Ireland. Here are some of the Irish gifts that we stock. A jar of local honey is a gift of sweetness, love and health in one pot! We have several brands including local brands Wild Valley, Mullins, and Hook Honey. Herbal teas are a great idea, Irish Brew Niks Tea are a Multi Award Winning Irish brand who package all their loose teas here in Ireland using 100% compostable material. Some teas include, Traditional Irish Black Tea, Berry Pleasure or Lemon or Ginger Zing Tea. These teas would pair well with a pack of Foods of Athenry Mince Pies. That would surely put a smile on someones face. Sticking with the Foods of Athenry, as well as their mince pies theres their Christmas cake, and Christmas pudding. They are made by an enthusiastic Irish farming family since 2004 and contain no artificial food additives. They are also gluten free, vegan, and dairy free, and taste amazing. If you prefer a body care gift set, there are several brands to choose from including Kinvara, Dublin Herbalists, and our very own local brand, Holos. Holos is made up the road from us in Enniscorthy and boasts several awards for their products. They have some lovely gift sets suitable from teenage skin right through to the more mature skin! The Teen Queen Gift Set, which is a perfect gift for savvy teens. In our gift store we have gifts to inspire including Sinead De Horas Oracle Cards and Journals. The popular Moon Mna 2025 Journal is full of interesting information and beautiful imagery focusing on the magic of Ireland. A Time For Us is a gorgeous book which was inspired by Liz Reillys son, who was four at time of writing. The idea behind the book is to help children regulate their emotions and to teach them to express their feelings in a fun and safe way. It is wonderfully written and is beautifully illustrated. There are just some of the Irish gifts that we stock. Call in to see us or check us out online at www.naturalhealthstore.ie Musician Ryan OReilly is returning to Wicklow town from the UK for a solo performance at The Growler Man. Ryan currently lives in Southampton and began playing music as a teenager at the 2003 Wicklow Regatta Festivals singing pubs competition. He then moved to Toronto, where he performed at open mics around the university and started a band. After relocating to London, Ryan and his Canadian band began street-performing, gaining a following across Europe, especially in Germany, thanks to viral videos posted by spectators of their performances. Tours followed, leading to a signing with Qatars first indie record label, DNA Records. They released The Northern Line in 2016 and I Cant Stand The Sound in 2018. Songs from these albums were featured in several TV series, including McDonald & Dodds and Station 19, as well as the film Dr. Jekyll featuring Eddie Izzard. This exposure led to Ryan being invited to LA to co-write music for the ITV series After The Flood, where he signed with the US production company Bicycle Path to create his third studio album, Other Plans, recorded with Nashville producer Spencer Cullum. In the past year, he has performed several theatre residencies featuring the music of Bob Dylan in Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. He has also released original songs, including Wicklow, produced by Darren Doyle and featuring a music video by Robert Manson, recorded at Spud Murphys studio in Wicklow, which is now available on Spotify. Ryans concert at The Growler Man in Wicklow town takes place at 9.30pm on December 7. BERLIN - MAY 16: German escort girl Jaqueline awaits customers at Berlin's exclusive Night Club Bel Ami on May 16, 2006 in Berlin, Germany. Escort girls across Germany are anticipating booming business in June as soccer fans from around the world will descend upon the country for the World Cup. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images) Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved budget plans which raise 2025 military spending to record levels as Moscow seeks to prevail in the war in Ukraine. Around 32.5% of the budget posted on a government website on Sunday has been allocated for national defence, amounting to 13.5 trillion rubles ( 119 billion), up from a reported 28.3% this year. Politicians in both houses of the Russian parliament, the State Duma and Federation Council, had already approved the plans in the past 10 days. Russia's war on Ukraine, which started in February 2022, is Europe's biggest conflict since the Second World War and has drained the resources of both sides. Kyiv has been getting billions of dollars in help from its Western allies, but Russia's forces are bigger and better equipped, and in recent months the Russian army has gradually been pushing Ukrainian troops back in eastern areas. New European Council president Antonio Costa and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas arrived in Kyiv on Sunday, marking their first day in office with a strong message of support for Ukraine. Their visit comes as doubts are deepening over what Kyiv can expect from a new US administration led by Donald Trump. "From day one of the war, the EU has stood by the side of Ukraine," Mr Costa posted on X, together with a photo of himself, Ms Kallas and EU enlargement chief Marta Kos. "From day one of our mandate, we are reaffirming our unwavering support to the Ukrainian people." Speaking at a news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Mr Costa reiterated the EU's recent commitment to help Ukraine continue through the war, including 4.2 billion euros (3.4 billion) to support Ukraine's budget and 1.5 billion euros (1.25 billion) of assistance every month from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets. Asked whether the EU would step up funding if Mr Trump withdrew support, Mr Costa said the bloc would "stand for Ukraine as long as necessary". Mr Zelensky said that any future ceasefire negotiations with Russia would need to include representatives from the EU and Nato, because Ukraine see its future security in both alliances. However, he said he failed to see what any such negotiations would focus on, adding that Ukraine would "never legally recognise any occupation of our lands by the Russian Federation". He urged the outgoing Biden administration to use the remaining two months in office to exert influence "over those few European sceptics about our future". He said: "I see nothing, I personally see no risks, and most Nato countries see no risks from the recommendation regarding the positive future of Ukraine's membership in Nato." Mr Zelensky said that an offer of Nato membership to territory under Kyiv's control would end "the hot stage of the war". On the ground in Ukraine, three people died in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson when a Russian drone struck a minibus on Sunday morning, regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. Seven others were injured in the attack. Meanwhile, the number of people injured in a missile strike in Dnipro in central Ukraine on Saturday rose to 24, with seven in a serious condition, Dnipropetrovsk regional governor Serhiy Lysak said. Four people were killed in the attack. Moscow sent 78 drones into Ukraine overnight into Sunday, Ukrainian officials said. According to Ukraine's air force, 32 drones were destroyed during the overnight attacks. A further 45 were "lost" over various areas, probably due to being electronically jammed. In Russia, a child was killed in a Ukrainian drone attack in the Bryansk region bordering Ukraine, according to regional governor Alexander Bogomaz. Russia's Defence Ministry said 29 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight into Sunday in four regions of western Russia - 20 over the Bryansk region, seven over the Kaluga region, and one each over the Smolensk and Kursk regions. Russia has thrown a tantrum over Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's support for rebel forces in Syria. The Russians complain that after Syria, the occupied Crimea could be under Turkey's attack. ADVERTISIMENT At the same time, the Russians threaten Turkey with a "worthy response". This is reported by Kremlin propaganda Telegram channels, citing sources in the Russian Defense Ministry and the Russian Foreign Ministry. Sources in the Russian terrorist agency said that Turkey allegedly "betrayed" Russia after what happened in Aleppo. At the same time, the Russians now fear that after the events in Syria, "anything goes" from Erdogan. In particular, Russians fear that Turkey will assist Ukraine in de-occupying the peninsula. "There is reason to believe that serious problems will be organized in Crimea. Assistance to the enemy may include the targeting of missiles and drones at important facilities on the peninsula, intelligence information, and even possibly some actions related to weapons. Although there is no confirmation of the information about weapons yet - it was issued by propagandists. ADVERTISIMENT The Kremlin's mouthpieces also claim that the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed concerns about Turkey. The occupiers complained that Erdogan allegedly wants to control Crimea and sends signals that it will be "very difficult to live there." "This is actually blackmail, and I hope we will find a worthy response to it. Therefore, the current threats should be taken seriously. Both the military and politicians need to solve something with the Turkish problem, as well as all the residents of Crimea and Sevastopol," the Kremlin propagandists said. As a reminder, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has boasted of another meeting and discussion of global issues with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. The two met on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS summit in Kazan, and the Turkish leader claims to have seen his counterpart's "desire" for an alleged ceasefire in Ukraine. As reported by OBOZ.UA, Erdogan criticized the activities of the United Nations and said that it was no longer an effective tool for global governance. According to him, to remedy the situation, it is necessary to reform the UN. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Woman cry during a commemoration ceremony, where Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Beirut southern suburbs, Lebanon December 1, 2024. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi Israeli jets launched an airstrike over a southern Lebanese border village on Sunday, while troops shelled other border towns and villages still under Israeli control, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency. The attacks come days after a US-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Delhi Police arrest AAP MLA Naresh Balyan over extortion case. Photo courtesy: Screengrab from YouTube New Delhi/IBNS: The Delhi Police Saturday arrested Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Naresh Balyan in connection with an extortion case that was lodged last year, media reports said. The legislator from Delhi's Uttam Nagar Assembly was called to the Delhi Police's Crime Branch office in R K Puram for questioning. He was later arrested. The arrest came hours after the BJP alleged that Balyan was involved in extortion activities. The saffron outfit slammed AAP boss Arvind Kejriwal for not acting against him. The AAP defended Balyan and claimed that his arrest was illegal. Balyan also refuted the BJP's charges, claiming to lodge police cases against those who "spread lies" about him. A police official told the media that an audio clip of a conversation purportedly between Naresh Balyan and gangster Kapil Sangwan had gone viral on social media where the two are heard discussing collecting extortion money from businessmen. AAP MP Sanjay Singh, meanwhile, alleged that ever since Arvind Kejriwal started raising the issue of law and order and rising crime in Delhi, the BJP and the Centre are "trying to harass and conspire against his party leaders". Two more ISKCON priests have been arrested by police in Bangladesh. Photo Courtesy: Radharamn Das X page International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Kolkata spokesperson Radharamn Das on Sunday claimed two more Hindu priests have been arrested in Bangladesh amid an escalation in atrocities faced by the minority community members in the country since Muhammad Yunus-led interim government took charge in August. Das shared the images of the two priests and wrote on X: "Do they look like terrorists? All of them have been arrested by Bangladeshi police without any reason." Do they look like terrorists? All of them have been arrested by Bangladeshi police without any reason. #ISKCON #FreeISKCONMonks pic.twitter.com/q60qzDD0Ct Radharamn Das (@RadharamnDas) December 1, 2024 They have been identified as Ranganath Shyamsunder Das and Rudrapati Keshav Das. After Chinmoy Krishna Das, two more Hindu saints Ranganath Shyamsunder Das Brahmachari and Rudrapati Keshav Das Brahmachari were arrested from Pundarik Dham by Bangladesh Police.@IskconInc @iskcon @Asad_N0or @BanglaRepublic#FreeChinmoyKrishnaDas #SaveBangladeshiHindus pic.twitter.com/4ErL94r0v4 Avro Neel Hindu (@avroneel80) December 1, 2024 Das reposted an X post which claimed they were arrested from Pundarik Dham in Bangladesh. However, no official comment on the arrests has been made so far by the Bangladesh government. Sources told NDTV they were detained by authorities without warrants. Meanwhile, Bangladeshi Immigration officials on Sunday refused to grant permission to 54 International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) members to cross the border and travel to India through the Benapole check post despite having valid passports and visas, media reports said. The incident came to light amid ongoing protests by Hindu community members across the country following the arrest of a religious leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in Chittagong. Several radical groups have asked the interim government to ban the Hindu religious group in the South Asian country. Imtiaz Ahsanul Quader Bhuiyan, officer-in-charge (OC) of the Benapole Immigration Police, told The Daily Star that they "lacked specific government permission" required for their travel. "They cannot proceed without such approval," the OC said. An ISKCON member said they were planning to visit India to participate in a religious event. Saurabh Tapander Cheli, an ISKCON member, expressing his frustration, told Dhaka Tribune: I came to attend a religious ceremony in India. But immigration authorities sent me back without providing any explanation. Bangladesh is once again witnessing turmoil since Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested recently, triggering massive protests by minority community members in the country. Bangladesh has been struggling for the past several months since a massive anti-job quota demonstration forced former PM Sheikh Hasina-led government to topple, ending her new term prematurely as she fled the country amid a chaos. It is suspected that foreign hands were at play in orchestrating the unrest and planning her ouster. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus-led government took charge of the country just three days after Hasina exited the country. Yunus, known for his closeness to the US Democrats, also accepted later in an event in America that there was design and conspiracy" involved in the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. Three people were electrocuted in separate incidents as rain water flooded the streets of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. (Photo courtesy: x.com/adgpi) Chennai: Cyclone Fengal made landfall along the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast on Saturday evening, bringing heavy rain and flooding, media reports said. Three people were electrocuted in separate rain-related incidents in Chennai, while no major damage was immediately reported in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, which recorded 44 cm of rainfall, the highest in 30 years, reported India Today. Impact on Chennai and Puducherry The Chennai airport reopened at 1 am on Sunday after being shut for 16 hours due to inundation. Despite resumption of operations, several flights were delayed or cancelled. Public transport, including buses and trains, faced disruptions, and authorities relocated people from vulnerable areas to relief shelters. Puducherry saw its highest rainfall in 30 years with 46 cm, surpassing the 21 cm recorded in October 2004. District Collector announced that all private schools and colleges would serve as relief shelters until further notice. Rescue operations and government response The Indian Army rescued over 100 stranded residents from Krishnanagar in Puducherry, where water levels reached five feet. A 62-member team conducted the operation, rescuing civilians from nearly 500 homes. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin reviewed relief measures, including the deployment of 1,700 motor pumps to clear waterlogging in 334 locations. Six subways in Chennai remained temporarily closed due to water stagnation. #FloodReliefOperations#HADR#NationBuilding#IndianArmy column is carrying out relief and rescue operations to provide succour to those affected by floods due to #CycloneFengal at Puducherry. More than 100 civilians have been rescued. Efforts to rescue remaining affected people https://t.co/0bY5DEAZG5 pic.twitter.com/hJA1VXKmhA ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) December 1, 2024 Rainfall statistics Several regions recorded significant rainfall: - Cuddalore: 23 cm - Chennai Airport: 14 cm - Yercaud: 14 cm - Chennai (Meenambakkam): 11 cm - Chennai (Nungambakkam): 10 cm - Vellore: 11 cm - Tirupattur: 8 cm - Dharmapuri and Salem: 5 cm each Preparations and alerts Ahead of the landfall, Puducherry authorities sent SMS alerts to 12 lakh residents, urging caution. Tamil Nadu Minister KKSSR Ramachandran noted the cyclones impact was less severe than anticipated, with further assessments expected by Sunday. The IMD reported that Cyclone Fengal had remained stationary for hours and was likely to weaken into a deep depression, moving westward slowly in the next six hours. Population should not fall below 2.1, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said. (Image Courtesy: RSS X handle) According to Indian Express, speaking at a private event in Nagpur, he noted, In 1998 or 2002, our population policy was drafted which said the population growth rate should not fall below 2.1. He emphasized that the theory that population drop is detrimental to society is even backed by population science. "It should not come down below 2.1. It should be 3. Otherwise, society will not get destroyed by others, it will perish on its own, he was quoted as saying by Indian Express. Bhagwat also discussed the importance of the family as a fundamental societal unit. We count the family as a mordant unit that makes up a society. The culture and values are inherited and passed from one generation to another, thus preserving the core systems and values which are timeless and relevant not just to Indians but also globally, he said, the report added. Encouraging people to transcend caste and communal divides, Bhagwat highlighted that, in contrast to cultures that prioritize individualism, Bharatiya sanskriti (culture) believes we are all interconnected. He added, If anybody is hungry we come forward and feed them. Even if a beggar comes to our doorstep, we hand over money or food grains through the child in our family." In this manner, we pass on values from one generation to another. Sacrifice is our mainstay, not selfishness and self-centredness, the RSS chief concluded. After winning the U.S. presidential election on November 5, Donald Trump had several phone conversations with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The topic of discussion was ending the war in Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the Hungarian service of Radio Liberty. According to sources, Trump sought Orban's opinion on ways to resolve the war in Ukraine. The Hungarian prime minister is known for his friendly ties with Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin and his critical stance on EU assistance to Ukraine. Orban has repeatedly spoken out against EU sanctions against Moscow, which has caused outrage among European leaders. In July, Orban traveled to Kyiv with a ceasefire proposal, which he conveyed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He then visited Moscow, where he met with Putin. This visit was criticized by some EU members, who saw it as support for the Kremlin. In October, Orban also visited China and the United States, where he met with Trump, who was actively campaigning at the time. According to Radio Liberty, Orban is planning a new "peacekeeping mission" in December. Its details are not yet known, but it involves possible contacts with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping. As part of this initiative, Orban is likely to convey a message from Trump. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, Zelensky said that under Trump's presidency, the war in Ukraine would "end faster." According to the president, he and Trump had a constructive interaction - Trump heard Kyiv's position and said nothing against it. Media outlets have previously reported that Trump could surprise the world by signing a peace deal that would be beneficial to both Ukraine and Washington. He may prioritize economic benefits over geopolitical ambitions. For its part, the Foreign Ministry emphasized that Trump's victory could be an important step toward peace and an additional chance to accelerate the peace process. As OBOZ.UA previously reported, Zelensky said Ukraine should be offered NATO membership, which may initially include the unoccupied territories. However, the invitation itself should be made within its internationally recognized borders. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Sobhita Dhulipala is set to tie the knot with Naga Chaitanya on December 4 and this has created a great deal of buzz in the industry. The pre-wedding festivities are already underway. Sobhita has now taken to Instagram to share photos from the Ratha Sthapanam and Mangalasnanam ceremonies. She, however, didnt share any pictures of the Pelli Raata function. Sobhita is a sight to behold ahead of wedding with Naga Chaitanya Sobhita Dhulipala is going through a terrific phase in life. She is set to marry Naga Chaitanya in Hyderabad. The wedding promises to be a memorable affair with the couples relatives and close friends in attendance. The actress has now shared photos from the Mangalasnanam function on social media. In them, she looks stunning in a yellow saree. The PS 2 star also shared some other photos from the festivities in which she is seen in a happy mood as she spends time with her family during the rituals. She also struck a pose with her parents and sister during the function. All About Chay and Sobhitas pre-wedding festivities Naga Chaitanya and Sobhitas pre-wedding celebrations began with the Pelli Raata ceremony., which takes place before the girl becomes a bride. This was followed by a haldi ceremony. According to an IANS report, they also had a Pelli Kuthuru ceremony where Sobhita sported bridal wear. Married women blessed her as part of this function. Chays family later joined them for lunch. Meanwhile, Nagarjuna Naga Chaitanyas father plans to gift a luxury car to the couple on the big day. It is said to cost around Rs 2.5 crore. This came to light when the Don actor visited the RTA office to register the vehicle. Naga Chaitanya already has an impressive collection of bikes and cars. On the work front, Chay will soon be seen in Thandel. The film features Sai Pallavi in the lead and will hit the screens in February. Sobhita, on the other hand, was last seen in Love Sitara. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Allu Arjun is gearing up for the release of Pushpa, one of the biggest films of the year. The actioner has become the talk of the town as it is a sequel to the 2021 blockbuster Pushpa. Bow, in an unexpected development, the mass hero has landed in trouble ahead of the biggies release. According to a report, a complaint has been registered against Allu Arjun for using a particular word during the promotions of Pushpa 2. Allu Arjun calls his fans an army, lands in trouble Allu Arjun recently promoted Pushpa 2 in Mumbai much to the delight of his ardent supporters. During the event, said that his fans are like his family. He went on to refer to them as an Army. This seems to have created a controversy. According to the Times of India, Srinivas president of the Green Peace Environment and Water Harvesting Foundation has filed a police complaint against the star for using the term army in his speech. He feels that the word should be used exclusively for those who serve the country. The complaint further stated that Allu Arjun should have used some other word for his fans. About Pushpa 2 Pushpa 2 is an actioner that features Allu Arjun as a smuggler and explores the events that unfold when he locks horns with several menacing foes while trying to expand his empire. The film features Rashmika Mandanna as the leading lady and is billed as a game-changer for the National Crush. She reprises her role from Pushpa. Her chemistry with Allu Arjun is expected to add a new layer to the film. The second instalment of the Pushpa franchise has a star-studded cast that includes Fahadh Faasil, Sunil, Jagapathi Babu, Sritej, and Ajay Ghosh. Sreeleela makes a special appearance in the catchy Kissik song. Its music is composed by Devi Sri Prasad, who has impressed the audience with his work on films such as Veeram and Tulasi. Pushpa 2 is slated to hit the screens on December 5. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Ashton Kutcher, a frequent attendee at Sean 'Diddy' Combs' high-profile parties in the 2010s, is reportedly concerned about being associated with the ongoing controversy surrounding Diddy. Despite his close connection to Combs, Kutcher's name has not been mentioned in the lawsuits filed against the now-disgraced rapper. And, according to recent reports, the No Strings Attached has his former wife, Demi Moore, to thank. Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher were regulars at Diddy parties. Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, one of Hollywood's most iconic couples in the early 2000s, frequently attended Diddy's exclusive White Parties. These lavish events, known for their strict all-white dress code, were a staple of the celebrity social scene back then. Moore and Kutcher, who were married from 2005 to 2013, often made headlines together at these high-profile gatherings. However, despite being regulars at the controversial event, the duo steered clear from being involved in the host's wrongdoings, per an In Touch Weekly report. #photostheyaretryingtodeletfromtheinternet Ashton Kutcher with Demi Moore and Diddy pic.twitter.com/A5OIBQnNnQ djangounleashed (@senseihattorih) October 29, 2024 Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher's whirlwind romance An insider told the publication that Demi is a conservative person who wouldn't engage in malicious practice, and that went double for the time when she was with Kutcher. Completely forgot Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher were marriedfor a long time! pic.twitter.com/8W1I6zqtwS Tristaaan (@tristaaan) January 14, 2023 Ashton Kutcher, 46, and Demi Moore, 61, had a whirlwind romance after meeting through mutual friends in 2003. Their 15-year age gap proved no obstacle, and they exchanged vows in 2005. This was followed by Ashton seamlessly taking on step-father duties for the actress' three kids - Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah - from her previous marriage to Bruce Willis. How Demi shielded Ashton from Diddy When Kutcher, now married to Mila Kunis, first met Demi, he was just 25 and still finding his footing in Hollywood. With her extensive experience in the industry, which involved knowing the ins and outs of the celebrity world, The Substance star helped guide him through the complexities of Tinseltown, shielding him from the dark side of showbiz. According to the tipster, her guidance helped him steer clear of the kind of controversies surrounding Diddy. Demi did everything she could to keep Ashton out of compromising and tempting situations, and that kept him away from these crazy situations you're hearing about in Diddy's case. Would you be surprised to see Ashton Kutcher on the Diddy list? https://t.co/xn1dqGGAzL pic.twitter.com/1xvIBhZkjy TaraBull (@TaraBull808) November 23, 2024 I think Ashton owes Demi a giant thank you for keeping him on such a short leash during what would have been his peak partying years under other circumstances." Kutcher may have a hard time rebuilding his career, thanks to Diddy! Ashton may have avoided the Diddy scandal, but he is going to have a tough time rebuilding his career, another source told the publication, adding, "he needs to pick better friends". Notably, before Diddy, Ashton and his wife Mila Kunis faced brutal public scrutiny for vouching for actor and convicted rapist Danny Masterson. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Netflix users, pay attention! A new phishing scam is underway that is trying to trick people into believing that they did not clear their Netflix account subscription in a way to gather details and information about the subscriber's credentials and credit card information. The scam was first identified by the cybersecurity firm Bitdefender after a blog post surfaced on the internet. As per the cybersecurity data, it is believed that the scam campaign could have begun back in September and is spread across 23 countries so far, including Germany, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Australia, and the United States. How does the fake Netflix page look like The new scam campaign is trying to create urgency among the fans by sending them alerts that there was an issue in processing their last payment. This message is then followed by an official link to sign and confirm their Netflix credentials if they want to continue their streaming service. One of the alerts shown by Bitdefender reads, "NETFLIX: There was an issue processing your payment. To keek (sic.) your services active, please sign in and confirm your details at https://account-details[.]com." Seeing this, once the user clicks on the link provided in the SMS section, they are greeted with the same website as Netflix, where they will be again asked to log in with their personal information. Further, the page later shows that their Netflix account has been suspended and they may be asked to put in their other personal information, including their credit card details, to continue to be on the website. This information then most likely goes on the dark web, where it will be sold either as a single item or in bundles. Netflix's reaction to the scam With the growing threat, Netflix has issued a statement warning the users. They urged them to not share any personal details or information through text messages or emails. The Netflix statement reads, "We will never ask you to enter your personal information in a text or email. We will never request payment through a 3rd party vendor or website. If the text or email links to a URL that you don't recognise, don't tap or click it." To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending. World AIDS Day 2024: World AIDS Day is observed every year on 1st December to spread awareness about HIV, support people living with the virus, and honour those who have passed away due to AIDS-related illnesses. For over three decades, the World Health Organization (WHO) has led this initiative, encouraging people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV/AIDS. This article explains the theme of World AIDS Day 2024, its history and significance, and includes some inspiring quotes to promote awareness and compassion. What is World AIDS Day? World AIDS Day is a global event aimed at increasing knowledge about HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), its prevention, and treatment. Every year, governments, non-profits, and individuals organise events to educate people about the virus and its effects. This day is also a time to remember those who have lost their lives to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), a condition caused by untreated HIV. Although HIV has no cure yet, taking precautions is the best way to avoid infection. HIV spreads through certain bodily fluids such as blood, semen, and breast milk. Using shared needles or syringes with an infected person is one of the main ways the virus is transmitted. History of World AIDS Day Credit: Canva | World AIDS Day image for WhatsApp status World AIDS Day was first observed in 1988, thanks to an initiative by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations. It was created to raise awareness about the global impact of HIV/AIDS and to promote efforts to reduce the spread of the virus. The first known case of AIDS was reported in the United States in 1981. By 1983, scientists identified HIV as the virus that causes AIDS. Since then, World AIDS Day has become a global platform to advocate for action, educate communities, and fight stigma. World AIDS Day 2024 Theme Every year, WHO announces a special theme for World AIDS Day to focus attention on different aspects of prevention and treatment. The theme for World AIDS Day 2024 is: "Take the Rights Path: My Health, My Right!" This years theme stresses the importance of human rights in tackling HIV and AIDS. It encourages eliminating stigma and discrimination so that everyone has equal access to healthcare services. WHO believes that using a rights-based approach is essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of ending AIDS by 2030. This approach aims to promote health, dignity, and equality for vulnerable groups while breaking down barriers that prevent access to care and treatment. Why is World AIDS Day Important? Credit: Canva | World AIDS Day image for WhatsApp status World AIDS Day holds great importance for several reasons: - Creating Awareness: It educates people about how HIV spreads, how it can be prevented, and available treatments. - Fighting Stigma: The day works to reduce prejudice against those living with HIV or AIDS. - Encouraging Action: It motivates individuals, organisations, and governments to work together to combat the disease. - Honouring Lives Lost: It pays tribute to those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses, inspiring efforts to end the epidemic. By promoting unity and awareness, World AIDS Day reminds us that we can all play a part in the fight against HIV. Inspiring Quotes for World AIDS Day Here are some motivational quotes you can share on World AIDS Day 2024: - "A rights-based approach is not just a strategy; it is a commitment to uphold the dignity, health, and autonomy of every individual, especially those most at risk." WHO - If I were to be Miss Universe, I will use my voice to influence the youth and I would raise awareness to certain causes like HIV awareness that is timely and relevant to my country which is the Philippines. - Pia Wurtzbach - People with HIV are still stigmatized. The infection rates are going up. People are dying. The political response is appalling. The sadness of it, the waste. - Elton John - I enjoy being the messenger for God in terms of letting people know about HIV and AIDS. - Magic Johnson - I felt like calling attention to AIDS. I had the AIDS ribbon colored into my hair during the playoffs in '95. - Dennis Rodman - AIDS is not just God's punishment for homosexuals; it is God's punishment for the society that tolerates homosexuals. - Jerry Falwel - 'Rent' is about a community celebrating life in the face of death and AIDS at the turn of the century. - Jonathan Larson - An AIDS-free generation would mean that virtually no child is born with HIV; that, as those children grow up, their risk of becoming infected is far lower than it is today; and that those who become infected can access treatment to help prevent them from developing AIDS and from passing the virus on to others. - Anthony Fauci - AIDS was allowed to happen. It is a plague that need not have happened. It is a plague that could have been contained from the very beginning. - Larry Kramer - I came of age during AIDS and the terror of that and the sadness and the death and the overwhelming despair. - Ryan Murphy - "HIV is not just a health issue; it is a human rights issue. Let us strive for a world where everyone receives dignity and respect, regardless of their HIV status." - Unknown - "AIDS is an epidemic that can be stopped, but only through collective action, awareness, and an unwavering commitment to end the spread of HIV." - Unknown - "The fight against AIDS requires us to be united, determined, and unyielding. Let our collective strength pave the way for a healthier future for all." - Unknown - "We cannot achieve the end of AIDS without addressing the underlying inequalities that fuel its spread. Social justice is a crucial component of the battle." - Unknown - "AIDS is not just a statistic; it's a human tragedy. Each number represents a life, a story, and a potential future cut short. Let us remember the human faces behind the numbers." - Unknown - "Knowledge is power. On World AIDS Day, let's empower ourselves and others with accurate information to break down the barriers of fear and discrimination." - Unknown - "The fight against AIDS is a shared responsibility. We must stand together to prevent new infections and support those affected." - Unknown - Everyone should be tested. Whenever they have a check-up, they should test for HIV, because if we can get to a point in our society where everyone is automatically tested, nobody will fall through the net. - David Furnish - "Compassion is the best medication for the wounds of those affected by AIDS. Let us be compassionate and understanding in our efforts to end the stigma." - Unknown How to Take Part in World AIDS Day 2024 Here are some ways to participate: - Learn and Educate: Gather facts about HIV prevention and share them with others. - Raise Awareness: Use social media to talk about World AIDS Day 2024 and its theme. - Support Charities: Donate to groups that provide care and services for people living with HIV. - Wear a Red Ribbon: Show your support and solidarity with those affected by HIV. Observing World AIDS Day 2024 helps us support people living with HIV, raise awareness about prevention, and work toward ending the stigma. By spreading compassion and understanding, we can all contribute to creating a world free of AIDS. Throughout her reign as Princess of Wales, Diana Spencer was known for defying the expectations put on a British monarch. From her famous fashion styles to her parenting style, Princess Diana's departure from tradition has become her legacy since her tragic death in 1997. Diana is most known for her years of campaigning for persons living with HIV and AIDS. In an era when fear and misinformation abounded about the spread of an illness widely associated with gay men, even the simple act of shaking an ill patient's hand made headlines and helped educate the public that the disease could not be contracted in that manner. Diana, Princess of Wales, shaking hands with an AIDS patient in April 1987 in the midst of the AIDS epidemic, proving to everyone that HIV CANNOT be transmitted by casual handshakes or hugs in a time where HIV was stigmatized. Its 2024, and the stigma is nowhere near over. With pic.twitter.com/c6IeiqSTvm The Alchemist. (@Abdlrahmanhadad) October 29, 2024 Princess Diana was photographed shaking 10 HIV/AIDS victims' hands without gloves. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Princess Diana utilized her platform to dispel falsehoods about how HIV/AIDS could be spread, and she spent time with people impacted by the epidemic all over the world. On April 9, 1987, six weeks before President Ronald Reagan delivered his first public speech about the disease, London's Middlesex Hospital asked Princess Diana to establish the Broderip unit, the hospital's first dedicated unit for AIDS and HIV-related diseases. According to Time magazine, Diana was concerned about making such a public move while others were not. But she decided to go and be photographed shaking the ten victims' hands without gloves. Diana supported several AIDS charities around the world Diana supported several AIDS charities around the world in the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing at events and visiting institutions all over the world. This includes her 1989 visit to Harlem Hospital's AIDS unit. In a 1991 speech at the Children and AIDS Conference, she encouraged people to give handshakes and hugs to those infected with the virus. Diana travelled to Toronto, Canada, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in the same year, to see AIDS hospice patients. The later trip also included a visit to a Sao Paulo hostel for abandoned children, including children who were HIV-positive or AIDS-infected, where inhabitants received plenty of embraces. Also read: World AIDS Day 2024: From fever to rashknow about symptoms and ART treatment, a secret weapon against HIV What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending. Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has accused politicians who conjured election results and announced them on social media during the governorship election of being the same people crying that the polls were rigged. The Governor stated this at the Esan Central Local Government Council Secretariat in Irrua, during a homecoming reception organized by the Esan people to celebrate his victory on Saturday. Advertisement Okpebholo who thanked the people of Edo State for voting him into power, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of All Progressives Congress for standing firm for justice and allowing equity to prevail. READ ALSO: Gov Okpebholo Recovers 30 Official Vehicles From Obasekis Cabinet Members The people that wrote results and were announcing fake results on the internet, are the same people crying today that somebody rigged the election, Okpebholo said. It is sad to say that the criminals are crying today that they have lost and will continue to lose. They are spending money day and night and wasting their money and will wait in vain. The Onojie of Uromi, His Royal Highness Anselm Aidenojie II, also spoke at the event, saying the people of Esan are happy that their son is the Governor of the State. We, the traditional rulers from Esanland, went round the state to appeal for the support to produce the governor and today its a reality. We thank the Oba of Benin Kingdom, Omo NOba NEdo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare ll and we are grateful to all for the support. We believe that the governor will deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Edo State, he said. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that tough policies made by his administration are yielding good results, adding that Nigerians were living fake life before he took over the leadership of the country. Tinubu made this known on Saturday, during the 34th and 35th combined convocation ceremonies of the Federal University of Technology Akure in Ondo State. Represented by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole, the President said that his administration was not unaware of the consequences of the tough decision to remove the subsidy. Advertisement He said: We took the baton of authority at a time when our economy was nose-diving due to heavy debts from fuel and dollar subsidies. READ MORE: Economic Reform: Stop Japa Sydrome, Tinubus Govt Means Well CBN Gov Pleads To Nigerians These subsidies, meant to support the poor, ironically made life harder for the average Nigerian. The good life we thought we were living was a fake one capable of leading the country to total collapse unless urgent, strategic efforts were taken. I am glad to inform you that the results of these policies are already yielding the expected outcomes. The macro-economy of our country is improving daily, and the micro-economy, which directly impacts citizens, is also taking shape with positive results. I crave our peoples understanding and support. We hold the power on your behalf, and we are here because of you. We listen and attend to your yearnings, striving to create an environment where every Nigerian matters. The House of Representatives has disclosed the postponement of its special session on the tax reform bill, initially scheduled for Tuesday, December 3, 2024. This decision was made known through a memo issued by Clerk of the House of Representatives, on Saturday. Advertisement According to the memo, I am directed by the House Leadership to inform all Honourable Members that the Special Session, initially scheduled for Tuesday, 3rd December, 2024, to discuss all the Tax Reform Bills, has been postponed to a later date. The memo further explained that the postponement is due to the need for further and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders. READ ALSO: House Of Reps To Hold Special Session On Tax Reform Bills On Tuesday The tax reform bills had passed the second reading at the Senate on Thursday. The tax reform bills, which were transmitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu on October 3, have been met with opposition from the Northern States Governors Forum and the National Economic Council. Despite the opposition, President Tinubu has insisted that the bills will not be withdrawn, citing their potential to improve the lives of Nigerians and optimize existing tax frameworks. Hugh Grant is not one to be contradicted. And even less so when it comes to himself. What happens is that you have an image of me based on the characters in Richard Curtis films and Im not like that. In reality, that charming Englishman is a self-portrait of Richard, says the actor with a smile from ear to ear, which at the same time makes your blood run cold. Curtis, one of his best friends, and to whom Grant presented an honorary Oscar on November 18, is the scriptwriter and/or director of Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill and Love Actually. That Hugh is actually Richard. Now, the freezing smile... Grant has put that smile to great use in Heretic, his first step into horror cinema, in which he plays a friendly guy who accepts into his home the indoctrinating speech of two young Mormon missionaries who will soon discover that this expert in theology and philosophy who wants to confront their beliefs the heretic of the title is actually a predator who is playing with two more victims he is about to swallow. Although before getting to Heretic, Grant returns to the previous issue: I feel much closer to, I resemble more, the characters in Bridget Jones or About a Boy. You never know if Grant is answering seriously or being ironic, and of course, the myth of a thousand Hugh Grants, of the actor who is difficult to portray, is not going to collapse in an interview in Spain. As a child, Grant and his brother, a banker who now lives in New York, went to Mass every Sunday. My father dragged us to the Anglican church. Until one day, when I was 12, we rebelled and said: Thats it. And he looked at my mother and said: Well, the boys are right. He asked us for the books we had by [biologist and polemicist] Richard Dawkins and became an atheist. And for years, he sent copies as gifts to my aunts, who were very pious. To enjoy Heretic, is it necessary to hold religious beliefs? No, for Gods sake, you just have to watch it for fun. Its not a film about evangelical racism. That said, its again difficult to work out if Grant responds or makes jokes to see which one works. Hugh Grant and Martine McCutcheon in 'Love Actually.' Universal/courtesy Everett Over the years, Grants career has expanded: from being a timid man who stammers at emotional crossroads, he has gone on to play all kinds of politicians, mobsters, criminals, real historical figures... Is he the perfect actor to play any Englishman? I bear the imprint of that Englishman Richard left on my career 25 years ago, he insists in his defense. More seriously, he says of his friend: Richard is a man who believes that the world can be a better place, and that is why when he writes he thinks a lot about whether it is worth writing another drama with murders in it [he smiles]. And does Grant sometimes miss having a talent like Curtis whisper great lines to him? Dont worry, I already know how to whisper my lines myself. According to the actor, he has developed a much longer process of character creation over time. Ive become more thorough. I put in more and more hours over more and more weeks. And Ive found that the better I prepare, the better I get. I analyze what my character says, how he says it. In Heretic, about my Mr. Reed, I asked myself: was he born like that, with evil DNA? Or did his mother beat him? What happened at university? Did they kick him out as a professor? Was he already kidnapping students? Boys, girls? All of that brings a richness that the audience doesnt necessarily know about, but they will certainly feel it, he says. And, he stresses, he is happy with his method and his career. There are a lot of actors who, especially when they are successful, open their own production companies and buy books to adapt or look for scripts to make an impression with... Im not like that at all. I really just read the script and think about whether Im going to enjoy it, and thats it. Hugh Grant in front of the two Mormon missionary girls in 'Heretic.' Heretic illustrates a terrifying world, where no one is safe, where fears can enter through the door to your house or lurk for visitors once inside. However, is todays world, the actor reflects, more terrible than it was 20, 50 or 100 years ago? Or is it a fear stirred up by the algorithm? At that moment, Grant, wearing a tight blue suit, a white shirt. and with snow-white, almost translucent skin, like that of the other great Englishman of cinema, Colin Firth, drums his fingers on his knees and shrugs his shoulders. Over three decades ago, Grant played another predator, with just as much charm but much younger: he was Lord Byron in Rowing with the Wind, by Gonzalo Suarez. I have wonderful memories, he smiles. And for the first time, he warms to his theme: The budget was really low. Yesterday [Thursday] I was looking for the place where we stayed. I know it was near here. It was called Apartamentos Recoletos, near Colon, could that be it? Maybe. I remember perfectly that everything was brown there. Really, everything. And we went rowing on the Retiro lake... The director didnt speak English, but almost all the cast came from the United Kingdom. So they hired a great translator, bilingual. He came from a university, I dont know, and thats why he didnt know anything about film or acting. And he didnt have any tact. So hed come up to you and say things like, Gonzalo says youre a moron. And Grant, melodramatically, drops his head on the table like a dead weight. Hugh Grant, standing, as Lord Byron in 'Rowing with the Wind.' Does the passage of time worry you? Do you let yourself be overcome by melancholy? No, no. I lead a very pleasant life. The only thing that makes me feel down is when my mobile creates one of those musical montages with photos from years ago and you think: Wow, look how happy I was back then. Do you know what I miss? When the internet didnt exist. He bursts out laughing and looks his interlocutor straight in the eye, perhaps because the most complicated moments in his private life, including his arrest in Los Angeles with a prostitute, occurred before the digital omnipresence. Every day I am more convinced that the internet has destroyed us, that we were better off in that world. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, has revealed that he intervened on behalf of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, pleading with late Gen. Sani Abacha not to execute him over an alleged coup plot in 1995. Gowon made this disclosure at the first edition of the Interdenominational Unity Christmas Carol and Praise Festival organised by the Plateau Government at the weekend. He recalled how he wrote a letter to Abacha, pleading with him to spare Obasanjos life. Advertisement READ ALSO: Gowon Calls For Prayer Against Insecurity, Says Nigeria Cant Experience Another Civil War I wrote a letter to Abacha, I pleaded with him that God made him a leader to do good and not evil. I sent my wife with the letter in the middle of the night to Abacha in Abuja; I pleaded with him that such a thing should not happen, Gowon said. Gowon expressed gratitude that his intervention was successful, and Obasanjo was eventually released from prison in 1998. He also noted that Obasanjo went on to become the President of Nigeria in 1999. Im glad that soon after that, things changed, and not only that Obasanjo left prison, he became our president in 1999. This is something that only prayers and sincerity can do; Im happy that today myself and Obasanjo are here to celebrate the unity of Plateau, Gowon added. The Lagos State Environmental Task Force conducted a raid along Akowonjo-Egbeda Road early Saturday, targeting illegal street trading, drug sales, and traffic violations. The operation, which began at midnight and ended at 4:30 a.m., spanned the area between Shobo and Jimoh bus stops. Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, stated that the area has long been a hotspot for illegal activities, with street traders occupying major roads and drug dealers taking advantage of the busy surroundings to conduct transactions. Advertisement He claimed that the operation resulted in the arrest of 187 people suspected of participating in these unlawful activities. READ MORE: Bobrisky Loses Rights Violation Suit Against EFCC, National Assembly Wahab further stated that improvised stalls and structures were removed, and commodities sold in unauthorised areas, as well as other materials, were seized. The Lagos State Environmental Task Force team today (Nov 30, 2024) carried out an extensive midnight raid to purge Akowonjo-Egbeda Rd of unlawful activities, including illicit drug sales, street trading and traffic violations, Wahab said on his verified X handle. The operation commenced at about 0000hrs and lasted till 0430hrs, covering the entire area between Shobo and Jimoh bus stops where suspected Illicit drug sellers/criminal elements and street vendors constitute a huge nuisance. While street traders unlawfully take over large portions of the carriageways to sell, Illicit substance sellers, use the cover of the street vendors and adjoining streets to carry out transactions in hard drugs. 187 suspects were apprehended during the operation, while makeshift stalls and structures were all removed/demolished and commodities on sale at the unlawful spaces and other items were also seized. He stated that all arrested individuals would face court proceedings. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a Brazil based businessman, identified as Ezeokoli Sylva, with 700grams of cocaine buried in his stomach. It was gathered that Mr. Sylva was apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos State, on Friday. This was contained in a statement by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, on Sunday. Advertisement Babafemi disclosed that the 59-year-old Ezeokoli was arrested by the agencys operatives upon his return from Sao Paulo, Brazil, on an Ethiopian Airlines flight via Addis Ababa. He said: When he was taken for a body scan, the result confirmed that the suspect had foreign objects concealed in his stomach. READ MORE: NDLEA Nabs Businessman After Excreting 90 Wraps Of Cocaine In Enugu As a result, he was placed under excretion observation, during which he expelled 29 wraps of substances that tested positive for cocaine, weighing 700 grams. In his statement, the suspect claimed he operates an African store in Brazil where he sells provisions, shoes, and clothes. He added that he bought the illicit consignment in Sao Paulo to resell in Nigeria with a view to raising substantial capital to boost his business. The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has elected Chief Tony Okocha as its new Chairman. Okochas election, which was conducted through voice vote, was part of the partys state delegate congress held on Saturday. Advertisement The congress, presided over by Dr. Adoye Omale, representing the Partys national secretariat, was peaceful, with Chief Victor Giadom, the partys National Vice Chairman, South South, commending the delegates for their conduct. Giadom described the APC in Rivers State as a one united and indivisible party. In his acceptance speech, Okocha expressed his gratitude to the delegates and assured them that the party is now set to take over the Rivers State government in 2027. He attributed his confidence to the achievements of President Bola Tinubu, particularly the resumption of production at the Port Harcourt refinery. Okocha said, I am an emotional person Our joy is that our members came of their own volition. Nobody cajoled anybody to come. Nobody bamboozled anybody to come here. They came to show their love for the All Progressives Congress. READ ALSO: Tinubus Accomplishments Underreported, Undervalued; Show Nigerians What Youre Doing Okocha Slams Ministers He also emphasized that the party would work to route out a rudderless government in Rivers State and expressed optimism about the partys chances in the 2027 elections. Those who said APC cannot conduct elections lied. APC will conduct and win elections and be in charge of government in Rivers State. Our business, with you supporting us, is to ensure that we route out a rudderless government in Rivers State. By the year 2027, God keeping us alive, we will have election in Rivers State and our target with you is to help us so that APC takes the reign of governance in Rivers State, he said. Okocha, prior to his new position, was APCs Caretaker Committee Chairman in the State and Chief of Staff to former Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Other positions filled during the congress include Deputy Chairman, State Secretary, Publicity Secretary, State Auditor, State Women Leader, Youth Leader, Legal Advisor, and zonal leaders for the four senatorial districts. Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has called for transparency and fairness in the National Assemblys ongoing review of the Tax Reform Bills, submitted by President Bola Tinubu in November 2024. In a statement on Sunday, Atiku stated the importance of a fiscal system that ensures justice and equity. The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2023 election, urged NASS to conduct public hearing on the controversial bills with objectivity and inclusiveness of concern stakeholders and civil society groups. Advertisement He said: I have followed the intense public discourse on the Tax Reform Bills with keen interest. Nigerians are united in their call for a fiscal system that promotes justice, fairness, and equity. They have made it clear that the fiscal system we seek must not exacerbate the uneven development of the federating units by favouring a few states while unfairly penalising others. As a concerned stakeholder, I firmly believe that transparency and objectivity are essential for promoting accountability, good governance, and public trust in policy-making. READ MORE: Rapid Approval Of Tax Reform Bills By Lawmakers Is Suspicious Senator Ndume The public hearing process must facilitate open and inclusive participation by all stakeholders. The NASS must ensure that, in the final analysis, the contents of the bills align with the interests of the vast majority of Nigerians. I call on the NASS to revisit and make public the resolutions of the National Economic Council. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the bill has generated attentions of political gladiators, especially from the northern part of the country. Some Governors and Senators accused President Bola Ahmed of passing a bill to cripple the regions economy. They urged Tinubu to withdraw the bill and ensure proper review before it is finally approved. The tax reform bills recently passed by the Senate for second reading have come under intense criticism from Senator Abdul Ningi, a former Deputy Senate Leader. Ningi described the bills as discriminatory and designed to favor some States over others. First of all, Im against the tax bills for two fundamental reasons. One, it is discriminatory in nature because it gives some states more advantage over others, Ningi said in a chat with Vanguard. Advertisement He also questioned the logic behind the bills, stating that there is no explanation as to why some States will benefit more than others. Ningis criticism is not isolated, as the National Economic Council, chaired by the Vice President, had unanimously rejected the tax reform bills. The Senator however expressed surprise that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is insisting on pushing the bills through the National Assembly despite the rejection. The tax reform bills, which were transmitted to the National Assembly, have been met with opposition from various stakeholders, including the Northern States Governors Forum. The bills propose a new sharing formula that will allow State governments to share 55% of Value Added Tax revenue, while the Federal Government will take 10%. READ ALSO: You Cant Be In PDP And Be Influencing Other Parties To Fight Us Senator Ningi To Wike I find it really strange that after his failure to convince the National Economic Council to accede to his demand, he is now trying to flex muscles and put it in the parliament. I find it strikingly disturbing that he is bringing this thing to the National Assembly thinking he can have his way because he had his way all through from the beginning to this time, he added. Ningi, who noted that there are aspects of the bills that are good for the country, said, Yes I admit that there are some aspects of the bills that look positive in my opinion, but remember the Third Term constitutional amendment; just because of the Third Term, there were numerous clauses that were fantastic at that time, but because of the controversy surrounding the bill, the National Assembly threw it away. Ningi called on lawmakers to stand united against the bills, emphasizing that the issue is not about North and South, but about the pains of Nigerians across the country. He warned that if the bills are passed, there will be repercussions, and many people will pay for their indolence and unpatriotism. A lot of people call us rubber stamp, maybe we are, maybe we are not, but these particular bills should not pass through the National Assembly. If they do, then there will be repercussions, a lot of people will pay for their indolence, nonchalance and outright unpatriotism,Ningi warned. The Nigerian Armys 6 Brigade/Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) has conducted a successful operation in Taraba State, clearing bandit hideouts and recovering arms and ammunition. This was said in a statement signed on Sunday in Jalingo by Olubodunde Oni, the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations. It stated that the victories were achieved through a series of clearance operations led by Brigade Commander Kingsley Uwa across numerous bandit hideouts in Taraba. Advertisement The operation code-named OP GOLDEN PEACE commenced after extensive confidence-building patrols, clearance missions, and stakeholder engagements, which proved effective in the northern part of the state. The latest phase of the operation began on 28 November 2024 in Takum Local Government Area (LGA), focusing on known bandit and terrorist hideouts around Lijam High Ground. READ MORE: Lagos: 187 Nabbed For Illegal Street Trading, Drug Sales According to the statement, multiple bandit camps were demolished during the operations, and forces recovered 27 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one AK 47 magazine, one handheld Baofeng radio, and two motorcycles. To further solidify the safety of residents, troops projected force into the Akume and Ananum areas of Donga LGA on 30 November 2024, reinforcing the Brigades commitment to securing lives and property throughout Taraba State. The statement referenced the Commander of the 6 Brigade, who praised the troops and urged them to be watchful. Together, we will ensure peace and security across Taraba State and beyond. This is our determined effort to ensure a safe and secure environment for the ongoing farm harvest season and the forthcoming yuletide and to ensure that the state does not become a safe haven for criminals, the commander is quoted as saying. (NAN) Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, has clarified that the contentious tax reform bills were quickly passed for second reading to allow the public to make comments on them. The bills, transmitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu in September, sparked reactions, especially among Northerners, who feel the legislation would further plunge the region into economic hardship. According to Jibrin, the speedy passage was to enable Nigerians to have room to comment on the legislation before considering the next line of action. Advertisement Because of the contents of the bills, we decided to invite experts or the people who developed them on behalf of the President to explain to us the provisions of the bills and also advise us so that Nigerians will know about it, he explained to BBC Hausa Service Jibrin emphasized that the second reading is not the end of the process, but rather where it begins. READ ALSO: Senate Passes Controversial Tax Reform Bills For Second Reading The bills have to scale the second reading before they could be taken to the committee for a review. And while we could ask (the committee) questions, Nigerians who might have only watched it on the television could not have room to ask questions, he said. The Deputy Senate President also addressed concerns that lawmakers were aware of the hardship the bills could subject Nigerians to. Nobody will do something that will have negative impact on his people. The issue now is to first know the provisions of the bills. Majority of people dont even know the contents therein, even some of our lawmakers, he remarked. Northern governors, traditional leaders, and other groups have rejected the bills, saying they are inimical to the region and the nation at large. Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State also expressed concerns that Governors would not be able to pay salaries if the bills were passed into law. The Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center, seen here in May 2023, was the location of the latest stabbing at a city prison. A 32-year-old man was stabbed inside the facility Saturday night. Read more Three Philadelphia prison inmates were stabbed during the Thanksgiving weekend, a little over a week since a man accused of killing a Temple University police officer was himself attacked behind bars by a knife-wielding assailant. None of the altercations was fatal. Its not surprising that the recent violence erupted at holiday time, when there are fewer security staff members on duty, Claire Shubik-Richards, executive director of the Pennsylvania Prison Society, said Sunday afternoon. Advertisement The same problem occurs during Philadelphia Eagles games, she added, when many staff people are off. Shubik-Richards said her findings are based on frequent interviews of inmates by members of the 230-year-old society, the only organization in Pennsylvania with the legal authority to visit any of the states 85 prisons and jails. Representatives of the Philadelphia Department of Prisons did not comment on Shubik-Richards statements by publication time. To collect information on prison conditions, Shubik-Richards said the society compiles reports after members speak with prisoners. In a report from October 2023, society members had conducted 64 interviews of incarcerated men and women in city facilities. Inmates referenced a dangerous absence of security staff on a regular basis, especially on weekends, holidays, and during Philadelphia Eagles games, according to the report. In the weekend attacks, a 32-year-old inmate was hospitalized Saturday in stable condition after being stabbed around 6 p.m. several times in the head and face at Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center, where the attacker was arrested, according to police. Authorities did not say whether the person arrested had been incarcerated at the prison, which houses adult men on the 8300 block of State Road in Northeast Philadelphia. However, someone with knowledge of the investigation confirmed Sunday that both the victim and the alleged assailant are inmates. As of Sunday afternoon, the inmate who was stabbed remained hospitalized in stable condition, officials said. The attack occurred a day after two prisoners stabbed each other at nearby Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility. In the Friday night case, a 30-year-old man was stabbed three times in the back, police said, and a 31-year-old man was stabbed in the head shortly before 7:30 p.m. The men were not seriously injured. They were treated at the hospital and released. Authorities said a weapon was recovered, but they provided no additional information. READ MORE: Two inmates stabbed inside Philadelphia jail On Nov. 21, an incarcerated man attacked fellow prisoner Miles Pfeffer, who is accused of fatally shooting Temple University Police Officer Christopher Fitzgerald last year. The attack occurred in a communal recreation area at Curran-Fromhold, where Pfeffer is being held as he awaits his murder trial. That evening, Rafael Vanegas slipped out of his cell and repeatedly stabbed Pfeffer, leaving the 19-year-old with puncture wounds on his forehead, inner right hip, and right hand, authorities said. During an interview on WURD on Saturday, Philadelphia Prisons Commissioner Michael R. Resnick agreed that correctional facilities in the city have been plagued by staffing issues. Resnick told the radio station that staffing levels were at about 54%, which contributed to the recent incidents. The citys defenders have raised alarm about what they call dangerous conditions inside the jails. As part of an effort to reduce the incarcerated population amid the staffing shortage, the Defender Association of Philadelphia worked with authorities this fall to get 100 people awaiting trial on relatively low-level offenses released from the facilities. In July, a federal judge ruled that Philadelphias prison system is in contempt of court for failing to follow an agreement in a long-running lawsuit over conditions in the city jails. U.S. District Court Judge Gerald A. McHugh acknowledged that the city had taken steps to mitigate a staffing crisis in the jails causing prolonged lockdowns, mounting chaos on housing units, and delays in access to services including medical care. But he said those efforts were insufficient. Staff writer Michelle Myers contributed to this article. Madrid has become a favorite destination for many exiled Cuban artists and intellectuals who are looking for a space from where they can continue their political activism. The proof is that there have never been so many Cubans living in the Madrid region as there are now. Ten percent of the 200,000 Cubans living in Spain are in the capital, according to the latest data available from the National Statistics Institute (INE). Among them, many activists, artists and intellectuals who have been forced to leave their homeland like communicator Maria Matienzo, 45, who arrived in the city a year and a half ago. Since 2019, I suffered systematic political persecution for the journalistic work I was doing. There came a point when I couldnt take it anymore and I had to ask for help from international organizations to leave the island, says Matienzo, who first traveled to Argentina, but there she felt very lonely. There was no community of Cubans with whom I could share. So I decided to migrate to Spain. In Madrid she has been able to find her place. What better place to live than where the friends of struggle are, assures the communicator, who speaks nostalgically of her situation. I cant go back. We have received threatening messages through our relatives warning me that if I go back, I could go to prison, she adds. Cuban artists, intellectuals and activists have formed a community here on the other side of the Atlantic. Although Miami is still the most recurrent option when it comes to migrating, for the past five years the tightening of visas has made more and more people prefer Spain, explains Matienzo. Three years ago, on July 11, 2021, thousands of people took to the streets in Cuba to demand political change. These demonstrations were encouraged by the rise of the San Isidro Movement, a group of artists who were repressed by the Havana regime during a collective hunger strike in late November 2020. Since then, the situation on the island has hardened for the people who participated in these protests. Many of them have opted for exile. While hundreds of thousands sought ways to get to the United States, the promised land just over 140 kilometers (87 miles) away on the coast of Florida, many of the people of the theater, film, and visual arts world set sail for Madrid. The language, the ease of obtaining a visa, the support networks, and the welcome programs for dissidents are the reasons why many Cubans opt for the Spanish capital. We have found a community that has embraced us. Here, no Cuban will leave you alone sleeping in Atocha (railway station), Matienzo says. Leonardo Fernandez, 32, is studying for a doctorate at the University of Alcala de Henares and has been working at the Global Observatory of Academic Freedom since 2022, when he was forced to leave Cuba by the government. After suffering a process of academic censorship, I was expelled from the university. My whole family was harassed, repressed, and interrogated because I participated in the July 11 protests and was linked to cultural dissidence movements, which made me a target of the regime, he says. For Fernandez, the choice to come to Spain was an easy one: I had many connections with other Cubans who are living in Madrid, and we have created a great community in Alcala of very well-educated personalities. This is the closest thing to home. Deep down, we have a very interesting connection with Spain because we were its last colony, he recalls. You have to understand the nature of exiles. Miami is a place of entrepreneurs; intellectuals who want to continue their education have come here. Sandra del Valle, 40, is a cultural researcher and film producer. She does not feel part of any dissidence, although she left Cuba 15 years ago and, after passing through four countries, has ended up in Madrid, where she says she has found the closest thing to home since leaving the island: I am part of a generation that has decided to explore the world beyond the United States, she says. Del Valle has been in the capital for a year and explains that she has adapted well because there is a very strong community of Cubans. Yanelys Nunez Leiva, 35, who works as an art historian, agrees. I was expelled from my country for founding the Museum of Dissidence in Cuba. I left with the excuse of attending a workshop in Prague and decided to migrate to Madrid, she says, although she remains closely linked to the San Isidro Movement. From Spain, she works monitoring the femicides that occur on the island. We have held several demonstrations in Madrid to continue the struggle, she says. For Nunez Leiva, the fact that Madrid has become the epicenter of the migration of dissident Cuban artists holds a very simple explanation. Its much easier for this sector of the population to get a work visa, she says, stating that the community that has arrived in the city are Cubans committed to pushing for change in their country from exile. The link between Cuban dissidents and Spain goes back a long way. Pio E. Serrano, 83, arrived in Madrid in 1974 and has been able to witness how after his migration there has been a succession of exiles across generations. Each one has a different story, with particular human characteristics of exile that go hand-in-hand with the transformation that the regime has undergone, he says. Fifty years ago he decided to live in Spain because, at that time, there was only one exit route from Cuba by air, and that was Madrid. I didnt like coming to a dictatorship like Francos, but here I discovered a resistance movement that got me hooked, he recalls. At that moment, he set out to see the end of Francos regime just as he had seen the beginning of the revolution in Cuba. The Cuban colony that began to be created from Serranos generation is now responsible for creating a support network for Cubans, who are arriving with increasing frequency. Very young but committed people are arriving, with very clear ideas. Many of them are very well-trained artists, he says. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Farmers who think animal welfare concerns are "over the top" when it comes to the main farmed livestock may welcome a more level playing field following recent extensions of welfare to other species. For example, the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 passed in the UK recognised animal sentience in law for the first time, and included all vertebrates and some invertebrates such as octopuses and lobsters. Previously, the UK relied on the EU legislation requiring member states to protect them "since animals are sentient beings, pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals". So what about insects, an increasingly farmed species, with investors estimated to have pumped 1.56bn into insect farming over the past decade? That's only a small fraction of the estimated 194bn invested globally in agri-food startups, largely stimulated by the historically low interest rates since the 2008 financial crisis. But industrial-scale insect agriculture had the appeal of a green image, with even the EU seeing a significant role for insect farming in the sustainable future for its food system envisaged by the EU Green Deal. The green image could however fade, if worries over insect welfare increase. The question of whether insects are sentient beings has been raised by Jonathan Birch, professor of Philosophy at the London School of Economics. In his book published earlier this year ( The Edge of Sentience: Risk and Precaution in Humans, Other Animals, and artificial intelligence), he says there are no solid answers to the question of which animals should count as sentient, meaning able to feel pleasure and pain. But he has said in interviews that insects are sentience candidates, and that the emerging insect farming industry needs to take welfare more seriously. Birch was one of those that the British government turned to when it wanted to enshrine the welfare of all sentient animals into law in its 2022 legislation. Then the leader of a Foundations of Animal Sentience project, the philosopher was commissioned by the government to advise on what animals the law would consider conscious. He and his team surveyed evidence, and recommended that cephalopod molluscs (like octopuses) and decapod crustaceans (like crabs) be included as sentient beings. On insects, the expert jury is out. Even PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), the largest animal rights organisation in the world, with more than 9m members and supporters, seems to consider insects as adversaries, and encourages non-lethal methods of controlling them, whenever possible. Could that change if insects gain importance as a food source? Would they be included among what animal welfare activists say are billions of animals raised for food, living for short periods in squalid conditions before dying horrible deaths? Will they move on from the sentience candidates status recommended by Birch, who has been named in the Vox website as one of their Future Perfect 50 list of "innovators, thinkers and changemakers working to make the future a better place". An organised crime group behind a prostitution operation in Ireland has been hit with the arrest of 14 key players in the Czech Republic. The arrests in recent days come after Czech police focused on the organisations activities in the Republic and in Northern Ireland since 2019. It is understood that the police liaised with An Garda Siochana and the PSNI as part of their probe, which has been codenamed Terzuz. According to police, a key aspect of the groups operation in Ireland was that all communication took place covertly through closed groups on mobile apps. Nicknames were used in the communications in a bid to ensure the groups operation could go without detection. Spokesman of the Czech Republics national organised crime agency, Jaroslav Ibehej, said some of the arrested women are accused of having established a network of people in 2019, with the purpose of obtaining a profit through organising prostitution north and south of the border. He said that investigations by the Czech authorities found that the group was involved in the recruitment of sex workers from socially disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as organising the transport and accommodation for them. Communication with customers was also part of the operation, according to Mr Ibehej, who added that the organisation was also involved in advertising sexual services for the operation. A number of the accused women are alleged to have organised shifts for the recruited sex workers, as well as being the go-between for clients with the sex workers, he said. The sex workers then had to give part of their profits to the organisers of the group from each encounter, he said. He said: All of the women are charged with the crime of pimping committed for the benefit of an organised criminal group and the crime of participation in an organized criminal group. In the event of a final conviction and admission of guilt, the main organisers face prison sentences of up to 12 years, while the other accused women face sentences of up to 10 years. The case is being taken by the district state prosecutors office in Melnik in the Czech Republic. In August, the Irish Examiner spoke with a Czech woman who has self-published her own account of working in the Irish sex industry after falling on difficult financial times in her home country. Back in June, the man behind many of the large anti-immigrant protests in Dublin, Malachy Steenson, boasted the revolution has begun. That was the very clear message he said of the results of the local elections or at least of his election as councillor in Dublins North Inner City. He had attracted 915 first-preference votes. He told RTE: Its a fabulous result for the nationalist movement in Ireland, its a fabulous result for the people of Ireland. We are taking our nation back. He was one of two independents the other Gavin Pepper trumpeting an anti-immigrant and far-right cause that got elected in Dublin. Pepper, standing in the Ballymun-Finglas constituency, secured 1,126 first preferences. He attracted a further 1,300 on transfers, including 930 votes from National Party candidate Stephen Redmond, and 293 from Leon Bradley, prominent in Finglas Says No. The Ballymun-Finglas constituency saw a total of 2,875 first preferences for those three far-right candidates almost 20% of the votes cast. Two other seats went to far-right political parties the Irish Freedom Party (IFP) and the National Party (NP). Glen Moore of the IFP took a seat in Palmerstown-Fonthill, South Dublin County Council, and Patrick Quinlan of the NP took a seat in Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart, Fingal County Council. Four far-right/anti-immigrant candidates got elected. Another of the main characters in the fractured far-right in Ireland, Derek Blighe, almost got elected in the local elections in Cork. He secured 915 first-preference votes and only fell at the last hurdle, just 120 votes behind the candidates above him. While hardly a revolution, it was a start for the far-right and there was much talk in certain online forums that they could gain on that in the general election. But looking at the main candidates and the various constituencies, their efforts failed to get very far. Steenson got 1,602 first preferences in the Dublin Central constituency, or 4.9% of the vote. It is possible, if not likely, that the decision of Gerry Hutch to stand in the constituency may have taken a good chunk of his potential voters. When Steenson was eliminated, 1,200 of his transfers went to Hutch. In the Dublin North West constituency, Pepper got 3,087 first preferences or 6% of votes. In the same constituency, Stephen Redmond (who transferred heavily to Pepper in the local elections) got 1,243. Between the two, they made up 10% of the vote. But neither got far. In Dublin South Central, four far-right/anti-immigrant candidates attracted 2,636 votes, around 7.5% of the total. Barry Ward of the IFP got 849 first preferences, while Philip Sutcliffe of Independent Ireland received 801. Sutcliffe, a friend of Conor McGregor, was recently seen by his side going to court for his civil assault case. In Dublin Bay North, which includes Coolock, which saw disorder and violence outside the old Crown Paints factory, set to house asylum seekers, four far-right candidates attracted around 3,500 votes or 4% of the total. Paul Fitzsimons of the IFP scored the most of them, with 1,865. Elsewhere in Dublin, far-right candidates only scored in the 100s. Cork candidates In Cork North Central, Blighe got 2,475 votes or 4.19% and lasted until count 7 before being eliminated with 2,915 votes. In Cork East and Cork South West, far right candidates scored in the 100s. In Clare Michael Leahy of the IFP got 1,282 votes or 2.10%, while in Limerick City, Dean Quinn of the Irish People party got 965 first-preference votes, or 2.29% of the vote. Elsewhere in Munster, far-right candidates scored only in the 100s. The leader of the IFP, Hermann Kelly stood in the Louth constituency. He attracted 2,546 first preferences, 3.9% of the total. The fortunes of the far-right were reflected in how live-streamer and high-profile agitator Philip Dwyer did in Wicklow. This constituency takes in Newtownmountkennedy, the site of tensions over the housing of asylum seekers, which bled over into disorder and violence last April. Dwyer only got 435 first preferences. While immigration was a major issue during the local elections, it did not feature in the general election campaign, with RTE exit polls showing that just 6% of people interviewed cited it as the main issue. Sinn Fein councillor Daithi Doolan, who stood in the Dublin South Central constituency, said the far-right created a toxic atmosphere during the local election, but they did not succeed in whipping up the same division and hatred this time round. Romanians are casting ballots in a parliamentary election on Sunday sandwiched between a turbulent two-round presidential race. The first round of the presidential contest plunged the European Union and Nato member country into unprecedented turmoil following allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference. Sundays vote will elect a new government and prime minister, as well as determining the formation of the countrys 466-seat legislature. Romanians who are abroad have been able to vote since Saturday. A woman shouts holding an altered version of a classic painting, depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Calin Georgescu, the independent candidate for Romanian presidency (AP/Andreea Alexandru) The legislative vote comes a week after the first round of a presidential race which saw a controversial far-right populist who was polling in single digits win the most votes. Calin Georgescu, 62, is due to face reformist Elena Lasconi of the Save Romania Union party, or USR, in a December 8 runoff. Mr Georgescus success, which many have attributed to his rapid rise in popularity on the social media platform TikTok, has triggered nightly protests throughout Romania by those who oppose his past remarks praising Romanian fascist leaders and Russian president Vladimir Putin and view him as a threat to democracy. Many observers believe the presidential outcome indicates a sharp shift from Romanias mainstream parties to more populist anti-establishment parties, whose voices have found fertile ground amid high inflation, high cost of living and a sluggish economy. According to a report by Expert Forum, a Bucharest-based think tank, Mr Georgescus TikTok account before last weeks vote saw an explosion of engagement, which it said appeared sudden and artificial, similar to his polling results. Without naming Mr Georgescu, who declared zero campaign spending, Romanias top defence body said Thursday that a presidential candidate benefited from massive exposure due to preferential treatment granted by TikTok. Romania has become a priority target for hostile actions by Russia, it added. The Kremlin denies it is meddling. The same day, the Constitutional Court requested a recount of all 9.4 million votes after a presidential candidate who obtained 1%, filed a complaint alleging the USR had violated electoral laws against campaign activities on polling day. The Central Election Bureau approved the request and said scanned reports were due to be sent in by Sunday night. On Friday, the court postponed a decision until Monday on whether to annul the vote. Posters of various political parties, one showing a man pointing a thermometer at a statue of Ellie Wiesel and reading Our Day Will Come a placed on a panel ahead of the countrys parliamentary elections (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Cristian Andrei, a political consultant based in Bucharest, says Sundays ballot could be reshaped by Mr Georgescus success, with far-right parties possibly obtaining record highs. The impact of the surprise in last Sundays presidential election will be significant, and we are going to wake up in a new political reality, he said. Georgescu voters will speak again and will reshape how we look at the political Romanian spectrum from now on and probably forever. We are going to wake up on Monday in a new political reality in Romania. The most probable scenario will be a difficult-to-build majority in the parliament to support and endorse a new government. The two main opposition parties which have dominated post-communist politics in Romania the Social Democratic Party, PSD, and the National Liberal Party, PNL, formed an unlikely coalition in 2021 which has become increasingly strained. A small ethnic Hungarian party exited the Cabinet last year after a power-sharing dispute. While the presidential role in Romania has significant decision-making powers in areas such as national security and foreign policy, the prime minister is the head of the nations government. Recent surveys have suggested the top three parties in Sundays race will be the PSD, the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians and the PNL. Israeli jets launched an airstrike over a southern Lebanese border village on Sunday, while troops shelled other border towns and villages still under Israeli control, according to Lebanons state-run National News Agency. The attacks come days after a US-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strike in the village of Yaroun, nor did the Hezbollah militant group. Destroyed buildings in an area of the village of Odaisseh in southern Lebanon (Leo Correa/AP) Israel continues to call on displaced Lebanese people not to return to dozens of southern villages in this current stage of the ceasefire. It also continues to impose a daily curfew for people moving across the Litani River between 5pm and 7am. Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and the Lebanese military have been critical of Israeli strikes and overflights since the ceasefire went into effect, accusing Israel of violating the agreement. The military said it had filed complaints, but no clear military action has been taken by Hezbollah in response, meaning that the tense cessation of hostilities has not yet broken down. When Israel has issued statements about these strikes, it says they were done to thwart possible Hezbollah attacks. The United States military announced on Friday that Major General Jasper Jeffers alongside senior US envoy Amos Hochstein will co-chair a new US-led monitoring committee that includes France, the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon known as Unifil (UN interim force in Lebanon), Lebanon and Israel. Backdropped by a Lebanese village an Israeli army position sits near the Israeli-Lebanese border, during the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah (Leo Correa/AP) Mr Hochstein led over a year of shuttle diplomacy to broker the ceasefire deal, and his role will be temporary until a permanent civilian co-chair is appointed. Lebanon, meanwhile, is trying to pick up the pieces and return to some level of normal life after the war that decimated large swathes of its south and east, displacing an estimated 1.2 million people. The Lebanese military said it detonated unexploded munitions left over from Israeli strikes in southern and eastern Lebanon. Elsewhere, the Lebanese Civil Defence said it removed five bodies from under the rubble in two southern Lebanese towns over the past 24 hours. The first phase of the ceasefire is a 60-day cessation of hostilities where Hezbollah militants are supposed to withdraw from southern Lebanon north of the Litani River and Israeli troops withdraw from southern Lebanon into northern Israel. Lebanese troops are to deploy in large numbers in the south, effectively being the only armed force in control of the south alongside Unifil peacekeepers. UNIFIL peacekeepers are among those to be deployed to southern Lebanon as part of the ceasefire (Mohammed Zaatari/AP) But challenges still remain at this current stage. Many families who want to bury their dead deep in southern Lebanon are unable to do so. The Lebanese Health Ministry and military allocated a plot of land in the coastal city of Tyre for those people to be temporarily laid to rest. Dr Wissam Ghazal of the Health Ministry in Tyre said almost 200 bodies have been temporarily buried in that plot of land until the situation near the border calms down. In the meantime, cash-strapped Lebanon is trying to fundraise as much money as it can to help rebuild the country. The war cost some 8.5 billion dollars (6.6 billion) in damages and losses according to the World Bank. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri also called for parliament to convene to elect a president next month to break a gridlock of over two years and reactivate the countrys crippled state institutions. In the 15th and 16th centuries, during the Renaissance, Italy became the cradle of some of the most illustrious figures in its artistic and cultural history. This golden age saw the rise of personalities like Leonardo da Vinci arguably the most iconic of all along with a long list of luminaries in fields such as painting, sculpture, architecture, and literature: from Botticelli and Brunelleschi to Donatello, Michelangelo and Machiavelli. These figures also shared the fact that at some point in their lives the Medici family, a powerful and infamous Florentine family that once owned Europes largest bank, also made a name for itself. Less known, however, is the fact that the first duke to rule Florence under the Medici name and the first to govern the city-state as a hereditary monarchy was a Black leader: Alessandro de Medici. Born in Florence in 1510, it is not known exactly who his father was, but his mother was a servant of the North African family, Simonetta da Collevecchio. After an unsuccessful regency and a brief period in exile, he was elected sole governor of Florence in 1530. It was under his rule that the city transitioned from a republic to a monarchy, making him the first of a dynasty that lasted two centuries. Alessandro de Medici and other overlooked figures from this era are the focus of the documentary We Were Here by Italian-Ghanaian-American filmmaker Fred Kudjo Kuwornu. The film explores the Black presence in Renaissance Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries, offering a new perspective on this crucial period of history and its complex mosaic of Black figures. We Were Here which was presented at this years Venice Biennale challenges the widespread notion that Black people in Europe at the time were solely slaves or servants, as Kuwornu explains in a videoconference interview. Without ignoring the atrocities committed during slavery, the documentary highlights more diverse Black figures, including princes, ambassadors, artists, merchants, and religious figures many of whom Kuwornu argues have been overlooked in dominant historical accounts. Question. What motivated you to center the documentary on the presence of Black people in Europe during the Renaissance specifically? Answer. [Besides being a filmmaker], I work on screenings at university conferences, because my films are used as a tool about Black Europe. From that relationship with many professors, I started to have a lot of information and I noticed that there were many publications about the African presence in the Renaissance, the Middle Ages or the Roman Empire. At the same time, I wanted to do something that was European in scope, because a lot of filmmakers do films in their country, maybe two, but there are few documentaries made in six or seven. And the Renaissance is one of the most studied times in Europe. Q. What were the main preconceptions you wanted to address in the documentary? A. One, which is perhaps more connected with southern Europe, is the assumption that being Italian or being Spanish is a race and that they didnt have any connection with other ethnicities in the past. The other is to challenge the idea that all the Africans who were in Europe, especially in those times, in the 15th and 16th centuries, were slaves. Because there were also a lot of people who were basically second generation, and there were a lot who came here to trade or as ambassadors or for other purposes. Sometimes the study of slavery monopolizes everything, and creates a prejudice in thinking that there were only enslaved Africans. Q. How have we transitioned from that reality, from over 500 years ago, to a point where some now claim to have white and Christian blood? A. In the process, there was a construction of race that is political, also to create identity in a country. When Spain expelled all the Arabs and the Jewish people, it needed to create the identity of the Spaniards, who the Spaniards would be right now. Its the same with Italy, when Italy made the Declaration of Independence in 1861, they needed to create the Italians. And in the process of creating the nation and its identity, you needed to erase every impurity from the past, it doesnt matter if they were religious or ethnic. Unfortunately, what happened was that after two or three centuries, in which a nation teaches you what is your identity, you are totally convinced that this is true. Q. What was the story you discovered during the making of this documentary that surprised you the most? A. One that made me feel very emotional is the Spanish painter Juan de Pareja. I was once in the Metropolitan Museum [in New York] and there was an exhibition of his. Imagine, a person like him is now is exhibiting in one of the most important museums in the world. I also thought that he was a free man. I didnt know that he was a slave, he was the servant of [Diego] Velazquez. The other is the story of St. Benedict of Palermo. There had been other black saints before him, but St. Benedict was very poor and was venerated when he was still alive. Hes a sort of meritocratic figure inside the Catholic Church. Of course, its different when you approach historical figures that are connected to the presence. The two stories are very similar, because their legacy lives on: there are paintings by Pareja everywhere, and the veneration that people feel for St. Benedict is still alive. Q. Almost all of the prominent figures in the film were men. What did you discover about Black women in Renaissance Europe? A. This was one of the most difficult parts, because unfortunately, in the 15th and 16th centuries, [the vast majority of them] were servants or slaves. So I didnt find any particularly specific story with enough detail that I could tell. In the 17th and 18th centuries things changed, but in the Renaissance, they didnt. My only option was to include them in some scenes, and to mention that, although they were servants, they had an important role in households and in [the field of] pharmaceuticals. If some historian or researcher discovered something, it would be much easier to tell the story. Q. The film exposes the lack of representation of Black people in the Renaissance. To what extent do you think this lack of representation is still a problem today? A. In fact, in the Renaissance it was not a question of a lack of representation, but it is a question of how we talk about the Renaissance today. At that time, [Black people] were actually present in thousands of paintings and artworks. The paradox is now that there is a comparatively much larger presence. At that time, the presence was concentrated perhaps in important cities like Lisbon and Seville. But now throughout Europe you have a widespread presence [of Black people]. And this presence does not correspond to the contemporary way in which they are represented, and their representation is sometimes not accurate. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The Israeli military announced it conducted strikes against Hezbollah, citing activities in southern Lebanon that constituted a threat just days into a ceasefire. In a statement, the military detailed four distinct incidents, including an air force strike on Hezbollah terrorists observed approaching Hezbollah structures in southern Lebanon. Additionally, it reported detecting terrorist activity at a Hezbollah facility housing rocket launchers near Sidon in southern Lebanon, which prompted an attack on the launchers. The military also targeted a vehicle that was being loaded by armed operatives with RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades), ammunition boxes, and other military supplies, as stated by the military. A photograph captured from the southern Lebanese area of Marjayoun depicts smoke rising from reported home demolitions carried out by Israeli troops stationed in the village of Khiam. The military asserted it acted during daytime against activities in Lebanon that threatened the State of Israel and violated the terms of the ceasefire. This truce, aimed at concluding over a year of cross-border conflicts and two months of open warfare between Israel and Hezbollah, commenced early Wednesday morning. According to the agreement, the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers are set to deploy in southern Lebanon as the Israeli army withdraws over a span of 60 days. Furthermore, Hezbollah is expected to pull back its forces north of the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers north of the border, and dismantle its military infrastructure in the southern region. Israel has maintained its stance on full military freedom of action in Lebanon should Hezbollah breach the ceasefire agreement or attempt to rearm. Since Wednesday, it has carried out multiple strikes within Lebanon. Jihadist-led rebels have captured Aleppos airport and numerous surrounding towns after taking control of most of Syrias second-largest city, according to a war monitor. In response, Syrias ally Russia conducted its first air strikes on Aleppo since 2016, as the jihadists and their Turkish-backed partners launched a rapid offensive that started on Wednesday, coinciding with a ceasefire in neighboring Lebanon. During a phone call with his Emirati counterpart, President Bashar al-Assad pledged to defeat the terrorists regardless of the magnitude of their assaults. The ongoing conflict has resulted in at least 327 fatalities, primarily among combatants, but also including 44 civilians, as reported by the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The jihadists also captured Aleppo Airport following the withdrawal of government forces and took over dozens of strategic towns without encountering resistance, the monitor noted. Additionally, the Observatory indicated that the military had retreated from Hama, Syrias fourth-largest city, situated about 140 km south of Aleppo, amid the rebel advancement. Rebel fighters implemented a curfew to ensure the safety of local residents. However, a military source quoted by state media refuted claims of an army withdrawal, asserting that troops remain in their positions ahead of the rebels. In central Aleppo, an AFP photographer observed rebel fighters positioned outside the citys historic citadel. The army acknowledged that the rebels had taken control of large sections of the city, which has a population of approximately two million, and reported that dozens of our armed forces members were killed and others injured. HTS, a jihadist coalition led by Al-Qaedas former Syrian faction, has long governed a rebel enclave in the northwest Idlib region. Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Observatory, informed AFP that currently, it seems the Syrian regime has been deserted by its principal allies Iran and Russia, with Russia until now conducting only symbolic strikes. The Observatory noted that Russia executed air strikes in parts of Aleppo overnight. Later, at least 16 civilians were killed and 20 others wounded due to fresh bombings. Rebel forces announced a curfew effective until 5 pm (3 pm Irish time) today to ensure the safety of residents. France urged all parties to safeguard civilians, while the United States suggested that Mr. Assads reliance on Russia and Iran had set the stage for the loss of Aleppo. According to National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett, Syrias dependence on Russia and Iran, coupled with its unwillingness to advance a 2015 peace initiative proposed by the UN Security Council, has created the current situation. Fighters were observed posing with a rebel flag featuring a prominent portrait of Bashar al-Assad. Rebels were seen displaying a flag outside a police station adorned with a large image of Mr. Assad, standing beneath a partially burned billboard featuring the president. The Syrian army stated that the rebels initiated a widespread assault from multiple fronts on the Aleppo and Idlib lines. As the conflict continued for a fourth day, the Observatory reported that the government had lost 100 troops and militia members, while rebel losses numbered 183. It further indicated that the rebels had captured numerous towns across the north, including Maaret al-Numan and Khan Sheikhun. Gunfire The pro-government radio station Sham FM reported that armed groups were located in various streets and neighborhoods in Aleppo. Most civilians are choosing to remain indoors, while public and private establishments in the city are nearly entirely closed, the station added. The Observatory reported that the governor of Aleppo and commanders from the police and security branches have retreated from the city center. Some rebel fighters discharged celebratory gunfire as they entered the city center. Images captured showed a rebel flag hanging from a traffic light in the city center, where some fighters were celebrating. The western regions of Aleppo had been under rebel governance until 2016, when a siege by the army compelled a negotiated evacuation. Extreme concern Russia, whose air support played a vital role in shifting the conflict in favor of the government, together with Iran, expressed extreme concern regarding their allys losses. The Russian foreign ministry stated that strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic was reaffirmed following a communication between Sergei Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi. Tehran indicated that Mr. Araghchi would be traveling to Syria today for discussions concerning the rebel offensive, which had seen the Iranian consulate in Aleppo come under fire. Since 2020, the Idlib rebel enclave has been under a truce brokered by Turkey and Russia, which had largely been maintained despite occasional violations. The Iranian minister is also set to conduct consultations in Ankara, according to his ministry. Mr. Lavrov contacted his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan and emphasized the necessity to coordinate joint efforts to stabilize the situation. Ankara had issued a statement on Friday urging an end to Russias retaliatory bombings within the rebel enclave. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani spoke with Mr. Assad and remarked that Syrias security and stability play a vital role in regional security. The president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, expressed his desire to appoint former National Security official and fervent loyalist Kash Patel as the leader of the FBI, indicating an intention to oust the bureaus current director, Christopher Wray. Mr. Patel, who served as an advisor to both the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of Defense during Mr. Trumps first term, has previously advocated for removing the FBIs intelligence-gathering responsibilities and for dismissing any employee who does not align with Mr. Trumps agenda. The biggest problem the FBI has faced has originated from its intelligence divisions. I would separate that aspect entirely. On my first day, I would close the FBI Hoover building and reopen it the next day as a museum dedicated to the deep state, Mr. Patel stated in a September interview on the conservative Shawn Ryan Show. I would take the 7,000 employees currently in that building and distribute them across America to pursue criminals. Go out and be cops. Youre law enforcementgo act like it, he continued. By law, FBI directors are appointed for 10-year terms to shield the bureau from political influence. Mr. Wray, whom Mr. Trump appointed after dismissing James Comey in 2017 due to his investigation into Trumps 2016 campaign, has frequently been a target of criticism from Mr. Trumps supporters. During Mr. Wrays leadership, the FBI executed a court-sanctioned search at Mr. Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate for classified documents, and he has also faced backlash for his management of Attorney General Merrick Garlands directive aimed at protecting local school boards from violent threats and harassment. Special Counsel Jack Smith, who oversaw two federal prosecutions against Mr. Trump related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election and his retention of classified documents, requested on November 25 that the judges in those cases dismiss them before Mr. Trump assumes office again on January 20, citing a Justice Department policy against prosecuting sitting presidents. Mr. Wray had previously indicated that he did not plan to resign early and was actively organizing events extending into his 2025 calendar, as noted by a source familiar with the situation. Mr. Patel, 44, who has a background as both a federal public defender and a federal prosecutor, became a contentious figure during Mr. Trumps first presidential term. He played a key role in guiding House Republicans investigation into the FBIs 2016 inquiry regarding interactions between Mr. Trumps 2016 campaign and Russia while serving as an aide to former Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, Devin Nunes. During Mr. Trumps first impeachment trial, former National Security Council official Fiona Hill informed House investigators of her concerns that Mr. Patel was acting as an unauthorized back channel between Mr. Trump and Ukraine. Mr. Patel has denied these claims. After Mr. Trump vacated the presidency in January 2021, Mr. Patel was designated by Trump as a representative for access to his presidential records. He was among the few ex-Trump administration officials who asserted, without evidence, that Mr. Trump had declassified all pertinent records. He was later subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury in connection with the investigation. As a private citizen, Mr. Patel authored a book titled Government Gangsters, which Mr. Trump in 2023 stated would serve as a blueprint to dismantle the Deep States control. Mr. Patels nomination is expected to face opposition from Senate Democrats and potentially some Republicans, although he has received support from high-profile Republicans such as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Countries engaged in negotiations for a global treaty aimed at reducing plastic pollution were unable to reach a consensus, with over 100 nations advocating for limits on production, while a few oil-producing countries were only willing to focus on addressing plastic waste. The fifth UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meeting, held in Busan, South Korea, was intended to conclude with a legally binding global treaty. Nevertheless, the countries remained significantly divided on fundamental aspects of the treaty and agreed only to defer crucial decisions to a future gathering. While I noticed areas where there was potential agreement, positions remain divergent in others, stated Luis Vayas Valdivieso, the meetings chair. One option suggested by Panama, which garnered support from over 100 nations, aimed to establish a global target for reducing plastic production, while another proposal did not include such production caps. The divisions were evident in a revised document presented by Mr. Valdivieso, which could have laid the groundwork for a treaty but was marked by numerous options concerning the most contentious issues. A few oil-producing nations were willing only to address plastic waste. A treaty that relies solely on voluntary measures would not be acceptable, remarked Juliet Kabera, Director General of Rwandas Environment Management Authority. Its time for us to take this seriously and negotiate a treaty that is truly effective and not destined to fail. A limited number of petrochemical-producing countries, including Saudi Arabia, have strongly resisted attempts to lower plastic production and have employed procedural tactics to delay negotiations. There has never been any consensus, said Saudi Arabian delegate Abdulrahman Al Gwaiz. There are a few articles that seem to have made it (into the document) despite our ongoing insistence that they are beyond the scope. According to data provider Eunomia, China, the United States, India, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia were the top five primary polymer-producing nations in 2023. If these divisions had been bridged, the treaty would have represented one of the most significant environmental protection agreements since the 2015 Paris Agreement. The postponement follows the tumultuous conclusion of the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, which took place just days prior. During the Baku summit, nations established a new global target to mobilize $300 billion annually for climate finance, a figure viewed as grossly inadequate by small island states and numerous developing countries. The climate negotiations were further complicated by procedural maneuvers from Saudi Arabia, which objected to language that reaffirmed a previous commitment to transition away from fossil fuels. Some negotiators expressed that a few countries were hindering the proceedings, avoiding necessary compromises by leveraging the UNs consensus process. Senegals National Delegate, Cheikh Ndiaye Sylla, described the exclusion of voting during the negotiations as a big mistake, referencing an agreement made during last years second round of talks in Paris. Plastic production is on track to triple by 2050, with microplastics having been detected in air, fresh produce, and even human breast milk. A 2023 UN Environment Programme report identified over 3,200 concerning chemicals found in plastics, highlighting that women and children are particularly vulnerable to their toxic effects. Despite the postponement, numerous negotiators expressed a pressing desire to resume discussions. Every day of delay is a day against humanity. Delaying negotiations does not defer the crisis, remarked Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, head of the Panamanian delegation. When we reconvene, the stakes will be even higher. Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) The collapse of the Baathist government of Syria in the north of the country, as the al-Qaeda affiliate HTS (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham or the Levant Liberation Council) advanced into Aleppo and Hama, could reconfigure the Middle East. The rapidity of the advance and the Muslim fundamentalist leadership of the fighters reminds me of the fall of the government of Ashraf Ghani before the Taliban advance in August-September 2021. If those events embarrassed Joe Biden, these developments embarrassed Russian President Vladimir Putin, the main backer of Damascus. The distraction of Ukraine clearly weakened Russia in the Middle East, and may cost Putin one of his few clients in the region. The poor performance of the Syrian Arab Army troops at Aleppo shows again that for foreign patrons to stand up a friendly government and back a client army can often produce a Potemkin village, a facade with no reality behind it, which easily falls to pieces under some concerted pressure. This sort of disintegration afflicted the Iraqi National Army built by George W. Bush, the Afghanistan National Army built by Bush, Obama and Trump, and now the Syrian Arab Army stood up by Vladimir Putin and Irans Revolutionary Guards. Indeed, a commander of the Qods Force (the special operations overseas branch of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps) and senior adviser to Syria, Brig Gen Kioumars Pourhashemi, was killed in the course of the HTS attack in northern Syria. Most Iranian media is in denial about the fall of Aleppo. The Syrian Baath government of Bashar al-Assad is as guilty of genocide as the Israeli government, having tortured to death some 10,000 people and having killed hundreds of thousands of innocents in its war to crush the Sunni rebel forces in the teens of the last decade. The rebel HTS also has innocent blood on its hands. The regional meaning of these events differs according to the lens through which they are viewed. If we view the victors as Sunni Muslim fundamentalist extremists, their ascendancy will be welcomed by President Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey, who indeed may have a hand in the campaign, since he has been a patron of HTS. Erdogan has championed groups as diverse as the Muslim Brotherhood and the HTS, and while he is not himself a fundamentalist, he enjoys the soft power that accrues to Turkey from his support of groups such as Hamas, MB and others. The Turkish press is speculating that the four million Syrian Sunni refugees in Turkey might be able to return home if the Sunni rebels come to power. Likewise, Qatar, a regional champion of political pluralism that makes a place for political Islam, is a severe critic of the Baathist dictatorship, which wielded its secularism as a political cudgel. Most Sunni Muslims in Lebanon are anything but fundamentalists, but on the whole they will likely be happy about the collapse of the Baath, which they view as a totalitarian Stalinist knock-off in the hands of the Alawite Shiite sect, which discriminates against Sunnis. They are not wrong. In contrast, the Christians both in Syria (5% of the population) and Lebanon (about a fourth of the population) are terrified today, given HTSs past harsh record regarding religious minorities. From the point of view of the regions nationalist, secular-leaning regimes, this movement is an unwelcome resurgence of radical political Islam. That is how it will be viewed by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Egypt, who has spent a decade crushing the Muslim Brotherhood, by Qais Saied of Tunisia, by Khalifah Hiftar, the strongman of East Libya, by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune of Algeria, by Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestine Authority, by the Democratic Union Party of the Syrian Kurds, and by Mohammed Bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates. Bin Zayed has spent his oil money trying to put down Muslim fundamentalists around the region, including in Libya and Sudan, and he is generally on the same page as al-Sisi. Bin Zayed spent some of Saturday on the phone with Bashar al-Assad discussing the events. As noted above, outside the region these events will alarm Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had shored up the al-Assad regime beginning in 2015 with air support from the Russian Aerospace Forces. From the point of view of those countries that feel threatened by Iran, the development will be greeted as a further sign of Tehrans enfeeblement. Israel has humiliated Iran and its ally, Hezbollah, during the past four months, which may have emboldened the HTS to make this move. Bashar al-Assads Syria is one of Irans few firm allies in the Arab world, along with the Houthi government of Yemen, the Shiite-led government of Iraq, and the Hezbollah-influenced government of Lebanon. Syria is a key transit point for Iranian shipments of rockets and other munitions to Lebanons Hezbollah, and if it falls then Hezbollah already on the ropes after Israels recent campaign against it could face a bleak future. These anti-Iran forces include Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Azerbaijan, and, outside the region, the United States. All are delighted at the news. In 2012-2016 during the Syrian Civil War, the US CIA funneled billions to 40 Sunni Muslim fundamentalist groups in Syria, using Saudi intelligence as the pass-through. These groups were mainly Muslim Brotherhood affiliates and were vetted as not al-Qaeda. They were, however, close battlefield allies of the Succor Front (Jabhat al-Nusra), the leading organization in the current HTS or Levant Liberation Council. So the CIA was again de facto allied with al-Qaeda in Syria, as it had been in Afghanistan in the 1980s. The prospect of the fall of Baathist Syria, however, is not without peril for these same countries, if al-Qaeda-adjacent forces come out on top. Would a wave of fundamentalist fervor in the region really benefit the bon vivant Mohammed Bin Salman of Saudi Arabia? Will the 800 US troops at Tanf in southeast Syria be threatened by the victorious HTS, given that those troops are in part a support for the leftist Kurds of Syrias northeast that have fought it on many occasions? Indeed, if the Jabhat al-Nusra or Succor Front, an al-Qaeda offshoot, comes out on top in the new power struggle, even Turkey may come to regret these events. Erdogan has consistently underestimated the danger of groups such as HTS and ISIL, which have their origins in al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia and which split from one another in 2012. Despite its insouciance Turkey has been hit by ISIL bombings on several occasions. And, will Sunni fundamentalist militias marching into Damascus really be a good thing for the current extremist government of Israel, engaged in a genocidal campaign against Gaza that is justified as an attempt to exterminate Sunni fundamentalist militias? The far right Likud Partys theory that chaos in its neighbors is good for Israel may be tested. Bonus Video: Channel 4 News: Syrian rebels capture most of Aleppo in sudden offensive ( Middle East Monitor ) The advocate general of the Supreme Court of the Netherlands, the countrys highest court, was advised on Friday to uphold the ruling banning the Dutch state from exporting F-35 components to Israel. The Court of Appeal in The Hague in February ordered the government to stop exporting components due to concerns that they would be used to violate international law in the Gaza war, prompting the government to say that it would appeal to the Supreme Court. According to the advocate general (of the Supreme Court), the Court of Appeal was justified in finding that there is a clear risk that Israels F-35 fighter jets are being used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law in the Gaza Strip, the courts advisor explained. The Netherlands houses one of several regional warehouses of US-owned F-35 components, which are distributed to countries that request them, including Israel, which has requested at least one shipment since 7 October, 2023. The Supreme Court said it would rule on the appeal as soon as possible, without giving a specific date. br> Image by Military_Material from Pixabay Human rights groups that brought the case against the state, including Oxfam Netherlands, welcomed the courts recommendation. The government should wait no longer and change course. The complicity in the atrocious violence in Gaza needs to stop as quickly as possible, the group urged in a statement. Gaza officials confirmed the Israeli war has killed nearly 44,200 people and caused nearly all of Gazas population to be displaced at least once, while vast areas of the territory have been destroyed. Historian Catherine Nixey. Diego Lafuente This book will not please convinced Christians, but it will interest those who were believers and one day began to look at religion from a rational perspective. Or lovers of history in general. Catherine Nixey, a Welsh historian born in 1980, has dug into the documents that deal with the life of Jesus Christ, full of versions that are neither accommodating nor similar. Thus she has discovered traces of an arrogant man, feared by his parents, violent at times, who cursed children and impregnated his own mother. Or a charlatan, one of many who wandered the world healing the lame or blind, walking on water, and performing miracles that are repeated in many Mediterranean narratives of the era. The story of the virginity of Mary in whose vagina an incredulous woman who wanted to verify the miracle after the birth of the son of God burned her hand takes the cake. Everything has been collected in her new book Heresy, of which Nixey spoke in Madrid with EL PAIS. After all this research, do you think you know Jesus Christ? No, does anyone know him? I think the more you read, the less you know. I grew up with this picture of Jesus, who had children around him and bunny rabbits and all of this. But if you read the Bible, you know there are nasty bits, that bit where Jesus says, I am not come to bring peace but a sword. The more you read, the more you realize this is a very complicated historical figure, who it is very hard to get to the bottom of. Partly because there are so many Christian versions: the Jesus who kills people, the Jesus who impregnates his own mother Mary, which actually makes sense in a sense, if you think about it. The Jesus who is angry, the Jesus who is vindictive. It is impossible to say who Jesus was. Christianity was not unique. It did not have one story. It was uniquely successful. And if you look at him as a historian you see a huge and fragmented and interesting picture, which to someone raised as a Catholic is a shock, but an interesting shock. Nixey was raised in a very religious family. Her father was a friar and her mother had previously been a nun. As such, her first approach was from the faith, until she became a classical historian and worked on the documents of the time the authorized and unauthorized ones which have not been adopted by the Catholic Church: the Infancy Gospel of Thomas or the Infancy Gospel of James, for example, from which we have taken traditions such as the mule or the ox in the Christmas representation, but not the brutal abrasion of the hand of Salome when touching the hymen of the Virgin after childbirth. And she starts from an irrefutable fact: between the death of Christ and the first written accounts, 40 years had passed. He existed, he was a man, but we have no idea how many of the stories attributed to him are his or those of others. How many of these stories date from his time? How many of them are put on afterwards? The fossil record is very poor. The stories are so similar to ones that appear in other ancient texts, in novels, in magic spells. Forty years is a huge time for oral transmission. Thats a big leap to go with nothing written down. So what happened in the stories in the meantime? They start to look very like all the other stories in the Mediterranean and stories that were written down before them. To ancient critics, he was a charlatan, another magician who performed tricks like so many of the time, perhaps not to get money, but possibly food and certainly respect. Willem Dafoe, in the role of Jesus Christ, in 'The Last Temptation of Christ' by Martin Scorsese. Jesus existence is indisputable, Nixey says, because he appears in many texts of the period, even in Latin sources such as the mentions of Nero collected by the Roman historian Suetonius. So many of these stories appear again and again and again in not only different versions in Christianity, but in similar different versions outside Christianity. But many also appear in the lives of others, such as Apollonius, to whom a similar biography is attributed. The healing of a blind man, for example, is also attributed to Vespasian [9-79 AD, emperor from 69-79 AD] and is linked to a rumor about the arrival of two men who will come from the east who will rule over the world, Nixey recounts. And everybody in Rome thought this was Vespasian because he did rule over the world. But his story is similar to that told in the Gospels and also to that of Asclepius four centuries earlier: another son of a God, another person with healing hands, another person who can make the lame walk and the blind see. The past, she says, is full of people, not exactly Christian, who performed miracles in the markets, who parted waters, who resurrected the dead The same stories recur again and again and again. Why then did Jesus Christ rise above all the others and become so important in our civilization? If we look for historical reasons, we have to go to Constantine [emperor from 306 to 337], he made the difference. Roman emperors have always adopted and promoted foreign and Eastern religions, religions came and went at that time. But Constantine adopts Christianity and lives a long time, he remains emperor for 30 years. His sons also have long lives. And one man who could have changed this, Julian, a later pagan emperor [361-363], lived a very short time. If that had changed, if Julian had lived to be 90 and Constantine had been emperor for three years instead of 30, we would not be having this conversation. Everything would have been different. Two young men fix a statue of Jesus Christ after a procession in Managua, on April 7, 2023. OSWALDO RIVAS (AFP) The nature of Christianity in helping people and contributing to their well-being played a big role in its consolidation. Definitely. They were proselytizing, so they were trying to convert people, which other religions werent really trying to do in this period. And on the other hand, they were providing something that other religions werent providing, they helped the needy, widows, orphans... Christianity did this from the beginning and did it well. They offered something that appealed to people at that time. The Christian religion was then, says the historian, a kind of health service with a spiritual aura. And it is logical. Breaking your arm could be life-ending in this world. Life was very hard. We saw this in the pandemic, when everyone prayed more, even I have wanted to pray for my children. Jesus Christ, Nixey believes, could never have imagined the impact of his life, which from the beginning sparked criticism from contemporary writers who did not understand what he said because it was cryptic, contradictory, sometimes violent. Even if you just take the Gospels, hes impossible to know. Ancient critics criticized things he said, and its quite refreshing in a way to hear them criticize it, because they criticize it in the way that as a child, sitting in church, you hear these stories and you think, that makes no sense to me. She refers, for example, to the miracle of the men possessed by demons, whom Jesus freed from evil spirits, which in turn possessed pigs that killed themselves by throwing themselves off a cliff. This really bothered the ancients. Why is he putting them into the pigs? We think of Jesus as being much more clear-cut than in fact in the Bible he is, and certainly than he was to ancient readers. A statue of Jesus Christ in Gauhati, India, on December 24, 2020. Anupam Nath (AP) Nixey notes that many of these things have been ignored for almost 2,000 years because theology and not history or mythology took charge of the Christian past. There were authors who had tried before to do what she has done now, such as William Hone or Edward Gibbon, but they were mercilessly attacked. If you are a believer, it is difficult to read the other texts and not feel offended or dismissed. Since the 20th century things have changed and texts such as the Protoevangelium of James, for example, are also used when studying Divinity. I wouldnt have wanted to necessarily read all this if I was in full Christian belief. This is the text that fixes the donkey and the ox in the Christmas representation, not the Gospels. Pope Benedicts book Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives, in fact, denies their presence in the manger of Bethlehem. Do you still put it up, the nativity scene at Christmas? Yes, I do! I have three children. We have a little wooden one that comes from Ethiopia I think, with Mary, the mule and the ox and all of that. We do it for them. By the way, where does the myth of Marys virginity, which is also repeated across different times and cultures, come from? Who knows, but it appears again and again in Mediterranean cultures. Why? I dont know. This is not me as a historian talking. This is just me as a woman. In that period, people liked babies, but they didnt like women having sex. So its like the best of both worlds. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Sunday, December 1, 2024 - Nairobi Catholic Diocese Archbishop Philip Anyolo has confirmed that he returned the money donated to Soweto Catholic Church by President William Ruto and Nairobi County Governor, Johnson Sakaja a fortnight ago. On Saturday, November 30, Anyolo said the money had been returned. We're ready and willing and have returned the money, he said. However, Anyolo would not respond to backlash from politicians over the move. I'm not a politician and would not like to weigh in on things the president has spoken about publicly. "Im not responding to politicians. We have a way of handling matters with them, he said. Anyolo further noted that it was not the first time refunding money to politicians. Only that it came out explosively (this time). He further stressed the importance of listening, saying: Any time we go wrong regarding church administration, we listen. "The spirit of listening is important; what people want is important. The Kenyan DAILY POST Saturday, November 30, 2024 - France has initiated the return of approximately 3,500 archaeological artefacts to Ethiopia, decades after they were taken to Paris for study. The handover began on Saturday, November 30, with a ceremonial transfer of three prehistoric tools at the National Museum in Addis Ababa. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot presented two prehistoric stone axes, known as bifaces, and a stone cutter to Ethiopias Tourism Minister Selamawit Kassa during the event. These tools are samples of nearly 3,500 artefacts from the excavations that were carried out on the Melka Kunture site, Barrot said. Melka Kunture is a significant cluster of prehistoric sites located south of Addis Ababa, excavated under the direction of a late French researcher. France and Ethiopia have a long-standing bilateral agreement to collaborate in archaeology and palaeontology, a partnership highlighted during the handover ceremony. Laurent Serrano, cultural advisor at the French embassy in Addis Ababa, clarified that this transfer is not classified as restitution. This is a handover, not a restitution, in that these objects have never been part of French public collections, he told AFP. Serrano explained that the artefacts, dating back between 1 and 2 million years, were discovered during decades of excavation work near the Ethiopian capital. Currently stored at the French embassy in Addis Ababa, the full collection will be transferred to the Ethiopian Heritage Directorate on Tuesday, December 3. Sunday, December 1, 2024 - Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho has officially shifted his allegiance from former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to President William Ruto, declaring unwavering loyalty to the president. While responding to critics who warned him against joining the Kenya Kwanza government, Joho revealed that he is ready to stick with Ruto's Kenya Kwanza government despite the displeasure expressed by Kenyans. According to the former ODM deputy party leader, uniting Kenyans is more important than individualism and thus will remain with Ruto to the end. "Kuna watu walikuwa wananiambia nikiingia huko nitazama. Kama nikuzama, wacha nizame nikiwa hapo ndani.(Some warned me that I would perish if I joined the government. Let me tell them, if it (government) goes down, I'm ready to go down with it)," Joho asserted. The CS revealed that working with the government has allowed him to serve Kenyans to bring development that he couldn't when he was on the opposition side. "If I were outside (opposition), I would be complaining, but now I can bring you development because I joined the government. "From here, I will go to the lake region and commission more projects because I am on the inside (government)," the CS asserted. Joho, however, revealed that it was not easy for him to join the government from the opposition side, especially because he was on the frontlines constantly criticising President Ruto. "You gave President Ruto a chance, and I was not there. I was on the opposition side, and in fact, I was really criticizing the government. "It was not easy making that decision to join the government, but I chose to serve my country," Joho revealed. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, December 1, 2024 - President William Ruto seems to be pretty scared of losing his presidency ahead of the 2027 General Election. This is after it emerged that he is orchestrating an early plot to rig the 2027 polls in his favour. According to Wper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, the plans to manipulate the 2027 elections are in high gear. The former vice president posed that the government is willfully refusing to reconstitute the Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as part of the plot to remain unchallenged. While speaking during a press briefing at the Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka (SKM) Command Center, Kalonzo claimed that the current Kenya Kwanza regime was aiming to disrupt the election process through the delayed reconstitution of the IEBC. Kenya Kwanza is preparing to undermine the peoples sovereign authority and manipulate the next election, Kalonzo claimed. The Bill (Elections (Amendment) Bill 2024) in the Senate to stop the live streaming of election results is one way of stealing the coming elections, he added. The former vice president made these remarks while calling for the implementation of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) Report that set guidelines for the IEBC reconstitution and selection of its commissioners. Kalonzo went on to express his concern with the lack of adherence to constitutional timelines concerning boundary delimitation and the reconstitution of its members. Kalonzos concern stemmed from the fact that the timeline for this review elapsed in March 2024 amidst the lack of an IEBC body of commissioners He further accused the government of faulting the selection process of the IEBC commissioners through litigation. Kalonzo challenged the Judiciary to chip in and provide a way forward by addressing the pending constitutional gap that subsequently emerged. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, December 1, 2024 - Employed Kenyans are set to receive lower take-home pay as President William Rutos government plans to increase National Social Security Fund (NSSF) deductions starting next year. In the new statutory deduction that is set to take effect beginning February next year, Kenyans will pay up to Ksh4320 monthly from Ksh2160 currently contributed by both employees and employers. The new regulation is part of the NSSF Act of 2013 which is currently being implemented in phases. Employed Kenyans would be deducted 6 per cent of their salaries. The deduction will be implemented beginning February 1, 2025, as part of the governments move to enhance remittance to the security fund. According to the Act, the lower earnings limit or the amount that is considered the lowest pensionable salary has been raised to Sh9,000 up from the current Sh7,000 while the upper earnings limit has been raised to Ksh29,000 with this category of employees set to contribute more money. For instance, an employee earning an average wage of Ksh40,000 would take home only Ksh32,000 after all the statutory deductions such as the Housing Levy, the Social Health Authority, NSSF, and Pay As You Earn (PAYE). An employee earning Ksh50,000 will earn a net salary of Ksh38,000 after all the statutory deductions, similarly an employee earning 70,000 will earn Ksh53,000 after the deductions. While remitting the funds, the employer would be required to match the salaries of the employee with the deduction, simply, it means the deductions would be based on the amount an individual earns. The latest development comes amidst the government's plan to implement several tax measures in the three tax bills that are currently undergoing public participation. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, December 1, 2024 - Githunguri MP Gathoni Wa Muchomba has criticized President William Ruto's plan to vaccinate over 22 million livestock in Kenya starting January 2025. In a statement, Wamuchomba criticized the government over the vaccination, terming it as a globalist agenda with negative outcomes that should not be allowed to see the light of day. She noted that the vaccines to be used were not adopted in their countries of origin. I wish to change from the onset, this is not our idea. It is a foreign idea being pushed to us with some clear intentions and deliverables, she stated. The lawmaker claims the vaccination aims to introduce a gene-modifying drug to livestock to reduce methane emissions as part of efforts to combat climate change. Wamuchomba called the move absurd, noting that Kenyans have lived with livestock for centuries without harmful effects. She questioned the motive behind the vaccination, emphasizing that livestock are valuable and an integral part of African heritage. The MP, who is Rigathi Gachaguas ally, accused the president of making the decision without engaging the citizens. It is not okay for the president to go to an international meeting and agree to vaccinate our animals without our consent, she blasted. She added that those behind vaccination claim that the animals natural release of intestinal gas into the atmosphere is a means of relief from normal feeding and the flatulent process is a hazardous process to the environment, something she strongly disagreed with. They want us to stop producing our own food and make sure that we are dependent on their own food. This is a globalist idea that comes with a lot of negative impacts, she explained rejecting the proposed vaccination exercise. She further vowed to oppose the vaccination, calling on Kenyans not to allow their animals vaccinated. The Kenyan DAILY POST Saturday, November 30, 2024 - Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has suggested a ceasefire deal could be struck if the Ukrainian territory he controls could be taken "under the NATO umbrella"allowing him to negotiate the return of the rest later "in a diplomatic way." In an interview with Sky News's Stuart Ramsay, Zelenskyy was asked to respond to media reports saying one of US President-elect Donald Trump's plans to end the war might be for Kyiv to cede the land Moscow has taken to Russia in exchange for Ukraine joining NATO. Zelenskyy said NATO membership would have to be offered to unoccupied parts of the country in order to end the "hot phase of the war", as long as the NATO invitation itself recognises Ukraine's internationally recognised borders. He appeared to accept occupied eastern parts of the country would fall outside of such a deal for the time being. "If we want to stop the hot phase of the war, we need to take under the NATO umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control," he said. "We need to do it fast. And then on the [occupied] territory of Ukraine, Ukraine can get them back in a diplomatic way." Zelenskyy said a ceasefire was needed to "guarantee that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin will not come back" to take more Ukrainian territory. He said NATO should "immediately" cover the part of Ukraine that remains under Kyiv's control, something he said Ukraine needs "very much otherwise he will come back". In his first interview with British media since Trump's election win, Zelenskyy was asked what he thought of the president-elect and said "we have to work with the new president" in order to "have the biggest supporter". "I want to work with him directly because there are different voices from people around him. And that's why we need not to [allow] anybody around to destroy our communication," he said. "It will be not helpful and will be destructive. We have to try to find the new model. I want to share with him ideas and I want to hear from him." Asked if he had spoken to Trump, Zelenskyy said the pair had spoken in September when he was in New York, adding: "We had a conversation. It was very warm, good, constructive... It was a very good meeting and it was an important first step - now we have to prepare some meetings." The interview is the first time the Ukrainian leader has hinted at a ceasefire deal that would include Russian control of Ukrainian territory. Throughout the war, he has never said he would cede any occupied Ukrainian territory to Russia - including Crimea, which Russia occupied in February 2014 and formally annexed the following month. He said such a move is not allowed under the Ukrainian constitution and the only way it would be possible is if people in those areas agree to secede. The furthest he has gone previously was during an interview with Le Monde in July this year, when he suggested the territories could join Russia if they voted to in a free and fair referendum. But he said Kyiv would have to have the territory back under its control in order to hold such a vote. Saturday, November 30, 2024 - The United States has approved the sale of spare parts for fighter jets, radar systems, and tactical communications equipment to Taiwan in deals valued at $385 million, according to a statement released by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on Friday. Although Washington does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taipei, it remains Taiwans most crucial ally and largest arms supplier. The latest deals reinforce the US commitment to supporting Taiwans defense capabilities amidst increasing military pressure from China. The first package, worth an estimated $320 million, includes spare parts for Taiwans fleet of F-16 fighter jets and radar systems. These parts will come from existing US military stockpiles, with deliveries expected to begin in 2025. This proposed sale serves US national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipients continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability, the DSCA stated. The proposed sale will improve the recipients ability to meet current and future threats by maintaining the operational readiness of the recipients fleet of F-16 aircraft. A separate deal valued at $65 million covers follow-on support and equipment for a tactical communications system, further strengthening Taiwans defense infrastructure. The sales were approved by the State Department, with the DSCA notifying Congress on Friday, a procedural requirement for arms transfers of this nature. China, which views self-governed Taiwan as part of its territory, has repeatedly condemned US arms sales to the island. The announcement of these deals coincided with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-tes plans to depart for a trip to three Pacific island allies, including stopovers in Hawaii and the US territory of Guam. Taiwans defense ministry expressed gratitude for the arms sales, stating that the equipment would help enhance the combat readiness of its Air Forces F-16 fleet and strengthen air defense capabilities. Taiwan and the United States will continue to consolidate our security partnership, the ministry said. The foreign ministry noted that this marks the 18th arms sale announcement to Taiwan under President Joe Bidens administration. In its statement, the ministry reaffirmed Taiwans determination to bolster its defenses against Chinas military pressure and grey zone harassment, referencing tactics designed to destabilize the island without triggering a full-scale conflict. China has intensified military activities around Taiwan in recent years, with near-daily incursions by fighter jets and warships. On Saturday, Taiwans defense ministry reported detecting 18 Chinese military aircraft, seven naval vessels, and two balloons near the island in the 24 hours leading up to 6:00 am local time. Expats, globetrotters and influencers are thrilled by the avant-garde, unusual Chinese city of Chongqing. The metropolis genuinely amazes those who visit it for the first time, or who discover its peculiar charms via social media. The main attractions include a zoo, where giant pandas luxuriate while surrounded by skyscrapers; the public square, built on the roof of a 22-story building; the aerial railway, with one of its main stations inside a block of flats; suspension bridges, which seem to have been brought from the year 2070 to be grafted onto the present; or the resplendent, multicolored skyline, visible from the banks of the Yangtze River. Theres also an improbable aquatic museum, as well as an intricate, seemingly endless labyrinth of escalators that take you down into one of the deepest metro stations in the world. TikTok and Instagram profiles, YouTube channels and podcasts run by digital nomads compete to unravel the oddities of this crazy city and show them to the rest of the planet. Media outlets such as CGTN or Wanderplate have begun to refer to Chongqing as the living incarnation of the city in Blade Runner, or the cyberpunk capital of China. Its also quite common for it to be referred to as the craziest city on the planet. In the opinion of Sergi Walliver a YouTuber, traveler and adventurer its uniqueness is due to the fact that, in recent years, it grew at a forced, rapid pace, in a setting unprepared to house such a monster. Hence, it ended up transforming into a dystopian city, which has developed without clear rules or inhibitions. Any eccentricity is possible. In the background, Chongqing under construction. Alamy Stock Photo The city of heroes To understand Chongqing a little better, its worth going back to its origins. While its currently located near the heart of the Peoples Republic of China (although slightly tilted towards the west), it was, for centuries, a small prefecture in the zone of friction between the southern and northern dynasties. The municipality is a transit point along a major waterway, but too far from the strategic Silk Road to become the first-rate commercial center it always wanted to be. Chongqing a town of merchants and fishermen slept a thousand-year-long sleep. At the beginning of the 20th century, it woke up to burst into global geopolitics. This was when pressure from Western powers forced China to open the Yangtze routes to foreign trade. In 1901, a Japanese concession was opened in Chongqing, the embryo of the feverish and convulsive megalopolis it was on its way to becoming. Not long after this first sign of opening up to the world when Japan invaded the northern part of China, in 1938 Chiang Kai-shek and his Nationalist troops established the Chinese capital in this city, which was located in the province of Sichuan. By then, it already had a population of one million inhabitants. Chongqing known as the City of Heroes in Chinese patriotic songs suffered intense bombings during that war, which damaged its historical heritage, necessitating extensive reconstruction efforts in the decades that followed. In 1949 when the authorities of the newly formed Peoples Republic of China took control of the devastated city the decision was made to transform it into something very different: an industrial and university center, which would soon receive a veritable flood of new residents from the southwestern provinces and the rest of China. Since 2006, a new complex of traditional houses faithful to the layout of the areas original villages has been built in Chongqing. Alamy Stock Photo A labyrinth on the banks of the river Today, Chongqing is (along with Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin) one of the four large urban agglomerations of China. These jurisdictions are directly administered by the central state and no longer belong to any province. Chongqings metropolitan territory slightly larger than that of Austria includes 26 districts and 12 counties, in which more than 32 million people live. The metropolis is immense and it has become the gateway to southern China. It also hosts the countrys main engineering work, the nearby Three Gorges Dam the largest hydroelectric power station in the world, built in 1997. This work which used nearly one billion cubic feet of concrete and cost (according to various estimates) between $50 and $70 billion marked a before and after for contemporary China. In a certain sense, it could be said that the over-the-top, fanciful Chongqing that dazzles us today grew up in the shadow of the Three Gorges, with its ambition and its pharaonic narcissism. If something like this could be created out of nothing in a rural area along the Yangtze, what couldnt be done in the city that presides over the river? After all, this was the place where millions of displaced people ended up, due to the construction of the dam. The official excuse for many of Chongqings peculiarities is that its topography drastically conditions urban development: it forces residents to build differently, while engaging in a continuous exercise of lateral thinking. The result as described in a recent article in Architectural Digest is a three-dimensional, multi-level labyrinth. In the words of YouTuber and local resident Jackson Lu, the city is on an irregular mountain plateau, on the banks of two great rivers: the Yangtze and the Jialing. This means that there are few plains and its essential to take advantage of vertical spaces, as in Hong Kong. If the city wants to continue growing, it must do so upwards sometimes climbing the slopes of the surrounding mountains, or digging holes inside them. The Ring Shopping Park, a futuristic shopping mall in Chongqing. Cheng Xin (Getty Images) The sky square Chongqing has seen the amazing proliferation of skyscrapers, residential blocks that are more than 30 floors high, as well as a local idea thats causing a sensation on social media: sky squares. Jackson Lu in a viral video on TikTok that has already racked up 30 million views shows us one of the most emblematic of these spaces. Kuixinglou Square is a large area, located on the 22nd floor of an office complex next to the river port. Imagine that youre walking through the plaza of a major city and, at one end, you look out onto a viewing point thats 200 feet above a river. That would be a pretty good summary of what Kuixinglou Square is like. In his videos, Lu describes everyday life in his crazy city, from the moment he leaves his apartment (which looks more like a futuristic burrow) to enter a metro stop that feels like an entrance of a fallout shelter. From there, he walks through a dense network of steps, walkways and corridors, boarding a bus that travels along an elevated ring road. He crosses bridges worthy of a Tim Burton film, and descends into metro stops that are more than 300 feet underground (accessed by escalators that require a toll). Aerial photograph of the landmark China Chongqing Science Hall, located in the Western China Science City. This is a planned development in western Chongqing. NurPhoto (NurPhoto via Getty Images) The train drops me off at home Olivia Heath a writer for House Beautiful barely tries to hide her bemusement when describing the train that passes through a hole in a 19-story block of flats, which proves to be extremely convenient for its residents because theres a transit stop inside. They can just hop on the Chongqing Rail Transit No.2 at Liziba Station, which is located on the sixth to eighth floor of the high-rise building. She believes its a creative solution derived from the need to accommodate 49 million people packed into 31,000 square miles. Heath is fascinated that such an original home-delivery public transportation service has been running since 2004 with hardly any complaints or significant incidents. Noise reduction isnt a problem for residents either, she notes. The sound of the train passing through is reportedly around 60 decibels, meaning it would omit the same sound as a dishwasher. That is the labyrinthine, futuristic Chongqing thats been going viral in recent months. But media outlets such as Wanderplate insist that, beyond the unprecedented cyberpunk postcard, theres a different Chongqing thats worth discovering. Thus, they recommend a visit to the Hongya Cave complex: picturesque riverside buildings on pillars, located in a bend of the Jialing River. The original structures testaments to Chongqings past as a discreet river port had been deteriorating for decades and were demolished in 2005. From 2006, a new complex of traditional houses was built here, faithful to the design of the original town, which may appear to be the idyllic setting of a Hayao Miyazaki film. Those who visit the complex can enjoy its popular market, as well as the magnificent restaurant on its fourth floor, where they serve a famous local condiment sala mala so intense and spicy that it leaves your mouth numb. Cikiqou the last vestige of the ancient city, now a gleaming theme park is also well worth a visit, as is the Baiheliang Underwater Museum, whose modern halls are above the deep riverbed of the Yangtze. Finally, dont leave the city of the future without seeing for yourself how the melancholic pandas at the local zoo cope with captivity: theyre accustomed to nibbling on bushes, their gaze lost in the mountains that are dotted with skyscrapers. They do, at least, enjoy an extra dose of space in this city, which continues to build horizontal plots in the sky. Theres no room for a soul on the ground anymore. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Sunday, December 1, 2025 - Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has claimed that the chaos at a funeral attended by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in Limuru on Thursday was orchestrated by President William Rutos government. Speaking at a media briefing on Saturday, Kalonzo said the opposition condemns state-sponsored terrorism against its own citizens in the strongest possible terms. Kalonzo said it was evident that the suspected goons had one purpose in mind: to disrupt, destroy, and prevent persons from interacting with mourners in Bibironi village. Despite the statements from both the Inspector General of the National Police Service, Douglas Kanja, and the Director of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Mohamed Amin, that the chaos was due to a lack of advanced intelligence and that former Limuru MP Mwathi and area MCA Christopher Ireri were not in their custody, the evidence is irrefutable: This was a state-sponsored attack and abductions, he stated. The Wiper boss said a terrorist attack on one Kenyan is an attack on all regardless of race, ethnic community, and political persuasion. An abduction of one of us is an affront to all who believe in a free and democratic society, he stated. Gachagua, in his statement after the attack, also claimed the government was behind the incident in Limuru where hired goons attacked mourners. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, December 1, 2024 - Former Prime Minister Raila Odingas ex-head of protocol Tony Gachaoka has announced he will be vying for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat in the 2027 general election. Gachoka announced his bid via the X social network on Saturday "It is official: Tony Gachoka will vie for Governor Nairobi against Babu Owino and the ODM party," he said. The former journalist would go for the post via the Eugene Wamalwa-led Democratic Action Party (DAP) "I will vie on a DAP-K party ticket, many thanks to my age mate Eugene Wamalwa for my ticket! "God be with you and Kalonzo. I have just informed both Kalonzo and Okiya Omtatah. Let's go Nairobi," Gachoka's tweet further read. Gachoka had a stint with the Standard Group-owned KTN News, where he hosted the Point Blank show, in which eminent politicians and personalities showed up to give their perspectives on topical matters. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, December 1, 2024 - An outspoken ODM MP has urged Kenyan youths to respect Raila Odingas contributions to the countrys political freedom and shift their focus to addressing the nations current challenges. Speaking on the legacy of the ODM party leader, Saboti MP, Caleb Amisi highlighted Railas sacrifices during the fight for multipartism, contrasting them with what he described as the apathy of todays youth. Some youths have been criticizing Raila Odinga, calling him the "Methuselah" or "dinosaur" of Kenyan politics. Amisi noted that while Raila faced imprisonment in the fight for democracy, many now disregard his efforts and instead attack ODM leaders. "When Raila was in prison fighting for multipartism, some of your parents were busy dining with late former president Daniel Moi," he claimed. Reflecting on his own experience, Amisi recounted narrowly escaping death during the 2017 electoral reform protests. "When I nearly died from police bullets fighting for electoral reforms in 2017, you may have been busy smoking "shisha" or watching movies. "Don't wake up today and start abusing ODM leaders carelessly," the MP warned. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, December 1, 2024 - Shakib Cham, husband to socialite Zari Hassan, has spoken out against rumors claiming he is unfaithful to his wife. In a statement shared on social media, Shakib clarified that the women he has been seen with are merely clients and supporters of his fashion brand, King Cham Collection, and denied any romantic involvement with them. Some women are valued clients and supporters of King Cham Collection. "They are not romantically involved with me, nor do I have any intentions of engaging in private relationships with them or any other woman for that matter, he stated. Shakib emphasized his dedication to his marriage, stressing that the rumors are baseless and are causing unnecessary strain on his relationship. The Kenyan DAILY POST. By Genichiro Kodama, KYODO NEWS - Dec 2, 2024 - 15:33 | All, Japan, World Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that his country is seeking an early end to the war with Russia and the return of part of its territory by Moscow through diplomacy after Kyiv's NATO membership becomes certain. In an exclusive interview with Kyodo News at the presidential palace in Kyiv, Zelenskyy also said North Korean soldiers deployed in western Russia to fight on Moscow's side in the war have been killed, and it is almost certain they will ultimately be used as "cannon fodder" on the front lines of the conflict. With Russia advancing faster in the eastern part of Ukraine, Zelenskyy said support for his country from its partners is "not enough" and urged NATO to invite Kyiv for membership talks with the transatlantic military alliance as soon as possible. Responding to all questions in Ukrainian, he frankly admitted it is difficult to retake by force some of the Russian-occupied parts of the country, including Crimea that Russia annexed in 2014. "Our army lacks the strength to do that. That is true," he said. "We do have to find diplomatic solutions." But he went on to say that such steps could be considered "only when we know that we are strong enough" that Russia cannot launch a new aggression against Ukraine. Zelenskyy, who continues to see NATO membership as indispensable for Ukraine's security and prosperity, underscored that the war has entered a "complicated period." Suggesting Ukraine's readiness to negotiate the return of some part of the occupied areas after the conflict is over, provided necessary conditions are met, his remarks appear to represent a shift from his long-held position that his country will fight to regain all territory seized by Russia. Zelenskyy expressed appreciation for Japan, the United States, South Korea and numerous European and other countries that have provided assistance to Ukraine and imposed sanctions on Russia. But he stressed that more help is needed to strengthen Ukraine. The 46-year-old president did not say how many North Korean troops, initially transferred to eastern Russia in October, had been killed or wounded in combat against Ukrainian forces. He said there is evidence that about 12,000 North Korean soldiers had been deployed to Russia's Kursk region bordering Ukraine but Kyiv needs "to have proof" before disclosing the exact number of casualties. He predicted that many North Korean soldiers will be sent to the front lines of the war in the future, and it is "indisputable" that Russian President Vladimir Putin will use them "as cannon fodder" to reduce losses to his country's military. In an attempt to attract tens of thousands of additional North Korean soldiers, Zelenskyy said Russia has been treating the dispatched troops well. What may matter more in the long run, he said, is that North Korean soldiers will have been trained by the Russian military in actual war conditions as they seek to acquire knowledge of modern warfare such as how to use drones and other recent technologies. He warned it would have a tremendous impact on Asia and elsewhere if they bring such know-how back to North Korea. The interview, which lasted about an hour, was granted as the war in Ukraine has reached a critical juncture, with questions also arising as to whether U.S. support for Ukraine will continue after President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Trump has repeatedly claimed that Russia's invasion of Ukraine would never have happened if he were in office, saying during his presidential campaign that he could stop the war in a day if elected, without specifying how. Zelenskyy said Trump and his team know Ukraine's position and its "victory plan" that is aimed at putting it in a "strong position" to allow diplomacy to take place. "They're studying the plan and we are going to hear from them. But there will be no capitulation from the side of Ukraine," he said. "That's a fact and I think that he understands it." Zelenskyy, who last met with Trump in person in September, said he is counting on additional talks with the incoming president to explain "certain things in more detail." Amid rising global concern over Russia's deepening cooperation with North Korea, bringing a third country into the ongoing 33-month war, U.S. President Joe Biden authorized Ukraine to fire American-made long-range missiles at targets in Russian territory. Biden's approval last month for use of the Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS, reflects his administration's efforts to bolster Ukraine's position against Russia before Trump, who has been skeptical of aid for Ukraine, returns to the White House on Jan. 20. Since then, both sides have intensified their air attacks, with Russia firing a new intermediate-range missile that can be equipped with nuclear warheads at Ukraine for the first time. Putin said in mid-November that the move was in response to Ukraine firing Western-supplied missiles into Russia. Related coverage: Japan, Ukraine sign security info-sharing pact to boost cooperation North Korea troops enter Ukraine fight for 1st time, many killed: NYT Zelenskyy Interview - Ukraine cannot afford for world to doubt our strength A Naas-based businessman Ivor Queally has become the EY International Entrepreneur of the Year for 2024 in a gala ceremony from the Powerscourt Hotel, Wicklow that was broadcast on RTE1. Ivor Queally, CEO of the QK Group South Africa is a director of one of Irelands largest privately owned agri-businesses, with multi-disciplined food manufacturing facilities located throughout Ireland, the United Kingdom, Europe and Southern Africa. Founded in 2004, QK Group South Africa operates across a number of different sectors from meat processing, cold storage and warehousing, frozen foods manufacturing, pet food manufacturing and the processing of animal by products. The company is also a significant importer of frozen food products from around the world and the second largest manufacturer of pet food in South Africa. The International category consists of entrepreneurs who are global players. Their companies operate in multiple markets across the globe and can be headquartered here in Ireland or overseas. Each year, EY also presents a Special Recognition Award to individuals who have made a significant contribution to life on the island of Ireland through their vision, innovation, and commitment to excellence. This year, the prestigious honour was awarded to former Taoiseach Enda Kenny in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Irish politics. 3pm We are finished in Kildare North with Reada Cronin (SF), Joe Neville (FG) and Naoise O'Cearuil (FF) filling the last three seats. They join James Lawless (FF) and Aidan Farrelly (SD). 1.22pm Close to the distribution of Bill Clear's 5,458, and that will finalise it we think. Cronin is only 272 shy of a quota, and Durkan (6th) is 1,323 behind O'Cearuil for the final seat. Next declaration will elect Neville and O'Cearuil without reaching quota. 8.48am Counting resuming in Kildare North this morning after Aidan Farrelly of Social Democrats was elected after 11pm last night. His surplus will now be distributed. Naoise O Cearuil and wife Aly at the count hall in Punchestown 9.50pm Count 9 just announced. No one was elected in this round. James Lawlesss transfers spread easily across the remaining FF and FG candidates. And with that, Soc Dems Aidan Farrelly is still within grasp of the next seat. Eliminated in this round was Angela Feeney (Lab), with 4213 votes up for transfer in the next count. James Lawless celebrating in Punchestown with supporters after being the first elected in Kildare North Photo: Aisling Hyland 8.15pm Count 8 was just announced. James Lawless (FF) has been elected after receiving 684 votes in transfer from Evie Sammon (FG), bringing him well above quota to 10,007. 502 surplus votes from Lawless are to be distributed in the next count. 7.20pm It looks like one or possibly two candidates could be elected for Kildare North in the next count with 3410 votes from Evie Sammon to be distributed. Currently, James Lawless (FF) is on 9323 and Aidan Farrelly (SD) is on 9207 with only a couple hundred votes left for both to make quota at 9505. 6.30pm Count 7 for Kildare North has just been announced, with the bulk of transfers from Una OConnor (Aon) going to Bill Clear with 832 votes transferred, with a total of 4373 votes. Eliminated this round was Evie Sammon (FG) who left 3410 votes for transfer in the next count. 6.05pm As Kildare South candidates and party members leave the hall, the Kildare North side gets busier, patiently awaiting their next count. 5.55pm Fiona O'Loughlin's director of elections Richard Meehan reflects on a bitter disappointment. The Newbridge vote just doesnt make sense, he said. "The town was crying out for a TD, and it doesnt have one." 5.05pm Spare a thought for Senator Fiona OLoughlin (FF) who has narrowly missed out on a seat in two consecutive elections. 4.58pm Count 12 has been announced and Kildare South count is concluded, with both Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh (SF) and Mark Wall (Lab) elected to the Dail. They will join Martin Heydon (FG) and outgoing ceann comhairle Sean O Fearghail as the constituency TDs. 4.55pm Count 6 for Kildare North. No candidate has met quota for election. Aontus, Una OConnor has been eliminated with 3026 votes for distribution. 4.30pm All camps in Kildare South anxiously awaiting news of where Martin Heydons surplus votes might have gone. Count 12 should be along soon, as will more updates. Yes Daddy! as Martin Heydon celebrates with family Photo: Aisling Hyland 3.31pm Martin Heydon is elected on count 11 in Kildare South. Great scenes as he is lifted on shoulders in Punchestown. His surplus of 650 votes will now be distributed. Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh is on 10141, Mark Wall is 9739 and Fiona O'Loughlin is 9124. 3.30pm Count 5 for Kildare North. No candidate elected as of yet. Eliminated was Vincent P. Martin with 2162 votes for distribution. 3pm Kildare South is busy with candidates and their teams anticipating Cathal Berrys transfers and where they will go. No word yet. 2.50pm No news as of yet in Kildare South. Everyone is awaiting the next set of counts. 2.02pm Count 4 for Kildare North. Reada Cronin (SF) gets a good bump from her running mate Caroline Hogan (+930 votes) but not much else to report. Irish Freedom Partys Gerry Waters is eliminated, and his 1,254 votes will be distributed. 2pm Count ten for Kildare South just announced with Chris Penders votes going mostly to Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh (SF) who has now reached 9426 votes, and Mark Wall, who picked up 1239 votes, getting him to 8744 in total. Fiona O Loughlin is on 8312 getting additional 408. Cathal Berry was eliminated in this round, leaving 4767 votes up for distribution. 1.30pm Looks like Mark Wall (Lab) has picked up good chunk of Social Democrat Chris Penders vote which will put him ahead of Senator Fiona OLoughlin after the next count. We shall see. Awaiting the next count. 1.15pm Some nervous heads looking at the transfers of Chris Pender being counted. Fionn Brophy keeping a close eye on the count in Punchestown on Sunday 12.45pm Kildare Norths third count with the bulk of Leah Whelans distributed votes going to Soc Dems Aidan Farrelly bringing him to 8222. Caroline Hogan (SF) was eliminated in this round, with 1365 votes for distribution in the next count. 12.30pm Count nine for Kildare South has just been announced. Melissa Byrnes transfer numbers mostly went to Cathal Berry with 627 and Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh with 467 extra. Social Democrats Chris Pender has been eliminated in this round, with 3888 votes to distribute. 399 votes between senators Fiona O'Loughlin and Mark Wall. 12.20pm Here's a look at Kildare North from our own Finian Coghlan. 'Plenty of drama in this fight yet.' 11.35am Count 8 in Kildare South. Distribution of Anthony Caseys votes (1362). Melissa Byrne of Aontu is eliminated with 2380 votes. Her transfers will be very interesting. 11.30am Second count for Kildare North was just announced. PBPs Leah Whelan was eliminated in this count, with 1175 votes to distribute. 11am Minister of state James Lawless, poll topper in Kildare North, was in great form and hoping to retain a ministers seat in the next government. "I am delighted, it's the best election I have ever had. I have topped the poll in a local election but never in a general and in a constituency where I am not campaigning in a third. It's particularly gratifying." Read more here 10.30am Seventh count in Kildare South. Distribution of II candidate Willie Cartons votes. Mark Wall (Lab) gets a small bump. Anthony Casey of the Irish Freedom Party bows out with 1362 and his votes will now be distributed. 10am First count in Kildare North. James Lawless tops the poll with 8734 first preference votes. Quota is 9505. Sean Gill (The Centre Party) and Avril Corcoran (Irish People) have been eliminated. 9.50am Set to have announcement in Kildare North shortly. 9.15am So, here is a recap of where we are. Patricia Byrne has been eliminated in Kildare South and her vote is now being distributed. Martin Heydon has topped the poll with over 9,000 but has yet to reach quota. It seems the remaining two seats will be filled by either Fiona OLoughlin (FF), Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh (SF) or Mark Wall (Lab) with the latter having the most to do. Over in Kildare North, we are still waiting a first count as it was unexpectedly suspended at 10pm. Minister James Lawless (FF) looks set to top the poll with cllr Aidan Farrelly (SD) and Deputy Reada Cronin (SF) on course to claim seats based on tally figures. It gets interesting after that with cllrs Naoise O Cearuil (FF) and Joe Neville (FG) in position for the last two seats but veteran TD Bernard Durkan still in the hunt. There are a trio of candidates further back, Angela Feeney (Lab), Evie Sammon (FG) and Bill Clear (Ind) and you cant rule out a prospect that one of them proves transfer friendly to put them in the frame. Saturday 11.44pm Count 5 in Kildare South and outgoing TD Patricia Byrne has been eliminated with 762 votes. Counting will resume in the morning at 9am. We are going to bid good night and see you all in the morning. 11.00pm The next count in Kildare South will be the final one of the night. It looks like Patricia Ryan, who topped the poll in 2020, will be eliminated. 10.48pm Fourth count in Kildare South with the distribution of Tom McDonnells 534 votes. Doesnt move the needle much. Green Partys Monaa K Sood has been eliminated on 618 votes. Her votes will now be distributed. 10.40pm No clear word on what has happened in Kildare North but it appears a pretty significant issue has arisen. Count staff in Kildare North are still working despite the announcement that the count had been suspended. 10.05pm This is mad. Kildare North count has been suspended until tomorrow morning. No first count tonight. 10.02pm Third count in Kildare South and cllr Tom McDonnell, who garnered national headlines when he was elected in the local elections earlier this year, had been eliminated. His 534 votes will now be distributed. 9.45pm Fine Gaels Martin Heydon is delighted at topping the poll for Kildare South at this years general election. He said: It's a lovely feeling to top the poll again. I topped it in 2011 and 2016 and I won the second seat last time. It won't happen tonight, but tomorrow I will be elected for four terms. If someone had told me that back when I first was elected at 32 years of age, I would have never believed it. In a way, when you serve for a while, it's nearly more satisfying than the first time, because the first time they're taking a chance on you, and at this time you really feel they're voting based on your track record. Theres no greater feeling in politics. 9.30pm Our reporter Finian Coghlan has a bit of analysis of the first count here in Kildare South. The man in the sweating seat in this three-seater is Senator Mark Wall (Lab) on 6,654 votes, a troublesome 587 behind the last seat of ORaghallaigh. 9.10pm Count 2 in Kildare South, the distribution of ONeill and Dorans combined 275 votes. People Before Profits Rob Cosgrave is eliminated and his 505 votes will now be distributed. No sign yet of a Kildare North vote. 8.35pm First count in Kildare South. Quota is 10,734. Martin Heydon tops the poll with 9,262 followed by Fiona OLoughlin (7489), Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh (7241), Mark Wall (6654). Other notables include Chris Pender (3157), Cathal Berry (3007). Outgoing TD Patricia Ryan gets 678 votes. Independent Leanne ONeill and Edel Doran of Independent Ireland have been eliminated and their surplus will now be distributed. 8.15pm Weighing the vote bundles in Punchestown Photo: Aisling Hyland 7.59pm Senator Mark Wall with wife Michelle 7.50pm I think its fair to say that a first count may not have been as imminent as we thought! 7.10pm First results expected imminently 7.05pm As people went to the polls yesterday, Kildare North poll topper James Lawless went to see Gladiator II. The outgoing minister of state gave his review. "It was enjoyable, not as good as the first one. I was hoping to see Conclave but times didn't suit! Paul Mescal in it gives an extra interest!" He added: The dream of Rome... the dream of North Kildare! To keep his mind off things, he also did the Parkrun in Naas this morning! 6.35pm Martin Heydon has entered the count hall with his family a short while ago. Looking happy and deservedly so. Bit of chat that the tally figures may not be entirely accurate and some candidates may get a bump that could alter the picture. 6pm Adjudication on doubtful votes for both Kildare South and Kildare North will now take place Fianna Fail in the hunt for a second seat in Kildare North with James Lawless and Naoise OCearuill However Fiona OLoughlin on Kildare South - a key target gain- is in a 3 way scrap for two seats with Sinn Feins Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh & Labours Mark Wall Barry Lenihan (@BarryLenihan) November 30, 2024 5.25pm Bit of a lull here after the tallies but it seems a first count result for either Kildare North and Kildare South is still some way off. There still hasnt been the adjudication of spoiled votes which normally takes a bit of time. 5.06pm So here is the lay of the land in Kildare South, Martin Heydon will top the poll for Fine Gael followed by Senator Fiona OLoughlin. Sinn Feins Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh has performed remarkably well and is in third with Mark Wall of Labour currently outside the last seat. It seems unlikely that Independent TD Cathal Berry can stay in the hunt while outgoing TD Patricia Ryan will not be re-elected. Transfers, of course, will be crucial to determining the final outcome. 5.00pm Fianna Fails, James Lawless, in the lead on final tally before the first count, with Social Democrats Aidan Farrelly and Sinn Feins Reada Cronin close behind. As it stands, Fianna Fails Naoise O Cearuil is in place for the fourth seat. It could possibly be a battle between Fine Gaels Joe Neville and Bernard Durkan for a seat with both very close in numbers. 4.40pm Final tally Kildare North James Lawless FF 8350 Aidan Farrelly SD 7116 Reada Cronin SF 6426 Naoise O Cearuil - FF- 5581 Joe Neville FG 5145 Bernard Durkan FG 4463 Angela Feeney Lab 3211 Evie Sammon FG 2928 Bill Clear Ind - 2812 Una OConnor - Aon 2034 Vincent P. Martin GP 1957 Gerry Waters IFP 1193 Caroline Hogan SF 1181 Leah Whelan PBP-S 1062 Avril Corcoran TIP 533 Sean Gill CPI - 72 4.35pm Quota expected to be around 10,000 in Kildare South 4.30pm The final tally in Kildare North 3.30pm Sinn Fein very happy with Ni Raghallaigh performance in Kildare South. In Kildare North, talk that Fianna Fail could get a second seat with Naoise O Cearuil doing well and potentially transfer-friendly while James Lawless will top the poll. 3.18pm Final tally Kildare South Cathal Berry Ind 2814 Melissa Byrne Aon 1572 Willie Carton II 906 Anthony Casey IFP 868 Rob Cosgrave PBP-Sol 467 Edel Doran II 131 Martin Heydon 8655 Tom McDonnell 477 Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh SF 6807 Fiona OLoughlin FF 7003 Leanne ONeill Ind 159 Chris Pender SD 2922 Patricia Ryan Ind 655 Moona k Sood GP 535 Mark Wall Lab 6393 3.05pm Final tally figure for Kildare South 2.45pm Tally figures for Kildare South of 85 per cent of boxes 2.33pm With 70 per cent of the boxes tallied in Kildare North, James Lawless is leading with 6,200 votes for Fianna Fail with Aidan Farrelly of the Social Democrats on 5157. Sinn Feins Reada Cronin sits at 4672 with cllrs Joe Neville and Naoise O Cearuil both at around 3900. Fine Gael's Bernard Durkan is further back at 3,367 while Evie Sammon of Fine Gael and former Social Democrat Bill Clear are at 2200 and 2086 respectively. 2.30pm 80 per cent of vote tallied in Kildare South. Martin Heydon on 7,000. Mark Wall, Fiona OLoughlin and Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh all around the 5400-5500. Ni Raghallaigh strong showing has surprised some while Wall appears to have increased his vote from 2020. Cathal Berry is back at over 2,000 while former Sinn Fein TD Patrica Ryan is further adrift. 2.10pm In Kildare North, with 60 per cent of boxes tallied, Fianna Fails James Lawless is leading the way with 5,200 votes. Social Democrats Aidan Farrelly will also be very pleased with his showing so far with 4,500 votes. Sinn Fein Reada Cronin stands at 4,00 votes with Fine Gaels Joe Neville and Naoise OCearuil of Fianna Fail at 3,700 and 3,300 votes respectively. Veteran Fine Gael TD Bernard Durkan has 2,900 in this five-seater. 2pm Count staff working away 1.55pm The first count is going to get underway shortly in both constituencies with ballots being sorted 1.50pm 60 per cent of boxes tallied in Kildare South. Heydon very strong at over 6,000 votes. Mark Wall of Labour also doing very well at 4,400 followed by Fianna Fails Fiona OLoughlin (4,200) and Sinn Feins Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh (4,100). Outgoing TD is Cathal Berry at 1,900 while Patricia Ryan who topped the poll is currently at 295 votes. KILDARE SOUTH, 43pc of boxes tallied Martin Heydon (FG) 26pc Fiona OLoughlin (FF) 16pc Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh (SF) 15.8pc Mark Wall (LAB) 14.2pc Cathal Berry (IND) 6.8pc Chris Pender (SD) 6.7pc@irishtimes #ge24 Fiachra Gallagher (@fiachragllagher) November 30, 2024 State of play in KILDARE NORTH with 42pc of boxes tallied Joe Neville (FG) 15.1pc Aidan Farrelly (SD) 14.9pc Reada Cronin (SF) 12.2pc Naoise O Cearuil (FF) 11.6pc James Lawless (FF) 11.4pc Bernard Durkan (FG) 8.9pc@irishtimes #ge24 Fiachra Gallagher (@fiachragllagher) November 30, 2024 1.11pm Incomplete tally figures in Kildare South show Martin Heydon leading the pack with over 5000 votes. Sinn Feins Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh and Senator Fiona OLoughlin of Fianna Fail are following behind with a little over 3600 votes and Mark Wall of Labour over 3500. Independent Cathal Berry stood at 1482 vote in this early tally and Sinn Fein TD Patricia Ryan are polling in the hundreds but youd imagine many boxes favourable to the pair have yet to be opened. 1pm First counts have yet to start here in Punchestown. Incomplete tally figures have been emerging which show Sinn Fein and Labour doing well in Kildare South. Long way to go yet. Sustainable farming and food supply chains are an ever-growing topic in the agri world, and a young researcher from Kilkenny is at the forefront of supporting farmers in their endeavours. Niamh Dunphy (right), from Hugginstown, is a PhD student with UCD and Teagasc, where she is researching how farmers are engaging with climate change. Earlier this year Niamh was also part of an Irish delegation that took part in a European conference, and showcased the work that is being done in Ireland. Niamh Dunphy speaking at the World Food Forum in Rome A proud Kilkenny woman, Niamh represented Ireland at the World Food Forum in Rome - a long way from her days at Newmarket primary school and the Presentation Secondary School in Kilkenny City. Niamh is now a PhD student on the Agricultural Innovation Support programme in UCD and Teagasc. She is researching the critical role of farmers in addressing climate change - what they are looking into and how often they talk about it. Specialising in the intersection of agriculture and environmental policy, Niamh focuses on farmers engagement in conversations about climate change and their behaviour around implementing climate mitigation strategies on their farms. Her work seeks to highlight the social, economic, and cultural factors that influence farmers decisions to adopt sustainable practices and contribute to broader environmental goals in reducing GHG emissions from food production. World Food Forum The World Food Forum was launched by the UN in 2020 and Ireland is one of just six countries that have already set up a national chapter. In April Niamh attended the National Youth Food Forum, in Dublin, and following that was chosen to attend the World Food Forum as one of four Irish delegates. More than 150 countries took part and were invited to attend an Irish-hosted side event that showcased the National Youth Food Forum. The group also hosted Irish Ambassador to Rome, Patricia OBrien, who gave a talk to delegates. Niamh relished the opportunity to meet delegates from around the world and attend talks and events that she described as eye opening. Ireland has its own issues, she said, but the forum showed her how lucky we are in this country. For example, she said, there is a focus here on water quality issues, but in Nepal they dont even have the water supply to have quality issues. If they plant crops and it doesnt rain, the seeds wont even germinate. Another interesting area of the forum was the subject of food waste - each person wastes 110kg of food a year, Niamh learned. There is a disconnect between consumers and the effort required of the earth to grow the food, she said. The Irish Department of Agriculture gave substantial funding support to the Forum this year, enabling more than 150 delegates to attend from other countries, and that generosity was acknowledged by people who met Niamh and the other members of the Irish delegation. Niamh said that meeting young people from across the globe, who are all working towards one thing, and seeing the potential they have, together, to save the planet, was refreshing. Core farmer concerns will be central to the upcoming ICMSA AGM. The Associations President, Kilkenny farmer Denis Drennan, said that the message he is getting back strongly from members attending the area and county meetings, is the need to focus strongly on core farmer concerns. The ICMSA annual general meeting is to be held on December 2, in the Clare Radisson outside Limerick. Farmer feedback Mr. Drennan said that with the feedback of members in mind, the agenda and tone of the AGM is going to be for farmers, by farmers with political and non-farming input to be kept to a minimum for 2024. Its time that we heard from those individuals and organisations charged with directly developing and strategising for the Irish farm sector and the wider agri-food sector. Conor Galvin, Chief Executive of Ornua, will speak on the dairy market outlook and whether well see the recent rally carry through to Peak Production in 2025 and beyond. We also expect to hear what Ornuas plans are in the event of the introduction of the tariffs threatened by the incoming Trump Administration, said Mr Drennan. Brendan Gleeson, Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine has kindly accepted our invitation to speak to the AGM and his theme is Key Farm Policy Issues to 2030?, where he will outline what the Department believe will be the key policy changes facing Irish farmers over the next six years. Questions and Answers Its also fair to say that theres a lot of farmers with questions about the efficacy and relevance of Bord Bias schemes and we are confident that Jim OToole, Bord Bia Chief Executive will be able to field those and throw some light on some of the more controversial areas, Mr Drennan said. Theres so much to get through and we greatly value our tradition of robust and businesslike Q & A of speakers while extending to them all the respect and welcome that they deserve. The venue is excellent, and Id urge our great Kilkenny members to travel if possible and join us and participate in what promises to be another great ICMSA event. Ring or email to 061-314677 or info@icmsa.ie and indicate intention to attend because the numbers will be capped, said Mr Drennan. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. KYODO NEWS - Dec 1, 2024 - 09:00 | World, All, Japan Japan plans to provide defense equipment to the Philippines, Indonesia, Mongolia and Djibouti under its official security assistance to the armed forces of like-minded countries that share its values, a government source said Saturday. The four countries have been designated as the recipients of the OSA grant aid for fiscal 2024 through March next year, with Japan earmarking 5 billion yen ($33 million) in its initial budget for the current fiscal year, the source said. Tokyo launched the OSA in April 2023 to help recipient countries ramp up their defense capabilities amid security concerns like China's growing military assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region. According to the source, Japan plans to provide the Philippines with radar to help the Southeast Asian country deal with China's expanding military presence in the South China Sea. Philippine vessels have been encountering Beijing's repeated aggressive actions in the South China Sea, where there are overlapping territorial claims among countries such as the Philippines and China. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea. Last year, the Japanese government decided to provide Manila with a coastal surveillance radar system under the new grant aid program. The Philippines had been designated as an OSA recipient for fiscal 2023 along with Malaysia, Bangladesh and Fiji. Mongolia, bordering China and Russia, is expected to be given air traffic control equipment, while Indonesia and Djibouti could receive equipment, possibly vessels, to ensure their maritime security, the source said. Related coverage: U.S. to deploy missile units to Japan islands in Taiwan contingency U.S.-led Indo-Pacific clean, fair economy deals take effect China, ASEAN commit to upgrade free trade pact amid maritime tensions KYODO NEWS - Dec 1, 2024 - 13:16 | All, Japan The vehicle carrying Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba rear-ended a police car Sunday in Tottori Prefecture, western Japan. Ishiba was not injured, according to government officials. At around 10:30 a.m. the prime minister's vehicle apparently hit the security police car that had stopped for a red light at an intersection. The motorcade remained at the scene for several minutes before continuing to Tottori airport, from where the prime minister returned to Tokyo. In Tottori, his hometown, Ishiba visited the grave of his parents and also stopped by his birthplace. By Park Han-sol The controversial webtoon, Get Schooled, criticized for episodes promoting racism, misogyny and corporal punishment in classrooms, is officially getting its drama adaptation. Kim Moo-yul, known for his roles in Sweet Home 2 and The Roundup: Punishment, is set to star as the lead. The drama will be directed by Hong Jong-chan, who helmed the Netflix courtroom hit, Juvenile Justice, with a script penned by Lee Nam-kyu, the writer behind the medical comedy-drama, Daily Dose of Sunshine. Filming is slated to begin in the first half of next year, according to production companies YLAB Plex and GTist. Originally serialized as a webcomic in 2020, Get Schooled delves into the state of Korean schools following a ban on corporal punishment, highlighting how teachers' ability to maintain discipline in classrooms has weakened. This breakdown leads to the creation of a fictional government bureau, the Teachers' Rights Protection Agency, whose officers are sent to troubled schools to restore discipline and order, often resorting to violence. The series quickly rose to prominence in Korea and has since been published in seven countries, including the U.S., France, Japan and China. However, it has drawn sharp criticism for its villification of racial minorities and women in several episodes. Episode 42 of the webtoon features a government agent physically assaulting a female teacher for introducing feminist ideas to her students, while in Episode 125, a biracial white teacher hurls an explicit racial slur at a biracial Black delinquent. The controversy came to a head in September last year, prompting Naver Webtoon to remove the series from its North American platform. The production team vowed to address these issues in the drama adaptation. We are aware of the criticism and concerns surrounding certain episodes of the original work, Hong said. We will strive to create a drama with a sense of responsibility and a refined perspective. Kim, the actor, shared his reasons for joining the project, stating, I felt this story could spark conversations about the current state of education (in Korea) and the discrimination and injustice within it. I also have great trust in director Hongs ability to approach challenging topics with conviction, as seen in Juvenile Justice. Last month, The Fiery Priest star Kim Nam-gil was rumored to be in talks for the lead role. However, the webcomics discriminatory content sparked swift backlash from his fans. At The Fiery Priest 2 press conference on Nov. 8, the actor effectively confirmed his decision to pass on the role. If a project makes many people uncomfortable, then I believe its best not to partake in it, he said. Contract termination remains uncertain; large financial penalties could be reduced; even with a win, group may lose name By KTimes Girl group NewJeans shocked the K-pop world by holding a late-night press conference on Thursday to unilaterally announce the termination of its exclusive contract with its agency, Ador. The move, described by the group as unprecedented, left the industry reeling. Observers had anticipated a simpler course of action, such as filing an injunction to suspend the contracts validity. Ador, a sublabel of HYBE, countered with a firm stance, saying, We have not violated the contract, and the exclusive agreement remains valid until July 31, 2029, as stated in the original documents. NewJeans says that Adors contract breaches have already nullified the agreement, meaning there is no need for legal injunctions or penalty payments. Regarding the trademark for the group name NewJeans, owned by Ador, the group declared, We have no intention of abandoning this name, which holds all the meaning weve built since we first came together. We will fight to secure our rights to it. The matter is now expected to be decided in court following Adors legal actions. Why did NewJeans hold a late-night press conference? NewJeans chose to announce the termination of its contract instead of filing an injunction. Legal experts suggest this strategy allows the group to continue working while legal proceedings continue, as opposed to the operational freeze typically imposed during injunction cases. In the Thursday press conference, the group said, As of the 29th, we are no longer part of Ador and will act freely moving forward. Critics have questioned whether a group can unilaterally terminate a contract with the agency that nurtured and supported them. Legal experts generally agree that artists can notify their agencies of contract termination, even if it is uncommon. Lee Hyun-gon, an attorney at Saeol Law Office, said, While it is rare for the weaker party in a hierarchical relationship to initiate termination, there is no legal basis that limits this right to the stronger party. Roh Jong-eon, an attorney at Jone Law Firm, said that the termination takes effect from the moment it is notified and applies retroactively depending on the lawsuit's outcome. Choosing not to file for an injunction indicates confidence in winning any potential lawsuit ADOR might file to confirm the validity of the contract, Roh said. Some in the industry interpret the timing of the press conference before Adors deadline to respond to a notice of correction as a move to immediately destabilize the contracts validity and prevent the agency from exercising its authority over activities like advertising and broadcasting. Can NewJeans truly free themselves from Ador? Exclusive contracts between agencies and artists can only be terminated under specific circumstances. Lawyer Roh says, If the relationship of trust is irreparably broken, the contract can be terminated regardless of who is at fault. Based on current information, theres a strong case for termination. NewJeans claims it faced unfair treatment from Ador, citing a HYBE internal document allegedly referring to plans to abandon NewJeans and start fresh. Roh suggests that such language could be deemed a severe breach of the agencys duty to protect its artists. Others believe proving Adors breach will be challenging. Ko Sang-rok, an attorney at PIL Law Firm, said, The six demands NewJeans made, including the reinstatement of former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin and an apology for disrespecting member Hanni, may not constitute sufficient grounds for termination unless evidence clearly establishes Adors responsibility. Are penalty payments and the NewJeans name at stake? NewJeans asserts that it owes no penalties due to Adors alleged breaches. Legal experts agree this depends on proving Adors culpability. Even if NewJeans is found liable for breaking the contract, the reported penalty range of 400 billion to 600 billion won ($300 million to $450 million) may not be fully enforced. Lawyer Roh said, Courts often reduce penalties deemed excessive. As for the group name, it likely belongs to Ador unless the contract specifies otherwise. Lawyer Ko said, Even if NewJeans wins the case, it would find it difficult to secure trademark rights unless a specific clause grants them ownership. How might Ador respond, what could this mean for K-pop? Ador has refrained from commenting on its next steps. Industry insiders speculate that Ador may pursue a confirmation lawsuit regarding the contract or seek injunctions to prohibit NewJeans from engaging in independent activities. Given previous allegations of Ador's power struggle with former CEO Min, there is speculation that Ador will focus on proving her involvement in NewJeans decision. HYBE has previously accused former CEO Min of attempting to seize control of Ador. This has fueled speculation that Min may have been involved in NewJeans' decision to terminate its contract. Aware of these allegations, NewJeans clarified during its press conference, We have not discussed the contract termination with former CEO Min. Legal experts suggest that if direct evidence emerges showing Mins involvement in NewJeans activities after she departure from Ador, it could lead to a lawsuit for tampering, defined as third-party interference during a contract period. However, attorney Roh said, It would be difficult to prove tampering solely based on conversations between NewJeans and Min. Concrete evidence of plans and actions would be necessary. Conversely, lawyer Ko highlighted that even without direct evidence, the sequence of events Mins resignation from Ador and NewJeans' contract termination could negatively influence the case. Such developments could be viewed unfavorably in court, even if tampering cannot be definitively proven, Ko said. The industry remains cautious, fearing NewJeans' unilateral contract termination claim could set a precedent for others to exploit and pursue independent careers. An executive at a major K-pop agency said, A favorable ruling for NewJeans would heighten risks for agencies investing heavily in artists, potentially discouraging future investments and altering the contractual dynamics between agencies and artists. An industry insider said that while the NewJeans situation is regrettable, a unilateral contract termination without going through legal procedures is hard to justify. "Once a precedent is set, there is a concern that others might attempt to nullify legitimate exclusive contracts and engage in tampering to suit their own interests," he said. This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times. By Yi Whan-woo Shareholders of K-pop powerhouse HYBE are dissatisfied with the companys management style after NewJeans announced it would end its contract with Ador, a HYBE sub-label. The announcement was made unexpectedly on Thursday evening, following a prolonged dispute between HYBE and former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin, the creator of NewJeans, over who should have management rights of the internationally popular girl group's agency. HYBE slid 4.08 percent to close at 195,200 won on the benchmark KOSPI on Friday, marking a two-day losing streak, following NewJeans announcement in protest of Mins dismissal as Ador CEO. During intraday trading on Friday, the company dipped as low as 189,300 won, the lowest level in more than three weeks. I cant believe HYBE is a publicly-traded company, considering investors hear about news that can affect its stock price from media, not through official disclosure made by the company, a user said in a chatroom of HYBE investors. They pointed out that the feud between HYBE and Min has been ongoing for months, while investors are left blind concerning relevant information. Another user partly criticized NewJeans for being immature and reckless for making the abrupt, one-sided announcement, saying they make up a significant portion of HYBEs sales. Nevertheless, it is HYBE that should ultimately take the blame for the tumble in stock price, the user said, noting that NewJeans members are in their teens or early 20s. They added, They are too young to judge how their words can affect the stock price, and I must say HYBE is simply unprofessional in taking care of its artists." Korea's exports extended on-year gains to the 14th straight month in November, data showed Sunday, on the back of the strong performance of chips. Outbound shipments rose 1.4 percent from a year earlier to $56.3 billion last month, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Imports shed 2.4 percent on-year to $50.7 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $5.61 billion. Korea has been maintaining a trade surplus for 18 consecutive months. By sector, exports of semiconductors shot up 30.8 percent to hit $12.5 billion, marking the highest amount for any November. It was also the fourth consecutive month the country has set a new monthly high for chip exports. The ministry attributed the growth to premium models, including high-bandwidth memory chips. Outbound shipments of automobiles, on the other hand, tumbled 13.6 percent on-year to $5.6 billion, due to production disruptions following major auto parts makers' strike in November. The ministry added that weather conditions also hindered shipments of automobiles late last month. Exports of petroleum and petrochemical products dipped 18.7 percent and 5.6 percent, respectively, due to falling crude prices. The biohealth sector logged 19.6 percent on-year growth to $1.4 billion, maintaining growth for five straight months. Exports of ships spiked 70.8 percent on-year to $2.5 billion. Exports of batteries decreased 26.3 percent to $658 million due to weaker global demand for electric vehicles. By destination, exports to China, the top trading partner, edged down 0.6 percent to $11.28 billion, as weaker consumer sentiment in Asia's top economy led to sluggish demand for mobile devices. Exports to the United States fell 5.1 percent to $10.39 billion due to losses in the automobile and machinery sectors, although shipments of semiconductors gained ground on strong demand from the data center and cloud computing industries. Outbound shipments to Southeast Asian nations edged up 0.4 percent, supported by chip exports, and those to the European Union increased 0.9 percent, driven by higher demand for biohealth products and ships. "In November, there were unexpected hurdles in exports, including the strike by auto parts makers, which led to decreased car production, and weather conditions that disrupted shipments," Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun said in a statement. "However, Korea has been able to maintain export growth for 14 straight months, along with 18 consecutive months of trade surplus, thanks to the strong performance of key items, including chips and ships," Ahn added. Over the January-November period, South Korea's exports shot up 8.3 percent on-year to $622.2 billion, compared to the 7.4 percent decrease recorded for all of 2023. (Yonhap) Russia's Defense Minister Andrei Belousov has left Pyongyang after a two-day visit during which he met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the North's state media reported Sunday. Belousov and a Russian defense ministry delegation he led departed Pyongyang the previous day via Pyongyang Sunan International Airport after visiting the Liberation Tower and Mangyongdae in the capital earlier in the day, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. The Russian minister arrived in the North Korean capital on Friday for high-level talks with North Korean military officials, amid deepening military cooperation between the two countries. On Friday, he met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who expressed support for Russia's war against Ukraine. The KCNA said that Belousov and his delegation visited the Liberation Tower in Pyongyang's Moranbong area on Saturday, where they laid flowers before departing the North Korean capital. The monument was established in 1946 to honor Russian soldiers who died fighting for North Korea's liberation from the Japanese colonial rule during World War II. The Russian minister also visited Mangyongdae, the birthplace of North Korea founder Kim Il-sung, where he wrote in a guest book his wishes for "welfare and peace" for North Koreans and a "grand victory" for North Korea's efforts to build a powerful nation, according to the KCNA. North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang-chol and Jong Kyong-thaek, director of the military's General Political Bureau, sent the Russian delegation off at the airport, it said. North Korea and Russia have been bolstering military cooperation under a major defense treaty signed in June that calls for providing military assistance "without delay" if either side comes under attack. North Korea deployed thousands of troops to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine, with South Korea and the United States assessing that some of them already entered combat. No mention of an agreement has been made by North Korea in connection with the latest visit by the Russian delegation, but the two sides are expected to have discussed a potential increase in North Korea's arms transfers or troop deployments for Russia and the rewards it would receive from Russia in return. (Yonhap) By Kim Hyun-bin Approximately 70 percent of North Korean wigs, destined for exports to generate much-needed cash, are produced through forced labor by women in correctional facilities, according to a recent report released by the Citizens' Alliance for North Korean Human Rights. The report, titled "Made in China: How Global Supply Chains Fuel Slavery in North Koreas Prison Camps," exposes the harsh conditions at Chongori Kyowaso (Correctional Camp) No. 12 in North Hamgyong Province, where many repatriated female defectors are detained. The findings are based on testimonies from around 30 sources, including defectors who were imprisoned at Chongori, as well as former North Korean prosecutors, police officers, State Security Department agents, and customs officers. Chongori camp, originally established to house male criminals, became a predominantly female facility after a large number of defectors were repatriated from China around the time of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Currently, women make up 80 percent of the camp's population. The camp holds an average of 1,000 female inmates annually and operates around 10 production work teams. Inmates are subjected to beatings, illegal executions, and hazardous working conditions, resulting in an annual mortality rate of 25 percent due to inadequate food and medical care, according to the report. North Koreas state-run trading companies, which have export permits, partner with Chinese firms through the Rason Special Economic Zone near the province. These companies outsource the production of export goods such as wigs, artificial eyelashes and reed bags to the correctional facilities. "Raw materials supplied from China are produced through forced labor of prisoners, and finished products are laundered as 'made in China' through Beijing's outward processing trade system, thereby avoiding international sanctions while being distributed to the global market," the report stated. It is estimated that female inmates at Chongori produce about 9,000 wigs annually. Data from Chinas General Administration of Customs indicates that in 2020 and 2021, Chongoris wig production accounted for 42 percent and 71 percent of North Koreas wig exports to China, respectively. The report estimates that forced labor at Chongori generated roughly $1.2 million in revenues for the North Korean regime from 2016 to August 2024. "The cooperation between North Korea and China, which involves targeting, arresting, transferring, and imprisoning North Korean women in China for forced labor to pursue economic gains, contains elements of slave trade or state-sponsored human trafficking," the report said. Korea's disease control agency on Sunday said it has newly designated 66 rare diseases subject to government support this year, officials said. This brings to 1,314 the total number of rare diseases under state supervision, up from 1,248 last year, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Once designated, the medical fees for patients with a rare disease are reduced to about 10 percent of total expenses under the National Health Insurance Service policy, which reduces costs for diseases that require expensive or long-term treatment. Rare diseases refer to diseases with less than 20,000 patients in the country, or those with an unknown amount of patients due to difficulty in diagnosis. The government designates and proclaims newly added rare diseases up for government support each year under the Rare Disease Management Act. In 2022, the total number of newly added rare disease patients was tallied at 54,952. (Yonhap) Issues over visa rules, license compatibility, language have led to decision: ministry By Jung Min-ho Koreas central government concluded that it would not accept Seoul city officials' request to allow foreign nationals to drive "village buses" in the capital, the labor ministry said Sunday. The ministry's spokesperson told The Korea Times that it concluded that hiring foreign drivers would be unfeasible under the current law as many issues regarding visa rules, license compatibility and Korean-language abilities are expected to arise. The ministry plans to send its decision to the Office for Government Policy Coordination this week, the spokesperson said. This comes after the city asked the central government to issue E-9 nonprofessional employment visas for non-Korean drivers so that they can work in the city as drivers for village buses, which run within or between neighborhoods in the city on short routes. The city authorities said introducing such a policy would be essential to sustaining the industry, which has been hit hard by labor shortages in recent years. First and foremost, there is an issue over whether such foreign workers can fall in that visa category as nonprofessional workers, the ministry spokesperson said. You need at least one year of experience of driving after earning a Class 1 heavy vehicle license to work as a village bus driver. Considering the conditions required, it may not be possible to permit them to apply for E-9 visas without changing the rules that disallow skilled people from getting that type of visa. Moreover, there is a problem with license compatibility. E-9 visas are approved for foreign workers before they enter Korea. For them to work immediately, their bus licenses need to be recognized here, which could be challenging without revising relevant laws and rules in advance. Another issue is their language skills. Driving a bus requires a good ability to communicate with passengers in Korean as they might ask questions under hectic circumstances, the spokesperson said, adding that importing foreign drivers could only be considered a longer-term project for now. Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo has also expressed such concerns. Speaking to reporters at an event on Nov. 22, he said bus drivers should be able to communicate with passengers fluently and that it would be difficult to categorize them as nonprofessional workers. Also known as maeul buses, village buses operate on short routes, connecting passengers to major bus stops and subway stations. But for many drivers, working at a maeul bus firm is deemed as a stepping stone to employment at larger, better-paying bus companies, which contributes to the particularly acute driver shortage faced by village bus operators. Amid reports about the city governments plan, major labor groups have shown mixed reactions. The Korea Automobile and Transport Workers Federation, a group under the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, one of the countrys two largest umbrella unions, expressed its strong objection. But the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the other major umbrella union, told The Korea Times that it was not opposed to the proposal as long as the government treats them equally to Korean workers. The bus driver proposal follows the city government program of hiring 100 Filipino workers as caregivers. The central and local governments plan to expand that program as a national project next year, aiming to expand the number to 1,200 in collaboration with more partner countries. Prosecutors seek seven-year prison sentence for two suspects respectively By KTimes A nightclub manager accused of extorting 300 million won ($230,000) from the late actor Lee Sun-kyun claimed innocence during her final court statement, insisting she was also a victim. She alleged that her co-defendant, a former actress, manipulated her through a "dual-role act" to carry out the crime. Prosecutors, however, requested a seven-year prison sentence for both defendants, citing the calculated and egregious nature of their offenses. The trial, presided over by Judge Hong Eun-sook at Incheon District Court on Nov. 25, involved nightclub manager A (30, female) and former actress B (29, female), both facing charges of blackmail. A was indicted for contacting Lee in September last year and claiming her phone had been hacked and that she was being blackmailed. Under this pretense, she requested 300 million won in hush money from the actor. Separately, B was accused of demanding an additional 100 million won from Lee and successfully extorting 50 million won. Lee, who had been under police investigation for drug-related charges, passed away in December last year. During the trial, As defense argued that B had manipulated A through psychological domination, known as gaslighting, forcing her to act as an intermediary in the extortion. The defense described A as a victim of Bs one-person, dual-role scheme, claiming that A, unaware of Bs true intentions, had coerced and intimidated A into compliance. The two women, who became close while serving prison sentences and lived together starting in September 2022, had a seemingly familial relationship. However, investigations revealed B used her knowledge of As drug use and social connections with celebrities to exploit her. B allegedly posed as a hacker threatening to expose Lee's private life while pretending to support A as a confidant. 'Severe and deliberate crimes' In her final statement, A tearfully said, I wanted to protect him and end the threats quickly by paying off the blackmailer. I cared deeply for him and never intended to blackmail him. She also admitted to sending messages to Lee demanding money under Bs guidance, despite suspecting Bs involvement as the blackmailer. Prosecutors said As claim of merely relaying demands does not absolve her of guilt, citing precedents where similar cases resulted in convictions. They emphasized As calculated actions, such as purchasing a burner phone, describing her crimes as severe and deliberate. They requested a seven-year prison sentence for both defendants. While B admitted most charges during the trial, her defense requested leniency, noting her remorse and cooperation during the investigation. The court will announce its ruling on Dec. 19. This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times. KYODO NEWS - Dec 1, 2024 - 08:47 | All, Japan, Travel/Tourism Over 30 percent of foreign tourists to Japan experienced problems associated with overtourism during their trips in 2024 and more than 60 percent said they are willing to accept higher charges as a way to ease congestion and protect natural and cultural resources, according to a recent survey. The survey of 7,796 foreigners about their travel plans and experiences, jointly conducted by the Development Bank of Japan and the Japan Travel Bureau Foundation and released in October, found that congestion of tourist destinations was the most common problem, with 32 percent of respondents saying they experienced it during their stay. The result compares to 30 percent in the 2019 survey conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic. The second most popular response in the multiple answer question was bad manners such as littering and entering restricted areas. In the survey conducted online from July 8 to July 18 on individuals aged 20 to 79 across Asia, Britain, France, the United States and Australia, 63 percent said they would accept higher charges at tourist destinations and other facilities in Japan if they would help ease congestion and protect those cites, up from 43 percent in 2019. The survey also showed the potential of rural tourism, with 97 percent of respondents who have visited or plan to visit Japan expressing interest in going to regional areas of Japan but less than 10 percent of them having actually traveled to such places. Among those who have plans to visit Japan, 72 percent want to see the upcoming 2025 World Expo in Osaka. Of those wanting to see the event, 42 percent said the expo will be the main reason for their travel to Japan. Related coverage: Mt. Fuji photo spot to get new fences to curb jaywalking Japan to revise duty-free rules, refund consumption tax on return Japan sees foreign visitors top 30 mil. in Jan.-Oct. at fastest pace Offenders walk free, victims bear burden as justice falters Editors note This article is the first in a three-part series on deepfake sex crimes at schools. The crimes, involving the manipulation of photos and videos to create explicit content, cause distrust and strain relationships between students, and sometimes between pupils and teachers. The series has been produced in collaboration with Excellence Lab, a team dedicated to investigative journalism at The Hankook Ilbo, the sister paper of The Korea Times. All the names of people involved in the actual deepfake cases in the article are aliases. ED. By Jung Da-hyun Lee Min-ji, a 17-year-old high school student in Osan, Gyeonggi Province, used to love dancing and performing on stage. She, however, abandoned her dream of becoming a dancer after becoming a victim of a deepfake sex crime. The nightmare began in February when she received a direct message on Instagram from an unknown "informant." The anonymous sender said explicit images of her were being distributed in a Telegram chatroom. To gain her trust, the person provided details about the offender, who created the images, and even shared the explicit images. The offender was Kim Ki-tae, an alumnus from her elementary school, who now attends a different high school in the city. Shocked and terrified, she turned to her parents for help. Without hesitation, they reported the case to the police, hoping for swift action to stop the spread of the images and protect their daughter from further harm. But the message was only the beginning, as the manipulated images of her spread rapidly. They live in a relatively new community in Osan, south of Seoul, where many families settled around the same time. This shared timeline allowed children to grow up together, forming strong friendships that began in kindergarten. As news of the deepfake images spread, other parents, including one who had moved to a different city, reached out to Lee's mother, voicing their concern for both her daughter and their family. "I even thought those pictures must have spread all over the country by now," the mother told The Korea Times. What happened to the offender only deepened the victims suffering, leading to a more painful situation. Song Ji-yeon, a close friend of Lee who had attended high school with the perpetrator, struggled to contain her anger as Kim continued to attend school as if nothing had happened. When a mutual friend brought up the deepfake images, Song confronted the perpetrator, angrily using harsh words and cursing at him. In May, after learning about the confrontation, Kim reported Song to the school authorities for bullying. The school's violence committee upheld the claim, classifying Song's actions as school violence and sentencing her to four hours of community service. In that moment, the offender who should have faced strict punishment for the deepfake crime was suddenly portrayed as a victim of school violence. This shift left the true victim and her friend feeling even more isolated and powerless. At the end of the first semester, Kim, the perpetrator, dropped out of school. Many students, unaware of the full details including the deepfake incident, believed he left after being bullied. After Kim dropped out of school, any chance of him being punished by school authorities was lost for good. Lee and her parents clung to their last hope in the police investigation, but their hopes were shattered when the outcome fell short of expectations. According to the police, Kim's case was referred to a juvenile trial, which focuses on rehabilitating minors who commit minor offenses. As part of the punishment, the perpetrator was ordered to undergo 30 hours of sex crime prevention training. If he completes the training, there will be no official record of his crime. Contrary to the offender's 30-hour punishment, Lee has endured nine months of trauma, battling depression. "Im so worried because my daughter keeps saying she feels small and that she's doing everything wrong," the mother said. "She has lost all her confidence and even changed her dreams and career plans completely." Lee recently told her mother that she wanted to drop out of school and study on her own. "I understand my daughter, but you cant go back to your school days once time passes," Lee said, holding back her tears. "I just hope she gets the chance to create those memories, just like any other normal day..." Crimes committed by acquaintances According to the National Police Agency, 964 cases of deepfake-related sex crimes were reported nationwide from January to Oct. 25. The police caught 506 suspected perpetrators, and 411, or 81.2 percent, were teenagers. Education authorities also reported that more than 880 students have fallen victim to these crimes. The reality that perpetrators and victims are often acquaintances only deepens the sense of distrust. An analysis of 105 rulings made under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, since the law was established in June 2020 to address deepfake crimes, shows that in 62.9 percent of the cases, the perpetrators and victims were familiar with each other. Kim Tae-kyung, a professor at the Department of Counseling Psychology at Seowon University, explained that when minors are targeted by someone they already know, the emotional impact is often far deeper. "Deepfake crimes cause greater humiliation compared to other offenses because manipulated images and rumors spread quickly, reaching the victim," he said. "Victims may even begin to blame themselves, thinking they were too naive to have believed the person who hurt them." Teachers also impacted Deepfake sex crimes are not only affecting minors but are impacting teachers as well. Park Han-young, a middle school teacher in Gyeonggi Province, faced a difficult year as she struggled with the burden of being both a teacher and the victim of a deepfake crime. The teacher, who had been teaching since 2013, received chilling news from her colleagues in April 2023. A male student quietly informed one of the teacher's colleagues about explicit deepfake images featuring Parks face that had been posted online. Shocked and humiliated, Park suspected that the offender was one of her students. "I was certain it had to be a student because the photo used in the deepfake images had only been shared in a class group chat for remote learning during COVID-19," she said. To uncover the truth, she pleaded with her students to confess, giving them a week to come forward. But no one did. When she finally reported the case to the police, her hope quickly turned into frustration. "After I submitted my statement, I never heard from the police again, except for a case update in May," she said. By the end of May, the case was closed, and the perpetrator was never caught. The police said multiple IP addresses had been used, making it impossible to track the offender. With the images deleted from the website, there was nothing more they could do. The psychological toll was devastating. "I struggled with panic attacks, waking up in the middle of the night sobbing and pounding my pillow in rage," Park described. A psychological evaluation at a support center for teachers revealed dangerously high stress levels. Yet, she avoided further counseling. "I couldn't bear to retell the story again. It wouldnt change anything," she said. Even the school, once a place of safety, had become a minefield. "Every time I walked into class, I found myself wondering, 'Is it that student?" she said. "Each one started to look like a suspect. I could feel the seed of doubt growing inside me and kept asking can I ever trust my students again?" Yet, despite the overwhelming sense of betrayal, she also felt compassion. "I think whoever did it couldnt confess because they were scared. They are only 15," she said, grappling with the pain of being a victim while still fulfilling her role as an educator. Seo Hyeon-ju, a sex education activist, highlighted that teachers often feel conflicted about coming forward with their experiences, with many tending to downplay the harm theyve suffered and hesitating to report incidents. "Teachers are reluctant to report incidents because of the societal expectation that 'you are a teacher before you are a victim.' This pressure makes them feel they must continue teaching the children," Seo explained. "For female teachers in particular, theres a pervasive stereotype that they should provide nurturing support, like mothers, which adds to the pressure." By Kim Hyun-bin The number of sexual harassment and assault reports in Korean educational institutions has more than doubled over the past three years, reaching over 100 cases annually. Concerns are mounting over the Ministry of Education's ability to thoroughly review these reports, given that the dedicated reporting center operates with only one specialized counselor. Data released by Rep. Jin Sun-mee of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly Education Committee, showed that the Ministry of Education's sexual harassment and assault reporting center received 533 reports from 2021 to 2023. This marks a significant increase from the 258 cases reported in the three years following the centers establishment in 2018. Yearly breakdowns show 201 reports in 2021, 190 in 2022 and 142 in 2023, consistently surpassing 100 reports annually. The reports encompass various educational levels: universities accounted for 136 cases, high schools 103, middle schools 65 and elementary schools 40. The perpetrators identified in these reports included teachers in 41.5 percent (221 cases) of the incidents, students in 17.1 percent (91 cases) and administrative staff or contract teachers in another 41.5 percent (221 cases). The victims were predominantly students, who comprised 37.7 percent (201 cases) of the reports, while teachers made up 16.3 percent (87 cases). Upon receiving reports, the center forwards cases involving elementary, middle and high school students to regional education offices, while university cases are directed to the respective institutions. The education ministry then reviews whether these bodies handle the cases appropriately. If procedures are found to be lacking, the ministry can request additional information and follow-up. Despite the surge in reports, the ministry has not conducted any independent investigations over the past three years, even when cases appeared to be mishandled or involved severe misconduct. Jin emphasized the critical role of specialized counselors in ensuring objective and thorough investigations. She criticized the ministrys current staffing, pointing out the impracticality of having only one counselor to manage an increasing caseload. Jin expressed disappointment at the ministrys lack of plans to hire additional counselors and called for expanding specialized staff to ensure professional consultation and comprehensive report review. She said, "The education ministry must prioritize the recruitment of more specialized counselors to handle these sensitive and complex cases effectively." Police have detained four foreign Greenpeace activists for questioning after they illegally boarded an LPG tanker and staged a protest demanding a reduction in plastic production, officials said Sunday. The Coast Guard in Pyeongtaek, 65 kilometers southwest of Seoul, said the four were detained for questioning on charges of vessel trespassing and obstruction of official duties. The activists are accused of illegally boarding a 2,999-ton LPG tanker off the coast of Incheon at 10:42 a.m. the previous day, painting on the hull and staging a protest atop a 12-meter pole on the deck. The activists were demanding a reduction in plastic production as the fifth round of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC-5) was under way in the southeastern port city of Busan from Monday, to find ways to eliminate plastic waste. Coast Guard forces brought them down around 12 hours after they boarded the vessel, at 10:25 p.m. on Saturday, and transferred them to the Coast Guard agency in Pyeongtaek for investigation after detaining them at the scene. (Yonhap) PPP demands apology from DPK for unilateral passage; DPK leader signals possibility of budget negotiations By Anna J. Park Political tensions in parliament are expected to intensify this week, as rival parties clashed over the weekend following the Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) unilateral passage of next years government budget proposal on Friday. Ahead of plenary sessions slated on Monday and Wednesday, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) sharply criticized the main opposition, accusing the DPK of exploiting its parliamentary majority to push through a reduced budget bill alongside retaliatory impeachment proposals. The PPP argued these moves are designed to shield DPK leader Lee Jae-myung amid his ongoing legal battles. DPK floor leader Park Chan-dae defended the party's unilateral decision to pass the reduced budget proposal for next year, saying that the party had "no choice but to submit the reduced budget proposal to the plenary session by Dec. 2, which is the legal deadline. "The DPK has continued its deliberations on the budget bill under the principle of preventing tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy and significantly reducing special activity budgets allocated for power institutions. However, no agreement was reached with the ruling party, while the Ministry of Economy and Finance refused to consent to any budget increases, Park said, explaining the party's decision to approve the budget proposal at the budget committee unilaterally. The DPK passed the budget proposal reflecting only reductions during Friday's Special Budget Settlement Committee session at the National Assembly in Seoul. The budget proposal amounts to 673.3 trillion won ($482 billion), 4.1 trillion won less than the governments. It includes cuts to the special activity budgets of the presidential office and the National Security Office, as well as specific operational and special activity expenses for the prosecution and the Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea. This marks the first time in the history of Koreas constitutional governance that a budget bill was processed without bipartisan agreement in the budget committee. DPK leader Lee Jae-myung signaled the possibility of bipartisan budget negotiations during a meeting with North Gyeongsang Province Gov. Lee Cheol-woo on Sunday. The discussion arose as Gov. Lee requested support for increasing funding for the 2025 APEC summit, which is set to be hosted in Gyeongju next year. The DPK leader responded, I will look into it, suggesting a willingness to engage in future discussions on the budget between the ruling and opposition parties. The governments unilateral inclusion of unnecessary special activity funds led to the passage of the reduced budget proposal. If the government submits a revised proposal, we are ready to negotiate afterward, Lee said during the meeting. Regarding Gov. Lee's question about whether Monday is the deadline, the DPK chief replied that there's always a way, if sincere negotiations are possible. Later, the partys chief secretary clarified to reporters that the party is open to discussions if the government or others submit a revised proposal. Meanwhile, PPP floor leader Choo Kyung-ho called for an apology from the main opposition party over the unilateral passage of next years budget proposal. In a press briefing on Sunday, Choo harshly criticized the move as unprecedented in constitutional history, a reckless act. "The PPP strongly urges the DPK to apologize to the public, the government and the ruling party for the unilateral budget approval, and immediately retract the reduced budget," Choo said, adding that the opposition's budget cuts would exacerbate the publics suffering and create gaps in public safety, making timely responses to disasters and emergencies more difficult. He labeled the opposition's move as an abuse of the budget review process solely for political gain, calling it a budget atrocity and legislative violence" aimed at intimidating the government and ruling party. Choo emphasized that unless the DPK apologizes and retracts the reduced budget proposal, the ruling party will not engage in any further negotiations on the budget. He warned that if the budget cuts lead to issues in public welfare, safety, foreign affairs or disaster response, the DPK would bear full responsibility for the consequences of their rushed approval. Choo acknowledged the potential difficulties ahead if the reduced budget bill passes the parliament by its legal deadline at Monday's plenary session. But he assured the party would minimize any negative impact and ensure thorough preparation for next years budget through close coordination with the government. The presidential office also denounced the DPK's unprecedented move, urging the main opposition party to withdraw its unilateral handling of the budget reduction proposal. "With its reduced budget proposal without making any necessary increases, DPK has made the government's proactive responses to external challenges and uncertainties more difficult. The rapid changes anticipated in the trade environment following the upcoming inauguration of the new U.S. administration (early next year) will be more difficult to address, and there will inevitably be setbacks in strengthening the competitiveness of advanced industries such as semiconductors, where global competition is intensifying," Jeong Hye-jeon, spokesperson for the presidential office, said Sunday afternoon. She added, "If unilateral budget cuts by the opposition party result in issues in public welfare, security and diplomacy, causing harm to the citizens, the full responsibility will lie with the opposition DPK." Han River to be called 'Hangang River'? By Steven L. Shields A 60-plus-year-old "ajeossi" (uncle) strikes again. Of course, like so many other ideas of government officials, this is nothing new. Hes only mimicking other leaders who have insisted on doublespeak and gobbledygook by calling it branding. (Or, maybe it is called K-branding, Im not sure). It started at least in 2020 with a mandate from the culture and tourism ministry that Korea was officially adopting redundancy in English names for natural areas, cultural monuments and the like. Back then, the culture folks insisted that Mount Nam in Seoul should be called Namsan Mountain and XYZGoong should be called XYZGoong Palace. And now, Mr. Mayor has decreed that the Han River is now to be called Hangang River. Never mind that goong means palace, or that san means mountain technically mount" when referring to an individual peak or that gang means river. Im told the city invited some native English speakers to join its committee, but the foreigners were there in a tokenish display theres another op-ed on that topic. Although perhaps not politically correct, I like what the Chinese have done at most of their famous attractions. They translated the Chinese into English, so we get Imperial City, inside of which is the Forbidden City, instead of Hwangcheng and Zijincheng. The Gate of Heavenly Peace is also commonly known worldwide as Tiananmen (not Tiananmen Gate). How much more romantic would Koreas palace and monument names be if they were translated into something meaningful for the tourists to which this K-branding is being created? While gyeong literally means scenery, and bok means blessing or good fortune, we could have the Palace of Beautiful Fortune. And Gwanghwamun could be the Gate of Great Enlightenment. Isnt that much better than Gwanghwamun Gate. Most Koreans, and I asked hundreds, dont know the meaning of these ancient names. How much would visitors and the outside world enjoy getting to know this great land? Of course, language borrowing goes on everywhere, in most cultures and most language groups. For example, a la mode, a French term meaning fashionable. But in American usage, it means pie topped with ice cream. Arbeit, the German word work, came into use in Japan decades ago and then transferred to Korea, where it meant part-time job. Modern Korean young people call it alba, a contracted version of the word arubaitu, where the r and the l are represented by the same Hangeul letter, the real. Redundance and tautologies abound in written and spoken language. We often see, in advertising, free gift. Gifts usually are free. ATM machine, but the m means machine already. (Kind of like the Han River River!). Or I saw it with my own eyes. Excuse me, who elses eyes could you have possibly used anyway? I often see people use each and every one of you. But each and every mean the same. Im not sure where this next example fits; its sort of a tautology but not exactly the textbook definition: air traffic jargon, near miss, when what they really miss is you almost crashed. Where tautology uses different words to say the same thing, redundancy uses more words than necessary. I see this often in this very newspaper. A total of 300 people, When 300 is already a total. Or the victim died of fatal wounds, when fatal means the person died. A related one is the victim was fatally stabbed a dozen times. Certainly, the victim may have been stabbed a dozen times, but one of them was the fatal blow, not all of them. I blame my English teachers during my public school years. They assigned essays with minimum word counts in their zeal to get us to expand our vocabularies. To get to that magic 500 words, we padded and added and used adjectives in lone strings, and although we may have achieved the words required, most of what we wrote was doublespeak and gobbledygook. I didnt have a proper grammar teacher until my last two years in high school and later at university. Those folks taught me how to write, how to describe, and most of all, how to be clear in what I was trying to say. Redundancies and tautologies muddy the text for a reader. It provides a poor model that continues to be perpetuated by succeeding generations of students and other writers. With more and more artificial intelligence (AI) and other technology, I think the personal skill of crafting a good piece of writing will disappear. The humans involved with the culture ministry and Seoul City are deficient in this department. Humans increasingly communicate less effectively, and AI will sadly become the standard for composition. But never mind me. Im just a multilingual native English-speaking writer and editor. But Im also a foreigner, so what do I know? Rev. Steven L. Shields, FRAS (slshields@gmail.com) has lived in Korea for many years, beginning in the 1970s. A lifelong member of the Royal Asiatic Society Korea, he has served as a director and president. He was a copy editor of The Korea Times in 1977. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not reflect The Korea Times editorial stance. By Ko Dong-hwan Riyadh's new unmanned metro service, partly designed and built by Samsung C&T, began operations on Sunday. The network includes six lines and spans a total of 176 kilometers of track. The Korean construction giant described the project as "the largest of its kind in the world. Lines 1, 4 and 6 started running on Sunday while Lines 2 and 5 will start operating on Dec. 15 and Line 3 will begin operations on Jan. 5. Samsung C&T was part of a consortium that oversaw the Riyadh Metro project. With Spanish builder FCC, Samsung joined in building Lines 4, 5 and 6. The network connects key areas in the Saudi capital including King Khalid International Airport and the King Abdullah financial district. The three lines cover a total length of 70 kilometers, including 24 kilometers on bridges, and connect 29 stations. Riyadh Metro is one of Saudi Arabias key domestic infrastructure projects aimed at helping it realize its Vision 2030, according to Samsung C&T. The objective, according to its official website, is a blueprint to diversify the country's economy, empowering citizens, and creating a vibrant environment for both local and international investors, all aimed at establishing Saudi Arabia as a global leader. A Samsung C&T official said he anticipates the new metro service will not only advance Saudi Arabia's local economy but also raise the quality of life by reducing travel time in Riyadh. It means a lot for us to be part of Riyadhs first metro construction project in the worlds largest scale, Choi Young-hoon, vice president of Samsung C&T Riyadh Metro, said. We met many obstacles but overcame them with our advanced construction technologies and know-hows. Samsung C&T stated that, building on its success with the Riyadh Metro project, it plans to expand its portfolio to include infrastructure projects such as power stations in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Australia. The company employed a full span launching method, where parts are prefabricated in a factory and shipped to the site for assembly, to reduce construction time and ensure safety during the process. The company also deployed two tunnel boring machines and set a new world record for the longest underground length they cut in a day. Previously on Wednesday, the royal palace in Riyadh held a ceremony congratulating the metros scheduled operation. Officials from Al Yamamah Palaces Royal Commission for Riyadh City, which had commissioned the project, attended the event. King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud also attended the ceremony to proclaim the metros opening. Firms fear negative impact of Trump's protectionism on Korean economy By Nam Hyun-woo Nearly half of Korean businesses are considering belt-tightening measures in 2025, a survey showed, Sunday. This trend was more pronounced among large enterprises, which are planning downsizing measures such as cost-cutting and workforce streamlining programs. The survey comes as the countrys exports in November grew by only 1.4 percent year-on-year, marking a 14-month low and amplifying concerns about looming economic uncertainties. The Korea Enterprises Federation (KEF) surveyed from Nov. 7 to 20 the CEOs and other top executives of 239 domestic companies employing more than 30 workers and found that 49.7 percent of the respondents said their management policies for 2025 will focus on downsizing. Another 28 percent said they plan to keep their current approach next year, while 22.3 percent indicated they will pursue expansionary strategies. This represents the highest level of pessimism since 2018, when 50.3 percent of respondents indicated a preference for a conservative approach in 2019. The proportion of companies favoring a cautious management strategy has risen significantly in recent years, increasing from 22.9 percent in 2022 and 38.3 percent in 2024 to 49.7 percent next year. The trend was more pronounced among medium-sized and large enterprises. Among companies with over 300 employees, 61 percent said they will tighten their belts in 2025, while 45.7 percent of smaller companies with fewer than 300 employees expressed the same intention. When asked about investment plans, 39.5 percent of respondents said they plan to cut investments, while 35 percent indicated they will maintain current levels. Of those planning reductions, 58.5 percent were companies with over 300 employees. A similar pattern was observed in their employment policies. Among the respondents, 44.6 percent said they intend to maintain this years hiring levels, while 36.9 percent signaled plans to reduce recruitment in 2025. Notably, 53.7 percent of those planning to downsize recruitment numbers were companies with more than 300 employees. "Large enterprises showed a greater tendency toward conservative management, reduced investments, and fewer hires compared to smaller firms. This reflects that large companies are taking the current economic environment more seriously," a KEF official said. Adding to their concerns, 52.7 percent of surveyed companies said their current flagship business will no longer be able to serve as their main revenue source within the next five years. Among those who responded so, 58.8 percent stated that they have not yet determined or considered alternative business options, highlighting uncertainties. When asked about their views on the incoming Donald Trump administration, 82 percent of respondents said its policies, such as protectionism, will have a negative impact on the Korean economy, which is heavily reliant on exports. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said that Koreas exports increased 1.4 percent year-on-year to $56.3 billion last month. Although this marked the 14th consecutive month of growth, the 1.4 percent increase was the lowest during that period. The shift toward belt-tightening strategies has become more palpable among companies, especially large ones, due to sluggish domestic demand, high labor costs and rising protectionist trends that add to external uncertainties, the official said. Given that the economic outlook for next year is not expected to improve substantially, it is urgent to create incentives for companies to expand their investments. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau returned home Saturday after his meeting with Donald Trump without assurances the president-elect will back away from threatened tariffs on all products from the major American trading partner. Trump called the talks productive but signaled no retreat from a pledge that Canada says unfairly lumps it in with Mexico over the flow of drugs and migrants into the United States. After the leaders hastily arranged dinner Friday night at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trudeau spoke of an excellent conversation" and said in a post later Saturday on X, accompanied by a photo of the two men seated a table and smiling, that he looked forward to the work we can do together, again. Trump said earlier on Truth Social that they discussed many important topics that will require both Countries to work together to address. For issues in need of such cooperation, Trump cited fentanyl and the Drug Crisis that has decimated so many lives as a result of Illegal Immigration," fair trade deals "that do not jeopardize American Workers and the U.S. trade deficit with its ally to the north. Trump asserted that the prime minister had made a commitment to work with us to end this terrible devastation of American families from fentanyl from China reaching the United States through its neighbors. The U.S., he said, will no longer sit idly by as our Citizens become victims to the scourge of this Drug Epidemic. The Republican president-elect has threatened to impose a 25 percent tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders when he takes office in January. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. On immigration, the U.S. Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests at the Mexican border in October alone and 23,721 arrests at the Canadian border between October 2023 and September 2024 and Canadian officials say they are ready to make new investments in border security. Trudeau called Trump after the Republican's social media posts about the tariffs last Monday and they agreed to meet, according to a official familiar with the matter who was not authorized to publicly discuss detail of the private talks. The official said other countries are calling Canadian officials to hear how about how the meeting was arranged and to ask for advice. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, after speaking with Trump on the telephone, said Thursday she was confident a tariff war with Washington would be averted. At the dinner that was said to last three hours, Trump said he and Trudeau also discussed energy, trade and the Arctic. A second official cited defense, Ukraine, NATO, China, the Mideast, pipelines and the Group of Seven meeting in Canada next year as other issues that arose. Trudeau's office said in a statement that the leaders shared a productive wide-ranging discussion centering on collaboration and strengthening our relationship, adding, "As Canadas closest friend and ally, the United States is our key partner, and we are committed to working together in the interests of Canadians and Americans. Trump, during his first term as president, once called Trudeau weak and dishonest, but it was the prime minister who was the first G7 leader to visit Trump since the Nov. 5 election. "Tariffs are a crucial issue for Canada and a bold move was in order. Perhaps it was a risk, but a risk worth taking, Daniel Beland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal. Trudeau had said before leaving from Friday that Trump was elected because he promised to bring down the cost of groceries but now was talking about adding 25 percent to the cost of all kinds of products, including potatoes from Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada. It is important to understand that Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out. Theres no question about it, Trudeau said. Our responsibility is to point out that he would not just be harming Canadians, who work so well with the United States, but he would actually be raising prices for Americans citizens as well and hurting American industry and business, he added. The threatened tariffs could essentially blow up the North American trade pact that Trumps team negotiated during his first term. Trudeau noted they were able to successfully renegotiate the deal, which he calls a win win for both countries. When Trump imposed higher tariffs as president, other countries responded with retaliatory tariffs of their own. Canada, for instance, announced billions of new duties in 2018 against the U.S. in a response to new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian ($2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60 percent of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85 percent of U.S. electricity imports are from Canada. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security. Canada is one of the most trade-dependent countries in the world, and 77 percent of Canadas exports go to the U.S. (AP) Negotiators aiming for an international treaty to curb plastic pollution are set for fierce debate on the last day of scheduled talks, as over 100 countries supportive of a pact that would cap plastic production face off against a handful of oil-producing countries who want it focused just on waste. The fifth and final UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) meeting to yield a legally binding international treaty is set to wrap up in Busan on Sunday, but as of Sunday morning, a final plenary session has not been set. The hoped-for treaty to come out of these talks could be the most significant deal relating to environmental protection as well as climate-warming emissions since the 2015 Paris Agreement. As of Sunday, countries remained far apart on the basic scope of the treaty, with one option proposed by Panama and backed by over 100 countries that creates a path for a global plastic production reduction target and another which does not allow production caps at all. Some negotiators said select countries were still not budging on their demands as of Saturday night. "We have 100-plus countries who are really ambitious. On the other hand we have a small group of countries who are ... basically running down the clock and not moving forward," said Anthony Agotha, the EU's Special Envoy for Climate and Environment. "We really need to deal with the full lifecycle of plastics because we cannot recycle our way out of this crisis ... We cannot run on one leg," he said. A smaller number of petrochemical-producing nations such as Saudi Arabia have strongly opposed efforts to target plastic production and have tried to use procedural tactics to delay negotiations. Saudi Arabia did not have an immediate comment. China, the United States, India, Korea and Saudi Arabia were the top five primary polymer producing nations in 2023, according to data provider Eunomia. Hours remaining With just a few hours remaining for scheduled talks and consensus seemingly out of reach, some negotiators and observers fear the talks could collapse or be extended to another session. "We are at a crossroads right now," said Panama's delegation head Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez on Saturday. "Postponing this to another meeting would be a fatal wound not only to planetary health, but also to human health... we must come out with an outcome that elevates the fight." Plastic production is on track to triple by 2050, and microplastics has been found in air, fresh produce and even human breastmilk. Environmental groups observing the talks criticized a document released by Committee Chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso on Friday that could form the basis of a treaty, for issues such as not adequately addressing chemicals of concern or human health. Chemicals of concern in plastics include more than 3,200 found according to a 2023 U.N. Environment Programme report, which said women and children were particularly susceptible to their toxicity. "We trust that the Chair, with such an overwhelming majority of ambition can lead us to a successful conclusion of INC-5," Agotha said. (AFP) President-elect Donald Trump on Monday threatened to impose a 100 percent tariff on the BRICS group nations if they undercut the U.S. dollar. "We require a commitment... that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty U.S. Dollar or, they will face 100 percent Tariffs," Trump wrote on his Truth Social website, referring to the grouping that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and others. The statement comes after a BRICS summit held last month in Kazan, Russia, where the countries discussed boosting non-dollar transactions and strengthening local currencies. The BRICS group has expanded significantly since its inception in 2009, and now includes countries such as Iran, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Altogether the BRICS coalition accounts for a significant minority of the world's economic output. At the Kazan summit in October, Moscow secured a joint declaration encouraging the "strengthening of correspondent banking networks within BRICS and enabling settlements in local currencies in line with BRICS Cross-Border Payments Initiative." But at the end of the summit Putin indicated that little progress had been made on launching a possible competitor to the Belgium-based SWIFT financial messaging system. "As for SWIFT and any alternatives, we have not created and are not creating any alternatives," Putin told reporters at the end of the summit. He added: "As for a unified BRICS currency, we are not considering that question at the moment." Trump has vowed to pursue a protectionist agenda, threatening hefty tariffs on neighbors and rivals. If BRICS countries continue with their plans, Trump warned, they "should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful U.S. Economy," he wrote. "They can go find another 'sucker!' There is no chance that the BRICS will replace the U.S. Dollar in International Trade, and any Country that tries should wave goodbye to America." (AFP) "In the pictures you just see. But in the real life you feel," said Ambassador of Kiribati to China David Ateti Teaabo as he toured the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in southwest China's Sichuan Province recently. The diplomat was among the many foreign visitors who traveled long distances for a glimpse of the giant pandas there. Founded in 1987, the research base is now home to 244 giant pandas. Produced by Xinhua Global Service A court in Beijing on Friday sentenced a prominent Chinese journalist to seven years in prison for espionage, his family said. Dong Yuyu, a commentator and editor, was taken away by police while meeting a Japanese diplomat at a restaurant in February 2022. He has been in police custody since then. The Beijing Number 2 Intermediate People's Court read the verdict but did not share a copy with Dong's lawyers or family. No announcement was available on the court's website or its Weibo account. The verdict named then-Japanese ambassador Hideo Tarumi and Shanghai-based chief diplomat Masaru Okada as agents belonging to an espionage organization, according the family's statement. Dong had served as the deputy head of the editorial department at Guangming Daily, one of the five major state-owned papers in China. The paper was once considered more liberal than other state-backed papers. Dong also contributed to the Chinese edition of the New York Times. In his published writings, including essays as well as opinion articles, Dong had voiced his support for constitutional democracy and political reform, which later were considered to be against the stance of the Communist Party. He had contacts with foreign diplomats, scholars and other journalists as part of his decades-long career and counted Tarumi, the ambassador, as a friend. Still, his family said he knew he was always watched by state security, and therefore sought to be as open as possible while meeting his Japanese or American contacts. With Yuyus conviction, every Chinese citizen, when dealing with the Japanese embassy or perhaps any other foreign embassy and diplomat will be expected to know that the Chinese government may consider those embassies to be espionage organizations, said the family in a statement. Every sensible Chinese citizen should be appalled by this reasoning. The U.S. Ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns, condemned Dong's conviction. Punishing Dong for exercising his freedom of speech and the press, guaranteed by the PRCs constitution for all its citizens, is unjust. (AP) The Syrian army said on Saturday dozens of its soldiers had been killed in a major attack led by Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebels who swept into the city of Aleppo, forcing the army to redeploy in the biggest challenge to President Bashar al-Assad in years. Russia's Defence Ministry said its air force had carried out strikes on Syrian rebels in support of the country's army, Russian news agencies reported. The strikes followed what was the boldest rebel assault for years in a civil war where front lines had largely been frozen since 2020. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, once known as the Nusra Front, is designated a terrorist group by the U.S., Russia, Turkey and other states. Assad is a close Moscow ally. In Washington, the White House National Security Council said it was closely monitoring the situation and had been in contact with regional capitals over the last 48 hours. NSC spokesperson Sean Savett said Syria's refusal to engage in a political process and its reliance on Russia and Iran had "created the conditions now unfolding, including the collapse of Assad regime lines in northwest Syria." Savett said the U.S. had nothing to do with the offensive led by "a designated terrorist organization" and "urged de-escalation ... and a serious and credible political process" under the 2015 U.N. Security Council Resolution 2254, which laid out the steps for a ceasefire and political transition. The war, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced many millions, has ground on since 2011 with no formal end, although most major fighting halted years ago after Iran and Russia helped Assad's government win control of most land and all major cities. Aleppo had been firmly held by the government since a 2016 victory there, one of the war's major turning points, when Russian-backed Syrian forces besieged and laid waste to rebel-held eastern areas of what had been the country's largest city. "I am a son of Aleppo, and was displaced from it eight years ago, in 2016. Thank God we just returned. It is an indescribable feeling," said Ali Jumaa, a rebel fighter, in television footage filmed inside the city. Acknowledging the rebel advance, the Syrian army command said insurgents had entered much of Aleppo. After the army said it was preparing a counterattack, airstrikes targeted rebel gatherings and convoys in the city, the pro-Damascus newspaper al-Watan reported. One strike caused casualties in Aleppo's Basel square, a resident told Reuters. The state-run Russian Centre for the Reconciliation of the Enemy Parties in Syria said missile and bomb strikes against the rebels had targeted "militant concentrations, command posts, depots, and artillery positions" in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. It claimed about 300 rebel fighters had been killed. Images filmed on Saturday showed people posing for photos on a toppled statue of Bassil al-Assad, late brother of the president. Fighters zipped around the city in trucks and milled around in the streets. A man waved a Syrian opposition flag as he stood near Aleppo's historic citadel. The Syrian military command said militants had attacked in large numbers and from multiple directions, prompting "our armed forces to carry out a redeployment operation aimed at strengthening the defence lines in order to absorb the attack, preserve the lives of civilians and soldiers." The rebels also took control of Aleppo airport, according to a statement by their operations room and a security source. Two rebel sources also said the insurgents had captured the city of Maraat al Numan in Idlib province, bringing all of that area under their control. The fighting revives the long-simmering Syrian conflict as the wider region is roiled by wars in Gaza and Lebanon, where a truce between Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah took effect on Wednesday. With Assad backed by Russia and Iran, and Turkey supporting some of the rebels in the northwest where it maintains troops, the offensive has brought into focus the conflict's knotted geopolitics. Fighting in the northwest had largely abated since Turkey and Russia reached a de-escalation agreement in 2020. Russian, Turkish ministers talk Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a phone call with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, discussing the situation in Syria, Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday. "Both sides expressed serious concerns at the dangerous development of the situation," the ministry said. They agreed it was necessary to coordinate joint actions to stabilise the situation in the country. Turkish security officials had said on Thursday that Ankara had prevented operations which opposition groups wanted to organise, in order to avoid further tensions in the region. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Lavrov in a phone call that the rebel attacks were part of an Israeli-U.S. plan to destabilise the region, Iranian state media said. The Syrian Civil Defense, a rescue service operating in opposition-held parts of Syria, said in a post on X that Syrian government and Russian aircraft carried out airstrikes on residential neighbourhoods in rebel-held Idlib, killing four civilians and wounding six others. Two Syrian military sources said Russia has promised Damascus extra military aid that would start arriving in the next 72 hours. The Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which spearhead the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces that control much of northeastern and eastern Syria and have long had a foothold in Aleppo, widened their control in the city as government troops left, a senior YPG source said. Mustafa Abdul Jaber, a commander in the Jaish al-Izza rebel brigade, said the rebels' speedy advance had been helped by a lack of Iran-backed manpower to support the government in the broader Aleppo province. Iran's regional allies have suffered a series of blows at the hands of Israel as the Gaza war has expanded through the Middle East. The opposition fighters have said the campaign was in response to stepped-up strikes in recent weeks against civilians by the Russian and Syrian air forces on areas of Idlib province, and to preempt any attacks by the Syrian army. (Reuters) Iraq's parliament will review contentious legal amendments Sunday, including a reworked family law bill that has sparked civil society outrage over fears of a resurgence in underage marriages. The proposed amendments would let people choose between religious or state regulations for family matters, such as marriage, inheritance, divorce and child custody. Critics fear the move could erode protections for Muslim women by lowering the legal age for marriage currently set at 18, or 15 with the consent of legal guardians and a judge and pave the way for the adoption of Islamic jurisprudence that could allow marriages as young as nine years old. A revised version of the bill sets the minimum age at 15 with court approval and retains "current conditions," according to MP Raed al-Maliki, who backs the new proposals. Couples could opt for Shiite Muslim or Sunni Muslim rules under the amendment. If passed, clerics and lawyers would have four months to establish community-specific regulations. Parliament would then vote again to finalize the changes. The draft law has already undergone two readings, with votes previously delayed. An earlier version faced backlash from feminists and civil society groups. In October, Amnesty International warned the amendments could legalize unregistered marriages often used to bypass child marriage bans and strip protections for divorced women. The London-based rights group also voiced concerns that the amendments would strip women and girls of protections regarding divorce and inheritance. Sunday's parliament session will also include a vote on a general amnesty law. Excluded from amnesty are convictions for terrorism and crimes like rape, incest, human trafficking and kidnapping. The amnesty, covering 2016-2024, could apply to drug users but not traffickers, according to Maliki. Cases based on evidence from "secret informants" may qualify for retrial. The previous 2016 amnesty reportedly covered 150,000 people. (AFP) The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Sunday it is halting aid deliveries through the main cargo crossing into the war-ravaged Gaza Strip because of the threat of armed gangs who have looted recent convoys. It blamed the breakdown of law and order in large part on Israeli policies. The decision could worsen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as the cold, rainy winter sets in, with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians living in squalid tent camps and reliant on international food aid. Experts were already warning of famine in the territorys north, which Israeli forces have almost completely isolated since early October. Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, the main aid provider in Gaza, said the route leading to the Kerem Shalom crossing is too dangerous on the Gaza side. Armed men looted nearly 100 trucks traveling on the route in mid-November, and he said gangs stole a smaller shipment on Saturday. Kerem Shalom is the only crossing between Israel and Gaza that is designed for cargo shipments and has been the main artery for aid deliveries since the Rafah crossing with Egypt was shut down in May. Last month, nearly two-thirds of all aid entering Gaza came through Kerem Shalom, and in previous months it accounted for an even larger amount, according to Israeli figures. In a post on X, Lazzarini largely blamed Israel for the breakdown of humanitarian operations in Gaza, citing political decisions to restrict the amounts of aid, lack of safety on aid routes and Israel's targeting of the Hamas-run police force, which had previously provided public security. There was no immediate comment from Israel on the decision. Israel says it allows enough aid into Gaza and blames UNRWA and other agencies for failing to deliver it. It accuses UNRWA of having allowed Hamas to infiltrate its ranks allegations denied by the U.N. agency and passed legislation to sever ties with it last month . Israeli strikes in Gaza, meanwhile, killed at least six people overnight, including two young children, ages 6 and 8, who died in the tent where their family was sheltering, medical officials said Sunday. The strike in the Muwasi area, a sprawling tent camp housing hundreds of thousands of displaced people, also wounded the children's mother and their 8-month-old sister, according to the nearby Nasser Hospital. An Associated Press reporter at the hospital saw the bodies. A separate strike in the southern city of Rafah, on the border with Egypt, killed four men, according to hospital records. The Israeli military said it was not aware of strikes in either location. Israel says it only targets militants and tries to avoid harming civilians, but its daily strikes across Gaza often kill women and children. In a separate development, a projectile fired by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen set off air raid sirens in central Israel. The Israeli military said it intercepted the projectile before it entered Israeli territory. A former top Israeli general and defense minister has accused the government of ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza, where Israeli forces have been waging the latest in a series of offensives against Hamas since early October. The army has sealed off the northern towns of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya, and the Jabaliya refugee camp, and allowed almost no humanitarian aid to enter. Tens of thousands of people have fled, while the United Nations estimates up to 75,000 remain. Moshe Yaalon, who served as defense minister under Benjamin Netanyahu before quitting in 2016 and becoming a fierce critic of the prime minister, said the current far-right government is determined to occupy, to annex, to ethnically cleanse. Pressed by an interviewer with a local news outlet on Saturday, he said: There is no Beit Lahiya. No Beit Hanoun. (They are) operating now in Jabaliya, and (they) are actually cleaning the territory of Arabs. Yaalon doubled down on the remarks Sunday in an interview with Israeli radio, saying war crimes are being committed here. Netanyahus Likud party criticized his earlier remarks, accusing him of making false statements that are a prize for the International Criminal Court and the camp of Israel haters. The ICC has issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu, another former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, and a Hamas commander, accusing them of crimes against humanity. The International Court of Justice is investigating allegations of genocide against Israel . Israel rejects the allegations and says both courts are biased against it. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around people 250 hostages. Some 100 captives are still being held inside Gaza, around two-thirds of whom are believed to be alive. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 44,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The war has destroyed vast areas of the coastal enclave and displaced 90 percent of the population of 2.3 million, often multiple times. Israel reached a ceasefire with Lebanon's Hezbollah militants last week that has largely held, but that agreement, brokered by the United States and France, did not address the ongoing war in Gaza. Iran which supports Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis and armed groups in Syria and Iraq has exchanged fire with Israel twice this year. The United States, Qatar and Egypt have spent much of the past year trying to broker a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the remaining hostages, but those efforts stalled as Israel rejected Hamas' demand for a complete withdrawal from the territory . The Biden administration has said it will make another push for a deal in its final weeks in office. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to end the wars in the Middle East, without saying how. He was a staunch defender of Israel and its policies toward the Palestinians during his previous term. (AP) For three days earlier this year, defense personnel from more than 20 NATO and Indo-Pacific countries descended on the South Korean capital to work out what a regional cyberwar might look like. In the APEX war gaming, critical infrastructure of multiple allies was attacked and participants had to share and verify information to come up with defensive strategies and countermeasures. The APEX exercise is one of a series of multinational cybersecurity drills and summits that South Korea has taken part in over the past year. South Korea also attended the annual NATO-supported Cyber Champions Summit in Sydney, Australia in September, and will host the event next year. In addition, it took part in the Locked Shields live-fire cyber defense exercise with Nato members in April. While China did not take part in any of these events, it was an obvious presence. Observers say South Korea has been working more closely with the United States and its allies in a cybersecurity strategy aimed at China one that looks set to deepen. Chinese military observer Liang Yongchun said the impact of this growing cooperation on security in East Asia "should not be underestimated." Liang told state broadcaster CCTV last month that South Korea was actively seeking to be a strategic "beachhead" for NATO's cyberwarfare in Asia, with the potential to be a base for U.S. cyberattacks against third parties. The move, he said, was on a par with the deployment of a controversial U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea in 2017, which set off an upheaval in Seoul's relationship with Beijing. "This could pose a security threat to East Asia that is comparable to the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system by U.S. forces in South Korea, which must be taken very seriously by China," Liang said. Zhao Minghao, deputy director at the Centre for American Studies of Fudan University in Shanghai, agreed on the THAAD comparison. He also said China would see the U.S.-South Korean engagement against the broader backdrop of the U.S.-China tech rivalry. Zhao said that as a hi-tech ally, South Korea played a critical role in supporting the U.S. efforts to bolster its cyberwarfare abilities and "integrated deterrence" a strategy targeting China and other adversaries. The goal of the efforts was to consolidate abilities across different operational domains, including land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace, Zhao said. Part of South Korea's importance in this area is its role as a gateway for regional communications infrastructure. By controlling nodes like South Korea, the U.S. can penetrate transmission systems and steal network secrets more easily. Liang said South Korea was a "key hub country" for cybersecurity because it connected the trans-Pacific submarine cables to the Asian continent, including many to China. South Korea's hosting of the U.S.-led APEX event was a clear signal of U.S. intentions towards China, Liang said, adding other node countries such Japan, the Philippines, and Singapore also took part in the exercise. "By controlling nodes like South Korea, the U.S. can penetrate transmission systems and steal network secrets more easily," Liang said. "By roping in these countries, NATO will gain access to entries where it can launch cyberattacks against China." The U.S. and NATO have conducted numerous cybersecurity exercises in the Indo-Pacific not only with South Korea but other allies such as Japan and Australia through Aukus and the Quad. Zhao at Fudan University said the efforts highlighted a growing trend of bloc confrontation in the Asia-Pacific, posing increasingly military and strategic threats to China. He said the U.S. was aiming to expand these coalitions to areas such as 6G and artificial intelligence. "Cyber cooperation might serve as a precursor for the U.S. to explore a framework or mechanism for building alliances and expanding influence, and then move forward in other areas. I believe this is something China is very concerned about," he said. China has been boosting its military applications in cyberspace. In April, China created new People's Liberation Army (PLA) units for information, space and cyber operations in its most sweeping military reorganization in nearly a decade. But, Zhao said, there could still be a gap between the PLA's strength and that of the U.S. and NATO overall. "[China] must consider strengthening its military abilities for future warfare while addressing the intensifying security challenges in cyber operations," he said. He also said China must try to head off the formation of blocs, saying a big driver behind the U.S.-South Korea cyber cooperation was likely to be North Korea. North Korea was at the center of South Korea's decision to allow THAAD's deployment seven years ago. Sean O'Malley, professor at the department of international studies of Dongseo University in Busan, South Korea, said the continuing cyberattacks from North Korea, along with its growing cooperation with Russia, bolstered South Korea's need for greater cooperation with the U.S. and other like-minded states in cybersecurity. "From the South Korean perspective, this cooperation is strictly for defensive purposes and should be understood as necessary protective measures against an increasingly dangerous cyber landscape," he said. One way to stabilize relations with Seoul was for Beijing to acknowledge South Korea's rationale for deploying the THAAD missile defense system, without endorsing it. "China could then offer to play the good neighbor and call for nuclear security talks among the concerned powers in Northeast Asia," he said. Read the full story at SCMP. New Delhi, December 1: Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Sunday remanded Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Naresh Balyan to two days of police custody in connection with an extortion case. Balyan was arrested by the Delhi Police Crime Branch on Saturday. "Delhi Police's Crime Branch has arrested Naresh Balyan, MLA of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, in connection with an extortion case. The arrest followed the examination of an audio clip featuring a conversation between the MLA and notorious gangster Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu," the Delhi Police posted on X on Saturday. This development follows the release of an audio clip by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), purportedly featuring the AAP legislator from Uttam Nagar instructing gangster Kapil Sangwan, also known as Nandu. "In this case, there is an audio recording of a conversation between Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu and AAP MLA Naresh Balyan available in the public domain. The ongoing action by the Delhi Police against gangsters operating from abroad also aims to identify their local associates. The primary objective of organised crime conducted from abroad is financial gain," the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) said. Naresh Balyan Arrested: Delhi Police Arrests AAP MLA in Extortion Case. On Saturday, BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia alleged that Naresh Balyan was involved in extortion with the assistance of a gangster, claiming that "gangsters are the biggest supporters of AAP." Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Bhatia stated, "AAP has become a party of goons. Gangsters are the biggest supporters of AAP. They openly extort money by threatening the common man under the instructions of AAP MLAs. With the consent of Arvind Kejriwal, AAP MLAs are running extortion rackets by intimidating innocent citizens." "There is a Racket of Extortion," BJP's Virendraa Sachdeva Accuses AAP of "looting' After Arrest of Naresh Balyan. Naresh Balyan Sent to 2-Day Police Custody Delhi: AAP MLA Naresh Balyan has been sent on a 2-day police remand https://t.co/zjuOZwufln pic.twitter.com/oiofQQxvWC IANS (@ians_india) December 1, 2024 "In an audio clip of AAP's 'extortionist' MLA Naresh Balyan, he is heard talking to a gangster about extorting money from a builder. Is it the job of an MLA, who has sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution, to threaten citizens and run an extortion racket with Kejriwal's approval?" Bhatia added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) BERLIN, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The China-Europe freight train service has become a cornerstone of economic ties between China and the European Union (EU), providing essential support for industries requiring time-sensitive and reliable logistics, Olaf Krueger, chairman of the International Rail Freight Business Association, told Xinhua in an interview. The imminent arrival of the 100,000th China-Europe Freight Train in Duisburg, Germany, marks a historic milestone for this rail link, which has emerged as a vital economic bridge. Krueger emphasized its pivotal role in enhancing trade and supply chain efficiency. "Rail transport has made a significant contribution to the strong economic growth between China and the countries of the European Union. This transport option on the Silk Road has developed expansively and has been used in particular for time-critical transport," he noted. Krueger praised railway workers for reducing transit times and improving transfer efficiency at gauge junctions. Recalling the challenges they faced, he highlighted how Chinese workers managed to transfer cargo at the China-Kazakhstan border during harsh winters with two meters of snow. "These photos have gone around the world, and the railwaymen involved must still be thanked today for this great effort," he said. Under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the railway has become a dependable logistics solution for goods requiring prompt delivery, seeing significant growth as an option for time-sensitive shipments. "European companies have increasingly relied on the railway to optimize supply chains. Its stability and reliability ensure 'just-in-time' deliveries, which are essential for many industries," Krueger said. He highlighted how importers of Chinese goods benefit from shorter transit times and faster market responses. European companies with production facilities in China have also come to depend on the rail network for material transport between factories. "Rail's reliability prevents production delays and maintains supply chain continuity," he explained. The retail sector is another key beneficiary, with many discount chains using the China-Europe Railway Express to ship non-food promotional items. "Retailers are increasingly demanding 'just-in-time' services, and the Railway Express meets these needs effectively," Krueger said. As demand for rail services continues to grow, particularly from central and western China, Krueger stressed the importance of expanding railway infrastructure. "This is particularly necessary in difficult political and economic situations, as alternative transport solutions are required in the event of delivery restrictions in both maritime transport and air freight," he said. Krueger proposed optimizing the European rail network and logistics hubs to improve efficiency. Italy, he noted, is a key consumer market with increasing demand for both imports and exports. "More logistics terminals in Italy would boost container utilization rates on both legs of the journey," he suggested. He also advocated for improved rail links to ports such as Piraeus in Greece. "Expanding rail connections in Southern and Eastern Europe will enhance efficiency and foster economic integration," he added. "Efficient transport connections are a prerequisite for the continuation and deepening of diplomatic relations between China and the EU," Krueger said. Jaipur, December 1: A 35-year-old woman was killed in an attack by a bear in Rajsthan's Pali district on Sunday, officials said. Station House Officer (SHO), Siriyari, Geeta Singh said Santosh Devi (35), who had gone to collect wood from a forest area in Juni Phulad village in the morning, sustained serious injuries when the bear suddenly attacked her. Bear Attack in Uttarakhand: Man Out To Graze Goats Mauled to Death by Bear in Uttarkashi, Mutilated Body Found in Cave (Watch Video). The SHO said the woman was taken to a hospital where she succumbed to her injuries during treatment. According to a doctor at the hospital, the bear had broken the woman's skull and nose. There were deep wounds on her stomach and neck as well. After the post-mortem examination, the body was handed over to the family members of the victim. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], December 1 (ANI): The Department of Pensions and Pensioners' Welfare (DoPPW) has concluded its Digital Life Certificate (DLC) Campaign 3.0, which was aimed at simplifying life certificate submissions for pensioners, particularly super senior citizens, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions said in a release on Sunday. The campaign saw about 1.30 crore DLCs generated, making it the largest-ever initiative aimed at improving the welfare of pensioners in India, the ministry added. Also Read | Liverpool vs Manchester City Lineups: Check Predicted Starting XIs For Premier League 2024-25 Football Match at Anfield. A key highlight of the campaign was the innovative use of Face Authentication Technology, which accounted for over 39 lakh DLCs (more than 30 per cent of the total), marking a 200-fold increase from the previous DLC 2.0 campaign. The ministry further said that the face authentication technology proved particularly beneficial for elderly pensioners with faded fingerprints, differently-abled individuals, and those residing in remote areas. Also Read | Migrant Kashmiri Pandit Woman Will Not Lose Migrant Status After Marrying Non-Migrant, Says J&K and Ladakh High Court. Additionally, more than 8 lakh DLCs were submitted by pensioners aged 80 and above, showcasing the campaign's focus on elderly citizens. The DLC Campaign 3.0 prioritised inclusion, with a special focus on underserved populations, ensuring no pensioner was left behind. Collaboration with 19 banks, India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), and other key departments facilitated nationwide coverage. Over 1845 camps were set up across more than 800 cities and districts, and 1.8 lakh postmen were deployed to assist pensioners on the ground. As per the ministry release, the campaign's success can be attributed to the extensive support from various stakeholders, including pensioner welfare associations, pension disbursing banks, the Ministry of Railways, UIDAI, and other government bodies. The campaign's geographical reach was vast, with Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal emerging as key contributors, processing over 20 lakh, 13 lakh, 11 lakh, and 10 lakh DLCs, respectively. Notably, the Defense Ministry processed 25 lakh DLCs, serving retired armed forces personnel, while the Central Civil Ministry and Railways also made significant contributions. The campaign saw active media outreach through DD News, AIR, SANSAD TV, PIB, and PTI, reaching over 122 million people nationwide. Extensive publicity, including TV discussions, radio broadcasts, and social media campaigns, played a vital role in raising awareness and ensuring a broad participation from pensioners, it added. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], December 1 (ANI): Singapore contributed the highest Foreign Direct Investment to India in the July-September quarter, with 50 per cent of the inwards investments coming in from the neighbouring country. FPI inflows to India rose 43 per cent to USD 13.6 billion in the July-September quarter of 2024-25, data made available by DPIIT showed. Over USD 7.5 billion or 50 per cent of the total FDI came from Singapore. Also Read | Tech Layoffs in 2024: Tech Layoffs in 2024: KPMG, Intel, Dell, Luminar and Others Reduce Hundreds of Employees This Year, So Far 1.49 Lakh People Affected. Singapore stands with India, Singapore High Commissioner in India, HC Wong, wrote in an X post, sharing the FDI figures. India is in desperate need of FDI with such investments have been weak in the recent past. Also Read | BSF Raising Day 2024: Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge Honour Border Security Force Personnel, Commend Their Dedication and Courage. Singapore has been a major source of FDI for India. In the year 2023-24, Singapore was the largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) for India, with an estimated USD 11.77 billion in inflows. The cumulative inflow of FDI from Singapore from April 2000 to March 2024 is around USD 159.94 billion. In bilateral trade, Singapore was the sixth largest global trade partner of India in 2023-24 with a total trade of USD 35.61 billion which accounts for approximately 29 per cent of India's total trade with ASEAN. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, December 1: A man was stabbed to death while crossing a park in west Delhi, six months after his brother was killed in a similar attack in , an official said on Sunday. Police apprehended two juveniles for the killing that happened on Saturday. Police said they received a PCR call on Saturday at 8 pm. The victim identified as Manoj was stabbed in Naraina. Delhi Shocker: Man Kills Wife over Suspicion of Illicit Relationship in Okhla. "After getting information, police teams were rushed to the spot and Manoj was taken to a nearby hospital where he succumbed. We have launched an investigation into the incident and have apprehended two juveniles. "However, the victim's family suspects the involvement of more individuals and has called for a thorough probe. We are investigating the entire matter from all the angles," Deputy Commissioner of Police (west) Vichitra Veer told PTI Videos. Delhi Shocker: Man Held Arrested Killing Brother-in-Law by Smashing His Head With Grind Stone for Ill-Treating His Sister. Manoj's younger brother was also stabbed to death six months ago in Naraina. So far, the officer said that no link between the incidents has emerged and further investigation is underway. Family members of the victim staged a protest by blocking a road in Naraina to press for strict action against the accused. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru/Belagavi (Karnataka), Dec 1 (PTI) Senior BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal on Sunday said his anti-Waqf march is not directed at any individual but is a fight for farmers, 'Sanatana Dharma', and Hindus. MLA Yatnal, along with senior BJP leaders such as Ramesh Jarkiholi, Mahesh Kumathalli, Arvind Limbavali, and Madhu Bangarappa, launched a month-long anti-Waqf' march from Bidar in north Karnataka to Chamarajanagar in the southern part of the state. Also Read | Chandrababu Naidu-Led NDA Government in Andhra Pradesh Dissolves State Waqf Board Nominated by Previous YSR Govt. The agitation, which began on November 25, will continue until December 25 and is aimed at opposing eviction notices issued to some farmers and institutions by the Waqf Board, which claims rights over their land. The BJP leader, known for his strong criticism of former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, his son and BJP state president BY Vijayendra, and their dynastic politics,' clarified that he had no vested interests in the matter. Also Read | AAP MLA Naresh Balyan Sent to 2-Day Police Custody in Extortion Case (Watch Video). My agitation is not for vested interests. We are not doing this to remove a president or make someone CM. Our fight is for the farmers, Sanatan Dharma, and you. It will continue even if we have to sacrifice our lives, Yatnal said, addressing a gathering in Belagavi. The firebrand BJP leader's remarks came amid criticism from the Vijayendra camp, which demanded his expulsion from the party for alleged anti-party activities, as the state unit had not granted permission for the march. Yatnal rejected the claim that his agitation was "politically motivated" and asked, With whom do I have an adjustment? The ruling Congress shut down my sugar factory worth Rs 850 crore in the most backward region of Karnataka. They have filed 42 cases against me. Is that adjustment? He also refuted allegations of being a Congress agent,' saying he had never approached Chief Minister Siddaramaiah or Deputy CM D K Shivakumar. Yatnal reminded Yediyurappa that Srimant Patil, Ramesh Jarkiholi, and Mahesh Kumathalli were key figures in Operation Lotus' in 2019, which brought the BJP government to power by toppling the Congress-JD(S) coalition. Claiming that an attempt by the Vijayendra camp to disrupt the agitation was underway, Yatnal warned that such a move would have serious consequences. "They want to operate on us, but we are the top doctors in Karnataka... We know everything about your nervous system. We are silent because our fight is to sensitise people on the Waqf issue," he said. Yatnal also announced that the public meeting in Davangere would be a grand show of strength and urged people to come in large numbers. He promised to raise the Waqf issue during the upcoming winter session of the Karnataka Assembly in Belagavi. Reacting to the ongoing anti-Waqf agitation,' Vijayendra criticised Yatnal and his team. Some of our leaders, with their vested interests, are speaking absurdly against seasoned leader Yediyurappa, and some are trying to use Basanagouda Patil Yatnal to shoot from Vijayapura. This will not benefit the party, he told media. Vijayendra, the MLA for Shikaripura, stated that the BJP's defeat in all three assembly bypolls had deeply hurt party workers. The bypoll results call for unity in the party to face the ruling Congress. Some people, however, fail to understand that and think abusing Yediyurappa and me is their religious duty, he added. Vijayendra further claimed that his rivals were under the illusion that criticising him and his father would lead to a higher post. In response, Yatnal told reporters, I did not speak a word against Yediyurappa or his family. I only spoke against the Waqf. Is it wrong to speak against the Waqf? Why would I speak against them? Don't I have other work? Asked about some BJP leaders calling for his expulsion, Yatnal dismissed the idea, saying, Are they saying they will expel me? Nothing will happen. I will emerge as number one. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu) [India], December 1 (ANI): Continuous heavy rainfall caused by Cyclone Fengal has led to overflowing dams in Kanchipuram, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue an orange alert for the district on Sunday. In the past 30 hours, 163 millimetres of rainfall has been recorded in the Kanchipuram district, 207 millimeters in Uthiramerur, 134 millimeters in Walajabad, 140 millimeters in Sriperumbudur, 114 millimeters in Kundrathur and 134 millimeters in Chembarambakkam. Also Read | Mallikarjun Kharge Accuses BJP of Attempting To Divide Society by Holding Surveys at Every Mosque, Says 'Saffron Party Disregarding RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's Mandir-Masjid Advice'. Additionally, 10 out of 381 lakes in Kanchipuram district and 103 out of 528 lakes in Chengalpattu district have reached their full capacity. Furthermore, due to continuous rainfall, the Hanumanthandalam and Magaral dams in Uthiramerur taluk of the Kanchipuram district are overflowing and the excess water is flowing into the Cheyyar river. Also Read | Sharad Pawar-Led NCP Picks Jitendra Awhad As Party Group Leader in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. Heavy rainfall has been recorded in several parts of Tamil Nadu since Saturday morning, with Cyclone Fengal causing widespread flooding. Cyclone Fengal, which made landfall on the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Saturday, November 30, has caused widespread flooding in several areas, particularly in Cuddalore. As the storm moves westward, heavy rainfall is expected in parts of Andhra Pradesh, including coastal and Rayalaseema regions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday issued warnings for continued severe weather in these areas. KVS Srinivas, Managing Director of the Cyclone Warning Centre in Visakhapatnam, stated that the cyclone has remained stationary at the same location for the past six hours but is expected to move westward slowly. He further mentioned that moderate to heavy rainfall is expected in several regions of Andhra Pradesh, including the coastal and Rayalaseema regions, in the next 24 hours. "Cyclone Fengal crossed North Tamil Nadu between 10.30 pm and 11.30 pm last night. It is now moving westward. During the past six hours, it has been stationary at the same location. It is likely to move westwards very slowly. As we forecasted for coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema, heavy t very heavy rainfall was recorded at some places in these regions. Many areas in Rayalaseema have recorded heavy rainfall. Today, moderate rainfall is likely to continue in many places of coastal Andhra Pradesh," said Srinivas. "Heavy rainfall is forecasted for Kakinada and other districts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh, as well as for Nellore in the south coastal region. Heavy rainfall is also expected in several areas of Rayalaseema in the next 24 hours," he added. Meanwhile, several districts in Tamil Nadu continue to experience incessant rainfall after Cyclone Fengal made landfall on November 30. Residential areas in the Cuddalore district have been flooded, and disaster teams are using boats to rescue affected residents. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), along with the local administration, is actively involved in rescue operations, using boats to evacuate people from flood-hit areas. Earlier, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that Cyclone Fengal made landfall on the coasts of Puducherry and Tamil Nadu and remained stationary for six hours near the Union Territory, approximately 30 kilometres north of Cuddalore and 40 kilometres east of Viluppuram. According to the IMD, Cyclone Fengal crossed the North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts late on Saturday night, between 10:30 pm and 11:30 pm IST, with wind speeds of 70-80 km/h, gusting up to 90 km/h. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chennai, December 1: Indian Army troops from the Chennai Garrison Battalion, operating under the Dakshin Bharat Area, were mobilized in the early hours of Sunday to assist in rescue operations in flood-affected areas of Puducherry. Requisitioned by the Puducherry District Collector around 1 am, a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) column consisting of one officer, six Junior commissioned officers and 62 other ranks was deployed swiftly. The team left Chennai at 2 am and covered a distance of 160 kilometres overnight, reaching Puducherry around 5:30 am. Cyclone Fengal Update: Cyclonic Storm Remains Stationary Near Puducherry, To Weaken in Next 3 Hours, Says IMD. Indian Army Rescues Over 100 People in Puducherry VIDEO | Troops of the Indian Army rescued over 100 people in Puducherry stuck after the landfall of Cyclone Fengal on a nearby coast causing a flood situation in the region. (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/Z3alN6Hg9E Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 1, 2024 Indian Army Launch Flood Relief Operations in Puducherry #WATCH | In response to the heavy rainfall and waterlogging caused by Cyclone Fengal, the Indian Army has launched flood relief operations in Puducherry to assist affected residents. Find the complete story on #PBSHABD. Free to sign up and use for media organizations on pic.twitter.com/552BCxTqys PB-SHABD (@PBSHABD) December 1, 2024 The team led by Major Ajay Sangwan was briefed about the critical situation in the Krishna Nagar area upon reaching Puducherry. The water level in some localities of Krishna Nagar rose to nearly five feet, leaving residents of nearly 500 houses stranded. The efforts made by the Indian Army during its rescue operations started at 6:15 am, with over 100 individuals being evacuated in the first two hours. Cyclone Fengal Update: Chennai Airport Resumes Operations After Cyclonic Storm Crosses Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Coasts (Watch Video). Cyclone Fengal remains stationary for the last six hours close to the union territory nearly 30 kilometres north of Cuddalore and 40 kms east of Villupuram. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed that as of 5:30 in the morning, the cyclone has not moved in the past six hours and remains stationary 120 kilometres south-southwest of Chennai. It is expected to move westward slowly and likely to weaken into a deep depression over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the next six hours, as per IMD. The weather department has issued a red alert for north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh. "The Cyclonic Storm Fengal over north coastal Tamil Nadu & Puducherry remained stationary during past 6 hours and lay centred at 0530 hours IST of today, the 1st December 2024 over the same region near latitude 12.0N and longitude 79.8E, close to Puducherry, about 30 km north of Cuddalore, 40 km east of Villupuram and 120 km south-southwest of Chennai. It is likely to move westwards slowly and weaken gradually into a deep depression over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during the next 6 hours. The system is being continuously monitored," IMD said. After Cyclone Fengal made landfall yesterday, the beaches in Chennai witnessed high tides and rough sea conditions this morning. The weather forecast issued by the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) predicted "isolated heavy to very heavy" rainfall in Chennai for Sunday. The official statement added that residents in the affected areas have been advised to remain indoors and follow all instructions from local authorities to ensure their safety. Meanwhile, people living in nearby areas have been shifted to relief camps near Kalpakkam in Chengalpattu district, in the wake of Cyclone Fengal. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], December 1 (ANI): Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Sunday visited and oversaw the functioning of on-spot disposal of applications under the Prime Minister-Unauthorised Colonies in Delhi Awas Adhikar Yojna (PM-UDAY). The special camp was organised by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) at Shyam Vihar in Najafgarh. https://x.com/LtGovDelhi/status/1863207142905327702 Also Read | Please Get Used to Seeing Me Regularly, Am Learning Malayalam Too: Priyanka Gandhi Tells Wayanad's People. In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), the Lieutenant Governor said, " Also distributed Certificate of ownership/Conveyance deed to 40 residents of various unauthorised colonies, whose applications were disposed of at the special camp. 10 such camps were organized in different unauthorised colonies across Delhi." Vinai Kumar Saxena further added, "I have directed officials to dispose of the 62,000 pending as well as fresh applications, in a mission mode. The camps at people's doorsteps have a Single Window Clearance Mode with facilitation for documentation and their uploading on the portal, scrutiny, notarization and other ancillary activities along with on-the-spot regularization of their properties in a flexible and humane manner, as the PM-UDAY Scheme envisages." Also Read | Bear Attack in Rajasthan: 35-Year-Old Woman Killed in Attack by Wild Animal in Pali While Collecting Wood. LG Saxena further added that the large turnout and positive feedback from the public in these camps and their appreciation is indeed motivating and strengthens our commitment to give ownership rights to lakhs of people living in Delhi's unauthorised colonies. Speaking with ANI on Sunday, LG Saxena explained that these camps would continue for a month. "PM Uday Scheme was launched in Delhi to give ownership rights to the residents of unauthorized colonies. But there were a lot of people who were not able to complete the formalities for this...Today, the camps are being organised to help those people with the formalities...These camps will be held for a whole month. I will keep doing such work in the interest of the public...There is no limit that we have fixed for these camps. Everyone can come here and get the help," he said. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kolkata, Dec 1 (PTI) The number of flights to Kolkata from Bangladesh has dwindled over the last few months with a falling passenger count, amid the ongoing crisis in the neighbouring country, officials at the NSCBI airport here said on Sunday. One airline from India has also scrapped its plan to begin flight services between Kolkata and Dhaka for the time being, they said. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: Woman Dies Due to Electrocution While Removing Phone From Charge in Ballia. Flights arriving in Kolkata, operated by US-Bangla Airlines, a private carrier of the neighbouring country, were 84 in July and the number came down to 24 in November, the officials said. According to officials at the Kolkata airport, the airline carried 7,391 passengers to Kolkata in July, which came down to 1,646 in November. Also Read | Mallikarjun Kharge Accuses BJP of Attempting To Divide Society by Holding Surveys at Every Mosque, Says 'Saffron Party Disregarding RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's Mandir-Masjid Advice'. The number of departures from Kolkata to Bangladesh simultaneously shows the same trend. Similarly, the national carrier of the neighbouring country Biman Bangladesh had operated 59 flights to Kolkata in July and the number fell to 28 in November, the officials said. Indian low-cost carrier Indigo's flight arrival figure from Bangladesh has also come down from 62 to 44, sources at the airport said. Biman Bangladesh from August 10 reduced operations from two flights per day to one, while US-Bangla Airlines slipped to one per day from three daily flights from August 17, the sources at the airport said. According to industry experts, the decline in flight operations happened due to the continuous crisis in Bangladesh since August this year. Passengers are coming in fewer numbers due to the crisis, while people from this side are not going to the neighbouring country due to the fear of losing their lives, the experts said. Air India Express was supposed to start flights to Dhaka from Kolkata and Chennai from the winter schedule but the airline has put the plan on hold due to the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh from the middle of this year, sources at the airport said. There has been a great impact on tourism. Shop owners in New Market area in Kolkata, hotels in and around the central part of the city, including Sudder Street, money changers, travel agents and other businessmen have been hit the most, Anil Punjabi, committee member of Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) representing East, told PTI over phone. The hotels in the New Market area here used to experience 100 per cent occupancy but it has come down to 20 per cent," he said. The impact due to the ongoing Bangladesh crisis is much more than what had happened during the COVID-19 period. If this continues, many people will be affected and they will lose their sources of income," Punjabi said. Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) eastern region chairman Anjani Dhanuka said the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh, where now people from a particular community are being targeted, has affected trade in India, especially in Kolkata. While Indian carrier Indigo is still operating flights between the two countries with moderate load, the airlines based in Bangladesh have already curtailed flights as passenger footfall has gone down over the last few months, he said. "While fresh VISA is not being given by India to Bangladesh citizens due to the unrest there, people from here are not going to the neighbouring country out of fearthus resulting in low number of passengers," he explained. Medical tourism has almost stopped and exports of agri-products, onion and motor parts to the neighbouring country have gone down by 90 per cent, Dhanuka said. Nothing will be fine unless the situation in Bangladesh becomes normal, he said. Naresh Parnani, a businessman who owns a silver jewellery shop in New Market area, said that his business is down by 20 per cent. The businesses of some of his friends have gone down by 50 per cent, he claimed. They deal in garments and several things such as watches and clocks. Room rents of hotels in Sudder Street have also come down, Parnani said, A room which used to cost Rs 3,000 per day has come down to Rs 600, he added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], December 1 (ANI): The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) hosted the prestigious INBIX-ADNAT 2024 Conference, an event that highlighted advanced research and applications of DNA science, bioinformatics, and multi-omics. Spanning three days from November 28 to 30, the conference brought together luminaries from diverse disciplines, including archaeogenetics, forensics, linguistics, and genomics, to discuss groundbreaking advancements in human health and beyond. Also Read | Kerala Weather Update: IMD Issues Red Alert for Four Districts in State; Heavy Rains Expected on December 2. Professor Gyaneshwer Chaubey, a gene scientist from BHU's Department of Zoology, explained about the history of the Association of DNA Fingerprinting and Associated Technologies (ADNAT). "The ADNAT was founded 25 years ago by the late Dr Lalji Singh, who is known as the "Father of DNA and Fingerprinting". Last year, 22 people from across 15 countries and 300 young scientists from India participated in this annual conference. This year, we have started with bio-informatics," Chaubey said. Also Read | Telangana Encounter: 7 Maoists Killed in Gunfight With Police in Mulugu District. This year's conference expanded its scope, merging bioinformatics with genomics to address contemporary research challenges. "Today's gene analysis is impossible without bioinformatics," Prof Chaubey noted, emphasizing the integration of linguists, archaeologists, and genomics specialists in collaborative dialogues. One of the unique highlights of the conference was its focus on venomics -- the study of snake venom. "Snake bites cause a death every six minutes. Developing a universal anti-venom is crucial to identifying the specific snake species involved in bites, especially in rural areas," Prof Chaubey said. International experts shared presented research on ancient DNA and soil analysis reflecting on human relationships and diversity. Scientists from the United States demonstrated techniques to extract DNA from soil, to see the relationship between people, and why we are different. Australian researchers presented findings on Denisovans, an extinct human species linked to the Yeti, and their genetic ties to current populations. Linguists also contributed by tracing the origins and spread of languages from Southeast Asia, providing fresh insights into the evolution of human culture. Professor Bruce Whitelaw, Director of the Roslin Institute in United Kingdom, where the world's first cloned sheep, Dolly, was created, addressed the gathering. He introduced the concept of biological engineering through CRISPR genome-editing technology. He said that this theory is very special for India because there are so many diseases in India, and there is no cure for them. "We can make corrections by cutting the genome using CRISPR technology. This is a big theory that will develop with time and will prove to be very effective for India," said Prof Whitelaw, highlighting the potential of CRISPR to correct genetic disorders. The conference aimed to inspire the next generation of Indian scientists. "Our goal is to expose young researchers to the forefront of science, giving them a glimpse of what lies 5-10 years ahead," Prof Chaubey explained. By presenting unpublished research and emerging theories, the event offered participants a strategic advantage in their academic and professional pursuits. ADNAT is a professional society with over 600 members worldwide, including scientists, scholars, and practitioners in various sectors. The organization continues to promote DNA technologies and their application in healthcare, agriculture, forensics, and social welfare while addressing their ethical, social and legal implications. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) JERUSALEM, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Israel's military said Sunday that it intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Yemen before it entered Israeli airspace. The missile triggered sirens in several cities and communities across central Israel, the military said in a statement. Fragments from the missile or the interceptor fell in the playground of a kindergarten in Tzur Hadassah, a community near Jerusalem, causing some damage, the local council said in a statement. Fragments fell also in Halhul near the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian media reports. No injuries were reported. Earlier, Houthi media outlets reported that the group launched a ballistic rocket towards Israel early Sunday morning. Residents near the Yemeni Red Sea port city of Hodeidah wrote on social media that they spotted a big rocket speeding towards the north. Since November 2023, the Houthi group has launched rocket and drone attacks on Israel and disrupted "Israeli-linked" shipping in the Red Sea, allegedly to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Guwahati, Dec 1 (PTI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Sunday that the situation in neighbouring Manipur will have an impact on the state. Additional police forces have been deployed in Barak Valley which shares a border with violence-hit Manipur to ensure no spill-over effects. Also Read | AAP MLA Naresh Balyan Sent to 2-Day Police Custody in Extortion Case (Watch Video). Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme in Cachar district, Sarma said, I think the situation in Manipur will definitely have some impact on Assam. That is why we have deployed additional police forces in Barak Valley to see that nothing spills over to Assam." The Barak Valley of Cachar district shares a border with Jiribam of Manipur. Also Read | Cyclone Fengal Weakens, Unprecedented Rainfall Paralyses Life in Puducherry, Tamil Nadus Villupuram Affected. The ethnically diverse Jiribam, which was largely untouched by the clashes in Imphal Valley and the adjoining hills, witnessed violence after the mutilated body of a farmer was found in a field in June this year. More than 250 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kuki-Zo groups since May last year. The violence escalated in Manipur after three women and three children belonging to the Meitei community had gone missing from a relief camp in Jiribam district, following a gunfight between security forces and suspected Kuki-Zo militants that resulted in the deaths of 10 insurgents on November 11. Bodies of those six were later found. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], December 1 (ANI): Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has approached the Delhi High Court, challenging the trial court's decision to take cognizance of the Enforcement Directorate's chargesheet in the Excise Policy case. Sisodia's plea stated that the chargesheet was filed without the necessary sanction approval from the competent authorities. Also Read | 'Will Support BJP's Decision on Maharashtra CM': Eknath Shinde Rules Out Differences Among Mahayuti Allies Over Government Formation. The plea filed stated that the allegations against the petitioner, Manish Sisodia, relate to official acts carried out by him in the course of his duties as a public servant. It further stated that the Enforcement Directorate, in this case, has filed the impugned supplementary prosecution complaint (chargesheet) without obtaining prior sanction from the competent authority. Also Read | Germany: Volkswagen Strikes Called by Trade Union. The plea contends that the Special Court's decision to take cognizance of the chargesheet, without this necessary sanction, contradicts established legal precedents. As such, the prosecution of the petitioner without the required sanction is unlawful. As a result, the plea seeks an order for the quashing and setting aside of all consequential proceedings, both preceding and subsequent to the order passed in the case, as stated by the petitioner, Manish Sisodia. The hearing in the matter is scheduled to be held on Monday by Delhi High Court bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri. In August, the Supreme Court granted bail to former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in two cases related to the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam. The court was hearing pleas filed by Sisodia seeking bail in both cases lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), involving allegations of money laundering and corruption. Sisodia, who was arrested in February 2023, had previously been denied bail by the Delhi High Court. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Dec 1 (PTI) The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has announced a series of initiatives aimed at revitalizing the cultural landscape of Lutyens' Delhi, promoting art and culture in the area. Speaking at an open dialogue on Art and Culture at Triveni Kala Sangam in Mandi House, NDMC Nice Chairperson Kuljeet Singh Chahal emphasised the importance of integrating heritage with modern development, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of "Vikas Bhi aur Virasat Bhi" (Development with Heritage and Art), an official statement said. Also Read | How To Go Live on X; Check Step-by-Step Process of Going Live on Elon Musk's Social Platform Using Third-Party Software, Media Studio and OBS Studio. Chahal announced a series of programs designed to transform Lutyens' area into a global cultural hub, offering platforms for artists to showcase their talents and enhancing the city's aesthetic appeal, the statement said. "This initiative provides an opportunity to collaborate with artists and enhance the city's beauty while preserving its rich cultural heritage," Chahal said. Also Read | Valsad Shocker: Teenage Boy Kills Friend Who Demanded Money for Damaged Mobile Phone; Detained. It includes the revival of the Srijan Art Gallery at Nehru Park, the beautification of streets through vibrant street art, and the launch of a "Music in the Park" series at Nehru Park rom February 2025. Plans are also in place for the organisation of art exhibitions in Connaught Place subways, a proposed annual Mandi House Art Festival, and the establishment of an art plaza at prominent locations like Khan Market, according to the statement. Additionally, the civic body plans to create rehearsal spaces in schools and support emerging artists by easing permissions for street performances and nukkad nataks (street plays), it added. As per the statement, prominent artists and cultural figures like Shri Rameshwar Broota, Ms. Prathibha Prahlad, and Shri Amar (Director, Triveni Kala Sangam) participated in the event, offering suggestions on enhancing the city's cultural infrastructure, including the establishment of public art installations and digital promotion of art. Chahal's announcement signals NDMC's commitment to fostering a vibrant cultural ecosystem in Delhi, with the aim to make the national capital a centre of artistic excellence and cultural pride for India and the world, it added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], December 1 (ANI): Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said that India's northeast region is streaming fast into national life, now with 17 airports, 20 waterways, and deep digital penetration. Dhankhar, addressing the special session of Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly in Itanagar on Saturday said that the region's organic and natural farming offers a model for other states, and its indigenous resources like bamboo, rubber, and silk present enormous market opportunities. Also Read | Maharashtra: Maha Vikas Aghadi Faces Existential Crisis, Mahayuti Betting Big on Consolidation. He lauded the state's progress and its contributions to India's unity and prosperity. Jagdeep Dhankhar said the Act East Policy has elevated the Look East Policy to a functional and transformative level. Also Read | BJP-NDA States Get Lion's Share of Centre's Tourism Dole for Developing 40 New Sites. He remarked, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the vision of Look East to the next level, a more functional level that could affect ground realities and be transformative, and that was Act East policy. Jagdeep Dhankhar said that political parties must understand that ultimately the interest of all converges in nation prospering and nationalism blossoming. "We cannot, under any situation, keep any interest above our national interest. Nation is first, unity of the nation is first." On India's democratic ethos, the Vice-President expressed his concern about disruptions in legislative functioning, saying, "We cannot afford this kind of spectacle in a country that is the mother of democracy, the largest democracy. How can we go against the spirit of the Constitution? How can we afford to walk out of our obligations?" He also reminded of the importance of being "vocal for local", adding, "Be vocal for local--employment opportunities will be generated, foreign exchange will be saved, and entrepreneurship will blossom. We cannot afford to import items that are made in this country, from carpets to furniture, electronics, toys, kites, diyas, and candles." Reflecting on governance, Dhankhar said, Corruption has been neutralized by technology, ensuring transparency and accountability in governance. Thanks to transformative technology, there is now no human interface in transferring benefits; it is all digital, direct, and seamless. Concluding his address, Dhankhar reiterated the importance of unity and nationalism, saying, "we are one, we don't have to be one because we know each other's language, we are one because we belong to this great nation." Lt Gen Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik, PVSM, UYSM, YSM (Retd.), Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, Chief Minister Arunachal Pradesh and Tesam Pongte, Speaker of Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, among other dignitaries were also present on the occasion. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Guwahati, Dec 1 (PTI) Union minister Annpurna Devi on Sunday claimed that the northeastern region is witnessing multidimensional development under the current government. The central government is especially committed to the development of women and various initiatives have been undertaken to promote healthy lifestyle for women and children, she said. Also Read | 'New Waqf Board To Be Constituted Soon': Andhra Pradesh Government Clarifies State Waqf Board Dissolved Due to Certain Concerns. Speaking at a 'Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi' programme here, the Union Minister for Women and Child Development lauded the northeastern region's multidimensional development over the past decade under the Narendra Modi government. She emphasised achievements in areas such as peace restoration, infrastructure development and enhanced connectivity through railways, roads and airways, as well as advancements in education and health. Also Read | Rahul Gandhi Expresses Concern Over India's GDP Growth Rate Declining to Its Lowest in 2 Years, Says 'New Thinking Needed for Economy, Can't Progress When Handful Accrue Its Benefits'. Highlighting women empowerment, Devi said that through the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), nearly 10 crore women, including 43 lakh from Assam, have achieved self-reliance. She underlined the ministry's dedication to combating malnutrition through initiatives like Poshan Pakhwada and Poshan Maah, with Assam contributing to over 30 lakh campaign activities promoting healthy lifestyles for women and children. The minister highlighted that in the 2024-25 budget, Anganwadi workers and assistants have been included in the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, providing an annual health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family. Over 60,000 Anganwadi workers and helpers in Assam now have Ayushman cards, ensuring better healthcare access, Devi added. During the programme organised by the Women and Child Development Department of the Assam government, the Union minister distributed certificates to the state-level master trainers. Devi also highlighted the ministry's commitment to early childhood development through the 'Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi' programme, which focuses on quality education for children in the age group of 3-6 years. She said that 21,772 master trainers from 35 states and 42,308 Anganwadi workers from 20 states, including 1,600 master trainers from Assam, have been trained under this initiative. Assam Women and Child Development Minister Ajanta Neog, also present on the occasion, emphasised the importance of the development of women and children for the state's overall progress. The Union minister also held a review meeting to assess the progress of schemes under the Women and Child Development Department in the state. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Amritsar (Punjab) [India], December 1 (ANI): The Border Security Force celebrated its 60th Raising Day on Sunday with a "significant operational achievement" as it neutralised the 250th Pakistani drone this year, the BSF said in a release. The BSF, largest border guarding force in the world with a strength of nearly 2.65 lakh personnel, celebrates its Raising Day every year on December 1 as it came into existence on December 1, 1965. Also Read | Germany: Volkswagen Strikes Called by Trade Union. "BSF_Punjab marked the 60th BSF Raising Day with a significant operational achievement--the neutralization of 250th drone this year. This achievement underscores BSF's unwavering dedication to national security, even under challenging conditions such as dense fog and zero visibility. Notably, the 200th drone was seized on 9th November 2024 and within next 21 days, an additional 50 drones were knocked down. This rapid success reflects the effectiveness of the advanced surveillance grid and cutting-edge counter-drone technology deployed along the Punjab border," the BSF said in a post on X. The BSF said that the 250th drone was brought down after a rapid and strategic response to rising threats along the Punjab border. Also Read | Cyber Fraud in Hyderabad: SBI Branch Manager Prevents Online, Saves Senior Citizen Couple's INR 30 Lakh Savings. "This remarkable operational achievement highlights the effectiveness of BSF's advanced surveillance grid and cutting-edge counter-drone technology, which play a crucial role in identifying and neutralizing aerial threats," BSF said in the release. By using the latest technology, the BSF has strengthened its ability to ensure that no aerial intrusion goes unnoticed. This achievement also highlights the force's agility and readiness to respond to new security threats, reflecting its constant innovation and adaptation in the face of evolving challenges. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings on the occasion of Border Security Force Raising Day and said that their vigilance and courage contribute to the safety and security of our nation. "Warm wishes to the Border Security Force on their Raising Day! The BSF stands as a critical line of defence, embodying courage, dedication and exceptional service. Their vigilance and courage contribute to the safety and security of our nation," PM Modi said in a post on X. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also greeted the BSF. "Raising day greetings to the personnel of the BSF and their families. The soldiers of the @BSF_India have safeguarded the honor and the ambitions of Bharat with the fiercest determination, never thinking twice to lay down their lives for it. Their valor and sacrifices are the undying wellspring of inspiration that has raised generations of patriots to ensure that our nation continues to flourish forever. My solemn homage to the bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty," Shah posted on X. Mandated to guard the India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders, the BSF is the only force of the nation with a distinctly defined wartime as well as peace-time role.The force has successfully proved its mettle in accomplishing every task assigned to it in times of war and peace situation while ensuring peace and tranquillity on the border. The BSF troops, deployed in the most challenging terrain and remote locations, have been serving as the guardians of India's borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. Till 1965, India's border with Pakistan was manned by the State Armed Police Battalion. On April 9, 1965, Pakistan attacked Sardar Post, Chhar Bet and Beria Bet in Kutch. This exposed the inadequacy of the State Armed Police to cope with armed aggression, due to which the Government of India felt the need for a specialised, centrally controlled Border Security Force that would be armed and trained to man the international border with Pakistan. As a result of the recommendations of the Committee of Secretaries, the Border Security Force came into existence on December 1, 1965. Initially, in 1965, BSF was raised with 25 battalions and, with the passage of time, was expanded as per the requirement of the nation to fight against militancy in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and the Northeast region. The BSF, with a sanctioned strength of over 2,65,000 personnel spread across 192 battalions, is responsible for securing India's borders stretching over 6,386.36 kilometres with Pakistan and Bangladesh. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], December 1 (ANI): The Counter Intelligence (CI) unit of Punjab Police in Amritsar arrested two individuals on Saturday in a major blow to illegal arms smuggling networks amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state. They were apprehended while waiting to receive a weapon consignment smuggled from Pakistan, according to Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, Gaurav Yadav. Also Read | Cyclone Fengal Hits Puducherry and Tamil Nadu: Heavy Rains, Gusty Winds Disrupt Road, Air Services and Daily Life (Watch Videos). Those arrested have been identified as Jagjit Singh alias Nikku and Gurwinder Singh alias Gandhi, both residents of village Kaulowal in Amritsar. Police teams have also recovered a consignment of eight 'sophisticated' pistols including four Glock Pistols (Austria-made), two Turkish 9mm Pistols and two X-Shot Zigana .30 bore Pistols along with 10 cartridges from their possession. Also Read | AP Road Accident: 3 Killed, 2 Injured After Speeding Car Collides With Van In at Machilipatnam-Vijayawada National Highway. DGP Gaurav Yadav said that in an intelligence-led operation, teams from CI Amritsar learned that individuals had been involved in smuggling heavy consignments of weapons from Pakistan into India. Acting swiftly, police teams laid a trap and arrested the accused, Jagjit alias Nikku and Gurwinder alias Gandhi, near Nurpur Padhri, Gharinda, in Amritsar, while they were waiting for someone to deliver the consignment. The DGP added that CI Amritsar has also identified the main kingpin of this module, and several teams have been formed to apprehend him. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the kingpin was in contact with Pakistan-based weapon smugglers via encrypted apps. Further investigations are underway to establish both the backward and forward linkages. An FIR was also registered on November 29 under Section 25 of the Arms Act and Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Police Station State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Amritsar. The arrested accused will be presented before the local court to seek police remand. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 1 (PTI) The opposition Congress on Wednesday urged the Kerala government to release the names of government employees found to have received social security pensions meant for the poor in the state. The opposition party warned that unless the names were disclosed, even honest officers would fall under suspicion. Also Read | 'Will Support BJP's Decision on Maharashtra CM': Eknath Shinde Rules Out Differences Among Mahayuti Allies Over Government Formation. Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, V D Satheesan, sent a letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Finance Minister K N Balagopal, citing the demand. In the letter, Satheesan expressed "surprise" that the government had not taken action on the matter, despite findings by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) two years ago. Also Read | Germany: Volkswagen Strikes Called by Trade Union. Although, the government had informed the CAG that remedial measures would be taken, no action had been taken, he alleged. Satheesan described as "very serious" the discovery that 1,458 government officials, including gazetted officers and wealthy individuals who own luxury cars, were receiving social security pensions. He noted that a scrutiny of the state-run payroll and social security pension software could have detected the fraud, but the government had wasted two "precious years" without taking action. "The government should release the names of those receiving social security pensions while in service. Otherwise, even honest officers will be under suspicion," Satheesan said. The LoP also urged that reports of such irregularities not impact the distribution of social security pensions in the state. Satheesan's letter comes amidst public outrage over reports that nearly 1,500 government employees, including gazetted officers and college professors, had fraudulently claimed social security pensions. An inspection by the Information Kerala Mission, which aims to computerise and network local self-government institutions in the state, found that 1,458 government employees were receiving social security pensions. This led Finance Minister Balagopal to order stringent disciplinary action against the erring officials last week. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Medininagar/ Ranchi, December 1: Two persons were arrested in connection with alleged sexual abuse of two girls at a shelter in Jharkhand's Palamu district, police said on Sunday. The girls were allegedly sexually abused in the shelter, and the incident came to light after a human rights activist Sandhya Kumari visited the home on November 29. The girls shared the ordeal with Kumari, claiming that they were sexually abused multiple times, a senior officer said. Jharkhand Shocker: Government School Headmistress Shot at by Teacher in Front of Students Inside Classroom in Deoghar. Palamu Superintendent of Police (SP) Reeshma Ramesan told PTI that an FIR was lodged with a town police station and two persons were arrested in connection with the case. "Further investigation is underway," she said. Jharkhand BJP on Sunday demanded a high-level probe into the incident. The party termed it as a "failure of the state machinery and administration". Jharkhand Shocker: Woman, Minor Son Strangled to Death by Husband in Seraikela-Kharsawan District, Suspect on the Run Jharkhand BJP spokesperson Ajay Shah accused the state government of neglecting the safety of children. "We demand a high-level investigation into the case so that girls could get justice," he added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Vijayawada, Dec 1 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Minister N Manohar on Sunday alleged that illegal rice exports worth Rs 48,537 crore, amounting to over 1.3 crore MT, were routed through Kakinada Port under the erstwhile YSRCP regime. Addressing a press conference, the Minister for Civil Supplies, Food and Consumer Affairs, accused the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government of bringing infamy to the port, located in Kakinada district, and turning it into a "smuggling den". Also Read | How To Go Live on X; Check Step-by-Step Process of Going Live on Elon Musk's Social Platform Using Third-Party Software, Media Studio and OBS Studio. "In the past three fiscal years, Rs 48,537 crore worth of rice was exported from Kakinada Port alone, indicating the scale of the rice mafia. People need to understand this," Manohar said. According to the minister, a network was formed stretching from Chittoor to Srikakulam to profit from illegal rice exports, which allegedly involved creating green channels to move the cereal to the port. Also Read | How To Apply for PAN 2.0? Complete Step-by-Step Process, Types of PAN Cards, and Everything You Need to Know. Manohar also claimed that rice was illegally exported to African countries, with no other port exporting as much rice as Kakinada Port. Further, Manohar asserted that the NDA government is working to "dismantle the rice mafia" and promised not to spare any powerful figures behind it. There was no immediate response from the YSRCP to the minister's allegations. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) TEHRAN, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday urged Muslim states to help address the problem in Syria, referring to the ongoing major offensive launched by Syria's armed rebel groups since Wednesday. Pezeshkian made the remarks at a meeting with members of the Iranian administration and parliament in the capital Tehran, according to a statement published on the website of his office. The president urged assistance from Muslim countries to solve Syria's problem, saying regional security could be achieved through efforts of regional states and there is no need for foreign interference. By Friday, the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an al-Qaida-linked extremist organization, and allied opposition factions had swept into parts of northwestern Syria's Aleppo for the first time since they were driven out of the city in 2016. The rebels on Saturday advanced in Hama province in central Syria and took control of numerous towns and villages in the northern part of the province, after capturing key territories in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. However, state media and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, reported Sunday that the Syrian government forces launched a counteroffensive in the northern countryside of Hama, reclaiming key areas from the rebel groups. Also on Sunday, Iran's media outlets reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi had departed for Syria's capital Damascus to start a regional tour. Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei announced in a statement that Araghchi would also head to Turkiye for consultations on bilateral and regional issues before leaving for his next destination, which the spokesman did not specify. Peshawar, December 1: Nearly 200 terrorists, including 24 commanders associated with militant groups such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Baloch Liberation Army and others, have been killed in military operations in November in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, officials said. They said that the security forces have accelerated their operations against militant groups in the wake of the recent attacks by terrorist groups. Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Announces Constituting Task Force To Probe Violence During Imran Khans Party Protest. In November, these operations resulted in the elimination of 199 militants, including 24 key commanders of banned organisations, they said. The slain commanders reportedly included senior leaders wanted by security forces. These high-value targets belonged to banned organisations such as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Lashkar-e-Islam, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF). (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ballia, December 1: A woman died due to electric shock while removing her phone which was on charge here in a village on Sunday, police said. Meanwhile, another woman died in Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh after being hit by a paddy harvester machine, they said. According to police, Neetu (22), a resident of Sarangpur village, was removing her mobile phone from charge when she got an electric shock. Delhi Rains: Woman Electrocuted to Death On Waterlogged Road During Heavy Rain Bhajanpura; Disturbing Video Surfaces. People near her heard a noise and saw Neetu stuck to the phone. They separated her with a stick and took her to Primary Health Centre, Bansdih, where the doctors declared her dead. Bansdih police station in-charge inspector (SHO) Sanjay Singh said that Neetu was brought dead to the government hospital. No complaint has been received from the family in this case. Meanwhile, in Sikariya Khurd village, a woman died after being hit by a paddy harvester machine on Saturday evening. Kanpur: Lineman Falls from Pole After Sudden Electricity Surge While Making Repairs, Dies; Disturbing Video Surfaces. According to the police, Bindu Devi (50) of Hathaudi village was working in her field on Saturday evening when she was hit by a paddy harvester machine. She died while being taken for treatment. A case has been registered under relevant sections against the unknown driver of the harvester machine on the complaint of the deceased's husband Radha Kishun Ram. Gadwar police station in-charge Moolchand Chaurasia said on Sunday that the police have sent the body for post-mortem. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, December 1: Around 60 Indian passengers were left stranded at Kuwait International Airport for over 13 hours on Sunday after their Gulf Air flight was diverted there due to a technical snag. The passengers, travelling on Gulf Air flight GF 005 from Mumbai to Manchester, complained of facing discomfort as the airline failed to provide food, accommodation, or basic assistance during their extended wait. The situation escalated as passengers voiced their grievances on social media, which eventually prompted a response from the Indian Embassy in Kuwait. Arzoo Singh, one of the stranded passengers travelling from Mumbai to Manchester, shared her frustration with ANI, explaining the dire situation. "After we raised the issue on social media, senior officials from the Indian Embassy in Kuwait reached out to the Indian passengers stuck at the airport," she said. Kuwait Airport Chaos: Indian Travellers Stuck Without Food, Support for Nearly 14 Hours After Bahrain-Manchester Gulf Air Flight GF5 Allegedly Catches Fire After Engine Failure (Watch Videos). Singh explained that, after discussions with airport authorities, senior citizens and passengers travelling with infants would be accommodated at a facility inside the airport. However, she added, there was no clear information about how the rest of the passengers would be treated. Singh went on to explain that they were unable to leave the airport since they did not have a transit visa, whereas UK and US passport holders were allowed to exit due to the availability of a transit visa on arrival. "Indian embassy officials are in talks with the airline to arrange an alternate flight at the earliest," she noted, adding that the situation remained unresolved for many passengers. IndiGo Airlines Flight Aborts Landing After Touchdown at Chennai Airport Amid Cyclone Fengal, Shocking Video Surfaces. The flight had been diverted to Kuwait after a technical issue, causing significant delays and distress for the passengers on board. Another passenger, Shivansh, who was also on the flight, took to social media to express his frustration. "Reading Why Bharat Matters while getting stuck in Kuwait without any help. All British passport holders got their hotels sorted with on-arrival visas, while Indian passport holders have been left stranded without any info, food, or any kind of help. Please help and provide us a visa so that at least we can get a hotel and wait for the next flight," he said in a post on X. Kuwait Airport Chaos On Gulf Air flight GF5 from Bahrain to Manchester, after 1 hour of flying, the left turbine engine failed and caught fire. The pilots performed an emergency landing in Kuwait. Were safe but stranded.#GulfAir #TV9Telugu #ndtv #way2news #Indian #nrinews #indiatoday pic.twitter.com/aw6CYwbdMS Shivaram (@Shivaramgoud) December 1, 2024 Indian Passengers Stranded at Kuwait Airport Gulf Air flight to Manchester finally departed at 0434 hours today carrying stranded Indian passengers among others. Embassy team was on the ground till the flight departed. pic.twitter.com/47GVer4Bs4 India in Kuwait (@indembkwt) December 2, 2024 Indian Embassy Responds Embassy has been informed by Gulf Air that the flight for stranded passengers from Kuwait to Manchester is tentatively scheduled at 3.30 am on 2 Dec. This is being conveyed to all passengers by the Embassy team at the airport. @DrSJaishankar @PMOIndia @MEAIndia @KVSinghMPGonda India in Kuwait (@indembkwt) December 1, 2024 In response, the Indian Embassy in Kuwait shared on X, "Embassy has been informed by Gulf Air that the flight for stranded passengers from Kuwait to Manchester is tentatively scheduled at 3.30 am on 2 Dec. This is being conveyed to all passengers by the Embassy team at the airport." (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Balochistan [Pakistan], December 1 (ANI): Strongly condemning the Pakistani government's announcement of a broad military offensive in Balochistan, the Baloch National Movement (BNM) chairman Naseem Baloch has called for a comprehensive national response, urging the public to carefully analyze the government's statements and actions. Naseem Baloch called for global solidarity with the Baloch resistance and condemned Pakistan and China for their roles in the continued exploitation and oppression of the Baloch people. He pointed out that the Pakistani government frequently threatens future military operations in Balochistan, using the "future tense" as a psychological tactic to conceal ongoing military actions. Also Read | Canadian News Publishers Files Lawsuit Against OpenAI Alleging Company Used Copyrighted Material for Training ChatGPT. He argued that these statements aim to divert attention from the state's current atrocities in Balochistan, creating a false narrative that the Pakistani state is not yet actively involved in the region. This strategy, he said, also serves to intimidate the Baloch population and distract from the real issues affecting them. According to Baloch, the Pakistani state's exploitation of Balochistan's vast resources is a major factor behind the military operations. He emphasized that while the region is rich in minerals, its people continue to live in poverty, with little access to basic necessities. Also Read | Sex Workers To Get Pensions, Insurance, Maternity Leaves in Belgium Under World-First Law. He argued that true peace and prosperity for the Baloch people can only be achieved if they gain control over their land and resources, and denounced the military operations as a means of sustaining the plunder of Baloch resources. Naseem Baloch also highlighted the resilience of Baloch resistance organizations, which, over the past two decades, have effectively challenged the Pakistani military through guerrilla warfare. He accused the Pakistani state of retaliating against this resistance by subjecting the Baloch people to collective punishment, including extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, and inhumane torture. He stressed that these atrocities demonstrate the state's failure to suppress the Baloch struggle, and instead, it intensifies its violence against ordinary civilians. Naseem Baloch called on the international community to recognize the Baloch people's right to self-determination and to take action against the ongoing human rights violations in Balochistan. He warned that the silence of international institutions on this issue amounts to complicity in what he described as a genocide. In his statement, he also addressed China's growing involvement in the military aggression against Balochistan. He accused China of supporting Pakistan's brutal actions in the region to advance its imperialist ambitions, particularly through projects like Gwadar Port and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Baloch argued that these projects are exploitative, forcing the Baloch people off their land and seizing their resources. He vowed that the Baloch people would continue to resist China's imperialist agenda, highlighting that the China-Pakistan alliance poses a direct threat to Baloch land, national identity, and survival. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], December 1 (ANI): The joint military exercise between India and Malaysia, Harimau Shakti 2024, is scheduled to take place from December 2 to December 15 at the Bentong Camp in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI) of the Indian Army stated on Saturday. The Army, via an official statement on X, stated that the exercise is expected to enhance interoperability between the Indian Army and the Malaysian Army in conducting sub-conventional operations under the United Nations mandate. Also Read | Bangladesh: ISKCON Claims Arrest of 2 More Monks, Ranganath Das Brahmachari and Chinmoy Krishna Das' Assistant Adipurush Shyamdas Without Warrant Amid Row. This year, the bilateral military exercise is themed around the motto, *"Two nations, one mission: Ensuring global peace."* "The joint military Exercise Harimau Shakti between India and Malaysia, is scheduled to be held at the Bentong Camp, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 02 December - 15 December 2024. The objective of Exercise Harimau Shakti is to further strengthen interoperability between the Indian Army and the Malaysian Army in conducting sub-conventional operations under the UN mandate," the ADGPI's post read, Also Read | Gautam Adani Breaks Silence on US Fraud Charges, Says 'Every Attack Makes Us Stronger, Every Obstacle Becomes Stepping Stone for More Resilient Adani Group'. In 2023, the joint bilateral training exercise took place in India at Meghalaya's Umroi Cantonment. The Malaysian Army contingent consisted of troops from the 5th Royal Battalion of the Malaysian Army, while the Indian contingent was represented by a battalion of the Rajput Regiment. "Exercise Harimau Shakti" aims to improve defence cooperation between the Indian Army and the Malaysian Army and foster stronger bilateral relations between the two nations. Meanwhile, the 13th edition of the bilateral joint military exercise Agni Warrior 2024, between the Indian Army and the Singapore Armed Forces, concluded at Field Firing Ranges, Devlali, in Maharashtra on Saturday. The three-day exercise involved participation from the Singapore Armed Forces contingent, which included 182 personnel from the Singapore Artillery, and the Indian Army contingent, with 114 personnel from the Regiment of Artillery. The exercise aimed to maximise mutual understanding of drills and procedures to achieve jointness as a multinational force under the United Nations Charter. The exercise showcased joint firepower planning, execution, and the use of new-generation equipment by the artillery of both armies. The event was by Lieutenant General Adosh Kumar, Director General of Artillery; Lieutenant General NS Sarna, Commandant, School of Artillery; and Colonel Ong Chiou Perng, Chief Artillery Officer, Singapore Armed Forces. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) The Hague, Dec 1 (AP) The top United Nations court will take up the largest case in its history on Monday, when it opens two weeks of hearings into what countries worldwide are legally required to do to combat climate change and help vulnerable nations fight its devastating impact. After years of lobbying by island nations who fear they could simply disappear under rising sea waters, the UN General Assembly asked the International Court of Justice last year for an opinion on the obligations of States in respect of climate change. Also Read | Sex Workers To Get Pensions, Insurance, Maternity Leaves in Belgium Under World-First Law. We want the court to confirm that the conduct that has wrecked the climate is unlawful, Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh, who is leading the legal team for the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, told The Associated Press. In the decade up to 2023, sea levels have risen by a global average of around 4.3 centimeters (1.7 inches), with parts of the Pacific rising higher still. The world has also warmed 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.3 Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times because of the burning of fossil fuels. Also Read | Pope Francis Cites Sree Narayana Guru's Teachings To Combat Global Intolerance. Vanuatu is one of a group of small states pushing for international legal intervention in the climate crisis. We live on the front lines of climate change impact. We are witnesses to the destruction of our lands, our livelihoods, our culture and our human rights, Vanuatu's climate change envoy Ralph Regenvanu told reporters ahead of the hearing. Any decision by the court would be non-binding advice and unable to directly force wealthy nations into action to help struggling countries. Yet it would be more than just a powerful symbol since it could serve as the basis for other legal actions, including domestic lawsuits. On Sunday, ahead of the hearing, advocacy groups will bring together environmental organizations from around the world. Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change who first developed the idea of requesting an advisory opinion together with World Youth for Climate Justice plan an afternoon of speeches, music and discussions. From Monday, the Hague-based court will hear from 99 countries and more than a dozen intergovernmental organizations over two weeks. It's the largest lineup in the institution's nearly 80-year history. Last month at the United Nations' annual climate meeting, countries cobbled together an agreement on how rich countries can support poor countries in the face of climate disasters. Wealthy countries have agreed to pool together at least $300 billion a year by 2035 but the total is short of the $1.3 trillion that experts, and threatened nations, said is needed. For our generation and for the Pacific Islands, the climate crisis is an existential threat. It is a matter of survival, and the world's biggest economies are not taking this crisis seriously. We need the ICJ to protect the rights of people at the front lines, Vishal Prasad, of Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, told reporters in a briefing. Fifteen judges from around the world will seek to answer two questions: What are countries obliged to do under international law to protect the climate and environment from human-caused greenhouse gas emissions? And what are the legal consequences for governments where their acts, or lack of action, have significantly harmed the climate and environment? The second question makes particular reference to small island developing States likely to be hardest hit by climate change and to members of the present and future generations affected by the adverse effects of climate change. The judges were even briefed on the science behind rising global temperatures by the UN's climate change body, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, ahead of the hearings. The case at the ICJ follows a number of rulings around the world ordering governments to do more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In May, a UN tribunal on maritime law said that carbon emissions qualify as marine pollution and countries must take steps to adapt to and mitigate their adverse effects. That ruling came a month after Europe's highest human rights court said that countries must better protect their people from the consequences of climate change, in a landmark judgment that could have implications across the continent. The ICJ's host country of The Netherlands made history when a court ruled in 2015 that protection from the potentially devastating effects of climate change is a human right and that the government has a duty to protect its citizens. The judgment was upheld in 2019 by the Dutch Supreme Court. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kathmandu, Dec 1 (PTI) Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli will embark on a four-day official visit to China on Monday to further strengthen bilateral ties. Oli is visiting Beijing at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here said. Also Read | Vladimir Putin Signs off Record Russian Defence Spending as Top European Union Officials Visit Ukraines Kyiv. During the visit from December 2-5, Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing and hold bilateral talks with premier Li to discuss matters of mutual interest, the ministry said in a statement. The prime minister will also meet Zhao Leji, Chair of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. He will be a keynote speaker at an event to be held in Peking University in Beijing, it said. Also Read | Pakistan Sectarian Violence: Death Toll Rises to 130 As Shia-Sunni Clashes Continue in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Kurram Despite Ceasefire. Oli will also address the Nepal-China Business Forum, which will be jointly hosted by the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, the China Council for Promotion of International Trade and the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Accompanying the prime minister will be his spouse, Radhika Shakya, and a high-profile delegation, including Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, PM's Chief Adviser Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Economic and Development Adviser Yuba Raj Khatiwada, members of parliament, senior government officials, private sector representatives, and media personnel. The delegation is scheduled to return to Nepal on December 5. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad [Pakistan], December 1 (ANI): An Anti-Terrorism Court in Islamabad has granted the physical remand of 156 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers who were arrested during the protest in Islamabad, The Express Tribune reported. ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Supra led the hearing in the cases registered against the PTI activists. PTI lawyers, including Ansar Kiyani, Mirza Asim Baig and Sohaib Ilyas appeared in court for the party activists. Also Read | Sex Workers To Get Pensions, Insurance, Maternity Leaves in Belgium Under World-First Law. During the hearing, the investigating officer request the judge to approve the physical remand of the suspects, citing the recovery of anti-riot kits and sticks from the PTI workers. Judge Supra said, "What else is to be recovered? There aren't as many anti-riot kits in Islamabad as have already been seized." Also Read | Who Is Kash Patel, Indian American Nominated As FBI Director by US President-Elect Donald Trump?. The judge approved a four-day physical remand for 139 PTI activists who were arrested. Furthermore, the court granted an additional four-day remand for 17 others. However, the judge rejected the request for physical remand of two women detainees and sent them on judicial remand, The Express Tribune reported. The women activists of PTI said that they were detained on November 24 and they were not being given food or water. The PTI workers were arrested while they were holding protest at D-Chowk in Islamabad and cases have been filed against them at the Secretariat Police Station. The judge said that the accused be presented again after their physical remand period is completed. The PTI protests, demanding the release of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, took a violent turn on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of four security personnel and two PTI supporters, Dawn reported. The PTI protesters were met with intense tear gas upon reaching Islamabad's D-Chowk following which the clash between protesters and security forces broke out. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned what he said was an "attack by protesters," while Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi informed the deaths of at least four security personnel in the clash, Dawn reported. Meanwhile, PTI alleged that the security personnel fired live ammunition at the protestors, killing two and injuring four others. Condemning the attack on rangers and police officers by PTI protesters in Islamabad, Sharif called for the immediate identification and accountability of those responsible for the incident. On Friday, Shehbaz Sharif on Friday announced formation of a dedicated task force to find and take action against people involved in the violence during the PTI rally in Islamabad earlier this week, The Express Tribune reported. Pakistan's Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi will chair the task force, which includes key members like Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, and representatives from the security forces. Furthermore, Pakistan's federal government will also form a Federal Riot-Control Force, equipped with advanced tools and training on the basis of international standards, The Express Tribune reported. In addition, Shehbaz Sharif announced establishing a Federal Forensic Lab which will make use of modern technologies to probe and collect evidence from riots and unrest. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Quetta (Balochistan) [Pakistan], December 1 (ANI): Protests continued Saturday at the Bolan Medical College. The agitating students are demanding the reopening of their institution and its hostels, along with the release of detained students, the Balochistan Post reported. The sit-in, held outside the main gate of BMC, has drawn significant participation. Protesters accused the BMC administration and law enforcement officials of facilitating what they called the "illegal occupation" of hostels by security forces, which they say has disrupted academic activities. Also Read | Kash Patel, Indian American, Nominated As FBI Director by US President-Elect Donald Trump. "The closure of hostels and classes violates our fundamental right to education and jeopardizes our future," a protesting student said. Students also criticized recent police actions, alleging that raids on hostels resulted in arrests, injuries, and some students being rendered unconscious. They claimed these actions are part of a deliberate effort to marginalize Baloch youth and deprive them of educational opportunities. Also Read | US President-Elect Donald Trump Threatens BRICS Nations With 100% Tariffs Over Dollar Replacement Plans. In a post on X, Sadia Kareem an MBBS student said, "Today marks our 4th day of protest outside Bolan Medical College, where we are demanding the immediate restoration of our college and hostels. Unfortunately, the administration has yet to take any concrete steps to address our concerns" The demonstrators further accused the authorities of attempting to create divisions between Baloch and Pashtun students and raised concerns about the use of educational institutions for military purposes. Authorities have not commented on the protests or addressed the allegations raised by the students. Meanwhile, the Baloch Yakhjeti Committee once again raised the issue of alleged illegal disappearance of Baloch people. "The enforced disappearances of Baloch individuals are escalating daily. The Baloch nation is facing the worst forms of oppression. With every passing day, disturbing reports of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances emerge. Hundreds of innocent individuals and their families are being subjected to the cruel practice of enforced disappearances, and in many cases, these victims are executed. The genocide of the Baloch people is intensifying, yet human rights organizations and the media have adopted a criminal silence, as lives of Baloch do not matter to anyone. It is evident that whether we live or die makes no difference to the world. State violence has reached its peak," the BYC said in its post on X. "The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) expresses grave concern that despite our peaceful efforts, the genocide we resist is intensifying rapidly. We will never, and cannot, remain indifferent while our people endure such brutality. BYC will continue to strengthen and expand the resistance movement against the ongoing Baloch genocide," it added, (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Thiaroye-sur-Mer (Senegal), Dec 1 (AP) Biram Senghor regularly pays his respects at a military cemetery in Thiaroye, a fishing village near Senegal's capital Dakar, bowing in front of a different grave each time. The 86-year-old has no way of knowing which grave belongs to his father, M'Bap Senghor, one of the hundreds of West African riflemen who fought for France during World War II but were likely killed on Dec 1, 1944, by the French army after demanding unpaid wages. Also Read | Donald Trump Pick Kash Patel Must Prove Hell Restore Public Faith in FBI, Leading GOP Senator Says. In this cemetery, where they are supposedly buried, all the graves are anonymous and the exact location of the remains is unknown, as is the number of victims. The true scale and circumstances of the killings remain unclear as Senegal commemorates the 80th anniversary of the massacre on Sunday, threatening to reignite smoldering tensions between France and the former colony. I have been fighting to get answers for over 80 years, says Biram Senghor. (French President Emmanuel) Macron cannot do what the other French presidents before him did; France has to repent. Also Read | Pakistan: Nearly 200 Militants, Including 24 Commanders, Killed in Military Operations in November. The West Africans were members of the unit called Tirailleurs Senegalais, a corps of colonial infantry in the French Army that fought in both World Wars. According to historians, there were disputes over unpaid wages in the days before the massacre and on Dec 1, French troops turned on the unarmed African soldiers and shot them dead. For decades, French authorities tried to minimise what had happened in Thiaroye. Reports by the French military shortly after the massacre determined that 35 West African soldiers were killed in response to a mutiny. Other reports by the French army mention 70 deaths. But today, many French and Senegalese historians agree the true death toll is likely in the hundreds, with some speaking of almost 400 African soldiers killed, based on estimates of the number of riflemen present at the camp on the day of the massacre. On Thursday, Macron officially recognised the events of Thiaroye as a massacre for the first time in a letter to Senegal's President Diomaye Faye, which was seen by The Associated Press. France must recognise that on that day, the confrontation between soldiers and riflemen who demanded their full legitimate wages be paid, triggered a chain of events that resulted in a massacre, read Macron's letter. But many historians dispute the idea of a confrontation between the French soldiers and the West African riflemen. What happened on December 1st was the execution of unarmed soldiers, says Martin Mourre, a French historian and author of Thiaroye 1944, History and Memory of a Colonial Massacre. He points to the fact that no weapons were mentioned during the trial of the African riflemen accused of mutiny and the absence of any injuries among the French soldiers as evidence that no confrontation took place. In his letter to the Senegalese president, Macron did not mention the number of soldiers killed. The controversies and unknowns about the massacre are in part due to a lack of transparency by French authorities regarding the military reports and testimonies. In 2014, French President Francois Hollande handed over the European nation's archives on Thiaroye to Macky Sall, then-president of Senegal. But historians say that key documents, including ones indicating the site of the mass graves and the number of West African soldiers present at the camp on the day of the massacre, are still missing. It is unclear if France holds such archives or if they even exist. Macron's office and the French foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment. Additionally, very little was done by the Senegalese authorities under former president Sall to allow historians to delve into the historical documents. The archives remained inaccessible until this year, for obscure reasons, says Mourre. Mamadou Diouf, a Senegalese historian who heads the commemoration committee for the Thiaroye massacre this year, says Sall did not show much interest in the subject to avoid diplomatic tensions with France. But Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who was elected in March in part on a promise of redefining Senegal's relationship with the former coloniser, has vowed to regain control of the historical narrative on Thiaroye. His administration has organised major commemorations of the massacre from Dec 1 to April 2025 across the country. The authorities' goal behind the major commemorations is to make Thiaroye part of Senegal's national story, says Babacar Ndiaye, political analyst at the Wathi think tank, which focuses on political and economic issues in West Africa. It will be talked about a lot on television, in the press and most importantly on social media, he adds. This will reach a younger audience who might know little about the events of Thiaroye. The 80th anniversary of the massacre comes as France's influence is declining in the region, with Paris losing its sway in its former West African colonies. French troops have been ousted in recent years from Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso after years of fighting Islamic extremists alongside regional troops. Earlier this week, Chad, one of the last countries in the region where France had maintained a large military presence, ended a military cooperation agreement with Paris. France still has around 350 troops in Senegal, mainly in a supportive role. Asked about their continued presence, Faye suggested it is not something the Senegalese would want. Historically, France enslaved, colonized and stayed here, he said. Obviously, I think that when you reverse the roles a little, you will have a hard time conceiving that another army of China, Russia, Senegal, or any other country could have a military base in France. At the ceremony held at the military cemetery in Thiaroye on Sunday, Faye announced the construction of a memorial in honour of the riflemen, the creation of a research centre where archives on the massacre will be kept, and streets named after the event. History lessons on the massacre will also be added to the school curriculum and Dec 1 will officially become national day of the tirailleur. What we are doing here is part of our duty of remembrance and to reveal the truth of the facts, to discharge a moral debt towards the riflemen and their families, said during his speech in front of an audience that included France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, as well as Gambia, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Gabon and the Comoros heads of state. Macron was not present at the ceremony. We are not opening a door to arouse resentment, maintain anger or hatred, Faye said. But once more, Senegal and the former coloniser's account of the massacre differed. While the French foreign minister described the events of Thiaroye as a cry of anger from the riflemen that France repressed in a bloodshed, the Senegalese president said they were a premeditated act. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) BEIJING, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Expanding visa-free policy is a milestone in China's journey toward greater openness and also shows its confidence on the global stage. Starting Saturday, China extended its unilateral visa-free policy to ordinary passport holders from nine more countries. So far, the policy on a trial basis has been applied to 38 countries since its launch a year ago. Meanwhile, China has signed mutual visa exemption agreements with 157 countries, covering different types of passports. China will not shut its door but will instead open it wider to the outside world. This is not only an official commitment China has made but has also been translated into concrete and efficient actions. The visa-free policy is a major measure to facilitate people-to-people exchanges and businesses and advance high-standard opening up. Greater openness brings more two-way benefits. Easy cross-border travel adds to the growth momentum and vitality of the Chinese economy. Meanwhile, the huge Chinese market provides countless opportunities for win-win cooperation of businesses and shared growth with other countries. International arrivals have surged with the support of the measures. In the third quarter of 2024, China logged nearly 8.2 million inbound trips made by foreigners, up 48.8 percent year on year. Among these, about 4.9 million entered visa-free, a remarkable rise of 78.6 percent from the same period last year. Trust and understanding are more critical than ever in a world fraught with rising trade barriers and geopolitical tensions. Visa-free travels help foster authentic connections, allowing visitors to experience China's high-speed railway service, the real life of ordinary people and their hospitality, and the rich Chinese culture. These first-hand experiences counteract misleading narratives of China in certain Western media and help promote a correct understanding of the largest developing country. China's visa-free policy fits perfectly with the 2,500-year-old Confucian proverb: "It is such a joy to have friends coming from afar." This sincerity is also demonstrated by streamlining the procedure of traveling to China and making life and work in China more convenient and comfortable for foreign friends. Places including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong Province have improved payment services to make online shopping and transportation more problem-free. Chinese telecom providers help foreign friends access and use the 5G network more conveniently. The visa-free policy expansion and other measures are in line with China's call for building a world economy characterized by cooperation, openness and innovation, among others. Recent policies, such as removing all restrictions for foreign investors in manufacturing and allowing the establishment of wholly foreign-owned hospitals in select cities, highlight China's determination and actions to pursue economic globalization that is more dynamic, inclusive and sustainable through joint efforts with others. Opening up is a defining feature of Chinese modernization. China is committed to building new, open and higher-standard economic systems and welcomes friends from all countries to share in the dividends of its development. Its visa-free policy symbolizes more than just easier travel. It is a gateway to stronger global ties and common prosperity amid the headwinds of rising protectionism. New Delhi [India], December 1 (ANI): The legacy of the bond between Swami Vivekananda and Croatia-born scientist Nikola Tesla presents avenues for harmonious development not only for India and Croatia but the entire world, Peter Ljubicic, the Croatian ambassador to India, said. "During my stay in India, I have seen what kind of profound influence Swami Vivekananda has on the people and the way of life here. His thoughts and philosophy also influenced the work of Nikola Tesla, the great Serbian-American scientist who was born in Croatia. So, the influence of both Swami Vivekananda and Tesla can be seen in India, Croatia, Serbia, the US and beyond," said Ljubicic on Saturday, attending a conference on the legacy of Swami Vivekananda and Nikola Tesla here in the national capital. Also Read | Canadian News Publishers Files Lawsuit Against OpenAI Alleging Company Used Copyrighted Material for Training ChatGPT. The conference, organized by the Swami Vivekananda and Nikola Tesla International Foundation (SVNTIF) at India Habitat Centre on Saturday, brought together scientists, philosophers, researchers, experts and spiritual leaders from India, Croatia, among others. Manash Deka, the president of the Foundation and the organiser noted that the purpose of the conference was to spread awareness about the legacies of Swami Vivekananda and Nikola Tesla and how their unique collaboration created unique values for humanity. Also Read | Sex Workers To Get Pensions, Insurance, Maternity Leaves in Belgium Under World-First Law. Serbian-American inventor and engineer Tesla had discovered and patented the rotating magnetic field, the basis of most alternating-current machinery. Nikola Tesla was born in 1856 and died in 1943. "Swami Vivekananda is a revered figure in India and abroad. However, some aspects of his life and thoughts are yet to be discussed in detail. For example, his massive influence on Nikola Tesla - who's pioneering work had laid the foundation for electricity transmission, radio, radar and even directed energy weapons - is an area that still requires more public discussion." "We aimed to bring scholars from all over the world to this conference to discuss these hidden aspects," said Deka. Addressing the conference, Lazar Y. Vukadinovic, the deputy head of the Serbian embassy in Delhi, said the unique collaboration between the revered Indian spiritual leader and the Serbian-American scientist had presented a template for the harmonious development of science and spirituality. "These two great individuals had propagated a unique path of development balanced by spirituality. India, Croatia, Serbia, America - all have things to learn from their approach," said Vukadinovic. Addressing the conference, Swami Yajnadharananda, Secretary of Ram Krishna Mission, emphasized that the conflict of science and spirituality is often misplaced and misconstrued. "We are often told about the conflict between science and spirituality. But at one point, we find a lot of common grounds between the two. They both look for the truth. If we direct our focus towards such common grounds, the society will benefit," he said. Other noted speakers and guests at the conference included Serbian author Mirjana Prljevic, Parvinder Singh and Serbian scientist Goran Marjanovic, British creative artist Susan Griffith M. Jones and MM Pandey of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. During the conference, the foundation presented lifetime achievement awards to four individuals for their contributions in promoting the legacies of Swami Vivekananda and Nikola Tesla. They included Professor Velimir Abramovic from Serbia; Dr Sushil Kumar Jain; Nada Laji from Arunachal Pradesh and Pundit Devendra Dubey also from Arunachal Pradesh. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chicago [US], December 1 (ANI): The Consulate General of India in Chicago expressed shock and sorrow over the reported murder of Indian student Nukarapu Sai Teja from Telangana, who was killed outside a store in Chicago on Friday. In a statement on the social media platform X, the consulate called for immediate action against the perpetrators and assured that all possible assistance would be provided to the victim's family and friends. Also Read | Bangladesh: ISKCON Claims Arrest of 2 More Monks, Ranganath Das Brahmachari and Chinmoy Krishna Das' Assistant Adipurush Shyamdas Without Warrant Amid Row. "We are shocked and deeply sad at the murder of Indian Student Nukarapu Sai Teja. We demand immediate action against the culprits. Consulate will extend all possible help to the family and friends of the victim," the consulate stated. According to the victim's uncle, Talluri Srujan, the incident occurred on Friday at 6:00 pm (local time). Sai Teja, who had moved to the United States for higher studies, was shot by two African American suspects, Srujan added. Teja was pursuing an MBA at Concordia University in Chicago after completing his BBA and had also taken a part-time job there. Also Read | Gautam Adani Breaks Silence on US Fraud Charges, Says 'Every Attack Makes Us Stronger, Every Obstacle Becomes Stepping Stone for More Resilient Adani Group'. "Yesterday, at 6:00 pm, according to American timings, Sai Teja was murdered by gunfire by African Americans in Chicago City. This is a very sad thing for me. He went to the US on June 15 after completing his BBA in Hyderabad. He went to study for an MBA at Concordia University and also joined a part-time job in Chicago," Srujan said while speaking to ANI. On the day of the incident, Sai Teja had gone to a store. While at the cash counter, the robbers entered the store and demanded money. After Teja complied and handed over the cash, the suspects reportedly shot him outside the store, according to the victim's uncle. "At his usual time, Teja went to the store. When he was at the cash counter, some dacoits entered the store and demanded money. Sai Teja handed over the money, but they were not satisfied... They took the cash and shot Sai Teja outside the store," he added. Teja's uncle expressed concern, urging the Telangana State Government and the Indian Embassy to ensure the safety and welfare of Indian students in the US. He highlighted the growing number of Indian students travelling to the US and called for measures to address the situation. Srujan added that the current conditions were unacceptable for students living abroad. "This is a major problem for us and our family. We demand that the Telangana State Government and Central Government act, as so many Indian students are going to America to serve their country. But the present conditions are very sad. These conditions are not acceptable. The Indian Embassy and Telangana State Government should take care of Indian students," he said. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, December 1: The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Southeast Asia, Saima Wazed, along with WHO, called for global commitment in the fight against HIV/AIDS on the occasion of "World AIDS Day" on Sunday, under the theme "Take the Rights Path: My Health, My Right!" This theme highlights the need for accessible, rights-based healthcare for individuals living with HIV. In a statement, Wazed underlined that the WHO urged global leaders and citizens to address inequalities that continue to hinder progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals target of ending AIDS by 2030. World AIDS Day 2024 Quotes: Best Slogans, Messages, HD Wallpapers, Images and Greetings To Raise Awareness of the AIDS Pandemic. She noted that the WHO stressed the importance of ensuring that people living with HIV have access to the necessary healthcare without facing stigma or discrimination. The organisation also emphasised the need for a rights-based approach to healthcare that respects the dignity and autonomy of individuals, particularly those at heightened risk. "A rights-based approach is not just a strategy; it is a commitment to uphold the dignity, health, and autonomy of every individual, especially those with vulnerabilities and are most at-risk. We must boldly tackle the stigma and discrimination that stand as formidable barriers to accessing prevention, treatment, and care," the statement read. When Is World Aids Day 2024? Know the Date and Significance of the Day That Raises Awareness About the Prevention & Treatment of HIV/AIDS. According to the statement, in the WHO South-East Asia Region, approximately 3.9 million people are living with HIV, representing 10 per cent of the global burden. In 2023, 78 per cent of people living with HIV in the region knew their status, 66 per cent were receiving antiretroviral treatment, and 64 per cent achieved viral suppression. Despite progress, the region faces challenges in addressing the needs of marginalised groups, such as men who have sex with men, sex workers, people who inject drugs, and transgender individuals, who experience higher rates of HIV and face barriers to accessing care. WHO also highlighted the situation of children and adolescents living with HIV. In the Southeast Asia Region, approximately 80,000 children and adolescents are living with HIV, mostly due to mother-to-child transmission. WHO's 'triple elimination' initiative, which aims to eliminate vertical transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B, is a key strategy to prevent new infections among this population. Countries like the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Thailand have already achieved success in eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis, the statement added. New HIV infections among young people remain a concern, with nearly half of new cases occurring among individuals aged 15-24. WHO identified gaps in education about HIV transmission and prevention, noting that fewer than 25 per cent of young people in the region understand how HIV is transmitted. WHO welcomed the adoption of the Ministerial Declaration on Adolescent-Responsive Health Systems by Southeast Asian countries, which commits to building health systems that meet the needs of young people affected by HIV. Technological advancements were also noted as a tool to improve access to HIV care. Mobile health apps, online counselling, and virtual support groups can help provide services to populations who may not have easy access to traditional healthcare. WHO also emphasised the importance of biomedical tools, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and long-acting antiretroviral treatments, in reducing HIV transmission. The statement added that WHO's Southeast Asia Region remains focused on achieving the '95-95-95' goals: diagnosing 95 per cent of people living with HIV, ensuring 95 per cent of those diagnosed receive treatment, and ensuring 95 per cent of those on treatment achieve viral suppression. WHO reiterated the need for continued collaboration among governments, healthcare providers, and international organizations to meet these targets. On World AIDS Day 2024, WHO reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that every person living with HIV has the opportunity to live a healthy life with access to necessary care and support. Wazed also called for collective action to address the barriers that prevent people from accessing HIV services and to uphold the rights of those affected by HIV/AIDS. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, December 1: Maharashtra's caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said the BJP will decide on the state's new CM who will have his full support, and asserted there were no differences among Mahayuti partners on government formation. Talking to reporters at his native Dare village in Satara district, Shinde also said talks were underway on government formation and all decisions will be taken through a consensus by the three Mahayuti allies - Shiv Sena, BJP and NCP. Shinde also said he comes to his village regularly and wondered why should there be any confusion (over his visit) when he cleared his stand on the CM's post last week. The Shiv Sena leader, who headed to his native village on Friday amid speculation that he was not happy with the way the new government was shaping up, had taken ill and will return to Mumbai on Sunday evening, an aide said earlier in the day. The Mahayuti alliance of the BJP, Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP retained power with a landslide victory in the assembly elections, the results of which were announced on November 23. Maharashtra CM's Name Finalised, Top BJP Leadership's Nod Awaited: Raosaheb Danve. The oath-taking ceremony of the new Mahayuti government will take place on December 5 evening at the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend it, state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule said on Saturday. While there was no announcement yet on who would be the chief minister, BJP sources said Devendra Fadnavis, who has been chief minister twice and was deputy CM in the last Eknath Shinde-led government, was the frontrunner for the post. Shinde last week said the Shiv Sena would support the decisions of PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to name the next Maharashtra CM. Talking to reporters on Sunday, Shinde said, "I always come to my village. Why should there be any confusion when I have already made my stand clear last week. I have already said the decision on CM's post taken by the BJP leadership will be acceptable to me and Shiv Sena and will have my full backing." To a query on his health, the Shiv Sena leader said he was fine now and had come to his native village to rest. "We will provide a government that people want. Our responsibility has now grown because of the massive mandate given by people as reciprocation of our work in the last two-and-a-half years," he said . On speculation that his son and Lok Sabha member Shrikant Shinde will be the CM, Shinde said talks were on. Maharashtra Government Formation: Devendra Fadnavis Leaves for Delhi, Expected To Meet Amit Shah Along With Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar. "One meeting took place in Delhi last week with (Union minister) Amit Shah and now we three alliance partners will discuss the nitty-gritty of government formation," he said. "The BJP is yet to announce its legislature party leader. We will fulfil people's aspirations. There are no differences amongst us. We will take a decision in the interest of the people. There is no need to repeat my stand," Shinde added. Kyiv/Moscow, December 1: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky voiced his readiness to end the "hot phase" of the conflict with Russia in exchange for Ukraine's membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported. "If we want to stop the hot phase of the war, we need to put the territory of Ukraine that is under our control under the NATO umbrella. We need to do it fast," Zelensky was cited as saying, as per Xinhua news agency. Later, Ukraine could get back the territories, which are now controlled by Russia, in a diplomatic way, Zelensky said, noting that NATO invitation should recognise Ukraine's internationally recognised borders. Zelensky stressed that a ceasefire is necessary to guarantee that Russia "does not return" to seize more Ukrainian territory. Meanwhile, the Russian side seems to have a very low-profile response toward this. Volodymyr Zelensky Says Ready To End Conflict With Russia in Exchange for Ukraines Membership in NATO: Report. The Kremlin has so far been silent on Zelensky's remarks. Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Russian State Duma, commented in his Telegram channel, "Moscow will no longer allow Western countries to arm Kyiv under the guise of an agreement." He called on Ukrainian politicians to abandon their ambition to join NATO. "Kyiv is seeking to join NATO, this is the key to moving forward, not the end of the war. The idea of freezing the conflict is also unacceptable," he said. Russia-Ukraine War: Russian Ballistic Missile with Cluster Munitions Kills 11 People, Injures 84 in Sumy. On Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that the Russian army has liberated 88 settlements in the Donetsk and Lugansk region, the Zaporozhye, Kursk and Kharkov Regions in the fall of 2024. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 01, 2024 05:21 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Syrian militias armed by different parts of the U.S. war machine have begun to fight each other on the plains between the besieged city of Aleppo and the Turkish border, highlighting how little control U.S. intelligence officers and military planners have over the groups they have financed and trained in the bitter five-year-old civil war. The fighting has intensified over the last two months, as CIA-armed units and Pentagon-armed ones have repeatedly shot at each other while maneuvering through contested territory on the northern outskirts of Aleppo, U.S. officials and rebel leaders have confirmed. In mid-February, a CIA-armed militia called Fursan al Haq, or Knights of Righteousness, was run out of the town of Marea, about 20 miles north of Aleppo, by Pentagon-backed Syrian Democratic Forces moving in from Kurdish-controlled areas to the east. Advertisement NEWSLETTER: Get the days top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj >> Any faction that attacks us, regardless from where it gets its support, we will fight it, Maj. Fares Bayoush, a leader of Fursan al Haq, said in an interview. Rebel fighters described similar clashes in the town of Azaz, a key transit point for fighters and supplies between Aleppo and the Turkish border, and on March 3 in the Aleppo neighborhood of Sheikh Maqsud. The attacks by one U.S.-backed group against another come amid continued heavy fighting in Syria and illustrate the difficulty facing U.S. efforts to coordinate among dozens of armed groups that are trying to overthrow the government of President Bashar Assad, fight the Islamic State militant group and battle one another all at the same time. Advertisement It is an enormous challenge, said Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, who described the clashes between U.S.-supported groups as a fairly new phenomenon. It is part of the three-dimensional chess that is the Syrian battlefield, he said. The area in northern Syria around Aleppo, the countrys second-largest city, features not only a war between the Assad government and its opponents, but also periodic battles against Islamic State militants, who control much of eastern Syria and also some territory to the northwest of the city, and long-standing tensions among the ethnic groups that inhabit the area, Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen. This is a complicated, multi-sided war where our options are severely limited, said a U.S. official, who wasnt authorized to speak publicly on the matter. We know we need a partner on the ground. We cant defeat ISIL without that part of the equation, so we keep trying to forge those relationships. ISIL is an acronym for Islamic State. Advertisement See more of our top stories on Facebook >> President Obama this month authorized a new Pentagon plan to train and arm Syrian rebel fighters, relaunching a program that was suspended in the fall after a string of embarrassing setbacks which included recruits being ambushed and handing over much of their U.S.-issued ammunition and trucks to an Al Qaeda affiliate. Amid the setbacks, the Pentagon late last year deployed about 50 special operations forces to Kurdish-held areas in northeastern Syria to better coordinate with local militias and help ensure U.S.-backed rebel groups arent fighting one another. But such skirmishes have become routine. Last year, the Pentagon helped create a new military coalition, the Syrian Democratic Forces. The goal was to arm the group and prepare it to take territory away from the Islamic State in eastern Syria and to provide information for U.S. airstrikes. The group is dominated by Kurdish outfits known as Peoples Protection Units or YPG. A few Arab units have joined the force in order to prevent it from looking like an invading Kurdish army, and it has received air-drops of weapons and supplies and assistance from U.S. Special Forces. Gen. Joseph Votel, now commander of U.S. Special Operations Command and the incoming head of Central Command, said this month that about 80% of the fighters in the Syrian Democratic Forces were Kurdish. The U.S. backing for a heavily Kurdish armed force has been a point of tension with the Turkish government, which has a long history of crushing Kurdish rebellions and doesnt want to see Kurdish units control more of its southern border. The CIA, meanwhile, has its own operations center inside Turkey from which it has been directing aid to rebel groups in Syria, providing them with TOW antitank missiles from Saudi Arabian weapons stockpiles. Advertisement While the Pentagons actions are part of an overt effort by the U.S. and its allies against Islamic State, the CIAs backing of militias is part of a separate covert U.S. effort aimed at keeping pressure on the Assad government in hopes of prodding the Syrian leader to the negotiating table. At first, the two different sets of fighters were primarily operating in widely separated areas of Syria the Pentagon-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in the northeastern part of the country and the CIA-backed groups farther west. But over the last several months, Russian airstrikes against anti-Assad fighters in northwestern Syria have weakened them. That created an opening which allowed the Kurdish-led groups to expand their zone of control to the outskirts of Aleppo, bringing them into more frequent conflict with the CIA-backed outfits. Fighting over territory in Aleppo demonstrates how difficult it is for the U.S. to manage these really localized and in some cases entrenched conflicts, said Nicholas A. Heras, an expert on the Syrian civil war at the Center for a New American Security, a think tank in Washington. Preventing clashes is one of the constant topics in the joint operations room with Turkey. Over the course of the Syrian civil war, the town of Marea has been on the front line of Islamic States attempts to advance across Aleppo province toward the rest of northern Syria. On Feb. 18, the Syrian Democratic Forces attacked the town. A fighter with the Suqour Al-Jabal brigade, a group with links to the CIA, said intelligence officers of the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State know their group has clashed with the Pentagon-trained militias. The MOM knows we fight them, he said, referring to the joint operations center in southern Turkey, using an abbreviation for its name in Turkish, Musterek Operasyon Merkezi. Well fight all who aim to divide Syria or harm its people. The fighter spoke on condition of anonymity. Advertisement Marea is home to many of the original Islamist fighters who took up arms against Assad during the Arab Spring in 2011. It has long been a crucial way station for supplies and fighters coming from Turkey into Aleppo. Attempts by Syrian Democratic Forces to take Marea was a great betrayal and was viewed as a further example of a Kurdish conspiracy to force them from Arab and Turkmen lands, Heras said. The clashes brought the U.S. and Turkish officials to loggerheads, he added. After diplomatic pressure from the U.S., the militia withdrew to the outskirts of the town as a sign of good faith, he said. But continued fighting among different U.S.-backed groups may be inevitable, experts on the region said. Once they cross the border into Syria, you lose a substantial amount of control or ability to control their actions, Jeffrey White, a former Defense Intelligence Agency official, said in a telephone interview. You certainly have the potential for it becoming a larger problem as people fight for territory and control of the northern border area in Aleppo. Bulos is a special correspondent. For more on U.S. national security, follow @WJHenn and @ByBrianBennett ALSO Islamic States No. 2 leader killed in U.S. raid, officials say As Belgian police investigate attacks, John Kerry vows to destroy Islamic State Video of a dead city: This is what Syrias devastation looks like The often congested Main Street separating New Jersey from Pennsylvania is now fully the responsibility of Phillipsburg, the town council confirmed on Tuesday night. The Warren County Commissioners relinquished County Road 678 to the town via Resolution 455-24 in August. The decision essentially makes the portion between Sawmill Street and the boundary of Pohatcong Township a municipal street and no longer a county road. The transfer also foreshadows the imminent paving construction being planned by the town to happen on South Main Street in the coming year. This will allow us more control over all of Main Street. I imagine we wouldnt have to get permission for certain signage for areas on Main Street or ask the county for permission, Mayor Randy Piazza said. The county has agreed to mill, pave and stripe former County Road 678 by Dec. 31, 2025. A project to overhaul Phillipsburgs two-century-old sewer system is also underway. The town began replacing thousands of feet of outdated sewer lines in 2023 after receiving $3.3M through former U.S. Rep. Tom Malinowski. Some of the lines date back to the 1800s and are made of 3-foot long terracotta implants, which have cracked or given way to infiltration in the last 150 years, officials said. Glenn Epps can be reached at gepps@lehighvalleylive.com or glenn_epps_on X (formerly known as Twitter.com), Facebook and Threads. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe to lehighvalleylive.com today. China and Pakistan have launched many collaborative programs focused on hybrid rice. A Pakistani student is studying rice planting technologies in China, aiming to play a role in strengthening future cooperation between the two nations. Brian D. Kelly, MB BCh BAO BMedSci MSc MD FRCSI, of Newbridge Co. Kildare was a pioneering, award-winning Urologic Oncologist, who made significant contributions to medical science. He died in early August in his newly adopted home of Melbourne, Australia. He was 40 years of age. While Brian left this world too soon, his impact was global and deeply personal; felt by colleagues, patients, friends and family across continents. Brian blazed a trail of academic excellence, from the Patrician Brothers in Newbridge to earning his medical degree from University College Dublin, and completing his surgical training in Galway University Hospitals. His thirst for knowledge led him to a doctoral degree (MD) from NUI Galway under the mentorship of Professor Michael Kerin and Mr. Kilian Walsh. His countless friends fondly recount his help on the wards and in the research laboratory at that time and his care and compassion for all he worked with and cared for. Brian wasnt just a scholar, he was a gifted surgeon, and completed training as a Urologist in the UK, worked as a Consultant Urologist in QE University Hospital Birmingham and held positions as a Clinical Lecturer there. He was awarded numerous fellowships and completed prestigious Robotic Surgical Fellowships at the Royal Melbourne, the Peter Macallam Cancer Centre and the Royal Austin in Melbourne, Australia. Brians dedication to his patients was remarkable. He deeply felt the weight of responsibility for their well-being. He published over 140 peer-reviewed papers, books and communications and presented his research at top urology conferences globally, achieving a level of success that any surgeon would be proud of, co-authoring European guidelines for Urology. He famously presented in the most prestigious session at the largest urology conference in the USA. Brian was more than a collection of accomplishments. He was a force of nature, a multi-dimensional character who embraced life with a contagious enthusiasm. And his adventures were legendary; spanning continents and activities, climbing mountains and kayaking rivers to snowboarding backcountry slopes and road-tripping through deserts. He once kayaked 700 kilometres through the Yukon River, road-tripped over 7,000 kilometres through Canada with his son, Tadhg, then chased a wheel of cheddar cheese down Coopers Hill in Gloucestershire. His sense of fun and enthusiasm was simultaneously humbling and bodacious and took him from the highest peaks in the British Isles to fishing in the depths of Tennessee, a sailing expedition around the East Coast of Australia to traversing through the sun-scorched expanses of the Australian outback to towering cliffs across the Tasman. Brian was fiercely loyal, generous, and always there for his loved ones. He was a proud Irishman and Australian, a man whose spirit nor physical presence, could not be contained by nationality, borders or time zones. He cherished his parents, Margaret and late father Brendan Kelly, and siblings, Finn, Sean, Ruth and his beloved son Tadhg, celebrating their achievements with genuine joy. Brians humour was riotous, his laugh infectious. He was a master of DIY memes, often using them to playfully tease his friends. His absence will be felt most keenly in those moments of shared joy and lighthearted banter. His memes will live on. While Brians professional achievements were impressive, it was his heart and integrity that truly set him apart. He was an advocate for the underdog, a champion for those who needed a voice. He stood up for colleagues facing injustice and without hesitation extended a hand of friendship to those in need. Brians 40 years are a testament to living life to the fullest, caring for family, working hard, embracing adventure, and cherishing the bonds of friendship. He was a shining example of the best of humanity. While the world is undoubtedly dimmer without his bright light, his legacy of kindness, laughter, and unwavering friendship will continue to shine brightly in the hearts of all who knew him. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam. - Dara Lundon Former deputy leader of Fine Gael Simon Coveney has said it will be a very difficult proposition for the party to re-enter a coalition with Fianna Fail without a rotating taoiseach. However, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin told reporters on Sunday that such a decision is a conversation for another day. Fianna Fail is likely to increase its seat lead over Fine Gael compared with the 2020 election, which saw the parties enter a coalition on the basis that the holder of the Irish premier position would be exchanged midway through the term. Mr Coveney, who retired from politics at the end of the outgoing parliamentary term, said Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have proven they are compatible partners in government but added that he suspects a third partner would be needed. He predicted Fine Gael would secure around 38 seats while Fianna Fail would be close to 48 Asked about the increased gap, he said: There are a number of ways that you can define numbers. There are the number of seats in the Dail, but theres also the percentage vote that the parties have got nationally, and the percentage vote that the parties have got nationally is more or less the same thats an important mandate that certainly Fine Gael will carry into any discussions. I think it would be a very difficult proposition for Fine Gael to move into a coalition government, having just come through a coalition government where a rotating taoiseach has worked very successfully and has contributed to stability in government. Speaking to reporters at a Cork count centre, the former Irish deputy premier added: Thatll be a matter, obviously, for the party leaders and for the parliamentary parties concerned. But I think from a Fine Gael perspective, it would be very difficult for them to consider going into government without having a taoiseach for part of that government. Asked by reporters about those comments, Mr Martin said: Is Simon acting as mediator now or what? Look, it is all for another day. The Fianna Fail leader said there was very little point in discussing government formation until seats are finalised. Speaking at the count centre, he said: Ill do my own reflections, think about it. I need a long walk from an exercise point of view, but also to clear the head and think this one through. Theres very serious challenges facing the country and weve got to keep the country right and put the people before ourselves and before parties. Asked if he agreed with Mr Coveney that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael had learned to trust each other, he agreed and joked: I think theres capacity to get on. Mr Coveney said a coalition with a smaller party would be more stable than an agreement with independents. Speaking to reporters in Cork, he said he was speaking personally as he was not a decision maker any more, but added: I think a party is generally more stable than a group of individuals, although I have been involved in coalition governments with both. And I have to say, the coalition government we had with a group of independents worked pretty well and there are quite a number of independents who are going to get elected who, if you like, are from a sort of Fine Gael-Fianna Fail gene pool. Attention has turned to whether Labour or the Social Democrats could become a junior partner in a coalition. Mr Coveney, who was Irish foreign affairs minister during Brexit negotiations between the UK and the EU, added: I think both the Social Democrats and Labour will will come back with a reasonably strong performance in this election. I hope both of those parties will want to be in government, and well talk with an open mind and with realism in terms of how you can put a government together with Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. Met Eireann is predicting a new downturn in temperatures as Ireland braces for another cold spell of weather next week. In their latest outlook, Met Eireann forecasters said it looks like "turning cooler next week, especially by night under clear skies. "Our weather will turn more mixed with drier brighter conditions as well as spells of rain at times," they added. In their forecast for Saturday night, they said: "Outbreaks of rain, heavy at times in the southeast, will gradually clear into the Irish Sea tonight with scattered showers and clear spells following from the west. Moderate to fresh and gusty southwest winds, strong at first in the west and north, will ease through the night. Lowest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees. "Sunny spells tomorrow [Sunday] with scattered showers moving eastwards across the country, some turning heavy at times. Highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees, with light to moderate southwest to west winds, freshening northwesterly in Atlantic coastal areas during the evening. READ NEXT: Tommy Tiernan's RTE Late Late chat causes website to crash as viewers react to comments "Clear spells and scattered showers on Sunday night. Feeling cooler with lowest temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees in a moderate to fresh northwesterly wind," the forecast continues. Looking to next week, Met Eireann says it will be "mostly dry with long spells of sunshine and just isolated showers [on Monday]. Cloud will build from the northwest by evening. Moderate northwest winds easing light in the afternoon. Highest temperatures of 6 to 10 degrees. "Starting off dry [on Monday night] with clear spells before outbreaks of rain arrive into the west and southwest by midnight extending across the country through the night. Lowest temperatures of -1 to 4 degrees, coldest in the east. Light southeasterly winds will increase moderate with the arrival of the rain." For Tuesday, they add: "A wet start as outbreaks of rain will spread eastwards through the morning, clearing the west by afternoon with sunny spells and isolated showers following. Highest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees, with moderate southeasterly winds veering northwesterly as the rain clears. "Clear spells and scattered showers at first [on Tuesday night]. Becoming mainly dry as showers become isolated through the night. Another cold night with lowest temperatures of 0 to 4 degrees in light westerly winds. "A mainly dry day [on Wednesday] with hazy spells of sunshine before rain arrives into the west later in the afternoon, spreading into much of Connacht and Munster by the evening. Highest temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees in moderate to fresh southerly winds." Philips optimizes CT workflows with in-house AI, launches CT 5300 in North America at #RSNA2024 December 1, 2024 Philips CT 5300 combines innovative hardware, software, and artificial intelligence to make high-quality screening, diagnostic, and interventional imaging accessible to more patients, including reading support with Automated AI-enabled Philips Advanced Visualization Workspace applications Philips collaborates with Annalise.ai to evaluate streamlining workflows to prioritize time-sensitive cases Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Chicago, USA ? Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today announced a boost in confidence in clinical decision-support with AI and smart workflow automation capabilities in the company's recently introduced CT 5300 system, which is making its North America debut at RSNA 2024. Key to this latest innovation is Philips' CT Smart Workflow featuring a comprehensive suite of AI-enabled ?Precise' software solutions that assist at every step of the CT workflow, freeing technicians and radiologists from routine, time-consuming tasks and allowing them more time to focus on their patients. "By equipping the CT 5300 with our unique NanoPanel Precise detector and ultra-low noise Precise Image reconstruction technology, together with our latest AI-driven CT Smart Workflow solutions, we are integrating hardware, software, and AI to make high-quality care more productive, cost-effective, and widely accessible," said Dan Xu, CT Business Leader at Philips. "The productivity and diagnostic confidence enhancements that AI can deliver to CT imaging empower care teams and ease departmental workflow, helping to mitigate today's chronic shortage of highly skilled radiologists and technicians." End-to-end AI-driven smart workflow Philips CT Smart Workflow solutions include camera-based Precise Position, which improves the accuracy of vertical positioning relative to manual positioning by up to 50% during scan preparation, increases user-to-user consistency by up to 70%, and reduces positioning time by up to 23% [1]. Also included is Precise Cardiac, which compensates for cardiac motion to improve visualization of the coronary arteries during CT imaging, even in patients with a rapid heartbeat, and Precise Brain, which automatically reformats scans to help improve visualization for fast confident diagnosis of the respective anatomies. In addition, Precise Image delivers fast, high-quality image reconstruction with an 80% lower radiation dose, 85% lower noise, and 60% improved low-contrast detectability [2], making the CT 5300 ideal for sites developing cardiac programs and ultra-low dose screening. CT 5300 is seamlessly integrated with Advanced Visualization Workspace, Philips' comprehensive, scalable AI-enabled image post-processing platform [3,4]. This platform is designed to streamline radiology workflows to help deliver high-quality care, enhance diagnostic confidence, and speed image reading and reporting. The unique clinical depth and deployment capabilities of Advanced Visualization Workspace allow it to scale to meet changing clinical needs and future expansion. Collaboration with Annalise.ai for triage evaluation in emergency departments Philips also announced a pilot with medical imaging AI solutions company Annalise.ai to investigate the feasibility of Annalise Critical Care AI ? a comprehensive critical case triage support solution ? to enhance triage support and optimize workflows for conditions like traumatic brain injury (TBI), which require time-critical intervention. This newly announced collaboration aims to evaluate ways to further streamline workflows and prioritize time-sensitive cases. The collaboration will investigate integrating Annalise Critical Care AI ? the most comprehensive AI-driven triage product for chest X-ray and non-contrast CT of the brain available in the USA. By flagging and prioritizing 12 time-sensitive clinical findings often encountered in emergency departments, these AI capabilities help clinicians focus on the most critical cases. This is particularly valuable during nights and weekends when fewer staff are on duty, and delays in intervention pose a significant risk to patients. "This is an exciting time for radiology. Our solutions are designed to streamline workflows and boost productivity for radiology teams. Together with Philips, we look forward to making high-quality care truly accessible," said Dimitry Tran, co-founder and deputy CEO of Annalise.ai. Critical Care AI has been shown to improve median report turnaround times by up to 39% [5]. It is the first computer-aided detection triage device to receive FDA Breakthrough Device Designation and secure NTAP (New Technology Add-on Payment) for obstructive hydrocephalus (water on the brain) detection. Philips will also be evaluating the Annalise Enterprise CTB solution ? a comprehensive clinical decision-support solution that can detect up to 130 radiology findings ? for sites outside of the USA. The Philips CT 5300 with Advanced Visualization Workspace will be showcased at the Philips Booth #6730 at #RSNA24. Visit Philips at RSNA for more information. [1] Based on an internal Philips assessment conducted by five clinical experts, comparing manual positioning versus Precise Position in 40 clinical cases using a human body phantom. [2] In clinical practice, the use of Precise Image may reduce CT patient dose depending on the clinical task, patient size, and anatomical location. A consultation with a radiologist and a physicist should be made to determine the appropriate dose to obtain diagnostic image quality for the particular clinical task. Dose reduction assessments were performed using reference body protocols with 1.0 mm slices at the "Smoother" setting of Precise Image, and tested on the MITA CT IQ Phantom (CCT189, The Phantom Laboratory) assessing the 10 mm pin and compared to filtered-back projection. A range is seen across the four pins, using a channelized hoteling observer tool, that includes lower image noise by 85% and improved low-contrast detectability from 0% to 60% at 50% to 80% dose reduction. NPS curve shift is used to evaluate image appearance, as measured on a 20 cm water phantom in the center 50mm x 50 mm region of interest, with an average shift of 6% or less. [3] Specktor B. Preprocessing prediction of advanced algorithms for medical imaging, J Digit Imaging 31:42-50, 2018 [4] Applications may not be available in all markets. Please Contact your Philips representative for more details. [5] S. Karunasena, M. Milne, D. Rosewarne, C. Jones. Radiologist reporting productivity benefits from AI-assisted triage of CXR studies in clinical practice. Poster, British Institute of Radiology Annual Congress 2022. https://annalise.ai/evidence/radiologist-reporting-productivity-benefits-from-ai-assisted-triage-of-cxr-studies-in-clinical-practice/ For further information, please contact: Kathy O'Reilly Philips Global Press Office Tel.: +1 978-221-8919 E-mail : [email protected] About Royal Philips Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and well-being through meaningful innovation. Philips' patient- and people-centric innovation leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver personal health solutions for consumers and professional health solutions for healthcare providers and their patients in the hospital and the home. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, ultrasound, image-guided therapy, monitoring, and enterprise informatics, as well as in personal health. Philips generated 2023 sales of EUR 18.2 billion and employs approximately 69,700 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter. Attachments 1 december 2024 at 10:00 News published onand distributed by: BEIJING, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- China strongly deplores and firmly opposes U.S. arms sales to China's Taiwan region and has lodged serious protests to the U.S. side, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Sunday. On Nov. 30, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that the Department of State has approved 385 million U.S. dollars worth of arms sales to Taiwan. The U.S. arms sales to China's Taiwan region seriously violate the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, especially the August 17 Communique of 1982 and China's sovereignty and security interests, said the foreign ministry spokesperson in response to the move of the U.S. side. The sales are a severe breach of the international law, send a gravely wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, and are detrimental to China-U.S. relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, said the spokesperson, adding that the decision to sell arms to Taiwan is simply inconsistent with U.S. leaders' commitment of not supporting "Taiwan independence." "China deplores and firmly opposes it and has lodged serious protests to the United States," said the spokesperson. "We call on the U.S. to immediately stop arming Taiwan and stop abetting and supporting 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces in seeking 'Taiwan independence' by building up its military," the spokesperson said, noting that China will take strong and resolute countermeasures to firmly defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. Mainland slams U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, warns of grave consequences: spokesperson RESEARCHERS at the University of Limerick (UL) have developed a new method of growing organic crystals that can be used for energy-harvesting applications. This energy method, developed by the research team from the Actuate Lab in the Department of Chemical Sciences and Bernal Institute at UL, offers a low-cost and eco-friendly alternative to the conventional method of making piezoelectricity. Piezoelectricity, which translates from Greek to mean pressing electricity, is usually found in ceramics or polymers and is also present in human biomolecules. The energy that is being harvested as part of this research is being generated by squeezing amino acid molecules, which are the building blocks of proteins that exist in the human body. If successful, the research undertaken by the team at UL has the potential to remove environmentally damaging materials, such as lead, from consumer electronics. READ MORE: Homeowners encouraged to avail of heating grants Discussing this latest breakthrough, the lead author of the paper and PhD student at UL, Krishna Hari, explained: The versatile moulding technique that we have developed is a low-cost, low-temperature growth method, that opens the path to phase in biomolecular piezoelectrics as high-performance, eco-friendly alternatives to currently used ceramics. The research team at UL have previously utilised predictive computer models that allow them to identify how much electricity a biological material will generate when you squeeze it. This makes the material suitable for power sensors in consumer electronics and medical devices. The development has been published in the journal Physical Review Letters and will allow the researchers to shape the crystals they make using silicon moulds into discs or any custom shape required. For example, a medical device element versus a phone microphone or car sensor shape can be moulded. Tapping these discs and plates generates a useful voltage that, if amplified, could be used to charge electronic devices. The research project, entitled Pb-FREE: Piezoelectric Biomolecules for Lead-Free, Reliable, Eco-Friendly Electronics, is being funded by a European Research Council (ERC) starting grant, awarded to associate professor Sarah Guerin. The UL lecturer and researcher, Ms Guerin, who was named Research Ireland (SFI) Early Career Researcher of the Year in 2023, said she was optimistic about what this latest development could mean for solid-state chemistry. We hope it will be a game-changer for the whole field, because there are many scientists trying to grow biological crystals that are still behaving in a chaotic way, she said. I am excited to see if this takes off as a methodology for other people working in sustainable piezoelectrics. There are EU regulations around the use of lead, but piezoelectrics are one of the last remaining mainstream technologies allowed to contain this substance because there is no high-performance alternative, Ms Guerin concluded. There are about 4,000 tons of lead-based electronic waste generated from these sensors every year and this research has the potential to remove this waste from the manufacturing process. AFTER a mammoth count lasting two days at the Limerick Racecourse, Limerick City's new squad of TDs have been confirmed. Fianna Fail TD Willie O'Dea, running in his 13th election, having first been returned in 1982, was the first to cross the line. He passed the quota of 8,435 on the seventh count, taking the first seat in Limerick City, and returning to the top of the poll for the first time in eight years. READ MORE: 'That's a wrap': Limerick County done and dusted At the tenth count, Fine Gael TD Kieran O'Donnell was re-elected, a transfer of 1,973 from running mate, Senator Maria Byrne helping him exceed the quota. Count number 12 saw Sinn Fein's TD Maurice Quinlivan returned to the Dail. He passed the quota courtesy of the transfer of the vote of Aontu candidate Sarah Beasley. Then on the final candidate, Labour councillor Conor Shehan was returned without reaching the quota. In total, 17 candidates contested the election in Limerick City. First to be eliminated were Independent candidates Michelle Hayes and Dean Lillis on the first count. Next out was hospital campaigner Melanie Cleary, who left the race at the second count. Independent Ireland candidate Esther Aherne bowed out at the third count, followed by Ruairi Fahy at the fourth count. The Irish People's Moyross-based candidate Dean Quinn left the race at count number five. Next out was Sinn Fein Senator Paul Gavan, before the first big casualty of the count saw sitting Green Party TD Brian Leddin excluded. Independent councillor Frankie Daly's run came to an end next. Senator Maria Byrne was eliminated at the 10th count. Then there were three straight counts where the surpluses of three of the elected candidates were redistributed. Aontu's Sarah Beasley bowed out before Dee Ryan lost her bid for a seat in the penultimate count. This left Cllr Sheehan and Cllr O'Donovan to battle it out for the final seat. New Delhi: The production-linked incentive (PLI) schemeone of the ways in which this government was hoping to increase manufacturing in Indiais going through a slowdown, with planned expansions to the programme being put on hold. Disbursements under the scheme, which amounted to 10,000 crore in 2023-24, had slowed to around 1,000 crore so far this year, according to a Mint report. One reason for the slowdown in disbursements is that the current lot of beneficiary firms are struggling to meet their production targets under the schemea pre-condition to receive incentives. For instance, in the textiles sector, companies must invest 300 crore and achieve a minimum turnover of 600 crore by the first performance year, 2024-25. According to the report, the textiles ministry has, for now, suspended a previous plan to expand the scope of the scheme to t-shirts and innerwear. The textiles sector has turned out to be a missed opportunity so far. A recent World Bank report pointed out that Indias share of global exports of apparel, leather, textiles and footwear (ALTF) rose from 0.9% in 2002 to 4.5% in 2013, only to fall to 3.5% by 2022. Even as Chinas dominance in the sector started to slow by 2015, with its share of global exports first levelling off and then declining, the benefits went to Bangladesh and Vietnam rather than India. Why is textiles so important, especially when Indias performance in other sectors such as automobiles, and even electronics, has been much better, with Apple moving part of its iPhone manufacturing to India? As the World Bank report points out, in 2020, capital-intensive sectors (which would include electronics and automobiles) accounted for 70% of manufacturing value-added but 50% of formal sector manufacturing jobs. View Full Image In contrast, labour-intensive sectors such as ALTF accounted for 20% of manufacturing value-added, but 40% of formal sector manufacturing jobs. These labour-intensive activities present vast opportunities for job growth, particularly for women (33% of workers in the apparel and textile sectors are female, compared to only 15% in non-textile and non-apparel manufacturing)," pointed out the report. Why has the Indian textile sectors share of global exports declined over the years? While a major reason cited by the World Bank report is higher tariffs on imports starting in 2017higher prices for inputs causing costs for producers to rise as also for finished goodsits worth pointing out that Indias share of global exports in textiles had already begun to decline by around 2014. Size does matter As of 2019, the last date for which data was available, Bangladeshs ALTF sector employed 2.45 million people, with 66% of those working in firms with 300 or more employees. This last statistic, about the proportion of workers working in large manufacturing units, is a crucial one. Why does firm size matter? At a basic level, as firms grow larger, they are able to reap economies of scale. This enables them to reduce costs and increase competitiveness, both domestically and in foreign markets. As economies grow, more and more output in a given sector tends to be produced by the top few firms who then come to dominate the sector. Richer economies are dominated to a greater extent by larger firms, than poorer economies, in terms of overall output. Smaller firms, especially those in the informal sector, face serious levels of economic uncertainty, especially from larger, cheaper competitors for the same products. Those who work in the informal sector tend to get paid far less than their counterparts in larger businesses. But more importantly, from the broader perspective of the economy, larger firms are part of the formal sector. These are also the sectors where employees tend to be paid better, have more social security and have a better chance at economic mobility, at least in a relative sense. Smaller firms, especially those in the informal sector, face serious levels of economic uncertainty, especially from larger, cheaper competitors for the same products. Those who work in the informal sector, where most businesses are extremely small scale, tend to get paid far less and face much more economic uncertainty than their counterparts in larger businesses in the formal sector who make the same products. In a dynamic economy, many firms start out small and are unable to grow bigger. But a select few grow larger, and keep growingand so does the proportion of labour force employed with them. The governments that really took this lesson on board were the East Asian tigers. Governments there took a conscious decision to promote national championslarge industrial conglomerates that could dominate the sectors they operated in. Firm size in India The consensus has been that, in India too, firms have been growing bigger. This was especially the case after a Supreme Court ruling in 2001 liberalised rules around contract workers, enabling companies to get around the supposedly rigid labour laws, which kick in at the 100-employee mark. Prior to 2001, companies using contract labour had to absorb such labour into permanent employmentthat was one of the interpretations of the Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act. The ruling clarified that this was not required. Following this, contract labour usage in companies rose. View Full Image A Supreme Court ruling in 2001 liberalized rules around contract workers. (HT) Earlier research by Marianne Bertrand and others in 2021 found that the top 5% of firms by employee size saw a headcount increase of 43% in 2015 compared with 2000. But a recent paper published by the Madras Institute of Development Studies, and authored by Abhishek Anand, Arvind Subramaniam, and Naveen Thomas, is more circumspect. They point out that the source data for much of firm size in India, the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI), allows companies with more than a single plant in the same state and making the same product to provide a single set of data to the government, without distinguishing between the output of the individual plants. This leads to the data over-emphasizing the growth of large factories since they show up in the data as a single plant. So, for instance, two separate factories in a state, under common management, and making auto components, with 300 employees each, show up in the data as one factory with 600 employees. And while the data does provide information on exactly how many separate factories are covered by a single data point, its not possible to figure out separate metrics, such as employment or output, for each of those so-called multi-plant units separately. This narrow technical problem in the data has led to, the authors claim, an overstatement by various researchers of the extent to which firms have actually grown, especially those in the so-called right tail, i.e. the largest factories. We find that between the early 2000s and the 2020s, the observed (i.e. mis-measured) data suggests an increase in the right tail. However, when the mis-measurement is corrected, the increase is smaller, and in some cases, there is no real increase in the right tail, and on some metrics, there is even a shrinking of the right tail," the authors write. And, as they point out, this has little to do with rigid labour laws, since the cutoff mark for the Industrial Disputes Act is 100 employees. But even firms much larger than this have seemingly stagnated, and not grown. As per data from the ASI for only single manufacturing plants, and excluding multi-plants, the share of employment in manufacturing as a whole has grown since 2011-12, but by just a few percentage points. In 2011-12, the share of the manufacturing labour force (including contract workers) employed in factories with 300 or more workers was around 45.2%. By 2022-23, this had grown to around 48.7% (chart 1). But as the authors point out, the problem is worse for labour-intensive industries. The number of employees who work in the 100 largest factories, in absolute terms, in such industries has essentially remained unchanged between 2011 and 2022. Chart 2 shows similar data as chart 1 for two sectors: ALTF, and computers and electronics (includes mobile phones). Again, this data only covers single plants, and excludes multi-plant data. These present a very different picture. The share of workers in the textile industry, who work in factories with 300 or more workers, has actually fallen by 3.5 percentage points since 2011. Further, at 50.5%, this is far below the 66% figure for Bangladesh. In sharp contrast, the share of workers in the computers/electronics sector who work in plants with 300 or more workers has risen steadily, from 50.4% in 2011-12 to 71% by 2022-23. Relatively large Indian plants did not become larger and did not account for a larger share of employment over two decades despite this being a period of dynamism over two decades (oughties and teens) and a veritable boom in the first decade," the authors point out. As an aside, its worth pointing out that even the ASI data, adjusted for the issue of multi-plant data, likely overstates the share of workers who work for large firms. This is because the data does not cover a huge volume of workers who work in very small-scale industrial units in the informal sector. Export boost There is one possible reason for the sharp difference between the structure of the Indian apparel and textile industry and that of Bangladeshexports. The Bangladesh textile industry exports over 95% of its output, compared with around 37% by Indian plants. Could plants oriented toward the highly competitive global export market be, on average, bigger than their non-exporting counterparts? View Full Image Employees at a garments factory on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Reuters) In employment terms, that is the case. As a share of all export units in the sector, Indian plants with 300 or more workers account for 62% of employment, not far behind the number for Bangladesh. But even this statistic has barely changed since 2011-12, rising by just about 1 percentage point. This is true of the electronics/computers sector as well. Units that export all or a part of their output, and which had 300 or more employees, accounted for 75% of the labour force in such units, compared with 71% for units overall (exporting and non-exporting). But interestingly, this share, in contrast to that of ALTF, has grown sharply from 63% in 2018-19 to 75% in 2022-23. When we broaden our focus to look at all manufacturing units across sectors that export all or part of their output, the result is the same. In 2022-23, such units with 300 or more workers accounted for 67% of the labour force working in export units, compared with 48.7% of the manufacturing labour force for similar-sized units, but covering both exporting and non-exporting units. Why do firms choose not to grow bigger? A chief executive of a large firm the authors of the MIDS paper spoke to admitted that the company would be more competitive internationally if its plant sizes were greater, but it deliberately chose not to grow because of the need to spread riskslegal and politicalacross multiple firms. A single large firm would be akin to a promoter putting all their eggs in one basket. Risk spreading in a highly uncertain political environment is one reason why manufacturers chose not to become too big," the authors say. A company deliberately chose not to grow its plant size because of the need to spread riskslegal and politicalacross multiple firms. A single large firm would be akin to a promoter putting all their eggs in one basket. It is not clear from the above quote what uncertain political environment refers to. But if this were true, it would apply to all firms across all sectorsas we have seen, export-oriented units tend to be bigger in terms of share of employment. Perhaps, it is not supply-side or institutional factors (like the political environment) that retard the growth of firms but just the size of the market itself. Firms exporting into international markets just have a bigger market to sell to and thus can grow bigger. Those focused on the domestic market, especially in an environment of high competition from small, informal sector units, just dont have a similar incentive to grow. howindialives.com is a search engine for public data 2024 has been a landmark year for the Indian initial public offer (IPO) market, with an unprecedented surge in fundraising and retail participation. The allure of quick wins has led to massive oversubscriptions, especially in the small and medium enterprises (SME) segment. Strong listing gains have further fuelled this frenzy. While foreign investors have pulled back from the secondary market, they continue to show interest in the primary market. With over 1 trillion worth of IPOs in the pipeline, the outlook looks promising. However, the sustainability of this momentum amid potential market volatility remains a key question. A hot streak in 2024 IPO activity in India has hit a new record this year with a staggering 1.4 trillion raised through both main-board and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) segments. It was also the year of big deals with the average IPO size doubling to nearly 1,800 crore, signalling a surge in investor confidence and paving the way for even larger deals to come. Also read: IPO lottery: Did your lucky pick weather the Q2 storm? Little giants dominate The recent wave of primary market offerings has captivated investors, who have responded overwhelmingly. While over a third of the mainstream IPOs saw a bumper response with subscriptions of over 50 times, the SME segment, in particular, outdid its larger counterparts, with nearly 70% of issues receiving this level of mega response. More spinners and fewer winners Retail investors are taking the IPO market by storm. Their enthusiasm has led to record-breaking activity and a new era for both main-board and SME offerings. That said, the odds of securing allocations have also dwindled due to this overwhelming demand. Quick flip IPO response was further buoyed by strong listing performance. Retail investors flocked to IPOs in 2024 mostly for quick wins. While mainstream IPOs offered limited listing gains, the smaller segment experienced a surge in listing gains, attracting significant retail interest. Also read: Why retail investors continue to root for the underdogs Foreign funds' dichotomy While overseas investors remain cautious about India's secondary market and are shifting their focus to other countries like China, they continue to show strong interest in the primary market. Some of this primary market buying is offsetting the selling in the secondary market. Strong pipeline With over 1 trillion worth of IPOs in the pipeline, India's primary market continues to thrive. Strong economic growth across sectors and rising opportunities for SMEs have boosted investor confidence. However, the question looms large: Can this IPO frenzy endure in the face of potential market corrections and increased volatility? Also Read: From light regulation to accountability: How Sebi is rethinking SME IPO rules During the afternoon show of John M. Chus Wicked I attended, there were no audience members singing along. Or there werent any until the films ;-'Defying Gravity' song, picturized on the films two witchy leads, the green-skinned, misunderstood Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and the kind-hearted Galinda (Ariana Grande), the two apprentice-witches are destined to become the Wicked Witch of the East and Glinda the Good, respectively, from Frank L. Baums 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz . During Defying Gravity a gaggle of young women near me broke into a not-particularly-synchronized version of Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzels song from the 2003 Broadway musical Wicked. I didnt mind because the visuals onscreen were so uninspiredthe original numbers remarkable stagecraft (a dozen extras holding Elphaba aloft atop a platform, the train of her flowing dress covering up the modus operandi) reduced to a VFX-heavy, superhero-style climactic fight. Generally speaking, this is the problem with Wicked: its very good when Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are mostly left to their own devices, singing their hearts out. But whenever a scene calls for visual daring, unconventional staging and actual lighting, Chu opts for two-dimensional music video direction instead. Down the years there has been a steady stream of Oz adaptations across film, TV, radio, comics and so on. In part, this is because of the universality of the basic storylinea young girl named Dorothy ends up in the magical land of Oz after she and her pet dog Toto are swept away from their home by a cyclone. A classic quest narrative ensues wherein she finds unlikely allies (the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion) and a formidable nemesis (the Wicked Witch of the West) who she has to defeat before she can dream of going home. In Baums original novel, of course, the whole thing is revealed to be Dorothys dream; dream logic is therefore key to understanding the dynamics of Oz. Among other things, Wicked proved that the gold standard remains Victor Flemings 1939 musical The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland as Dorothy and Frank Morgan as the titular Wizard. The films songs, especially the Oscar-winning Over the Rainbow have become cultural staples in America and between 1958 and 1999, the film was broadcast annually on free-to-air networks. The then-teenaged Garland became an international sensation and was given a Juvenile Oscar for her memorable performance. Wicked isnt the first creatively misfiring Oz adaptation (commercially, though, the film is a huge success, taking in $200 million globally). In 1978, Sidney Lumet directed The Wiz, a musical adaptation with an all-African-American cast, including singing superstars Diana Ross and Michael Jackson as Dorothy and the Scarecrow, respectively. The films central conceit was audacious and fun for about twenty minutes. But the poor screenplay basically killed any chances the film had, which is a pity because a young Jackson brought an infectious sense of nervous energy to the Scarecrow. Joel Schumacher, who wrote the much-panned screenplay, would later tank the Batman franchise in the 90s with Batman and Robin (1997), featuring George Clooney in the infamous nipple suit" bat-gear. Genre-movie maestro Sam Raimi brought his keen visual sense and raw kinetic energy to Oz the Great and Powerful (2013) but it wasnt nearly enough. Since the 80s Raimi has rejuvenated many genres: horror (the Evil Dead films), superhero (the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man films), Westerns (The Quick and the Dead), noir (A Simple Plan). And yet, Raimi couldnt quite coax a serviceable performance from his male lead, James Franco who played a younger version of the Wizard of Oz. Somehow, the role brought out the worst aspects of Franco the performer smarminess, poor diction, a syllable-gobbling delivery style. Most notably, a kind of semi-permanent stoner vibe, as though Franco hadnt quite mentally checked out of the Seth Rogen slacker movies (This is the End, Pineapple Express) he had been shooting in the preceding years. The handprints of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz are clearly visible across several generations of Hollywood films across genres. Think of Labyrinth (1986) by Jim Henson, the puppeteer, animator and creator of the Muppets. This is the story of 16-year-old Sarah (Jennifer Connolly) who literally wishes her younger brother away to the Goblin King, Jareth (David Bowie). Sarah then embarks on a journey to the titular maze-like super-powered world, in order to confront Jareth and rescue her brother. The film wasnt especially well-received in its time but has since undergone a critical re-evaluation and is now considered a cult classic. Henson, interestingly, was supposed to be the puppeteer controlling the Yoda-doll in the Star Wars movies, but he suggested Frank Oz for the role instead. The original Star Wars trilogy is itself heavily inspired by Ozthink of R2D2, very much a pet droid a la Toto, C3PO a comic-relief cowardly character, a kind-of Cowardly Lion in a Tin Man suit. The 2022 horror film Pearl had a number of Oz references in the storythe titular character hankers for a Hollywood career, the film industry being a stand-in for the magical land of Oz. Pearl is a farm girl like Dorothy and of course, theres the disturbing scene where she dances and then masturbates with a scarecrow in a cornfield. The filmmaker whose career shows the clearest influence of this story, however, is David Lynch, by any standards one of the most interesting directors alive. The 2022 documentary Oz/Lynch takes a deep dive into the parallels thereinits intriguing premise is that Lynchs entire career, basically, has been one long trip through Oz metaphors and imagery. This is clearest in quest narrative films like Wild at Heart (1991), which even had lines directly from Baums novel. Its less obvious in stuff like Twin Peaks, until you start to notice little touches like the preponderance of curtains (the Wizard of Oz hides behind a curtain in Baums novel), or the decidedly Freudian sense of eroticism shared by both Oz and Lynch. I think I would have enjoyed Wicked much more if it had been more willing to embrace the darker, less apparent aspects of the Oz story, like Lynch and others have done in the past. However, Chu is content to play it safe, with twee choreography and desaturated colours. As a result, we never really leave Kansas, so to speak, and thats an awful shame. Mumbai-based Harsh Vardhan has never visited Goa, despite being a beach enthusiast. The 31-year-old is in no hurry to visit it anytime soon, as he has found his perfect escape in Da Nang, Vietnam. He has travelled to Vietnam thrice in two years. The techie, whose third visit to his favourite destination was for his honeymoon in November last year, says he prefers Vietnam over Goa for two reasons: it is more tourist-friendly and costs nearly the same. You basically get to experience a new country at the cost of domestic holidays, which feels amazing," Harsh told Mint. As part of Mints travel series, Harsh shares the details of his two-week trip to Vietnam with his wife Deeksha Singh. He spent around 1.2 lakh on this trip. View Full Image Mint Why Vietnam The first time I went to Vietnam was to work remotely for a month after the covid-19 pandemic. I had researched all possible destinations I could work from and Da Nang offered the right balance of affordability with the right amenities for remote work. The city has ample cafes with good internet and cheap hotels. I fell in love with the country which is extremely tourist-friendly and where travelling becomes seamless. I realized this was the ideal place to spend time with my life partner. For our honeymoon last year, we travelled for 13 days acossHo Chi Minh City, Hoi An and Da Nang. Though Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City are relatively more popular among tourists, we decided to spend most of our time at Da Nang because of its pristine beaches and stunning infrastructure. With limited tourist footfall, premium hotels in Da Nang are available at dirt cheap prices, which is, in a way, true for all of Vietnam if you compare it to popular holiday destinations in India. We booked a sea-facing 4-star hotel calledBlu Sun in Da Nang for the entire durationthat cost us 2,400 per night, including breakfast. In comparison, similar hotels in Goacost around 7000 and above. I negotiated with the hotel directly to get the best offer price. I checked out hotels on online travel agencies (OTA), zeroed down on this one and reached out to them on their Facebook page. I used our long stay of nearly two weeks as the bargain chip to get a deal with a 15-20% discount on the OTA price. Ive also had a good experience booking through OTA as hotel owners respect prices you have managed to lock online, something that Indian hotels are known to decline. Also Read: How this Pune couple planned a budget trip to the second most expensive country in the world Across Vietnam I keep going back to Vietnam or other Southeast Asian countries not just for the lower costs but also to experience varied cultures and all this at the same cost as what I would spend in Goa. We took a direct flight to Ho Chi Minh City, spent the day exploring the city and took an evening flight to Da Nang. We used Grab taxis for all our local commute. The cheaper, and more widely used option is to hire a two-wheeler for self-drive but neither of us can drive one so we took cabs. It wasnt too costly either as we spent less than 10% of our total budget on cabs, which even includes a 2,500 return trip to Hoi An from Da Nang. The main attractions included Buddha statue on top of a beautiful mountain, Ba na hills for a unique amusement park with European style architecture and the gorgeous bridge over lush green valleys and marble mountain for the spiritual sites. Entry fee for most sites was either free or under 100, except Ba na Hills, which has an entry fee of 3,000 per person. Da Nang has long and expansive promenades with excellent walking infrastructure which makes it ideal to take long evening walks along the ocean. This was one of the best parts of the holiday. Hoi An is just a half-hour drive from Da Nang, so we did a day trip. Though located in proximity to Da Nang, Hoi An has a starkly contrasting retro ambience. We explored the entire city and returned by evening. Also read: Hot air balloon, Limousines, and hammams: A luxurious 5 lakh Turkish Holiday Google flights for cheap deals The key to a budget Vietnam trip is to lock the right fares for flights. I use Google flights to get the best deal. One can go to the explore destinations button to check out flight fares displayed for all locations. We took a direct Vietjet flight from Mumbai for 19,000. However, for a low-cost airline, such fares are available only for carry-on 7 kg baggage tickets. We took that option for our Mumbai to Ho Chi Minh flight, shopped widely in Vietnam and bought baggage for the return leg from Da Nang, which cost us about 29,000. Many people who don't track and book tickets on time can end up paying double what we paid just for flights. In such a scenario, it's no longer a budget trip. Apart from flights, we didnt budget for any other expenses. We had two sit-down meals everyday at cafes and restaurants. Food is among the cheapest expenses in Vietnam with each meal costing an average 500. As for payment methods, cards are widely accepted, except American Express. I used a Fi zero forex debit card and credit card for most payments. Fi is a fintech company that offers debit cards in association with Federal Bank. One has to open a bank account with Federal Bank to get the card. We didnt convert money at the money exchange and instead withdrew from ATMs with low withdrawal charges. Through my three trips, I have found that MB Bank (a Vietnamese commercial joint stock bank) charges zero forex fees on cash withdrawals. Also read: This couple spent just 1.2 lakh for a holiday in Azerbaijan. How? Leading members of the US political and economic establishment are either ecstatic or nervous about Donald Trumps second term, depending on their respective world-views. Many imponderables cloud the horizon, given some of the unknown quantities in the Trump cabinet or the difficulty in predicting the gap between pre-poll rhetoric and actual policy roll-out. One such X-factor (pun unintended) is Elon Musk. The businessman has been a vocal Trump supporter and now sits at the centre of Trumps policy universe. There is intense speculation over Musks new role, as well as attempts to understand the man, his psyche and its likely impact on the incoming administration. There are multiple ways to skin this, just like the proverbial cat. The first persona is one with an official role. Officially, he has been designated as co-head of the department of government efficiency (DOGE), a new ministry designed to trim federal flab. Musk will share responsibilities with Vivek Ramaswamy, whose survival instincts, after his failed presidency bid, drove him into Trumps arms. A fog blankets DOGEs exact role; in a co-authored article for Wall Street Journal, Musk and Ramaswamy wrote: The two of us will advise DOGE at every step to pursue three major kinds of reform: regulatory rescissions, administrative reductions and cost savings." His second identity revolves around his actual vocation: tech entrepreneurship with large investments spread across social media, space, artificial intelligence and electric vehicles. This part of Musks character has given rise to guesswork on whether he will be able to maintain a distance between his government role and his businesses, or he will use one to further the other. For example, he looks inches away from closing two crucial deals with the Indian government before officially moving into his new role. In the first instance, the Indian telecom ministry announced in October a willingness to allocate broadband spectrum to Musks satellite service, Starlink, without it having to participate in an auction, the resource-allocation process followed for terrestrial operators (such as Jio and Airtel). The Indian governments willingness is expected to be converted into a licence if Starlink adheres to the Indian governments security concerns over satellite telephony and data residency. With Musk now firmly ensconced within the new regime, it will be interesting to see the give-and-take between the Indian government and Elon Musk. A second deal was consummated on 19 November, a few days after Donald Trumps election victory. Musks SpaceX transported and successfully inserted into geosynchronous transfer orbit an Indian communications satellite, GSATN-2. While the launch marks a departure from Indias self-reliant and indigenous satellite launch programme, it seems to have been necessitated by GSATN-2 being heavier than what Indian launch vehicles can bear; but it is the choice of SpaceX at this juncture that raises eyebrows. What might rise are the hackles of Musks cabinet colleagues over the businessmans China exposure. Electric car manufacturer Teslas Shanghai plant has an annual capacity of 950,000 vehicles, two-fifths of the companys total capacity of over 2.35 million. As China hawks within the inbound administration sharpen their talons, the fate of Teslas China expansion plans looks uncertain and will test Musks balancing skills. Meanwhile, Teslas now-on-now-off plans for India could get a relook. But Musk seems to be doing much more than busying himself with DOGE or his quotidian business interests. And this gives rise to his third identity. According to economists Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg, who jointly anchor the podcast Econ 102, Elon Musk should be called the shadow president of the US. According to various reports, Musk has been busy contacting and talking to various government leaders and officials in Russia, China and Iran even before the new government has been sworn in, thereby giving a new meaning to back-channel talks and track-II diplomacy. In some other reports, Musk even reportedly attended meetings in which Trump interviewed candidates for cabinet positions. Musk, by the way, can never be US president because he was not born stateside; hence, shadow president. The word shadow has interesting Jungian associations. According to the Dictionary of Psychology from the American Psychological Association, the shadow is an archetype within Carl Jungs analytical framework of psychology that represents the darker, unconscious side of the human psyche, which may comprise anything (e.g. a trait, desire or emotion, whether positive or negative) that is unacceptable to an individuals conscious ego and as such remains unexpressed and hidden in the unconscious." An inability to deal with the unconscious or darker side can lead to unpredictable behaviour; combined with what looks like Trumps own whimsical approach, it presents a risk. Also read: The Indian economy also has much to thank the Constitution for The Economist has it down pat: He could also fail before he even starts, because of the combustibility of the Trump-Musk combinationThe fusion of Silicon Valley libertarianism and techno-utopianism with the MAGA nationalism of Mr Trumps world is inherently volatile." It will be interesting to see what dominates: whether political power catalyses Musks inner desires or whether he eventually comes to personify Trumps shadow, projecting the president-elects repressed ideas, desires and instincts. Antony Blinken, Americas secretary of state, was unusually blunt on a recent visit to Europe: One of the reasons that [Vladimir] Putin is able to continue this aggression is because of the provision of support from the Peoples Republic of China," he said. China was, he added, the biggest supplier of machine tools, the biggest supplier of microelectronics, all of which are helping Russia sustain its defence industrial base". American officials are reluctant to discuss details of what they think Russia is giving its friends, but Kurt Campbell, deputy secretary of state, recently said Russia has provided China with submarine, missile and other military technology. Separately, America says that Iran has been busy sending Russia hundreds of short-range ballistic missiles. These revelations are examples of the growing military-industrial ties between China, Iran, North Korea and Russia. Were almost back to the axis of evil," says Admiral John Aquilino, the recently departed head of Americas Indo-Pacific Command, referring to the term applied by George W. Bush, a former president, to Iran, Iraq and North Korea. Others draw parallels with the Axis forces of Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan and Fascist Italy, with worrying conclusions. Russia, China, Iran and North Koreahave now been co-operating for a longer time, and in more ways, thanany of the future Axis countries of the 1930s," warns Philip Zelikow, in the Texas National Security Review, a military and security journal. The members of this new quartet of chaoswhose ideologies range from Islamism to hardline communismare riven by distrust, and they have very different visions of the world. Yet they are united by a shared hatred of the American-led order, and are keen to deepen their economic and military-industrial links. Their relationships amount to a kind of strategic transactionalism", says an American official. That is, the four regimes share a systematic intent to conduct bilateral deals that are in each participants narrow self-interest, and sometimes in the collective interest, too. To get a sense of how deep co-operation is so far, consider three buckets: bullets (ie, weapons transfers), brawn (industrial support) and brains (technology diffusion). Although the first two present the most immediate danger, it is the exchange of military know-how that poses the greater long-term threat to the Wests security and ability to deter adversaries. Start with bullets. North Korea and Iran are transferring hundreds of missiles, including more than 200 Fath-360 short-range ballistic projectiles, to Russia, having already sent millions of artillery shells and thousands of attack drones. Analysts expect Russia will use them to overwhelm Ukrainian air defences, freeing up its own more capable missiles to conduct long-range strikes elsewhere. Russia has fired around 65 KN-23s, a North Korean short-range missile, since the start of the war. Mateship, missiles and muscle Industrial brawn has been just as important. Although China has not sent arms, its vast supplies of dual-use components are being applied directly to the Russian war machine", Mr Campbell said recently. China accounts for 90% of Russias microelectronics imports and 70% of its machine tools, the American government reckons. These inputs have enabled Russia to churn out cruise missiles and drones. Chinas support has had surprising effects elsewhere on the battlefield: a jump in imports of diggers from China in 2022 helped Russia build formidable defences, which foiled Ukraines counter-offensive last year. Russian companies are conducting more trade and financing in Chinese yuan to bypass Western sanctions. Less well known is the booming exchange of technologythe brains. Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have created abundant opportunities to swap technical know-how. Ukraine is a laboratory of knowledge and learning" for the Iranians, says Dima Adamsky of Reichman University in Israel. It gains real-time insight into the effectiveness of its weapons against Western defences, while Russia learns from Iranian advisers how to conduct air attacks that mix drones and missiles. Russia is sharing information about its jamming of drone-control and GPS signals with Iran. It is also sending the Islamic Republic captured Western kit, to be stripped for technical examination. A different kind of tech boom North Korea, too, receives valuable technical and military insights" on the performance of its missiles against Western air defences, notes Mira Rapp-Hooper, an American security official. Chinas strategists have been studying the performance of HIMARS, landmines and dronescapabilities it expects to encounter in a war over Taiwanin the Ukraine war, says Lyle Goldstein, an expert on Chinas armed forces at Brown University. Increasingly, the flows of technology are extending beyond these ad hoc arrangements to long-term deals. Sino-Russian co-operation, once hampered by mutual suspicion, is surging in areas including submarines, aeronautics and missiles. Russia is willing to help China build missile-warning and defence systems, according to the research arm of the US air force. It reckons that there is now a serious degree of co-operation in space, too. This is not confined to China. Russia is helping Irans space programme, which is widely considered to be no more than a front for developing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). North Korea has also been promised unspecified technological assistance by Mr Putin. That could include helping North Korea develop re-entry vehicles for its ICBMs, suggests Victor Cha, a Korea expert at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington-based think-tank. View Full Image A-new--quartet-of-chaos--threatens-America Although there is little evidence of a surge in nuclear-weapons collaboration, the spread of the most advanced military technologies is accelerating. Whether Russia will part with the crown jewels is hard to say, but Putin needs his ammunition," says Mr Cha. Avril Haines, Americas director of national intelligence, has indicated that Russian concessions" to North Korea have been potentially undermining to long-held non-proliferation norms. And there are some signs of joint military actions or obligations. There have been naval drills in the Gulf of Oman by Russia, China and Iran. Russia and China have flown joint bomber patrols near Alaska. A deal signed by Mr Putin in Pyongyang in June commits Russia and North Korea to immediately provide military and other assistance" to each other in the event of war, which would imply Russian involvement in any conflict on the Korean peninsula. The quartet of autocracies still faces a number of constraints that may limit the extent of its members co-operation. One is that their appetite for risk varies. Chinas defence industry is big enough to tip the scales in Ukraine, yet the country has held back from providing lethal assistance, not least because doing so would also undermine its ability to present itself as a neutral mediator in world affairs and jeopardise its economic links with the rich world. Russia, Iran and North Koreapariah states already under sanctionsmay have fewer qualms. But even so, Russia seems to have backed down for now from sending anti-ship missiles to the Houthis, an Iranian-backed militia, following economic pressure from the Gulf monarchies and possibly China, all of which need stability in the Red Sea for trade. Another constraint is mistrust. China, which still has unresolved territorial disputes with Russia, is jostling with its neighbour for influence in Central Asia and is wary of Russias growing defence ties with North Korea, which it sees as its own client state. Meanwhile, many Iranians remain well aware of the Soviet invasion in 1941. All of these countries have bilateral ties, but there is not any kind of quadrilateral co-operation," notes Nicole Grajewski of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, another think-tank. This isnt an alliance," says Jon Alterman of CSIS of the quartet. This is a pickup game." The shortcomings of the grouping are most starkly revealed by a comparison with NATO, the Wests main security pact, most of whose members share a deep alignment of political values, similar economies and a high degree of trust. Yet despite its limitations, the quartet is already beginning to give the West headaches, and the pain looks likely to intensify. Americas armed forces, organised to fight one major war at a time, are being forced to make hard choices and accept risky trade-offs over scarce resources. This was starkly illustrated by a shortage of 155mm artillery shells last year, when in January America drew down emergency stocks stored in Israel to send them to Ukraine, only to have to reverse course in October, diverting shells intended for Ukraine to Israel. Similarly every anti-aircraft missile fired by Western ships at Houthi drones in the Red Sea is one less available to defend Taiwan. The exchange of technical know-how will dilute the efficacy of Western weapons around the worldRussian jamming has reduced the effectiveness of Excalibur, a GPS-guided artillery round, to below 10%, according to Mark Cancian, also of the CSIS. It could, of course, be far worse: the four autocracies have yet to co-ordinate their nuclear-weapons efforts or conduct joint military campaigns. Yet for all their shortcomings and differences the autocracies operate according to a simple shared calculus: the more powerful and troublesome each member becomes, the greater the opportunity the others have to capitalise on chaos. This distraction dividend", argues Hal Brands of Johns Hopkins University, can multiply the challenges that their members pose individually and collectively". The risks posed by the quartets ever-closer alignment do not need to be vastly exaggerated, nor extrapolated far into the future, to be causes of concern. They are worrying enough as they are. 2024, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com President-elect Donald Trump is known for grandiose statements, a larger-than-life persona and a fondness for unpredictability. His counterpart on the other side of the Atlantic couldnt be more different in political style. The U.S. relationship with Europe will rest in part on whether European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen can cool Trumps ire toward the European Union. Trump has long assailed the EU. In 2018, he called it a leading U.S. foe, attacking it for taking advantage of America on trade while depending on Washington for its defense. He is threatening trade tariffs on Europe, cuts in support for Ukraine and a diminished role in its regional security. With Trump gearing up for his return to the White House, von der Leyen will start her second five-year term at the helm of the EUs executive body on Sunday. She has been in the job long enough to experience the first Trump presidency, and her team is taking lessons from that time: Expect the unexpected and identify common interests. In her first year in the Commission jobTrumps last full 12 months in officethe EU landed a tariff-cutting trade understanding with the Trump administration and started a joint dialogue on China, which is seen by both leaders as a potential threat. Von der Leyen, a 66-year-old former German defense minister who was once seen as a likely successor to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, never strays from message discipline. Her organized, tight control of the Brussels bureaucracy abhors any hint of chaos. She had sleeping quarters installed in her European Commission office and works around the clock. As a close ally of President Biden, she irritated some European capitals by avoiding fights with Washington in recent years. She has made it clear it is in Europes vital interests to form a constructive relationship with the incoming Trump administration and avoid what could become major clashes over trade, the fate of Ukraine and Europes security. EU leaders, following postelection calls with the president-elect, all said they would proactively seek areas where they can cooperate. But they are also drawing up plans to defend their interests. A select EU team worked since summer to analyze Trumps proposals and lay out possible countermeasures and incentives to avoid a clash. Initial discussions about their work focused largely on trade and tariffs. The commission has internally considered options to increase imports of U.S. goods and narrow the EU trade surplus with the U.S. Von der Leyen recently suggested buying more U.S. liquefied natural gas to replace the Russian gas some countries still use. The EU has roughly tripled its imports of U.S. LNG since Russia invaded Ukraine. The bloc could also look at buying more U.S. agricultural and defense products, officials and diplomats said. If the U.S. imposes tariffs, the commission would target sensitive sectors and U.S. electoral districts for countertariffs, as it did after the first Trump administration slapped steel and aluminum duties on the EU in 2018. At that time, the blocs targets ranged from bourbon whiskey to Harley-Davidson motorcycles, orange juice and Levis jeans. The focus has now broadened. European officials say building a working relationship with the new administration will require a package of measures that goes beyond trade, such as taking more of the financial burden of supporting Ukraine and boosting military spending, including on U.S. military equipment. Russia is spending up to 9% of its GDP on defense. Europe is spending on average 1.9%," von der Leyen said this past Wednesday. Our military spending must increase." Von der Leyen is lining up a new European defense plan that could pour billions of euros into the blocs industry and common defense projects. But Europes national governments, not the EU, largely manage the purse strings for Ukraine and defense, so Brussels can only nudge the bloc toward meeting Trumps expectations. The EU already has committed up to 35 billion euros, or $37 billion, toward a Group of Seven loan for Ukraine and still has most of a 50 billion euro package of Ukraine budget support to disburse. On defense, two-thirds of North Atlantic Treaty Organization members now meet the requisite 2% of gross domestic product military spending the alliance targets. Earlier this past week, incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz told CNBC that 2% was the bare minimum." Driving targets higher could create deep problems for some European governments, which face a toxic mix of political instability, weak growth and high debt. Trump has made clear that he wants to use tariffs to alter trade flows and secure concessions from governments. Last Monday, he said he would impose steep tariffs on Canada and Mexico until they address cross-border flows of migrants and drugs. Officials continue to analyze all possible trade moves from Trumps team, the EUs top trade bureaucrat, Sabine Weyand, said this past Tuesday. She said the blocs aim is cooperation. We are also prepared for disruptive scenarios," she said. The bloc could try to wield influence with Washington by offering to cooperate with the U.S. on a joint approach to China, some diplomats and officials in Europe said. The EU and the incoming Trump team share concerns about Beijing, including the export of high-tech goods to China and the high levels of cheap Chinese exports that officials say are flooding North American and European markets. Von der Leyen has ruffled feathers in Europeand Berlin in particularwith a China stance that would appear more at home in Washington. In a major speech on China in 2023, she said Chinese leader Xi Jinpings clear goal is a systemic change of the international order with China at its center." Under her leadership and against opposition from Germany, the EU took its toughest recent trade measure against Beijing, slapping additional tariffs of up to 35% on Chinese-made electric vehicles. But the EU remains largely wedded to global trading rules, and some of its biggest economies depend on deep ties with Beijing. Member states fear European companies will foot some of the bill for U.S. tariffs on China because Beijing will redirect more Chinese exports to Europe. The blocs digital regulations could also cause friction. Trump has railed against EU efforts to police American tech companies in the past. The EU this year charged Apple and Meta Platforms with breaching a new digital-competition law. The companies could face fines of up to 10% of their worldwide revenue. Trump confidant Elon Musks X platform faces a possible fine under a separate online-content law. Since Trumps election win, von der Leyen has insisted the stakes are too high to allow European-U. S. relations to turn sour. Millions of jobs and billions in trade and investment on each side of the Atlantic depend on the dynamism and stability of our economic relationship," she said in a congratulatory message to Trump. Write to Laurence Norman at laurence.norman@wsj.com and Kim Mackrael at kim.mackrael@wsj.com DAMASCUS, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied opposition factions are advancing in the northern countryside of Hama province in central Syria after capturing key territories in northwestern provinces of Aleppo and Idlib, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said Saturday. In a significant development, the HTS -- an al-Qaida-linked extremist organization -- and its allies seized Aleppo International Airport on Saturday, the first civilian airport to fall under HTS control, the Britain-based war monitor said. The rebel militants are now pushing toward Hama, taking control of numerous towns and villages in the northern part of the province concurrently, amid reports of swift retreats by Syrian government forces, according to SOHR. Pro-government Sham FM radio said the HTS rebels had entered Mork in northern Hama. The rebel advance has prompted significant shifts among various forces in the region, including the withdrawal of Iranian-backed militias and the repositioning of Kurdish units on the northwestern outskirts of Aleppo, according to SOHR. Meanwhile, the Syrian Defense Ministry said in a statement Saturday evening that claims about the Syrian army's withdrawal from Hama are unfounded. "We confirm that units of our armed forces are stationed at their positions in the northern and eastern countryside of Hama province and are fully prepared to repel any potential terrorist attack," it said. Earlier in the day, the ministry said the Syrian army announced a temporary redeployment of its forces following intense clashes with the HTS and its allies in Aleppo and Idlib. On Wednesday, a major rebel offensive rocked the western countryside of Aleppo, marking the first significant attack since 2016. The assault has involved a coalition of rebel groups, mainly the HTS, to penetrate government-held territories. On Friday, the rebels successfully stormed parts of Aleppo after they were driven out of the city in 2016. In response, the Syrian government, supported by Russia and Iran, launched airstrikes and ground operations to counter the rebel advance. Minister Peter Burke said he was "absolutely delighted" and humbled to be elected on the first count in the Longford-Westmeath constituency. The Returning Officer for the Longford Westmeath constituency, announced that the first count of the General Election 2024 was in at 10.30pm on Saturday in Count John McCormack in Athlone. As expected from the earlier tallies Fine Gael Minister Peter Burke was announced as the poll topper, with 10,864 votes. Minister Burke said it made it all the more special to have his wife Olivia and his two young sons with him to celebrate the moment. "I'm absolutely delighted, I'm obviously very grateful for the huge support I've got from my constituency and it's a very humble feeling because to get such a vote and increase my vote and I'm so grateful to everyone who votes for me," he said. "I can really say that I will do everything to vindicate their trust in me. " Minister Burke stated he will work as hard as he can and keep his constituency offices going, which he insisted are so important to him every Monday and Friday and "give top class service" to all of the constituents. Asked about what comes next he replied, "Well first of all we have to try and ensure we get Micheal Carrigy over the line here and I think we will," he said. "That's going to be important to try and get two seats. There has been a very significant increase in the Fine Gael vote in the constituency as well which is very good, Micheal increasing his vote as well, which has to be said." Minister Burke said on Monday or Tuesday they will look at the final numbers are going to be and they can assess and evaluate how they will shape the next government. Asked about what the key was for Fine Gael who appear to be on course for two seats, Minister Burke said, "I think a lot of it is down to hard work. We had three good candidates, we had Tanya Cannon, a business owner in Athlone, myself in Mullingar and Micheal in Longford." Minister Burke praised Micheal Carrigy's dedication and particularly his strong work in relation to children with additional needs. "He has been pioneering the autism committee, coming up with that report, which was very much groundbreaking. I know we need to legislate and do a lot more in that area," he said. "And obviously myself working as an Enterprise Minister, doing my best in terms of resetting the dial for small family businesses." Minister Burke insisted he believes people appreciate hard work and dedication and in-particular dedication to public service. "When you're available, you're accessible, you're doing a clinic, you're meeting people week-on, week-off, people do respect that in Ireland I think. Major General Ori Gordin, head of IDF Northern Command (center), meets with officers during a trip to southern Lebanon on November 28. (IDF photo) The ceasefire signed by Israel and Lebanon, which saw fighting cease with Hezbollah, began on Wednesday, November 27. It seems to have held for the first five days, during which there continued to be tensions in southern Lebanon, and civilians in both Israel and Lebanon began to get used to the new reality. Lebanese civilians who had fled southern Lebanon have been warned by Israel not to return to areas close to the border. Others who fled areas further away, such as the coastal city of Tyre, were able to return. The 60,000 Israelis who have been evacuated from northern Israel are also waiting to see whether the ceasefire will hold. The initial days of the agreement will likely be the most sensitive as parties assess what kind of new routine begins along the border. Over the next two months of the agreement, changes will continue as the IDF withdraws units that had operated inside villages in southern Lebanon. In Israel, the Israel Defense Forces Home Front Command changed guidelines across a large swath of the country. Restrictions on gatherings will be removed in the areas of HaShfela, Yarkon, Dan, Sharon, Samaria, Menashe, Wadi Ara, HaCarmel, and HaAmakim, the IDF said on November 28. These locales include most of the country, except areas in the Galilee near the border. On November 30, IDF Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi made more changes to the Home Front Commands guidelines. As part of the changes, the activity scale in the areas of the Confrontation Line and the Northern Golan will change from Limited Activity to Partial Activity. In the rest of the country, Full Activity will be permitted without the restriction on gatherings except for the communities surrounding the Gaza Strip (Full Activity with the restriction of gatherings of up to 2000 people), the IDF said. This directive essentially means that most of the country, except for areas close to the Lebanese border, has now returned to normal. During the two months of Operation Northern Arrows from September 23 to November 27, Israelis in central and northern Israel were affected by Hezbollah rocket fire that often reached between 100200 projectiles entering Israeli airspace daily. The change in guidelines came despite continuing threats to Israeli civilians. For instance, the IDF intercepted a drone flown from Iraq on November 29, and on December 1, the Iranian-backed Houthis fired a long-range missile targeting central Israel. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis were sent to shelters at 6:24 am. The Israeli Air Force intercepted the Houthi missile before it entered Israeli airspace, the IDF said. The IDF released data looking back at the two-month campaign in Lebanon. The Israel Air Force flew 11,000 sorties, and a total of 360 targets were struck in Beirut and 1,000 in the Bekaa Valley. The IDF estimates that it eliminated 2,500 terrorists, four of whom were Hezbollah division commanders, 24 brigade commanders, and 112 commanders at the battalion level and below. Around 20,000 types of Hezbollah munitions, rockets, and drones were seized, and 150 weapons storage facilities were destroyed. The IDF data didnt segment out some key information, such as estimates of Hezbollah rockets destroyed by airstrikes. On November 28, Halevi gave a statement describing the IDFs achievements in the two-month operation against Hezbollah. He said the IDF had eliminated the entire chain of command of Hezbollah. We are now moving toward a new phase, where the same determination that brought us to this agreement will be applied in enforcement [of the ceasefire], Halevi stated. He also specified the Israeli Air Force would enforce the agreement, meaning the IDF would strike at Hezbollah threats and any of the groups attempts to re-arm. Israels head of Northern Command, Brigadier General Ori Gordin, visited troops in Lebanon on November 28 and reiterated the IDFs commitment to preventing Hezbollah from returning to areas near the border. Gordin met with officers of the IDFs 146th Division, including the units commander, Brigadier General Yiftah Norkin, and the head of the 300th Brigade, Colonel Omri Rosenkrantz. This brigade is a territorial unit responsible for guarding the northern Lebanese borders western section from the Mediterranean to Galilean hills. A second brigade controls the area near Kiryat Shmona, the eastern sector of the same line. The achievement against Hezbollah is very significant, inflicting a severe blow on the organization at all levels and across all its systems, Gordin said. He added that the IDF would enforce the ceasefire agreement forcefully. We plan for this entire area to be cleared of Hezbollahs capabilities and certainly of its weapons, this is our mission. [] We are prepared to return to offense and return to combat. This approach represents a shift in mentality for the IDF, he noted, as Israeli forces spent October 7, 2023, to September 23, 2024, on the defensive in northern Israel. Now, Israeli leaders intend to keep the border brigades on their toes to be ready to re-enter Lebanon and fight Hezbollah again to keep it in check. Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024). You cannot purchase more than 20 back issues. Please change the quantity and try again. Please select more subscriptions and try again. Billing and gift recipients cannot be the same. Please change and resubmit your order. Order could not be processed. Your order has not been placed. Please try again later. GAZA, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The World Central Kitchen (WCK) announced Saturday the suspension of its operations in Gaza following the reported killing of its staff in an Israeli airstrike. "We are heartbroken to share that a vehicle carrying World Central Kitchen colleagues was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza," the U.S.-based organization said in a press statement. "At this time, we are working with incomplete information and are urgently seeking more details," it said, adding that it has no knowledge that any individual in the vehicle had alleged ties to the Hamas attack in early October last year. On Saturday, local sources and eyewitnesses reported that an Israeli aircraft targeted a vehicle in Khan Younis in southern Gaza with at least one missile, killing the WCK's Palestinian employees who were inside the vehicle. Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces said Saturday in a statement that it struck a vehicle with a militant, who was simultaneously a WCK worker, that took part in the Hamas attack. Israel has been conducting a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken hostage. A year ago, the MBTA network had nearly 200 slow zones, areas where aging infrastructure and delayed maintenance kept trains from running at their top speed. Just two such spots remain. The Red Line is slow-zone free for the first time in 15 years, the MBTA announced Monday after wrapping up a week of work that closed stations from Harvard in Cambridge to Broadway in South Boston. The Orange Line was liberated of slow zones early in November, for the first time since 2010, the T said. At the end of the day, its not just about removing the restrictions, MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng said last week at a meeting of the agencys Board of Directors. Its about giving the riders, the public, improved service, that reliability that they count on. Eyes now turn to the Green Line, where the final pair of speed restrictions are in effect between Government Center and North Station. Phillip Eng, the general manager of the MBTA, walks near a Green Line train at Riverside Station on March 27, 2023. (Chris Lisinski/State House News Service) A significant portion of the line is scheduled for two weeks of maintenance in December. During the upcoming work, all four Green Line branches will be closed north of Park Street station in Downtown Boston from Dec. 6 to 20. For travel between Medford/Tufts station and North Station, the MBTA will provide shuttle buses free of charge. For travel downtown, the agency urged riders to take the Orange Line. The shuttles will not service Union Square station. Instead, riders should use the 86 and 91 buses. The MBTA will suspend Green Line service north of Park Street from Dec. 6 to 20 for maintenance on transit network's final two slow zones.MBTA For all closures, full details on the alternative transit options can be found on the MBTAs website. By repairing its infrastructure and removing slow zones, the agency has increased the frequency of trains, Eng said at the board meeting last week. The T now averages one Blue Line train every four minutes, one Orange Line train every six minutes and one Red Line train every five minutes on weekdays. Data collected by TransitMatters, a public transit advocacy group, shows the median southbound trip on the Red Line took about 44 minutes this week, more than 10 minutes faster than it did in the first week of the year. The median southbound Orange Line trip took 33 minutes this week, a minute or two faster than at the beginning of the year, but more than 10 minutes faster than at its slowest points last year. The public can really be able to now start to enjoy the fruits of what weve been able to put together, Eng said. Riders can still expect some track closures in 2025 as the MBTA continues to upgrade train signals and complete other work. But it wont be to the level that we had this year, Eng said. Signal work on the Red and Orange Lines should be done by early 2026, he said. The T has seen repeated partial shutdowns over the last year, some stretching multiple weeks, to allow crews to work through the massive maintenance backlog the agency committed to clearing. Had the work only taken place at night, when the subway system is normally closed, the full slate of work would have taken far longer to complete. We would have been here for 10 years probably, Eng remarked this summer, just before a three-and-a-half-week closure of part of the Red Line. Its a lot of catch-up but I thank the public for their patience, Eng, who was appointed last year after serving in top posts in New York Citys public transit, said. Because at the end of this year, they will have a system that they can better rely on. A lucky Massachusetts State Lottery player bought a winning Powerball ticket worth $50,000 at a Market Basket in Salem on Saturday. The ticket was purchased at the Market Basket location off Route 107. In Powerball, players select five numbers between 1 and 69 and one Powerball number between 1 and 26. They then choose how many drawings they want to use those numbers for. Players that match all five numbers and the Powerball number win the jackpot. They have 1 in 292,201,338 chances of winning this way. Players that match four numbers and the Powerball number win $50,000. They have 1 in 913,129.18 chances of winning this way. The Powerball jackpot prize stands at $224 million as of Sunday. Powerball drawings take place every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. Overall, at least 219 prizes worth $600 or more were won or claimed in Massachusetts on Saturday, including four in Springfield and nine in Worcester. The Massachusetts State Lottery releases a full list of winning tickets every day. The list only includes winning tickets worth more than $600. So far, the largest lottery prize won in Massachusetts this year was worth $1 million a year for life. The prize was from the lotterys Lifetime Millions scratch ticket game. The winner claimed their prize through a trust on July 10, and opted to receive a one-time payment of $15.4 million. As Kris Kringle famously said in Miracle on 34th Street, the legendary 1946 movie, Christmas isnt just a day, its a frame of mind. Toward the end of that unforgettable movie, the defeated New York district attorney sighed and said, the state of New York concedes the existence of Santa Claus. The Toy for Joy Christmas campaign isnt necessarily trying to do that. But, for 102 years, its been trying and succeeding in showing the people of our region that the spirit of Christmas is indeed a genuine and real frame of mind and that whether Santa exists or not, wonderful and generous people do. So do such companies, organizations and agencies. The call is out again for such people to come to the support of families and children in need. Begun in the Roaring Twenties, Toy for Joy has withstood a second world war and countless other conflicts, periods of economic boom and bust, and 17 separate presidencies. It has never distinguished between Republicans and Democrats, or race or religion, nor does it now. Toy for Joy couponThe Republican, file It deals with only two components, each always present in American life: Generosity and need. The 2024 campaign is no different. By all indications, the need for help from families in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties is as great or greater than ever, according to Danielle LaTaille, social ministries director of the Springfield Salvation Army Citadel. As Thanksgiving is placed in the rearview mirror and December begins, the urgency is there for citizens, businesses and organizations to support the drive as they have always done. Even during the perilous period of the COVID-19 pandemic, citizens of Western Massachusetts found it in their hearts to donate to the campaign that brings happiness to children who would otherwise be left out of the joy all young boys and girls long to experience at Christmas. Toy for Joy is sponsored by the Salvation Army and promoted and advertised by The Republican, Reminder Publishing, MassLive and El Pueblo Latino. All contributions will be recognized and published in The Republican and Reminder Publications, and online by MassLive.com The campaign is also supported by volunteers from individuals and groups, among them Eversource and the Hampden County Sheriffs Office. The campaign goal of $150,000 is ambitious, but donors have reached it in the recent past, notably during the difficult years of COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021. The donation season continues until Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. All donations will be recognized and published in The Republican, Reminder Publications, and online by MassLive.com. More than $15,000 was raised before Thanksgiving. Traditionally, donations pick up after the Turkey Day holiday. Campaign organizers are grateful for the early contributions, but there is still a long way to go in the next four weeks. As is typical, many donations are given anonymously. One generous $500 contribution came simply with this message, For peace and sharing this holiday season. Another donation, also for $500, came with the message that may the spirit of Christ bless you all. Those messages reflect the diversity of those who give to help others in need. Some donations come from profound religious or faith-based belief. Others carry a more social, sectarian message. Toy for Joy organizers and the Salvation Army appreciate the many reasons for giving, knowing that every dollar is channeled into bringing smiles to the faces of children with age-appropriate toys, books and games this Christmas gifts they would otherwise not receive, while other children of more fortunate means enjoy the holiday season. No donation is too big or too small. Reflective of our society at large, online donations have become more popular in recent years. But the postal mail still works, too, as it has for generations in some cases, for families who were once recipients of the campaign and are now in the position to give something back. Many honor their current family and friends, and those will be noted in the aforementioned media lists. Others recognize loved ones who passed on. That, too, has grown in popularity. No miracle, on 34th Street or otherwise, will bring happiness to Toy for Joys client families and children. But you, the readers and donors, can. Donation is easy. A coupon published with Toy for Joy stories may be used to submit a contribution by mail to The Republican, 1860 Main St., Springfield, MA 01103. Donors can also make online contributions at https://give.salvationarmy.org/give/212002/#!/donation/checkout Registration is closed. Information about pickup can be found at the registration link, which is https://www.salvationarmyma.org/toyforjoy. Distribution will be at the Springfield, Holyoke and Greenfield locations of the Salvation Army. Details for pickup vary based on location, and those details for each site are available on the link. Distribution days at the Springfield Citadel at 170 Pearl St. will be Dec.11, 12, 16, 17 and 18. In Holyoke and Greenfield, distribution dates and times were assigned upon registration, which is required for all recipients. Each child will receive age-appropriate toys, games, and books. Applicants will receive an email confirmation with their toy distribution date and time. They must bring their email confirmation and photo ID for pickup. Their pickup time will be listed under Order Summary. More information can be obtained by calling (413) 733-1518. NEW DELHI, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- At least seven Naxals were killed Sunday in a fierce gunfight with government forces in the southern Indian state of Telangana, police said. The gunfight between Naxals and contingents of police broke out in the Chalpaka forest area of Eturunagaram in Mulugu district, about 258 km northeast of Hyderabad, the capital city of Telangana. "Today morning joint contingents of police's Greyhounds and Anti-Naxal Squad carried out a search operation in the forests of Eturunagaram in Mulugu district. During the operation, a gunfight was triggered between them and Naxals present there. In the stand-off seven Naxals were killed," a police official said. The policemen have not suffered any damage while fighting these Naxals. Police also claimed recovery of some arms and ammunition from the spot. Genetic factors contribute to early diabetes risk in South Asians. Trusted Source Genetic basis of early onset and progression of type 2 diabetes in south Asians Go to source Trusted Source Why do #South_Asians develop type 2 #diabetes at a younger age? New research points to unique #genetic factors that influence #insulin production and #bodyfat distribution. The most significant genetic signature influencing whether a South Asian person develops type 2 diabetes, and at a young age, is a reduced ability of pancreatic beta cells to produce insulin. This genetic signature also increases the risk of gestational diabetes and the progression of gestational diabetes to type 2 diabetes after pregnancy. Treatment responses: The genetic signatures identified in the study provide vital clues about how different people may respond to type 2 diabetes treatments. For example, individuals with high genetic risk for low insulin production were less likely to respond to common medications such as sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors and were more likely to require insulin therapy. High-Risk Genetic Group Identified for Early-Onset Diabetes Advertisement Advertisement Genetic basis of early onset and progression of type 2 diabetes in south Asians - (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03317-8) British Asians with a genetic tendency for lower insulin production and unhealthy fat distribution are at higher risk of developing early-onset type 2 diabetes and experiencing accelerated health complications. (The findings, published inreinforce the need to understand how genetic variation across different population groups can influence the onset of diseases, treatment responses, and disease progression.Queen Mary researchers used data from the Genes & Health cohort, a community-based study of more than 60,000 British-Bangladeshi and British-Pakistani volunteers who have generously provided their DNA for genetic research. The researchers securely linked genetic information to NHS health records in 9,771 Genes & Health volunteers with a type 2 diabetes diagnosis and 34,073 diabetes-free controls to understand why South Asians develop type 2 diabetes at a younger age and often with normal body mass index, compared to white Europeans.In contrast to previous studies which included very few people of South Asian heritage, this research used partitioned polygenic scores (pPS) to reveal the underlying genetic signatures causing type 2 diabetes specifically in people with South Asian ancestry.Key discoveries from the study include:High genetic-risk group identified: The study identified a subset of people with extreme genetic signatures for both low insulin production and unfavourable fat distribution. These individuals were found to develop type 2 diabetes an average of 8 years earlier and at lower body mass index. Over time, these individuals were more likely to need insulin treatment and were at higher risk for diabetes complications such as eye and kidney disease.Sarah Finer, Clinical Professor in Diabetes Honorary Consultant in Diabetes at Queen Mary University of London, said: Thanks to the participation of so many British Bangladeshi and British Pakistani volunteers in Genes & Health, we have found important clues as to why type 2 diabetes may develop in young, slim individuals. This work also tells us how important it is to move away from a one-size-fits-all approach to managing type 2 diabetes, and we hope that this will allow us to find ways to offer more precise treatments that treat the condition more effectively and reduces the development of diabetes complications.Dr. Moneeza K. Siddiqui, Lecturer in Genetic Epidemiology at Queen Mary University of London, said: We dont yet know whether genetic tools will be needed to deliver precision diabetes medicine in south Asian populations, or whether we can better and more widely use existing laboratory tests such as C-peptide which can be measured in a simple blood test. Genes & Health will contribute to future efforts to ensure that precision medicine approaches are developed and bring real benefits to south Asian communities living with, and at risk of, type 2 diabetes.People with South Asian heritage are underrepresented in genetic studies. Queen Marys Genes & Health is a community-based cohort of more than 60,000 British-Bangladeshi and British-Pakistani volunteers who have provided their genetic information and linkage to NHS health data for research. The study has so far led to major discoveries that improve the health outcomes of British South Asians.Source-Eurekalert KYIV, Ukraine (AP) An offer of NATO membership to territory under Kyivs control would end the hot stage of the war in Ukraine, but any proposal to join the military alliance should be extended to all parts of the country that fall under internationally recognized borders, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a broadcast interview. Zelenskyys remarks on Friday signaled a possible way forward to the difficult path Ukraine faces to future NATO membership. At their summit in Washington in July, the 32 members declared Ukraine on an irreversible path to membership. However, one obstacle to moving forward has been the view that Ukraines borders would need to be clearly demarcated before it could join so that there can be no mistaking where the alliances pact of mutual defense would come into effect. You cant give an invitation to just one part of a country," Zelenskyy said in an excerpt of the interview with Sky News. "Why? Because thus you would recognize that Ukraine is only that territory of Ukraine and the other one is Russia. Under the Ukrainian Constitution, Ukraine can't recognize territory occupied by Russia as Russian. So legally, by law, we have no right to recognize the occupied territory as territory of Russia, he said. Since the start of the war in 2022, Russia has been expending huge amounts of weaponry and human life to make small-but-steady territorial gains to the nearly one-fifth of Ukraine it already controls in east and southern Ukraine. If we want to stop the hot stage of the war, we should take under the NATO umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control. Thats what we need to do, fast. And then Ukraine can get back the other part of its territory diplomatically, he said. An invitation for Ukraine to join NATO is one key point of Zelenskyys victory plan, which he presented to Western allies and the Ukrainian people in October. The plan is seen as a way for Ukraine to strengthen its hand in any negotiations with Moscow. Earlier this week, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said that the alliance needs to go further to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion. Military aid to Kyiv and steps toward ending the war are expected to be high on the agenda when NATO members' foreign ministers meet in Brussels for a two-day gathering starting on Dec. 3. However, any decision for Ukraine to join the military alliance would require a lengthier process and the agreement of all member states. There is also uncertainty as to the foreign policy stance of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. While Trump vowed on the campaign trail to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine in a single day, he hasn't publicly discussed how this could happen. Trump also announced Wednesday that Keith Kellogg, an 80-year-old, highly decorated retired three-star general, would serve as his special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. In April, Kellog wrote that bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties. Meanwhile, during his only campaign debate with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump twice refused to directly answer a question about whether he wanted Ukraine to win the war raising concerns that Kyiv could be forced to accept unfavorable terms in any negotiations. Zelenskyys statement comes as Ukraine faces increasing pressure along the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line. In its latest report, Washington-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War said Saturday that Russian forces had recently advanced near Kupiansk, in Toretsk, and near Pokrovsk and Velyka Novosilka, a key logistics route for the Ukrainian military. At least four people were killed Saturday when a Russian missile hit Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, Zelenskyy said in a post on Telegram. Dnipropetrovsk Gov. Serhiy Lysak said that the strike also wounded at least 21 people, of which eight were in a serious condition. Ukraines air force announced Saturday that the country had come under attack from 10 Russian drones, of which eight were shot down over the Kyiv, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk and Kherson regions. One drone returned to Russian-occupied territory, while the final drone disappeared from radar, often a sign of the use of electronic defenses. Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said that 11 Ukrainian drones had been shot down by the countrys air defense systems. Both the mayor of Sochi, Andrey Proshunin, and the head of Russias Dagestan region, Sergey Melikov, both in Russias southwest, said that drones had been destroyed in their regions overnight. No casualties were reported. On Friday, the Ukrainian president announced a number of changes to military leadership, saying that changes in personnel management were needed to improve the situation on the battlefield. Gen. Mykhailo Drapatyi, who led the defense of Kharkiv during Russias new offensive on Ukraines second-largest city this year, was appointed the new head of Ukraines Ground Forces. Oleh Apostol was named as the new deputy commander-in-chief responsible for improving military training. Ukraine's top military commander, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, also announced Friday that he would bolster units in Donetsk, Pokrovsk and Kurakhove with additional reserves, ammunition, weapons and military equipment. ___ Katie Marie Davies contributed to this report from Manchester, England. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Title: Unlocking the Secrets of Googles Intricate Passwords: Protecting Your Online Identity (Changing Your Google Password: Secure Your Account) As a language model, I do not have access to your personal information or any other private data, so you can rest assured that your privacy will be protected. However, if youre a user of Google, its crucial to keep your password secure to ensure your account remains safe. Google has strict guidelines for protecting its users accounts, including keeping their passwords secure. To keep your password safe, here are some tips: 1. Use Strong Passwords: Your password should be at least 8 characters long, include uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. 2. Dont reuse Passwords: Using the same password for multiple accounts can compromise your security. Avoid using the same password for all your online accounts. 3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your account by requiring a second form of identification, such as a code sent to your phone or email, in addition to your password. 4. Keep Passwords Safe: Do not share your password with anyone, including family members or friends. Only share it with someone who needs it to manage your account. 5. Update Passwords Regularly: Its important to update your password regularly to ensure it remains strong and up-to-date. Google recommends changing your password every 90 days. Google also has several tools and features that can help you protect your account from unauthorized access. These include two-step verification, which requires a code sent to your phone or email, and Googles identity protection service, which helps identify potential threats to your account. (Changing Your Google Password: Secure Your Account) In conclusion, keeping your Google password secure is essential for protecting your online identity. By following these tips, you can create strong and unique passwords that will keep your account safe. If you suspect that your account has been compromised, its recommended to change your password immediately and contact Google support for assistance. Remember, your online safety is your responsibility, and taking steps to protect your account is crucial to ensuring your privacy and peace of mind. Inquiry us if you want to want to know more, please feel free to contact us. ([email protected]) SHANGHAI, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The eastern Chinese metropolis of Shanghai welcomed its first group of 26 Japanese nationals, arriving under a new visa-free policy, on Saturday, Shanghai Customs said Sunday. The passengers, traveling on flight JL891 from Tokyo, arrived at Shanghai Pudong International Airport and completed customs formalities within 30 minutes, according to the customs. Starting from Nov. 30, 2024, and running through Dec. 31, 2025, ordinary passport holders from nine countries -- Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia and Japan -- are eligible for visa-free entry into China on a trial basis. According to a customs official, Japan and Shanghai have maintained long-standing economic, trade and personnel exchanges, and this new visa-free policy is expected to boost the number of Japanese travelers in the future. Data from the customs show that Shanghai Pudong International Airport handled more than 9 million inbound and outbound foreign passengers from Jan. 1 to Nov. 30 this year, 1.7 times more than the same period last year. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code Every year, MLBs non-tender deadline sees clubs allow some of their players who remain under team control to test the open market early, whether it be due to an increasing price tag in arbitration or a need for additional space on the clubs 40-man roster. Earlier this evening, we discussed five hitters from this years crop of non-tendered players who could be worth keeping an eye on this winter. While none of those players can realistically be expected to follow in the footsteps of Cody Bellinger and Kyle Schwarber, who both re-established themselves as All-Star caliber players following their respective non-tenders, it wouldnt be so shocking to see a player from this years crop of non-tendered arms emerge as a notable player at some point in the future. The best player to be non-tendered last winter was right-hander Brandon Woodruff, who served as the co-ace of the Brewers rotation alongside Corbin Burnes for years but wound up missing the entire 2024 season as he rehabbed from shoulder surgery. Kevin Gausman stands out as another notable hurler whos been non-tendered in recent memory, and the veteran right-hander has gone on to have a fabulous career after breaking out at the age of 29. Even if no player from this crop of arms reaches the heights Gausman has, finding an impactful reliever or even a quality starter in the non-tender pile is hardly unheard of. Just this past year, both Spencer Turnbull and Tim Hill went from non-tendered in November to pitching for playoff contenders in 2024. Could anyone from this years group of non-tenders follow in their footsteps? Without further ado, lets take a look at five pitchers who hit free agency following last weeks non-tender deadline and could be worth keeping an eye on throughout the coming offseason. Players are listed in alphabetical order, with their age for the 2025 season in parentheses. Kyle Finnegan (33) Finnegans non-tender came as something of a shock, as the right-hander actually made his first career All-Star appearance this year. The righty has been a consistent, stable presence at the back of the Nationals bullpen throughout the rebuild, pitching to a 3.56 ERA (116 ERA+) overall with a 4.24 FIP and a 23.5% strikeout rate in his 290 1/3 innings of work. Finnegans spent much of his time with the club in the closer role as well, and has racked up 88 career saves in 109 opportunities for a conversion rate of 81%. Finnegans overall performance this year was roughly in line with his career norms, as he posted a 3.68 ERA and 4.24 FIP in 63 2/3 innings of work while racking up 38 saves in 43 opportunities this year. Those frequent save opportunities over the years have increased Finnegans price tag in arbitration, and he was due to make $8.6MM in his final trip through the process this winter according to projections from MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz. Aside from the high price tag, one other red flag that may have given the Nationals pause regarding their closer was how he wore down throughout the year. After posting an excellent 2.45 ERA and 3.98 FIP in 40 1/3 innings prior to the All-Star break, Finnegans final 24 appearances down the stretch saw him surrender a 5.79 ERA with a 4.71 FIP and a strikeout rate of just 16.4%. Despite that potential sign of trouble, though, Finnegan offers late-inning experience, consistent results, and an upper-90s fastball that should attract plenty of attention this winter. Hoby Milner (34) Left-handed relief options are always in demand, and Milner figures to receive attention on the free agent market as a southpaw with previous success in the majors if nothing else, even after the Brewers opted to non-tender him rather than pay his projected salary of $2.7MM for the 2025 season. Thats certainly a defensible decision given Milwaukees tight budget and Milners poor results this year. In 64 2/3 innings of work for the Brewers this year, Milner surrendered an ugly 4.73 ERA that was 11% worse than league average by measure of ERA+. With a heater that fails to break 90 mph, Milner hardly garners attention for his stuff, as well. Thats not to say he couldnt be a valuable contributor to a clubs bullpen, however. Rough as Milners 2024 campaign was, the underlying numbers were actually far kinder to the southpaw: He struck out a solid 23.9% of opponents while walking just 5.2%, and virtually every advanced metric was extremely bullish on the leftys performance this year as he posted a 3.14 FIP, a 3.08 SIERA, and a 3.15 in both xERA and xFIP. Milner also enjoyed the highest groundball rate of his career (51.9%), and may have been victimized by a shockingly low strand rate of just 58.1%. Looking at the three years Milner spent as a fixture of the Milwaukee bullpen from 2022 to 2024 paints the picture of a steady left-handed reliever who could improve plenty of bullpens around the league: in 193 2/3 innings during that time, he posted a 3.44 ERA with a 3.14 FIP overall. That track record should garner major league offers this winter, even if his lackluster season this past year may limit his earning potential. Cal Quantrill (30) Quantrill lands on this list by virtue of being the best bet among all non-tender candidates to make 30 big league starts in 2025. The right-hander found himself moved out of his previous organization in advance of the non-tender deadline for the second consecutive winter last week. After being designated for assignment by the Guardians in the days leading up to the deadline last year, the Rockies swung a trade to add him to their rotation. That experiment went fairly well, as Quantrill pitched to a solid if unspectacular 4.98 ERA (93 ERA+) with a 5.32 FIP. Ugly as those numbers look on paper, given the realities of pitching in Coors Field theyre generally consistent with Quantrills history as a roughly league average fifth starter. The right-hander enjoyed a breakout campaign during the 2020 season that was split between Cleveland and San Diego, where he pitched to a 2.25 ERA in 32 innings while working out of the bullpen. He was used as a swing man in Cleveland the following year, and continued to dominate as he posted a 2.89 ERA (despite a pedestrian 4.07 FIP) in 149 2/3 innings of work in 2021. From 2022 onwards, he settled in as a permanent fixture of the rotation and has been a consistently average back-of-the-rotation arm with a 4.35 ERA (96 ERA+) and 4.68 FIP in 80 starts. Averaging more than 26 starts per year with a roughly league average ERA should be enough to earn Quantrill a look from a rotation-needy team this year, though its also possible a team could have interest in seeing if he can post stronger numbers out of the bullpen like he did earlier in his career. Jordan Romano (32) Romano was perhaps the non-tendered that garnered the most attention in the aftermath of last weeks non-tender deadline. A two-time All-Star, Romano has been the Blue Jays closer throughout the majority of their recent competitive window. From 2020 to 2023, the right-hander spun an incredible 2.29 ERA in 200 2/3 innings of work with a 30.8% strikeout rate and a 3.13 FIP. Among relievers with at least 160 innings of work during that time, Romano ranked third by ERA behind only Devin Williams and Emmanuel Clase. Unfortunately, the wheels came off completely for the righty in 2024 as he was shelled for 10 runs in 13 2/3 innings before undergoing arthroscopic elbow surgery that wound up ending his season. Terrible as Romanos 2024 campaign was, its hard to imagine him not generating significant interest this winter. The right-hander was projected for a $7.75MM salary in his final trip through arbitration this winter, and it wouldnt be a shock to see him land a similar deal in free agency if multiple clubs see him as a potential buy-low solution in the ninth inning given his strong numbers and 105 career saves in 113 chances (89% conversation rate). Romanos market naturally still figures to be hampered at least to some extent by not just his struggles in 2024 but also questions surrounding his health. While hes expected to be ready for Spring Training and have a normal offseason following his surgery this summer, some level of trepidation from clubs is to be expected after any elbow procedure. Patrick Sandoval (28) Sandoval stands as both the youngest player on this list and the one most likely to find success as a mid-rotation starter or better in the big leagues at some point in the future. The left-hander was traded from the Astros to the Angels as the return for catcher Martin Maldonado back in 2018, and the southpaw was in the big leagues the following year. While it took some time for Sandoval to get settled into the majors, he found success in a half season of work out of the rotation in 2021 and managed to build upon that with a breakout season the following year. In 2022, Sandoval pitched to an excellent 2.91 ERA with a 3.09 FIP in 148 2/3 innings of work. He struck out 23.7% of opponents and combined that with an excellent 47.4% grounder rate. Unfortunately, Sandovals performance has slipped since then. 2023 was a step backwards for the lefty, as he posted a solid but relatively pedestrian 4.11 ERA (109 ERA+) with a 4.18 FIP in 144 2/3 innings of work. His strikeout rate dropped to just 19.3% that year, while his walk rate skyrocketed to 11.3%. Things took a turn for the worse this year, as he was shelled to the tune of a 5.08 ERA across 16 starts before undergoing Tommy John surgery back in June. That will leave him out of action until at least the second half of 2025, and that layoff combined with Sandovals recent lackluster performance made the Halos decision to part ways with him somewhat unsurprising. Even so, with Sandoval not scheduled to hit free agency until after the 2026 season, it wouldnt be a surprise to see a club snap the lefty up on a two-year deal and be glad he did if he can revert to something closer to his 2022 form once hes back on the mound. KALAMAZOO, MI Jeffrey Lillard has a large photo behind his desk at his Western Michigan University office. Pictured is his son, Jeffrey Lillard Jr., zoomed in on his face, smiling at the camera. Lillard Jr., who friends and family affectionately call JJ, died Sept. 29, nine days after being struck by a car. He was biking to his job as a custodian at WMU. He was 24. JJs death was a shock, his father Jeffrey Lillard said. The family is still learning how to cope. We all believed he was going to make it, still, Jeffrey Lillard said. On his desk was JJs death certificate and a stack of memorial tribute cards. JJs sister Janessa Lillard has only 20% accepted the reality that her brother is gone. She still sees JJ in her dreams. It hurts to wake up to a reality where JJs not here. After a dozen surgeries, JJ, an avid biker, died from a brain bleed the week after the crash, Jeffrey Lillard said. They said that he was a miracle to get to where he was. He was healthy as an ox, hes 24-years-old. Hes young, Jeffrey Lillard said. It hit like a rock. Kalamazoo County Undersheriff Michelle Greenlee said the case has been sent to the prosecutors office for moving violation causing death. The prosecutors office will decide whether to charge the driver. Friends remember Jeffrey Lillard by meeting at Satellite Records in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. Lillard, 24, died in late September. He was best known for his infectious personality, love of music and anime and ability to get everyone on the dance floor. Lillard had a way of connecting with people deeply whether that be on long car rides, at open mics or just hanging out.Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com Everyone loves JJ Jeffrey Lillard has worked at WMU for 31 years. But JJ knew more people than he did after just two years working at WMU. People started recognizing Jeffrey Lillard as JJs dad, the elder Lillard said. JJ greeted everyone with a smile and an aggressively firm handshake or fist bump, Jeffrey Lillard said. Meeting JJ was like a shock to the system, JJs sister Janessa Lillard said. Society works in a certain way and hes just completely outside of that box, Janessa Lillard said. JJ walked into rooms full of strangers and walked out knowing everyone. Jay didnt believe in strangers, Lillard said. He didnt like anybody around him not smiling or having a good day. More than 1,000 people attended JJs memorial, Jeffrey Lillard said. Some knew JJ from his studies at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, his membership of WMUs Fellowship of Christian Athletes or JJs love for music in the Vine neighborhood. Everybody loved J, Jeffrey Lillard said. J loved everybody. JJ was a light for a lot of people, Jeffrey Lillard said. He wrote poetry and performed at readings in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. And he always had a motivational Monday word for those around him. At a memorial celebration hosted by JJs friends at WMU, they played one of his poems over the loudspeaker. Jeffrey Lillard instinctually started looking around for JJ. JJ had a lot of energy, his best friend Devyn Abdullah-Bush said. He was also a good listener. JJ is the only friend Ive ever had who, every single day, he would hit me up, Abdullah-Bush said. Fifteen years into their friendship, they developed an elaborate handshake they performed every time they said goodbye, along with saying I love you. But when they left a poetry reading the night before the car crash, they didnt do the handshake. I wish I could have gotten that last, I love you in there, Abdullah-Bush said. But sometimes when things are known, they dont need to be explained. The Flash in the flesh While JJ was in the hospital, one of his legs was amputated. He was an example of resilience, so family and friends compared him to a superhero like The Flash. JJ loved to bike, regardless of the distance. Janessa Lillard would drive by her brother in the streets while he was on his bike, often wearing a white tank top. Abdullah-Bush would call JJ after passing him to ask, Did I just see you on your bike? Do you know how cold it is? But JJ never felt it. He constantly did his big one, Abdullah-Bush said. JJs last big one was biking five hours to Grand Rapids to perform at a poetry reading. No one could tell him not to do something he set his mind to. A JJ-sized void Its hard for Janessa Lillard to see a day where shell move past the first stage of grief. Each day brings different memory triggers. For Jeffrey Lillard, one trigger is, Sometimes it Snows in April by Prince & The Revolution. For Abdullah-Bush, its SZAs album SOS. When the album was released, JJ found it at Satellite Records because he knew Abdullah-Bush needed to have it. Friends remember Jeffrey Lillard by meeting at Satellite Records in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. Lillard, 24, died in late September. He was best known for his infectious personality, love of music and anime and ability to get everyone on the dance floor. Lillard had a way of connecting with people deeply whether that be on long car rides, at open mics or just hanging out.Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com Janessa Lillard and JJ have several half- and stepsiblings. But she was always closest with JJ, she said. He is the only sibling that really brags about me being his sister, Janessa Lillard said. We claimed each other ... everybody knew we were related. They even told stories as a pair. JJ would prompt a memory and Janessa Lillard would explain the backstory to whomever else was around. One time, the two were ordering pasta with their mother and their mother mispronounced parmesan. After that, JJ would say par-me-shein out of nowhere for laughs, Janessa Lillard said. Now, Janessa Lillards left with a wealth of inside jokes and shared experiences only JJ understands. She used to anticipate her future kids meeting their Uncle JJ, but now thatll never happen. Janessa Lillard, JJ and Jeffrey Lillard used to joke about naming her future daughter Janessa Jr., Janessa Lillard said. Girls dont get juniors, her father would say. If you get one, I get one, shed respond. But now, naming her daughter Janessa Jr. is a non-negotiable, Janessa Lillard said. Because then, her daughter will be JJ, too. China on Saturday night successfully launched a new carrier rocket into space from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in the southern island province of Hainan. DAMASCUS, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria Adam Abdelmoula on Sunday urged an immediate cessation of hostilities in northwestern Syria's Aleppo and dialogue among relevant parties. The recent escalation of violence in Aleppo starting from Wednesday has "resulted in the tragic loss of innocent civilian lives, including women and children, damage to civilian infrastructure, and the suspension of critical services," Abdelmoula said in a statement. It came "at a time when countless people, many of whom have already endured the trauma of displacement, are now forced to flee once more, leaving behind their homes and livelihoods," Abdelmoula added. "We urge all conflicting parties to immediately cease hostilities and prioritize the protection of civilians and aid workers," he said, adding, "The people of Syria must not endure more suffering, and we urge dialogue to be given an opportunity." Prior to the recent influx of more than half a million returnees and refugees from Lebanon, there were more than 16.7 million people in Syria in need of humanitarian assistance, he noted. Due to this latest violence, "even more lives now need to be urgently saved," he said. The UN official reaffirmed the commitment of the humanitarian community to delivering lifesaving assistance to the affected population. On Wednesday, a major rebel offensive rocked the western countryside of Aleppo, the first significant attack since 2016. The assault was carried out by a coalition of rebel groups, mainly the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an al-Qaida-linked extremist organization, with the aim of penetrating government-held territories. On Friday, the rebels swept into parts of Aleppo after they were driven out of the city in 2016. On Saturday, they advanced in Hama province in central Syria and took control of numerous towns and villages in the northern part of the province, after capturing key territories in Aleppo and Idlib. Faced with overwhelming numbers of militants and multiple attacks, the Syrian army announced a temporary redeployment of its forces. Syria's state media and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, reported Sunday that the government forces launched a counteroffensive in the northern countryside of Hama, reclaiming key areas from the rebel groups. KATHMANDU, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Polling started on Sunday morning in Nepal for the election of 41 local representatives in all seven provinces. The Election Commission is holding by-elections for posts vacated over deaths or resignations of local representatives. "The votes have commenced peacefully in all the election centers," Commission spokesperson Nita Pokharel Aryal told Xinhua. Voters can cast their ballots from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time during the day. As many as 376 candidates from 20 political parties and independents are in the race. A total of 226,799 voters will elect one mayor and one deputy mayor, as well as two chairpersons and four vice-chairpersons for rural municipalities, in addition to 33 ward chairpersons. Though the by-polls were planned for 44 vacant positions, three representatives had been elected unopposed, said Aryal. AMMAN/BAGHDAD, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Jordan and Iraq on Sunday reaffirmed support for the unity, sovereignty, and stability of their neighboring country of Syria. During a phone call, King Abdullah II of Jordan discussed with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani the latest regional developments, particularly the situation in Syria. The king emphasized Jordan's solidarity with Syria, reaffirming its support for Syria's territorial unity, sovereignty, and stability, according to a statement by the Royal Hashemite Court. Also on Sunday, both Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Iraq's Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein held phone talks with their Syrian counterpart Bassam Sabbagh. Safadi expressed Jordan's concern over the developments in Syria, stressing the importance of intensifying efforts to reach a political solution to the ongoing Syrian crisis that resolves its consequences, restores Syria's security and stability, preserves its sovereignty, and eliminates terrorism, according to a statement by the Jordanian Foreign Ministry. In their talks, the two ministers agreed to maintain communication and continue efforts to achieve security and stability. Meanwhile, in his phone call with Sabbagh, Hussein said destabilizing the security and stability of Syria poses a threat to the security of Iraq and the region in general, urging regional cooperation to address security challenges and combat extremism. On Wednesday, a major rebel offensive rocked the western countryside of the Syrian province of Aleppo, the first significant attack since 2016. The assault was carried out by a coalition of rebel groups, mainly the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an al-Qaida-linked extremist organization, with the aim of penetrating government-held territories. On Friday, the rebels swept into parts of Aleppo after they were driven out of the city in 2016. On Saturday, they advanced in Hama province in central Syria and took control of numerous towns and villages in the northern part of the province, after capturing key territories in Aleppo and Idlib. Faced with overwhelming numbers of militants and multiple attacks, the Syrian army announced a temporary redeployment of its forces. Syria's state media and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, reported Sunday that the government forces launched a counteroffensive in the northern countryside of Hama, reclaiming key areas from the rebel groups. This photo taken on April 4, 2024 shows a wreath-laying ceremony at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated for the first time that Kiev could accept Russian control over some of its territories in exchange for its membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The new posture is widely seen as a response to Donald Trump's victory in the latest U.S. presidential election, while its aspiration to join NATO has further dimmed. KIEV/MOSCOW, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- In a significant shift of stance on a potential ceasefire after 33 months of conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated for the first time that Kiev could accept Russian control over some of its territories in exchange for its membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Ukraine's new posture is widely seen as a response to Donald Trump's victory in the latest U.S. presidential election, while its aspiration to join NATO has further dimmed as the differences between Zelensky's peace plan and Trump's policy remain substantial. This photo taken on Aug. 15, 2024 shows a Ukrainian tank destroyed during Russian attacks in Toretsk. (Photo by Peter Druk/Xinhua) MAJOR CONCESSION In an interview with Sky News, Zelensky responded to a question about U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's suggestion that Ukraine cede Russian-occupied land to join NATO, saying that Ukraine must bring unoccupied territories under NATO protection first and pursue the return of occupied lands diplomatically. "If we want to stop the intense phase of the war, we need to bring the unoccupied territories of Ukraine under the NATO umbrella," Zelensky said. "We need to act as soon as possible, and then we can diplomatically get the occupied lands back." According to the text of a letter seen by Reuters on Friday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has also urged his NATO counterparts to send an invitation to Kiev at a meeting in Brussels next week to join the Western military alliance. "The invitation should not be seen as an escalation," Sybiha wrote in the letter. "On the contrary, with a clear understanding that Ukraine's membership in NATO is inevitable, Russia will lose one of its main arguments for continuing this unjustified war." Ukraine says it accepts that it cannot join the alliance until the war is over, but extending an invitation now would show Russian President Vladimir Putin that he could not achieve one of his main goals -- preventing Kiev from becoming a NATO member, said a Reuters report. Despite the change of stance, the Russian side seems to have a very low-profile response toward Zelensky's statement as the Kremlin has so far been silent on his remarks. Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Russian State Duma, however, called on Ukrainian politicians to abandon their ambition to join NATO. Moscow will no longer allow Western countries to "arm Kiev under the guise of an agreement," he said on his Telegram channel. "Kiev is seeking to join NATO, this is the key to moving forward, not the end of the war. The idea of freezing the conflict is also unacceptable." Former U.S. President Donald Trump (C) is interviewed at the U.S. presidential debate spin room after the first presidential debate with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris in Philadelphia, the United States, on Sept. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Rui) TRUMP FACTOR "He (Zelensky) knows that Trump is about to descend on him and on Russia. He is already arranging to have something to offer," Tony Brenton, former British ambassador to Russia, told the Independent, praising Zelensky for "playing a very sophisticated game." Despite the promise Trump has made to end the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in "24 hours," he has hardly elaborated on that plan. But by appointing Keith Kellogg, a former national security advisor and retired lieutenant general in the U.S. military, as his special envoy to Ukraine, one can get a glimpse of it. In April, Kellogg co-authored a plan called "America First: Russia & Ukraine," which would freeze the front lines in Ukraine and pressure both Kiev and Moscow to come to the negotiating table. In the plan, released by the America First Policy Institute, Kellogg noted that "To this day, America lacks a defense treaty with Ukraine and it is not a NATO ally. Intervening in the war in Ukraine lacked a clear, vital U.S. national interest." The United States would continue to arm Ukraine and strengthen its defenses to ensure Russia would make no further advances and would not attack again after a ceasefire or peace agreement, he said, adding that future American military aid will require Ukraine to participate in peace talks with Russia. To convince Russia to join peace talks, NATO leaders should offer to hold off on Ukraine's NATO membership application. Additionally, Russia could be offered some sanctions relief, on the condition that it signs a peace agreement with Ukraine, he added. The differences between Zelensky's peace plan and Trump's policy are still substantial, but by engaging with the idea of a ceasefire and painful territorial sacrifices, the Ukrainian leader is doing his utmost to sound constructive, said a BBC report. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the media before a European Council summit in Brussels, Belgium, June 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe) SHAKY PROSPECT Ukraine has been on a declared path towards NATO membership since the 2008 Bucharest Summit, where NATO allies agreed that Ukraine would eventually join the alliance. But it has not issued a formal invitation or set out a timeline. At their 2024 Washington summit, NATO members reaffirmed that they would continue to support "its irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership" and that they would be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the Alliance when "members agree and conditions are met." Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine's deputy prime minister in charge of NATO affairs, said Kiev understood that the consensus for an invitation to join NATO "is not yet there" but the letter was meant to send a strong political signal. "We have sent a message to the allies that an invitation is not off of the table, regardless of different manipulations and speculations around that," she told Reuters. Ukraine's accession to the alliance largely depends on the approval of the United States, but as Trump is set to take office in less than two months, that possibility has further dimmed. It made no sense even to allude to supporting eventual NATO membership for Ukraine, as this would require a unanimous vote of NATO members, which at the time was highly unlikely, Kellogg said in his plan. Ukraine also needed to meet stiff membership requirements, including democratic and military reforms that included aligning the Ukrainian military with NATO equipment, he said. "Ukraine retains its independent sovereignty, Russia gets the guarantee of neutrality from Ukraine -- it doesn't join NATO, it doesn't join some of these allied institutions. That is what the deal is ultimately going to look something like," U.S. Vice President-elect J.D. Vance has said. A Long March-12 carrier rocket carrying two experimental satellites blasts off from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in the southern island province of Hainan, Nov. 30, 2024. China on Saturday night successfully launched a new carrier rocket into space from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in the southern island province of Hainan. The Long March-12 carrier rocket sent two experimental satellites into their planned orbits. The mission was the maiden flight of the Long March-12 carrier rocket, and the first launch mission undertaken by the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) WENCHANG, Hainan, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- China on Saturday successfully launched a new carrier rocket into space from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in the southern island province of Hainan. The Long March-12 carrier rocket blasted off at 10:25 p.m. (Beijing Time) from the site's No. 2 launch pad, and sent two experimental satellites into their planned orbits. The launch mission achieved complete success at 10:48 p.m., according to Hainan provincial authorities. The mission was the maiden flight of the Long March-12 carrier rocket, and the first launch mission undertaken by the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site. The construction of the launch site, which is the first to be built for commercial missions in China, commenced in July 2022. With investment of over 4 billion yuan (about 553 million U.S. dollars), the launch site was built and is being operated by the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Co., Ltd. (HICAL). It includes a launch area, a TT&C (telemetry, tracking and command) building, rocket assembly buildings, spacecraft testing facilities, fuel storage facilities and other structures. LOCATION ADVANTAGES The launch site is located at a latitude of 20 degrees north, benefiting from the advantages of this low latitude, which can increase rocket payload capacities and reduce rocket fuel costs. The site is located off the coast of Wenchang City, making it more convenient and safer than inland launch sites as large rockets can be transported to site by ship, which is very important for commercial launch services. The Hainan provincial government is also planning a new, purpose-built port. The coastal location is also an advantage for HICAL's recovery of reusable rockets after launch. The company is working with commercial rocket developers on experiments related to vertical landings and the recovery of rockets from the sea. The site currently has two launch pads for liquid propellant rockets. The No. 1 pad is designed for the Long March-8, China's new generation medium-lift carrier rocket. The No. 2 pad is capable of launching multiple types of rockets with various diameters from commercial rocket companies. Each pad has an annual capacity of 16 launches. The site's propellant and gas supply system is capable of refueling and supplying liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen, kerosene and methane. GROWING INDUSTRIAL CHAIN The launch site will also accelerate the cultivation of the commercial space industry and talent in Hainan, with industrial chains covering spacecraft R&D, launch services and satellite applications. Such integration is conducive to the future high-quality development of the island province. Domestic space companies such as i-Space, Galactic Energy, LandSpace, Space Pioneer and CAS Space have either established facilities in Hainan or plan to do so. In one example, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology has built a Long March-8 rocket assembly plant in Hainan, with an annual output of 50 rockets. Deep Blue Aerospace will build rocket and satellite assembly and testing facilities, as well as first-stage recovery plants and supporting infrastructure around the launch site. This will enable rockets to be launched immediately after they are completed at the plant, boosting launch efficiency significantly and reducing costs. Aerospace talent pool has also been building in Hainan in recent years, including Chen Shuai, a dispatch supervisor at the launch site. Born in 1995 in Hainan's Chengmai County, Chen has been particularly interested in astronomy and aerospace since childhood. When he studied at the University of Science and Technology of China, he chose the department of thermal science and energy -- a discipline related to aerospace. The growing commercial space industry attracted him to return to his home province in 2021 to join the launch site's development team. Many of his university classmates now work in commercial space companies, including firms in Hainan. FUTURE PROSPECTS Among the two satellites launched Saturday, one is an experimental satellite for satellite internet service developed by GalaxySpace, a unicorn company based in Beijing. It has developed China's first type of flat satellite using flexible solar wings and achieved the mass production of low-orbit broadband communication satellites. Following the launch mission on Saturday, the site plans to launch a Long March-8 carrier rocket from its No. 1 launch pad around the end of the year. The commercial space industry was included in China's government work report for the first time this year. It was listed among the "emerging industries and future-oriented industries" that the government plans to cultivate. At a forum on the commercial space industry held earlier this month in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, Li Guoping, chief engineer at the China National Space Administration, disclosed that the country is mapping a development plan for civil space infrastructure from 2026 to 2035. He said that the commercial space industry should be included in the overall layout of China's space development, and expressed support for commercial satellite exports, commercial data application and international commercial launch services. According to the 2023 China aerospace science and technology blue book, the country completed 26 commercial launches in 2023, accounting for 39 percent of its total launches. China's commercial space market has maintained rapid growth since 2015, with an average annual growth rate of more than 20 percent from 2017 to 2024. It is estimated that its market value will be about 2.34 trillion yuan by 2024. A Long March-12 carrier rocket carrying two experimental satellites blasts off from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in the southern island province of Hainan, Nov. 30, 2024. China on Saturday night successfully launched a new carrier rocket into space from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in the southern island province of Hainan. The Long March-12 carrier rocket sent two experimental satellites into their planned orbits. The mission was the maiden flight of the Long March-12 carrier rocket, and the first launch mission undertaken by the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu) A Long March-12 carrier rocket carrying two experimental satellites blasts off from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in the southern island province of Hainan, Nov. 30, 2024. China on Saturday night successfully launched a new carrier rocket into space from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in the southern island province of Hainan. The Long March-12 carrier rocket sent two experimental satellites into their planned orbits. The mission was the maiden flight of the Long March-12 carrier rocket, and the first launch mission undertaken by the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) A Long March-12 carrier rocket carrying two experimental satellites blasts off from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in the southern island province of Hainan, Nov. 30, 2024. China on Saturday night successfully launched a new carrier rocket into space from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in the southern island province of Hainan. The Long March-12 carrier rocket sent two experimental satellites into their planned orbits. The mission was the maiden flight of the Long March-12 carrier rocket, and the first launch mission undertaken by the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu) 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Comedian Vir Das offers free tickets to a fan who waited for 2 years to attend his show Palak Vij USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept WENCHANG, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- China on Saturday successfully launched a new carrier rocket into space from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in the southern island province of Hainan. The Long March-12 carrier rocket blasted off at 10:25 p.m. (Beijing Time) from the site's No. 2 launch pad, and sent two experimental satellites into their planned orbits. The launch mission achieved complete success at 10:48 p.m., according to Hainan provincial authorities. The mission was the maiden flight of the Long March-12 carrier rocket, and the first launch mission undertaken by the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site. A Long March-12 carrier rocket carrying two experimental satellites blasts off from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in the southern island province of Hainan, Nov. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu) A Long March-12 carrier rocket carrying two experimental satellites blasts off from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in the southern island province of Hainan, Nov. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu) A Long March-12 carrier rocket carrying two experimental satellites blasts off from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in the southern island province of Hainan, Nov. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) Palak Vij USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Karnataka: Retail giant Tesco to expand in Bengaluru, likely to create 16,500 more jobs Deblina Halder USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Hiral Thanawala is a personal finance journalist with over 10 years of reporting experience. Based in Mumbai, he covers financial planning, banking and fintech segments from personal finance team for Moneycontrol. Hiral Thanawala USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept BJP's CM decision will be accepted by me and Shiv Sena, says Eknath Shinde 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept Aishwarya Dabhade USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Tamal Nandi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept BUCHAREST, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Romanian voters cast ballots for a new parliament on Sunday, shortly after the dark horse independent candidate Calin Georgescu's lead in the first round of the presidential election. More than 18 million Romanian citizens, including those living abroad, cast ballots to fill 332 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 137 in the Senate. A total of 18,968 polling stations across Romania's 42 constituencies opened at 7:00 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) and will close at 9:00 p.m. (1900 GMT). Additionally, 950 polling stations abroad are operating over the weekend, on both Saturday and Sunday. By Sunday morning at 7:00 a.m., 170,094 diaspora voters had cast their ballots, almost twice the turnout at the same time in 2020, according to real-time data from the Permanent Electoral Authority. Over 8,000 candidates from 31 political parties, alliances, and 19 national minority organizations contested the election. Major parties in the race include the Social Democratic Party, SOS Romania, National Liberal Party, Alliance for the Union of Romanians, Right Force, Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania, and Save Romania Union. Parties must secure at least 5 percent of the national vote or over 20 percent in at least four constituencies to gain parliamentary representation. The legislative vote is sandwiched between two rounds of presidential races, a week after the unprecedented Constitutional Court order that the Central Electoral Bureau recounts the first round's votes. ISKCON row: Two more Hindu monks arrested in Bangladesh, institution calls for safety prayers today Siddharth Chakravorty USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Maharashtra CM News: The Mahayuti alliance is considering whether the December 5 oath-taking ceremony at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai will include only the swearing-in of the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers or also involve other ministers, a senior alliance leader disclosed this morning. PM Modi will attend the swearing-in ceremony of Maharashtras new Mahayuti government on December 5 at 5 PM at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced. BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis has emerged as the frontrunner for the chief minister's post, though no official announcement has been made yet. Fadnavis, a two-time Chief Minister and Deputy CM in the outgoing Eknath Shinde-led government is widely expected to take the top post. Sources indicate that Eknath Shinde, currently serving as caretaker CM, might take a deputy CM role, although there is internal pressure within his Shiv Sena faction regarding his position in the new government. Shinde, who recently returned from Delhi after meetings with senior BJP leaders, is reportedly unwell, with an aide citing a high fever and exhaustion. Shiv Sena leader Shambhuraj Desai suggested that Shindes health was affected by exertion and travel. In addition to the BJP's dominance with 132 seats in the 288-member Assembly, the Shiv Sena secured 57 seats, and Ajit Pawars NCP faction won 41 seats, enabling the Mahayuti alliance to form a government comfortably. However, consensus on the chief minister's post delayed the formation process, with reports of disagreements among allies. Ajit Pawar earlier confirmed that the CM will be from the BJP, while the Shiv Sena and NCP will each have a deputy CM. A BJP meeting tomorrow is expected to finalise the legislature party leader, with Fadnavis likely to be chosen. Deblina Halder USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Shiv Sena would have won 90-100 seats if Ajit Pawar's NCP was not an ally: Shinde group MLA 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept When Sonia Gandhi kept Najma Heptulla waiting for an hour when she called from Berlin! Deblina Halder USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Japan books girl whose suicide resulted in another woman's death, sparks debate on internet Ankita Sengupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Press Release November 30, 2024 Bong Go supports initiative for a new auditorium stage in Naval, Biliran, as a community hub for cultural and social development Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, underscored the value of public facilities during his visit to the site of the proposed auditorium stage at the Biliran Capitol Grounds in Naval on Friday, November 29. The project, funded through Go's efforts in partnership with the local government, is expected to serve as a venue for cultural events, public gatherings, and other community activities, fostering unity and pride among the people of Biliran. "Alam ko po na mahalaga ang ganitong proyekto sa ating mga kababayan. Hindi lang ito isang gusali. Ito ay magiging lugar kung saan pwedeng magsama-sama ang bawat isa para sa mga makabuluhang aktibidad at selebrasyon," Go remarked. The event brought together local leaders who expressed their gratitude for Go's unwavering support for the province. The senator specifically acknowledged Congressman Gerardo Espina Jr., Governor Gerard Roger Espina, Vice Governor Brigido Caneja III, Naval Mayor Gretchen Stephanie Espina, and Vice Mayor Vicente Curso Jr. for their collaborative efforts in making the project a reality. "Salamat sa ating mga lider dito sa Biliran. Ang inyong pagkakaisa at dedikasyon ang nagbibigay-inspirasyon sa akin upang ipaglaban ang ganitong mga proyekto sa Senado," Go said. As vice chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go played a pivotal role in securing funding for the project, emphasizing his commitment to improving the lives of Filipinos in the provinces. The auditorium stage is part of his broader advocacy to provide equitable access to infrastructure development, particularly in underserved areas. "Ang mga ganitong proyekto ay hindi lamang para sa iilang tao, kundi para sa buong komunidad. Dapat lahat ng Pilipino, kahit saan mang sulok ng bansa, ay magkaroon ng magagandang pasilidad na pwedeng gamitin para sa kanilang ikabubuti," Go added. The senator also reiterated his call for continued collaboration between the national government and local leaders to ensure that similar initiatives are sustained and expanded to other regions. "Hindi po natin magagawa ito nang mag-isa. Kaya mahalaga na tuloy-tuloy ang ating pagtutulungan. Biliran is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together," Go stated. Aside from the said project, the senator has reaffirmed his commitment to community development through his support for various infrastructure, healthcare, and public facilities projects in the Naval. Flood-prone areas in Naval, Biliran, have greatly benefited from the construction of flood control and protection structures. Among these is the Sitio Lomboy Flood Control Project in Barangay Calumpang, which underwent multiple phases to ensure the safety of residents. Additional flood protection efforts include the construction of a Flood Protection Structure in Barangay Caraycaray, as well as rehabilitation works along the Anas Flood Control System along Biliran Circumferential Road. Public infrastructure projects such as multi-purpose buildings have also been prioritized to serve as venues for community events and essential services. Construction initiatives in Barangays Capinahan, Haguikhikan, Larrazabal, and San Roque highlight Go's drive to provide accessible and functional spaces for the residents of Naval. A particularly noteworthy endeavor is the ongoing development of a Dry Market Building in Barangay Santissimo, aimed at boosting local commerce and improving market conditions. These developments not only enhance public spaces but also stimulate economic activity. Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and a health reforms crusader, Go's advocacy for better healthcare facilities has likewise made an impact in Biliran. The provision of state-of-the-art equipment for the New Biliran Provincial Hospital and the planned construction of a 200-bed hospital expansion reflect a clear focus on improving access to quality healthcare for local residents. These upgrades align with Go's long-standing mission to ensure that all Filipinos receive adequate medical care, particularly in underserved areas. Efforts to enrich the lives of Biliranons extend to public spaces like the Capitol Grounds Family Park Development Project in Barangay Calumpang. Other improvements, such as the construction of a Civic Center Auditorium Stage, further support local government and community activities, reinforcing Naval's role as a hub of civic and cultural engagement. As Go continues his advocacy for accessible and inclusive development, the people of Biliran are assured of a brighter future with leaders who prioritize their needs and aspirations. "Hindi po ako isang politiko na mangangako sa inyo. Gagawin ko lang po ang aking trabaho sa abot ng aking makakaya. Ituring niyo po akong para ninyong kapitbahay na bawat oras ay pwede ninyong lapitan," said Go, who is known as Mr. Malasakit for his compassionate service to Filipinos in need. On the same day, Go also aided poor residents in Naval and visited the Malasakit Center at the Biliran Provincial Hospital. This file photo taken on Feb. 16, 2022 shows Du Liqun (2nd R), head nurse of the HIV/AIDS ward, communicating with colleagues at the Fourth People's Hospital of Nanning, in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Lu Boan) NANNING, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Often dubbed the "forbidden zone of life," the HIV/AIDS ward at the Fourth People's Hospital of Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has become a bastion of hope, where fearless medical warriors battle to preserve life against all odds. For nearly two decades, this team has served as a beacon, shining light into the darkest corners for those in need of HIV/AIDS care. In 2005, the hospital became the first in Nanning, and the only one in Guangxi at the time, to establish a specialized HIV/AIDS ward. At the helm was Du Liqun, the ward's head nurse, who, at 40, embraced her daunting responsibilities with courage. Since then, Du has remained deeply committed to this unique ward, where she has witnessed the struggles and challenges faced by both patients and healthcare workers, as well as their moments of hope and resilience. Du recalled that the early days of the AIDS ward were fraught with challenges. When it was first set up, many of the beds had to be assembled by the nurses themselves. Support staff who were initially recruited left as soon as they discovered the ward would be admitting AIDS patients. As the medical team prepared to confront the virus, they were met with immense pressure. While Du had received specialized HIV/AIDS training in Beijing and Guangzhou, the reality of treating patients in this setting was overwhelming. The work involved far more than just administering injections and changing dressings. Nurses had to assist with turning patients in their beds and cleaning their wounds, tasks that required both physical stamina and emotional resilience. Many newly diagnosed patients grappled with paralyzing fear, crippling anxiety and even suicidal thoughts. The healthcare workers had to offer constant emotional support, calming them and encouraging them to cooperate. Safety was always a primary concern. The medical staff, as well as their families and colleagues, were acutely aware of the risks involved. To minimize the dangers, they constantly reminded one another to follow strict protocols and exercise caution during all patient interactions. Despite their unwavering vigilance, accidents would occasionally happen. Just six months after the ward opened, a nurse was accidentally pricked by a used needle. After immediate treatment, the nurse developed symptoms similar to acute HIV infection -- high fever, body aches, and rashes. Fear and anxiety quickly spread throughout the department. Fortunately, after six months of ongoing tests and medication, it was confirmed that the nurse had not contracted HIV. In 2014, a patient expressed her desire to have a child. Du worked closely with her, advising her to stay on antiviral medication until her viral load became undetectable. Throughout the pregnancy, the patient received regular check-ups and special care during delivery. Thanks to the team's support, the patient gave birth to a healthy baby in 2015, and the infant was later confirmed to be free of the virus. Du often muses that such a monumental task is never the burden of a single soul. Every success and recognition belongs to the collective effort of the entire team, as well as the steadfast support of their families. Today, a robust team of 151 members, spanning a diverse range of ages, tirelessly serves both the outpatient and inpatient departments. Among them is a post-90s nurse couple, Yang Jianghua and Wu Yajing, who have devoted themselves to the ward. Yang said that AIDS sufferers not only endure physical pain but also profound emotional distress. As a nurse, he sees himself as both their medical provider and spiritual guardian. Having worked in the ward for nearly seven years, Wu vows to continue using her nursing skills to offer compassion and hope to every patient she cares for, bringing light in their darkest moments. This combo photo taken on May 11, 2024 shows the post-90s nurse couple Wu Yajing (L, top) and Yang Jianghua (R, bottom) working at the HIV/AIDS ward at the Fourth People's Hospital of Nanning, in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Lu Boan) Man broke into over 1,000 homes to 'relieve stress': It's a hobby of mine. I get so thrilled' Ankita Sengupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept UP man returns home 31 years after being kidnapped: I was chained, worked as a slave at farm Ankita Sengupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept An aerial drone photo shows a view of "golden peak" on the Wudang Mountain in Shiyan City in central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 29, 2024. Tai Chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art focusing on both internal and external practices, involves a series of slow, gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. Statistics show that over 100 million people across more than 150 countries and regions practice Tai Chi, with about 30,000 foreigners traveling to the Wudang Mountain annually to learn and experience it. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) Jake Pinnick practices martial arts at Yuxu Gong Temple in Shiyan City in central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 29, 2024. An American who traveled to the Wudang Mountain to study martial arts in 2010, Jake Pinnick now serves as an instructor, imparting knowledge of Tai Chi and Chinese culture to a global audience. Tai Chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art focusing on both internal and external practices, involves a series of slow, gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. Statistics show that over 100 million people across more than 150 countries and regions practice Tai Chi, with about 30,000 foreigners traveling to the Wudang Mountain annually to learn and experience it. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) Students practice Tai Chi at a martial arts school in Shiyan City in central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 28, 2024. Tai Chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art focusing on both internal and external practices, involves a series of slow, gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. Statistics show that over 100 million people across more than 150 countries and regions practice Tai Chi, with about 30,000 foreigners traveling to the Wudang Mountain annually to learn and experience it. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) An aerial drone photo shows students practicing Tai Chi at a martial arts school in Shiyan City in central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 28, 2024. Tai Chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art focusing on both internal and external practices, involves a series of slow, gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. Statistics show that over 100 million people across more than 150 countries and regions practice Tai Chi, with about 30,000 foreigners traveling to the Wudang Mountain annually to learn and experience it. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) Jake Pinnick practices martial arts at Yuxu Gong Temple in Shiyan City in central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 29, 2024. An American who traveled to the Wudang Mountain to study martial arts in 2010, Jake Pinnick now serves as an instructor, imparting knowledge of Tai Chi and Chinese culture to a global audience. Tai Chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art focusing on both internal and external practices, involves a series of slow, gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. Statistics show that over 100 million people across more than 150 countries and regions practice Tai Chi, with about 30,000 foreigners traveling to the Wudang Mountain annually to learn and experience it. (Xinhua/Hu Jingwen) An aerial drone photo shows Taoist priests practicing martial arts at "golden peak" on the Wudang Mountain in Shiyan City in central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 29, 2024. Tai Chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art focusing on both internal and external practices, involves a series of slow, gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. Statistics show that over 100 million people across more than 150 countries and regions practice Tai Chi, with about 30,000 foreigners traveling to the Wudang Mountain annually to learn and experience it. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) Residents do morning exercises at Yuxu Gong Temple in Shiyan City in central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 29, 2024. Tai Chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art focusing on both internal and external practices, involves a series of slow, gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. Statistics show that over 100 million people across more than 150 countries and regions practice Tai Chi, with about 30,000 foreigners traveling to the Wudang Mountain annually to learn and experience it. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) Students practice Tai Chi at a martial arts school in Shiyan City in central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 28, 2024. Tai Chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art focusing on both internal and external practices, involves a series of slow, gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. Statistics show that over 100 million people across more than 150 countries and regions practice Tai Chi, with about 30,000 foreigners traveling to the Wudang Mountain annually to learn and experience it. (Xinhua/Hu Jingwen) Students practice Tai Chi at a martial arts school in Shiyan City in central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 28, 2024. Tai Chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art focusing on both internal and external practices, involves a series of slow, gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. Statistics show that over 100 million people across more than 150 countries and regions practice Tai Chi, with about 30,000 foreigners traveling to the Wudang Mountain annually to learn and experience it. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo) Taoist priests practice martial arts at "golden peak" on the Wudang Mountain in Shiyan City in central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 29, 2024. Tai Chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art focusing on both internal and external practices, involves a series of slow, gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. Statistics show that over 100 million people across more than 150 countries and regions practice Tai Chi, with about 30,000 foreigners traveling to the Wudang Mountain annually to learn and experience it. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo) Jake Pinnick practices martial arts at Yuxu Gong Temple in Shiyan City in central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 29, 2024. An American who traveled to the Wudang Mountain to study martial arts in 2010, Jake Pinnick now serves as an instructor, imparting knowledge of Tai Chi and Chinese culture to a global audience. Tai Chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art focusing on both internal and external practices, involves a series of slow, gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. Statistics show that over 100 million people across more than 150 countries and regions practice Tai Chi, with about 30,000 foreigners traveling to the Wudang Mountain annually to learn and experience it. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo) Jake Pinnick practices martial arts at Yuxu Gong Temple in Shiyan City in central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 29, 2024. An American who traveled to the Wudang Mountain to study martial arts in 2010, Jake Pinnick now serves as an instructor, imparting knowledge of Tai Chi and Chinese culture to a global audience. Tai Chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art focusing on both internal and external practices, involves a series of slow, gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. Statistics show that over 100 million people across more than 150 countries and regions practice Tai Chi, with about 30,000 foreigners traveling to the Wudang Mountain annually to learn and experience it. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo) Students practice Tai Chi at a martial arts school in Shiyan City in central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 28, 2024. Tai Chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art focusing on both internal and external practices, involves a series of slow, gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. Statistics show that over 100 million people across more than 150 countries and regions practice Tai Chi, with about 30,000 foreigners traveling to the Wudang Mountain annually to learn and experience it. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) A Taoist priest practices martial arts at "golden peak" on the Wudang Mountain in Shiyan City in central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 29, 2024. Tai Chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art focusing on both internal and external practices, involves a series of slow, gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. Statistics show that over 100 million people across more than 150 countries and regions practice Tai Chi, with about 30,000 foreigners traveling to the Wudang Mountain annually to learn and experience it. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo) Students practice Tai Chi at a martial arts school in Shiyan City in central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 28, 2024. Tai Chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art focusing on both internal and external practices, involves a series of slow, gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. Statistics show that over 100 million people across more than 150 countries and regions practice Tai Chi, with about 30,000 foreigners traveling to the Wudang Mountain annually to learn and experience it. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) A Taoist priest practices martial arts at "golden peak" on the Wudang Mountain in Shiyan City in central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 29, 2024. Tai Chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art focusing on both internal and external practices, involves a series of slow, gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. Statistics show that over 100 million people across more than 150 countries and regions practice Tai Chi, with about 30,000 foreigners traveling to the Wudang Mountain annually to learn and experience it. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) Jake Pinnick practices martial arts at Yuxu Gong Temple in Shiyan City in central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 29, 2024. An American who traveled to the Wudang Mountain to study martial arts in 2010, Jake Pinnick now serves as an instructor, imparting knowledge of Tai Chi and Chinese culture to a global audience. Tai Chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art focusing on both internal and external practices, involves a series of slow, gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. Statistics show that over 100 million people across more than 150 countries and regions practice Tai Chi, with about 30,000 foreigners traveling to the Wudang Mountain annually to learn and experience it. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) A Taoist priest practices martial arts at "golden peak" on the Wudang Mountain in Shiyan City in central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 29, 2024. Tai Chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art focusing on both internal and external practices, involves a series of slow, gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. Statistics show that over 100 million people across more than 150 countries and regions practice Tai Chi, with about 30,000 foreigners traveling to the Wudang Mountain annually to learn and experience it. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo) Students practice Tai Chi at a martial arts school in Shiyan City in central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 28, 2024. Tai Chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art focusing on both internal and external practices, involves a series of slow, gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. Statistics show that over 100 million people across more than 150 countries and regions practice Tai Chi, with about 30,000 foreigners traveling to the Wudang Mountain annually to learn and experience it. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) A Taoist priest practices martial arts at "golden peak" on the Wudang Mountain in Shiyan City in central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 29, 2024. Tai Chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art focusing on both internal and external practices, involves a series of slow, gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. Statistics show that over 100 million people across more than 150 countries and regions practice Tai Chi, with about 30,000 foreigners traveling to the Wudang Mountain annually to learn and experience it. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) An aerial drone photo shows a view of "golden peak" on the Wudang Mountain in Shiyan City in central China's Hubei Province, Nov. 29, 2024. Tai Chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art focusing on both internal and external practices, involves a series of slow, gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. Statistics show that over 100 million people across more than 150 countries and regions practice Tai Chi, with about 30,000 foreigners traveling to the Wudang Mountain annually to learn and experience it. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) Colaboradora. La autora, OLIVIA BLISS, colaboradora de MUNDIARIO, es experta en cuidado corporal y belleza natural. Comparte consejos sobre tratamientos naturales para la piel, rutinas de spa en casa y belleza sostenible, inspirando un enfoque consciente y respetuoso con el medio ambiente. @mundiario Guests and crew members of Hainan Airlines pose for a photo at Vienna International Airport, in Vienna, Austria, Dec. 1, 2024. A direct passenger air route connecting Chengdu, capital city of southwest China's Sichuan Province, and Vienna, Austria, was launched on Sunday, according to Hainan Airlines, the route's operator. (Xinhua/He Canling) CHENGDU, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- A direct passenger air route connecting Chengdu, capital city of southwest China's Sichuan Province, to Vienna, Austria, was launched on Sunday, according to the operator. A flight departed from Chengdu Tianfu International Airport at 2:49 a.m. Sunday, and was scheduled to arrive in Vienna at about 6 a.m. local time after a trip duration of 10 hours and 20 minutes. The route is operated by Hainan Airlines, with a round-trip flight scheduled every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. The return flight leaves Vienna at 12:30 p.m. local time before touching down in Chengdu nine hours and 40 minutes later at 5:10 a.m. the next day. Chengdu collaborates with Vienna in areas such as music, art, culture and education. Zhang Naifu, with the marketing committee of Hainan Airlines, expressed hope that the new air route would further enhance exchanges between people in Chengdu and Vienna. Mutare A chilling incident has gripped the Burma Valley community near Mutare, leaving residents shaken and raising serious concerns about the resurgence of witchcraft practices. Honest Tokodo, a 31-year-old local man, is recovering from a brutal attack that left him with a severed tongue, part of which was taken by his attackers. The attack, which occurred on Wednesday evening at the Chitakatira Business Centre, involved four individuals, including a woman named Greater Mateta. Mr Tokodo was drinking with his assailants when the attack took place. According to Mr Tokodo, the motive for the attack stemmed from an accusation of infidelity. The attackers alleged that he was having an affair with Ms Mateta, who was formerly involved with one of the attackers. The details of the assault are deeply disturbing. Mr Tokodo recounted the events from his parents home in Burma Valley, where he is currently recovering. He described the attack in his own words: Im still shocked that people I had been drinking with all day would choose to try and kill me. Its a miracle Im alive. I went to Chitakatira Business Centre for a few drinks after dropping off some goods at home. I know one of the four attackers, known as Mazondo (Forget Mutepfa). They bought me drinks and we drank together. It was around 3 pm. At 10 pm, I left the bar to go home, and on my way, I was ambushed by these people. They accused me of having an affair with Mateta, who was also present. I managed to identify them. They produced a sharp object before cutting off a large piece of my tongue. I managed to escape and ran home, telling my wife that I had been attacked. I was in excruciating pain and bleeding heavily. I was taken to a local clinic before being rushed to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital, where I received treatment that night. Its a lie that I had an affair with Mateta, he stated. The brutality of the attack is compounded by the fact that the attackers vanished with the severed portion of Mr Tokodos tongue. They took nothing else from him, leaving behind his mobile phone and any other possessions. This detail has fuelled speculation that the attack was not a simple assault, but rather a ritualistic act possibly linked to witchcraft. Mr Tokodo himself voiced his suspicions, stating: Im convinced this was a targeted attack linked to witchcraft. They didnt take anything else or beat me. They were solely focused on cutting off my tongue. Why? And I dont know where they took it. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, prompting widespread fear and unease. The brazen nature of the attack and the apparent ritualistic element have heightened anxieties about the safety and security of residents. The police investigation is ongoing, and the community awaits answers. The police have made some progress in their investigation. Two suspects, Forget Mutepfa (35) and Greater Mateta (29), have been apprehended and charged with assault under Section 89 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, Chapter 9.23. They appeared before Magistrate Xavier Chipato at the Mutare Magistrates Court and are currently remanded in custody, awaiting their next court appearance. The search for the remaining two assailants continues. Breaking News via Email Related Pin Share Share 0 Shares Windhoek Namibias fiercely contested presidential and legislative elections have ended in a storm of controversy, with the main opposition leader, Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), categorically rejecting the results. Itulas declaration, made just before polling stations closed on the extended voting period, throws the legitimacy of the election into serious question. The IPCs refusal to accept the outcome is fuelled by widespread allegations of electoral malpractice and, significantly, accusations that Zimbabwes ruling Zanu-PF party actively interfered in the Namibian electoral process. The election, originally scheduled for Wednesday, was extended after widespread logistical and technical failures caused hours-long queues at polling stations across the country. This led to numerous voters abandoning their attempts to cast their ballots, sparking outrage amongst opposition parties who alleged deliberate voter suppression. A report by an organisation of southern African human rights lawyers, acting as election monitors, corroborated these claims, stating: There were deliberate delays of voting processes in more than 63% of the total polling stations across the country. Partial results, with only a fraction of constituencies counted, showed SWAPOs candidate, Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, holding a significant lead. However, Itula, who secured a strong second-place finish in the 2019 election, declared that regardless of the final figures, the IPC would not recognise the outcome. He stated unequivocally: The rule of law has been grossly violated, and we cannot call these elections by any means or measure as free, fair and legitimate. Itula further announced the IPCs intention to challenge the election results through established legal channels, urging President Nangolo Mbumba to convene a cabinet meeting to address the situation. The chaotic voting process was highlighted by the experience of voters in Windhoek, the capital city. Even on the extended voting day, long queues persisted at the single polling station. Sielfriedt Gowaseb, a 27-year-old voter who eventually cast his ballot, criticised the inadequate polling station arrangements: They should have set up at least another polling station where the majority of Namibians live. We would have needed more venues, one in the suburbs. Most Namibians dont live in the central business district. His comments reflect the widespread dissatisfaction with the logistical shortcomings that marred the election. Naita Hishoono, executive director of the Namibia Institute for Democracy, echoed these concerns, stating: It would have been helpful to open more than 36 polling stations each constituency should have at least one polling station open to accommodate everybody. Every voter should only stay half an hour to an hour in line and the whole voting process should take no more than 15 minutes. The allegations of Zanu-PF interference add a further layer of complexity to the already contentious election. These accusations are not isolated incidents; they are part of a broader pattern of alleged meddling by Zanu-PF in the electoral processes of several Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states. Former Botswana President Ian Khama has been a vocal critic of this alleged interference, calling for sanctions against Zanu-PF, including potential expulsion from SADC, if proven to have manipulated elections in neighbouring countries. Khama cited several instances suggesting Zanu-PFs influence in Botswanas recent elections, including an inexplicable benchmarking trip by Botswanas Independent Electoral Commission to the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission and the public support pledged by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa for Botswanas ruling party. These accusations extend beyond Botswana. Zanu-PF has also been implicated in alleged interference in the elections of Mozambique, Zambia, and South Africa. Shepherd Yuda, a Zimbabwean TV whistleblower and human rights activist, claimed that Zanu-PFs actions in Mozambique led to violence and civil unrest, part of a broader strategy for regional dominance. The South African Democratic Alliance (DA) has even called for Zanu-PF to be barred from participating in South Africas 2024 elections due to its alleged history of electoral manipulation. Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) international relations commissar Godrich Gardee detailed specific methods allegedly used by Zanu-PF to rig elections, including the manipulation of result slips during the vote counting process. The close ties between Namibias ruling SWAPO party and Zanu-PF have further fuelled concerns. Reports of financial transactions between individuals linked to Zanu-PF and SWAPO, including a significant donation to SWAPO from a Zimbabwean controversial businessman, have raised alarm bells. The awarding of a ballot production tender to a company connected to a businessman close to Mnangagwa also sparked controversy, prompting accusations of a coordinated effort to manipulate Namibias electoral process. Several Namibian political leaders have condemned the alleged Zanu-PF interference, highlighting the gravity of the situation and the need for a thorough investigation into the allegations. While SWAPOs youth league dismissed the allegations as Western propaganda, the accusations of Zanu-PF interference cast a long shadow over the Namibian election results, leaving the countrys political future uncertain. Breaking News via Email Related Pin Share Share 0 Shares Calls to boycott tech company Stripe after CEO posts about recent visit to Israel Supporters of Palestine have called to boycott the payment platform Stripe after its CEO and co-founder Patrick Collison - an Irish-American billionaire who has advocated for Palestinians in the past - posted on social media on Wednesday about his run on the beach in Tel Aviv and how it was "great" to be back. (Article by Maysa Mustafa republished from MiddleEastEye.net) Great to be back in Tel Aviv. I missed this run. pic.twitter.com/xc4LP1MkQm Patrick Collison (@patrickc) November 27, 2024 Many responded to his post on X by pointing out that he was only thirty minutes away from the Gaza Strip. Conservative estimates say nearly 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's war on Gaza and two million have been under constant Israeli aggression as they fight what UN experts have called "'deliberate starvation". Some drew comparisons to the Academy Award-winning film, Zone of Interest, which depicts the everyday lives of Germans who lived next to the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War Two. Pro-Israelis on social media deemed Patrick's post as a signal of his support for the state and thanked him for his solidarity. The official Israel X account was among the responses that welcomed him. Welcome ???? Israel ????? (@Israel) November 27, 2024 The post came as a surprise for those who have closely followed his tech career. In 2019, Patrick visited the occupied Palestinian territories and spoke to Palestinian tech entrepreneurs in Ramallah about the obstacles they face in the tech world. Irish tech founder Paul Biggar, who also founded the Tech for Palestine coalition, took to X to criticise him, posting: "Why are folks are so pissed at @patrickc's tweet? It's because, unlike a lot of people, he actually knows what Israel is doing". According to a Bloomberg article about Patrick's visit to Ramallah, the Irish CEO told the young Palestinians that he could "perhaps relate to a feeling of isolation and the struggle to make an impact on the world" because he had grown up in rural Ireland. "There is that sense of comparative inferiority. You are clearly much less significant than the bigger forces around you," he reportedly said. He also said he wanted to expand Stripes business to occupied Palestine, adding that the company is drawn by places that the rest of the world tends to underestimate. Patrick actually gave a talk in Ramallah where he told Palestinian founders that he was just like them ? pic.twitter.com/Tg8ZDPlDUL Paul Biggar ???? (@paulbiggar) November 28, 2024 Biggar also pointed out that Patrick led the seed round for a Palestinian teen's start-up in Gaza back in 2021 and posted about Israel's attacks on Gaza in 2014. Others pointed out that although Patrick has expressed support for Palestinians, his brother and co-founder of Stripe, Tommy, has been open about his support for Zionism. His current bio on X features the word "Zionist" in Hebrew. Irish social media users reacting to Patrick's post from Tel Aviv criticised both of the Collison brothers for showing support for Israel, which is in direct contrast to a majority of Irish citizens' support for the Palestinian cause. Ireland officially recognised Palestine as an independent state in May of this year. "Boycott @Stripe whose immoral business owners support an apartheid state carrying out genocide. Disgraceful and these cruel tech bros don't speak for the Irish people," one post reads. from here to Gaza is barely as far along the coast as dublin is to greystones. theyre completely fucking sick. https://t.co/emysWFNbjL ?dam ?? (@adambyrne_) November 27, 2024 In response to Patrick's post, some social media users who have used Stripe in the past said they will no longer use the payment platform and called for a boycott. "I am removing @stripe from my tech stack," one account posted on X. "I dont care if it means Im losing money." Kinda depressing to realize how safe the tech space must feel for people to boast publicly about their love for Israel over 1 year into their genocidal campaign with no fear of backlash. This is fuel to build better more ethical alternative platforms, quickly. https://t.co/ZASNUgwFcH ???? (@namoooseh) November 27, 2024 Tech for Palestine's Biggar has already created a website featuring a list of 72 alternatives to Stripe as a payment platform. The list is being circulated under posts criticising Patrick for his "support" for Israel. Patrick could have not posted this. But he chose, despite the kids with brains blown out of their heads, to post anyway. He knew how polarising, how sensitive this would be not just in general but to his own customers too. It wont be forgotten. https://t.co/wiHad8ePJb Abdul-Rahman (@asabbas98) November 27, 2024 Read more at: MiddleEastEye.net FOIA requests unearth documents exposing NIHs massive censorship cartel during the COVID-19 pandemic A report by investigative journalist Jimmy Tobias has exposed National Institutes of Health (NIH) documents proving that the agency implemented massive censorship during the onset of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020. According to documents uncovered through Freedom of Information Act requests, Stanford University professor of medicine and health policy Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be the next NIH director, was targeted by then-NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins as a "fringe" epidemiologist for opposing COVID-19 lockdowns. NIH is the main federal government agency that funded China's Wuhan Institute of Virology 2015 research into the original coronavirus, also known as Sars-Cov-1. The first outbreak of that happened in 2002-2004, and a decade later it was still being researched. Then, Sars-Cov-2 came almost as quickly as the vaccine. To this date, the origins of these coronaviruses are still being debated. One theory is that the Wuhan lab may have leaked it as it manipulated the original one. Meanwhile, Tobias' findings revealed that Lawrence Tabak, NIH principal deputy director under Collins's leadership, showed up before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic not long ago as he was involved in potential censorship within NIH in January 2021. Tabak was willing to discuss "a manuscript on gain-of-function research in light of the COVID-19 pandemic co-authored by National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences bioethicist David Resnik, who allegedly asked for then-Science Policy Director and Chief of Staff Carrie Wolinetz to review it," a report said. However, Wolinetz said the manuscript suggested "parity between unsubstantiated manmade and/or laboratory origin theories and peer-reviewed studies which provide scientific evidence that the virus is of natural origin" in a bid to tie the lab-leak theory to the NIH funding. The manuscript only got published three years later and over a year into Wolinetz stepping down as Tabak's senior adviser. Journalist Alex Berenson, who strongly opposed the government's motion to dismiss his censorship-by-proxy lawsuit, called this "as close to a smoking gun as we could hope to find now." (Related: CDC, Facebook colluded to CENSOR COVID-19 vaccine safety FAQs, emails reveal.) Big Tech could lose the liability shield powered by the Communications Decency Act Meanwhile, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Brendan Carr said Big Tech companies Apple, Microsoft, Meta and Google parent Alphabet may lose their liability shield under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. According to Carr, this is because they failed to show "good faith" in their outsourced content-moderation decisions. He said they played "significant roles" in the "unprecedented surge in censorship" in recent years. Carr also accused the tech giants of working with the administration of President Joe Biden and his self-appointed "media monitors" to "defund, demonetize and otherwise put out of business" media organizations that flouted certain narratives. "For one, reports indicate that NewsGuard has consistently rated official propaganda from the [Chinese Communist Party] CCP as more credible than American publications. For another, NewsGuard aggressively fact-checked and penalized websites that reported on the COVID-19 lab leak theory. For still another, the Small Business Committee and multiple Media Research Center studies identified numerous instances where NewsGuard apparently does not apply its own ratings in an even-handed manner," he posted on X, adding that the list goes on. NewsGuard is under House Oversight Committee investigation and was reviewed in a House Small Business Committee report on the "censorship-industrial complex" this year. Visit Censorship.news to read more stories related to the suppression of information back in the COVID-19 pandemic era. Watch the video below that talks about the FCC commissioner's plans to tackle Big Tech censorship. This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Social media BLACKOUT: Facebook and YouTube CENSOR victims of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. White House forced YouTube to censor COVID-19 "misinformation," internal documents reveal. AFL exposes internal Facebook documents used for training CDC employees on censoring the public. Censored Lancet paper republished finally peer-reviewed, showing that 74% of deaths after COVID-19 "vaccination" were caused by injections. Dr. Sabine Hazan contemplates SUING Facebook for censoring her early treatment protocols for COVID. Sources include: ReclaimTheNet.org JustTheNews.com X.com Brighteon.com SANAA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group said Sunday that it launched a missile toward Israel in the morning, "hitting a vital target." "We attacked a vital target in the Jaffa area with a hypersonic missile," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a statement aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV. "The missile successfully hit its target," Sarea noted, vowing that the group will launch more long-range missiles at Israel until "war in Gaza stops." Meanwhile, Israel's military said Sunday that it intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Yemen before it entered Israeli airspace, with no injuries reported. Since November 2023, the Houthi group has launched rocket and drone attacks on Israel and disrupted "Israeli-linked" shipping in the Red Sea, allegedly to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. NATO draws up plans to deploy 800,000 troops through Germany to fight Russia secret plan in Germany aims to allow passage for 800,000 NATO troops to enter the country and proceed east to fight Russia. A 1,000-page strategy document outlines logistical plans for every detail of the operation, including the buildings and infrastructure that the NATO troops will need to join Ukraine in fighting Vladimir Putin's army. There are sections of the plan that deal with how the NATO troops will proceed in the event that they must defend Germany from a Russian attack. There are also sections that cover what to do in the event of tension, one example being a deterrence reaction should Russia maneuver on NATO's eastern flank. Western powers are worried that Russia will not only take over Ukraine but also the rest of Europe. Germany would become a central hub for NATO troops to access war material, food, medicine and other supplies. Over the next three months, upwards of 200,000 military vehicles are scheduled to be moved into Germany as well. (Related: Did you know that the British military has been plotting to destroy The Grayzone in order to "keep Ukraine fighting?") Will WWIII commence before Trump's inauguration? The plans were forged to basically reinvent what was lost in years past when Germany used to hold an annual Reforger (Return of Forces to Germany) exercise to keep armed forces abreast of the logistics of large-scale military movements such as this. "In 1980, the 4th Infantry Division Headquarters went to Germany for a Command Post Exercise," wrote a commenter. "The next year, the whole division went for a field exercise. There was method to the madness." "Now all of that has to be reinvented because it was all stupidly dismantled," responded another. "The bases and logistics are gone ..." Because of the loss of the Nord Stream fuel pipelines, Germany and Europe as a whole are struggling to keep their economies afloat since energy now costs too much. As such, things are shifting to a war economy right before our very eyes. "Our government has spent nearly ten trillion dollars on military aide, adventures and covert operations since 2001," wrote another commenter. "We are the only nation that encourages and condones constant blood spilling." "I'd like to see an end to war profiteering and Western hegemony. Russia has done nothing the West hasn't done. Not even close." On the one hand, NATO and Germany are trying to send Putin a message that they have a plan in case he acts in punishing the West for crossing his "red lines." On the other, 800,000 troops are a lot of troops, so what is NATO planning to do? "The arc of this is going in one clear direction," someone else wrote. "I think they want to invade Russia." "Germany certainly doesn't need to be in another war with Russia," added another. "The last one certainly didn't go so well for them. Plus, the German landscape has seen enough war in its lifetime." Since Russia has nuclear weapons, all those troops Germany is bringing in and allowing to pass through its territory could end up facing a possible blast event, suggested another. "I've been saying since June 2024 that we were in the beginnings of WWIII," wrote another. "It amazes me that we are in so deep now and people don't want to recognize it. Pray for peace!" "What a stupid idea to get all caught in one location and possibly get destroyed by one nuclear device!" wrote someone else. "If things go nuclear, these troops will mean nothing." Another suggested that if the U.S. gets involved in war before President-elect Donald Trump is installed in January, then a state of emergency could be declared that might interfere with the transition of power. Will Germany's declaration of war against Russia lead to World War III? Find out more at WWIII.news. Sources for this article include: MSN.com NaturalNews.com New Thank You, Dr. Fauci documentary exposes entire COVID charade Award-winning documentarian Jenner Furst has released a new documentary film about Tony Fauci called "Thank You, Dr. Fauci" that dives deep into the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "pandemic" scam and associated coverup. Furst is a two-time Peabody Award-winning and four-time Emmy nominated director and self-described progressive who broke rank with the Democrat Party. His journey into the content for the film started in early 2020 when he was contacted to write a puff piece for Fauci, who used to head up the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Furst never ended up writing the Fauci piece, but instead ended up down a rabbit hole through which he came out the other side with "Thank You, Dr. Fauci," a project that the mainstream press is ignoring. Even the popular Rotten Tomatoes critic website refuses to touch the film. The following trailer offers a sneak-peak at "Thank You, Dr. Fauci" check it out: Next week, a documentary called Thank You, Dr. Fauci is releasing and will expose everything you have ever wanted to know about the worst doctor this country has ever known. Meta has already blocked the trailer from airing. Make sure you share this clip and get ready for what pic.twitter.com/OrR2IXta1i Joey Mannarino (@JoeyMannarinoUS) October 26, 2024 You can rent the film in its entirety at the official website, which has more information about how to book private screenings and even partner up on TVOD Sales. (Related: Earlier this year, the "Remdesivir Papers" were released showing that remdesivir, Tony Fauci's drug of choice during the "pandemic," killed thousands of military servicemen.) Furst pressing Musk to promote "Thank You, Dr. Fauci" on X Some people are having trouble finding "Thank You, Dr. Fauci" on Google and other search engines due to shadowbanning, according to Furst, who told the independent media that censorship has once again run amok. "The media blackout of the film just proves that the real COVID story is still highly censored," Furst said. "Journalists still can't cover COVID truthfully at major outlets, and the problem is way bigger than them or their editors. The most powerful lobbies on the planet, and the weight of the U.S. government is still sitting on the free press like an 800-pound gorilla." Furst is hopeful that "Thank You, Dr. Fauci" will gain some traction on Elon Musk's X / Twitter platform, seeing as how Musk himself has beef with Fauci over his COVID deception. "I feel like Elon could change this conversation overnight," Furst continued. "The country is divided only due to the success of propaganda on the left. No Democrat can sit through this movie and see Fauci or the pandemic the same way again. That's why MSM doesn't want to acknowledge this." Former U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Robert Redfield is notably featured in the film, as are other figures who played central roles in the COVID drama but who were also shut out of Fauci's inner circle. That inner circle, we now know, was conspiring to construct a genocidal mass deception complete with lockdowns, face masks, and Operation Warp Speed "vaccines." Former State Department COVID investigator David Asher and Rutgers University molecular biologist Richard Ebright, who spent years pushing back against the Fauci agenda within the greater scientific community, are also featured in "Thank You, Dr. Fauci." The film also takes a closer look at the man-made-looking, HIV-like insertions in the COVID so-called "virus" that further call into question its true origins. "Bless your heart, Dr. Fauci," is how one southern commenter jokingly put it about the true meaning behind the title of the film. More related news coverage about the COVID plandemic can be found at Plague.info. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com NaturalNews.com White House staffers call out Biden administration over FAILURE to make Israel accountable for worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza Around 20 White House staffers called out the administration of President Joe Biden for failing to enforce the demands issued by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to alleviate the worsening situation in Gaza. The order was issued on Oct. 13, which required Israel to take "concrete measures" within 30 days to improve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The deadline came and went, with aid groups saying the situation in Gaza worsened during the month, particularly in northern Gaza where Israeli forces have launched a sweeping campaign that has killed hundreds of civilians and cut off aid deliveries. "You are running out of time to do the right thing, but decisive action could save precious lives in the next two months," the staffers, who work across the president's executive office and aren't directly involved in Middle East policy, said in the letter. One senior White House staffer explained why they sent it: "One thing that drew me into this was legacy. If the course is continued, it will be a legacy of horror." The staffers also argued that the United States' continued support for Israeli military operations violates multiple federal statutes, including the Conventional Arms Transfer Policy, the Foreign Assistance Act and the Leahy Laws. Back in April, 185 lawyers from around the world sent a letter to top White House officials arguing that sending weapons to Israel in the context of the ongoing war is illegal. Other senior U.S. officials challenged Blinken in an internal memo on whether Israel is using U.S.-supplied weapons under the law. An open letter in July signed by more than 500 appointees and staffers condemned the deep humanitarian impact of U.S. policy while funding the war in Gaza. Nearly 44,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its war in retaliation for the Hamas-led cross-border attack on Oct. 7, 2023. U.S. Senate rejects effort to block arms sales to Israel Back in September, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced joint resolutions of disapproval seeking to block the Biden administration's recent sale of $20 billion in U.S. weapons to Israel. However, the U.S. Senate blocked the legislation on Nov. 20, garnering only about 20 votes out of the chamber's 100 members, with most Democrats joining all Republicans against the measures. "Netanyahu's extremist government has not simply waged war against Hamas it has waged war against Palestinians," Sanders said at a press conference held on Nov. 19 ahead of the vote. "Much of what's been happening there has been done with U.S. weapons and American taxpayer support." He added that the U.S. has provided more than $18 billion in military aid to Israel and delivered more than 50,000 tons of armaments and military equipment. "The United States of America is complicit in these atrocities. This complicity must end," the independent lawmaker argued. Under U.S. law, military assistance must not be given to foreign security forces that have committed human rights violations. However, Biden refused to stop the transfer of weapons to Israel, despite persistent accusations of war crimes from human rights experts. (Related: Poll: Majority of Americans want to halt U.S. arms shipments to Israel.) Moreover, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) lambasted the present regime for not taking action against Israel for failing to meet its deadline for aid to Gaza. "The failure by the Biden administration to follow U.S. law and to suspend arms shipments is a grave mistake that undermines American credibility worldwide," Warren said in a statement. "If this administration will not act, Congress must step up to enforce U.S. law and hold the Netanyahu government accountable through a joint resolution of disapproval." WhiteHouse.news contains related stories. Watch the video below that talks about the Senate's move to block Sanders' joint resolutions aiming to halt arms sales to Israel. This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Biden administration approves $2.2 billion weapons sale to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates. Barclays sells $3.4m worth of shares in Israeli weapons manufacturer following pro-Palestinian allegations of bank's involvement in genocide. White House approves new $20 billion arms sales to Israel. Sources include: X.com Politico.com Brighteon.com The family commemoration for victims of the Nanjing Massacre is held in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 1, 2024.(Xinhua/Li Bo) NANJING, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The 2024 family commemoration for victims of the Nanjing Massacre was launched on Sunday in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province. It came less than a fortnight before China's national memorial day on Dec. 13, which was inaugurated ten years ago. Families of the victims paid tribute to their loved ones in front of a "wailing wall" outside the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders. This wall has the names of 10,665 victims killed 87 years ago engraved on it. On Dec. 13, 1937, invading Japanese troops captured Nanjing, then the Chinese capital. Over a period of six weeks, these invaders killed more than 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers. Among the mourners was 95-year-old Xia Shuqin. "I will come as long as my health permits. It's hard not to be here," she said. On Dec. 13, 1937, then eight-year-old Xia narrowly survived the brutal killing spree, with seven out of nine members of her immediate family slaughtered. Her father knelt down and begged them not to hurt civilians, but was shot dead. Her mother and one-year-old sister, who hid beneath a table, were pulled out by the invaders. They dashed the baby to the ground and stabbed her to death. Later, Japanese soldiers raped her mother and killed her. Xia's grandparents were also murdered by the invaders, while her two elder sisters were raped and killed. She hid in a quilt and lost consciousness after being stabbed three times. Xia is among the 32 registered Nanjing Massacre survivors -- with an average age of over 94. The Chinese government has preserved survivors' testimonies in both written documents and video footage. These records of the massacre were listed by UNESCO on the Memory of the World Register in 2015. However, as the survivors are getting old and dying, their descendants are recognized as important for passing on memories and telling the truth about the atrocities. Chang Xiaomei carefully traced the names of her family on the "wailing wall" with a black pen, murmuring "this is my grandpa, this is my grandma..." Her dad Chang Zhiqiang, who has passed away, used to see the memorial hall as his "second home," because "the names of his missed ones are all on this wall," said Xiaomei. "He told me to come here not just to mourn our dead relatives, but also to commemorate our tens of thousands of compatriots," she continued. Chang Zhiqiang witnessed six of his family members tortured and killed in the Nanjing Massacre -- including his youngest brother who was then still a baby in arms and was tossed into the air by Japanese soldiers using a bayonet. Xiaomei has documented his father's life in a book to show the impact the nightmare had on him. This book was published in Chinese, English and Japanese. "With my efforts I hope that more people can come to know and remember that history, understand the value of peace, and cherish the life that we have today," she said. "Inheritors are the main force in passing on historical memory, and they have a deeper understanding of the mission and various ways of doing it," said Zhou Feng, curator of the memorial hall, noting that more people will be granted the status of official inheritor of historical memories regarding the Nanjing Massacre. After the commemoration ceremony, Xia bade farewell to her fellow survivors. Before she left, she gazed attentively at the names of her family on the "wailing wall." "I am already 95, but I am still waiting," she said emotionally. "I am waiting for the day that the Japanese government formally admits to the crime that it had committed, and apologizes to us." Staff members present a flower basket during the family commemoration for victims of the Nanjing Massacre in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 1, 2024.(Xinhua/Li Bo) Nanjing Massacre survivor Xia Shuqin attends the family commemoration for victims of the Nanjing Massacre in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 1, 2024.(Xinhua/Li Bo) Nanjing Massacre survivor Liu Minsheng (front) attends the family commemoration for victims of the Nanjing Massacre in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 1, 2024.(Xinhua/Li Bo) Students use black pens to renew the names on the "wailing wall" outside the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 1, 2024.(Xinhua/Li Bo) Nanjing Massacre survivors Ai Yiying, Liu Minsheng, Xia Shuqin (from L to R, front) with their families attend the family commemoration for victims of the Nanjing Massacre in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 1, 2024.(Xinhua/Li Bo) Nanjing Massacre survivors Ai Yiying (2nd R) searches for the names of her relatives, the victims of the Nanjing Massacre, in front of the "wailing wall" outside the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 1, 2024.(Xinhua/Li Bo) A representative uses black pens to renew the names on the "wailing wall" outside the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 1, 2024.(Xinhua/Li Bo) Staff members present flower baskets during the family commemoration for victims of the Nanjing Massacre in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Dec. 1, 2024.(Xinhua/Li Bo) New York, Nov 30 : Many US businesses are urging customers to buy now before President-elect Donald Trump's proposed tariffs potentially raise costs and prices, local media reported Throughout his campaign, Trump promised to impose tariffs of 60 per cent on all Chinese goods and across-the-board tariffs of 10 per cent to 20 per cent on goods from other countries. On Monday, he laid out plans to levy tariffs of 25 per cent on imports from Mexico and Canada, and an additional 10 per cent on goods coming from China, reported Xinhua news agency, citing The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on Friday. "It is unclear what tariffs will be levied and how much they will affect prices," said the report. "Companies are pouncing at a moment when fear and uncertainty are on the rise and consumer spending is showing signs of weakness." Most large corporations have yet to incorporate warnings about possible tariffs into their marketing campaigns, and they might not explicitly do so at all. But several have pointed out that they might need to pass on higher costs, said the report. "Tariffs have the potential to cost shoppers up to $78 billion in annual spending power, according to a recent study from the National Retail Federation. Small-business owners said they fear that higher prices will cause shoppers to pull back on how much they spend and be more selective with what types of products they purchase," it added. Mumbai, Nov 30 : Veteran actor Anil Kapoor has bid adieu to Agra and thanked the police and government officials for their warmth and care. Taking to Instagram, where he shared a photo montage on the stories section, where he shared pictures posing with his team, fans and police officials in front of the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world. The actor, who did not reveal as to why he was in Agra or what he was shooting for there, wrote: Goodbye, Agra! Grateful for the love, history, and unforgettable hospitality. A heartfelt thank you to the police, government officials, and the amazing people of Agra for your warmth and care. You've given us memories to cherish forever! The actor had earlier shared snippets from a romantic day out with his wife, Sunita Kapoor, at the Taj Mahal. The pictures were captioned with a quote from Alain de Botton On Love. Perhaps it is true that we do not really exist until there is someone there to see us existing we are not wholly alive until we are loved. Talking about work, Anil, who was last seen in Fighter starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone,is gearing up for his next release, Subedaar, an action-drama helmed by Suresh Triveni, who has previously made films such as Tumhari Sulu and Jalsa, Triveni brings his signature storytelling to this new venture. In recent news, Anils The Night Manager lost to Les Gouttes de Dieu at International Emmy Awards in the Best Drama Series category. The Night Manager was nominated alongside Les Gouttes de Dieu (Drops of God), The Newsreader from Australia, and the Argentianian show Iosi, El Espia Arrepentido Season 2. The Night Manager, a crime thriller series is created by Sandeep Modi, which serves as a remake of the British television serial The Night Manager, itself based on the 1993 novel of the same name by John Le Carre. It also stars Sobhita Dhulipala,Tillotama Shome, Ravi Behl, Saswata Chatterjee. Jaipur, Nov 30 : The time is ripe for us to leverage India's geographic location and help make our nation become the centre of the logistics world, Adani Group Chairman, Gautam Adani, said on Saturday. Addressing the 51st India Gem and Jewellery Awards here, Gautam Adani said that in the case of logistics, what started as a port jetty, to import coal in 1998, has gone on to become the country's largest port business. "This business today spans a network of 15 national and 5 international ports and, thereby, allows us to expand into building a network of integrated logistic nodes," he told the gathering. These nodes now are made up of ports, rail, highways, warehouses, inland container depots, fulfilment centres, and trucking in a way no other company has ever achieved in the world. "This journey has taken us deep into the Middle East -- all the way into the Mediterranean through Israel -- and into the heart of Africa. For me, it is no more just about ports. It is now about leveraging India's geographic location and doing our part to help make our nation become the centre of the logistics world," the Adani Group Chairman noted. Likewise, what started as a single power plant in 2007, has now become not just India's largest private thermal power generation company but has also allowed the Adani Group to expand into adjacencies. "This expansion has seen us become India's largest private transmission company, largest private power distribution company, largest mine developer and operator, as well as the only company that successfully took up the challenge of cross-border supply of power to help a neighbouring nation," Gautam Adani told the gathering. Furthermore, it has allowed the company to move into the area of renewable energy. "Today, we are India's largest solar panel manufacturing company as well as the world's largest single-site renewable energy facility, well on our way to generating 30 GW of power, spread over a massive single span of land of more than 500 square kilometres," the Adani Group Chairman emphasised. "Yet another example of challenging the status quo is our move into the airport business. In less than three years, we became the largest airport operator in the country. We then built our adjacencies that made us the largest airport logistics player with almost 40 per cent of India's air cargo and have now undertaken the world's largest slum redevelopment initiative, the Dharavi project," he stressed. Gautam Adani further stated that for him, Dharavi is not just about slum redevelopment. "It is about restoring dignity, creating a sustainable ecosystem, and changing the status quo for over one million residents." Jaipur, Nov 30 : Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani said on Saturday that the set of allegations being levelled against the conglomerate in the US was another attack on the group from which it would emerge stronger and more resilient. Addressing the 51st Indian Gems and Jewellery Award function, the Adani Group Chairman referred to the "set of allegations from the US about compliance practices at Adani Green Energy" as one of the three attacks that had taken place against the Adani Group recently. "This is not the first time we have faced such challenges. What I can tell you is that every attack makes us stronger and every obstacle becomes a stepping stone for a more resilient Adani Group," he said. "The fact is that despite a lot of the vested reporting, no one from the Adani side has been charged with any violation of the FCPA or any conspiracy to obstruct justice. Yet, in todays world, negativity spreads faster than facts - and as we work through the legal process, I want to re-confirm our absolute commitment to world-class regulatory compliance," Gautam Adani contended. Listing the other two attacks, he said: "First - in 2010, when we were investing in a coal mine in Australia, our objective was clear: How to make India energy secure and replace every two tons of poor-quality Indian coal with one ton of high-quality coal from Australia? However, the resistance from NGOs was huge and lasted almost a decade." He said the opposition was so intense that the group ended up funding the entire project of $10 billion with its own equity. "While we now have a world-class operating mine in Australia and it could be seen as a great sign of our resilience, the fact is that 100 per cent equity funding took away over $30 billion of debt financing from our green energy projects," Gautam Adani said. "The next example is from January last year, just as we were getting ready to launch our Follow-on Public Offering. We faced a short-selling attack initiated from abroad. This was not a typical financial strike; it was a double hit - targeting our financial stability and pulling us into a political controversy. All of this was further amplified by certain media with vested interests. But even in the face of such adversity, our commitment to our principles remained strong," the Adani Group chief pointed out. He said that after successfully raising Rs 20,000 crore from Indias largest-ever FPO, the group made the extraordinary decision to return the proceeds. "We then further demonstrated our resilience by raising capital from several international sources and proactively reducing our Debt to EBITDA ratio to below 2.5 times, an unmatched metric in the global infrastructure space," he said. Gautam Adani further stated that the all-time record financial results of the group in the same year showcased its commitment to operational excellence. Not a single Indian or foreign credit rating agency downgraded the Adani Group and finally, the Supreme Courts "affirmation of our actions validated our approach", he added. He also said that over the years, he had come to accept that the roadblocks have to be faced as the price of pioneering. "The more bold your dreams, the more the world will scrutinize you. But it is precisely in that scrutiny that you must find the courage to rise, to challenge the status quo, and to build a path where none exists. To pioneer is to embrace the unknown, to break limits, and to believe in your vision even when the world cannot yet see it," Gautam Adani asserted. Chennai, Nov 30 : Cyclone Fengal has begun making its landfall near Puducherry late on Saturday, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) announced. According to the IMD, the landfall process is expected to take approximately four hours to complete. The cyclone is predicted to move west-southwestward, crossing the north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram, close to Puducherry. The wind speed during this event is estimated to range between 70-80 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 90 kmph over the next three to four hours. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) at Chennai had earlier said that the landfall process of the slow-moving cyclonic storm could take several hours, bringing heavy to very heavy rainfall during this time. RMC Director S. Balachandran said that Fengal "is a very dynamic cyclonic storm, constantly changing its speed of movement". He said that according to the latest ocean satellite data, the landfall process is expected to commence later on Saturday (November 30) and might take several hours for the storms eye to fully move inland. He also said that the mesovortex of the storm is not perfectly round, making it challenging to predict the exact landfall location and the the situation was being continuously monitored, as the storms structure changes as it approaches the coast. The Puducherry administration has sent SMS alerts to nearly 12 lakh residents, urging them to remain vigilant in light of the approaching storm. Chief Minister N. Rangasamy earlier inspected rain-affected areas to review the actions taken by the Disaster Management Department, particularly the measures to accommodate evacuees from low-lying regions in relief centres. Chennai Airport has suspended operations until 4 a.m. on December 1, due to heavy runway and taxiway inundation. Over 50 flights have been cancelled. Public transport services on East Coast Road (ECR) and Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) have been temporarily halted starting Saturday afternoon. The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority (TNSDMA) has deployed three disaster relief teams for Chennai and 13 teams for other districts impacted by Cyclone Fengal. To mitigate the impact of heavy rainfall, the Tamil Nadu Revenue and Disaster Management Department has established 2,229 relief centres in affected regions. Currently, 471 individuals from 164 families have been relocated to relief camps in the Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts. Authorities have indicated readiness for further evacuations, if required. In a public safety advisory, the government has requested IT companies to allow employees to work from home. Residents have been strongly advised to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary. Parks and beaches in Chennai and adjoining districts are closed, and the TNSDMA has urged the public to avoid visiting beaches, amusement parks, and recreational events. Greater Chennai Corporation Mayor R. Priya assured the public that the civic body was fully prepared to handle the cyclone and its associated heavy rains. Warnings have been issued against parking vehicles under trees during heavy rainfall. Several subways in Chennai, including the RBI Subway, Sundaram Point, Rangarajapuram, Palavanthangal, and Gengu Reddy subways, have been closed due to waterlogging. Light vehicles have been prohibited from using the Duraiswamy and Madley subways. Additionally, roads such as Prakasam Salai, G.P. Road, Ritherdon Road, and Alagappa Road have been temporarily shut to traffic. Earlier on Saturday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin stated that the situation is under control in Chennai and other districts experiencing heavy rainfall after reviewing the measures being taken to tackle the cyclone's impact at the State Emergency Operations Centre in Ezhilagam Complex Stalin noted that people have been moved to relief camps, where food and other essentials are being provided. He also mentioned that he held a review meeting with the Chennai Corporation Commissioner and District Collectors of Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Ranipet, and Chengalpattu, who updated him on the ground situation and the ongoing relief efforts. The Chief Minister added that there has been no significant waterlogging in Chennai due to the preventive measures undertaken. Bhubaneswar, Nov 30 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the top brass of police officers from across the country on Saturday held a threadbare discussion on various issues related to policing and security of the nation on the second day of the 59th DG-IG Conference here. "Had a productive first day at the DGP/IGP Conference in Bhubaneswar. Discussed various subjects on policing and security," PM Modi wrote on X and also shared photographs of the meeting. PM Modi on Saturday attended the three-day DGP conference which was inaugurated by HM Amit Shah on November 29. At the meeting, the chiefs of police forces from all states and other central security agencies are deliberating on various aspects to chalk out a roadmap to counter existing and emerging national security challenges, including LWE, Coastal Security, Narcotics, Cyber Crime and Economic Security. As per reports, the delegates will also review the progress in implementation of the new Criminal Laws and initiatives and best practices in policing in their respective states. Earlier, the Home Minister while inaugurating the event on Friday underscored the role of the security establishment in achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' by the year 2047 and becoming the third-largest economy by 2027. The Home Minister had also emphasised on focusing on emerging security challenges along the Eastern border, immigration and trends in urban policing. He also called for taking initiative towards a zero-tolerance strategy plan and zero tolerance action to implement zero tolerance policy. HM Shah further added that under the leadership of PM Modi, India is building its police force as an apparatus capable of both securing the nation against new-age challenges and addressing the root causes of crime and terrorism. He noted that the DG-IG Conference serves as a knowledge-sharing platform to fortify policing in every state through collaboration. Notably, PM Modi, Home Minister Shah reached Bhubaneswar on November 29 to attend the three-day DG-IG conference from November 29 to December 1. Patna, Dec 1 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said she wants a Lakhpati Didi in every village of the country, while urging the people to avail benefits of the schemes introduced by the Central government. FM Sitharaman, who is on a two-day visit to Bihar, on Saturday visited the Lalit Karpoori Stadium at Jhanjharpur in Madhubani district, as part of the Credit Outreach Programme. During the event, loans totaling Rs 1,021 crore were distributed to promote employment. The beneficiaries received their loan amount through cheques. In her address, FM Sitharaman emphasised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of transforming India into a developed nation, highlighting his special focus on Bihar's development, including specific initiatives in Darbhanga and Madhubani. "I urge citizens to leverage government schemes to enhance self-sufficiency. I also want to point out the 'Lakhpati Didi' scheme initiative aimed at empowering women in villages through financial assistance and training provided to Self Help Groups (SHGs). I want Lakhpati Didi in every village of the country," FM Sitharaman said. Additionally, she announced plans for a grand temple dedicated to Lord Ram's wife Sita at her birthplace, akin to the grandeur of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, framing it as a significant cultural resolution. The outreach programme was also held in Darbhanga on Friday, where financial aid and employment-oriented loans were similarly distributed. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman expressed delight at the significant turnout of women at the Credit Outreach Programme held at Lalit Karpoori Stadium. She was joined by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, along with prominent leaders including Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Jha; Jhanjharpur Lok Sabha MP Rampreet Mandal; Madhubani MP Dr. Ashok Kumar Yadav; former minister and MLA Vinod Narayan Jha, MLC Ghanshyam Thakur, and MLA Sudhanshu Shekhar. The programme organised by the State Bank of India (SBI) in cooperation with other banks, featured robust security arrangements led by SP Sushil Kumar. FM Sitharaman also visited stalls showcasing Mithila paintings by women, emphasising their artistic skills and entrepreneurial potential. She lauded the region's progress after observing diverse exhibits, including one where a woman operated a heavy drone camera. FM Sitharaman praised the woman, highlighting her expertise as a testament to the empowerment efforts reaching rural areas. The Finance Minister was earlier accorded a warm welcome upon her arrival. She noted the cultural richness and innovation thriving in villages, underlining the impact of government initiatives on women and rural communities. An official said that the event reinforced the government's commitment to development, women's empowerment, and financial inclusion, reflecting the rich cultural and entrepreneurial spirit of Mithila. New Delhi, Dec 1 : Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge extended heartfelt greetings to the personnel of India's first line of defence, the Border Security Force (BSF), on its Raising Day. Rahul Gandhi expressed his admiration for the BSF personnel in a post on X . He wrote, On BSF Raising Day, I extend my heartfelt greetings and salute to all the brave personnel of Indias First Line of Defence who safeguard our nations borders. Your unwavering commitment, courage, service, and sacrifices inspire us every day. Jai Hind. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also paid tribute, highlighting the BSF's critical role in border security. In his post on X, he stated, The Border Security Force (BSF) stands as our first line of defence. We extend our heartfelt salutations to the brave women and men of the BSF who safeguard our nations borders under the most challenging conditions. As a nation, we remain eternally grateful and deeply proud of your unwavering courage, remarkable sacrifices, steadfast determination, and exceptional valour. The Border Security Force, one of the Central Armed Police Forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs, is tasked with securing Indias borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. Formed in the aftermath of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, the BSF is recognised as the world's largest border-guarding force, overseeing a stretch of 6,386.36 km of international borders. All BSF personnel undergo rigorous training at the BSF Academy in Tekanpur, Madhya Pradesh, in preparation for the challenges of border security. Reaffirming its dedication to its duties, the BSF reiterated its commitment to the nation and its motto, Lifelong Duty, on its Raising Day. New Delhi, Dec 1 : The total number of women filing income tax returns in India has shot up by a robust 25.3 per cent in the last four years from 1.83 crore in assessment year (AY) 2019-20 to over 2.29 crore in AY 2023-24, according to figures compiled by the Income Tax Department. This reflects the increasing number of women getting well-paid jobs or running their own business ventures, a senior official said. The total number of income tax returns (ITRs), that include both individuals and corporates, in AY 2023-24 crossed 7.97 crore. The data show that Maharashtra accounted for the largest number of women ITRs with as many as 36,83,457 in AY24 registering a 23 per cent growth. Gujarat was ranked second with 22,50,098 women filing ITRs, registering a 24.4 per cent growth, while Uttar Pradesh came at the third spot with 20,43,794 ITRs and a strong growth of 29.2 per cent during this period. Similar growth trends have been recorded in other major states. The number of women ITR filers jumped by over 20 per cent in Tamil Nadu from 12,92,028 in AY20 to 15,51,769 while in the case of Karnataka, there was an increase of 20 per cent from 11,34,903 to 14,30,345, during the four-year period. Punjab recorded a 36.23 per cent from 9,70,801 in AY20 to 13,22,580 AY24 and Rajasthan by 25.49 per cent to 13,52,202. Small states and Union Territories such as Jammu & Kashmir and Mizoram also recorded a sharp rise in women filing income-tax returns between 2019-20 and 2023-24. Mizoram posted a 96 per cent increase in the number of women filers to 2,090 and J&K, a 49.2 per cent growth to 1,17,514. Mumbai, Dec 1 : Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai is back to fulfilling her professional commitments amidst separation rumours with her husband, Abhishek Bachchan. After attending the Global Womens Forum in Dubai, the actress was recently spotted returning to Mumbai. Aishwarya has dived straight back into work, and a new picture from the set has captured fans attention. Celebrity makeup artist Adrian Jacobs shared a selfie with Aishwarya on his Instagram story and captioned the post, A lovely day at work @aishwaryaraibachchan_arb. In the image, the Taal actress is seen smiling as she poses with her makeup artist. Her makeup game looked on point with bold black eyeliner, glossy pink lips, and a dewy finish. She wore a chic black pinstripe jacket and kept her signature middle-parted hairstyle loose. Rumours surrounding Aishwarya and Abhisheks marriage have been gaining momentum for some time. The couple has frequently been the subject of divorce speculations, with interest spiking after their separate appearances at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchants wedding earlier this year. Most recently, their divorce rumours made headlines after Rais name at an event was displayed without the Bachchan on a screen at an event in Dubai. The actress attended the Global Womens Forum in Dubai. Amid the ongoing buzz about his son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya's rumoured separation, Amitabh Bachchan addressed the speculation in his blog. Big B expressed his concerns over information ending with question marks and highlighted the emotional toll such rumours can have on those involved. He wrote, It takes immense courage conviction and a sincerity to be different and believe in its presence in life I rarely say much about family, because that is my domain and its privacy is maintained by me Speculations are speculations they are speculated untruths, without verifications. Verifications are sought by the seekers to authenticate their business and commercials of the profession they be in I shall not challenge their desire to be in the profession of their choice and I shall appreciate their effort in serving society The post further read, But untruths .. or selected question marked information can be a legal safeguard for them that inform .. but the seed of suspected belief is sown with this most used emblem .. the question mark ..write express whatever you like .. but when you follow it up with a question mark, you are not only saying that the write may be questionable .. but also quite surreptitiously wanting the reader to believe and expand on it, so that your write gets valued repeats .. HANGZHOU, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- At a well-equipped factory in Machakos County, Kenya, local workers are busy assembling smart meters on a streamlined production line. With an annual capacity of 400,000 units, the factory plays a key role in improving energy efficiency across the region. Zhejiang Chint Instrument & Meter Co., Ltd., based in east China's Zhejiang, owns the factory. Fan Hongyan, regional head for southeast Africa, noted that 90 percent of the factory's workforce are local employees, and the company offers regular training for young people from nearby communities. It aims to collaborate with more countries like Kenya to integrate green and low-carbon practices into all aspects of production, manufacturing, services and daily life, Fan said. His vision has been echoed at the ongoing 2024 Mayors Exchange Conference on Maritime Silk Road City Influence in Zhejiang's Wenzhou, where participants are focusing on strengthening win-win cooperation and fostering innovation among cities along the Maritime Silk Road. From smart ports and intelligent manufacturing to sustainable urban planning, these cities demonstrate how technology can transform governance and quality of life, said Saleem Mandviwalla, chairman of the Senate Finance and Budget Committee of Pakistan. He noted that China's latest initiative to train young Pakistani professionals in advanced technologies ensures that young people in Pakistan are equipped to lead the transformation. China has played a consistent role in fostering mutual benefits through similar initiatives. Data from the Ministry of Commerce shows that by the end of 2023, Chinese companies had established 17,000 overseas enterprises in countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, with direct investment stock exceeding 330 billion U.S. dollars. Last year, direct investment from Chinese companies in these countries totaled 40.71 billion U.S. dollars, a 31.5 percent increase from the previous year. These mutual benefits are amplified by China's expanding visa-free entry list. "China's mutual visa exemption policy has accelerated personnel exchanges," said Pov Somnang, special assistant to the secretary-general of ASEAN. He highlighted the fruitful cooperation between China and ASEAN in areas such as tourism, media partnership, think-tank exchange, and international communication among civil organizations. "We view the Maritime Silk Road not just as a trade network but as a transformative force connecting distant civilizations, enriching humanity's shared cultural heritage, and laying the foundation for today's interconnected world," Hisham El-Zimaity, secretary general of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, said at the conference. Kyiv/Moscow, Dec 1 : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky voiced his readiness to end the "hot phase" of the conflict with Russia in exchange for Ukraine's membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported. "If we want to stop the hot phase of the war, we need to put the territory of Ukraine that is under our control under the NATO umbrella. We need to do it fast," Zelensky was cited as saying, as per Xinhua news agency. Later, Ukraine could get back the territories, which are now controlled by Russia, in a diplomatic way, Zelensky said, noting that NATO invitation should recognise Ukraine's internationally recognised borders. Zelensky stressed that a ceasefire is necessary to guarantee that Russia "does not return" to seize more Ukrainian territory. Meanwhile, the Russian side seems to have a very low-profile response toward this. The Kremlin has so far been silent on Zelensky's remarks. Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Russian State Duma, commented in his Telegram channel, "Moscow will no longer allow Western countries to arm Kyiv under the guise of an agreement." He called on Ukrainian politicians to abandon their ambition to join NATO. "Kyiv is seeking to join NATO, this is the key to moving forward, not the end of the war. The idea of freezing the conflict is also unacceptable," he said. On Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that the Russian army has liberated 88 settlements in the Donetsk and Lugansk region, the Zaporozhye, Kursk and Kharkov Regions in the fall of 2024. Chennai, Dec 1 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has said the people are satisfied with the relief measures undertaken by the state government's various agencies. Speaking to the media on Sunday after visiting various rain-affected areas in Chennai and his Kolathur Assembly constituency following Cyclone Fengal's fury, the Chief Minister said he was satisfied with the government agencies and the feedback he has received from the people. He said that in places where water usually stagnates after heavy rains, there is no stagnation currently. CM Stalin further said: When it is raining, it may stagnate in a few places. Once rains stop, it may take 10-15 minutes for water to clear out. He also said that the people of the state capital are relieved after the precautionary and relief measures taken up by various government agencies. The Chief Minister also said the government of Tamil Nadu was always with the people of the state. He said, Be it rains or floods, we are there with them. Not just me but all the elected representatives are attending to their needs. If there are any issues, they flag those to me and we get them resolved. Replying to a query on the need for a permanent solution to issues cropping up during cyclones and heavy rains, the Chief Minister said, The permanent solution has come to an extent. But, when there are heavy rains, we undertake steps on a war footing." CM Stalin lashed out at Leader of Opposition Edappadi K.Palaniswami's criticism of the government and said that his only job was to keep criticising. He also said, The government is doing a job and is working not only for those who voted for the DMK but also for those who did not vote for us." The Chief Minister also said that Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin and Ministers K. Ponmudy, V. Senthilbalaji and S.S. Sivasankar have also been deputed to Villupuram district. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has issued a red alert for Sunday, forecasting heavy rainfall in Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, and Puducherry. Other districts, including Chennai, Chengalpattu, Ranipet, Dharmapuri, Salem, and areas in the Karaikal region, are also expected to receive heavy showers. Los Angeles, Dec 1 : Singer-actress Selena Gomez is proud of her boyfriend Benny Blanco, and doesnt shy away from expressing her appreciation for her beau. The 32-year-old star is thrilled that her record producer beau was included in People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive issue and explained how grateful she is to have him in her life, reports Female First UK. In a social media clip from her 'CBS Sunday Morning' interview, Selena said of his recognition by the magazine, "That's my man!" The 'Only Murders in the Building' actress added, "I'm beyond proud to know that there is someone in the world that deeply cares about every tiny detail about who I am. And have someone support me, encourage me, inspire me and motivate me. It bring me joy. And more than anything he's just my best friend. I'm really, really lucky. As per Female First UK, Selena and Benny confirmed their romance in December 2023, and the 'Emilia Perez' star explained that the pair made the decision to share some of their relationship publicly, a choice that has made her feel "safe" with her partner. She told The Hollywood Reporter, "I guess this is the safest Ive ever felt in one, and I see a future with this person. When you put a little bit out there, people are not as hungry to hunt you down. Like, if they hear something, they're going to, but if you're like, 'I did it', they're like, 'Oh, well there's you, just going to Sushi Park'. But there's so much of my relationship people don't see, that's just mine. Selena is content with the balance she has that enables her to maintain an element of privacy in her life. Asked if she feels she has a private life, she said, "I do, because I hang out with people who arent really in the business that much. I mean, I have both. Kohima, Dec 1 : Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Sunday reiterated the urgency of resolving the Naga political issue and said that he had discussed the matter with Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently. Addressing the 62nd statehood day function here, he said that acting on decisions taken in the state cabinet meeting on November 16, a delegation led by him met Union Home Shah on November 21 in New Delhi for discussions. Rio said that the Union Home Minister reiterated the urgency and discussed issues including the recent press statements by the NSCN-I-M's Chief Political Negotiator to note while resolving the issue remains a top priority, the formation of new groups and their internal divisions pose significant challenges. Addressing on Eastern Nagaland Peoples Organisation (ENPO) issue, the Chief Minister remarked that a draft Memorandum of Settlement was submitted, on November 6 to the Ministry of Home Affairs emphasising a shared economic progress for all citizens and marking the beginning of a new era of partnership and collective growth. Since 2010, the ENPO has been demanding a separate Frontier Nagaland Territory or separate state comprising six Eastern Nagaland districts -- Kiphire, Longleng, Mon, Noklak, Shamator, and Tuensang, inhabited by seven backward tribes -- Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Tikhir, Sangtam, and Yimkhiung. Rio said that after nearly two decades, elections for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) were conducted recently, implementing 33 per cent reservation for women and consequently, 278 councillors were elected across 25 Urban Local Bodies, including 103 women councillors, constituting 37 per cent of the total. He stressed on "Peace for Development and Development for Peace," and appealed to every citizen to strive together to take the state to greater heights. The state government has initiated the construction of the Konyak Heritage Complex in Mon, under the North Eastern Council (NEC), a pioneering effort to preserve and promote traditional Konyak architecture, sculptures, traditions, and cultural heritage, he added. Rio mentioned that to establish a robust and reliable transmission system and to meet the projected load demand of 360 MW power of the state by 2030, the Department of Power has finalised a comprehensive transmission plan with the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) under the Ministry of Power. He said the Department of New and Renewable Energy has completed the survey and investigation works for the development of the Lower Doyang hydroelectric power project in the Wokha district and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is ready. Rio remarked that as a Prelude to the 25th Edition of Hornbill Festival, which began on Sunday, the Tourism Department in association with the Union Ministry of Tourism successfully hosted the third edition of the Autumn Festival in New Delhi and a Cultural Extravaganza Night at the Agri Expo at Chumoukedima in the state. The 62nd statehood day celebration was enthralled with special performances by Rengma Chorale, Tseminyu who presented the song titled Ma Senyalo, meaning 'Praise Him', and Sangtam Cultural Group with the song titled Vingvingtii. The celebration also witnessed a war dance performed by the Sumi Cultural Troupe, the cultural dance SonkengJihang performed by Khiamniungan Cultural Troupe, the folk dance Phita performed by the Angami Cultural Troupe, and a folk song titled Bu Asho presented by the Phom Cultural Troupe. Los Angeles, Dec 1 : Singer-actress Ariana Grande has shared that she is grateful for the healing and love she receives from her fans. The 31-year-old star portrays Glinda in new musical Wicked and she recognised the similarities between the relationship her character has with the citizens of Oz because of the connection she has with her own fans, reports Female First UK. She told Britains OK magazine, In Glinda, what resonates with me most is her want to become better and better. Her relationship with the Ozians is an interesting one for me. It feels a little bit adjacent to my relationship with my fans throughout the years. She further mentioned, I feel like Im walking a particular line and wanting to give them the best of me but also, at times, my heart has needed some healing and some love and TLC. I think that is something that Ive felt multiple times in my life. As per Female First UK, Ariana believes that, at its heart, the story of Wicked carries a number of important messages that should strike a chord in the modern world. She said, Its a very timely and yet timeless theme for evil forces to be trying to ostracise certain people or group people together or cause division. And I think that friendship, love and family whether its by blood or chosen family these platonic friendships, these deep loves that weve found in each other and our people have always been the thing that help us survive that. Her Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo agreed. She said, I think it couldnt be more perfect. I think we arrived right on time. I think its something that we all desperately need, connection, friendship, the capacity for change, the capacity to accept others and their differences. Hopefully this will aid that and teach people things they might have not been willing to learn before. SBI Launches Nation-Wide Drive To Promote Inoperative Account Activation Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: December 02, 2024, 09:37 IST State Bank of India said it has launched a nationwide drive to raise awareness about inoperative account activation SBI to drive and emphasize the Re-KYC exercise to promote the maintainence of active accounts and re-activation of inoperative accounts. (Representative image) The State Bank of India (SBI), the countrys largest lender, has initiated a nationwide awareness campaign on the importance of activating inoperative accounts. Ahead of this initiative, SBI conducted a one-day workshop in Gurugram for its national business correspondents. The workshop focused on sensitising participants to the significance of inoperative account activation, with special emphasis on Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accounts. What Is An Inoperative Account? related stories An account, savings or current, is classified as inoperative if no transactions are conducted for over two years. Reactivation of such accounts requires customers to complete a Re-KYC (Know Your Customer) process. SBI stressed the importance of regular transactions to avoid accounts becoming inoperative. Leveraging Technology For Efficiency The workshop also highlighted the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) models to assess Customer Service Points (CSPs) based on their risk profiles. This technological advancement aims to enhance risk management, improve operational efficiency, ensure regulatory compliance, and deliver superior customer service. Chairmans Address CS Setty, Chairman of SBI, emphasised the importance of conducting the Re-KYC exercise earnestly to keep PMJDY accounts active, enabling seamless transactions for customers. He urged business correspondents to actively engage in the Department of Financial Services (DFS) campaign for Jan Suraksha Schemes from October 15, 2024, to January 15, 2025, to ensure coverage of all eligible citizens. Setty highlighted the need for: Strict adherence to banking guidelines to sustain growth. Leveraging technology to bridge the gap and enhance customer outreach. Developing a vision map for technological innovation to optimize the business correspondent channel. He also outlined SBIs efforts to launch customer-centric products and improve services, aiming to make the correspondent channel robust and efficient. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Financial Inclusion SBI reiterated its commitment to advancing financial inclusion through innovative solutions and efficient service delivery. The banks focus on Re-KYC and activating inoperative accounts reflects its dedication to empowering citizens and ensuring seamless banking experiences nationwide. First Published: December 01, 2024, 15:26 IST REET 2025 Application Process To Commence Today, Check Exam Date Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 13:59 IST REET 2025: Rajasthan Primary and Secondary Education Minister Madan Dilawar had earlier announced that the REET 2025 application process will start from December 1 and the exam will be conducted in February next year Last year, the REET exam was conducted on July 23 and 24, 2022 (Representative/File Photo) The official notification of the Rajasthan Teacher Eligibility Examination (REET) 2025 is expected to be released soon. After the notification is released, candidates can check it on the official website of the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) at rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in. School Education Secretary Krishna Kunal recently held a meeting to review the preparations for REET 2025. In the meeting, instructions were given to maintain the confidentiality of the examination and ensure the security of the question papers. Besides, emphasis was laid on allocating examination centers to the candidates nearest to them. related stories Primary and Secondary Education Minister Madan Dilawar had earlier announced that the REET 2025 application process will start on December 1 and the exam will be conducted in February 2025. Dilawar took to microblogging site X to announce the same which roughly translates to, The application process for Rajasthan Teacher Eligibility Examination (REET) will start from 1st December 2024 by the State Government under the able leadership of the Honorable Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Shri Bhajanlal Sharma. This examination will be conducted by Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education, Ajmer in February 2025. Detailed notification regarding the examination will be released by 25th November 2024. The examination fee has been fixed the same as REET-2022." REET @BhajanlalBjp (REET) 1 2024 2025 Madan Dilawar (@madandilawar) November 9, 2024 How to apply for REET 2025? Step 1 Visit the official website of RBSE, rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in. Step 2 Visit the REET 2025 link on the homepage. Step 3 Download the notification and check the eligibility criteria, exam pattern, important dates, and application fee details. Step 4 Register and get your login credentials. Step 5 Fill out the application form, upload the required documents, and pay the fee. Step 6 Download the confirmation page after submitting the application form. The REET exam will be conducted at two levels: Level 1: For Primary Teacher post (Class 1-5) Level 2: For Secondary Teacher post (Class 6-8) top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Candidates can apply for both levels based on their eligibility. Last year, the REET exam was conducted on July 23 and 24, 2022. The provisional answer key was released on August 19, 2022, and the objection window closed on August 25, 2022. First Published: December 01, 2024, 13:26 IST UPSC GK Capsule: Preparing For Govt Exams? Key Events To Boost Your Preparation Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: December 08, 2024, 14:58 IST In a bid to help you save time in your preparation for govt entrance exams such as UPSC, SSC; here are some major news events from the past week Read some of the week's most pertinent headlines if you're preparing to take any forthcoming competitive exams.(Representational/ PTI Photo) Being informed about current affairs is very important to score well in competitive examinations. In a bid to help you save time in your preparation, weve featured major updates from various fields of interest right from the basics of storm warning cages to Indias successful test of a K-4 nuclear-capable missile and reaching a significant political anniversary of Indias Constitution. These brief significant points will help prepare in advance and stay abreast with any new information that one needs to address when dealing with general knowledge sections. Lets dive in. related stories 1) Storm Warning Cages: Purpose and Mechanism The storm warning cage is a safety measure employed in coastal areas to notify ships and port authorities of violent weather conditions, including cyclones. When positioned, it informs of an interruption in receiving data from the Meteorological Centre that warns of severe weather conditions. Visual signals are conveyed with cones and cylinders during the day, and red and white lamps at night. It may include a description of the storms intensity and the degree of disruption that may be expected. 2) Nuclear-Capable K-4 Ballistic Missile Test-Fired From Indian Submarine India has recently emerged as successful in testing K-4 ballistic missiles from a submarine. The missile named K-4 is capable of travelling up to 3,500 km. It was test-fired from the nuclear-powered submarine INS Arihant which has been developed domestically. This test confirms a major victory for Indias defence program, contributing to its second-strike capability in case of a nuclear war. 3) Australian Parliament Approves Social Media Ban for Under-16s The Australian Parliament has recently enacted legislation that prohibits kids under 16 years of age from using social media. This landmark ruling is meant to safeguard the under-aged minds on social media platforms and encourage better use. Social media firms are now required to have policies in place that would ensure minors cannot access such sites. This comes after a rise in deteriorating mental health and overall safety. 4) Priyanka Gandhis Symbolic Gesture in Parliament Priyanka Gandhi Vadra became an MP in Lok Sabha on Thursday as the Parliament session continued on the fourth day of the Winter Session. Priyanka made an appearance in Parliament alongside Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, holding a copy of the constitution and wearing a traditional Kerala Kasavu saree. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all 5) Celebrating 75 Years of Indias Constitution: The Guardian of Secularism As India commemorated 75 years of the adoption of the Constitution on November 26, a more active debate regarding its function in terms of secularism persists. The Constitution guarantees each person equal rights regardless of religion. Indian Secularism as enshrined in the Constitution of India does not mean that religion has no place in the affairs of the state but rather it means that every religious group enjoys the same and equal status and the state has no preferred religion. Articles 25 to 28 give the right to freedom of religion and have made secularism an inviolable feature. First Published: December 01, 2024, 15:31 IST Military vehicles and soldiers are seen during an Israeli military raid in the town of Sir in Jenin, the northern West Bank, on Dec. 1, 2024. Four Palestinians were killed on Sunday by Israeli army fire in Jenin, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua) RAMALLAH, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Four Palestinians were killed on Sunday by Israeli army fire in Jenin, the northern West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The ministry said in a press statement that the four victims, whose identities were still unknown, died during an "occupation assault" on the town of Sir, southeast of Jenin. Jenin Governor Kamal Abu Rab told Xinhua that the victims' identities could not be confirmed due to the severe damage and charring of their bodies. He added that the Israeli army had detained the corpses. The ministry statement did not provide further details about the incident. Local sources and eyewitnesses told Xinhua that an Israeli drone targeted a room in the village of Sir earlier on Sunday morning. The strike was followed by search and sweep operations conducted by the Israeli army in the area. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Sunday that with the direction of the Israeli Security Agency, an Israeli Air Force aircraft struck and "eliminated a terrorist cell" in the Jenin area. Following the strike, IDF soldiers conducted a targeted raid at the site. They reportedly found three weapons on the militants' bodies, along with additional weapon parts, military vests, and explosive materials. Since the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023, tensions have escalated across cities, refugee camps, and villages in the West Bank. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, over 800 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli gunfire and airstrikes in the West Bank during this period. Military vehicles and soldiers are seen during an Israeli military raid in the town of Sir in Jenin, the northern West Bank, on Dec. 1, 2024. Four Palestinians were killed on Sunday by Israeli army fire in Jenin, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua) People check a car destroyed during an Israeli military raid in the town of Sir in Jenin, the northern West Bank, on Dec. 1, 2024. Four Palestinians were killed on Sunday by Israeli army fire in Jenin, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua) People check a car destroyed during an Israeli military raid in the town of Sir in Jenin, the northern West Bank, on Dec. 1, 2024. Four Palestinians were killed on Sunday by Israeli army fire in Jenin, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua) The windshield of a car destroyed during an Israeli military raid is pictured in the town of Sir in Jenin, the northern West Bank, on Dec. 1, 2024. Four Palestinians were killed on Sunday by Israeli army fire in Jenin, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua) Arvind Kejriwal Rules Out Alliance With Congress In Delhi Assembly Polls, Says AAP Will Go Solo Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 13:10 IST The Aam Aadmi Party had contested the Haryana Assembly Elections on its own earlier this year. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal (PTI Image) Delhi Assembly Elections: Former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday ruled out any alliance with Congress for the 2025 Assembly Elections in the national capital. The move comes as a major jolt to the Oppositions INDIA bloc which was formed aiming to oust the BJP from power at the Centre. There will be no alliance in Delhi," Kejriwal said at a press conference in the city. related stories #WATCH | AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal says, There will be no alliance in Delhi (for assembly elections)." pic.twitter.com/KlPKL9sWrY ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2024 The announcement came in continuation with the AAPs move in the Haryana Assembly polls in October this year in which the party had ditched the INDIA bloc and contested the polls on its own. The AAP and Congress had attempted to forge an alliance in Haryana, however, the seat-sharing talks did not yield any conclusion. Kejriwals decision also comes on the back of major poll drubbing of the Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra this month, which Congress is also a part of, drawing criticism from its allies. Congress-AAP Alliance In Lok Sabha Polls The Congress and AAP had contested the Lok Sabha Elections this year in Delhi in alliance with each other under the umbrella of the INDIA bloc. Both parties had even campaigned for each other. Kejriwal, who was then out on interim bail for the election campaigning, had also campaigned for the Congress and had sought votes for its Opposition party (in the Delhi Assembly). AAP had contested on 4 seats while Congress on 3 seats out of 7 parliamentary constituencies in Delhi. However, neither of the two parties could open the account as the BJP swept all 7 seats in the city. However, in contrast to Delhi, the AAP had contested all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab on its own, ditching the Congress in the state. The AAP is in power in Punjab with a huge majority. In 2022 Assembly polls in Punjab, the Kejriwal-led party had swept the state winning 92 out of the 117 seats, dislodging Congress from power. BJP Reacts To AAPs Announcement Soon after Kejriwals major announcement, the Bharatiya Janata Party took a friendship with benefits" jibe at the AAP and Congress and underlined the loopholes in the Opposition unity in the state and at the national level. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In the Lok Sabha Elections, their relation was Hum sath sath hain (we are together)". Today, that relation has changed to Hum aapke hain kaun (who am I to you?)". There is no mission or vision in the INDIA bloc, they only have a thirst for position and obsession for Modi," BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said. They fight in the states and show unity in Delhi. This is the same situation of the INDIA bloc everywhere, but they show friendship in Delhi. They have a system of friendship with benefits," he added. First Published: December 01, 2024, 12:27 IST AAP MLA Naresh Balyan Sent To 2-Day Police Custody In Extortion Case Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 17:42 IST Naresh Balyan was arrested by Delhi Police's Crime branch on Saturday after an investigation revealed an audio clip of a conversation between the AAP leader and the gangster. AAP MLA Naresh Balyan. (File) The Rouse Avenue Court on Sunday sent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Naresh Balyan to two-day police custody in connection with a year-old extortion case and his alleged links with gangster Kapil Sangwan. Balyan was arrested by Delhi Polices Crime branch on Saturday after an investigation revealed an audio clip of a conversation between the AAP leader and the gangster, also known as Nandu, reportedly based in London. related stories According to the Delhi Police, the conversation in the audio clips has discussions about collecting ransom money from a businessman. The Uttam Nagar MLA was called to the Delhi Polices Crime Branch office in R K Puram for questioning and was later arrested on Saturday. What Are The Charges Against Balyan? Delhi police claimed that Balyan was allegedly operating with gangster Kapil Sangwan, who was behind several extortion and firing cases in the capital. The Uttam Nagar MLA was under investigation since last year after an audio clip of a purported conversation between him and Sangwan surfaced. Delhi Polices @CrimeBranchDP has arrested Sh. Naresh Balyan, MLA of Delhi Legislative Assembly in connection with an extortion case.The arrest was made after examination of audio clip having conversation between MLA and notorious gangster Kapil Sangwan @ Nandu. Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) November 30, 2024 The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also accused the AAP leader of allegedly colluding with gangster to extort money from business owners. During a press conference on Saturday, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia and the partys Delhi president Virendra Sachdeva played an audio clip of a purported conversation of the AAP MLA with the gangster. In the clip, Bhatia claimed, Balyan addressed the gangster as a brother and discussed threats and intimidation against a builder. The saffron camp charged that the AAP leader was involved in threatening people and extorting money from them. AAPs Rebuttal On Allegations The Aam Aadmi Party defended Naresh Balyan, claiming that his arrest was illegal. The MLA had refuted the BJPs allegations and said he would lodge police cases against those who spread lies" about him. Party chief Arvind Kejriwal lashed out at the BJP over the arrest and claimed that Balyan was a victim of gangster Kapil Sangwan". Yesterday an MLA of ours was arrested. He was a victim of gangsters and had gotten calls from gangsters for extortion. He had sent a written complaint to the Delhi Police that he was getting calls from a gangster Kapil Sangwan about one-and-a-half years ago," Kejriwal said. MLA Naresh Balyan is a victim of gangster Kapil Sangwan. Instead of arresting the gangster, Delhi Police yesterday arrested Naresh Balyan," the AAP chief said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all I want to tell Amit Shah that if he has courage, then arrest these gangsters," Kejriwal said. AAP senior leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh had also dismissed the allegations by the BJP. First Published: December 01, 2024, 17:18 IST Boy, 14, Dies Of Heart Attack At UP School While Practising For Running Event Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 14:25 IST The incident reportedly occurred when the boy ran around two rounds of his school ground with his friends and collapsed. Representative Image A 14-year-old boy died after a heart attack while preparing for a running competition at his school in Uttar Pradeshs Aligarh district, said officials on Sunday. The incident reportedly occurred when the boy, Mohit Chaudhary, ran around two rounds of his school ground with his friends and collapsed. related stories Finding him unconscious, the victims friends informed his family, who rushed him to a hospital for treatment. However, the doctors declared him dead, according to a report by NDTV. The running competition at his school was scheduled for December 7, said officials, adding that the victim was practising for the same on regular days. In a separate incident, a 20-year-old girl, identified as Mamata, also died after she suffered a heart attack while running in the Arrana village of Aligarh last month. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Several other incidents have come to the fore where people have suffered cardiac arrest while doing physical exercise. At least three such incidents were reported in the last few months. An eight-year-old girl suffered a heart attack while playing in Lodhi Nagar, and a doctor succumbed to cardiac arrest while preparing for work. On November 20, Syed Barkat Haider, the son of former Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Vice Chancellor SM Afzal, also passed away due to a heart attack. Location : Uttar Pradesh, India First Published: December 01, 2024, 14:24 IST From Baraat To Behind Bars: 40 Drunk Wedding Guests Arrested In Bihar For Flouting Ban Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 18:27 IST Bihar has been struggling to enforce a total liquor ban since 2016. Bihar police raid riverine areas and destroy drums of country-made liquor in Patna. (IMAGE: PTI FILE/REPRESENTATIVE) Drunk wedding guests, accompanying the groom, planning to perform naagin dance (snake dance) at the procession, were arrested in Bihars Muzaffarpur on Sunday for drinking and flouting the state liquor ban. Bihar has been trying to enforce the liquor ban since 2016. related stories The incident, first reported by broadcaster NDTV, saw the arrest of at least 40 people. Cops also seized two vehicles and found that they were also carrying liquor bottles to give to other people at the wedding ceremony. The cops also arrested seven liquor traders from whom the attendees purchased the alcohol. They also seized all the liquor. Excise department officials, as per the broadcaster, disguised themselves as common people and took action against the liquor ban violators. The excise department is continuously running a campaign against liquor smugglers and drunkards. Our team members have been keeping an eye on them," Excise Inspector Shivendra Jha was quoted as saying by the NDTV. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Numerous instances of liquor ban violations have been reported in Bihar over the years. The state continues to witness tragedies every year where people lose their lives after consuming illicit alcohol. Location : Muzaffarpur, India First Published: December 01, 2024, 18:27 IST Judicial Panel Members Visit Sambhal, Inspect Areas Where Violence Broke Out Published By : PTI Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 14:46 IST Violence erupted in Sambhal on November 24 during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, killing four persons and injuring many others RAF personnel guard in a violence-hit area a day after clashes and stone pelting incidents over the survey of the Jama mosque, in Sambhal (Photo: PTI) Amid tight security, members of a judicial commission on Sunday visited the Shahi Jama Masjid here and other areas which witnessed violence over a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era mosque. Panel head retired Allahabad High Court judge Devendra Kumar Arora and retired IPS officer Arvind Kumar Jain were the two members of the three-member Commission which visited the areas that witnessed violence on November 24. related stories The panels third member, ex-IAS officer Amit Mohan Prasad, was not present during Sundays visit. The Commission members, however, did not respond to any media queries during the visit in the morning hours. They were accompanied by Moradabad Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh, DIG Muniraj G along with the Sambhal District Magistrate Rajendra Pensiya and Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar. Later, speaking to reporters, the Moradabad Divisional Commissioner said, Today, the chairperson of the inquiry commission and one other member visited the site. Their primary purpose was to inspect the location. They visited the areas where the disturbance occurred, examined the site and the structure, and spoke to some of the people present there. The team will visit again, and a complete schedule for the teams visit will be announced. They are certain to return." The situation here is gradually returning to normal, and it is being closely monitored. Conditions are stabilising rapidly. As of now, the district magistrates orders remain in effect until December 10, and after that, there will be no restrictions on anyone. We are in the process of collecting evidence and have so far identified 400 individuals involved," he said. He was referring to an order that prohibits entry of outsiders, including politicians, social organisations, or public representatives, in the violence-hit district till December 10 without permission from competent authority in order to maintain law and order. After the judicial team visited the Shahi Jama Masjid, its Imam Aftab Hussain Warsi said, The team stayed for about 15 minutes and inspected the mosque." Mosques secretary Masood Farooqui said, The team did not ask us anything. They mentioned that they were only here to see the Jama Masjid and visited the site of the incident. They said they would take statements later." Arora and Jain had reached Moradabad a day ago while Prasad was expected to join them in Sambhal, the divisional commissioner had said on Saturday. Violence erupted in Sambhal on November 24 during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, killing four persons and injuring many others. The survey was linked to a petition claiming that a Harihar temple once stood at the site of the mosque. The Commission formed via a notification on November 28 has been directed to complete its probe within two months. Any extension of this timeline will require government approval. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The panel has been entrusted with the task of examining whether the clashes were spontaneous or part of a well-planned criminal conspiracy, as well as the preparedness of the police and the administration in handling the situation. The Commission will also analyse the circumstances leading to the violence, and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring in the future. Location : Sambhal, India First Published: December 01, 2024, 14:46 IST Mehbooba Mufti Compares India To Bangladesh Over Minorities Issue, BJP Seeks Action Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 22:43 IST Jammu and Kashmir BJP leaders on Sunday demanded action against PDP president Mehbooba Mufti for her antinational remarks comparing the situation in Bangladesh with India. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti (Image: PTI) Jammu and Kashmir BJP leaders on Sunday demanded action against PDP president Mehbooba Mufti for her anti-national" remarks comparing the situation in Bangladesh with India. They welcomed the recent termination of services of two government employees over alleged terror links by the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and said such actions should continue in the future to completely finish the terror ecosystem in the Union Territory. related stories Mehboobas controversial statement comparing the situation in Bangladesh with India is completely wrong and condemnable. The world is aware of the worst kind of human rights violations in Bangladesh where the minority community is facing targeted attacks, women insulted and an elected prime minister forced to flee the country, besides the statues of its founder desecrated. The J-K government should take a serious note of the anti-national statement of Mehbooba and her conspiracies. Action should be taken against her," former J-K BJP president Ravinder Raina told PTI on the sidelines of a party function here. Addressing party workers in Jammu earlier in the day, the PDP president asked the people to stand up to counter BJPs alleged attempts of polarisation and said asked what the difference is between Bangladesh and India. Our Hindu brothers are facing oppression in Bangladesh but if we do the same thing with minorities here (in India), then what is the difference? We have such a great country, known worldwide for its secular character," she said. Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma said the former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers statement is an attempt to revive her party after facing drubbing in the recently held assembly elections. The PDP is completely finished and Mehbooba is making such statements to provoke Muslims in an attempt to re-establish her party. She is trying to mislead the people by such types of statements, knowing fully that Muslims in the country, especially in J-K are safe," he said, adding there is no comparison between the situation in Bangladesh and India. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Asked about the statement of Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq seeking reinstatement of employees dismissed by the LG, he said the action of the government to weed out terror-linked people is praise worthy. Mirwaizs ideology supports separatism. He has always sided with anti-national elements," he said, demanding more such action in the future to completely finish the terror ecosystem in the region. Location : Jammu and Kashmir, India First Published: December 01, 2024, 20:23 IST 'Minorities Not Safe Anymore In Bangladesh': Dhaka University Student Moves To West Bengal Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 12:33 IST Meena Sarkar (name changed), who was studying at Dhaka University, said there are many others like her who were forced to leave the university and move to West Bengal to pursue their higher studies Policemen charge baton to disperse the supporters of Bangladeshi Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu in Bangladesh. (Image: PTI/File) Amid rising attacks on minorities and the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, many students from these communities are fleeing Bangladesh to study in West Bengal. One such student is Meena Sarkar (name changed for security reasons), who is now pursuing mass communication at a postgraduate level. Meena, who was studying at Dhaka University, said there are many others like her who were forced to leave the university and move to West Bengal to pursue their higher studies. But, she said, every day she fears for her family as minorities like them are not safe in Bangladesh anymore. related stories After all, the scenario changed on August 5, when after months of student protests, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to step down and escape the country. Our family neither left Bangladesh in 1947 nor in 1971, but the situation is such that we have to leave now. Minorities are not safe there anymore. My father tells me every day that he wants to come to India and he wants to die here," she said. ALSO READ | Hindus Safe In Bangladesh, No Plan To Ban ISKCON: Yunuss Press Secretary To News18 She said on the night of August 5, a mob entered her home in Rangpur and ransacked the ancestral property. She and her parents ran out and hid in a field behind their house for the rest of the night and were taken to a relief shelter by the army the next day. We were shivering all through the night, I could only call my brother who was in Dhaka. We were helpless. Then, the army came and we were taken to a relief camp, and from there, we went to Dhaka. I decided then that now its not possible to stay here any longer. After a lot of effort, I got into this university and also had to wait to get a visa. Now, I am in India, but I am scared for my family back home," she said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all ALSO READ | No Systematic Attack On Minorities, Chinmoy Das Arrested On Specific Charges: Bangladesh Tells UN Forum Meena further said she was scared for her family back in Bangladesh. She has two brothers, one of whom is a professor, and her parents have had to give up their ancestral home in Rangpur, she added. First Published: December 01, 2024, 12:24 IST PM Modi Urges Police To Modernise, Realign Itself With 'Viksit Bharat' At DG-IG Conference Published By : IANS Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 21:02 IST PM Modi also expanded the mantra of SMART policing and called upon the police to become strategic, adaptable and transparent. PM Narendra Modi also called for the use of technology to reduce police workload. (ANI Image) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged the police to provide stress on modernisation and realign with the vision of Viksit Bharat while calling for the use of technology to reduce the workload of the constabulary, an official said on Sunday. The Prime Minister said this while speaking at the 59th All India Conference of Director Generals/ Inspector Generals of Police in Bhubaneswar the capital city of Odisha. PM Modi attended the conference on November 30 and December 1, a statement mentioned. related stories In the statement, the PMO said: In the valedictory session, PM Modi distributed Presidents Police Medals for Distinguished Service to officers of the Intelligence Bureau. In his concluding address, PM Modi noted that wide-ranging discussions had been held during the conference, on national and international dimensions of security challenges and expressed satisfaction on the counter strategies which had emerged from the discussions." During his address, PM Modi also expressed concern on the potential threats generated on account of digital frauds, cyber-crimes and AI technology, particularly the potential of deepfakes to disrupt social and familial relations. As a counter-measure, he called upon the police leadership to convert the challenge into an opportunity by harnessing Indias double AI power of Artificial Intelligence and Aspirational India," the statement read. PM Modi also expanded the mantra of SMART policing and called upon the police to become strategic, meticulous, adaptable, reliable and transparent. Appreciating the initiatives taken in urban policing, the Prime Minister suggested that each of the initiatives be collated and implemented entirely in 100 cities of the country. PM Modi also called for the use of technology to reduce the workload of the constabulary and suggested that the police station be made the focal point for resource allocation. Discussing the success of hackathons in solving some key problems, PM Modi suggested deliberating on holding a National Police Hackathon as well. The Prime Minister also highlighted the need for expanding the focus on port security and preparing a future plan of action for it," the statement read. It further said that recalling the unparalleled contribution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to the Ministry of Home Affairs, PM Modi exhorted the entire security establishment from MHA to the Police Station level, to pay homage on his 150th birth anniversary next year, by resolving to set and achieve a goal on any aspect which would improve police image, professionalism and capabilities". PM Modi also urged the police to modernise and realign itself with the vision of Viksit Bharat. The statement noted that during the conference, in depth discussions were held on existing and emerging challenges to national security, including counter-terrorism, Left Wing Extremism, cyber-crime, economic security, immigration, coastal security and narco-trafficking. Deliberations were also held on emerging security concerns along the border with Bangladesh and Myanmar, trends in urban policing and strategies for countering malicious narratives. Further, a review was undertaken of implementation of newly enacted major criminal laws, initiatives and best practices in policing as also the security situation in the neighborhood. PM Modi offered valuable insights during the proceedings and laid a roadmap for the future," it read. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The DG-IG Conference was also attended by Home Minister Amit Shah; Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister; National Security Advisor, Union Ministers of State for Home and Union Home Secretary. The conference, which was held in a hybrid format, was also attended by DGs/IGs of all states and union territories as well as heads of the CAPF/CPOs physically, and by over 750 officers of various ranks virtually from all states and union territories. First Published: December 01, 2024, 21:01 IST Post-Independence Narratives Manipulated To Credit Only Selected People: V-P Dhankhar Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 18:10 IST Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday lamented that India's history books have done injustice to some heroes of the freedom struggle as postindependence narratives were "manipulated" to credit only select individuals. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar (PTI file photo) Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday lamented that Indias history books have done injustice to some heroes of the freedom struggle as post-independence narratives were "manipulated" to credit only select individuals. He said that it was imperative to present "unvarnished" historical accounts to ignite patriotic fervour in future generations. related stories The Vice President also called on farmers to work for the resolution of problems through dialogue and understanding. Addressing an event here to mark the 138th birth anniversary celebration of Raja Mahendra Pratap, he said the country cannot nurture its history by bestowing "indulgent, sycophant, credit rating to those who played a role, of course, but not the role which others played. We cannot allow our heroes to be downsized." Referring to farmers, Vice President Dhankhar said, "We have to remember that we dont fight with our own people". "How can one sleep when the problems of farmers are not being resolved promptly?" he said. He underlined that an irretrievable confrontational stance is poor diplomacy. Dhankhar said, "Our history has been manipulated and doctored, created a monopoly of few that they gained us independence. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all "It is unbearable pain on our conscience. Its a burden on our soul and heart." He said it was a travesty of justice that we have "miserably failed" to recognise such heroic feats of great men like Mahendra Pratap. "If you look at the foundations of our independence, we have been taught very differently. Foundations of our independence are built upon supreme sacrifices of the people like Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh and other unsung heroes or not-so-well-sung heroes," he said. First Published: December 01, 2024, 18:10 IST Raj Kundra Summoned By ED Days After Raids In Pornography Case Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Ashesh Mallick Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 11:23 IST ED had conducted raids across multiple locations linked to Raj Kundra last month as part of the investigation in pornography case. Raj Kundra (PTI Image) Pornography case investigation: Bollywood actor Shilpa Shettys husband and businessman Raj Kundra has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for probe in the pornography case. He has been asked to appear at EDs Mumbai office at 11 am on Monday. This comes two days after the ED conducted raids at multiple locations linked to Kundra as part of a money laundering probe related to the production and distribution of pornographic content. related stories Kundra was arrested in July 2021 by the Mumbai Police for allegedly producing and distributing pornographic content. He was later granted bail. However, he has dismissed allegations against him claiming that he was made a scapegoat" in the case. Earlier this year, Raj Kundra found himself under the ED scrutiny, which seized assets worth Rs 98 crore as part of a money laundering investigation linked to the Gain Bitcoin Ponzi Scam. The seized assets included a residential flat in Juhu, Mumbai, a bungalow in Pune, and equity shares. The legal troubles trace back to 2018 when the ED launched an investigation into Amit Bharadwajs Ponzi scheme. Although Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra were not initially identified as suspects, they were informed in April 2024 that their assets had been provisionally attached in connection with the ongoing case. What Is The Case Against Raj Kundra? Kundra found himself at the center of the investigation of the case after it began in February 2021 when the Mumbai Police launched a probe into the pornography racket which stemmed from the complaints by several women who alleged that they were forced into such content under the guise of auditions for web series and films. They claimed that they were pressured into finishing the shoots which were then put out online on subscription-based mobile apps like HotHit Movies, Hotshots, and websites such as Nuefliks and Hothitmovies. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In 2019, Raj Kundra established Armsprime Media Private Limited, which became the focus of allegations identifying him as the key conspirator in the racket. His company created the Hotshots app, which was later transferred to Kenrin Limited, a UK-based entity managed by his brother-in-law, Pradeep Bakshi. Authorities claimed that Kundra maintained control over the app and other platforms, which were used to distribute explicit material, earning substantial profits through subscription fees. Four of his employees came forward as witnesses, offering detailed accounts of the operations behind the illicit network. First Published: December 01, 2024, 08:33 IST YAOUNDE, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of the National Assembly of Cameroon, Zhang Qingwei, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, led a delegation to visit Cameroon from Thursday to Sunday. During the visit, he met with Cameroonian Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute and held talks with National Assembly Speaker Cavaye Yeguie Djibril and First Vice President of the Senate Aboubakary Abdoulaye. China and Cameroon are good friends, brothers, and partners, always adhering to mutual support, equality and mutual benefit, and win-win cooperation, Zhang said. China is willing to work with Cameroon to implement the important consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), strengthen the alignment of development strategies, deepen cooperation in various fields, and promote the in-depth development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Cameroon, he said. The Cameroonian side expressed gratitude for China's strong support in its national development. It reaffirmed its adherence to the one-China principle, highly praised the fruitful outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and expressed the willingness to continue strengthening friendly exchanges between the legislative bodies of the two countries while further deepening bilateral cooperation in economy and trade, infrastructure, health, and international affairs. During the visit, Zhang also attended the completion and handover ceremony of the China-assisted National Assembly complex in Cameroon and visited the Confucius Institute at the University of Yaounde II. ISKCON Holds Prayer Meetings, Rallies Taken Out In Bengal For Safety Of Hindus In Bangladesh Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 19:36 IST Several organisations took out rallies in different parts of West Bengal on Sunday to protest against atrocities on minorities in Bangladesh and demanded immediate release of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in the neighbouring country. ISKCON monks take part in a protest 'kirtan' over the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu by Bangladesh police, in Kolkata. (PTI) The ISKCON joined its other centres in different parts of the world on Sunday in holding prayer meetings and kirtan for the safety and security of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, an official said. Stating that atrocities on the religious minorities are not stopping" in Bangladesh even after 100 days of such incidents, International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) spokesperson Radharamn Das said that disciples and followers held prayer meetings in 150 countries across the world. related stories #WATCH | West Bengal: Devotees gathered at ISKCON temple in Kolkata to offer prayers for the safety of minorities in Bangladesh. pic.twitter.com/j78EBdywfR ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2024 We held prayers and kirtan for the safety and security of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh," he said. ISKCON followers held prayers and kirtan at its Albert Road centre in Kolkata to highlight the plight of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, where they are suffering atrocities, Das said. #WATCH | Bhubaneswar, Odisha: On prayers organised amid the attack on Bangladeshi Hindus & arrest of two ISKCON saints, ISKCON Bhubaneswar Vice President Tukaram Das says, Today, we organized a prayer meeting. ISKCON governing body Commission has instructed our centres all over pic.twitter.com/jd5fjMIlUK ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2024 He said that the religious minorities in Bangladesh are seeking help and support from world bodies such as the United Nations. Das said that ISKCON is present in 150 countries with around 850 temples and more than 1,000 centres across the world. The ISKCON held protest kirtans at its Albert Road centre here on Thursday and Friday as well, demanding the release of jailed Hindu spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das and expressing concern over the plight of religious minorities in Bangladesh. Several organisations took out rallies in different parts of West Bengal on Sunday to protest against atrocities on minorities in Bangladesh and demanded immediate release of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in the neighbouring country. During the day, BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul took part in a procession, organised on behalf of Asansol ISKCON, at Burnpur in her Asansol Dakshin assembly constituency, while an outfit Sanatani Hindus took out a rally from Ganguly Bagan to 8B Bus Stand in Jadavpur area in the southern part of the city on Saturday night. #WATCH | West Bengal: Devotees gathered at Shri Shri Radha Madhava Sundar mandir ISKCON temple in Siliguri to offer prayers for the safety of minorities in Bangladesh. pic.twitter.com/8gsKAwakct ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2024 "There will be large-scale protests across Bengal if arrested Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das is not released immediately by the Bangladesh government. There were rallies against the alleged persecution of minority communities like Christians in several countries and Human rights groups took up their cause. Why is the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh overlooked by such groups? Hindus will come out in greater numbers and there will be protests," she said. Meanwhile, preparations are on at Petrapole along the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengals North 24 Parganas district for BJPs planned demonstration on December 2 against attacks on minorities in the neighbouring country, which is expected to witness a huge turnout, a local saffron party leader said. Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari had earlier said all trade activities with the neighbouring country through the border point would come to a halt during the protest on December 2, and threatened that the demonstration might continue if Das is not released unconditionally. Another BJP leader said, "All trade activities at the India-Bangladesh Petrapole border point will be halted. The plan is to bring thousands of people to the spot." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Bangladeshs minority Hindus, who constitute only about 8 per cent of the 170 million population, have faced over 200 attacks in 50-odd districts since the fall of Sheikh Hasinas Awami League government on August 5. Hindu spiritual leader Das was arrested in a sedition case. He was later denied bail by a court, triggering protests by community members in various locations, including the capital Dhaka and the port city of Chattogram. First Published: December 01, 2024, 18:03 IST Every Couple Should Produce at Least 3 Kids, Says RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Published By : PTI Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 19:23 IST He said "kutumb" (family) is part of the society and every family is a unit Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat. (PTI) Expressing concern over declining population growth, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said Indias Total Fertility Rate (TFR), the average number of children a woman gives birth to in her lifetime, should be at least 3, well above the present one of 2.1. Speaking at the Kathale Kul (clan) Sammelan in Nagpur, Bhagwat also highlighted the vital role of families, and warned that according to population science, if a societys total fertility rate dips below 2.1, it could face extinction. related stories A declining population is a serious concern. Demographic studies suggest that when a societys total fertility rate falls below 2.1, it risks facing extinction. This decline does not necessarily require external threats; a society can gradually fade away on its own," Bhagwat said. Many languages and cultures have already disappeared due to this issue. Thus, it is essential to maintain a fertility rate above 2.1," Bhagwat said, and emphasized that kutumb" (family) is an integral part of society and every family serves as a vital building bloc. Our countrys population policy, formulated either in 1998 or 2002, clearly says that the total fertility rate should not be below 2.1. Now when we say 2.1, it is not feasible to have children in fraction. So when we say 2.1, this means it should be more, at least three. The (population) science says so," Bhagwat said. Indias TFR has declined from 2.2 to 2 while the Contraceptive Prevalence Rate has increased from 54 per cent to 67 per cent, according to the National Family Health Survey data released in 2021. A total fertility rate of 2.1 is considered as the replacement rate, which is a crucial factor in population growth. It ensures the replacement of a woman and her partner upon death with no overall increase or decrease in numbers. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Latching on to Bhagwats remarks, AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said, PM Modi had earlier said that Muslim women produce more children." He also referred to Modis remarks that if the Congress comes to power, it will redistribute gold, including mangalsutras, from mothers and daughters among Muslims. Bhagwat says produce more children. Now those in the RSS should start marrying," Owaisi said. Location : Nagpur, India First Published: December 01, 2024, 14:28 IST Traditional Indian Wedding Customs Across Various States, Including Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, Gujarati And More Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 13:35 IST Get more information about the various facets of these exquisite festivities if youre organising a Hindu wedding. Incorporating these marriage practices will honour your heritage. (Images: Pexels) India is one of the most vibrant and ethnically diverse nations in the world. In a country where each state has its language, food, and cultural traditions, weddings are a wonderful example of how different cultures can coexist. Indian wedding customs are recognised for their multi-day extensive ceremonies and rituals, as well as their profusion of colour, music, and dance. Every Indian wedding is unique, from catering and Indian bridal jewellery to exquisite attire and decor. related stories These days an exquisite fusion of ancient customs and contemporary festivities can be seen in Indian wedding ceremonies, be it from the lively sangeet to the solemn pheras (rituals) around the sacred fire. Below are a few traditional Indian wedding customs in different states: Marathi Wedding Ceremony The Marathi wedding ceremony is a lavish event that combines ancient customs and ceremonies to unite the couple in sacred wedlock. Roka The Sacred Alliance The wedding alliance is formally announced at the Roka ceremony. Families of the bride and groom gather to bless and gift each other, expressing their support for the union. Ring exchange, which represents the couples unbreakable relationship, is a defining feature of this festive celebration. ALSO READ: Wedding Season: Guide To A Budget-Friendly Planning Of Your Dream Marriage Day Sakhar Puda A Token of Sweetness At the Sakhar Puda ceremony, the grooms family gives the bride a saree and a packet of sugar as a sign of their acceptance and love. The sweetness of the sugar symbolises a happy and peaceful relationship between the families. Haldi The Golden Glow The bride and groom are smeared with turmeric paste during the festive Haldi ritual. To prepare the pair for their special day, turmeric is thought to detoxify the body and provide a natural glow. Kelvan Seeking Blessings During a particular puja during the Kelvan ceremony, the couple asks the family deity for blessings. It is a private event where close family members pray for the couples success and happiness. Mehndi Artistry of Love The brides hands and feet are decorated with elaborate henna designs during the colourful and artistic Mehndi ritual. It represents beauty, love, and the enduring connection between a couple. Sangeet A Night of Melodies There is a lot of dancing, music, and joy during the Sangeet ceremony. To show their happiness and enthusiasm for the impending wedding, family and friends gather to perform both traditional and modern dances. ALSO READ: Cultural And Astrological Reasons Behind Indian Weddings Taking Place In November And December Seemanpujan Welcoming the Groom The Seemanpujan ceremony is held at the wedding venues entry when the brides mother greets the groom with a tilak on his forehead and an aarti. The grooms official entry into the brides family is symbolised by this ceremony. Antarpat Veiling the Groom The bride and groom are kept out of each others line of sight during the Antarpat ritual by holding a silk cloth between them. The pair eventually looks at one another as the cloth is lowered and Vedic mantras are sung, preparing them to go out on their new journey together. Saptapadi Seven Steps to Togetherness The most important Marathi wedding custom is the Saptapadi ceremony. Each of the seven symbolic steps the couple makes around the sacred fire represents a promise they make to maintain mutual respect, love, and trust during their marriage. Karmasampati Seeking Ancestors Blessings During the Karmasampati ceremony, the couple requests their ancestors for blessings, assistance and direction in their marriage. Mangalsutra and Sindhur The Sacred Symbols The groom presents the bride with a Mangalsutra, a sacred necklace that represents their marital tie. Furthermore, he adds a red vermilion (Sindhur) to the brides hair parting to indicate her marital status. Vidaai The Vidaai ceremony is a heartfelt farewell in which the bride leaves her parents house to begin a new life with her spouse. Both families experience an emotional moment. Following the ceremony, Marathi weddings continue with many fun post-wedding traditions that deepen family ties and brighten the couples new path. Grihapravesh Stepping into a New Home As part of the Griha Pravesh ceremony, the bride is formally welcomed into her new home. Before entering the house, she is supposed to kick a vessel of rice and be welcomed with a ceremonial aarti. This custom is thought to bring wealth and prosperity to the home. Mooh Dikhai Uniting the Families Mooh Dikhai is a delightful custom in which the bride shows her face to her in-laws and asks for their blessings. She is showered with affection and presents, signifying her acceptance into the new family. Reception Celebrating Love The wedding reception is a lavish event in which friends and relatives from far and wide join in the fun. Its a chance to welcome the newlyweds into the larger society and provide them with blessings and affection. Aeki Beki Fun and Games Aeki Beki is a playful post-wedding game that adds some humour and fun into the festivities. The pair plays a game in which they must locate a ring hidden in a bowl of milk and coloured water. The winner is thought to be the marriages dominating partner. Griha Shanti Ensuring Domestic Harmony To maintain harmony and serenity in the newlyweds home, the Griha Shanti ritual is conducted. Vedic ceremonies are performed to ask the gods for their blessings for a prosperous and contented future. ALSO READ: Twice Than Education: Big Fat Indian Weddings, How Much Does India Invest In Matrimony? Punjabi Wedding Ceremony The warm, vibrant, and love-filled essence of Punjab is reflected in every element of a Punjabi wedding, from the dhols rhythmic beats to the colours of the attire. Roka/Thaka Roka, derived from the term rokna or stop, which implies the end of the search for a suitable partner, denotes a decision by two families to consolidate their relationship. It is typically celebrated by the brides family, who visit the grooms home to bless their union with presents such as fruits, sweets, clothes, money, and other assets. The grooms family then returns the favour by paying a visit to the brides home and showering the couple with gifts, or shagun. This is known as the Thaka ritual. Chunni Ceremony In the Chunni ceremony, the bride is welcomed into the family by the grooms mother and other female relatives. With a red chunni, or drape, for the brides head as a veil and a sign to bless her for the future, they visit the brides parents house with gifts, sweets, jewellery, engagement clothes, and more. Sagai (Engagement) The Sagai or engagement ceremony, which is often held on the same day as the Chunni ceremony and perhaps even concurrently, is where the bride and groom exchange rings. After that, the couple is blessed by the family members with a small puja. Up until now, events have typically been fairly private and limited to family members. However, one can choose how big or tiny the engagement is. Sangeet The most anticipated wedding function, the Sangeet, is a night of dancing, music, and nonstop celebration. Its a full-fledged musical evening that involves both families and features events hosts, coordinated performances, and occasionally even paid artists. Mehndi The Mehndi ceremony, which is often held in the day or afternoon, is an essential part of all Indian weddings. It involves the bride getting henna applied to her hands, arms, and feet. The names of the couple, their hobbies, or their love story are often used as inspiration for the designs. Henna is also applied to the hands of the brides intimate friends and relatives, however, the designs are simpler and less elaborate. Jaggo This family gathering, which takes place the night before the wedding, is a loud celebration that lasts late into the night in front of the exquisitely decorated home and includes dancing, music, firecrackers, and sweets. Kangna Bandhana The priest wraps a sacred thread, known as mouli, with a betel nut and a shell around the couples right wrists as the first ceremony of the wedding day. This is followed by a puja. Originally intended as a lucky charm, it should not be removed and will gradually fall apart on its own. Chura and Kaleerein The chura, a pair of red and white bangles, is symbolic of a newlywed woman and is worn by the bride for 4045 days following the wedding. The brides maternal uncle participates in a havan during the ceremony, where the chura (bangles) are cleansed in milk and rose petals before being placed on the brides wrists. She is then given her wedding attire. The brides friends and sisters tie the kaleerein around her wrists after the ceremony. These umbrella-shaped ornaments are customarily covered in coconuts, dry fruits, and betel nuts. In a ritual akin to the tossing of bouquets at Catholic weddings, the bride rattles her kaleerein over the heads of unmarried women; whoever it lands on is considered the next in line to marry. Haldi A paste made of turmeric, sandalwood, rose water, and other ingredients is applied to the bride and groom during the festive Haldi ceremony, giving them a golden glow for their wedding day. Ghara Gharoli Following the Haldi ritual, the bride and groom go to a nearby temple with their families after washing off the dried paste. In the Ghara Gharoli ceremony, they are bathed there with pitchers of sacred water. To be ready for the wedding, they then go back. Sehra Bandi After the groom is dressed for his wedding, a little puja is done in his honour. His brother-in-law or an older male relative ties the turban and the Sehra, which covers his face, around his head after the priest blesses them. Ghodi Chadna The female relatives of the groom feed the chana dal (lentils) and water to the tikka-smeared, adorned mare that the Punjabi groom rides. After mounting the mare in a stately manner, known as ghodi chadna, the groom departs for the location with his baraat, or dance companions. Milni The brides family welcomes the baraat and the groom to the wedding location, and the mother welcomes the groom with a customary aarti and tikka. Varmala The Varmala, the customary garland exchange that the couple does when they first see one another, is a joyful ceremony that is appreciated by the couple, their family, and the visitors. Kanyadaan The Kanyadaan commemorates the custom of the father offering his daughters hand in marriage, a practice that is found in some form in all cultures and religions worldwide. Mangal Phere/ Sindoor Daan For the phere, the pair gets up. Their vows are symbolised by tying the ends of their draperies together to represent their marriage bond and then circling the sacred fire four times as chants are read aloud. For three of them, the bride comes before the husband, and for the final one, she comes after him. The wedding rites are completed when the husband ties the mangalsutra around the brides neck and applies sindoor (vermilion) on her hair parting, binding them for life. Joota Chupai Joota Chupai is another beloved wedding custom in which the brides sisters perform a light-hearted joke on the groom by taking his shoes during the ceremony. In exchange for his shoes, they seek a ransom after the wedding. Vidaai and Doli As the bride gets ready to leave her house and family, the final goodbye in the Vidaai is a bittersweet ceremony. Following the emotional embraces, the bride throws a handful of rice over her shoulder in the direction of her house as a token of appreciation for looking after her. Then, in a wedding procession known as Doli, she and her husband get into a decorated car and drive off to their new house. Bengali Wedding Ceremony Bengalis have enduring, unique, and dramatic traditions when it comes to weddings. Aashirbaad (Engagement & Gifting) The Aashirbaad" ceremony, which is similar to an engagement ceremony, represents the couples approval by their respective families. It doesnt always include exchanging rings. In addition to receiving gifts like clothing, jewellery, and cash from their respective in-laws, the bride and groom are blessed with husked rice and trefoil leaves. Aiburo Bhaat (Bachelor Party/ Last Meal before Wedding) Similar to a bachelor party or bridal shower, the Aiburo Bhaat" is one of the most anticipated events for the prospective bride or groom. As their final formal meal before the wedding, the soon-to-be couple is treated to a lavish, traditional Bengali feast while their loved ones sing, dance, and celebrate. Gaye Hollud (Haldi) The haldi ceremony, also known as Gaye Holud," is a private ceremony that is attended by only close family members and friends on the morning of the wedding. Seven married ladies from his family first smear the groom with turmeric paste. The turmeric paste and presents, known as Tatva," are then sent to the brides home. Sankha Porano (Bangle ceremony) Married Bengali women wear conch shell bangles called Sankha" and Pola," which are similar to the mangalsutra, which indicates a womans marital status. The bride must wear these bangles during the Holud ceremony, following the Sankha Porano" ritual in which they are bathed in turmeric water. Bor Jatri (Baraat)/ Potto Bostro (Grooms arrival) The grooms joyful procession to the wedding, known as Bor Jatri," or baraat, is when his exquisitely attired friends and family sing and dance till they arrive at the wedding venues entrance. The brides mother leads her family in welcoming them there with cold drinks, sweets, and an aarti. When the groom reaches the mandap and takes a seat, an older male relative of the brideher father or maternal uncle, who will be doing kanya somprodan, gives him the auspicious clothing (Potto Bostro) that he must wear for the wedding. Saat Paak (Brides arrival)/ Subho Drishti (First Glance) The most popular and cherished Bengali wedding custom is the Saat Paak." The bride must sit on a low stool that her brothers carry around the groom seven times throughout the ritual. In the process, she must subtly conceal her face with betel leaves. The bride and groom are brought face to face during the Subho Dhristi" ceremony, where she carefully lowers the betel leaves and looks at her grooms face for the first time after the Saat Paak" rounds are finished. Maala Bodol (Garland Exchange) In the traditional varmala" ceremony, the bride and groom adorn each other with exquisite floral garlands. The garlands are exchanged three times at Bengali weddings, but just once in other cultures. Somprodan (Handing over the bride to the groom)/ Soptopodi (Phere) The Somprodan", one of the ceremonys most auspicious customs, is when the brides father or another senior male family member formally hands her over to the groom. The bride and groom make seven walking circles around the holy fire as the priest recites Vedic words in front of it, symbolising their solemn union. Onjoli (Offering Tribute) The bride and groom use puffed rice as a token of gratitude to the sacred fire. Standing behind the bride, the husband holds her hands as she tosses the rice into the fire on a chaff. Sindoor Daan and Ghomta To commemorate the conclusion of the wedding ceremony and the start of their new life together, the brides head is covered with a red veil, usually a saree, and the husband applies sindoor" (vermillion) to her hair parting. Tamil Wedding Ceremony Tamil Brahmin weddings, which have their roots in one of Indias oldest cultures, prioritise the celebration of traditions and customs over extravagant displays. Panda Kaal Muhurtam The relatives of the bride and groom pray to their respective deities once the wedding is finalised, asking for blessings for a happy marriage and the couples safety. It is typically attended by close family members and takes place at a temple or their houses the day before the wedding. Sumangali Prarthanai During this prayer session, the brides married older relatives and friends participate and ask their deceased female ancestors for blessings for the brides happy married life. At the grooms house, the same ceremony is carried out to bless the new wife who is joining their family. Naandi Shrardham The grooms family then pays a visit to the brides home, where he is greeted graciously with a shower of rose water. He gets blessed and served auspicious sweets prepared by his future mother-in-law. Vrutham The Vrutham, which is typically held on the morning of the day before the wedding, marks the grooms transition from bachelor to married man. To fight off evil energy, a sacred thread that has been tinted yellow with turmeric is tied around his wrist. For the bride, a similar ceremony is performed. Mangala Snanam At the break of dawn on the wedding day, the mangal snanam ceremony is performed at the residences of the bride and groom, respectively. Their familys married women smear them with a paste made of turmeric, sandalwood, and kumkum. They then take a bath in holy water and get ready. Gauri Puja After dressing, the bride performs this rite for Goddess Gauri, who represents purity and morality. An idol is placed on a dish with rice and kumkum, and the bride prays to her for blessings and a good marriage. Kashi Yatra When the grooms family arrives at the venue, he gets an umbrella, a walking stick, and some food before heading to Kashi (Varanasi) to give up worldly pleasures and devote his life to God. As everyone watches, the brides father persuades him to choose a life of home bliss over being a hermit, promising him his daughters hand. Pada Puja and Maalai Maatral The groom enters the mandap, where the brides father washes his feet with holy water, sandalwood, milk, and kumkum. The bride then enters the mandap, where she exchanges garlands with the groom three times, amidst much laughter and humorous banter. Their friends and relatives assist them in evading the garland being placed by the other individual. Kanyadaanam The Kanyadaanam, a ritual shared by many cultures, commemorates the brides parents official handing over of the bride to the groom. With this gesture, they officially hand over their daughter for life, requesting that he cherish and protect her. Muhurtham After the Kanyadaanam, the grooms parents present the bride with a nine-yard silk saree, which she wears across her shoulders as the groom applies sindoor to her hair parting. The priest then blesses the thaali (mangalsutra), which the groom ties around her neck. Saptapadi In Saptapadi, one of the most significant Hindu marriage rituals, the priest recites Vedic mantras as the bride and groom walk around the holy fire in seven steps while holding hands. Sammandhi Maryathai Following the marriage, presents are exchanged between the two families. After worshipping the family deity, the bride then says an emotional goodbye to her family and departs for her new home with her spouse. Grihapravesham The bride is greeted with joy and celebration at her new residence. After a brief prayer ritual known as aarti, her mother-in-law leads her into the house, where she first asks the family deity for blessings. Valeyadal The bride is formally introduced to the grooms family members during the valeyadal, and they give her gifts to welcome her into the family. Everyone congregates to enjoy the couples numerous post-wedding games. Gujarati Wedding Ceremony Gujarat, the land of colours, food, and culture, celebrates its weddings with pomp and fervour, much as each community has its holy custom. Chandlo Maati In this ceremony, four male members of the brides family, as well as the brides father, visit the grooms home to place a red circle on the grooms forehead. This signifies that the groom has been accepted by the family. Gol Dhana Ceremony Gol Dhana is the Gujarati phrase for what we call an engagement ceremony in other religions. This ceremony kicks off the upcoming celebrations. Pithi Ceremony What other cultures refer to as the Haldi Ceremony is known in Gujarat as the Pithi Ceremony. Mehendi Ceremony The mehendi ceremony, hosted by the brides family, takes place two days before the wedding. Mehendi designs are put on the brides hands and other family members, just as they are at any other Indian wedding. Sangeet Sandhya In Gujarati, Sangeet Sandhya refers to a ceremony that is dedicated to music and dancing. The primary goal of organising this event is for both families to get to know each other better. Ceremony of Jaan When the groom arrives at the wedding venue, he touches his soon-to-be mother-in-laws feet for her blessings, and she attempts to grab his nose while he tries to escape it. This light-hearted ritual serves to remind the groom that she is bestowing her beloved daughter upon him, so he should be humble and appreciative. Mangal Mahurat The purpose of Mangal Mahurat is to pray to Lord Ganesha, the God of Obstacle Removal. Both the brides and grooms families worship Lord Ganesha to receive his blessings. Baraat (Wedding Rituals) To ward off the evil eye, the grooms sister waves money over his head before he commences the baraat from his home. Jaimala Jaimalas ceremony kicks off the wedding festivities. This tradition includes the exchange of garlands. Kanyadaan This is the ceremony wherein the father of the bride formally hands his daughter over to the groom, promising that the groom will care for her as he has done for years. Madhuparka/Panchamrut In this custom, a member of the brides family washes the grooms feet while offering him milk and honey. Joota Churai The brides sisters attempt to hide the grooms footwear and return it only in exchange for money, making it one of the most exciting rituals at any Indian wedding. Mangal Pheras and Saptapadi Other Hindu marriages include seven pheras, although Gujarati weddings only have four. The priest chants mantras as the pair makes circles around the sacred fire. Viddai During the Vidaai ceremony, the bride says goodbye to her family. The bride takes rice in her hands and throws it backwards, with the mother meant to collect it in her pallu. Gharni Laxmi Gharni Laxmi signifies that the bride has joined the grooms family. The practice involves softly kicking a little handi of rice with her right foot before entering the house. Bihari Wedding Ceremony Bihari weddings are known for being among the most colourful and lavish in the country. Satya Narayan Katha Every Bihari wedding celebration starts with a Satya Narayan Katha. The brides family performs this auspicious rite by praying to Lord Narayana. Cheka Cheka is a beautiful Bihari wedding tradition that is akin to an engagement. Both the groom and the bride exchange rings in front of family members. Haldi Kutai Haldi Kutai is an age-old wedding tradition in Bihar. The turmeric paste is applied to the grooms body before being sent to the brides home. Tilak In this wedding custom, the brides brother brings a tilak thal to the grooms home. The brides brother then places tilak on the grooms forehead and gives him his bridal sherwani and accessories. Paricchavan The Paricchavan ceremony marks the beginning of the rituals for the wedding day. The grooms mother performs an aarti before the groom departs for the wedding location. She places the tilak on his forehead and wishes him a happy married life. Baarat Prasthan One of the happy rituals at the wedding is baarat prasthan. When the groom arrives at the location, his mother-in-law greets him with a lovely aarti. Jaimala & Galsedi At their wedding mandap, the bride and groom exchange garlands. Following the exchange of bridal garlands, the brides mother burns a betel leaf to ashes. The wedding ceremony is known as Galsedi. The ashes are then put on the grooms face to ward off evil eyes. Kangnabandhana & Kanyadaan Kangnabandhana is the ceremony in which the priest ties a sacred thread around the couples right hand. While the Kanyadaan ceremony means giving away the bride". Bhaisur Nirakshan & Pheras The bride receives family jewellery from the grooms father-in-law and older brother during this wedding ceremony. Following this, the bride and groom make seven circles around the holy fire and offer prayers to their respective family deities. Kohwar Parikshan, Salami & Vidaai The familys married women enquire as to whether the couple has formally consummated their union. Following that, the brides family members gift the couple with cash as she prepares to leave for her new home. Vidaai is the most painful marital rite in Indian weddings. Swagatarti, Mooh Dikhai When the bride arrives at the grooms house, her mother-in-law welcomes her with an aarti. She pushes the copper vessel loaded with rice and enters the home. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Chauka Chulai During this wedding ceremony, the grooms mother gives the house keys and home responsibilities to the bride. The bride then prepares five wonderful meals to obtain blessings from the familys elders. First Published: December 01, 2024, 12:46 IST Hrithik Roshan, Rakesh Roshan Stepped In To Help Priyanka Chopras Dad In Medical Crisis, Reveals Madhu Chopra Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 10:44 IST Priyanka Chopras mother Madhu Chopra opened up about her husband Ashok Chopras battle with cancer, and how Hrithik Roshan and his father helped them during the tough time. Priyanka Chopra's father Ashok Chopra passed away in 2013 after battling cancer for over eight years. Priyanka Chopra and Hrithik Roshan, who have worked together in several films such as Agneepath, Krrish and Krrish 3, share a great friendship. Recently, the actress mother Madhu Chopra spoke about the challenging time during her husband Ashok Chopras cancer diagnosis, and how Hrithik Roshan and his father Rakesh Roshan stepped in to help the family during the tough time. After Priyanka Chopras father Ashok Chopra was diagnosed with cancer, he had to be flown to Boston for further treatment. In a conversation with the YouTube channel Something Bigger Show, Madhu Chopra said that her hsubands cancer diagnosis was the most vulnerable moment of her life. She recalled that he was extremely ill, and that her brother who lives in the US, suggested they bring him to Boston. He was very ill. My brother said if you think he has five percent chance of survival, bring him to Boston. And that was another task, getting him on a plane, because none of the airlines wanted to take such a serious patient even though we gave disclaimers," she said. related stories During this time, Priyanka was shooting for Krrish with Hrithik Roshan and director Rakesh Roshan, and she shared her worries with them. It just so happened that Priyanka was shooting Krrish with Hrithik and Rakesh Roshan, so she shared her worries with them. He asked her why are you crying? and then both father and son made that possible for the airlines to take us. They helped us, put in a word, they knew people," said Madhu Chopra. Priyanka Chopra also mentioned this in her autobiography Unfinished. She shared how Hrithik Roshan had been her biggest support when her father was detected with cancer. She wrote that Hrithik got on the phone and used his connections at Air India to arrange for her fathers immediate flight. She wrote, If we hadnt had people around us who were so kind and so willing to act on our behalf Hrithik and his father, Rakesh Sir, our family in Boston I doubt that my father would have made it. Theres no way I can ever express my gratitude adequately to them, but it is deep and it is enduring." Ashok Chopra passed away in 2013 after battling cancer for over eight years. First Published: December 01, 2024, 07:52 IST Priyanka Chopra Arrives In New York With Malti; Spotted With Nick Jonas Ahead Of Wedding Anniversary | PICS Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 11:11 IST Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas are celebrating their 6th wedding anniversary today. Yesterday, they were spotted with their daughter Malti Marie in New York. Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas are celebrating their 6th wedding anniversary today. Priyanka Chopra has been extremely busy with the shooting of Citadel season 2 in London. Looks like the actress wrapped up her work for the time being, and has landed in New York. She was spotted in New York with her hubby Nick Jonas and their daughter Malti Marie yesterday. The pictures have now surfaced on Priyankas fan pages on Instagram. Nick and Priyanka are celebrating their 6th wedding anniversary today, and they were spotted just a few hours before the special occasion. Pictures that have surfaced on Priyanka Chopras fan pages show the actress holding daughter Malti Marie in her arms, while Nick Jonas followed behind them. Priyanka was seen in a long grey coat, layered over a white casual outfit, and donned a grey cap. Meanwhile, Malti wore a brown sweater, and a grey beanie. Nick Jonas donned a white shirt with a puffed black jacket, and matching pants. He was seen holding a black hand bag. Check out the pictures below! related stories View this post on Instagram A post shared by Patty Cardona (@jerryxmimi) Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas tied the knot on 1st December, 2018, at the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur. Their daughter Malti Marie was born via surrogacy in 2022. Meanwhile, Priyanka Chopra had been shooting for Citadel season 2 in London. Two days ago, she took to her Instagram story to share a video clip, in which she revealed that it was her last day on set. The actress showcased her chair with her characters name, Nadia," and a file bearing her initials, PCJ." She was seen holding a cup of coffee. A day ago, Priyanka shared some lovely glimpses from her Thanksgiving celebration with Nick and Malti in London. So grateful for the life were building together. With tremendous gratitude in my heart, Id like to thank everyone that has been in my corner all these years. Its so important for a person to have champions and Im very lucky to have always had that. May you all be surrounded by love and loved ones. Happy thanksgiving to everyone celebrating," she wrote. First Published: December 01, 2024, 11:11 IST Opinion | China Finds a Poaching Way to Deflect Charge of IPR Violations Written By : News18.com Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 17:25 IST Poaching at the end of the day remains the most unobtrusive way to get priced technology and talent China's stimulus announcement was made at the conclusion of a five-day meeting by Chinas top legislative body, the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress. (Representative Photo: ANI) Chinese are known for their brute force software that can decode and decipher the most complicated and supposedly impenetrable software and codes. Hackers are more discreet and patient by sneaking in spyware and other stealthy malware into the system of the one owning the coveted intellectual property rights (IPR). It has now dawned on Huawei the Chinese electronic giant that it need not resort to the audacious if discredited methods of brute force or spying when all that it has to do is to pull out from its repertoire the oldest and the time-tested tool of poaching or headhunting with offers disgruntled or ambitious employees of leaders in the semiconductor industry cannot possibly decline. related stories Money makes the mare go. When you are offered three times your present salary, you will most certainly be tempted to accept and in course of time spill the trade secrets and contents of IPRs to the new employer. To be sure, the ex-employers more often than not stationed in the distant America and Europe are not going to sit idle and condone such acts of disloyalty. For good measure, they can invoke the confidentiality agreement they invariably enter into with their employees under which they swear eternal loyalty to their employers. But then the human nature especially when it is lulled with the heady prospect of landing huge money is to say even if it is delusional that it will cross the bridge when it came to it. It is not as if people sing like canaries only when they are given the truth serum (narco test) with the permission of courts or when they have had too many glasses of liquor. They do the same to the new employer when he opens his purse strings. Huawei is reportedly working on such fickle minds. Honcho and other top executives of Zeiss SMT, which produces some indispensable components for the semiconductor industrys who is who, a few months ago got wind of the approaches made by Huawei technologies. LinkedIn messages and emails started pouring into the computers of its employees with offers of three times their present salary thus triggering investigation by the German intelligence agencies. When suspicious Western countries prevail upon their advanced semiconductor and AI manufacturers not to set shop in China or otherwise share information through licensing agreements, the riposte of the Chinese is grabbing the crucial men themselves behind such priced technologies. Even Taiwan, which has steadfastly remained defiant in maintaining its independence from China and is admittedly the worlds largest semiconductor manufacturer, has been facing the heat of Huaweis overtures to its employees. So as not to arouse suspicions and investigations, trojan horses are reportedly employed. These take the form of innocuous local companies in foreign lands that talks to the employees of tech-giants without inviting attention. South Korean authorities have cracked the whip on individuals found to be disloyal by prescribing touch punishments in the wake of a Samsung employee stealing blueprints for creating a copycat chip plant in China. Obviously, he had struck a Faustian deal with the Chinese. Employees of ASML holdings of the Netherlands are more persistently wooed by the Chinese as it is the only company in the world with technology to produce machines to write codes on chips the size of 1/10,000 of human hair for advanced artificial intelligence (AI) applications. Netherlands has stopped exports of such machines lest it finds its way into the feared Chinese hands. With the advent of AI, manufacturers like the California-based Nvidia who set store by GPU (graphic processing units) with its mind-boggling and phenomenal processing speeds rather than the conventional CPU (central processing units) have been giving the traditional semiconductor leaders like Intel, which have allowed grass to grow under their feet, run for their money. India is a late entrant to the semiconductor industry in a big way. It is for it to ponder what stratagem it follows lest it is fobbed of with the old, obsolete and dated technology. That intuitively could be to follow Huawei footsteps. One advantage India has over the Chinese is the air of freedom in India frightfully lacking in China. People falling foul of the Chinese authorities can mysteriously disappear. A report by TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship predicts that India will face a shortage of 250,000 to 300,000 professionals by 2027. This shortage is expected across various areas, including research and development, design, manufacturing, keeping the surrounds spick and span and advanced packaging. The industrys rapid growth is expected to exacerbate the manpower shortage. The government has approved four projects under the Rs 76,000 crore semiconductor incentive scheme. These projects include: Microns assembly, test, marking, and packaging (ATMP) project, Tatas chip manufacturing and assembly project and CG Powers chip assembly project. Indias expanding capabilities and workforce potential position it well to meet future global semiconductor demands. India produces 800,000 new engineers each year and has significant expertise in software development and design. But then semiconductor is a different kettle of fish with fresh engineers needing orientation and reorientation courses. While some of the Indian talent residing in the Silicon Valley and elsewhere can be wooed back with attractive compensation packages including stock options, the anxiety would be to guard them from the Chinese overtures. Indian workers are disproportionately represented in certain sectors, such as medical scientists, computer software engineers, computer hardware engineers, and chemical and physical scientists. While the Indian diaspora employed in the Chinese computer industry needs to be wooed back, the greater need is to make India an attractive destination for them. It is not enough to pamper the CEO alone in keeping with the Indian and American spirit of winner takes it all. Compensation package must attract the employees working hard on the ground as well. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Poaching at the end of the day remains the most unobtrusive way to get priced technology and talent. Because should the push come to shove, one can smugly shrug his shoulders and say hey why blame me; it was the former employee of yours who shared the technology residing in his brain. That however is unique to CEOs and other uniquely talented in the semiconductor sphere. Under their leadership, the newcomers must be groomed. The writer is a senior columnist. He tweets @smurlidharan. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: December 01, 2024, 17:25 IST Andhra CM Naidu Dissolves States Waqf Board, BJPs Amit Malviya Hails Move Published By : Agencies Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 17:28 IST The Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board that Naidu dissolved was set up by the then government of YSR Congress Party. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan during a NDA legislative party meeting, in Mangalagiri of Guntur district. (IMAGE: PTI FILE) Chandrababu Naidu-led NDA government in Andhra Pradesh has dissolved the State Waqf Board nominated by the previous government. The Minorities Welfare Department on Saturday (November 30) issued a Government Order, withdrawing the GO issued in October last year, constituting the Waqf Board. related stories The then government of YSR Congress Party had constituted the 11-member Waqf Board following a High Court order. Three of them were elected members while the remaining were nominated. On a petition challenging the process followed to constitute the Waqf Board, the Andhra Pradesh High Court on November 1, 2023, stayed the election of the chairperson of the State Waqf Board. The GO number 75 issued on Saturday mentions that the Chief Executive Officer of the State Waqf Board brought to the governments attention the prolonged non-functioning of the Board and the pendency of writ petitions questioning the legality of G.O. Ms. No. 47 to resolve the litigation and prevent an administrative vacuum. Minorities Welfare Department Secretary Kati Harshvardhan stated in the latest GO that after careful consideration of the observations made by the High Court and in the interest of maintaining good governance, protection of Waqf properties and ensuring the smooth functioning of the Waqf Board, the government hereby withdraws G.O. Ms. No. 47 dated 21.10.2023, with immediate effect. Meanwhile, Minister for Minority Welfare N. Md. Farooq said in a statement that the coalition government withdrew the GO issued by the previous government. He said after some individuals had approached the High Court, challenging the nomination of Waqf Board members, the High Court had passed interim orders to stay the election of the chairperson. The minister stated that due to legal issues, there was a vacuum in the functioning of the Waqf Board and to overcome it, the coalition government issued a new GO, withdrawing the earlier GO. The coalition government headed by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is committed to the protection and management of Waqf properties and the welfare of minorities. The government is taking steps in this direction," Farooq said. In September, the coalition government appointed TDP leader Shaik Abdul Aziz as chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board. Abdul Aziz, a former Mayor of Nellore, is currently the TDP president for the Nellore parliamentary constituency. The dissolution of the Waqf Board constituted by the previous government may clear the decks for constituting the new Board headed by Abdul Aziz. Reacting to the development, BJP leader Amit Malviya hailed the striking down of the Andhra Pradesh State Waqf Board. The in charge of BJPs national information and technology department took to X on Sunday and said: (The) Andhra Pradesh government strikes down the Waqf Board. There is no provision in the Constitution, which supports the existence of one in a secular India," he posted. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all His comment comes amid the ongoing row over Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, which has already been referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). (with inputs from IANS) Location : Amaravati, India First Published: December 01, 2024, 17:28 IST In Big Maharashtra CM Claim, BJP Leader Says Fadnavis Chosen For Top Post: Report Curated By : & News18.com Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 23:55 IST Speculations were rife that Eknath Shinde visited his village as he was upset with the shaping up of new Maharashtra government. Eknath Shinde with Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar. (Image: PTI) Maharashtra CM Suspense: A senior BJP leader on Sunday said that the name of Devendra Fadnavis has been finalised as the new chief minister of Maharashtra. Speaking on condition of anonymity, he told the news agency PTI that the BJP legislature party meeting will be held on either December 2 or 3. However, the Maharashtra suspense story continues even after the second week begins since the declaration of Assembly poll results which put the Mahayuti on top of the Maha Vikas Aghadi in the 288-seated Assembly. related stories Earlier in the day, caretaker CM Eknath Shinde, who has been under the weather for a few days, said that he is recovering well in Satara. He said that he fall ill due to an exhaustive election schedule. He confirmed his support for the partys decision on the next chief minister which will be named on Monday. He said that the BJP will decide on the states new CM who will have his full support, and asserted there were no differences among Mahayuti partners on government formation. Talking to reporters at his native village, Shinde said that the talks were underway on government formation and all decisions will be taken through a consensus by the three Mahayuti allies Shiv Sena, BJP and NCP. Amid speculations that his son Shrikant Shinde might get the deputy CMs post and Shiv Sena is keen on the Home portfolio, Shinde said the Mahayuti allies- BJP, NCP, and Shiv Sena- will decide the government formation through consensus. Shinde also said he comes to his village regularly and wondered why should there be any confusion (over his visit) when he cleared his stand on the CMs post last week. Shinde had a fever and throat infection, his family doctor RM Parte said on Saturday. He has been given medicines and put on IV (intra-venous therapy for medication). He will feel better in two days. He is leaving for Mumbai on Sunday," Dr Parte said. Maharashtra Government Formation On December 5 | Top Points top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Eknath Shinde had headed to his native village Dare in the Satara district on Friday amid speculations that he was unhappy with the way the new government was shaping up. He was checked on by a team of doctors after he developed a high fever on Saturday. Shinde is returning to Mumbai a day after Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced that the swearing-in ceremony of the new government will take place at 5 pm on December 5 in Mumbais Azad Maidan in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. NCP chief Ajit Pawar, too, on Saturday said that the next chief minister will be from the BJP along with two deputies. The Mahayuti government had adopted the same formula in its last tenure in which Shinde was the CM and Fadnavis and Pawar were his deputies. On the other hand, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat said that Shinde will take a major decision" by Sunday evening. In my opinion, whenever Eknath Shinde feels the need for time to reflect, he goes to his native village. By tomorrow evening, he will make a major decision. It could be a political decision Everything will be clear by Monday evening," Shirsat said. Shinde had announced earlier this week that he had conveyed to PM Modi and Amit Shah that he would not be an obstacle in the government formation in the state and he would whole-heartedly accept the decisions by the BJP top brass like the BJP workers and leaders do. BJP leader Raosaheb Danve on Sunday said the name of Maharashtras new chief minister has been finalised and a mere confirmation is awaited from the partys top leadership. The people of Maharashtra know who will be the next CM," former Union minister Danve said without taking any name. Even though no formal announcement has been made in regards to CMs name, BJP sources indicated that Devendra Fadnavis was the frontrunner for the top post. (With inputs from agencies) First Published: December 01, 2024, 12:19 IST 2-Year-Old Baby Gorilla Dies At Canada Zoo Due To Hydraulic Door Glitch Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 09:00 IST Despite immediate CPR and other medical interventions by the veterinary team, Eyare succumbed to her injuries shortly after 9:30 am. The gorilla suffered a fatal accident at Canadas Calgary Zoo. (Photo Credits: Instagram) A 2-year-old western lowland gorilla suffered a fatal accident at Canadas Calgary Zoo. The ape named Eyare died after being hit by a hydraulic door. The incident took place on November 12, after a staff member accidentally activated the wrong door in an attempt to separate Eyare from other gorillas during a training session. As a result, Eyare suffered head injuries. Even though a veterinary team tried to save the young female gorilla through CPR and other related efforts, the primate eventually passed away. As per the press release from the zoo published on November 30, Eyare was playing with her troop in an area meant for feeding and observation, when the mishap happened. One of the employees of the gorilla care wanted to open a door to separate Eyare for vaccination training but accidentally activated the wrong door in the process. On reaching for another slab, the door shut behind Eyare resulting in head injuries. Despite immediate CPR and other medical interventions by the veterinary team, Eyare succumbed to her injuries shortly after 9:30 am. related stories Colleen Baird, the zoo director of animal care, described the event as a terrible tragedy" adding that the staff member involved with the gorillas was an experienced employee. After the event, the staff was relieved from the tasks involving the animals and will have to attend more training courses before working again. The gorilla team retrieved Eyare from the troop, and the veterinary team immediately commenced lifesaving measures, including CPR. Sadly, Eyare succumbed to her injuries," Baird said. Only a week has passed. We are still grieving the loss of this young gorilla. We are also committed to healing and learning through this experience," she added. The zoo stated that it would ensure some preventative measures to prevent such occurrences adding that the establishment would be conducting annual training sessions for the gorilla care team to operate the hydraulic doors. Baird also said that the members of the zoos building operations team affirmed that all the hydraulic doors in the enclosure of gorillas were working properly. The zoo mentioned in its press release that the usage of these doors was standard for any accredited zoo out there. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Calgary Zoo has been in a similar situation before, and this year alone, a polar bear reportedly died due to a crushing injury" at the windpipe during a playful fight with another bear. In 2016, an otter was entangled in an unauthorised" pair of pants a zookeeper accidentally left in the animals habitat, according to CNN. Furthermore, the Canadian local news station CBC reported that, in 2009, a capybara inside the Calgary Zoo was squashed by another hydraulic door. Location : Delhi, India First Published: December 01, 2024, 09:00 IST Bizarre: UK Woman Fined For Littering In Village She Hasnt Visited In Years Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 10:00 IST A UK woman was falsely accused and fined for littering in a village she hadn't visited in decades, but the council later apologised after recognising their mistake. The penalty, dated November 12, demanded payment of Rs 8,000. (Photo Credits: X) Natalie Walton, a resident of Kent, UK, was left baffled when she received a penalty notice for littering in Swanscombe, a village nearly 300 kilometres from her home that she hasnt set foot in for over a decade. The notice, sent to her parents address, claimed that she was observed discarding a cigarette on October 29, with the incident allegedly captured on body-worn camera by a Dartford council officer. The penalty, dated November 12, demanded payment of 75 (around Rs 8,000) or an appeal. It also warned of potential court proceedings with a fine of up to 2,500 (around Rs 2.69 lakh) if convicted. related stories But Walton, who describes herself as a non-smoker, was adamant that she had not been near Swanscombe for years. I had not been to Kent for months. Dartford council were trying to fine me 75 for something I was not even there to do. It is just a bit bizarre. I was accused of littering a cigarette in Swanscombe which is honestly more absurd, as I do not smoke and have never been to the address they have claimed I was at," she said, speaking to KentOnline. Walton even gathered her bank statements showing she was shopping in B&M and Tesco in Staffordshire at the time, proving her absence from Kent. Speaking to KentOnline, she added, I feel like a complete victim of fraud. Someone must have stolen my identity or the councils security measures are so broken they will take a name and address with no proof." Despite her appeal being considered, Walton received a second letter, dated November 19, from the council indicating that court proceedings were beginning. With her wedding just two weeks away, she was anxious about the possibility of facing a hefty fine. I am getting married in two weeks and I was so panicked I would have to pay out thousands. It has been so stressful. Although I was told the fine was on hold, it was the impending doom and not knowing how long this was going to go on for," Walton said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all After a review of the evidence, Dartford Council contacted Walton a few days ago to inform her that the penalty notice had been cancelled. When I saw the email, I was relieved and felt so much less stressed but I still have no idea how they thought it was me," she said. The council said that the real perpetrator had provided Waltons details and that the enforcement team had initially issued the notice based on the information they received. The investigation into the true offender is still ongoing. Location : Delhi, India First Published: December 01, 2024, 10:00 IST BAGHDAD, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian held talks on Sunday to address escalating tensions in the Middle East, including the conflicts in Gaza and Syria, according to a statement from al-Sudani's office. During a phone call, the two leaders stressed the need for intensified regional cooperation to halt the war in Gaza and prevent further destabilization in Syria, warning that continued unrest could threaten regional security and stability. The talks come as Syria faces renewed violence. On Wednesday, rebel groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched a major offensive in the western countryside of Aleppo province. By Sunday, they had seized "large parts" of Aleppo city and were advancing southward toward Hama. This Chinese Man Suffered From Chronic Sneezing For 20 Years. And The Reason Will Shock You Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 12:00 IST The incident came to light after the patient, 23, complained about chronic sneezing, nasal congestion and a constant runny nose for almost a month. Doctor conducted a nasal endoscopy and found a dice lodged in the patient's nasal cavity.(Representative Image) A 23-year-old man from China recently underwent surgery to get a dice, lodged in his nasal cavity for more than 20 years, removed. The person, identified as Xiaoma, hails from the Xian region in northern Chinas Shanxi province, South China Morning Post reported. The incident came to light after he complained about chronic sneezing, nasal congestion and a constant runny nose for almost a month. related stories Xiaoma first tried to treat himself by taking traditional Chinese medicine. After no positive outcomes, he sought help at Xian Gaoxin Hospital. As per the medical record of the clinic, Xiaoma was diagnosed with allergic rhinitis and during examination, a foreign object was identified in his nasal passage. Yang Rong, an otolaryngologist at the hospital, then conducted a nasal endoscopy and found a dice lodged in the patients nasal cavity. During the nasal endoscopy, we discovered a foreign object a white lump coated with secretions. Upon extraction, it turned out to be a two-cm dice, partially corroded from being lodged in his nasal cavity for an extended period. It was located in the lower nasal passage, causing damage to the nasal mucosa," Yang Rong told SCMP. Later, Xiaoma recalled the object might have accidentally entered his nose when he was around three-four years old. However, it is still unclear how the dice entered the mans nose. It remains unknown whether Xiaoma experienced any long-term health consequences or side effects from living with the object in his body for more than two decades. Further, the South China Morning Post report highlighted that Xiaomas condition was dangerous since the dice adhered to the surrounding tissues over the years. During the procedure, any improper handling might have caused the object to fall into the airway, thereby potentially leading to suffocation. Luckily, the object was removed by doctors successfully. Citing this incident, Yang Rong has emphasised the importance of parental vigilance. Parents should pay close attention to foreign objects in the nasal cavity," the otolaryngologist said, adding such objects can easily end up falling into the postnaris or airway, posing a life-threatening risk to the patients. Xiaomas case has left many people in the Chinese online community astounded. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all This is really horrifying. Its been corroded. Just looking at the picture makes me uncomfortable," one person said. Another added, This is a wake-up call for parents. Foreign objects in the nose are no joke; any abnormal symptoms should be addressed immediately at a hospital!" Location : Delhi, India First Published: December 01, 2024, 12:00 IST 2 More Hindu Monks Arrested In Bangladesh, Indian National Brutally Thrashed Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 20:13 IST Hindus have been subjected to attacks under the Yunus government in Bangladesh for months. An Indian tourist was brutally attacked by an Islamic group. Protest rally in Kolkata (PTI Image) In a continued action against the Hindu community in Bangladesh, two more ISKCON monks were arrested in Chattogram when they went to deliver food to Chinmoy Krishna Das, whose arrest led to widespread protests in the country, including strong voices from India. This comes as a flurry of attacks on the Hindu community in the neighbouring nation in recent months which also included vandalisation of temples and idols of deities. On November 25, Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested on sedition charges alleging disrespect to the national flag. He was also denied bail by the court, drawing a sharp reaction from India which urged the Yunus government to ensure the safety of minorities. related stories Who Are Two Hindu Monks Arrested? The latest arrests of two monks Rudraproti Kesab Das, and Ranga Nath Syama Sundor Das have drawn the ire of the minority community and also from the priests and politicians in India. International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Kolkatas Vice-President and spokesperson Radharaman Das questioned the move to arrest the monks and said that ISKCON devotees in over 150 countries will gather to chant and pray for the safety of Bangladeshi minorities. #BangladeshiHindus | In response to escalating attacks on Hindus. ISKCON centers in Bangladesh has called for a global prayer protest this Sunday, December 1. Devotees in over 150 countries will gather to chant and pray for the safety of Bangladeshi minorities@SakshiLitoriya_ pic.twitter.com/grwRMKmixX News18 (@CNNnews18) December 1, 2024 In over 150 countries and countless cities and towns, millions of ISKCON devotees worldwide will come together this Sunday, 1st December, to pray and chant for the safety and security of Bangladeshi minorities. Please join your local #ISKCON temple or congregation. Hare Krishna!" Radharaman Das tweeted. Reacting to the plight of minorities in Bangladesh, Governing Body Commissioner (GBC), ISKCON, Gauranga Das said, Today, the kirtan that we organise every Sunday it will be done for the safety and protection of all the devotees of Bangladesh for all the Hindus and minorities there". BJP Reacts To Monks Arrests Union Minister and West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar condemned the arrest calling it against the values of justice". He sought their immediate release and advocated raising voice for religious freedom. Saddened to hear about the arrest of another ISKCON monk, Brahmachari Shyam Das, by the Bangladesh Police. He was detained while visiting Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu, who was recently taken into custody. Such actions against peaceful religious figures and the Hindu minority in Bangladesh are deeply concerning. This goes against the values of justice and harmony that we all stand for," he tweeted. Saddened to hear about the arrest of another ISKCON monk, Brahmachari Shyam Das, by the Bangladesh Police. He was detained while visiting Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu, who was recently taken into custody.Such actions against peaceful religious figures and the Hindu minority in pic.twitter.com/jvJ7nGVw67 Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (@DrSukantaBJP) December 1, 2024 I urge the Bangladesh government to release these monks immediately and ensure the protection of minority communities. It is important for all of us to speak up for justice and religious freedom," the Minister added. Indian National Attacked In Bangladesh Meanwhile, Sayan Ghosh, a tourist hailing from West Bengals North 24 Parganas, was brutally attacked while visiting a friend in Bangladesh on November 23 by a group. He somehow managed to return back to India with injuries on his head and face after he was refused admission to a hospital. On the day when I was supposed to return, my friend asked me to accompany him to the market. A Muslim group came and demanded to know about my home and religion in the market. When they came to know that I was an Indian and a Hindu, they dragged me and attacked me with a knife. They snatched my phone and money and struck my head with a rock. My friend tried to stop them and they snatched his phone as well. After they fled, I called an ambulance and they also questioned my identity," he said. Sayan further said it took him four hours to reach the hospital, after which it denied him admission. He was also turned away from a police station and a private nursing home. Additionally, some people reportedly came to his friends house and threatened them. I somehow managed to come back. I request the Indian government to please help those who are stuck there," he added. His father Sukanto Ghosh told the media that in lieu of reports of terrorism and anti-Hindu activities in the neighbouring country, he had earlier warned Sayan not to go in Bangladesh. Sukanto said his son was in a state of deep shock after the incident and his family was worried and planned to inform the High Commissioner about the attack. Several Hospitals Deny Health Services To Bangladeshis Many hospitals are refusing to provide health services to Bangladeshi patients. Kolkatas JN Ray Hospital announced the move as a mark of protest against the atrocities against the Hindus in Bangladesh. The latest in this list is Tripuras ILS Hospital which declared not to extend its services to Bangladeshis. Protests Held In India Several protesters of Sanatani Unity Forum were injured while security forces resorted to lathicharge to prevent members of the forum from moving towards the Sutarkhandi Indo Bangladesh international border gate at Sribhumi district of south Assam. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The forum had organised Chalo Bangladesh against the atrocities on Hindus in the neighbouring country. Several security personnel too suffered injuries in the scuffle. Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh First Published: December 01, 2024, 10:13 IST Donald Trump Picks Indian-American Kash Patel As FBI Director. Here's What May Happen Next Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 22:15 IST Kash Patel is a controversial figure even among Trump loyalists and has proposed a set of radical reforms in the FBI. Kash Patel is a staunch Trump loyalist who held key positions in the National Security Committee and the Defence Department during the latter's first term. (Reuters) US President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Indian-American Kash Patel as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, positioning a loyalist in one of the most important offices in his push against illegal immigration as he assumes the presidency next month. Trump praised Patel as the America First fighter" and said that he would stop the rising human and drug trafficking across the US borders. Patel, a former National Security Council staffer, would replace Christopher Wray as FBI chief, who was appointed by Trump in 2017, however, fell out of favour with the president before his 10-year term. related stories Patel, 44, has been vocal about his ambition to reform the FBI. In an interview on the conservative Shawn Ryan Show, he outlined bold proposals, including dismantling the agencys intelligence-gathering operations and repurposing its headquarters. Who is Kash Patel? Kashyap Pramod Patel, also known as Kash Patel, was born in New York on February 25, 1980, to Gujarati immigrant parents from East Africa and pursued a career in law. In the first Trump administration, he held key positions at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Defence Department and has called for a comprehensive housecleaning" of the Justice Department and the FBI. Congressman Davin Nunes, Chairman of the House Permanent Select on Intelligence Committee, pulled him as senior counsel on counterterrorism. He was instrumental in drafting the controversial Nunes Memo," which accused the FBI of abusing surveillance powers in its investigation into the Trump campaign. Though the memo sparked intense criticism from the US Justice Department, it drew Trumps attention and solidified Patels position as a trusted figure within the Trump administration. Even among Trump loyalists, Patel remains a controversial figure with his remarks and shares a disdain for established power in Washington with Trump. It was earlier speculated that Kash Patel would be given the job to lead the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), however, Trump cleared the air around it by announcing former director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe as the new CIA chief. ALSO READ: Kash Patel, Donald Trumps Likely Pick For CIA Chief, Said This About Ayodhyas Ram Mandir What Does Patels Appointment Mean? Patel had made a series of radical reforms, such as decentralising FBI operations, focusing on criminal investigations and declassifying key government records like those related to JFKs assassination and the 9/11 attack. He also called for the agencys headquarters in Washington DC to be dismantled and turned into a museum of the deep state." President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Kash Patel for FBI Director.Patel, a former prosecutor and intelligence official, vows radical reforms, including closing the FBI Hoover Building and turning it into a museum of the Deep State." He plans to decentralize FBI pic.twitter.com/S6YtwP53L5 Oli London (@OliLondonTV) December 1, 2024 What the Deep State uses the most to cover up their corruption is an illegal application of the classification system," he said in a podcast interview while talking about two former FBI officials whose personal messages disparaging Trump were leaked. He also ridiculed the FBI for its 2022 search warrant of Trumps Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, which led to charges being brought against the former president for retaining classified documents. He has also talked about trying to rid the government of conspirators" against Trump and going after the people in the media who lied about American citizens who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections". Last year, Patel courted controversy when he told Trump ally Steve Bannon that he would come after" politicians and journalists perceived to be enemies of the president-elect. Is FBI Heading In A New Direction? Patels appointment is a signal that the FBI under Trump would be going in a new direction with concerns over the declassification of sensitive information and a purge of civil servants, although most of his proposals would require backing from other officials and are expected to encounter significant resistance. His call for reducing the FBIs footprint is starkly in contrast with other leaders of the bureau, who say they want more resources. Patels proposed crackdown on leaks of information by government officials to the media is also an indication that he wants the Justice Department to undo its current policy prohibiting the secret seizure of reporters phone records in leak investigations. He has also spoken on disentangling the FBIs intelligence-gathering operations from the rest of its operations, although that path is uncertain at a time when the US is facing what officials say is a heightened threat to terrorism. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In his 2023 book, Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth, and the Battle for Our Democracy," Patel lambasted crazed partisans" for hijacking the law enforcement apparatus" against Trump. He described the Deep State" as the most dangerous threat to our democracy". (with inputs from agencies) Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: December 01, 2024, 22:11 IST Donald Trump Picks Indian-American Kash Patel As New FBI Director Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 07:35 IST Kash Patel is the latest Indian-origin pick by Donald Trump in his new administration starting January next year. Kash Patel named as new FBI Director (AP Photo) US President-elect Donald Trump has announced Indian-American Kashyap Kash Patel, his loyalist, as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, describing him as an America First fighter". Patel is the latest addition having an Indian origin to the new Trump administration which begins next January. Trump has previously announced other individuals with Indian roots including Vivek Ramaswamy and Tulsi Gabbard. related stories What Did Trump Say On Kash Patels Nomination? Trump praised Patel as the America First fighter" and said that he would stop the rising human and drug trafficking across the US borders. I am proud to announce that Kashyap Kash" Patel will serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and America First" fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending Justice, and protecting the American People," Trump posted on Saturday night on Truth Social. This FBI will end the growing crime epidemic in America, dismantle the migrant criminal gangs, and stop the evil scourge of human and drug trafficking across the Border. Kash will work under our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to bring back Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity to the FBI," he added. It was earlier speculated that Kash Patel would be given the job to lead the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), however, Trump cleared the air around it by announcing former director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe as the new CIA chief. Patel would replace Christopher Wray as FBI chief, who was appointed by Trump in 2017, however, fell out of favour with the president. The FBI Director has a 10-year term, however, Wrays replacement was not unexpected given Trumps criticism of him and the FBI. Who Is Kash Patel? Patel has served as the former Chief of Staff to Acting Secretary of Defence Christopher Miller in Trumps first administration. Patel, 44, has been vocal about his ambition to reform the FBI. In an interview on the conservative Shawn Ryan Show, he outlined bold proposals, including dismantling the agencys intelligence-gathering operations and repurposing its headquarters. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Born in Queens, New York, to Gujarati parents who emigrated from East Africa, Patel pursued a career in law after earning his degree. He began as a public defender in Florida, representing clients in state and federal courts. He later transitioned to the Department of Justice as a prosecutor, where he handled high-profile international terrorism cases spanning East Africa and the United States. His career trajectory shifted when he joined the Department of Defense as a civilian attorney. In this role, he worked closely with the Special Operations Command, focusing on global counterterrorism efforts. His expertise drew the attention of Congressman Devin Nunes, then the chair of the House Intelligence Committee, who appointed him as senior counsel specializing in counterterrorism. Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: December 01, 2024, 07:03 IST ISI-Linked Cocaine Seized In US, Two Canadians Arrested For Smuggling Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Ashesh Mallick Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 11:20 IST Pver 1,100 pounds of cocaine were recovered during checking in the US. Two Canadian nationals were arrested for smuggling. Representative Image Two Canadian nationals were arrested in the United States for the smuggling of drugs transported by Pakistans ISI to Canada as part of a wider terror funding network, according to media reports. The contraband was discovered after US Illinois State Police stopped a Volvo truck for inspection on Friday and found numerous indicators of criminal activity" during the initial search which led to the recovery of over 1,100 pounds of cocaine. related stories The reports stated that the police found nearly 1,146 pounds of cocaine. The accused were identified as Vanshpreet Singh, 27, and Manpreet Singh, 36, both of who hailed from Canadas Ontario, and were charged with Class X felony counts of cocaine trafficking, possession of cocaine with the intent to deliver, and possession of cocaine. They are currently detained at Henry County Jail, awaiting their first court appearance. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The seizure of cocaine is part of a larger supply chain involving ISI which sends drugs to Canada where Pakistan funds terror activities, which also include support for Khalistani separatist elements and anti-India operations. Earlier, CNN-News18 had reported how Canadian truckers are increasingly being used in the illegal trade, transporting narcotics into the US in exchange for hefty amounts. Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: December 01, 2024, 11:18 IST Once They Knew: Bangladeshi Mob Thrashes Tourist After Finding Out He's Indian, Hindu Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 21:14 IST An Indian tourist, Sayan Ghosh, who recently visited Bangladesh met an irate mob, who he claims targeted him for being an Indian and a Hindu. Sayan Ghosh was attacked by a mob of Islamists in Dhakas Jurain area when he was roaming around with his friend. He was visiting Bangladesh as a tourist. (IMAGE: SOURCED) Sayan Ghosh, a resident of West Bengals Belghoria, faced the wrath of a mob of Islamist hardliners who he claims targeted him for being an Indian citizen as well as an adherent of the Hindu faith. Sayan said the mob confronted him in Dhakas Jurain area when he went out with his friend for a visit to the market. He said a group of miscreants came and confronted him and asked his nationality and religion. related stories At least 5-6 boys from the Muslim community came and asked me where I was from and what I was doing here. The moment they heard I was Indian and a Hindu they started thrashing me," Ghosh said. Ghosh said he would have lost his eyesight as the goons swiped a knife in front of his face. He was nonetheless injured as it swiped another area of his face. He said that he was hit in the head with a stone. We told him not to go, but he went for his friend. Whatever happened there is unimaginable. He is in a state of shock. We will take him to the doctor and also lodge a complaint with the high commission," Sukanto Ghosh, Sayans father said. He is traumatised," he further added. Sayan also said that he is deeply shocked with what happened to him but expressed he was more surprised when no one came to help him. They (passersby) instead of helping me kept asking me questions like where I am from, what is my business here. No one helped. The medics also were not treating me properly," he said. He also revealed that his friend was also attacked and said that his mobile phone and money were looted while he was being thrashed. The incident occurred between November 26 November 27 and Sayan then remained at his friends home for a few days to recover before returning to North 24 Parganas Belghoria. While recovering from his injuries, another ordeal struck him and his host. People, including government workers, some local lawmakers and other people of the area then came to my friends home and harassed him and his parents for inviting him over," he said. He further added that his friends family was warned that their lives could be in danger for inviting over an Indian citizen. Protests have roiled Bangladesh following the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a Hindu monk and a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISCKON). top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Chinmoy Krishna Das, the spokesman of a newly-formed Hindu group leading protests calling for the protection of the minority, was arrested on Monday afternoon. He remains in jail on sedition charges that his supporters claim are false. (with inputs from Kamalika Sengupta) Location : Belgharia, India First Published: December 01, 2024, 21:07 IST Over 300 Insurgents Killed As Russia Carries Out Strikes In Syria's Aleppo Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 22:23 IST The Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched an offensive in Syria's Aleppo, the biggest flare-up in the civil war since 2020. Vehicles burn after an airstrike against opposition fighters in Syria's Aleppo. (AP) After a major attack led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in the Syrian city of Aleppo, Russias Defence Ministry said its air force carried out strikes in support of President Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian Army, according to Russian news agencies. The attack was the fiercest rebel attack in Syria in years after a civil war forced the front lines to remain frozen since 2020, becoming the biggest challenge for the Army as well as President Assad. However, the Army has prepared a counterstrike, with airstrikes targeting rebel gatherings and convoys patrolling the city. related stories The Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria said the Army supported by the Russian air force launched missile strikes on gathering areas, controls and positions of the insurgents, killing more than 300 rebel soldiers, TASS News Agency reported. The rebels also took control of Aleppo airport, according to a statement by their operations room and a security source. Two rebel sources also told Reuters that the insurgents had captured the city of Maraat al Numan in Idlib province, bringing all of that area under their control. Notably, Assad is a close ally of Russia, while the rebelling Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, once known as the Nusra front, is designated a terrorist group by the United States, Russia, Turkey and other states. The Islamist group penetrated the heart of the Aleppo city earlier this week in a surprise attack, causing the ongoing chaos. ALSO READ: Syrias Aleppo No Longer In Control Of Assad Govt For First Time As Insurgents Sweep City Aleppo Offensive: When It All Began? The rebel offensive began on Wednesday, becoming the first major attack in years between the Syrian opposition and the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, who has ruled the war-torn country since 2000. Assad is currently in Russia, where he is visiting his ailing wife. The insurgents seized several towns and villages along the way, blew up vehicles and clashed with government forces. Some people were killed after projectiles from insurgents struck several facilities, including Aleppos university. Aleppo had been a critical battleground in the Syrian civil war and is located about 350 km north. Once Syrias largest city, Aleppo had been firmly held by the government since a 2016 victory, when Russia-backed Syrian forces entered and laid waste to rebel-held eastern areas there. Acknowledging the rebel advance, the Syrian army command said insurgents had entered much of Aleppo. The Syrian military command said militants had attacked in large numbers and from multiple directions, prompting our armed forces to carry out a redeployment operation aimed at strengthening the defence lines in order to absorb the attack, preserve the lives of civilians and soldiers". Why Is This Attack Significant? The fighting has raised the prospect of another violent front reopening in West Asia, at a time when US-backed Israel is fighting Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, both Iranian-allied groups. It is the most intense fighting in northwestern Syria since 2020, when government forces seized areas previously controlled by opposition fighters. With Assad backed by Russia and Iran, and Turkey supporting some of the rebels in the northwest where it maintains troops, the offensive has brought focus to the geopolitical ramifications of these decades-old conflict. Fighting in northwest Syria had largely ceased following a de-escalation agreement between Russia and Turkey in 2020. The United States has about 900 troops in northeast Syria, far from Aleppo, to guard against a resurgence by the Islamic State. Both the US and Israel have conducted occasional strikes against government forces and Iran-allies militias. However, Washington has denied involvement in the ongoing rebel offensive in Aleppo. Sean Savett, the spokesperson of the US National Security Council, said Syrias refusal to engage in a political process and its reliance on Russia and Iran had created the current conditions, including the collapse of Assad regime lines in northwest Syria." He said the US had nothing to do with the offensive led by a designated terrorist organisation" and urged de-escalation. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Lavrov in a phone call that the rebel attacks were part of an Israeli-US plan to destabilise the region, Iranian state media said. The opposition fighters have said the campaign was in response to stepped-up strikes in recent weeks against civilians by the Russian and Syrian air forces in areas of Idlib province. (with inputs from agencies) Location : Damascus, Syria First Published: December 01, 2024, 16:16 IST Suspicious Travel: Bangladesh Bars 54 ISKCON Monks From Entering India After Arresting Four Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 23:33 IST Authorities said Bangladesh barred the ISKCON monks from entering India after receiving instructions from higher authorities. People holding a banner take part in a protest march demanding protections for Hindus and other minority groups in Dhaka. (IMAGE: AFP) At least 54 members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) were barred from entering India and were turned back from the Benapole border checkpoint. Bangladeshs immigration police turned them back despite having valid papers, citing suspicious travel". Some also claimed that the total number of Hindus arriving at the border crossing was over 70. Bangladeshi authorities had earlier arrested four other monks who are ISKCON members. related stories We were going to participate in a religious ceremony in India, but immigration officials stopped us, citing the absence of government permission," Saurabh Tapandar Cheli, one of the ISKCON members, was quoted as saying by local news outlets. Benapole Immigration Checkpost Officer-in-Charge (OC) Imtiaz Ahsanul Quader Bhuiyan said the ISKCON members were turned back after orders from higher authorities" while speaking to Daily Star. We consulted the Special Branch of Police and received instructions from the higher authorities not to permit them," Bhuiyan said. The ISKCON members, however, said that they were not given clear reasons for the abrupt halt in their passage through the Benapole-Petrapole crossing by government officials despite them having valid passports and visas. The Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Petrapole on the Indian side was jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina in July 2016. Minorities in Bangladesh, particularly Hindus, have faced severe attacks from Islamist groups since the formation of the interim government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus. Earlier this week, India highlighted the case of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote and an Iskcon Bangladesh member, who was arrested and denied bail. Protests and rallies were taken out in India, especially in the states that border Bangladesh with Bengali-speaking populations. Protest rallies were taken out in Kolkata and other cities of West Bengal. Protests were also held in Agartala earlier this week outside the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all It is unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings. We also note with concern the attacks on minorities protesting peacefully against the arrest of Shri Das. We urge Bangladesh authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression," the Indian external affairs ministry said in a statement earlier this week, expressing its concern. Street protests have been called to demand a ban on ISCKON, led by the Hefazat-e-Islam, an Islamist group who have had links with Jamaat-e-Islami, a violent, radical Islamist group. Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh First Published: December 01, 2024, 23:18 IST Syria's Aleppo No Longer In Control Of Assad Govt For First Time As Insurgents Sweep City Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 16:55 IST As the rebel group began its offensive on Wednesday, insurgents seized several towns and villages in Aleppo. Syrian opposition supporters stand atop a captured Syrian army tank in the town of Maarat al-Numan. (AP) The Syrian city of Aleppo is no longer under the control of President Bashar al-Assads government for the first time since the conflict began in the country after insurgents led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) swept the city, according to a war monitor. HTS and allied rebel factions control Aleppo city, except the neighbourhoods controlled by the Kurdish forces. For the first time since the conflict started in 2012, Aleppo city is out of control of Syrian regime forces," Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP. related stories The rebel offensive began on Wednesday, becoming the first major attack in years between the Syrian opposition and the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, who has ruled the war-torn country since 2000. The insurgents seized several towns and villages during the offensive and captured an airport and the city of Maraat al Numan in Idlib province. The attack was the fiercest rebel attack in Syria in years after a civil war forced the front lines to remain frozen since 2020. The timing of the attacks raised concerns of another violent front amid ongoing tensions in West Asia, with Israel fighting Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon In a telephone call with his Emirati counterpart, Assad vowed to defeat the terrorists", no matter how big their attacks. The Observatory reported that the army had pulled out of Syrias fourth largest city Hama, around 140 kilometres (90 miles) south of Aleppo, in the face of the rebel advance, although the Army denied this. Russia Launches Airstrikes, Iran Backs Assad Russias Defence Ministry said its air force carried out strikes in support of Assad and the Syrian Army. The Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria said the Army supported by the Russian air force launched missile strikes on gathering areas, controls and positions of the insurgents, killing more than 300 rebel insurgents. Notably, Assad is a close ally of Russia, while the rebelling Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, once known as the Nusra front, is designated a terrorist group by the United States, Russia, Turkey and other states. Russias support had become the crucial point in the Armys victory against the rebels in 2016 in Aleppo. Iran, which also backed Assad during the civil war, expressed support for Assad and the governments forces. Tehrans top diplomat Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that he will leave for Damascus to deliver a message of support for the Army forces, emphasising that it will win over these terrorist groups" as in the past. On Saturday, Irans foreign ministry said its consulate in Aleppo had come under attack, but staff members were safe. Syrian Army Soldiers Killed In Aleppo Offensive Acknowledging the rebel advance, the Syrian army command said insurgents had entered much of Aleppo, killing dozens of soldiers. The Syrian military command said militants had attacked in large numbers and from multiple directions, prompting our armed forces to carry out a redeployment operation aimed at strengthening the defence lines in order to absorb the attack, preserve the lives of civilians and soldiers". The Britain-based Observatory said that the government had lost 100 troops and militiamen as the governor and the police and security branch commanders withdrew from the city centre. Rebels were seen posing with a rebel flag outside a police station with Assads portrait. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Russia and Turkey have expressed concern over the situation, while the United States said Syrias refusal to engage in a political process and its reliance on Russia and Iran had created the current conditions. It denied involvement in the offensive and called for de-escalation. France has also called on all sides to protect civilians. (with inputs from agencies) Location : Damascus, Syria First Published: December 01, 2024, 16:33 IST This Country Brings World's First Law Granting Maternity Leave, Pensions To Sex Workers Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 19:16 IST The new law grants employment protections and social coverage to sex workers, and also allows them to refuse clients or services. Belgium had decriminalised sex work in 2022, but granting them employment rights is a global first. (AFP) Belgium has introduced the worlds first law granting official employment contracts, health insurance, sick leaves, pensions and maternity leaves for sex workers in the country, essentially treating it like any other job. This law, which goes into effect on Sunday (December 1), was hailed by thousands of sex workers in Belgium. Belgium had decriminalised sex work in 2022 following months of protests, and it is legal in other countries like France and Germany. However, granting them the same employment protections as any other employee has been a global first approach in an attempt to clamp down on abuse and exploitation. related stories This is radical, and its the best step we have seen anywhere in the world so far," BBC quoted Erin Kilbride, a researcher at Human Rights Watch. We need every country to be moving in that direction." Huge Step Forward The Belgian Union of Sex Workers described the law as a huge step forward, ending legal discrimination against sex workers". At the forefront of this battle was Victoria, the president of this union, who was previously an escort for 12 days. She highlighted the dangers of the job, with no choice of clients and her agency taking a big cut of her savings. Victoria told BBC that she was once raped by a client and when she went to a police station, a female officer told her that sex workers cant be raped". She made me feel it was my fault, because I did that job," she said, adding that she left the station crying. She further said that every sex worker who has been in touch with the union described doing something against their will at one point, and the law will improve their lives. If there is no law and your job is illegal, there are no protocols to help you. This law gives people the tools to make us safer," Victoria said. This sentiment was shared by Sophie, a sex worker in Belgium, who was forced to continue working while being pregnant due to financial pressures. I couldnt afford to stop because I needed the money," she said. Sophie said the law was an opportunity for us to exist as people". However, critics said the law will not prevent trafficking, exploitation and abuse of sex workers. It is dangerous because it normalises a profession that is always violent at its core," says Julia Crumiere, a volunteer with Isala an NGO that helps sex workers on the streets in Belgium. New Terms Under The Law Under the law, sex workers will have employment contracts and legal protection. Agencies controlling sex work would be allowed to operate legally under the new law, provided they follow strict rules. No person who has been convicted of a serious crime will be allowed to employ sex workers. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Sex workers will also have the right to refuse sexual partners, and perform specific acts without the risk of dismissal. It also states that employers must be of good" character with a business residence in Belgium and must ensure that their premises are equipped with panic buttons, clean linen, showers and condoms, according to The Guardian. Kilbride said the restrictions on employers will significantly cut away at the power they have over sex workers". However, Crumiere says the majority of the women she helps just want help to leave the profession and get a normal job" not labour rights. Its about not being outside in the freezing weather and having sex with strangers who pay to access your body," she added. Location : Brussels, Belgium First Published: December 01, 2024, 19:16 IST ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- On a continent where road traffic accidents claim lives at an alarming rate, experts and policymakers are highlighting the potential of the African Road Safety Charter. Adopted by African Union (AU) members in January 2016, the Charter provides a common framework for enhancing road safety measures across Africa. During the eighth Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa Week, held from Nov. 25 to 29 at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, ensuring safer road infrastructure was a focal topic guided by the principles of the African Road Safety Charter. The 31-article Charter outlines critical provisions for developing and implementing road safety policies and strategies tailored to the continent's unique challenges. These include building safer roads, classifying roads based on use, enforcing minimum vehicle safety standards, and implementing stringent road safety legislation on speed limits, drink driving, and safety gear use. However, over eight years since its inception, only 12 countries have ratified the Charter, falling short of the minimum threshold of 15 ratifications for it to take effect. Experts and policymakers argue that the slow progress poses significant risks, as road fatalities across Africa have surged by 17 percent since 2010, contrasting global trends where road traffic-related fatalities fell by 5 percent since 2010, according to a recent United Nations (UN) report. ALARMING REALITY OF ROAD SAFETY IN AFRICA Binta Sako, a violence and injury prevention technical officer at the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa, told Xinhua in a recent interview that Africa bears a disproportionate share of global road traffic fatalities, underscoring the severity of the issue, particularly given the continent's limited healthcare infrastructure that exacerbates the devastating toll of road crashes. Despite accounting for 15 percent of the global population and owning merely 3 percent of the global vehicle fleet, the African continent recorded one-fifth of global road traffic deaths, according to the WHO's latest status report on road safety in Africa. The report noted that Africa continues to have the most perilous roads globally, placing immense strain on the continent's economy and public health systems. In 2021 alone, nearly 250,000 lives were lost on African roads. Sako emphasized that Africa's road safety crisis transcends statistics, describing it as "a pressing human tragedy" that demands targeted interventions. She underscored the abrupt nature of road crashes resulting in devastating losses for families and communities grappling with long-term emotional and economic repercussions. With no country in Africa currently having laws that meet the best practice standards for the five key behavioral risk factors in road safety -- speeding, drink-driving, non-use of motorcycle helmets, seatbelts, and child restraints -- experts and policymakers view the African Road Safety Charter as a vital framework to address these challenges and promote safer roads across the continent. UNIFIED APPROACH TO ROAD SAFETY The AU Assembly, comprised of African heads of state and government, adopted the 31-article charter as a framework for enhancing road safety across the continent. Upon its adoption, African leaders expressed "deep concern" over the "inordinately high" rate of road crashes and their substantial socioeconomic impact, with costs nearing 2 percent of gross national product (GDP), according to the AU. According to Amani Abou-Zeid, AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, the adoption of the Charter reflects a growing political will to save lives on Africa's roads. Yet, over eight years later, it has not achieved the necessary threshold of ratification. With Namibia becoming the first country to ratify the charter in February 2019, the other 11 African countries to follow suit include Benin, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Niger, Senegal, Eswatini, Togo, and Uganda. Experts argue that ratifying the charter, eventually leading to its effective implementation, is essential for implementing a cohesive continental road safety framework that can help reduce road crashes. They mainly attributed the charter's slow ratification progress to an apparent lack of understanding of the magnitude of road safety-related challenges in Africa and limited political commitment. Placide Badji, an economic affairs officer at the UN Economic Commission for Africa's connectivity and infrastructure development division, said with road safety challenges becoming a persistent public health concern across Africa, concerted efforts and enough resources are needed to be allocated for the road safety agenda at the national, regional, and continental levels. "What we realized is that the bulk of the countries over the continent don't even have the fundamentals of road safety," Badji told Xinhua in a recent interview, emphasizing the charter's crucial importance as it offers a unified framework for road safety protocols. "Political commitment is the first challenge. It seems that there is a lack of understanding of the magnitude of the problem -- how this is hampering countries' GDP, as well as their social and economic development." LEARNING FROM EARLY ADOPTERS Despite these challenges, promising examples from early adopters of the African Road Safety Charter highlight its potential as a transformative framework. Ethiopia, among the first to ratify the charter, considers it instrumental in enhancing road safety management. Although Ethiopia has a low per capita car ownership rate, fatal traffic accidents remain prevalent, often linked to reckless driving, weak road safety systems, and inadequate enforcement of safety regulations. Experts believe that fully implementing the charter can complement national legislation and address systemic challenges at both national and continental levels. Yohannis Lemma, chief executive officer of Road Safety Education and Capacity Building at Ethiopia's Road Safety and Insurance Fund Service, stressed that understanding the economic, social, and psychological impacts of road crashes is key to fast-tracking the charter's swift entry into implementation. "In order to address road traffic challenges in Africa in a practical and meaningful way, countries need to develop a common platform that can be used as a policy guideline. Hence, the adoption and implementation of the African Road Safety Charter is an important step to assess the progress and gaps related to road safety on a wider continental level," Lemma said. While Kenya has yet to sign or ratify the charter, efforts are underway to advance the process. Duncan Kibogong, National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) deputy director in charge of road safety, told Xinhua that active efforts are ongoing to navigate the necessary steps for ratification. Underscoring the need for collaboration with various agencies to expedite the adoption of the charter, Kibogong said concerted efforts are underway to facilitate the charter's ratification process, involving multiple reviews and approvals by relevant bodies. He said such structured processes are essential to ensure that the charter is thoroughly integrated into national policy. CALL FOR CONCERTED EFFORTS TO SAFER ROADS Bright Oywaya's story is a poignant reminder of the devastating human and socioeconomic toll of Africa's road safety crisis. After a road crash some 27 years ago left her permanently wheelchair-bound, Oywaya became a passionate advocate, dedicating her life to raising awareness about road safety and its far-reaching impacts on victims and their families. As a Kenyan road safety advocate and former NTSA vice chair, Oywaya called for a paradigm shift, urging governments and stakeholders to view road safety as a critical investment rather than an expense. "Enhancing road safety is not just about regulations, it is about saving lives and fostering healthier communities. Every life lost and resources damaged to road crashes represent untapped potential and a tragedy that can be prevented," Oywaya said. Patrick Kinyanjui from the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety Africa acknowledged the critical role of civil society organizations in promoting the charter's ratification by AU members, citing Senegal's recent milestone as the most recent AU member to deposit its instrument of ratification with the AU Commission in September 2023. Stressing that more efforts are needed to amplify the charter's significance and spotlight Africa's road safety crisis, Kinyanjui highlighted the importance of supporting the AU in raising awareness about the issue and working collaboratively to improve the socioeconomic conditions for Africa's 1.4 billion people. UK Woman Fined Rs 2 Lakh For Failing To Pay Parking Fee Within 5 Minutes. Here's Why Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: December 01, 2024, 18:28 IST Rosey Hudson said the car park machine in Derby was out of order and she had to pay via her phone for parking, yet she was still fined. UK's Excel Parking sent 10 Parking Charge Notices (PCNs) to Rosey Hudson, amounting to a significant fine. (Representative Image) A British woman was fined 1,906 (Rs 2 lakh) after taking longer than five minutes to pay for parking. Rosey Hudson said poor signal prevented her from paying for parking on her phone while standing in a car park in Derby. Hudson said she walked to where she could get connected and paid the full tariff every time she was parked there. Despite this, Excel Parking Ltd sent her 10 Parking Charge Notices (PCNs), which amounted to the hefty fine amount that she called totally unreasonable". related stories However, Excel Parking Ltd defended its actions and said the sign at the car park made it clear that it was Pay on Entry and there was a maximum period of five minutes to purchase the parking tariff, BBC reported. It is the drivers responsibility to read and understand the terms. It seems that Miss Hudson is the author of her own misfortune," it said. What Was Hudson Fined So Heavily? Hudson had been using the Copeland Street car park since February 2023 while parking nearby. She said the parking machine was completely out of order", forcing her to pay through a phone app. She did the same thing every day, paying the full 3.30 daily rate every time. Despite this, Excel sent Hudson her first PCN letter, asking her to pay 100 within 28 days, reduced to 60 if she paid within 14 days. She said she paid the initial parking fine to keep them off her back", but then she received nine more PCNs increasing to 1,905.76 added with an extra 70 debt recovery" charge, interest of 8% per annum, a 115 court fee and 80 as legal fees. Excel Parking claimed Hudson took between 14 and 190 minutes to purchase each parking tariff by phone, an average of almost one hour". Hudson said the claim was ludicrous" as the app did not process the payments straight away. The company also said she could have paid cash, but Hudson said the machine was out of order. Hudson said she instead contacted Excel directly, and also a debt recovery service in an attempt to appeal, but was not successful. She is now now facing a court hearing within six months, following a failed mediation attempt. I believe I have got a good case and I believe that it will help not just me, but potentially other people that have been in this situation," she said. What Is Excels Five-Minute Parking Rule? Excels controversial five-minute payment rule for parking has evoked strong reactions over unfair fines. Hudson called the rule unreasonable, saying, I havent got children but I can imagine a busy mum trying to sort her kids out, trying to pay for something when theres no signal here, and the machine being out of order. This has been going on for over a year now, and Im just really hoping it can be resolved." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all However, Excel Parking told BBC that it asks drivers to pay within five minutes to mitigate against abuse from motorists who simply use the car park to drop off and pick up passengers from adjacent retailers". Hudson replied by saying the company cannot justify penalising those drivers who pay for a full days parking. Two British MPs have previously written to Excel Parking with concerns over people being unfairly fined at its other car parks. Jumpin Fun, a business next to the car park, said hundreds of its customers had received PCN letters from Excel Parking. After a parking tablet measure failed, the company now warns customers about the car park in reception and its website. Location : London, United Kingdom (UK) First Published: December 01, 2024, 18:28 IST For half a century, New York City residents have taken out their trash by flinging plastic bags stuffed with stinking garbage straight onto the sidewalk. When the bags inevitably leak or break open, they spill litter into the street, providing smorgasbords for rats. In the winter, the trash mounds get buried in snow and remain frozen in place for days, sometimes weeks, reinforcing the city's reputation as filthy. Now, New Yorkers are slowly adjusting to a radically new routine, at least for America's biggest city: Putting their trash in bins. With lids. In November, covered bins became a requirement for all residential buildings with fewer than 10 living units, the AP reports. That's the majority of residential properties. All city businesses had to start using bins earlier this year. "I know this must sound absurd to anyone listening to this who lives pretty much in any other city in the world," said Jessica Tisch, the city's former sanitation commissioner, who oversaw the new measures before becoming the city's new police commissioner this week. "But it is revolutionary by New York City's standards because, for 50 years, we have placed all our trash directly on the curbs." The bin requirement, which took effect Nov. 12, comes with its own challenges. Among them: Finding a place for large, wheeled bins in neighborhoods where most buildings don't have yards, alleys, or garages. Landlords and homeowners also have to collect the empty bins and bring them back from the curb in the morningsomething you didn't have to do with plastic bags. In the early 20th century, New York City required trash to be placed in metal cans. But in the era before widespread plastic bag use, refuse was thrown directly into the bins, making them filthy and grimy. Then in 1968, the city's sanitation workers went on strike. For more than a week, trash cans overflowed. Garbage mounds piled high on sidewalks and spilled into the streets like some dystopian nightmare. Plastic bag makers donated thousands of bags to help clean up the mess, and New Yorkers never looked back, said Steven Cohen, a Columbia University dean specializing in public affairs. "It had to do with convenience," he said. "After the strike, the sanitation workers preferred the modern advance of lighter and seemingly cleaner sealed plastic bags." story continues below But Democratic Mayor Eric Adams' administration has deemed trash bag mounds Public Enemy No. 1 in his well-documented war against the city's notorious rats, which have little problem getting into a plastic bag. Still, not all residents are convinced. Caitlin Leffel, who lives in Manhattan, said residents of her building had to hire someone "at surprisingly high cost" to bring out the bins the night before and bring them back in. Eventually, the largest residential buildingsthose with more than 31 unitswill have their own designated container on the street. New trash trucks built with automated, side-loading armsanother innovation that is already common in many other localeswill then clear them out. Fines ranging from $50 to $200 will kick in Jan. 2. (More New York City stories.) Kosovo accused neighboring Serbia of a "terrorist act" on Saturday after an explosion at a canal that carries water to two main power plants, temporarily cutting electricity in its cities. Serbia denied the accusation, per Politico Europe , which reports the episode has escalated tensions between the Balkan nations. Serbia's foreign minister answered with a suggestion that Kosovo's government was to blame but provided no evidence of that. Eight people were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the attack in the northern part of the country. Prime Minister Albin Kurti accused criminal elements in Serbia of complicity, also without evidence, per Reuters. "This is not a random attack; it was well-organized and planned by a professional group aiming to maximize the damage done to Kosovo and its citizens," Kosovo's interior minister told reporters. The government was increasing security at strategic sites and working to bolster its water and power supplies. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but Serbia has not recognized its neighbor as independent. A black bag holding about 40 pounds of explosives was left on a section of the aqueduct in Zubin Potok, and the blast was triggered by a wired detonator, police said, per Politico Europe. Police also said they seized a "huge arsenal of weapons," per Deutsche Welle. "This is the single most serious attack on the country's critical infrastructure since the end of the conflict in the country," Xhelal Svecla, the interior minister, said Saturday evening. (More Kosovo stories.) President-elect Trump has picked Kash Patel to serve as FBI director, signaling his intention to oust Christopher Wray and install a fierce loyalist to upend the nation's premier law enforcement agency. Trump has been bitterly critical of the agency, which he has claimed has "lost the confidence of America," per the Washington Post . "I am proud to announce that Kashyap 'Kash' Patel will serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation," Trump posted Saturday night on Truth Social. "Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and 'America First' fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending Justice, and protecting the American People." The selection is in keeping with Trump's view that the government's law enforcement and intelligence agencies require a radical transformation and his stated desire for retribution against supposed adversaries, the AP reports. It shows how Trump, still fuming over years of federal investigations that shadowed his first administration and later led to his indictment, is moving to place atop the FBI and Justice Department close allies he expects to protect rather than scrutinize him. Patel "played a pivotal role in uncovering the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, standing as an advocate for truth, accountability, and the Constitution," Trump wrote Saturday night. It's not clear whether Patel would be confirmed, even by a Republican-led Senate, though Trump has also raised the prospect of using recess appointments to push his selections through. FBI directors serve a 10-year term, and Wray's is not up. So Trump would have to fire him, or Wray would have to resign, before Patel could take over. Proposals made by Patel in the past, if carried out, would lead to convulsive change for an agency tasked not only with investigating violations of federal law but also protecting the country from threats including terrorist attacks and foreign espionage. story continues below He's proposed: Dramatically reducing the FBI's footprint, a perspective that dramatically sets him apart from earlier directors, and has suggested closing the bureau's headquarters in Washington, then reopening it "the next day as a museum of the deep state"Trump's pejorative catch-all for the federal bureaucracy. the FBI's footprint, a perspective that dramatically sets him apart from earlier directors, and has suggested closing the bureau's headquarters in Washington, then reopening it "the next day as a museum of the deep state"Trump's pejorative catch-all for the federal bureaucracy. Aggressively hunting government officials who leak information to reporters and change the law to make it easier to sue journalists. Patel said he and allies "will go out and find the conspirators not just in government but in the media," as well as those he claimed rigged the 2020 election for President Biden. Last year, Patel published a list of "deep state" names in a book entitled Government Gangsters. Promotional materials had a quote from Trump calling it a "blueprint to help us take back the White House and remove these Gangsters from all of Government." The child of Indian immigrants and a former public defender, Patel has held multiple government jobs, per the Post, including counterterrorism adviser in the White House during Trump's first term. (More President-elect Trump stories.) Michigan star: "For such a great game, you hate to see stuff like that," said Michigan running back Kalel Mullings, who rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown. But he put the blame squarely on Ohio State. "At the end of the day, you know some people got tothey got to learn how to lose, man. ... We had 60 minutes, we had four quarters, to do all that fighting." Former Harry Potter film actor Rupert Grint faces a 1.8 million-pound ($2.3 million) bill after he lost a legal battle with the tax authorities, per the AP . Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the magical film franchise, was ordered to pay the money in 2019 after HM Revenue and Customs, the UK tax agency, investigated his tax return from seven years earlier. The agency said Grint had wrongly classed 4.5 million pounds ($5.7 million) in residuals from the moviesmoney from DVD sales, TV syndication, streaming rights, and other sourcesas a capital asset rather than income, which is subject to a much higher tax rate. Lawyers for Grint appealed, but after years of wrangling, a tribunal judge ruled against the actor this week. Judge Harriet Morgan said the money "derived substantially the whole of its value from the activities of Mr. Grint" and "is taxable as income." Grint, 36, starred in all eight Harry Potter films between 2001 and 2011 as the boy wizard's best friend, and is calculated to have earned around 24 million pounds ($30.5 million) from the role. He previously lost a separate court battle over a 1 million pound ($1.3 million) tax refund in 2019. (More Rupert Grint stories.) The first big snowfall of the season blanketed parts of New York, Pennsylvania, and Michigan during the hectic US holiday travel and shopping weekend, with numbing cold and heavy snow forecast to persist through the early part of the week and cause hazards in the Great Lakes, Plains, and Midwest regions. The snowstorm led to an emergency declaration in parts of New York and a disaster declaration in Pennsylvania, the AP reports, with officials warning of dangerous conditions for travelers returning home after Thanksgiving. "Travel will be extremely difficult and hazardous this weekend, especially in areas where multiple feet of snow may accumulate very quickly," the National Weather Service said. A blast of Arctic air brought bitter temperatures of 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit below average to the Northern Plains, the weather service said, prompting cold advisories for parts of North Dakota. Frigid air was expected to move over the eastern third of the US by Monday, with temperatures about 10 degrees below average. Nearly 2 feet of snow fell in parts of New York, Ohio, and Michigan, and 29 inches was recorded in Pennsylvania's northwestern tip. The weather service said Saturday afternoon that the heaviest snow totals were expected "downwind of lakes Erie and Ontario, affecting areas from northeast Ohio, far northwest Pennsylvania, western New York State and portions of northwest New York state." New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state prepared for the storm for days by deploying snowplows and thousands of workers and consulting with utility providers. She also dispatched personnel from other parts of the state. Parts of Erie County in the northwest Pennsylvania received nearly 2 feet of snow with more expected through Monday night. Officials said Sunday that even snowplows were getting stuck in Erie, per the AP. With stretches of roads impassable in northwestern Pennsylvania, scores of travelers took refuge in the lobby and hallways of a Holiday Inn near I-90. Employee Jeremiah Weatherley said workers opened the conference room and gave them blankets. "They just showed up, and we don't want to turn people away," he said. (More winter storm stories.) As senior European Union officials arrived in Kyiv to express their unflinching support for Ukraine's war effort, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a new budget with a record military spending. More than $145 billion of the 2025 budget will go to national defense, a nearly one-third share that's a jump from 28.3% in the current budget, a government website shows. The blueprint was first approved by lawmakers, Politico Europe reports. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has taxed the resources of both nations, per the AP, and the EU reassured its ally Sunday on funding help. One of the highlights at the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) currently underway in Beijing is the exhibition of the XPeng X2, the world's first flying car developed by Chinese electric vehicle maker XPeng. The two-seater aircraft is transported and recharged by the company's Land Aircraft Carrier, an electric-powered truck. "XPeng's flying car is a testament to our commitment to creating the safest and smartest cars for individual users, providing the best solutions for human urban transportation," said Chen Han, vice president of XPeng. "We aim to achieve the lowest energy consumption and the fastest charging speed." The flying car, which does not produce any carbon dioxide emissions during flight, was demonstrated at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition earlier this month. Chen mentioned that the company has received more than 2,000 preorders since the airshow, the highest number for any flying car, and they hope to deliver them all to customers by 2026. Beyond the flying car, the expo spotlighted other aspects of smart vehicle technology. Exhibitors including global players like Bosch, Volvo, BYD and Xiaomi showcased new products and technologies, emphasizing the comprehensive and innovative nature of the smart vehicle sector spanning from raw materials to finished products. The event also underscored the depth and sophistication of China's supply chain in the intelligent connected vehicle (ICV) sector, which combines automotive, electronics and communication technologies. Zhang Shaogang, vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), noted the strategic emergence of this sector as a pivotal element in the global automotive industry. "In recent years, China has actively advanced the automotive industry's transformation toward electrification, connectivity and intelligence. It has reinforced the industrial ecosystem, intensified supply chain collaboration and enhanced technological innovation," Zhang said. "The country has developed a comprehensive industry framework, including key components like base chips, sensors and computing platforms, thereby accelerating the progression of the ICV industry." "The Chinese government highly values international exchanges, vigorously promotes trade and investment cooperation, leads in establishing technical regulations like electric vehicle safety and battery durability, and shares development opportunities and benefits globally," he added. Yao Jie, chief supervisor of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, pointed to the substantial advancements in China's automotive industry. The nation has pioneered new energy and intelligent connected vehicles on a global scale, driven by continuous innovation and an extensive industrial framework encompassing key technologies like sensors and computing platforms. He also noted that China's automotive industry has transitioned from project to product competition, and now to brand competition. Chinese brands, including new energy vehicles, now match or even surpass multinational and globally recognized brands in certain areas, signifying a new phase in brand competition. He emphasized that a complete, resilient and dynamic supply chain with sustainable development is crucial in supporting and enhancing the competitiveness of Chinese brands. However, on Oct. 29, the EU announced a controversial decision to impose tariffs of up to 45.3% on Chinese-made EVs for at least five years. China does not approve of or accept the decision and has appealed to the WTO. Since then, Chinese and EU technical teams have been engaging in several rounds of discussions to find a proper resolution. Kaan Masatc, an automotive industry specialist in the Investment Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkiye, encouraged Chinese EV makers to establish operations in Turkiye. He highlighted benefits such as inclusion in the EU tax system and customs union, which allows products manufactured in Turkiye to be sold directly to the EU without European regulatory constraints. Additionally, Turkiye has free trade agreements with 13 countries and imposes no customs duties on entries, fostering a symbiotic relationship. Masatc, after extensive discussions with Chinese carmakers, sees significant potential for Chinese technology to aid in the transformation of Turkiye's automotive industry, aligning with the global shift toward electrification and facilitating supply chain reforms. At a smart vehicle-themed event on Nov. 27, Long Chuanhong, president of the CCPIT Patent and Trademark Law Office, introduced the Research Report on Overseas Trademark Registration and Protection of China's EV Enterprises, noting that China's NEV industry has rapidly advanced, leading production and sales globally. By mid-November, China had become the first country to produce over 10 million NEVs annually. Chen Hongbing, director of the Madrid Operations Division of the World Intellectual Property Organization, emphasized the significance of the report, encouraging attendees to consider its recommendations for strategically managing trademarks overseas to mitigate risks and protect rights. He noted that for nearly a century, leading automotive firms have efficiently and cost-effectively used the Madrid System to register trademarks in over 130 countries. Chen urged Chinese automotive companies to leverage this system to protect their brands. Moreover, a collective initiative was launched at the expo, led by Geely Holding Group, with the aim of jointly creating a future of low-carbon smart mobility. This effort saw participation from major companies like Bosch and Rio Tinto, indicating strong industrywide commitment to sustainable development. Shen Yuan, senior vice president and CTO of Geely Holding Group, outlined a strategic approach focused on creating a green supply chain, fostering innovation-driven growth, and building an ecosystem conducive to smart mobility. The initiative envisions enhanced international cooperation and engagement in global standards development, aligning with broader goals to promote greener, smarter automotive solutions worldwide. SYDNEY, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- A man will appear in court on Sunday after being charged following the alleged murders of two people in Sydney's west, police said. Police arrested a 31-year-old man at a home in Canley Heights, a suburb of Sydney about 30 km west of the city's central business district, about 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, New South Wales Police said in a statement. At about 9:40 a.m. on Saturday, police were called to a shop on Oxford Street, Cambridge Park, a suburb of Sydney about 53 km west of the city's central business district, following reports of an assault, the statement said. Police officers attended and found the bodies of a 69-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman, it said. The 31-year-old man was taken to Fairfield Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of murder and was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Sunday. Police will allege in court all three people were known to each other, according to the statement. The Sydney Morning Herald identified the two victims as Hoa Tek Chiem, 69, and Heang Kim Gau, 68, a married couple who ran the Buzzy Bee Burger House in Cambridge Park. Officers arrested Allan Chiem at his Canley Heights home shortly after midnight, the newspaper reported. More than two years of negotiations came to nothing early Monday when 200 or so nations gathered in South Korea to find ways to reduce plastic pollution couldn't reach an agreement. Nearly 100 countries urged phasing out the use of plastic, and oil-producing nations warned of the cost to global development while environmentalists and plastic industry representatives watched from the sidelines, per the Washington Post. Meeting Chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso said that though progress had been made, "we must also recognize that a few critical issues still prevent us from reaching a comprehensive agreement." Negotiators expect to try again next year, the BBC reports. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Arrives in Kuwait for the 45th GCC Summit His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Arrives in Kuwait for the 45th GCC Summit TDT | Manama Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, has arrived in the State of Kuwait to lead Bahrains delegation at the 45th Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit. The summit brings together leaders from the GCC member states to discuss pressing regional issues and future cooperation. HRH the Crown Prince is representing His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at this significant regional event. The summit is expected to focus on vital areas of cooperation, including security, economic development, and regional stability. Bahrain continues to play a pivotal role in supporting these efforts, contributing to the GCCs collective vision for a prosperous and unified Gulf region. Mahir Haneef TDT| Manama His Excellency Yousif bin Abdulhussain Khalaf, Minister of Legal Affairs and Acting Labour Minister, has emphasised the transformative role of Bahraini women in shaping the Kingdoms development journey. Their remarkable achievements, he noted, are the result of steadfast support from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the diligent follow-up by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. H.E. Minister Khalaf hailed the visionary leadership and initiatives of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), chaired by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Consort of His Majesty the King. The SCW has been instrumental in advancing womens empowerment and ensuring their active participation in the Kingdoms progress, the minister noted. Empowered Through Vision The Supreme Council for Women has charted a clear path for Bahraini women, enabling them to thrive across various fields, Minister Khalaf said. He praised the councils dedication to enhancing womens roles in society and fostering a culture of excellence and leadership. This vision, the minister added, has propelled Bahraini women to the forefront of innovation and achievement. From public service to private enterprise, Bahraini women continue to set benchmarks of success, embodying resilience and creativity in their endeavours. A Nations Pride H.E. Minister Khalaf highlighted that the accomplishments of Bahraini women are not only a reflection of their dedication but also of the Kingdoms commitment to gender equity. Their leadership across diverse sectors has made them a source of national pride, symbolising Bahrains progressive ethos. These achievements are a testament to the determination and capabilities of Bahraini women, he said. They have become a symbol of excellence, innovation, and leadership, setting an example for future generations. A Collective Effort The minister underscored the importance of continued support from national institutions and policies that prioritise womens empowerment. He noted that Bahrains developmental aspirations are closely tied to the contributions of its women, whose success stories resonate across the region and beyond. With the unwavering backing of the SCW and the Kingdoms leadership, Bahraini women remain at the heart of Bahrains progress, exemplifying the nations commitment to inclusive growth and sustainable development. Their achievements, Minister Khalaf concluded, serve as an inspiration not only within Bahrain but also on the global stage, reinforcing the Kingdoms standing as a leader in advancing gender equality. ISLAMABAD, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistani military said on Sunday that eight terrorists and two security members were killed in two separate military operations in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the last three days. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the army, said in a statement that an intelligence-based operation was conducted in Baka Khel area of Bannu district of the province. During the operation, troops effectively raided terrorists' location, killing five terrorists and injuring nine others. In another operation, three terrorists were killed and two others detained by security forces in Shagai area of Khyber district. One soldier lost his life in the first operation, and a captain-ranked officer sacrificed his life in the second operation. The killed terrorists were involved in terrorist activities against security forces and innocent civilians, the ISPR said. KIEV/MOSCOW, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- In a significant shift of stance on a potential ceasefire after 33 months of conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated for the first time that Kiev could accept Russian control over some of its territories in exchange for its membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Ukraine's new posture is widely seen as a response to Donald Trump's victory in the latest U.S. presidential election, while its aspiration to join NATO has further dimmed as the differences between Zelensky's peace plan and Trump's policy remain substantial. MAJOR CONCESSION In an interview with Sky News, Zelensky responded to a question about U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's suggestion that Ukraine cede Russian-occupied land to join NATO, saying that Ukraine must bring unoccupied territories under NATO protection first and pursue the return of occupied lands diplomatically. "If we want to stop the intense phase of the war, we need to bring the unoccupied territories of Ukraine under the NATO umbrella," Zelensky said. "We need to act as soon as possible, and then we can diplomatically get the occupied lands back." According to the text of a letter seen by Reuters on Friday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has also urged his NATO counterparts to send an invitation to Kiev at a meeting in Brussels next week to join the Western military alliance. "The invitation should not be seen as an escalation," Sybiha wrote in the letter. "On the contrary, with a clear understanding that Ukraine's membership in NATO is inevitable, Russia will lose one of its main arguments for continuing this unjustified war." Ukraine says it accepts that it cannot join the alliance until the war is over, but extending an invitation now would show Russian President Vladimir Putin that he could not achieve one of his main goals -- preventing Kiev from becoming a NATO member, said a Reuters report. Despite the change of stance, the Russian side seems to have a very low-profile response toward Zelensky's statement as the Kremlin has so far been silent on his remarks. Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Russian State Duma, however, called on Ukrainian politicians to abandon their ambition to join NATO. Moscow will no longer allow Western countries to "arm Kiev under the guise of an agreement," he said on his Telegram channel. "Kiev is seeking to join NATO, this is the key to moving forward, not the end of the war. The idea of freezing the conflict is also unacceptable." TRUMP FACTOR "He (Zelensky) knows that Trump is about to descend on him and on Russia. He is already arranging to have something to offer," Tony Brenton, former British ambassador to Russia, told the Independent, praising Zelensky for "playing a very sophisticated game." Despite the promise Trump has made to end the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in "24 hours," he has hardly elaborated on that plan. But by appointing Keith Kellogg, a former national security advisor and retired lieutenant general in the U.S. military, as his special envoy to Ukraine, one can get a glimpse of it. In April, Kellogg co-authored a plan called "America First: Russia & Ukraine," which would freeze the front lines in Ukraine and pressure both Kiev and Moscow to come to the negotiating table. In the plan, released by the America First Policy Institute, Kellogg noted that "To this day, America lacks a defense treaty with Ukraine and it is not a NATO ally. Intervening in the war in Ukraine lacked a clear, vital U.S. national interest." The United States would continue to arm Ukraine and strengthen its defenses to ensure Russia would make no further advances and would not attack again after a ceasefire or peace agreement, he said, adding that future American military aid will require Ukraine to participate in peace talks with Russia. To convince Russia to join peace talks, NATO leaders should offer to hold off on Ukraine's NATO membership application. Additionally, Russia could be offered some sanctions relief, on the condition that it signs a peace agreement with Ukraine, he added. The differences between Zelensky's peace plan and Trump's policy are still substantial, but by engaging with the idea of a ceasefire and painful territorial sacrifices, the Ukrainian leader is doing his utmost to sound constructive, said a BBC report. SHAKY PROSPECT Ukraine has been on a declared path towards NATO membership since the 2008 Bucharest Summit, where NATO allies agreed that Ukraine would eventually join the alliance. But it has not issued a formal invitation or set out a timeline. At their 2024 Washington summit, NATO members reaffirmed that they would continue to support "its irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership" and that they would be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the Alliance when "members agree and conditions are met." Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine's deputy prime minister in charge of NATO affairs, said Kiev understood that the consensus for an invitation to join NATO "is not yet there" but the letter was meant to send a strong political signal. "We have sent a message to the allies that an invitation is not off of the table, regardless of different manipulations and speculations around that," she told Reuters. Ukraine's accession to the alliance largely depends on the approval of the United States, but as Trump is set to take office in less than two months, that possibility has further dimmed. It made no sense even to allude to supporting eventual NATO membership for Ukraine, as this would require a unanimous vote of NATO members, which at the time was highly unlikely, Kellogg said in his plan. Ukraine also needed to meet stiff membership requirements, including democratic and military reforms that included aligning the Ukrainian military with NATO equipment, he said. "Ukraine retains its independent sovereignty, Russia gets the guarantee of neutrality from Ukraine -- it doesn't join NATO, it doesn't join some of these allied institutions. That is what the deal is ultimately going to look something like," U.S. Vice President-elect J.D. Vance has said. Absecon authorities have arrested a driver for allegedly hitting a 25-year-old resident and his dog before fleeing the scene Saturday. Byron A. Jones, 52, of Mays Landing, struck the man and his dog at the intersection of Highland Boulevard and Marlborough Avenue shortly after midnight, according to a press release from the Absecon Police Department. The incident resulted in about four hours of traffic disruption in the area. The man was left with life threatening injuries and his dog died following the hit-and-run, authorities said. The victim was brought to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, police said. NJ Advance Media is not identifying the man to maintain his privacy. His condition was not immediately available. Jones fled the scene in his vehicle, prompting a 911 call from a passing motorist, officials said. After searching the area, police located Jones vehicle. He was arrested following a motor vehicle stop, police said. The incident remains under investigation. Authorities did not provide attorney information for Jones. Police are asking anyone with information to contact lead traffic investigator, Officer DaZhon Bethea with the Traffic Safety Unit at 609-641-0667 ext. 214. Anonymous tips can be given to Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or by texting TIPCOP plus the tip to 274637. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com. Stockton University is set to join an exclusive international club. It will be part of a new initiative between the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway, and the National Collegiate Honors Council. The Partners in Peace initiative recognizes institutions for creating curricula that highlight the work of Alfred Nobel and recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize. Stockton officials also believe the new program will help students lead discussions and activities at the school and in the community surrounding the peaceful resolution of issues. Its a really wonderful opportunity for the school and students, Joshua Duntley, director of Stocktons Honors College, told NJ Advance Media. It means that our students are able to interact with scholars from around the world. It really launches our program from being more of a local space to being very international. Stockton joins a total of 16 schools including California State University, Los Angeles and Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. Stockton was recognized after submitting a new honors program, Partners in Peace, that will explore the history of the Nobel prize and the work and impact of its Laureates. Students will use Nobel Peace Prize winners as inspiration for the development of programs and solutions to challenges faced by the school and the local community, officials said. We are very excited and thankful to partner with the NCHC, which allows us to connect with a wide range of students and educators who are passionate about making a difference, Kjersti Flgstad, executive director of the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway, said in a statement. Together, we can inspire meaningful conversations about peace and foster a spirit of dialogue, collaboration and learning. Duntley said the designation will allow Stockton students to participate in virtual Nobel Knowledge Cafes multiple times each semester. Students will connect with other institutions to talk about the pursuit of peace. Duntley said in the most recent cafe, Stockton students spoke with the former head of the Nobel selection committee. The NCHC is so honored to be able to work with the Nobel Peace Center and these institutions, Eddie Weller, president of the NCHC, said in the statement. This is a monumental program that allows these colleges and universities to offer transformative courses and activities, which should not only change student lives, but also improve the surrounding community. The Nobel Prize has been awarded annually to individuals and organizations making significant contributions to chemistry, literature, medicine, peace and physics since 1901. Nobel began amassing his personal fortune in 1866 after he invented dynamite. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism you rely on and trust. Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. Will the hatchet finally be buried in the sand? Only time will tell. One Jersey Shore town and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection are expected to soon end a decade-long battle thats so far meant millions of dollars in fines and litigation, as well as an impromptu sea wall construction, several letters and plenty of emergency beach work. North Wildwoods City Council is expected to approve a global settlement agreement Tuesday that would rectify all existing disputes between the state and the city, Mayor Patrick Rosenello told NJ Advance Media on Saturday. This really goes back to when Governor (Phil) Murphy got involved in the spring. At the time, we were working on the emergency beach replenishment project and he had indicated that he wanted to have a global settlement to all of the outstanding issues, Rosenello, a Republican, said on the phone. Noting how the city wanted the same, Rosenello said those settlement conversations continued and, like the emergency beach repairs themselves, have held up well since the spring. Following Tuesdays vote, if approved, Rosenello said the NJDEP will have to approve and finalize the settlement. Spokespeople with the state department could not be immediately reached Saturday, but in the past have declined to comment on the ongoing litigation. At the center of the disagreement between the parties is North Wildwood ostensibly being the only Jersey Shore town since Hurricane Sandy struck in 2012 to not get a major beach replenishment from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. That federal work has been stalled by some neighboring Cape May County towns not approving beach dune work right away as well as a lengthy process to get property owners to sign off on beach access for the massive sand protection construction, state and local officials have previously outlined. The back-and-forth escalated last year when the NJDEP fined North Wildwood $12.8 million for beach fixes it was cited for in 2020. The state deemed those fixes harmful to the Jersey Shores coast, noting how erosion on the citys shoreline may have worsened because of the physical structures built. Local officials and a city engineer disputed that. North Wildwood at one point countersued the state DEP devolving the situation into a $30 million legal battle as the mayor sought reimbursement for beach replenishment work he said the city and local taxpayers had to cover over the years. A copy of the latest settlement was not available right away, but Rosenello said it will include North Wildwood contributing $1 million to the larger Five Mile Island project which may start construction next year and cost upwards of $40 million. The city will also pay $700,000 into a state water pollution control fund. The mayor said that money is meant to clear up all outstanding penalties faced by North Wildwood over potential harm past bulkhead construction could have meant for nearby wildlife. In the agreement, we do not admit to any of the damage ... but in the spirit of a global settlement, we agreed to make this contribution, Rosenello said. Tuesdays vote is expected to clear the way for North Wildwood to finish extending a sea wall from 3rd to 7th Avenues. Local officials confirmed Saturday that the latest settlement agreement and future beach replenishment work will cost the city its storied Lou Booth Amphitheater on 2nd and Ocean Avenues. Instead of the beloved free outdoor concert venue that seats about 300 people, vegetation will be planted and the area will be returned to nature, the mayor said. We had been trying for several years to finalize some permitting to re-do Lou Booth Amphitheater because its in very, very bad shape. Because of its proximity to dunes and there are also some wetlands there, it was becoming very difficult to meet all the criteria for a permit, Rosenello said. Dozens decried the decision over the amphitheater in a local social media group and a petition has already been launched in response to news the venue was in jeopardy. The Lou Booth Amphitheater is far more than just a landmark for those of us from Wildwood, organizers wrote online, pointing to events held there since the 1970s, it is a cornerstone of our community that holds cherished memories for countless individuals. Whats different this time? Gov. Murphy has been frank about the situation in North Wildwood. Before emergency work over the summer, about 10 blocks of the citys 36-block beach were gone at high tide due to periodic erosion. Experts have warned the erosion has been exacerbated by climate change. The erosion problem is real ... theres no question about that, the Democratic governor said in a March 13 appearance on WNYCs Ask Governor Murphy. But the problem is the approach that the mayor has wanted to pursue versus what our Department of Environmental Protection has wanted to pursue are two different approaches. While the situation appears to have calmed, talks of a settlement arent new. In the fall of 2023, Rosenello said fully resolving the dispute was on the table but that agreement later fell apart. Whats different this time? Certainly the governors involvement back in the spring, the state working cooperatively with us on the emergency shore protection, and then, of course, the future shore protections, Rosenello said Saturday, adding more details will released on future beach repairs. We have an agreement, he continued. All of the outstanding issues have been pretty much talked through, and its just a matter of our city council approving it and the state approving it. So, I feel pretty confident about it this time. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Steven Rodas may be reached at srodas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X at @stevenrodasnj. When the XPRIZE Foundation, which gives incentives for technological breakthroughs, challenged scientists to record the biodiversity of rainforests, 300 teams signed up. The stakes were high, as the most successful group in the six-year competition would win $5 million. Six teams gathered for 24 hours in July for the finalists challenge, to see who could count the most species in a square kilometer of Amazon rainforest. Without ever setting foot in it. Two days later, all the pictures, DNA strands, and audio recordings had been catalogued. The winners were announced last in mid-November at the G20 Social Summit in Rio de Janeiro. The winning team included a New Jersey professor who specializes in fish that deliver weak electrical charges. More importantly at least in the Amazon hes a whiz at soldering. Eric Fortune, 57, a neuroscience professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, was the teams lead systems engineer. He developed sensors and control networks for the teams ten drones that landed in the rainforest canopy to collect data. He also developed an early version of the teams camera contraption that uses a white screen to attract bugs from the forest canopy. They found 250,000. The real reward is that this work can have a lasting impact on these vital ecosystems and the communities that depend on them, Fortune said. Its what drew us to this competition in the first place. The Limelight Rainforest team, named after the bright insect traps, was founded by Colorado Mesa University biology professor Thomas Walla. Walla said Fortune was a key player in all the teams innovation, as he built prototypes for collecting the sounds of the rainforest and for capturing insects to be photographed. Eric is a brilliant out of the box thinker who melds his creative work in neuroscience with his passion for the wildest and most diverse ecosystems on earth, Walla said. Our team would not have existed without Eric Fortunes boundless optimism and willingness to engage with technology to solve ecological problems...His work is really quite miraculous. The team of more than 50 experts planned to treat the habitat like a crime scene, collecting 45 liters of water by dropping tubes down from the drones to sample stream water. If mammals, birds or insects had eaten tree leaves or left droppings in the area, their DNA reached the water. The team would also record bird songs and bat signals, and using artificial intelligence, recognized tree species from pictures of the canopy. For the finals, the Limelight scientists traveled to Manaus, Brazil, then by boat up the Rio Negro, to a hut. They sent out ten drones, five with camera traps, five with insect traps And from there, everything just worked, Fortune said. More accurately, when things broke, he helped fix them. I was the MacGyver, he said, as he was in charge of the teams electricity, its ethernet and other networks, and anything that no one else wanted to do. During the competition he used his bag of thousands of spare parts to attach USB connectors to cables and keep the machines running smoothly. We were prepared for a lot of different categories of failure, and we overcame all the little failures that came up, he said. The team had another advantage: close relationships with the Quichua and Waorani Indigenous groups, who had reviewed thousands of sounds and images of the rainforest species, validating the teams AI identifications. Our Indigenous team members are the true masters of this knowledge, Fortune said. We were certain our AI was trained well because we had the worlds top experts validating the data that we fed into the AI. The team collected 27 million DNA strands as evidence of who had passed by, and found more than 250 species. It also identified 23,000 individual trees. Fortune, whose academic work has titles like Duet singing in plain-tailed wrens and Feedback Control in Weakly Electric Fishes, took a circuitous path to the project. He had visited Ecuador in high school, and when a professor colleague at Johns Hopkins University got called to serve in the Air National Guard after the 9/11 attacks, Fortune stepped in to take his place running a fieldwork trip in the South American country. He spent half his career there studying birds, and joined NJITs growing biology department in 2013. A scientist in Ecuador recommended Fortune for the XPRIZE team, given his time spent on the side of a volcano in a cloud forest, where he gained expertise in engineering equipment in rainforest habitats. The prize money will be divided among the team; Fortune is thankful that the winnings will cover his trip expenses, as he paid his way for the competition. He is already helping develop some of the teams technology for broader use, by nonprofits, indigenous communities, and other groups working to conserve the rainforest. Hes even discussing using the teams tools that measure biodiversity in a way that could improve barren areas in the United States, like the parking lots of big box stores. I want to provide a mechanism to incentivize making those spaces less of biodiversity deserts, he said, adding that his building overlooks an experiment that allowed natural flora to grow in a few empty planters. Theyre now overflowing. A system where companies could earn credit for increasing biodiversity on their properties could work elegantly, he said. Looking back, he felt lucky to be part of the hilarious, entertaining, thought-provoking competition. Ive never had more fun in my life, he said. Being part of this crazy adventure over three years has been an enormous learning experience, with so many twists and turns. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Tina Kelley may be reached at tkelley@njadvancemedia.com. Melida Rodas, Jersey Citys newly minted poet laureate, knows pain and the feeling of not fitting in ... (being) on the fringes. And she wants her words to ease the discomfort endured by marginalized and downtrodden communities. I wrote about pain (when I was younger), but now as time goes on my work as evolved that I want to reach out to the people on the fringes and say that you are loved, said Rodas, who came to Bayonne from Guatamala as a 7-year-old, not knowing a word of English. You are so loved. Once your heart is a little more pacified, then its like How can I pay this forward now? ... I can still write about pain but its more about bringing us together. If someone didnt know how to do that, I want to be the one to do that." Rodas' two-year appointment was approved by the Jersey City Council earlier this month. The poet laureate role entails promoting literary arts and fostering community engagement through poetry. When I was given the title, my initial response was gratitude, says Rodas. I began reflecting on how I got here and looked back on the work Ive done in my neighborhood with the children there and the women from the various shelters. My teachers, Ms. (Antoinette) Deluca (and guidance counselor) Mr. (Charles) Nuziale, and (NJCU) Professor (Edvige) Giunta are three people that I cant thank enough for pointing me in the right direction. Giunta wrote the nominating letter for Rodas, who punctuated Mayor Steve Fulops initial inauguration ceremony in 2013 with her poem There in a City, Our Jersey City. What I soon understood was that Melida was not a student in need of training; she was a rare born writer, one of a kind, and my job as her teacher was to create a space for her to tell her stories, Giunta wrote. When she read her work aloud, the class listened intently, transported into the world she evoked seemingly effortlessly. Rodas says shes ready to hit the ground running and already has the citys blessing to hold a Jersey City Poetry Festival in September 2025. And a year before she was selected as poet laureate, Rodas was lobbying for poetry installations in city parks. Last year I reached out to Bharka Patel, director of the citys Department of Infrastructure and said I would love to see the work of the children and other Jersey City poets, emerging and established, in the city parks, said Rodas, an New Jersey City University graduate. So now (after being named poet laureate) I look forward to picking up our conversations and collaborating with city agencies and other organizations to bring some of these exciting ideas to life. While Rodas is quick to credit teachers and mentors along the way, her journey began when she and her family arrived in Bayonne in 1979. My mother worked in a rug factory and my father was a dishwasher, said Rodas, who had two Jersey Journal paper routes as a kid. We were here on a green card, which meant we were on borrowed time. She says there were moments where I would wonder if either of my parents were coming home after work due to the raids taking place ... on illegal immigrants. She quickly overcame the language barrier, but growing up in Bayonne in the 1980s, there was the sense of not fitting in. It makes you become a little bit introverted. A sense of not belonging, it puts you in the fringes. I remember an Irish boy who lived on the same block spit in my face, just because my family wasnt from here, she said. In school, it wasnt until fourth grade where we had another Latino student, also from Guatemala, where I thought now, I have a friend. Rodas found solace in books It was going to the library. The library was my church. At first its a lonely place ... but then you actually start to embrace it and you love that solitude. Her own toughest critic, Rodas chose psychology over the arts as a major after high school. But she gravitated toward classes in creative writing and art as elective course, and her teachers took notice. Whats your major?' they would say. Youre good at this! Rodas didnt graduate with a psychology degree. In fact, it wasnt until years later that she returned to school and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a teaching degree. By the time I owned those things, that I am a writer, I am an artist, I was a mom, she said. I raised my baby. But I came back. Rodas has a long history of collaborating with local organizations on creative projects that celebrate the community and has received numerous awards and accolades, including the Jersey City Woman of Action Award in 2023. She also helped women create handmade books and poetry as part of Ken Mare High Schools partnership with the York Street Project, serving women from homeless shelters. They were the ones who taught me, says Rodas. I remember sharing something personal on my first day there, because I needed them to see me at my most vulnerable to resonate with them. After that, I cried in my car at the steering wheel because I couldnt believe what they were carrying inside of themselves. Rodas co-founded Greenville Arts Crossroads, a grassroots poetry and arts organization aimed at connecting, uplifting and inspiring creative talent in Hudson County. She says her work is about raising other peoples voices. My role has always been How do we give voice to people who do not have a voice? Additionally, Rodas has held teaching positions at All Saints Catholic Academy and Saint Peters Universitys 21st Century program, an after-school program that teaches art and poetry. At Infinite Therapy Solutions, located in Bayonne, she currently hold various positions, including education and community engagement coordinator, where she leads community initiatives dedicated to supporting neurodivergent children. An excerpt from Melida Rodas' Elefante - Mocosita A Multimedia Body of Work Incorporating memoir, pottery, poetry, projections, sculpture, intaglio prints, photography and music: A kiln is a womb delivering an art object. While the kiln incubates the mud, a potter can peek at its innards by means of a spyhole. Inside everything glows the color of ambers. A long cooling-down process must end before I can reach inside to release a finished vessel. Removing it prematurely will cause the earthenware to shatter. September begins with me in the ceramic studio, an apron tied around my waist. The old shoes I reserve for studio work make little noise in this vast space. Where do I begin? Ive not held the clay in years. Feels like a distant friend or a song Ive forgotten the words to but can still recall its melody. Memory. What do I remember? What do I want to tell you? How? I reach inside a barrel. Working the clay I listen closely to this wet, nothingness mass. What will it say to me? How will I translate it? I am the messenger. The in-between. I am here, yet there again. My Childhood 1977 In the evenings we could hear the lulling hum of a distant bus, a man tiredly jingling his keys before entering his home, a cricket, a toad, the whisper of a wind-taken tree, a Guatemalan ballad escaping like incense from a nearby window. My papa would return home late again. This is when my mama would tickle me with fairy tales and legends. I begged her to invent stories for me involving La Mocosita. Mocosita was an elephant I adored For weeks, drones have been flying at night over sections of northern New Jersey, sometimes traveling in groups, leaving residents frustrated at the lack of information. Nancy Read, who lives on Ironia Road in Mendham, told NJ Advance Media on Sunday that she has been seeing groups of drones for long periods of time between 8 and 10 p.m. near the Randolph Regional Animal Shelter. One is stationery, the others are in and out of the tree line, she said in a Facebook message. Its strange. Theyre out there for hours, never during the day. Mike Walsh, who lives on the border of Randolph, Chester and Mendham, first heard the drones overhead Nov. 18. Hes seen them daily since, except for Thanksgiving, and one snowy night. He estimated the larger ones were the size of a car. One night he drove over to a ridge near Black River Middle School in Chester, where he counted eight drones flying at once. He also saw multiple drones above Randolphs Company 4 Firehouse on Dover-Chester Road. I dont know if theyre casing stuff, or worse, said Walsh, who reported the drones to Mendham and Randolph police. They said they were getting briefed, but theyre not giving any answers, he said. Morris Township police notified residents last week that an investigation was underway and asked for reports of additional sightings. The Morris County Prosecutors Office directed inquiries to the FBI Newark field office, which did not respond to emailed requests for information over the weekend. The FBI confirmed an ongoing investigation to the Daily Record. At Picatinny Arsenal in Rockaway Township, home of U.S. Army research and development laboratories, officials were investigating reports of drones overhead on Nov. 18, according to official comment given to The War Zone, a news site covering the military. Messages left with the Federal Aviation Administration, local police and Picatinny Arsenal were not immediately returned. All I can say is its very weird, Read said. Even more weird that no one can track them or find out who they are and what theyre doing. Staff reporter Eric Conklin contributed reporting. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Tina Kelley may be reached at tkelley@njadvancemedia.com. Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com. Looks like Sen. Chuck Schumer let the bigots get away with it: The Majority Leader just brokered a deal that sold out President Bidens Muslim American judicial pick from New Jersey for a pittance. After the man endured one of the ugliest and most disingenuous smear campaigns in recent history in which Republicans and their dark money allies spent nearly a year casting Adeel Mangi, a respected corporate lawyer from Jersey City, as a terrorist-loving, cop-hating flamethrower his nomination now appears dead. But thats not all. As part of this deal, Schumer also apparently handed four of Bidens critical appellate judge nominations including Mangis to Donald Trump instead. Which means were about to have a MAGA judge on the powerful appellate court that represents New Jersey, Bidens home state of Delaware, and Pennsylvania, who will have final say on virtually all the cases in these states. It would clinch the Republican majority on the Third Circuit, which has the last word on virtually all consequential issues, from the integrity of our elections to civil rights and environmental protections. And for what? Schumer apparently traded this all away in exchange for the dubious optics of confirming a handful of lower ranking district court judges. That, and believe it or not the added benefit of not having to work long hours over the holidays. So, this isnt just bigotry, folks. And the cowardice of some key Democrats who folded in the face of these lies. Its political malfeasance. Republicans didnt create this mess all on their own, even with the vile and cartoonish attacks on Mangi. This is ultimately a story about Democratic leadership, and how it turned what should have been a swift confirmation into a judicial catastrophe. Shame on everyone who demonized lawyer Adeel Mangi, & especially on Senators who knew better but opposed his judicial nomination claiming concerns. The claims are bogus. This opposition really was to a Muslim becoming a U.S. appellate judge, or just pandering to such animus. https://t.co/i8Pnl51SPk John Q. Barrett (@JohnQBarrett) November 24, 2024 Schumers office did not respond last week to our inquiries about this debacle. Other key players, including the White House, were apparently not consulted about the deal, multiple sources told us. All Schumer has argued publicly is that these four appellate court nominees, including Mangi, didnt have the votes to be confirmed, so he decided to prioritize a deal for more than triple the number of additional judges moving forward, a spokesman said. He might say this wasnt incompetence, that he got something for nothing because Democrats were defecting on the bigger nominees, and that it will allow for speedier confirmations of other judges bringing the president within range of the 234 total judicial confirmations during Donald Trump s first term. But thats no excuse. The objective all along should have been to prioritize the far more powerful circuit court seats by either calling for a swift vote on Mangi before all these dirty tricks solidified the opposition, or if he couldnt get the votes, by replacing him with another nominee who could. And once the decision was made to stick with Mangi and the others, Schumer should have fought like a wildcat to get them confirmed. Key members of his caucus had indicated theyd be receptive to confirming Mangi in the lame duck period after the election, a Senate aide told us. Absences by Republicans have also allowed Biden to get other lower ranking district court judges confirmed even as some Democrats have opposed the picks. While votes on the more important appellate nominees require more advance notice, Schumer had prime opportunities during the summer and fall to try this, the aide said. Whether he had a clear route to success or not, he should have been committed to finding out. If more aggressive scheduling had happened on this vote, we might not be in this situation right now to begin with, said Jake Faleschini, a program director with the liberal judicial advocacy group Alliance for Justice. Think about it: What would Mitch McConnell do? Democrats need to play hardball too. If Democratic Senators are already rolling over this easily while they still have power, we are in for trouble when Trump actually assumes office, Maggie Jo Buchanan of the liberal advocacy group Demand Justice said in a statement. Certainly, theres plenty of shame to go around here. Democrats who prioritized their own political ambitions, like Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada, deserve their share too. In the face of a nasty smear campaign, they felt the need to publicly announce their opposition to Mangi, only making his path harder in lame duck. What this ultimately amounts to, though, is Schumer trading away four of the most powerful court seats for next to nothing because while Republicans have been dragging out the confirmations of the lower district court nominees, which would have forced everybody to work long hours over the holidays, they couldnt have stopped them entirely. What should have been done instead is, Democrats should have stayed in nights, weekends, whatever it took, to get votes on all of them. And trading off these four circuits is a bad trade, Faleschini of Alliance for Justice told us. This was a failure of leadership, and of principle. What Democrats have made is the worst possible series of choices. Minority candidates for judgeships who are making bank in the private sector will look at this campaign of attacks, and this farcical outcome, and wonder why they would ever put themselves through something like that. And there will be a hell of a price to be paid for this including in New Jersey if these powerful seats are now filled by extremists. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Gov. Phil Murphy ordered a hiring freeze last week, and a pay freeze, and hes asked department heads to prepare for tough times next year by shrinking their budgets by 5 percent. He cant say he wasnt warned. The latest alarm came two years ago, when a bipartisan think tank stuffed with experts who have managed past budgets told him that he was racing towards a brick wall. He shrugged it off and kept his foot on the gas. This is exactly where we said wed be, says former Senate President Steve Sweeney, a centrist Democrat who co-founded the think tank at Rowan University and is now running for governor. Its not partisan. Its just about the numbers. The numbers are indeed ugly. The state this year is spending about $2 billion more than its taking in. And Murphys own Department of Treasury says next year will be about twice as bad, without a course correction. In other words, the governor seems to agree now that its time to hit those brakes. His final budget is going to be his most painful. Where will the casualties turn up? My guess is that the most vulnerable program is the pet project of Speaker Craig Coughlin, Stay NJ, an expensive plan to give seniors gigantic credits that could reach $6,500 a year when combined with other property tax breaks. Its a regressive design, giving breaks even to wealthy seniors earning up to $500,000 a year. Its expensive, costing about $1.3 billion a year once its up and running, starting in 2026. And because its not in place yet, killing it might not bring as heavy a political cost. But dont dare say that to Coughlin. The man is committed to this. And hes a respected player, not just because he knows his stuff, but because he has tremendous power as Speaker. He can kill any bill he wants, on his own. Legislators are keenly aware that without his support, they cant do squat. If the goal of property tax relief for seniors is important, we can accomplish it, Coughlin says. Just like we have with fully funding schools or making pension payments, if its a priority we find a way to work together to get it done. Thats music to seniors, no doubt. And Democrats who are afraid of losing their seats will likely be on board, too. Because Stay NJ may be reckless policy, but its great politics. An election year is coming up, and seniors vote. In the 2020 presidential election, 72 percent of seniors voted compared to 48 percent among voters under 25. When you look at income, the gap is similar, with wealthier voters turning out in far greater numbers. So, by aiming relief at seniors, and including wealthy seniors, Coughlin is hitting the sweet spot almost as if that were his intention. Its a group that, if youre a Democrat, you want to keep happy, pollster Patrick Murray of Monmouth University told me last year. Dont miss the best in editorials, opinion columns and commentary from NJ.com writers. Add your email here: Maybe Coughlin will pull it off. His team points out that in a budget of $57 billion, finding $1.3 billion is a manageable task. Maybe. But that comes on top of the expected shortfall of nearly $4 billion Treasury expects next year. Republicans say they could find the cuts without breaking a sweat, and as usual, they have their eye on school aid that is directed to poor urban districts. Their case is made stronger by the infuriating waste in Newark, where Superintendent Roger Leon has presided over a collapse in test scores and an explosion in spending on junkets to warm climates. We dont have to cut state aid to districts like Newark, we just need to bend the curve on the big increases, says Sen. Declan OScanlon, a GOP budget specialist. This administration will go down in history as the administration of squandered opportunities. That seems too rough to me. Republicans point to the increase in total spending on Murphys watch. Chris Christies final budget was $35 billion, and seven year laters, the total is $57 billion, an increase of $22 billion. But thats not nearly as bad as it seems. For one, Christies budget was artificially low because he shorted pension payments and left tiny surpluses, which is why Wall Street downgraded New Jerseys credit rating over and over on his watch. And most of the increase under Murphy went to restoring the health of the pension fund, fattening up the surplus, and fully funding schools. Those are all spending items, yes, but they are not reckless. Most of Murphys spending increases were aimed at fortifying the states long-term fiscal health, like a family spending money to reduce credit card debt and to invest in college savings accounts. Thats why Wall Street upgraded the states credit rating each of the last four years on Murphys watch. He actually reduced the size of the state workforce, according to the Department of Treasury. Yes, the man is lucky. He was in the chair when the tidal wave of pandemic money arrived. He has shown no interest in reducing the cost of government operations, as Christie did. And while, the credit rating has improved, thats true in states across the country, thanks to the pandemic aid and the brisk growth that followed. New Jersey still has the nations second-lowest bond rating, behind Illinois. So, here we are again, with another ugly structural deficit. The test for Democrats now is whether they will embrace gimmicks to get through the next year or two, or face the crisis honestly and make painful choices like grown-ups. On that score, neither party has inspired much confidence over the last few decades. More: Tom Moran columns Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or (973) 986-6951. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. The Bible is the most published book in history and its Christmas narrative is the most well-known story for people of many faiths. If youre looking for holiday gift ideas, here are some excellent new paperbacks on the Bible that would make great stocking stuffers. WOMEN IN THE BIBLE The last half century has seen a dramatic increase in highlighting women in the Bible as a result of feminist theology. Many books are also geared toward small discussion groups with guided learning that anyone can use to learn more. Take Sisters in Scripture: Exploring the Relationships of Biblical Women, by Kathleen MacInnis Kichline (Paulist Press). In Genesis 29-31, Rachel and Jacob share the first and only kiss recorded between a man and woman in the Bible. But after he romanced her, she could not bear children unlike her sister Leah. That tormented Rachel for the rest of her life because she could not be fruitful and multiply. This example shows how the book gets behind the Biblical story and expands the narrative. Two new books in the Little Rock Scripture Study published by Liturgical Press continue to showcase women like Sarah, Tamar, the Pharoahs daughter, and Ruth. Each lesson involves personal prayer and study, group prayer discussion with a lecture. The trio of Sarah, Hagar and Abraham in Genesis 16 and 21, for example, are filled with power dynamics that lead to Hagars physical, sexual, mental and emotional abuse, wrote Jaime Waters. Esther is associated with the Jewish feast of Purim, also known as the Feast of Lots, when the Book of Esther is proclaimed. Several new books focus on women in the Bible including "Hidden Women of the Gospels" and "More Hidden Women of the Gospels" by Kathy Coffey. (Rev. Alexander M. Santora | For The Jersey Journal)Rev. Alexander Santora | For The Jersey Journal Kathy Coffey wrote two books Hidden Women of the Gospels and More Hidden Women of the Gospels published by Orbis Books. In the first book, Coffey amplifies women with scant reference in the Bible like Anna, the adulterous woman; Leah, the wife of Jairus; and Hannah at the foot of the cross of Jesus. Mary Magdalene advised her, seven months pregnant, to be like Jesus: He must see beyond Calvary, so you will look past the labor to the babys safe deliverance. In her second book, Coffey titles one chapter My Crazy Dad the Daughter of Zacchaeus. Remember the small man who climbed a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus surrounded by so many followers? Jesus called him down so he could stay at his house that evening. My dad taught me to climb trees, and not many girls did that in Jericho, Coffey imagined her boasting. POPE FRANCIS WORDS Pope Francis can boast of being a publishing powerhouse. So many books have been written about him, but his own preaching and teaching have been woven into books like the three synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark and Luke, each referred as a spiritual and pastoral reading. So all his daily homilies, talks to groups, exhortations, letters and encyclicals were mined and organized according to The Gospel of Matthew, The Gospel of Mark and The Gospel of Luke by Orbis Books. Its not a complete exegesis, or analysis, but a way to see the Gospel with fresh eyes. Orbis Books has collected Pope Francis' words relating to the Gospels of Luke, Matthew and Mark in three paperbacks that are each subtitled "A Spiritual and Pastoral Reading." (Rev. Alexander M. Santora | For The Jersey Journal)Rev. Alexander Santora | For The Jersey Journal For example: The grace which was revealed in our world is Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, true man and true God. He has entered our history; he has shared our journey. He came to free us from darkness and to grant us light, wrote Francis about Luke 2:7-20 about Christmas from his The Joy of the Gospel. In her forward, Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Sandra Schneiders noted how Luke offered a thematic treatment of women as adult religious subjects, independently related to and cherished by God who does not seek male approbation for Gods choices nor require women to do so in responding to God. LECTIO DIVINA If there were one book I would have placed on my Christmas list, it would have been The Catholic Prayer Bible: Lectio Divina Edition hardcover published by Paulist Press. It includes a statement by Pope Benedict XVI on the value of Lectio Divina Latin for divine reading. Lectio Divina takes four steps: a slow reading of a passage, reflection about its meaning, prayer to raise the message or wisdom and then stating how it can change my life. Throughout the Bible, there are boxes summarizing a passage and the step-by-step process. The diligent reading of Sacred Scripture accompanied by prayer brings about that intimate dialogue in which the person reading hears God who is speaking, and in praying, responds to him with trusting openness of heart, Pope Benedict said. The story of Christmas, no matter how many we have lived through, brings us the core of the Christian faith: Jesus is now one of us and leads us back to God. Emmanuel! The Rev. Alexander Santora is the pastor of Our Lady of Grace and St. Joseph, 400 Willow Ave., Hoboken, NJ 07030. Email: padrealex@yahoo.com; X: @padrehoboken. BERLIN, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- China's development of vocational training has made great strides, said Jan Heinze, president of Heinze Academy, during a recent interview with Xinhua, adding that the speed of China's progress impressed him the most. "While other countries are still considering how to improve their vocational education systems, China has already trained a batch of excellent teachers," said Heinze, representing the Hamburg-based vocational training institute with an 87-year history. Having visited many vocational institutes in China, Heinze noted significant progress. "Ten years ago, when the first Chinese delegations visited our academy, we had to explain basic concepts. Now, the teachers coming to us ask challenging, insightful questions," he said. "It's now more of a two-way exchange, as both sides have much to learn from each other" Since 2012, the Heinze Academy has conducted over 20 training programs for teachers from China. In 2019, it was appointed as a training provider for an overseas training initiative launched by the Ministry of Education and the China Education Association for International Exchange, focusing on robotics, mechatronics, and electrotechnics. Since then, the academy has trained nearly 1,500 professionals from 23 provinces across China. According to the Chinese Ministry of Education, China had over 11,000 vocational schools as of 2023, including technical schools, with nearly 35 million students enrolled. The country aims to nurture a skilled workforce by fostering approximately 2,000 national-level master artisans, 10,000 provincial-level master artisans, and 50,000 city-level master artisans with advanced technical expertise and innovative skills by 2035. Heinze spoke highly of China's efforts to promote vocational education. "China has developed impressively over the past 20 years," he said. "As China's industrial base continues to expand, the country needs a skilled workforce to sustain this growth. Vocational training will play a crucial role in developing the specialized labor force required for China's ongoing progress." "Even in a digitalized world, there's still a need for skilled workers who can work with their hands," Heinze said, citing battery production as an example. "While digital technologies are increasingly prevalent, a significant portion of the workforce in industries such as battery assembly still requires specialized manual skills." Drawing from Germany's experience, Heinze pointed out that vocational training can lead to excellent job prospects and competitive salaries. "If everyone pursues academic degrees without considering technical fields, a country will inevitably face a shortage of skilled workers. That can be dangerous for the economy, as a balanced workforce is critical for economic stability," he said. Also, Heinze expressed optimism about the future of vocational education collaboration between Germany and China. "The projects we've done with China have been very successful, and the partnerships are built on mutual trust," he said. "Both sides can learn from each other, and I'm committed to continuing and expanding these efforts." Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Next weekend, as it does so often and better than most anywhere else New Orleans will celebrate with a parade: the third annual Childrens Hospital holiday parade. Though there were likely earlier pageants, the first published mention of a New Orleans Christmas parade we could find was in 1922. "Rich and poor mingled in the brilliant Christmas Eve parade Sunday night," reported The Times-Picayune on Dec. 26, 1922. "Electric lights, diamonds, fashionably tailored and homemade garments caught the eye and the rollicking, happy crowd welcomed the coming of Saint Nicholas." In 1940, a children's Christmas parade was broadcast on WWL Radio. The Dec. 15, 1941 parade on Canal Street came one week after the country entered World War II. The war preempted the parade for four years, but it returned in 1945 and continued into the 1970s. A 1988 parade featuring 10 floats and nine bands was the brainchild of New Orleans then-First Lady Mickey Barthelemy. Her husband, Mayor Sidney Barthelemy, dressed as Santa Claus in the parade, which also featured the Neville Brothers and Charmaine Neville performing Christmas songs. Parades in the 1990s featured TV weatherman Willard Scott, actor John Goodman, music mogul Quincy Jones and chef Paul Prudhomme dressed as Santa. The Downtown Development District revived the parades after Hurricane Katrina, branding them Krewe of Jingle parades. This years parade on Dec. 7 will feature 30 holiday-themed floats, high-flying helium balloons, dancing groups and bands marching on a route through the French Quarter and downtown beginning at 11 a.m. By Marcela Ayres BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva nominated Nilton David, head trader at Bradesco bank, to serve as the next monetary policy director at the central bank starting in January, the institution said on Friday. The appointment was accompanied by two additional nominations, all of which must still be confirmed by the Senate. They will mark a shift in the makeup of the nine-member committee responsible for setting borrowing costs, as Lula's picks will secure a majority starting next year. According to the central bank statement, Lula selected Gilneu Vivan, the current head of the central bank's financial system regulation department, to succeed Otavio Damaso as director of regulation. Additionally, Izabela Correa, currently public integrity secretary at the Comptroller-General Office, was chosen to replace Carolina Barros as director of institutional relations. A law granting the central bank autonomy, passed in 2021, decoupled the terms of the president of the republic from those of the central bank's top officials. Currently, the committee is made up of four members chosen by Lula and five by his predecessor, former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro. The balance will shift to 7-2 in January. If confirmed by senators, David will replace Gabriel Galipolo, who is set to take over as central bank governor from Roberto Campos Neto, also in January. Before joining Bradesco, David served as head of the Brazil and Mexico trading desk at Morgan Stanley and has also held positions at institutions such as Canvas Capital, Citi and Barclays. Lula has been a vocal critic of Campos Neto since taking office last year, with members of his Workers Party repeatedly calling for intervention in the foreign-exchange market to mitigate the sharp depreciation of the country's currency - a decision currently overseen by Galipolo and soon to be handled by his successor. Focus has largely centered on the monetary policy role, as it oversees the foreign-exchange desk and is typically filled by someone with extensive financial market experience. (Reporting by Marcela Ayres; Editing by Kylie Madry) rachel reeves Rachel Reevess tax raid has sent business confidence plunging to the lowest level since the first Covid lockdown, business leaders have said. They say the Chancellors record tax rises are undermining economic growth and cutting off investment plans, with bosses forced to slash pay rises, sack staff and raise prices to cope with the 25bn National Insurance increase. The findings published in a survey of the Institute of Directors (IoD) will be a blow for Sir Keir Starmers embattled Government. The Prime Minister suffered his first Cabinet resignation last week as Louise Haigh, the transport secretary, quit after details of her criminal conviction a decade ago came to light. Sir Keir is also under fire for spending substantial time overseas as key policies run into difficulties at home, with trips last month to countries including Azerbaijan, Brazil, France and Hungary. Sir Keir Starmer is under fire for spending substantial time overseas as key policies run into difficulties at home - Carl Court/Getty Images Europe Andrew Griffith, the Conservative business secretary, said the survey showed a catastrophic loss of business confidence under this Government to an all-time low, bar the pandemic. Business leaders tend to have a natural optimism, but the summer of trash talking the economy, Labours jobs tax and the trade union-inspired Employment Bill are knocking the stuffing out of their confidence. It is jobs and investment that will pay the price, said Mr Griffith. Sir Tim Martin, the Wetherspoons boss, said: All democratic governments need to manage the relationship between an economic horse and a public services cart society needs both. This Government has disincentivised and discouraged the horse, as the IOD survey shows. The IoDs optimism tracker fell to minus 65 in November, sharply down from minus 52 in October and the lowest score since April 2020. Investment intentions and headcount expectations both dropped deeper into negative territory, which bodes ill for future economic growth and employment, while planned pay rises are also shrinking. When asked about the impact of the NI increase, 50pc of bosses said they expected to give workers smaller pay rises as a result, while 44pc planned to increase prices charged to customers and 43pc anticipated cutting back the size of their workforce. A separate survey by the London Chamber of Commerce and Innovation (LCCI) shows collapsing business confidence in the Governments economic programme. One in five family businesses surveyed by the trade body said they would shut up shop rather than pass on their business to the next generation because of inheritance tax changes. Meanwhile just one in four members of the body said they had confidence the Government would deliver growth when surveyed this month. As President Donald J. Trump battled public outrage in the summer of 2019 over his effort to enlist Ukraine in digging up dirt on former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., he summoned a small group of top advisers to the Oval Office. Among them was Charles Kupperman, the deputy national security adviser, who was surprised to see a relatively low-level staff member in one of the four chairs arrayed before the presidents desk: Kashyap Kash Patel. Mr. Patel, a newcomer to the National Security Council staff from the House Intelligence Committee, had impressed the president as the primary author of the secret Nunes memo, a key element in the effort of House Republicans to undermine the Justice Departments investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Now Mr. Trump was suggesting an additional role for Mr. Patel. He wanted to make Kash a political executioner, to root out and fire individuals on the White House staff who werent being as loyal as he thought they should be, Mr. Kupperman said in a recent interview. Alarmed, Mr. Kupperman pushed back, as did Pat Cipollone, the White House counsel, and John Eisenberg, the National Security Councils legal counsel, who were both there that day. All three said that loyalty tests would create legal and morale problems. Lauren Caruso had never really bought into the idea of dressing for ones body type. Its incredibly limiting, she said, adding that the concept is really just code for wanting to look thinner or taller or attempt to reinforce other Eurocentric beauty standards. But as a 36-year-old who says she is 52 if I stretch, she makes one exception: baby tees. Ms. Caruso, a freelance writer and brand consultant in Los Angeles, finds the shirt style ideal for her petite frame. The trend is practically tailor-made for me, she said. Most baby tees hit me just near my belly button, which gives me more flexibility to wear it with something high-waisted. In September, the actress Jemima Kirke took to Instagram to share her important T-shirt resource, as she announced in the caption: the Swedish childrens brand Mini Rodini. In the 45-second reel, Ms. Kirke slips into a snug shirt featuring a cartoon man hoisting cartoon weights. The shirt size? 9-11 years. Her age? 39. Baby tees those ultra-fitted, sometimes cap-sleeved, sometimes cropped shirts are back. And though women like Ms. Caruso or Ms. Kirke (not to mention crop-top aficionados like Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber and Bella Hadid) may be slender enough to wear an actual childs shirt, there now exist many more options to span generations and body types. Amaiya Briani Davis thinks she was in the grips of the woolly astrological stage known as Saturn return in the spring of 2018. Its this period before you turn 30 when a lot of change happens, she said. Ms. Davis, then 27, had started a new job as a music publicist and moved from her apartment in Midtown Manhattan to a place on the Upper West Side. Most destabilizing of all, in April, her boyfriend of almost two years, Matthew Carrington Durrae Wynter, abruptly broke off their relationship without much of an explanation. It was hard for me to understand, why would you do this? she said. There was nothing fundamentally wrong at the time. Chalking her topsy-turvy late 20s up to the cosmos helped return her sense of equilibrium. But letting the stars decide whether Mr. Wynter was worthy of falling for a second time never felt like an option. Ms. Davis, 33, and Mr. Wynter, 35, of Long Island City, Queens, met in the fall of 2009 at the University of Maryland when both were undergraduates, Ms. Davis a freshman and Mr. Wynter a senior. Before the two were introduced at a party given by a mutual friend, Ms. Davis had racked up a string of admirers. President-elect Donald J. Trump on Saturday chose Chad Chronister, a veteran Florida sheriff, to be his administrations top drug enforcement official, tasking him with delivering on campaign promises to curb the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs into the country. Appointed sheriff of Hillsborough County in 2017 by Gov. Rick Scott, the Republican who is now a senator, and re-elected twice, Sheriff Chronister has served on state and regional law enforcement boards, including the Florida Statewide Drug Policy Advisory Council. For over 32 years, Sheriff Chad Chronister has served the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office and received countless awards for keeping his community SAFE, Mr. Trump wrote in a social media post announcing his choice. Mr. Trump repeatedly highlighted the opioid crisis during his campaign, framing it as a major national security threat. The president-elect has threatened to impose damaging tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada in an effort to curb migration and the trafficking of drugs, particularly fentanyl, across U.S. borders. He is the author of the Nunes Memo. Mr. Trump ordered that Mr. Patel be given a job on the National Security Council staff after Mr. Patel, then a House Intelligence Committee staffer, impressed Mr. Trump as the primary author of what has come to be called the secret Nunes memo. The document was a key element in the effort of House Republicans to undermine the Justice Departments investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Mr. Patels memo, which Mr. Trump declassified over the objections of the intelligence agencies and Democrats, fueled bogus claims by Mr. Trump, Republicans and conservative media that politics drove the Russia investigation and that the government had spied on the Trump campaign itself. He was a would-be political executioner. In 2019, as President Trump battled public outrage and a looming impeachment over his effort to enlist Ukraine in digging up dirt on former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., he proposed to a group of top advisers that Mr. Patel, a backbench staffer on the National Security Council, begin vetting White House aides for loyalty. He would have served as a political executioner, in the words of Charles Kupperman, the deputy national security adviser at the time. Mr. Kupperman and White House legal advisers talked the president out of it, saying it would create legal and morale problems. He says his nonprofit helps Jan. 6 defendants. The Kash Foundation is a nonprofit that Mr. Patel has said offers financial help to a range of recipients, including the families of people charged for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Tax filings for 2023 show the foundations revenue surged from $182,000 in 2022 to $1.3 million last year. Its expenses rose fivefold over 2022 to $674,000. Almost half of that was spent on promotion and advertising, an expense that totaled more than the foundation gave away in contributions and grants last year. He sells pro-Trump merchandise under the logo K$H. Since the end of the Trump administration, Mr. Patel has parlayed his association with the former president into enterprises he promotes under the logo K$H. He sells pro-Trump T-shirts and other items as well as a series of his childrens books that pay homage to King Donald. Mr. Patel also collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in consulting fees from the 2024 Trump campaign and from Friends of Matt Gaetz, the campaign committee for the former House Republican from Florida, who withdrew from consideration as Mr. Trumps attorney general after criticism over allegations of sex trafficking and drug use. China is keen to expand energy cooperation with Turkmenistan, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday. Wang met his counterpart Rashid Meredov, who is also Turkmenistan's vice-president, on the sidelines of the China-Central Asia Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Chengdu, state news agency Xinhua reported. Wang also said China was willing to further expand the scale of trade and investment cooperation with Turkmenistan and would encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in the country. 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 meeting, which ends on Sunday, was also attended by the foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, Central Asian partners that are growing in importance for China. Wang also met Jeenbek Kulubaev, the Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan, a key player in an US$8 billion rail project that starts in Kashgar in Xinjiang and goes through southwest Kyrgyzstan before ending in Andijan in eastern Uzbekistan. The rail project is designed to cut the freight journey between China and Europe by 900km (560 miles), serving as a faster and cheaper alternative to existing China-Europe land routes, most of which pass through Russia. The project was first proposed in the 1990s but had been beset by a series of technical, political and geopolitical problems before the three countries reached an agreement in June. While in Chengdu, Wang also met his Nepalese counterpart Arzu Rana Deuba on Friday. Deuba was visiting to prepare for the visit of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, which starts on Monday. Foreign ministers Wang Yi and Rashid Meredov at the meeting in Chengdu. Photo: Xinhua alt=Foreign ministers Wang Yi and Rashid Meredov at the meeting in Chengdu. Photo: Xinhua> According to the Nepalese foreign ministry, the talks focused on trade, tourism and connectivity projects - including a cross-border railway project and a tunnel linking the capital Kathmandu to Chhahare in Nuwakot district, a stop on a major trade route between the two countries. "China is ready to work with Nepal to embrace new prospects for the development of China-Nepal relations by taking the opportunity of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties next year," Wang said, adding that the two sides had made joint efforts to promote cooperation. Deuba said Nepal appreciated the concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity, and was willing to take part in President Xi Jinping's Global Development Initiative. Two Mississippi tax preparers used multiple schemes to defraud $65 million from programs that had been designed to help businesses stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic, federal prosecutors said this week. The preparers, Renata Walton, 44, and Nicole Jones, 36, both of Olive Branch, Miss., were indicted on more than 50 counts of wire fraud, money laundering, preparing false tax returns and obstruction of justice, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Tennessee said on Wednesday. They both pleaded not guilty and were each released on $100,000 bond, court documents show. Ms. Walton owned R&B Tax Express in Moscow, Tenn., where she and Ms. Jones prepared tax returns. Federal prosecutors said that the two women contacted small-business clients and asked if they were interested in pandemic-related grant money, according to court records. The women would then file for pandemic-related tax credits on behalf of the clients even though they were ineligible for those funds, officials said. Fighting rages in Syria as rebels advance Rebel forces advanced in Syria amid fierce fighting, capturing the airport and the military academy of Aleppo and attacking the outskirts of the western city of Hama, according to rebel officials and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Government troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad rushed in reinforcements and launched airstrikes on Aleppo, the Observatory, a war monitor in Britain, said. The rebels captured much of Aleppo a day earlier in a surprise offensive. They now control a broad patch across the provinces of Hama, Idlib and Aleppo, in the west and northwest of Syria, according to officials from the rebel-linked administration and the war monitor. The Observatory said that government troops were battling to defend Hama and that reinforcements had arrived to man defensive lines around the city and nearby cities. Syrian government warplanes bombed territory now held by the rebels, including targets across the city of Aleppo, causing dozens of civilian casualties, the monitor said. The rebel alliance is led by the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which was once linked with Al Qaeda but publicly broke with the terrorist group years ago. Turkish-backed rebel groups have also joined in. Times Insider explains who we are and what we do, and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together. When Sarah Maslin Nir, a Metro reporter for The New York Times, awoke in the pre-dawn darkness on Thanksgiving, it was cold and raining, a day when one would normally avoid venturing outside. But when her alarm went off at 6:45 a.m., she didnt crawl back under the covers. She grabbed her notebook and press credential and set off for La Farine, a French bakery on the Upper West Side, where she would grab a baguette and coffee before taking the subway to the 98th annual Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade. Its the best time everyone is high as a kite on happiness, said Ms. Nir, 41, who for 12 years has volunteered to write The Timess annual parade report, through freezing temperatures, gusting winds and, this year, a dreary downpour. When Ms. Nir began covering the parade in 2011, she would collect quotes in her notebook throughout the morning as she followed the parade from its start at West 77th Street down to Macys at 34th Street. She would then walk a few blocks away to write her article at The Timess headquarters. The best-known part of NOAA, touching all of our daily lives, is the National Weather Service. This is where daily forecasts and timely warning of severe storms, hurricanes and blizzards come from. Using satellites, balloon launches, ships, aircraft and weather stations, NOAA and its offices around the country provide vital services like clockwork, free of charge services that cannot be adequately replaced by the private sector in part because they wouldnt necessarily be profitable. For most of its history, NOAA has largely avoided politicization especially because weather forecasting has been seen as nonpartisan. Members of Congress from both parties are highly engaged in its work. Unfortunately, legislation introduced by Representative Frank Lucas, Republican of Oklahoma a state with a lot of tornadoes that would have helped NOAA to update its weather research and forecasting programs passed the House but languished in the Senate and is unlikely to move forward in this session of Congress. However, in 2025 there is another opportunity to improve the agency and its services to taxpayers and businesses. While there are already multiple efforts at NOAA to improve weather modeling, observation collection and marine management, Congress has piled more responsibilities on the agency, and the funding has not kept up. NOAA is spread thin, with a backlog of maintenance and upgrades that will probably take years to get through without significantly more sustained budget support. As we enter a new world of artificial intelligence, NOAA needs significantly more computational resources to improve weather models rapidly. Otherwise, the United States risks becoming more dependent on similar institutions in Europe. Plain and simple, NOAA weather modeling and climate analysis efforts do not have the funding in the current institutional structure to keep up with our European friends. And because the military relies on NOAAs infrastructure, the risks of and damage from extreme weather and climate events are a national security concern as much as an economic one. With a bigger budget, NOAA could offer increased value for taxpayers and boost the entire U.S. economy. What would that look like? First, we need to have a serious conversation about further upgrading the agencys aging systems like radars; observations, including balloons and buoys; research aircraft; satellites; and supercomputers. There is also an opportunity to build a state-of-the-art weather and climate prediction capability for the nation. That would involve modernizing emergency communication systems for future disasters instead of reacting to the most recent one. Though accurate weather forecasts, combined with effective watches and warnings, have reduced human deaths from extreme weather, still too many Americans are seemingly caught off guard by weather disasters. NOAA could help fix this. Zio bitch! a young man in a kaffiyeh and Black Lives Matter T-shirt barked at one of us, his ire apparently provoked by a yellow ribbon pin, a symbol of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas. The exchange was unsettling but not surprising. Even in New York, where we both live, we have often seen an extraordinary lack of empathy for the Israeli victims of Oct. 7 and outright hostility toward those who advocate for them. The epithet Zio bitch highlights multilayered animosities, pointing to an insidious, specific prejudice we have seen bloom this year: the melding of misogyny and antisemitism. Though cartoonish tropes of Jewish women are ubiquitous (think of the materialistic Jewish American princess, gossipy yenta and overbearing, often overweight Jewish mother), they often barely register as bias in a progressive culture otherwise attuned to identity-based offense. Mocking American Jewish women, many of whom appear white, can be seen as punching up, a variation on calling out a so-called Karen that is, an entitled, whiny white woman seen often in a racially charged situation. To be a Jewish American woman is to experience a paradox: We are a minority vulnerable to exclusion yet simultaneously perceived as sufficiently inside the dominant culture that we are often expected to endure, or even deserve, any opprobrium that comes our way. This prejudice was further complicated by the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. Early reports of sexual violence perpetrated against Israeli women were initially met with silence from many global feminist organizations. As evidence of this violence grew among Israelis and Jewish Americans, our horror about the reactions to this violence intensified: a graphic photograph of the ravaged body of Shani Louk, a young German Israeli woman, surrounded by armed terrorists was part of a group of photos that won a prestigious photography award. Online trolls mocked Amit Soussana, who described the violations she suffered while held captive by Hamas. It seems to us that the reactions to this violence were informed by the fact that the victims are Jewish women, presumably imperfect victims. Furthermore, the absence of a deeper understanding of why Jewish women are so readily degraded allows ignorance to fester. Lake-effect snow blowing in from the Great Lakes has blanketed parts of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York, stranding hundreds of vehicles on roads and snarling post-Thanksgiving travel. Well over two feet of snow had fallen in many parts of the region by early Monday, with some communities getting more than three feet. Lake-effect snow warnings, freeze alerts and other winter advisories remained in effect in many areas as bands of snow continued streaming off the lakes Monday morning. The lake-effect conditions are expected to continue dumping snow in parts of the Great Lakes region during the week, meteorologists said. Some areas could see up to six feet of snow by Tuesday, with the heaviest snowfall expected along the belly of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario in Pennsylvania and New York. Governors of both states have made disaster declarations in these areas and deployed National Guard troops. Its going to be pretty brutal, said Brian Hurley, a senior meteorologist at the National Weather Service. Despite the Biden administrations friendly appeals, however, the United States still lags behind China and Russia in competing for economic and security influence in Africa, according to foreign policy experts. A dirty little secret, ever since we disengaged with post-colonial Africa: It has been our lowest priority, said Tibor P. Nagy Jr., who was appointed by President Bill Clinton twice to serve as an ambassador in Africa and then by the Trump administration to serve as assistant secretary of state for African affairs. You have some administrations like this one, that come out with grandiose African strategies that are absolutely aspirational. But it is like the old advertisement: Where is the beef? As proof of his administrations commitment, Mr. Biden is expected to announce a variety of investments in global health, agriculture and security cooperation during the trip. He will celebrate a U.S. government initiative that has connected American and Angolan businesses for deals totaling $6.9 billion. But the life span of such commitments will also hinge on the will of President-elect Donald J. Trump, who once disparaged African nations with an expletive. In an interview with The New York Times, President Joao Lourenco of Angola said he was not concerned about the change of administrations in the United States. We dont need to make any speculation for now, Mr. Lourenco said. So we cannot judge him on what he said, but we will judge him on what he will do. Several Republican lawmakers fell in line on Sunday behind President-elect Donald J. Trumps plan to choose Kash Patel to lead the F.B.I., defending the incoming presidents right to install a loyalist who has vowed to use the position to exact revenge on Mr. Trumps adversaries. Mr. Trumps announcement on Saturday that he intends to replace Christopher A. Wray, the current F.B.I. director, who still has three years left on his 10-year term, with Mr. Patel has stunned Democrats and many in the national security establishment. Mr. Patel has said he would launch a sweeping campaign of retribution against F.B.I. agents, journalists and others. F.B.I. directors are confirmed by the Senate, and Mr. Patel is likely to face tough questions at his confirmation hearings about whether the agency would remain free from political interference. While Republican Senate leaders remained quiet on Sunday, other senators in Mr. Trumps party expressed their support. Senator Bill Hagerty, Republican of Tennessee, said he had encouraged Mr. Trump to appoint Mr. Patel. When President Biden travels to Angola this week, he is scheduled to visit the National Slavery Museum near the capital, Luanda, to highlight the bond between the two nations that was born out of slavery. A vast majority of African Americans have Angolan ancestry, said Stephen Lubkemann, an anthropology professor at George Washington University. In the battle for influence in mineral- and oil-rich Angola, that gives the United States an ability to draw historical and cultural ties to the country in ways that China, its rival, cannot. Mr. Bidens delegation is expected to include Wanda Tucker, whom Angolan government officials glowingly refer to as one of their own. She traced her ancestors to the first ship that docked at Point Comfort and has visited the country several times. When he visited Angola last year, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, the first African American to hold the position, drew a blunt connection between himself and the Angolans he was addressing. Four centuries ago, slavers from far away put the men and women and children of this country into shackles people who looked just like you and me, he said. About a quarter of all enslaved Africans confirmed to have arrived in the United States came from a region that included Angola, according to SlaveVoyages, a digital database. That is more than anywhere else in Africa. Because Massangano sits at the intersection of Angolas largest river, the Cuanza, and a major tributary, it was the countrys main transit point for trafficking captives to the coast, scholars said. Today, Massangano is a quiet village of a couple of hundred residents. The middle school students in Senegal listened quietly one afternoon this past week as their history teacher told a story most of them knew already. In 1944, French colonial forces massacred West African soldiers who had returned from France after fighting in World War II, said the teacher, Aminata Diedhiou. Their school, in the town of Thiaroye, stands near the site of the killings. Why did the French massacre them, one student asked. How were they killed, wondered another. I want to know more, said Amy Sall, 16. So does Senegal. Ahead of the 80th anniversary of what is known as the Thiaroye Massacre, Senegals government has pressured France to fully explain one of the most sinister episodes of its colonial rule in Africa. As more than a thousand Chinese tech companies prepare to showcase their latest products at the CES (formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas, the world's leading tech exhibition, many employees are reporting being denied US visas despite holding invitations to attend. Analysts said that such CES visa denials were unprecedented and signalled a further deterioration in bilateral relations. First held in 1967, CES is a global platform for the technology industry and a business-to-business hub that sets the stage for the year ahead in trade and innovation. The next show takes place from January 7 through 10, days before US president-elect Donald Trump assumes office on January 20. 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. Around 4,000 exhibitors from around the world have registered to attend, with more than 30 per cent estimated to be from China. The visa rejections come as US-China tensions escalate, with Trump vowing to impose a 10 per cent tariff on all Chinese imports and pledging to protect American manufacturers by imposing stricter restrictions on Chinese companies' access to the US market. "There's so much disappointment," said a 28-year-old tech marketer in Beijing, who requested anonymity because she plans to reapply at a different US consulate in China. At her visa interview at the US embassy, she recounted, she told her interviewer that "I would visit my clients in the States and attend the CES. I showed her the invitation letter, which clearly states that I'm attending the CES. "I don't think she considered that." After speaking with industry colleagues, she said, she learned that many other tech companies were facing the same issue. "They told me that if you mention attending CES, there's a 90 per cent chance you'll be denied a visa." The US State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Shenzhen-based virtual reality headset maker EmdoorVR showcasing its Apple Vision Pro-inspired device at CES in January 2024. Photo: EmdoorVR alt=Shenzhen-based virtual reality headset maker EmdoorVR showcasing its Apple Vision Pro-inspired device at CES in January 2024. Photo: EmdoorVR> Chris Pereira, the founder of iMpact, a New York-based consultancy, posted this month on LinkedIn that during a cross-cultural leadership training programme for Chinese companies expanding abroad, he learned that "half of the 40 companies in attendance reported their staff were being denied visas, despite holding official invitation letters from CES". The French fascination with the guillotine has found a new focus over the last week. The man under the knife is Frances silver-haired prime minister, Michel Barnier, known for composure on previous scaffolds. His political life could even be over this week, or possibly before Christmas, a prospect prompting ghoulish speculation about financial chaos, American-style government shutdown and unpaid salaries for the fifth of Frances work force on the public payrolls. That the country might soon be without a government is adding to the French malaise a soup of industrial layoffs, strikes, demonstrating farmers, anemic growth and a yawning deficit. The prospect of a government collapse sent French borrowing costs soaring relative to Germanys last week, pushing them almost to the level of Greeces. A showdown could come as early as Monday, when Mr. Barnier may try to force through a budget bill on government health care and other social spending. Even Mr. Barnier, a veteran politician who negotiated a tough Brexit deal for the European Union and served four times as a minister in previous governments, concedes that he is living on borrowed time. The woman in control of the blade is Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right populist National Rally, which has more seats in the lower house of the French Parliament than any other party. Protesters clashed with the police in the Republic of Georgias capital late into the night on Sunday during the fourth consecutive day of demonstrations over the recently elected governments suspension of its bid to join the European Union. The Black Sea country of 3.7 million has been rocked by protests since Thursday, when Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced the government would stall the process of E.U. accession a goal enshrined in the countrys Constitution until 2028. He also said the government would refuse all grants by the 27-member bloc, which are usually worth tens of millions of dollars annually. As on previous nights, thousands of demonstrators, many clad in the countrys red-and-white flag, gathered in front of the Georgian Parliament building, pointing green lasers and expressing their opposition to the new governments policy. Later on Sunday, the police used water cannons and water from fire hydrants to disperse protesters, who shot off firecrackers and other fireworks in response, according to videos shared from the scene. Since the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas, the war in Gaza has been dogged by a persistent question: What happens after the conflict ends? Recent events point to one worrying possibility: Gaza, without a centralized governing authority, could be dominated by warlords and organized crime. Wartime is notorious for giving rise to black markets and criminal gangs, and the conflict in Gaza is no exception. In one troubling episode last month, armed gunmen looted a convoy of 109 United Nations aid trucks. Over the last year, a contraband trade in tobacco has become a particular problem for humanitarian aid convoys, with organized gangs ransacking aid shipments for cigarettes smuggled inside them that can sell for $25 to $30 each. The Israeli military is determined to wipe out Hamas, but Israel has not laid out a plan for the day after the conflict stops. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government has resisted calls for the Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza. A former Israeli defense minister has accused Israel of committing war crimes and ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip, a rare critique from a member of the security establishment at a time of war. The comments by Moshe Yaalon first on Saturday, and then multiple times on Sunday, including in an interview with one of Israels biggest television channels came amid mounting criticism of the Israeli militarys conduct in Gaza. They were swiftly denied and condemned by allies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, saying that they would hurt the country and help its enemies. Mr. Yaalon served as the Israeli militarys chief of staff during the second intifada and as Mr. Netanyahus defense minister during the 2014 war in Gaza, the longest conflict between Israel and Hamas before the current war. But he broke with Mr. Netanyahu in 2016 and has since become a critic of the Israeli leader. At an event on Saturday, Mr. Yaalon denounced Mr. Netanyahus government for its actions in Gaza. The path theyre dragging us down is to occupy, annex, and ethnically cleanse look at the northern strip, he said. He also said Israel was being pulled in the direction of building settlements in Gaza, a notion that is supported by far-right politicians in Mr. Netanyahus government. Rebel forces advanced in Syria on Sunday amid fierce fighting, capturing the airport and military academy of the major city of Aleppo and attacking the outskirts of the western city of Hama, according to rebel officials and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Government troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad were trying to repel them, rushing reinforcements to the battle and launching airstrikes on Aleppo, the Observatory said. The rebels had captured much of Aleppo a day earlier in a surprise offensive. They now control a broad stretch of land across the provinces of Hama, Idlib and Aleppo, in the west and northwest of Syria, according to information from officials from the rebel-linked administration and the Observatory, a Britain-based war monitor. In a further sign of growing strength, the rebels also said they now controlled all of Idlib and issued a demand for Kurdish forces in Aleppo to leave with their weapons for the northeast. Offaly's Mount St Joseph's Abbey near Roscrea will become the new temporary home of monks and lay brothers from the historic Cistercian Abbey at Mount Melleray in Waterford, which is due to close in January. The decision was taken due to the falling numbers of vocations and ageing community of monks, the Cistercian Order said last Friday when the news broke the historic Waterford Abbey will close its doors. The move will also see monks from Mellifont in Co. Louth relocate to at Roscrea as part of the repurposing of sites owned by the Cistercians. The Cistercians have been active in the country since 1142 and work at six locations in Counties Waterford, Louth, Tipperary and Antrim. The Order has decided that with effect from January 26th, 2025, three of their communities, at Mount Melleray, Mellifont and Mount St Joseph, which since November 3rd the Feast of St Malachy have already merged as one new single community, will be based for an interim period at Roscrea. The new community has been given the name of The Abbey of Our Lady of Silence, and its residency at Roscrea is an interim measure, the Order emphasised. We will be continuing our presence in Ireland into the future, but to achieve this regretfully we must consolidate in accordance with the restrictions of our present resources, said Dom Rufus Pound OCSO, a spokesperson for the Cistercian Abbey of Our Lady of Silence. Cistercian College, Roscrea continues to go from strength to strength and will not be impacted in any way, by decisions in the future", he told the Irish Independent. "This is a difficult time for all the members of our new community as we strive to meet the challenge of our present day realities. It is especially difficult for those who have spent their entire lives in a specific monastery and must now adjust to these changed circumstances. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our staff, some of whom have been with us and supported us for decades, and the many other loyal volunteers and friends who will be affected by these developments, Dom Rufus said. Earnings reports this week will come from software provider Salesforce (CRM) and chipmaker Marvell Technology (MRVL), as well as Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) (RY), TD Bank (TD), and Bank of Montreal (BMO). New York Fed President John Williams and St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem will deliver remarks this week, the last before the Feds blackout period ahead of its Dec. 17-18 meeting. The closely watched Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) surveys from the Institute of Supply Management (ISM) will give investors insight into the current state of the manufacturing and services sector. Investors are awaiting key employment data for November that's due Friday, which Federal Reserve officials are expected to watch to see if the labor market retains its strength after showing signs of slowing. Ahead of that, reports on job openings and private-sector employment will also affect market sentiment on the state of the labor market. Remarks from New York Federal Reserve President John Williams and St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem will be among the last heading into the pre-Fed meeting blackout period. November employment data is due Friday after job openings and private-sector employment reports earlier in the week, and investors also will be focused on manufacturing and services sector data. Story Continues Employment Report To Show if Labor Market Holds Strength After Weak October Data The November employment report due Friday will give economists a better look into the economy after the previous month's data showed a greater-than-expected slowing in hiringalthough those numbers were likely skewed by storm disruptions and a labor strike. Still, economists expected a lot more than the 12,000 jobs added in October, a shortfall those disruptions don't sufficiently explain. That shows why Friday's jobs numbers will be in focus. Federal Reserve officials could be under pressure to lower interest rates at a faster pace if the November data shows persistent slowing. In the run-up to the jobs report Friday, economists will get data on job openings, private-sector employment, and initial jobless claims, which could offer more details on the health of the U.S. labor market. Market watchers also will be tuned in to remarks this week from New York Fed President John Williams and St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem, which may offer insights on how Fed officials are looking at current economic conditions. Those comments mark the last opportunity for Fed officials to speak before Saturday, the start of the blackout period prohibiting comments on monetary policy before the Federal Reserves Dec. 17-18 meeting. Additionally, industry survey data from ISM and S&P Global are due at a time when manufacturing PMI has shown that sector to be struggling, while services PMI reflects continued economic growth in that sector. Factory orders, construction spending, and consumer credit data are also on tap this week. Salesforce, Marvell Technology, and Canadian Banks Lead This Weeks Earnings Reports Salesforces earnings report on Tuesday comes as analysts have expressed bullish sentiments on the customer relationship management (CRM) service provider over its artificial intelligence (AI) offerings. Salesforces earnings follow a move by the software giant to expand its reach into data security by purchasing startup firm Own. Marvell Technology, which manufactures networking chips used in data centers, will also look to show continued growth from AI demand with its Tuesday report. Other tech firms due to report this week include Synopsys, the maker of microchip design software that has capitalized on AI demand. Cloud security provider Zscaler will also report earnings on Monday. The earnings report for TD Bank follows its recent guilty plea in a U.S. case in which it agreed to pay more than $3 billion in penalties to resolve charges that it failed to curb money laundering by drug cartels. Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) will deliver its quarterly financials as it looks to continue profit growth in its personal banking and wealth management divisions. Other Canadian financial institutions slated to report this week include Bank of Montreal and Scotiabank. Amid the noise of employees' ever-increasing demand for flexible work arrangements, a recent study suggests that leaders need not rush to accommodate every request. There's actually a significant group of employees who value the structure of a traditional Monday to Friday 9-5 job. Gallup has published findings from a survey of 18,943 working American adults, which found that 50% of workers would rather have traditional working hours than the choice to dip in and out of work when theyre most productive. For white-collar workers specifically, the percentage drops slightly to 45%. Surprised? You wouldnt be alone. Gallup also found that managers dont know their workers as well as they think they do, with leaders included in the poll massively overestimating that three-quarters of their workforce are blendersworkers who prefer a job in which you can alternate between work and other life activities throughout the day. A common misperception leaders have about flexible work is that employees want to be mixing their work and personal lives during the day, Jeremie Brecheisen, managing director of the Gallup CHRO Roundtable, recently wrote in an op-ed for the Harvard Business Review. Workers divided on work-life fluidity Of course, leaders cant ignore the other half of workers who want work and life to blend seamlessly. Nespressos U.K. CEO Anna Lundstrom, for example, previously told Fortune that allowing work to weave its way in and out of her day allows her to stay on top of her demanding job without being confined to a desk. Instead of trying to cut work and life into a rigid 50/50 split, she strives for work-life fluidity. Likewise, Thasunda Brown Duckett, president and CEO of the Fortune 500 financial services company TIAA, thinks shes a better mom for admitting that "work-life balance is a lie". Working parents specificallyno matter where they sit on the corporate hierachyhave significantly benefited from employers ditching strict start and finish times in the aftermath of the pandemic and embracing a work when youre productive ethos. I need to work around childcare, Jade Fitzgerald, an experienced design director at the design agency Beyond, told Fortune. Fortunately, some of my work can be flexible, while my sons routine is not. Like many working parents, her workday exceeds the hours that daycare is open, so she leaves the office early to do the school pickup and prepare dinner, before finishing work at 7:30 p.m. once her child is tucked into bed. This mismatch is causing employees to burnout and quit Ultimately, the mismatch between what workers want and what their bosses think they want mustnt be overlooked. Syria hosted a renewable energy investment promotion event at the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) on Nov. 28. Syrian Ambassador to China Muhammad Hassanein Khaddam led the event, which included insights from Syrian power sector experts joining via video link. In an exclusive interview with China.org.cn afterward, Khaddam praised the expo's role in showcasing Syrian business opportunities to Chinese investors. Syrian Ambassador to China Muhammad Hassanein Khaddam speaks at Syria's renewable energy investment promotion event during the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), Beijing, Nov. 28, 2024. [Photo by Liao Jiaxin/China.org.cn] During the event, Khaddam emphasized Syria's shift toward renewable energy resources since 2007. He noted that recent conflicts had severely damaged national infrastructure, leading to significant power shortages. In response, Syria's government has enacted laws to encourage investment in renewable energy projects. The country aims to increase total power capacity to 2,500 megawatts by 2030. Adham Blan, Syria's deputy minister of electricity, spoke via video about investment opportunities in the power sector, particularly in electricity transmission equipment and infrastructure. He highlighted Chinese firms' significant contribution, noting that "80% of Syria's electrical grid was constructed by Chinese companies." Blan expressed interest in attracting more Chinese investment to strengthen China-Syria collaboration in the energy and power sectors. Syrian Ambassador to China Muhammad Hassanein Khaddam speaks with China.org.cn at the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), Beijing, Nov. 28, 2024. [Photo by Liao Jiaxin/China.org.cn] After the event, Ambassador Khaddam praised China for providing a platform that benefits developing countries like Syria, aligning with the win-win philosophy of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). "Syria is part of the BRI, which we believe is built on ethics and morality. And this is what we know about China," he told China.org.cn. Khaddam commended the expo's efficiency in connecting global exhibitors, especially from developing countries, with potential supply chain partners. "We met so many companies in just one hour, saving time and energy," he said. "We aim to present Syria's investment opportunities at an official level. This is our message to Chinese companies and the embassy's role," he said. Hadam thanked the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and expressed optimism about future participation. "Next year, we will have bigger participation," he said. Now, Joco serves both gig workers who rent e-bikes at daily or weekly rates and enterprise customers that order dedicated fleets from the startup. Joco counts about 18 enterprise customers including Grubhub, Reef, Fresh Direct, and other large logistics companies across New York, Chicago, and Miami. As part of its B2B package, Joco also provides fleet management technology, servicing and maintenance, docking stations, and, increasingly, battery charging cabinets. Joco named after its two co-founders, who met at Columbia Business School in 2017 launched in 2021 in NYC with a mission to compete against Lyft-owned Citi Bike with shared, docked e-bikes. The Cohens thought that placing Jocos docking stations on private property would allow them to avoid both Citi Bikes territory and the citys regulatory eye. They were wrong. The NYC Department of Transportation promptly sued Joco for operating a bikeshare without prior authorization from the agency, forcing the startup to pivot away from offering consumer rides toward last-mile delivery. Joco co-founders Jonathan Cohen (CEO) and Jonathan A. Cohen (CGO) stand in what will be an e-bike hub and warehouse in NYC in September 2024. The concept of providing gig workers with a pit stop a place to use the bathroom, charge their phones, and even pray isnt new to Joco, which already offers this service in partnership with Grubhub at two locations in Alphabet City and Midtown West. And after the business almost died several times in its first year, such duties of care to the customer are a big reason why Joco is still alive today. Think about it like a gas station [for delivery riders], Cohen (NY) added. Theyll use it as a place to just relax and take a break. Cohen (London), Joco's CEO, pointed toward an area not far from the front that would be designated for a Joco concierge service, where delivery riders could check in, pick up supplies, and take a breather from the chaos of the city. The two paced the cavernous lot, interrupting each other like a married couple telling a story to friends as they set the scene of a place that would be as much about utility as community: A mechanic workshop toward the back, several rooms with charging cabinets so riders could swap out e-bike batteries, docking stations, two bathrooms. On a September morning in 2024, two Jonathan Cohens one from the Rockaways in Queens, the other from London stood in an empty 15,000-square-foot parking garage near Hudson Yards in New York City. As they walked over chipped yellow lines, they explained how the space would help Joco, their shared e-bike startup for delivery workers, continue to scale. Story Continues Those cabinets, which Joco says are FDNY-approved, are a growing vertical for the startup, particularly in NYC where battery fires have run rampant due to unsafe charging practices, leading many buildings to ban e-bikes and e-scooters. Joco has sold roughly 100 battery cabinets to residential buildings, like those owned by Related Companies, and last-mile logistics companies, like Travis Kalanicks Cloud Kitchens, across the country, with plans for international expansion. From cease and desist to cash flow expansion Gig delivery workers can rent e-bikes, rest, charge their phones, and use the bathroom at this Joco and Grubhub concierge in NYC. Image Credits:Rebecca Bellan The Cohens say the DOTs pushback was a blessing in disguise that helped them become profitable -- not EBITDA profitable, net, net, net profitable with real salaries despite having raised only $7.5 million in VC money. Other similar hardware-as-a-service startups have raised many millions even billions more in venture capital, and just as many have gone under due to the high capex, low margin nature of the business. It forced us to focus, Cohen (London) told TechCrunch. Thats one lesson that we got to faster than we should have, inadvertently. The other lesson we learned is to really pay attention to the customer. Because we go crazy for our customers. Just this Sunday, we had a guy whose bike broke down in Queens, and I rented a car, I went there, I picked up his bike, and I brought him back to another station in Manhattan. When our customers see that, they freak out, and they tell everyone else, he continued. We do unusual things for the customer, stuff they wouldnt expect. Cohen (London) noted that on its face, some of those decisions dont necessarily make financial sense but have created customer loyalty. The concierge service which involves having several staffers onsite to help address delivery riders' needs is an example. Joco also hands out free bike helmets, visibility vests, hand warmers, and through the partnership with Grubhub, free temperature-controlled backpacks. There are other startups that offer couriers e-bike rentals. Whizz and Zoomo come to mind, but those offer longer-term rentals where the delivery worker has to store the bike, lock it up, and charge the battery. With Joco, gig workers can access high-quality e-bikes at a reasonable cost and they never have to worry about locking them up or carrying them up stairs -- Riders can lock and unlock the bikes with an app a small, but effective convenience when making deliveries all day. We make a lot more money per bike than another company where you rent the bike and take it home for a month because we have multiple people using the same vehicle, and theyre delivering around the clock, Cohen (London) said, noting that the life cycle of the new Segway bikes is three to five years. There also appears to be a quiet community among Joco riders. Workers picking up bikes from the Alphabet City concierge can be seen chatting and fist bumping, and when they catch another Joco rider in the streets, they often wave and say hello to each other. Jocos customer obsession is clearly manifesting in growth. That empty parking garage? Flash forward two months later, and it is now almost open for business, with 1,000 new Segway e-bikes lined up and another 1,000 on the way. That location is one of almost 50 docking stations, large and small, accessible to couriers across the city. And the Cohens say thats still not enough to meet the demand for their service. Every one of our vehicles is getting used every single day, Cohen (NY) said, noting that Joco has spent $0 on marketing since launching. He says the team has managed to grow the companys gig worker vertical double digits every month mainly through word of mouth. Joco crew standing in front of four-wheeler e-cargo bike and battery charging cabinet. Left to right: Jonny Cohen (Co-Founder, CGO/Chief Growth Officer), Guman Gezici (Head of Operations, came from Getir), Jonny Cohen (Co-Founder, CEO), Julia Rindenow (Partnerships and Marketing Associate) Image Credits:Joco Thats one of the Cohens tips for early-stage founders: Dont blow your money on marketing too early in an attempt to garner attention and raise capital. Just put your head down and focus on execution. Thats how the two said they got to where they are today, where cash flow is funding their expansion, rather than venture money. To them, founder mode is essential, because it means always being available to roll up your sleeves, even on Thanksgiving and Christmas or at 3 in the morning. Like when we switched from the old Acton bikes to these Segway bikes, it was a full all-nighter, Cohen (NY) said. Joco still runs a lean ship, with about seven people on the corporate team. In total, they have about 50 employees across maintenance, call center, operations, warehouse management, software, and supply chain. And many of those teams are outsourced to employees outside of the U.S., which the co-founders say saves them money as they work to grow the business. They also hire fractional employees, like their CFO, a good strategy for early-stage startups that want to bring on a seasoned C-suite executive on a part-time basis. That financial prudence is what will help Joco to scale in 2025. The founders said their plans for near-term growth comes from cash on hand and potentially some debt, but that they dont intend to raise more equity. Their goal for the next year is to grow Jocos gig worker fleet from 3,000 today to 10,000 by the end of 2025 and build out new docking stations in Brooklyn and Queens. Joco also wants to get 1,000 battery charging cabinets in buildings and double its B2B footprint in the next 13 months, in part by bringing more four-wheeler cargo bikes to its lineup. And Joco has some tailwinds at its back, especially in NYC where a congestion pricing plan is set to go into effect in January. There will be more opportunities for us to get garage space at better prices, Cohen (NY) said. You dont need a two-ton vehicle for short delivery commutes. And so the more we can do to build infrastructure and the tech, the more convenient it will be for the riders. Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect at 4 am, local time, on November 27. Israel carried out intensive airstrikes in Beirut prior to the deadline killing 18 people, and by the time the deal went into effect the smell of explosives was hanging heavy the air. By noon, the road leading south from Beirut were full of people anxious to return to their homes in the south, despite warnings from both Israeli and Lebanese authorities. Cars overflowing with people, and mattresses stacked high on the roofs, were in a traffic jam going south. The Sunni Muslim majority political party, The Future Movement, had representatives in blue vests handing out sweets to cars slowly driving south, in a sign of solidarity with the mainly Shiite Muslim people of the south. Many of the residents will find they have no home to return to, after 14 months of Israel airstrikes on the south, and an Israeli limited ground incursion since late September that saw carpet-bombing of the south. Lebanon has lost people and buildings, and Hezbollah has lost many top-level leaders and commanders, along with perhaps half of its missile supplies. But, Israel has lost as well, and that is why Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed his government to accept the US-brokered ceasefire deal. Over 1,000 Israeli soldiers were injured in Lebanon, and over 120 were killed. Over 60 Merkava tanks were destroyed, and despite sending in five Army divisions, Israel could not take command of Lebanese soil in the south. They resorted to short-period incursions and withdrawals, and were not able to set up secure headquarters because of the constant attacks by Hezbollah fighters, resisting the invaders. In the days leading up to the ceasefire, Israeli media was showing Israeli soldiers walking through paths and the countryside of Kiam. However, by late afternoon the day the ceasefire began, returning residents had arrived in Kiam to find many buildings bombed by airstrikes, but no evidence the Israelis had been occupying, other than passing through. The deal is set for 60 days of calm, in which the Israelis will withdraw from Lebanon completely, Hezbollah will move north of the Litani River, and the Lebanese Army will be the military presence in the south with 10,000 troops. This is the same deal that was proposed at the end of the summer 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, and the UN resolution 1701 was formed. In today's ceasefire, the same points of the 1701 are to be met, and no new demands were added. Hezbollah gets to keep their weapons. In Israel, the opposition to Netanyahu has blasted the ceasefire as impotent, because Hezbollah is not disarmed. The displaced residents of the north of Israel may not quickly return home. Some are wary of the ceasefire while Hezbollah still remains an armed resistance organization. "Withdrawing forces now will create a dynamic that will make it difficult for us, and make it easier for Hezbollah to regroup," said Benny Gantz, the National Unity leader. "We must not do only half the job." "Hezbollah still has its stockpile of tens of thousands of rockets," added Naftali Bennett, the former prime minister. "An impressive military achievement " is being translated into a total security-diplomatic failure." According to Israeli TV channel 13, 61% of those polled do not think Israel won the war in Lebanon. Also, 66% of those polled support an end to the war in Gaza. According to Sky News Arabic, Israel has lost 5 billion in the tourism sector, 48,000 companies have gone bankrupt, and military losses of $130, 000 per day because of the war in Gaza. Israeli infrastructure has suffered from 9,000 buildings damaged or destroyed, 7,000 vehicles lost, 55,000 acres of land burned, and over 75,000 Israelis were displaced from homes in the north. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "Rob Kall gives readers an important wake up call to the bottom up power that they have to protect their rights, powers, and freedoms. His advice applies to all aspects of life, including politics, economics, journalism, entertainment, and psychology and wellness. Kall's book explains the differences between the top-down leadership approach of dominating, fear based, disconnected authoritarianism and the bottom-up connection consciousness that emphasizes values, justice, fairness, equity, and kindness. This book helps readers see the whole elephant as opposed to the disconnected parts. Kall gives great advice as to intensifying, expanding, prolonging, and deepening connections. With his professional background, Rob Kall is the perfect person to write this book. This is a very well-researched book that includes dozens of insightful interviews with top-notch experts. Kall shows how bottom-up small acts can produce massive results. He emphasizes that since we can't avoid this emerging bottom-up connection revolution, we need to learn how to navigate and embrace it. This bottom-up leadership will result in power to the people. This is a fascinating and insightful book, especially in this new era of digital hunting and gathering." Larry Atkins, author of Skewed: A Critical Thinker's Guide to Media Bias Portland police on Saturday identified the man who died in a single vehicle crash Wednesday, Nov. 20 in the 13800 block of Northeast Airport Way. Police said the driver was Cedric D. Willis, 42, who lived in Vancouver. Excessive speed was a factor in the crash and it remains under investigation, police said in a news release. Officers arrived at the scene around 8:15 p.m. Nov. 20 and found Willis dead. The car had flipped and rolled off the road into a parking lot during the crash, police said. The Oregonian/OregonLive Police have publicly identified the woman who was killed in a three-car crash on Thanksgiving Day and announced expected charges against the driver who allegedly hit her car. Andrea J. Doering, 46, of Portland, was riding in the backseat of a car around 6 p.m. in Northeast Portland with two other people when another car crossed the center line and hit them near the intersection Northeast 13th Avenue and Lombard Street, the Portland Police Bureau said in a statement. Doering died at the scene, and the two other people riding with her were seriously injured in the crash, police said. Police have not publicly identified the man driving the car that hit them, but said that he is hospitalized with serious injuries and alcohol was a factor in the crash; police said that they expect charges against him. Twality Middle School principal Susan Kosmala said in a message to the school community that Doering was a custodian at the Tigard school and identified the two people with her Thursday as her father, Alan Little, and her mother, who Kosmala did not name. Kosmala said Little is a custodian at Byrom Elementary School in Tualatin. Little is still in the hospital but expected to survive and his wifes condition is very serious, Kosmala said. Andrea was a gentle, kind contributor to the Twality community, Kosmala said. She was always patient and funny, and we will miss her terribly. The parent-school organizations for Twality Middle School and Byrom Elementary School have organized a GoFundMe to cover Andrea Doerings funeral expenses and her parents medical costs. Doerings death marks the 64th traffic fatality in Portland this year, after two men died after a crash on Wednesday. Tatum Todd is a breaking news reporter who covers public safety, crime and community news. Reach them at ttodd@oregonian.com or 503-221-4313. If you look at midstream giant Kinder Morgan (NYSE: KMI) in isolation today, it seems like an attractive dividend stock. The yield is roughly 4% or so, which is higher than the 3.3% yield of the average energy company, using the Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF as an industry proxy. And the midstream company's dividend has increased each year since 2018. But don't rush to buy Kinder Morgan until you've dug a little deeper in the midstream niche. Here's why. Are You Missing The Morning Scoop? Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free Buy or hold Kinder Morgan Kinder Morgan is a midstream company, which means it owns energy infrastructure like pipelines and storage and transportation assets. Most of its revenue comes from fees that customers pay for the use of those vital assets. Therefore, it tends to be fairly well-protected from the volatile price swings of oil and natural gas. Its above-average 4% yield is well supported, too, with the company's distributable cash flow covering the dividend by a solid ratio of 1.7 in the third quarter of 2024. Image source: Getty Images. So there's no particular reason to think the dividend is in any risk of being cut. It is, in fact, far more likely that it keeps growing over time. For some investors, that 4% yield will be very tempting, particularly given Kinder Morgan's position as one of the largest midstream operators in North America. It would be understandable if you wanted to buy it, or keep owning it, but don't do either just yet. There's more to this story. Sell Kinder Morgan The stock has risen sharply over the past year, by over 60%! That's a massive increase for what is typically a pretty boring niche of the energy sector. In fact, it is over twice the increase of some of the company's closest peers, notably Enbridge (NYSE: ENB) and Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE: EPD). That 4% yield is actually around 40% below the stock's highest yield over the past year. A lot of good news has been priced into this dividend stock. But the really interesting thing is that the smaller advances by similarly large (if not larger) peers Enterprise and Enbridge obviously hasn't led to as steep a decline in their yields. Enterprise is currently offering a distribution yield of roughly 6.4%, while Enbridge's dividend yield is about 6%. If you are looking to maximize the income your portfolio generates, these equally strong midstream alternatives will probably be a better choice. In fact, if you own Kinder Morgan specifically for the mix of yield and midstream exposure, you might even consider selling it and shifting into Enterprise or Enbridge. When things get bad, certain kinds of Christians will say its all part of Gods plan. Thats supposed to make you feel better. Instead, it tells me that either their theology is all wrong or their God is a lousy planner. People say these things because its easier for them to believe that a deity or a demon or a cabal of billionaires is controlling the world than it is to accept whats clearly evident: No one is in charge. Beyond that, conservative Christian theology demands that they believe it. Their theology says their God is the supreme being who made the universe from nothing but still knows and cares about every detail, especially who you love and whether your gender expression matches what you were assigned at birth. As Pagans, we have no such delusions. While there are some polytheists who argue that the Gods are omniscient, omnipotent, and in complete agreement with each other, most of us opt for a plain reading of the stories our ancestors told about them, taking myths at face value even as we understand they were never intended to be read literally. Add in our own first-hand experiences and we have a clear picture of the many Gods as individual persons who are the mightiest of spirits but who are still finite beings, who participate in the life of the world but do not control it. Whatever is going on right now especially in the socio-political realm it is not part of any Gods plan. Still, the Gods are divine beings. They have their own areas of interest and responsibilities. They have their own values and virtues. And that leaves us wondering: Where are the Gods in all this? The Gods are many, not one Lets begin with something I hope is obvious but wont be to everyone in this culture thats still dominated by monotheism. Anything that speaks of the Gods is necessarily incomplete and is never universally true. The Gods are many, not one. There is an essential divinity to all of them (whatever it is that makes a God a God) but they are not all the same and they are not all playing on the same team. Further, while we can know something about the Gods, they are as far beyond us as we are beyond cats. We will never fully understand them. I write about what Ive experienced with a handful of deities. Many of my friends and co-religionists have had similar experiences and have come to similar conclusions, but that doesnt mean our ideas are right and it doesnt mean they apply to every deity in every situation. But our observations and contemplations are still useful as we attempt to form and maintain relationships with our Gods. The Gods are Gods of the whole world, not just the Gods of humans So much bad religion comes from a single key error: the idea that life is all about us. When you look at the origin story science tells (which does a great job of explaining how and when we got here, even if it cant answer the question of the ultimate origins of life) you see that humans are very late to the party. The universe is around 14 billion years old, the Earth is 4.5 billion years old, and life on Earth has existed for 3.5 billion years. Meanwhile, our species is perhaps 200,000 years old. In that short time weve become the most powerful species on Earth (whether we are the most intelligent is less certain). But we are only one relatively new species out of millions. The Gods are the Gods of all those species and the Earth and the Sky and the Sea not just the Gods of humans. So if your favorite deity isnt as concerned about the state of American politics as you wish, thats at least partially because they have countless other persons occupying their attention. Our Gods are not helicopter parents I have no children myself, but Im well aware of the balance parents must strike between protecting their children from harm and letting them learn and grow on their own. When do you fix something for your kids and when do you say you got yourself here you get yourself out? Civilization is roughly 10,000 years old, the Industrial Era is 300 years old, and our current information age is at most 60. I would say were an adolescent species, but Im not sure were that far along. We have a lot of growing up left to do. Theres a lot we have to figure out. Like good parents, our Gods will point us in the right direction (primarily through their virtues and values) but they arent going to set up a perfect society for us and if they did, wed just screw it up because we have a lot of growing up left to do. Still, Im a Pagan, not a Deist. I do believe the Gods are active in the world and in our lives. What are they doing right now? This conflict includes more than the ordinary world Where do the Gods live? Our ancestors told stories of Olympus, Asgard, and various Otherworlds. Basically, not here, but close to here. Just as our Gods are the Gods of the birds and squirrels and rivers and trees, theyre also the Gods of the Otherworld (whether the Otherworld is many places or one place with many realms is another topic for another time). The Otherworld is a place similar to this world. It is not the Christian Heaven (then again, there was once a war in the Christian Heaven make of that what you will). The stories of our ancestors say its a place of eternal youth and beauty, but its also a place of conflict and battle, sometimes involving the Gods, who are not always on the same sides. If youre wondering where the Gods are right now, dealing with conflict in the Otherworld is a pretty good guess. Last year several of us wrote about The Great War in the Otherworld and in this World. That war is still going on. Ive used World War I metaphors about this for years. Were well past 1914 and were in the trench warfare stage, fighting costly battles to take and lose the same 100 yards of ground over and over again. And there is no American army coming to give one side a decisive advantage. And in any case, there are more than two sides to this war. Metaphor or spiritual reality? Or both? Last week I saw someone on social media complain that fighting the Puritan egregore (a concept originated by Morgan Daimler) is based in fiction and thus not a helpful way of thinking about whats going on. I freely admit that an overreliance on pop culture is not a good thing. If youre waiting to see spirits walking the streets like a scene out of Ghostbusters, youre going to be disappointed. Thats not how this works its not how its ever worked. But sometimes the line between metaphor and spiritual reality is pretty faint. A story that helps us understand whats going on, helps us find our place in the story, and tells us how we can not just survive but also succeed is a true story, whether it actually happens or not. The word for that kind of story is myth I trust you all understand how powerful myths can be. For the record, Im on the side of spiritual reality. But even if all this is 100% metaphor, Id still be doing the same things. What comes next a divination Those of us who follow these things closely have been expecting an escalation of the Otherworldly war into this world for some time. Im reluctant to say that the recent U.S. elections are evidence of such an extension (honestly, that feels like a gross oversimplification of both the Great War and of U.S. politics) but its definitely not a good thing. So whats next? Whats coming? Where are the Gods in all this? As I wrote this, I felt a need for divination. With that as my question, I drew five cards from the Celtic Tarot. The key images are in the very center of the reading. The Queen of Swords outreached hand invites us to join her in her work (the artwork is of Penarddun from Welsh mythology, but ask yourself who this Queen is in your life). Her sword is both a metaphor for making wise decisions and a weapon for fighting. The first two cards remind us of what we should be well aware of: our overall society of which we are a part is headed in the wrong direction. Strength cautions us that there are more effective methods than brute force, and that its good to make friends with dragons. The Two of Wands reminds us that we werent satisfied with the way things were before all this started. Rather than going back to some supposedly better time, we should ask ourselves what we want the future to be. And then go create that future. Choose your weapon, pick your battle Is there a spiritual war going on? The forces of Oppression and Conformity certainly think so. Ive thought so since around 2010 and Ive seen nothing recently to convince me Im wrong. But the more I think and contemplate and meditate about this, the more Im starting to think Im mistaken to be waiting for the Morrigan or anyone else to issue a call to arms. The Great War is here. We know this because were living in it. Whether our place in this war is in this world or in the Otherworld or in both is for us to decide. Whether we fight with swords or wands or pens or guitars is for us to decide. I made my choice. Now I have to carry through with it. What is your choice? This story begins in August 2021 when Kieran Robinson and wife/co-owner Kristie opened R Five Wines along East Lancaster Avenue in Downingtown. But there are plenty of prior stops that led to the opening of what is today a go-to destination for wine and food along the Chester County towns main thoroughfare, not far from the SEPTA tracks that carry trains from downtown Philly to the western suburbs. What was called the R-5 line lasted from 1984 until 2010 but is now simply known as the Paoli/Thorndale Line. Robinson, the winemaker and co-owner, remembers the R-5 growing in Downingtown. His wife was raised close by, in Malvern. A member of the Downingtown High School Class of 1997 graduating class, he worked at a Finger Lakes winery while attending Ithaca College and after graduation in the cellar back in suburban Philly at Chaddsford Winery. His career interests would then lure him and Kristie to the Northern Rhone region of France and for a longer stint on the U.S. West Coast, where over time he worked with and learned from, among others, acclaimed winemakers Paul Hobbs, Aaron Pott and Michel Rolland. His line of Kieran Robinson Wines would launch during that period. In 2018, Kieran and Kristie would debut R Five Wines with the goal of bringing the California wine-tasting experience to the East Coast. Per the website, production increased to include wines from a variety of AVAs in Northern California such as Russian River, Dry Creek Valley and Sonoma Valley. Eventually, the couple would begin planning in earnest to open the shop. That took longer than planned. Two years in the making, he says, adding that they self-funded it. He remembers applying for a loan on March 8, 2020, five days before the world ended as the pandemic struck. Obviously, we never got the loan and had to pivot. So it took us about two years to get this place open, but we got it done. He says a tasting room-slash-wine bar is kind of the vibe we wanted it to be, which included cheese and charcuterie to pair with the wines. Kind of out of necessity, being a little bit more of a local market than a tourist market, we needed a little more food. So I went down a rabbit hole with pizza dough. About a year ago, an upscale farm-to-table restaurant in Kennett Square called Sweet Amelias, run by Downingtown locals Zack and Karessa Hathaway, took over R Fives kitchen. Notes Robinson, Its been a great partnership. Today, the food portion of the menu still features the sharable cheese and charcuterie boards in addition to small plates, a half-dozen pizzas and desserts. There are two tasting flights in addition to the dozen or so dry white, rose and red wines from California that are available by the glass or bottle. R Five Wines recently released a Chenin Blanc, with grapes sourced from Clarksburg, California.R Five Wines Instagram They feature Pizza Thursdays (1/2 bottle of wine and a pizza for $30, dine-in only/valid on select wines) and happy hour from 4 to 6 on Thursdays and Fridays. There are also special events throughout the year: For example, a harvest dinner took place Nov. 9 and Robinson conducts what he calls BarSide Chats, which focus on wine education. The next one, scheduled for Dec. 13, will enlighten attendees on the wines of the Rhone River Valley of France and include a tasting of eight wines and snacks. Its limited to 16 people and the cost is $60/person. Operating hours are 4 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays, 4 to 10 on Fridays, 1 to 10 on Saturdays and 1 to 6 on Sundays. Rooms are available to rent out for parties. Fulfilling the concept of a Pennsylvania tasting room making California wine takes Robinson to the West Coast often enough. In addition, he began making wine for Turks Head Wines, a tasting room and wine lounge that opened at the beginning of September a short drive down Route 322 in West Chester. It also sources California grapes. That means he spends around five months on the West Coast, with the longest trips during the fall for harvest. Still, he said, when hes back in town, customers will find him and/or Kristie working inside the shop at 206 E. Lancaster Ave. Im here a lot, he says. One of our core business models was for my wife and I to be the face of this business and share our love for California wines and do it face to face. We have a manager and staff, but for the most part, were here. The R Five Wines kitchen is run by husband and wife team Zack and Karessa Hathaway, Downingtown locals who also operate Sweet Amelia's in Kennett Square. It's named after their daughter Amelia.R Five Wines Facebook In this setup, he explains that all of the wines for both operations are made from grape to bottle at the same location in south Napa and then trucked to Pennsylvania where they are stored. In that respect, its a little easier to manage, so when I go out to check in on my stuff Im checking in on their stuff. While the wines for R Five and Turks Head are made at the same winemaking facility, the vineyards are separated in some cases by many miles. R Five sources its wines from vines in Dry Creek Valley, Russian River and Sonoma Valley while Turks Head pulls from vineyards located throughout Sonoma and also a bit from Napa. His portfolio is equal parts whites and reds the whites include Roussanne, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Viognier along with a blend and the reds feature Grenache, two red blends and a Syrah in addition to a Grenache rose. Its a menu that has changed but not a lot since the place opened, he says. We concentrate on making Rhone varieties from Napa and Sonoma, so in that respect, we havent changed much. Some vineyards have changed. [There are] some non-Rhone varieties [such as Chenin Blanc] we actually just released within the last two weeks. We do kind of veer off of the Rhone thing when we find vineyards or varieties we really want to work with. Also new is a skin-fermented Grenache Gris that came out this kind of brilliant orange, magenta, pink, he says. Its a fun wine to put in front of people because it does look kind of like your standard kind of rose but then you start smelling it [and] it almost comes off as an orange wine. So thats been a really fun wine to get in front of people. By comparison, Turks Heads list is a bit more expansive with some different grapes, relying on a handful of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon offerings from a variety of vineyards in addition to several red and white blends, and varietals Semillon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. R Five Wines takes the name of the former R-5 SEPTA line, which has since been renamed the Paoli/Thorndale line.R Five Wines Facebook Its a story that certainly would have followed a different route had the couple stayed home after the stint at Chaddsford and planted their own vineyard. Instead, they moved to France for a year and then spent a career-altering 14 years in California working for some unbelievable world-class wineries and winemakers, Robinson says, laying the track that eventually led back east to Chester County. In 2009, he released Kieran Robinson Wines, largely made from Viognier and Syrah grapes. One of those was a specialty Syrah called R Five. Twelve years later, that name would evolve into a business and a new line that would return the couple to their roots. We kind of always knew we wanted to move home, he says. When we were out there we didnt know in what form that was going to be, and then once we started [looking] at winery laws in Pennsylvania we realized we could make all of our wines out there and have our tasting room here. In that sense, its set up similarly to Lancaster County-based Thorn Hill Vineyards, which operates two tasting rooms including one in central Pa. and sources its grapes from parts of the same region that Robinson does. Looking into R Five Wines from East Lancaster Avenue in Downingtown. The tasting room and lounge is open on Thursday through Sunday.R. Five Wines Instagram While the schedule can get hectic he was interviewed while in the tasting room after coming home on a red eye the previous evening and catching just a few hours of sleep when you add in the repeated travel, Robinson says he has found his career heaven, having this opportunity to focus on making wine. In the fall, early mornings out in the vineyard, going to the winery, smelling the fermentation, tasting the wines, thats why I got into the business and I feel like thats why Im still in the business, he says. Its just a wonderful part of the year and why I really enjoy [it]. Story by Clara-Sophia Daly, Miami Herald (TNS) MIAMI A state law that limits the content allowed to be taught in general education classes at universities is being implemented and has caused uproar among professors at Florida International University. The law aims to weed out general education courses based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States. The law also bars professors from teaching courses in general education based on unproven, speculative, or exploratory content. Earlier this year sociology was removed from general education, and now the university is slated to do the same to many more courses. The departments that have been the most affected by the law are Global and Sociocultural Studies, Politics and International Relations, History, and Earth and Environment. The implementation of the new state law across Floridas 12 public universities in the state leaves many academic departments facing the difficult decision of changing the content of a course to keep it in general education or removing it to maintain its integrity. The dozen professors and students at FIU who spoke to the Miami Herald called the states involvement in curriculum decisions censorship and political meddling, and say the process has been chaotic going against the collaborative approach between administrators and professors necessary to maintaining academic freedom. Many professors said it will ultimately result in dwindling enrollments for departments, eventually leading to their removal. And students told the Miami Herald they dont want to pay for elective courses that dont fulfill requirements. Professors are angry and concerned about their jobs and say an environment of fear has swept across the university as administrators scramble to comply with the law. Should universities not comply with the law, they stand to lose part of their funding. How course revisions and removals happened Last summer, the chairs of FIUs academic departments were shocked to receive an email from the administration containing a list of recommendations for revision or removal of their courses from the general education curriculum based on the law. Having a class count for general education is important because it exposes students to various disciplines in the first years of their studies, including subjects they may not be familiar with, and for some departments, its crucial for enrollment numbers. In all, at least 39 courses were marked as not complying with the statute, with 21 courses ultimately being marked as ok with proposed revisions, and 12 marked for removal from general education, according to the latest list of Board of Governors revisions obtained by the Miami Herald from the university. At an earlier Board of Trustees meeting, 22 courses were noted for removal. Many other courses were removed upstream by department heads who received guidance from the university early on that the course would never be approved, according to emails obtained by the Miami Herald. In the Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies, nine courses were flagged for review by the Board of Governors the state administrative body that controls public universities. Douglas Kincaid, the department chair, said the administration made it clear that two courses Sociology of Gender and Anthropology of Race and Ethnicity would never pass the test for inclusion in general education, based on early guidance from the state. The entirety of the Sociology of Gender course description and learning objectives were highlighted as problematic, and the vast majority of Anthropology of Race and Ethnicity was also noted as objectionable. Over the following weeks, decisions were made across departments as to what courses to try and save, and which to simply let go, with the understanding that their course content would not pass the muster of the Board of Governors. Some departments determined that it would be better to remove certain courses from general education, instead of sacrificing the integrity of the content of the class with vast revisions. There is a high level of political interference which is deeply troubling, said Katie Rainwater, a professor of Global and Sociocultural Studies at FIU and one of the professors who teaches Sociology of Gender, which had been in general education since 2003. Kincaid, like all of the faculty members at FIU who spoke to the Miami Herald, sees the hollowing out of general education as political interference undermining academic freedom. They said the ongoing revisions have occurred without transparency and proper faculty input and fear the revisions threaten the future of free thought and nuanced discourse within public education. The state governing body for public universities maintains that these courses are not being completely removed and that students who wish to participate can still choose to take them as an elective. Raul Villegas, 18, a freshman at FIU who spoke to the Miami Herald, said that he felt like the point of education was to explore dangerous territory or a deeper level of different topics to get a better understanding of topics and formulate your own opinions. But he and two of his friends agreed that they would not take a course if it did not count for general education or credit toward their major. It costs money paying $200 bucks for a class that ends up not counting sucks, said Villegas. It should still count as credit, he added. If they dont count toward general education I dont have time. Ive got to focus on my career. Thats the reason Im in the university, said his friend Eduardo Gonzalez, a sophomore who is focused on construction management. Ray Rodrigues, the Chancellor of the State University System of Florida said that his office is enforcing the law so stringently because policymakers were concerned that indoctrination was occurring in the classroom. He pointed to a Gallup poll which found that American confidence in higher education is dwindling, especially among Republicans. In all, 68 percent say it is headed in the wrong direction. Of the Republicans who lack confidence in higher education, 53 percent mention political agendas, with the idea that education is pushing liberal political ideas on students at the root of their concern. In contrast, Democrats who arent confident in higher education cite affordability. FIUs president Kenneth Jessell told the Miami Herald that the idea that professors in his university are indoctrinating students is false. Our faculty are very, very well balanced, they are focusing on the discipline, ensuring students have a quality education without saying this is the wrong or right way, he said. Fear and self-censorship on campus Across the university, administrators and professors say there is now a pervasive environment of fear and self-censorship. According to Jennifer L. Doherty-Restrepo, the Assistant Vice President for Academic Planning and Accountability at FIU, the Board of Governors staff helped us identify general education courses that may not align with the statutes and take that feedback and continue the institutional review. Rodrigues, the chancellor of the Board of Governors, said that in a perfect world, his staff would not need to get involved, and all of this would be handled at the university level. But that has not been the case at FIU. The process has created a game of ping pong between department heads, professors, and the administration where course descriptions and course titles were edited and certain terms were kicked out over months of meetings, phone calls, spreadsheets, and emails. Professors claim that instead of being done transparently and collaboratively, the revisions occurred through backdoor conversations between the Board of Governors and the administration and provost office at FIU, who were pressured to implement revisions to course objectives and course titles in alignment with the statute. Many professors have concerns about this process, noting that the staff of the Board of Governors may not be qualified academics with the expertise to be so involved in what is and is not taught in public universities. According to professors, many departments at the university received suggested revisions to courses that were often out of touch with the objective of the course, and some professors say they were not consulted as to what the revisions were. They also say the law is vague. Eric Scarffe, is an assistant professor of philosophy and president of the United Faculty of Floridas chapter at FIU, the faculty union. He said that given the fact that university budgets are tight, and tuition has not been raised in over a decade, the university was pressured to comply with the law quickly and in a haphazard way. There was no long runway with clear guidelines or goals, he said, referring to the course revision process. But the administration at FIU stands behind their revision process and says they have received ample input from faculty and followed procedures. Many courses have been forced to add the term Western canon to their description, an idea that refers to works that shaped the development of Western civilization and thought. But no definition for Western canon is provided in the law. Rodrigues, the chancellor of the Board of Governors, disagrees with the notion that the law is vague, but also could not provide an answer as to the definition of the Western canon. Im not an academic so I would not answer that question. I am an administrator, he said. Some professors fear losing their jobs. Some administrators have the same fear, but said they are keeping their mouths shut, simply complying with state law. Florida International University professors are upset about the implementation of a state statue that limits what kind of courses can be taught in general education.HECTOR GABINO /El Nuevo Herald Martha Schoolman, an English professor, recalls running into a student and sociology professor on campus. They were discussing the course revisions. She says she walked away from that conversation and thought: Well, this whole enterprise isnt safe anymore, they dont care about this being a good school there is a kind of mentality where anything can be sacrificed in order to comply and there is no point in resisting it, she said. They want to re-shape the whole curriculum, the whole system, in this very conservative image. Professors are concerned about the revisions to general education courses in part because other securities they long felt are also being pulled out from under them. Tenure, a process created to protect freedom of academic inquiry, has also been threatened by Governor DeSantis and his supermajority legislature. Now, professors have to apply for a review every five years. Inside Higher Ed reports that 21 percent of professors at the University of Florida who were reviewed for tenure either gave it up or quit altogether. The Florida Phoenix reports that around 38 percent of professors (they surveyed 350) had already applied for a job in another state. Kevin Grove, a geography professor at FIU, agrees that the law is pushing academics out of Florida and causing a brain drain. He said it censors history and the historical record. It silences the experiences of violence, harm, suffering, and the resistance to these conditions. Grove believes the implementation of this law marks a return of the plantation mentality, which he defines as a system of total social organization on all aspects of society and of beliefs that privilege white supremacy. At the same time course revisions are occurring and classes are being dropped from general studies, Adam Smith Center for the Study of Economic Freedom at FIU has been awarded over $15 million in state funding. The center has hosted many center-right politicians. Funding at risk Many professors said they believe that one reason the administration at FIU and other universities are so eager to implement the revisions and interpret the statute conservatively is because they fear losing funding. But Jessell says he is confident they are following the law and are not concerned about losing funding. For this school year, the State University System has allocated more than $40 million of performance-based funding to FIU, all of which is at risk if the Board of Governors does not approve the list of general education courses. Other public universities have even more money at risk. Florida State University, for example, received over $60 million in state performance-based funding this year. At a January 2025 Board of Governors meeting, a list of general education courses from all twelve of the public universities in the state will be voted on. At that time, the staff will be asked by the board whether they have any concerns about the curriculum and universities will find out whether or not they are able to maintain their performance-based funding. Miami Herald reporter Ana Claudia Chacin contributed to this report. 2024 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. NEW YORK (AP) Authorities are investigating after a Russian national who did not have a ticket boarded a Paris-bound Delta flight at New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport this week and was arrested when the plane touched down. Delta Flight 264 took off Tuesday night from Kennedy and landed at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris the next day with a stowaway who had somehow bypassed security, authorities said. Police boarded the plane at the Paris airport, according to a video from a passenger that was shared on social media. This is the captain. Were just waiting for the police to come on board, the pilot can be heard saying. Daniel Velez, a spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration, said an individual without a boarding pass was screened at Kennedy and was not carrying any prohibited items. TSA takes any incidents that occur at any of our checkpoints nationwide seriously, Velez said. TSA will independently review the circumstances of this incident at our travel document checker station at JFK. A Delta spokesperson said in a statement, Nothing is of greater importance than matters of safety and security. Thats why Delta is conducting an exhaustive investigation of what may have occurred and will work collaboratively with other aviation stakeholders and law enforcement to that end. The French National Police said Friday, A passenger of Russian nationality was smuggled onto a flight from NY (JFK) to Roissy-Charles de Gaulle. The passenger was refused entry to France for lack of a valid travel document (visa), and was placed in a waiting area for the time needed to return her to the United States as she held a valid US residence permit, the National Police said in a statement. A spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates Kennedy Airport, declined to comment. By Maria Cheng and Maria Verza, The Associated Press MEXICO CITY Its been called the closest the world has ever come to a vaccine against the AIDS virus. The twice-yearly shot was 100% effective in preventing HIV infections in a study of women, and results published Wednesday show it worked nearly as well in men. Drugmaker Gilead said it will allow cheap, generic versions to be sold in 120 poor countries with high HIV rates mostly in Africa, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean. But it has excluded nearly all of Latin America, where rates are far lower but increasing, sparking concern the world is missing a critical opportunity to stop the disease. This is so far superior to any other prevention method we have, that its unprecedented, said Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS. She credited Gilead for developing the drug, but said the worlds ability to stop AIDS hinges on its use in at-risk countries. In a report issued to mark World AIDS Day on Sunday, UNAIDS said that the number of AIDS death last year an estimated 630,000 was at its lowest since peaking in 2004, suggesting the world is now at a historic crossroads and has a chance to end the epidemic. The drug called lenacapavir is already sold under the brand name Sunlenca to treat HIV infections in the U.S., Canada, Europe and elsewhere. The company plans to seek authorization soon for Sunlenca to be used for HIV prevention. While there are other ways to guard against infection, like condoms, daily pills, vaginal rings and bi-monthly shots, experts say the Gilead twice-yearly shots would be particularly useful for marginalized people often fearful of seeking care, including gay men, sex workers and young women. It would be a miracle for these groups because it means they just have to show up twice a year at a clinic and then theyre protected, said UNAIDS' Byanyima. Such was the case for Luis Ruvalcaba, a 32-year-old man in Guadalajara, Mexico, who participated in the latest published study. He said he was afraid to ask for the daily prevention pills provided by the government, fearing he would be discriminated against as a gay man. Because he took part in the study, hell continue to receive the shots for at least another year. In Latin American countries, there is still a lot of stigma, patients are ashamed to ask for the pills, said Dr. Alma Minerva Perez, who recruited and enrolled a dozen study volunteers at a private research center in Guadalajara. How widely available the shots will be in Mexico through the countrys health care system isnt yet known. Health officials declined to comment on any plans to buy Sunlenca for its citizens; daily pills to prevent HIV were made freely available via the countrys public health system in 2021. If the possibility of using generics has opened, I have faith that Mexico can join, said Perez. Byanyima said other countries besides Mexico that took part in the research were also excluded from the generics deal, including Brazil, Peru and Argentina. To now deny them that drug is unconscionable. she said. In a statement, Gilead said it has an ongoing commitment to helping enable access to HIV prevention and treatment options where the need is the greatest. Among the 120 countries eligible for generic version are 18 mostly African countries that comprise 70% of the worlds HIV burden. The drugmaker said it is also working on establishing fast, efficient pathways to reach all people who need or want lenacapavir for HIV prevention. On Thursday, 15 advocacy groups in Peru, Argentina, Ecuador, Chile, Guatemala and Colombia wrote to Gilead, asking for generic Sunlenca to be made available in Latin America, citing the alarming inequity in access to new HIV prevention tools while infection rates were rising. While countries including Norway, France, Spain and the U.S. have paid more than $40,000 per year for Sunlenca, experts have calculated it could be produced for as little as $40 per treatment once generic production expands to cover 10 million people. Dr. Chris Beyrer, director of the Global Health Institute at Duke University, said it will be enormously useful to have Sunlenca available in the hardest-hit countries in Africa and Asia. But he said the rising HIV rates among groups including gay men and transgender populations constituted a public health emergency in Latin America. Hannya Danielle Torres, a 30-year-old trans woman and artist who was in the Sunlenca study in Mexico, said she hoped the government would find a way to provide the shots. Mexico may have some of the richest people in the world but it also has some of the most vulnerable people living in extreme poverty and violence, Torres said. Another drugmaker, Viiv Healthcare, also left out most of Latin America when it allowed generics of its HIV prevention shot in about 90 countries. Sold as Apretude, the bi-monthly shots are about 80% to 90% effective in preventing HIV. They cost about $1,500 a year in middle-income countries, beyond what most can afford to pay. Asia Russell, executive director of the advocacy group Health Gap, said that with more than 1 million new HIV infections globally every year, established prevention methods are not enough. She urged countries like Brazil and Mexico to issue compulsory licenses, a mechanism where countries suspend patents in a health crisis. Its a strategy some countries embraced for previous HIV treatments, including in the late 1990s and 2000s when AIDS drugs were first discovered. More recently, Colombia issued its first-ever compulsory license for the key HIV treatment Tivicay in April, without permission from its drugmaker, Viiv. Dr. Salim Abdool Karim, an AIDS expert at South Africas University of KwaZulu-Natal, said he had never seen a drug that appeared to be as effective as Sunlenca in preventing HIV. The missing piece in the puzzle now is how we get it to everyone who needs it, he said. Cheng reported from London. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content. By Marel King, Julia Krall, Kristin Reilly, and Chris Hoffman An unprecedented period of cooperation between two gubernatorial administrations, legislative leaders, farmers, local governments and countless volunteers is leading to cleaner water in Pennsylvanias rivers and streams as well as the Chesapeake Bay. In April, two miles of Turtle Creek Tributaries in Union County were removed from the impaired waters list. In July, the Bay received a C+ grade, its best in 20 years, in the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences 2023/2024 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Report Card. Continued leadership -- from state government to grassroots organizations is sparking even more optimism. This year, commonwealth legislators, led by Senator Scott Martin and Senator Gene Yaw, past chair and current vice chair of the tri-state Chesapeake Bay Commission respectively, included $50 million in new annual funding in the state budget for the Clean Streams Fund, with $35.75 million for the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP). Established in 2022, the Clean Streams Fund tackles ways to improve our waters from some agricultural activities, acid mine drainage, and urban/suburban stormwater runoff while encouraging innovative clean water programs. ACAP provides specific investments to help farmers design and pay for implementing conservation practices like manure storage and tree planting. Perhaps more importantly, this kind of bold leadership and investment creates collaboration, trust, and a shared commitment to conservation that brings people together for the common good. For the Hammertown Road tributary to the Conestoga River in Lancaster County, over 22 landowners in the 896-acre watershed came together to plant 35-foot forested buffers along their streams and work on grassed waterways, barnyard waste storage facilities, streamside fencing and crossings, rock-lined waterways, and nutrient management plans. This is one of many local-scale actions happening all across Pennsylvanias portion of the watershed under a county-based approach that empowers community leaders to set priorities for state and federal Bay funding. As a result, headlines around the Bay watershed have changed from Pennsylvania being significantly behind in meeting its clean water goals to more hopeful headlines about Pennsylvania making real progress and building momentum. Make no mistake, Pennsylvania and the rest of the Bay states still have a lot of work to do. Collectively, Bay states will not meet the Chesapeake Watershed Agreements pollution-reduction commitments by the 2025 deadline. But with the wind at our backs, and new headwinds around the corner, Gov. Josh Shapiros leadership is more urgent than ever. On Dec. 10 in Annapolis, the Chesapeake Bay Executive Council will hold its annual meeting. Most years, the meetings are important to attend. This year, attendance is imperative. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity where our leaders can cement a legacy of clean water if they come together, recommit to the historic federal/state Bay partnership, and unite behind updating the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement by the end of 2025. We urge Gov. Shapiro to attend in person. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, and Bay Commission Chair Virginia Delegate David Bulova have already confirmed their attendance. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan and all other Executive Council members must be there as well. Beyond the formalities of the event, Gov. Shapiros presence would send a clear message that Pennsylvanias progress is not fleeting, and he will claim the spotlight for Pennsylvania that its leadership deserves. Gov. Shapiros words echoed around the watershed when he said: We are not talking about fixing the Bay anymore, we are fixing the Bay, and we are making sure Pennsylvania does its fair share. You have my commitment that this work will continue. Pennsylvania is all in. This is the kind of leadership that can inspire action across state lines, party aisles, and at all levels of government. From the governors office to the banks of the Conestoga, we are grateful for this kind of leadership, progress, and momentum. But now is not the time to rest on our accomplishments. Its time to double down. For a legacy of clean water for Pennsylvania and the Bay, it is up to Gov. Shapiro and the rest of the Chesapeake Executive Council this December to continue providing bold leadership, partnership, and accountability for 2025 and beyond. Marel King is Pennsylvania Director, Chesapeake Bay Commission. Julia Krall is Executive Director, Chesapeake Bay Foundation. \ Kristin Reilly is Director, Choose Clean Water Coalition. Chris Hoffman is president, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (Reuters) -Nissan Motor's CFO Stephen Ma is set to step down, Bloomberg News reported on Saturday, citing people familiar with the matter, weeks after the Japanese automaker issued a profit warning and announced plans to cut thousands of jobs globally. It is unclear whether Ma will leave the automaker or be demoted, the report said, adding his office had declined to comment. Nissan declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. Ma became Nissan's finance chief in 2019, replacing Hiroshi Karube, weeks after it named the head of its China business, Makoto Uchida, as its next chief executive. Nissan said earlier this month that it will cut 9,000 jobs and 20% of its global manufacturing capacity, as it scrambles to reduce costs by $2.6 billion in the current fiscal year amid a sales slump in China and the U.S., its two biggest markets. The plans underline the vulnerability of the automaker, having never fully recovered from the disarray and internal strife that led to the 2018 ouster of former Chairman Carlos Ghosn and scaling back of the partnership with Renault SA. Nissan's global sales fell 3.8% to 1.59 million vehicles for the first half of the financial year, largely due to a 14.3% drop in China. Like many foreign automakers, it is struggling in China where BYD and other local manufacturers are gobbling up market share with affordable EVs and hybrids that boast advanced technology. But Nissan's bigger problem may be in the United States, where it lacks a credible line-up of hybrid cars. That's in contrast to Japanese rival Toyota , which has seen a boom in demand for gasoline-electric hybrid cars. (Reporting by Gnaneshwar Rajan in Bengaluru and Kantaro Komiya; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Kim Coghill) 888poker Releases Bustling Live Schedule for 2025 Matthew Pitt Senior Editor Copy link A New Year is right around the corner and 888poker has wasted no time in releasing the details for its 2025 888poker LIVE and UK Poker League (UKPL) festivals. 888poker LIVE features five stops in 2025, with the UKPL's second season six destination, including some new venues. 888poker has also informed PokerNews of a special promotion where you could be playing for an 888poker LIVE Ultimate Passport, worth $2,200, for free. Keep reading to learn about all of the juicy details. Five 888poker LIVE Stops Confirmed Players get to blow away the post-holiday blues early in January because 888poker LIVE heads to Madrid for the first of five scheduled stops of 2025. The tour heads to the Gran Via Casino in Madrid between January 12-19. What better way to kick off 2025 than with some poker fun in the sun? After Madrid, 888poker LIVE jets off to Glasgow between March 13-23 before returning to Spain for the ever-popular Barcelona leg from May 8-18. Keep your diaries free between September 4-14 when 888poker LIVE heads to the English capital, London. This leg takes place in the newly renovated Victoria Grosvenor Casino, better known as "The Vic." The fifth and final stop of the 2025 live tour is currently a closely guarded secret. The location and dates have yet to be announced, but 888poker has told PokerNews it will end the year with something huge! 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Play 25 tournaments with buy-ins of at least $1 Win 125 cash games hands Win 20 BLAST games with buy-ins of at least $1 888poker UKPL Returns for a Second Season The inaugural season of the 888poker UK Poker League (UKPL) was a massive success, so it is no surprise to see it return for a second year. Six locations and dates are guaranteed, with the tour heading to Portsmouth, Newcastle, Reading, Edinburgh, Liverpool, and Coventry. Each UKPL stop features the same schedule, with a 560 buy-in Main Event being the showstopper. Satellites from $1 will be available online at 888poker, allowing more players to experience a high-class live poker event near where they live. Dates Stop January 21-26 Portsmouth April 1-6 Newcastle May 27 to June 1 Reading South June 17-22 Edinburgh September 30 to October 5 Liverpool November 11-16 Coventry Grand Finale So there you have it, the 2025 888poker LIVE and UKPL schedules in full. Keep your browsers locked and loaded to PokerNews before, during, and after each of these superb live series as we bring you news, promotions, updates, and recaps from 888poker LIVE. Keep Tabs on 888poker MTTs with the PokerNews Online Tournament Calendar The PokerNews Online Tournament Calendar is a free-to-use tool built into the PokerNews website that enables you to find upcoming and in-play multi-tables tournaments on poker sites like 888poker, PartyPoker, and PokerStars. By using the intuitive filters, you can narrow down your search and find the perfect 888poker tournament for you, your bankroll, and your needs. Share this article The stage is set for an epic finale as the $3,300 Main Event at the 2024 Merit Poker Gatsby Gala Series reaches its climactic final table. After days of intense action at the Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino, only nine players remain, each eyeing the coveted trophy and the $307,700 top prize. The penultimate day whittled the field down to these final contenders, all of whom have locked up at least $30,770, but only one will walk away a champion. Leading the pack is Nichan Khorchidian, who bagged a commanding 12,075,000 chips, good for 60 big blinds when play resumes. Khorchidian is no stranger to this stage, having finished as the runner-up in a Merit Poker Main Event earlier this year. With redemption and glory on his mind, hell look to turn his dominant stack into the ultimate prize. Final Table Chip Counts Place Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Nichan Khorchidian Lebanon 12,075,000 60 2 Bogdan Jontulovic Serbia 9,300,000 47 3 Anton Wigg Sweden 9,225,000 46 4 Vedat Yilmaz Turkey 8,625,000 43 5 Adrian State Romania 6,400,000 32 6 Naji Tannoury Lebanon 5,700,000 29 7 Dmitry Gromov Russia 5,500,000 28 8 Andrey Pateychuk Russia 3,200,000 16 9 Felipe Ketzer Brazil 1,275,000 6 Hot on his heels is Bogdan Jontulovic, whose late surge secured him 9,300,000 chips, marking a career-best moment as he makes his first final table in the series. Joining him near the top is EPT champion Anton Wigg, a decorated pro with over $5,000,000 in career earnings, sitting comfortably with 9,225,000 chips and poised to make a big impact. The final table lineup also features a mix of seasoned veterans and rising stars. Dmitry Gromov, a WPT champion and Merit Poker legend with over 40 career final table appearances, and Andrey Pateychuk, a former Merit Main Event champion, bring immense experience and determination to the field. Meanwhile, Felipe Ketzer, making his third Main Event final table appearance this year, will fight to spin up his short stack of 1,275,000 chips. Andrey Pateychuk With blinds resuming at 100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 big blind ante, the action is sure to be fast-paced as players battle for their share of the remaining payouts. Only one will claim the trophy and the title of 2024 Merit Poker Gatsby Gala Series Main Event Champion. Remaining Payouts Place Prize 1 $307,700 2 $211,400 3 $142,470 4 $102,570 5 $76,930 6 $61,640 7 $51,300 8 $40,930 9 $30,770 Join PokerNews from 1:00 p.m. local time for comprehensive coverage of the final table, from the first shuffle to the crowning of the champion. Its a day of poker you wont want to miss! Aiken, SC (29801) Today Morning fog, then cloudy this afternoon. High 78F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Cloudy. Low near 65F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A)(NYSE: BRK.B) has been selling stocks at a higher clip than usual this year. Through the first three quarters of 2024, Berkshire sold $133 billion worth of stocks. This mostly reflects recent sales of Berkshire's largest holding, Apple, but it also trimmed its Bank of America stake, which has also been a sizable investment for Berkshire in recent years. Here's Berkshire Hathaway's top four holdings at the end of Q3 and each position's market value: Are You Missing The Morning Scoop? Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free Apple: $69.9 billion American Express (NYSE: AXP): $41.1 billion Bank of America: $31.7 billion Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO): $28.7 billion At Berkshire Hathaway's 2024 shareholders' meeting, Buffett mentioned that he found it "quite attractive" to build a larger cash position with the stock market continuing to rise. Valuations have gotten more expensive, which is limiting the pool of quality businesses selling at sensible prices. With the stock market sitting close to new highs, it's more telling what stocks Buffett is not selling. While Buffett unloads Apple and Bank of America, it's noteworthy that he has not sold a single share of Coca-Cola or American Express in over 25 years. 1. Coca-Cola Coca-Cola is one of Berkshire's longest-held investments. Buffett originally bought the stock in the late 1980s and bought more shares in 1994. Berkshire still holds 400 million shares after stock splits, worth $28.7 billion at the end of Q3. Buffett places a high value on Coke's brand. Despite shifting consumer preferences away from sugary carbonated beverages, the company has continued to drive growth across a large lineup of water, tea, coffee, energy, and other carbonated beverages. There are over 2 billion servings of the company's products consumed every day, which translates to consistent revenue and profits. After reaching a 52-week high of $73, Coca-Cola shares currently trade around $64. The pullback has brought the stock's forward dividend yield to an attractive 3%. The above-average yield on top of Coke's growth opportunities certainly makes the stock a tempting buy on the dip. The stock fell after the company posted a 1% year-over-year decline in unit case volumes. Coke is feeling the sting of macroeconomic headwinds that have made consumer spending unpredictable this year, but these are near-term problems that the company can navigate through as it has before. South Carolina's electric utilities are spending billions of dollars, and raising customer's rates, to upgrade their systems to handle the projected surge in power needs in coming years. But just how much of that demand is being driven by data centers has been hidden among heavily redacted regulatory filings. Now, a new report filed with the Virginia State Corporation Commission is offering a clue nearly all of it. The regulators in Richmond, faced with the prospect of hometown-based Dominion Energy hiking residential rates while failing to comply with carbon-cutting mandates, asked the utility to show the impact power-guzzling data centers will have on the projected steep increase in energy demand. The server farms require huge amounts of electricity to power internet-delivered services like artificial intelligence and cloud computing. The report showed peak usage would actually decrease slightly over the next few years if not for data centers the company agreed to serve. Even long-term projections show just a slight increase without them by 2039. Data center-related capacity needs will result in a 20 percent increase in spending for Dominion costs that are passed along to consumers. "Weve held for years that electric vehicles and building electrification will drive large increases in energy demand," Ivy Main, renewable energy chairperson for the Sierra Club, said in a commentary published by the Virginia Mercury. "When Dominion talks about the challenges of load growth, it cites these factors along with data centers, suggesting that ordinary people are part of the problem. Were not." A crew lifts a power line pole during construction at a home on Oct. 8, 2024, on the Navajo Nation in Halchita, Utah. SAN DIEGO, Nov. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California criminal defense law firm Appelbaum Law announced today that Founding Attorney Sharon Appelbaum has been named a finalist in the San Diego Business Journal's 2024 Annual Business Women of the Year Awards. This recognition celebrates Appelbaum's exemplary contributions to the legal field and her dedication to providing strategic, high-level criminal defense and white-collar representation. "I am honored to be recognized among such accomplished women by the Business Journal," said Appelbaum. "This recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of my team and our commitment to delivering exceptional representation for our clients during their most challenging times." The Business Women of the Year Awards honor influential women across various industries who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and impact in their professions and communities. Appelbaum's selection as a finalist underscores her relentless commitment to advocating for her clients and her ability to navigate complex legal challenges with precision and discretion. A nationally recognized trial attorney, Appelbaum leads a specialized criminal defense and white-collar practice, representing clients in cases involving financial fraud, corporate investigations, and serious criminal allegations. With over two decades of experience, including her tenure as a prosecutor with the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, Appelbaum has earned accolades for her strategic approach, ability to manage high-stakes cases, and unwavering commitment to justice. Her career achievements have earned her numerous honors, including recognition as a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and a Top 100 Criminal Defense Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers Association for four consecutive years. Earlier this year, Appelbaum was also honored as a nominee for the Los Angeles Times Inspirational Women Awards. About Appelbaum Law At Appelbaum Law, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive criminal defense and white-collar representation to clients in federal and state cases. Our firm handles a wide range of matters, including financial fraud, regulatory investigations, and allegations of sexual misconduct. With a tailored approach to each case, our team brings extensive experience, strategic insight, and unwavering advocacy to deliver the best possible outcomes for our clients. For more information, please visit AppelbaumLaw.com. SOURCE Appelbaum Law RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Themis, a global leader in financial crime prevention, announces the official launch of Tathabbat. This marks a significant step in Saudi Arabia's compliance landscape, aligning with Vision 2030 and the country's push to adopt world-class Know-Your-Finance (KYF) standards. Tathabbat aims to empower Saudi financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs) by offering state-of-the-art KYF/KYC tools and solutions. The venture will play a crucial role in bolstering the Kingdom's anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CFT) frameworks, strengthening transparency and regulatory compliance as Saudi Arabia prepares for the 2026 FATF evaluation. Dickon Johnstone, CEO of Themis, expressed confidence in this expansion: "Our investment in Saudi Arabia is a testament to the strategic importance of this region. With Tathabbat, we are committed to building a safer financial ecosystem by providing local institutions with cutting-edge tools to fight financial crime." Ali Alasiri, CEO of Tathabbat, highlighted the alignment with Saudi Arabia's economic goals: "Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 is transforming the region into a global financial hub. We are thrilled to partner with Themis to introduce Tathabbat, which will provide essential KYF support for businesses in this rapidly evolving market." The launch of Tathabbat signals Themis' unwavering commitment to helping Saudi businesses not only meet compliance standards but also thrive in an increasingly regulated world. For more information, visit: www.tathabbat.ai About Tathabbat Tathabbat helps businesses in Saudi Arabia identify and manage Know Your Finance (KYF) risks through a combination of cutting-edge technology, intelligence, research and data. Tathabbat is powered by Themis, a global leader in AML/CTF technology and corporate intelligence, ensuring your business is protected at every level. Incorporated in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Commercial Registry: 1009085146. SOURCE Themis U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn speaks as Gov. Jared Polis, left, and Sen. Michael Bennet listen during a community celebration to welcome home the U.S. Space Command to Colorado Springs. Amman, December 1 : The Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization had dispatched a new humanitarian aid convoy to the Gaza Strip in cooperation with the Jordanian Armed Forces and the World Food Programme. The convoy consists of 50 trucks loaded with food, medical supplies, and other essential items, which will be delivered to the relevant authorities in Gaza for distribution to those in need, the organisation said in a statement on Saturday, reports Xinhua news agency. Hussein Shibli, secretary-general of the organisation, said Jordan will remain at the forefront to support the people in Gaza. Shibli noted that Jordan has so far sent 4,326 trucks of aid to Gaza, along with 53 planes via Egypt's El-Arish Airport. Additionally, 390 airdrops have been conducted, including 124 by Jordan and 266 in collaboration with other countries, as well as eight helicopter aid missions. Juba, December 1 : South Sudan, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), announced that it has secured more than 282,000 doses of oral cholera vaccine (OCV) to carry out vaccination campaigns in areas identified as cholera transmission hotspots. The Ministry of Health on Saturday said that the vaccines will be strategically deployed to Upper Nile State and other priority locations, Xinhua news agency reported. "Cholera prevention is a priority in areas targeted for multisectoral intervention," Minister of Health Yolanda Awel Deng said in a statement issued in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. Awel said that the campaigns aim to protect vulnerable populations and serve as a foundational step toward implementing sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene interventions. The vaccines will be used to implement a two-dose mass vaccination campaign in Renk and Malakal counties in Upper Nile State, the minister added. In the coming days, the minister noted, additional doses will be shipped to support response efforts in other affected locations. The vaccination campaign aims to mitigate cholera outbreaks in these areas. According to Humphrey Karamagi, WHO representative in South Sudan, cholera is endemic in the country. "The strategic interventions include OCV campaigns in at-risk areas, training of state-level rapid response teams, and prepositioning and provision of diagnostic test kits and essential supplies for managing patients. These measures have enhanced surveillance and enabled prompt responses to suspected and confirmed cases," Karamagi said. According to the WHO, cholera continues to pose a significant public health challenge in South Sudan, exacerbated by ongoing humanitarian crises that primarily affect children, women and other vulnerable groups. Nairobi, December 1 : The Kenyan government has issued a flood alert following heavy rains affecting several parts of the country. Disaster response teams have begun evacuating more than 240 households impacted by the ongoing floods nationwide, the Ministry of Interior and National Administration said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, Xinhua news agency reported. Counties in the Lake Victoria Basin and northwestern regions have experienced heavy rainfall, leading to isolated cases of flooding, the ministry said. "Disaster response teams, coordinated by national government administration officers, are monitoring the situation in various parts of the country and providing support to those affected," the ministry said. It added that flood alerts have been issued for northern and eastern Kenya, as well as parts of the coastal and Rift Valley regions, where storms are expected over the weekend but are likely to subside next week. The ministry also noted that evacuations are underway in Kisumu, a lakeside city, where about 200 households have been affected and nearly 100 acres of crops have been destroyed. "Residents of flood-prone areas who may be temporarily relocated for their safety are urged to cooperate with the response teams," the statement added. Earlier this year, unusual seasonal rains, compounded by the El Nino weather pattern, caused widespread disruption across Kenya, a country highly vulnerable to climate change. Between March and June, heavy rains and floods claimed the lives of more than 300 people, injured 188 and left 38 missing. More than 293,200 people were displaced, and nearly 306,520 were affected, according to figures from the National Disaster Operation Center. Damascus, December 1 : The Syrian army announced a temporary redeployment of its forces following intense clashes with militant groups in the northwestern provinces of Aleppo and Idlib, according to a statement issued by the Syrian Defence Ministry. The statement noted that the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied opposition factions had launched a large-scale offensive in recent days. The assault, supported by thousands of foreign fighters, heavy weaponry, and a significant number of drones, targeted multiple fronts over a stretch exceeding 100 kilometres, Xinhua news agency reported. Dozens of Syrian soldiers have been killed and some others wounded in the fighting, according to the statement. The ministry said the militant groups had entered large sections of Aleppo neighbourhoods but were prevented from establishing strongholds. Faced with overwhelming numbers of militants and multiple attacks on fronts, the Syrian army said it had implemented a strategic redeployment to strengthen defensive lines, protect civilians and soldiers, and prepare for a counteroffensive. "This measure is temporary," the ministry emphasised. "The armed forces will continue operations to repel the militants and restore full state control over the city and its surrounding areas," it added. On Wednesday, a major rebel offensive rocked the western countryside of Aleppo province, marking the first significant attack since 2016. The assault has involved a coalition of rebel groups, mainly the HTS. The rebels have employed a combination of ground attacks, car bombings, and shelling to penetrate government-held territory. On Friday, the rebels successfully stormed parts of Aleppo, after they were driven out of the city in 2016. In response, the Syrian government, supported by Russia and Iran, launched airstrikes and ground operations to counter the rebel advance. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates that over 270 people, including civilians, have been killed since the start of the offensive. Kampala, December 1 : Uganda has urged people living in disaster-prone mountainous areas to evacuate immediately after a landslide killed 20 people and left another 100 missing in the eastern district of Bulambuli. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, who visited the affected area on Friday, called on residents to cooperate with the government, which is committed to addressing such catastrophes through medium- and long-term interventions, Xinhua news agency reported. The landslide struck five villages in Bulambuli district on Wednesday night. "We urge all survivors and those in vulnerable areas to relocate immediately to Bunambutye (a subcounty in Bulambuli district) for safety," the Prime Minister said in a statement issued Friday night. She said that the Wednesday night landslide was "triggered by a 10-hour downpour," which buried homes and destroyed crops. "More than 100 residents are still unaccounted for as rescue operations continue," Nabbanja said. She announced that the government would provide compensation of $1,350 for each deceased person and $270 for each injured individual. Lillian Aber, Minister of state for relief, disaster preparedness and refugees, said additional manpower would be deployed to aid the search and rescue efforts. "Food and non-food items will be provided to the victims by the Office of the Prime Minister and the Uganda Red Cross Society," Aber said, adding that a medical camp would also be established. Beirut, December 1 : Two people were killed and six others injured in Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese official and military sources. The Public Health Emergency Operations Center of the Ministry of Public Health said in separate statements on Saturday that an Israeli airstrike on a car in the village of Majdal Zoun injured three people, including a 7-year-old child, Xinhua news agency reported. "A citizen was also injured in an Israeli raid on the village of Al-Bissariyeh," it said. Meanwhile, the official National News Agency said, "An Israeli raid on the village of Rab El Thalathine resulted in two deaths and two injuries, and artillery shelling was recorded on the Taybeh water project." A Lebanese military source told Xinhua that an Israeli force advanced from the border village of Kafr Kila to the village of Deir Mimas, east of southern Lebanon, for about 4 km. It later retreated to its surroundings, putting itself 1 km from the eastern bank of the Litani River, the north of which the Israeli army demands Hezbollah withdraw to. Earlier on Saturday, the Israeli Air Force carried out airstrikes on four Hezbollah targets in southwestern, southern, and deep in Lebanon, according to a statement issued by the Israel Defense Forces, three days after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect. The Hezbollah-Israel ceasefire, which took effect on Wednesday, is largely holding, though occasional violations in border areas have been reported by both sides. Gaza, December 1 : The World Central Kitchen (WCK) announced the suspension of its operations in Gaza following the reported killing of its staff in an Israeli airstrike. "We are heartbroken to share that a vehicle carrying World Central Kitchen colleagues was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza," the US-based organisation said in a press statement. "At this time, we are working with incomplete information and are urgently seeking more details," it said, adding that it has no knowledge that any individual in the vehicle had alleged ties to the Hamas attack in early October last year, Xinhua news agency reported. On Saturday, local sources and eyewitnesses reported that an Israeli aircraft targeted a vehicle in Khan Younis in southern Gaza with at least one missile, killing the WCK's Palestinian employees who were inside the vehicle. Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces said Saturday in a statement that it struck a vehicle with a militant, who was simultaneously a WCK worker, that took part in the Hamas attack. Israel has been conducting a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on October 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken hostage. Jerusalem, December 1 : The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced in a statement the lifting of gathering restrictions in most of the country's northern regions. The decision was made following a situational assessment held by IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, Xinhua news agency reported. One of the gathering restrictions, which allowed a maximum of 10, 100, 350, or 2,000 people in the north depending on the distance from the Lebanese border in the past, has been changed to a maximum of 200 people on the confrontation line area along the Lebanese border and in the northern part of the annexed Golan Heights. The gathering restriction of up to 2,000 people in the communities close to the Gaza Strip in southern Israel remains in effect. On Thursday evening, the IDF announced the immediate lifting of gathering restrictions in central Israel, including Tel Aviv and its suburbs. The Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, which took effect on Wednesday, is largely holding, though occasional violations in border areas have been reported by both sides. Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify that currently, applications for childcare assistance are also being used to prioritize enrollment if and when the program freeze is lifted, or a waitlist is put in place. First in a two-part series Jamahra Williams has a lot on her plate. As a young Fountain mother juggling education, jobs and the care of her 4-year-old daughter, she operates on thin margins. That is why she was proactive in enrolling Naza, her then 10-month-old, into the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program to subsidize her day care costs. The long-established state program has allowed the young mother in intervening years to pursue her doula certification and continue working on her degree at Pikes Peak State College while ensuring licensed, community-based care for her daughter. After this year, though, Naza may be in the last generation of kids who will have the opportunity to benefit from the program. That disheartens Williams, who said her current life would not be possible without subsidized child care. I dont even think if I worked full time at a job, I would have been able to pay for it, Williams said. Starting earlier in November, the El Paso County Department of Human Services announced the Child Care Assistance Program would no longer be taking new applicants. While families like Nazas will be able to continue receiving assistance, those hoping to enter the program will be out of luck. Human Services has not said when or if the program will reopen. The freeze further limits options for El Paso County parents, already facing rising child care costs and a lack of open positions in licensed care facilities. Human Services is still receiving inquiries over 40 in just the weekend after the enrollment freeze. Heidi Mather, a longtime child care assistance program provider, said the program was a needed service for families. Her day care, run out of her home near downtown Colorado Springs, enrolls 5 children under the program out of 12 who attend. A veteran provider with three staff, she said that the assistance program has always been difficult to navigate for both families and child care providers. Spots are hard to find for parents, while child care providers like Mather struggle with lower tuition rates per child if paid by the state. "I do it because the families need care and every child deserves licensed, in home care that is, like, quality," she said, surrounded by books, toys and colorful Thanksgiving art made by her infant to nearly school age enrolled children. The program pays child care tuition for families on a sliding scale according to income. In El Paso County, 2,755 families are currently receiving tuition help a population of nearly 3,300 children. The program freeze comes down to dried-up funding and state-mandated provider rate increases, says El Paso County Department of Human Services spokesperson Kristina Iodice. "We know it impacts families, and this was not a decision we wanted to make," she said. In the 2024-25 fiscal year, the program statewide has been allocated a $177.2 million budget, according to Iodice. In the previous fiscal year, CCCAP had $188.1 million. With the reduction in state funds, the specific allocation to El Paso County dropped $385,581 for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Reduced state funding coincides with the end of federal stimulus dollars that were boosting the program, especially from the American Rescue Plan Act. County Human Services also is putting the blame on rate increases for program providers based on market-rate studies conducted by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood. Iodice said that the mandated rate changes could increase reimbursement to care providers from 2% to 27.87% depending on the type of child care facility and its rating. Each licensed facility has a rating given based on certifications and approval from 1 through 5. Each has a different reimbursement rate, with higher rated facilities receiving more money per child. The state has also mandated differences in charging for monthly child absences while some are covered fully by the family, some are covered by child care assistance. Featured Local Savings The changes may help incentivize licensed child care providers to accept the state program, since provider reimbursement rates are often well below private-pay rates. El Paso County currently pays Child Care Assistance Program providers among the lowest rates in the state, according to Colorado Department of Child Education records. As of Nov. 1, a licensed provider at the lowest and most common tier of accreditation in El Paso County currently receives $44.04 per day for full-time, home-based care of an 18- to 24-month-old child without special needs. In Jefferson County, the same category of care is set at a provider rate of $55.86. In Denver County, the rate is $51.82, and Pueblo sets the rate at $44.68. Mather said that she was disappointed by the raise amount she said went into effect in October, which still lags far behind her private pay rates. "I thought it was going to be $5 a day, and it was $5 a week," she said. The county is still tightening its belt, however. The Child Care Assistance Program shares a reserve fund out of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program with child welfare. Normally, yearly funding deficits could be drawn from the reserve as needed. All three programs have seen increased costs with no rise in state funding in past years, said Iodice, making use of the fund impossible to keep child care assistance afloat. El Paso is not the only county with a struggling Child Care Assistance Program. Before El Paso County Human Services made its announcement, six other counties had already announced disruptions to their programs. Three Larimer, Boulder and Adams have implemented a freeze. The other three Douglas, Jefferson and Gunnison now have a wait list. The loss probably is already hitting people like Williams, who said that without the program she would have needed to travel more than 20 miles from where she lives to afford care. She is worried parents will go without or resort to unlicensed care, which is not regulated by the state and does not require providers to do basic things like take a safe-sleep course for infants. Theyre either not going to have child care at all or ... going to illegal, unlicensed care, she said. Child care costs are a well-established burden on Colorado families. The nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank Economic Policy Institute estimated infant care costs an average of $15,325 a year for Colorado households, higher than average in-state college tuition and yearly rent costs. The state is ranked eighth overall for highest-cost child care. A federal estimate limits 7% as the amount of income a household can spend affordably on child care. According to the EPI, only about 6% of Colorado families meet the threshold. Even for parents who continue on child care assistance, there are obstacles to actually finding care. Williams said that she struggled to find a provider that accepted the program in her area. The site that lists providers and their availability for different age groups Colorado Shines is frequently outdated and inaccurate, she said. And staying in the program has its own difficulties. Families must reapply every year to retain their benefits, proving that income remains below strict cut offs. A processing error or late paperwork could suddenly kick a family out of the system and to the back of the line if the program ever accepts applications again. Both are concerns for Williams, who said she carefully avoids too many work hours and has in the past been close to losing benefits over paperwork delays with her caseworker. I basically got kicked out of the program and was down to my last days when she finally contacted me back, Williams said. Mather said she was also concerned for families who are already on child care assistance. Many of her enrolled children stay at her daycare and on child care assistance from infancy to preschool or kindergarten. She said missed paperwork deadlines have kicked at least one of her enrolled families out of the program for a month in the past, making them unable to pay for care. "Right now it's really important to keep the families that we have enrolled on top of their paperwork," she said. Iodice said that families in need of child care assistance are still welcomed to apply, if only to help the county gauge need. Families involved with child welfare and enrolled in Colorado Works are still eligible for the program and are not affected by the freeze. Iodice said county Human Services caseworkers were directing families inquiring about child care assistance to other programs that can offset overall household costs, like the SNAP program for food assistance. Washington, Dec 1 : US President-elect Donald Trump has announced Kash Patel's name as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director. "I am proud to announce that Kashyap "Kash" Patel will serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and "America First" fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending Justice, and protecting the American People," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, his social media platform. "He played a pivotal role in uncovering the Russia, Russia Hoax, standing as an advocate for truth, accountability, and the Constitution. Kash did an incredible job during my First Term, where he served as Chief of Staff at the Department of Defense, Deputy Director of National Intelligence, and Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council. Kash has also tried over 60 jury trials. This FBI will end the growing crime epidemic in America, dismantle the migrant criminal gangs, and stop the evil scourge of human and drug trafficking across the Border. Kash will work under our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to bring back Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity to the FBI," Trump said. If confirmed by the US Senate, which is mandatory, Patel will be the first Indian-American to lead America's top investigative agency and also the first South Asian. Patel's nomination marks a new high for the Indian-American community that has quietly and steadily expanded its clout in the political sphere in the United States commensurate with its financial clout. Patel's nomination is Trump's new milestone for the community. Trump had appointed Nikki Haley, the Indian American Republican politician, as his first administration's ambassador to the United Nations. It was a federal cabinet-level position that made Haley the highest serving Indian American in the US political system till the election of Kamala Harris as the vice president in 2020, as President Joe Biden's running made. Damascus, December 1 : Syrian President Bashar al-Assad held separate phone talks with leaders from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Iraq on recent developments in Syria, counterterrorism cooperation, and various regional issues. According to state news agency SANA, in his phone talks with President of the UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, al-Assad stressed Syria's ongoing commitment to defending its stability and territorial integrity "in the face of all terrorists and their backers." For his part, the UAE president said the country "stands with the Syrian state and supports it in combating terrorism, extending its sovereignty, unifying its territories, and achieving stability," Xinhua news agency reported quoting SANA. Al-Assad also held phone talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, during which the latter stressed that "Syria's security and stability are closely linked to Iraq's national security." Al-Sudani said the security in Iraq and Syria affects regional security and efforts to establish stability in the Middle East, according to a statement issued by the Iraqi prime minister's media office. On Wednesday, a major rebel offensive rocked the western countryside of Syria's Aleppo, marking the first significant attack since 2016. The assault has involved a coalition of rebel groups, mainly Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an al-Qaida-linked extremist organisation, to penetrate government-held territories. On Friday, the rebels successfully stormed parts of Aleppo after they were driven out of the city in 2016. In response, the Syrian government, supported by Russia and Iran, launched airstrikes and ground operations to counter the rebel advance. Chennai, Dec 1 : Three people died in rain-related incidents in Chennai after Cyclone Fengal crossed the coast near Puducherry, triggering heavy rainfall and strong winds across coastal districts in north Tamil Nadu. The cyclone crossed the coast on Saturday night. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has issued a red alert for Sunday, forecasting rainfall over Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, and Puducherry. Other districts, including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai, Dharmapuri, Salem, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, and the Karaikal region, are also expected to receive heavy showers. The rain caused flooding in low-lying areas of Chennai, disrupted flights, and affected EMU train services. The RMC stated that the cycloneas spiral bands would result in heavy rainfall continuing through Sunday (December 1). However, the rain intensity depends on cloud cover. Central Chennai areas, including Korattur, Koyambedu, Virugambakkam, Nungambakkam, T. Nagar, and Alwarpet, were inundated. The power supply was disrupted in several neighbourhoods during the Saturday evening. S. Balachandran, director of the RMC, described Cyclone Fengal as a dynamic storm with constantly changing speeds. Officials noted that the rainfall boosted water levels in key reservoirs, as intermittent spells prevented excessive flooding. Rainfall ranged from 10 cm to 13 cm across weather stations. In Chennai, the highest rainfall of 13.2 cm was recorded at Jaya Engineering College, followed by Meenambakkam with 11.4 cm and Nungambakkam with 10.4 cm. Puducherry, where the cyclone made landfall, recorded 10.4 cm, while Mailam station in Villupuram recorded 13.6 cm. Squally winds, with speeds of 55 km/h to 65 km/h and gusts up to 75 km/h, persisted over the north Tamil Nadu coast. Winds of 35 km/h to 45 km/h, gusting up to 55 km/h, were observed over the south Tamil Nadu coast, the Comorin area, and the Gulf of Mannar. Windy conditions are expected to continue until December 3, prompting authorities to advise fishermen against venturing into the sea. The Puducherry administration sent SMS alerts to nearly 12 lakh residents, urging vigilance. Chief Minister N. Rangasamy inspected rain-affected areas and reviewed disaster management measures, including the setup of relief centres for evacuees from low-lying regions. The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority (TNSDMA) deployed three disaster relief teams in Chennai and 13 teams across other impacted districts. The Tamil Nadu Revenue and Disaster Management Department established 2,229 relief centres. So far, 471 individuals from 164 families have been relocated to relief camps in the Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts. Authorities are prepared for further evacuations if necessary. In a public safety advisory, the government urged IT companies to permit employees to work from home. Residents were strongly advised to stay indoors unless necessary. Parks and beaches in Chennai and neighbouring districts have been closed, with warnings issued against visiting recreational spots. Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Mayor R. Priya assured residents that the civic body is fully prepared to handle heavy rains. Warnings were also issued against parking vehicles under trees during the rainfall. Subways, including the RBI Subway, Sundaram Point, Rangarajapuram, Palavanthangal, and Gengu Reddy subways, were closed due to waterlogging. Seoul, Dec 1 : The number of registered hybrid vehicles is on track to surpass 2 million this year for the first time in the country, data showed on Sunday. As of October, the number of registered hybrid vehicles in South Korea reached 1,925,001, according to the data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The total number of registrations is expected to exceed 2 million before the year's end should the current monthly pace of 40,000 new additions be maintained over the final two months, the data indicated, reports Yonhap news agency. Since their local introduction in 2008, hybrid vehicle registrations have steadily increased, breaching the 500,000 mark in 2019, 1 million in 2022 and 1.5 million last year, according to the ministry. Driven by the expansion, the combined share of environmentally friendly vehicles, including electronic, hydrogen and hybrid cars, reached 10 percent of total vehicle registrations in October, marking the first-ever double-digit reading. As of October, there were 661,141 registered electric cars and 37,443 registered hydrogen ones. The combined share of environmentally friendly cars stood at just 0.9 per cent in 2015 but had since grown rapidly to reach 5 per cent in 2022. Meanwhile, South Korea's car exports rose 5.5 per cent on-year in October to reach a new record, driven by the global popularity of eco-friendly models, including hybrid vehicles. The combined value of vehicle shipments reached $6.2 billion last month, marking the highest amount for any October, according to data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The number of cars shipped totalled 243,367, up 8.1 per cent from a year earlier, the report showed. Shipments of hybrid cars alone amounted to $1.1 billion, soaring 80.3 per cent on-year to surpass the previous record of $1.07 billion set in August. a"IANS na/ Sydney, Dec 1 : A man will appear in court on Sunday after being charged following the alleged murders of two people in Sydney's west, police said. Police arrested a 31-year-old man at a home in Canley Heights, a suburb of Sydney about 30 km west of the city's central business district, about 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, Xinhua news agency reported quoting New South Wales Police. At about 9:40 a.m. on Saturday, police were called to a shop on Oxford Street, Cambridge Park, a suburb of Sydney about 53 km west of the city's central business district, following reports of an assault, the statement said. Police officers attended and found the bodies of a 69-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman, it said. The 31-year-old man was taken to Fairfield Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of murder and was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Sunday. Police will allege in court all three people were known to each other, according to the statement. The Sydney Morning Herald identified the two victims as Hoa Tek Chiem, 69, and Heang Kim Gau, 68, a married couple who ran the Buzzy Bee Burger House in Cambridge Park. Officers arrested Allan Chiem at his Canley Heights home shortly after midnight, the newspaper reported. Seoul, Dec 1 : South Korea's exports extended on-year gains to the 14th straight month in November, data showed on Sunday, on the back of the strong performance of chips. Outbound shipments rose 1.4 percent from a year earlier to US$56.3 billion last month, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Imports shed 2.4 percent on-year to $50.7 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $5.61 billion. South Korea has been maintaining a trade surplus for 18 consecutive months, reports Yonhap news agency. By sector, exports of semiconductors shot up 30.8 percent to hit $12.5 billion, marking the highest amount for any November. It was also the fourth consecutive month the country has set a new monthly high for chip exports. The ministry attributed the growth to premium models, including high-bandwidth memory chips. Outbound shipments of automobiles, on the other hand, tumbled 13.6 percent on-year to $5.6 billion, due to production disruptions following major auto parts makers' strike in November. The ministry added that weather conditions also hindered shipments of automobiles late last month. Exports of petroleum and petrochemical products dipped 18.7 percent and 5.6 percent, respectively, due to falling crude prices. The biohealth sector logged 19.6 percent on-year growth to $1.4 billion, maintaining growth for five straight months. Exports of ships spiked 70.8 percent on-year to $2.5 billion. Exports of batteries decreased 26.3 percent to $658 million due to weaker global demand for electric vehicles. By destination, exports to China, the top trading partner, edged down 0.6 percent to $11.28 billion, as weaker consumer sentiment in Asia's top economy led to sluggish demand for mobile devices. Exports to the United States fell 5.1 percent to $10.39 billion due to losses in the automobile and machinery sectors, although shipments of semiconductors gained ground on strong demand from the data centre and cloud computing industries. Outbound shipments to Southeast Asian nations edged up 0.4 percent, supported by chip exports, and those to the European Union increased 0.9 percent, driven by higher demand for biohealth products and ships. a"IANS na/ New Delhi, Dec 1 : As the 2024 meeting of the UN Climate Change Conference -- known as COP29 -- in Azerbaijan's Baku, the world's first oil town standing on the shores of the Caspian Sea, wrapped up, nearly 200 nations agreed to a new collective quantified goal on climate finance. The new finance goal is to mobilise $300 billion per year by 2035 -- a three-time increase over their current mandate of $100 billion -- to support developing countries respond to climate change that demanded a ten-fold increase. For Simon Stiell, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, the new finance goal is an "insurance policy for humanity". The G77 bloc, developing countries plus China, had firmly demanded $1.3 trillion by 2035 from historic emitters such as the US and the European Union (EU). The $300 billion goal is not expected to happen immediately, but rather from 2035. There is also an agreement on a framework for carbon markets nearly a decade in the making. Besides India's fierce objection to the climate finance deal, small-island, vulnerable and least-developed nations believe there is continued considerable contestation of issues like the transition away from fossil fuels. They say the talks were marred by a lack of transparency and inclusivity, with critical voices from vulnerable countries sidelined -- a troubling reflection of the flaws in the global negotiation framework. Without sufficient financing, developing nations will be forced to lower their mitigation ambitions in their 2025 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This funding gap will also severely undermine their ability to prepare for and respond to escalating losses and damages from climate disasters like floods, storms, and heatwaves. At COP26, it was the "phasing down" of coal; at COP27 it was agreed to a historic Loss and Damage Fund; and COP28 delivered a global agreement to transition away from all fossil fuels in energy systems swiftly and fairly, triple renewable energy and boost climate resilience. At COP29 increasing commitments to climate finance, the most anticipated outcome, was built on significant strides forward on global climate action at COP27. The finance agreement comes as stronger national climate plans (or NDCs) become due from all countries next year. These new climate plans must cover all greenhouse gases and all sectors, to keep the 1.5 degrees Celsius warming limit within reach. The two weeks of intense negotiations at COP29 amidst over 30,000 participants, including government officials, business leaders, and civil society representatives ended in overtime on November 24 with a mixed bag of accomplishments and setbacks on critical issues. Operationalising carbon markets. A notable achievement during the summit was the progress made on carbon markets. After nearly a decade of work, countries have agreed on the final building blocks that set out how carbon markets will operate under the 2015 Paris Agreement, making country-to-country trading and a carbon crediting mechanism fully operational. On country-to-country trading (Article 6.2), the decision of COP29 provides clarity on how countries will authorize the trade of carbon credits and how registries tracking this will operate. And there is now reassurance that environmental integrity will be ensured upfront through technical reviews in a transparent process. On day one of COP29, countries agreed on standards for a centralized carbon market under the UN (Article 6.4 mechanism). This is good news for developing countries, including India, which will benefit from new flows of finance. And it is particularly good news for least-developed countries, who will get the capacity-building support they need to get a foothold in the market. This mechanism, known as the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism, is underpinned by mandatory checks for projects against strong environmental and human rights protections, including safeguards that ensure a project can't go ahead without explicit, informed agreement from Indigenous peoples. It also allows anyone affected by a project to appeal a decision or file a complaint. Under the text agreed on Article 6.4, there is a clear mandate for the UN carbon market to align with science. It tasks the body to get this market up and running to consider the best available science across all work going forward. The work on carbon markets doesn't stop in Baku. The Supervisory Body setting up the new carbon crediting mechanism has been handed a long 2025 to-do list by Parties and will continue to be accountable to them. Transparency on climate reporting: Transparent climate reporting made big strides forward in Baku, building a stronger evidence base to strengthen climate policies over time, and helping to identify financing needs and opportunities. To date, 13 nations have now submitted their first Biennial Transparency Reports (BTR) -- due from all nations by the end of the year. Andorra, Azerbaijan, the European Union, Germany, Guyana, Japan, Kazakhstan, Maldives, the Netherlands, Panama, Singapore, Spain, and Turkey have led the way in transparent climate reporting, and set an example for others to follow. In addition, all transparency negotiating items concluded successfully at COP29, with parties expressing their appreciation for the timely completion of the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) reporting tools, the technical training, and the support provided to developing countries for reporting under the ETF that took place in 2024. Mobilizing adaptation funds. COP29 was an important moment for adaptation, with the delivery of several key outcomes. The COP decision on matters relating to the least developed countries (LDCs) contains a provision for the establishment of a support programme for the implementation of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) for the LDCs. Parties extensively discussed the second five-year assessment of progress to formulate and implement NAPs and will continue that in June 2025. Is there still optimism and concerns about the efficacy of the annual UN climate summit? Responding to the COP29 outcomes, Mariana Paoli, Global Advocacy Lead, Christian Aid, told IANS, "The process of submitting NDCs may seem like a dry and bureaucratic exercise, but in reality, it is the world re-wiring the entire global economy so that it can shift away from climate-wrecking fossil fuels to clean renewable energy. If we pull it off, it will be one of the most remarkable collective achievements in human history. But that energy transition has to be paid for, and there is currently a huge imbalance with most of the world's money sitting in the countries of the global north and much less of it in the global south. Due to the weak outcome in Baku, there is a real danger that the next round of NDCs from the global south will not be as ambitious as they could be. Developing countries need the clarity that they will be receiving reliable grants to help pay for new clean energy infrastructure, as well as address the impacts of the climate crisis." For Mohamed Adow, Director of Power Shift Africa, the climate finance goal agreed in Baku was a necessary step forward but wasn't sufficient for achieving the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees. "It is therefore important for COP30 in Brazil to enhance this goal. Both the amount of finance needs to be increased and the delivery timeline should be brought forward. Ultimately we need to see rich countries working to reform the international economic system so it can be used better to help developing countries contribute to the global clean energy transition." Africa, the continent most affected by climate change, receives only two per cent of global climate finance, according to a UN report. Explaining why we must junk the COP29 deal, Harjeet Singh, climate activist and Global Engagement Director for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, believes without sufficient finance, developing nations will have low-mitigation ambition in their updated national climate action plans in 2025. He said, "The outcomes of COP29 in Baku are a stark indictment of the global community's failure to confront the climate crisis with the seriousness it demands. By committing a mere $300 billion annually by 2035, far below the $1.3 trillion requested by developing nations, wealthier countries have prioritized short-term profits over long-term survival. This grossly insufficient funding not only undermines global net-zero targets but also jeopardizes the capacity of developing nations to address their urgent needs, pushing the planet beyond a catastrophic three degrees Celsius of warming." Also, he said, COP29 failed to deliver a concrete plan to phase out oil, gas, and coal, even as developed nations continue to expand fossil fuel extraction. India does not accept the goal in its present form, the country's negotiator Chandni Raina told the final COP29 plenary. "Developed countries taking the lead for a mobilisation goal of a mere sum of $300 billion and that too to be only reached by 2035, that's almost 11 years later, and that too from a wide variety of sources, so it would have to be private, it would have to be multilateral and there are large amounts of it that will be left for the developing countries to mobilise themselves. The goal is too little, too distant...we need to do it at 1.3 trillion per year till 2030," she said. Activists and civil society representatives hope Brazil, the host country for COP30 in November 2025, will deliver bold, transformative solutions, beginning with a renegotiated climate finance target that reflects the scale of the challenge and ensures equity and justice. (Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in) Mumbai, Dec 1 : Veteran actor Dharmendra recently took to social media to share a cherished memory with Jaya Bachchan, fondly addressing her as "Guddi." Mumbai, Dec 1 (IANS) Veteran actor Dharmendra recently took to social media to share a cherished memory with Jaya Bachchan, fondly addressing her as "Guddi." The heartwarming post featured a photograph of the two icons together. On Sunday, he shared a photo of himself and Jaya posing together. In the caption, he referred to the actress as his "loving doll" and a "world-class artist." Sharing the image, Dharmendra wrote, "Guddi will always be my loving doll. She is a world-class artist, and she always talks highly about me. (From Guddi to Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani)." In the photo, the actor is seen sitting while Jaya stands behind him. Their bond has stood the test of time, evolving beautifully over the decades. Dharmendra's reference to "Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani," their recent collaboration, highlights the continuity of their connection as the two reunited on-screen to deliver memorable performances. Fans quickly responded to the post, celebrating the legacy of the two icons who continue to inspire generations with their artistry. One fan commented, "I love Guddi, especially @jaya_bhaduri ji," while another wrote, "Super jodi." Speaking of "Guddi," the 1971 Indian Hindi drama was directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee and written by Gulzar. It starred Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, and Utpal Dutt. The film was Jaya's debut and career-defining project, featuring her as a schoolgirl harbouring a crush on and an obsession with actor Dharmendra, who portrayed himself. Dharmendra and Jaya have also worked together in iconic films, including "Sholay." Most recently, they appeared in Karan Johar's "Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani." The film featured Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt as the lead couple, with Dharmendra, Jaya, Shabana Azmi, Tota Roy Chowdhury, Churni Ganguly, Aamir Bashir, and Kshitee Jog playing supporting roles. In the movie, Jaya Bachchan portrayed Dhanlakshmi Randhawa, Rocky's grandmother, while Dharmendra played Kanwal Lund, Rocky's grandfather. Produced under Dharma Productions and Viacom18 Studios, the film marked Johar's directorial comeback after "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" in 2016. Seoul, Dec 1 : Russia's Defence Minister Andrei Belousov has left Pyongyang after a two-day visit during which he met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the North's state media reported on Sunday. Belousov and a Russian defence ministry delegation he led departed Pyongyang the previous day via Pyongyang Sunan International Airport after visiting the Liberation Tower and Mangyongdae in the capital earlier in the day, reports Yonhap quoting the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. The Russian Minister arrived in the North Korean capital on Friday for high-level talks with North Korean military officials, amid deepening military cooperation between the two countries. On Friday, he met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who expressed support for Russia's war against Ukraine. The KCNA said that Belousov and his delegation visited the Liberation Tower in Pyongyang's Moranbong area on Saturday, where they laid flowers before departing the North Korean capital. The monument was established in 1946 to honour Russian soldiers who died fighting for North Korea's liberation from the Japanese colonial rule during World War II. The Russian minister also visited Mangyongdae, the birthplace of North Korean founder Kim Il-sung, where he wrote in a guest book his wishes for "welfare and peace" for North Koreans and a "grand victory" for North Korea's efforts to build a powerful nation, according to the KCNA. North Korean Defence Minister No Kwang-chol and Jong Kyong-thaek, director of the military's General Political Bureau, sent the Russian delegation off at the airport, it said. North Korea and Russia have been bolstering military cooperation under a major defence treaty signed in June that calls for providing military assistance "without delay" if either side comes under attack. North Korea deployed thousands of troops to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine, with South Korea and the US assessing that some of them already entered combat. No mention of an agreement has been made by North Korea in connection with the latest visit by the Russian delegation, but the two sides are expected to have discussed a potential increase in North Korea's arms transfers or troop deployments for Russia and the rewards it would receive from Russia in return. Hyderabad, Dec 1 : Seven Maoists were killed in a major exchange of fire with police in Telangana's Mulugu district on Sunday. The encounter between Maoists and the elite anti-Maoist force Greyhounds took place in the Chalapaka forest area in Eturnagaram mandal of the district around 5.30 a.m., police said. Some key leaders of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) were believed to be among those killed. The exchange of fire began when Greyhounds personnel conducting combing operations in the forests spotted a group of Maoists and ordered them to surrender. However, the Maoists opened fire on the Greyhounds commandos, forcing them to return the fire. There were no immediate reports of any casualties on the police side. Top Maoist leader Badru was also suspected to be among the slain extremists. Badru was the secretary of the Yellandu-Narasampeta Area Committee of CPI (Maoist) and a member of the Telangana State Committee of the banned outfit. The slain Maoists were reportedly identified as Kursam Mangu alias Badru alias Papanna (35), Egolapu Mallaiah alias Madhu (43), Mussaki Deval alias Karunakar (22), Jai Singh (25), Kishore (22), Kamesh (23) and Mussaki Jamuna (23). Police have recovered two AK-47 rifles and other weapons and explosives from the scene of the encounter. Senior police officials rushed to the scene of the exchange of fire. This is the first major encounter in Mulugu district in recent years and it took place amid attempts by the banned outfit to revive its activities in the region. The district had recently seen the presence of Maoists. On November 21, the extremists hacked to death two persons on suspicion of being police informers in Mulugu district. The Maoists had resorted to the action in Penugolu Colony in Wajedu mandal headquarters. The victims were identified as Uika Ramesh and resident Uika Arjun. Ramesh was the secretary of Peruru Gram Panchayat in the same mandal. The assailants left a note near the bodies stating that Ramesh and Arjun were collecting information and passing it to the Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB), an elite agency of the state police involved in anti-Maoist operations. Mumbai, Dec 1 : The Mahayuti alliance comprising BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP hit the jackpot while the Maha Vikas Aghadi consisting of Congress, Shiv Sena UBT and NCP-SP faced a shocking drubbing in the Assembly elections. Mahayuti did not just comfortably weather the anti-incumbency but also consolidated its position by winning a record 236 seats due to a show of unity, military-like precision planning, especially by BJP with strong support from RSS and its affiliates, smooth implementation of a slew of welfare and development schemes, including Ladki Bahin Yojana and the strategic use of 'Batenge To Katenge' and 'Ek Hai To Safe Hai' plank to woo the voters. On the other hand, Maha Vikas Aghadi, after it outpaced the MahaYuti in the Lok Sabha elections by winning 31 seats, adopted its poll strategy assuming that winning a majority in the Assembly election is merely a formality. MVA appeared disunited, overconfident, and arrogant, lacked a concrete agenda to encash anti-incumbency and anger over core issues and downplayed the success of Ladki Bahin Yojana. Although MVA came with the MahaLaxmi Scheme assuring a monthly aid of Rs 3,000 to women and free rides in the state transport buses apart from a monthly allowance of Rs 4,000 to educated unemployed, it was too late as the beneficiaries were reluctant to wait for the MVA government to come to power as they were happy about the financial benefits already received from the Mahayuti government. It was clearly a vote for continuity vs uncertainty in approach. The Mahayuti government had already deposited Rs 7,500 (Rs 1,500 per month) for July to November to each of over 2.34 crore eligible women beneficiaries and also spent money on the training of youths. Moreover, MVA was under the impression that the change in constitution and scrapping of the reservation narrative that worked in its favour to challenge BJPas 400-plus seats slogan in the general elections, will create magic once again in the state Assembly. However, it was clean bowled as the Mahayuti, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah succeeded in painting the Congress and INDIA bloc in general as anti-Constitution and anti-reservation. The PM in his 10 rallies consciously avoided targetting Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray but accused the Congress party of hatching a conspiracy to divide the society, especially SCs, STs, OBCs and tribals to gain power. It strongly resonated with the voters as Congress miserably failed to counter Mahayutias charges effectively, thereby, suffering badly. BJP in particular at the advice of RSS brought in 'Batenge to Katenge' and 'Ek Hai to Safe Hai' slogans midway through the poll campaign in a bid to consolidate Hindu votes and also Hindu Dalits as the party was able to tap them on the issue of sub-classification of reserved category groups for the purpose of reservations as per the recent judgement by the Supreme Court. Furthermore, the BJP was able to increase its presence among OBCs as the party held more than 300 meetings with sub-castes within the OBCs after its dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections. This was to make up for the loss, if any, from the Maratha votes. BJP took all the possible steps to reach out to OBCs by the establishment of various state undertakings and ensuring additional financial assistance. This was done to checkmate the pro-Maratha activist Manoj Jarange-Patil, who had asked his followers to oppose BJP and Devendra Fadnavis in particular during voting. The Jarange factor, which was visible and became crucial in MVAas victory, failed to repeat as BJPas pro-OBC plank worked wonders for the Mahayuti. Ironically, MVA failed to tweak its poll strategy to checkmate Mahayuti and BJP after realising that change in the Constitution, scrapping of reservations or Jarange factor are not going to help it gain majority. The BJP succeeded in projecting Jarange-Patil as having tacit support from Sharad Pawar and thereby accused the latter of dividing Maratha and OBC communities for political gains. Even though Sharad Pawar and MVA denied having any connection with Jarange-Patil, the voters thought otherwise. Jarange-Patilas move to not field candidates but play up the MDM (Maratha-Dalit-Muslim) card in Marathwada and the rest of Maharashtra completely failed though MVA was quite bullish to get votes on this plank. The OBCs overwhelmingly supported BJP and Mahayuti in general adversely hampering the MVAas poll prospects. Moreover, MahaYuti was able to calm most of the rebels by properly fine-tuning the seat-sharing arrangement. BJP, which time and again projected itself as the big brother, not only got a lionas share but was able to send some of its aspirants to Shiv Sena and NCP to contest as their nominees. BJPas strategy worked as the party after fielding 148 nominees won a record 132 seats and also got its aspirants exported to allies elected. BJP and RSS worked in tandem and in close coordination to reach out to nearly one lakh booths with a resolve to increase at least 10 per cent voting on each booth. RSS, whose presence was not visible during the Lok Sabha elections, swung into action immediately after the Lok Sabha elections and used all its might and strength for the landslide victory of the Mahayuti and the BJPas strong performance. BJP allies Shiv Sena and NCP also helped to improve their tallies. On the other hand, MVA took a longer time to arrive at a seat-sharing agreement thanks to personal egos, monstrous ambitions, severe differences over seats and loss of killing instinct. Congress stretched further to get maximum seats and while doing that failed to zero in on winning seats due to the wrong selection of candidates. It also failed to pacify rebels, independents, and avoid fights among each other in various constituencies that led to MVAas drubbing. Despite humiliating defeat in Haryana, party heavyweights, including Rahul Gandhi, failed to devote more time to campaigning as they left it to the state leaders who failed to hide their factionalism. Congress underestimated BJPas winning formula of giving proper representation to all sections which led to the defeat of its stalwarts like former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, and former legislature party group leader Balasaheb Thorat. Despite the defeat, Congress is yet to put its house in order as instead of self-introspection it has launched an anti-EVM campaign. Similarly, Uddhav Thackeray, who was able to encash sympathy during general elections after the split in Shiv Sena following Eknath Shindeas rebellion, failed to get it during the Assembly election. He was also not able to cash in on his father and Shiv Sena founder late Balasaheb Thackerayas legacy despite his targeting Eknath Shinde and BJP for seeking votes on his fatheras name. Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena by winning 10 seats in Mumbai but in the rest of Maharashtra including its erstwhile bastion Konkan region, it faces a huge challenge to stay relevant. Uddhav Thackeray will have to rejuvenate the party by focusing on further strengthening the Shakha-level network and offering new programmes. He would also have to increase his connect with the Sainiks in the days to come. Moreover, he faces an acid test to win the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation, which Shiv Sena (united) and BJP, ruled for over 25 years. Assembly election has proved that the Marathi Manoos card is not enough for the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena to win handsome seats as the party will have to revive the Hindutva card explaining how it is different from BJPas Hindutva plank and tweak his strategy focusing on Maharashtra pride. Eknath Shinde by winning 57 seats has declared that election results have shown the party led by him is a real Shiv Sena. Uddhav Thackeray will have to strive hard to regain the past glory by re-establishing his hold on the party. As far as Sharad Pawar is concerned, he was the pacifier and coordinator to keep the MVA together during the general elections and also in the Assembly election. He addressed over 70 rallies and made allies to take on Mahayuti by focusing on core issues such as burgeoning unemployment, price rise, farmers' suicides and mismatch between the cost of production and realisation by farmers and flight of capital and investments to Gujarat and other states. However, Sharad Pawar, who was projected as the Chanakya of state politics, could not stop Mahayuti from its stellar performance. At the personal level, his estranged nephew Ajit Pawar, who ditched him and joined Mahayuti in July 2023, outsmarted him by winning 41 seats after its poor show in the general elections. Ajit Pawar has declared that the party headed by him is a real NCP. Sharad Pawar is not deterred by Ajit Pawaras claims and the partyas defeat, he has already announced to rebuild the party to keep his cadres charged up. In a nutshell, MVA faces an existential crisis as the blame game has begun between Shiv Sena UBT and Congress for electoral loss. A section of Shiv Sena UBT has made a strong case for going solo in the upcoming local and civic body elections though Congress and NCP(SP) have downplayed it. MVA allies face another challenge of keeping its cadres active and charged up ahead of civic and local body elections and also up to the next Assembly election. Against this backdrop, MahaYuti is on a strong wicket and it is betting big on its consolidation in Maharashtra. But for BJP it is an ideal situation to silently pursue its goal set by none other than Home Minister Amit Shah of "Shat Pratishat" BJP after the 2029 elections. (Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in) New Delhi, Dec 1 : Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge extended heartfelt greetings to the personnel of India's first line of defence, the Border Security Force (BSF), on their Raising Day. Rahul Gandhi expressed his admiration for the BSF personnel in a post on X . He wrote, "On BSF Raising Day, I extend my heartfelt greetings and salute to all the brave personnel of India's First Line of Defence who safeguard our nation's borders. Your unwavering commitment, courage, service, and sacrifices inspire us every day. Jai Hind." Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also paid tribute, highlighting the BSF's critical role in border security. In his post on X, he stated, "The Border Security Force (BSF) stands as our first line of defence. We extend our heartfelt salutations to the brave women and men of the BSF who safeguard our nation's borders under the most challenging conditions. As a nation, we remain eternally grateful and deeply proud of your unwavering courage, remarkable sacrifices, steadfast determination, and exceptional valour." The Border Security Force, one of the Central Armed Police Forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs, is tasked with securing India's borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. Formed in the aftermath of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, the BSF is recognised as the world's largest border-guarding force, overseeing a stretch of 6,386.36 km of international borders. All BSF personnel undergo rigorous training at the BSF Academy in Tekanpur, Madhya Pradesh, in preparation for the challenges of border security. Reaffirming its dedication to its duties, the BSF reiterated its commitment to the nation and its motto, "Lifelong Duty," on its Raising Day. Jaipur, Dec 1 : Stories of erstwhile royal era battles and differences bespeaking tales of palace intrigues came out on the streets of Udaipur earlier this week when the Mewar royals showcased frictions brewing within the family for decades. This time, these differences came out soon after the coronation ceremony of BJP MLA Vishvaraj Singh Mewar, held in Chittorgarh. The newly anointed head of Mewar chose to visit Udaipur for Dhuni Darshan inside the City Palace as per the ritual after the coronation in Mewar dynasty. However, this palace is under the possession of his uncle Arvind Singh Mewar and his son Lakshya Singh Mewar, and they got the doors of City Palace closed before the visit of Vishvaraj. Following this were events of fights, verbal duels and followers' fights which turned violent as both the groups' followers engaged in stone-pelting. Vishwaraj, on Tuesday morning, stood outside the City Palace with his followers waiting all day and night and had to return as the doors of the Palace remained closed. He urged his followers to return as stone-pelting here had already left six people injured. Next came the exchange of allegations and counter-allegations between members of the Mewar family, namely Vishvaraj and Lakshayraj and the administration was questioned for staying silent during all this tension. Speaking to IANS, Vishvaraj said, "Why did the administration and police do nothing and stay silent when all this was happening? Why did it allow the City Palace doors to be closed." However, later, officials were sent from Jaipur as CM Bhajan Lal Sharma intervened in the matter. What raised eyebrows was that the matter which should have been resolved on the same day, took three days to be addressed. IG Rajesh Meena, when asked why ACS and ADG came from Jaipur, said, "Wherever a law and order situation arises, there has always been a tradition of sending senior officers of the department from Jaipur. For this reason, ACS Anand Kumar of the Home Department and ADG (Law and Order) Vishal Bansal were sent from Jaipur." "Earlier also, when the incident happened in Kankra-Dungri, senior officers were sent from the Police Headquarters and the Home Department," he added. Meanwhile, the Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar camp said that the City Palace belonged to a trust and permission should have been taken before the scheduled visit. Shutting the place down was a necessity. We're not going to compromise our safety, security, and least of all our dignity," said Lakshyaraj Singh, son of Arvind Singh Mewar. Meanwhile, there were questions about why Vishvaraj Singh Mewar's anointment as the 77th Maharana of Mewar received such strong opposition from his cousin and uncle. Arvind Singh Mewar and Mahendra Singh Mewar are sons of late Bhagwat Singh Mewar, the titular ruler of Mewar. After he died in 1984, both sons claimed to be the 76th custodian of the House of Mewar. The dispute went on for the next three decades, and finally, a landmark decision was announced by the Additional District Judge at an Udaipur District Court in July 2020. The court decided that the disputed property of the Royal family of Mewar would be divided into four parts among Bhagwat Singh's three children, Mahindra Singh, Arvind Singh, and Yogeshwari Kumari. Interestingly, Bhagwat Singh Mewar had reportedly willed his entire property to his younger son, Arvind Singh, due to a rift with his elder son, Mahindra Singh. Fast forward to 2024, Bhagwat Singh Mewar's grandchildren, Vishvaraj Singh and Lakshyaraj Singh, still carry the soured bond between their families which came out in the open on November 25. With this, a 72-hour saga between two cousins, which also had the government on tenterhooks, came to an end. Gangtok, Dec 1 : Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang laid the foundation stone for Kunzang Chokhorling Monastery at Hee Patal locality in the western part of the state on Sunday, officials said. The Chief Minister exchanged words with the monastery committee, marking an important milestone in the region's spiritual and cultural development. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Cabinet Ministers, MLAs, Chairpersons, Advisors, former legislators, and other dignitaries. Meanwhile, the administration is gearing up to celebrate 50 years of statehood in Sikkim the next year. A review meeting was convened on Friday at the conference hall of the Tashiling Secretariat in Gangtok to discuss the celebration. The meeting was chaired by Chief Secretary Vijay Bhushan Pathak, Chief Secretary and attended by R Telang, Additional Chief Secretary, A K Singh, Director General of Police, along with Heads of Departments and state government officers. A senior official said, "The meeting featured an in-depth discussion on arrangements for the upcoming 50 years of Statehood Celebrations. This year-long commemoration will include various events, and officials thoroughly deliberated on various aspects, including programme scheduling and task allocation." The Chief Secretary emphasised the importance of seamless coordination among the officials to ensure the event's success, marking an important milestone in the state's history. Additional responsibilities were handed over to various departments to facilitate smooth and successful celebrations. Earlier, Sikkim Chief Minister Tamang met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the national capital to extend a formal invitation to him to be the Chief Guest on Sikkim's Statehood Day celebration. The upcoming Statehood Day on May 16 is significant as it will commemorate 50 years since Sikkim became the 22nd State of India in 1975. "This historic milestone represents the fulfilment of long-held aspirations, the opening of new avenues for the people of Sikkim, and the state's integration into the democratic framework of India. The merger has been a pivotal moment in Sikkim's development, bringing modern institutions, advancements in science and technology, and numerous opportunities for holistic progress," CM Tamang said in a social media post after meeting PM Modi. New Delhi, Dec 1 : The AAP will not tie up with any party in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Sunday, setting the stage for a triangular fight for the 70-seat House around February. "There will be no alliance in Delhi," said Kejriwal at a press conference here. Kejriwal's decision not to have an alliance comes close to Delhi Congress President Devender Yadav's announcement of going solo in the elections. The two parties had entered into a seat-sharing pact for Lok Sabha polls but had failed to win even a single seat out of the seven seats which were won by the BJP. No alliance between the AAP and the Congress in Assembly elections also means that the final tally of the AAP and the BJP in the polls will depend on the Grand Old Party's ability to win back its voters who have deserted it and backed Kejriwal's outfit in the past two elections. The Congress has not been able to win even one seat in the past two elections. Earlier, Kejriwal hit out at the allegedly deteriorating law and order situation in Delhi, claiming that in the last two to three years the law and order situation has worsened as people are living under constant fear. He alleged by arresting AAP MLA Naresh Baliyan, for suspected links with gangsters, the Central government has sent a signal to gangsters that they can operate fearlessly. Describing Baliyan himself as a victim of crime, Kejriwal said he had also got extortion calls and had given a complaint to police but no action was taken. "By arresting Baliyan, the Central government sent the message that if you complain against gangsters you will be arrested," he said. Demanding immediate steps to improve law and order in Delhi, Kejriwal said, "I did not raise the issue earlier, I thought this is not something to do politics on. But now the situation is really bad." Kejriwal, who was attacked with a liquid during a march on Saturday by a suspected out-of-job bus marshal, said getting him attacked would not improve law and order in the city. "Rather than tackling the problem, I am being attacked and our party's MLAs are being arrested," said Kejriwal. He said he was hoping that in his attempts to highlight the law and order problem, Union Home Minister Amit Shah would ask the police to arrest gangsters and rapists but that did not happen. Amaravati, Dec 1 : Chandrababu Naidu-led NDA government in Andhra Pradesh has dissolved the State Waqf Board nominated by the previous government. The Minorities Welfare Department on Saturday (November 30) issued a Government Order, withdrawing the GO issued in October last year, constituting the Waqf Board. The then government of YSR Congress Party had constituted the 11-member Waqf Board following a High Court order. Three of them were elected members while the remaining were nominated. On a petition challenging the process followed to constitute the Waqf Board, the Andhra Pradesh High Court on November 1, 2023, stayed the election of the chairperson of the State Waqf Board. The GO number 75 issued on Saturday mentions that the Chief Executive Officer of the State Waqf Board brought to the government's attention the prolonged non-functioning of the Board and the pendency of writ petitions questioning the legality of G.O. Ms. No. 47 to resolve the litigations and prevent an administrative vacuum. Minorities Welfare Department Secretary Kati Harshvardhan stated in the latest GO that after careful consideration of the observations made by the High Court and in the interest of maintaining good governance, protection of Waqf properties and ensuring the smooth functioning of the Waqf Board, the government hereby withdraws G.O. Ms. No. 47 dated 21.10.2023, with immediate effect. Meanwhile, Minister for Minority Welfare N. Md. Farooq said in a statement that the coalition government withdrew the GO issued by the previous government. He said after some individuals had approached the High Court, challenging the nomination of Waqf Board members, the High Court had passed interim orders to stay the election of the chairperson. The minister stated that due to legal issues, there was a vacuum in the functioning of the Waqf Board and to overcome it, the coalition government issued a new GO, withdrawing the earlier GO. "The coalition government headed by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is committed to the protection and management of Waqf properties and the welfare of minorities. The government is taking steps in this direction," Farooq said. In September, the coalition government appointed TDP leader Shaik Abdul Aziz as chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board. Abdul Aziz, a former Mayor of Nellore, is currently the TDP president for the Nellore parliamentary constituency. The dissolution of the Waqf Board constituted by the previous government may clear the decks for constituting the new Board headed by Abdul Aziz. Kohima, Dec 1 : President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and a host of dignitaries greeted the people of Nagaland on their Statehood Day on Sunday. With colourful functions, various competitions and events, Nagaland is celebrating its 62nd year as a state on Sunday. Wishing the people of Nagaland, President Murmu, in a post on X, said: "Greetings to the people of Nagaland on the Statehood Day. Endowed with a rich heritage of flora and fauna, Nagaland is also a land of bravery." "Nagaland's strides in various development parameters are praiseworthy. My best wishes to the people of this beautiful state for a peaceful, prosperous and progressive future," the President added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: "Greetings to the people of Nagaland on their Statehood Day. Nagaland is widely admired for its rich culture and the wonderful nature of people belonging to the state. Naga culture is known for its spirit of duty and compassion. Praying for Nagaland's continuous progress in the times to come." "Warm greetings to our Naga sisters and brothers on Nagaland Day. Blessed with a glorious culture and heritage, Nagaland is a shining example of our diversity on Bharat's rich cultural tapestry." "I pray to God for the state to prosper under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Neiphiu Rio Ji," Home Minister Amit Shah said in his post on X. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi posted on the same platform: "Best wishes to the people of Nagaland on their Statehood Day. Nagaland stands as a vibrant testament to India's unity in diversity, celebrating the rich heritage of its indigenous tribes, their profound traditions and resilient spirit." "May this day strengthen harmony, preserve cultural identity, and pave the way for continued progress and understanding," the MP from Raebareli added. Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Minister and BJP national President Jagat Prakash Nadda also greeted the people of Nagaland on the occasion. Nadda said on the X: "On Nagaland's Statehood Day, I extend my warmest greetings to all my brothers and sisters of this vibrant state. Renowned as the 'Land of Festivals,' the state is blessed with a mesmerising landscape, rich traditions, and a deep cultural heritage. May Nagaland continue to scale new heights of development, and may its people be blessed with good health and prosperity." Meanwhile, addressing the Statehood Day function in Kohima, the Chief Minister reaffirmed peace for development and development for peace. "Let us dedicate ourselves to fostering unity, inclusivity, and empowering our youths," Rio said. Chief Ministers of various states including the northeastern states greeted the people of Nagaland on this day. On December 1, 1963, Nagaland became the 16th state of the Indian Union. Kathmandu, Dec 1 : Polling started on Sunday morning in Nepal for the election of 41 local representatives in all seven provinces. The Election Commission is holding by-elections for posts vacated over deaths or resignations of local representatives. "The votes have commenced peacefully in all the election centres," Commission spokesperson Nita Pokharel Aryal told Xinhua news agency. Voters can cast their ballots from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time during the day. As many as 376 candidates from 20 political parties and independents are in the race. A total of 226,799 voters will elect one mayor and one deputy mayor, as well as two chairpersons and four vice-chairpersons for rural municipalities, in addition to 33 ward chairpersons. Though the by-polls were planned for 44 vacant positions, three representatives had been elected unopposed, said Aryal. Mumbai, Dec 1 : Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, who can be seen in the recently released movie 'I Want To Talk', took part in the celebrations of his daughter with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Aaradhya Bachchan on November 16. While the media reported that Abhishek missed Aaradhya's birthday celebrations, the actor was indeed present at the celebrations, and this can be corroborated with the latest video shared by the event management company that has been organising Aaradhya's birthday for the past 13 years. The video shows Abhishek expressing his gratitude to the owner of the event planning company for organising his daughter's birthday and their association of 13 years. Earlier, Aishwarya had shared photos from Aaradhya's birthday celebrations on her father Krishna Rai's birth anniversary on November 21. The photos show Aishwarya and her mother Brinda, along with Aaradhya, paying tribute to Krishna Rai with flowers. Other photos gave a glimpse of Aaradhya's birthday as well as childhood moments. The actress wrote in the caption, "You are officially a teenager Aaradhya". While there was no mention of Abhishek in the post and the pictures, the latest video confirms Abhishek's presence, and also raises questions as to why Aishwarya skipped mentioning her husband entirely in her post. Of late, the controversy surrounding Abhishek and Aishwarya has been gaining momentum. The flames of speculation around their separation are fanned by Abhishek's alleged entanglement with actress Nimrat Kaur during the filming of 'Dasvi'. The rumours of Abhishek and Aishwarya's separation started doing rounds since last year when it was reported in the media that Aishwarya has left the Bachchan family's house, and has been living separately. Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan tied the knot in 2007 after dating for a couple of years. The couple welcomed their daughter in 2011, 4 years after their marriage. Srinagar, Dec 1 : Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday arrested 10 notorious drug peddlers under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (PITNDPS) Act in Srinagar city. A police statement said, aContinuing its crackdown against drug trafficking, police in Srinagar booked 10 notorious drug peddlers under PIT-NDPS." The notorious drug peddlers have been identified as Rizwan Bashir Dhobi, son of Bashir Ahmad Dhobi, resident of Sakidafar Safakadal (at present Grid Colony Srinagar); Parvaiz Ahmad Bhat, son of Noor Mohammad Bhat, resident of Karnabal Takanwari Pora, Srinagar; Owais Hussain Mir, son of Sajad Hussain Mir, resident of Tangbagh, Nawpora, Srinagar; Nadeem Hussain Bhat, son of Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat, resident of Batwara, Srinagar; Sheikh Jibran Nisar, son of Nisar Ahmad Sheikh, resident of Batawara, Srinagar; Raqib Lateef Bhat alias Amir, son of Mohammad Lateef Bhat, resident of Bhat Mohalla, Aloochibagh, Srinagar; Abdul Ahad Bhat, son of Mohammad Sultan Bhat, resident of Banpora, Batamaloo, Srinagar; and Moin Khan alias Moin, son of Ghulam Hassan resident of Batmaloo. Police across the union territory have been aggressively acting against drug smugglers and peddlers to prevent the illicit trade that affects the youth. Intelligence agencies say that the drugs are mostly smuggled into the UT from across the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB). The funds so generated are used for aiding and assisting terrorism. It is also believed that once youth are addicted to the use of these substances, they become easy pawns in the hands of terrorists and the handlers of terror-operating groups from across the border. Police have also been attaching the properties of drug peddlers and smugglers as it is believed that such properties are acquired by the involved persons from the proceeds of illicit trade in drugs. In November, the police busted a gang of three drug peddlers who were found using drones to monitor the movement of consumers and police personnel. This is the first time that a drone was found in peddlersa possession in Kashmir. Amaravati, Dec 1 : BJP leader Amit Malviya has hailed the 'striking down' of the Andhra Pradesh State Waqf Board by the state's NDA government. The in charge of BJP's national information and technology department took to 'X' on Sunday to react to the development. "Andhra Pradesh government strikes down the Waqf Board. There is no provision in the Constitution, which supports the existence of one in a secular India," he posted. His comment came amid the ongoing row over Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, which has already been referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). The TDP-led coalition government on Saturday issued an order withdrawing an earlier order issued by the previous government of YSR Congress Party constituting the Waqf Board. The then government headed by Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy issued an order on October 21, 2023, constituting the 11-member Board. An MLA and an MLC were among the three elected members. The then government had also nominated eight members, including two women. As some individuals had approached the Andhra Pradesh High Court, challenging the nomination of members, the High Court in its order on November 1, 2023, stayed the election of the chairperson of the State Waqf Board. After the YSR Congress Party lost power to the NDA in the May 2024 elections, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) nominated its leader Shaik Abdul Aziz as chairman of the State Waqf Board. However, the Board could not be reconstituted apparently due to court cases. The coalition government in the state comprises, TDP, Jana Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The government's move to dissolve the Waqf Board came after the Chief Executive Officer of the State Waqf Board brought to its attention the prolonged non-functioning of the Board and the pendency of writ petitions questioning the legality of G.O. Ms. No. 47 dated October 21, 2023, to resolve the litigations and prevent an administrative vacuum. Minorities Welfare Department Secretary Kati Harshvardhan stated that after careful consideration of the observations made by the High Court and in the interest of maintaining good governance, protection of Waqf properties and ensuring the smooth functioning of the Waqf Board, the government withdrew G.O. Ms. No. 47 with immediate effect. Minister for Minority Welfare N. Md. Farooq said in a statement that the coalition government withdrew the GO issued by the previous government. He said after some individuals had approached the High Court, challenging the nomination of Waqf Board members, the High Court had passed interim orders to stay the election of the chairperson. The Minister stated that due to legal issues, there was a vacuum in the functioning of the Waqf Board and to overcome it, the coalition government issued a new GO, withdrawing the earlier GO. New Delhi, Dec 1 : Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday made a strong pitch for maintaining a growth rate of 2.1 and said that this is essential for the "survival of any society." Bhagwat's stirring remarks about family, fertility rate and its importance in the preservation of any society came during his address at the 'Kathale Kul (clan) Sammelan' in Maharashtra's Nagpur. The RSS chief voiced concerns over the falling population graph and also cited examples of how certain languages and societies vanished as they couldn't keep pace with time. "The population should not go below 2.1, our country's population policy was decided in 1998-2002. The population of a society should not be less than 2.1," Bhagwat opined. He also stated that modern population science says that when the fertility rate of any society goes below 2.1, it marks the beginning of the end of that society. "The decline in population is a matter of concern. Modern population science says that when the population (fertility rate) of a society goes below 2.1, that society vanishes from the earth," said the RSS chief. He also called for a reproduction rate greater than 2.1 to ensure the survival of any race. "We need more than two or three, this is what population science says. The number is important because society should survive," Bhagwat further said. Notably, India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has gone below 2, as per a recent report. This assumes importance in light of the fact that in the 1950s, the TFR stood at as high as 6 per cent but now it has gone below replacement level, on its own, that is, without any coercive two-child norm. A total fertility rate of 2.1 is considered the replacement rate, which is a crucial factor in population growth. It ensures the replacement of a woman and her partner upon death with no overall increase or decrease in numbers. New Delhi, Dec 1 : The Delhi BJP on Sunday announced plans to launch a parallel "Parivartan Yatra" in all the seven Lok Sabha constituencies on December 8 during which party workers will march along with residents and collect information from them about their problems. New Delhi, Dec 1 (IANS) The Delhi BJP on Sunday announced plans to launch a parallel "Parivartan Yatra" in all the seven Lok Sabha constituencies on December 8 during which party workers will march along with residents and collect information from them about their problems. Giving a slogan of "Das saal Dilli Behal (Delhi suffering for 10 years)", Satish Upadhyay, convener of the Parivartan Yatra Committee, said top national leaders will take part in the march that will highlight the alleged failures of the AAP government ahead of the Assembly polls in January-February. The march will be held in two shifts during morning, starting at 8 a.m., and evening, from 5 p.m., culminating in a large public meeting every evening in the respective constituencies, said Upadhyay, himself a former Delhi BJP chief. He said Delhi voters have already made up their minds to show the door to the corrupt and anarchist AAP government. "We are still working on details and schedules of the march which will be shared with people in the coming three to four days," Upadhyay told IANS, adding that RWAs will be involved in giving suggestions for the improvement of services in the city. Delhi BJP President Virender Sachdeva said the arrest of an AAP MLA for extortion will also be highlighted to show the corruption in the AAP. "It's a murder of democracy that AAP's elected legislator is indulging in extortion," he said. Reacting to Arvind Kejriwal's announcement not to tie up with the Congress in the Assembly election, Delhi BJP Chief Virendra Sachdeva said, "The BJP will not be impacted if AAP and Congress have an alliance or go solo. We are on track to coming to power in Delhi and serving the people." "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we will serve the people with the mantra of 'Seva Hi Samarpan'," said Sachdeva. Asked about AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal's allegations of deteriorating law and order in Delhi, Sachdeva said the ruling party should first explain the deaths taking place in Delhi due to flooding and problems due to sewers. He dismissed AAP's allegations on law and order situation in the city as diversionary tactics and questioned Kejriwal over the 252 deaths caused over one year in various incidents reflecting government agencies' laxity. Sachdeva claimed 34 people drowned due to water logging, 16 people died due to electrocution, seven children were charred to death in an unauthorised hospital, 15 inmates died in Asha Kiran home and nearly 180 homeless people died due to cold. Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 1 : Kerala Congress-Mani (KC-M) General Secretary Stephen George on Sunday ruled out his party rejoining the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). His statement was in response to media reports suggesting that the KC-M was considering leaving the Left Democratic Front (LDF) to rejoin the UDF. Speaking to reporters, the senior leader emphasised that the party intends to uphold its credibility among the public. He pointed out that the UDF had disregarded the partyas 45-year association with its late founder, K.M. Mani, while expelling them from the front. Party chief Jose K. Mani has yet to comment on the reports. George, however, strongly criticised the media for spreading false information aimed at damaging the partyas reputation. Reports have surfaced claiming that the KC-M is dissatisfied with the LDF government over issues such as the alleged sabotaging of the rubber price stabilisation fund and the Karunya scheme. Some media outlets also reported that the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a constituent of the UDF, along with certain Christian religious leaders, had initiated talks regarding the partyas re-entry into the UDF. George dismissed these reports, stating that the Kerala Congress-M is satisfied with its current alliance with the LDF, which he said has treated the party fairly. He reiterated that the party has no plans to rejoin the UDF. Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and former Kerala minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan expressed his desire for all former allies, including the KC-M, to return to the UDF. The KC-M, which holds significant influence among the Catholic Christian community, joined the LDF ahead of the local body elections in December 2020, after the UDF expelled it following a dispute during the Kottayam District Panchayat elections. In the 2021 Assembly elections, the party won five of the 12 seats it contested. However, Jose K. Mani faced a major setback, losing his family stronghold of Pala to incumbent Mani C. Kappan of the Nationalist Congress Party by a margin of 15,378 votes. Pala had been represented by K.M. Mani for 49 years, from 1967 to 2016, making the loss a significant blow to the partyas legacy. Historically, the KC-M has been a key constituent of the UDF, holding prominent portfolios like Finance and Revenue in Congress-led state cabinets. However, a power struggle within the party emerged after the death of its founder and chairman, K.M. Mani in 2019. The party split into two factions - one led by his son Jose Mani and the other by senior leader P.J. Joseph. The Election Commission eventually recognised the faction led by Jose K. Mani as the official KC-M. This decision was challenged by Joseph in court, leading to an interim stay by the Kerala High Court. However, the Supreme Court later upheld the Election Commissionas decision. Seoul, Dec 1 : A consultative body involving the ruling party, the government and doctors' groups broke up Sunday, 20 days after its creation for the resolution of a prolonged walkout by trainee doctors, as doctors' groups decided to boycott future meetings. The consultative body was launched on November 11 as part of efforts to resolve the medical crisis sparked after thousands of junior doctors left their workplaces in a mass resignation since February in protest against the government's decision to sharply raise the medical school quota, Yonhap news agency reported. In Sunday's meeting, the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences (KAMS) and the Korea Association of Medical Colleges decided to drop out of the consultative body, according to their officials. "We have confirmed there is no point of further negotiations as the government and the ruling party do not have the will to resolve the current situation," said Lee Jin-woo, president of KAMS. Lee Man-hee, a lawmaker of the ruling People Power Party, told reporters the medical community has called for changing the medical school quota for next year, but it was difficult to accept the request given that the college admission process has already kicked off. "The representatives at the consultative body have decided to suspend official meetings considering the situation," Lee said, noting he is unsure when the meetings will be resumed. "But the government and the ruling party will continue to hold talks with the medical community," the lawmaker added. Meanwhile, the newly elected chief of South Korea's largest doctors' advocacy group last week urged President Yoon Suk Yeol to revise his medical reform to resolve the prolonged walkout by trainee doctors. Park Hyung-wook made the call after being elected as the new chief of the emergency committee of the Korean Medical Association (KMA), Yonhap reported. "President Yoon Suk Yeol is the only one who can improve policies to allow trainee doctors to return (to duty), and unless the president changes, the problem will persist and the people will continue to suffer from the medical crisis," he said. Jamshedpur, Dec 1 : With drug prices skyrocketing and medical treatment getting costlier, the Jan Aushadhi Kendras have come as a boon for citizens across the country. Hordes of people are shunning the private medical shops and thronging these cost-effective outlets to purchase medicines. People of Jamshedpur district in Jharkhand were also drawing benefits from the scheme. A couple of them, from lower and middle-class families, spoke to IANS and shared how these centres have proved instrumental in bringing down their medical bills. The people said they had stopped buying branded medicines and were now buying generic drugs from the Jan Aushadhi centres. Savitri Devi, a customer who regularly visits the Jan Aushadhi Kendra, said the medicines were available here at very cheap prices. "I express my gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who thought for us and started a scheme like this. We are benefiting financially from this scheme," she said. Sanju Devi, another customer said that the medicines at Jan Aushadhi Centre were in no way inferior to those available at private shops. "We buy all our medicines from here. This is a commendable step by PM Modi," she added. Pharmacist Uday Diwakar also praised the Modi government for launching Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PM-BJP) under which scores of Jan Aarogya centres have been opened. He also shared how pharmaceutical companies play a role in spiking prices of medicines and blamed the multiple chains of commissions for inflated prices. "This centre aims to provide affordable medicines to poor and common people. All types of medicines are also available here. Generic medicines are available at Jan Aushadhi Kendras, which have the approval of the WHO and the government. These medicines are as good as the expensive medicines," he further said. Speaking about challenges before the Jan Aarogya centres, he said that since doctors do not prescribe generic medicines to patients, the latter buy the same from private stores. New Delhi, Dec 1 : ISKCON Governing Body Commissioner and spiritual guru Gauranga Das said that the prayers were being held across 1,100 temples of the organisation on Sunday for the safety of Hindu minorities in strife-torn Bangladesh. Talking to IANS, Das, who also looks after the International Society for Krishna's Consciousness' Human Resource and Capacity Building, said that at least 3,000 people gathered in Mumbai on Sunday to pray to Radha Krishna and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, seeking protection for the Hindu minorities in Bangladesh and restoring peace in the South Asian country. The priest also made an appeal to ISKCON's 120 centres and its followers over there not to share any posts on social media which may aggravate the tense situation in the neighbouring country. "The Indian government, Bangladesh government and various world organisations are already engaged in the discussion to resolve the issue," the spiritual guru shared. Citing Lord Krishna's teachings in the Gita - "Kaam, krodh, Moh, nark ke dwar hain" (Lust, anger and greed lead to hell), he further called the Bangladeshi government to protect and respect the minorities for maintinging diversity and global peace. He also invited suggestions from people for solutions to the issue and asked them to submit it to the President of their temples or the communications ministry of ISKCON. He also informed that the ISKCON Communication Ministry leaders were in touch with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and they have assured that efforts were underway for bringing an amicable solution to the hostilities against minorities in Bangladesh. "At times, political issues take time to resolve. We are waiting patiently. The plea in the Bangladesh High Court to ban ISKCON has been rejected and things were moving in a positive direction," he said. "We read Gita and Sanatan Dharma which preaches that you may get helpless but never be disappointed," he shared and hoped for global peace. On the growth of Sanatan Dharma, he said ISKCON devotees and leadership were always ready to contribute to the cause. Hyderabad, Dec 1 : Two Ugandan nationals and a customer were arrested by police during a raid on a brothel in Hyderabad on Sunday. Acting on credible information, the sleuths of the Commissioneras Task Force, North Zone Team, Hyderabad City, along with Osmania University Police and Women staff conducted a raid on a brothel at Nagarjuna Nagar under the limits of Osmania University Police Station. The police registered a case under sections 143 (trafficking of person), 144(2) (exploitation of a trafficked person) and 111 (organised crime) of Bharat Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 3 and 4 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act The arrested foreigners were identified as 42-year-old Nayebare Doreen, 22-year-old sub-organiser and victim Komuhangi Ritah, who were residing in Nagarjuna Nagar, Tarnaka. Customer Potturi Anjan Kumar, a resident of Uppal in Hyderabad has also been arrested. Police seized 160 unused condoms, one used condom, Rs 12,190 cash and five mobile phones. According to Y. V. S. Sudheendra, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Task Force, Hyderabad City, Nayebare Doreen had taken a house in Nagarjuna Nagar, Tarnaka on rent four months ago. Since then, she has been running a brothel house with the assistance of Komuhangi Ritah. She had uploaded her mobile phone number to aLocantoa online services. Explaining the modus operandi of the accused, the police officer said the interested customers calling on the number were being initially sent to a location in Secunderabad to mislead them and were later sent to Nagarjuna Colony. She disclosed the location of the brothel only after customers reached Nagarjuna Colony. Acting on credible information about brothel activities, police conducted the raid and busted the brothel. The arrests were made by K. Saidulu, Inspector of Police, SIs Srinivasulu Dasu, P. Gnanadeep, C. Raghavender Reddy of the North Zone Task Force along with team and N. Rajender, Inspector of Police of Osmania University Police Station. New Delhi, Dec 1 : Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday called for bringing about a big change in history books to do justice to India's heroes and end the manipulation of history that has created a 'monopoly' of few who gained the country's independence. "Our history books have done injustice to our heroes. Our history has been manipulated and doctored, creating a monopoly of few that gained our independence," the Vice President said while addressing as Chief Guest at the function organised on the occasion of the 138th Birth Anniversary Celebration of Raja Mahendra Pratap at Bharat Mandapam. "It is unbearable pain in our conscience. It's a burden on our soul and heart. And I'm sure we have to bring about a big change. No better occasion than the formation of the first Bharat Sarkar at that point of time in 1915," he said, underlining that Raja Mahendra Pratap was a born diplomat, a born statesman, a visionary and a nationalist. He said that Raja Mahendra Pratap exemplified nationalism, patriotism and farsightedness exhibited by conducting what can be done for the nation. Referring to the delay in due recognition and conferment of Bharat Ratna to some of the deserving sons of Bharat, he underscored, "It was in 1990 that B.R. Ambedkar got. Why? Why was there a delay? Imagine the mindset And then recently, Chaudhary Charan Singh, Karpoori Thakur. They live in our hearts." "We have long ignored those who have been our guides. In a true sense, they made the highest sacrifice for the country. Tribal Day has now started to be celebrated. How old was Birsa Munda? Well, better late than never," he said. Questioning inadequate attention given to some of the significant historical events, Dhankhar said, "During my visit to Kotra, Udaipur recently commemorated Birsa Munda's 150th birthday anniversary. I gathered friends, a heart-wrenching 1913 Mangar Hill dastardly episode. In that year, 1913, much before Jallianwala Bagh, 1,507 tribal people became victims of British bullets. What a carnage! What a dastardly Act! History did not give much recognition to it." "I am trying to indicate that such kind of British barbarity, along with the patriotic saga of Maharaja Suraj Mal, Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh, why are they inadequately chronicled? Why don't they find space in history? This particular occasion will be a game changer and a milestone," he said. The Vice President also stressed the need for the welfare of the farmers to attain a developed country status and Dhankhar stated, "To attain the status of a developed nation by 2047, the precondition is that our farmers have to be satisfied." China launched a new carrier rocket into space on Saturday night from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site on the southern island province of Hainan. The Long March-12 carrier rocket sent two experimental satellites into their planned orbits. The launch mission was a complete success, according to Hainan provincial authorities. The rocket was developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. With a length of about 62 meters and a diameter of 3.8 meters, it features a two-stage design. It is currently the country's largest single-core carrier rocket in payload capacity. The rocket is designed with a carrying capacity of no less than 12 tonnes in low Earth orbit and no less than 6 tonnes in 700-km sun-synchronous orbit. It achieves an optimal match between the diameter of the rocket body and the number of engines, with its first stage using four liquid oxygen-kerosene engines, which not only increases its carrying capacity but also allows for the transport of the rocket by railway to various launch sites across the country. The rocket also uses a series of new technologies, including rocket health diagnostics management, cold helium pressurization, and aluminum-lithium alloy tanks. Its fairing has standard diameter configurations of 4.2 meters and 5.2 meters, which can be adapted to different mission requirements. The Long March-12 carrier rocket is ready for frequent launch missions. It will effectively enhance China's ability to place satellites into sun-synchronous orbits and set up a multi-constellation network in low Earth orbit. Saturday's launch was the 548th flight mission of the Long March rocket series. New Delhi, Dec 1 : Is it the right time for the opposition-minus Congress to assert its identity? The question may seem overstated, but the reality is that the rest of the opposition needs to emerge from Congress' shadow. For most of India's post-independence history, the Congress has governed the country. Even during its out-of-power periods, it has often dominated the opposition, except briefly in the Janata Party era. The opposition at the national level has been mostly revolving around the Congress. Often the grand old partyas stance on issues is taken as the position of the rest of the opposition parties. The Congressa agenda for the past 10 years has been mostly about attacking the Prime Minister personally and politically, allegedly linking him and the BJP to business tycoons repeatedly and every day. The rest of the opposition is also seen as a follower of the Congress game plan. The voice of the rest of the opposition often gets overwhelmed by the Congressa din. This is where the rest of the opposition has to draw its line. It must assert its own identity. The electoral performance is what matters ultimately in politics. The grand old party has been badly lagging while the rest of the opposition has been faring better in most of the elections, whether central, state or even in local municipalities. In comparison, Congress has been losing its electoral significance as a political party, especially in regions where it had a significant presence. Take the case of the recently held Maharashtra Assembly election. An analysis of the election results shows that the INDIA Bloc suffered defeat more because of Congress than its smaller allies -- Uddhav Thackerayas SS(UBT) and Sharad Pawar's NCP(SP). The poll battle which should have been Mahayuti vs MVA emerged as a contest between BJP and Congress. The two parties took on each other head-on in at least 75 seats. Of these, the BJP was victorious in 65 seats. The Congress didnat even come in second place in at least six constituencies. Congress allies SS(UBT) and NCP(SP) managed a respectable vote share in seats with a direct fight with the BJP. But, as per the Election Commission of India (ECI) records, Congress trailed BJPas vote share by a staggering 14 per cent. Also, the BJP managed a whopping strike rate of about 89 per cent, winning 132 out of 149 seats that it contested in the 288-member Assembly while for Congress, it stood at 25 per cent. The strike rate of BJPas allies including SS and NCP hovered around 70 per cent. Both Shiv Sena and the NCP improved their tally in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections compared to 2019. In 2019, the aundivideda Sena bagged 56 seats while the factions claimed victory in 77 seats (SS - 57 and SS(UBT) - 20) and NCP got 54 in 2019, which rose to 51 (NCP(SP) and NCP put together) in 2024. It is the Congress party which plummeted from 44 in 2019 to 16 seats in 2024 polls. Maharashtra should serve as an important case study for the rest of the opposition. The Assembly elections of Haryana and before that the polls in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan should also be dissected. The analysis of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections should be taken as a lesson for the rest of the opposition. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Congress secured 99 seats, marking an improvement over its previous two performances. The gains were largely in regions where it depended on stronger regional allies to counter the BJPas dominance. Its wins were not mostly because of its performance but mainly due to the influences of its regional partners. For instance, in the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, it was chiefly Akhilesh Yadavas Samajwadi party that did the best in the INDIA bloc and helped the Congress to gain also. The Samajwadi party raised its tally to 37 seats from five and its vote share jumped from 18.11 per cent to 33.59 per cent. Congress increased its vote share by over three per cent to 9.46 per cent with six seats against one earlier. While SP helped Congress in Uttar Pradesh, the scene was politically pathetic in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections where the grand old party refused to accommodate Akhilesh Yadavas party. In the bypolls also, Congress fared poorly in comparison to its INDIA Bloc allies. The Trinamool Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party did much better. The only consolation for the Congress party was winning all three seats in Karnataka and retaining one in Madhya Pradesh. However, its performance in Rajasthan, Assam, Punjab and Gujarat was poor. In the Jharkhand Assembly polls, which the INDIA Bloc has been celebrating, the truth is that Hemant Soren-led JMMas strong performance secured the victory. It certainly was not Congressa win. Even in the South, the DMK has been going strong and has elbowed out all, including Congress though it is its INDIA Bloc ally. The rest of the opposition is repeatedly getting the signals from the people. All it needs is to make strong decisions and chart its course. Minus Congress the rest of the opposition can exist. But, it requires a common agenda and unity a" the two most challenging factors in the whole opposition, whether with Congress or minus Congress. (Deepika Bhan can be contacted at deepika.b@ians.in) Shimla, Dec 1 : Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday launched the 'Car Bin' initiative to promote HIV awareness and cleanliness. In the first phase, 4,000 taxis would be equipped with these bins free of charge, with plans to cover all 30,000 taxis in the state in a phased manner. Presiding over the 37th World AIDS Day programme here, the Chief Minister said the state has taken significant steps in the past two years to address HIV-related challenges and improve the overall healthcare. He said targeted individuals were being provided with equal access to awareness, testing and medication. In 2024 alone, eight lakh people were made aware of HIV and from January 2023 to October 2024, a total of 234 testing camps were organized with a record 5,92,902 individuals tested for HIV. He said the state currently has 55 testing and counselling centres along with two mobile testing vehicles offering free HIV testing services. The Chief Minister gave the "3-G Formula" for HIV prevention. It is "Get Aware, Get Tested and Get Victory over HIV". He urged the youth to adopt this principle and contribute in raising awareness. "Young people must be made aware of HIV so that they could encourage others in their communities to voluntarily undergo for HIV testing." He calls to ensure greater youth participation in initiatives such as the Red Ribbon Clubs. He also assured that HIV-positive individuals would be provided free treatment and medications through anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centres immediately after detection. Currently, 5,897 individuals are availing free treatment and medication facilities. He expressed concern over the link between substance abuse, syringe use and the spread of HIV. "The rising issues of drug use among the youth and substance abuse through syringes deeply concern us, which leads to a serious impact on the future of our coming generations," he added. Beijing, Dec 1 : A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Sunday slammed US arms sales to Taiwan and strongly condemned its attempt to weaponise the region. Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks in response to the US announcement of approving 385 million US dollars of arms sales to Taiwan, Xinhua news agency reported. Chen also criticised the Democratic Progressive Party authorities in Taiwan, stating that paying "protection fees" would bring Taiwan no security, only self-destruction. "Stop soliciting US support for 'Taiwan independence' as such efforts are doomed to fail," he added. Chen said that the US move is simply inconsistent with the US leaders' commitment to not supporting "Taiwan independence" and seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, especially the August 17 Communique of 1982. The spokesperson called on the United States to immediately stop arming Taiwan. "Don't ever underestimate China's determination to take strong and resolute countermeasures to firmly defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity," he added. New Delhi, Dec 1 : The Congress on Sunday slammed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat for his remarks advocating an increase in fertility rates to ensure the "survival of society." In his address at the 'Kathale Kul Sammelan' in Nagpur, he expressed concerns over the declining population graph and stressed the need to maintain a fertility rate of 2.1. Highlighting historical precedents, Bhagwat warned that societies and languages have disappeared due to an inability to adapt to changing times. "The population should not go below 2.1. Our country's population policy was decided between 1998 and 2002, and for any society to survive, its population should not fall below this level," Bhagwat stated. Congress leaders sharply criticised Bhagwat's statements, calling them regressive and detrimental to India's progress. Congress MP Tariq Anwar described the remarks as "an example of mental bankruptcy," accusing Bhagwat and the Sangh of attempting to divide society. "These are disgusting statements aimed at disrupting unity. Their entire focus is on taking the country backwards," Anwar told IANS. Echoing this sentiment, Congress leader and former MP Udit Raj questioned the rationale behind advocating for population growth. "Is it necessary to increase the population, or should we focus on the country's development? This backward thinking will only lead to more poverty," he said. "Without advancements in science, technology, and agricultural production, increasing the population will achieve nothing," Raj told IANS. Moreover, Bhagwat's comments sparked a broader debate on the implications of fertility rates and population policies. While the RSS chief emphasised that a reproduction rate above 2.1 is essential for the survival of any race, critics pointed out the challenges of overpopulation, resource scarcity, and the need for balanced development. The remarks come amid a growing focus on India's demographic trends and policies, with contrasting opinions on how to address the complexities of population growth and economic development. Kolkata, Dec 1 : A Trinamool Congress leader in West Bengal's Murshidabad district was on Sunday arrested on charges of killing a person who had demanded the return of the money that he had given him for ensuring inclusion of his name in the list of beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) scheme. The arrested Trinamool leader has been identified as Mithu Sheikh and the victim as Kali Sheikh. Both are residents of Mukundapur village under Mithipur village panchayat under Raghunathganj police station in Murshidabad. As per the complaint registered by the family members of Kali Sheikh, he, for quite some time, was trying to get his name enrolled in the list of beneficiaries under the PMAY scheme and for that purpose, he was approaching many influential persons, including Mithu Sheikh. Mithu Sheikh assured Kali Sheikh of getting his name enrolled in the list and took Rs 5,000 from him to get the work done, as per the complaint. However, in the most published list, Kali Sheikh's name still did not appear and hence on Saturday night, he went to the residence of Mithu Sheikh to demand the return of the money. There was a heated discussion between the two, following which Mithu Sheikh allegedly started beating up Kali Sheikh with an iron rod. The neighbours somehow rescued a profusely bleeding Kali Sheikha and got him admitted to a local hospital. However, he died on Sunday morning, Thereafter, the family members lodged a police complaint following which Mithu Sheikh was arrested in the afternoon. The development has created ripples in the locality and also become a cause of embarrassment for Trinamool leadership. The party's district President Kalilur Rahaman, however, said if any individual commits a crime, its responsibility does not necessarily come on the party. "The law will take its own course," he said New Delhi, Dec 1 : The divide within the Opposition ranks is not just limited to Assembly elections and seat-sharing agreements. Fresh differences seem to have cropped up between the Congress-led INDIA Bloc and Trinamool Congress (TMC), one of its key constituents over the Adani indictment claims in the United States. Breaking ranks with the Congress party, as the latter continues to push for urgent discussion in Parliament on the Adani issue, the Trinamool has distanced itself from it and cleared its stance 'Bengal supersedes all issues.' Trinamool national secretary Abhishek Banerjee, speaking to newsmen, spelt out the party's stance, saying "Our stand is very clear, we will give priority to issues of Bengal first. People of the state have elected us to fight for them." He further said that the Trinamool wants the House to function so that people's issues could be raised and discussed in the House. This comes as a clear departure from the Congress party's stand which has been cornering and lambasting the Centre over Adani row, inside and outside the House. As the Winter Session began on November 25, the Congress members have been repeatedly giving adjournment notices in both houses to suspend all businesses and rather hold discussion on the alleged Adani group indictment. Though Parliament witnessed chaos and pandemonium, other Opposition parties also wanted a discussion on issues like the Sambhal mosque survey and the fresh spurt in Manipur violence. Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee further said that Bengal has suffered a lot due to the 'step-motherly' treatment and his party favours the functioning of the Parliament so that it could press the Centre for releasing 'outstanding dues'. "Bengal has been deprived of outstanding dues for years, with the amount now soaring to about Rs 2 lakh crore. Even GST devolutions haven't been released yet. We will stick to issues specific to West Bengal," said Banerjee, when asked about the Opposition's strategy in the Winter Session. With Trinamool making its stand clear and making no bones about sharing its 'displeasure' with Congress over raising issues in the House, Congress seems to have been left aloof and isolated, failing to build a chorus against the government, yet again. A day ago, Trinmool MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar also revealed the party's plans to corner the BJP. "We want Parliament to run. We don't want to disrupt the House on just one issue. We will hold this government accountable on multiple counts," Trinamool LS MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar told the newsmen. New Delhi, Dec 1 : The Centre's Department of Pensions and Pensioners' Welfare has successfully concluded its Campaign 3.0 with the issuing of 1.30 crore Digital Life Certificates pensioners, according to an official statement released on Sunday. This initiative, launched to simplify life digital life certificate submissions, particularly for super senior pensioners, has set significant milestones by leveraging innovative technologies and widespread collaboration with all the stakeholders, the statement said. Over 39 lakh digital life certificates (DLCs), representing more than 30 per cent, were generated using Face Authentication Technology. This is a 200 times increase over DLC 2.0 Campaign. This groundbreaking technology proved particularly beneficial for; elderly pensioners with faded fingerprints; differently-abled individuals facing mobility challenges and pensioners living in rural and remote areas, the statement said. "As of 30th November, 2024, over 1.30 crore DLCs were processed, building on previous campaigns. By March 2025 it aims to achieve over 1.60 crore of DLC submissions," the statement added. Focused efforts led to the submission of a substantial number of DLCs by pensioners aged 80 and above, more than 8 Lakh DLCs submitted. IPPB took the lead in delivering doorstep services for super senior pensioners. The campaign strived to achieve a saturation model, aimed at complete coverage across the country to ensure no pensioner was left behind, prioritizing underserved populations. Collaborative efforts by banks, post offices, and volunteer networks underpinned the campaignas universal coverage model. State-wise Maharashtra achieved 20 lakh DLCs through strong coordination and public awareness campaigns followed by Tamil Nadu with 13 lakh DLCs and Uttar Pradesh processed 11 lakh DLCs while West Bengal recorded 10 lakh DLCs. Outstanding contributions by Key Ministries include: 1. Central Civil: Facilitated 6 lakh DLCs, with significant use of face authentication. 2. Defence: Processed 25 lakh DLCs, serving retired armed forces personnel. 3. Railways: Delivered 4 lakh DLCs, supporting retired employees. 4. Posts: 3 Lakh DLC submissions. 5. Telecom: Enabled 3 lakh DLCs, leveraging its extensive network. 6. Leading banks like SBI, IPPB, PNB, and Canara Bank played a critical role in the campaign's success by generating 11.3, 7.3, 2.7 and 1.8 Lakh DLCs respectively. Banks have conducted specialised camps in 150 cities covering 750+ locations, assisting pensioners with limited digital resources. These efforts ensured that pensioners without access to smartphones or the internet could submit their life certificates with ease. All Pension Disbursing Banks achieved 40 per cent of the DLCs, which is another first. This percentage will further increase in December 2024 when residual pensioners submit their DLCs, the statement said. Aligned with the Digital India vision, the DLC campaign embodies the Prime Minister's efforts to enhance the ease of living for senior citizens. In his Mann Ki Baat on November 24, 2024, he lauded the initiative's ability to empower elderly pensioners with technology, enabling them to submit DLCs from their homes. Amaravati, Dec 1 : The Andhra Pradesh government on Sunday clarified that the State Waqf Board was dissolved due to certain concerns and that a new Board will be constituted at the earliest. The coalition government's clarification came amid reports in a section of the media that the State Waqf Board has been abolished. The Fact Check Wing of the state government posted the clarification on X while reacting to a post by BJP leader Amit Malviya. "Andhra Pradesh government strikes down the Waqf Board. There is no provision in the Constitution, which supports the existence of one in a secular India," Malviya posted while reacting to a news channel's report that the Andhra Pradesh government abolished the Waqf Board. FactCheck.Ap.Gov.In, the official account of Fact Check Wing, in its post explained the reasons for the Government Order (G.O) issued on Saturday. "The Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board has remained non-functional since March 2023, leading to a period of administrative stagnation. The withdrawal of G.O. Ms. No. 47 became imperative due to several substantive concerns. These include 13 writ petitions challenging its validity, the absence of adequate representation from Sunni and Shia scholars, the non-inclusion of former MPs, the appointment of junior advocates without transparent criteria, questions surrounding the eligibility of certain members, and the inability to elect a chairman owing to ongoing litigation," reads the clarification. "The GoAP will take appropriate measures to address these defects and constitute a new Waqf Board at the earliest," it added. The TDP-led coalition government on Saturday issued an order withdrawing an earlier order issued by the previous government of YSR Congress Party constituting the Waqf Board. The then government headed by Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy issued an order on October 21, 2023, constituting the 11-member Board. A MLA and a MLC were among the three elected members. The then government had also nominated eight members including two women. As some individuals had approached the Andhra Pradesh High Court, challenging the nomination of members, the High Court in its order on November 1, 2023, stayed the election of the chairperson of the State Waqf Board. The government's move to dissolve the Waqf Board came after the Chief Executive Officer of the State Waqf Board brought to its attention the prolonged non-functioning of the Board and the pendency of writ petitions questioning the legality of G.O. Ms. No. 47 dated October 21, 2023, to resolve the litigations and prevent an administrative vacuum. Mumbai, Dec 1 : A case has been registered against Telugu superstar Allu Arjun ahead of the release of his highly-anticipated movie 'Pushpa 2: The Rule'. During a recent promotional event in Mumbai, Allu Arjun had addressed his fan base as "Army". This has hurt the sentiment of man named Srinivas Goud as he has now lodged a complaint against the actor at the Jawahar Nagar Police Station in Hyderabad, objecting to the usage of the word for his fan base. In a video, Srinivas, who is the president of Green Peace Environment and Water Harvesting Foundation, said, "We have filed a complaint against Tollywood star Allu Arjun requesting him not to use the word army for his fan base. Army is an honourable post; they're the ones who protect our country, so you can't call your fans that. There are many other terms he could use instead". Meanwhile, 'Pushpa 2: The Rule', which is undoubtedly the most awaited film of the year, is set to release in theatres on December 5. The film also stars Rashmika Mandanna, in the role of Srivalli, and Malayalam superstar Fahadh Faasil. Earlier, during the event, Allu Arjun highlighted Rashmika's unwavering support, calling her the kind of person who uplifts everyone around her. Allu Arjun said, "I want to take two minutes and thank her for everything she has done for this film. Her support is immense. There is no way this film is complete without Srivalli's support. Me and my director have so much admiration for her because we keep shooting every day, and she comes once in a while. When she comes, those days are so pleasant. She leaves me like such a sweet girl, bringing in so much beautiful, positive energy". Produced by Mythri Movie Makers, 'Pushpa 2: The Rule' is directed by Sukumar. The music of the film is composed by Devi Sri Prasad who earlier won the National Award for his chartbuster soundtrack in 'Pushpa: The Rise'. New Delhi, Dec 1 : India is taking a lead in global AIDS control by being the net supplier of HIV medicines to the world, said Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Sunday. Nadda said this while inaugurating the World AIDS Day 2024 commemoration at the Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya Auditorium, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The Union Minister noted that India has come a long way in the fight against HIV, and is now also supplying affordable medicines to the world. "From a time when there was no medicine for AIDS, to dealing with over-expensive medicines to now becoming a net supplier of HIV medicines to the world, India has come a long way in its fight against AIDS," he said. "Today India is taking a lead in AIDS control by producing the most affordable as well as effective medicines and sharing them with the neediest," Nadda added. He also stated that the Union government provides free medicines for AIDS patients. The Minister noted that sustained efforts by National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) and State AIDS Control Societies have ensured a decline in new infections in the country. In 2023, it was almost 44 per cent lower than in 2010 while AIDS-related deaths declined by 79 per cent. Further, the medication also ensures a healthy future generation. "Contrary to some beliefs, any person with HIV can live lifelong today and can also have a healthy child without HIV infection," he said. Reflecting on this year's theme, "Take the Rights Path", Nadda said the government is committed to safeguarding the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS, offering legal protections, healthcare access, and societal change. Noting that "Every person has the right to a dignified life," he underscored the importance of treating HIV-positive people with a human angle. He also lauded healthcare workers for handling such diseases with extreme care and dedication. "World AIDS Day is a moment to reiterate that we are all together in the fight against AIDS as well as to remember and re-dedicate the efforts of those people who have fought against this disease and lost their loved ones as well." New Delhi, Dec 1 : After AAP decided to go solo in Assembly elections, Delhi Congress President Devender Yadav said on Sunday the development has not come as a surprise as his party had decided almost six months ago to fight the Assembly elections on its own. "There is nothing new in Arvind Kejriwal's announcement on not having an alliance in Delhi. We bore the brunt of AAP's poor governance during the Lok Sabha election," Yadav told IANS. He said that had Congress contested the Lok Sabha elections alone, considering the immense influence Rahul Gandhi wielded among the voters, the party would have gained a lot. The Delhi Congress chief said the party was focused on fighting and winning all 70 seats without any alliance a decision taken six months ago, he said. "The Congress has a democratic process in taking decisions, which are done after careful deliberations, and not in a totalitarian and dictatorial manner, as Kejriwal does," he said The Delhi Congress chief linked Saturday's alleged liquid attack on Kejriwal to the hidden public anger against the AAP government's unfulfilled promises. "The promises that Kejriwal made 11 years ago are still to be fulfilled. The people have started disliking him and they are angry," said Yadav. "Corruption is ruining the AAP. Former Delhi CM Kejriwal and 18 to 20 MLAs have been arrested for corruption. They failed to bring Lokpal to end corruption and this has exposed them before voters," he said. Yadav said that Delhi Nyay Yatra has been receiving overwhelming support from the people for the past 24 days, indicating that the popular mood was in favour of the Congress. He said that the failures of the AAP government had affected the lives of the people in various ways, and the angry and disillusioned people were taking out their ire on Kejriwal. Aden, Yemen : The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported a maritime incident occurring some 80 nautical miles south of Yemen's port city of Aden on Sunday. Authorities are investigating the incident, the UKMTO said in a statement on social media platform X, Xinhua reported. Preliminary reports indicated an attack by the Houthi group targeting a merchant vessel, according to Yemeni government officials. Specific details about the attacked vessel remain undisclosed. Since November 2023, the Houthi group has launched rocket and drone attacks on Israel and disrupted "Israeli-linked" shipping in the Red Sea, allegedly to show solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In response, the US-British naval coalition stationed in the region has since January conducted regular air raids and missile strikes against Houthi targets to deter the group. Kohima, Dec 1 : Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Sunday reiterated the urgency of resolving the Naga political issue and said that he had discussed the matter with Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently. Addressing the 62nd statehood day function here, he said that acting on decisions taken in the state cabinet meeting on November 16, a delegation led by him met Union Home Shah on November 21 in New Delhi for discussions. Rio said that the Union Home Minister reiterated the urgency and discussed issues including the recent press statements by the NSCN-I-M's Chief Political Negotiator to note while resolving the issue remains a top priority, the formation of new groups and their internal divisions pose significant challenges. Addressing on Eastern Nagaland Peoplesa Organisation (ENPO) issue, the Chief Minister remarked that a draft Memorandum of Settlement was submitted, on November 6 to the Ministry of Home Affairs emphasising a shared economic progress for all citizens and marking the beginning of a new era of partnership and collective growth. Since 2010, the ENPO has been demanding a separate aFrontier Nagaland Territorya or separate state comprising six Eastern Nagaland districts -- Kiphire, Longleng, Mon, Noklak, Shamator, and Tuensang, inhabited by seven backward tribes -- Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Tikhir, Sangtam, and Yimkhiung. Rio said that after nearly two decades, elections for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) were conducted recently, implementing 33 per cent reservation for women and consequently, 278 councillors were elected across 25 Urban Local Bodies, including 103 women councillors, constituting 37 per cent of the total. He stressed on "Peace for Development and Development for Peace," and appealed to every citizen to strive together to take the state to greater heights. The state government has initiated the construction of the Konyak Heritage Complex in Mon, under the North Eastern Council (NEC), a pioneering effort to preserve and promote traditional Konyak architecture, sculptures, traditions, and cultural heritage, he added. Rio mentioned that to establish a robust and reliable transmission system and to meet the projected load demand of 360 MW power of the state by 2030, the Department of Power has finalised a comprehensive transmission plan with the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) under the Ministry of Power. He said the Department of New and Renewable Energy has completed the survey and investigation works for the development of the Lower Doyang hydroelectric power project in the Wokha district and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is ready. Rio remarked that as a Prelude to the 25th Edition of Hornbill Festival, which began on Sunday, the Tourism Department in association with the Union Ministry of Tourism successfully hosted the third edition of the Autumn Festival in New Delhi and a Cultural Extravaganza Night at the Agri Expo at Chumoukedima in the state. The 62nd statehood day celebration was enthralled with special performances by Rengma Chorale, Tseminyu who presented the song titled aMa Senyaloa, meaning 'Praise Him', and Sangtam Cultural Group with the song titled aVingvingtiia. The celebration also witnessed a war dance performed by the Sumi Cultural Troupe, the cultural dance aSonkengJihanga performed by Khiamniungan Cultural Troupe, the folk dance aPhitaa performed by the Angami Cultural Troupe, and a folk song titled aBu Ashoa presented by the Phom Cultural Troupe. Hyderabad, Dec 1 : The Congress government in Telangana will implement a key promise with the implementation of the Rythu Bharosa scheme after Sankranthi, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced on Sunday. He told a news conference that the financial assistance under the scheme will be credited into the bank accounts of farmers after the festival. Appealing to people not to believe the rumours being spread by opposition parties, he said that Rythu Bharosa is a guarantee given by Sonia Gandhi and it would be definitely implemented. Under Rythu Bharosa, the Congress had promised annual financial assistance of Rs.15,000 per acre for farmers against Rs.10,000 being given now under Rythu Bandhu, which was launched by the previous government of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). The Chief Minister said the report of the Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka will be discussed in the Assembly before finalising the modalities for Rythu Bharosa. Revanth Reddy said the Congress would fulfil this promise the way it fulfilled the promise of crop loan waiver of up to Rs.2 lakh. He stated that on June 2, 2014, when Telangana state was formed, the state had Rs 16,000 crore surplus budget while its debts were only Rs 69,000 crore but when the BRS was ousted from power after 10 years, the debts amounted to Rs 7.5 lakh crore. The state is now repaying Rs 6,500 crore every month. He recalled that after coming to power on December 7, 2023, the Congress government presented a white paper on the stateas finances in the Assembly to place facts before the people. He claimed that despite the huge debt burden inherited by it, the Congress government tried to provide effective governance and implement the promises. The Chief Minister said immediately after coming to power, his government paid Rs.7,625 crore to farmers under Rythu Bandhu which was kept pending by the previous government. He mentioned that the Congress government fulfilled its promise to waive crop loans of up to Rs.2 lakh. It has so far waived crop loans of Rs 20,616 crore, benefiting 25.35 lakh farmers, he said and claimed that no state government in independent India has waived such a huge amount of loans in a short period. Alleging that the BRS government betrayed farmers for 10 years over loan waiver, he claimed that from the times of Jawaharlal Nehru to today, farmers have been the first priority of the Congress party. Revanth Reddy said the state government was supporting farmers by implementing a farm loan waiver scheme, free electricity, subsidised fertilisers, minimum support price and an employment guarantee scheme. He alleged that some political forces created misconceptions about the bonus of Rs 500 being paid by his government to farmers for fine variety paddy. Stating that the government procured 31 lakh tonnes of paddy, he announced that the bonus will also paid in the next season. He said a fine variety of rice produced in Telangana soil will be made available to people through the public distribution system and it will also be used to provide meals to students in welfare hostels. Hitting back at the BJP over its allegations that Congress failed to implement the promises, Revanth Reddy said he was ready for a debate on the promises made and implemented by Prime Minister Modi at the Centre and the Congress in the state. Disputing BJPas claim of total prohibition in Gujarat, the Chief Minister said he was ready to go to Gujarat and show liquor brands available in the BJP-ruled state. Dhaka, Dec 1 : Bangladesh's immigration police on Sunday turned back 54 members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) who possessed valid travel documents and wanted to cross into India from the Benapole border checkpoint. Local media reported that the Bangladesh police did not allow them to proceed, citing "suspicious travel". Some even claimed that the total number of Hindus arriving at the border crossing was over 70. It was reported that the Hindu devotees from various parts of Bangladesh had arrived at the land port along the international border on Saturday, wanting to leave the country through the Benapole-Petrapole crossing. "We consulted the Special Branch of Police and received instructions from the higher authorities not to permit them," Benapole Immigration Checkpost Officer-in-Charge (OC) Imtiaz Ahsanul Quader Bhuiya was quoted as saying by the Bangladesh's Daily Star. Bhuiya reportedly mentioned that the Bangladeshi authorities did not allow 54 Iskcon devotees to travel to India due to "suspicions regarding their travel purposes". However, several members of the group - who were made to wait at the checkpoint since Saturday night - stated that they were travelling to India for religious rituals with valid passports and visas but were still turned back on Sunday with the authorities not giving any clear reason for their action. "We were going to participate in a religious ceremony in India, but immigration officials stopped us, citing the absence of government permission," Saurabh Tapandar Cheli, one of the Iskcon members, told local media outlets. The Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Petrapole on the Indian side was jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina in July 2016. The minorities in Bangladesh, especially Hindus, have come under a severe attack by Islamist elements in Bangladesh after the formation of the interim government in the country headed by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus. Earlier this week, after the arrest and denial of bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das - a spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote who is also associated with Iskcon Bangladesh - India had spotlighted that there are several documented cases of arson and looting of minorities' homes and business establishments, as well as theft and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples, reported from Bangladesh. "It is unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings. We also note with concern the attacks on minorities protesting peacefully against the arrest of Shri Das. We urge Bangladesh authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression," read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Even as New Delhi remains concerned with the increasing extremist rhetoric and incidents of violence in Bangladesh, several radicals, including Hasnat Abdullah and Sarjis Alam - who led the so-called 'Anti-Discrimination Student Movement' that eventually resulted in the fall of government headed by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August - continue to orchestrate a disinformation campaign against Hindus and spiritual organisation Iskcon, calling it as an "agent of the Awami League" that should be banned in the country immediately. After sending Chinmoy Krishna Das to jail, Bangladesh's Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) had ordered the freezing of his bank account and also of 16 more Hindus who are associated with Iskcon in Bangladesh. On Thursday, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had strongly condemned the "tortures" inflicted on common people by the interim government in Bangladesh and called for "immediate release" of the Hindu priest. "A top leader of the Sanatan religious community has been unjustly arrested, he must be released immediately," said Hasina. The Bangladesh Awami League (AL) president and daughter of the 'Father of the Nation' Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman also spotlighted several incidents of persecution of members of minority communities that have been reported from across 52 districts in Bangladesh since her resignation on August 5, this year. "A temple has been burnt in Chittagong. Previously, mosques, shrines, churches, monasteries and houses of the Ahmadiyya community were attacked, vandalized and looted and set on fire. Religious freedom and security of life and property of people of all communities should be ensured," she stated. "After the killing of innumerable Awami League leaders and workers, students and members of the law and order forces, harassment is going on through assaults and arrests. I strongly condemn and protest against these anarchist activities," Hasina added. Solan, Dec 1 : Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Sunday conferred 12 gold medals and awarded 119 Ph.D. degrees in horticulture and forestry at the 13th convocation of Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry at Nauni in Solan district. The Governor also awarded degrees to M.Sc and B.Sc students. A total of 816 degrees were awarded in the convocation. Addressing the students, the Governor lauded their hard work and dedication and said the ceremony "plays a significant role in the lives of the children and was one of the milestones achieved due to hard work and dedication". He expressed pride that the majority of gold medal recipients were women students, which shows their increasing prominence in higher education and research. He said this was a promising sign for the progress of the nation, particularly in sectors like agriculture, horticulture and forestry, where women's contributions were invaluable. The Governor also congratulated the university on its foundation day and paid tribute to the founder and state's first Chief Minister Yashwant Singh Parmar for his contributions for the development of the state. He said the present government was also playing a vital role in supporting universities and improve the standard of education in the state. He urged students to contribute to the nation's growth by sharing research-based techniques with farming communities. He called on the students to actively address challenges faced by farmers and fruit growers by promoting solutions for sustainable practices and also asked them to suggest farming methods to increasing the earnings of the farmers. He also stressed the importance of a drug-free Himachal Pradesh and urged the students to assist in dismantling drug networks. Highlighting the state's apple economy, the Governor said apples account for eight per cent of the stateas total fruit production, valued at over Rs 5,000 crore. He commended the efforts of the university to promote natural farming and for introducing undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the field. He encouraged students to utilise start-up initiatives by the central and state governments to benefit society. Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi said Himachal is an agriculture-horticulture dominated state, which has succeeded in increasing the means of livelihood and income of farmers and orchardists by adopting high technology. The Minister added the government was committed to the welfare of farmers and orchardists. "As per the demand of orchardists, the state government took the initiative to use universal cartons for packing apples, due to which orchardists of the state have got good prices in apple marketing." The minister said Himachal would be the first state to implement the horticulture policy, which would provide direct and indirect employment opportunities to 82,500 people. Vice-Chancellor Rajeshwar Chandel detailed the achievements and other activities of the university. He thanked the government for providing financial assistance for research in natural farming and development. New Delhi, Dec 1 : Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said on Sunday it is regrettable that former Chief Minister and AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal is misinterpreting the sentiments of the young jobless man who threw water at him during a padyatra on the previous day. Hitting out at the AAP leader for projecting the young man as a criminal, Sachdeva said the former CM failed to understand the sentiments of the bus marshal who lost his job due to administrative mistakes and negligence of the AAP government. Sachdeva alleged that Kejriwal had played with the lives of the poor in every Assembly election and failed to respect anyoneas emotions. He stated that Kejriwal himself admitted on Sunday that criminals, looters, and gangsters were roaming freely but it seemed he was talking about his own party MLAs involved in crimes, including murder convict Prakash Jarwal, Waqf Board plunderer Amanatullah Khan, and extortionist Naresh Balyan. Sachdeva said Delhi residents are stunned that Kejriwal, who came to power promising political transformation, now stands alongside gangsters, looters, and criminals. He said that despite hiring of prominent lawyers by AAP to defend Naresh Balyan, a court on Sunday sent him to police remand, underscoring the strength of the police case against him. The Delhi BJP President said the party will meet the Delhi Police Commissioner on Monday to submit additional evidence related to Balyan. New Delhi, Dec 1 : The Indian Youth Congress (IYC)'s ambitious membership drive has come under scathing criticism from its own Congress MP from Sivaganga, Karti Chidambaram. Karti, son of former Union Minister P Chidambaram, took to X on Sunday and came down heavily at the party's youth wing over its 'lethargic and sluggish' drive to induct new members. He also called for putting an end to the campaign, owing to poor and lacklustre response. "These phantom/ghost Indian Youth Congress membership drives must stop. We are only fooling ourselves," wrote Karti in a bitterly critical remark. Karti's 'ghost' drive jibe at the IYC membership is set to create a fresh flutter in party circles as the latter is already grappling with multiple incidents of dissent and internal rumblings. The recent Assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra brought to the fore the 'difference and divide' within the state units and the high command after the party met crushing defeat in both states. While the high command's instructions on joining forces with allies were ignored in Haryana, the top brass' suggestions were not heeded in Maharashtra. Karti's reproof of the IYC membership drive could also be seen in this light. Though it is understood to have the blessings of top Congress leadership, the outright condemnation by the former minister's son and party son is expected to ruffle fresh feathers in top leadership. Notably, the IYC started its membership drive in multiple states/UTs this year. In July, Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav launched a membership drive of Delhi Pradesh Youth Congress (DPYC) ahead of the Assembly polls 2025 and said that its mission was to embrace Rahul Gandhi's vision of 'Neta Banao-Neta Chuno'. In Karnataka, Congress state president and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced IYC's state unit membership drive and internal elections in August and September this year, thus paving the way for new and emergent leaders. Meghalaya Congress also announced its plans to revitalise its youth wing by conducting IYC organisational elections across the state in November 2024. Notably, the IYC, the youth wing of the Indian National Congress (INC), with over two crore members, describes itself as the largest democratic youth organisation in the world. New Delhi, Dec 1 : Tibet has been under Chinese control since 1951, a situation often described by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as "liberation". This annexation has not only involved territorial claims but has also encompassed significant social, economic, and cultural dimensions. The CCP's approach to Tibet serves as a revealing example of its broader governance strategies towards officially recognised ethnic and religious minorities within China. For over seven decades, the treatment of Tibetans reflects the complexities of China's deep state and its assimilationist policies, which have profoundly affected Tibetan identity and autonomy. Tibetans, who represent approximately 90.48 per cent of the population in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), are distinguished by their unique cultural and religious practices. Since the annexation, China has consistently asserted that Tibet is an "integral part" of its territory and has implemented various policies aimed at assimilating the Tibetan population. This assimilationist approach seeks to integrate all minority groups with the predominant Han population, affecting every facet of life. Although such policies have been in place since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) took control, they have evolved significantly under Xi Jinping's leadership, particularly with the introduction of the Second Generation Ethnic Policy in 2017, which aimed to expedite integration efforts. It is essential to understand that Xi's assimilationist strategy is deeply rooted in his 'Sinicisation policy' introduced in 2015. This current assimilation process necessitates alignment with 'Chinese characteristics,' which refers to Han identity and CCP political ideology, thereby fostering a sense of national unity that is viewed as crucial for the party's stability and legitimacy. China's assimilationist strategy in Tibet primarily targets Tibetan children from a very young age, particularly evident within the education system. While the Chinese government has established legal frameworks to protect the regional autonomy and minority identities of officially recognised ethnic groups, including Tibetans, these provisions often remain unfulfilled in practice. The Law on Regional National Autonomy (2001) stipulates that minority schools have the right to use their own languages in kindergartens. Additionally, China ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1992, which asserts that children belonging to minorities should not be denied the right to use their native languages. However, China's educational policies diverge significantly from these legal commitments. Since the 1960s, Mandarin has been the primary language of instruction for middle and high school students, and a bilingual education policy introduced in 2010 aimed to extend this to primary education across all minority regions under the guise of enhancing efficiency in both local and regional languages. In practice, however, Tibetan schools have reported a gradual substitution of the Tibetan language with Mandarin, limiting Tibetan children's access to their mother tongue. Although China has not publicly acknowledged this shift, there is considerable pressure on schools in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) to prioritise Mandarin from kindergarten onwards. This initiative is framed as a means to achieve "national unity and prosperity for Tibet," aligning with China's broader modernisation objectives. A decree issued in 2021 mandated that Mandarin be enforced for all preschool and kindergarten children nationwide, including those in minority areas, while promoting Tibetan language "as per requirement." The imposition of Mandarin as the primary language of instruction poses a significant threat to the preservation of the Tibetan language, which is a fundamental aspect of Tibetan cultural identity. Proficiency in Tibetan is crucial for the practice of Tibetan Buddhism, and given that over 78 per cent of Tibetans in China identify as Tibetan Buddhists, this language policy jeopardises the connection future generations will have with their cultural heritage. According to the 2023 report by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), numerous schools in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) have been compelled to adopt Chinese Mandarin entirely as their medium of instruction. Furthermore, many private and rural Tibetan schools, which play a vital role in maintaining indigenous identity, have reportedly been forced to close down. In addition to the imposition of Mandarin, Tibetan children as young as three are being compelled to leave their local Tibetan schools and attend state-run boarding institutions situated far from their homes. This transition has resulted in significant psychological distress and a sense of alienation from their families. Within these boarding schools, children are mandated to learn Mandarin and are subjected to political indoctrination aimed at fostering loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This alienation extends culturally, as Tibetan children receive no instruction in their native language, history, or culture. Reports indicate that approximately 80 per cent of Tibetan children are enrolled in these state-run boarding schools. Furthermore, a report by UN Special Rapporteurs has highlighted the alarming situation regarding the forced cultural assimilation of nearly one million Tibetan schoolchildren in China. Recent reports have also noted the closure of Tibetan monastery schools, with students being redirected to state-run boarding schools, prompting Tibetan activists to bring this issue before the UN Human Rights Council. There is no doubt that China's assimilationist policies under Xi Jinping are currently being implemented vigorously. This cultural assimilation approach is systematic, as demonstrated by routine measures presented as efforts to promote a national language, which are claimed to provide Tibetan children with the "best possible preparation for their adult lives". However, the reality indicates that these tactics jeopardise Tibet's unique identity, facilitating the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) complete control over Tibet's valuable territory and natural resources, thereby minimising any potential resistance from future generations. New Delhi, Dec 1 : Senior AAP leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has petitioned the Delhi High Court seeking a stay on trial of the money laundering case linked to the alleged liquor policy scam. In his petition, Sisodia contended that the trial court took cognisance of the alleged offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) without any prior sanction having been obtained by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for prosecution. The plea added that the trial court should have not taken cognisance of ED's prosecution complaint without sanction since he held a public office at the time of the commission of the alleged money laundering offence. As per the causelist published on the website of the Delhi High Court, a bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri will take up the matter for hearing on December 2. A similar petition has been moved by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal seeking a stay of trial citing lack of sanction. In August this year, the Supreme Court granted bail to Manish Sisodia, saying that he cannot be kept behind bars for an unlimited period of time in the hope of a speedy completion of trial in the excise policy case. Pronouncing the verdict on Sisodia's bail pleas, a Bench presided over by Justice BR Gavai had said: "In the present case, in ED as well as CBI matter, 493 witnesses have been named and the case involves thousands of pages of documents and over lakh pages of digitised documents. "It is thus clear that there is not even a remotest possibility of the trial being concluded in the near future. In our view, keeping the appellant behind bars for an unlimited period of time in the hope of speedy completion of the trial would deprive him of the Fundamental Right of Liberty given under Article 21 of the Constitution." The Bench, also comprising Justice KV Viswanathan held that on account of a long period of incarceration running for around 17 months and the trial not having commenced, the senior AAP leader has been deprived of his right to speedy trial. Rejecting the contention that Manish Sisodia if granted bail may tamper with the evidence, the Supreme Court had said that the prosecution case majorly stems from documentary evidence, which has already been seized by the CBI and the ED. The SC refused to accept central agencies' submission that Manish Sisodia should not be allowed to visit the Delhi Chief Minister's Office or Delhi Secretariat. In an earlier judgment delivered on October 30 last year, the top court had denied bail to the former Deputy Chief Minister but said that if the trial proceeds slowly in the next three months, he may apply for bail afresh. Helsinki, Dec 1 : According to the results of Iceland's parliamentary election announced on Sunday, the opposition Social Democratic Alliance emerged as the largest party, securing 15 seats, which is a gain of nine compared to the previous election. The Liberal Reform Party also made significant strides, winning 11 seats, up by six. The People's Party gained four seats to reach a total of 10, while the Center Party added five seats, bringing its tally to eight. The three parties in the current ruling coalition suffered a significant defeat in this election, securing only 19 seats. The Independence Party, led by outgoing Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson, lost two seats, leaving it with 14 seats. The Progressive Party lost eight seats, retaining only five. The Left-Green Movement was completely eliminated from parliament, losing all eight of its seats, Xinhua news agency reported. According to Iceland's Constitution and electoral laws, a majority government requires at least 32 seats in the 63-member parliament. With no single party achieving an outright majority, coalition negotiations among multiple parties will be essential for forming the next government. Islamabad, Dec 1 : The Pakistani military said on Sunday that two security members were killed in two separate military operations in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the last three days. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the army, said in a statement that an intelligence-based operation was conducted in Baka Khel area of Bannu district of the province, during which eight terrorists have also been killed, so far. During the operation, troops effectively raided terrorists' location, killing five terrorists and injuring nine others. In another operation, three terrorists were killed and two others detained by security forces in Shagai area of Khyber district. One soldier lost his life in the first operation, and a captain-ranked officer sacrificed his life in the second operation, Xinhua news agency reported. The killed terrorists were involved in terrorist activities against security forces and innocent civilians, the ISPR said. New Delhi, Dec 1 : The systematic targeting of Shia Muslims in Pakistan, particularly in the Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has grown into a humanitarian crisis. The escalating violence against the Shia community underscores a complex interplay of historical, geopolitical, and socio-political factors that demand urgent attention and resolution. The plight of Shia Muslims in Kurram, especially in Parachinar, a Shia-majority town, is emblematic of the broader sectarian divide within Pakistan. Sectarian tensions in Pakistan have historical roots. The Shia-Sunni divide, which originated centuries ago, deepened in Pakistan during the 1980s, influenced by the Iranian Revolution, the Afghan Jihad, and policies under General Zia-ul-Haq. These events catalysed the growth of extremist groups that weaponised religious identities. In Kurram, this divide has been particularly pronounced due to the region's demographics and geopolitical significance. Located near the Afghan border, Kurram has seen repeated outbreaks of violence, with Parachinar becoming a flashpoint. From 2007 to 2012, armed extremists besieged Parachinar, cutting off essential supplies like food and medicine, leading to the deaths of hundreds and the displacement of thousands. This siege was a precursor to the ongoing violence that continues to plague the region. Recent attacks and escalating violence Recent incidents highlight the severity of the situation. On November 21, 2024, gunmen ambushed a convoy travelling from Parachinar to Peshawar, killing 42 Shia Muslims, including women and children. Survivors recounted the attackers exiting their vehicles and opening fire on the convoy, leaving a trail of death and destruction. Within days, fresh attacks claimed the lives of 20 more individuals, further destabilising the region. Markets were set ablaze, and gunfire echoed through the night, as the residents of Parachinar grappled with fear and loss. The Pakistani government, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, condemned the attacks, vowing justice for the victims. However, such assurances have done little to quell public outrage or restore a sense of security. Protests erupted across major cities, with Shia groups declaring a three-day mourning period to honour the victims. The statistical trends of sectarian violence in Pakistan reveal a disturbing trajectory. Over the past decade, major incidents targeting Shia Muslims have claimed thousands of lives. In 2013, over 120 Shia Muslims were killed in bombings in Quetta, an attack attributed to Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. In 2016, a bombing in Parachinar killed 23, and in 2018, the Mastung attack, carried out by ISIS-K, claimed 149 lives. The Hazara community, a Shia minority, has also faced targeted killings, such as the 2020 massacre of 11 miners in Balochistan. The year 2024 has already seen over 60 Shia Muslims killed in Kurram, with the violence showing no signs of abating. The following table provides a snapshot of this grim reality: Causes and consequences of sectarian violence The root causes of this violence are multifaceted. Geopolitically, Kurram's proximity to Afghanistan makes it vulnerable to militant infiltration and arms smuggling. The porous border allows extremist groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and ISIS-K to operate with impunity. Regional proxy wars, particularly the Saudi-Iran rivalry, have further exacerbated sectarian tensions, with both sides allegedly funding competing religious groups. Locally, Kurram's unique ethnic and religious composition has made it a hotspot for sectarian strife. The economic marginalisation of the region compounds these issues, with poverty and underdevelopment fostering resentment and unrest. State inaction and alleged complicity have also contributed to the crisis. Human rights organisations and local leaders have repeatedly criticised the government for failing to protect Shia Muslims. Despite initiatives like the National Action Plan, which aimed to combat extremism, inconsistent implementation and lack of political will have hindered progress. The judiciary's inability to hold perpetrators accountable has further emboldened extremist groups. The human toll of this violence is staggering. Families have lost breadwinners, children have been orphaned, and entire communities have been displaced. The psychological impact on survivors is profound, with many struggling to cope with the trauma of losing loved ones and witnessing violence firsthand. The social fabric of Kurram has been torn apart, with sectarianism fostering mistrust and animosity among communities. Pathways to peace and justice Despite these challenges, there are pathways to resolution. Strengthening security in Kurram is paramount. This includes deploying additional forces, improving border controls, and dismantling militant networks. Judicial reforms are also essential to ensure accountability for sectarian violence. Socio-economic development is another crucial component. Investing in infrastructure, education, and healthcare can alleviate poverty and create opportunities for marginalised communities. Promoting interfaith dialogue and community reconciliation programmes can help bridge divides and foster unity. International support, both technical and financial, is also vital. Collaborative efforts with global agencies can bolster counterterrorism initiatives and support community rebuilding efforts. The ongoing violence against Shia Muslims in Kurram is not just a tragedy for the region but a stain on Pakistan's commitment to protecting its diverse population. Addressing this issue requires a concerted effort from the government, civil society, and international stakeholders. Justice for the victims and their families is not just a moral imperative but a necessity for peace and stability in Pakistan. Ensuring the safety and dignity of Shia Muslims in Kurram is not merely a regional concern but a test of Pakistan's resolve to uphold the principles of humanity and justice. However, it has become evident that Pakistan has failed to protect its Shia minority. The repeated massacres, lack of accountability, and the continued presence of extremist groups targeting this community highlight the state's inability to secure the lives of its citizens. This consistent failure to protect vulnerable groups like the Shia Muslims, coupled with the government's lack of will to decisively confront sectarian violence, paints a grim picture of a state unable to provide security and justice to all its people. This persistent inaction and disregard for the safety of a significant portion of its population signifies that Pakistan is, in many ways, a failed state. The situation demands urgent intervention at all levels to restore basic rights, security, and justice for the Shia Muslims in Pakistan. The time for action is long overdue. Gaza, Dec 1 : The UN agency for Palestine refugees decided on Sunday to pause aid delivery through the Kerem Shalom crossing, a main entry point for humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, citing ongoing safety concerns along the route. On November 16, a large convoy of aid trucks was stolen by armed gangs, and on Saturday, a few food trucks were also taken, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said on social media platform X. "The responsibility to protect aid workers and supplies lies with the State of Israel as the occupying power. They must ensure aid flows into Gaza safely," it added. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini stated on X that this difficult decision comes at a time when hunger is rapidly deepening in Gaza. "The delivery of humanitarian aid must never be dangerous or turn into an ordeal," Lazzarini said. In Gaza, the humanitarian operation has become unnecessarily impossible due to "the ongoing siege, hurdles from Israeli authorities, political decisions to restrict the amounts of aid, lack of safety on aid routes and targeting of local police," he further explained. A UN convoy of 109 trucks carrying food supplies was "violently looted" on November 16 after entering Gaza, with 97 trucks in total lost and drivers forced at gunpoint to unload aid, according to the UNRWA, Xinhua news agency reported. On November 18, Hamas said 20 people were killed in a security operation east of Rafah, southern Gaza, which targeted gangs accused of looting aid trucks entering Gaza. Wayanad : , Dec 2 (IANS) Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday assured the people of Kerala's Wayanad, that as their new MP, she would spend day and night fighting for a better, stronger future for them and they should get used to seeing her regularly in their midst, interacting with them and understanding and resolving their problems. Addressing a public meeting in the Mananthavady area of the hill district, on the second day of her thanksgiving visit, she identified issues like education and healthcare facilities, expediting the completion of the Medical College, promoting tourism and helping the farmers to get right prices for their produce, as her top priorities. Thanking the people of Wayanad for such a huge victory, Priyanka Gandhi said: "I want you to know that each one of you who waited for me, each one of you who met me during the campaign, everyone who stood outside their houses on streets, gave me your love and affection, I want each one of you to know that you are my responsibility, that I take your love with complete seriousness and it is my duty to fight for you, to give you a better future in the next 5 years and ahead." Reiterating that this was just the beginning of a long journey with the people of Wayanad, she said: "I look forward to meeting all of you, to coming to your homes, to understand you better and to get from you a much deeper understanding of what you want me to fight for, how you want your issues to be resolved." Noting that in one of her meetings on Saturday, a person in the crowd had asked her to promise that she was going to come back, Priyanka Gandhi quipped: "So, I am promising you that I will come so many times that you will get fed up of me. So, please get used to seeing me, and let us travel on this beautiful journey of making a better life, a stronger future together." "These two days, I am going around... to every Assembly segment thanking everybody for the love and the affection you have given me, but after this, my real work will begin and we will work together to resolve all the issues that you are facing and the first task is to start learning Malayalam," she said, speaking some lines in the language. "... I am learning more also," she said. Priyanka Gandhi, who won her first-ever election from Wayanad in the bypoll necessitated by her brother and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi resigning as MP from the southern state to retain the family borough of Rae Bareli in UP, comfortably romped home, securing more votes than he had secured in the general elections earlier this year and slightly short of his victory margin in 2019. In her address, she also welcomed her colleagues from the Congress-led United Democratic Front, acknowledging how hard they had worked and especially commended the UDF workers "to whom I owe this victory". "Because for many yearsa for 35 years, I managed elections for my mother and brother. I understand the kind of hard work that goes into elections and campaigning on the ground. So, I know very well that such big margins are not possible unless there is very hard work by each and every worker on the ground and I thank you all for that," she said. Dwelling on the issues facing the people of Wayanad, she stressed how those who have built beautiful homestays face major issues, especially after the landslide when people across India saw the devastation and became afraid to come. "It must be made clear and disseminated that the landslide hit a small area and the rest of Wayanad is beautiful and still welcomes tourists and there is no such danger over here," she said. "If we strengthen tourism here and we do all we can to show the world what a beautiful place this is then a lot of your livelihoods will be supplemented and you will have better employment possibilities," she said, also pitching for some food packaging units for "the beautiful crops that you grow and the spices you grow". The Congress leader also praised the spirit of courage and bravery of the people of Wayanad, adding when she saw them during the tragedy, in the middle of this devastation and the middle of this pain and suffering, she saw with her own eyes their humanity. Citing the inspiring message from a youth who had lost his family in the tragedy and with whom she is in regular touch, Priyanka Gandhi said: " I really deeply understood what an honour it is to be the representative of all of you in Parliament. Because maybe you donat fully realise what a symbol of the true values that India stands for lies here in Wayanad." Agartala, Dec 1 : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Sunday that the BSF troops are ensuring the safety of the entire 856 km frontier along India-Bangladesh by maintaining the fencing, utilising surveillance technology, and fostering good relations with the local people. On the occasion of the 60th Raising Day of the Border Security Force, senior border guard officials said that 55 Rohingyas among 675 illegal immigrants from Bangladesh apprehended in Tripura this year and various contraband worth Rs 46 crore have been seized. Attending the force's raising day function at the frontier headquarters, the Chief Minister said that new technologies are being introduced to strengthen the vigil along the border. "Efforts are also being made to enhance border fencing and improve the welfare of the BSF personnel. We are committed to ensuring your security as well," he said. Saha, who also holds the Home portfolio, emphasised the need to counter new technological threats posed by terrorists. "As terrorists are using advanced technology to attack the country, we must respond in a more efficient and effective way," he said, adding that the BSF consistently works to curb smuggling, cross-border infiltration and illegal migration. BSF officials separately said that in the Inspector General level Border Coordination Conference with the Region Commanders of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in Shillong (Meghalaya) in July key bilateral issues were discussed to enhance coordination between the two border guarding forces, promoting the welfare of border populations and maintaining ties between the two friendly nations. A senior official said that during the recent unrest in Bangladesh, the BSF, in coordination with the BGB and other agencies, ensured the safe return of Indian students and workers from the neighbouring country, providing them with all possible assistance. During the recent flood situation, the BSF also extended its support to the people of Tripura, the official said. He said that the BSF remains steadfast in its mission to protect the international borders and it would continue to coordinate closely with all key stakeholders to ensure the security and welfare of the state. Kolkata, Dec 1 : The Kolkata unit of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) on Sunday accused the international peace bodies of being indifferent towards the attacks and atrocities on the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh. ISKCON Kolkata vice-president and spokesperson Radharaman Das said the conditions of the minority Hindus in Bangladesh is like Draupadi of Mahabharata, who asked for help from Lord Krishna after her own husbands and relatives were in a difficult position to shield and assist her while she was being dishonoured. "Just like Draupadi, the minority Hindus in Bangladesh had been pleading to the United Nations and other international human rights organisations for help. But no one is coming forward to help them. So the ISKCON devotees worldwide have assembled in 850 temples in different countries and are praying to Lord Krishna for protection of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh," Das told IANS. Pritam Saha, a devotee attached to ISKCON Kolkata, said he wants the Indian government to immediately intervene and put pressure on the interim Bangladesh government "which has already come under the control of the fundamentalist forces". "Fundamentalists have got a free hand there. They are doing whatever they like and no one is there to control them. The Bangladesh government is arresting Hindu monks and taking no action on the attack on Hindu temples. The Indian Tricolour is being disrespected. The advisors of the Bangladesh government are provoking the fundamentalists," Saha claimed. He also requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to issue a strong statement on this issue. On Saturday night, Das claimed that one more ISKCON monk was arrested in Bangladesh. He said that the second monk of the society who has been arrested is Shyam Das. He claimed that Das went to meet monk and spokesperson of Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote Chinmoy Krishna Das, popularly known as Chinmoy Prabhu, who was arrested earlier this week by Bangladesh Police. The police in Bangladesh also took Shyam Das into its custody, Radharaman Das claimed. Gurugram, Dec 1 : A delegation from Haryana, led by the state's Environment, Forest, and Wildlife Minister, Rao Narbir Singh, departed on Sunday to participate in the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) - COP-16, taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from December 2 to 13. Gurugram, Dec 1 (IANS) A delegation from Haryana, led by the stateas Environment, Forest, and Wildlife Minister, Rao Narbir Singh, departed on Sunday to participate in the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) a" COP-16, taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from December 2 to 13. The delegation includes the Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Forest, and Wildlife Department, Anand Mohan Sharan; Chairman of the Haryana State Biodiversity Board, Randeep Singh Jauhar; Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Secretary of the Haryana State Biodiversity Board, Vivek Saxena; and Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Dr. T.P. Singh. The event will provide an effective platform for Green Zone businesses, scientists, financial institutions, NGOs, and affected communities to collaborate and find sustainable solutions for land restoration and drought management. The COP-16 conference, scheduled for December 2-13, 2024, is expected to be attended by various countries from around the world. Haryana's Cabinet Minister, Rao Narbir Singh, will be participating in this high-level event with the state delegation. Before departing, the minister said that Prime Minister, Narendra Modi is taking historic steps to address climate change as part of his vision for a developed India by 2047. He emphasised that developed countries should provide technical and financial support to developing nations to make the fight against climate change more effective. He mentioned that initiatives like the National Solar Mission and the Jal Jeevan Mission, launched under the leadership of the Prime Minister, are progressing meaningfully. He reiterated that India is fully committed to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. The Haryana minister described the conference as an excellent opportunity for global cooperation and knowledge sharing. He concluded by stating that the challenge of climate change cannot be solved alone and requires the collective efforts of all nations. Guwahati/Imphal, Dec 1 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that the prevailing situation in neighbouring Manipur would have an impact on the state. The Chief Minister said that he considered that the situation in Manipur would definitely have some impact on Assam and that's why "we have deployed additional police forces in Barak Valley (southern Assam) areas to see that nothing spills over to Assam." Talking to the media on the sidelines of the inauguration of a sub-divisional court in Cachar district, Sarma said as Assam shares inter-state borders with Manipur the incidents in the neighbouring state would definitely have some offshoot impact on Assam. "To prevent the aftereffects, we have deployed additional police forces along the inter-state border between Manipur and Barak Valley to see that nothing spills over to Assam," the Chief Minister said. Assam's Cachar (130.60 km) and Dima Hasao (73.5 km) districts share borders with ethnic violence-devastated Manipur. Cachar's Superintendent of Police Numal Mahatta has been closely overseeing the inter-state border security measures with daily inspections at the border. "Given the current law and order situation in Jiribam district in Manipur, strict security arrangements have been executed to prevent unauthorised entry from Manipur into Cachar and to deter any potential sabotage that could exploit the unrest in Jiribam. Enhanced security measures have also been established along the riverine areas bordering Manipur, including the Jiri and Barak rivers," the official told the media. Mahatta said that Assam Chief Minister and Director General of Police G.P. Singh has directed the Cachar police to take firm action against any attempts to disrupt peace in the district. "We are committed to safeguarding Cachar from the ongoing chaos in Manipur," he said. Largely unaffected in the 18-month-long ethnic riot in most parts of Manipur, mixed-population Jiribam witnessed a wave of violence after the killing of 59-year-old farmer Soibam Saratkumar Singh on June 6 this year. The Jiribam violence in June led to around 1,500 people belonging to both Meitei and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities taking shelter at the homes of relatives and friends in two villages in the Cachar district. Though most of the refugees subsequently returned to Jiribam, a few hundred Kuki-Zo-Hmar tribals still lived with their relatives in Cachar. Noida, Dec 1 : It was a closely fought match to the very end but the Patna Pirates eventually prevailed over the Bengal Warriorz with a 38-35 win in the last Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 11 encounter at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Sunday. Devank Dalal reached 194 Raid Points with another Super 10, and finished with 13 points in total, while Deepak completed a well-earned High 5. If not for the loss, it would have also been a night to remember for Bengal Warriorza star raider Maninder Singh, who completed 1500 raid points in the PKL a" a feat only matched by Pardeep Narwal. The Bengal Warriorz showed their true mettle in the first half as the defence kept the raiding duo of Devank Dalal and Ayan Lohchab quiet. Both teams traded points in a see-saw battle as Maninder Singh led the charge for the Bengal Warriorz in his trademark aggressive raiding style. With no sign of any team taking a comprehensive lead, Devank emerged as a standout performer for the Patna Pirates. As the first 20 minutes came to a close, it was Devank - once again - who gave his team the lead. A Super Raid got Fazel Atrachali and Mayur Kadam, as his team took a four-point lead, with the score reading 19-15 at the end of the first half. Maninder Singh and Nitin Kumar Dhankar kept the pressure on the Patna Pirates but it was only the two of them who was the main aggressors for the Bengal Warriorz. Meanwhile, Ayan Lohchab also earned an impressive Super Raid, getting Nitesh Kumar, Maninder Singh and Siddhesh Tatkare off the mat. The first all out was soon inflicted on the Bengal Warriorz, after Deepak successfully tackled Nitin as the Patna Pirates began to run away with the lead. As the match entered a crucial stage, the Bengal Warriorz closed in on the Patna Piratesa lead. Mayur Kadam trapped Ayan in a do-or-die raid, which also was a Super Tackle, and then Vishwas S got Arkam Shaikh and Deepak to reduce the deficit between the two teams. As the match came to a close, mighty Maninder etched his name in history books after reaching the milestone of 1500 raid points. He also completed his Super 10, helping his team come close to the Patna Pirates, but it was not enough at the end of the night, with the three-time PKL champions winning by a close margin of three points. Amman/Baghdad, Dec 1 : Jordan and Iraq on Sunday reaffirmed support for the unity, sovereignty, and stability of their neighbouring country of Syria. During a phone call, King Abdullah II of Jordan discussed with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani the latest regional developments, particularly the situation in Syria, Xinhua news agency reported. The king emphasised Jordan's solidarity with Syria, reaffirming its support for Syria's territorial unity, sovereignty, and stability, according to a statement by the Royal Hashemite Court. On Sunday, both Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Iraq's Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein held phone talks with their Syrian counterpart Bassam Sabbagh. Safadi expressed Jordan's concern over the developments in Syria, stressing the importance of intensifying efforts to reach a political solution to the ongoing Syrian crisis that resolves its consequences, restores Syria's security and stability, preserves its sovereignty, and eliminates terrorism, according to a statement by the Jordanian Foreign Ministry. In their talks, the two Ministers agreed to maintain communication and continue efforts to achieve security and stability. Meanwhile, in his phone call with Sabbagh, Hussein said destabilising the security and stability of Syria poses a threat to the security of Iraq and the region in general, urging regional cooperation to address security challenges and combat extremism. On Wednesday, a major rebel offensive rocked the western countryside of the Syrian province of Aleppo, the first significant attack since 2016. The assault was carried out by a coalition of rebel groups, mainly the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an al-Qaida-linked extremist organisation, to penetrate government-held territories. On Friday, the rebels swept into parts of Aleppo after they were driven out of the city in 2016. On Saturday, they advanced in Hama province in central Syria and took control of numerous towns and villages in the northern part of the province, after capturing key territories in Aleppo and Idlib. Faced with overwhelming numbers of militants and multiple attacks, the Syrian army announced a temporary redeployment of its forces. Syria's state media and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, reported on Sunday that the government forces launched a counteroffensive in the northern countryside of Hama, reclaiming key areas from the rebel groups. Damascus, Dec 1 : UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, on Sunday urged an immediate cessation of hostilities in northwestern Syria's Aleppo and dialogue among relevant parties. The recent escalation of violence in Aleppo starting from Wednesday has "resulted in the tragic loss of innocent civilian lives, including women and children, damage to civilian infrastructure, and the suspension of critical services," Abdelmoula said in a statement. It came "at a time when countless people, many of whom have already endured the trauma of displacement, are now forced to flee once more, leaving behind their homes and livelihoods," he added as reported by Xinhua news agency. "We urge all conflicting parties to immediately cease hostilities and prioritise the protection of civilians and aid workers," he said, adding, "The people of Syria must not endure more suffering, and we urge dialogue to be given an opportunity." Before the recent influx of more than half a million returnees and refugees from Lebanon, there were more than 16.7 million people in Syria in need of humanitarian assistance, he noted. Due to this latest violence, "even more lives now need to be urgently saved," he said. The UN official reaffirmed the humanitarian community's commitment to delivering lifesaving assistance to the affected population. On Wednesday, a major rebel offensive rocked the western countryside of Aleppo, the first significant attack since 2016. The assault was carried out by a coalition of rebel groups, mainly the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an al-Qaida-linked extremist organisation, to penetrate government-held territories. On Friday, the rebels swept into parts of Aleppo after they were driven out of the city in 2016. On Saturday, they advanced in Hama province in central Syria and took control of numerous towns and villages in the northern part of the province, after capturing key territories in Aleppo and Idlib. Faced with overwhelming numbers of militants and multiple attacks, the Syrian army announced a temporary redeployment of its forces. Syria's state media and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, reported on Sunday that the government forces launched a counteroffensive in the northern countryside of Hama, reclaiming key areas from the rebel groups. Hassan : , Dec 2 (IANS) In a tragic incident, a probationary IPS officer was killed in a road accident in Karnataka's Hassan district on Sunday, police said. The deceased officer has been identified as Harsh Vardhan. According to police, Harsh Vardhan had completed training and was set to take charge as Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) on Monday in Hassan city. He was travelling on his way to Hassan to report on police duty. The preliminary investigations revealed that while travelling, the tyres of the government vehicle posted with the District Armed Reserve burst and the car turned upside down and rolled over. The police officer suffered severe fatal injuries in the head and died. The driver Manje Gowda also suffered injuries in the incident. The vehicle was moving from Holenarasipura town to Hassan city. The police officer's vehicle's tyre exploded at Kittanegadi village, located near Hassan city. Though the locals rushed the police officer to the hospital in an ambulance, he succumbed to his injuries. Harsh Vardhan had completed training at the Karnataka Police Academy in Mysuru. He had reported to the Inspector General of Police (Central Range) Boralingaiah and was travelling to Hassan. Harsh Vardhan's family, though hailing from Bihar, was residing in the Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh. He had completed his engineering degree and was the 2022-23 Karnataka cadre batch IPS officer. He had secured 153rd rank in the UPSC exam and cleared the Civil Services exam in the first attempt. Hassan Superintendent of Police, Mohammed Sujeetha, and Assistant Superintendent of Police, Venkatesh Naidu, visited the hospital. Boralingaiah IGP also visited and paid respects to Harsh Vardhan's body. He also gathered information about the incident. Washington, Dec 2 : US President-elect Donald Trump has named his daughter Tiffany Trump's father-in-law, Lebanese-American businessman Massad Boulos, to join his Cabinet as senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs. "I am proud to announce that Massad Boulos will serve as Senior Advisor to the President on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs," the President-elect wrote on TRUTHSocial. "Massad is an accomplished lawyer and a highly respected leader in the business world, with extensive experience on the International scene. He has been a longtime proponent of Republican and Conservative values, an asset to my Campaign, and was instrumental in building tremendous new coalitions with the Arab American Community. Massad is a dealmaker and an unwavering supporter of PEACE in the Middle East. He will be a strong advocate for the United States, and its interests, and I am pleased to have him on our team!" Boulos led efforts to engage the Arab-American community, organising dozens of meetings across Michigan and other areas with large Arab populations. Boulos was a key emissary for the Trump campaign, helping to mobilise Arab American and Muslim voters, many of whom were angry over President Joe Biden's steadfast support for Israel in the Gaza war even as the civilian death toll rose into the tens of thousands. The businessman will take over a difficult portfolio, with Israel's war still raging in Gaza, a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon seeing early violations, and rebel forces in Syria making advances against the government of Bashar al-Assad. Boulos's son, Michael, is married to Trump's daughter Tiffany. On Saturday, Trump named real estate executive Charles Kushner -- the father of his son-in-law Jared -- as his pick to be the US ambassador to France, the latest case of Trump eschewing experience or expertise as the criterion for joining his team. Trump referred to Boulos as "a dealmaker". Trump often promised on the campaign trail to bring a swift end to the wars in Gaza, Ukraine, and elsewhere, without specifying how he would do so. Speaking to UK-based broadcaster Sky News in October, Boulos said it was important to finish the war "quickly". "What do we mean by finishing it quickly is, I mean, you have some military targets that you have to accomplish, which is to get rid of the Hamas infrastructure and ability to launch new attacks and so on," he said. "Let's move to peace, and let's move to rebuilding Gaza and rebuilding Lebanon," he added. "We want Gaza to be prosperous. We want the Palestinian people to be prosperous, to live in peace, to live in harmony, side by side with the Israelis and full security on both sides." Boulos's family operates at least two automotive parts distribution companies in Nigeria. The businessman, a member of the Christian Maronite community, has in the past run in vain for a seat in the Lebanese Parliament. Trump has come under fire for a series of controversial picks for important posts in his incoming White House administration. The elder Kushner, who is also a lawyer, served time in a federal prison for tax evasion. Trump pardoned him in 2020 toward the end of his first term. On Saturday, Trump named loyalist Kash Patel as the next director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), a move that would replace the agency's current leader before the end of his term. A fierce defender of the incoming president, Patel supports the Republican hardliner notion of an anti-Trump "deep state" of allegedly biased government bureaucrats working to stifle Trump from behind the scenes, even having written a book on the subject. Former My Chemical Romance drummer Bob Bryar has died at the age of 44. ADVERTISEMENT TMZ reported Friday that Bryar's decomposing remains were discovered Tuesday in his Tennessee home after animal control officers were called and two dogs were taken out of the residence. Bryar reportedly was last seen on Nov. 4. "The band asks for your patience and understanding as they process the news of Bob's passing," a representative for the New Jersey band told Billboard Saturday. The cause of Bryar's death is under investigation. Foul play is not suspected and all of his weapons and musical instruments were accounted for. Bryar joined My Chemical Romance in 2004, replacing the band's original drummer, Matt Pelissier. He was the group's longest-running percussionist, but left in 2010, retired from the music business and became a real estate agent. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! My Chemical Romance broke up in 2013, but has reunited several times since then. The band is slated to embark on a 10-city concert tour, starting in Seattle on July 11. Bryar had not been expected to perform with them. Bryar also served as the sound engineer for the rock group The Used earlier in his career. Coming out in public for the first time after recent allegations and his indictment in the US, Adani group chairman Gautam Adani on Saturday said his conglomerate was committed to compliances and "every attack makes us stronger". IMAGE: Gautam Adani, chairman, Adani group, speaks at the 51st Gem & Jewellery Award, Jaipur, November 30, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo "Less than two week back, we faced a set of allegations from the US about compliance practices. This is not the first time we have faced such challenges. What I can tell you is that every attack makes us stronger," he said addressing the 51st Gems and Jewellery Award in Jaipur. On November 20, 2024, the United States department of justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued an indictment and a civil complaint in the New York district court against Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and Vneet Jaain, key functionaries of Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL). The charges relate to allegations of securities fraud, wire fraud and violation of the SEC guidelines that led to materially false and misleading statements in the bond offering documents of AGEL with respect to anti-bribery and anti-corruption policies. The Adani group had issued a statement denying all allegations as baseless, and said it would seek legal recourse to defend itself. Speaking at Saturday's event, Adani said that despite a lot of vested reporting, no one from Adani's side has been charged with any violation of the FCPA (Foreign Corrupt Practices Act) of the US or any conspiracy to obstruct justice. "The fact is that despite a lot of the vested reporting, no one from the Adani side has been charged with any violation of the FCPA or any conspiracy to obstruct justice. Yet, in today's world, negativity spreads faster than facts," he said, adding that the group was committed to regulatory compliances. "As we work through the legal process, I want to re-confirm our absolute commitment to world class regulatory compliance," he added. Adani Green Energy Ltd, the renewable energy arm of the port-to-energy conglomerate, on November 21 scrapped a USD 600-million bond issue. The 20-year green bond was over-subscribed three times, hours before the US prosecutors charged Gautam Adani and associates with participating in a scheme to pay over USD 250 million bribe to Indian officials in exchange for favourable terms for solar power contracts. Following the indictment, Adani group companies' stocks also tanked in the Mumbai trade. Ten listed firms of the group lost about USD 26 billion (Rs 2.19 lakh crore) in market value -- more than double of what the conglomerate had lost when US short-seller Hindenburg brought out a damning report in January 2023. However, since Wednesday, stocks of all the group firms have recovered. Shares of nine of the 11 listed Adani Group firms ended higher on Friday, with Adani Green Energy surging almost 22 per cent and Adani Energy climbing nearly 16 per cent. "Over the years, I have come to accept that the roadblocks we face are the price of pioneering. The bolder your dreams, the more the world will scrutinise you. But it is precisely in that scrutiny that you must find the courage to rise, to challenge the status quo, and to build a path where none exists," he said. Adani said that the group had successes but the challenges have been bigger. "However, these challenges have not broken us. Instead, they have defined us. They have made us tougher and give us the unshakeable belief that after every fall, we will rise again, stronger and more resilient than before," he said. Last year, the conglomerate had scrapped a Rs 20,000 crore Follow-on Public Offer (FPO) at its flagship firm Adani Enterprises Ltd after US short-seller Hindenburg Research's report in January, which alleged the group of stock manipulation and accounting fraud. Adani had rejected all allegations and threatened to sue Hindenburg for its "reckless" attempt to sabotage the mega share sale at Adani Enterprises. But the allegation led to a free-fall of the group firms' stocks, which at the lowest point saw USD 150 billion in market value being eroded. Talking about the Hindenburg report, he said, "This was not a typical financial strike, it was a double hit, targeting our financial stability and pulling us into a political controversy. All of this was further amplified by certain media with vested interests. But even in the face of such adversity, our commitment to our principles remained strong." Adani said that after successfully raising Rs 20,000 crore from India's largest-ever FPO, the company made the extraordinary decision to return the proceeds. "We then further demonstrated our resilience by raising capital from several international sources and proactively reducing our debt-to-EBITDA ratio to below 2.5 times, an unmatched metric in the global infrastructure space," he said. "Our all-time record financial results in the same year showcased our commitment to operational excellence. Not a single Indian or foreign credit rating agency downgraded us. Finally, the Supreme Court of India's affirmation of our actions validated our approach," he said. He further said that in 2010, when the group was investing in a coal mine in Australia, its objective was to make India energy secure and replace every two tonnes of poor-quality Indian coal with one tonne of high-quality coal from Australia. However, he said, the resistance from NGOs was huge and lasted almost a decade. "It was so intense that we ended up funding the entire project of 10 billion dollars with our own equity. While we now have a world class operating mine in Australia and it could be seen as a great sign of our resilience," he said. Adani also shared his journey of becoming an entrepreneur and highlighted its dominance in various sectors. He also advised businessmen to embrace technology and sustainability for progress, empower and uplift the skilled workforce and nurture the younger generation and equip them to balance tradition with transformation, culture with innovation and legacy with sustainability. The Archaeological Survey of India has submitted its response in a court -- which had allowed a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal -- seeking control and management of the Mughal-era mosque as it is a protected heritage structure. IMAGE: Devotees arrive at Shahi Jama Masjid to offer Friday prayers, in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, November 29, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Representing the ASI, lawyer Vishnu Sharma said the agency submitted its counterargument in the court on Friday, stating that it faced resistance from the mosque's management committee and locals in conducting surveys of the site. He said the ASI also highlighted an incident from January 19, 2018, when an FIR was filed against the mosque's management committee for installing steel railings on the mosque's steps without proper authorisation. The mosque, notified as an ASI-protected monument in 1920, is under the purview of the agency and as such, public access to the structure should be permitted, provided it adheres to ASI regulations, Sharma said. The ASI argued that control and management of the monument, including any structural modifications, must remain with it. It also raised concerns that unauthorised changes to the mosque's structure by the management committee are unlawful and should be restricted. The court is expected to deliberate on the matter in the coming days. Violence erupted in Sambhal on November 24 during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid there, killing four people and injuring many others. A three-member judicial commission has been formed to probe the violence and it is likely to visit Sambhal on Sunday. Moradabad Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh said, "Two members of the commission formed by the Uttar Pradesh government reached here on Saturday. The third member will join them on Sunday as they head to Sambhal." The survey was linked to a petition claiming that a Harihar temple once stood at the site of the mosque. The commission formed via a notification on November 28 has been directed to complete its probe within two months. Any extension of this timeline will require government approval. The commission headed by retired Allahabad High Court judge Devendra Kumar Arora comprises ex-IAS officer Amit Mohan Prasad and Arvind Kumar Jain, a retired IPS officer. It has been entrusted with the task of examining whether the clashes were spontaneous or part of a well-planned criminal conspiracy, as well as the preparedness of the police and the administration in handling the situation. The commission will also analyse the circumstances leading to the violence and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. Maharashtra's outgoing Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said the Bharatiya Janata Party will decide on the new CM and assured his full support while ruling out differences among Mahayuti allies over the government formation. IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde addresses a press conference, at CM's residence, in Thane on November 27, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Amid speculation that Shinde's son Shrikant Shinde might get the deputy CM's post and Shiv Sena is keen on the home portfolio, Shinde said the Mahayuti allies -- Bharatiya Janata Party, Nationalist Congress Party, and Shiv Sena -- will decide the government formation through consensus. Notably, more than a week after the Mahayuti clinched a massive victory in Maharashtra polls with the BJP emerging as the single largest party with 132 seats, the new government is yet to be sworn in. The BJP is moving cautiously as aspirations of its allies, especially Shiv Sena, are high after the massive poll victory. Interestingly, the BJP legislature party meeting to elect the leader, who will be the party's chief ministerial pick, is yet to be held, even though Shiv Sena and NCP allies have elected their respective leaders. The BJP has announced that the oath-taking ceremony of the new Mahayuti government will take place on December 5 evening at the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend it. According to BJP sources, Devendra Fadnavis, who has been chief minister twice and was deputy CM in the last Eknath Shinde-led government, is the front-runner for the CM's post. A senior BJP leader told PTI that the legislature party meeting may be held on December 3 or 4. The Mahayuti constituents will jointly decide whether only the chief minister and deputy CMs will take oath on December 5 or ministers will also be sworn in, a senior leader of the alliance said. Shinde had left for his native village in Satara district on Friday amid speculation that he was not happy with the way the new government was shaping up. He developed a high fever in his village. Talking to reporters in his village on Sunday before leaving for Mumbai, Shinde said, "I have already said the decision on CM's post taken by the BJP leadership will be acceptable to me and Shiv Sena and will have my full backing". On speculations that his son and Lok Sabha member Shrikant Shinde will be made a Deputy CM in the new government and whether Shiv Sena has staked the claim for the home portfolio, Shinde replied, "Talks were on". "A meeting took place in Delhi last week with (Union home minister) Amit Shah, and now we three alliance partners will discuss the nitty-gritty of government formation," he said. Responding to a query on his health, the Shiv Sena leader said he was fine now and had come to his native village to get some rest. "I always come to my village. Why should there be any confusion when I made my stand clear last week," he added. "We will provide a government that people want. Our responsibility has now grown because of the massive mandate people gave as reciprocation of our work in the last two-and-a-half years," he said. Shinde reiterated that there are no differences among Mahayuti allies and pointed out that the BJP is yet to announce its legislature party leader. "We will fulfil people's aspirations. There are no differences among us. We will take a decision in the interest of the people. There is no need to repeat my stand. More than what we want, people's aspirations are more important," Shinde added. "There are no ifs and buts. My health is fine now. The work of our government will be written in golden words in the history,' he said. Shinde landed in Thane on the late Sunday afternoon. At the helipad, Shinde, Shrikant Shinde, and outgoing minister Deepak Kesarkar were seen talking among themselves. A BJP leader, meanwhile, claimed the party's MLAs have not been informed yet regarding the timing of the legislature party meeting. A day earlier, BJP leaders confirmed that the meeting to appoint the new leader will be held on December 2. "But now it looks like the meeting may be postponed to December 3 or 4," said the leader who did not wish to be named. Senior BJP leader Raosaheb Danve on Sunday told a news channel that the name of the chief minister has been finalised and a confirmation is awaited from the party leadership. NCP chief Ajit Pawar on Saturday said the chief minister will be from the BJP, while there will be deputy CMs from NCP and Shiv Sena headed by Shinde. Talking to PTI on Sunday, Maharashtra NCP chief Sunil Tatkare said the BJP legislature party leader hasn't been appointed yet. "We will sit together and decide whether only chief minister and deputy chief ministers will take oath or ministers will also be sworn in," the Lok Sabha member from Raigad said. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Aaditya Thackeray on Sunday claimed the Mahayuti's inability to decide on a chief minister and form government more than a week after the announcement of assembly poll results was an "insult" to Maharashtra. In a post on X, Thackeray also asked why the President's rule has not yet been enforced in the state. Targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is the largest constituent of the Mahayuti, Thackeray claimed that to declare the swearing-in date unilaterally without even staking claim to form government is "pure anarchy". "Presidential rule? Shouldn't it have been in place by now? Wouldn't it have been, had the opposition had the numbers, with a decision pending?" asked the Sena-UBT leader, who retained his Worli seat in Mumbai in the recently concluded assembly polls. After making landfall near Puducherry on November 30, Cyclone Fengal weakened on Sunday, but torrential downpour under its influence paralysed the union territory, with the Army stepping in to evacuate stranded persons in inundated streets. IMAGE: Buses seen parked at a flooded bus depot amid heavy rainfall triggered by Cyclone Fengal, in Puducherry on Sunday. Photograph: ANI Photo Old-timers recalled such a fury of nature was not witnessed in this tiny UT for the last three decades. Villupuram in neighbouring Tamil Nadu also suffered following heavy rains and inundation, with Chief Minister M K Stalin terming the rainfall in the district as 'unprecedented'. Operations at the Chennai airport, which had been suspended on Saturday, resumed past midnight but many flights saw cancellations and delays initially, officials said. However, later in the day, operations were normal. According to the latest update from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Fengal has weakened into a deep depression. 'The Cyclonic Storm FENGAL (pronounced as FEINJAL) over north coastal Tamil Nadu & Puducherry remained practically stationary during past 12 hours, weakened into a deep depression and lay centered at 11.30 hours IST of today, the 1st December 2024 over the same region near latitude 12.0 N and longitude 79.8 E, close to Puducherry, about 30 km north of Cuddalore, 40 km east of Villupuram and 120 km south-southwest of Chennai,' the weather office said in a post on X. It is likely to move westwards very slowly and weaken gradually into a depression over north Tamil Nadu during the next 12 hours, it added. Normal life was crippled in Puducherry, as the union territory received 46 cm rainfall, bettering the previous best of 21 cm recorded on October 31, 2004. Cyclone Fengal triggered heavy rainfall, leading to inundation of all residential areas on the outskirts Of boulevard limits. Trees were uprooted at various places under the impact of the cyclonic storm. Power outage was reported in most of the localities since 11 pm on Saturday. The Indian Army deployed its soldiers and boats and evacuated stranded people. According to a Defence release, about 200 people were rescued from three different locations in Puducherry, including Krishna Nagar. Many housing colonies were waterlogged and residents could not step out of the dwellings for hours together. Two-wheelers and cars parked on roads partially submerged in rainwater that entered several houses here, residents said. IMAGE: Indian Army personnel rescue stranded people from the severely flooded Krishnanagar area following Cyclone Fengal, in Puducherry on Sunday. Photograph: ANI Photo All shops and business establishments remained closed and the government set up relief centers to accommodate people evacuated from low-lying areas. Main thoroughfares and arterial roads were waterlogged disrupting daily life. Farmlands with standing crops bore the brunt of the heavy rain. Transport services were hit and voluntary organisations like Pondicherry Heritage Round Table 167 volunteered to supplement the efforts of the government to supply food packets to people staying in relief camps. Meanwhile, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu CM Stalin briefed reporters about the cyclone and its impact in the city and elsewhere. He pointed out that Villupuram had received heavy rainfall, with Mailam in the district recording 49 cm, followed by Nemmeli at 46 cm and Vanur (41 cm) in the last 24 hours. "Villupuram has received unprecedented rainfall and we are monitoring the situation," he said. In some affected places, boats were deployed for evacuation of the flood-affected local residents, and district minister K Ponmudy (Forest) was overseeing the rescue and relief efforts. He will be joined by his cabinet colleagues SS Sivasankaran and V Senthil Balaji, even as a team of IAS officials was camping in the district. The CM added that 12 teams of National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force have been rushed to Villupuram, located about 40 km from Puducherry and about 170 km from state capital Chennai. IMAGE: Army personnel rescue stranded people from Krishnanagar in Puducherry. Photograph: ANI Photo With nearby Cuddalore also receiving copious rains, Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin has been rushed to oversee the rescue and relief efforts in both districts, Stalin said. "The two districts are being monitored. We are going to request the Centre to depute a team to assess the damage in Villupuram, Cuddalore and Chengelpet," the CM said. With the downpour continuing in many districts, the government could consider relief to affected persons only after rains subside. A review of damage to standing crops could also be taken up only after rain stops, Stalin said. The matter will be discussed and the state government will apprise the Centre later, he added. TV visuals showed heavy flooding in Tindivanam town of Villupuram. As regards Chennai, he said that despite heavy rains in the city on Saturday, there was no inundation in many parts due to the precautionary works and desilting activities. In north Chennai, water was cleared using large motors. About 1,700 motor pumps of different capacity were on standby. Of the 22 subways in Chennai, traffic movement was smooth in 21, while one was already closed due to railway work, Stalin said. A little over 1000 people have been accommodated in 32 camps and food and water was being provided to them. Further, till Sunday, 9.10 lakh food packets have been distributed, while food was being provided free of cost through state-run Amma canteens and this has benefited about 1.07 lakh persons, the CM said. Stalin earlier held a review meeting regarding the rain situation and the rescue and relief efforts of the government. Maharashtra's caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who took ill at his native village in Satara district, is recovering and will return to Mumbai on Sunday evening, an associate said. IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde addresses a press conference, at his residence, in Thane on November 27, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo A team of doctors checked on Shinde as he developed high fever on Saturday. The Shiv Sena leader headed to his native village Dare in Satara district on Friday amid speculation that he was not happy with the way the new state government was shaping up. Shinde had fever and throat infection, his family doctor R M Parte told news channels on Saturday. "He has been given medicines and put on IV (intra-venous therapy for medication). He will feel better in two days. He is leaving for Mumbai on Sunday," Dr Parte said. A close aide of Shinde on Sunday also said the caretaker CM has been under the weather for sometime and developed fever on Saturday. Shinde is recovering and will return to Mumbai in the evening, the associate added. The swearing-in of the new Mahayuti government in Maharashtra will take place on December 5 evening at the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai, state Bharatiya Janata Party chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule said on Saturday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the oath-taking ceremony, he said. While there was no announcement yet on who would be the chief minister, BJP sources said Devendra Fadnavis, who has been chief minister twice and was deputy CM in the last Eknath Shinde-led government, was the frontrunner for the post. The Mahayuti alliance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) retained power with a landslide victory in the assembly elections, the results of which were announced on November 23. While the simple majority figure in the 288-member House is 145, the BJP alone bagged 132 seats, followed by Shiv Sena with 57 and NCP with 41 seats. But the government formation was delayed as the alliance failed to evolve a consensus on who would be the chief minister. Expressing concern over declining population growth, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR), the average number of children a woman gives birth to in her lifetime, should be at least 3, well above the present one of 2.1. IMAGE: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat addresses 'Kathale Kulsammelan' -- Silver Jubilee annual celebration of Kathale Pariwar, in Nagpur on Sunday. Photograph: ANI Photo Speaking at the 'Kathale Kul (clan) Sammelan' in Nagpur, Bhagwat also highlighted the vital role of families, and warned that according to population science, if a society's total fertility rate dips below 2.1, it could face extinction. "A declining population is a serious concern. Demographic studies suggest that when a society's total fertility rate falls below 2.1, it risks facing extinction. This decline does not necessarily require external threats; a society can gradually fade away on its own," Bhagwat said. "Many languages and cultures have already disappeared due to this issue. Thus, it is essential to maintain a fertility rate above 2.1," Bhagwat said, and emphasised that 'kutumb' (family) is an integral part of society and every family serves as a vital building bloc. "Our country's population policy, formulated either in 1998 or 2002, clearly says that the total fertility rate should not be below 2.1. Now when we say 2.1, it is not feasible to have children in fraction. So when we say 2.1, this means it should be more, at least three. The (population) science says so," Bhagwat said. India's TFR has declined from 2.2 to 2 while the Contraceptive Prevalence Rate has increased from 54 per cent to 67 per cent, according to the National Family Health Survey data released in 2021. A total fertility rate of 2.1 is considered as the replacement rate, which is a crucial factor in population growth. It ensures the replacement of a woman and her partner upon death with no overall increase or decrease in numbers. Latching on to Bhagwat's remarks, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said, "PM Modi had earlier said that Muslim women produce more children." He also referred to Modi's remarks that if the Congress comes to power, it will redistribute gold, including 'mangalsutras', from mothers and daughters among Muslims. "Bhagwat says produce more children. Now those in the RSS should start marrying," Owaisi said. The name of Devendra Fadnavis has been finalised as the new chief minister of Maharashtra who will be elected as the legislature party leader in a meeting to be held either on December 2 or 3, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader said on Sunday night. IMAGE: Maharashtra deputy chief minister. Photograph: ANI Photo Earlier in the day, outgoing Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said he would support the BJP's decision to pick the new chief minister. "The name of Devendra Fadnavis has been finalised as the new chief minister of Maharashtra. The meeting to elect the new BJP legislature party meeting will be held on either December 2 or 3," a senior BJP leader told PTI. Amid speculation that his son Shrikant Shinde might get the deputy CM's post and Shiv Sena is keen on the Home portfolio, Eknath Shinde said the Mahayuti allies -- the BJP, the Nationalist Congress Party, and the Shiv Sena -- will decide the government formation through consensus after sitting together. More than a week after the Mahayuti clinched a massive victory in Maharashtra polls with the BJP emerging as the single largest party with 132 seats, the new government is yet to be sworn in. The oath-taking ceremony of the new Mahayuti government is scheduled for December 5 evening at the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend it. The BJP is moving cautiously as aspirations of its allies, especially Shiv Sena, grew after the massive poll victory. Despite Shinde's insistence on Mahayuti unity, some leaders of allies spoke in different voices. Former Union minister and BJP leader Raosaheb Danve said if the undivided Sena and BJP had contested the elections together, they would have won more seats. Separately, Shiv Sena MLA Gulabrao Patil claimed that the Eknath Shinde-led party would have won 90-100 seats in polls had Ajit Pawar's NCP not been part of the alliance, drawing a sharp reaction from the Ajit Pawar-led party. The BJP legislature party meeting to elect the leader, who will be the party's chief ministerial pick, is yet to be held even though Shiv Sena and NCP have elected Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar as their legislature party leaders, respectively. A senior Mahayuti leader said the allies will jointly decide whether only the chief minister and deputy CMs will take oath on December 5 or ministers will also be sworn in. Shinde had left for his native village in Satara district on Friday amid speculation that he was not happy with the way the new government was shaping up. He developed a high fever in his village. Talking to reporters in his village on Sunday before leaving for Mumbai, Shinde said, "I have already said the decision on CM's post taken by the BJP leadership will be acceptable to me and Shiv Sena and will have my full backing." "A meeting took place in Delhi last week with (Union home minister) Amit Shah, and now we three alliance partners will discuss the nitty-gritty of government formation after sitting together," he said. Responding to a query on his health, the Shiv Sena leader said he was fine now and had come to his native village to get some rest. Shinde reiterated that there are no differences among Mahayuti allies and pointed out that the BJP is yet to announce its legislature party leader. "There are no ifs and buts. My health is fine now. The work of our government will be written in golden words in the history,' he said. Shinde landed in Thane on the late Sunday afternoon. Though the oath-taking ceremony of the new government just four days away, there seems no clarity on the schedule of the much-awaited BJP legislature party meeting. A BJP leader claimed the party's MLAs have not been informed yet regarding the timing of the legislature party meeting. A day earlier, BJP leaders confirmed that the meeting will be held on December 2. Maharashtra NCP chief Sunil Tatkare said, "We will sit together and decide whether only chief minister and deputy chief ministers will take oath or ministers will also be sworn in." Differences among Mahayuti allies, meanwhile, came out in the open on Sunday. "Had Shiv Sena not split into two, and contested assembly elections with the BJP, our victory would have been bigger than what we achieved today. We had also won comfortably in the 2019 assembly elections," Danve said. He claimed the Shiv Sena split because of Sanjay Raut, a close aide of Uddhav Thackeray. "You wait for six months, and Raut will cause a rift between Uddhav and his son Aaditya as well," he added. Separately, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Gaikwad, who won the Buldana constituency by a wafer-thin margin against Shiv Sena-UBT nominee Jayashree Shelke, levelled serious allegations. "Local MP and Union minister Prataprao Jadhav of Shiv Sena called Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and confidante of Uddhav Thackeray to field Jayashree Shelke. BJP's Sanjay Kute passed on the same message to Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab to field Shelke against me," he claimed. The Mahayuti won 230 of the 288 assembly seats. The BJP led with 132 seats, while the Shiv Sena got 57 and NCP 41. "We contested only 85 seats. Without Ajitdada, we could have won 90-100 seats. Shinde never asked why Ajit Pawar-led NCP was inducted in his government," Gulabrao Patil, a minister in the outgoing government, told a regional news channel. NCP spokesperson Amol Mitkari hit back, asking Patil to not shoot off his 'loose tongue'. Tripura's Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury alleged that a bus on the way to Kolkata from Agartala was attacked in Bangladesh. IMAGE: Security force personnel stand guard as Hindu devotees arrive to offer prayers Durga Puja festival, outside a temple in Dhaka, on October 11, 2024. Image used only for representation. Photograph: Fatima Tuj Johora/Reuters The incident happened on Bishwa Road in Bangladesh's Brahmanbaria district, he said. 'A Sahyamoli Paribahan bus on the way from Tripura to Kolkata was attacked in Bangladesh's Brahmanbaria Bishwa Road. The incident terrified Indian passengers on the bus. The bus was maintaining its lane when a truck intentionally hit it. At this point, an autorickshaw came in front of the bus, and the bus and the auto-rickshaw collided,' Chowdhury said in a post on Facebook on Saturday, sharing photos of the bus. 'Following this incident, locals started threatening Indian passengers on the bus. They also raised anti-India slogans and hurled expletives at the Indian passengers, giving them life threats. I strongly condemn the incident and urged the administration of the neighbouring country to ensure the safety of Indian passengers,' he added. Buses operate between Kolkata and Agartala via Dhaka as it cuts the distance by more than half. It is cheaper than travelling by flight and shorter than travelling by train via Assam, which usually takes over 30 hours. Chief Minister Manik Saha said he received the information about the attack on the bus and was trying to gather more input on it. 'I have got information about a Kolkata-bound bus carrying passengers from Agartala coming under attack on Bishwa Road in Brahmanbaria on Saturday. I am trying to gather concrete information on the matter,' he said. Voicing concern over attacks on minority Hindus in the neighbouring country, Saha said the whole world was witnessing how they were facing oppression in Bangladesh. 'Since our state is surrounded by Bangladesh on three sides, I have asked the BSF and the police to maintain strict vigil along the international border,' he said. The high court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has observed that there will be no change in the migrant status of Kashmiri Pandit women even if they marry non-migrants, upholding a Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) order in favour of two women selected under PM employment package. IMAGE: Refugee families of Kashmiri Pandits in New Delhi. Image used only for representation. Photograph: ANI Photo The two women -- Seema Koul and Vishalni Koul -- had moved the high court in 2018 after their provisional selection to the post of legal assistant in the department of disaster management relief, rehabilitation and re-construction under the PM package for Kashmiri migrants in December 1, 2017 forfeited on the ground that they have lost their migrant status having married non-migrant persons. "One question of public important that arises before this court is whether a woman who has been given a migrant status on account of the suffering endured by her and her family on account of which they were forced to leave their home and hearth in the Kashmir Valley..., could be discriminated and would stand to lose the said status only on account of fact that she had got married to a non-migrant? "Holding this would be going against the nature of human beings. Respondents herein, who are ladies and on account of no fault of theirs, had to leave their place of original residence in Kashmir Valley, cannot be expected to remain unmarried only to secure a job in the Kashmir Valley as a migrant," a division bench of Justices Atul Sreedharan and Mohammad Yousuf Wani said in a seven-page order last month. It is also reasonable to presume that because of the exodus, not every migrant woman would be in a position to find a match who himself was a migrant, it said. The court said in such a situation, to hold that the woman would lose her status as a migrant only because she, out of the natural urge of forming a family, had to marry a non-migrant on account of existing circumstances, would be grossly 'discriminatory and militates' against the very concept of justice. "This discrimination becomes even more brazen where a male migrant continues to remain a migrant notwithstanding the fact that he has married a non-migrant. Such a situation has arisen only on account of patriarchy that prevails in the human race. However, in matters relating to employment under the State/UT, such discrimination cannot be countenanced," the court said, dismissing a writ petition filed by the Union Territory against the May 16 CAT order. Nearly 4,000 Kashmiri migrant pandits are working in different departments in Kashmir after their selection under PM employment package, announced in 2008, having two major components -- one pertaining to the provision of 6,000 jobs for the community youth and another pertaining to the provision of 6,000 accommodation units for the recruited employees. Describing the tribunal order as 'just and proper', the court said the contention put forth by counsel for the appellant that there was non-disclosure of the fact that the respondents were married, is of no consequence. "Undisputedly, the advertisement notice does not provide for cancellation of the candidature on account of non-disclosure or improper disclosure of facts/marital status. Further, the appellants have not been able to show how material injustice has taken place to those who could not get selected otherwise on account of such non-disclosure. Therefore, this argument is also rejected," the bench said. Discordant voices emerged on Sunday from the Mahayuti even as the alliance continued to remain in the throes of government formation more than week after it swept the Maharashtra assembly polls. IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde with Deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis during a press conference, at Varsha Bungalow in Mumbai on November 23, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo The Mahayuti, comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party, Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party, won 230 of the 288 assembly seats in the state. The BJP led with 132 seats, while the Shiv Sena got 57 and NCP 41. Shiv Sena MLA Gulabrao Patil on Sunday said the Eknath Shinde-led party would have won 90-100 seats in the November 20 assembly polls if Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party was not part of the Mahayuti. Pawar had joined the Shinde government in July last year and was made deputy CM. "We contested only 85 seats. Without Ajitdada, we could have won 90-100 seats. Shinde never asked why Ajit Pawar-led NCP was inducted in his government," Patil, a minister in the outgoing government, told a regional news channel. He also hailed Shinde and said the latter was a large-hearted man who believed in fighting rather than sulking. Hitting back, NCP spokesperson Amol Mitkari asked Patil to not shoot off his 'loose tongue' in this manner. "Patil should first think about getting inducted in the ministry. There are little chances of him becoming minister this time," Mitkari said. In another war of words within the Mahayuti, Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad, who scraped through from Buldhana in the November 20 polls by a wafer-thin margin of 841 votes against Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray candidate Jayshree Shelke, targeted his colleague and Union minister Prataprao Jadhav and BJP's Sanjay Kute. "Jadhav called a close aide of Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray and asked them to field Shelke against me. Kute also called up Shiv Sena-UBT leader Anil Parab with the same request. Not a single district-level leader of my party or alliance was with me," Patil claimed. "Why did Kute meet Shelke in the middle of the night? Why do leaders from allies act like this," he further questioned. Jadhav is LS MP from Buldhana and is Minister of State for Ayush as well as Health and Family Welfare in the Narendra Modi government. Kute won the November 20 polls from Jalgaon (Jamod). Meanwhile, senior BJP leader and former Union minister Raosaheb Danve said if BJP and undivided Shiv Sena had contested the assembly polls as allies, the sweep would have been far bigger than the one achieved by the Mahayuti. Speaking in Mumbai after meeting senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, Danve said, "The Shiv Sena split because of Sanjay Raut. You wait for six months. He will cause a rift between Uddhav Thackeray and Aaditya Thackeray as well." "Had the Sena not split and had it contested the polls with the BJP, the victory would have been bigger than what we have achieved now. Even in 2019, we won the assembly polls comfortably," Danve said. The undivided Shiv Sena and BJP ended their alliance after the 2019 assembly polls over sharing of the chief ministerial tenure. Thackeray went on to join hands with the Congress and (undivided) NCP to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Then minister Eknath Shinde rebelled against Thackeray in June 2022, split the Shiv Sena and brought down the MVA government. In July last year, the NCP split after Ajit Pawar, against the wishes of party founder Sharad Pawar, joined the Shinde government. The Mahayuti is yet to announce who will be chief minister in the government that will be sworn in on December 5. In a post on X on Saturday, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the swearing-in ceremony will be held at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speculation is also rife on the role of Shinde in the new government, while some of his colleagues have openly said the Shiv Sena must be given the key home department. The Mahayuti constituents in Maharashtra will sit together and decide whether only chief minister and deputy CMs will take oath on December 5 or ministers will also be sworn in, a senior leader of the alliance said on Sunday. IMAGE: BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis speaking after being felicitated during the Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana National Convention 2024, in Pune, Maharashtra, November 30, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo The oath-taking ceremony of the new Mahayuti government in Maharashtra will take place on December 5 evening at the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend it, state Bharatiya Janata Party chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule said on Saturday. While there was no announcement yet on who would be the chief minister, BJP sources said Devendra Fadnavis, who has been chief minister twice and was deputy CM in the last Eknath Shinde-led government, was the frontrunner for the post. The Mahayuti allies Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party have already declared Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar as their legislature party leaders, respectively. However, the BJP, which is the largest Mahayuti constituent, is yet to name its legislature party leader. NCP chief Ajit Pawar on Saturday said the chief minister will be from the BJP, while there will be deputy CMs from the two allies -- his party and the Shiv Sena. Pawar was a deputy CM in the last government. Talking to PTI on Sunday, Maharashtra NCP chief Sunil Tatkare said it has been announced that the swearing-in ceremony will take place on December 5. "But the BJP legislature party leader hasn't been appointed yet. We will sit together and decide whether only chief minister and deputy chief ministers will take oath or ministers will also be sworn-in," the Lok Sabha member from Raigad said. A senior BJP leader said it was decided on Saturday that its legislature party leader will be chosen at 1 pm on December 2. "But now it looks like the meeting may be postponed to December 3 or 4," said the leader who did not wish to be named. When contacted, senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said he was in Nashik and had not been informed about the swearing-in ceremony. "Our leaders Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare haven't given us any information," he said. Maharashtra's caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who took ill at his native village in Satara district, is recovering and will return to Mumbai on Sunday evening, an associate said earlier in the day. A team of doctors checked on Shinde as he developed high fever on Saturday. The Shiv Sena leader headed to his native village Dare in Satara district on Friday amid speculation that he was not happy with the way the new state government was shaping up. The Mahayuti alliance of the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP retained power with a landslide victory in the assembly elections, the results of which were announced on November 23. While the simple majority figure in the 288-member House is 145, the BJP alone bagged 132 seats, followed by Shiv Sena with 57 and NCP with 41 seats. But the government formation has been delayed as the alliance failed to evolve a consensus on who would be the chief minister. Though Shinde appeared to have ceded claim to the top post, indications that there were still some points of disagreements emerged when a meeting of the allies here on Friday was put off, and he instead left for his village Dare. The NCP has already stated that Fadnavis was acceptable to it as chief minister. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. High 57F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies with a few showers after midnight. Low around 45F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Welcome back to the China In Eurasia briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter tracking China's resurgent influence from Eastern Europe to Central Asia. I'm RFE/RL's China Global Affairs Correspondent Reid Standish and here's what I'm following right now. Minding The Transatlantic Gap China is looking to capitalize on a transatlantic rift between the United States and Europe that is widening as U.S. President Donald Trump looks to quickly end the war in Ukraine. But how much of an opening is there actually for Beijing? Finding Perspective: The threat of tariffs, a war of words at the Munich Security Conference earlier this month, U.S.-Russia talks that excluded Europe and Kyiv, and a standoff at the United Nations over how to commemorate the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine have all been recent fissures between Washington and European governments. That brought new questions about relying on the United States to European capitals and left an opening for Beijing, which has been trying to woo back Europe over the past four years. On the sidelines in Munich, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held bilateral meetings with several top European officials, including EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Spain's foreign minister seems to be at least more open to the idea of keeping China closer amid tensions with the United States. Jose Manuel Albares told the Financial Times that the European Union should craft its own China policy and not follow the more confrontational line with Beijing advocated by those in the Trump administration. "Europe must take its own decisions, on its own. And we have to decide when China can be a partner and when China is a competitor," Albares told the newspaper. How We Got Here: During Trump's first term in office, Washington pushed European governments to take a harder line on China. That led to the bloc labeling China a "systemic rival" in 2019. The Chinese government's untransparent handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, trade, human rights, and supply chain concerns, and Beijing's backing of Russia throughout the war in Ukraine all saw that harder line solidify in Europe under former U.S. President Joe Biden's tenure. Now amid growing transatlantic tensions, some European governments see following Trump's tough stance on China as a way to win over Washington. Others, like the Spanish government, are arguing to preserve vital economic ties with Beijing, especially amid growing uncertainty about the United States. This has even led to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, one of Brussels's more hawkish voices on China, calling in January for a new effort to improve relations between Brussels and Beijing. A True Rift? Tensions on each side of the Atlantic are real. Following his party's victory in elections on February 23, Friedrich Merz, Germany's chancellor-in-waiting for the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), said the Trump administration "does not care much about the fate of Europe" and that the Continent needs to act accordingly. "My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the U.S.A.," he said. Talk of a seismic shift in the geopolitical order is also under way in Brussels. One EU official recently back from discussions with U.S. officials told RFE/RL that the White House's focus is on ending the war in Ukraine and that there is a "take it or leave it" attitude from Washington. The Trump administration wants to "remove the Ukraine issue from the table and move on to other issues. It is becoming clear that Trump's goal is to rule the world together with Russia and China" and work toward "strategically separating them from each other," said the official, who was granted anonymity in order to discuss sensitive matters. Why It Matters: Europe may be grappling with a realignment, but that doesn't mean China is its only option to hedge. As European leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visit Washington, von der Leyen is set to arrive in India on February 27. James Crabtree, a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told me that "it's hard to imagine a better time to re-energize Europe's and India's historically lackluster ties" and that a focus of the trip will be technology cooperation. "A meeting of the EU-India Trade and Technology Council -- only the second since its foundation in 2023 -- offers opportunities to deepen collaboration in areas ranging from artificial intelligence to clean technologies," he said. China may also be short on opportunities, with most EU members unable to look past its support for Russia amid the war in Ukraine. The bloc's most recent sanctions package passed on February 24 once again included Chinese companies and individuals. What is likely to emerge is a more fragmented Europe when it comes to China. While some governments look to countries like India, South Korea, and Japan to balance out their foreign policy, others -- such as the current Spanish government and Hungary -- will keep courting Chinese investment and create new openings for Beijing. Three More Stories From Eurasia 1. A Reverse Nixon? China publicly backed the Trump administration's recent talks with the Kremlin, but analysts and former U.S. officials I spoke with mostly said the prospect of a U.S.-Russia reset is also making Beijing "nervous" about having less leverage over its partner. The Details: "While a complete rapprochement might not be in the cards, they're nervous because if Trump lifts sanctions on Russia, then Moscow's dependency on China decreases," Dennis Wilder, who was a top White House China adviser to former U.S. President George W. Bush, told me. One of the hallmarks of Chinese leader Xi Jinping's foreign policy has been a burgeoning strategic partnership with Russian President Vladimir Putin that's grown closer since Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Beijing has propped up the Russian economy through enhanced trade and energy purchases while fueling the Kremlin's war effort with the supply of key goods as both Xi and Putin have found common ground in wanting to challenge the West and unseat the United States. The fear of all that being derailed by a new type of U.S.-Russia relationship born out of a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine is real for Beijing. Wilder says he's had conversations with "very senior Chinese officials" since Trump's election in November who have expressed concern about a potential U.S.-Russia reset. He says they've used the phrase "Only Trump goes to Moscow," a play on the historical reference to former U.S. President Richard Nixon's landmark visit to Beijing in 1972, when he defied precedent and courted China to exploit its split with the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War. 2. But Can It Work? A grand bargain would be a major diplomatic feat, but it's something Trump administration officials have hinted at in public comments of late. What You Need To Know: The Trump administration has made clear it sees managing a long-term rivalry with China as its top foreign policy objective and may look to deprioritize regions like Europe and the Middle East in order to raise pressure on Beijing in Asia. Following the talks in Riyadh, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the possibility for future "geopolitical and economic cooperation" between Washington and Moscow was among the key points discussed. And in an interview this month with The Wall Street Journal, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Washington was prepared to reset the relationship with the Kremlin following an agreement over Ukraine as a move to end Russia's isolation and its growing dependence on China since the war began. "It's not in Putin's interest to be the little brother in a coalition with China," Vance said. The thinking is that even new cracks between the two powers may loosen Moscow's alignment with Beijing and could have a deterrent effect on China, especially if it decides to use military force to take Taiwan. Still, both Beijing and Moscow are aware of what the White House is trying to do, and Beijing has made a point to show it and Moscow are still a tandem, including a recent phone call between Putin and Xi on the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine. Steve Tsang, director of SOAS University London's China Institute, told me he believes Washington's efforts to reset its Russia ties are also not all bad news for Beijing. "Xi does not want Putin to fail in the war, and so Trump delivering a peace that mostly meets Russian conditions is a positive," he said. "Who knows who will be the next U.S. president and if there will be a reversal of U.S. posture post-Trump." 3. Taiwan Watches A New U.S. Line On Ukraine Ukrainians living in Taiwan and local supporters protested outside the de-facto Russian Embassy in Taipei on the eve of the third anniversary of Moscow's invasion. What It Means: The self-governing island has been a vocal supporter of Kyiv, which the Taiwanese government sees as a foil for its own tenuous geopolitical position where China has long threatened to invade and annex Taiwan if it refused to peacefully accept unification. Those parallels have grown since Trump's election. The United States is Taiwan's largest military backer and its support is considered vital for its survival, but Trump's global shakeup, including launching negotiations with Russia without Ukraine and threatening to cut off future aid to Kyiv, has brought anxiety to Taiwan about a similar withdrawal of American assistance. When I was in Taiwan in December, I spoke with several senior officials who said they were closely watching what happened to Kyiv on the battlefield and with the new U.S. administration. So far, the White House has reaffirmed its support for Taiwan, but Washington has also threatened tariffs on the island's semiconductor industry, which is responsible for around 60 percent of world production for microchips and 90 percent of the most-advanced ones needed for the global AI boom. Across The Supercontinent Choking Off Iranian Oil: Earlier this month, the United States brought in a new tranche of sanctions on Iranian oil, my colleague Kian Sharifi and I reported . The move is seen as an opening shot against Tehran and Beijing -- Iran's top oil customer. New Bridge Deal: The Transport Ministry of Tajikistan and the Tajik branch of the Chinese company Zhejiang Communications Construction Group (ZCCC) signed a cooperation agreement for the construction of what will be the longest road bridge in Central Asia. New Tools For Tashkent: Uzbekistan showcased on February 25 newly purchased Chinese-made air-defense systems, including the FM-90 short-range surface-to-air missile system and the KS-1C medium-to-long-range air-defense system. One Thing To Watch A Chinese-crewed cargo ship is detained in Taiwan's southern port of Tainan after a key Taiwan-Penghu Internet cable was mysteriously severed. Taiwanese prosecutors are investigating whether this was an accident or part of a broader pattern of disruptions to vital communication lines, but the country's Coast Guard released footage of them apprehending the vessel. The move comes amid growing tensions from a rise of so-called gray zone tactics, the term often used by Taiwanese officials to refer to the hybrid tactics used to intimidate the island but which remain below the threshold for war. That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you might have. Until next time, Reid Standish Leposavic, KOSOVO -- As Kosovo's central government continues to assert its authority in northern areas long dominated by Serbs, a smattering of new Albanian-run shops there acknowledge tough challenges as they navigate a stubborn intersection of business and ethnically charged politics. Big national retailers aiming to cater to an unfamiliar client base and local tastes in the Serb-populated region say they have lots of work to do, starting with stocking their shelves with familiar Serbian imports. "We don't do politics," Nevzad Kadriu, manager of the Pristina-based supermarket chain Interex's newly launched outlet in Leposavic, told RFE/RL's Kosovo Service. "We came for business, to offer customers good, quality service and to adapt to their tastes." But a total absence of Serbian products on the shelves of Kadriu's supermarket points to a disconnect. Northern Kosovo is home to tens of thousands of Serbs who make up majorities in four municipalities -- North Mitrovica, Zvecan, Zubin Potok, and Leposavic -- and who in many cases still regard the area as part of Serbia. 'Unilateral' Actions Kosovo's government has spent much of the past year trying to root out Serbian influence in the daily lives of many of those Serbs, eliciting concerns among Western partners that such "unilateral" actions will stir up unnecessary trouble just a generation removed from bitter ethnic bloodshed. Pristina says it is merely trying to enforce its constitutional order. The lack of Serbian groceries at Interex in Leposavic follows a yearlong ban on Serbian imports that Kosovo imposed after a deadly incident near the border killed one ethnic Albanian police officer and injured another outside an Orthodox monastery in September 2023. The commando-style raid by ethnic Serb suspects was the most serious of a number of clashes to have threatened international peacekeeping efforts and risked flare-ups between Serbia and its mostly ethnic Albanian former province in the past three years. Kosovo's government finally reopened a single border crossing at Merdare to Serbian imports in early October, seemingly satisfied that the threat had ebbed and under intense Western pressure to ease its clampdown on the daily lives of Serbs in the north. During RFE/RL's visit, Kadriu said the store hadn't had long enough to stock up on the products that appeal more to Serbs than they would to ethnic Albanians in other parts of the country where Interex operates. From what he's seen so far, he says, their absence hasn't been a big obstacle. "But they are something good for this segment of customers and we'll offer them in the future," he added. One shopper, Mirsad Huskovic, told RFE/RL he'd like to see more of the goods that are popular among Serbs, including dried pork products shunned by many of Kosovo's majority Muslims. "There should be Serbian goods, too, because people are used to them," he said. "They're missing." Another shopper said it was normal that Albanian-run stores should carry Serbian goods. But the woman, who did not want to be identified, added: "Slowly. I'm satisfied. With my money I can buy wherever I want. I don't care, not at all." The Leposavic store gets about 500 customers a day, Kadriu says, most of them Serbs. Forty-seven of its 50 or so employees are ethnic Serbs, he adds. For decades, Serbia has maintained a network of parallel institutions there led by ethnic Serbs who appear to coordinate closely with Belgrade and its governmental Office for Kosovo and Metohija. But Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti dramatically increased pressure on his country's Serbs with a strict ban on the use of Serbian dinars in cash transactions from February. Kurti has also continued with closures of Serbian banks, post offices, and other facilities. Until recently, ethnic Albanian businesses -- particularly sizable ones -- were nearly nonexistent in the mostly Serb-populated areas of the north. But as Pristina has sought to expand its authority there, the Kosovo Privatization Agency (AKP) has taken charge of some local offices of Serb-led social enterprises and privatized them or re-leased them to Kosovar-based companies. 'Crazy Times' The AKP confirmed to RFE/RL that the space used by Interex in Leposavic was sold during the 47th wave of privatization in 2010. The buyer's identity was not disclosed, but they have leased the space to Interex. It is still just a trickle. Kosovo's Industry, Trade, and Entrepreneurship Ministry said just 19 of the 220 new businesses registered in the four Serb municipalities in the first three-quarters of the year belong to ethnic Albanians. In North Mitrovica, the mostly Serbian side of a former city now divided by the Ibar River, is a supermarket under ethnic Albanian ownership as part of a chain called Meridian Express that opened at the end of August. There, too, the shelves are barren of Serbian products. According to the privatization agency, the store currently occupied by Meridian Express in North Mitrovica was offered for sale in April. The agency did not provide details about the buyer who rented it to Meridian. The store's manager, Jeton Hyseni, told RFE/RL that decisions about inventory are made by the chain's management. But he also said Serb customers are fairly rare. "We hear from some Serb customers who don't dare to enter or hardly enter," he said, because they fear others are photographing the entrance and noting who is shopping there. Multiple Kosovar Serb residents suggested to RFE/RL that they believe such information is used by Serbian nationalists who want them to boycott Albanian-owned businesses. "It's not that I don't want to, but, quite simply, no one enters, no one dares," another North Mitrovican Serb said. "I'm with my people, although I'm not a nationalist, butwhat can I say? Crazy times. Written by Andy Heil based on reporting by Bekim Bislimi of RFE/RL's Kosovo Service US President Donald Trump said he sees a "very good chance" for peace between Ukraine and Russia after "very good and productive discussions" between US officials and Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a March 14 post on his Truth Social site, Trump also said the United States had urged Russia to spare the lives of "thousands" of Ukrainian soldiers that Putin has said have been isolated by Russian troops in Russia's Kursk region. Ukraine disputes that claim. The post came just hours after the Kremlin said it was "cautiously optimistic" following a meeting late on March 13 between Putin and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. "We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday, and there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end," Trump wrote. Trump added that "thousands of Ukrainian troops are completely surrounded by the Russian military, and in a very bad and vulnerable position." "I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared," he wrote. "This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II." Putin said a day earlier that a group of Ukrainian troops were "isolated" in the Kursk region, the site of a surprise incursion by Ukrainian forces last August. Responding to Trump's plea on March 14, he said the soldiers' lives would be spared if they surrendered and urged Kyiv to order them to do so. Officials in Kyiv have said that while Ukrainian forces have been slowly withdrawing in the Kursk region under heavy pressure from Russian troops, but the armed forces general staff said on March 14 that "[r]eports of the alleged 'encirclement' of Ukrainian units...in the Kursk region are false and fabricated." "There is no threat of encirclement of our units," it said in a statement on social media. Zelenskyy Challenges Putin's Motives Earlier on March 14, Putin's spokesman said there were grounds for "cautious optimism" over Trump's 30-day cease-fire proposal, which Ukraine accepted earlier this week at talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia. Ukraine, meanwhile, questioned Moscow's sincerity in ending the war, which is now in its fourth year since Russia's full-scale invasion on February 2022. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow that Putin sent Trump a message about his cease-fire proposal after his talks with Witkoff in the Russian capital. "When Mr Witkoff brings all the information to President Trump, we will determine the timing of a conversation (between Trump and Putin). There are reasons to be cautiously optimistic," Peskov said. Putin said a day earlier that he agrees in principle with the US proposal for a temporary cease-fire with Ukraine, but added that "there are nuances," such as Western weapons deliveries to Kyiv, that he wants addressed first. The Russian leader also said any agreement should lead to long-term peace that addresses the "root" reasons for the war, an apparent reference to NATO expansion and other developments Putin claims have put Russia's security in jeopardy. In a video posted late on March 13, Zelenskyy questioned Putin's motives, saying the Russian leader was preparing to reject the proposal but was afraid to tell Trump. "That's why in Moscow they are imposing upon the idea of a cease-fire these conditions -- so that nothing happens at all, or so that it cannot happen for as long as possible," Zelenskyy said. He followed up on March 14 with a post on social media accusing the Kremlin of trying to "complicate and drag out the process." "Russia is the only party that wants the war to continue and diplomacy to break down," he said on X after a call with the Secretary of State of the Holy See, cardinal Pietro Parolin. Putin's Response To Trump's Pressure Kyiv agreed to Trump's 30-day cease-fire proposal at a meeting in Jeddah on March 11, putting the onus for peace in Moscow's lap. Putin's response threw the ball back into US hands, at least to some degree. Trump called Putin's initial reaction to peace talk developments "promising" but incomplete, though he added he hoped Russia would "do the right thing" and agree to the deal. "I think the Russians are keen not to be seen as the intransigent party as that could lead to consequences from Trump, such as sanctions. So that informed Putin's comments today," John Hardie, deputy director of the Russia Program at Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based think tank, told RFE/RL. Trump has made ending the war in Ukraine a top priority since taking office for a second term less than two months ago, and is wielding US leverage to get both Kyiv and Moscow to the table. On March 13, the US administration heightened pressure on Russia by increasing restrictions on the country's oil, gas, and banking sectors. Among the measures, the Treasury Department was allowing the expiration of a 60-day exemption put in place in January by the Biden administration that let some energy transactions involving sanctioned Russian banks continue. The move would make it more difficult for other nations, especially in Europe, to buy Russian oil. Meanwhile, the foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) -- which includes the United States, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan -- said they discussed imposing more sanctions on Russia and boosting support for Ukraine if the Kremlin does not agree to the cease-fire. Among the measures discussed during the March 13-14 meeting were caps on the price for Russian oil exports, they said in a joint statement. Western nations in late 2022 imposed a $60-a-barrel price cap on the export of Russian oil using Western ships or insurance. It is unclear if the G7 discussions touched on lowering the price cap. Russia's economy is heavily dependent on oil exports, which account for a third of federal budget revenues. In a joint statement following the meeting, the G7 said that "we reaffirmed our unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity and right to exist, and its freedom, sovereignty, and independence." "We welcomed ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire, and in particular the meeting on March 11 between the US and Ukraine in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," it added. Putin also said there were several unanswered questions in the proposal, such as what to do about Ukraine's incursion into Russia's Kursk region. "If we have a cease-fire, does that mean that everyone there would leave?" Putin said. "Should we release them [Ukrainian troops] after they committed crimes against the population? Or would they surrender?" Ukraine denies committing such crimes, saying it abides by humanitarian law and does not target civilians. Why Should Russia Agree To A Cease-Fire? Kyiv seized a swath of the Kursk region in a stealth incursion in August, a move seen as an effort to divert Russian forces from eastern Ukraine and use the territory as a bargaining chip in any peace talks. That strategy is now failing as Russian forces supported by North Korean troops push the Ukrainians out of Kursk. Russia has regained more than half the territory in Kursk initially captured by Ukraine. Zelenskyy told reporters on March 14 that the situation in Kursk was "obviously very difficult." Among the other concerns Putin voiced about the cease-fire proposal is whether Ukraine would use the 30-day period to mobilize and train forces or rearm with the help of the West. He also raised the question of how the nearly 2,000-kilometer front would be monitored. Zelenskyy told reporters that the front could be monitored by US satellites. Experts had warned that Putin would likely seek to drag out cease-fire talks because his forces have the upper hand on the battlefield. Aside from the advances in Kursk, Russia is gaining territory in eastern Ukraine -- albeit at high human and material costs -- due to its significant manpower advantage. However, Zelenskyy said Ukraine has stopped Russian forces at the gates of Pokrovsk, a key logistical hub in Donetsk region, after months of fighting on the outskirts of the city. Zelenskyy asserted that the incursion into Kursk forced Russia to pull forces from eastern Ukraine, giving his troops time to defend the city. Russia is seeking to capture at a minimum the entirety of the four regions of Ukraine it claims to have annexed in September 2022: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson. A cease-fire freezing the current front lines would leave them short of that goal. "One way the Russians could slow down this process without coming out directly and saying 'no', is by dragging out those technical discussions on monitoring" the cease-fire, Hardie said. "That could also give them ways to try to pin the blame back on Ukraine, by insisting on certain technical matters that Ukraine might find objectionable," he said. The very subdued atmosphere at the Dr Hyde Count Centre yesterday was commented on repeatedly yesterday. The election locally had a cloud over it due to the sad passing of Cllr John Naughten, who was to contest the election for FG. As newly re-elected TD Michael Fitzmaurice said had the Drum man contested the election, he would have won a seat. The Independent Ireland TD also paid tribute to the Naughten familys contribution to political life in Ireland. The Glinsk man himself stormed back to the Dail with an amazing 12,002. At just before 1am last night, following count 3 Returning Officer Olivia Bushell announced that the count would be adjourned until 10 am this morning. So far one TD has been elected, and three candidates have been elected. It is expected that it could be some time before the next TD, expected to be Claire Kerrane, is elected, following the elimination of more candidates. The count has now resumed with the distribution of the combined 755 from two excluded candidates, Green Party candidate Martina O'Connor and Irish People's Party candidate Alan Sweeney. The Great Union of December 1, 1918: a look back at Romania of the year 1918 Greater Romania was a great dream of the early 20th century. It was an aim reached by all who believed in it, by following strong models and principles, by overcoming emotion and hesitation, by the sheer force of will. The History Show Steliu Lambru and Radio Romania International, 01.12.2024, 14:01 Earlier in 1918, Romania had been occupied by the Central Powers armies and its image was tainted by the separate peace treaty it concluded in March 1918. In the fall of 1918, the balance of power between the Central Powers and the Entente changed dramatically in favor of the latter, so much so that at the end of the war Romania found itself on the winners side. The reward was the establishment of Greater Romania, as the provinces of Bessarabia, Bukovina and Transylvania united with the Kingdom of Romania. Yet, that was not easy to achieve. Until 1920, the political elite and society in general had to struggle to have the new state recognized at international level. The historian Ioan Scurtu explains Romanias road from ecstasy to agony in the war years, between 1916 and 1918.In theory, Romania ought to have been prepared, since it entered the war in 1916, two years after the big world conflict had started. That particular time span should have normally been used for getting the army as well as the necessary supplies ready. Sadly, it didnt. After the frenzy of entering the war, when the troops set off in songs, flowers attached to their guns, and with cheering crowds seeing soldiers off as if they were going to a party, the disaster in Turtucaia took place, only 10 days later. That opened the eyes of Romanian officials to reality. Then in November the troops withdrew from Transylvania and in early December the capital city Bucharest was occupied. The government and court had to flee to Iasi, where, aside from all the hardships triggered by such a numerous presence, cholera broke out, claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. And, as if all that were not enough, a railway accident occurred, when more than 1,000 people died as a train went off the rails nearby Iasi. 1917 however brought its moments of glory, when the Romanian army stopped the advance of German and Austrian-Hungarian troops in Marasesti, Marasti and Oituz. Yet the Bolshevik Revolution triggered Romanias surrender, which was occupied by the enemies soon after. Despite the fact that it had lost its treasure to Russia, it concluded a separate peace with its opponents and had to cope with the aftershocks of the Bolshevik revolutions in Russia and Hungary, Romania managed to overcome those tremendous difficulties. All that was possible because of a visionary political elite, the historian Ioan Scurtu believes.All those obstacles were overcome, due to the fact that Romania had a top-quality political class. And the first name that comes to mind is that of Ion I.C. Bratianu, the president of the National Liberal Party, who played a crucial role in achieving the Great Union. Representatives of Bessarabia, Bukovina and Transylvania came to Iasi, ahead of the Union proclamation, held talks with King Ferdinand and with Ion I. C. Bratianu and other politicians, to find the best way to mobilize everybody for the union. Ion I.C. Bratianu led the Romanian delegation at the Peace Conference in Paris and there he talked to the great politicians of that time, from the US President Wilson to Great Britains Prime Minister. Eventually it was a success, and through the peace treaties of 1919-1920 the Chisinau, Cernauti and Alba Iulia union documents were ratified. But it was the two Romanian monarchs, Ferdinand I and Marie, who mobilized the nation. Historian Ioan Scurtu: King Ferdinand was German, he had been an officer in the German army. When, during a Crown Council meeting, he said he was in favor of Romania entering the war against his country, his family, he made a personal sacrifice, but at the same time an act of great importance for Romania. He had an exchange with Petre P. Carp, right after the Council meeting. Carp told him curtly that he had forgotten he was German, and such a decision was improper. The king replied that he was fully aware of being German, but, he added, if the interests of his country would have been in line with Romanias, he would gladly have taken a different path. However, he considered himself Romanian, too, the king of Romanians, and he acted in the interest of the country he was heading. The sacrifice of the nation was also the sacrifice of the royal couple, and strength of character shows in the most difficult moments. Historian Ioan Scurtu:Queen Marie was right from the start in favor of Romania joining the war on the side of the Allies. She was English, and she played an important role in convincing Ferdinand to make this personal sacrifice in the interest of the Romanian people. Along the way, the king and queen were always close to Romanians, to the army, to the main political leaders. When he heard a proposal to withdraw from Iasi to Odessa, for fear that German troops would take over the whole of Moldavia, King Ferdinand said he would not leave the country. Ion I. C. Bratianu did the same. This mobilized public opinion, including some politicians who had left in a hurry to take residence in Ukraine, in cities far from the front line. Greater Romania was the dream of the early 20th century. It was an aim reached by all who believed in it, by following strong models and principles, by overcoming emotion and hesitation, by the sheer force of will. The Old Orhei Museum Compound Historical vestiges in traditional Moldavia Orheiul Vechi (foto: Eugen Cojocariu, RRI) Eugen Nasta, 01.12.2024, 14:00 The Old Orhei, Orheiul Vechi, in Romanian, is a museum compound on the valley of river Raut, a right-hand side tributary of river Dniester, in Republic of Moldova. The Old Orhei cultural-natural reserve enjoys a special status and is Republic of Moldovas most important site. Currently a process is ongoing, for the Old Orhei to be included on UNESCOs World heritage List. The compound is made of several dozens of hectares of Orhei medieval town. Orhei is a settlement of the 13th and the 16th centuries. It is known as Old Orhei. We recall initially the settlement was deserted and a new city was established in a different location, bearing the same name, todays Orhei, a town in Republic of Moldovas Orhei district. Part of the compound are two large promontories, Pestere and Butuceni. Added to them are three smaller adjoining promontories, Potarca, Selitra and Scoc. On the territory of the promontories the ruins of several fortifications can be found, as well as dwelling places, baths, worship sites, that including cave monasteries, dating from the Tartar-Mongolian period, the 13th to 14th centuries, but also from the Moldavian period, 14th to 16th centuries. The Old Orhei Compound is a system made of cultural and nature elements, such as a natural archaic landscape, biodiversity, an exceptional archaeological environment, historical-architectural diversity, a rural traditional habitat and ethnographic originality. The medieval settlement of Old Orhei saw its heyday several times. During the 12th to the 14th centuries, the period before the Tartar-Mongolian invasion. In the early days of the medieval settlement, the wooden and earth citadel is believed to have been erected in that period of time. The Golden Horde Age of the 14th century, the period the stone fortress dates from. Between the 14th and the 16th centuries, the settlement was included in the Moldavian state, for the town, it was a period of transformation, from an Oriental settlement into a Moldavian town. During Stephen the Greats reign (1438-1504) the stone fortress was repaired, and strengthened. In the 60s of the 15th century, the Orhei citadel was erected. It was a defense centre of the countrys eastern borders against the Tartar invasions. The Tartar invasions in the summer of 1469 prompted Stephen the Great to take measures, in a bid to strengthen the countrys defence capacity along Dniester River, initiating important works, carried in order to build a strengthened citadel in Orhei. The archaeological excavations that made possible the discovery of the citadels foundation speak about those events. Similarly, the official documents of that time speak about that as well. So, in Stephen the Greats charter of April 1st, 1470, for the first time the mention is made of a burgrave, that is a military commander of the Orhei citadel. We recall at that time the burgrave had military but also administrative responsibilities of the Orhei district. The period of decay begins in mid-16th century and lasts until the early 17th century, when the inhabitants abandon the Old Orhei, moving into the new settlement, todays Orhei. The stone citadel is destroyed. Stefan Chelban is the Reserves Head of Archelogy and Ethnography Service. We sat down and talked to Stefan Chelban about the history of the Old Orhei: The Old Orhei is a nature cultural reserve set up in 1968, yet, in time, it has been going through several restructuring and reorganizing processes. The reserve is made of several localities and its purpose is to preserve the regions natural heritage, but also its cultural heritage. Actually, it was one of the main reasons why the reserve was set up. Arguably, it is one of the areas with the biggest number of assets part of the archaeological and ethnographic heritage, but also of assets of the immaterial heritage and such like. So, it is a region where the cultural heritage has been acceptably well preserved, to this day. The Old Orheis cave monasteries are part of a cave remains compound. They are located in the lime rocks on the Raut River valley. The compound is extremely attractive in terms of tourism; it includes roughly 350 cave remains, of which around 100 are man-dug rooms, while the remaining 200 are karstic formations, grouped in six compounds. They include well-defined monasteries, underground churches, galleries and cells. Here is Stefan Chelban once again, this time speaking about the cave monasteries and about the reserve: Track: This is likely to be the central point for many, yet the reserve has a lot more to offer. For instance, the ruins of the Tartar city, a city that used to be here in the 14th century, albeit for a short period of time yet worth visiting all the same, that including the ruins of an old mosque which, judging by its surface area, it was allegedly South-east Europes biggest mosque. Stefan Chelban also told us something about the Old Orhei museum compound: The Ethnography Museum is a model of traditional architecture, specific for the late 19th century and the late 20th century. This house has been restored, refurbished with EU funds, using only traditional material and techniques. Here is Stefan Chelban once again, giving us further details on the monastic life of the Cave monastery in the Old Orhei: We understand initially the monastery was inhabited by 12 monks since there are 12 cells by means of which we can tell each cell was individual, so there were 12 monks. We do not know exactly the year when it was built, yet that happened somewhere between 14th to 15th centuries. December 1, 2024 UPDATE A roundup of domestic and international news Newsflash Newsroom, 01.12.2024, 23:20 Elections. The Social Democratic Party (PSD) is ranked first after Sundays parliamentary elections in Romania, according to exit poll data presented at the end of the voting by TV stations in Bucharest. According to the polls, PSD got approximately 25% of the votes. In second place is AUR (nationalist opposition) with 19%. USR (in opposition) and PNL (co-ruling with PSD) would have received around 15.5% of the votes. UDMR is, as usual, on the electoral threshold of five percent. The populist parties SOS Romania and the Young Peoples Party are also said to have crossed the threshold. The turnout exceeded 52%. Statements. The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, has stated that he voted in Sundays parliamentary elections for a European country. It is a very important vote, because the laws in Romania are voted on in Parliament, the Government is voted on in Parliament said Iohannis, who, this month, ends his second and last five-year presidential term to which the Constitution entitles him . This December 1st is about choosing between stability and chaos, between development and austerity says in a message posted on Facebook the Social Democratic Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who pleads for a Parliament that keeps things under control, in order to dont slide down a dangerous slope. In turn, the Senate Speaker Nicolae Ciuca (PNL, co-governing with PSD), spoke about the duty to put stability, dialogue and respect for citizens first, in a period marked by challenges and important decisions. From the opposition, the head of the Save Romania Union (USR), Elena Lasconi, stated, upon leaving the polls, that she voted with the confidence that Romanians would remain free and that the future Parliament would adopt important laws for the prosperity of the people. The president of the AUR (nationalist opposition), George Simion, stated that he voted for the countrys children, for Romanians who have gone into exile and for Romanias senior citizens. The independent candidate in the presidential elections, Calin Georgescu, a declared nationalist, but accused of pro-Russian sentiments, says that he voted for Romania, for respect, for total political responsibility dedicated to the Romanian nation. The president of UDMR (The Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians) (over time, part of the various coalition governments in Bucharest, either right-wing or left-wing), Kelemen Hunor, stated that he voted for the future of the Hungarian community in Romania and for a strong representation of it in Parliament. National Day. Romanias National Day was celebrated, on Sunday, throughout the country, with parades, military and religious ceremonies. In the morning, the traditional parade took place in the capital, in which more than 2,500 Romanian and foreign soldiers participated. December 1st became an official holiday after the anti-communist Revolution of 1989, marking the completion, at the end of the First World War, in 1918, of the process of establishing the Romanian unitary national state. Then, all the provinces with a majority Romanian population under the rule of the neighboring multinational empires, Tsarist and Austro-Hungarian came under the authority of Bucharest: Bessarabia (east), Bucovina (northeast), Transylvania (center), Banat, Crisana and Maramures (west) . Messages. Representatives of foreign embassies in Bucharest wished Romania, which they consider a friend and reliable partner, Happy National Day, on December 1. The German ambassador, Peer Gebauer, wrote on the diplomatic missions Facebook page that his country and Romania are united by a wonderful friendship. Giles Portman, the British ambassador to Bucharest, described Romania as a close ally. The Ambassador of Israel, Lior Ben Dor, remembered that his parents and grandparents came from Romania. Romania has a rich history, beautiful landscapes and hospitable people. For Israel, Romania will always be a close friend with whom we have a special relationship. I am grateful that I have the chance to contribute to strengthening the relations between our countries, said Lior Ben Dor. The US Embassy in Bucharest also sent a congratulatory message through the Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who stressed that Romanias commitment to security and democracy in Europe is a model for all nations to follow. The head of American diplomacy stated that his country was proud to collaborate with Romania, to address global challenges and secure the prosperity and wellbeing of our peoples. Ukraine. The invading Russian army claims to have taken control of two more settlements, Illinka and Petrivka, in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. The Ministry of Defense in Moscow, quoted on Sunday by international press agencies, also states that its air defense has shot down, in the last 24 hours, 55 drones launched by Ukrainians. According to open source data, the Russians now have almost 20% of Ukraines territory and have advanced into Donetsk in the past two months at the fastest pace since March 2022. (MI) December 1 A special edition in celebration of the National Day of Romania December 1 Vlad Palcu, 01.12.2024, 14:00 Happy National Day! On this special day, when we all take pride to call ourselves Romanian, were airing this exclusive interview with H.E. Simona Miculescu, Romanias Ambassador to UNESCO, someone whos devoted her life to putting Romania on the global map of excellence. NIO Inc. (NIO), a Chinese automaker, announced Sunday that vehicle delivery in November 2024 increased 28.9 percent to 20,575 vehicles from last year, with 15,493 vehicles from premium smart electric vehicle brand NIO, and 5,082 vehicles from family-oriented smart electric vehicle brand ONVO. Cumulative deliveries reached 640,426 as of November 30, 2024. Looking ahead, NIO said it will continue to create value for users through continuous technological breakthroughs and innovations, exceptional products and services, and a community for shared growth. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Soon, Hyundai is launching Creta EV in India, making it companys maiden mainstream electric offering for the Asian subcontinent One of Indias leading car manufacturers, Hyundai Motor India Ltd, closed their sales account for the month of November 2024 with a slight decline in numbers. That is because festive season is over and things have been going back to normal. The decline in sales was not very profound, to affect companys reputation as one of the leading brands in India. Hyundai Sales November 2024 From hatchback (Grand i10 NIOS) to premium global crossovers (Ioniq 5), Hyundai Motor India Ltd has a wide portfolio. The companys best-seller continues to be Creta C-Segment SUV, which has emerged as hard to beat in its segment. With the help of Creta and other models, Hyundai has pushed its presence in rural areas too. Numbers indicate that Hyundai achieved highest-ever monthly rural contribution of 22.1% in the month of November 2024. In the domestic market, HMIL (Hyundai Motor India Ltd) sold a total of 48,246 units. Notably, SUV contribution in domestic sales accounted for as much as 68.8% last month. With the launch of the new Hy-CNG Duo, Hyundai has been very competitive in the CNG realm too. Results are pouring in with 14.4% of domestic sales accounted by CNG vehicles. Which is great start to rival market leaders in CNG vehicles, like Maruti Suzuki. In November 2024, Hyundai sold a total of 61,252 units with a 6.9% YoY decline in sales when compared to 65,801 units sold last year. YTD (Jan 2024 Nov 2024), Hyundai sold Hyundai sold a total of 7,09,041 units with a 0.04% drop in sales. Domestic sales was at 48,246 units and exports accounted for 13,006 units. In both domestic and exports, HMIL witnessed a YoY decline of 2.4% and 20.5% respectively. YTD numbers were slightly positive in domestic sales as there was a 0.7% YoY growth, while YTD exports took a hit and dropped by 2.8% YoY. Hyundai is set to launch its maiden mainstream electric car in India in the form of Creta EV in January 2024, pushing boundaries further. Statement from Hyundai Motor India Ltd Commenting on HMIL sales, Mr. Tarun Garg, Whole-time Director and Chief Operating Officer, HMIL said, HMILs push towards fortifying SUV supremacy continued in November with SUVs contributing 68.8% of our total Domestic sales. We also bolstered HMILs presence in the hinterland of India, by achieving highest ever monthly rural contribution of 22.1% in November. Our innovative Hy-CNG technology continues to strengthen HMILs CNG sales, with a 14.4% contribution in November 2024. While the base variants of BE 6e and XEV 9e are well-equipped, they lack features such as panoramic sunroof, Level 2 ADAS, self-parking function, etc. With ambitious plans to dominate the EV segment, Mahindra has introduced two of its born-electric SUVs. While BE 6e is priced at Rs 18.90 lakh, the XEV 9e starts at Rs 21.90 lakh. Multiple new models will be launched in the coming years. Mahindra BE 6e Pack One Features, safety kit As of now, Mahindra has revealed the details of only the base variants of BE 6e and XEV 9e. Pack One terminology is being used to refer to the base variants. Talking about features, the BE 6e Pack One base variant gets an all-LED lighting setup. It has 18-inch wheels with aero covers and exterior cladding in glossy black finish. A 150-litre frunk provides extra storage space in addition to the 455-litre rear boot. High-tech equipment is one of the key USPs of Mahindras born-electric SUVs. Even the base variant of BE 6e is fully loaded. It has dual 12.3-inch screens for the infotainment and a customizable instrument cluster. The carmaker is using its proprietary Mahindra Artificial Intelligence Architecture (MAIA) to power the various tech systems. One of the fastest Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets has been used to ensure a seamless experience. A comprehensive range of connectivity and remote functions are available with Mahindra BE 6e. Theres OTA updates, 5G connectivity, pre-installed OTT apps, built-in Amazon Alexa, social media apps and external device support for rear passengers. BE 6e Pack One base variant has four speakers and two tweeters. It has push button start/stop, fabric upholstery, keyless entry, auto climate control and rear AC vents. Other highlights include a cooled glove box, 65W Type-C charging ports at front and rear, tilt and telescopic steering adjustment and cruise control. Safety kit includes six airbags, rear camera and sensors, brake-by-wire tech, rear disc brakes, tyre pressure monitoring system and auto headlights. Theres rain sensing wipers, electronic parking brake and driver drowsiness detection system. Mahindra XEV 9e Pack One Features, safety kit Most of the features listed above for BE 6e are common for XEV 9e. There are only a few differences in the equipment and safety package. For example, an electronic parking brake is not available with the Pack One base variant of XEV 9e. Other missing items include 5G connectivity, push button start/stop and pre-installed OTT, news, social media and shopping apps. Mahindra BE 6e Pack One, XEV 9e Pack One Powertrain Both models share the same powertrain. The 59-kWh battery pack connects to an electric motor that generates 231 hp and 380 Nm. Both SUVs have a range of 542 km (MIDC). Other features common to both SUVs include virtual engine sounds, single-pedal drive, variable ratio power steering and drive modes of Range, Everyday and Race. BE 6e Pack One base variant gets Boost function with the Race drive mode. It also has low rolling resistance tyres. Mahindra BE 6e Pack One, XEV 9e Pack One Desirable features Base variants of BE 6e and XEV 9e miss out on safety features such as 7-airbags, ADAS Level 2, blind spot monitoring, a 360 camera and self-parking function. Other items missing include a panoramic sunroof with integrated ambient lighting and a premium 1,400W, 16-speaker sound system by Harman Kardon with Dolby Atmos. BE 6e and XEV 9e base variants also do not have a head-up display with augmented reality. To access these features, users will need to choose the higher variants of BE 6e and XEV 9e. BE 6e Pack One and XEV 9e Pack One base variants are available at Rs 18.90 lakh and Rs 21.90 lakh. However, users will need to pay an additional amount for the charger and any installation required. Users will be able to choose from a 7.2 kW and a 11 kW charger. Even though Maruti Suzuki is primarily known for small, budget and affordable vehicles, there is an uproar in more premium offerings Indias leading car manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki, has been holding the top position for a very long time. With an expansive portfolio and loyal customer base, Marutis sales appeal is unmatched in India. The 1,81,531 units of total sales from Maruti Suzuki and YoY growth is a testament to its popularity. Maruti Sales November 2024 For the month of November 2024, Maruti Suzuki pushed a total (Total Domestic + Total Exports) of 1,81,531 units with a YoY growth of 10.39% over 1,64,439 units from last year. If we take sales performance FTD 2024-25 (April November), we get staggering figures like 14,51,383 units, up by 2.66% from 14,13,741 units. Breaking down the numbers, we have to start from Marutis Mini segment consisting Alto and S-Presso. This segment is on a decline with SUV popularity and with 9,750 units last month, sales dropped from 9,959 units last year. FTD, we got 82,224 units, down from 97,077 units sold last year. Even Marutis compact segment consisting of Baleno, Celerio, Dzire, Ignis, Swift and WagonR saw a slight decline as there were 61,373 units sold as opposed to 64,679 units from last year. Saving grace was mid-size segment consisting of Ciaz sedan. Even though it is at the fag end of its life cycle, Ciaz clocked 597 units last month, up from 278 units sold last year. Maruti cars branded under the Utility segment have been witnessing steady growth. This is where we find vehicles like Brezza, Ertiga, Fronx, Grand Vitara, Invicto, XL6 and Jimny. This segment sold 59,003 units as opposed to 49,016 units sold last year. FTD, Maruti sold 4,73,312 units as opposed to 4,14,631 units sold a year ago. Being the only one to cater to Vans with Eeco, Maruti has steady sales in this segment as seen by 10,589 units sold last month, as opposed to 10,226 units sold a year ago. The company also caters to selling cars to other brands like Toyota with great numbers. Sales to other OEMs stood at 8,660 units last month, almost doubled from 4,822 units from last year. Maruti Exported 28,633 Units The company also makes Super Carry LCV, which sold 2,926 units last month, up from 2,509 units sold from last year. In total, Maruti Suzuki sold 1,52,898 units in the domestic market with a gain in YoY sales as opposed to 1,41,489 units. FTD, Marutis total domestic sales stood at 12,41,306 units, which is an impressive feat compared to last years 12,36,298 units. Where exports are concerned, Maruti Suzuki has taken decent strides and is pushing itself to do better. This is evident as companys exports grew from 22,950 units last year to 28,633 units in November 2024. Even in FTD figures, we can see the growth from 1,77,443 units last year to 2,10,077 units last month. By Chen Tianhao, Zhao Li (ECNS)-- The China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) is like "a melting pot" for exchange and collaboration, opening up new routes, new friendship, new channels of cooperation, said an African official in an exclusive interview with China News Network. The second CISCE, themed "Connecting the World for a Shared Future," concluded in Beijing on Saturday, attracting 620 enterprises and organizations from China and abroad. The CISCE not only provides opportunities to work with Chinese operators, enterprises, and institutions but also enables participants to engage with pavilions from around the world, said Alaa Ezz, secretary general of the Union of African Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture and Professions, at the expo. He noted that transport and logistics that connect the world, as well as free trade are two most important aspects to him. Ezz pointed out that both non-tariff barriers, and tariff barriers block international trade. By the end of the day, the one who pays that is the consumer, is the citizen, he stressed. Ezz emphasized Africa's openness to global partnerships, particularly with China. China is the leading trade partner and investment partner. China has been working very heavily in infrastructure, like the development of ports, of railways, of roads. So, its opening the hinterland and the landlocked countries and parts of Africa to the world, he said. Ezz also lauded the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), calling it " key to linking Africa with China and with the rest of the world." Highlighting the Suez Canal and Alexandria Port, he described them as symbols of China-Egypt cooperation and friendship. He added that under the BRI framework, these landmarks are seizing new development opportunities. Amid the accelerating global push for digital transformation, Africa is actively advancing its digital economy. Ezz pointed out that Africa has immense potential in e-commerce and digital services, with China's technology and investment playing a pivotal role in supporting the continents digital transition. Looking ahead, Ezz expressed confidence that collaboration between Africa and China will lead to a more prosperous and sustainable future for Africa. A Long March-12 carrier rocket carrying two experimental satellites blasts off from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in the southern island province of Hainan, Nov. 30, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] China on Saturday successfully launched a new carrier rocket into space from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in the southern island province of Hainan. The Long March-12 carrier rocket blasted off at 10:25 p.m. (Beijing Time) from the site's No. 2 launch pad, and sent two experimental satellites into their planned orbits. The launch mission achieved complete success at 10:48 p.m., according to Hainan provincial authorities. The mission was the maiden flight of the Long March-12 carrier rocket, and the first launch mission undertaken by the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site. The construction of the launch site, which is the first to be built for commercial missions in China, commenced in July 2022. With investment of over 4 billion yuan (about 553 million U.S. dollars), the launch site was built and is being operated by the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Co., Ltd. (HICAL). It includes a launch area, a TT&C (telemetry, tracking and command) building, rocket assembly buildings, spacecraft testing facilities, fuel storage facilities and other structures. Location advantages The launch site is located at a latitude of 20 degrees north, benefiting from the advantages of this low latitude, which can increase rocket payload capacities and reduce rocket fuel costs. The site is located off the coast of Wenchang City, making it more convenient and safer than inland launch sites as large rockets can be transported to site by ship, which is very important for commercial launch services. The Hainan provincial government is also planning a new, purpose-built port. The coastal location is also an advantage for HICAL's recovery of reusable rockets after launch. The company is working with commercial rocket developers on experiments related to vertical landings and the recovery of rockets from the sea. The site currently has two launch pads for liquid propellant rockets. The No. 1 pad is designed for the Long March-8, China's new generation medium-lift carrier rocket. The No. 2 pad is capable of launching multiple types of rockets with various diameters from commercial rocket companies. Each pad has an annual capacity of 16 launches. The site's propellant and gas supply system is capable of refueling and supplying liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen, kerosene and methane. Growing industrial chain The launch site will also accelerate the cultivation of the commercial space industry and talent in Hainan, with industrial chains covering spacecraft R&D, launch services and satellite applications. Such integration is conducive to the future high-quality development of the island province. Domestic space companies such as i-Space, Galactic Energy, LandSpace, Space Pioneer and CAS Space have either established facilities in Hainan or plan to do so. In one example, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology has built a Long March-8 rocket assembly plant in Hainan, with an annual output of 50 rockets. Deep Blue Aerospace will build rocket and satellite assembly and testing facilities, as well as first-stage recovery plants and supporting infrastructure around the launch site. This will enable rockets to be launched immediately after they are completed at the plant, boosting launch efficiency significantly and reducing costs. Aerospace talent pool has also been building in Hainan in recent years, including Chen Shuai, a dispatch supervisor at the launch site. Born in 1995 in Hainan's Chengmai County, Chen has been particularly interested in astronomy and aerospace since childhood. When he studied at the University of Science and Technology of China, he chose the department of thermal science and energy -- a discipline related to aerospace. The growing commercial space industry attracted him to return to his home province in 2021 to join the launch site's development team. Many of his university classmates now work in commercial space companies, including firms in Hainan. Future prospects Among the two satellites launched Saturday, one is an experimental satellite for satellite internet service developed by GalaxySpace, a unicorn company based in Beijing. It has developed China's first type of flat satellite using flexible solar wings and achieved the mass production of low-orbit broadband communication satellites. Following the launch mission on Saturday, the site plans to launch a Long March-8 carrier rocket from its No. 1 launch pad around the end of the year. The commercial space industry was included in China's government work report for the first time this year. It was listed among the "emerging industries and future-oriented industries" that the government plans to cultivate. At a forum on the commercial space industry held earlier this month in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, Li Guoping, chief engineer at the China National Space Administration, disclosed that the country is mapping a development plan for civil space infrastructure from 2026 to 2035. He said that the commercial space industry should be included in the overall layout of China's space development, and expressed support for commercial satellite exports, commercial data application and international commercial launch services. According to the 2023 China aerospace science and technology blue book, the country completed 26 commercial launches in 2023, accounting for 39 percent of its total launches. China's commercial space market has maintained rapid growth since 2015, with an average annual growth rate of more than 20 percent from 2017 to 2024. It is estimated that its market value will be about 2.34 trillion yuan by 2024. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The NYPD arrested an 18-year-old Clifton man in connection to possessing an illegal firearm, authorities said. Zaquan Harris, of the 200 block of Park Hill Avenue, was apprehended on Saturday for allegedly possessing a loaded gun on the 140 block of Park Hill Avenue shortly after 8 p.m. on Nov. 30, police said. The black firearm had seven rounds of ammunition within it. Police said the weapon was stolen from North Carolina. Additionally, a purple firearm was recovered during the arrest, authorities said. Harris faces charges including criminal possession of a weapon and stolen property. In a tweet from the 120th Precincts X account, the precinct acknowledged the hard work of officers and field intelligence detectives from the 120 precinct along with Patrol Borough of Staten Islands community response team for their roles in getting this illegal firearm off the streets. Despite frigid temperatures, your 120 Officers, 120 field intelligence detectives and the PBSI community response team were working hard removing illegal firearms within our community, the tweet said. According to preliminary radio transmissions, police requested aviation to aid in searching for Harris. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Staten Island student journalists from high schools across the borough are advancing their skills in community news through a program with the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com. Through the High School Journalism Immersion program, young people are exploring the world of multimedia journalism from experts in the field providing an outlet for them to explore their passions, think critically and creatively, and produce content for Staten Islands community newspaper, the Staten Island Advance. They are also engaging with those who have unique viewpoints and backgrounds that may differ from their own. We are proud to offer Staten Island students this opportunity, said Brian Laline, executive editor of the Advance/SILive.com. It is so important our youth recognize the importance of local journalism in a community, especially at a time when so many communities in America are losing those local and independent voices. And what makes it so exciting for us is the excitement the students show in covering events and giving their voice to stories important to their neighbors. It is an experience, no matter what career they pursue, that will always serve them well. Students in the program, which runs from fall through spring, meet weekly in the newsroom, located at Corporate Commons 3 in Bloomfield. These meetings are a mix of hands-on work, presentations from experts in the field and brainstorming new ideas. Caroline Diamond Harrison, publisher of the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com, greets students during a recent meeting. (Staten Island Advance/Mike Matteo) Mike Matteo It is rare to come across an internship quite like the Journalism Immersion program, said Olivia Treadwell, a senior at Susan Wagner High School. During the meetings so far, weve gotten a ton of real-world experience by learning skills directly from people in the field, and then getting to write and publish our own work after. Treadwell continued: I feel like this program is a great way for young student journalists to amplify their voices, while also gaining preparation for careers in media. There will never be enough cameras or notepads to capture everything happening in the world, but I want to help take steps toward sharing as many peoples stories as I can through participating in the Journalism Immersion program. Students also will learn about podcasting, photography and beat reporting. The ultimate goal of the program this year is to have each student work on various projects, including in-depth pieces and collaborative stories. Students will have the opportunity to see their hard work published, and will earn a stipend for each published project. It is incredibly inspiring to see how smart, engaged and civic-minded Staten Islands youth are, said Gail Lubin, content director at the Advance/SILive.com. The students who participate in our immersion program have fresh ideas, important perspectives and are stepping up to serve their community by telling the stories of their friends and neighbors. Multimedia Specialist Jason Paderon, right, gives students a lesson in photography. (Staten Island Advance/Mike Matteo) Mike Matteo Nia Turashvili, a freshman at Staten Island Technical High School, said she was seeking a new journalism environment when she applied to the Advance/SILive.coms program. Ive met a bunch of great people, and its a more professional environment, so I am learning a lot about the field that I wasnt learning before, said Turashvili. Some students said they chose the program to continue to spark their interest in journalism. I chose this program, because as someone who wants to pursue journalism in college, the Advance has taught me very well about how to understand the logistics of article-type writing and what is important about it, said Nick Acquilano, a junior at Staten Island Academy. I encourage anyone who is interested in this field to take a such program like this one. The initiative began in 2022 as an e-mentor initiative with Curtis High School. It expanded to an in-person program last year to include students at other schools, including Staten Island Technical High School and Staten Island Academy. For the first time this year, the program was open to students attending any high school on Staten Island. Students will learn about podcasting, photography and beat reporting from experts in the field. (Staten Island Advance/Mike Matteo) Mike Matteo The program is led by Cassy Sommer, community news manager at the Advance/SILive.com, and Lauren Lovallo, supervisor of social audience and content for the organization. The Advance/SILive.com is so proud to sponsor this program, led by two extraordinary journalists who have led coverage on some of Staten Islands most pressing issues, said Lubin. We love to see the students increase their confidence and skills, and ultimately were building a foundation for the next generation of Staten Island journalists. Staff members at the Advance/SILive.com volunteer to act as mentors, working with students based upon interests and projects they are passionate about. And one of the driving forces behind the previous e-mentor collaboration with Curtis High School, Cadence Turner, is serving as an adviser for this years program. Being a part of this program has filled me with so much gratitude, newly acquired skills, and joy in the time since it began, said Alexa Viggiano, a junior at St. Joseph Hill Academy. I wanted to be a real journalist for my entire life, and it is simply surreal to finally be meeting in a professional environment to discuss my passion and write about my community. My involvement with the Advance has solidified within me that I would like to write as a career for the rest of my life. Here are the Staten Island students participating in the program this year: Nick Acquilano, junior at Staten Island Academy Gabriella Alvarez, freshman at Curtis High School Patricia Block-Sheehan, junior at Staten Island Academy Daniela Diaz, sophomore at Staten Island Technical High School Jesus Guerrero, sophomore at Curtis High School Hari Jafri, junior at Curtis High School Dante Jikia, senior at Susan Wagner High School Genevieve Lopez, junior at Curtis High School Jean Machuca, junior at Curtis High School Adrienne Monteleone, junior at St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School Maia Pudelkiewicz, sophomore at St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School Olivia Treadwell, senior at Susan Wagner High School Nia Turashvili, freshman at Staten Island Technical High School Alexa Viggiano, junior at St. Joseph Hill Academy The student journalists are pictured below. Shown here, clockwise, are: Patricia Block-Sheehan, junior, Staten Island Academy; Jesus Guerrero, sophomore, Curtis High School; Jean Machuca, junior, Curtis High School; Maia Pudelkiewicz, sophomore, St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School. (Staten Island Advance/Mike Matteo)Mike Matteo Shown here, clockwise, are: Nicholas Acquilano, junior, Staten Island Academy; Haris Jafri, junior, Curtis High School; Adrienne Monteleone, junior, St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School; Daniela Diaz, sophomore, Staten Island Technical High School. (Staten Island Advance/Mike Matteo)Mike Matteo Shown here, clockwise, are: Olivia Treadwell, senior, Susan Wagner High School; Alexa Viggiano, junior, St. Joseph Hill Academy High School; Nia Turashvili, freshman, Staten Island Technical High School. (Staten Island Advance/Mike Matteo)Mike Matteo United Workers Union national secretary Tim Kennedy said Woolworths shelves could be replenished very quickly so long as the supermarket giant addresses staff concerns. The reality is, shoppers have already decided theyre going to shop at other supermarkets to get what they need. Theres no shortages anywhere else, Kennedy said. United Workers Union national secretary Tim Kennedy. Credit: Eamon Gallagher Woolworths can fix this by simply sitting down and listening to what the workers legitimate concerns are and meeting them. Its well within their remit to meet them on this. These are not radical proposals being sought. If they did that, then all warehouses open again, people are back to work, and shelves are full. Nearly two weeks have passed since 1500 Woolworths warehouse workers walked off the job at four distribution centres in Victoria and NSW, demanding improved terms to their workplace agreement. Central to the dispute is the companys new performance management system, the Coaching and Productivity Framework, which workers say places unreasonable pressure on them to meet productivity targets while compromising their safety. Kennedy said negotiations were currently underway between the union and the supermarket giant. Its our intention and our aim to reach an agreement as quickly as possible and have workers be able to go back to work on fair and just terms, he said. Our workers dont want to be out on strike and not being paid. Theyre there to try and get an agreement. More than two years have passed since the NSW Crime Commission found that criminals are funnelling billions of dollars of dirty cash through poker machines every year in NSW and said that mandatory cashless gaming cards would be the most effective way to solve the problem. Despite much political jockeying since, we still havent been able to kick the habit. Beyond their attraction to organised crime, pokies are a blight on Sydney and our state. Some 87,000 machines prey on the vulnerable in pubs and clubs, triggering cumulative player losses of $8.129 billion last year. A cashless gaming card could rein in criminality and the human misery inflicted by an industry that has for too long lazily relied on the machines to prop up their business models. The Herald has campaigned for change for the past two years, and we have no intention of backing off. Indeed, the fight is about to enter new territory following the delivery to the Minns government of a major report that could prove a pivotal moment in the debate. A recap: the Coalition under Dominic Perrottet went to the March 2023 state election promising to transition the states poker machines to cashless technology by 2028 in a $340 million package of measures. Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello hailed the plan at the time as historic and the biggest reform he had ever seen in this space. NSW Labor went to the election with a much less ambitious idea to hold a trial into cashless gaming should it win. It also vowed to outlaw political donations from clubs that house poker machines, to reduce the cash feed-in limits in new machines and to ban pokie advertising outside all venues, including VIP room signage. The vast estate of a former Sydney beauty queen, including her $12 million northern beaches home, has been examined in a messy court feud over the validity of a will made days before her death. Gail Margaret Thelen, who rose to prominence as a teen representing Australia at the 1974 Miss World pageant in London, signed a new will while gravely ill in hospital on April 20, 2021. She died a week later, aged 65. A multimillion-dollar Clontarf home owned by the late Gail Thelen, a former Sydney beauty queen, was at the centre of an inheritance dispute. Credit: Jamie Brown, Nearmap The NSW Supreme Court was required to consider her legal capacity to make that will, which would have benefited her partner Steven Rundle Bone by giving him a right to live for life at the Clontarf home, in addition to at least $1 million contemplated under an earlier will. The court challenge was brought by her brother, Paul Petith. In a decision this month, Justice Ian Pike said Bone appears to have been the driving force behind Gail changing her will and stood to benefit most. A week after Tracey Butler and her husband moved into their new home in 2018, she noticed people in full hazmat suits walking around her street. We thought it was a gas leak, she said. The next day, the Queensland Department of Environment knocked on her door to tell her they were conducting tests to see what was in the atmosphere. I asked why were they wearing full hazmat gear... they replied, we dont know what chemicals are out there from these facilities, we dont want to breathe it in our lungs, Butler said. What followed over the next six years was thousands of residents of Ipswich, southwest of Brisbane, complaining of odours coming from several waste management facilities, known as the Swanbank landfill, surrounding their suburb. Various descriptions of the smell range from raw sewage, ammonia, ethanol, rotting compost, sour milk and decaying animal bodies. Three Swanbank landfills were major sources of odour complaints in Ipswich. Credit: Mark Solomons We havent slept with our window open in six years, Butler said. Its easier to close up the house than to wake up and vomit everywhere. Last week, waste management company Cleanaway was handed a landmark fine totalling $600,000 for those odours. Residents and Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding now want the long-term impact of exposure to the potent smells to be investigated. Loading The previous Queensland government had declined numerous requests ... for a public health inquiry, Harding said. The new LNP government campaigned on the promise of establishing a comprehensive public health inquiry to assess the health risks. Then-opposition health spokesperson Ros Bates said, Labor has ignored this issue for too long, leaving Ipswich residents in the dark about the potential dangers to their health. A month into its new term, the Crisafulli government is yet to respond to requests for an update on the status of those plans. I look forward to meeting with the new Health Minister Tim Nicholls on this matter as a priority, Harding said. I kept getting told that I was young and fit and healthy because I was always at the gym, or always out walking and I ate well and all those things. The doctors referred her to a psychologist and offered her headache medications but repeatedly declined to send her for a brain scan. That consultation was one of more than 10 times Purtill attended the same GP clinic over an 11-month period, seeking help for worsening headaches and other worrying symptoms that started escalating around February 2020. But when the 25-year-old spoke to a GP, the advice was dismissive and unhelpful. She says the doctor diagnosed her with COVID stress and recommended she lock herself in a dark room when she felt a migraine coming on. Her vision went blotchy. She couldnt walk. There was an intense pain in her head and a whooshing sound in her ears. Primary school teacher Nikki Purtill knew something was wrong when, in the middle of teaching a class, she was overcome with a migraine so severe she wasnt able to use her phone to call for help. This story is part of our investigative series on medical misogyny in Australia, exploring its impact and sharing solutions to address it. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. We want to understand how medical misogyny is happening in Australia, and share the best ideas to address it. To do that, we want to hear from you. Historically, women have been discouraged from participating in clinical trials and are more likely to be misdiagnosed or diagnosed late for various health issues. It takes an average of six to eight years for women to get a diagnosis for endometriosis, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The consequences can be fatal. Women admitted to hospitals with serious heart attacks were half as likely to receive necessary tests and treatments and died at twice the rate of men six months after discharge, according to a 2018 study by the University of Sydney . This phenomenon is rooted in a long history of failures to study and understand female bodies. Women report that their pain has been dismissed or misdiagnosed, while some doctors say the Medicare system gives them insufficient time and funding to manage complex womens healthcare issues. Purtills story is being shared to launch an investigative series by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald into medical misogyny. When Purtill got the correct diagnosis, she was on the brink of death. In January last year, Australias Assistant Health Minister Ged Kearney convened the National Womens Health Advisory Council to advise the government on how to update the National Womens Health Strategy to acknowledge medical misogyny and incorporate steps to address it within the strategy. The survey was part of a push by governments and from within the healthcare sector to reckon with medical misogyny. A recent survey of 3000 Australian women, caregivers and experts found two-thirds had experienced gender bias in the healthcare system. You can share your story with our team of health and investigative reporters using the form below. Kearney hasnt been able to shake the thought that if Resa had been a man she would have been treated differently. Resa, 60, died alone in her apartment that night. She had a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. About the same time, her cousin Resa died . As Kearney tells it, Resa went to an emergency department in Melbourne complaining of numbness and painful tingling from the waist down, only to be sent home with Panadol and told to see her GP. When she was appointed to the ministry in 2022, she had a number of doctors, nurses and academics approach her about gender bias in healthcare. Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Ged Kearney says womens concerns are often dismissed. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen I think were trying to teach a whole new generation that we are not just small men and weve always been treated as just that, Kearney said. A tragic example of how the consequences of the lack of research into womens health can be deadly is Sydney woman Julie Luezzi, who died from a form of cancer linked to her textured breast implant. But, Kearney says, when you challenge things like well-established guidelines, theres always going to be pushback In fact, one doctor, a very senior doctor, said, We cant have guidelines for every minority group. She says medical professionals have been supportive of initiatives aimed at addressing medical misogyny. Kearney says the womens health council will undertake an audit of the Medicare rebate system next year to investigate why rebates are higher for procedures for men, such as scrotal ultrasounds, than they are for procedures for women, such as internal ultrasounds. It was such a bolt of lightning I was so shocked by her death, and the fact that they didnt even really examine her. In 2002 Luezzi had implant surgery at age 40 she was self-conscious about being flat-chested, and the procedure was popular among her friends. In April 2013, she was diagnosed with breast-implant associated anaplastic (BIA) large cell lymphoma (ALCL). Julie Luezzi died of BIA-ALCL in April 2013. Credit: Luezzi described her misplaced shame, the pain and terrifying unknowns of her lymphoma in a letter three months before she died. I am struggling to keep up with all that is happening to me, she wrote. I dont really understand what it all means. Neither did the medical profession. Despite the first cases of this type of cancer being observed more than a decade previously, it was only in the three years before Luezzi died that robust research and data collection shed light on the extent of the problem. Just months after her death, the medical watchdog recalled eight types of macro and micro textured implants, while their manufacturers addressed a number of safety and performance concerns. The crackdown affected all implants and breast tissue expanders, with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) imposing strict conditions across the implant market. Luezzi is one of five women in Australia and New Zealand who have died of the breast-implant associated ALCL, and there were 63 confirmed deaths worldwide. Luezzi never wanted her two sons, Paul and Ross, to know what killed her. It was her dying wish, Julies sister, Donna Ohlsen, said. She eventually told them the truth five years later. In her mind, she died of her own vanity, Ohlsen said. But that wasnt it at all. She was the most amazing woman. She was stunning, had a big heart, very stubborn, and a real larrikin. What she went through it was just horrific. In the months before she died, Luezzi wrote: I know if we had all the information that is available now [my doctor] and I would not have chosen this implant. Gaslit, dismissed and ignored This year the Victorian government launched an inquiry into womens pain, with the final report to be released early next year. A NSW Birth Trauma inquiry received more than 4000 submissions, resulting in 43 recommendations in May. Professor Sue Matthews, a former nurse and chief executive at the Royal Womens Hospital in Melbourne, says large numbers of women feel dismissed and not heard when seeking healthcare, and clearly people in all areas of the public think women are hysterical. She described the more than 13,000 testimonies to the pain inquiry as heart-wrenching. Common experiences included feeling gaslit, being dismissed by doctors or being told pain was in their mind. So entrenched is gender bias in research that 80 per cent of pain studies are conducted on men or male mice despite women representing the vast majority of chronic pain sufferers. Dr Anita Munoz, chair of Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Victoria (RACGP), said she was aware some GPs were criticised for their treatment of female patients. But she argues both doctors and patients bear the brunt of an outdated funding system in which a woman may attend with up to six problems to discuss in the insufficient time (15-minutes) for which standard appointments are rebated. I acknowledge there are women who have had experiences of not being believed about their pain, and its very important to be aware women report difficulties, she says. But I would be reluctant to say its a GP issue My profession is singled out as the lowest-hanging fruit but we acknowledge women have been poorly understood and that has occurred. Research funding bias Gender bias in research funding was also evident, says Matthews, a member of the federal governments national womens health advisory committee. Five times more funding goes into research into male erectile dysfunction which affects 19 per cent of men than it does into premenstrual syndrome, which affects 90 per cent of women, she says. In April, a study by four health academics from James Cook University found there may be significant consequences for womens health due to no fixed or explicit requirement to include womens health in Australian medical school curricula, and because textbooks do not account for sex and gender differences. Important sex and gender differences in medicine are not reflected, says the study, published in the journal Womens Health Reports. New Medicare item numbers introduced to cover longer gynaecological appointments for issues including endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome and complex pelvic pain were a good step in the right direction, said obstetrician Marilla Druitt. But significant investment in education and training about womens health was still needed. Dr Marilla Druitt has mixed emotions about the term medical misogyny. Credit: Nobody goes to work wanting to do a bad job, said Druitt. But systemic issues, such as Medicare rebates that are higher for mens gendered health procedures versus womens, endure. Still, Druitt says she has very mixed emotions about use of the term medical misogyny, which has entered discussions about womens experience of the health system. I get the point that a lot of people will feel it was particularly anti-women, the bad things that happened [to them], but Im just thinking about all the gorgeous male physicians I work with, she said. One of the male, white doctors almost apologised for being a male, white doctor. I just thought, here you are, trying to do your absolute best for the women in your community; I dont feel like you need to apologise. Over-represented in medical negligence cases Bridie Walsh, a practice leader in medical law with law firm Slater and Gordon, has observed a trend in dismissive attitudes towards women with abdominal pain, including the misdiagnosis of women with ectopic pregnancies. Youve got someone whos got an ectopic pregnancy and shes gone to the hospital saying, Im in pain Im lying on the bathroom tiles to get some reprieve and theyre saying, No, youre just pregnant. In fact, her [fallopian] tube is rupturing, Walsh says. At least 60 per cent of Slater and Gordon medical negligence clients are female, in contrast to work injuries or transport accidents cases, in which clients are more likely to be men. Anne Shortall, a medical negligence lawyer with Slater and Gordon, says the firm also commonly sees cases in which women with breast cancer symptoms have been initially dismissed, resulting in a delayed diagnosis. You can go from someone whos very able to be treated successfully, to someone whos got metastatic breast cancer, who passes away, Shortall says. It is such stories that helped to convince Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas that the use of the term medical misogyny is justified. The phenomenon starts in medical schools, where inadequate information about womens bodies and gendered health needs are not taught. I learned the term medical misogyny is used by many of the female health practitioners Ive got to meet and know, says Thomas. Because they see it and they live it. Lucky to survive By the time Nikki Purtill made her final GP appointment, she had become so unwell her left leg was sometimes dragging behind her and she couldnt shower. She told the GP firmly, Im not leaving here without a slip to be scanned. That CT scan took place in January 2021. The radiology clinic receptionist called her afterwards in a fluster, apologising she hadnt been able to rouse Purtills doctor because of the late hour. Im ringing to tell you that something is wrong, she said. You need to present yourself to emergency immediately. At the hospital in Bendigo, in regional Victoria, she was ushered onto a bed, where a young female emergency doctor held her hand. Nikki Purtill recovers from her surgery. Credit: She said, You have a mass in your brain that is the size of an orange. You are going to go to Melbourne now and have surgery. Doctors told her that without the surgery, Purtill would have had, at best, two weeks to live, and it was possible she could have died that night in her sleep. Purtill suspects that if she was a 25-year-old man, she would have received a diagnosis earlier. Now 29 and a mother, Purtill endures ongoing symptoms from the damage caused by the cyst, including nerve damage on her left side, occasional headaches and visual disturbances. I know everyones human and makes mistakes, but some mistakes can cost people their lives, she says. Im not the only person with this kind of story. Im a lucky one because I survived. Theres lots of people that dont get a second chance. Get the days breaking news, entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy. Sign up to receive our Evening Edition newsletter. Hikers step off the trail as a mountain biker climbs under the Trail Fly Over bridge where the downhill bike-only Captain Morgan Bike Trail crosses the new Ladders Trail in North Cheyenne Canon Park. Shoppers confronted with empty shelves at Woolworths stores across Victoria have been told to expect supplies to return to normal from Monday, when the retailer says it will reopen one of five distribution centres disrupted by industrial action. More than 1500 workers went on an indefinite strike 11 days ago, closing distribution centres connected to the supermarket chain. Four are in Victoria and one is in New South Wales. Bare shelves in a Woolworths store in Hawthorn on Saturday night. Bare shelves have been seen in Woolworths stores across the state in recent days. Customers have posted on social media that stores in Truganina, Cranbourne North, Docklands, Richmond, Brunswick, Hastings and Shepparton have been affected. At the weekend, The Age visited Woolworths stores across Melbourne and found empty shelves in all. Shoppers complained that confectionery, soft drinks, paper towels, frozen fruit and bread remained in short supply in some stores at the weekend. A senior Coalition MP has attacked the teal independents as a giant green con job who managed to dupe traditional Liberal voters as Anthony Albanese signalled next years poll would be later rather than sooner. Opposition communications spokesman Paul Fletcher, who suffered a major scare at the last election from an independent, will use a speech on Monday to argue it was a deliberate plan by the teals to put up the daughter and niece of long-term Liberal MPs as part of their effort to win. Liberal MP Paul Fletcher says people who voted for independents in 2022 were duped. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Despite opinion polls putting the Coalition either marginally in front or on a par with Labor, most electoral analysts believe Peter Dutton will struggle to form a majority government at the next election due to the loss of seats such as Wentworth, Goldstein and Curtin to independents. Fletcher suffered a 15.3 per cent drop in his primary vote in 2022 as his seat of Bradfield, in Sydneys northern suburbs, went to preferences for the first time in its history. The algorithms have learnt that the content that keeps users attention is often the worst kind of content. Like many, I find the plan to ban kids problematic. Undoubtedly well intentioned, it gives rise to risks, including some for children. Young people like going online and many use social media to build community, exercise autonomy and find information. Kids will, of course, look for ways to get around a ban, and when they do, they will find themselves in even more depraved places, as platforms will have been liberated from the need to make social media safe for kids. On Friday, the federal parliament passed a bill that sets a minimum age of 16 for access to social media sites and requires platforms to take reasonable steps to check the age of users. There is a growing consensus among parents that social media platforms are places they dont want their teen children to be. Rather than try to change the platforms themselves, the solution that has emerged is to shut kids out of social media altogether. The risks of a ban extend to adults, too; after all, to ensure children arent on the platforms, the age of every internet user will need to be checked in some way. As the countrys privacy commissioner, and as the authority responsible for overseeing the privacy protections in the new bill, Im concerned about the widespread privacy implications of the social media ban. At the same time, I cant help but ask why we have accepted that social media platforms have to be places of darkness, violence and outrage. These are, after all, not immutable objects, but technological tools, designed by humans for humans. It is within our power to change that design. There is a great deal more we could be doing to make social media a better place to be for kids, for everyone. Key to this equation is strengthening privacy protections online. Loading Social media platforms are freely available because they leverage data-driven business models, in which platforms collect individuals personal information to sell to companies for targeted advertising opportunities. The more time users spend on the platform, the more opportunities for targeted ads and the more data platforms have about the users to sell to advertisers. The algorithms used by the platforms are tweaked to optimise for eyeballs on the screen. This may be an acceptable bargain in theory, but in practice the algorithms have learnt that the content that keeps users attention is often the worst kind of content. Children getting free dental check-ups will be drawn into an industrial campaign to get better pay for the states Smile Squad and used to deliver a brochure to parents critical of the Allan government. The campaign will target schools in safe Labor seats. Workers delivering the free treatments to Victorian government schoolchildren said they have been left no choice but to effectively get their patients to dob the government in to mum and dad. Smile Squad worker Jacqui Pistone is among the dental and oral health therapists, mostly women, seeking a pay rise from the Victorian government. The take-home brochures, seen by The Age, are to be placed in the sealed treatment-plan envelopes that children take home to their parents after they are seen by the dental and oral health therapists, known as the Smile Squad. The flyers will include campaign slogans like great service, terrible pay and nothing to smile about. The campaign by the public health workers comes after 12 months of being unable to squeeze what they say is an acceptable pay rise out of the cash-strapped government. Tech giants including OpenAI, Meta and Google are being urged to tackle AIs dirty secret its massive power problem. Generative AI already uses as much energy as a small country and is predicted to rival that of Japan within a year. Such searches use 10 times the energy of a normal web search, and the technology has tripled the energy requirements of the entire tech sector in just two years. Speaking before a lecture this week about the environmental, political and social impacts of generative AI at Victorias State Library, Australian AI expert Professor Kate Crawford said the technologys rampant popularity was worsening what was an already dire climate crisis. Professor Kate Crawford says AIs rampant popularity is worsening the climate crisis. Credit: Crawford, who was recently named on Time magazines list of the 100 most influential people in AI, warns that AI systems are already reshaping the planet in lasting and often hidden ways. 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 children did not know that their father was coming. Their grandparents made them tidy their rooms, gave the house a good clean and made excuses. Yaroslava, at 14, was a bit suspicious; there were weeks to go before Christmas. Her brother Nikita, 9, was oblivious. The grandparents bundled them into the car for the long drive from Sydneys north-western suburbs to the airport on a Tuesday evening in early November, and they grudgingly complied. When Oleksandr Sinytskyi walked through the arrival doors with his partner, Anna, he looked a little lost. But when his parents and children found him, their hearts swelled. It was the same feeling as it was back in the hospital when they were born, Sinytskyi says of seeing his children again. Its a second birth. Ukrainian soldier Oleksandr Sinytskyi reunites with daughter Yaroslava and son Nikita after being detained by Russian forces for more than 18 months. Credit: Kate Geraghty This was no ordinary family reunion. Sinytskyi, 34, was a Ukrainian soldier who spent 562 days as a prisoner of war, enduring torture and privation at the hands of Russia. Advertisement He was released in February in a prisoner swap, his knee ruined from beatings and carrying other scars, weighing 45 kilograms. Sinytskyis father, Alex senior, holds his pinky in the air and says: He looked like this. He kept the secret from his grandchildren until the very last moment to maximise the joy they would get. I was worried someone was going to have a heart attack from the overflow of emotion, he says, glancing over his shoulder at wife Evgenia. But everything went fine. Sinytskyis parents have been permanent residents for more than a decade and took in Yaroslava and Nikita shortly after Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Sinytskyi, who relies on his father to translate, is in Sydney on a visitor visa. His father is adamant: We cant imagine sending him back. Russias ground and air attack began at dawn on February 24, 2022. Sinytskyi had been working in Kyiv in IT, but the day of the invasion he and a group of childhood friends enlisted in the Territorial Defence Forces. After three weeks of training, Sinytskyi was assigned to help liberate Bucha. The TDF was absorbed into the Ukrainian defence force and he was deployed on multiple missions to Kharkiv, the countrys second-largest city and close to the Russian border, where fighting was intense. During a troop rotation three months into the battle for Kharkiv, Sinytskyi and four others from his unit were walking by themselves when they heard screams. They tried to fight them back for an hour and a half, couldnt do anything, Alex translates. It was all in the dark and the Russians just tied them and put them in a truck. Advertisement After two hours of being held alongside civilians, they were taken to Russian-controlled territory, where they spent three months in a camp. From there, he was transported across the border for 11 days in a real jail then on to a facility in Galich, north-east of Moscow, where he spent more than a year. The first five days when they got there it was hell on earth, because the Russian bureau FSB [the Federal Security Service] have been beating them, torturing them, putting the wet napkin on the face simulating drowning, Alex says. This is all against all conventions. Its a bloody nightmare. My heart is in Ukraine because it is my motherland, but my head is here, Sinytskyi says. Credit: Kate Geraghty Sinytskyi said: When we got to real prison, every day in the morning and the evening we were beaten, with the clubs, electroshocked, and they pushed dogs on us. Loading His cell was designed for four but held nine. They were forced to sleep on schedule and stay on their feet the rest of the time. In winter, anyone who asked for a sweater was told to perform 1500 squats. They were repeatedly subjected to the Russian anthem and Soviet-era propaganda songs. That I know of, a couple were beaten to death, and some were taken somewhere but no one knows where, he says. Advertisement Alex says his son was psychologically broken down. He cant sleep. Any noise from above hes expecting something to fall, he says. He was tortured there in jail. He used to have a ponytail like mine, they cut it with a knife [taking] a piece of skin. The UNs Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has detailed widespread and systematic torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war at the hands of Russian captors, including severe beatings, electric shocks, sexual violence, suffocation, prolonged stress positions, forced excessive exercise, sleep deprivation, mock executions, threats of violence, and humiliation. It located 76 official facilities for holding Ukrainian prisoners of war, 31 of which were within the Russian Federation. Russias ambassador to Australia, Alexey Pavlovsky, told the ABC on November 25 he did not accept that the use of torture in Ukraine was a yes or no question. The guards justified their behaviour to Sinytskyi and his fellow prisoners by saying the Russians were the parent which had to teach the Ukrainians how to love the motherland. There were Ukrainian civilians locked up with the soldiers everywhere he was detained. Sinytskyi says he was sustained in prison by a strong sense the situation would end soon, having books to read, and the fact that mum and dad were waiting. Advertisement In Australia, Alex and Evgenia faced a black hole of information that stretched nearly two years. The only communication from their son was a few sentences scrawled on a scrap of paper and delivered to an aunt; to get past censors the message contained nothing beyond banal pleasantries. Relief is the wrong word, but at least we knew he was alive, Alex says. A copy of the letter Sinytskyi wrote while in prison. Hi grandma, everythings all right. Please tell mum and dad not to worry, I will be back soon. Im OK, health is fine. Love you all. Big hugs and kisses to Yaroslava and Nikita. The standard response whenever Alex and Evgenia asked Ukrainian authorities for an update was that their son was on a list. In February, the silence broke. Someone called us and said turn on the TV. They watched the prisoner swap on the news. Sinytskyi also had no clue he was about to be freed. The guards gave nothing away as the prisoners were loaded onto buses for a 12-hour drive to an airport. They were then blindfolded and squashed into a cargo plane. To this day, he does not know where in Russia they landed, and from there they were driven to a remote part of the border with Ukraine. Of more than 200 prisoners exchanged that day, he was No. 126. Advertisement Deir Al-Balah, Gaza Strip: An Israeli airstrike on a car in the Gaza Strip on Saturday killed five people, including employees of World Central Kitchen (WCK). The charity said it was urgently seeking more details after Israels military said it targeted a charity worker who was part of the Hamas attack that sparked the war. WCK said it was heartbroken and it had no knowledge that anyone in the car had alleged ties to the October 7, 2023 attack, and added that it was working with incomplete information. The charity said it was pausing operations in Gaza, having suspended work this year after an Israeli strike killed seven of its workers, including Australian Zomi Frankcom. The World Central Kitchen food charity aid centre in Nuseirat camp, in central Gaza, in April. Credit: Bloomberg The Israeli military said in a statement the alleged October 7 attacker took part in the assault on the kibbutz of Nir Oz, and it asked senior officials from the international community and the charity to clarify how he had come to work for World Central Kitchen. The family of the man named by Israel, Ahed Azmi Qdeih, rejected the claims as false accusations, and confirmed in a statement he had worked with the charity. Israel named him as Hazmi Kadih. Residents said one attack hit a crowded residential area in the centre of Idlib, the largest city in a rebel enclave near the Turkish border, where about 4 million people live in makeshift tents and dwellings. Iran has been a key political and military ally of Assad in Syrias long-running civil war, but it was unclear how Tehran would support Damascus in this latest flare-up, which began on Wednesday. An abandoned Syrian army tank on a highway on the outskirts of Khan Sheikhoun, south-west of Aleppo. Credit: AP Insurgents led by jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched a two-pronged attack on Aleppo and the countryside around Idlib, before moving towards neighbouring Hama province. On Sunday, government troops created a strong defensive line in northern Hama as they attempted to stall the insurgents momentum, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based opposition war monitor. Meanwhile, jets pounded Idlib and Aleppo, killing at least 15 people, said a group that operates in opposition-held areas. The total death toll from Syrian and Russian strikes since November 27 had climbed to 56, including 20 children, the White Helmets said in a statement on X. Loading The surge in fighting has raised the prospect of another violent, destabilising front reopening in the Middle East as Israel is fighting Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, conflicts that have repeatedly threatened to ignite an even wider regional war. It also risks drawing Russia and Turkey each with its own interests to protect in Syria into direct heavy fighting against each other. The insurgents announced their offensive on Wednesday, just as a ceasefire between the Lebanese Hezbollah militant group and Israel began, raising hope that tensions in the region might calm. The surprise offensive is a huge embarrassment for Assad, and it comes when his allies Iran and groups it backs and Russia are preoccupied with their own conflicts. A statement from Assads office quoted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as saying Tehran was ready to support Damascus in its counteroffensive against the insurgency. Araghchi appeared in a photograph with Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh in Tehran. However, Iranian state media also released a clip purportedly showing Araghchi dining in a restaurant in Damascus. A Syrian opposition fighter photographs a comrade stepping on a portrait of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Aleppo. Credit: AP Arab leaders including Jordans King Abdullah and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan have also called Assad to express their solidarity. The insurgents took over most of Aleppo on Saturday and made gains in the surrounding province, including capturing a military academy and a strategic town on the highway linking the city with Damascus and the coast. They also took control of the citys main water pumping station, which is no longer working, said Syrian Water Resources Minister Moataz Qattan on the pro-government radio station Sham FM. Rebel commander Colonel Hassan Abdulghani said the insurgents advanced in the countryside around Idlib, putting the province of the same name under their control. They also claimed to have entered the city of Hama, but there was no independent confirmation of that. Abdulghani said 65 Syrian troops were taken prisoner in eastern Aleppo. In Khan Sheikhoun, in Idlib province, military vehicles abandoned by Syrian troops dotted roads. People posed and took pictures of themselves on an abandoned tank on a highway, while insurgents grabbed munitions and shells from them before continuing to push deeper into the country. Loading The insurgents vowed to push all the way into Damascus, but life in the Syrian capital remained normal, with no signs of panic. In south-eastern Aleppo, however, the main road out of the city was gridlocked as people fled the fighting, and petrol stations in the area were short on fuel. US national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CNNs State of the Union programthat the US, which has about 900 troops in Syria, is watching the situation carefully. The American forces, which are in the north-east and far from Aleppo, are guarding against a resurgence by the extremist Islamic State group. The group leading the rebel advance is designated a terrorist organisation by the US, and Sullivan said Washington has real concerns about the designs and objectives of that organisation. At the same time, of course, we dont cry over the fact that the Assad government, backed by Russia, Iran and Hezbollah, are facing certain kinds of pressure, he said. Syrian state news agency SANA and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that overnight the army pushed back insurgents in the northern countryside of Hama province. Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh (left) and Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Tehran last month. Credit: AP Syrian state media said government resupply included heavy equipment and rocket launchers while Syrian and Russian airstrikes targeted weapon depots and insurgent strongholds. Sham FM reported the Syrian army shot down drones belonging to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in northern Hama. THE NETHERLANDS (THE HAGUE):--- Minister Plenipotentiary Drs. Gracita R. Arrindell, on Thursday, November 28, 2024, at the Government Administration Building, opened the Working in the Caribbean 2024 job fair, which had the aim to showcase Sint Maarten as a center of professional opportunity, inspiring Caribbean talent locally and abroad to participate in the countrys economic and social growth. Minister Arrindell during her opening speech emphasized the importance of fostering connections between Sint Maarten and Sint Maarteners abroad, positioning the island as a hub of innovation and opportunity. Minister Arrindell in her opening address said: It is an honor to stand before you as we take an important step toward strengthening Sint Maarten's future. Today's event is about more than job opportunitiesit is about building connections, fostering hope, and creating a prosperous tomorrow for all our citizens. Thanks to the vision and leadership of our PM, the Working in the Caribbean initiative is a beacon for professionals both on and off our shores. Together, we are showing that Sint Maarten is not only a place of beauty but a hub of opportunity and innovation. The unwavering commitment of this government and the partnership building of the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary to social development makes this event possible. Your work ensures that our people remain at the heart of every initiative to drive growth and progress. To our Sint Maarteners abroad and local professionals, I say this: Sint Maarten needs your talents, your ambition, and your drive. Let us work together to build a stronger, more united Sint Maarten where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Thank you. Lets move forward with purpose and pride. The Minister Plenipotentiary Arrindell added that, Recognizing the importance of the career fair for our people, my cabinet in The Hague has already taken steps to establish a database to structurally address and support the efforts of all entities in this regard. We will keep the community and stakeholders informed as we progress. The next event will be the National Career Fair Mon arch 28-29 at the Amsterdam RAI Convention Center. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Elon Musk asks US court to block OpenAi's for-profit conversion Washington, Dec 1 (AFP) Dec 01, 2024 Elon Musk has again asked a US court to stop ChatGPT-maker OpenAI from converting into a for-profit enterprise, CNBC reported Saturday. Attorneys representing the billionaire and his AI startup, xAI, filed the injunction Friday, the financial news site reported. The injunction also requests that OpenAI be stopped from allegedly barring its investors from funding competing companies. The move is the latest development in a business feud between OpenAI and Musk, who co-founded the group in 2015 but has since left. OpenAI has seen its profile skyrocket over recent years as it has become a star player in the growing field of artificial intelligence. Musk has alleged that OpenAI bars its investors from making investments in rivals -- which would put his own startup at a disadvantage in a sector where billions of dollars are at stake. OpenAI was founded as a non-profit and has since switched to a "capped" for-profit enterprise. It is currently seeking to become a for-profit public benefit corporation, which could attract more investment. After leaving in 2018, Musk said he was uncomfortable with the profit-driven direction the company was taking under the stewardship of CEO Sam Altman. He filed a lawsuit against the company in March, accusing it of breaking its original non-profit mission to make AI research available to all. OpenAI argues that Musk's lawsuit, as well as his embrace of open source development for AI, is little more than a case of sour grapes after leaving the company. OpenAI's Altman confident Trump will keep US in AI lead Washington, Dec 1 (AFP) Dec 01, 2024 OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on Sunday expressed confidence that US President-elect Donald Trump's administration would support the artificial intelligence sector to ensure the United States and its allies continue to lead it. Speaking to conservative US broadcaster Fox News on Sunday, Altman said AI technology needed massive infrastructure support and that he believed Trump would be good at providing it. "We need to build that here and we need to be able to have the best AI infrastructure in the world to be able to lead with the technology and the capabilities," he said. "I believe President-elect Trump will be very good at that." Altman was responding to a question on the United States' competition with China on AI, adding "we very much believe that the United States and our allies need to lead this." The infrastructure that AI technology requires includes huge amounts of electricity, as well as large data centers and technological support in the form of access to advanced semiconductors and computer chips. Altman also said the US Congress needs to pass legislation that erects safeguards for the use of artificial intelligence. "I think, yes. At some point, when it is, what form it should be, I don't know when that will happen," he said, responding to a question. "I think it should be a question for society. Like, it should not be OpenAI gets to decide on its own how ChatGPT or how the technology in general is used or not used." OpenAI has seen its profile skyrocket over recent years as it has become a star player in the growing field of artificial intelligence. Billionaire Elon Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but has since left it, has asked a US court to stop the company from converting into a for-profit enterprise, US media reported on Saturday. jul-aha/dw Senegal marks 80th anniversary of troop killings after France acknowleges colonial 'massacre' Thiaroye, Senegal, Dec 1 (AFP) Dec 01, 2024 Senegal on Sunday commemorated 80 years since the killing of dozens of African troops by French forces that the former colonial master acknowledged this week had been a "massacre". Heads of state from Mauritania, the Comoros, Gabon, the Gambia and Guinea-Bissau, and France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot joined Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye who has used the anniversary to call for a new relationship with France. All laid wreaths at the scene of the killings at the former Thiaroye military camp, just outside Dakar, which have long been a stain on relations between Senegal and France. Around 1,600 soldiers from West Africa who had been captured by Germany while fighting for France were sent back to Dakar in November 1944. After arriving at the Thiaroye military camp, discontent mounted over unpaid wages and demands to be treated on a par with white soldiers. Some protesters refused to return to their home countries without their due. French forces opened fire on December 1, killing at least 35 people, French authorities said at the time. Historians say the real death toll could be as high as 400 as some of the victims' graves have yet to be disclosed. The 202 graves at Thiaroye cemetery are anonymous and it is not known how many are victims of the 1944 killings. "Defenceless African heroes, armed with courage, dignity and African solidarity were killed in cold blood. It was a massacre," said Faye. "The scale of this crime remains minimised and often even denied by some elements of the heirs of those who committed it," he added. Elected this year on a promise to reclaim national sovereignty, Faye said there had been 80 years of "omerta", or official silence, on the deaths by Senegal's leaders. France's President Emmanuel Macron sent a letter to Faye this week calling the event a "massacre", according to the Senegalese leader. Barrot said at the ceremony that the Thiaroye killings were "a gaping wound in our common history". Faye announced the letter in an interview with AFP in which he also said that France should close its military base in the West African state as part of a resetting of relations. In the interview, Faye said that China was now Senegal's largest trading partner and investor. "Does China have a military presence in Senegal? No. Does that mean our relations are cut? No." France, faced with growing opposition to its military presence in several African countries, has said it will cut its troop numbers as part of a review. Faye told Sunday's ceremony that it was important to pay tribute to the dead soldiers of 1944 "and establish a new relationship with ourselves, our history and the descendents of the perpetrators of this tragedy". He praised Macron's "moral courage" for finally acknowledging that it was a "massacre" and said it would be taught in schools and streets, and public squares would be named after Thiaroye and the soldiers killed there. Faye said the soldiers had to become part of our "collective conscience" and that telling children was not intended to arouse "resentment, anger or hatred" but to ensure the truth was revealed and remembered. Iraq MPs postpone vote on revised bill after outcry over underage marriage Baghdad, Dec 1 (AFP) Dec 01, 2024 Iraq's parliament postponed until Monday a vote on controversial legal amendments, including a reworked family law bill that had sparked civil outrage over fears of a resurgence in underage marriages. A session devoted to the legislation scheduled for Sunday did not go ahead and would now be held the following day, parliament's communications department said. The proposed amendments would let people choose between religious or state regulations for family matters, such as marriage, inheritance, divorce and child custody. Critics fear the move could erode protections for Muslim women by lowering the legal age for marriage -- currently set at 18, or 15 with the consent of legal guardians and a judge -- and pave the way for the adoption of Islamic jurisprudence that could allow girls as young as nine years old to marry. A revised version of the bill sets the minimum age at 15 with court approval and retains "current conditions", according to MP Raed al-Maliki, who backs the new proposals. Couples could opt for Shiite Muslim or Sunni Muslim rules under the amendment. If passed, clerics and lawyers would have four months to establish community-specific regulations. Parliament would then vote again to finalise the changes. The draft law has already undergone two readings, with votes previously delayed. An earlier version faced a backlash from feminists and civil society groups. In October, Amnesty International warned the amendments could legalise unregistered marriages -- often used to bypass child marriage bans -- and strip protections for divorced women. The London-based rights group also voiced concerns that the amendments would strip women and girls of protections regarding divorce and inheritance. But Sunday's session was postponed over disagreements on another bill that was under review, concerning a general amnesty law. "The point of contention concerned the amnesty law," MP Hussein Mouanes told AFP. "Several times, parliament has tried to organise a session to (vote) on certain controversial laws, but each time it has failed due to disagreement between the political blocs," he added. Iraq's Sunni community has been the main proponent of reviewing the amnesty law, which according to Maliki excludes convictions for around 20 offences, including "terrorism", rape, incest, human trafficking and kidnapping, according to Maliki. Sunni MPs have been pushing for a full review of all convictions on "terror" charges, Maliki said. "It's impossible... we can't force the judiciary to reopen investigations in cases 15 years after a verdict," he continued. But, he noted, cases based on evidence from "secret informants" may qualify for retrial. In recent years Iraqi courts have ordered hundreds of executions in "terror" cases, proceedings that rights groups say often lack due process or in which confessions suspected to have been extracted through torture are admissible. A previous 2016 amnesty reportedly covered 150,000 people. Israel army says it fired on Hezbollah militants Jerusalem, Dec 1 (AFP) Dec 01, 2024 Israel's military said Sunday it has fired on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon over the past 24 hours, days into a fragile ceasefire between it and the Iran-backed Islamist group. The military said in a statement that it acted to "remove threats" that violated "the ceasefire agreement conditions". Among the incidents, the army said it identified "several armed terrorists adjacent to a church in southern Lebanon that was actively used by" Hezbollah on Saturday. "The troops fired toward the terrorists and eliminated them," it said, adding that in a later scan of the area, troops "located a tunnel shaft containing weapons". Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) reported "the continued violation of the ceasefire" in south Lebanon by Israeli forces on Sunday. It reported a series of incidents, among them that "enemy warplanes launched a strike" early Sunday targeting the border village of Yarun. It also said Israeli forces shelled several locations, including the town of Khiam and the outskirts of Aitarun, and reported "enemy automatic weapons fire" elsewhere. Israel and Lebanon agreed to a US- and French-brokered truce that began at dawn on Wednesday after more than a year of cross-border exchanges of fire, and two months of all-out war, between Israel's military and Hezbollah. The ceasefire has reduced the level of fighting over the past five days, but Israel has hit Hezbollah targets it says were violating the truce. Visiting new military recruits on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was "strictly enforcing the ceasefire agreement". He said "any violation would immediately be met with a powerful response". In northern Israel, some residents cautiously returned to their homes this weekend, with media reporting that around 150,000 schoolchildren were able to resume classes in some communities in the north on Sunday. But 16,000 students were unable to return to school in the north, the education ministry said. Israel has said more than 60,000 people have been forced from their homes in the north for more than a year by the threat of Hezbollah rocket fire. The Israel-Hezbollah war killed at least 3,961 people in Lebanon, according to the health ministry in Beirut, most of them after Israel stepped up its bombing campaign in September. On the Israeli side, the hostilities killed at least 82 soldiers and 47 civilians, authorities said. I'm sorry, but ADHD has become a scam that is wildly overdiagnosed and an excuse for poor behaviour I'm sorry, but ADHD has become a scam that is wildly overdiagnosed Pius Kamau, M.D., a retired general surgeon, is president of the Aurora-based Africa America Higher Education Partnerships; co-founder of the Africa Enterprise Group and an activist for minority students STEM education. He is a National Public Radio commentator, a Huffington Post blogger, a past columnist for Denver dailies and is featured on the podcast, Never Again. The first visitors to Ice Castles in Cripple Creek made their way through the caverns of ice as the lights of the city twinkle on Dec. 19. Tunnels, fountains, slides and cascading towers of light make up the experience. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) informs that all the ballots registered in polling stations abroad for the first round of the elections for the Romanian President on November 24 have been dispatched to the Electoral Office no. 48 for polling stations abroad, informs a press release sent to AGERPRES on Sunday. According to the cited source, Romania's diplomatic missions and consular offices have used "the fastest and safest transportation solutions identified, depending on the specifics of each situation, geographical areas and time zone". MAE further specifies that more than 97% of the votes cast abroad will be at the Electoral Office on Monday. Romania's Constitutional Court ordered on Thursday the Central Electoral Bureau to recount the valid and invalid votes cast in the first round of Romania's presidential election. Subsequently, BEC decided that "the electoral materials related to the polling stations abroad are taken, transported and stored, on an emergency basis, in the country, at the Electoral Office no. 48 for polling stations abroad, under the security of the personnel of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs". A share of 33.26% of the voters registered on the electoral rolls had cast their ballots as of 15:00 hrs Romania time in Sunday's parliamentary election, of which 50.75% were women and 49.25% were men, the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) announced. According to BEC, voter turnout in urban areas stands at 34.6%, and 31.54% in rural areas. Voter turnout by age groups is as follows: 5.72% - voters aged 18-24; 10.04% - voters aged 25-34; 16.16% - voters aged 35-44; 40.31% - voters aged 45-64; 27.27% - voters aged 65 and over. Higher voter turnout was registered in the counties of Harghita - 36.45% (of the total number of registered voters), Arges - 35.58%, Olt - 35.48%, Mehedinti - 34.69%, Buzau - 34.6%. Lower turnout was recorded in the counties of Vaslui - 22.96%, Caras-Severin - 26.22%, Iasi - 26.91%, Maramures - 26.99%, Ialomita - 27.56%. In Bucharest, voter turnout was 30.86%, the situation by sectors being as follows: sector 1 - 33.96% of the total number of registered voters; sector 2 - 32.46%; sector 3 - 26.28%, sector 4 - 32.14%, sector 5 - 29.3%, sector 6 - 33.8%. In the 2020 parliamentary elections, voter turnout was 19.60% at 15:00. Thousands of people are attending, on Sunday, the Military Parade organized in Bucharest on the occasion of Romania's National Day, on the 106th anniversary of the country's Great Union. The events started with the review of the Guard of Honour by president Klaus Iohannis, followed by the singing of the National Anthem. During the singing of the National Anthem, by the united military bands of the Bucharest Garrison, together with baritone Stefan-Alexandru Constantin, soloist of the "Doina" Artistic Ensemble of the Army, soldiers of the 30th Guards Brigade "Mihai Viteazul" fired 21 salvos with maneuver ammunition. The head of state laid a wreath at the Triumphal Arch. In memory of the heroes who fell on the battlefields, a moment of silence was also observed. The military parade is also attended by the president of the Senate, Nicolae Ciuca, members of the Government, heads of institutions, politicians, representatives of the diplomatic corps and religious cults, and war veterans. Approximately 2,500 military personnel and specialists from the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Interior, the Romanian Customs Authority, the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Special Telecommunications Service and the National Penitentiary Administration, with approximately 190 technical means and 45 aircraft, are participating, on Sunday, in the National Military Parade organized in Bucharest. Along with the Romanian military, 240 foreign military personnel will also march in the parade, from several detachments from Albania, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, North Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, Poland, Portugal, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Spain, the United States of America and Turkey, as well as military personnel from allied countries contributing to NATO structures on Romanian territory. The foreign military personnel are present with 21 pieces of technical equipment. Minister of national defence Angel Tilvar on Sunday stated that the national military parade is not "overshadowed" by the parliamentary election on Sunday, stating that "this too is a way in which we express our respect for those to whom we owe so much." "I hope it will be a parade that citizens, the same as last year, will consider as a way to honour the memory of those to whom we owe the fact that Romania is today a stable country, a country in which activity is carried out normally, a country in peace. (...) I believe that on such a day we have a moral duty to focus on the things that bring us closer, unite us and less on the things that separate us. I do not think it is overshadowed [by the parliamentary election - editor's note], this is another way in which we express our respect for those to whom we owe so much," said the minister of defence, before the start of the military parade at the Triumphal Arch. He wished "Happy Birthday!" to all Romanians. The minister of defence mentioned that he will vote in Vrancea, after the military parade. An 11-month-old Las Vegas-style hotel and casino in Cripple Creek has changed more than just the city's skyline; it's also enticing gamblers t Former president Traian Basescu on Sunday voted in the parliamentary election, hoping that Romania's current course will be maintained, not turned "a hundred years back." "I voted with the hope of democratic change and the consolidation of what we have so far, because we still have to consolidate in the area of democracy, in the area of the economy, and in the social area. Happy birthday, Romania! It is very important to go out and vote. I also urged everyone on Facebook to come and exercise their sovereign right to choose their leaders, to choose leaders who want to maintain Romania's current course, not those who want to turn it a hundred years back," stated Basescu. The former president voted at the "Aurel Vlaicu" National College in Bucharest. ST. LOUIS The National Council of Churches gathered in Kiel Auditorium on Dec. 1, 1957, two months after the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the worlds first man-made satellite. Speakers urged jittery Americans to calm down. Outward programs of security and defense must be matched with inward signs of justice and charity, counseled the Rev. Frederick Nolde, a leader of the World Council of Churches. That sentiment led the assembly of 2,000 Protestant ministers and lay leaders to the thornier social issue of race relations. Among the speakers during its six-day national convention was the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., 28 years old and suddenly prominent as leader of the lengthy boycott that integrated public buses in Montgomery, Ala., in 1956. Prominent, perhaps, but not yet undeniably famous. Neither of Kings two speeches made headlines in the Post-Dispatch or the Globe-Democrat. Both local dailies gave more play to speakers of longer standing with the council, which then as now represented the nations more liberal Protestant denominations. After Kings main speech, the Post-Dispatch led with the election of the Rev. Edwin Dahlberg of St. Louis as the councils new president. On race, it gave first bill to the Rev. Liston Pope, dean of the Yale University Divinity School. Pope lamented that the church is probably the most racially segregated institution in American life. But he saw glimmers of progress, offering hope that we may be nearer a breakthrough in this battle than we know. King respectfully disagreed, chiding church leaders for not moving faster from high-minded national declarations to progress in the pews. All too many ministers are still silent while evil rages, King said. It may well be that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition is the appalling silence of the so-called good people. King conceded a gradual crumbling of segregation, but added, If democracy is to live, segregation must die. Signs of daunting resistance were all about them. As the council met, the Texas Legislature adopted new ways to keep schools segregated. The Virginia Supreme Court upheld another statutory evasion. In Montgomery, a black teenage girl was fined for allegedly striking a white girl who wouldnt share a bench on an integrated bus. And at Kiel Auditorium, black delegates protested that they had been refused service by cabdrivers and waiters in downtown St. Louis. One day after the council adjourned, Americas Vanguard rocket the answer to Sputnik blew up on its launch pad. Kings speeches marked his second public appearance in St. Louis. He would return at least five times before he was murdered in Memphis on April 4, 1968, by James Earl Ray, a fugitive from the Missouri State Penitentiary. Look back: MLK's St. Louis visit Look Back Look Back Martin Luther King Look Back: Martin Luther King assassination The Board of Directors for St. Louis City Senior Fund, which supports services for older adults in the City of St. Louis, named Nicole Brueggeman as executive director. She succeeds the funds founding director Jamie Opsal. Planning and design firm Lawrence Group added three to its Marketing Department at its headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri: Claire Strube , marketing proposal specialist; Jane Chrisanty , digital marketing specialist; and Emily Hill , marketing specialist. University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine researchers Haval Shirwan and Esma Yolcu joined the Cancer Immunoprevention Network by developing a molecule that could train the immune system to identify and fight precancerous cells, stopping cancer progression. Through the network, the National Cancer Institute awarded the team nearly $3.8 million over five years to fast-track their work to human clinical trials. ST. LOUIS Enrollment in most St. Louis area school districts has continued to plummet five years after the pandemic sparked an exodus of students, according to newly released state data. Since the fall of 2019, public school districts have lost more than 6,000 students in St. Louis County and 3,000 in St. Louis. Schools in St. Charles County are down by 872 students. Fox School District, the largest in Jefferson County, has dropped 1,000. Five local districts Hancock Place, Jennings, Normandy, St. Louis Public Schools and Valley Park have been hit the worst, losing more than one in every 10 of their students. But even districts like Clayton, Fort Zumwalt, Parkway, Rockwood and Webster Groves, which have been popular with families, are seeing steep declines, according to 2024-2025 data from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Overall, enrollment is down across the region by more than 4%. The loss of enrollment creates a death spiral where you have less funding, which leads to less staff, which leads to less programs, and people start to look at other places, said Robert Dillon of local consulting firm Intentional School Designs. Its a really nasty place to be. There isnt really a way out of it without having more kids in your district. Coupled with the ongoing national teacher shortage, the necessary budget cuts will lead to bigger class sizes and more online courses. Eventually, layoffs and school closures and even school district consolidation could be on the table, Dillon said. Its a slow climate change kind of thing where you dont even notice its happening, he said. Statewide, public school enrollment has fallen by more than 22,300 students, or 2.5%, to 857,156 over the last five years. For most of the districts, enrollment started to fall a decade ago in the aftermath of a national drop in birth rates. Since 2010, births in the U.S. have been below the population replacement level of two children per adult woman. The pandemic accelerated the decline when more families switched to home-schooling and to a lesser degree, private schools. Across Missouri, the share of home-schooling students grew from 5.6% in 2020-2021 to 7.7% in 2023-2024, according to a Post-Dispatch analysis of U.S. Census survey data. The share of all students enrolled in private school increased from 6.8% to 7.0% in the same period. While private schools typically dont release enrollment figures, many Catholic schools have struggled to fill seats. The Archdiocese of St. Louis has closed dozens of parish grade schools including three this year Little Flower in Richmond Heights, St. Monica in Creve Coeur and St. Roch in St. Louis. The enrollment loss in public schools has not been distributed equally. Eight of 28 school districts in St. Louis, St. Louis County and St. Charles County now exceed their pre-pandemic enrollment: Bayless, Ladue, Lindbergh, Orchard Farm, Pattonville, Ritenour, University City and Wentzville. In University City, the 9% growth in the last five years has been led by an influx of Spanish-speaking families as well as new high school students interested in college credit opportunities and St. Louis Countys only agriculture program. The district has also boosted its family engagement and launched One U City, a resource-sharing consolidation of parent-teacher organizations. U. City is really a place for every child, said Superintendent Sharonica Hardin-Bartley. There are 801 new students in the Hazelwood School District this year, the biggest gain of any district in the region and the equivalent of two elementary schools. The district only needs about 100 more to reach its pre-pandemic enrollment of 16,589, but thats still 1,200 students down from a decade ago. Darrin Lilly, Hazelwood spokesman, said he is looking into the reasons for the increase. Too many schools, not enough students The interim superintendent of SLPS, Millicent Borishade, spurred optimism this year when she announced a projected enrollment of 19,480 students in preschool through 12th grade, which would mark a rise of 6% after decades of decline. But state records show enrollment in the district, including preschool, actually dropped 2% to 17,981 students this year. The districts flawed projection was based on 2023-2024 enrollment plus new students who registered over the summer, according to Matthew Haack, the districts manager of pupil accounting. I cant tell you where those students went, they just didnt arrive, Haack told the school board in October. We are doing our due diligence to find out what happened to those students. Until 2014, SLPS was the biggest district in the state. Enrollment has since shrunk by one-third, one of the steepest declines in the country. This year, it fell to the 11th largest in the state, below local districts Rockwood, Wentzville, Fort Zumwalt, Hazelwood, Francis Howell and Parkway. The loss has led to discussions among SLPS administrators about right-sizing the districts 62 schools. Parkway, by contrast, has 200 more students in half as many schools. There are 23 schools in SLPS with fewer than 200 students, considered a benchmark for viability. Shenandoah Elementary in the Tower Grove East neighborhood has just eight students in its third grade. Adams Elementary in Forest Park Southeast has nine in its sixth. The two schools are among 10 that have only enough students for one class per grade. A facilities study in May showed that without closing any schools, the cost of upkeep for the districts buildings will reach an estimated $1.8 billion by 2044. The district faces a projected $35 million operating budget deficit for this school year. Angie Banks, chief financial officer, told the school board in August that buildings need to close sooner rather than later, because the numbers just dont work. Volkswagen AG faces mounting pressure as its restructuring efforts encounter significant headwinds, with shares dropping 0.7 percent to 80.02 EUR in XETRA trading. The automotive giants stock now trades nearly 38 percent below its 52-week high of 128.60 EUR, reflecting investor concerns over the companys cost-cutting initiatives. The manufacturer recently rejected union proposals for financial relief, maintaining its controversial stance on implementing a 10 percent wage reduction to achieve its target of 1.5 billion euros in sustainable savings. This development has further strained relations with labor representatives and intensified market uncertainty. Looming Production Disruption The situation appears poised to escalate as the mandatory peace period expires on November 30. Union representatives are preparing for warning strikes across multiple German facilities starting December, potentially affecting 120,000 of the companys 300,000 employees. This industrial action could significantly impact productivity at major manufacturing sites, including Wolfsburg, Braunschweig, Hannover, Salzgitter, Emden, and Kassel, adding to the companys existing financial challenges and potentially further affecting its market performance. Ad Volkswagen Stock: New Analysis 02 December Fresh Volkswagen information released. Whats the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends. Read our updated Volkswagen analysis Volkswagen AG faces mounting pressure as its restructuring efforts encounter significant headwinds, with shares dropping 0.7 percent to 80.02 EUR in XETRA trading. The automotive giants stock now trades nearly 38 percent below its 52-week high of 128.60 EUR, reflecting investor concerns over the companys cost-cutting initiatives. The manufacturer recently rejected union proposals for financial relief, maintaining its controversial stance on implementing a 10 percent wage reduction to achieve its target of 1.5 billion euros in sustainable savings. This development has further strained relations with labor representatives and intensified market uncertainty. Looming Production Disruption The situation appears poised to escalate as the mandatory peace period expires on November 30. Union representatives are preparing for warning strikes across multiple German facilities starting December, potentially affecting 120,000 of the companys 300,000 employees. This industrial action could significantly impact productivity at major manufacturing sites, including Wolfsburg, Braunschweig, Hannover, Salzgitter, Emden, and Kassel, adding to the companys existing financial challenges and potentially further affecting its market performance. Ad Fresh Volkswagen information released. Whats the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends. A man repairs a fence in his olive grove last month in the West Bank Palestinian town of Burqa, below the Israeli outpost of Homesh visible on the hilltop. (Heidi Levine for The Washington Post) JALUD, West Bank Even before the U.S. presidential election, Israels far-right settlers had been rapidly taking ground, buoyed by support in the highest levels of Israeli government. Still, they faced opposition from the countrys most important ally, with the Biden administration imposing sanctions on violent settlers and declaring some settlements illegal under international law. But now that Donald Trump is returning to the White House, settler activists say they see few obstacles to their plans to rule the occupied West Bank, potentially resettle Gaza and redraw the map of the Middle East. Trump, they say, was a pro-Israel president in his first term and in recent weeks has already nominated like-minded people to key positions on his team. Among them is former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee (R), Trumps pick for U.S. ambassador to Israel. In a recent interview with Israels Arutz Sheva, a right-wing outlet headquartered at a settlement, Huckabee said that there is no such thing as the West Bank and that Israelis have a rightful deed to the land. Trumps victory brings an important opportunity for the state of Israel, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, whose oversees the settlements, told supporters at a conference last month. During Trumps first term, he said, we were on the verge of applying sovereignty over the settlements in the West Bank. Now, the time has come to make it a reality. All of this has left settlers euphoric, said Hagit Ofran, co-director of the Settlement Watch project at Peace Now, an Israeli advocacy group that monitors settlement growth. Smotrich, who lives in the Kedumim settlement in the northern West Bank, has also called for Israel to reestablish settlements in Gaza and encourage the Palestinian population there to leave. They think theyve won the lottery, Ofran said of the settlers. They think they can do whatever they want, and I believe they are right. Israelis began building in the West Bank and Gaza soon after Israel captured the territories from Jordan and Egypt in 1967, claiming in part that the land was the ancestral home of the Jewish people. Over the past six decades, Israeli settlements have either swallowed or carved through much of the land that would make a future Palestinian state. In July, the International Court of Justice said this construction was illegal, issuing a nonbinding opinion that Israel must end its occupation and dismantle settlements. The United States has also long held that Israeli settlements are inconsistent with international law a position first outlined in a 1978 State Department memo. Since then, U.S. administrations have generally opposed settlement building, describing it as an obstacle to peace. But over time, and as construction continued, U.S. negotiators accepted that Israel would probably keep some of its largest settlements in any peace deal with the Palestinians. Trump himself has not yet said whether he would support Israeli annexation. But settlers say they see clues from his first term: He reversed decades of U.S. policy and recognized Jerusalem, a contested city, as Israels capital. He also formally accepted Israels annexation of the Golan Heights, territory that Israel captured from Syria in 1967. In 2020, Trump unveiled a sweeping peace plan for the conflict that would have allowed for the creation of a Palestinian state, while granting Israel sovereignty over much of the West Bank. The plan was never implemented or agreed to, and Huckabee, in his interview with Arutz Sheva, said he does not expect Trump to support a two-state solution. The president-elects transition team did not respond to requests for comment. Alongside Huckabee, Trump has said he will nominate Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), a fierce critic of anti-Israel protests at American universities, to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. For Middle East envoy, Trump has said he will select Steven Witkoff, a real estate investor who helped raise funds for Trumps campaign after Biden paused a weapons shipment to Israel. Trump is not Israels messiah, said Naomi Kahn, director of the international division at the pro-settler lobbying group Regavim. But with him in the White House, she said, there is a better chance that Israel will have its voice restored as a sovereign nation. The settlement of Ahiya last month, seen from the edge of the Palestinian village of Jalud. (Heidi Levine for The Washington Post) For Palestinians in the West Bank, Trumps return has deepened fears of mass displacement. Jalud, a quiet hamlet of 840 residents near the city of Nablus, is encircled by eight settlements and informal outposts, said its mayor, Rae Haj Mohammad. The communities, including Shilo to the south and Ahiya to the west, expand their footprint each day, Mohammad said, pointing to the diggers and cranes along the horizon. Settlers have for years stopped Jalud residents from grazing animals and harvesting olives in surrounding pastures. But in mid-October, a mob of settlers stormed directly into Jalud and carried out one of the most violent attacks the village has seen. Assailants torched cars, killed livestock and destroyed two houses as Israeli soldiers stood aside, residents said. The Israel Defense Forces denied in a statement that its troops were in Jalud as the attack was underway. The incident was reported to security forces only after the damage in the village had occurred, the IDF said. Since the start of the olive harvest season in October, Palestinian farmers have faced a sharp increase in settler-related violence, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Thursday. Attacks by settlers that resulted in casualties or property damage tripled compared with each of the preceding three years, the agency said. Early last month, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller condemned the assault in Jalud and said Israel had not done enough to curb settler violence, which has soared since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. But just days later, Trump won the presidential election and Israeli leaders were openly calling for annexation. Rae Haj Mohammad, mayor of the Palestinian West Bank village of Jalud, stands last month with two large maps showing the expansion of Israeli settlements in the area. (Heidi Levine for The Washington Post) A wave of dread soon descended on Jalud, said Hisham Hmoud, 32. During the attack, he was pushed to the ground outside his house as his wife and three children hid in a locked bedroom. What we face now, Hmoud said, placing his head in his hands, its a catastrophic situation. More than 2,000 Palestinians have been forced from their land in the West Bank since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to power two years ago, according to the West Bank Protection Consortium, an initiative funded by the European Union to prevent Palestinian displacement. An additional 58,000 are at direct risk of forcible transfer, meaning they reside on land that could be seized for settlement construction, the consortium says. Human rights groups that document settler violence, including Rabbis for Human Rights and BTselem, say escalating attacks in recent months have made it difficult to access the most contentious parts of the West Bank, such as villages near Nablus and the South Hebron Hills. In July, masked settlers used clubs to attack Palestinian farmers and a group of foreign activists accompanying them in the town of Qusra, which neighbors Jalud. A month later, a mass of dozens of settlers shot live ammunition at Palestinians in another nearby village, Jit, killing one resident and injuring others. The IDF has done little to stem the violence, working increasingly in tandem with settlers to cut Palestinian towns and villages off from one another and to block Palestinian residents from their land, according to watchdog groups and Palestinian leaders. The IDF has called these allegations baseless. But against opposition from Israel, the Biden administration this year placed several rounds of sanctions on settlement groups and individual settlers responsible for attacks on Palestinian communities. It targeted, among other entities, two outposts in the South Hebron Hills, barring them and their owners from accessing U.S. property or assets or working with U.S. financial institutions. Last month, the Biden administration also imposed sanctions on Amana, an organization that builds and develops settlements. But those sanctions could soon be lifted. Trumps pick for secretary of state, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), has said he opposes the restrictions and earlier this year wrote a letter to the State Department admonishing it for imposing them. Israelis rightfully living in their historic homeland are not the impediment to peace; the Palestinians are, Rubio said. In the Palestinian town of Burqa, just outside the administrative capital, Ramallah, residents say they have watched as a once-illegal settlement was reestablished on a nearby hilltop with Israeli government support. Homesh started last year as a single yeshiva and has grown into a sprawling community with roads, power lines and cell towers. Trump will make this worse, said Miqdad Salah, 59, a Burqa resident. We saw in his previous term what he did, he added, citing Trumps decisions on Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. Palestinian residents say they fear the violence will only get worse. On Friday, Hamas claimed responsibility for a shooting attack on a bus near the West Bank settlement of Ariel. The Palestinian gunman wounded eight people, including four Israeli soldiers, before he was shot dead. In Jalud, the Hmouds said they are still recovering from the last attack. For over a month, said Lina Hmoud, 30, she has awakened at night sweating, terrified the settlers have returned. The family has moved to a relatives house deeper in the town as Hisham Hmoud fortifies their home with more concrete and metal. When the children ask about whether its still safe to live in Jalud, Hmoud said he lies and says, Of course. In recent decades, he has watched his village lose more than half its land to settlers. Now, he said, we will lose everything else that remains. Taylor reported from the West Bank and Washington. Saudi and U.S. flags line the King Abdulaziz Road in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in July 2022. (Amer Hilabi, AFP/Getty Images/TNS) RIYADH, Saui Arabia (Tribune News Service) With its replica arches and columns from ancient Persepolis, the new Iranian Corner at one of Riyadhs most popular outdoor venues has been doing decent business selling carpets, saffron and other products. Saudi Arabias capital might seem an unlikely place to showcase the Islamic Republic. The rivalry between the two powers has shaped the Middle East for decades. But ahead of Donald Trumps return to the White House, the kingdom is urgently looking to strengthen ties with Tehran while it seeks to bolster relations with its traditional ally the U.S. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto Saudi ruler, made an offer of increased trade to Iranian officials in recent weeks in the hope of ratcheting down tension with the West and a reduction of support for proxy militias, according to people with knowledge of Riyadhs moves. They asked not to be identified when discussing private matters. That would build on a March 2023 rapprochement between the two countries brokered by China, which is pushing for them to forge closer ties and provide much-needed revenue to Tehran. Trumps victory, though, is testing the regional dynamic because of the prospect of a renewal of the Middle East policies introduced in his first term. Those may include his maximum pressure approach to Iran, which saw Washington walk away from a nuclear deal with Tehran and impose severe sanctions. Saudi Arabia is still keen to capitalize on work that went into a defense and strategic agreement with the U.S. that was put on hold after the Oct. 7 attack last year by Iran-backed Hamas on Israel. Prince Mohammed sent national security adviser Musaad Al-Aiban to Washington last month to revive the talks, according to three people with knowledge of the matter. Yet, time is tight. The aim was to secure commitments before President Joe Biden leaves office in January. The Saudis see the dual-channel approach of closer ties with Washington and Tehran as vital geopolitically, though it could leave the kingdom in an awkward spot. Prince Mohammeds top priority is his trillion-dollar plan to diversify the kingdoms economy away from oil. The agenda, known as Vision 2030, relies on peace as well as foreign investment to help fund its ambitious mega-projects. Speaking at the annual investment conference in Riyadh in late October, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan said his primary mandate was to protect Vision 2030 and further its advancement. Its unclear what Prince Mohammed has offered the Iranians, but a person who worked on the 2023 detente between the two historic foes said trade could initially focus on products in the food and medical sectors that wont breach European and U.S. sanctions against Tehran. An accord could involve private Saudi companies, and transactions may take place through a third country like Iraq, the person said. Iran-Saudi trade is negligible at the moment, and Iranian officials have expressed a desire to take it to up to $1 billion a year. Saudi Arabia made a similar approach last year in a bid to de-escalate regional tensions amid the ongoing war in Gaza, Bloomberg reported at the time. The fresh proposal would also be conditional on Iran holding back on support for its proxies in the region, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon. Officials with the Saudi ministries of foreign affairs and trade didnt respond to multiple requests for comment. Before the crown princes move, Iranian officials had been unhappy that Saudi trade and investment pledges under whats become known as the Beijing Agreement hadnt materialized. China, which is the biggest buyer of oil from both countries, has been urging Riyadh and Tehran to buttress their rapprochement, said Dina Esfandiary, senior adviser for the Middle East and North Africa at the International Crisis Group. Its a pretty simple, noncontroversial way for Riyadh to demonstrate its commitment to the new dialogue with Tehran, she said. A Saudi-Chinese-Iranian committee following up on the accord held its second meeting in Riyadh on Nov. 19, reaffirming commitment to it. In a statement, the parties touted the nearly 140,000 Iranian pilgrims that have visited Islamic holy sites in Saudi Arabia this year as a sign of closer ties, along with things like the Iranian Corner in Riyadh. On a political level, Prince Mohammed earlier this month accused Israel of carrying out genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and criticized it for attacking Iran during an exchange of direct missile fire in October. He dispatched his armys chief of staff to the Islamic Republic to meet his counterpart, while Saudis armed forces took part in a naval drill in the northern Indian Ocean alongside Iran, Russia, Oman and other countries. That harsh rhetoric against Israel was mainly aimed at appeasing the kingdoms own citizens and those in the wider Arab and Muslim worlds upset at the civilian death toll in Gaza. The kingdoms engagement with Tehran, meanwhile, is all about protecting itself and its economic transformation plan from any flare up between Israel, Iran and Trumps U.S., said Hanin Ghaddar, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Saudi Arabias main concern is its internal security, she said. While Saudi Arabia is upset at the devastation wrought by Israels wars in Gaza and Lebanon, its not shedding a tear for the weakening of Hamas and Hezbollah, according to people familiar with the leaderships thinking. Both groups are designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S. and European countries. Prince Mohammed continues to deeply mistrust Iran, and that played into the decision to send Al-Aiban to Washington, the people said. Al-Aiban, who sealed the 2023 deal with the Iranians in Beijing, was tasked with finding out whether any agreement could be signed before the end of Bidens term, the people said. Among topics discussed were designating Saudi Arabia a major non-NATO ally. The U.S.-Saudi Arabia deal being discussed before Oct. 7 centered on a binding defense treaty with Washington that included the prospect of a normalization of ties with Israel, with the stumbling block being that Riyadh would demand steps toward establishing a Palestinian state. The kingdoms position has hardened on that since the start of the war in Gaza and subsequent devastation of the territory. That could change if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or any successor alters his stance, something that looks unlikely despite the 60-day ceasefire agreed to this week with Hezbollah. The Israeli parliament this year passed a resolution opposing Palestinian statehood. I would expect the pendulum to swing back in the other direction should Netanyahu end current conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon and take meaningful steps toward a Palestinian state, said Firas Maksad, senior director for strategic outreach at the Middle East Institute in Washington. One bright spot in the U.S. might be Prince Mohammeds history with Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner before relations temporarily soured following the killing of newspaper columnist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. That might help him walk the line between the U.S. and Iran and fulfill his foreign policy goals. In the meantime, the crown prince is hedging his bets. Saudi Arabia has observer status at the the BRICS group of emerging market powers, of which Iran is now a full member. He is guided by a nationalist Saudi first view of the world, said Bernard Haykel, a professor of Near Eastern studies at Princeton. Matthew Martin and Sylvia Westall contributed to this report. 2024 Bloomberg LP Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC Rioters storm the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021. (Robert Reid/Stars and Stripes) A former D.C. police lieutenant will face a federal trial Monday on charges that he improperly warned Proud Boys leader Henry Enrique Tarrio of his pending arrest before the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, then lied to investigators about their interactions. Prosecutors say advance word from Shane Lamond, a 24-year department veteran, deepened anger among the far-right Proud Boys and fueled their instigation of the mob two days later at the Capitol. But Lamond, then head of the forces intelligence unit, says he may call Tarrio as a defense witness, seeking to convince the judge their talks were within the normal bounds of how a police investigator handles a source. Such a move would put Lamond in the awkward position of seeking exoneration through a man serving a 22-year prison sentence for seditious conspiracy after being found guilty of plotting violence to stop Congresss certification of the 2020 election, according to court filings. Either way, Lamonds bench trial before U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson will spotlight D.C. police interactions with extremist groups in 2020 and 2021. That tumultuous summer and fall, episodes of street violence in Washington marred both racial justice demonstrations prompted by the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd in May and marches by Donald Trump supporters following the 2020 presidential election, culminating in the Capitol riot that led to at least five deaths, $3 million in damage and assaults on about 140 officers. The inner workings of police intelligence gathering stirred controversy, with liberal groups accusing police of favoring right-leaning organizations and crossing the line between eliciting information and appearing to take sides. They pointed to officers who posed for photos with supporters of Trump and who stood back as counterdemonstrators vandalized Black Lives Matter signs or pressed arguments to physical conflict. Tarrios attorneys said at his trial that Lamond would help him steer clear of protesters who disagreed with his group, though critics say location information helped the Proud Boys instigate fights, such as one in December 2020 in which four members were stabbed. Several high-ranking D.C. police officials are on prosecutors witness list, including Jeffery Carroll, the executive assistant police chief. Lamonds choice of a bench trial follows a calculation that he faces better odds from a judge than a D.C. jury, given the high conviction rate experienced by defendants charged with police misconduct since 2021 or with right-wing violence at the Capitol, legal experts said. Waiving his right to a jury may dim the spectacle of testimony by Tarrio or top lieutenants, instead focusing the trial on questions such as whether Lamond gave Tarrio sensitive information or acted appropriately in handling a confidential informant and what questions he believed investigators asked him. Lamond defense lawyer Mark E. Schamel has said his client did nothing to aid Jan. 6 rioters. He said that Lamonds work was instrumental to Tarrios arrest and that he was only communicating with these individuals because the mission required it. Lamonds wife has posted on social media that her husband was being criticized for doing his job by obtaining intelligence and preventing clashes between the Proud Boys and other groups. We have a great deal of faith in the court, and we want to take any politics and emotion out of this case, because the facts are clear: Shane Lamond has neither made false statements nor obstructed justice, Schamel said in a statement after seeking a bench trial last month. He declined to comment further. D.C. police declined to comment on Lamonds trial but said in a statement upon his indictment that city officials understand this matter sparks a range of emotions, and believe the allegations of this members actions are not consistent of our values and our commitment to the community. Then-Chief Robert J. Contee III said, There are times when we have people who dont live up to the oath. And when we have that, we have to hold them accountable. Lamond retired after being placed on paid leave in early 2022 after an FBI probe began. The department said it cooperated with the federal investigation and would launch its own probe into the lieutenants conduct when the criminal proceedings are complete. Lamond, 48, of Stafford, Va., has pleaded not guilty to one count of obstruction of justice and three counts of making false statements. He is accused of leaking information to Tarrio during the groups planned protests in D.C., at a time when Lamonds duties included monitoring extremist groups. The obstruction charge carries a minimum three-year sentence and up to 30 years in prison upon conviction, although federal guidelines for a first offender are far lower. The false statement counts are each punishable by up to five years. A 17-page indictment accuses Lamond of falsely denying that he tipped off Tarrio about the progress of an investigation and about his impending arrest on Jan. 4, 2021, for his part in burning a Black Lives Matter flag stolen from a historic African American church during a pro-Trump rally weeks earlier. That information enraged Proud Boys members, prosecutors said at Tarrios trial, driving their planning for violence to keep Trump in power despite Joe Bidens 2020 election victory. We could have a riot in Washington once Tarrios arrest became public, a Proud Boys cooperator wrote in an encrypted chat group set up by Tarrio at the time. Just let it happen, responded Jeremy Bertino, another cooperator. Maybe its the shot heard round the world and the normies will f--- up the cops, continued Bertino, a potential government witness against Lamond who has pleaded guilty in a deal with prosecutors, according to evidence in Tarrios winter 2022-2023 trial. Relying on digital evidence from Lamond and Tarrios cellphones and the potential testimony of as many as nine D.C. officers and officials, prosecutors accuse the lieutenant of making three specific false statements in an interview with two U.S. attorneys office investigators on June 2, 2021 - claiming that his communications were mostly one-sided from the Proud Boys leader when Lamond knew he regularly passed on confidential law enforcement information; denying that he tipped off Tarrio about the flag-burning investigation; and denying that he informed Tarrio of his arrest warrant. According to charging papers, beginning in July 2019 and continuing to at least January 2021, Lamond and Tarrio were in regular contact regarding planned Proud Boys actions in Washington, and Lamond began using the encrypted messaging app Telegram to provide law enforcement information to Tarrio as early as July 2020. The pair exchanged at least 500 communications via cloud-based services, but the pace and secrecy of the messages spiked after the election, including at least 101 of 145 Telegram secret chat messages between Dec. 18, 2020, and Jan. 4, 2021, that were destroyed by measures including auto-delete timers, charging papers said. Other messages were recovered from the mens phones. The indictment states that in key moments, Lamond appeared to commiserate and trade information with Tarrio. Hey brother, sad, sad news today. You all planning anything? Lamond asked on Nov. 7, 2021, the day news media declared Joe Biden the election winner. Yep, Tarrio replied, according to the indictment. Need to switch to encrypted. Alerts are being sent out to LE [law enforcement] that [Parler social networking] accounts belonging to your people are talking about mobilizing and taking back the country, Lamond added later that day, according to charging papers. Getting people spun up. Just giving you a heads up. On Dec. 18, one day before Trump announced plans for a wild protest when Congress met to certify the election, Lamond revealed information about the investigation into the burning of the Black Lives Matter flag after a Dec. 12 Trump rally in Washington, the indictment said. Tarrio later pleaded guilty to destruction of property along with attempted possession of a high-capacity ammunition magazine upon his return to Washington three weeks later. Lamond volunteered to check with the criminal investigators to see if they have you on video, prosecutors said. He then cautioned that the FBI and Secret Service were all spun up about Tarrios statement that Proud Boys would disguise themselves as Biden supporters on Jan. 6, charging papers said. That Christmas Day, Lamond allegedly told Tarrio he believed an arrest might be imminent because he had been asked to identify Tarrio in a photograph on Parler, prosecutors said. On the evening of Dec. 30, Lamond and Tarrio had a call lasting nearly 15 minutes, during which Tarrio sent out a bulletin to Proud Boys leaders calling for an Emergency voice chat, according to evidence at Tarrios trial. Responses from other Proud Boys indicate that Tarrio had shared with them that he would be arrested soon. On Jan. 4, 2021, as Tarrio flew to D.C. from Miami, Lamond sent him notice that a warrant had been signed, prosecutors said. After that warning from Lamond, as Tarrio was pulled over by D.C. police when he entered Washington from the airport, Proud Boys leaders repeated in Telegram and elsewhere, Nuke chats. Tarrio spoke for just over two minutes by phone with co-defendant Joe Biggs, who was also convicted of seditious conspiracy, prosecutors said. After the call, Tarrio texted: Whatever happens make it a spectacle. Lamonds defense says that Tarrio learned of his arrest from others and that key government evidence against the lieutenant was circumstantial or lacking information about the content of calls. It is not uncommon for authorities to negotiate a surrender with criminal suspects who have been charged in a warrant, though those instances are typically coordinated among police, prosecutors and defense attorneys. Law enforcement agencies typically keep in contact with members of extremist groups, sometimes going undercover to learn about violent or subversive plots but also openly to plan logistics around demonstrations, experts said. Such interactions at times can appear friendly and extract valuable information but need to be closely supervised and documented and not divulge information about internal policies or operations, police experts said. Tarrios defense argued during his trial that his communications with Lamond showed that the Proud Boys did not conspire to commit violence and that the group had shared its plans with law enforcement. They sought Lamonds testimony but said the lieutenant had invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Lamond was arrested 15 days after Tarrios conviction. Tarrios lawyers have appealed his conviction and said that with Trumps election and promises to pardon Jan. 6 defendants, they will explore every possible avenue to seek his release from custody. An official U.S. Marine Corps photo of Gunnery Sgt. Ehsan Jamshidi. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo via The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, Va.) (Tribune News Service) From child refugee to Marine Corps gunnery sergeant, from a young Afghan exposed to conflict and instability in his homeland to an American service member who helped those who fled it, Ehsan Jamshidi has had a myriad of experiences in his 30 years. The Stafford County, Va., man recently was recognized for his accomplishments. While in service, he enrolled in the University of Maryland Global Campus, where he maintained a 4.0 grade point average while serving around the world. UMGC recently presented him the Gen. John W. Vessey Jr. Student Veteran of the Year Award. Its named for a UMGC alum who advanced from the enlisted ranks to become the 10th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Jamshidi spoke at the Veterans Day ceremony, encouraging fellow veterans to stay the course as they balance education with other life responsibilities. Push through the late nights, the doubts and the countless responsibilities, he said. I can tell you from experience, it is worth it. Your hard work today paves the way for future opportunities and achievements. Jamshidi was profiled in a story on the UMGC website. It chronicled his familys journey from Herat, Afghanistan, where he was born, to the culture shock experienced when he came to California with his mother, two brothers and sister. He was 4 at the time. The family members had won the U.S. Diversity Visa Lottery, which enabled them to move to the United States, but his father and two other brothers were not allowed to leave Afghanistan. His mother became an American citizen eight years later and brought his father to the country. Meanwhile, Jamshidi went to college with the goal of majoring in criminal justice. A classmate, a 20-year Army veteran, told him he could enlist as a military police officer and have his education paid for and Jamshidi jumped at the chance. When I joined the Marine Corps, I did so to serve a country that had given me so much, Jamshidi said. He spent nine years in the Marine Corps, rising to the rank of gunnery sergeant, until an injury during martial arts training forced his medical retirement. He said his military career demanded physical strength and endurance as well as critical thinking, strategic planning and understanding complex environments. Education has been key in helping me meet those demands, he told the UMGC audience. Jamshidi enrolled in 2019, got credit for past college coursework and finished his associate and bachelors degree in 2023. Hes currently working on a masters degree in criminal justice management. During his time in the military, he worked on his education, often under adverse conditions. He served with the Marine Forces Special Operations Command where he supported critical operations, developed psychological operations products and advised leadership on the operational environment. Jamshidi was later accepted into the Marine Security Augmentation Unit, which protects U.S. embassies in high-security countries. He was assigned to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Jordan, and spent two years as a detachment commander in Liberia. After another two years of training, Jamshidi moved into a psychological operations program. But when thousands of Afghans tried to flee their homeland when the U.S-backed government collapsed in 2021, the Corps needed Marines who could speak Farsi, Dari or Pashtu to help with the evacuation. Jamshidi answered the call and was assigned to Quantico to help process more than 5,000 refugees. In the midst of the duties, he learned his mother had visited her sons in Afghanistan, unaware of the potential collapse of the government, and was stuck there. Like thousands of others, she and her son and grandson made it to Kabul International Airport and spent days outside, inching their way closer. They finally were able to be evacuated, and his mother got home to California. His brother and nephew joined the other 5,000 refugees Jamshidi was trying to help process. Because they had applied for special immigrant visas for Afghan refugees who had assisted the U.S. government, they ultimately were released after processing at Quantico and joined Jamshidis mother. Jamshidi currently works for the Defense Counterintelligence Security Agency, providing security clearances for people who do business with the Department of Defense. Hes also completing a project management professional certification program and hopes that it, and his masters degree, will qualify him for a position within the DoD. Our military service has strengthened us to face any challenge, he said, and our education empowers us to use that strength to build a better world. (c)2024 The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, Va.) Visit The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, Va.) at www.fredericksburg.com/flshome Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Thirty-eight-year-old Mark Kelly was on an eight month suspended prison sentence at the time Mark Kelly (38) was jailed for eight months after pleading guilty to breaking into a midlands hotel twice inside 30 minutes in order to feed an "out of control" drug addiction. A chronic drug addict with 40 previous convictions who broke into a midlands hotel twice inside the space of half an hour decided to do so out of a cry for help, a court has heard. Thirty-eight-year-old Mark Kelly, of Camlin Mews, Longford, was on an eight month suspended prison sentence when he entered the Longford Arms Hotel on two separate occasions to steal alcohol on October 21 this year. Kelly, who has been in custody in Castlerea Prison since November 7 following a contested bail application, was brought before a sitting of Longford District Court for the purposes of sentencing. Kelly, who pleaded guilty to both burglaries, was also charged in connection to ten other thefts from various shops and retail outlets in the midlands town during a six week drug fuelled crime spree. Almost all of those, presiding Judge Bernadette Owens was told, took place at a local SuperValu store with two other thefts occurring at Aldi and Mr Price resulting in almost 1,100 worth of groceries being taken and just over 100 of items being recovered. Sgt Enda Daly, for the State, said it was only when CCTV footage of the initial Longford Arms raid was being viewed that officers discovered Kelly had similarly targeted the Main Street hotel some 30 minutes previously. Kelly, who had stolen 180 worth of alcohol in the first raid, returned to a closed function room in a bid to make off with a further cache of spirits only to be caught red handed by the hotels manager, forcing him to flee empty handed. Mark Kelly was on a suspended prison sentence when he went on a drug fuelled burglary and shoplifting spree in Longford town, a court has been told. Sgt Daly said when gardai subsequently arrested Kelly, the accused made full admissions during interview. It was also revealed that the accused, who has 40 previous convictions to his name including offences for burglary and theft, had been under the auspices of an eight month suspended prison sentence for theft. The term of that sentence had, at the time been suspended for 18 months, at a district court sitting in May 2023. In defence, solicitor John Quinn said his clients offending stemmed from a chronic underlying drug addiction. It was a cry for help, he told the court. He (Kelly) has a serious addiction problem which is out of control. It wasnt as if he was doing it on purpose. He kept at it to feed the habit and its a habit that is still there. In that respect, Mr Quinn applied for an endorsement to be fixed to Kellys warrant, requesting his client undergoes medical assessment during his time in custody. He needs more treatment than imprisonment, but that is the dilemma he is in, he added. All of these actions, while they appear to be reckless, it was the result of the serious condition he has. Judge Owens said while Kelly deserved credit for offering up guilty pleas to the court, his criminal past were indiscretions that could not be overlooked. She also noted how Kelly had lost a huge amount on a personal level as a result of his offending despite having enjoyed successful spells of sobriety in the past. She consequently sentenced Kelly to eight months in prison for one of the burglary charges alongside a four month prison term for a section 4 theft charge, directing both sentences to run concurrently. Both terms were backdated to when Kelly first went into custody. All of the remaining theft charges were, meanwhile, taken into consideration. In addressing whether or not to invoke part or all of the suspended sentence Kelly was on at the time, Judge Owens said she would direct a probation report in the interim and remanded him in custody to appear at a sitting of Longford District Court on December 10 via video link. The man (54) cannot be identified for legal reasons A GRANDFATHER accused of sexually assaulting two women he never met before after coming to Dublin on a family visit has been held on 25,000 bail. The man (54) who cannot be identified for legal reasons, appeared at Dublin District Court on Saturday following a Garda investigation into two incidents at the same apartment complex in south Dublin on October 27 and 20 last. He is accused of carrying out two sexual assaults. Objecting to bail, Garda Eoin Holland said the accused, a foreign national, was a flight risk. The court heard the accused, who has yet to enter a plea, recently came to Ireland with his wife to visit family members. It was alleged that on October 27, a woman living in the complex was sitting in the communal area at around 3pm and was approached by the suspect, who spoke to her in his language. The court heard that the suspect then grabbed her by the face and started kissing her. She tried to leave, but it was claimed that he grabbed her by the cheeks and kissed her again. She managed to leave and went outside, where he followed her. Garda Holland told the court that one week earlier, the other woman was in the communal area at 1pm getting a cup of coffee when she was approached from the right-hand side. The court heard: "He went to shake her hand and then straight away grabbed her by the back of the neck and started licking the side of the face and sticking his tongue in the corner of her mouth." The court heard that she pleaded with him to stop and tried to push him off when he grabbed her right breast and crotch area; she pushed him off her, but he grabbed her hand and put it on his penis before she got away. Judge Finan heard both incidents were on good quality CCTV, and neither woman was known to the suspect by the suspect, who was arrested on Friday at a relative's address in Dublin. Questioned by defence barrister Kevin McCrave, the garda agreed the man had been staying with relatives in south Dublin. He agreed that the man, who did not address the court, had no prior convictions in Ireland but added that gardai were awaiting a response from Interpol on whether he had a criminal record abroad. Mr McCrave, instructed by solicitor Niall O'Connor, submitted that he had to enunciate his client's presumption of innocence, giving rise to a presumption in favour of bail. Judge Finan held that the objections based on flight risk were well founded but noted further defence submissions that a surety could be offered to alleviate the court's concerns. Counsel said his client's son in Ireland was in employment and could try to stand bail. Judge Finan said it would have to be substantial and then set the surety at 25,000 with a bail person yet to be approved. Once taken up, the accused must surrender his travel documents, not leave Dublin or go near the alleged crime scene and victims, not contact them, and sign on twice daily at a garda station. The defendant, who listened to the proceedings with the aid of an interpreter, did not address the court and has still to enter a plea. He was granted legal aid, remanded in custody with consent to bail and will appear again on December 5. Sammy Stokes (32) appeared at a sitting of Athlone District Court A man accused of threatening to endanger the lives of gardai carrying out patrols at a proposed asylum seeker centre in a midlands town has succeeded in his attempts to protest at a nearby quarry that is being used to deliver construction material ahead of its planned opening. Sammy Stokes (32) of Blackberry Lane, Athlone appeared at a sitting of Athlone District Court following two separate alleged incidents on October 19 and October 24 at Ballymahon Road, Athlone and Lissywollen, Athlone, Westmeath respectively. The 11-acre site has been the subject of repeated protests at the Department of Integrations plans to accommodate 1,000 male asylum seekers at a temporary accommodation facility on the outskirts of the midlands town. Stokes had appeared at a court sitting on October 25 charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour at Lissywollen, Athlone, Westmeath and allegedly making a threat to gardai five days earlier under section 3 of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991. Sammy Stokes (32) was charged with allegedly making a threat to gardai to damage garda vehicles during patrols at a proposed accommodation centre in Athlone that is due to house 1,000 male asylum seekers over the coming weeks. The finer points of that charge contended Stokes had put a sergeant in fear over an alleged threat to damage garda vehicles in a way which was likely to endanger the life of members of the Gardai. Stokes was subsequently granted bail subject to conditions, among which included orders for the accused to stay away from the soon to be opened IPAS centre. When the case returned before Judge Bernadette Owens, Sgt Paul McNally said directions had been received from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for the case to be heard at District Court level. In outlining the states case, Sgt McNally said it will be alleged Stokes made a threat to gardai to throw screws or wooden spikes across the road at Blackberry Lane with a view to causing damage and to prevent Garda patrol vehicles from entering the site. Judge Owens accepted jurisdiction, paving the way for the case to be disposed of in the District Court. The court was told Stokes was also facing two further charges, accused of obstructing a vehicle from entering a building site at Lissywollen and willfully preventing the free passage of a vehicle on October 24. Sgt McNally added the State would be seeking an application to vary Stokes bail following an alleged incident at a quarry in Brideswell some six miles away in neighbouring county Roscommon. The premise for that request, he added, had arisen from concerns personnel linked to the quarry were having difficulties in performing their duties bringing stone-related material to the Lissywollen site. Having listened to the initial grounds for the application, Judge Owens termed the proposed bail variation as being too broad, stating the court needed to hear direct evidence from the State. Sammy Stokes was remanded on bail to reappear at a sitting of Athlone District Court in January. That approach led Garda Tony Brennan to take the stand as he told of being called to the quarry by its management over claims that trucks were being impeded by a group of protestors. When he arrived shortly after midday, Garda Brennan said he saw a group of four men and two women holding placards with the slogans shame and profiting from IPAS centre, Athlone emblazoned across them. He identified Stokes as being the main leader adding how he had been informed in no uncertain terms that the group were going to continue to block one truck in particular. It was quite clear that they were not going to move for me, he said, something which led to the arrival of the Gardais Public Order Unit soon afterwards. In defence, Patrick Carty described the States application to vary his clients bail as absurd in light of revelations no criminal charges had or were forthcoming from the Brideswell incident Sammy Stokes outside Athlone Courthouse. He added Stokes maintained a constitutional right to protest in a peaceful manner, stating that by varying his clients bail to extend to that of a neighbouring county was something the court should guard against. Its (quarry) not a place tied in any direct or obvious way to the charge before the court and is in another county, he said. Its another matter entirely to restrict someones right to protest. In the absence of criminal conduct (varying bail) risks contravening his constitutional right to protest. This is somewhat absurd. If the protest moves 500 yards up the road, will his bail conditions have to be amended again if some other supplier services this site? Judge Owens agreed, describing the States application as being both too broad and unreasonable in its logic. I am not with the State in the circumstances where there is no evidence Mr Stokes committed any criminal offence or has been prosecuted for an offence at the quarry in Brideswell, she said. Stokes was consequently remanded on continuing bail to a sitting of Athlone District Court on January 22, 2025. Dublin District Coroners Court heard Maria Stanca was admitted to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown with severe abdominal pain A coroner has advised anyone considering travelling abroad for surgery to realise that follow-up care may often be necessary after a Kildare resident died from complications from a weight-loss procedure in Turkey. Dublin city coroner, Crona Gallagher, said arranging post-operative care, which could involve doctors, nutritionists and other medical professionals, could be more difficult in cases where bariatric surgery was performed outside Ireland. Her comments were made at an inquest into the death of a 64-year-old grandmother who died over two years ago after suffering complications from weight-loss surgery she had undergone in Turkey eight months earlier. A sitting of Dublin District Coroners Court heard Maria Stanca from Fenton Green, Kilcock, Co Kildare was admitted to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown (CHB) in Dublin on March 22, 2022, with severe abdominal pain. Ms Stanca, who was a native of Romania, required emergency surgery due to a perforation in her stomach which was linked to complications from the weight-loss procedure she had in Istanbul the previous year. Although she made a recovery and was discharged from hospital on April 20, 2022, Ms Stanca was returned to CHB nine days later after suffering a cardiac and respiratory arrest and died later that evening A grandson of the deceased, Dufan Cirpaci, gave evidence that his grandmother had travelled to Istanbul in 2021 for the surgery to lose weight which she also hoped would reduce pains she had in her legs. Mr Cirpaci said there had been no problem with the procedure in Turkey and in the months afterwards until she became unwell when she was back in Ireland in March 2022. His sister, Suzana, said her grandmother had chosen to have the surgery in Turkey after becoming aware via Facebook of other Romanians who had gone there for similar procedures. In reply to questions from the coroner, she said the deceased had no medical consultations with anyone in Ireland before travelling to Istanbul. The family of the late Maria Stanca, from left, Dufan, grandson, George, son, and Suzana, grandaughter, leaving the Dublin District Coroner's Court. Photo: Collins Ms Cirpaci, who with her father, George, had accompanied Ms Stanca to Turkey, said her grandmother had been assessed by doctors in Turkey and informed after three days that she was suitable for the surgery. She was allowed to return to Ireland four days after the procedure. Ms Cirpaci said the operation was performed in a big hospital which was similar in size to the one in Blanchardstown. She recalled that her grandmother was advised to eat small amounts but could gradually have larger meals. Asked if her family were pleased with the treatment she received in Turkey, Ms Cirpaci replied: We were happy it was something good for her. She also pointed out that Ms Stanca was very happy about losing weight which had decreased from 120kg prior to the surgery to 85kg after eight months. Ms Cirpaci said her grandmother had not visited any doctor on her return to Ireland as she had felt there was no need. A consultant surgeon at CHB, Achille Mastrosimone, gave evidence of having to perform an emergency operation on Ms Stanca after she presented with severe abdominal pain on March 22, 2022. Mr Mastrosimone described finding the patients stomach was full of bile, while the procedural work that had been carried out in Turkey was almost completely undone. He told the coroner that he was not totally sure about what exact procedure Ms Stanca had had in Turkey as it appeared a little bit unusual. Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown The consultant said he believed the actual procedure was a combination of two of the most common types of bariatric surgery which had involved both the stomach and small intestine. Mr Mastrosimone said it was extremely rare that complications of weight-loss surgery would arise after several months as they normally occurred within a few days. Asked by Dr Gallagher why such complications might have arisen with Ms Stanca, he said it was extremely difficult to say. He also confirmed that he had carried out operations on other patients who had experienced complications after having surgery abroad. Asked if he felt all such patients needed follow-up care after such surgery, the consultant replied: 100 per cent. However, Mr Mastrosimone said he could not say if something technical had gone wrong with the surgery performed on the deceased in Turkey. Dr Jaipreet Singh, who carried out a postmortem on Ms Stancas body, concluded she had died as a result of acute bronchial pneumonia with heart disease and a fatty liver as contributory factors. The pathologist acknowledged that the complication related to the surgery in Turkey would have placed a lot of pressure on the deceaseds body. The coroner recorded a narrative verdict to reflect the fact that Ms Stancas death had occurred against a background of complications from weight-loss surgery which had arisen after she had appeared to have made a good recovery. Dr Gallagher admitted that it was something of a mystery why the complications had occurred after such a long period after the procedure. Offering her sympathy to relatives of Ms Stanca, the coroner said she believed it was important to highlight the need for follow-up care after any type of complex surgery abroad. She noted the demand for weight-loss surgery was not being met in Ireland. However, Dr Gallagher also stressed that she was not saying that such procedures when done abroad lead to a bad outcome. Lifer Dessie goes solo after move to overcrowded Cork prison Lifers in one of Irelands most overcrowded prisons are raging after being asked to double-up in their cells while new arrival, convicted gangland killer Dessie Dundon, has been allocated a single cell all to himself. Sources have confirmed to the Sunday World that Dessie Dundon, who is serving life in prison for the murder of rival crime boss Kieran Keane, was moved to Cork prison last week days after his brother John Dundon was moved from the prison up to Castlerea. Dessie was placed on the B2 landing its an enhanced landing where a lot of the lifers are housed, a source said. Normally, lifers are housed in single cells. Its a recognition of the fact theyre in here for the long haul and that their time alone in the cell is pretty much their only comfort in life. Dessie Dundon and left, with his brother John in Wheatfield Prison But because of the overcrowding, the lifers have been told they have to double up or share the single cells. And there has been a lot of tension over that. We had to ship one lifer up to Portlaoise a while back because he point blank refused to share a cell. Its just the reality on the ground because the prison is currently running at something 28 per cent above capacity. The lifers had made their peace with it until Dessie arrived and he was given a single cell. None of them are going to challenge Dessie about it, for obvious reasons, but the officers are getting it in the ear that this is special treatment. Dessie Dundons arrival in the prison had been precipitated by the removal of gangster brother John to Castlerea. John had been housed in the prisons Challenging Behaviour Unit for an extended period after he had become embroiled in a row in a cell with an inmate being held on serious drug charges. Our source said during John Dundons time on general population, he had been suspected of intimidating other inmates into handing over their shop supplies. However, as no formal complaint had been made by any other prisoner against him, nothing could be done. Dundon had so many goodies in his cell he was refusing dinner most evenings, the source said. Youd look in his cell and you could see he was well stocked and while the officers would be hearing whispers, no prisoner was willing to make a complaint about what was going on. The Sunday World previously revealed how Dundon, who has partaken in a number of educational courses since his arrival in Cork, was suspected by officers of using insights gained while studying psychology through the Open University to manipulate and bully other inmates in Cork Prison. Dundon studied psychology through the Open University and also participated in the Listeners course with the Red Cross where inmates are trained to listen to other prisoners when they are struggling, a source said at the time. Its a relief to both the prisoners and the officers to see the back of him out of Cork Prison, our source said. John, like brother Dessie, is serving a life sentence but his is for his role in the murder of innocent Shane Geoghegan. A senior figure in the McCarthy-Dundon criminal gang, Dundon was centrally involved in a murderous feud with the rival Keane-Collopy mob over the control of the drugs trade in Limerick. It is believed that 20 murders happened after Eddie Ryan was shot dead at the Moose Bar in Limerick in 2010. The man Dundon is serving life for murdering, Shane Geoghegan, was an innocent rugby player who died after he was shot five times while walking to his girlfriends house in the early hours of November 9, 2008, in an horrific case of mistaken identity. Another brother, Ger, was caged for 15 years in the UK for his role in an extortion plot in May of last year. Detectives are investigating an aggravated burglary at a house in Ahoghill during the early hours of this morning A man armed with a knife broke into a house in Co Antrim and stole items, the PSNI has said. Detectives are investigating an aggravated burglary at a house in Ahoghill during the early hours of this morning, Saturday, November 30. At around 4am it was reported that an unknown man armed with a knife had approached the rear of an address in Laurel Park. The male occupant of the house, who was outside at the time, challenged the male, who proceeded to swing the knife at the householder. The blade struck the wall of the house and broke off. The suspect then managed to force his way into the kitchen of the property via the back door, pushing past a woman in the process. He then grabbed a mobile phone and some cash and ran off. A few minutes later the suspect returned and again entered the kitchen. He swiped a number of items off the kitchen counter tops, whilst the couple was holding their young baby. He then left on foot via a nearby alleyway. The suspect is described as a white male, thin build, wearing a grey tracksuit with a snood over his face and had his hood up. Detectives are investigating this crime and are appealing for anyone with information or footage from the area to please get in touch on 101, quoting 229 30/11/24. Information can also be submitted online via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/ We just dont know how to get her home, says distraught mum A Dublin mother, whose daughter and granddaughter are stuck in Abu Dhabi, is worried as her husband is now gravely ill in hospital. Trish McCabe is appealing for help to get her daughter and granddaughter home from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where they have been trapped by a travel ban for more than two years. She said her daughter Alma (36) is going through a traumatic time as her ex-husband got a court to put a travel ban on their four-year-old daughter, Isabella. They have been stuck in Abu Dhabi since March 2022, even though the United Arab Emirates (UAE) family courts have since awarded Alma full custody and parental responsibility. Ms McCabe is begging the Irish Government for help to get her daughter and granddaughter home as soon as possible, as the travel ban placed on Isabella during the custody dispute remains in place. Trish McCabe is appealing for help to get her daughter and granddaughter home from Abu Dhabi Meanwhile, Almas father is now seriously ill in intensive care in hospital. My husband took a cardiac arrest yesterday. Were in James Hospital. One of my daughters came home [from Abu Dhabi] this morning and Alma is still stuck over there, Trish said. Her dad is gravely ill, and we just dont know how to get her home. He [Almas ex-husband] wont let her travel with the child. Alma can travel, but he wont lift the ban unless she brings a guarantor. Ive pleaded with the government for help. Ive pleaded with the Embassy in Abu Dhabi, but theyre just not listening. Now, she has no guarantor because her sister wanted to come home too. He wont lift the ban. Its just heartless. Im just so worried about her being there now, thinking of us here. Were in the family room, weve people around us and were hoping for the best. But I am very, very worried about her. Im so concerned about her on top of this, Trish added. Alma and her 4-year-old daughter Isabella Alma and Trish have reached out to politicians including Taoiseach Simon Harris, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald and Tanaiste Micheal Martin. She [Alma] has custody. Isabella is an Irish citizen, was born in Ireland and they just need to come home. After everything theyve been through, we just want to be reunited, Trish said. My daughter has been through an unbelievable traumatic time. Its been hell, but shes won all parental rights and thought shed be able to return home. Shes won everything. All she wants is to come home to her family and the only thing standing in her way is a local travel ban. The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is aware of this case and has provided extensive consular assistance. Our Consular Assistance Unit and the relevant Embassy remain in ongoing contact with the citizen. As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases. "I really enjoyed the campaign. There was a negative side to it in that one party decided to run a very negative campaign targeting me on doorsteps on every opportunity that they got, including right up to late Thursday night Former Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley, who topped the poll in the last General Election, has been elected to the final seat in the Laois constituency. The Independent, who left the Republican party in a high-profile resignation last month, was elected on the eight count with 9512 votes. "We started off a few weeks ago with zero, with no campaign and no resources. "I really enjoyed the campaign. There was a negative side to it in that one party decided to run a very negative campaign targeting me on doorsteps on every opportunity that they got, including right up to late Thursday night. "With disgraceful comments and allegations. We kept our campaign positive, told the Irish Independent, in reference to his former party. He added: The people of Laois have made their judgement of me and I am happy about that. Mr Stanley, who was previously chair of the Public Account Committee (PAC) quit the party in October, citing a kangaroo court following an internal party inquiry into allegations of sexual misconduct against him, which he denies. Former Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley. Photo: PA Sean Fleming (FF) and Brian Stanley (Ind) elected on final count at Laois Count Centre Speaking following his re-election, Mr Stanley said: Ive had a number of women who helped me during the campaign. From the first hour of canvassing I knew we were doing the right thing. Mary Lou McDonald said he was responsible for his own political demise and that Sinn Fein no longer wanted to be associated with him to which the Laois TD replied: She has been shown to be untruthful about these matters. Her words ring hollow. Asked whether he would have anything to do with the party he said: I am an independent leftist republican. I will be representing the people of Laois in the 34th Dail as an independent. I will be supporting policies that wull supporting workers and families. Thats what Ill be doing over the next five years. Asked which Independent forces he might join forces with he said: As a progressive left republican I will be seeing who I can coalesce with and then combine with them. I believe in doing what you can where you are with what you have. Sinn Fein will not be in Government, thats dead certain. As Independents well have to use whatever political clout they have to try and push the issues that matter to our electors. Mr Stanley and his wife Carmel Dwane Stanley arrived in Scoil Chriost Ri shortly before 11am on Sunday morning with family, having avoided the Portlaoise count centre on the first day. The deputy, who founded Sinn Fein in Laois by knocking on doors 40 years, went back to basics in a quiet campaign trail this time around, following tensions between him and his previous party. His wife Mrs Stanley, is a Sinn Fein councillor, and she campaigned beside her husband, while managing to remain a member of the political party that he repeatedly castigated. Speaking in Portlaoise to the Irish Independent ahead of her husbands re-election to Dail Eireann, Mrs Stanley said this tsunami came our way five months ago. "As a family we have been dealing with it behind the scenes, but unfortunately that wasnt to be, she said, adding that she will remain in Sinn Fein, while seeking answers from party leadership on how her family has been treated. County Laois remains a Republican stronghold, with the Republican vote in this general election hitting around the 30pc mark. Following Mr Stanleys resignation from Sinn Fein, the party fielded unelected contestant Maria McCormack, who came fourth. Sean Fleming (FF) joined deputy Stanley on the eight count while Willie Aird (FG) took the first seat yesterday on the fifth count. No injuries were reported. Gardai are investigating a fire at a vacant building in Williamstown, Co Galway in the early hours of Friday morning, November 29. The blaze broke out shortly after 6am at the site of a former credit union building which was the subject of speculation that it would be used to house international protection applicants. Gardai and fire brigades arrived at the scene to extinguish the flames shortly afterwards and the scene was preserved for examination. No injuries were reported. A garda spokesperson told sundayworld.com: Fire services and gardai responded to a fire at a vacant building in Williamstown, Co. Galway, on Friday morning, November 29, 2024. The fire was extinguished and no injuries were reported. The scene was preserved for examination. Investigations are ongoing. A petition circulated online cited concerns over the potential use of the building to house asylum seekers and had gathered over 400 signatures. A spokesperson for the Department of Integration told RTE that "the department is not currently examining this property for accommodation for people seeking international protection". Hutch lived up to his hermit-like nickname by failing to put in an appearance at the count centre yesterday, but is understood to be considering making an appearance at some stage over the wee kend Gerry The Monk Hutch was in a battle royale to win a shock Dail seat and rock the political establishment last night but could find out he has a new arch nemesis by the name of Sherlock in a knife-edge race. Hutch, who was cleared last year of murdering David Byrne in the Regency Hotel attack, came fourth in first preference votes in the four-seater constituency of Dublin Central, around 630 votes ahead of Labours Marie Sherlock. Counting was expected to continue into the early hours of Sunday but Hutch was in a strong position after the first round of votes were collated. Following the sixth count, he remains 816 votes ahead of Sherlock Political insiders at the RDS count centre said Sherlock is likely to be more transfer friendly than the veteran criminal, but it was still up in the air who would come out on top. Sinn Feins Mary Lou McDonald with Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle ONeill Other candidates were still in the running after first preference votes were counted, including Fianna Fails Mary Fitzpatrick. Hutch lived up to his hermit-like nickname by failing to put in an appearance at the count centre yesterday, but is understood to be considering making an appearance at some stage over the wee kend. Film-maker Jim Sheridan, who has been following Hutch on the campaign trail in recent days, did make an appearance as he had expected the veteran criminal to arrive in the early evening having spoken to him on Friday. Asked what he thought Hutchs appeal to voters in the inner city, Sheridan said anger. Years and years ago, (there was) drugs and nothing else in this community, he said. Like, some people are trying to help. But there has never been since (former TD for the area) Tony Gregory, a cohesive attitude towards it (the north inner city) or a focus. And Sheriff Street, I think thats the one thing they got wrong. Its like a blocked artery, in the shadow of the IFSC. Its not like a real community now, its just one street. Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch is in with a chance Sheridan said he was asked to interview Hutch by former Fianna Fail TD Conor Lenihan, who felt the election hadnt been that interesting. Sheridan said that people were happy to see Hutch as he canvassed and said there seemed to be a genuine warmth towards him. Hutch, who listed his occupation as consultant on his candidacy papers, had a great start to the day with early tallies suggesting he had secured 12pc of first preference votes after a third of the boxes were opened. However, those boxes were in his stronghold of the north inner city and after ballots from the rest of the constituency which includes parts of Glasnevin, Phibsboro, Cabra and Drumcondra were counted, he was on 9.3pc. That figure still kept him in fourth position in the four-seater constituency, but he looked set to be in a battle for the final seat once transfers are distributed. Marie Sherlock The quota to be elected is 6,551 votes and Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald topped the poll with 6,389 followed by Fine Gaels Paschal Donohoe on 5,493 and Gary Gannon of the Social Democrats on 4,353. Hutch was fourth on 3,098 first preferences. While cheers went up from supporters of the other leading candidates when their votes were called out, there was silence when Hutchs votes were read out until one man shouted scumbag, albeit not too loudly. The three front-runners look favourites to take the first three seats with a battle for the fourth spot. Labour candidate Marie Sherlock, who secured 2,465 first preference votes, is seen as his main competition. Sherlock was in buoyant mood when she arrived at the RDS last night, but said she expected to be in for a late night and said it would be a tight race. She added that people had been caught up in hype around celebrity candidates during the campaign and didnt consider the work being done on the ground. Campaign posters for the Labour Senator around Dublin Central have been urging voters to put Sherlock on the case but it remained to be seen if she could outwit the veteran criminal. One candidate who failed to get the better of Hutch was anti-immigrant activist Malachy Steenson, who was essentially out of the race after getting 1,602 first preferences. Steenson won a seat on Dublin City Council in the local elections earlier this year. After seeing the initial tally figures, Steenson bizarrely suggested Hutch was put into this race by the State. A source close to Hutch said he found Steensons conspiracy theory hilarious. He was laughing his head off when he heard that. He found it hilarious that Steenson thinks someone who the State recently put on trial for murder was a State plant. Gary Gannon, who is likely to take a seat, said that Hutchs inclusion on the ballot paper was not something any of the other candidates expected. He came in and he got a lot of media with this announcement, and thats going to be expected, Gannon said. But I think, for me, its not just about what happens and who takes the fourth seat. I think its a reflection of the fact that theres a lot of hurt, theres a huge amount of pain. I mean, that period of austerity in 2011 to 2016 destroyed the fabric of communities, and youre still seeing the tentacles of that now, he added. I appreciate what the headlines will be today and tomorrow, but I do encourage everybody to go beyond them and look deeper. Because when people are hurting to the extent that they are in, some of the communities that I represent the length and breadth of Ireland, and youre going to see outcries of that, and itll manifest in different ways. And I think were seeing one manifestation of that today, he said. Others running in the constituency include Fianna Fails Mary Fitzpatrick, who was on 2,344 first preferences and the Green Partys Neasa Hourigan who received 1,952. Former MEP Clare Daly is not in the running for a seat after receiving a disappointing 1,317 first preferences. News that Hutch was running first emerged in the Sunday World in October when we reported he was considering a Dail bid. Days later he was arrested in Lanzarote in an investigation into an alleged money laundering operation. He secured bail after telling the magistrates that he was running in the election and later returned to Dublin where he gave a lengthy interview to the Sunday World during which he claimed he was running because people kept asking him to run. He claimed housing and homelessness were among his priorities and said he wasnt anti-immigration but later said Irish people should be looked after first. Film-maker Jim Sheridan who is making a documentary on Hutch who was acquitted last year of the murder of David Byrne in the Regency Hotel attack. The court said they were satisfied Hutch had possession of the assault rifles used in the attack and specific knowledge the guns they had been used in the murder of David Byrne. He has been a suspect in major armed robberies but was never charged in relation to them. WARNING: Graphic images Speaking with the Sunday World this week, the teenager alleged that he had sustained two black eyes, a haemorrhage in his left eye and cuts requiring seven stitches as a result of being kicked in the head Justin had seven stitches above and below his eye after the incident Justins mum Florina says she screamed when she saw his injuries Justin says he feared for his eye The Garda Ombudsman is investigating allegations a 17-year-old sustained these horrific injuries as a result of being kicked several times in the head by an officer following a traffic stop in Dublin. A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana confirmed on Thursday that a complaint of assault has been made by teenager Justin Covaci following his arrest on a traffic stop for dangerous driving in Blanchardstown at 2.24am on Saturday morning last week. In the statement, the spokesperson said: On November 23, 2024, gardai arrested a male teen following an alleged incident of dangerous driving in Blanchardstown, Dublin. The male teen was released from custody pending referral to the youth diversion programme in accordance with the Childrens Act 2001. Justin says he feared for his eye Following a complaint being made to An Garda Siochana by the juvenile, the complaint has been forwarded to the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission in accordance with the Garda Siochana Act 2005. As this matter is currently subject to a GSOC referral, an Garda Siochana is not making any further comment. Speaking with the Sunday World this week, the teenager alleged that he had sustained two black eyes, a haemorrhage in his left eye and cuts requiring seven stitches as a result of being kicked in the head two or three times after he was removed from his vehicle, restrained on the ground and cuffed. Speaking in the presence of his mother Florina, who collected her son from Finglas Garda Station following his arrest, Justin said he had been dropping friends home in his mothers 141-Audi when he accidentally pulled out in front of a garda jeep, causing it to swerve to avoid a collision. Justin's injuries Justin needed stitches I was dropping the lads home. I was coming out of my estate, theres a left turn going towards the Whitestown area and a left turn going towards Centra in Huntstown. I took the right turn and as soon as I did I saw a white jeep coming at a high speed. At the time I jammed on the brakes but they had to swerve to avoid me if he didnt swerve, there would have been an impact probably a deadly impact. I drove away thinking everything was all good and I drove on for about 20 or 30 seconds when I saw the blue lights behind me. I panicked at the start. I didnt know what to do really why they were telling me to stop. So, initially, I did drive on. I drove on about 10 or 20 seconds more and then I put the hazard lights on before I came to a stop. They hopped out of the car, my doors were locked and then three of them rushed up. I was still in the car so I unlocked the doors because they were banging on the windows fairly hard. Justins mum Florina says she screamed when she saw his injuries As soon as I opened the door, one of them grabbed me and threw me on the floor and he put me into handcuffs straight away. I was already shouting sorry because of the way I got thrown on the floor was pretty rough. I said: sorry, sorry, sorry I said it a few times. And then boom .. I got a few strikes in the head two or three kicks straight in the middle of the face. And thats all I can remember before I was thrown in the back of the car. I remember asking them: Whats wrong with my eye? Is my eye OK? And one of them said: Youre OK, youre only busted. They brought me back to Finglas Garda Station and I was detained there for a while until my ma came. Justin had seven stitches above and below his eye after the incident Justin said it is his recollection that the three gardai were in uniform and the car that carried out the stop was the same jeep that had been forced to swerve to avoid him as he pulled out of the estate. They obviously came back. I think the reason I didnt see that was because it wasnt one of the ones with all the reflectors. It was just a plain white jeep with garda written on the side. It was a white Hyundai. Justin said a doctor arrived at Finglas Garda Station to treat his injuries after his mum Florina arrived at the station. Justin said he wasnt asked any questions in the station. I told them I was very sorry and that I didnt want to lose my licence, he said. I was very scared. Ive been charged with reckless driving but I wasnt charged with resisting or anything like that. Justin and Florina with our reporter Florina said she was contacted by one of the gardai who arrested her son as he was being taken to Finglas. I got a taxi to the garda station, said Florina. When they called, they said: We just arrested Justin. You have to come to the station to collect him. When I got to the garda station, I was shocked when I saw him. The sergeant told me he had banged his head on the ground. I never thought that somebody can hurt my kid like this, I was shocked. I pulled my hair and screamed. Florina said she took photographs of her sons injuries in the cell but was directed by gardai in the station to delete them. I grew up with nothing but respect for the police, she said. So, they told me to delete them and I did. But his face was hammered. Half of the face you couldnt even see because of all the blood! The doctor came and cleaned his face a bit and put a plaster on him and said its best you go to the hospital. Justin's injuries Florina said she spent the next 20 hours in hospitals with her son. We went to Connolly first and then they sent us to the Mater to go to an eye specialist clinic. We didnt get home until 5pm the next evening. Speaking of his injuries, Justin said: They told me I had a concussion, bleeding behind the eye and I had to have three stitches below my eye and four stitches above it. And I have a haemorrhage in my eye as well. I dont know if theres any permanent damage. At the moment I have blurred vision but I have to go back again for a check-up. Justin had seven stitches above and below his eye after the incident Florina said she brought her son back to Finglas Garda Station on Sunday to make a formal complaint of assault against the arresting gardai. We reported that he was assaulted by a garda and they took his statement they wrote it down and everything. Asked whether he had any previous interactions with gardai, Justin said he was arrested for smashing a camera when he was 14 and that he was arrested a second time messing around on a moped. I dont have any previous convictions, he said. They were just cautions. Justin said he didnt recognize any of the officers who were present during his arrest. GSOC declined to comment when contacted by this newspaper in relation to the allegations.. Solicitor David Harrington, who previously represented the family of George Nkencho and specialises in case where allegations have been made against gardai, is now representing Justin. With September 2025 marking 150 years since Ulster Irish settlers arrived in Katikati, community board chair John Clements wants to know how local residents would like to observe the occasion. On September 16, 1875, a group of 34 Protestant families from Ulster in Ireland totalling 238 people arrived in Katikati as part of George Vesey Stewarts organised settlement. The party had travelled by sea from Belfast on-board the Carisbrooke Castle ship, in search of a new life. A second party followed three years later on-board the Lady Jocelyn ship in 1878. Today as the Katikati township edges towards the 150 anniversary of the settlers' arrival its Ulster heritage is still alive and well via murals and street names and descendants still living locally. Clements said many families will remember the 100th anniversary event of Katikati in 1975 and find it hard to believe we are now looking at the 150th anniversary of the town. As a community leader he wants to find out how wider Katikati community would like to mark the 150th anniversary of the Ulster settlers arrival. We have some initial ideas and a tentative date of September 13 next year, which is the closest weekend to the anniversary but Im hoping the community will respond to this article and get in touch to tell me how they would like to mark the occasion. Clements said a few stand-alone projects are underway to celebrate the anniversary but he would d like to know if the community want to come together to mark the occasion. Clements said ideas from individuals, community groups as well keenness from local schools to get involved would be welcome. We also know that many descendants from those Ulster pioneer families still live locally and so wed like to hear from them as well on how they might like to be involved. Clements, who is coordinating all input, said feedback can made by emailing him directly via: john@johnclements.co.nz He asks for people to submit their initial ideas by December 14. - SunLive Four arrests were made on Saturday, November 30, around New Zealand for breaches of the Gangs Act 2024. In the Bay of Plenty, a man was arrested on Rangiuru Road, Te Puke, wearing a gang patch; and on Puia Street, Taupo, a man was arrested wearing clothing featuring gang insignia, Assistant Commissioner Paul Basham said. In Waitemata District, a man was arrested on Harrington Road, Henderson in relation to an item of clothing bearing gang insignia. A man was also arrested on Jervois Street, Hastings, wearing clothing featuring gang insignia. "Police continue to work to enforce the law, and in general, compliance remains high," Basham said. A book that empowers the "brave voices" of children by encouraging them to speak out and find help if they experience abuse will be distributed to all primary schools in New Zealand, thanks to funding from the Wright Family Foundation. Supported by Life Education Trust and Save the Children, The Wolf and the Hocus Pocus is the latest story from Avril McDonald, the award-winning author of the Feel Brave series of books (little stories about big feelings for 4-7-year-olds) and founder of Feel Brave, which aims to give all children access to tools that help them manage tough emotions and reach their creative potential. Each book tells a story about a real-life situation that children may face, while offering a simple strategy to cope. The picture book will be sent to all primary schools with students up to Year 8, accompanied by a guide to help teachers use the story to support children. "I am delighted that tamariki across the motu will have the chance to read and hear this important story thanks to this generous grant from the Wright Family Foundation," said McDonald. "Sometimes a story or one simple strategy can change peoples lives. The Wolf and the Hocus Pocus offers a safe space for children and adults to explore what speaking out might look like and what to do if a child needs help." Launched earlier this year at Government House Wellington, hosted by Her Excellency Dame Cindy Kiro, who has also written the books foreword, the book was part of a wider campaign supported by Life Education Trust, Womens Refuge and Save the Children aimed at breaking the culture of silence that traditionally surrounds sexual and other forms of abuse in New Zealand and delivering children a vital message: To seek out a trusted adult until they find one who believes them and will act on their behalf to help keep them safe and secure. Author Avril McDonald reading the Wolf and the Hocus Pocus at a Wellington primary school. (Photo/Supplied) "The Feel Brave stories are a great asset to our teaching," said Life Education Trust Chief Executive Mark Weatherall. "With their engaging characters and storylines, theyre popular with tamariki right through the primary school years and aid conversations about sensitive topics. The Wolf and the Hocus Pocus lets children know its OK to stand up for themselves and others and will be welcomed by classroom teachers." Save the Children Chief Executive Heidi Coetzee said every child has the right to feel physically and emotionally safe, but for too many children, this is not the case. "The Wolf and the Hocus Pocus helps teach children to trust their instincts and to speak out if something is wrong and highlights adults responsibility to listen to children and act to support them when they ask for help. "We are so pleased that children across the country will be able to hear this important message." Kylie Wright from the Wright Family Foundation said The Wolf and the Hocus Pocus is a wonderful childrens book that aims to empower tamariki to use their own voice. "Avril has done a beautiful job of artistically delivering a powerful message to children that it is okay to speak up if they feel something is wrong, and to seek out a trusted adult," said Wright. "Child Education is a key focus area for the Wright Family Foundation, and our team are so proud to be supporting the distribution of this delightful book into every primary school across Aotearoa." The book is available from feelbrave.com, while a digital storybook version can be purchased from the App Store, Google Play and Amazon. Whether Thanksgiving falls six weeks before Christmas or four, the holiday of gratitude for our blessings is a perfect segue into the holiday of giving to our neighbors in need. This year, the annual Hope for the Holidays fundraising drive is coming at us fast. This Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6 and 7, teams of employees of syracuse.com/The Post-Standard, plus numerous volunteers from community and civic organizations, will fan out across Central New York to raise money for the Christmas Bureau, a joint project of the Salvation Army and the United Way. The campaign is near and dear to our hearts. It originated more than 90 years ago during the Great Depression. Old Newsboys took to the streets to hawk newspapers for charity. The money they raised -- $1,800 that first year, or more than $41,000 in todays dollars went to buy coal to heat the homes of needy families. Funds raised by the Hope for the Holidays/Old Newsboys now go to buy new toys, books and the fixings for a holiday meal for more than 2,000 families, including about 5,000 children. A lot has changed since those early days. Were still producing the news but not as many newspapers, as digital technology takes over more aspects of our lives. This weekend, well still hand out free, special-edition newspapers in exchange for your donations, as a token of our thanks and a reminder of the roots of this beloved Central New York tradition. Cash is always accepted but you also can donate online now, using a QR code that takes you directly to the Salvation Armys website. One thing never changes: There always are families in need of a helping hand at this time of year. As you go about your business this Friday and Saturday, look for the newspaper hawkers wearing big smiles and holiday-themed hats and attire. Well be at the coffee shop, the gas station, the mall, the bars in Armory Square, downtown lunch spots and street corners. Please give generously. Every penny donated goes to the Christmas Bureau to make a neighbors holiday a little brighter. You can give them Hope for the Holidays. About Syracuse.com editorials Editorials represent the collective opinion of the Advance Media New York editorial board. Our opinions are independent of news coverage. Read our mission statement. Members of the editorial board are Tim Kennedy, Trish LaMonte and Marie Morelli. To respond to this editorial: Submit a letter or commentary to letters@syracuse.com. Read our submission guidelines. If you have questions about the Opinions & Editorials section, contact Marie Morelli, editorial/opinion lead, at mmorelli@syracuse.com Rajeevraj Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Bangalore Posts: 4,776 Thanked: 19,057 Times NH 66 in Kerala | Status and Updates on 6-Lane Conversion There is already a thread that focuses on the Now, one might wonder what is there to discuss on a highway upgrade project which is happening all over the country. There are several aspects which make me personally excited about this and why I think it is a game changer in various ways. Some Background: People in Kerala and those who visit and drive here, know how densely populated the state is. While the road network kept getting enhanced and expanded across the country, Kerala has been(and still is) stuck with the same 2 lane roads for decades. Most efforts to expand typically would go no where due to various reasons starting with land acquisition challenges. After long delays, the state finally saw the expansion of NH544 from the Kerala border at Walayar to Ernakulam to a 4 lane road which included the much talked about Kuthiran Tunnel also. While the highway got upgraded, considering the NHAI approach when it was planned, it is in a situation where the Kerala section of this NH has a lot of signals and intersections. NH 66 in Kerala meanwhile did not have that luxury also. Pretty much the whole section in Kerala passed through densely populated areas. There are fairly large towns every 10-15km. No one believed any expansion was possible. Finally the State government, NHAI, MORTH Ministry worked closely together to arrive at a feasible plan and jointly execute. This also involved the state government agreeing to fund 25% of land acquisition costs. It was a good example of all stakeholders coming together and aligning. Some facts and figures: The Kerala stretch of NH 66 is around 600km from Thalapadi in the North (Kasargod) to Karode in the south (Trivandrum). from Thalapadi in the North (Kasargod) to Karode in the south (Trivandrum). Driving any section of this has always been a nightmare due to the narrow roads, traffic density, towns at regular intervals. An end to end drive of 600km can take anywhere between 14-17 hrs . Which means an average speed of ~35kmph . . Which means an average speed of . You can mind map a 600km drive and how much time it takes on any 4/6 lane highway/expressway and that will help realize how slow this is. Salient facts on the 6 Laning project Divided into 24 reaches as shown in the image below. Each section is a separate contract. as shown in the image below. Each section is a separate contract. Not sure of the exact dates, but all land acquisition was finally completed and mostly handed over to the contractors in the 2020 timeframe. Some reaches, the work has been super fast others fairly slow. The complete stretch will be a 6 lane + service road highway. NHAI has learnt from the past and are making it pretty much a signal free highway. Every junction has an overpass or underpass. Every town is properly bypassed. Not the earlier approach where they make a 4 lane, then have to do a 6 lane and then add flyovers over a period of time at junctions where it was not done earlier. NHAI has been flexible to make smaller design updates on the fly taking local inputs. As construction was happening, they approved several additional underpasses and overpasses. Lot of realignments to avoid the winding, twisted roads. Overall distance also reduces due to this. I liken it to the Bangalore-Mysore Expressway. While it is not an expressway in the true sense of the word and has plenty of entry-exits, due to no intersections or junctions, it is pretty much access controlled from any local cross traffic. Cameras and speed monitoring are not after thoughts. Being done along with the construction. The reaches breakup and distances. Distances seem to vary a little depending on the sources. The contractors of the various reaches(Could not find a a more recent summary-All reaches are awarded. The snapshot shows 3-4 pending) Why do I think it is game changing?(Note: I do agree that more than roads, the state and the country needs high speed mass transportation options, but having said that, this upgrade was needed and long overdue) Today across state travel is a challenge for everyone. The fastest options are trains which are always full and there are never enough of them. Even for tourism(Which Kerala lives on), most of the time visitors have to chose one part of the state because traveling just consumes too much energy and time. The same applies for business and administrative and related work. The expansion means going from a 2 lane highway straight up to a signal free 6 lane highway with service roads . I expect travel times to come down by a factor of 2-3 times. Taking an example: A drive from Kozhikode to Ernakulam (~170km) which takes ~6 hours today, can be done in 2.5 hours . An end to end drive should happen in 7-8 hours. . I expect travel times to come down by a factor of 2-3 times. Taking an example: A drive from which takes today, can be done in . An end to end drive should happen in 7-8 hours. I have personally driven through many of the completed stretches from Kozhikode to Ernakulam. I feel it is being done well considering the constraints and challenges that have been faced. As some of the videos below show, the whole route would become a super scenic drive. Ok, so it all cannot be an example of perfection. Is there a catch? The biggest potential concern is that this is a 6 lane in a 45 meter width. NHAI standard for 6 lane is 60 meter. Major compromise is for the medians which are concrete barriers(Concrete Jersey Barriers). This was one of the major sticking points as land acquisition for 60 meter was deemed infeasible. Like we see in the Bangalore-Mysore Expressway, there is now separate entry exit lane due to the width restrictions, so entry and exit is from and into the left most lane. Discipline on such a road will take time. The drivers and driving is not tuned to this. Expect a lot of poor driving practices and accidents in the initial phases. What is the progress? Will it get done anytime soon? Mostly good news here. Out of the 24 reaches, 6 are done . At least another 4-5 reaches are 80%+ done. . At least another done. In North to Central Kerala. Work progress is very fast. Many portions are being opened as it is completed. Expectation is that the stretch from Kasargod to Ernakulam w ill get completed by 2025 end. Out of these many sections will continue to open all through 2025. The South Kerala stretch is progressing more slowly. There is a deadline of 2026 for the whole section from NHAI. Need to see if this is met. for the whole section from NHAI. Need to see if this is met. In summary, over the next 1-2 years, sections will keep opening and the journey will continue to get smoother. National Highway 66 (NH 66) is one of India's busiest, most picturesque highways that run all along the West Coast starting near Mumbai and ending at Kanyakumari. It runs through Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and has a small section in Tamilnadu also. In spite of being a critical highway, for the longest time, it has remained a 2 lane highway while the rest of the country was getting 4,6 lane highways and expressways at a rapid pace. Main reasons for this were the fact that this highway ran through densely populated and environmentally sensitive areas. Of course, administrative apathy always contributed to this.There is already a thread that focuses on the Mumbai- Goa (Mumbai - Goa NH 66 | Latest info & updates on the brand-new (WIP) highway) portion of of this highway and its updates. This post (Goa to Mangalore : Route Queries) also gives an update on the the Goa-Mangalore stretch and the thread itself discusses the same. Purpose of this thread is to focus on and cover the status and updates of the NH 66 six laning work in Kerala.Now, one might wonder what is there to discuss on a highway upgrade project which is happening all over the country. There are several aspects which make me personally excited about this and why I think it is a game changer in various ways. Last edited by Turbanator : 1st December 2024 at 08:50 . Reason: minor edit- NHAI - 60mtr. Angry at Spain's flood response, 100,000 rally in Valencia Valencia, Spain, Nov 30 (AFP) Nov 30, 2024 Some 100,000 people marched on Saturday to protest against the authorities' handling of Spain's floods in Valencia, whose eastern region bore the brunt of the tragedy's 230 deaths. The protest followed a series of rallies marking a month's passing since the disaster, the nation's worst in a generation. Both the central and regional governments have come under fire for the response to the October 29 catastrophe, which wrecked homes, shops and swept away cars by the thousands. Chanting slogans calling for Valencian leader Carlos Mazon -- accused of raising the alarm too late -- to resign or face jail, the demonstrators marched through Valencia's city centre. "What went wrong? Incompetence. That's why we are here, because there are a lot of incompetent people who are still being paid," Raquel Ferrandis told AFP. The 55-year-old teacher from Paiporta, one of the towns worst hit by the rising waters, was carrying a banner in memory of the mother of a friend who died in the floods. Telephone alerts reached some residents when water was already surging through the streets, while several municipalities went for days without state help and had to rely on volunteers for food, water and cleaning equipment. Carrying a banner slamming the regional president, 62-year-old teacher Maribel Peralta declared herself "very indignant". "The people who have lost everything, look at how they live now. The people who have lost their businesses, look at how they live now. The aid is not coming," the Valencia resident said. For the time being, Mazon has ruled out resigning. The demonstrators also criticised the central government of socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, accused of not being more decisive in its handling of the response. "These politicians are killing the people," one of the posters at Saturday's march read. Disaster management is the regional administrations' responsibility in Spain's highly decentralised system, but the central government is allowed to furnish regions with resources and even take control in extreme cases. Mocking the alert issued by Valencia 12 hours after Spain's weather agency raised the rain and flood alarm to the highest level, the demonstrators blared out alarms from their phones and broke out into chants of "murderers, murderers". "If people had been warned in good time, if they had the means they have, this would not have happened," said Juan Carlos Ribes, who came to demonstrate from a municipality some 50 kilometres (30 miles) to the south. "Everything else is an excuse," the 58-year-old civil servant added. Nations warn of 'obstruction' at plastic talks Busan, South Korea, Dec 1 (AFP) Dec 01, 2024 Dozens of countries warned Sunday that a handful of nations were obstructing efforts in South Korea to reach an ambitious landmark global treaty to curb plastic pollution. With hours until negotiations are scheduled to end, delegates say a group of mostly oil-producing "like-minded countries" have refused to compromise on key sticking points. Those include setting targets for reducing plastic production and phasing out chemicals known or believed to be harmful to human health. "We also are worried by the continuing obstruction by the so-called like-minded countries," Olga Givernet, France's minister delegate for energy, told reporters. Finding an agreement on an ambitious treaty "remains an absolute priority," Givernet said, and "we are planning on pushing it". Plastic production is on track to triple by 2060, and over 90 percent of plastic is not recycled. But while everyone negotiating in Busan agrees on the problem, they disagree on the solution. Countries including Saudi Arabia and Russia insist the deal should focus only on waste, and reject calls for binding global measures. They have made their position clear in documents submitted in negotiations and during public plenary sessions, though neither delegation responded to repeated AFP requests for comment. - 'Blocking the process' - "It is disappointing to see that a small number of members remain unsupportive of the measures necessary to drive real change," said Rwanda's Juliet Kabera. "We still have a few hours left in these negotiations, there is time to find common ground, but Rwanda cannot accept a toothless treaty," she warned. Fiji's Sivendra Michael also called out a "very minority group" for "blocking the process." The latest draft text for the treaty contains a range of options, reflecting the ongoing divisions. A promised new version has been repeatedly delayed. The talks are supposed to be the final round of negotiations after two years of discussion. The venue has only been rented until mid-morning Monday, sources told AFP. Portuguese delegate Maria Joao Teixeira said there were real fears talks could collapse and have to be extended to another round elsewhere. "We are really trying to not have a weak treaty," she told AFP. Environmental groups have pushed ambitious countries to call a vote if progress stalls. But observers caution that risks alienating even some countries in favour of a strong treaty. Another option would be for the diplomat chairing the talks to simply gavel through an agreement over the objections of a handful of holdouts, they said. That too holds risks, potentially embittering the remaining diplomatic process and jeopardising adoption of a treaty down the road. - 'Hope in consensus' - Mexico's head of delegation Camila Zepeda said she did not favour calling a vote. "We have hope in consensus. The multilateral process is slow, but there is a possibility of having critical mass to move forward," she told AFP. "Showing this critical mass helps us so that the more contentious issues can be unblocked." German delegate Sebastian Unger also said many countries would prefer to avoid a vote. "If you would leave out many important countries that you want to have on board, then the effects of the treaty (are impacted)," he told AFP. Over 100 countries now support setting a target for production cuts, and dozens also back phasing out some chemicals and unnecessary plastic products. But representatives of China and the United States, the world's two top plastics producers, were absent from the stage at a press conference urging ambition. "They are still considering and we are hopeful that there will be some interest on their part," said Mexico's Zepeda. "This coalition of the willing is an open invitation. And so it's not like it's them against us." Panama's Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez meanwhile told colleagues that "history will not forgive us" for leaving Busan without an ambitious treaty. "This is the time to step up or get out." With Christmas approaching, production lines in a workshop in a remote county in Guizhou Province, southwest China, are busy working to meet the increasing demand as orders keep pouring in. Surprisingly, there are few people on the floor. Automated welding machines have taken over most of the work. "The high level of equipment automation has reduced the requirements for workers. This has created job opportunities for local women who can work near home," said Gan Luo, the general manager of Yidong household products company in Changming economic development zone in Guiding County, adding female staff account for two-thirds of the factory's employees. The factory is now operating at full capacity to fulfill export orders from the European and U.S. markets. "We have established a trade company dedicated to dealing with overseas business. This year's orders have exceeded 20 million yuan (about 2.8 million U.S. dollars) already," Gan said. A Guizhou local, Gan started his own business in Ningbo, a coastal city in eastern China's Zhejiang Province. For decades, coastal regions attracted millions of people seeking better fortunes. Provinces like Zhejiang and Jiangsu stood out for their geographic advantages, sound infrastructure, advanced logistics and entrepreneurship-supporting policies. Prior to relocating his operations to Guizhou, Gan's business had been thriving. However, the escalating costs associated with labor, as well as land and energy consumption had emerged as formidable obstacles to sustaining a healthy profit margin. Consequently, Gan turned his attention to his hometown, seeking a more cost-effective solution. Located in the mountain-ringed southwest, Guizhou itself is a major province for electricity output, which is a big edge for many enterprises. Plus lower wages and land prices, the only obstacle for Gan seems to be the relatively higher transportation costs. In recent years, Guizhou has striven to upgrade its transportation system toward modernity and better connectivity. The province had built over 200,000 km of roads, including 8,784 km of expressways, by the end of 2023. "In recent years, the enhancements to Guizhou's transportation network, along with savings accrued from other sectors, can effectively neutralize the rise in delivery costs," Gan said. In 2021, officials from the Changming economic development zone and a prominent local enterprise in Guiding County embarked on a business recruitment trip to Ningbo to encourage companies to relocate to their hometown. This initiative was successful in attracting businesses, including Gan, who was motivated by the local government's support and established his operations in Guiding in 2022. Gan expressed his confidence in returning: "The promising business prospects, coupled with the local government's proactive efforts, have instilled us with confidence." Simply attracting one or two companies is far from sufficient. The local government understands that only by establishing a complete supporting industry and forming a comprehensive industrial chain can businesses truly settle in Guiding. Sun Ling, the deputy director of the local industry and information technology bureau, emphasized their focus on the entire aluminum industry chain, from upstream to downstream businesses, as the primary target for investment attraction. This strategic approach aims to bolster the region's economic development and create a thriving industrial ecosystem. Gan's comeback is part of a broader trend of businesses returning to the region. "The relocation of more enterprises on the supply chain will help reduce the costs," Gan told Xinhua. At the same recruitment event, after serious discussion with fellow partners, another Guiding native, Yang Liangyuan, who runs an aluminum accessories firm in Ningbo, also decided to relocate his factory home. "The favorable business environment and cost savings are appealing, but it is the complete industry cluster that truly helps cut costs," Yang noted. Yang's Guiding factory opened in 2022, and has since been exporting products worldwide. In the first half of 2024, the company's output value had soared to around 12 million yuan. "The rich aluminum resources in Guizhou ensure we have access to high-quality raw materials, and the strengthening of the industrial chain is a significant boost to our production and sales," Yang explained. To date, seven aluminum companies have set up operations in the economic development zone's aluminum industrial park, generating approximately 400 jobs. Three additional companies are expected to commence operations by the year end. "The aluminum industry is rapidly taking shape and is on pace to exceed one billion yuan in value," Sun said. Calls for extension as plastic treaty negotiations falter Busan, South Korea, Dec 1 (AFP) Dec 01, 2024 Delegates seeking the world's first deal to curb plastic pollution began openly advocating for an extension of talks on Sunday, accusing a handful of nations of obstructing an ambitious agreement. Nearly 200 nations are in South Korea's Busan for negotiations that are supposed to result in a landmark accord after two years of discussions. But a week of talks has failed to resolve deep divisions between "high-ambition" countries seeking a globally binding agreement to limit production and phase out harmful chemicals, and "like-minded" nations who want to focus on waste. A new draft text, released Sunday afternoon after multiple delays, still includes a wide range of options, making clear the ongoing level of disagreement. German delegate Sebastian Unger told AFP he was "disappointed about lack of progress." The "text should be preserved to continue negotiations and bring (the) process forward at (a) future meeting." The prospect of an "INC 5.2" meeting to follow the INC5 talks in Busan was also raised by Senegal's Cheikh Sylla. "If you ask me... we stop, we adapt the paper as it is and we try to do another session," he told AFP. That would offer time "to bring the positions closer together, and at this session 5.2, we can reach an agreement that is balanced". The calls reflect a sense that there is simply too little time left to overcome the opposition from mainly oil-producing nations such as Saudi Arabia and Russia, who have repeatedly refused to comment when approached by AFP. - 'Break free' - A French minister at the talks accused the like-minded group of "continuing obstruction," while Rwandan delegate Juliet Kabera said a "small number" of countries "remain unsupportive of the measures necessary to drive real change." "We still have a few hours left in these negotiations, there is time to find common ground, but Rwanda cannot accept a toothless treaty," said Kabera. Portuguese delegate Maria Joao Teixeira also said another round of talks might be the best option for a meaningful deal. "We are really trying to not have a weak treaty," she told AFP. Environmental groups have pushed ambitious countries to call a vote if progress stalls, and said another round of negotiations was unnecessary. "We know what we need to do to end plastic pollution... simply adding more meetings is not the solution," said Eirik Lindebjerg, global plastics policy lead at WWF. "For a strong enough agreement to ever happen, countries must break free from arbitrary habits and be ready to vote or adopt a treaty among the willing," he told AFP. But observers caution that calling a vote risks alienating even some countries in favour of a strong treaty. Another option would be for the diplomat chairing the talks to simply gavel through an agreement over the objections of a handful of holdouts, they said. That too holds risks, potentially embittering the remaining diplomatic process and jeopardising an adoption of a treaty down the road. - 'Step up or get out' - Mexico's head of delegation Camila Zepeda said she did not favour calling a vote. "We have hope in consensus. The multilateral process is slow, but there is a possibility of having critical mass to move forward," she told AFP. Over 100 countries now support setting a target for production cuts, and dozens also back phasing out some chemicals and unnecessary plastic products. Left unclear is the position of the world's top two plastics producers, China and the United States. Both were notably absent from the stage at a Sunday press conference by countries urging a strong treaty. "They are still considering and we are hopeful that there will be some interest on their part," said Mexico's Zepeda. "This coalition of the willing is an open invitation. And so it's not like it's them against us." Panama's Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez meanwhile told colleagues that "history will not forgive us" for leaving Busan without an ambitious treaty. "This is the time to step up or get out." No accord on plastic pollution deal, more time needed: chair Busan, South Korea, Dec 1 (AFP) Dec 01, 2024 Negotiators have failed to reach agreement on a landmark treaty to curb plastic pollution, the diplomat chairing the talks said Sunday, calling for additional time to continue discussions. Nearly 200 nations are in South Korea's Busan for negotiations that are supposed to result in a landmark accord after two years of discussions. But a week of talks has failed to resolve deep divisions between "high-ambition" countries seeking a globally binding agreement to limit production and phase out harmful chemicals, and "like-minded" nations who want to focus on waste. A draft text released Sunday afternoon after multiple delays included a wide range of options, making clear the ongoing level of disagreement. When an open plenary session finally convened late Sunday night, chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso said progress had been made. But he acknowledged "we must also recognise that a few critical issues still prevent us from reaching a comprehensive agreement." "These unresolved issues remain challenging and additional time will be needed to address them effectively," he said. "There is a general agreement to resume the current session at a later date to conclude our negotiations." - 'Obstruction' - His comments reflected earlier calls from delegates for a follow-up to the so-called INC5 talks given the ongoing divisions. "If you ask me... we stop, we adapt the paper as it is and we try to do another session," Senegal's Cheikh Sylla told AFP. That would offer time "to bring the positions closer together, and at this session 5.2, we can reach an agreement that is balanced". Earlier, delegations seeking an ambitious treaty warned that a handful of countries were steadfastly blocking progress. A French minister accused the like-minded group of "continuing obstruction," while Rwandan delegate Juliet Kabera said a "small number" of countries "remain unsupportive of the measures necessary to drive real change." "Rwanda cannot accept a toothless treaty," said Kabera. While countries have declined to directly name those preventing a deal, public statements and submissions have shown mostly oil-producing nations including Saudi Arabia and Russia have sought to block production cuts and other ambitious goals. Portuguese delegate Maria Joao Teixeira said earlier Sunday that another round of talks might be the best option for a meaningful deal. "We are really trying to not have a weak treaty," she told AFP. But environmental groups had pushed ambitious countries to call a vote if progress stalls, and said another round of negotiations was unnecessary. "We know what we need to do to end plastic pollution... simply adding more meetings is not the solution," said Eirik Lindebjerg, global plastics policy lead at WWF. - 'Step up or get out' - Over 100 countries support setting a target for production cuts, and dozens also back phasing out some chemicals and unnecessary plastic products. Left unclear is the position of the world's top two plastics producers, China and the United States. Both were notably absent from the stage at a Sunday press conference by countries urging a strong treaty. "They are still considering and we are hopeful that there will be some interest on their part," said Mexico's head of delegation Camila Zepeda. "This coalition of the willing is an open invitation. And so it's not like it's them against us." Panama's Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez meanwhile told colleagues that "history will not forgive us" for leaving Busan without an ambitious treaty. "This is the time to step up or get out." Indigenous groups call for health protections in plastic deal Busan, South Korea, Dec 1 (AFP) Dec 01, 2024 For Caleb Justin Smith-White, negotiations in South Korea on a landmark global deal to curb plastic pollution are about more than the environment. They are about saving lives. He is one of dozens of people who have travelled from across the world to the city of Busan to share personal stories about the ways they say plastic -- from its production to its disposal -- has harmed their communities and their health. Smith-White describes his home in Canada's Ontario as a "petrochemical valley" and blames production of plastic for a string of leukaemia deaths in Aamjiwnaang, his community of around 2,000 people from the Chippewa Indigenous group. "We are too small of a population for cancer studies to be effective," he said, adding that "we don't have the money for that". But his message to negotiators is that plastic causes harm, a position backed by a coalition of scientists attending the talks. "Known and emerging health hazards constitute a serious and evolving global health concern," they warned ahead of the negotiations. Near Smith-White's village Sarnia are factories run by industrial giants -- Imperial Oil, Shell, Suncor Energy among others -- handling chemicals needed to produce plastic. INEOS, one of the top producers of styrene -- a component in polystyrene plastic -- said earlier this year it would shutter its factory near Sarnia by 2026. Smith-White said his community had long "pushed for better regulations" over chemicals in water sources but also more recently benzene emissions in the air. "We did not close INEOS," he said. "They decided that it was not worth putting money into that plant to bring it up to the standards that we pushed for." - 'Public health crisis' - First Nations groups from petrol-producing US states such as Texas and Alaska, and Indigenous peoples from Australia to Latin America have used their time in Busan to describe harms linked to plastic. They range from the growing incidence of once-rare diseases to mountain villages being progressively buried in plastic. "It's everywhere in the streets, around the houses," said Prem Singh, part of the Indigenous Tharu group, of his village in western Nepal. "We have no dump site" and the community's cattle and goats are eating the plastic waste, he told AFP. Pamela Miller, executive director of the NGO Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT) warned of a "public health crisis". "We see a cancer crisis in many of the Indigenous communities we work with in Alaska," she told AFP, linking the problem to the extraction of fossil fuels used to make plastic, and the growing consumption of plastic among the people. Microplastics and nanoplastics have been found in the human body -- including inside lungs, blood and brains. While it is not yet clear exactly how harmful they are, numerous studies have linked their presence to a range of health problems. Out of the more than 16,000 chemicals used or found in commercial plastic, more than a quarter are considered potentially hazardous to human health, according to the Scientists' Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty. Linked health concerns include "infertility, obesity and non-communicable diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and many cancers", the group says. - 'Chemicals inside us' - The draft deal in Busan describes plastic pollution as a "serious environmental and human health problem". But a dedicated section to health remains mostly bare, only offering a choice between excising the section and strengthening language on health elsewhere, or deciding its content at a later date. By Sunday night, negotiators had failed to reach an agreement on the treaty, with the chair calling for additional time for discussions. Among the sticking issues were on setting targets for reducing plastic production, or for phasing out chemicals known or believed to be harmful to human health. Some countries accuse a handful of mostly oil-producing nations, such as Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia, of obstructing the UN process. Some petrol-producing states have reportedly said in negotiations that plastic is not dangerous for health, and say existing bans on harmful chemicals are sufficient. But Sarah Dunlop, a neuroscientist who heads the plastic and human health division of the Minderoo Foundation in Australia, is not convinced. "If chemical regulations were working as some people say, why should we find these chemicals inside us?" she said. im/kaf/sah/dhc IMPERIAL OIL Trafficked endemic lemurs, tortoises returned to Madagascar Antananarivo, Dec 1 (AFP) Dec 01, 2024 Several dozen lemurs and more than 900 tortoises endemic to Madagascar that were trafficked to Thailand will be returned home this week, the Indian Ocean island-nation's environment ministry said on Sunday. Sixteen ring-tailed lemurs -- which are the most recognisable lemur species due to their distinctive black and white tails -- arrived back in the capital Antananarivo on Sunday, AFP journalists saw. Another 31 common brown lemurs, with yellow eyes and orange fur, will arrive in the coming week. They will be held in quarantine and checked over by veterinarians before being released back "into their natural habitats", the environment ministry said. Around 914 spider and radiated tortoises, which were seized in Thailand in May in what both countries described as the largest-ever operation against the trafficking of wild animals, will also return. This repatriation marks "the culmination of considerable efforts" led by Madagascar to "bring back these endemic species that are classified as in critical danger of extinction", said the government. All four trafficked species are considered endangered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Madagascar is home to some of the world's richest biodiversity and numerous endemic species. But while many of those species are relatively intact on the island, others -- including more than 100 lemur species -- are classified as threatened with extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Thailand is a notorious stopping off point for trafficked wild animals often destined for lucrative markets in Vietnam and China. Homes and businesses are in danger of facing temporary gas shortages as soon as the winter of 2026 unless Victoria or NSW start importing the fuel as new forecasts say local gas production is dropping far more quickly than demand. The speed and scale of declining output from ExxonMobils 50-year-old gas fields in the Bass Strait, which have traditionally supplied most of the gas used locally for cooking, heating, power and manufacturing, have intensified concerns that demand spikes on cold winter days could lead to sporadic gas shortfalls within two years. Gas is a key source of planet-warming emissions but remains widely used in Victoria and NSW. Credit: Adobe Stock More Australians are replacing their gas appliances with electric alternatives but the shift is not happening fast enough to avert the threat of shortfalls in Victoria and NSW, Australian energy consultancy EnergyQuest says in a new report. Seasonal supply gaps are expected from 2026, it says, while the entire east coast gas market is facing an annual deficit from 2028, a forecast in line with official warnings from the national energy market operator. It started with a hip-hop song that Alice Springs legal aid solicitor-turned-filmmaker Danielle Loy heard after arriving home from a long day at work three years ago. Young Indigenous rapper and producer Jacob Harvey had sent her a track called Streetlights, about a time in his childhood when his struggling family had to sleep under a street light in a park to feel safe. He wanted to know if she would direct a music video for it. Real-life musicians playing musicians: Madison Hull and Jacob Harvey in Under Streetlights. Credit: I listened to this song about 1am and I just froze in my tracks, Loy said. I was just so moved by its words, its poetry. She wrote a film script inspired by the song in three days, then put a proposal to Harvey that changed both their lives. 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 December 1 edition of Sunday Life. See all 13 stories . Brown, the Cinderella colour in your wardrobe, is ready to go to the ball. Ignore the dated images of drudgery and dreariness the colour conjures and dive instead into evocative, rich of tones such as tan, chocolate and fawn to appreciate browns often overlooked outer beauty. Zara waistcoat, $70. Elka Collective Lumi pants, $269. Lucy Folk Pisces choker, $750. Dinosaur Designs bangles, from $55 (worn throughout). A.Emery Jalen sandals, $220 (worn throughout). Credit: Hugh Stewart Outside New York Fashion Week in September, street-style subjects chose browns over brat lime green to stand out from the crowd. The Washington Post clocked the shift away from vivid green, cool greige and navy blue: Its anti-tech. Its quiet luxury. Its brown, and its everywhere. Unlike tech-bro marle grey, brown is associated with the considered craftsmanship found in hand-tooled handbags and belts. Its the personal touch sweeping fashion after seasons that careened from bland black boxiness to distracting, in-your-face colours. The runway shows in Paris and Milan saw influential labels Miu Miu, Bottega Veneta and Courreges spin the colour wheel to tap into the earthy appeal of leathers and suede, but brown can also be a summer staple. With the right weight and cut, allowing for crucial ventilation on hot days, brown leather is the burnished weapon in your summer party arsenal. Viktoria & Woods Badlands leather dress, $890. Credit: Hugh Stewart Weve embraced the timeless appeal of brown leather, treating it as an extension of our foundational colour palette, says Margie Woods, founder of Viktoria & Woods. Its rich, earthy tones encourage wearers to confidently detour from a monochromatic wardrobe while offering the versatility to transition seamlessly from day to night. Brighton residents are maintaining their opposition against a plan to fast-track housing development in their suburb, with more than 100 gathering on Sunday to register their anger at the governments planning strategy. The vocal crowd gathered at Brighton Bowling Club, jeering as local MP James Newbury, the oppositions planning spokesman, criticised Labors plans for 20-storey developments in new activity centres. Opposition leader John Pesutto meets people at Sundays forum to discuss the governments high-density housing plans. Credit: Wayne Taylor I can tell you when it comes to what the governments proposing in Brighton, if we are fortunate enough to be elected, that aint going to happen, Newbury told the crowd. In October, the Allan government revealed plans for 50 activity centres. So far, it has named 25 of them, including Brighton, Malvern and Toorak. A driver made a quick escape from her car while travelling on the Monash Freeway after finding a deadly tiger snake slithering up her leg. Police were alerted to the womens plight after receiving calls for a welfare check on a barefoot woman trying to flag down vehicles near the Toorak Road exit on Saturday about 10.40am. In a media release on Sunday, police recounted the experience of the woman, who was not identified. The woman explained that she had been travelling at 80km/h on the freeway when she felt something on her foot and looked down to find a deadly tiger snake slithering up her leg, police said in the statement. In its heyday, the Dromana Pier was among the grandest in Victoria. It stretched a remarkable 500 metres into Port Phillip Bay, and passenger and freight vessels used the pier as a transit point for flocks of tourists as well as timber and fresh produce. The original structure was built in the 1860s and could accommodate paddle steamers that regularly docked at the pier. Dromana Pier when it stretched 500 metres into the water. Credit: Dromana District Historical Society But a century and a half on, the Dromana Pier is a far shorter and less impressive version of its former self. The structure currently stretches only about 180 metres, ending in shallow water. The end is fenced off after falling into disrepair. The first 180 metres of the pier was rebuilt in the middle of the 20th century, but the structure was later afflicted by concrete cancer. Soon, the pier will be reconstructed yet again, but will remain at its current length under present plans. A suspected gunman remains on the run after a 29-year-old man and a yet-to-be-identified woman were killed during a fight at a home on the Mornington Peninsula early on Monday morning. Police were called after an altercation between a group of people inside a house in Parson Street, Rye, shortly after 4am. Forensic officers at the scene on Monday. Credit: Jason South When officers arrived, they found the man and woman with gunshot wounds. Emergency services tried to revive the pair, but they were declared dead at the scene. We are still working on the exact circumstances. However, it appears that a firearm or firearms have been discharged, and a man who lived at that property and the woman that attended that property were seriously injured, Detective Superintendent Janet Stevenson told reporters on Monday afternoon. This week, Syrian rebels mounted a stunning assault on regime positions in Aleppo and Idlib, unravelling nearly five years of hard-won stalemates in the north. Those frontlines, painstakingly secured by Russian firepower, look perilously fluid. The assault raises urgent questions about the Assad regimes durability and its allies ability to rescue it this time. Moscows intervention turned the tide, culminating in the recapture of the largest Syrian city of Aleppo and a fragile stability that has largely held since. In 2015, Russia waged its largest military campaign outside its borders since the Cold War, launching a sweeping air war to rescue Bashar al-Assads crumbling regime in Syria. Syrian rebels were closing in on the regimes strongholds, even as Assad leaned heavily on Iran and Hezbollah for support in the years prior. The challenges facing Assad and his backers in Russia and Iran are unprecedented. Moscow is bogged down in Ukraine, where a reinvigorated US-backed campaign has given Kyiv the green light to strike inside Russian territory. Iran, meanwhile, is grappling with a relentless Israeli campaign that has targeted its military networks and weakened its grip on Syria. Loading The stakes couldnt be higher. The Assad regime faces a crisis that echoes the darkest days of the war, but with one stark difference: this time, the regime looks even weaker, and its allies are unable to come to its rescue. Years of economic collapse, internal fragmentation and the rise of unchecked militias have left Assad severely weakened. In many ways, the regime is now a hollow version of the one Russia and Iran fought to save in 2015. By contrast, the rebels appear more disciplined and unified than ever. Under the command of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham a former al-Qaeda affiliate that has since severed ties with the group, and even all but rooted it out opposition forces have evolved into a well-organised military machine, better equipped to sustain a long fight. The regime, ironically, now looks more fragmented and chaotic than the rebels it once dismissed as disorganised insurgents. Donald Trump has appointed Charles Kushner, his son-in-laws father, to be the US ambassador to France. The president-elect, 78, pardoned Kushner, who in 2006 served a prison sentence for tax evasion, witness tampering and making illegal campaign donations, at the end of his first administration. Charles Kushner has been appointed the next US ambassador to France. Credit: AP Chris Christie, a former New Jersey governor, described Kushners case as one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes he ever prosecuted as a US attorney. Announcing Kushners appointment, Trump said the property developer, 70, was a tremendous business leader, philanthropist and dealmaker, who will be a strong advocate representing our country and its interests. US President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday said he wanted to replace FBI director Christopher Wray with Kash Patel, a hardline critic of the bureau who has called for shutting down the agencys Washington headquarters, firing its leadership and bringing the nations law enforcement agencies to heel. Trumps planned nomination of Patel has echoes of his failed attempt to place another partisan firebrand, Matt Gaetz, atop the Justice Department as attorney-general. It could run into hurdles in the Senate, which will be called on to confirm Patel, and it is sure to send shock waves through the FBI, which Trump and his allies have come to view as part of a deep state conspiracy against him. Kash Patel has worked as a federal prosecutor and a public defender, but he has little of the law enforcement and management experience typical of FBI directors. Credit: Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times Patel has been closely aligned with Trumps belief that much of the nations law enforcement and national security establishment needs to be purged of bias and held accountable for what they see as unjustified investigations and prosecutions of Trump and his allies. Patel played a pivotal role in uncovering the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, standing as an advocate for truth, accountability and the Constitution, Trump said in announcing his choice in a social media post. Manipur not like Mizoram, we joined Union of India with defined boundaries IMPHAL : A DAY after the Manipur Government urged Mizoram CM Lalduhoma to demonstrate better statesmanship by being a good neighbour rather than fueling hatred through unwarranted comments, Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Saturday said Manipur is not like Mizoram, which was once just a district in Assam. Speaking at a function for construction of infrastructure to relocate the Assam Rifles from the premises of the historic Langthabal Old Palace, Singh said, Manipur is not like Mizoram. We have a written history of 2,000 years. Manipur merged with the Union of India as a single entity in 1949. Our boundaries were not newly created but we joined with the Union with intact boundaries. The Manipur CMs reaction came in the backdrop of a recent interview given by Lalduhoma to a national daily in which he said Singh was a liability for the state, its people and the BJP, and even Presidents Rule is preferable compared to his administration. Assam Rifles is here to serve the nation. They are not our enemies. We all are Indian citizens. The gap can be bridged through interactions between commanders, CSOs, and intellectuals. Our common enemy is located in foreign territories, not within. The paramilitary force can deal with insurgents or unlawful activities as they see fit, but not everyone is an insurgent, the CM said. People ask, What is the Chief Minister doing? Can the CM go and engage in firing? The CM makes policy planshow to identify illegal immigrants, how to cancel the Free Movement Regime, and how to implement the NRC. We will never rest until we have clearly safeguarded the entire land of Manipur and its indigenous people, Singh asserted. The CM asserted that the conflict since May 3 last year is not due to corruption by the government but because of measures taken to protect the original inhabitants of the land and address the distorted histories of the state. Naturally, those who once thrived on the drug trade will be upset with the Government and against me, he added. Singh also thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Rifles authorities for agreeing to relocate their camp from Langthabal Old Palace. He said, The Langthabal Palace is a historic place. The Assam Rifles has been stationed in the state for more than 100 years for security reasons. They cannot shift immediately. Major General Ravroop and the DG understand this well. They took the demands of the people for the relocation of the force from the old palace very seriously, as it is a historical site and very close to the university campus. Later, talking to reporters, Singh said, I would like to thank Union Home Minister Amit Shah, IGAR, and Assam Rifles authorities. They agreed to vacate the Langthabal Old Palace, which is the second palace of the State, and relocate to another area. The people had been demanding the relocation of the Assam Rifles from the old palace, but it did not materialise due to a communication gap between the Assam Rifles and the State Government. I am very grateful to the Assam Rifles for agreeing to shift. This is an achievement for the Government. Asked about statements made by the Mizoram CM in relation to Manipur, Singh responded, I think the State Government, through the DIPR, has already clarified this matter. As a mature CM of any State, one should not incite hate or interfere in the internal affairs of another State. It is very unfortunate. In the statement, the Manipur Government had also said, Mizoram CM reveals his democratic credentials by espousing imposition of Presidents Rule in Manipur while opposing boundary fencing of the Indo-Myanmar international border. He also calls for reunification of the Zo people. He also talks about possibility of armed militias in Manipur pointing their guns at Delhi and need for disarming, and sincere negotiations with hill leaders. Regarding the missing person case, Singh said, We condemn such incidents. We have instructed the authorities to locate the person, and state forces are actively searching for his whereabouts. Telecommunications equipment vendor Nokia has won a deal with German telco Deutsche Telekom (DT) which will see it replace Chinese vendor Huawei at more than 3,000 sites to support the operators multi-vendor Open RAN network scale-up in Germany. The deal, which includes Fujitsu, covers a mass rollout of O-RAN-compliant technology with commercial deployment already underway in the Neubrandenburg area of Northern Germany, according to Nokia. Under the agreement, Nokia will replace the incumbent Chinese vendor Huawei as a networking equipment supplier to Europes largest network vendor DT, in compliance with current German government policy. "Nokia will supply equipment from its O-RAN-compliant 5G AirScale portfolio powered by its ReefShark System-on-Chip technology, including modular, high-capacity baseband solutions and high-performance Habrok Massive MIMO radios for premium coverage and capacity," the vendor said in its announcement. "Nokias solutions integrate with DTs multi-supplier Open RAN environment where Fujitsu will supply its O-RAN-compliant mid-band remote radio head products." Nokia will also deploy its AI-powered MantaRay NM solution for improved network monitoring and management and will provide AI-based services, including digital deployment, optimisation, and technical support. This deal is further evidence of our significant commitment to multi-vendor Open RAN and ensuring we have greater supplier choice for radio access networks," said Abdu Mudesir, Group CTO and Managing Director of Technology Germany at Deutsche Telekom. "The network performance in the already implemented area is delivering the best customer experience. And now together with Nokia, we look forward to scaling up Open RAN in Germany. Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia, said the win is significant deal for Nokia as the vendor has been selected by the largest network operator in Europe. While others talk about doing Open RAN, Nokia is actually doing it and doing it on a grand scale," Uitto said. "We are proud to have been chosen because of our technology leadership, innovative product portfolio, and open approach. "We look forward to expanding our partnership further in the future. Baba Adhav breaks anti-EVM fast after meeting top leaders PUNE ; VETERAN social crusader, Dr Babasaheb Pandurang Adhav (96), alias Baba Adhav broke his 3-day long hunger strike to oppose EVMs after a galaxy of political leaders including Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray plus others met him here on Saturday evening. The weary-looking Dr Baba Adhav, a medico-cum-labour leader, received NCP(SP) President Sharad Pawar, his State President Jayant R. Patil, Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray, party MP Sanjay Raut, and later Nationalist Congress Party President Ajit Pawar also dropped in at the agitation venue. Around 5 pm, Dr Baba Adhav bowed to appeals from his supporters and accepted a glass of water offered by Thackeray, symbolising the end of his hunger agitation amidst claps and cheers. There have been huge discrepancies in the voter turnout figures declared by the ECI, kept changing, the vote-counting processes were allegedly manipulated to give undue advantage to the outgoing MahaYuti, and related aspects. The verdict is an assault on democracy, said Dr Baba Adhav earlier, speaking to the media. Asserting that the people have a right to know where their votes have actually gone, the frail, but firm, nonagenarian pointed out how the MahaYuti regime doled out cash to women (Ladki Bahin) scheme just before the elections and undermined the States delicate financial condition, as Sharad Pawar, 83, nodded in agreement. The Government wants a democracy that gives it a monopoly without any Opposition (party). Therefore it is the duty and responsibility of all citizens to thwart this, and take a firm stance, urged Dr Baba Adhav. Ajit Pawar requested Adhav to call off his protest against alleged misuse of EVMs in the recent State polls, saying that the verdict should be accepted. NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar claimed the misuse of power and money to control the entire election mechanism, which was never before seen in any State Assembly or national polls, was witnessed in Maharashtra. Speaking on the occasion, Thackeray said that not only the losers like us (Maha Vikas Aghadi), but even the winners (MahaYuti) leaders are coming here. Nobody, neither the winners nor the losers believe in the outcome of the State Assembly elections. We are stunned over how we lost, they are shocked at how they won. The reason is clear. Satyameve Jayate was killed, but now you (Dr Baba Adha) have revived it and we are fully with you, said Thackeray. The Shiv Sena (UBT) President said this agitation was like a spark but it would ignite into a huge blaze, and lauded Dr Baba Adhav for carrying out the agitation at his advanced age and inspiring all of us to continue the fight. We have also seen and heard how money power was brutally used in the polls All have watched the videos of (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader Vinod Tawde (in Palghar, on November 19). We have seen the shower of schemes. But what the MahaYuti did was to give anaesthesia to all its projects to complete its power operation quickly, said Thackeray without mincing words. He also called upon the top leaders of the MVA parties NCP (SP)-Shiv Sena (UBT)-Congress to follow in Dr Baba Adhavs footsteps, and carry forward the fight against EVMs, even as the Election Commission of India (ECI) invited a Congress delegation to discuss its grievances (December 3) on the state poll outcome. The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief rued how the information on elections is not available under RTI, how peoples rights are being flouted, while the EVM-VVPAT receipt is visible, counting of the same is not allowed, thus preventing the people and candidates from knowing whether their vote got registered properly or not, leading to many doubts. Taking potshots at the MahaYuti for the huge delay in Government formation, Thackeray said that after getting a brute majority, instead of going to Raj Bhavan (for the oath), the caretaker CM has gone to his farmland, and wondered what had gone wrong. When the MVA government was due to be formed (in November 2019), the Presidents rule was imposed Now, (2024), the term of the legislature has expired, so why is the same not being done now? No one will answer these questionsThere is complete uncertainty on the new regime, who could be the CM, ministers, portfolios, etc, said Thackeray. EC accepts Congress in-person demand, calls party delegation on 3rd NEW DELHI, Nov 30 (IANS) THE Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday responded to Congress complaints and urgent memorandum on Maharashtra Assembly elections and also addressed its demand for in-person meet with the poll body. Rejecting its claims of grave inconsistencies and sudden spike in the polling percentage after 5 pm on voting day, the poll body said that the figures of voter turnout were continuously updated on the Voter Turnout App. The EC also conveyed its readiness for a detailed reply on the red-flagged issues at the earliest possible time and also invited the Congress delegation to present its case on December 3 at 5 pm. After suitably hearing you further in-person, the Commission will convey its detailed reply to the issues raised in your letter at the earliest possible time, it said in a statement. It also said that the issue of the gap between polling percentage (released by EC) by 5 pm and the closing of polling percentage and the reasons behind it have been shared earlier also with the Congress party in particular. Notably, the grand old party submitted a 12-page memorandum before the Election Commission on Friday, raising red flags over discrepancy and inconsistencies in Maharashtra Assembly polls. It also cited similar doubts and suspicion raised by former Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi. It claimed that there was a systemic effort to try and reduce the number of voters (and votes) sympathetic to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (Cong-SS-NCP-SP) alliance. It is significant to note that out of the 50 Assembly seats, where there was an average increase of 50,000 voters, the ruling regime and its allies secured victory from 47... the Congress said. Its second point of concern was the surge in polling percentage from 5 pm to 11.30 pm, suggesting it as the apparent reason behind electoral reverses for MVA. ECs average voter turnout at 5 pm was 58.22 per cent and that this jumped to 65.02 per cent by 11.30 pm, this shows discrepancies in voter turnout data, the INC had said in its complaint. Bihar Govt committed to welfare of farmers, says Nitish Kumar PATNA : BIHAR Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday said his Government is committed to the welfare of farmers and is implementing various schemes covering the entire spectrum of agriculture for the benefit of cultivators in the State. Kumar said his Government after coming to power in 2005 took several initiatives for welfare of farmers. After coming to power in November 2005, we took several initiatives and launched schemes for the development of agriculture sector and for the benefit of farmers. Our Government is committed to the welfare of farmers. The State Government is implementing various schemes covering the entire spectrum of agriculture for the benefit of farmers in the State, Kumar told journalists after inaugurating four-day agri exhibition - Agro Bihar 2024 at Gandhi Maidan here. He further said, We launched an agriculture road map in the State in 2008 which increased the production and productivity of crops, fruits and vegetables in the State. We also took several steps to improve womens participation in the agriculture sector in the Stateand the result is very positive. Farmers are getting modern equipment related to farming, procuring high-quality seeds and availing benefits of several other schemes launched by the Government, the CM said. Organising such an exhibition is also an initiative by the Government where farmers can get updated information about the use of latest technology in the agriculture sector, he added. The CM also visited different stalls at the exhibition. Cyclone Fengal makes landfall, no major damage Heavy rains lash Tamil Nadu, Pondy CHENNAI : CYCLONE Fengal-triggered heavy rains accompanied by gusty winds lashed northern Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Puducherry on Saturday, prompting a shutdown of the Chennai airport, and inundated many parts of the city but there were no immediate reports of a major damage, the Government said. The cyclonic storm made a landfall close to the Puducherry Union Territory area. There were no immediate reports of any major damage, officials said. Earlier, the UT administration had sent SMS to 12 lakh residents, cautioning them to remain vigilant ahead of the landfall of Fengal. Steady rains pounded Chennai, its nearby districts and Puducherry affecting public transport, including bus, train and flight services and people from vulnerable areas were moved to safe shelters by authorities. From afternoon onwards, the rains turned intermittent in most areas and by nightfall, it ceased. Tamil Nadu Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management, KKSSR Ramachandran informed there were no immediate reports of a major damage in the aftermath of the cyclone and said related details could be known possibly by Sunday. Three persons were electrocuted in different rain-related incidents in Chennai. Hospitals and houses were inundated in Chennai and its neighbourhoods while people used flyovers and spaces beneath them as parking lots to avoid a repeat of what was endured during the 2015 floods. Rainwater entered the premises of two state-run hospitals at Chromepet, a general hospital and a facility for thoracic medicine, both of which are located side by side and frequented by people. Water was close to the level of ones ankle even inside the hospital, leaving health care seekers and doctors in a tight spot. Police and local authorities placed sandbags at entry points and said all steps were being taken to address the issue. Operations at the Chennai airport were hit following the cyclone. Officials announced suspension of operations till 4 am Sunday following inundation of two runways and a taxiway after heavy rains and the adverse weather condition due to cyclone Fengal. Official sources said apart from the cancellation of 55 flights, 19 others were diverted. The services include both domestic and international flights. Earlier in the day, when the airport was operational, at least 12 flights were delayed. The complete disruption of services left the passengers stranded and according to rough estimates from official sources, over 10,000 people could have been affected due to cancellations and diversions. In Chennai, milk supply and services of sanitary workers continued despite rains. Electricity supply, disconnected in most areas due to the strong winds was gradually restored. Eighteen disaster relief teams were stationed in vulnerable areas. Chief Minister MK Stalin and his deputy Udhayanidhi Stalin reviewed the action plan being implemented and they made spot inspections. Stalin chaired a virtual meet with district collectors/top civic officials of northern districts to assess the ground situation and spoke to inmates of a relief camp in Chengelpet district. Greater Chennai Corporation distributed food to 2,32,200 people. In 8 relief camps, nearly 200 people from low-lying areas were housed. Udhayanidhi told reporters, food is being provided free of cost in all the 386 Amma Canteens today. He said 1,700 motor pumps were being used to clear water-logging, on a war-footing in about 334 locations. As many as 27 fallen trees were removed immediately. Of the 22 subways, 6 have been temporarily closed. Work to clear water stagnation in subways is on in full swing, he said. Detailing precautionary steps such as desilting, he said as a result, despite heavy rains the extent of inundation was relatively less. Citing data and observations, IMD-Regional Meteorological Centre, Additional Director General, S Balachandran told PTI that the process of the cyclones landfall commenced at about 5.30 pm on November 30. On the area of landfall, he said it was close to Puducherry area and indicated that the landfall process was likely to become complete by midnight. Health Minister Ma Subramanian said 500 medical camps will be held in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengelpet, Kanchipuram, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, and Cuddalore on December 1. Dhaka Distress DANGER brewing in the backyard is often ignored to ones own peril. For, that danger builds up bit by bit. It comes to the notice only when there is visible disruption. What is happening in Bangladesh today has taken years to build. Now, the situation is so delicate that the once-stable country is slipping into abyss of penury, all because of the rise of religious fanaticism. The religious fanaticism in Bangladesh can be traced back to the time when it broke free from tyrannical Pakistan. But, in the initial days only, remnants of Pakistani fundamentalism fomented trouble. Thanks to the newly liberated Bengali-speaking populations determination to stay on course of democracy, these efforts were defeated. But, the extremists kept working in the shadows, building their base. Over time, these elements have become successful in converting a large chunk of Bangladeshis into their cult of religious extremism. More unfortunate is the fact that these elements and the population misguided by them have lost all the rationality and are acting in a manner that will doom their own country. The saddest part of the Bangladesh crisis today is that the people, whose previous generations fought hard and made the hardest sacrifices for freedom from Pakistan, are aiding the agenda of the Pakistan takeover of the riverine country. Even the educated class is no exception to this ugly phenomenon. The present-day surge in extremism in Bangladesh has all the signs of losing freedom, respect, and friends. People blinded by religious fanaticism are targeting minorities -- Hindus, Buddhists, Christians. This has torn the multicultural fabric of Bangladesh, which its founding father late Mr. Mujibur Rahman wanted to build as a secular State. The rabid crowds are mastered by the forces that do not believe in democracy, openness, harmonious co-existence, modernity, peace, economic progress, cultural finesse, educational excellence, promotion of industry and entrepreneurship. These fundamentalist forces believe only in intolerance, elimination of dissent, dictatorship, bloodshed, regressive, poverty-oriented, anti-women, anti-democratic, medieval barbarism. Aided by some international deep elements, these forces have found new strength. But, if one takes a look at the world history, wherever these forces aided by sinister international elements have taken control of a country, they have reaped harvest of hatred, misery, isolation. There has been no exception to this. Bangladesh also is charting this course. Targeting of Hindus, burning of temples, arrest of priest of ISKCON, calls for ban on internationally reputed organisation like ISKCON are just signs of this deceleration of the country towards becoming a theocracy. The High Court of Bangladesh reflected rationality in rejecting the demand for ban on ISKCON. However, rabid crowds spilling onto the streets of Dhaka against this, shows how once-prosperous country is being demolished value-by-value through disregard for even judiciary. Given her proximity and historical cultural ties to Bangladesh, it will not be sufficient for India to merely condemn the attempts of ethnic cleansing in neighbouring country. She will have mount pressure internationally in the interest of regional peace. She cannot afford to have another Pakistan-like broke, unstable, and fundamentalist state in the neighbourhood. This distress needs to be addressed to prevent larger danger from being unleashed on India. GLOBAL INDIA Beyond The Stereotype By VIJAY PHANSHIKAR : Global India of today, thus, is proving to be a spiritual entity that facilitates a two-way flow of people -- in and out without any psychological or pseudo-moral inhibitions of doing something right or not so right -- in the truest Vedic tradition. A devout, practising Hindu, Tulsi Gabbard places her hand on a copy of Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta and takes oath of office as the new Director of National Intelligence of the United States of America. Indian-origin Hindu entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy is poised to head the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in tandem with the iconic Elon Musk in the new Donald Trump Administration. Indian-origin Bobby Jindal, the Governor of Louisiana, heads President-elect Donald Trumps America First Policy Institute in Washington DC. Indian-origin Kash Patel with fantastic knowledge of strategic and security issues is being viewed in Washington DC to play a critical role in the Trump Administration that will take charge on January 20, 2025. Just a few weeks earlier, Indian-origin Kamala Harris fought a tough battle and lost the presidential race to Donald Trump. But, in the previous four years, as President Joe Bidens Deputy, she had created a political promise for herself. A little earlier than the polling in the race to the top post, presidential candidate Donald Trump says several times in one single speech, he loves Hindus, and he loves India. A few months earlier, Rishi Sunak made his maiden speech as Leader of Opposition and assured that his party would engage itself in creative cooperation with the government and raise meaningful issues. Just a few days prior to that, Rishi Sunak stood on the other side of the line -- the Treasury Benches -- as Britains first Indian-origin Prime Minister. Even a cursory Google search throws up a list of Indians or Indian-origin people who are leading global corporations with mind-boggling valuations and products and services. Indias Ministry of External Affairs, too, gives out list of nations with sizeable numbers of Indians -- under different official definitions -- making signal contributions to the social, economic, cultural and political processes there. In most of those places, the people with Indian origin often dominate the overall scene. People of Indian origin are Presidents, Prime Ministers, parliamentarians, administrators, entrepreneurs, cultural icons, litterateurs, artists, scientists, scholars of different subjects. Countless numbers of Indian scientists have won highest awards in hundreds of countries for their signal contribution to the growth and development of sciences. Each of those millions of persons -- spread in almost in every country around the world -- offers a symbolism of the Global India beyond the old stereotype. In other words, they are the pointers to a new paradigm that is slated to dominate the current centurys remaining decades -- and potentially beyond. Prophetically, Prime Minister Modi has called this century as Indias Century ! T hese are the pointers toatraversebeyond the old stereotype, or, in the other words, they suggest the rise of a new stereotype --obviouslydominated by India and Indians, possibly proving in the process the validity of what Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls New India. We may even describe the development as Global India. Global India ! That is what is becoming increasingly evident all over the world -- initiated pronouncedly by Narendra Modi ten years ago when he assumed Indias prime ministership. He reached out to the India beyond its own borders -- in the form of people from India (though defined differently in different countries and political and administrative eco-systems). Earlier, too, this India beyond India always existed, but was only rarely recognised by India and its leaders and people. Narendra Modi gave that India beyond its own borders a recognition it deserved for long. Narendra Modi saw tremendous potential in that India -- as an expanded and extended footprint of an emerging world power. Until recently, India and its society saw itself as a diffident - - even timid -- collective entity with smart individual members. Todays India -- within its borders and beyond -- is a confident, dynamic, forward-looking and forward-moving nation. Todays India is also realising the strength of its enormous historical timeline and knowledge culture and tremendously rich tradition and accommodative ethos or inclusive social architecture. True, Tulsi Gabbard in not an Indian per se, though she is a devout, practising Hindu. And so when she placed her hand on Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta to take oath, she instantly created a sense of affinity with India and Indian people. And even though Governor Bobby Jindal converted to Christianity in his college years giving up his Hindu-by-birth faith, the Indian affinity persists. This affinity underlines the Global India or forms its core value -- Indianness. So, a Kamala Harris, though fully dedicated to American interests, or an Indra Nooyi who is happy with legacies with both, India and the US, or a Rishi Sunak who is Hindu by faith and thought and action but is every inch a British, or countless others in different fields having chosen to live outside the geographical borders of India, are still very much Indian. In other words, they are citizens of Global India. This very thought gives rise to an immense sense of pride -- and a positive prejudice -- in us within Indian borders. Of course, as it must be stated again, a vaster India did exist beyond its borders -- in Indonesia, in Malaysia, in Suriname, in Guyana, in Mauritius, in Singapore, in Thailand, even in in Japan and China through Buddhism that went there from India, in Afghanistan, in Myanmar, in Jawa, in Sumatra, in Mongolia, also in several countries in the Balkan regions or erstwhile Soviet Union .. by way of Indian traditions, by way of religious faith or cultural practices ... ! Yet, the India within its geographical borders did not actually pause and think about the vaster Global India -- a process that the visionary Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated. He moved around the world connecting with the Global Indians -- which most call diaspora -- conversing with them, looking straight and deep into their eyes, playing drums with their music groups, reminding them of their India back home. Yes, this is your home, all right. But back home in India, you have your another, original home -- where you are always welcome, Narendra Modi said once, in effect, in his address to a massive Indian audience in a foreign country. As he said those words, the Global India in that little pocket rose to its feet, clapped, shouted slogans and chanted Modi, Modi, Modi ... India, India, India ! Enough evidence from history is available to state that India or the past connected itself richly with the world and that its ships sailed all seas to different parts of the world for commerce and also for cultural exchanges. And countless numbers of Indian kings and monarchs and royals carried their political aspirations to different lands and created empires beyond the borders of the India of those times with much vaster geography under its control. But when Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought to establish a stronger, closer and spiritual connect with Global India, he asserted time and again that todays India was carrying forward in the footprint of its ancestors who believed in oneness of the global human family -- Vasudheiva Kutumbakam ! It is certainly not easy to fathom the depth of Indian presence in different parts of the world. But suffice it is to know that hundreds of global corporations have CEOs of Indian origin. Suffice also it is to say that countless thousands of Indian scientists and professionals are populating different geographies and cultures and countries of the world to expand the footprint of Global India. And, to be sure, there also is trending a reverse flow of Indians heading back home with an idea to make better contributions to Mother India. Iconic scientists like Padma Vibhushan Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar have proved to be the magnets that have attracted countless thousands of Indian men and women of science to return to homeland and offer their services despite low monetary returns. Global India of today, thus, is proving to be a spiritual entity that facilitates a two-way flow of people -- in and out without any psychological or pseudo-moral inhibitions of doing something right or not so right -- in the truest Vedic tradition. In violence-hit Sambhal Ban on outsiders extended to Dec 10 Samajwadi Party Uttar Pradesh President Shyam Lal Pal has been placed under house arrest by the police to prevent him from going to Sambhal where violence broke out on November 24, in Lucknow on Saturday. (ANI) LUCKNOW/SAMBHAL : SP lawmakers barred from visit SEVERAL Samajwadi Party lawmakers, including its Sambhal MP, were stopped from entering the violence-hit district, as the administration on Saturday extended the ban on the entry of outsiders and public representatives into Sambhal till December 10 to maintain peace and order. The earlier prohibition on outsiders entry was to expire on Saturday. The Samajwadi Partys Muzaffarnagar MP Harendra Malik was stopped from entering Sambhal from Ghaziabad. I dont understand why we are being stopped. Are the opposition leader and the MPs so irresponsible that they cant be allowed to move within the state? Malik asked. The party had announced a 15-member delegation would visit the district to gather information about the violence that broke out over a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. Curbs under Section 163 (power to issue order in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger) of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, set to expire on Sunday, were extended till December 31. In a statement issued in Sambhal, District Magistrate Rajendra Pensiya said, To maintain peace and order, the imposition of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita in the district has been extended to December 31. No outsider, any social organisation or public representative can enter into the borders of the district without seeking the permission of the competent authority till December 10, he added. Tension had been brewing in Sambhal since November 19 when the court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era mosque was carried out following claims that a Harihar temple previously stood at the site. Violence erupted during a second survey on November 24 as protesters gathered near the mosque and clashed with security personnel. Four people died and several others were injured in the clashes. The police have denied allegations that it fired at the protesters. The Supreme Court has since ordered the Sambhal court to halt proceedings in the case and its survey. Pensiya further said, If anyone tries to spread rumours on any group on social media, the group admin will delete the post and immediately inform the police. Cyber cafes will keep a register to enter the names of visitors. Malik, who was stopped from entering Sambhal, further said, Our delegation also included MPs Zia-ur-Rehman Barq (Sambhal) and Iqra Hasan (Kairana). The government is acting in an autocratic manner. Traffic was choked at the Ghaziabad border as the police stepped up vigil to ensure that no one could move towards Sambhal. Malik was seen sitting at a divider. I want to go to Sambhal to apply a healing touch to those affected by the violence but the government is controlling everything, Malik said before he and his convoy were removed from the spot. Hasan, whose convoy was stopped in Hapur, told reporters, All those affected by the violence are our own people and we wanted to be with them. We will raise the issue in the Lok Sabha. In Moradabad, Samajwadi Party MP Ruchi Veeras residence was surrounded by cops to prevent her from travelling to Sambhal. Leader of Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Mata Prasad Pandey, who was to lead the delegation, told reporters outside his Lucknow residence that Home Secretary Sanjay Prasad called him and requested him to not visit Sambhal. The Sambhal district magistrate also called and told me that the ban on the entry of outsiders had been extended, he said. The government perhaps wanted to prevent me in order to hide its wrongdoings as our visit would have exposed its mistakes, he added. Heavy security has been deployed outside Pandeys residence since Friday. In a post in Hindi on X, the Samajwadi Party said the government deploying police at the homes of leaders included in the delegation and preventing them from travelling to Sambhal was reprehensible. The BJP government is hiding the truth of the Sambhal violence. The Samajwadi Party delegation should have been given permission to visit, it said. In another post, it alleged that the Yogi Adityanath government was scared of the delegation. At the behest of the government, the police prevented (Samajwadi Party) state president Shyam Lal Pal from visiting Sambhal and placed him under house arrest. The BJP government is tearing the Constitution to shreds. Totally reprehensible! It also claimed that Bijnor MP Veera and Asmoli MLA Pinky Yadav were stopped from travelling to Sambhal. Rampur MP Mohibullah Nadvi was among those stopped at the Ghaziabad border. The partys Lucknow Central MLA Ravidas Mehrotra alleged that the BJP government had imposed an undeclared Emergency. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said the situation in Sambhal was peaceful. The dispute was not a Hindu-Muslim riot but a power struggle between the local Samajwadi Party MP and the MLA. In this power tussle, the Samajwadi Party attempted to push Sambhal into communal unrest, Maurya told PTI Videos. This attempt was made because the Samajwadi Party suffered a crushing defeat in the recent bypolls and even their Muslim votebank has started shifting away. The delegation being sent by (Samajwadi Party president) Akhilesh Yadav does not reflect any genuine sympathy for Muslims. It is a failed attempt to reclaim the lost votebank, he said. Such attempts are futile and show that the Samajwadi Party is turning itself into a samaapt-wadi party, he added. This is the same Samajwadi Party, which talks about PDA (Pichhda, Dalit and Alpsankhyak) but is actually a Parivar Development Agency (Family Development Agency), that the public has rejected, Maurya claimed. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak alleged the violence was a fallout of one-upmanship between the local MP and the MLA. The Samajwadi Party leaders are attempting to divert attention to save themselves. BJP spokesperson Manish Shukla said, The situation is sensitive, the local administration is trying to restore normality. Mata Prasad Pandey and the Samajwadi Party should realise their responsibility and wait for the situation to normalise. The Samajwadi Partys intentions are doubtful because its delegation also includes local MP Barq, who is accused of inciting the violence. What statement will he give after going there? he asked. Sambhal MP Barq has been booked in connection with the November 24 violence for provocative acts. Joint ISRO-NASA mission to ISS Gaganyatris complete initial training: ISRO BENGALURU : TWO Indian astronauts chosen for the upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) have completed the initial phase of training, the ISRO has said. Accorsing to ISRO, towards the goal of accomplishing a joint ISRO-NASA effort to the International Space Station, the two Gaganyatris (Prime-Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Backup-Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair) assigned for Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) commenced their training in the USA from first week of August, 2024. The initial phase of training has been completed successfully by the Gaganyatris. During this phase of training, the Gaganyatris have completed initial orientations for mission-related ground facility tours, initial overview of mission launch phases, SpaceX suit fit checks, and selected space food options, it said. Furthermore, the training also included familiarisation sessions with the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and various onboard systems of the International Space Station, including photography from space, daily operations routine, and communication protocols. One of the highlights of this phase was training for various types of emergencies in space, including medical emergencies, the space agency said. Upcoming training will primarily address the remaining modules of the US Orbital Segment of the space station along with training towards conducting scientific research experiments in the microgravity environment during the mission. In addition, the crew will train and perform different mission scenarios in the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh in August had said that an Indian astronaut is likely to fly to the International Space Station by April next year as part of the NASA-ISRO collaborative initiative. New Mah CM to take oath on MUMBAI : Swearing-in to be held at Azad Maidan; Fadnavis front-runner for CM post THE new MahaYuti Government in Maharashtra will be sworn in at Azad Maidan here on the evening of December 5 in Prime Minister Narendra Modis presence , the State BJP announced on Saturday. While there was no announcement yet on who would be the Chief Minister, BJP sources said Devendra Fadnavis, who has been Chief Minister twice and was Deputy CM in the last Eknath Shinde-led Government, was the front-runner for the top post. Shinde, who is holding the charge as caretaker Chief Minister and who headed to his native village Dare in Satara district a day before amid speculation that he was not happy with the way the new Government was shaping up, has taken ill, an aide said. He was running temperature of 105, the aide said. The swearing-in ceremony will take place at 5 pm at the Azad Maidan ground in south Mumbai, said State BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule in a post on X. PM Modi will attend the ceremony, he added. Shiv Sena leader Shambhuraj Desai, who hails from Satara district, told reporters that Shinde and other party leaders returned from Delhi early on Friday morning after meeting the top BJP leaders, and Shinde has had cough and cold since then. Exertion affected him, so we advised him to take rest, said Desai. Meanwhile, a BJP leader said a meeting will be held on December 2 to elect the BJP legislature party leader. Fadnavis was likely to get the CM post this time, he added. Shinde, who heads the Shiv Sena and who was Chief Minister since June 2022, attended a meeting of the ruling alliance leaders with senior BJP leader Amit Shah in Delhi on Thursday night. Before that, he had made it clear that any decision on the Chief Ministers post by the top BJP leadership would be acceptable to him. Shinde is under pressure from a group of Shiv Sena leaders who think he should not become a deputy CM, having been the Chief Minister for more than two years. Another group of party leaders insists that he must be part of the new Government. The MahaYuti alliance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawars Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) retained power with a landslide victory in the Assembly elections, the results of which were announced on November 23. Shinde, Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar met BJP President J P Nadda and Union Minister Shah late Thursday night to discuss the power-sharing arrangement. The Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party has already stated that Fadnavis was acceptable to it as Chief Minister. The next Chief Minister of Maharashtra will be from the BJP and there will be two Deputy Chief Ministers from other MahaYuti constituents, Ajit Pawar said in Pune. Elsewhere, Sanjay Raut of the rival Shiv Sena (UBT) told reporters that the unnatural verdict delayed the selection of the Chief Minister, and the differences in the ruling alliance forced Shinde to go to his village. The Oppositions Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a rout in the November 20 elections, with the Congress winning 16 seats, Sharad Pawars NCP (SP) 10 seats and Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena (UBT) picking up 20 seats. Shiv Sena should get Home portfolio: Sanjay Shirsat CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR, Nov 30 (PTI) SHIV Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat on Saturday insisted that the party must get the crucial Home Department in the new Maharashtra Government and claimed that attempts were being made to sideline caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Talking to PTI, Shirsat said, considering Shindes positive image and the schemes he rolled out, he would have contributed more if he had gotten two and half years more as the CM. The Home Department should be with the party (Shiv Sena). The department is (usually) with the Deputy Chief Minister. It would not be right if the Chief Minister heads the Home Department, said the MLA who represents the Aurangabad West Assembly seat. Devendra Fadnavis holds the Home portfolio in the outgoing Government. Shirsats remarks indicate fissures that have developed among MahaYuti allies, the BJP, Shiv Sena and the NCP. Shinde, now the Caretaker Chief Minister, has said he will fully support the BJP leaderships decision to name the next Chief Minister, and would not be a hurdle. Petitioner in Ajmer dargah lawsuit claims he received death threats NEW DELHI : The caller from Canada threatened to behead the petitioner, said that he have made a big mistake by filing the petition regarding Ajmer Dargah HINDU Sena chief Vishnu Gupta, who filed a civil lawsuit claiming that the dargah of Sufi Saint Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer was built over a Shiva temple, on Saturday lodged a police complaint alleging that he has received death threats for filing the petition. Gupta said he filed the complaint at the Barakhamba Road police station in Delhi after he received two threatening calls -- one from an Indian number and another from Canada. The caller from Canada threatened to behead me for filing the petition in the Ajmer court. He threatened that I have made a big mistake by filing the petition regarding Ajmer Dargah, he said. Police said that they were looking into Guptas complaint. The complaint was filed at around 3 pm and we are looking into it. Appropriate action will be taken, a senior officer said. Gupta said he would not be cowed down by such threats. He has demanded that the dargah in Rajasthans Ajmer be declared as Sankat Mochan Mahadev Temple and Hindus be given the right to worship there. The dargah is visited by thousands of devotees cutting across religious lines every day. A court issued notices to the Dargah committee, the Ministry of Minority Affairs and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Wednesday, seeking their response on the petition filed by Gupta. The courts move to accept the petition and notices to the three parties has sparked a major controversy, with the Muslim leaders slamming it as an attempt to disturb communal harmony. The development comes amid simmering tensions over several similar temple-mosque lawsuits especially in Uttar Pradesh. The next hearing in the Ajmer case is on December 20. Dispute is in court, do not politicise issue, says BJPs Vasudev Devnani on Ajmer Sharif Dargah controversy: BJP leader and Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Speaker, Vasudev Devnani urged not to politicise the issue of a suit claiming Shiva temple within Ajmer Sharif Dargah. Speaking to ANI, on Saturday, he stated that the matter remains in court, and the decision is also pending there. This dispute is still in the court. The court has just issued notices. After that, the court will decide and whatever it says about the survey, everyone should follow it... I urge everyone not to politicise this matter.... Many centres of faith have indeed been tampered with in the last 1100-1200 years. Let the court decide on those centres... On the recent claims to mosques across the country, the Ajmer Dargah chief said, What did (RSS chief) Mohan Bhagwat say in 2022? How long will you look for a shivling in every mosque? The same was done inside Samhal. The consequences were that five innocent people lost their lives. Out of the five dead, two were the lone breadwinners. How big is this setback (to their families)? They (authorities) do not have any remorse for it, he said. Stop atrocities on Hindus Release ISKCON monk: RSS to Bdesh NEW DELHI : THE Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Saturday appealed to the Bangladesh Interim Government to ensure the atrocities on the Hindus are stopped and ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das is released from jail immediately. RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale in a statement also appealed to the Indian Government to continue its efforts to stop the atrocities on the Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh and take necessary steps to build global opinion in its support as soon as possible. The attacks, murders, looting, arson as well as inhuman atrocities by Islamic fundamentalists on Hindus, women and all other minorities in Bangladesh are extremely worrying and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh condemns this, he said. Instead of stopping this, the present Bangladesh Government and other agencies are only silent spectators, Hosabale said. Out of helplessness, a new phase of injustice and atrocities seems to be emerging against the Hindus of Bangladesh to suppress the voice raised by them in a democratic way for self-defense, the RSS General Secretary said. It is unjust for the Bangladesh Government to send ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is leading the Hindus in such peaceful demonstrations, to jail, he added Bangladesh Police earlier on Monday arrested International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport area in Dhaka while he was travelling to Chittagong. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh appeals to the Bangladesh Government to ensure that the atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh stop immediately and release Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das from imprisonment, Hosabale said. The RSS also appeals to the Indian Government to continue its efforts to stop the atrocities on Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh and take necessary steps as soon as possible to build global opinion in its support, he added. At this crucial time, the RSS General Secretary said, India and the global community and institutions should stand with the victims of Bangladesh and express their support, and demand that their respective governments make every possible effort to ensure that atrocities on the Hindus and other minorities are stopped in Bangladesh immediately. This is necessary for world peace and brotherhood, he added. Photos by Nano Betts () Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to travel to Japan on a budget and eat like a local at affordable prices. There are plenty of cheap eats and pocket-friendly restaurants you just have to know where to look. Most importantly, the Japanese hold their eating establishments to very high standards. This means you can enjoy tasty low-cost meals without compromising on quality, great flavor, and cultural thrills. So, without further ado, here are my tips on how to save money on food in Tokyo and the rest of Japan. Food Halls at Metro Stations All major metro/train stations in Japan have food halls where you can find an array of low to medium budget restaurants that serve Japanese and international food. Most of these places are used to catering to foreigners, have English menus and take credit cards. A few examples are food halls in Omotesando, Shinjuku and Tokyo Stations in Tokyo and Kyoto Station in Kyoto. Budget: $8+. Convenience Stores and Regular Supermarkets Perhaps the cheapest (yet tasty!) Japanese meals can be bought at local convenience stores (or comibini, as Japanese call them): 7/11, Lawson and Family Mart. To be honest, I recommend checking them out even if youre a budget traveler since I consider cobinis to be a quintessential part of local food culture. They are a lot of fun to peruse, especially for those Japanese snacks that you cannot get anywhere else. All food is fresh, cooked and delivered daily. Besides your typical supermarket food, you can pick up freshly-brewed coffee, sandwiches (egg sandwiches are my favorite!), o-nigiri (triangular rice with different stuffing), sushi and variety of bento boxes. You can ask things to be heated on the spot if youd like. In addition, they sell freshly cooked hot dishes like deep fried chicken, various skewered meats, steamed soft buns, croquettes, hot dogs, French fries, oden and katsu. In short, options are endless and its a perfect spot to pick up food to-go, especially for picnics during cherry blossom hanami season. Oh, and dont skip the dessert/ice-cream section to sample seasonal treats for cheap! Budget: $3+. Depachika Just like train stations, every single major department store houses food parlors on their basement floor called depachika. Different food brands have counters where they cook freshly made meals to go. This can be traditional Japanese fare or western-style dishes. These are also great spots to buy edible souvenirs to take back home. Admittedly, swanky department stores like Isetan or Mitsukoshi present gourmet food brands, bakeries and dessert shops. A savvy hack for those willing to save an extra penny on their dinner: food goes on sale (25%-50%) after 7 PM. Here is a list of some of the best depachika in Tokyo. Budget: $10+. Casual Restaurants While there are tons of opportunities to splurge on fine Japanese cuisine, authentic local dishes are very affordable. For casual lunches/dinners, I recommend ramen, soba or tempura shops which you can find on virtually every street. There are also numerous mom-and-pop shops which serve home-cooked teishoku meal sets (some of my favorite ones are located in historic Yanesen neighborhood). These typically include a protein, bowl of rice, miso soup, small side salad and pickles. Another spot I highly recommend for a teishoku meal is Salon Ginza Sabou. Last but not least, hit one of many narrow alleys to enjoy quintessential Japanese izakaya. These are typically dinky, casual spots that seat 8-10 people. All food is cooked in front of you. Expect grilled meat on skewers, sashimi, various vegetable dishes, stews of the day and lots of beer and sake. These are in abundance around Shinjuku and Shibuya areas, but if youre looking to go off the beaten path, head to Koenji, Yurakucho or Ueno to do some quality izakaya hopping under the train tracks. Here is a comprehensive list of best izakaya spots in Tokyo. Budget: $10+. Cheap Sushi I know this is probably #1 Japanese food most tourists want to try while traveling to Japan unless youre meaterian like me and care more about that marble-y wagyu. You can enjoy fantastic sushi for cheap at local fish markets and the surrounding tiny sushi shops. Think Tsukiji or Toyosu markets in Tokyo. Another good hack to know is that you can get affordable sushi meal sets at pricy restaurants during lunch. The third option is conveyor-belt sushi spots where you pick your sushi per plate. This can be hit or miss, but they are definitely fun (and cheap!) so I recommend trying it at least once. Budget: $15+. Food Markets Like anywhere else in the world, Japanese food markets are loads of fun and offer fresh fare for a steal. Just grab a bite at every step and try anything that strikes your fancy. Expect stalls with freshly cooked food, seafood and local specialties like pickles. Plus, you can raid little artisan shops to pick up local condiments, sauces, unique ingredients and sweet treats. Examples are Tsukiji Market in Tokyo, Nishiki Market in Kyoto, Kuromon Ichiba in Osaka and Omicho Market in Kanazawa. Budget: $5+. Lunch Specials I covered this a little already, but all restaurants in Japan (including fancy ones) offer lunch specials. This means you can get dinner-quality food for almost half price at lunch. If you are pining over one of the Michelin-starred restaurants, but cannot afford their dinner tasting menu, then their lunch option might be the way to go. Budget: $10+. Food Trucks Food trucks (and street food in general) are hard to come by in Japan. However, there are two dedicated open-air spots in Tokyo where you can enjoy low-cost food truck meals. The best part is, these serve mostly western food and offer vegetarian options too! I recommend checking out Commune 2nd in Aoyama (open every day) and Farmers Market by UNU on the weekends. Yoyogi and Hibiya Parks also regularly host international food festivals. Budget: $10+. Bakeries Cue the magical world of Japanese pastries. Styled after French patisseries, you can find bakeries in every neighborhood. Meticulously arranged on the shelves, pastries in Japan are fantastic and come in myriads of shapes and flavors (curry breads are yet another of my favorites!). These are particularly good for a quick breakfast bite or a mid-day snack. You can typically get a drink here as well. Budget: $2+. 27/7 Restaurant Chains There are a number of affordable restaurant chains in Japan where you can enjoy a delicious, quick meal. I recommend Cocos for Japanese curry, as well as Yoshinoya, Matsuya, Sukiya and Sushiro for different rice bowls. You can find these places at every corner in big and small cities. Most of them have a machine where you place the order, pay and then give the recite to the waiter. The food comes out in a few minutes. Even if there is no English menu, there are normally pictures of each portion on the machine to provide a visual aid. Budget: $7+. Bento Box Specialty Shops Every major station has specialty shops which sell a variety of bento boxes. These are called ekineb and youre supposed to enjoy them on your train ride. They are typically affordable and are a great way to sample different Japanese delicacies including wagyu beef served on rice! Budget: $8+. The Republican Party's stranglehold on Nebraska's electorate has only grown stronger in recent years as the GOP has expanded its voter base at a higher pace than the state's Democratic Party, according to the state voter registration data. Since 2016, Nebraska's GOP has registered more new voters than the Democratic Party and has drawn ex-Democrats to the party at a higher pace than Republicans have left, according to data maintained by Nebraska's Secretary of State's Office. The Nebraska GOP's continued growth and the Nebraska Democratic Party's continued decline has left Republicans with their largest voter registration advantage over Democrats in Nebraska in at least 50 years. Registered Republicans now outnumber Democrats by more than 285,000 and account for nearly 50% of state voters, according to the data, which also shows a growing number of Nebraskans are ditching both parties and opting to identify as nonpartisan. Still, the rightward shift of Nebraska's electorate has made Republicans nearly invincible in statewide races. The GOP hasn't lost a statewide election since 2006, even in the face of infighting in recent years that prompted the Nebraska Republican Party to withhold endorsements from the state's five federal incumbent GOP officeholders amid this year's primary. Eric Underwood, the chairman of the Nebraska GOP, hopes to expand his party's vast voter registration majority over the next two years. When he claimed his post atop the party in 2022 as he and fellow conservative activists took over the Nebraska GOP that had been run by establishment figures loyal to then-Gov. Pete Ricketts, Underwood said Republicans both here and nationally had been living "in an archaic political bubble" that relied on "transactional" interactions with voters to win elections. "When I ran for (Lancaster County Board) in 2020, I was told, 'Don't spend more than 30 seconds at the door'" when door-to-door canvassing, Underwood said. "And now the model is saying, 'If you don't spend more than five minutes at the door, you haven't done your job.'" With 623,229 registered voters, the Republican Party is already larger than it ever has been before in Nebraska. Underwood hopes to top 700,000 registered Republicans by 2026. "There's clearly room to gain more voters there," he said. GOP advantage still growing The GOP has been the majority political party in Nebraska for more than 50 years but the gulf between Republicans and Democrats has perhaps never been as wide as it is now. In 1972, the earliest year for which state voter registration figures are readily available, Republicans outnumbered Democrats by 30,416 voters. The last time Nebraska backed a Democratic presidential candidate was six years earlier, when state voters chose Lyndon B. Johnson over Republican Barry Goldwater in 1964. Nebraska's Republican Party has steadily grown over the decades since, ballooning from 401,409 voters in 1972 to 623,229 voters now. The Democratic Party, meanwhile, has shrunk. There are fewer Democrats in the state now 337,289 than there has been at any point since at least the 1960s. Despite their longtime voter registration disadvantage, Democrats remained competitive in statewide races in Nebraska until the mid-2000s. But the gap between Republicans and Democrats has only continued to grow in recent years. In 2012, Republicans outnumbered Democrats in Nebraska by 184,070. That gulf has widened by more than 100,000 voters in the 12 years since then. "The silver lining for Democrats is at a more local and regional level," said Kevin Smith, a political science professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. "Democrats have shown that they can be competitive in the 2nd Congressional District, and they sure can be competitive in local races and state legislative races, especially in places like Lincoln and Omaha. "But statewide ... the Democratic Party brand is just pretty toxic," Smith said. "And I know that's a pretty blunt way to put it, but I also think that's just an objective reading of the numbers." Democratic 'conspiracy theory' Jane Kleeb, the chair of Nebraska's Democratic Party, has acknowledged the party has "to get a handle on what's happening with voter registration" but pinned the party's losses in part on Nebraska's Secretary of State's Office, which she said is purging Democrats from state voter rolls at a higher rate than Republicans. Kleeb said Democrats had registered 16,000 new voters this election cycle "but you would not know that if you look at the raw numbers, because we're barely treading water with the amount of people that are either moving out of state or that are getting purged from voter files." "Some think it's a conspiracy theory we have, but when you look at the numbers, it doesn't make any sense," she said at a virtual meeting the party hosted earlier this month. Democrats have been purged from Nebraska's voter rolls at a slightly disproportionate rate since 2016, according to data provided by the Secretary of State's Office. Just over 31% of the 421,973 Nebraska voters removed from the state's voter registry since 2016 have been Democrats, who account for 26.7% of Nebraska voters. Republicans, who represent 49.3% of Nebraska voters, have accounted for 44.5% of voter removals since 2016. A spokeswoman for Secretary of State Bob Evnen said officials remove voters in accordance with federal law, often for reasons that include death, moving or a felony conviction. Voters are never removed for simply not voting for a long time, the spokeswoman said. The fight for new voters Nebraska's Democratic Party has been marked by high-profile departures in recent years, including by Omaha lawmaker Sen. Mike McDonnell, who became a Republican in April after state Democrats censured him for his conservative social views, and Sen. Megan Hunt, who became a registered nonpartisan in 2023, citing political dysfunction nationally. They are among 124,987 Democrats who have left the party since 2016, according to state data. More than half of ex-Democrats 63,836 who have switched parties in the last eight years have joined the GOP, while another 52,717 have changed their registration to nonpartisan. A little more than 8,000 former Democrats have joined smaller parties, including the Libertarian Party and the Legal Marijuana NOW Party. The GOP, meanwhile, has lost 38,878 former Republicans to the Democratic Party since 2016. Another 57,045 ex-Republicans have become nonpartisan, 5,210 have joined the Libertarians and 599 have joined the Legal Marijuana NOW Party. Some of the Democratic Party's losses to the GOP can be attributed to the state's partisan primary system. More than 10,000 Democrats switched to the Republican Party in 2022, when the state was home to a high-profile GOP gubernatorial primary that Democratic voters couldn't participate in. But Democrats are also failing to capture new voters at the same rate as Republicans. Since 2016, more than 433,000 Nebraskans have registered to vote for the first time or reregistered after previously being ineligible to vote. Republicans have drawn more of those new voters than any other political party in the state, winning 172,243 of them. The Democratic Party, meanwhile, is home to 113,003 of the state's newest voters fewer than the 133,661 new voters who registered as nonpartisans, which isn't an organized political party in Nebraska but nonetheless accounts for nearly 22% of state voters. Underwood, the state GOP chair, attributed his party's gains in part to the willingness of national Republicans to target unreached demographics through nontraditional sources including by engaging political social media influencers and the likes of billionaire Elon Musk and the podcaster Joe Rogan. "It's a lot easier to get somebody to register to vote than it is to try to change their Overton window of politics," Underwood said, adding that it takes far more time and effort to convince a liberal to vote conservative than it does to "find somebody that's already conservative and just get them to register to vote." Nonpartisans on the rise The GOP is not the only political identity growing in Nebraska, where an increasing share of voters have eschewed party labels altogether and are registered nonpartisans. Nonpartisanship has been baked into Nebraska's election process since 1934, when the Legislature switched from a partisan, two-chamber body to a nonpartisan unicameral. While political parties recruit and back legislative candidates, their political affiliations aren't listed on the ballot in general or primary elections. Still, nonpartisan voters accounted for less than 10% of Nebraska's electorate until the early 1990s. In the decades since, the number of nonpartisan voters in the state and the share of the electorate they represent has more than doubled. In 1990, Nebraska was home to 67,221 registered nonpartisans who accounted for 7.5% of state voters. By 2000, 153,088 state voters were nonpartisan, good for 14% of the electorate. The informal party cracked 200,000 voters between 2008 and 2010, and now, with 275,247 voters, registered nonpartisans account for 21.7% of Nebraska voters the largest share a third party has captured in the state in at least 50 years, if not ever. Prior to 1970, the Secretary of State did not publish voter registration statistics alongside election results as the state has since then. While nonpartisan voters in Nebraska don't belong to an organized political party and don't vote in lockstep, their growing power in the state's politics was evident in November when Dan Osborn, a registered nonpartisan, outperformed every Democrat on the ballot as he lost a closer-than-expected U.S. Senate race against Republican incumbent Sen. Deb Fischer. In a state where President-elect Donald Trump triumphed over Vice President Kamala Harris by a 20-point margin and where Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts beat Democratic challenger Preston Love Jr. by more than 25 points, Fischer claimed reelection over Osborn with 53.4% of the vote, winning by fewer than 7%. "Even though he lost, he got closer to defeating an incumbent Republican senator than most observers would say that any independent candidate has any business doing in the state of Nebraska," said Smith, the UNL professor. "I think partly what that reflects is a hunger amongst some voters for a viable alternative to the major political parties. "I think part of what you see in Osborn's candidacy and maybe in these registration numbers is a desire amongst at least some portion of the electorate to have a break with tribal loyalty." Abhishek Banerjee, the MP from Diamond Harbour and all India general secretary of the Trinamul Congress, strongly criticised the central government for delaying the approval of the Aparajita Bill, which seeks exemplary punishment for heinous crimes like the rape and murder of female doctor at R G Kar Hospital. He pointed out that the bill has been pending for the Presidents approval for two months. However, the central government, if willing, could pass it in just a day by issuing an ordinance. He also stated that the Aparajita Bill provides measures to ensure punishment within just 50 days, adding, A rape occurs every 10 minutes in India, yet the central government remains indifferent because most rapes happen in BJP-ruled states. This is why the Center lacks enthusiasm. If necessary, I will fight for this bill alone in Parliament. The culprits of R G Kar incident should not be alive. Advertisement Additionally, Abhishek Banerjee launched the Sebashrai initiative to provide free modern healthcare services in his Diamond Harbour constituency. Advertisement This programme, spanning 70 days, includes 280 camps offering advanced medical care. Nearly 2,000 booths in Diamond Harbour will benefit from this initiative. More than 1,200 doctors, including Rajya Sabha MP Dr Santanu Sen and his wife Kakoli Sen, have joined the programme. Banerjee also announced a Doctors Summit 2025, planning to involve 5,000 doctors from across Kolkata and other districts. On Saturday, the programme was inaugurated at the Samannay auditorium in Amtala. In light of the R G Kar Hospital incident, a minutes silence was observed for the female PGT doctor. Abhishek personally interacted with over 1,200 doctors from various fields, including modern medicine and AYUSH, as part of the initiative. Camps will be held sequentially in all seven Assembly constituencies within the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, with each camp running for 10 days. Abhishek replaced this years annual MP Cup tournament with this large-scale healthcare programme due to the gravity of recent events. The programme includes a helpline for doctors to address complaints and facilitate communication. Several camps will be set up in each Assembly constituency, with a plan for at least 280 camps overall. The MP pointed out that the way the CM spoke to junior docs on multiple occasions and took administrative actions is also something you wont find anywhere. But will changing police commissioner or director of health stop rapes? On the Bangladesh issue, he said, I have cleared my stand that you have to follow the Constitution of the country and the state has no role in it. The onus is on the Union government to take it up with the Bangladesh government in the strongest manner or in the language they understand. Slamming the BJP, Abhishek said, What is happening in Bangladesh is not a political issue. For BJP everything is politics be it RG Kar or Bangladesh. Its your government in power why dont BJP leaders go and protest in Delhi? On the national Working committee meeting and its outcome, he said, If the party has taken a decision and whoever they felt is capable have been assigned with necessary responsibility. It is up to them now in coming days to prove themselves. Whenever I have been assigned with any responsibility, I have tried to live up to the expectations. On organisational reshuffle, he said, I have done my work. Its up to the party to make the necessary changes, if at all. I submitted my report in September. The Kolkata Police (KP) arrested a Bangladeshi national and former leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Friday night who had been staying in a hotel on Marquis Street for the past two years. Police have seized fake documents like Aadhaar card and a passport from him. He was produced before the Bankshall court on Saturday afternoon and remanded to police custody. Advertisement The arrest of Matabbar was made in Kolkata at a time when the bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh have plummeted after a Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das was nabbed by Bangladeshi police at Dhaka airport. Advertisement Acting on tip-off, a team from Park Street police station raided the hotel in Marquis Street and nabbed the man who identified himself as Rabi Sharma, police officials said. To corroborate his identity, Sharma produced a photocopy of what he claimed was his Aadhaar card as well as a passport. A senior police official said, Even after that, we felt something was amiss and questioned him further. During interrogations, Sharma confessed to the investigating police officials that that his original name was Selim Matabbar and that he was hailed from Madaripur in Bangladesh, sources said. He fled from Bangladesh two years ago following a political dispute with the then ruling party Awami League and since then was living in Kolkata. Since arriving in Kolkata, he had been working at the hotel on Marquis Street. After his confession, Park Street police arrested the accused. According to police sources, Matabbars name came up during an investigation conducted by a team of Karnataka Police that had arrested six Bangladeshi nationals from Chitradurga. Terming the attacks as violations of secular principles, equality, and justice, the CPI warned that such actions pose a significant threat to the communal harmony that underpins Bangladeshs diverse society. Rajya Sabha MP and CPI national executive member P Sandosh Kumar condemned the violence, urging the Bangladeshi interim government to act swiftly. Advertisement Amid the controversy over the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former ISKCON priest and recent attacks on Hindu temples, the National Council of the Communist Party of India (CPI) has expressed deep concern over communal violence targeting Hindus and other minority communities in Bangladesh. Advertisement Terming the attacks as violations of secular principles, equality, and justice, the CPI warned that such actions pose a significant threat to the communal harmony that underpins Bangladeshs diverse society. Highlighting the potential fallout of unchecked violence, the CPI noted that these incidents could escalate tensions and provoke adverse reactions across the borders, jeopardizing peace and stability in the region. The party emphasised the importance of maintaining communal amity for the progress and unity of both India and Bangladesh. Rajya Sabha MP and CPI National Executive Member P Sandosh Kumar condemned the violence, urging the Bangladeshi interim government to act swiftly. We call upon the government of Bangladesh to take immediate and decisive steps to stop these incidents, protect the rights and safety of Hindus and other minority communities, and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice, he said. The CPI also targeted the ruling BJP and its communal outfits, cautioning the progressive and secular forces in India to oppose any attempts to exploit the issue to stir tensions domestically. The National Council of the CPI also calls upon all progressive and secular forces in India to oppose any attempts by the ruling party or its communal outfits to exploit the issue in Bangladesh as a pretext to stir communal tensions in our country, the Left party said. The party further called on its members and sympathizers to remain vigilant and committed to preventing communal incidents in India. The foreign investors pulled out Rs 21,612 crore (USD 2.56 billion) from the Indian equity market in November, data by the National Securities Depository Limited said. Notably in October, the foreign investors had pulled out Rs 94,017 crore. Advertisement The sale is mainly due to the rising US bond yields, strengthening dollar and expectation of a slowdown in the domestic economy. Advertisement With the latest pull out, Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) have experienced total net outflow of Rs 15,019 crore in 2024 so far. However in September, foreign investors made a nine-month high investment of Rs 57,724 crore. In June, July, August, and September, they bought stocks worth Rs 26,565 crore, Rs 32,365 crore, Rs 7,320 crore, and Rs 57,724 crore, respectively. On the other hand, FPIs invested Rs 1,217 crore in the debt general limit and Rs 3,034 crore in the debt Voluntary Retention Route (VRR) during the period under review. So far this year, FPIs have invested Rs 1.07 lakh crore in the debt market. In two separate incidents in Delhi, one in West Delhis Naraina and another in Northwest Delhis Rohini, two men were allegedly stabbed to death, police said on Sunday. In the Naraina case, a 36-year-old man named Manoj was attacked in a local park and succumbed to his injuries, according to a senior police official. Advertisement Multiple police teams have been deployed to identify and apprehend the suspects, with some already detained. Advertisement However, the victims family suspects the involvement of others, and the investigation is ongoing to examine all angles based on their allegations. Authorities have assured the family that all culprits will face action. In Rohini, a PCR call was received at around 7:15 a.m. on Sunday about an unconscious man in a local park. Police found a 38-year-old delivery worker with stab wounds. Notably, his belongings, including his mobile phone, wallet, and bag, were found intact, ruling out robbery as a motive. The Forensic Science Laboratory and the district crime investigation team inspected the scene, and the body was shifted to BSA Hospital. The victim, originally from Sant Kabir Nagar, is survived by his wife and two children. Police confirmed that appropriate legal action is being taken. Businessman Raj Kundra penned a note on Instagram requesting media personnel not to drag his wife and actor Shilpa Shettys name amid the alleged Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids at his house. He wrote, To whom it may concern, While the media seems to have a flair for drama, lets set the record straight: Im fully complying with the ongoing investigation that has been unfolding for the last four years. As for the claims of associates, pornography and money laundering, lets just say that no amount of sensationalism will cloud the truth, in the end, justice will prevail. Advertisement Its unacceptable to repeatedly drag my wifes name into unrelated matters. Please respect the boundaries, he added. Advertisement The EDs investigation has link to allegations surrounding the distribution of adult films. Earlier, Shilpas lawyer issued a statement, saying she has nothing to do with any offence. In a statement, advocate Prashant Patil called the reports misleading. There have been reports in the media saying that my client Mrs Shilpa Shetty Kundra faced raids by the Enforcement Directorate. These reports are not true and are misleading. As per my instructions, there is no Enforcement Directorate raid on Mrs Shilpa Shetty Kundra as she has nothing to do with any offence of whatsoever nature, the statement read. Patil also mentioned the case in question is an ongoing probe regarding Raj Kundra, and that he has been cooperating with the authorities. However, the case in question is an ongoing investigation regarding Mr Raj Kundra and he is cooperating with the investigation for truth to come out, he mentioned. The lawyer also requested media personnel to refrain from using pictures and videos of Shilpa while mentioning the case in the reports. Would request the electronic and print media to refrain from using the videos , pictures and name of Mrs Shilpa Shetty Kundra as she has nothing to do with the case . Strict cognisance shall be taken against irresponsible journalism wherein the pictures or videos of Mrs Shilpa Shetty Kundra are shared on this matter, the statement concluded. Diljit Dosanjh took a break from his high-energy performances to soak in the sights and culture of Kolkata during his Dil-Luminati Tour 2024. Before taking the stage on Saturday night, Diljit visited two of the citys most iconic spots: the Indian Coffee House and the Dakshineswar Temple, creating memorable moments for fans. Advertisement The Indian Coffee House, a beloved Kolkata landmark, was the first stop on mini adventure of Diljit Dosanjh. In photos shared by his team on Instagram, the star was seen walking up the vintage stairs of the coffee house, savoring a cup of hot milk coffee by the window, and sharing a heartfelt thank-you with the staff. Advertisement Fans flooded the comments with praise for Diljits choice of venue, noting how his visit to this nostalgic spot resonated with many, especially Bengalis who have a deep emotional connection to the place. I cant believe youre here! Not just visiting the usual places, but a place that holds so much history and nostalgia for us, one fan commented. View this post on Instagram A post shared by DILJIT DOSANJH (@diljitdosanjh) Another added, The Historical Coffee House, acknowledging the venues cultural significance. In addition to his visit to the coffee house, Diljit spent some spiritual time at the Dakshineswar Temple. After landing in Kolkata, he meditated within the serene temple grounds and shared a video of his peaceful experience with fans. He also took a relaxing ride in the citys famous yellow taxis and enjoyed the calm views along the Hooghly River. Diljits concert in Kolkata, part of his Dil-Luminati Tour 2024, was another major highlight. The tour, which kicked off in New Delhi in October, continued with a thrilling performance to a packed audience in the city. Prior to that, he also performed in Pune on November 24, where Bollywood actress Nimrat Kaur attended the show and shared her excitement on social media, calling it the BESTEST concert she had ever been to. The Dil-Luminati Tour 2024 will next hit Bengaluru on December 6, followed by stops in Indore, Chandigarh, and Guwahati later this month. The 2024 edition of the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa saw a participation of 11,332 delegates, marking a 12 per cent increase as compared to IFFI 2023, said the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The delegates hailed from 34 states and Union Territories across the country, alongside international participants from 28 countries attended the film festival that concluded on Thursday at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa, it said. Advertisement The Ministry said in the case of Film Bazaar, the number of delegates surged to 1,876, a significant increase from 775 last year. Foreign delegates represented 42 countries. The business projections in the Film Bazaar this year exceeded Rs 500 crore, marking a significant achievement. Advertisement The opening and closing ceremonies featured star-studded appearances and performances, celebrating both Indian and international cinema, it said. The opening ceremony paid tributes to the centenary celebrations and the rich diversity of Indian cinema. The closing ceremony featured music and dance, while also honoring exceptional achievements with awards, including the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Philip Noyce and the Indian Film Personality of the Year Award to Vikrant Massey, the Ministry said. The international cinema at the IFFI was a curated selection of 189 films, handpicked from over 1,800 submissions. The lineup included 16 world premieres, 3 international premieres, 44 Asia premieres, and 109 Indian premieres, it said. The Ministry said films from 81 countries graced the screens, showcasing a diverse range of cultures, voices, and visions. The competitive sections were equally exciting, with 15 films competing for the prestigious International Competition Award, 10 in the ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Medal section, and 7 in the Best Debut Feature Film by a Director category. Over 100 red-carpet events from the International Section, Indian Panorama, Goan Section, and Beyond Indian Panorama were showcased at the INOX Panjim venue. A selection of 25 feature films and 20 non-feature films, distinguished by their cinematic excellence, were chosen to be part of Indian Panorama 2024, it said. Besides, the Ministry said a new award was instituted to recognise young filmmaking talent across the country, aligned with the theme of IFFI focused on Young Filmmakers. From a total submission of 102 films that competed for the certificate and cash prize of Rs five lakhs to the Director in the closing ceremony, Grahat Ganapati of Navjyot Bandiwadekar won it. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener Arvind Kejriwal, reacting to party MLA Naresh Balyans arrest, termed it a warning for the people of the city that if anyone challenges gangsters will be sent to jail. Accusing the Centre of inaction on the rising crime in Delhi, Kejriwal dared Home Minister Amit Shah to arrest the real culprits, instead of silencing voices against lawlessness. Advertisement Addressing a press conference here, the AAP chief claimed that over the past two to three years, the law and order situation in the city has deteriorated significantly. He said the AAP MLAs fault was that he too had been a victim of gangsters. But instead of arresting the gangster who intimidated Balyan, the MLA was arrested. Advertisement Kejriwal further said while Balyan had been receiving extortion and other threat calls from gangsters for two years, he formally lodged a written complaint with the Delhi Police and named a gangster Nandu recently. In his written complaint, he informed the police about receiving threats to him and his family with a request for police protection. The AAP chief said Balyan was asked by the gangster to contact his potential targets to convey a message of extortion and to collect extortion money from his targets. Kejriwal said despite the threats, the AAP MLA did not give in to the gangsters demands. However, he expressed concerns over surveillance around his home and office by suspicious individuals, noting risks to his family, who live alone and could be targeted in his absence. As a citizen of Delhi and someone who has earlier served as chief minister, I can tell you that people are deeply concerned, he said. The AAP supremo emphasized that Delhi residents are living in constant fear, claiming that they dont know when or what might happen to them. Recounting a recent incident that took place in West Delhis Nangloi, where two persons on motorcycles stopped outside a shop and opened indiscriminate firing, he said when he tried to visit the area, BJP workers blocked his way and prevented him from reaching the site. He claimed that fear among Delhis businesspersons is on the rise with a spike in the number of extortion calls, and if they refuse to give in, there would be firing outside their premises. He said matters related to Delhis education, healthcare, electricity, and water are under the jurisdiction of the elected government, run by the AAP, but the safety of national capital residents and the law and order situation are directly under the control of the Union Home Ministry. He said when he raised his voice on the citys law and order situation, he expected that the Centre would address it, instead he was attacked as a person threw liquid at him during a foot march while one of the AAP MLAs was apprehended. As the cyclone has passed, largely sparing Chennai while wreaking havoc in two coastal districts Villupuram and Cuddalore besidesPuducherry, a war of words erupted between the ruling DMK and the AIADMK on Sunday. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M K Stalin was dismissive of his predecessor and Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS), who picked holes in the state governments handling of the cyclone and the heavy rains, particularly in Chennai. It is habitual for him to level charges against the government. We do not considerthem fit for a response. Also, there is no need to respond. It is notnecessary as we are focused on our work. We work not only for those who voted for us but also for those who did not cast their vote for us without any discrimination, he told reporters after an inspection of the relief and rescue works at his assembly constituency, Kolathur.EPS has alleged that the DMK government had failed in rain and flood mismanagement. Photo shoots of the DMK Ministers about Storm WaterDrainage are nothing but empty advertisements as evidenced by the flooded Chennai roads, he had said in an X post yesterday. Advertisement Stung by the chief minister being dismissive of him, EPS said in another post As the Leader of the Opposition, it is my duty to highlight the pathetic condition under the DMK government. The government too is duty bound to rectify by taking appropriate action.But, we can expect only such a response from the Chief Minister who is not capable. Further, we cannot expect from the DMK decency orcommitment to the peoples welfare and the Chief Ministers recentremarks are proof enough for this.Maintaining that there is no water logging anywhere in the state including Chennai, he said, Once the rain stops, flooding would also recede. It is natural that there will be water logging when it rains.Visuals of flooding in the media are old ones. Only you (the media)are telling this. It is difficult to predict the trajectory of the cyclone and we are taking precautions based on the weather report.We are closer to a permanent solution was his response to a questionas to why the state government should turn into battle mode for everycyclone in the absence of a lasting solution. Advertisement On the situation in Villupuram, he said, It was unexpected thatVillupuram would be pounded and experience such an extreme downpour.Villupuram, Tindivanam, Marakkanam, and Mayilam have received up to 60cm of rainfall. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi has left forVillupuram. Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji and TransportMinister SS Sivasankar have been deputed to speed up the relief andrestoration works. Already K Ponmudy, the minister from the districtis there. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has stated that he is ready to impose a statewide ban on beef if the Congress leader Bhupen Kumar Borah formally requests it in writing. The remark came in the wake of allegations that BJP workers organized a beef party to sway minority voters in Samaguri during recent elections. Advertisement Speaking after a party meeting on November 30, Sarma criticized Congress for its loss in Samaguri, a constituency it held for 25 years. Advertisement Congress losing Samaguri by 27,000 votes is not just BJPs win; its Congresss biggest shame, Sarma remarked. BJPs Diplu Ranjan Sarma defeated Congress candidate Tanzil Hussain by a margin of 26,200 votes. Addressing Congress MP Rakibul Hussains allegations against him, Sarma turned the focus back on the Congress. Hussain said that offering beef to voters is wrong. Does this mean Congress won Samaguri for years by offering beef? If so, I invite Bhupen Borah to take a clear stance. If he writes to me asking for a complete ban on beef in Assam, Ill act accordingly, Sarma stated. He further said that banning beef would resolve the political controversies surrounding it. If beef is banned, BJP, Congress, AGP, and CPM will all stop speaking about it, and Hindus, Muslims, and Christians will equally stop eating it. All problems will be solved, Sarma added. The statement has intensified the debate around beef politics in Assam, with implications for communal harmony and political strategies. Sarma concluded by emphasizing his readiness to act if Congress takes the first step. Now its up to Bhupen Borah to decide, he asserted. The Union Territory of Puducherry is grappling with a flood-like situation after Cyclone Fengal made landfall on its coast at around 7 PM on Saturday. The relentless downpour that accompanied the cyclone has caused severe waterlogging in several areas, leaving buildings and vehicles submerged under floodwaters. Advertisement Rescue teams, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Indian Army, have launched large-scale operations to evacuate those stranded in the waterlogged areas. Advertisement Boats have been deployed to navigate waterlogged streets, with both people and animals being rescued. In a heartwarming instance, a dog stuck in floodwaters was saved amidst ongoing operations. The Indian Army swung into action following a formal request from the Puducherry District Collector. Relief operations are being conducted in inundated areas across the union territory. In neighbouring Tamil Nadu, the impact of Cyclone Fengal is also evident. The NDRF is actively rescuing people stranded in Cuddalore, where heavy rainfall has caused extensive waterlogging. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin also inspected flood-hit areas in the Kolathur Assembly constituency to assess the situation. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that the cyclone is moving southwest and is expected to weaken into a deep depression. BJP Kerala president K Surendran has once again threatened the media. Speaking to the media in Kochi on Sunday, Surendra said that BJP workers would visit media offices to inquire if news is given against the party. He accused the media of spreading news against the BJP. I know you received a message on your phone when the state leadership meeting was held the other day, and I know who sent it. Dont you have any shame? You dont even have an element of ethics. Kerala society is allergic to seeing you. Well come to your offices in the coming days, Surendran said. Advertisement K Surendran had earlier said that no journalist who defamed the BJP during the Palakkad by-election would be spared. Advertisement The BJP Kerala chief had earlier on Wednesday threatened journalists, issuing a stern warning that no journalist who tried to insult the BJP will be spared. He added that those who spread fake news will be properly dealt with. No journalist who tries to insult our party and movement will be spared. Those who try to defame the party and spread fake news will be dealt with accordingly, Surendran warned. In the last three tp four days, the media has been trying to tarnish the image of a great political party under the guise of the Palakkad by-election results. We will not tolerate any such attempts, Surendran said, in an apparent intimidating tone, while speaking to media in Pathanamthitta. The party will not spare even a single man who did injustice to the party and will directly deal with such people. No doubt about it, he added. Surendrans outburst against media personnel came amid reports about infighting within the state BJP, which reportedly led to the defeat of party candidate C Krishna Kumar in Palakkad following erosion of votes in party strongholds. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a public meeting in the Dadiya village ground on the outskirts of the state capital here on December 9. The prime minister will pay a brief visit to the pink city on December 9 to inaugurate the three-day Rising Rajasthan Global Investors Summit at the Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Center (JECC) in Sitapura here. Advertisement After the inaugural ceremony, Modi will address the meeting in the vicinity of the mega event. Advertisement Massive preparations are underway for the PMs programme at the administrative and political level by bureaucratic machinery and the ruling BJP cadres. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, accompanied by some ministerial colleagues, Chief Secretary Sudhansh Pant, BJP state president Madan Rathore, and police brass, supervised arrangements at the meeting ground and other key points on the route of the PMs motorcade on Sunday. Lauding the Border Security Force (BSF) for standing as a critical line of defence and embodying courage, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday greeted the frontal force on their 60th Raising Day. In a post on X, PM Modi wrote: Warm wishes to the Border Security Force on their Raising Day! The BSF stands as a critical line of defence, embodying courage, dedication and exceptional service. Their vigilance and courage contribute to the safety and security of our nation. Advertisement Home Minister Amit Shah also extended his greetings to the personnel of the BSF and their families. Advertisement The soldiers of the @BSF_India have safeguarded the honor and the ambitions of Bharat with the fiercest determination, never thinking twice to lay down their lives for it. Their valor and sacrifices are the undying wellspring of inspiration that has raised generations of patriots to ensure that our nation continues to flourish forever. My solemn homage to the bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, he said in his post on social media. The BSF in its post said: As #BSFturns60 today, we, the Seema Prahari, proudly rededicate ourselves to the service of our Nation. We remain steadfast in our commitment to uphold our motto. DG SSB and all ranks of Seema Sashatra Bal also extended greetings & best wishes to all ranks & families of BSF on the momentous occasion. On the 60th Raising Day of #FirstLineOfDefence, #CRPF extends its heartfelt wishes to Seema Praharis and their families. May they continue to serve the nation with unwavering valor and pride, the CRPF said. DG NSG and all ranks of National Security Guard conveyed best wishes to all ranks,veterans, and families of the BSF. ADG PI INDIAN ARMY said, #GeneralUpendraDwivedi #COAS and All Ranks of #IndianArmy convey best wishes to All Ranks, #Veterans & Families of the Border Security Force #BSF on the occasion of 60th Raising Day. ITBP in its wishes conveyed best wishes to the BSF, saying The BSF stands as a resolute guardian of the nations borders, exemplifying bravery, commitment, and outstanding service. Your dedication ensures the security and pride of the nation. Union Health Minister and BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda extended his warmest greetings to the guardians of Indias frontier, saying Their day and night of selfless service in protecting our borders and ensuring our security is truly inspiring. We remain forever grateful for their valor and unwavering dedication in safeguarding our nation. Parliamentary minister Kiren Rijiju stated, A warm greetings to the entire BSF personnel and their families on the occasion of its Raising Day. The whole nation is proud of BSF for their outstanding and dedicated service to the nation. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia posted his wishes saying , Respectful salute to all the brave soldiers who protect the borders of the country with their courage, bravery and dedication. The country will always remember your bravery and dedication. Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution & New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said, Saluting the unwavering dedication and valour of the Border Security Force, the first line of defense safeguarding our nation on #BSFFormationDay. Your courage and sacrifices inspire us all. Jai Hind! Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma also extended their greetings to BSF India personnel and their families. The BSF is the largest border guarding force in the world with a strength of nearly 2.65 lakh personnel.Mandated to guard the India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders, the BSF is the only force of the nation with a distinctly defined wartime as well as peace-time role. The force has successfully proved its mettle in accomplishing every task assigned to it in times of war and peace situations while ensuring peace and tranquillity on the border. The BSF troops, deployed in the most challenging terrain and remote locations, have been serving as the guardians of Indias borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. Till 1965, Indias border with Pakistan was manned by the State Armed Police Battalion. On April 9, 1965, Pakistan attacked Sardar Post, Chhar Bet and Beria Bet in Kutch. This exposed the inadequacy of the State Armed Police to cope with armed aggression, due to which the Government of India felt the need for a specialised, centrally controlled Border Security Force that would be armed and trained to man the international border with Pakistan. As a result of the recommendations of the Committee of Secretaries, the Border Security Force came into existence on December 1, 1965. Initially, in 1965, the BSF was raised with 25 battalions and, with the passage of time, was expanded as per the requirement of the nation to fight against militancy in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and the Northeast region. The BSF, with a sanctioned strength of over 2,65,000 personnel spread across 192 battalions, is responsible for securing Indias borders stretching over 6,386.36 kilometres with Pakistan and Bangladesh. As the suspense over the next Maharashtra Chief Minister continues more than a week after the assembly election results, the Shiv Sena (UBT) has demanded the imposition of Presidents rule in the state. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai on Sunday, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut questioned the delay in government formation despite the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance securing a huge majority. Advertisement It has been 10 days, they have a huge majority BJP themselves have a majority, but they havent formed the government yet What is happening? Bawankule is announcing that on the 5th, the oath-taking ceremony will take place. Is he the governor? The governor should propose the Presidents rule here, Raut said. Advertisement The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader also criticised former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, holding him responsible for enabling a government to rule Maharashtra that was constitutionally wrong. In Maharashtra, such a government was in power that was wrong as per the Constitution, with the support of the Supreme Court. DY Chandrachud is responsible for this, he said. Rauts scathing remarks and demand for Presidents rule came amid speculations of a rift among the Mahayuti alliance partners over government formation. Even after achieving a thumping majority, the alliance has yet to announce the name of the new Maharashtra Chief Minister. However, BJP State President Chandrasekhar Bawankule has announced the swearing-in ceremony of the new Maharashtra government but did not reveal who will take the oath as the Chief Minister. Eknath Shinde, the caretaker Chief Minister of Maharashtra, has gone into isolation at his native village in the Satara district after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah. It is being said that Shinde is down with high fever, and his doctors have advised him to rest. However, many attribute his absence to his displeasure over the government formation formula proposed by the BJP. Shindes Shiv Sena has 57 MLAs and is the second-largest constituent of the Mahayuti after the BJP, which has 132 MLAs. Ajit Pawars NCP, with 41 MLAs, is also part of the Mahayuti. Even if Shinde decides to sit out of the government, the BJP will still have a comfortable majority with the NCP. Saffron leaders who gathered at Ramleela Ground of Uttarkashi for Mahapanchayat against an alleged illegal mosque demanded that Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami should follow the footsteps of his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath in dealing with encroachments. Speakers at Mahapanchayat, including BJP MLA T Raja Singh, called for unity among Hindus to throw away land Jehdis from Uttarakhand. Advertisement T Raja Singh, BJPs firebrand legislator from Telangana and arch-rival of AIMIM leaders Asaduddin Owaisi and Akbaruddin Owaisi, joined the anti-mosque mahapanchayat in Uttarkashi and lauded the Uttarakhand chief minister for his functioning but said Uttar Pradeshs model of bulldozer must be implemented in the Himalayan state as well. Advertisement He said the chief minister must sit with UPs Yogi Adityanath for a chat over tea to discuss ways to deal with encroachers. Dhamiji is a very good person. Everyone has seen the result he has yielded after taking over as chief minister. However, we expect a much better result. Therefore, we request Dhamiji to have a chat on tea with Yogi Adityanath. The style and language with which Yogi ji is working against illegal mazars and other encroachers in Uttar Pradesh needs to be implemented in Uttarakhand as well. Sometimes those who do not understand simple language need to be taught by the bulldozer. Earlier, addressing the mahapanchayat, T Raja Singh said, Uttarakhand is a land of gods and entire India is looking towards to the people here for fighting land jehad. Hindus in India are inspired by Uttarakhands battle against land jihad. We have to unite and not let the land Jehad succeed in Uttarakhand. Singh stressed that Bageshwar Dham chief Dhirendra Krishna Shastri sent a message for the people of Uttarakhand and their fight against land jehad. He said, When I met Bagheshwar Dham head Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, he told me to tell the youths of Uttarakhand that we are with them physically and financially. Do not let the battle against land jehad go till every encroacher is thrown out of Uttarakhand. Addressing Mahapanchayat, local BJP MLA Suresh Chauhan said, There is no place for mosques in Chardham shrine areas. It must be investigated how this mosque was built here. Our elders tell that there was a madrasa which has been converted into a mosque. How the mosque was registered and mutated as a mosque? We will not allow that to happen come what may. Most of the right-wing speakers who addressed Mahapanchayat expressed concern over the alleged land jehad in Uttarakhand and demanded that the state government should probe how the mosque was raised there. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who visited IIT-Kanpur on Sunday, delivered a compelling address on the theme Role of Innovation in the Development of India. The event was graced by the presence of Anandiben Patel, Governor of Uttar Pradesh; Satish Mahana, Speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly; and Rakesh Sachan, Minister for MSME, Khadi, Village Industries, Sericulture, and Textiles, Government of Uttar Pradesh. Advertisement Prof Manindra Agrawal, Director of IIT Kanpur, Prof Braj Bhushan, Deputy Director, along with faculty members, staff, and students, also attended, making the occasion a convergence of visionaries and learners. Advertisement In his address, Vice President Dhankhar underscored the vital role of innovation in shaping Indias journey toward becoming a developed nation. He highlighted IIT Kanpurs pivotal contributions in fostering innovation and nurturing talent that drives transformative changes worldwide. Drawing attention to the remarkable achievements of IIT-Kanpur alumni, particularly in global industries such as technology and communications, he emphasized their significant impact in shaping global markets, including Silicon Valley. Vice President Dhankhar also spoke about Indias progress in infrastructure, global recognition, and technological advancements, urging students to capitalize on these opportunities for their growth and the nations prosperity. He called upon the corporate sector to demonstrate greater commitment to innovation by increasing investments in research and development. Acknowledging IIT-Kanpurs leadership in entrepreneurship, particularly through its incubation center that has supported over 400 startups, including many women-led ventures, he emphasized the need for continued support for such initiatives. Dhankhar outlined a vision for innovation focused on creating smart, scalable, and sustainable solutions addressing real-world challenges while driving long-term impact. He urged IIT-Kanpur to engage in mission-driven projects, especially those empowering farmers through technological interventions to enhance agricultural productivity and economic value. By fostering innovation in agriculture, the Vice President envisioned IIT-Kanpur transforming Indias agricultural landscape and improving the livelihoods of millions of farmers. Governor Anandiben Patel commended IIT Kanpur for its distinguished legacy of technological excellence and societal contributions. She remarked, Innovation transcends creating new technologiesit involves adapting ideas to address societal needs. Institutions like IIT Kanpur play a key role in driving advancements that benefit everyone. With the right guidance, Indias innovative spirit will lead the nation to self-reliance and development by 2047. Prof Agrawal, Director of IIT Kanpur, expressed gratitude for the Vice Presidents visit and reiterated the Institutes commitment to advancing technological excellence for societal benefit. He remarked, The Vice Presidents theme, The Role of Innovation in the Development of India, aligns perfectly with our mission to drive technological progress and societal impact. His insights inspire us to deepen our commitment to fostering innovation for Indias self-reliant and prosperous future. The visit highlighted the critical importance of innovation in Indias development journey, inspiring students, faculty, and alumni to contribute toward technological advancements that will propel the nation toward becoming a global leader by 2047. Once, human rights were understood as the simple principle that one persons rights should never extend beyond the tip of anothers noseunless invited. On December 10 each year, the world comes together to observe International Human Rights Day, a day that underscores the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family. First recognized in 1950 under the guidance of the United Nations, this day has evolved into a global call to action for the protection and promotion of human rights worldwide. Yet, despite decades of progress, violations persist across the globe, reminding us that the fight for human rights is far from over. The debate on human rights dates back centuries, and two of the most prominent figures in this discourse Edmund Burke and Thomas Paine left a lasting legacy that continues to resonate today. Burke, a supporter of the monarchy, saw the preservation of tradition and hierarchy as essential to societal stability, while Paine, a revolutionary thinker, championed liberty, equality, and the rights of individuals. One of Paines most famous lines, We pity the plumage, but forget the dying bird, directly addressed the hypocrisy of focusing on superficial issues while ignoring the deeper, more urgent concerns. In modern times, these words still carry weight, highlighting how we often address surface-level concerns while systemic injustices persist, unnoticed or unchallenged. The observance of Human Rights Day invites us to reflect on the progress made and the work still to be done. It is a reminder that the principles outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948, remain crucial in shaping a more just and equitable world. Advertisement However, despite the ground-breaking achievements of the UDHR, widespread violations continue, and the fight for human dignity remains on-going. Throughout history, the struggle for human rights has been a journey fraught with obstacles. One notable turning point in this struggle occurred in the United States during the 19th century. The abolition of slavery, a monumental achievement, came about through the tireless efforts of leaders like Abraham Lincoln, who, in 1863, led the nation to abolish the institution through the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. This was a transformative moment in the history of human rights. Despite the victory, however, African-Americans continued to face systemic discrimination and segregation for many years after. Advertisement The 1954 landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education, where the US Supreme Court declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, was another significant victory for human rights in America. But even after this, African-Americans had to fight for basic rights like access to education, the vote, and an end to discriminatory laws. It was only in 1965, after decades of struggle and advocacy by civil rights leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., that African-Americans were granted the right to vote under the Voting Rights Act. These achievements were monumental, but they were hard-won, demonstrating the lengths to which marginalized communities had to go in order to claim their human rights. Internationally, the story of human rights has also been one of continuous struggle and progress. The United Nations adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 was a defining moment. It set out, for the first time, a global standard for human rights, affirming the rights of individuals to life, liberty, and security, among other freedoms. The UDHR became the foundation upon which many countries would base their own human rights frameworks. But the road to realising these rights in full has not been easy. Over the decades, the UDHR has been supplemented by two essential covenants the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights passed in 1966 to reinforce and clarify the rights outlined in the UDHR. One of the key figures behind the development of the UDHR was Eleanor Roosevelt, who, as the chairperson of the UN Human Rights Commission, played a pivotal role in its creation. Known as the mother of modern human rights, Roosevelts vision for a world where all people were treated equally and with dignity shaped the discourse on human rights for generations. Unfortunately, she did not live to see the full impact of the UDHR, passing away in 1962, but her legacy lives on. Since 1998, the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights has been awarded annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to the protection of human rights. As we reflect on the history of human rights, we must also acknowledge the many challenges that remain today. In the United States, for example, despite significant progress, debates about gun control and mass shootings continue to spark deep divisions. The United Nations and various human rights organizations have called for greater restrictions on firearms, but powerful interest groups like the National Rifle Association (NRA) continue to push back against any form of regulation. The on-going violence in schools and public places is a stark reminder that the struggle for human rights continues, and that the protection of human life and safety is an essential component of human rights. In India, human rights protections are enshrined in the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life, liberty, and equality. However, even in a country with such a strong legal framework, violations of human rights are not uncommon. Discrimination based on caste, religion, gender, and disability continues to affect millions of people across the country. While the Constitution guarantees equal rights for all, the reality often falls short. The National Human Rights Commission, which works to address these issues, plays an important role, but there is still much work to be done. The issue of discrimination remains one of the most pervasive challenges to human rights. Genderbased violence, including domestic abuse, sexual assault, and trafficking, continues to devastate the lives of women and girls around the world. In many countries, LGBTQ+ individuals face violence, discrimination, and the denial of basic rights. Refugees and migrants, fleeing war, persecution, and poverty, are often subjected to inhumane conditions and denied their rights to safety and protection. The most vulnerable members of society, including those who are stateless, face some of the most extreme forms of discrimination, and the international community must do more to protect them. On a global scale, poverty and inequality are also significant barriers to realizing human rights. Despite progress in some areas, the gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen. Economic inequalities, along with the challenges posed by climate change, pose major threats to the realization of human rights for millions of people around the world. The struggle for human rights is far from over. While progress has been made, there are still millions of people around the world who are denied their basic rights and dignity. The world must come together to address the root causes of discrimination, inequality, and violence. Human rights are not just abstract concepts; they are the foundation of a just and peaceful world. As we observe International Human Rights Day later this month, we must renew our commitment to these principles and work to ensure that they are upheld for all people, everywhere. The fight for human rights is not just the responsibility of governments or international organizations. It is a responsibility shared by all of us, whether through advocacy, education, or simply standing up for justice. We must remember the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home. It is in our homes, our communities, and our everyday actions that the future of human rights will be determined. (The writer is Associate Professor, Centre for South Asian Studies, Pondicherry Central University.) Every political party makes mistakes, but the smart ones learn from them and move forward. The growth and success of any party must reflect on past mistakes and use them as stepping stones for progress. The Congress could not maintain momentum after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections six months ago when it doubled its seats. What caused the decline in its performance? Did the Congress party, the oldest in India, fail to seize opportunities for learning and adaptation? Did the NCP and the Uddhav faction of the Shiv Sena misinterpret the signals? Did the BJP make errors in Jharkhand? The recent results from the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections reveal missed growth opportunities. Two things stand out in the Maharashtra and Jharkhand polls. The first is the size of the BJP-led NDA win in Maharashtra, defeating the NCP and Uddhav Shiv Sena, both of which had ruled Maharashtra earlier, and the ease with which Hemant Soren retained Jharkhand. Both were ruling their respective states. The alliance could have performed better if Congress had learned from past experiences and made necessary adjustments. Unlike the Pachmarhi or Shimla conclaves, there has been a lack of post-election analysis. Congress must address this lack of introspection. It could not have been due to a generational change, as change is constant. Advertisement The succeeding generations must work to take the party forward. The Grand Old Party is entirely under the control of Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition, and his chosen associates. Rahul worked hard and campaigned, but the party must still get voters to the polling booths. The results suggest they have not learnt from mistakes of the recent Haryana Assembly elections, such as relying heavily on one leader, ignoring the others, and the wrong distribution of tickets, despite being in a winning position. The most crucial aspect the Congress Party, NCP and the Uddhav faction of Shiv Sena must address is the narrative. For the Congress, the focus on caste issues, defending the Constitution, and making personal attacks on the Prime Minister has not resonated with the voters. Advertisement This disconnect is a clear sign that the party needs to reevaluate its strategy and focus on issues that truly matter to the electorate, such as the bread and butter problems. It is a pressing concern that needs alignment. Even within the INDIA alliance, there are frictions now. After the recent results, partners in the INDIA bloc like AAP and the Trinamool Congress are pursuing their own agendas and show little interest in joint action for the current winter session of Parliament. Even earlier, Rahul Gandhis attack on Savarkar did not garner any support for Congress; instead, it created friction between the Shiv Sena, which idolised Savarkar, and Congress. These parties also did not realise the political impact of the BJPs parent organisation, RSS, which worked for the partys success. The INDIA bloc did not specify the issues as they did during the Lok Sabha elections, focusing solely on defeating the BJP and its allies. This strategy influenced the Lok Sabha results, forcing the BJP to form a government with the support of two regional parties, the JD(U) and the Telugu Desam Party. The Maratha strongman Sharad Pawar must feel disheartened after losing his party and the election to his nephew, Ajit Pawar, whom he groomed. The warning signs became clear when Ajit joined the BJP, betraying his uncle to help form the government. The situation worsened when the Election Commission recognised Ajits faction as the real NCP, despite Sharad Pawar having founded and led the party to power multiple times. This decision severely undermined Pawar. The same applies to Uddhav Thackeray, son of Sena founder Bal Thackeray, who succeeded his father, lost the party and the elections to rebel Eknath Shinde, who helped BJP form the government in Maharashtra in a coalition. Both must introspect about what led to their loss of popularity. On the other hand, JMM, a partner in the INDIA bloc, has demonstrated how to win despite numerous challenges. JMM Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his wife, Kalpana, faced several hardships, including a jail sentence for Soren. In India, elections occur almost continuously in one state or the other. So, the election season has not ended. The immediate test will be the Rajya Sabha elections for six seats on December 20. The NDA is expected to win five of the six seats, while the Trinamool Congress will likely secure one. This might result in NDA getting the majority in the Upper House, which could further weaken the Congress Partys position in the Parliament. There are eight vacancies four in the nomination category and four in Jammu and Kashmir. Ultimately, wins and losses in elections are seen all over the world. Every election reveals the mistakes and successes of the players. But the real winner is the one who rectifies his mistakes without losing time. Winners must not become complacent, while losers need to stay motivated. The arrest of a prominent Hindu monk in Bangladesh has sparked a diplomatic tussle with India, highlighting a recurring point of contention in the bilateral relationship: the condition of minorities in Bangladesh. This latest episode not only puts the spotlight on the treatment of minorities but also raises broader questions about governance, social harmony, and the delicate balance between justice and communal sensitivities. Bangladeshs Hindu minority, comprising around 8 per cent of the population, has historically been a barometer of the countrys commitment to pluralism. The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a vocal advocate for minority rights, and the ensuing violence underscore a precarious environment where tensions can easily escalate. While Bangladeshs interim government claims the arrest is justified on charges of sedition, the perception of targeting a prominent Hindu figure risks stoking communal insecurities. The reaction from India, expressing concern for the safety of minorities, has added a diplomatic layer to the incident. Relations between the two nations, which were robust under former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, have grown tense since her ouster. Sheikh Hasinas exile in India complicates matters further, with her presence serving as both a symbol of unresolved political turbulence in Bangladesh and a diplomatic tight-rope for India. The violence following Mr Dass arrest, resulting in the death of a Muslim lawyer, highlights the volatility of communal tensions. Advertisement Such incidents reveal the thin line between maintaining law and order and preserving social cohesion. The interim government, under Muhammad Yunus, faces the dual challenge of asserting its authority while ensuring that justice is seen as impartial and inclusive. Mr Yunuss calls for calm are timely, but the perception of bias, whether real or imagined, could undermine these efforts. From a governance perspective, the incident exposes the fragility of Bangladeshs sociopolitical fabric. The nations progress on economic and developmental fronts is already being overshadowed by recurring communal flashpoints. These challenges are exacerbated by the current political vacuum and uncertainty surrounding elections. Without a credible electoral process, Bangladesh risks further polarising its population, complicating efforts to foster unity. Advertisement For India, the issue of minority rights in Bangladesh is as much about domestic optics as it is about foreign policy. Raising concerns serves to reassure its own population of its commitment to Hindus abroad while subtly pressuring Dhaka to act responsibly. However, such interventions risk being perceived as interference, potentially straining bilateral ties further. Ultimately, Bangladeshs long-term stability hinges on its ability to uphold the principles of justice and communal harmony. Arrests, protests, and diplomatic exchanges must not be allowed to erode progress made in fostering social cohesion. The interim government must prioritise inclusivity and transparency, ensuring that all citizens, regardless of their faith, feel protected. In navigating these challenges, Bangladesh can reaffirm its commitment to being a diverse and harmonious society, a goal essential for both its internal stability and international relationships. At the moment, though, Dhaka seems to be floundering. The Australian government has announced humanitarian assistance to support the Philippines recovery from a devastating series of tropical storms. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy on Saturday committed five million Australian dollars ($3.2 million) in funding for humanitarian assistance for the Philippines, Xinhua news agency reported. Advertisement The Philippines was hit by six tropical storms in a one-month span between October and November, killing hundreds of people and causing widespread displacement and damage. Advertisement Australias assistance will be delivered through humanitarian partners including the United Nations, NGOs and local organisations. Wong and Conroy said that the governments partners will work with local authorities to support those most in need with shelter, food security, health services and water sanitation and hygiene. Five Islamic State (IS) militants were killed in airstrikes in the northern Iraqi province of Kirkuk, the Iraqi military said on Saturday. Acted on intelligence reports, Iraqi forces on Friday carried out airstrikes on IS hideouts in the Hamrin mountain range in the southeastern part of Kirkuk province, according to a statement from the Security Media Cell, a media outlet affiliated with the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, Xinhua news agency reported. Advertisement On Saturday morning, a joint force from the Iraqi army and intelligence searched two bombed hideouts and found the bodies of five terrorists, the statement said. Advertisement It noted that the joint force also found weapons, ammunition, explosives, logistical materials, and communication devices in the hideouts. The security situation in Iraq has improved since the defeat of the IS in 2017. However, IS remnants have sneaked into urban centres, deserts, and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerrilla attacks against security forces and civilians. Armed groups of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) spread across several streets and neighbourhoods in Aleppo in Syria on Saturday, a day after the militant group stormed parts of the city, according to local media and opposition activists. Most civilians are staying indoors, with schools and government institutions nearly completely shut down, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the Sham FM radio. Advertisement On Friday, the HTS and allied rebel groups swept into parts of Aleppo city for the first time since they were driven out of the city in 2016. The escalation came as the HTS launched a major offensive in the western countryside of Aleppo on Wednesday. Advertisement The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said the HTS took control of half of the city. It said that warplanes launched airstrikes early Saturday on the al-Furqan district near the New Aleppo area in the western part of the city. The airstrikes and limited clashes with government forces resulted in the deaths of 20 HTS fighters, the observatory said. Videos emerged on Friday night from Aleppo showing the HTS fighters freeing prisoners from government jails. Other fighters shot videos of themselves celebrating taking over the historic citadel of Aleppo and other key city landmarks. Aleppos governor, police chiefs, and security officials have withdrawn from the city centre, according to the observatory. The sudden surge in violence has reignited tensions in Aleppo, a city that has endured years of devastating warfare during Syrias protracted conflict. Government authorities have not yet issued official statements regarding the latest developments except the Syrian Defence Ministry statement, which says the army is fighting fierce battles against the HTS and allied militant groups. Although Donald Trumps election to a non-consecutive second term to the US presidency is not unprecedentedGrover Cleveland had done it in 1893it is nevertheless a watershed moment. Considering the extreme odds he overcame, he has been called the most resilient politician in the history of the US. His second term is likely to have significant ramifications around the globe. Trump represents a growing American instinct to pivot back to its largely isolationist stance before the modern era began, a bit over a century ago. The intervening decades saw the US become the richest and most powerful nation in the world, and no longer gun-shy about intervening in geopolitical situations around the world. It had become the worlds policeman, and heralded the liberal world order that commentator Francis Fukuyama deemed the ultimate and irrevocable winner in his bookThe End of History and the Last Man. History disagreed with that pronouncement and has pushed back strenuously. The modern era of globalisation has clearly seen better days, as those Americans who suffered under it have propelled the US away from its basic tenets. Understanding this phenomenon requires understanding the evolution of liberalism. Illustration: Deni Lal Classical liberalism was the dominant force shaping the west since the reformation and the enlightenment. With its success, the west thereafter steered the destinies of the rest of the world and the course of history. But the modern inheritors of the liberal tradition gradually moved far away from its core principles. The deviation of modern liberals from their legacy has had far-reaching consequences. Their abandonment of individual rights in favour of group rights has led to them supporting religious personal laws in place of secular, constitutional ones; their abandonment of economic freedom in favour of managed economies has led to such oddities in the west as centralised micro-regulations for barber shops and salons; and their questioning the fundamental principles of science in pursuit of ideological purity has made them blind to the realities of biology. These deviations have turned most modern liberals into the very antithesis of what the founders and giants of their movement stood for over centuries. In other words, it has made them the champions of the elites, who, in their snooty self-confidence, believe they have the answers to all the worlds woes. Their disdain for the hoi pollois right to have their own opinions, let alone the ability to choose their own preferred solutions, has led to a massive disconnect. This gap has been filled by Trumpism. Liberals disconnect with the masses is not just a US phenomenon. Many prominent liberal voices in the US continue to double down on their ideological assertions, now rejected by a majority of the electorate, instead of introspecting and course-correcting. Similarly, there have been several examples of liberals in India and elsewhere emulating those dyed-in-the-wool ideologues. That itself is a giveaway of the transition from classical liberalism, in which self-doubt, introspection, and an objective, questioning mind are the guiding principles. Instead, modern liberalism has moved very far to the left of its classical heritage, committing itself instead to ideological beliefs, devoid of introspection, questioning or criticism. The results are a growing chasm between their ideological commitment and a non-compliant public sentiment. The contrast to earlier periods, when classical liberals kept gaining in public confidence and support for their demonstrated empathy for the masses, is stark. As the second Trump administration takes shape, and it becomes clearer to what extent its policies will recede from decades of US policy, both domestic and globally, the response by modern liberals worldwide will be a factor worth watching. Baijayant Jay Panda is National Vice President of the BJP and a member of the Lok Sabha. Our golden boy of literature was the star attraction at the recent Shillong Literary Festival in mysterious Meghalaya. I was only warned last night that I would have to speak. I agreed on two conditions: a rice beer in one hand and a twig of cherry blossom in the other. Reading and writing are both intensely private activities. So all this publishing tamasha is absolutely pointlessyou should all go home immediately and read a book! Rockstar Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, seated next to Seth, grinned at the poets irreverence, while the audience cheered. I joined the small group, enjoying a cuppa with the CM, in the Authors Lounge, as Seth held court and commented as only he can. As photographers clicked away, he turned to me, brow deeply furrowed, and asked, Is this the first time you didnt run away from being photographed with a politician? The elusive author was making a rarer than rare appearance at a literary fest, and had risked life and limb, travelling in his jaunty red Jimny through Manipur, to attend the event. Vikram Seth and Shobhaa De At a scintillating session, ably moderated by Malavika Banerjee, Seth was on fyaaaa as he sprang to his feet and performed a libretto, with gusto. He read stanzas from A Golden Gate, talked about A Suitable Boy, and discussed his writing process with a mesmerised audience hanging on to his every word. At heart, I do see myself as a poet fiction is not my metier prose is always unfinished there is a memorability to poetry, he said, It is the emotional content and not technique of a poem that matters. That is the beauty of a poemthe technique should be well-hidden. Seth reads his own work exceedingly well. Something I had marvelled at when I first heard him at the British Council in Mumbai, soon after the global success of A Suitable Boy. He recalled our meetings with remarkable clarity, as I gushed away, hanging on to his every word with gratitude. Seth is a genius, with an extraordinary mind and a rare talent that has yet to ripen to its full richness. His latest work, a masterly translation of a timeless hymnHanuman Chalisainto English, has been widely lauded by critics, given the complexity of doing justice to its 40 rhythmic verses written more than five centuries ago, as an ode to Hanuman. Seth has been travelling at a manic pace through the length and breadth of India, in his beloved Jimny, which he sees as a female with a wilful mind. The red he was looking for in a car had to be the right red, he said, not the cerise red of cherrieswhich is a depressing colour. Clearly, he found the perfect red and his adventures with the Jimny got underway. I didnt spot her at the lit fest and asked where she was, Shes resting after being stuck in Manipur for five days, he answered solemnly. At a gala night by the hotel pool, where a loud band was playing Boney M. hits, Seth and I attempted a frustrating and fractured conversation over the din. There was just one thing to doescape. We did. To a kids zone. The perfect setting for a heart-to-heart with a man I consider a gift to the world. X@DeShobhaa Instagram@shobhaade Kannada film and television actress Shobitha Shivanna was found dead at her apartment in Hyderabad on Sunday. According to police, the 30-year-old actress allegedly died by suicide by hanging from a ceiling fan by a sari in her bedroom on Saturday night. A case has been registered at Gachibowli police station while her body has been sent to Gandhi hospital for post-mortem. Police have launched an investigation to find the exact reasons behind her alleged suicide. They said no suicide note has been found at the spot. Shobitha, who hailed from Sakleshpur in Karnatakas Hassan district, had been residing in Hyderabad after her marriage last year. She has acted in several popular Kannada films and television serials. The movies she has acted in include Eradondla Mooru, ATM: Attempt to Murder, Ondh Kathe Hella, Jackpot, and Vandana. She was also a regular in TV serials such as Gaalipata, Mangala Gowri, Kogile, Brahmagantu and Krishna Rukmini. Shobitha was active on social media and used those platforms to connect with her fans. Her last post on November 1 was on Kannada Rajyotsava and Diwali celebrations. Her untimely demise has sent shock waves across the Kannada film industry. Superstar Mohanlal's much-anticipated action thriller 'L2: Empuraan' will be released on March 27, 2025, director Prithviraj Sukumaran confirmed on Sunday after its shooting came to a wrap on Sunday. The final shot of the much-awaited movie, which is a sequel to 2019 Malayalam blockbuster 'Lucifer', was executed at the banks of the Malampuzha reservoir in Palakkad district, the actor-director said. When is 'L2: Empuraan' releasing? "At 5:35 am today, by the banks of the Malampuzha reservoir, we canned the final shot of #L2E #EMPURAAN See you in theatres in 117 days!," Prithviraj Sukumaran said on X along with a poster of 'Empuraan' declaring the worldwide release date. Superstar Mohanlal plays legislator Stephen Esthappan Nedumpally, a regular Kerala politician who is forced to up his game following the demise of the party patriarch. Towards the end of the movie, however, it is revealed that Stephen is the dreaded global kingpin Khureshi-Ab'raam, who was using the low-key political stint in Kerala for reasons unknown. Prithviraj himself portrayed the role of Zayed Masood, the right-hand man of Khureshi. 'Lucifer' boasted an ensemble cast that included Vivek Oberoi, Tovino Thomas, Manju Warrier amnd Sachin Khedekar among others. Written by Murali Gopi, 'Lucifer' was the first Malayalam film to earn more than Rs 200 crore and became the fastest Malayalam film to cross the Rs 50 crore (four days), Rs 100 crore (eight days) and Rs 150 crore marks (21 days). L2:Empuraan: A hype like never before! The wow factor 'Lucifer' received across the globe was so great that 'L2' is predicted by many to become the most celebrated film in the history of Mollywood. The shooting of 'L2: Empuraan' began in New Delhi in October last year. Announced in 2019, its locations included as many as 20 countries, media reports had claimed. Prithviraj led schedules in Russia USA and Dubai apart from those in Ladakh, Shimla, Mumbai, Chennai, Rayalaseema and many places across Kerala. It is expected that 'Empuraan' will shed light on the journey of Stephen's journey to become Khureshi-Ab'raam and his rivalries and deals in the dark world of the mafia. When President-elect Donald Trump nominated 71-year-old doctor David Weldon from Florida to head the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), anti-vaccine activists were thrilled. Weldon has long questioned the safety of the vaccines and has been part of some campaigns against it as well. ALSO READ | Who is Jay Bhattacharya? Indian-origin doctor picked to lead health agency was against Covid lockdown The crucial nomination of Weldon comes at a time when mpox and bird flu threats are looming in the US. If appointed, experts worry that it would jeopardise the whole process of tackling vaccine-preventable diseases. "He is one of us!!... Since before our movement had momentum. Dream Come True," the co-director of the anti-vax group Mississippi Parents for Vaccine Rights wrote on Facebook. ALSO READ | Matt Gaetz, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard... : Understanding Trump's logic behind cabinet picks Another anti-vaxxer in West Virginia wrote, "Every day more good news!" "He's definitely someone who's very sympathetic to the anti-vaccine cause," Dorit Reiss, a professor of law at UC Law San Francisco was quoted by The Guardian. ALSO READ | Ethnic bioweapons, mercury-laced sandwiches: Trump's new health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr is a conspiracy theorist Weldon was the founding member of the Congressional Autism caucus and as a representative to the US House from 1995 to 2009, he introduced two bills related to vaccines. The first one was on the limited use of thimerosal in vaccines. It outlines who is eligible to receive vaccines containing thimerosal, despite evidence that low doses of thimerosal are safe. Thimerosal is a vaccine additive, which is added to some vaccines to prevent germs like bacteria and fungi from growing in them. While, the second bill sought to move CDC's vaccine safety work to a separate, independent agency. After failed primaries for the US Senate in 2012 and the US House again in 2014, Weldon returned to practising medicine privately. Though he had left the mainstream politics, he was not entirely gone. Robert F. Kennedy Jr, Trumps pick for health secretary, has always given a spot for Weldon in the activities relating to the anti-vaccine campaigns. Weldon once said that he attempted to slow the CDCs process of investigating the link between autism and the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine a thoroughly discredited theory advanced by Wakefield based on unethical research. Experts fear that Kennedy at the helm could replace members of the CDCs independent vaccine advisory committee and as the s CDC director, he could reject recommendations from the advisers. Also, Weldon could influence public messaging from the CDC about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. The CDC makes evidence-based recommendations for vaccinations. Though the states are not required to follow the recommendations, most of them do. With Kennedy as health secretary and Weldon to lead the CDC, experts point out that the Trump administration is openly sending a message that it is willing to work with the anti-vaccine movement. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has said that there will be 10 percent cut in the water supply in Mumbai and its suburbs besides the municipalities of Thane and Bhiwandi from December 1 to 5. This is due to a technical issue at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) water supply facility in Pise village. Though urgent repair work to resolve the issue, the issue will likely continue for a few days. The BMC also urged residents to be cautious about water usage. The fault has occurred at the pneumatic gate system at Pise, which supplies water to the areas under the jurisdiction of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Two days ago, many parts of Mumbai witnessed water shortage after repair work had to be undertaken at the Tansa water channel at Lower Parel. On Saturday, deputy chief minister of the outgoing government Devendra Fadnavis said about how the state was facing a 50 per cent shortage of water. He had added that the only way ahead was to conserve water. Cyclone Fengal, which made landfall near Puducherry on Saturday, might weaken into a deep depression on Sunday, but still remains stationary near Puducherry, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The effect of the cyclone was such that it dumped a massive 50o mm of rainfall in 21 hours in Villupuram. As per the latest alert by the IMD, Cyclone Fengal has been stationary over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for the past six hours. It is close to Puducherry, about 30 km north of Cuddalore, 40 km east of Villupuram and 120 km south-southwest of Chennai. "It is likely to move westwards slowly and weaken gradually into a deep depression over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during the next six hours," the alert read. According to Chennai Regional Meteorological Centre director S Balachandran, the continuous rainfall in the region is due to the cyclone remaining stationary for hours near Puducherry. Cyclone Fengal started making landfall near Puducherry around 5.30 pm on Saturday and completed the process between 10.30 pm and 11.30 pm While six locations recorded heavy rainfall in the last 24 hours, three places received extremely heavy rainfall. Villupuram recorded a whopping 498 mm rainfall from Saturday morning to Sunday morning. Puducherry came close behind with 469.55 mm rainfall in the same period. However, the situation was way better in Cuddalore (179 mm), Tiruvannamalai (176.5 mm), Tiruvallur (136.5 mm) and Kancheepuram (120.5mm) . Battered Puducherry The storm battered the Union Territory forcing authorities to seek the help of the Army for rescue operations. As many as 40 soldiers rushed from Chennai to help the local administration clear roads and traffic after trees were uprooted. Many areas continue to witness power outages. However, the Meteorological Department has instructed to lower the storm warning cages installed at 9 ports namely Chennai, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Ennore, Kattupally, Puducherry, Karaikal, Pamban and Thoothukudi as Cyclone Benjal crossed the coast. Chennai airport opens Operations at the Chennai airport resumed past midnight but many flights suffered cancellations and delays, officials said. The operations were suspended on Saturday in view of the cyclone. As many as 24 domestic services were cancelled and 26 international flights, both arriving and departing were delayed, officials said. Even as suspense continues over the chief ministers post in Maharashtra, reports claimed on Sunday that BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis name has been finalised for the top post. A senior BJP leader told news agency PTI that Fadnavis name has been finalised as the new CM, and a meeting of the BJP legislature party will be held in the next two days. "The name of Devendra Fadnavis has been finalised as the new chief minister of Maharashtra. The meeting to elect the new BJP legislature party leader will be held on either December 2 or 3," the unnamed leader said. >>Have given unconditional support to any decision by BJP: Shinde on CM candidate Earlier in the day, outgoing chief minister Eknath Shinde said he has already given unconditional support to any decision the BJP would take on the chief ministers post. Shindes remarks came amid rumours that the Shiv Sena leader is upset over the power-sharing formula proposed at the Mahayuti leaders meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah in Delhi. On Saturday, NCP leader Ajit Pawar said the new chief minister would be from the BJP and that there would be two deputy CMs, one each from the Shiv Sena and the NCP. With Fadnavis, who was Shindes deputy in the outgoing government, tipped to become the chief minister, Shinde is unlikely to swap the positions and instead may recommend his son Shrikant Shinde to the deputy CM post. Reports claimed that the Shiv Sena has also demanded the home portfolio. >> Maharashtra: Amid suspense over CM post, BJP says swearing-in on Dec 5; Opposition questions delay The BJP has already claimed that the swearing-in of the new government will take place on December 5 at the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Both Shiv Sena and the NCP have elected Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar as their legislature party leaders, respectively. The ruling Mahayuti registered a resounding victory in the assembly elections, bagging 230 seats in the 288-member assembly. The BJP became the single largest party, pocketing 132 seats, while its allies, the Shiv Sena and the NCP, won 57 and 41 seats, respectively. Even as suspense continues over the new Maharashtra chief minister, outgoing CM Eknath Shinde on Sunday said he had already given unconditional support to any decision the BJP leadership would take. Shinde, in his first reaction after reaching his native village in Satara, said a decision on the new chief minister will be made on Monday. #WATCH | Satara: Maharashtra caretaker CM Eknath Shinde says, "I am doing good now. I had come here to rest after the hectic election schedule... I did not take any leave during my 2.5 years as the CM. People are still here to meet me. This is why I fell ill... This government pic.twitter.com/zLuGZzcahn ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2024 I have already given my unconditional support to the party leadership, and I will stand by their decision, he asserted, highlighting the unity among the Mahayuti leaders. All three allies of the Mahayuti have a good understanding. The Chief Minister candidate will be decided tomorrow, he said. The Shiv Sena leader had travelled to his native village, Dare Tamb, after cancelling a crucial meeting of the Mahayuti leaders in Mumbai on Friday, sparking speculation that he was upset over the power-sharing formula among the allies. The party, however, later made it clear that Shinde went to his home town after falling sick. "I am feeling better now. I came here to rest after the busy election schedule. I didn't take any leave during my 2.5 years as Chief Minister. People are still visiting me here. This government will listen to the people, the caretaker chief minister said. Shinde was reportedly suffering from a respiratory tract infection, fever, and weakness, and doctors had advised him to rest for two days. The ruling alliance swept the assembly elections, bagging 230 of the 288 seats. The BJP became the single largest party, pocketing 132 seats, while its allies, the Shiv Sena and the NCP won 57 and 41 seats, respectively. NCP leader Ajit Pawar on Saturday made it clear that the new chief minister would be from the BJP while there will be two deputy CMs, each from the Shiv Sena and the NCP. According to reports, former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who steered the BJPs victory in the politically crucial state, is tipped to be the new CM. People's Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday compared the situation of minorities in both India and Bangladesh and said she didnt find any difference. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister expressed concern over the incidents of violence in Uttar Pradeshs Sambhal and the controversy surrounding the Ajmer Sharif Dargah. "Today, I am afraid that the situation, which was during 1947, we are being taken towards that direction, Mufti said, pointing out the recent claims on mosques and shrines. Sambhal violence: SC restrains trial court proceedings till Jan 8; directs Masjid committee to approach HC The PDP leader targeted the BJP-ruled governments over unemployment and poor roads while terming the incidents in Sambhal as unfortunate. When the youth talk of jobs, they don't get it. We don't have good hospitals, education... They are not improving the condition of roads but are trying to demolish the mosque in search of a temple, she said. Violence erupted in Sambhal on November 24 during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, killing four people and injuring many others. Sambhal hopes for peace and normalcy after unrest Meanwhile, on November 27, a civil court in Ajmer issued notices to the dargah committee, the Centre and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), after a petition was filed, claiming that the dargah was originally a Shiva temple. Commenting on this, Mufti said the dargah has been the biggest example of brotherhood. "Ajmer Sharif Dargah where people from all religions offer prayers, is the biggest example of brotherhood. Now they are also trying to dig into it to search for a temple." Court directs issuance of notice over suit claiming Shiva temple in Ajmer dargah Comparing the atrocities being committed on the religious minorities in India and Bangladesh, the PDP chief said she couldnt find any difference between the two countries. "In Bangladesh, atrocities are being committed on Hindus. If atrocities will be committed on minorities in India also, then what is the difference between India and Bangladesh? I don't find any difference between India and Bangladesh, she said. Bangladesh has been witnessing violence against the Hindu community and attacks on temples ever since the Sheikh Hasina government was collapsed following massive countrywide protests. Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former union minister Raosaheb Danve said the party has finalised the name of the Maharashtra chief ministerial face and it is awaiting approval from the partys senior leadership. Danve said everyone knows who the next CM will be and it will be formally announced once the partys senior leadership approves. In an interview with a Maratha channel, Danve said, People know who is going to be the next chief minister of Maharashtra. We are waiting for finalisation of the same person's name by the senior leaders of our party, PTI reported. He added the public have a good idea about the candidate and they are waiting for official stamping (approval) on the name. Regarding the sharing of ministerial berths among alliance partners, the former union minister said it is the chief minister's prerogative. According to sources, Devendra Fadnavis, who has been chief minister twice is the frontrunner for the post. The swearing-in ceremony of the new Mahayuti government is scheduled to be held on December 5 at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and other senior leaders are expected to attend the ceremony. Recently, the Mahayuti alliance leaders Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar met senior leaders of the BJP, including Amit Shah in Delhi, to finalise berths in the cabinet. Reportedly, the existing arrangement of two deputy chief minister posts for allies will continue. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said recently that he wouldnt be a hindrance in the formation of government. As per reports, the BJP is expected to get 21 berths in the cabinet, the Shiv Sena and NCP may get 12 and 10 respectively. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said on Saturday that the next chief minister would be from the BJP. He added there would be two deputy chief ministers, one each from the NCP and the Shiv Sena. The state will have one chief minister from BJP and two deputies from the other two parties of the Mahayuti, he said. The Manipur government has extended the suspension of mobile internet services in nine districts for two more days till December 3. The suspension was extended in Imphal West, Imphal East, Kakching, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Pherzawl and Jiribam after the government reviewed the security situation in these districts. "The state government after reviewing the prevailing law and order situation and its correlation with the general operation of internet services has decided to continue suspension of mobile internet and mobile data services including VSATs and VPN services in the territorial jurisdiction of Imphal West, Imphal East, Kakching, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Churachandpur and Kangpokpi, Pherzawl and Jiribam of Manipur till 5.15 pm of December 3, in public interest," said an order issued by the Home department on Sunday. The state government suspended internet services on November 16 after a fresh wave of protests erupted in these districts following the recovery of the dead bodies of three women and three children who had gone missing from a relief camp in Jiribam district. The protesters attacked the houses of legislators and ministers and vandalised police stations, prompting the Centre to reintroduce the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in five police station limits and send 90 more companies of armed police force to the state. On November 19, the government conditionally lifted the ban on broadband services (ILL and FTTH), considering the hardships faced by common people, healthcare facilities, educational institutions. Manipur has been witnessing ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May last year, killing at least 250 people so far. Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the deteriorating law and order situation in the national capital on Sunday. Kejriwal said he was attacked thrice in the last 35 days. Addressing presspersons, the Aam Aadmi Party leader said its MLA Naresh Balyan was arrested by police on Saturday under false charges. Kejriwal said Balyan had complained to police earlier as well about extortion attempts by gangsters. #WATCH | AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal says, "I had this expectation that Amit Shah will take some action after I raised the issue (law & order)... But, instead of that, I was being attacked during my padyatra. Liquid was thrown at me, it was harmless, but it could have pic.twitter.com/86o3S9qo6y ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2024 "I hoped that Amit Shah would take some action after I raised the law and order issue... But, instead of that, I was attacked during my padayatra, Kejriwal charged. The former chief minister said instead of taking action against criminals, an attack was orchestrated against him. In a security scare, Kejriwal was attacked during a padayatra in Malviya Nagar on Saturday. Though he did not suffer any injuries, the AAP leader said it could have been harmful. "The liquid thrown on me was harmless, but it could have been dangerous. This is the third attack on me in the last 35 days, PTI reported quoting him. Kejriwal said AAP MLA Naresh Balyan was the victim of gangsters and extortion. He had received calls from gangsters for ransom and threats, one to years year back. He had also filed to complain many a time, he said. He charged, Instead of arresting criminals, they are targeting our MLAs... this is sending the message that complainants, rather than offenders, will face arrest. Responding to a question on Delhi Assembly polls, Kejriwal said the party will fight the assembly election alone, not as part of the INDIA bloc. Once known as the Al Nusra Front, the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has advanced further south towards the city of Hama after capturing Aleppo. The Syrian army has withdrawn temporarily from the area to redeploy for a counter attack. The rebels were spotted at a central square in Aleppo as well as its citadel. They also claimed control of the airport, which is 7 km from the city. The Kurdish militia, which is known as YPG, also extended cotrol of a few neighbourhoods in Aleppo following the withdrawal of the army. The Bashar al-Assad government's forces now control only a single area in Aleppo, The Washington Post quoted opposition activist Abdulkali Alhamdo as saying. This comes as the Russian air force on Sunday carried out airstrikes to support the Syrian army. The strikes targeted the rebels who took control of rural Idlib and Hama. HTS had announced earlier that it captured the outskirts of Hama while Syrian army vehicles were spotted in the northern part of the city, indicating the front of war between the two sides. The previous Russian strikes on Aleppo was in 2016, when the Moscow-allied Assad regime took control of the city from the rebels. The US said it had nothing to do with the rebel offensive, claiming that Assad's reliance on Moscow and Tehran led to the fresh offensive. It added that the US considers the HTS a "terrorist" outfit. The Syrian army said dozens of its soldiers have been killed since the offensive began. The army has withdrawn in order to regroup and redeploy troops to bolster its frontlines for a counterattack. Civil defence group, the White Helmets, revealed that 31 civilians, including 10 children, were killed in the attacks by the Assad regime while 113 others were wounded. Meanwhile, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi is set to travel to Damascus to discuss strategies with the Assad regime. 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe With four partner nations and two partner states backing Nagalands signature ethnocultural festival, the Nagaland tourism department sees at least 3 lakh to 4 lakh visitors to Hornbill Festival this year. The festival kicked off earlier on Sunday, December 1 and will go on for ten days. This year, Hornbill Festival has bagged four partner countriesJapan, the United States, Wales, and Peru. We also have two partner states, Telangana and Sikkim, said Veyielo Duolo, the director of the Department of Tourism in Nagaland. Artistes rehearsing ahead of Hornbill Festival 2024 | X Keiichi Ono, Japanese Ambassador to India and Bhutan, arrived at Dimapur ahead of the festival. The Ambassador even tried his hand at playing the Tati, a traditional musical instrument used by the Angami tribe of Nagaland. Today I started playing the Tati, a traditional musical instrument used by the Angami Nagas. pic.twitter.com/2RkeYYQKKR ONO Keiichi, Ambassador of Japan (@JapanAmbIndia) December 1, 2024 Many renowned international music bands and those from within the country are expected to perform at the festival, added the tourism director. Of course, we are not forgetting the bands we are promotingour own local music bands, added Duolo. Tourism director Duolo told state broadcaster DD Nagaland that they expect the visitors to double or triple from the last edition. Last year, the Hornbill Festival saw more than 1.54 lakh visitors. CM Neiphiu Rio stresses on unity, inclusivity, and youth empowerment Earlier today, Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio addressed the 62nd Statehood Day, taking a leaf out of former Indian President S Radhakrishnans speech on understanding and friendship to battle hatred and violence. Rio said how profoundly relevant the former Presidents words were in the current day and age. The Nagaland CM also implored the states citizens to unite. On this Statehood Day, I appeal to every citizen to work together to bring smiles and happiness into our lives, Rio added. Rio also said that he was working towards resolving the ongoing friction with the Eastern Nagaland Peoples Organisation (ENPO). The ENPO alleged that they were neglected by the government and demanded a Frontier Nagaland Territory. Sixty-two years ago, when Nagaland attained statehood, it comprised just three districtsKohima, Mokokchung, and Tuensang. In contrast, the state recently celebrated the formation of its 17th district, Meluri, on November 2. Out of the districts, Kohima houses the Naga Heritage Village at Kisamathe site of the Hornbill Festival. Nagalands headliner event is in its 25th edition this year and features arts, culture, and events from at least 18 tribes in the state. Amid tensions in Bangladesh, dozens of ISKCON members trying to cross into India were turned back on Sunday by immigration police from the Benapole border crossing. Reportedly, the members were not allowed to cross despite having valid travel documents. "We consulted the special branch of police and received instructions from the higher authorities not to permit them," said Imtiaz Ahsanul Quader Bhuiyan, officer-in-charge (OC) of the Benapole Immigration Police. ALSO READ | Another Hindu priest arrested in Bangladesh amid protests, says ISKCON member The Daily Star newspaper reported that the ISKCON members had valid passports and visas but "lacked specific government permission" for their travel. "They cannot proceed without such approval," said Bhuiyan. ALSO READ | Bangladesh freezes bank account of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das; India calls for protection of all minorities Around 54 members, including devotees, turned up at the check post on Saturday night and Sunday. "We came to participate in a religious ceremony taking place in India but immigration officials stopped us, citing the absence of government permission," said Saurabh Tapandar Cheli, one of the ISKCON members. ALSO READ | Unjustly arrested: Sheikh Hasina urges Bangladesh govt to urgently release Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Widespread clashes erupted in Bangladesh after the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in a sedition case. A lawyer was killed in the clashes that broke out between protesters and security personnel after bail was denied to Krishna Das. There were demands to ban ISKCON in Bangladesh after the lawyer's death. The Bangladesh authorities have ordered the freezing of the bank accounts of 17 ISKCON members, including Krishna Das for 30 days. After Krishna Das's arrest, ISKCON members have claimed the arrest of two more of its priests. Reportedly, the priests had gone to visit Krishna Das in jail when they were arrested. ISKCON holds prayer meetings ISKCON on Sunday held prayer meetings for the safety and security of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) spokesperson Radharamn Das said that disciples and followers held prayer meetings in 150 countries across the world. Bangladesh's minority Hindus have faced over 200 attacks in 50-odd districts since the fall of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government on August 5. India has expressed concerns over the rising violence against minorities in the country. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) urged the Bangladesh interim government to ensure the protection of all minorities. The leader of the Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), who entered the Syrian city of Aleppo on Saturday, may have died in a Russian missile strike, according to reports. Ahmed Hussein al-Shara, known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Julani, died in a Russian airstrike, hours after his men stormed into Aleppo killing the Syrian troops fighting for President President Bashar al-Assad, The Times of Israel quoted Arab media reports. However, Russia has not confirmed or denied the news reports. However, pictures purportedly showing the dead body of Al-Julani have been circulating on social media. Russian Defence Ministry, however, claimed on Saturday that its air force conducted strikes on Syrian rebels in support of the Syrian army. As per the statement, the air raids were focused on "militant concentrations, command posts, depots, and artillery positions" in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. Abu Mohammad al-Julani, the commander of the Syrian rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, arrives in Aleppo. Syrian forces and their Shi'ite allies are nowhere to be seen and must be in shock at recent developments. pic.twitter.com/BExCoF7J1c Eretz Yisrael 24 (@EretzYisrael24) November 30, 2024 According to Arab media sources, Syrian and Russian warplanes rained bombs on the hideout of the HTS in Syria. Al-Julani was present at the headquarters along with several commanders and members when the attack took place, the reports added. This comes as the HTS launched a massive attack on Syrian army positions in Aleppo on Wednesday morning, in a bold rebel attack in years. The HTS, once known as the Nusra Front, is designated a terrorist group by the U.S., Russia, Turkey and other states. The US had placed a a $10 million bounty on Al-Julani's head after declaring him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. In an earlier interview, Al-Julani claimed that his HTS was fighting for the Syrians who wanted to change a ruler and a regime. He said there was still international recognition for al-Assad "though he carried out tens of chemical attacks against his people." "He destroyed schools, killed children and women, dropped barrel bombs on people in villages and towns, and destroyed great civilizations, like Homs and Aleppo," Al-Julani told Frontline in 2021. Al-Julai had earlier pledged allegiance to Al Qaeda and worked with ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The death toll from sectarian clashes in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province surged to 130 on Sunday as violence continued in the Kurram district. At least six deaths were reported on Sunday alone. The clashes between Alizai and Bagan tribes in the district started on November 22. The clashes began after an attack on a convoy of passenger vans near Parachinar in which 57 people were killed. Despite the ceasefire agreement, the situation remained tense in the region. The 10-day truce brokered last week has been rendered ineffective by intermittent violence. A high-power delegation, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry and IGP Akhtar Hayat Gandapur, worked out a ceasefire deal last weekend. However, the violence resumed despite the deal. Kurram, located along the Afghan border and adjacent to provinces like Logar and Paktia, has a long history of sectarian violence. Shia-Sunni sectarian killings are prevalent in Pakistan. As per the 2023 census, Kurram's Shia populationaround 45 per cent of its 7.85 lakh residentsis significantly higher than the national average of 10-15 per cent. Meanwhile, Upper Kurram, predominantly Shia, boasts better literacy and economic indicators compared to Sunni-dominated Lower and Central Kurram. Over the years, the sectarian tensions in the region have deepened in the area. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi planned to dispatch members of the grand peace jirga (council of tribal leaders) from Kohat division to Kurram to engage in negotiations. "No other country or province will resolve our issues. We must take responsibility for improving the situation ourselves," said Kundi. The governor also urged the religious scholars to promote peace in the region. The closure of the shops has created a scarcity of oil, food commodities and medicines in the region. Internet services have also been suspended in the region since the clashes. US president-elect Donald Trump has picked Florida sheriff Chad Chronister to head the Drug Enforcemnet Administration. Trump took to Truth Social to announce has Chronister will work with his Department of Justice chief Pam Bondi to keep the US border secure and put a stop to flow of fentanyl and other drugs. Once the Senate confirms his appointment, Chronister will succeed Anne Milgram. Who is Chad Chronister? Chad Chronister, who has an experience of 32 years, has been serving as Hillborough County sheriff in Florida since 2017. His wife is Nikki DeBartolo and they have two sons. Chronister graduated from the FBI's National Academy's 260th Session. He was appointed by Governor Rick Scott in 2017 and has won reelection twice after that. According to Trump, Chronister has be conferred with awards for keeping his community SAFE." Chronister was the co-chair of the Regional Domestic Security Task Force for Region IV Tampa Bay. He also served as the member of Florida Attorney General's Statewide Council on Human Trafficking. He has a bachelor's and master's in science in criminal justice from St. Leo University. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody congratulated Chronister over his nomination, saying he has fought on the "frontlines of the opioid crisis". "I know his leadership and decades of experience will be invaluable as we work to combat the flow of Mexican fentanyl into our county," Moody wrote. Besides Chronister and Bondi, Trump chose Kash Patel to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation. US President-elect Donald Trump nominated New York real estate developer Charles Kushner on Saturday as his envoy to France. Kushner is the father of Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. Jared played a key role in the first term of the Trump Administration including the Israel-Palestine peace plan. Also Read | Why Donald Trump picking Kash Patel as FBI director is a nightmare for his critics Trump announced that he is pleased to nominate Charles Kushner, of New Jersey, to serve as the US Ambassador to France. "He is a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker, who will be a strong advocate representing our Country & its interests." Who is Charles Kushner? Charles Kushner, 70, is the founder and chairman of Kushner Companies. Graduated from Hofstra University in 1979, he joined his father Joseph Kushner in real estate and later formed the company in 1985. Also Read | Who is Chad Chronister? Trump picks DEA chief who can protect border and 'stop fentanyl flow' Kushner Companies, one of the largest and most successful private firms in the US, has acquired millions-worth properties in New York, Pennsylvania and Florida. In 2005, Kushner was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to 16 federal counts of filing false tax returns and making false statements to the Federal Election Commission. Also Read | Who is Jay Bhattacharya? Indian-origin doctor picked to lead health agency was against Covid lockdown He was accused of filing false returns of over $1 million in charitable donations as office expenses. After being released from prison in 2006, Trump pardoned Kushner in 2020 and said he had become "devoted to important philanthropic, organisations and causes." Also Read | Who is attorney Brooke Rollins? Trump's agriculture secretary pick Also, the Kushner family has a combined fortune of $7.1 billion, which includes Kushner Companies, stakes in eight personal properties worth at least $100 million and investment firms owned by Jared and Josh, reported Forbes. Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump got married in 2009. Charles Kushner, reportedly, supported Trump donating $100,000 to a pro-Trump group in 2015 and $1 million to a pro-Trump PAC in 2023. It seems he had always backed Trump in his campaigns. Jared Kushner succeeded his father as CEO of Kushner Companies and later served as a senior advisor during Trumps first administration and as Director of the Office of American Innovation. The stunning victory of the Mahayuti, the alliance of the BJP, Chief Minister Eknath Shindes Shiv Sena and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawars Nationalist Congress Party, in the Maharashtra assembly polls has provided answers to many questions. The Mahayuti won 235 of 288 seats, with the BJP bagging 132, and the Sena and the NCP winning 57 and 41 seats, respectively. The Maha Vikas Aghadi, the opposition alliance that includes the Congress, Sharad Pawars NCP (SP) and Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena (UBT), could win just 50 seats. BJP members say the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, now affectionately called Deva bhau (elder brother) after the success of Ladki Bahin Yojana, was crucial. For the MVA, it is a massive debacle. Many of its key leaders were defeated, including former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, Balasaheb Thorat and Yashomati Thakur. State Congress president Nana Patole scraped through with a margin of around 200 votes. The Congress was left with just 16 seats, while the Shiv Sena and the NCP(SP) won 20 and 10, respectively. Politics of populism and freebies, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi once derided as revdi culture, seems to have triumphed in Maharashtra. Schemes like Ladki Bahin Yojana (which pays underprivileged women Rs1,500 a month), free electricity to farmers, and apprenticeship allowance to unemployed youth turned out to be key vote-winners. The task before the new government now is to fulfil its promises, prominent among them being the pledge to increase the Ladki Bahin payouts to Rs2,100. Among the questions that the results have answered are which factions of the Shiv Sena and the NCP hold sway. Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar emerged as dominant leaders, sidelining Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar. Ajit reportedly told nephew Rohit Pawar of the NCP(SP) that Rohit could win Karjat-Jamkhed only because he had chosen not to address a rally there. After winning by just 1,200 votes, Rohit was seen touching Ajits feet. Uddhav, stunned by the scale of the loss, was reportedly left asking, What kind of anger is this against us? The situation is such that Maharashtra may not have a leader of the opposition in the assembly. Rules say only an opposition party that has won 10 per cent of the total seats in the assembly could claim the post. None of the parties in the MVA has the required seats (29 of 288). The government could, if it is generous, recognise the MVA as a bloc to grant the position. Aside from populist schemes and freebies, the Mahayutis, and especially the BJPs, election victory owes a lot to effective campaign management. BJP leaders, with the help of the RSS, addressed more than 250 meetings and rallies even before the election code of conduct came into force. BJP members say the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, affectionately called Deva bhau (elder brother) after the success of Ladki Bahin Yojana, was crucial. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Fadnavis held district-level meetings to enthuse party cadres to work towards helping the party recover from the humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha polls, in which the Mahayuti could win only 17 of 48 seats. Fadnavis and state party president Chandrashekhar Bawankule also effectively played the role of mediators whenever seat-sharing talks with allies reached a stalemate. The BJPs role as a big brother in the alliance and its flexibility during negotiations also proved decisive. Its campaign team worked not just for the BJP, but also for the coalition. Down for the count: (From left) Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Shiv Sena(UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and state Congress president Nana Patole | Amey Mansabdar The BJP did not have it easy after the Lok Sabha polls results. The party reached out to all sections of society, especially the underprivileged, and held community meetings even before the election code of conduct came into effect. While the Congress banked on the civil society-led movement Nirbhay Bano (Be fearless), the BJP responded by launching the Jagate Raho (Be awake and aware) campaign. It drove home the message that the Congress did well in the Lok Sabha polls only because it spread the false narrative that the BJP would change the Constitution. The BJP took out Samvidhan Samman Yatra to reach out to dalits and tribals, and ensured that the backward communities continued to support it. It wooed Maratha voters by countering the narrative that the party was against granting the community reservation; it pointed out that the Marathas were twice granted reservation when the BJP was in power. The party also emphasised how, under Fadnaviss leadership, the Annasaheb Patil Economic Development Corporation created more than one lakh entrepreneurs, mainly from the Maratha community. The BJP also held more than 1,700 programmes to project Ladki Bahin Yojana as Deva bhau reaching out to his dear sisters. The party made efforts to retain support of soybean, cotton and onion farmers. The onion export ban was lifted, and soybean growers were promised a payout of Rs6,000. Before the election code of conduct came into effect, the government also started distributing nearly Rs4,000 crore to cotton and soybean growers. The BJP also mobilised Hindu votes by highlighting an alleged fatwa issued by Sajjad Nomani of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board to boycott Muslims who supported the saffron party. Campaigns like Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths Batenge to katenge (Divide, and be destroyed) and Prime Minister Narendra Modis Ek Hai Toh Safe Hai (United we are safe) helped the party galvanise hindutva sentiment among voters. Eknath Shinde and his son, Dr Shrikant Shinde, MP, led the Shiv Senas campaign from the front. A reason that the Sena swept the Thane, Palghar and Konkan regions was Shrikants extensive campaignhe toured 62 constituencies even before the code of conduct came into effect, and held rallies in 41 constituencies highlighting the Shinde governments work. A post-results survey said the Mahayuti won because of the wide support it got from women voters and farmers. The survey said Maratha and backward communities voted for Mahayuti this time, unlike in the Lok Sabha polls. The big question now is who will be Maharashtras chief minister. BJP legislators backing Fadnavis cite his crucial role in the victory. Two senior BJP legislators, one of them a former minister, told THE WEEK that there was no alternative to Fadnavis. Ninety-nine percent, it will be Fadnavis, said the former minister. The NCP, too, has indicated that it would support Fadnavis for chief minister. The Shiv Sena, however, maintains that Shinde deserves to be chief minister as he was the one who led the saffron alliance to victory as incumbent CM. A Shinde aide said the party was firmly behind its leader. Asked about the Senas position, the BJP legislator said, Obviously, who would like to give up power? After such a success, anyone would be sad to do so. The decision now rests with Modi and Shah. On November 27, Shinde told journalists that he would accept any decision they would take. There is likely to be a meeting of newly elected legislators on November 29 to elect our legislative party leader, and Fadnavis will be our choice, said the former minister. The MVA, meanwhile, is licking its wounds. After the results, there were rumours that Patole had resigned as state Congress president, but the party soon clarified that it was not true. The Shiv Sena (UBT), which is now the largest opposition party with 20 seats, is exploring all avenues to secure the post of the leader of the opposition. Twenty legislators are enough to bring the new government to its knees, said Uddhav at a meeting of newly elected legislators. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has appointed Uddhavs son Aaditya Thackeray as its legislative party leader and affidavits have been submitted by the MLA-designates that Uddhav will have the power to make final decisions. The NCP(SP) is upset that 10 of its candidates lost because the Election Commission allotted trumpet as the poll symbol to independent candidates. The NCP(SP)s symbol is a man blowing tutari, a trumpet-like instrument. After realising that its candidate in Satara Lok Sabha constituency had lost because of the presence of a candidate with the trumpet as his symbol, the party had appealed to the EC to remove it from the list of symbols that could be allotted to independent candidates. Dilip Walse Patil, once a close aide of Sharad Pawar who is now with Ajit, openly admitted that he could win from Ambegaon by around 1,500 votes because of the presence of a candidate with the trumpet as his symbol. Dismayed by the results, the MVA is likely to launch a campaign against electronic voting machines. Its leaders feel that they lost the polls in such a humiliating manner because of the EVMs. There are reports that the Shiv Sena (UBT) is planning to launch an agitation demanding reinstatement of the ballot paper voting system. The NCP(SP) is in talks with senior lawyers to explore ways to challenge the validity of EVMs in the Supreme Court. State BJP president Bawankule alleged that the MVA was insulting the voters by questioning the trustworthiness of EVMs. We introspected on the Lok Sabha polls defeat, learned from it, and went ahead and won. People have voted for the double-engine government, he said. Bawankule said everyone in the BJP wanted Fadnavis to be chief minister. The leaders of all three parties will sit together and decide [who will be CM], he said. A BJP worker never gets upset with the decision taken by the national leadership. The Mahayutis chief minister will take oath soon. Fadnaviss emergence as the tallest leader in Maharashtra is a defining outcome of the elections. He has led the BJP to 100-plus seats for the third time; this time, the party won 10 seats more than it did in 2014. Does Fadnaviss rise mean that the era of Sharad Pawar, and the politics he represents, is ending? Only time will tell. When Hemant Soren was arrested in January on allegations of land fraud, his political future looked uncertain. After all, no tribal chief minister of Jharkhand had completed a full tenure. However, five months later, the 49-year-old emerged from Ranchis Birsa Munda Jail a transformed man. Sporting a thick, greying beard and long hair, he bore a striking resemblance to his father, Shibu Soren, the patriarch of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. The look gave him gravitas and public sympathy, reaffirming the feeling that imprisoning popular leaders often strengthen their appeal. Three-month-old Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha got over 10 lakh votes in 71 seats and over six per cent vote sharefourth largest after the BJP, the JMM and the Congress. It dented the voteshare of the BJP and the AJSU. After getting bail in July, Soren used his time well, addressing more than 100 rallies even as the BJP carpet-bombed Jharkhand with rallies from its top leaders and chief ministers. The presence of his wife, Kalpana, who had made an impressive electoral debut in a bypoll in May, gave Soren an additional boost. The results of the assembly polls in November cemented his image as a strong tribal leader. Soren secured a historic second term, becoming the longest-serving chief minister of the mineral-rich state since its formation in 2000. The JMM-led alliance surpassed its 2019 performance, winning 56the JMM won 34, the Congress 16, the Rashtriya Janata Dal four and the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) twoof the 81 seats. The saving grace for the BJP was that it retained its voting percentage of more than 33 per cent despite the number of seats dropping from 25 to 21. Its alliesthe AJSU Party, the Janata Dal (United) and the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas)won one seat each. People expressed faith in our policies despite moves to disturb it as even our chief minister went to jail for five months, said JMM Lok Sabha MP Vijay Hansdak. Our population may not be aggressive, but they have shown what they think. Progress was never an issue; the other side raked up polarising issues like caste as they could not counter us because our schemes were reaching the grassroots. The most striking takeaway from the Jharkhand elections was the rejection of the BJPs aggressive tribal outreach. Its campaign, centred on the polarising Bangladeshi infiltrators narrative, failed to resonate. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the BJPs election co-in-charge, repeatedly highlighted demographic changes purportedly caused by illegal migration, but the strategy did not find traction with the tribal electorate which constitute over 26 per cent of states population. Last time, the BJP had won four seats in the Santhal Pargana area, which borders West Bengal. Many of the adivasis had sold their land to Muslims from neighbouring areas, which led to charges of demographic change. Muslims constitute over 14 per cent of the states population. The BJP, which had won 11 of the 28 seats reserved for the scheduled tribes in 2014, when, for the first time, the state had given a clear mandate, was reduced to just one seat. Even that seat was won by JMM turncoat and former chief minister Champai Soren. Hansdak argued that the BJP started raising this issue after its loss in the Lok Sabha polls. They have two datas, he said. At the national level, they say there has been no infiltration, but here in the state they claim something else. If infiltration is happening, it is there responsibility. They are only trying to scare people. They have been in power the longest in the state, for over 16 years. But how has illegal migration happened in last five years. It is their strategy to divide people. Such has been the tribal angst since the BJP picked a non-tribal, Raghubar Das, as the chief minister in 2014 that the partys efforts to win over the community has not yielded results in the face of the fight put by the Sorens. The party could not win any of the ST seats in Lok Sabha polls, despite the BJP-led NDA governments outreach, including picking a tribal as president and the celebration of tribal icon Birsa Mundas birth anniversary. Even the choice of Babulal Marandi, tribal leader and the states first chief minister, as party president and prospective chief ministerial face failed to click. The BJPs state spokesperson Shivpujan Pathak said the JMM got sympathy for the arrest. Moreover, they won over voters through promise of schemes for women and used money power to win over voters, he said, adding that BJP ally Sudesh Mahatos AJSU also failed to get seats. Most of the BJP seats have come from urban areas. Sudeshs chances were marred by the dramatic rise of another OBC leader, Jairam Mahato, a 29-year-old PhD student who floated his own Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha. The three-month-old party got over 10 lakh votes in 71 seats with over six per cent vote sharefourth largest after the BJP, the JMM and the Congress. Jairam managed to win only his seat, but his party dented the voteshare of the BJP and the AJSU. The AJSU's vote share dropped by more than half from over 8 per cent in 2019. Another big contributing factor were the women voters. The JMM government, under the Mukhyamantri Maiyan Samman Yojana, gave Rs1,000 every month to the women between the age of 18 to 50. The BJP promised Rs2,100 every month to them. To counter the BJPs offer, Soren increased the assistance to Rs2,500. The state staying with the ruling alliance has given INDIA hope that with a clear leadership, it can stall the BJPs aggressive outreach and superior organisational strength. However, the JMM fears that the BJP may try to curtail the reserved seats in the delimitation exercise after the census is done in 2025. Whatever may have been the results, the issues remain, be it corruption, the issue of illegal Bangladeshi migrants, said Pathak. We will continue to raise them in the state. If this election confirmed Hemant Soren as a regional powerhouse, it also witnessed the rise of Kalpana, who retained the Gandey seat she had won in May. On the morning after the Maharashtra Assembly election results, Shaina N.C., former BJP spokesperson who switched to the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) to contest from the Mumbadevi constituency in Mumbai, broadcast a message on WhatsApp. She had polled over 40,000 votes, more than any previous Shiv Sena candidate in Mumbadevi, despite not one Muslim vote, she said of her loss to Amin Patel of the Congress. Patel won his fourth election from the iconic constituency named after a temple to a goddess who gives the financial capital its name. Soybean prices were a core issue, and the Congress was instead speaking to farmers about the constitutional limit on reservations for different communities. - Kishore Tiwari, Vidarbha Jan Aandolan, a farmers rights advocacy group Shaina told THE WEEK that 40,000 women, including 15,000 Muslims, had enrolled for the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana in the Mumbadevi assembly constituency. The scheme entails a payment of Rs1,500 every month to all women aged between 21 and 65 years in families with an annual income below Rs2.5 lakh. It was a game-changer and a phenomenal endeavour by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, she said, and it changed the way women voted because these kinds of welfare schemes really impact their lives. Much like in other statesMamata Banerjee in West Bengal and Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Madhya Pradesh owe huge victories to similar schemesthe Ladki Bahin programme is being acknowledged as a major driving force behind the Mahayuti victory. It is little wonder then that Devendra Fadnavis and Shinde both thanked the states women votersthe state recorded a 6 per cent increase in women voters turnout compared with the 2019 election. Another significant increase in voter turnout was in Thane district, Shindes home turf. It was seen as an outcome of his personal goodwill and the flurry of sops introduced in the final weeks of his government, including a removal of road toll tax at key entry points into Mumbai city. The district recorded a turnout of 53.1 per cent against 48.03 per cent in 2019. Shindes own assembly constituency of Kopri-Pachpakhadi recorded a rise of nearly 6 per cent from 2019. In contrast, citizens groups, trade unions and farm unions said they found the Maha Vikas Aghadis agenda limited to boilerplate promises, failing to address the most urgent issues until it was too late. Soybean prices were a core issue, said Kishore Tiwari of the Vidarbha Jan Aandolan, a farmers rights advocacy group, and the Congress was instead speaking to farmers about the Constitutional limit on reservations for different communities. The soybean harvest ahead of the assembly election had deepened the prevailing agrarian distress in the state as prices of the commodity collapsed to their 2011-2012 levels. Paddy farmers, too, were being forced to sell well below the government-assured minimum support price (MSP) while public procurement centres were still to open. With only days to go for polling, the Union government made a small but significant tweak to rules regarding public procurement of soybean, permitting the off-take of farm harvest with a marginally greater percentage of moisture than usually allowed under the price support scheme. It was nimble work, at no cost to the Centre. And, it provided relief to farmers who were otherwise faced with disposing of their soybean to private traders at around Rs4,100 a quintal, well below the MSP of Rs4,892 a quintal. As it turned out, rural Maharashtra voted with decidedly more enthusiasm, clocking a 70 per cent turnout in comparison to urban constituencies turnout of 55 per cent. Farm activist Nilesh Khobragade in eastern Vidarbhas Tirora constituency, who undertook a weeks-long hunger strike outside the Tirora tehsil office before entering the electoral fray himself, said the mood had begun to turn in favour of the Mahayuti in the last two weeks before polling day. Khobragade finished fourth. Around the same time, in Sangli in western Maharashtra, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge likened the BJP and the RSS to poison. It was a windfall moment in the election season for the RSS, which played an unprecedented role across the state during the assembly election campaign after showing no more than lukewarm interest in the Lok Sabha election. Kharges comment hurt Hindus, and the Shiv Sena (UBT) paid the price, said Tiwari. A farmersrights activist for more than four decades, Tiwari said the MVA also turned Other Backward Class (OBC) communities and open-category communities away from it with their comments on extending reservations. The opposition leaders kept playing on the BJPs pitch instead of marking out their own pitch, said Tiwari. Chandan Kumar, a labour rights activist who has mobilised thousands of workers in Maharashtra in sectors ranging from gig work to load carriers, travelled through Marathwada on counting day and met workers in the sugar industry, most of them from OBC groups such as Dhangars, Banjaras and Vanjaris. Remember that Mahatma Phule gave us the memorable phrase Stri-Shudra-Atishudra, connecting the oppression of all categories of women with the untouchables in the brahminical order, he told THE WEEK. Thats why there is a certain emotional connection in the Ladki Bahin scheme; it gives women cash, and also the right and the agency to use it. He said women workers he met across Beed and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar districts in Marathwada voted for Mahayuti candidates as a rejection of the so-called progressive politics of parties that had been in power for generations but had failed to bring any real change in their conditions. These cane harvest workers, who have continued to endure a debt bondage system that has survived for decades and believe their interests have never been adequately represented by politicians, were now in receipt of a small, but material gift from the government. For families with three or more beneficiary women, it was not an insignificant sum at all. It was unfortunate, said Kumar, that handouts had nearly entirely replaced election-time discourse on building public institutions or demanding public services such as better health amenities and education. It was good to see, however, that women made their electoral choice themselves, and they did so vocally, he said. Prachi Hatiwlekar of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-affiliated All India Democratic Womens Association, said the rural poor had been wooed, first with the use of public money through schemes such as the Ladki Bahin Yojana, and then with the significant money power in play during the election through parties and candidates expenditure. In Dahanu assembly constituency, which is along the states border with Gujarat, it was clear that the ruling parties tapped into their very deep pockets, said Hatiwlekar, who, in recent years, led demonstrations of rural women from Thane and Palghar districts to demand, among other things, better implementation of the Right to Food Act. The CPI(M) retained the Dahanu assembly seat, from where Vinod Nikole was re-elected. In the 11 assembly elections since 1978, the CPI(M) has won the Dahanu seat (named Jawhar assembly constituency before delimitation) 10 times. Hatiwlekar said the Ladki Bahin scheme had also cashed in on a kind of collective morality among Maharashtras women voters, to acknowledge through their vote the party that had for the first time given women a cash dole. Ruben Mascarenhas, working president of the AAPs Mumbai unit who campaigned for MVA candidates across the state, conceded that they had been rejected even though the anger against the Mahayuti government had appeared palpable at rallies and campaign meetings. According to him, the direct benefit transfer schemes had swayed large sections of voters. Post-Covid distress has persisted, he said, and people are still struggling, so voters think something is better than nothing. The continuing adverse economic conditions for the poor, alongside the aggressive marketing of the scheme with a campaign advertisement warning that the scheme could be withdrawn unless the Mahayuti was voted back to power, led to a euphoria around it, said political analyst and author Prof Surendra Jondhale. Eventually, the Congress, having opposed the scheme at the outset, appropriated it in their own manifesto, even promising to outdo the Mahayutis payouts. Jondhale said that from his conversations with grassroots activists, his students across the state and political workers, it appeared in retrospect that the MVAs electioneering was perceived as negative. Uddhav Thackeray did little beyond playing the victim card, and Sharad Pawar appeared to have a single-minded intent to take down the Mahayuti government, he said. These leaders left core voter issues at the peripheral level, said Jondhale. Additionally, it did not help the Congress that its top two leaders in the state, Maharashtra chief Nana Patole and incumbent leader of the opposition Vijay Waddetiwar, belong to Vidarbha and have little or no rapport or emotional connection with the culturally and socio-economically distinct rural landscapes of Marathwada and western Maharashtra. As Jondhale said, The Congress lacks a pan-Maharashtra leader. For most people, Sundays are a time to rest and relax. But Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was extremely busy last Sunday, celebrating the landslide victory of the Mahayuti alliance in the assembly elections, thanking voters, especially women. While beneficiaries will celebrate the additional money coming their way, it is certainly going to add to the pressure on the state's finances. The Mukhya Mantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, which pays Rs1,500 per month to underprivileged women, has been one of the major reasons behind the Mahayutis resounding success. So far, around 2.5 crore women have received five instalments under the scheme. On Sunday, Shinde announced that as promised in the Mahayuti's manifesto, women covered under the scheme would now get Rs2,100 a month. While beneficiaries will celebrate the additional money coming their way, it is certainly going to add to the pressure on the state's finances. "For Maharashtra, fiscal pressure will intensify in the near termthe implementation of pre-poll promises to raise Ladki Bahin aid to Rs2,100, implying annualised budgetary increase of 40 per cent to Rs64,400 crore from Rs46,000 crore, with Maharashtra's FY2025 budget likely bearing Rs7,000-9,000 crore additional cost," said Madhavi Arora, lead economist at Emkay Global Financial Services. The Mahayuti has also promised to increase the amount for farmers under the Shetkari Samman Yojana to Rs15,000 annually from Rs12,000. This is in addition to farm loan waiver. The manifesto also mentioned a price support scheme in alignment with the minimum support price to cover price variations up to 20 per cent. It has also promised to provide a range of kitchen rations every month to low-income families under the Akshay Anna Yojana. Under the Annapurna Yojana, the government provides three free LPG cylinders to poor families. When Ajit Pawar, deputy chief minister and finance minister, presented the budget earlier this year, he informed that the states debt would touch Rs7.82 lakh crore by March 2025, which will be 18.35 per cent of the gross state domestic product (GSDP). While it will be below the prescribed limit of 25 per cent, Maharashtra will still rank number two in total debt among all the states in the country, after Tamil Nadu. The comptroller and auditor general, too, has raised concerns over Maharashtra's fiscal health. According to the CAG, the state's fiscal deficit increased 5.13 per cent to Rs67,601.87 crore in 2022-23, compared with 164,301.86 crore in 2021-22. In this years budget, the fiscal deficit was targeted at Rs1.1 lakh crore. Additionally, after the budget, the state government also raised supplementary demands of over Rs94,000 crore. A falling debt to GSDP ratio is considered healthy. Maharashtra's public debt to GSDP ratio increased from 13.25 per cent in 2018-19 to 14.72 per cent in 2022-23. The ratio of total outstanding liabilities to GSDP rose to 18.73 per cent in 2022-23 from 17.27 per cent in 2018-19. During the five-year period from 2018-19 to 2022-23, Maharashtra could achieve revenue surplus only during 2018-19, as per the CAG report. "The Ladki Bahin scheme was not the only thing announced, there were many other largesse. When you already have Rs1 lakh crore deficit, you are adding Rs1 lakh crore more. This may be good politics, but bad economics," said author and editor Girish Kuber. One positive thing coming out of the Mahayuti victory is that infra projects in Mumbai and other parts of the state will get a boost. Many projects, including several metro lines in Mumbai, have been delayed and have seen cost escalations. The government will be looking to complete these projects at the earliest. There were also several new projects that were announced, including new metros and road projects. The Mahayuti victory in Maharashtra "bodes well in the medium term, as the state suffered due to the fractured political mandate in recent years, with its performance on growth and infrastructure parameters lagging behind most other states, as a result", according to Emkay's Arora. The stability of government and policy continuity is crucial to fast-tracking delayed infrastructure projects, which are vital to the state's economic growth, said Niranjan Hiranandani, chairman of the real estate body NAREDCO (National Real Estate Development Council). "Focused infrastructure development will enhance logistical competitiveness, facilitate well-planned real estate development and attract commercial players and manufacturing industries. This can be supported by offering fiscal relaxations in areas such as land acquisition, power costs, development premiums and tax benefits, he said. However, large funds will be needed to finance these projects. With fiscal pressure already rising due to the various sops, analysts worry that there could be sharp cuts in capital expenditure to keep deficit in control. In October this year, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation took a decision to auction three plots on a 30-year-lease, with a provision to extend it further. This decision was taken to generate revenue amid rising liabilities in the wake of several infrastructure projects to be developed like the tunnel linking the suburbs of Goregaon and Mulund and the western leg of the coastal road project. With the assembly elections over, the attention will now shift to local body polls. The Mahayutis latest win could set a precedent for more sops and freebies. "There has to be competitive federalism, said Kuber. But, currently we are in the phase of competitive populism. In the latest disturbing display of antisemitic academic bias, the Oxford Union voted overwhelmingly in favor of the inflammatory motion that Israel is an apartheid state responsible for the genocide of Palestinians. With a vote tally of 278 to 59, the result not only raises serious questions about the integrity of the debate but also reflects a growing trend of anti-Israel sentiment cloaked in the veneer of intellectual discourse. The debate featured prominent defenders of Israel, including journalist Jonathan Sacerdoti, Arab-Israeli activist Yoseph Haddad, and former Hamas member turned Israeli spy Mosab Hassan Yousef. Opposing them were activists like Norman Finkelstein and Mohammed El-Kurd, figures well-known for their strident, often incendiary, anti-Israel rhetoric. Despite the participation of credible voices defending Israel, the votes outcome demonstrated an alarming predisposition against the Jewish state. As the debate unfolded, it became clear that the event was less about fostering meaningful dialogue and more about pandering to preexisting biases. Yoseph Haddad, who has devoted his life to bridging divides between Jews and Arabs, was physically removed from the stage after an altercation with attendees who heckled and shouted him down. The vitriol Haddad faced epitomized the toxic atmosphere in the room. Adding to the disgrace, Mosab Hassan Yousef revealed during the debate that 75% of participants indicated that had they known about it, they would not have reported Hamas plans for the October 7 massacre, where more than 1,200 Israelis were brutally murdered. This horrifying statistic underscores the moral decay infecting spaces like the Oxford Union, where support for human rights appears to be selectively applied. Outside the debate, hundreds of protesters gathered, waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans that blurred the line between criticism of Israel and outright antisemitism. Their actions amplified the toxic environment, effectively turning what should have been a civil exchange into a spectacle of hostility and hate. The motion itself, laden with terms like apartheid and genocide, is not just misleadingit is a grotesque distortion of reality. These accusations have been debunked by countless legal and historical experts, yet they were presented without challenge, demonstrating a shocking lack of intellectual rigor and fairness. The Oxford Union has long been a symbol of free thought and robust discussion, but this event was anything but. It served instead as a platform for propaganda, giving credibility to a motion that vilifies Israel without context or nuance. This was not a vote for justiceit was a vote for prejudice disguised as principle. To see an esteemed institution like Oxford become a mouthpiece for such dangerous rhetoric is deeply disheartening. The result reflects not a thoughtful critique of Israel, but an environment poisoned by groupthink and a troubling willingness to condone narratives that embolden extremism. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The head of Britains foreign intelligence service said Friday that Russia is conducting a staggeringly reckless sabotage campaign against Ukraines Western allies, and that his spies are working to stop the consequences from spiraling out of control. And in a message aimed in part at U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump, MI6 chief Richard Moore said that Russian victory in Ukraine would threaten American, as well as European, security. Moore said his agency and its French counterpart were working together to a dangerous escalation by calibrating the risk and informing the decisions of our respective governments in response to President Vladimir Putins mix of bluster and aggression. We have recently uncovered a staggeringly reckless campaign of Russian sabotage in Europe, even as Putin and his acolytes resort to nuclear saber-rattling, to sow fear about the consequences of aiding Ukraine, Moore said during a speech to diplomats and intelligence officials in France. Such activity and rhetoric is dangerous and beyond irresponsible, he said. Moore spoke alongside Nicolas Lerner, head of Frances external intelligence agency, the DGSE at an event marking 120 years of the Entente Cordiale, a pact between Britain and France that bound the age-old rivals together as military and diplomatic allies. Western security officials suspect that Russian intelligence is trying to destabilize Ukraines allies through disinformation, sabotage and arson. Moscow has been linked by Western officials to several planned attacks in Europe, including an alleged plot to burn down Ukrainian-owned businesses in London, and to incendiary devices in packages on cargo planes. In July one caught fire at a courier hub in Germany and another ignited in a warehouse in England. Lerner agreed that the collective security of the whole of Europe is at stake in Ukraine. He said Britains experience tackling Russia in the wake of recent attacks like the 2018 Salisbury Novichok poisoning of a former Russian spy, was invaluable to French intelligence seeking to defuse Russian actions. Britain and France have been among Ukrainian allies most willing to allow Kyiv to use weapons they supply especially missiles known as Scalp in France and Storm Shadow in Britain to hit targets inside Russia. The Biden administration recently eased its long-held opposition to U.S.-made missiles being used to strike Russia. Ukraine said last week it had used the American ATACM missiles to target Russia for the first time in the war. Since then, Putin has lowered the official threshold for Russias use of its nuclear weapons, and Russia has pounded Ukraines energy infrastructure with hundreds of missiles and drones, in what Putin said was a response to the firing of the American missiles against Russian soil. Russia also fired a new intermediate-range ballistic missile, called Oreshnik, and Putin threatened to use it against decision-making centers in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. In a warning to allies wavering in support for Ukraine, Moore said that the cost of supporting Ukraine is well-known, but the cost of not doing so would be infinitely higher. Trump has criticized the billions the Biden administration has spent in supporting Ukraine and has said he could end the war in 24 hours comments that appear to suggest he would press Ukraine to surrender territory that Russia now occupies. If Putin is allowed to succeed in reducing Ukraine to a vassal state, he will not stop there, Moore said. Our security British, French, European and trans-Atlantic will be jeopardized. He said that if Russia wins, Iran and China which so far support Moscow as a transaction would draw closer to Russia. If Putin succeeds, China would weigh the implications, North Korea would be emboldened and Iran would become yet more dangerous, Moore said. Some European officials worry about what Trumps America first agenda means for trans-Atlantic relations, but Moore whose name has been mentioned as a possible choice for U.K. ambassador to Washington said he was confident the bond was strong. For decades the U.S.-U.K. intelligence alliance has made our societies safer, he said. I worked successfully with the first Trump administration to advance our shared security and look forward to doing so again. (AP) Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov arrived in North Korea on Friday for talks with North Korean military and political leaders as the countries deepen their cooperation over Russias war in Ukraine. In announcing the visit, Russias Defense Ministry didnt say whom Belousov would meet or the purpose of the talks. North Korean state media didnt immediately confirm the visit. Belousov, a former economist, replaced Sergei Shoigu as defense minister in May after Russian President Vladimir Putin started a fifth term in power. Photos released by the Defense Ministry showed Belousov walking alongside North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang Chol on a red carpet at a Pyongyang airport. North Korean military officials were seen clapping under a banner that read, Complete support and solidarity with the fighting Russian army and people. Belousov noted after his arrival that military cooperation between the countries is expanding. He applauded a strategic partnership agreement signed by Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un following their June meeting in Pyongyang, which he said is aimed at reducing tensions by maintaining a balance of power in the region and lowering the risk of war, including with nuclear weapons. The June meeting demonstrated the highest level of mutual trust between the leaders, Belousov said, and also the mutual desire of our countries to further expand mutually beneficial cooperation in a complex international environment. North Korean Defense Minister No also praised the expanding cooperation between the countries militaries and reiterated North Koreas support for Russias war in Ukraine, describing it as a just struggle to protect the countrys sovereign rights and security interests. The visit comes days after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with a Ukrainian delegation led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov in the South Korean capital, Seoul, and called for the two countries to formulate countermeasures in response to North Koreas dispatch of thousands of troops to Russia to help its fight against Ukraine. Kim in recent months has prioritized relations with Russia as he tries to break out of isolation and strengthen his international footing, embracing the idea of a new Cold War. The United States and its allies have said North Korea has sent more than 10,000 soldiers to Russia in recent weeks and that some of those troops were engaging in combat. North Korea has also been accused of supplying artillery systems, missiles and other military equipment to Russia that may help Putin further extend an almost three-year war. There are also concerns in Seoul that North Korea, in exchange for its troops and arms supplies, could receive Russian technology transfers that could improve its nuclear weapons and missile programs. The Russian defense minister doesnt visit North Korea just to celebrate bilateral ties, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. This visit indicates Putin and Kims military cooperation in violation of international law is about to increase further. Yoons national security adviser, Shin Wonsik, said in a TV interview last week that Seoul believes that Russia has provided air defense missile systems to North Korea in exchange for sending its troops. Shin said Russia also appears to have given economic assistance to North Korea and various military technologies, including those needed for the Norths efforts to build a reliable space-based surveillance system, which Kim has stressed is crucial for enhancing the threat of nuclear-capable missiles targeting South Korea. Shin didnt say whether Russia has already transferred sensitive nuclear weapons and ballistic missile technologies to North Korea. Yoons office hasnt said whether the two governments discussed the possibility of South Korea supplying weapons to Ukraine in his talks with Umerov. Since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, South Korea has joined U.S.-led sanctions against Moscow and provided humanitarian and financial support to Kyiv. But it has avoided directly supplying arms, citing a longstanding policy of not giving lethal weapons to countries actively engaged in conflicts. Yoon has said his government will take phased countermeasures, linking the level of its response to the degree of Russian-North Korean cooperation. It wasnt immediately clear whether Belousov will meet with Kim, the North Korean leader. Last year, Kim hosted a Russian delegation led by then-Defense Minister Shoigu and gave him a personal tour of a North Korean arms exhibition, in what outside critics likened to a sales pitch. That event came weeks before Kim traveled to Russia for talks with Putin which sped up military cooperation between the countries. During another meeting in Pyongyang in June this year, Kim and Putin signed a pact stipulating mutual military assistance if either country is attacked, in what was considered the two countries biggest defense deal since the end of the Cold War. The Russian report about Belousovs visit came as South Korea scrambled fighter jets to repel six Russian and five Chinese warplanes that temporarily entered the countrys air defense identification zone around its eastern and southern seas, according to the Souths Joint Chiefs of Staff. It said the Russian and Chinese planes did not breach South Koreas territorial airspace. (AP) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau returned home Saturday after his meeting with Donald Trump without assurances the president-elect will back away from threatened tariffs on all products from the major American trading partner. Trump called the talks productive but signaled no retreat from a pledge that Canada says unfairly lumps it in with Mexico over the flow of drugs and migrants into the United States. After the leaders hastily arranged dinner Friday night at Trumps Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trudeau spoke of an excellent conversation and said in a post later Saturday on X, accompanied by a photo of the two men seated a table and smiling, that he looked forward to the work we can do together, again. Trump said earlier on Truth Social that they discussed many important topics that will require both Countries to work together to address. For issues in need of such cooperation, Trump cited fentanyl and the Drug Crisis that has decimated so many lives as a result of Illegal Immigration, fair trade deals that do not jeopardize American Workers and the U.S. trade deficit with its ally to the north. Trump asserted that the prime minister had made a commitment to work with us to end this terrible devastation of American families from fentanyl from China reaching the United States through its neighbors. The U.S., he said, will no longer sit idly by as our Citizens become victims to the scourge of this Drug Epidemic. The Republican president-elect has threatened to impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders when he takes office in January. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. On immigration, the U.S. Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests at the Mexican border in October alone and 23,721 arrests at the Canadian border between October 2023 and September 2024 and Canadian officials say they are ready to make new investments in border security. Trudeau called Trump after the Republicans social media posts about the tariffs last Monday and they agreed to meet, according to a official familiar with the matter who was not authorized to publicly discuss detail of the private talks. The official said other countries are calling Canadian officials to hear how about how the meeting was arranged and to ask for advice. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, after speaking with Trump on the telephone, said Thursday she was confident a tariff war with Washington would be averted. At the dinner that was said to last three hours, Trump said he and Trudeau also discussed energy, trade and the Arctic. A second official cited defense, Ukraine, NATO, China, the Mideast, pipelines and the Group of Seven meeting in Canada next year as other issues that arose. Trudeaus office said in a statement that the leaders shared a productive wide-ranging discussion centering on collaboration and strengthening our relationship, adding, As Canadas closest friend and ally, the United States is our key partner, and we are committed to working together in the interests of Canadians and Americans. Trump, during his first term as president, once called Trudeau weak and dishonest, but it was the prime minister who was the first G7 leader to visit Trump since the Nov. 5 election. Tariffs are a crucial issue for Canada and a bold move was in order. Perhaps it was a risk, but a risk worth taking, Daniel Beland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal. Trudeau had said before leaving from Friday that Trump was elected because he promised to bring down the cost of groceries but now was talking about adding 25% to the cost of all kinds of products, including potatoes from Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada. It is important to understand that Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out. Theres no question about it, Trudeau said. Our responsibility is to point out that he would not just be harming Canadians, who work so well with the United States, but he would actually be raising prices for Americans citizens as well and hurting American industry and business, he added. The threatened tariffs could essentially blow up the North American trade pact that Trumps team negotiated during his first term. Trudeau noted they were able to successfully renegotiate the deal, which he calls a win win for both countries. When Trump imposed higher tariffs as president, other countries responded with retaliatory tariffs of their own. Canada, for instance, announced billions of new duties in 2018 against the U.S. in a response to new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US $2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports are from Canada. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security. Canada is one of the most trade-dependent countries in the world, and 77% of Canadas exports go to the U.S. (AP) This year, for the 20th year on YWN, tens of thousands of viewers from around the world will be able to view the International Kinus HaShluchim banquet live on a broadcast made possible by the organizers of the Kinus. The live streaming webcast begins at 12:30PM on Sunday, Nov. 30, and is taking place at the The New Jersey Conference and Expo Center in Edison, NJ. The highlight is always the traditional roll call of countries and regions which is followed by spirited dancing. As we have done for many years, YWN will be bringing you thousands of photos, as well as extensive video and photo coverage from the massive event. The 41st annual International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emissaries, also known as the Kinus Hashluchim, unites more than 6,500 rabbis and lay leaders from all 50 U.S. states and more than 100 countries and territories around the world. The Kinus is an annual event, replete with the workshops on topics running the gamut from mental health to fundraising, and social media to end of life counseling. The four days together culminate with the gala banquet, which brings all of the Chabad rabbis and their guests together in a giant conference center in New Jersey. At this years Kinus Hashluchim, taking place less than a week since the tragic murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan HYD, the program will celebrate five decades of growth and success. Held in the midst of the Shiva, when Rabbi Kogans family and the global family of Shluchim are still in mourning, his loss will be deeply felt throughout the gathering. While the gala finale on Sunday is live-streamed to the public, showcasing Chabads annual activities to the masses, Thursday evenings program is dedicated to the Shluchim themselves. Empowering stories of individual Shluchim will be shared, uplifting their fellows with the vivacious drive to continue making this world a dwelling place for Hashem, one mitzvah at a time. R Moshe [Kotlarsky] OBM was intimately involved in picking the theme for this years Kinus, says Rabbi Simcha Backman, Shliach in Glendale, California, and Kinus organizing committee member. We sat together for hours, shortly after Pesach, ironing out various details. He was passionate about ensuring the Shluchim had the ultimate experience both physically and spiritually. Only months after Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky OBMs passing, the Kinus will commemorate the crucial role he had in growing the Kinus from a small gathering in 770 to the flagship of Jewish outreach it now represents. My fathers voice is inseparable from the Kinus Hashluchim and the Rebbes ten mitzvah campaigns, shares Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, who has now stepped into his fathers role as director of the Kinus. He dedicated his life to supporting the Shluchim in their mission and advancing the Rebbes vision. His commitment was evident in moments of triumph and in times of sorrow, always ensuring that every Shliach felt supported. The Shluchim are the global support system of the Jewish people, providing critical aid in situations where no one else does, says Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, who undertook his father Rabbi Moshe Kotlarskys role as director of the conference after his passing this year. From war in the Middle East and Ukraine to natural disasters, and a shocking increase in antisemitism, the Shluchim are there for every last person. In a deeply moving moment, the gala will pause to honor Rabbi Zvi Kogan, the Chabad-Lubavitch emissary in the UAE who was brutally kidnapped and murdered last week in Dubai. A memorial ceremony will stand as a testament to his unique dedication and tragic sacrifice. The introductory program will be hosted by Rabbi Heshy Epstein, a Shliach in South Carolina, together with Zev Jacobson from Jerusalem, streamed live from the gala banquet. The program allows the Kinus to highlight real-life stories of Shluchim on the ground in unique situations, ahead of the main program celebrating success on a global level and committing to lofty goals for the forthcoming year. The tragic events of October 7, 2023, led to an uprising of antisemitism throughout the Jewish diaspora. Young Jews on college campuses struggled with their Jewish identity in the face of constant taunting, protests, and attacks. Meanwhile, Jews living in the most remote corners of the globe, far from any Jewish infrastructure, struggled with isolation. However, individual Shluchim stepped up to provide solace to each and every Jew, and the Kinus kickoff show aims to tell that story. On the front lines of the battle for Jewish pride on campus, Rabbi Zev Johnson represents Chabad at the University of Texas. Himself inspired to become a Chabad Rabbi thanks to his experience as a student in Austin, Rabbi Johnson will showcase the important work Chabad on Campus. Meanwhile, across the country, Rabbi Dov Greenberg caters to Jewish students needs at Stanford, where Jewish pride shone despite extreme protests over the past year. In the vast expanse of Australia, Chabad of RARA (Rural and Regional Australia) bridges geographical divides by serving Jewish people across the continents remote regions. Led by Rabbi Menachem Aron, the organization maintains contact with over 5,000 Jews through innovative outreach, including road trips in a bright yellow Mitzvah Tank campervan that delivers Jewish resources, arranges Shabbat meals, and provides spiritual connection. These two young men bursting with positivity satiated my spiritual hunger, shared Caroline from Rockingham, Western Australia. To have two fine New Yorkers affix my own mezuzah, perfectly slanted onto my doorpost, was such an unexpected holy joy. While lives are touched in the land down under, war rages in Ukraine. Also featured in the Kinus kickoff program is Rabbi Moshe Moscowitz, Shliach to Kharkiv, Ukraine, the backbone of his community, staying strong while under attack for over a year. Rabbi Akiva Camissar, Director of the Chabad Israeli Center in Amsterdam, will recount the outpouring of love and support among his community during the recent shocking attacks on innocent Jews. Commemorating the 16th yahrzeit of Rabbi Gaby and Rivky Holzberg OBM, the Shluchim to Mumbai, India, who were murdered by terrorists in 2008, Rabbi Yisroel Koslowsky, who bravely took over their holy task, will describe how the community rose from the ashes to create a home away from home for tourists and travelers, as the ultimate Jewish response to tragedy. He will be joined by Avremi Rapoport, who spent Pesach in Mumbai as part of the long-standing Merkos Shlichus Roving Rabbis program. As Shluchim take their seats at the gala banquet, tune in to watch the program live on YWN! (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Thousands of Syrian insurgents fanned out inside Aleppo in vehicles with improvised armor and pickups, deploying to landmarks such as the old citadel on Saturday, a day after they entered Syrias largest city facing little resistance from government troops, according to residents and fighters. Witnesses said two airstrikes on the citys edge late Friday targeted insurgent reinforcements and hit near residential areas. A war monitor said 20 fighters were killed. Syrias armed forces said in a statement Saturday that to absorb the large attack on Aleppo and save lives, it has redeployed and is preparing for a counterattack. The statement acknowledged that insurgents entered large parts of the city but said they have not established bases or checkpoints. Insurgents were filmed outside police headquarters, in the city center, and outside the Aleppo Citadel. They tore down posters of Syrian President Bashar Assad, stepping on some and burning others. The surprise takeover is a huge embarrassment for Assad, who managed to regain total control of the city in 2016, after expelling insurgents and thousands of civilians from its eastern neighborhoods following a grueling military campaign in which his forces were backed by Russia, Iran and its allied groups. Aleppo has not been attacked by opposition forces since then. The 2016 battle for Aleppo was a turning point in the war between Syrian government forces and rebel fighters after 2011 protests against Assads rule turned into an all-out war. The push into Aleppo followed weeks of simmering low-level violence, including government attacks on opposition-held areas. Turkey, which has backed Syrian opposition groups, failed in its diplomatic efforts to prevent the Syrian government attacks, which were seen as a violation of a 2019 agreement sponsored by Russia, Turkey and Iran to freeze the line of the conflict. The offensive came as Iran-linked groups, primarily Lebanons Hezbollah, which has backed Syrian government forces since 2015, have been preoccupied with their own battles at home. A ceasefire in Hezbollahs two-month war with Israel took effect Wednesday, the day the Syrian opposition factions announced their offensive. Israel has also escalated its attacks against Hezbollah and Iran-linked targets in Syria during the last 70 days. Insurgents raise flag over Aleppo Citadel A witness in Aleppo said government troops remained in the citys airport and at a military academy but most of the forces have already filed out of the city from the south. Syrian Kurdish forces remained in two neighborhoods. The redeployment is a temporary measure and (the military central command and armed forces) will work to guarantee the security and peace of all our people in Aleppo, the military statement said. Speaking from the heart of the city in Saadallah Aljabri square, opposition fighter Mohammad Al Abdo, said it was his first time back in Aleppo in 13 years, when his older brother was killed at the start of the war. God willing, the rest of Aleppo province will be liberated from government forces, he said. There was light traffic in the city center on Saturday. Opposition fighters fired in the air in celebration but there was no sign of clashes or government troops presence. Abdulkafi Alhamdo, an teacher who fled Aleppo in 2016 and returned Friday night after hearing the insurgents were inside, described mixed feelings of pain, sadness and old memories. As I entered Aleppo, I kept telling myself this is impossible! How did this happen? He said he strolled through the city at night, visiting the citadel, where the insurgents raised their flags, a major square and the university of Aleppo, as well as the last spot he was in before he was forced to leave for the countryside. I walked in (the empty) streets of Aleppo, shouting, People, people of Aleppo. We are your sons, Alhamdo told The Associated Press in a series of messages. The insurgents launched their shock offensive in the Aleppo and Idlib countryside on Wednesday and wrestled control of dozens of villages and towns before entering Aleppo on Friday. The pro-government Al-Watan newspaper reported airstrikes on the edge of Aleppo city targeting rebel supply lines. It posted a video of a missile landing on a gathering of fighters and vehicles, in a street lined with trees and buildings. City hospitals are full Twenty fighters were killed in the airstrikes, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Aleppo residents reported clashes and gunfire. Some fled the fighting. Schools and government offices were closed Saturday as most people stayed indoors, according to Sham FM radio, a pro-government station. Bakeries were open. Witnesses said the insurgents deployed security forces around the city to prevent any acts of violence or looting. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said the citys airport has been shut and all flights suspended. On Friday, Aleppos two key public hospitals were reportedly full of patients while many private facilities closed, OCHA said. In social media posts, the insurgents were pictured outside of Aleppo Citadel, the medieval palace in the old city center, and one of the largest in the world. In cellphone videos, they recorded themselves having conversations with residents they visited at home, seeking to reassure them they will cause no harm. The Syrian Kurdish-led administration in the countrys east said nearly 3,000 people, most of them students, had arrived in their areas after fleeing the fighting in Aleppo, which has a sizeable Kurdish population. State media reported that a number of terrorists, including sleeper cells, infiltrated parts of the city. Government troops chased them and arrested a number who posed for pictures near city landmarks, state media said. On a state TV morning show Saturday, commentators said army reinforcements and Russias assistance will repel the terrorist groups, blaming Turkey for supporting the insurgents push into Aleppo and Idlib provinces. Russias state news agency Tass quoted Oleg Ignasyuk, a Russian Defense Ministry official coordinating in Syria, as saying that Russian warplanes targeted and killed 200 militants who launched the offensive in the northwest on Friday. It provided no further details. (AP) The 13-year civil war in Syria has roared back into prominence with a surprise rebel offensive on Aleppo, one of Syrias largest cities and an ancient business hub. The push is among the rebels strongest in years in a war whose destabilizing effects have rippled far beyond the countrys borders. It was the first opposition attack on Aleppo since 2016, when a brutal air campaign by Russian warplanes helped Syrian President Bashar Assad retake the northwestern city. Intervention by Russia, Iran and Iranian-allied Hezbollah and other groups has allowed Assad to remain in power, within the 70% of Syria under his control. The surge in fighting has raised the prospect of another violent front reopening in the Middle East, at a time when U.S.-backed Israel is fighting Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, both Iranian-allied groups. Robert Ford, the last-serving U.S. ambassador to Syria, pointed to months of Israeli strikes on Syrian and Hezbollah targets in the area, and to Israels ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon this week, as factors providing Syrias rebels with the opportunity to advance. Heres a look at some of the key aspects of the new fighting: Why does the fighting at Aleppo matter? Assad has been at war with opposition forces seeking his overthrow for 13 years, a conflict thats killed an estimated half-million people. Some 6.8 million Syrians have fled the country, a refugee flow that helped change the political map in Europe by fueling anti-immigrant far-right movements. The roughly 30% of the country not under Assad is controlled by a range of opposition forces and foreign troops. The U.S. has about 900 troops in northeast Syria, far from Aleppo, to guard against a resurgence by the Islamic State. Both the U.S. and Israel conduct occasional strikes in Syria against government forces and Iran-allied militias. Turkey has forces in Syria as well, and has influence with the broad alliance of opposition forces storming Aleppo. Coming after years with few sizeable changes in territory between Syrias warring parties, the fighting has the potential to be really quite, quite consequential and potentially game-changing, if Syrian government forces prove unable to hold their ground, said Charles Lister, a longtime Syria analyst with the U.S.-based Middle East Institute. Risks include if Islamic State fighters see it as an opening, Lister said. Ford said the fighting in Aleppo would become more broadly destabilizing if it drew Russia and Turkey each with its own interests to protect in Syria into direct heavy fighting against each other. What do we know about the group leading the offensive on Aleppo? The U.S. and U.N. have long designated the opposition force leading the attack at Aleppo Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, known by its initials HTS as a terrorist organization. Abu Mohammed al-Golani emerged as the leader of al-Qaidas Syria branch in 2011, in the first months of Syrias war. It was an unwelcome intervention to many in Syrias opposition, who hoped to keep the fight against Assads brutal rule untainted by violent extremism. Golani and his group early on claimed responsibility for deadly bombings, pledged to attack Western forces, confiscated property from religious minorities and sent religious police to enforce modest dress by women. Golani and HTS have sought to remake themselves in recent years, focusing on promoting civilian government in their territory as well as military action, researcher Aaron Zelin noted. His group broke ties with al-Qaida in 2016. Golani cracked down on some extremist groups in his territory, and increasingly portrays himself as a protector of other religions. That includes last year allowing the first Christian Mass in the city of Idlib in years. By 2018, the Trump administration acknowledged it was no longer directly targeting Golani, Zelin said. But HTS has allowed some wanted armed groups to continue to operate on its territory, and shot at U.S. special forces at least as recently as 2022, he said. Whats the history of Aleppo in the war? At the crossroads of trade routes and empires for thousands of years, Aleppo is one of the centers of commerce and culture in the Middle East. Aleppo was home to 2.3 million people before the war. Rebels seized the east side of the city in 2012, and it became the proudest symbol of the advance of armed opposition factions. In 2016, government forces backed by Russian airstrikes laid siege to the city. Russian shells, missiles and crude barrel bombs fuel canisters or other containers loaded with explosives and metal methodically leveled neighborhoods. Starving and under siege, rebels surrendered Aleppo that year. The Russian militarys entry was the turning point in the war, allowing Assad to stay on in the territory he held. This year, Israeli airstrikes in Aleppo have hit Hezbollah weapons depots and Syrian forces, among other targets, according to an independent monitoring group. Israel rarely acknowledges strikes at Aleppo and other government-held areas of Syria. (AP) During a Black Friday shopping trip with his grandson Beau and family, outgoing President Joe Biden drew attention after being spotted carrying a book critical of Israel. The book, The Hundred Years War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonial Conquest and Resistance, 1917-2017, by Columbia professor emeritus Rashid Khalidi, critiques the Zionist movement as settler colonialism and describes Palestinian oppression as the oppression of one people by another. One reviewer called the book a highly partisan account from the Palestinian perspective. Even Khalidi himself was surprised, telling the New York Post: My reaction is that this is 4 years too late. It remains unclear whether Biden purchased the book or if it belonged to a family member accompanying him on the outing. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Iran views the recently established ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah as an opportunity to rebuild the Lebanon-based terror organization, according to sources close to Hezbollah quoted by The Washington Post. The four-day-old truce reportedly allows Iran to reassess its strategies for its strongest regional proxy, restore its strength, and bolster its deterrence capabilities. Sources cited by The Washington Post revealed that Hezbollah was disappointed with the lack of support from Irans other proxies in the region during Israels recent military campaign in Lebanon. Lebanon was at its most vulnerable during heavy bombings, yet support from other members of the resistance axis, including Yemen and Iraq, was minimal at best, a source close to Hezbollah said. During the conflict, Israel inflicted severe damage on Hezbollah, including the elimination of its long-time leader Hassan Nasrallah in September, alongside many other high-ranking officials. These blows have left the group in a weakened position, prompting Iran to step up its support. Iran is prepared to allocate funds for reconstruction and to ensure Hezbollahs survival, as well as to maintain support within the Shiite community, the source added. Tehran welcomed the ceasefire when it took effect on Wednesday, viewing it as a potential turning point in its regional strategy. Iranian officials have also suggested that the truce could influence the countrys plans to retaliate for an Israeli strike on Iran in October. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The Houthi terror group in Yemen fired a ballistic missile at central Israel on Sunday morning, triggering sirens in numerous locations, including Beit Shemesh, Modiin, Modiin Illit, Neve Ilan, Kiryat Yearim, Rehovot, Kiryat Ekron, Ramla, Ahisamach, Beer Yaakov, and Shoresh. Residents reported hearing the sounds of explosions. The IDF spokesperson stated: Following the alerts that were activated in the areas of the Shefala, Lachish, and Yarkon between 6:21-6:22 a.m., one launch from Yemen was identified and intercepted before it crossed into Israeli territory. Jerusalem Police reported: A short while ago, alerts were heard in the Beit Shemesh area and surrounding communities. Jerusalem District police officers are currently conducting searches in areas where the alert was sounded. MDA later reported that they treated four people who were injured as they ran for shelter during the siren. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Rabbi Tzvi Kogan, HYD, left his home on the morning of November 21, got in his car and drove to Rimon, the kosher grocery store he managed, the Wall Street Journal reported. Then he disappeared. When he failed to show up for a dental appointment that afternoon, his wife Rivky contacted Chabad, who contacted the police. By then, his murderers had abducted him and were driving him toward the neighboring country of Oman, a person familiar with the investigation said. Something disrupted that plan and Emirati police later found Rabbi Kogans body and car inside the UAE near the border. Kogans friends and family told WSJ that it was a bloody end, though the exact circumstances around his death remain unclear. According to the report, Rabbi Kogan never felt unsafe living in the UAE. He was going about his regular life and never thought for a second anything was going on, said Rabbi Sholom Duchman, whose son Rabbi Levi Duchman leads Chabad in the U.A.E. and is Kogans brother-in-law. Following the Abraham Accords, Jews lived openly in the country but following the October 7 assault, Emirati authorities asked the Jewish kheilla in the country to lower its profile. Local Jews said there were incidents of Jewish students being harassed by classmates at schools, who pushed them or yelled Free Palestine at them. However, the schools or local authorities quickly put an end to the incidents. Pro-Palestinian people also left negative Google reviews to lower the ratings for Rimon, the supermarket where Kogan worked. As YWN reported last week, Rimon was closed on the Sunday after Rabbi Kogans murder and a reporter who visited the site said that the mezuzahs on the front and back doors of the supermarket appeared to have been ripped off. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Israels National Security Council (NSC) on Motzei Shabbos issued a warning about the escalating threat of terrorism against Israelis and Jews in Southeast Asian countries, especially Thailand. The NSC stated that intelligence indicates that the terrorist infrastructure responsible for the murder of Rabbi Tzvi Kogan, Hyd in Dubai on November 21, is planning additional terrorist activities, according to assessments from all relevant security officials in the Southeast Asian arena, particularly in Thailand. In light of the increasing threat, the National Security Council recommends that all Israelis staying in Southeast Asian countries adhere to the following recommendations: 1. Avoid going to places associated with Israel/Jews. 2. Maintain heightened awareness in public places (including restaurants, hotels, bars, etc.). 3. Avoid displaying Israeli or Jewish symbols. 4. Cooperate with local security forces, follow their instructions, and report to the local police immediately if you are exposed to terrorist activity. Afterward, update the National Security Councils travel warning hotline at 02-666-7444. 5. Avoid posting travel details on social media and sharing photos and visit details before the trip and in real-time, including in various groups focusing on tourism abroad. 6. It is generally advisable to lock social media profiles and refrain from sharing. 7. Avoid sharing any information indicating service in the security forces [IDF, Border Police], both on social media and in conversations with strangers. Security authorities in Israel continue to work with all relevant partners to neutralize the threat, the statement concluded. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis visit Thailand annually and some Thai islands have small Israeli expat communities with restaurants and even schools. The warning comes a week after the NSC raised the travel warning to Thailand to Level 2 (recommendation to take increased precautions). (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) When the Hertfordshire town of Harpenden gets its promised banking hub a temporary one in the town hall could open before the year is out it will be largely down to the tireless effort of longstanding community bank campaigner Derek French. A resident of the town, and a former executive with NatWest, he called for community-style branches (multi-banks within one retail space) long before they came on the scene. He was campaigning for them back in the late 1990s when banks first started culling their branches. In 2000, I vividly remember Derek tipping me off about Barclays' decision to shut 172 branches on one single day a story that we splashed with in Financial Mail on Sunday. Derek, now 84, saw the writing on the wall for individual branches in towns long before anyone else and argued for banks to share services under one roof rather than leave communities bankless. Eventually, the banks and consumer groups took heed of what French was saying; an organisation called Cash Access UK was set up to oversee the one-stop bank revolution, and banking hubs were launched on our high streets. They're not as comprehensive as Derek would have liked (banking services are pretty basic and access to personal advice is limited), but they are better than no bank at all. We should have 100 bank hubs up and running before the year is out with another 70 in the pipeline. But more will be needed as a new wave of branch closures hits the country in the new year another blow for high streets, already reeling from the National Insurance hikes announced in the Budget. Labour has made a commitment to have 350 hubs in place before 2029. Glory days: The bank in Harpenden (top) that is now a Gail's (above) Derek says the decline of the bank branch is so ferocious that hubs are now coming to towns that most residents would assume are either affluent or big enough to support at least one bank. He calls it the 'Gail's moment'. On Friday, Derek told me: 'For many, the presence of a Gail's bakery and coffee shop indicates a town's affluence. It has a positive impact on local house prices in the same way that the presence of a Waitrose store has. So far, towns with a Gail's in situ have had no need for a hub because at least one bank remains on the high street.' But that's changing. Derek says Harpenden will become the first town with a Gail's to have a banking hub. Other Gail's towns, he says, will follow suit as they lose their last bank and gain a hub. Gail's occupies the premises of the old NatWest branch. 'There is always a buzz there when I visit,' says Derek. 'The vault door is still in place and it's quite nice to sit and have a coffee in the old strong room.' Five other banks once graced Harpenden's streets. Their premises are now homes to a wine shop, an optician's, a pharmacy, and another coffee shop. The old Barclays branch will be turned into a mix of flats and retail units. Derek says: 'After having at least one bank in the town since 1887, Harpenden has lost a significant influence on the business and personal lives of its 32,000-strong community. The jury is out on whether the town is better for the loss of all its banks and the gain of a hub, and yet more coffee shops.' Gail's is a card-only business. Says it all really. Why we must unite to back winter fuel payments Hats off to union Unite for requesting a judicial review into Rachel Reeves' inexplicable decision in July to take the winter fuel payment away from ten million pensioners, many of them financially straitened. It wants the crass decision overturned and rightly so. The annual payment, 200 for pensioners under the age of 80 and 300 for those aged 80 and over, would have been paid either this month or next and come in handy for many of them, given the recent sharp drop in temperature. Yet only those in receipt of pension credit and some other benefits will now get the payment. Like some charities (Age UK), the National Pensioners Convention, Baroness Ros Altmann and both the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday, Unite campaigned against this cruel decision from the word go. I even stood among its vociferous members outside the Houses of Parliament in early October to protest against the curtailment of the payment. So far, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has stood firm. Petitions against the winter fuel payment cut have been ignored, as have passionate letters delivered to Number 11 Downing Street urging a rethink (including one written by my fair hand). Sharon Graham, Unite's firebrand boss, says 'picking the pockets of pensioners is wrong at every level'. She's dead right and I hope the review forces Ms Reeves to have a rethink. I bet Labour raise taxes yet again Looking ahead: Chancellor Rachel Reeves Are there more tax rises coming? Or was October's 40 billion Budget tax grab the end of Labour's tax hit on businesses, charities and our personal wealth? According to the Chancellor, the answers are respectively 'no' and 'yes'. But the Prime Minister isn't so sure. Last Wednesday, in the House of Commons, he refused to 'write the next five years of Budgets' when challenged by a spiky Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Opposition. For what it's worth, I would bet my last pound on Labour jacking up taxes again between now and 2029. Why? Its recipe for reviving this country's fortunes taxing private enterprises to the hilt while pouring billions of pounds into inefficient public services and the pockets of public sector workers is based on kindergarten economics. When the wheels fall off, as they surely will, it will be us poor taxpayers who will pick up the bill. That permanent home on the Algarve is looking more attractive by the day. A Christmas cash boost With our attention drifting towards Christmas and presents to get loved ones, don't rule out gifting money, especially if you think inheritance tax (IHT) may become an issue in the future. As a result of Rachel Reeves's horrible Budget at the end of October ('rebuild?' Pull the other one), gifting now makes more sense than ever. This is because a more draconian IHT regime, especially with regard to the inclusion of unused pension funds within the IHT net from 2027, is coming over the hill at a fair rate of knots. There are various gifting exemptions you can use take a look at gov.uk/inheritance-tax/gifts but the one I like is the small gifts one. This allows you to make gifts to as many children, grandchildren and friends as you wish and can afford. The only stipulation is that the total gifts you make to each individual in the current tax year must not exceed 250. Just a wee thought before the bells start jingling for Christmas. Europe has to cuddle up to Trump. That was the big message from Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank, last week. She said in an interview with the Financial Times that Europe's politicians should co-operate with his plans for tariffs, buying more from the US, rather than try to retaliate. It was, she said, 'a chequebook strategy'. Follow the money. The brutal truth is the European economy is no shape to fight a trade war with America, so its best option is to appease the new administration. The European Commission is developing plans to buy more US agricultural products, co-operate on defence procurement and so on. This is in sharp contrast to its attitude towards trade with the UK in the Brexit negotiations. The task for our new Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, is to use the fact that we are not part of the EU to our advantage. How can he do so? Five points: First, he should be aware there will be no special favours from America. It is lesson we have learnt time and time again. Even during the warmest period of our relations during and just after the Second World War, that was true. It was a huge shock to the new Labour Government in 1945 that Lend-Lease, which kept us going in the War, was ended abruptly after Japan surrendered. We only managed to pay off the loan that replaced it in 2006. It is a transactional relationship, as always. Next, that is fine. We can be useful to the US and must identify what we want in return. An obvious area is trade in services. The US and UK are the largest and second largest exporters of services, but we are shut out of Europe. After Brexit, US financial institutions were forced to shift people to Paris and Milan, albeit in far smaller numbers than predicted. That is ridiculous. We both need open access to Europe for financial and other services. Getting close: Donald Trump Third, we can co-operate even more closely on defence. BAE is the sixth largest defence contractor in the world the top five all being American, the next five being either Chinese or Russian. Rolls-Royce and Babcock are smaller but significant. This uncertain world will have to spend more on security, and we are reliable supporters of the US in ways that Continental contractors have not always been. Fourth, there have been a string of detailed trade agreements signed by the previous Government with US states, including Washington (main base of Boeing), Indiana, Florida and Texas. This approach began when it became clear that an overarching US-UK trade deal was going to be too hard. They are not substitutes for a wider agreement, which may open up now Joe Biden will no longer be there as a block, but meanwhile they are a useful half-way house. Reynolds needs to press on with them. Finally, we need to differentiate ourselves from the Continent. We are not France, which is having a tough time trying to get its austerity budget through. We are not Germany, which pressed on with the second Baltic Sea gas pipeline from Russia despite Trump's previous administration's efforts to stop it. We are not Italy, the only G7 country to join China's 'belt and road' initiative. Although it withdrew a year ago, when Giorgia Meloni's new government realised Beijing was not the cosy friend it purported to be. None of this is to suggest that the UK should abandon its efforts to improve trade relations with Europe. It is just to say we too should adopt a cheque-book strategy. If they want to sell us more stuff what do they offer in return? A final point. The new US commerce secretary will be Howard Lutnick, head of Cantor Fitzgerald, whose offices were destroyed in the Twin Towers attack in 2001. He only escaped as he was late that morning, dropping his son off for his first day at kindergarten. He rebuilt the firm thanks in large part to the London office, which kept trading. No special favours, but he knows how important an ally the UK can be. Amanda Blanc needs to raise her bid for insurer Direct Line by 'several hundred million pounds' if the Aviva boss is to secure control of its rival, founder Sir Peter Wood says. Speaking to The Mail on Sunday from his Palm Beach mansion in Florida, near to Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago, he also expressed frustration at Direct Line losing its way. 'I made it the world's most efficient insurance company', he said, describing how he eliminated the middleman in the form of the insurance broker. 'It's sad it's been run so badly. After I left, the HR department multiplied ten times. It didn't develop a female brand, multi-car or multi-family policies, and just seemed to go backwards.' Wood says staying off comparison websites was a mistake, adding: 'They should have made Direct Line a premier product, where people answer the phone immediately, and you got an individual giving you personal attention.' Swoop: Aviva boss Amanda Blanc bid 3.3billion for Direct Line He expressed sympathy for chief executive Adam Winslow's effort to turn it around, saying: 'He is trying to do a good job, but it's a three or four-year job.' On Thursday, Direct Line rejected Aviva's 3.3billion bid, whereby shareholders would receive 1.12p a share in cash and 0.28 of a new Aviva share for every Direct Line share held. A wealthy American lawyer whose lifestyle features private jets, beachside properties and snazzy yachts is among the predatory legal eagles trying to cash in on Britain's growing car finance scandal. Harris Pogust, 61, a veteran of the US legal scene, has boasted online of his sprawling mansion, which includes a pool, gym and wine cellar. His firm, London-based Pogust Goodhead (PG), provides him and his British partner, Thomas Goodhead, the means to live in luxury thanks to the cut the firm takes from compensation rulings on big cases, which can run into hundreds of millions of pounds. The firm told The Mail on Sunday that 60,467 of its clients from previous cases had been brought on board for a car loan case. When it wins class actions, it pockets up to 50 per cent of the victims' money for itself. But consumer experts say motorists can make their own claim and keep 100 per cent of any payout. New Jersey-born Pogust frequently flaunts his wealth on Instagram, including a post last month showcasing his six-bedroom, eight-bathroom home. His wife's social media features pictures of Pogust and their dog on a private jet and snaps on board yachts. Fishing for business: Harris Pogust shows off his catch online Goodhead is a barrister educated at both Oxford and Cambridge who co-founded the firm with Pogust in 2018. It is locked in a high-profile battle in London's High Court with Anglo-Australian mining giant BHP over the Samarco dam disaster in Brazil, which killed 19 people and contaminated waterways and land spanning several villages in 2015. The class action is estimated to be worth 36billion. PG will reportedly receive up to 30 per cent for individuals and firms. But Brazil's former ambassador to the UK, Rubens Barbosa, accused the firm of encouraging hundreds of thousands of claimants to reject a 24billion settlement scheme in favour of continuing action in the High Court, which they have no guarantee of winning. A PG spokesman said: 'Pogust Goodhead is representing 620,000 victims whose lives have been devastated we make no excuses for using the means at our disposal to try to level a massively uneven playing field against some of the largest, most powerful and well-resourced companies in the world.' The firm itself is looking to save on costs as it spends millions on its legal crusades, including plans to cut about 20 per cent of its staff with up to 50 job losses at its London office, according to reports. The Court of Appeal ruled last month that commissions paid to car dealers may be unlawful if they were not flagged to customers. Firms implicated include Close Brothers, one of the UK's oldest merchant banks, as well as Lloyds and Santander. Britain's big DIY investment platforms have been accused by politicians of a 'Kafkaesque distortion' of consumer rules. The allegations centre on the treatment of investment trusts large, stock market-listed firms which buy a range of assets, including shares, property and infrastructure. The trusts scored a victory this year when the Government scrapped old EU rules which made them seem more costly to investors than was the case. But despite this, Baroness Ros Altmann has accused investment platforms, including the UK's largest, Hargreaves Lansdown, of forcing investment trusts to continue obeying the old rules or risk being kicked off their websites. 'Kafkaesque distortion': The allegations centre on investment trusts large, stock market-listed firms which buy a range of assets, including shares, property and infrastructure Altmann, a former pensions minister, said the platforms were 'putting themselves above the law' and using 'self-interest to deny customers access to undervalued investments'. She added: 'Threatening to bar access to retail investors, unless a company acquiesces to providing misleading or false information, is a Kafkaesque distortion of consumer duty.' She was backed by Lib Dem Baroness Sharon Bowles, who said investment trusts were 'bullied into providing conflicting and confusing information' to investors. Hargreaves Lansdown was approached for comment. The Green Party leader has no regrets about going into a three-party government in 2020, but said the two main coalition partners did them no favours. Commenting on a day when he retained the only one of the partys 12 seats, Roderic OGorman said thats politics of criticism of the Green Party by their former government colleagues Fine Gael and Fianna Fail during election campaigns this year. He said Green candidates got very few transfers from either Fianna Fail or Fine Gael in the counts. I dont think they did us any favours, but I wasnt expecting them to do us favours, he said at the count centre in Phibblestown. We have a very distinct political philosophy from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, it is harder to see the difference between those two parties, and I think if they go into government again, which looks likely, the difference is more and more difficult to see. We were very different, we took the risk of going in with them, we were able to deliver, but there are political consequences for taking the risk and we suffered them over this weekend. The Dublin West candidate retained his seat after a close count, and will re-enter the Dail as his partys sole representative. Obviously its been a hugely disappointing day for the Green Party, he said. Pledging to revive the party in the years ahead, he said they would go into rebuild mode from next week. He said his experience of pulling back support for the party after the 2011 general election, when it had no TDs, would be used and he said he would stay on as leader. He added: If someone had told me when I had cast my vote for the programme for government vote in 2020 this what was going to happen, Id do it all again, its absolutely worth it. Theres been a cost, but thats politics. We dont run just to get the seat and hold the seat and not do anything with it. You get political capital and you spend it and we spent it in the last four-and-a-half years. Asked about how the party would reform itself to avoid another significant election loss, Mr OGorman said: The only way a small party can insulate itself from the risk of going into government is to not go into government. He wished Labour and the Social Democrats well in any possible future government negotiations as a junior partner, and urged them to use their mandates to push progressive politics. Listing the achievements of his party, Mr OGorman said they introduced legally binding climate targets, reduced emissions to their lowest in 30 years, invested in public transport and halved the cost of childcare. He said he had concerns about whether some Green policies would be continued by the next government, including the commitment to investment in transport. If we see the next government trying to row back from some of those key Green Party policies, Ill be using whatever platform I have to place a focus on that and to fight it, he added. More than a few news items to round up tonight as we review ALLEGED assaults, robberies, car crime and creeper deets . . . Along with an update on community outreach. Check TKC news gathering . . . Charges filed against Kansas City man accused of rape in Zona Rosa parking lot Sexual assault charges have been filed against a Kansas City man in connection to an incident in the Zona Rosa parking lot nearly a year beforehand. Sheriff details how local authorities will aid Trump's border crackdown | Fox News Video Butler County, Ohio, Sheriff Richard Jones discusses how sheriffs and local authorities are preparing to assist the incoming Trump administration's border crackdown and explain the impact on his community from illegal immigration. 3 face charges after $200K in electronics stolen during KC warehouse thefts At least three individuals are now facing charges following a string of warehouse thefts that resulted in the loss of more than $200,000 and hundreds of electronics. Travis Kelce Lost 1 'Very Special' Item In Home Burglary Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes were both victims of home burglaries in Kansas City, Missouri last month. The two Kansas City Chiefs stars were targets of 1 charged after hundreds of dollars in alcohol, merchandise stolen in Riverside The woman accused of the theft of hundreds of dollars in merchandise and alcohol from a Riverside grocery store has been charged with stealing. Raymore, Missouri man arrested on child pornography charges Michael Pflanz, 58, faces multiple felony charges related to child pornography and firearm possession. Dangerous chase in stolen pickup leads to multiple charges for Guatemalan man A Guatemalan man now faces multiple charges after a dangerous high-speed chase in Clay County led to a collision near Worlds of Fun on Black Friday. Governor Kelly announces more than $10M for Crime Victims and Survivors Programs Governor Laura Kelly announced Wednesday that more than $10 million in federal funding will be allocated to community-based organizations and local and state agencies providing services directly to crime victims and survivors. Developing . . . Sunday and the start of Advent is no reason to take a vacation from WELL-DESERVED COWTOWN CLASS-WARFARE and a glimpse at the good life of people who write clever e-mails for a living and call that kind of thing "work" with a straight face. Even better, there's something for everyone in this post because "old money" locals might be just as offended as the average cowtown scumbag by this bit of culinary sacrilege . . . KANSAS CITY HIPSTER CHEFS NOW SERVE CAVIAR WITH JUNK FOOD!!! This kind of affront to upper-class manners and common decency would be funny if they weren't charging top dollar. Either way . . . If MAGA is REALLY about supporting the rights of the working-class and average Americans . . . We're certain there is a hipster chef somewhere in this town that could get deported back to Portland over this kind of thing. Here's the background and more info . . . "Today, beluga, sevruga, and osetra (or ossetra) are the most common types of caviar available, with beluga, a sturgeon found only in the Caspian Sea, being considered the finest quality caviar money can buy, and at $3,200 per pound, they call it black gold for a reason. "Over the last year, Kansas City has discovered caviar featured on restaurant menus in a new and notable way. The old-school caviar preparations also exist, including having it dabbled on top of another dish for a bit of sea-faring flavor or served in its protective tin with a mother-of-pearl spoon and the classic accompaniments, including blinis, creme fraiche, chopped hard-boiled eggs, and minced onions. "But a new generation is being introduced to caviar in fun presentations that take something highbrowcaviarand pairing it with something more culinarily lowbrowsuch as potato chips, battered and fried mozzarella cheese sticks, or even a chicken nugget." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Israel faces brain drain as countrys tech talent flees over security concerns The far right Zionist regime in Israel might be celebrating the genocide of Palestinians, but what it is failing to hide is the looming brain drain as hundreds are fleeing the country over security concerns Sunday December 1, 2024 8:25 PM , ummid.com News Network Tel Aviv: The far right Zionist regime in Israel might be celebrating the genocide of Palestinians, but what it is failing to hide is the looming brain drain as hundreds are fleeing the country over security concerns. The Israeli Occupation Forces are currently in midst of brutal war in Gaza and Lebanon, killing hundreds of thousands civilians without achieving any of its stated military targets. The 14-month-long war has already hit a big blow to the Israeli economy that could be revived later on with the help of the U.S. and its allies. But what is billed as possibly the irreversible process is the fleeing of hundreds of tech experts and highly skilled Israelis from the country once known as the startup nation and pushing the country towards an imminent brain drain. "Massive exodus of talent from Israel" According to the official statistics, the number of Israelis permanently leaving the country surged by a dramatic 285% following the Operation Al Aqsa Storm launched on Oct 7, 2023. Interestingly, the migration of skilled Israeli from the country - particularly in the technology and medical fields from major companies such as Google and Microsoft, was on the rise even before the attacks, with departures up 51% in the preceding months, fuelled by protests against the governments proposed judicial changes. While this initial spike has leveled off, a substantial outflow continues jumping to a whopping 285%, reflecting ongoing anxieties about safety, governance, and social unity following the Oct 7 attack. Israels tech sector - considered a global powerhouse and home to major players like Google, Microsoft and Intel, is feeling the impact of the ongoing exodus of tech talent. Moreover, the exodus poses a serious threat of brain drain for Israel, potentially impacting its tax base as high-earning tech professionals seek opportunities elsewhere. And, the long-term consequences for the already battered Israeli economy could be substantial. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Onus now on Owaisi, AIMIM to save Textile City turning into Udta Malegaon The All India Majils e Ittehadul Muslimeen won the 2024 Assembly elections on the plank of drug addictions, and to save the Textile City from hooligans and from turning it into Udta Malegaon Sunday December 1, 2024 7:41 PM , Aleem Faizee, ummid.com [AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi in a roadshow in Malegaon on Nov 17, 2024. Also seen is Malegaon MLA Mufti Ismail Qasmi. (Image: X/@MuftiIsmailQsm)] Malegaon: The All India Majils e Ittehadul Muslimeen won the 2024 Assembly elections on the plank of drug addictions, and to save the Textile City from hooligans and from turning it into Udta Malegaon. The AIMIM campaign hit the chord with the masses who re-elected Mufti Ismail Qasmi despite large scale unsatisfaction and anger against him as far as his record as MLA is concerned. Looking back, Mufti Ismail Qasmi had in the partys very first election rally at Khayaban-e-Nishat Chowk in Qilla in October accused Asif Shaikh , former Congress MLA and EX Mayor who lost the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly Election by just 162 votes , of hobnobbing with drug pedlars. Sensing that the issue is generating a chord with the people of Malegaon, when Akbaruddin Owaisi - senior AIMIM leader, younger brother of AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Telangana MLA, visited the Powerloom City on November 06 to campaign for Mufti Ismail, the focus of his speech was to choose between Acchai and Burai (good and evil) and Nasha Mukt Malegaon (drug free Malegaon). AIMIM Chief and Hyderabad MP, Asaduddin Owaisi, also raised the issue of drug addictions when he visited the Textile City on November 17, 2024, and asked the people of Malegaon to vote in order to make the city drugs free . As the assembly election campaign progressed, candidates from other parties including Ejaz Baig of Congress and Shan e Hind of Samajwadi Party, too started raising the issue, some of them publicly naming a close relative of Asif Shaikh. Countering the charges and denying the allegations against his supporters, Asif Shaikh pointed out how drug peddlers and hooligans shared the AIMIM stage when Asaduddin Owaisi, Akbaruddin Owaisi and other party leaders sought vote to make Malegaon drug free. In the end, the fence sitters - now billed as silent voters who ultimately favoured Mufti Ismail Qasmi, said they gave the sitting MLA another chance because they do not wish hooliganism prevail in the city and expecting the AIMIM will make the city free from drugs. For ummid.com, drug addictions and hooliganism in the city are not political issues. Furthermore, we do not support any political party, individual or group if they are directly or indirectly involved. For us, this is a matter of concerns for the survival of the City's coming generations. As a reminder, ummid.com had raised the issue in a detailed article published on October 07, 2024 about a week before the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly Election Notification, highlighting how the drug menace in Malegaon that was limited to a small section of powerloom sector till recently has penetrated deeper among the labour class and the so called elites simultaneously knocking the doors of schools and colleges. In its article, ummid.com had also detailed how cannabis, marijuana and antidepressant drug Alprazolam - a scheduled drug sold illegally by the code names kutta goli, button etc, are slowly and quietly being replaced by Mephedrone or MD. It's good that the issue became a major poll issue . Probably realising the urgency needed to tackle the issue, Malegaon Police too came into action, and arrested a local resident only five days after the election result and seized from him MD powder worth INR 2,27,600, according to Additional SP Malegaon Aniket Bharati. How the drugs addiction is rapidly spreading its wings in the City can also be gauged from the fact that the local police filed as many as 26 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act) in the current year 2024. This is more than the double of 11 cases under the NDPS Act filed in 2023, and a huge jump from just 01 case registered in 2022, according to the details provided to the media by Aniket Bharati. People of Malegaon have given their verdict to make the City free from drugs and hooligans, and have chosen Acchai over Burai. The local Police too have sprang into action. The local residents are now looking at the AIMIM and its leadership to know how they plan to take the matter forward. AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi - along with AIMIM Maharashtra President Imtiaz Jaleel and other party leaders, is in Malegaon today (Sunday Dec 1, 2024) to address the partys victory rally at the historic Mushawerat Chowk. The local residents are watching with fingers crossed to know how and when Asaduddin Owaisi launches the fight against drug peddlers and hooligans in Malegaon. To make a start, Asaduddin Owaisi can begin with cleaning his own house as allegations are also rife that hooligans, and those involved in drugs peddling are in the AIMIM Malegaon ranks too. Your time starts now. [The writer, Aleem Faizee, is Founder Editor ummid.com. He can be reached at aleem.faizee@ummid.com.] Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Those Surviving on Envelopes: Owaisi blames Sajjad Nomani for poll debacle President of All India Majlis e Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and Hyderabad MP, Asaduddin Owaisi, Sunday December 01, 2024 blamed Maulana Khalil-ur-Rahman Sajjad Nomani for his party candidates defeat in the 2024 Maharashtra Monday December 2, 2024 2:29 PM , ummid.com Staff Reporter Malegaon: President of All India Majlis e Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and Hyderabad MP, Asaduddin Owaisi, Sunday December 01, 2024 blamed Maulana Khalil-ur-Rahman Sajjad Nomani for his party candidates defeat in the 2024 Maharashtra. Siaysat nahi aati to ghar mein baitho. Dua karo Lekin nahi hum ko sab hona. (You should sit in homes and pray for us as you do not have any idea of how politics works.. But, no.. you want everything under your control) Lifafo per palne walo sharam se doob maro, Asaduddin Owaisi, in his fiery self, said while addressing the party rally in Malegaon in a remark that could spark outrage. (You the people who survive on envelopes you should be ashamed of yourself) Asaduddin Owaisi was in Malegaon to address the rally organised to celebrate the victory of AIMIM MLA Mufti Ismail Qasmi in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly Elections. Mufti Ismail Qasmi, sitting MLA from Malegaon Central Assembly constituency, retained the seat, defeating former Congress MLA Asif Shaikh by just 162 votes . The AIMIM had fielded candidates in 16 assembly seats of Maharashtra for the 2024 state elections. Mufti Ismail is the only one who won. Others, including AIMIM Maharashtra President and former Aurangabad MP, Imtiaz Jaleel and sitting MLA from Dhule Centre Faruk Shah , lost the polls. While addressing the AIMIM victory rally in Malegaon today, Asaduddin Owaisi hit out at Maulana Khalil ur Rahman Sajjad Nomani and blamed him for the defeat of the AIMIM candidates in the 2024 Maharashtra state elections. Contest the elections if you have political ambitions. If not you, bring in your son in law to contest, Owaisi said without naming the Muslim Cleric. Maulana Kahlil ur Rahman Sajjad Nomani, is the spokesperson of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and runs a khanqah in Neral near Mumbai. Maulana Sajjad Nomani invited the ire of various political parties, including the BJP, for releasing a list of candidates few days before the polling and asking the Muslims of Maharashtra to vote for them. While the BJP exploited the Maulanas call as vote jihad, the AIMIM candidates and other Muslims who did not find their names in the list released under the banner of Muslim Ekta Forum, accused him of playing in the hands of the communal forces. You gifted the BJP a handle Based on your call, they gave the slogan Fatwa jite ga ya bhagwa and the result is in front of us all. And, now you are hiding don't know where, Owaisi said in the victory rally of Mufti Ismail who was, interestingly, one of those recommended by Maulana Sajjad Nomani. Asaduddin Owaisi also accused the Maulana and his supporters of supressing the AIMIM leadership who he said are the only one to stand and fight for Muslims. Imtiaz Jaleel, Mufti Ismail, Faruk Shah, Nasir Siddiqui, Waris Pathan and Farooq Shabdi.. If Muslims have their leaders in Maharashtra, it is these AIMIM men. These are the AIMIM men who will fight if any injustice is meted to Muslims while you will prefer to confine to your homes. And, you are trying to suppress these strong voices and eliminate their leadership, Owaisi said. Have you realised what damage you have done to Muslims of Maharashtra? Owaisi asked. Owaisi vows to make Malegaon drug free In more than 45-minute speech, Asaduddin Owaisi also vowed to make Malegaon drugs free. However, instead of giving a direct call to fight against drugs addiction and hooligans the major poll planks of the AIMIM during the 2024 elections, he asked the party MLA Mufti Ismail to make sure that the city is rid of the menace. I know people of Malegaon have voted to make the city free from drugs and hooligans. I urge my MLA Mufti Ismail to make sure that the menace is eradicated from here, Owaisi said. Addressing the AIMIM rally in Malegaon, Owaisi also hit out at RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat who asked the Indians to give birth to at least 3 children. Accusing the RSS Chief of playing population politics, Asaduddin Owaisi presented a data and claimed that the Muslim men are on top in the list of people using contraceptives. Owaisi also said that the population of Muslims will never surpass that of Hindus who will always remain in majority. The RSS always do politics on population and spread fear that Muslims will be in majority soon while the data reveals otherwise, he said. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Dec, 2024) Inequitable urban-rural development remains the most pressing challenges for nation's socio-economic progress as this divide perpetuates inequality, undermines merit and stifles national progress. This dilemma persists since decades as people in most of rural areas of the country remain backward, less educated and less paid for lacking jobs and business opportunities with millions spending their lives in abject poverty. Like other parts of the country, socio-economic imbalances in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, compounded by corruption and nepotism have also landed rural people in vicious cycle of poverty and unemployment with majority still lacking quality education, healthcare, housing, clean drinking water and sustainable livelihoods. This inequality not only hampers economic growth by placing extraordinary pressure on urban infrastructure due to massive mass influx. The development gap between rural and urban communities has fostered a fragmented society where rural populations feel increasingly alienated from the urban centers, remarked Prof. Zilakat Ali Malik, former Chairman of Economics Department, University of Peshawar. He said a marginal segment control majority of national wealth with a vest majority still struggling for basic needs. This unjust distribution of wealth exacerbates poverty and unemployment, especially in rural areas. As urban growth in the country swelled to 36.4% in 2017 from 32.5% in 1998, majority of countrys population (63.6%) still reside in rural areas. Migration from rural to urban areas has further strained urban systems while rural communities continued to be overlooked in terms of investment and policy attention, Prof Malik commented. He also mentioned to revenue collection in terms of urban rural divide and claimed that Pakistan's cities generate about 55% of countrys GDP and contribute 95% of Federal tax revenues with Karachi alone generating 12-15% of GDP and 55% of federal taxes. Even then there is need to invest in rural infrastructure especially roads, schools, healthcare and clean water to improve living standards of people and stimulate economic growth in remote areas including merged tribal districts, he argued. Since majority of our population reside in rural areas, the governments should focus on modernizing agriculture by introducing latest techniques, access to credit and improve market linkages, Prof. Malik said. Such initiatives may help create jobs, reduce dependence on subsistence farming and improve productivity. Dr. Ibrahim Khan, former Director Elementary and Secondary Schools states that major reason for urban-rural gap is poor education infrastructure and roads. In 2024, approximately 22.8 million children across Pakistan and 4.7 million in KP are out of schools with rural areas disproportionately affected. Situation is more worrisome in former FATA regions due to poor education infrastructure, rampant poverty and cultural barriers that prevent many children especially girls, from attending school after primary, he said. Only 37% of girls in former FATA are enrolled at Primary school but at secondary level, this figure drops to five percent. He urged the KP government to focus on early childhood education, rebuilding damaged schools and expand education network to all villages. Recent studies show that urbanization does not automatically lead to economic growth; rather unplanned urbanization, without proper development strategies leads to slums, environmental degradation and deepen urban-rural inequalities. Bridging rural-urban divide is not just an economic issue but also a moral and strategic imperative for countrys long-term prosperity, stated Syed Akhtar Ali Shah, former Inspector General of KP Police. Failure to address these disparities, especially the security challenges also lead to increased social unrest, deepening divisions and potential loss of qualified professionals through brain drain. Although respective governments off and on launched programs to bridge this divide, particularly the mention worthy Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) yet a holistic approach with improved macroeconomic situation could be better option to addressing this dilemma. Director General, Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) KP Ms. Zohra Aslam states that one of the primary objectives of BISP is to alleviate poverty and narrow the rural-urban divide through diverse programs. Currently, around 9.3 million poor households are benefitted from BISPs educational stipends and nutritional support to children and mothers, particularly in rural areas, she informed. BISP aims to open more centers in rural areas to continue this practice. With the government functionaries often claiming to focus rural development, the desired results remain a far cry owing to different challenges like unchecked population growth, insufficient revenue collection, economic recession and transparent execution of programs and projects. Provincial Minister for Livestock and Dairy Development, Fazal Hakeem also mentions to targeted rural development programs like Calf Fattening, Save the Calf and Azakheli Buffalo Conservation Program in Malakand. These initiatives aim to boost rural economy, create jobs and bridge rural-urban divide in KP, he claims. With targeted investments, strategic policy reforms and community-driven initiatives especially in agriculture and livestock, we hope to build a more equitable and prosperous future. But how long such programs can bridge this divide is a question to be answered as experts believe that a few scattered initiatives were insufficient to unlock untapped potential of multiple resources in the region. Therefore, for benefitting rural communities and bridging this divide they emphasize a multi-pronged approach for overall development and creating a society where every Pakistani, regardless of geographical location, avails an equal opportunity to achieve the goal of a prosperous life. APP/fam/maz (APP Feature Service) HYDERABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Dec, 2024) Like other cities, Sindhi Culture Day was also celebrated in Hyderabad on Sunday. A couple of thousand people including men, women and children attired in traditional costumes Ajrak and Sindhi cap flowing on the streets in dozens of rallies to mark the multi-dimensional Sindhi culture day in a befitting manner. The culture of Sindh was not confined to displaying Ajrak and Topi only but it is enriched with the colours of love, devotion, cohesion, brotherhood and sacrifice. Several political parties including the Pakistan Peoples Party, Qaumi Awami Tehreek, Sindh Taraqi Pasand and others also organized separate rallies. Sindhi Culture Day is a special celebration that honors the rich heritage of Sindhi society, which dates back thousands of years to the Indus Valley Civilization. Sindhis around the world, especially in Sindh,Pakistan and parts of India like Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Mumbai, celebrate this day with great enthusiasm. They wear traditional clothes, organize cultural events, and express their love for Sindh, often calling it "Sindh Amar," meaning Motherland. Sindhi Culture Day is not only a tribute to Sindh's glorious past but also a call to preserve and promote its language, traditions, and values for future generations. This festival unites Sindhis globally, reinforcing their shared identity and commitment to keeping their culture alive Each year, Sindhis around the world celebrate Cultural Day on the first Sunday of Decembers first week. According to a survey, Sindhi people are considered more sincere compared to other communities in Pakistan and are admired for their deep commitment to their language and culture. This is why Sindh is also known as the "Land of Hospitable Hosts." APP/nsm ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Dec, 2024) On World AIDS Day, a renowned expert Sunday stressed the need for public awareness and advocacy to change societal attitudes towards HIV/AIDS and emphasized the importance of heightened screening, particularly before marriages, to prevent the transmission of the disease. In an interview with a private news channel, the expert said December 1 is World AIDS Day, a day to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and honour the millions of people who have died from AIDS-related illnesses. The theme for this year's World AIDS Day is "Take the rights path: My health, my right" emphasizing the importance of protecting human rights and addressing inequalities to end the AIDS epidemic. Dr AD Usmani, Head of AIDS Control in Quetta talking to a private news channel stressed the importance of promoting open discussions and inclusivity to ensure those affected receive necessary support and care. By promoting pre-marital screening, individuals can make informed decisions about their health, reducing the risk of HIV transmission, he said, adding that addressing the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS is also crucial, encouraging open discussions and promoting inclusivity to ensure those affected receive necessary support and care. Usmani stressed that open discussion is crucial to breaking the taboo surrounding HIV/AIDS. He emphasized that health authorities should launch awareness campaigns to educate people about symptoms, causes and prevention of the disease. Dr Usmani also urged couples planning to get married to undergo HIV testing, promoting a culture of transparency and precaution. Usmani emphasized the crucial role of civil society, academia, and media in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention. By working together, these entities can amplify awareness campaigns, promote accurate information, and encourage open discussions about the disease. Civil society organizations can mobilize communities, provide support to affected individuals, and advocate for policies that promote HIV/AIDS prevention. Academia can contribute by conducting research, developing evidence-based prevention strategies and providing educational resources. Media outlets can disseminate accurate information, raise awareness about prevention methods, and provide a platform for open discussions. Effective collaboration among these stakeholders is essential to promote behavioural change, reduce stigma, and encourage people to take proactive steps in preventing HIV/AIDS. By leveraging their collective strengths, civil society, academia, and media can play a vital role in combating the disease and promoting public health, he added. PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Dec, 2024) Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi, on Sunday expressed grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of two security personnel at Baka Khel area of Bannu district. Governor Kundi paid heartfelt tribute to the martyrs, Captain Zohaib and Soldier Iftikhar Hussain. He also paid tribute to security forces to kill five terrorists during exchange of fire. He expressed deep condolences to the families of the deceased soldiers, offering his sincere sympathies and prayers for their strength during this difficult time. The Governor prayed for the elevation of their ranks and for patience and resilience for their families. Governor Kundi emphasized that the sacrifices made by the martyrs would never be in vain and that the entire nation takes immense pride in the bravery and dedication of the security forces. He also highlighted the unwavering courage and commitment of the security personnel in the fight against terrorism. KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Dec, 2024) Sindh Governor Mohammed Kamran Khan Tessori on Sunday pledged to protect and promote the cultural values, traditions, and language of the province. He said, 'We pledge today to promote the culture of Sindh province and spread it around the world. ' On the occasion of Sindhi Culture Day, he wished a very happy Sindh Culture Day to the people of the province. He said, 'I congratulate the people of the province.' He said that on Sindhi Culture Day, the people of the province wear Sindhi caps and ajrak to express their love for their culture. PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Dec, 2024) Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan, and SAFRON, and President of PML-N Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Engineer Amir Muqam has announced compensation for all victims of recent incidents of violence in Parachinar on behalf of the federal government. He has directed the Kohat Commissioner to prepare a detailed report on the damages, said a press release issued on Sunday. Speaking at a grand jirga in Kohat, the minister stressed the importance of restoring peace in Parachinar for the greater good of the country and its people. He expressed condolences on behalf of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the federal government over the tragic incidents, praying for the departed souls and the swift recovery of the injured. Muqam emphasized that the issue transcends politics, urging all stakeholders to unite for a common resolution. "This is not just a provincial issue; it concerns the entire nation," he said and highlighted his efforts to foster unity, including visits to the Chief Ministers House and collaboration with the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The minister reiterated that lasting solutions can only be achieved through dialogue, not conflict. He promised to personally discuss the compensation package with the prime minister and present the matter to the federal cabinet. Families of the deceased and those who lost their homes would be compensated, he assured. Muqam warned of strict action against elements tempting to destabilize the region, stating, "Enemies of Pakistan cannot tolerate our stability and are sowing discord among us." He called for collective efforts to restore peace, urging political leaders and religious scholars to play their roles in this mission. Praising the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for his dedication, Engineer Muqam concluded by emphasizing the importance of everyone contributing to national harmony and stability. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Dec, 2024) President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday expressed deep grief and sorrow over the passing away of former MNA of Pakistan Peoples Party Makhdoom Syed Ali Hassan Gilani in a road accident. The president extended his condolences to the family members of the late Syed Ali Hassan Gilani. In a press statement issued by the President House Media Wing, he prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace. He also prayed for the grant of courage to the bereaved family members to bear the loss with equanimity. The president lauded the services of the late Ali Hassan Gilani to democracy and the Pakistan Peoples Party. Flash Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, meets with Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou in Athens, Greece, Nov. 28, 2024. Zhao paid an official goodwill visit to Greece at the invitation of Constantine Tassoulas, president of the Greek parliament, from Wednesday to Saturday. [Photo/Xinhua] China's top legislator Zhao Leji expressed China's commitment to carrying forward the traditional friendship with Greece and strengthening mutual support during his official goodwill visit to Greece from Wednesday to Saturday. Zhao, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), met in Athens with Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis respectively, and held talks with Constantine Tassoulas, president of the Greek parliament. When meeting with Sakellaropoulou, Zhao conveyed to her the cordial greetings and best wishes from Chinese President Xi Jinping, noting that since the establishment of diplomatic ties more than half a century ago, bilateral ties have been developing in a sound and steady manner. Zhao also noted that Xi and Sakellaropoulou jointly sent congratulatory letters to the inaugural World Conference of Classics, advocating the inheritance, development, exchange and mutual learning of civilizations, showcasing the sense of responsibility of two ancient civilizations. Guided by the implementation of the important consensus reached by the two countries' leaders, China is willing to work with Greece to carry forward traditional friendship, firmly support each other, and be good partners that trust each other, seek common development and enjoy cultural affinity, jointly implementing the Global Civilization Initiative and contributing to building a community with a shared future for mankind, said Zhao. For her part, Sakellaropoulou asked Zhao to convey her heartfelt greetings to Xi. The Greek president said the two countries have always respected and supported each other's major concerns and adhered to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, which have laid a solid foundation for developing bilateral relations and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation. As countries with ancient civilizations, Greece and China's cultural exchanges and dialogues are based on a deep foundation and have yielded fruitful results, setting an example for the international community of exchanges and mutual learning between different civilizations, said Sakellaropoulou. She expressed her hope to strengthen cooperation with China in areas such as trade, investment, culture and tourism to achieve mutual development and prosperity. When meeting with Mitsotakis, Zhao said Xi's successful state visit to Greece in 2019 opened a new chapter in bilateral relations. China appreciates Greece's firm adherence to the one-China principle and is willing to work with Greece to consolidate political mutual trust, strengthen strategic communication, promote exchanges and collaboration, advance high-quality cooperation on the Port of Piraeus, drive cooperation in areas such as trade, finance and shipping and continue to deepen people-to-people exchanges. China will maintain communication and coordination with Greece within multilateral frameworks to promote world peace and stability and drive the healthy and stable development of China-Europe relations, said Zhao. Mitsotakis said that Greece abides by the one-China policy. The Greek government continues to optimize its trade and investment policies, hopes to strengthen cooperation with China in areas such as trade, investment, shipping, artificial intelligence and culture, and welcomes Chinese companies to deepen their presence in the Greek market, he said. He noted that Greece speaks highly of the mutually beneficial cooperation on projects including the Port of Piraeus, and supports strengthening dialogue between Europe and China to jointly address global challenges such as climate change. Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, meets with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens, Greece, Nov. 28, 2024. Zhao paid an official goodwill visit to Greece at the invitation of Constantine Tassoulas, president of the Greek parliament, from Wednesday to Saturday. [Photo/Xinhua] In talks with Tassoulas, Zhao said that, in conjunction with the implementation of the major strategic and development goals of both countries, the NPC of China is willing to work with the Greek parliament to strengthen friendly exchanges at all levels of the legislatures, learn from each other's experience in legislation and supervision in social governance, ecological protection and opening up, and timely approve or formulate legal documents conducive to bilateral cooperation. Zhao called for close communication and coordination on multilateral platforms such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union. He also introduced the progress in advancing Chinese modernization, expressing readiness to move forward together with Greece on the path of development and revitalization, injecting new vitality into the two ancient civilizations in the new era. Tassoulas said the legislatures of the two countries can make greater efforts in legislation to facilitate bilateral cooperation in economy and trade and shipping to promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Before the talks, Zhao received a golden medal of the Greek parliament awarded by Tassoulas. During his visit, Zhao also attended the launching ceremony of the Chinese School of Classical Studies in Athens and visited the Port of Piraeus. He also toured the Region of Crete where he visited agricultural projects. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Dec, 2024) Minister of State for IT and Telecoms Shaza Fatima Khawaja Sunday pledged to revamp the country's internet infrastructure, vowing to restore optimal internet speeds and bolster the telecom sector's infrastructure. "My ministry is leaving no stone unturned to ensure seamless continuity in the industry. The recent surge in cyber attacks has put us on high alert and we are taking swift and decisive action to address these challenges and fortify our digital defenses," she said in an Interview with a private news channel. Shaza Fatima Khawaja also reaffirmed the government's commitment for protecting IT and Telecom industry, citing it as a top priority. To achieve this goal, the government is upgrading existing systems and focusing on key areas, including enhancing tower intensity, broadening broadband internet access and tackling pressing cybersecurity concerns to provide better coverage, boost economic growth and ensure a secure online environment for citizens, she added. Responding to a query, the minister said that the Ministry of Interior will instruct the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to probe and resolve issues faced by citizens when sending videos while ensuring overall 100% internet speed remains unaffected. The minister revealed that in the event of any issues, the Interior Minister reaches out to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for assistance. She acknowledged that challenges exist, but assured that the government is diligently working to address them. She emphasized that every citizen has the right to express their opinions and while digital platforms provide ample opportunities for self-expression, their temporary unavailability does not stifle citizens' freedom of speech. Responding to another query, the minister stated that the government is currently upgrading its web management system, with a focus on enhancing cybersecurity measures to effectively counter and control cyber attacks and terrorist activities. The minister also announced that the government plans to expand 4g and 5G internet services across Pakistan by April According to the Minister, Pakistan's IT and export sectors have witnessed remarkable growth over the past few months, with a notable increase of around 40%. (@FahadShabbir) Busan, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Dec, 2024) France on Sunday accused a handful of countries of obstructing negotiations in South Korea to reach the world's first treaty to curb plastic pollution. "We also are worried by the continuing obstruction by the so-called like-minded countries," Olga Givernet, France's minister delegate for energy, told reporters, referring to a group of mostly oil-producing nations. Nearly 200 countries are in the port city of Busan for negotiations on a deal to curb plastic pollution, with only a few hours left on the clock. "Finding an agreement for us on (an) ambitious treaty that reduces plastic pollution remains an absolute priority for France," Givernet said. "We are planning on pushing it, pushing it again." More than 90 percent of plastic is not recycled, while plastic production is expected to triple by 2060. Efforts to reach the landmark agreement have been locked over several key sticking points, particularly reducing production and phasing out chemicals believed or known to harm human health. More than 100 countries back those measures and insist a treaty without them will fail to solve the pollution crisis. But around a dozen nations -- mostly producers of plastic precursors derived from fossil fuels -- are strongly opposed. "We still have a few hours left in these negotiations, there is time to find common ground, but Rwanda cannot accept a toothless treaty," said Juliet Kabera, director general of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority. The latest draft text remains full of opposing views and contradictory language, and a promised new version after long hours of negotiations into Saturday night has not yet been published. "We will continue to fight for an ambitious outcome in Busan," Givernet said. "We have still a few hours to discuss and make contributions and be certain that our determination (is) to carry on with the negotiation process until the last hour." London, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Dec, 2024) Liverpool piled on the misery for Manchester City as the Premier League leaders beat the troubled champions 2-0 at Anfield, while Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim earned his first league win with a 4-0 rout of Everton on Sunday. Arne Slot's side moved nine points clear of second-placed Arsenal after Cody Gakpo's first-half opener and Mohamed Salah's late penalty dealt another blow to reeling City, who are languishing 11 points behind Liverpool in fifth place. City have lost four successive top-flight games for the first time since 2008, making them the first Premier League champions to endure such a dismal run the year after claiming the title. In the 32 Premier League seasons, only three times have teams come from 11 or more points behind at any point to win the title. City have clawed back significant deficits to win the Premier League in the Guardiola era, but they have never managed to lift the title after being behind by more than 10 points. City's seven-game winless run ranks as boss Pep Guardiola's longest barren streak in his glittering managerial career. Just weeks after he signed a new two-year contract, Liverpool fans taunted Guardiola with chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning", prompting a defiant response from the Spaniard, who held up six fingers to illustrate the number of titles he has won with City. Liverpool have won 18 of their 20 games in all competitions since Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp in the close-season. The Reds have won 11 of their 13 Premier League matches and are firm favourites to win the title for the first time since 2020. Guardiola sprang a surprise by starting Stefan Ortega in goal instead of the dropped Ederson, but the German had to pick the ball out of his net after just 12 minutes. City's defence was in disarray as Salah curled a shot towards the far post and Gakpo pounced to poke home from virtually on the line. Salah's 78th-minute penalty, awarded for Ortega's foul on Luis Diaz, was a dagger in the heart of City's title hopes. Amorim stole the spotlight in Sunday's early games by extending his unbeaten start with United to three matches. United were held to a 1-1 draw at Ipswich in his first Premier League game last Sunday, before the Portuguese boss earned his maiden win with United in a 3-2 success against Bodo/Glimt at Old Trafford in the Europa League on Thursday. - Man Utd power surge - The 39-year-old, who arrived from Sporting Lisbon to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag in November, has warned United would "suffer for a long period" before they can expect to challenge for the title. This was the most encouraging result of Amorim's brief time at ninth-placed United as they recovered from a slow start to dispatch lowly Everton. Marcus Rashford's 34th-minute drive from the edge of the area took a deflection off Jarrad Branthwaite before flashing into the net. United struck again seven minutes later as Branthwaite lost possession to Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes teed up Joshua Zirkzee to convert with ease. Rashford underlined United's superiority just 20 seconds after the interval as he applied a cool finish to Diallo's incisive pass for his seventh goal this season. Zirkee struck again in the 64th minute with a composed strike from the influential Diallo's assist after shambolic Everton defending. "The result was good but we were pragmatic. It was not pretty," Amorim said. "It is a rollercoaster. We have some moments when we are good but then we have moments when we have to suffer." At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to six games with a 3-0 win against Aston Villa, whose dismal winless streak reached eight matches. Enzo Maresca's men look capable of securing Champions League qualification after a third successive win in the space of eight days moved them level on points with second-placed Arsenal. Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez scored in the first half before Cole Palmer struck in the closing stages. Seventh-placed Tottenham's top four hopes were dented by a 1-1 draw against 10-man Fulham. Brennan Johnson slotted Tottenham into the lead from Timo Werner's 54th-minute pass, but Tom Cairney curled Fulham's equaliser into the far corner after 67 minutes. Cairney was sent off with seven minutes left after his foul on Dejan Kulusevski was upgraded from referee Darren bond's initial yellow card to a red after VAR intervened. smg/nf Manchester United TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR Doha, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Dec, 2024) Newly-crowned four-time world champion Max Verstappen has been stripped of pole position at the Qatar Grand Prix for impeding Mercedes driver George Russell in qualifying on Saturday. Red Bull's Verstappen was given a one-place grid penalty for blocking Russell with the British driver starting on pole instead of the Dutchman. Hours after Verstappen claimed his first pole position for five months a one-place penalty was imposed for driving unnecessarily slowly, a manouevre that pushed Russell into the gravel. The Red Bull driver clocked the fastest lap in one minute and 20.520 seconds and Russell was originally second for Mercedes just 0.055 seconds adrift. But the British driver cried foul immediately. "Super-dangerous by Verstappen," said the Mercedes driver, whose thoughts prompted the stewards to investigate. "I ended up going through the gravel and all over the floor it felt like it was scraping," said Russell. McLaren's Lando Norris remains third while sprint-race winner Oscar Piastri of McLaren was fourth with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc on the third row along with Lewis Hamilton in sixth for Sunday's Grand Prix. Norris admitted his disappointment at missing out on a front row start. "It's not what we hoped for, but it was the maximum we could do. My lap was pretty good, but not quick enough." Hamilton, set for Ferrari next year, finished sixth, admitting: "I don't really care. I just want to get through these races, do my job, turn up and look forward to the winter break." After the early laps, Verstappen led before Russell went top in 1:21. 519, a time that was seven-tenths quicker than Hamilton's best as he struggled to extract matching pace on his way to ninth. With four minutes to go, Russell offered Hamilton a tow which lifted him to sixth, 0.118 off the pace in a tight field before Russell trimmed two-tenths off his best lap in 1:21.241, beating Leclerc by 0.037 with Sainz third ahead of Norris. Out went Alex Albon and his Williams team-mate Franco Colapinto along with Liam Lawson of RB, Haas's Nico Hulkenberg and Alpine's Esteban Ocon. Russell began Q3 in the same style, clocking 1:21.161, but his top spot was quickly taken by Verstappen in 1:21.085, Red Bull's set-up changes, following the sprint, paying dividends. On his second run, Russell improved to go top again by 0.001 seconds, but it was not enough in improving conditions to resist a revitalised Verstappen, or Norris, who clocked 1:20.983. It looked solid for McLaren, but in a final flurry of laps Verstappen went top in 1:20.687 with Hamilton rising to fifth, within 0.026 of Russell in fourth, and Alonso and Magnussen claiming top ten spots. The 'top 10 shootout' began with Russell topping the pile in 1:20.575 ahead of Leclerc on their opening runs when Norris ran off at Turn Five and failed to clock a time before Verstappen slotted into second. This left McLaren in need of a strong late lap in the final seconds as they all ran again and Verstappen, against his own forecasts, finished ahead of Russell and Norris for what looked like his first pole since the Austrian Grand Prix in June. Thiaroye, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Dec, 2024) Senegal on Sunday commemorated 80 years since the killing of dozens of African troops by French forces that the former colonial master acknowledged this week had been a "massacre". Heads of state from Mauritania, the Comoros, Gabon, the Gambia and Guinea-Bissau, and France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot joined Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye who has used the anniversary to call for a new relationship with France. All laid wreaths at the scene of the killings at the former Thiaroye military camp, just outside Dakar, which have long been a stain on relations between Senegal and France. Around 1,600 soldiers from West Africa who had been captured by Germany while fighting for France were sent back to Dakar in November 1944. After arriving at the Thiaroye military camp, discontent mounted over unpaid wages and demands to be treated on a par with white soldiers. Some protesters refused to return to their home countries without their due. French forces opened fire on December 1, killing at least 35 people, French authorities said at the time. Historians say the real death toll could be as high as 400 as some of the victims' graves have yet to be disclosed. The 202 graves at Thiaroye cemetery are anonymous and it is not known how many are victims of the 1944 killings. "Defenceless African heroes, armed with courage, dignity and African solidarity were killed in cold blood. It was a massacre," said Faye. "The scale of this crime remains minimised and often even denied by some elements of the heirs of those who committed it," he added. Elected this year on a promise to reclaim national sovereignty, Faye said there had been 80 years of "omerta", or official silence, on the deaths by Senegal's leaders. France's President Emmanuel Macron sent a letter to Faye this week calling the event a "massacre", according to the Senegalese leader. Barrot said at the ceremony that the Thiaroye killings were "a gaping wound in our common history". Faye announced the letter in an interview with AFP in which he also said that France should close its military base in the West African state as part of a resetting of relations. In the interview, Faye said that China was now Senegal's largest trading partner and investor. "Does China have a military presence in Senegal? No. Does that mean our relations are cut? No." France, faced with growing opposition to its military presence in several African countries, has said it will cut its troop numbers as part of a review. Faye told Sunday's ceremony that it was important to pay tribute to the dead soldiers of 1944 "and establish a new relationship with ourselves, our history and the descendents of the perpetrators of this tragedy". He praised Macron's "moral courage" for finally acknowledging that it was a "massacre" and said it would be taught in schools and streets, and public squares would be named after Thiaroye and the soldiers killed there. Faye said the soldiers had to become part of our "collective conscience" and that telling children was not intended to arouse "resentment, anger or hatred" but to ensure the truth was revealed and remembered. bur-lal/gil/tw/bc Mexican immigration authorities have broken up two small migrant caravans headed to the U.S. border, activists said Saturday. Some migrants were bused to cities in southern Mexico, and others were offered transit papers. The action comes a week after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump threatened to slap 25% tariffs on Mexican products unless the country does more to stem the flow of migrants to the U.S. border. On Wednesday, Trump wrote that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had agreed to stop unauthorized migration across the border into the United States. Sheinbaum wrote on her social media accounts the same day that "migrants and caravans are taken care of before they reach the border." Migrant rights activist Luis Garcia Villagran said the breaking-up of the two caravans appeared to be part of "an agreement between the president of Mexico and the president of the United States." The first of the caravans started out from the southern Mexico city of Tapachula, near the border with Guatemala, on November 5, the day Trump was elected. At its height it had about 2,500 people. In almost four weeks of walking, it had gone about 270 miles (430 kilometers) to Tehuantepec in the state of Oaxaca. In Tehuantepec, Mexican immigration officials offered the tired migrants free bus rides to other cities in southern or central Mexico. "They took some of us to Acapulco, others to Morelia, and others from our group to Oaxaca city," said Barbara Rodriguez, an opposition supporter who left her native Venezuela after that country's contested presidential elections earlier this year. Rodriguez said by telephone she later caught a bus on her own to Mexico City. The second caravan of about 1,500 migrants set out on November 20 and made it about 140 miles (225 kilometers) to the town of Tonala, in Chiapas state. There, authorities offered a sort of transit visa that allows travel across Mexico for 20 days. Sheinbaum has said she is confident that a tariff war with the United States can be averted. But her statement the day after she held a phone call with Trump did not make clear who had offered what. Apart from the much larger first caravans in 2018 and 2019 which were provided buses to ride part of the way north no caravan has ever reached the U.S. border walking or hitchhiking in any cohesive way, though some individual members have made it. For years, migrant caravans have often been blocked, harassed or prevented from hitching rides by Mexican police and immigration agents. They have also frequently been rounded up or returned to areas near the Guatemalan border. The Syrian military rushed in reinforcements Sunday to push back insurgents from advancing farther into the northern Hama countryside after they seized Aleppo and surrounding strategic locations in an adjacent province in a surprise offensive. The insurgents led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham took over most of Aleppo on Saturday and claimed to have entered the city of Hama. There was no independent confirmation of their claim. Rebel commander Col. Hassan Abdulghani said separately the insurgents also took control of Sheikh Najjar, also known as the Aleppo Industrial City, northeast of the city, Aleppo's military academy and the field artillery college to the southwest. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi travels to Syrian capital Damascus later Sunday. He told reporters that Tehran will back the Syrian government and army. The swift and surprise offensive is a huge embarrassment for Syria's President Bashar Assad and raises questions about his armed forces' preparedness. It also comes at a time when Assad's allies Iran and groups it backs and Russia are preoccupied with their own conflicts. Syrian state television claimed government forces had killed nearly 1,000 insurgents over the past three days, without providing evidence or details. Government airstrikes overnight on Idlib city, the rebel-held bastion near Hama province and 65 kilometers (40 miles) southeast of Aleppo, killed four civilians and wounded 54 others, according to the Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, that operates in opposition-held areas. According to Syrian state news agency SANA and a war monitor, the army overnight pushed back insurgents in the northern countryside of Hama province. Britain-based opposition war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that government reinforcements created a "strong defensive line" in the northern Hama countryside. The observatory and Syrian state-run news network Al-Ikhbariyah also reported Russian airstrikes, both in Idlib and some of the areas now under rebel control. In his first public comments since the start of the offensive, released by the state news agency Saturday evening, Assad said Syria will continue to "defend its stability and territorial integrity against terrorists and their supporters." He added that Syria is able to defeat them no matter how much their attacks intensify. The 2016 battle for Aleppo was a turning point in the war between Syrian government forces and rebel fighters after 2011 protests against Assad's rule turned into an all-out war. After appearing to be losing control of the country to the rebels, the Aleppo battle secured Assad's hold on strategic areas of Syria, with opposition factions and their foreign backers controlling areas on the periphery. U.S. President Joe Biden is "excited" to make his first trip to the African continent next week and will first stop briefly in the small island nation of Cabo Verde before making landfall in the Southwest African nation of Angola, a top White House official told VOA Friday. "He is excited and really looking forward to the trip," Frances Brown, senior director for African affairs at the National Security Council, told VOA at the White House. "I think the president really sees this as a way to sum up all that he's tried to put forward during this administration on our Africa strategy." While there, she said, he will work on three objectives: on bolstering regional security, notably in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo; on growing economic opportunities in the region; and on improving technological and scientific cooperation. "He sees Angola as the perfect place for this," she said. Some analysts say the fulfillment of Biden's vow to visit Africa made in 2022 is well overdue. Biden originally planned to visit Angola in October; he postponed that trip because Hurricane Milton was bearing down on the eastern United States. "I think coming, as it does, at the very tail end of his administration, without much to, I think, really celebrate in terms of his involvement in Africa, that I think the visit will ring rather hollow," Cameron Hudson, a senior fellow in the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told VOA. The main attraction of the short visit is a major U.S.-financed development project: the 1,300-kilometer Lobito rail corridor, which connects the mineral-rich African interior to the southwestern port. The U.S. says it has pulled together more than $4 billion in U.S. investment on the project. When asked by VOA if Biden will attempt to discuss Angola's many documented human rights problems, Brown repeated a refrain often voiced by Biden administration officials, saying: "he never shies away from talking about democracy and human rights issues with counterparts." The short stop in the island nation of Cabo Verde could be seen as a way to balance this concern, Michael Walsh, a visiting researcher at the Lasky Center of the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, told VOA. "They're trying to, you know, add a stop that provides an opportunity for the Biden administration to say, look, we actually are visiting a flawed democracy as well as a hybrid regime," he said. He added, "That provides them with an opportunity to try to, I guess, mitigate some of the criticism that would be forthcoming during the visit by saying that the Biden administration isn't just stopping in one African country. They actually stopped in two and one of those is on the other side of the democracy spectrum." Angola's president, Joao Lourenco, is a prominent figure on the African continent, using his status as leader of a subcontinental oil giant to build his influence and to work to settle conflicts near and far, both in neighboring Congo and in the West African "coup belt." This, Brown said, ties into one of Biden's core beliefs as he prepares to leave office: That the U.S. sees African nations as partners and problem-solvers. While there, she said, Biden plans to deliver remarks on how he sees the future of relations between Washington and the continent. "I think he wants to leave behind his recognition that African leadership for solving some of these challenges is essential, and that's why he'll be amplifying Angola's role mediating in the Democratic Republic of Congo and elsewhere," she said. "And I think he wants to convey the remarkable evolution of the U.S.-Angolan partnership, which is in many ways the story of the remarkable evolution of the U.S.-African relationship over many centuries." The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. President Joe Bidens visit to Angola the first by a U.S. president to the southwest African nation centers on a rail corridor for transportation of valuable minerals from the heart of the continent to a burgeoning Angolan port. VOA White House Correspondent Anita Powell reports from Washington. When U.S. President Joe Biden visits Angola this week, he will put into focus his legacy infrastructure project aimed at securing crucial supply chains on the African continent. Called the Lobito Corridor, the project is the centerpiece of his administrations strategy to counter Chinas clout in global development. The Lobito Corridor is a $5 billion investment across multiple sectors that is intended to revitalize and extend the 1,300-kilometer Benguela railway line. It will connect the 120-year-old Angolan port of Lobito on the Atlantic Ocean to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and in its second phase, to Zambia. Announced in September 2023, much of the corridors financing comes from the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment. The PGI is a Biden-led 2022 initiative from the Group of Seven wealthiest economies that evolved from his Build Back Better World plan launched in 2021 as a counter to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. Once operational, it will boost access to critical minerals for the United States and its partners, including cobalt and copper, that are essential in electric vehicle manufacturing. According to a U.S. congressional report, 80% of the DRCs copper mines are Chinese owned. China is responsible for mining 85% of the DRCs rare earth minerals, including 76% of its cobalt. The Lobito Corridor is expected to cut transportation costs, open access to arable agricultural land and drive climate-resilient economic growth, Helaina Matza, acting special coordinator for the PGI at the U.S. Department of State, said Tuesday in a briefing to reporters. The PGIs investments will amplify the impact of that infrastructure with projects such as developing solar energy, local electricity networks and desalination efforts, she said. The project is championed by Angolan President Joao Lourenco. Angola owes about $17 billion to China, more than a third of its total debt. The debt is mostly in the form of infrastructure development loans, backed by oil, that funded the countrys economic recovery following three decades of civil war that ended in 2002. PGI to counter BRI Since launching the Belt and Road Initiative, or BRI, in 2013, China has become the main backer of global development financing. In Africa, Beijing has signed loan commitments with 49 African governments and seven regional institutions. From 2013 to 2021, China provided $679 billion for infrastructure projects around the world, according to a U.S. government analysis, while the U.S. provided $76 billion. The U.S., alongside G7 partners, announced in 2022 that the PGI aims to mobilize $600 billion by 2027 as an alternative to infrastructure financing models that are often opaque, fail to uphold environmental and social standards, exploit workers and leave the recipient countries worse off. Thats a lot of financing to catch up to in a few years, and Lobito is the first and the most developed project in that effort, said Witney Schneidman, a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. That's the A+ project, but I dont see a whole lot of other projects, Schneidman told VOA. The PGIs other project, the Luzon Corridor, was launched in April to support connectivity between Subic Bay, Clark, Manila and Batangas in the Philippines. In Lobito, the U.S. works mostly with European partners. In Luzon, the U.S. is teaming up with Japan to secure critical industries such as semiconductors. The White House pushed back against the notion that Biden has scaled back his global infrastructure ambitions to the two corridors. Weve mobilized more than $60 billion, just the U.S., and thats a part of the larger G7, national security adviser Jake Sullivan told VOA during a briefing last month. And thats not just been for two corridors, he said. Thats been for investments across Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America. US-Africa strategy In August 2022, the Biden administration launched an Africa strategy that reframes the regions importance to U.S. national security interests, the strategy says. Later that year, Biden hosted the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, where he pledged the U.S. to invest $55 billion in Africa over three years. We are overdelivering on that thus far, Frances Brown, senior director for African affairs at the National Security Council, said in a briefing Tuesday. Weve invested more than 80% of that commitment. But much of that $55 billion was allocated under existing programs and does not bring the kind of megaproject that is visible to the average African that says the United States financed that in the way that the Chinese do, said Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Which is why the Lobito Corridor stands out, Dizolele told VOA. It is the one palpable project that people can look at and say, If this is implemented, then maybe it would move things forward. On a continent where the presence of Chinese financing, businesses and migrants are so prevalent that many African countries teach Mandarin in schools and incorporate Chinese characters in public signage, thats a start. Moving forward, activists hope the U.S. will not set aside social and environmental concerns that have besieged projects under Chinese financing. We have to ensure that we can hear all stakeholders engaging in the process, said Sergio Calundungo, founder of the Social Observatory of Angola. So far, civil society groups have not been invited to the table, but they are ready to ensure that local communities can share as much as possible the prosperity through this important infrastructure, he told VOA. Will it continue? President-elect Donald Trump will enter office in January. While some are concerned that the U.S. commitment to Africa might falter under his America First doctrine, analysts point to initiatives taken under his first administration. In 2018, the Trump administration launched Prosper Africa, an initiative that brings together U.S. government services to help investors do business on the continent. In 2019, it launched the Blue Dot Network, an international certification mechanism to ensure infrastructure projects meet environmental and social standards. They were aware that infrastructure investments needed to foster economic growth, to foster stability, but also for U.S. interests globally when competing with China, said Joseph Lemoine, senior director of the Atlantic Council's Freedom and Prosperity Center. I'm hopeful that they will continue those efforts, he told VOA. Trump also launched the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation in 2020. The DFC is an agency that functions as Americas development bank, with $60 billion in lending capacity. DFCs first CEO, Adam Boehler, a college roommate of Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, spoke openly of linking development aid to foreign policy goals. In a 2020 interview, he admitted promising $2 billion for Indonesia should the country agree to join the Trump administration's Abraham Accords and recognize Israel. If you listen to all the Trump people, they want a foreign policy that's transactional, Schneidman at Brookings said. Trump has promised to take a confrontational approach to China. Analysts say aligning infrastructure financing needs with Trumps foreign policy goals may be an element in the U.S.-China rivalry that developing nations can leverage. A bus crashed Sunday evening near a ski resort in southern France, killing at least two people and injuring 33 others, local authorities said. A total of 47 people including the driver were on the bus when it crashed near the Porte-Puymorens ski resort, the regional administration said. Seven people were in critical condition. Local authorities said a preliminary investigation showed the bus ran into a cliff, but the exact circumstances that may have resulted in such a collision were not immediately clear. Images released by the local firefighter service showed the bus pressed against the side of a cliff, its right side partially crushed, and the windshield was apparently knocked out. More than 120 individuals were involved in the high-altitude rescue effort, including from neighboring Catalonia in Spain and Andorra. Four rescue helicopters were also deployed to the accident scene some 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) in the French Pyrenees mountains. Catalonia's emergency services said on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, that the bus originated from LHospitalet de Llobregat, outside Barcelona, Spain. A holiday center in Porte-Puymorens resort was opened to house the surviving passengers. The local ski resort has not opened yet because of a lack of snow. Some information for this report came from Agence France-Presse. Violent clashes erupted on Saturday outside Georgia's parliament between police and demonstrators protesting the government's decision to delay European Union membership talks amid a post-election crisis, Agence France-Presse reporters witnessed. Thousands of people gathered in Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, on Saturday for a third night of protests that saw dozens of protesters arrested. The Black Sea nation has been rocked by turmoil since the ruling Georgian Dream party claimed victory in an October 26 parliamentary election that the pro-European opposition said was fraudulent. Masked police in riot gear fired rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons as they moved in to disperse protesters hurling fireworks, while flames were seen coming from a window of the parliament building. Demonstrators erected barricades on Tbilisi's main avenue. "I am afraid I won't hide it that many people will get injured, but I am not afraid to stand here," 39-year-old Tamar Gelashvili told AFP near the parliament building earlier in the day. Protests were also reported in numerous cities across Georgia. "The actions of some individuals present at the protest became violent shortly after the demonstration began," said the interior ministry. "Police will respond appropriately and in accordance with the law to every violation." More than 100 people have been arrested over the last two days, when law enforcement cracked down on protesters, firing water cannon and tear gas at demonstrators. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze's announcement on Thursday that Georgia would not seek accession talks with the EU until 2028 ignited a furious reaction from the opposition. Critics accuse Georgian Dream, in power for more than a decade, of having steered the country away from the EU in recent years and of moving closer to Russia, an accusation it denies. Hundreds of public servants, including from the ministries of foreign affairs, defense and education, as well as a number of judges, issued joint statements protesting Kobakhidze's decision. Some 160 Georgian diplomats criticized the move as contradicting the constitution and leading the country "into international isolation." A number of Georgia's ambassadors resigned in protest. On Friday, AFP reporters saw riot police fire water cannon and tear gas at pro-EU protesters gathered outside parliament who tossed eggs and fireworks. Clashes broke out later between protesters and police, who moved in to clear the area, beating demonstrators some of whom threw objects and journalists, deliberately targeting those identified as members of the media. Georgia's special investigation service said it had opened a probe into "allegations of abuse of official authority through violence by law enforcement officers against protesters and media representatives." More than 100 schools and universities suspended academic activities in protest. Pro-Western opposition parties are boycotting the new parliament, while President Salome Zurabishvili, who is at loggerheads with Georgian Dream, has sought to annul the election results through the country's constitutional court. In an exclusive interview to AFP on Saturday, Zurabishvili said she will not step down until last month's contested parliamentary elections are re-run. The Paris-born former French diplomat said on Saturday that she had set up a "national council" consisting of opposition parties and civil society representatives that will ensure "stability in this country." "I will be the representative of this legitimate, stable transition." After the October vote, a group of Georgia's leading election monitors said they had evidence of a complex scheme of large-scale electoral fraud. Brussels has demanded an investigation into what it said were serious irregularities reported by election monitors. Georgian Dream MPs voted unanimously on Thursday for Kobakhidze to continue as prime minister, even as the opposition boycotted parliament, deepening a serious legitimacy crisis at the legislature and the government. The crackdown on protests has provoked international condemnation. "We condemn excessive force used against Georgians exercising their freedom to protest and have suspended our Strategic Partnership with Georgia," U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on Saturday. "Georgian Dream's decision to suspend EU accession is a betrayal of the Georgian constitution." France, Britain, Ukraine, Poland, Sweden and Lithuania were among the countries to voice concern. The human rights office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said: "The action of law enforcement officials while policing peaceful protests in Georgia is of deep concern and a serious breach of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly." Countries negotiating a global treaty to curb plastic pollution failed to reach agreement on Monday, with more than 100 nations wanting to cap production while a handful of oil-producers were prepared only to target plastic waste. The fifth U.N. Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) meeting intended to yield a legally binding global treaty in Busan, South Korea, was meant to be the final one. However, countries remained far apart on the basic scope of a treaty and could agree only to postpone key decisions and resume talks, dubbed INC 5.2, to a later date. "It is clear that there is still persisting divergence," said Inger Andersen, executive director of the U.N. Environment Program. The most divisive issues included capping plastic production, managing plastic products and chemicals of concern, and financing to help developing countries implement the treaty. An option proposed by Panama, backed by more than 100 countries, would have created a path for a global plastic production reduction target, while another proposal did not include production caps. The fault lines were apparent in a revised document released on Sunday by the meeting's chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso, which may form the basis of a treaty, but remained riddled with options on the most sensitive issues. "A treaty that ... only relies on voluntary measures would not be acceptable," said Juliet Kabera, director general of Rwanda's Environment Management Authority. "It is time we take it seriously and negotiate a treaty that is fit for purpose and not built to fail." A small number of petrochemical-producing nations, such as Saudi Arabia, have strongly opposed efforts to reduce plastic production and have tried to use procedural tactics to delay negotiations. "There was never any consensus," said Saudi Arabian delegate Abdulrahman Al Gwaiz. "There are a couple of articles that somehow seem to make it (into the document) despite our continued insistence that they are not within the scope." China, the United States, India, South Korea and Saudi Arabia were the top five primary polymer-producing nations in 2023, according to data provider Eunomia. Entrenched divisions Had such divisions been overcome, the treaty would have been one of the most significant deals relating to environmental protection since the 2015 Paris Agreement. The postponement comes just days after the turbulent conclusion of the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. At Baku, countries set a new global target for mobilizing $300 billion annually in climate finance, a deal deemed woefully insufficient by small island states and many developing countries. The climate talks were also slowed by procedural maneuvers by Saudi Arabia who objected to the inclusion of language that reaffirmed a previous commitment to transition away from fossil fuels. Some negotiators said a few countries held the proceedings hostage, avoiding compromises needed by using the U.N.'s consensus process. Senegal's National Delegate Cheikh Ndiaye Sylla called it "a big mistake" to exclude voting during the entire negotiations, an agreement made last year during the second round of talks in Paris. "This outcome underscores the complexity of addressing plastic pollution on a global scale and the need for further deliberations to achieve an effective, inclusive and workable treaty," said Chris Jahn, council secretary of the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA), representing plastic makers. "There is little assurance that the next INC will succeed where INC-5 did not," environmental group GAIA said. Plastic production is on track to triple by 2050, and microplastics have been found in the air, fresh produce and even human breast milk. Chemicals found to be of concern in plastics include more than 3,200 according to a 2023 U.N. Environment Programme report, which said women and children were particularly susceptible to their toxicity. Despite the postponement, several negotiators expressed urgency to get back into talks. "Every day of delay is a day against humanity. Postponing negotiations does not postpone the crisis," said Panama's delegation head Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez on Sunday. "When we reconvene, the stakes will be higher." A trial court's order that triggered violence this week, leaving six Muslims dead, should be taken to the Uttar Pradesh state's highest court, India's Supreme Court said Friday. The Supreme Court also asked the trial court not to proceed with the order against Shahi Jama Masjid, a 16th century mosque, until the Allahabad High Court acts on the lawsuit that the mosque will likely file shortly. A trial court, acting on a petition by some Hindu groups, on November 19 ordered a survey team to inspect the mosque in Sambhal. In the petition, the Hindu groups claimed that the mosque was built in 1526 at the site of a Hindu temple demolished by the Muslim Mughal emperor Babur. Former Indian Supreme Court Justice Madan Lokur said to VOA in an email that the court order for the inspection of the mosque was "a clear violation of the Places of Worship Act, 1991," referring to a law that froze the status of all religious places of worship as they were on August 15, 1947, the date of India's independence, and prohibits their conversion to any other religion. "I'm quite shocked that the (Sambhal) court even took 'cognizance of the case' [actively considering the matter]. The damage caused by the court taking cognizance can have a long-term effect," Lokur told the VOA. "Instead of directing the case to the High Court, the Supreme Court itself should have entertained the appeal against the order anticipating an escalation of cases. There is an urgent need to avoid even the slightest delay, otherwise cases will keep multiplying causing great damage to the polity." A 'hasty' order? Muslims have been using the Shahi Jama Masjid Mosque in Sambhal for almost 500 years. In recent years, some right-wing Hindu groups began claiming that Babur, founder of the 16th-century Mughal Empire, destroyed the Harihar Temple and used the rubble to build the mosque. A survey by experts could lead to the discovery of the ruins of the ancient temple, the groups said. After the Hindu groups filed the petition on November 19, the local court in Sambhal ordered a survey of the functioning mosque's premises. In an unusually quick response, a team of experts from the Uttar Pradesh state authorities inspected the site of the mosque on the same day, apparently looking for the ruins of any Hindu temple. When the team returned to the mosque on a second visit on November 24, allegedly not notifying mosque authorities in advance, local Muslims tried to resist them. Violence erupted as the police tried to disperse the Muslim protesters. At one point the police allegedly opened fire, killing six Muslims and injuring many others. Supreme Court lawyer Balraj Singh Malik said the judge at the court in Sambhal acted "in a haste" when ordering the survey, leading to the six deaths. "In the case of such a sensitive matter, the court should have given the respondents a chance to speak before passing an order. The due course of law was not followed, and instead an immediate order was issued," Malik told VOA. A stubborn problem For decades, Hindu right-wing groups have claimed that many mosques and Islamic shrines in the country were built after razing "thousands" of Hindu temples during the period of the Muslim rulers. The groups launched a campaign insisting that "one by one" they would reclaim the lands where, according to them, the ancient temples had stood. A year after the 1991 act protecting places of worship came into force, a Hindu mob pulled down the 16th-century Babri Masjid mosque in the Indian city of Ayodhya, triggering communal violence that killed around 2,000 people across the country. Hindu groups claimed that the mosque stood where the Hindu deity Ram had been born. In 2019, the Supreme Court awarded the land where Babri Masjid had stood to Hindus and said that in the future the Places of Worship Act would be strictly enforced and no such Hindu claim against any mosque would be entertained by any court. Yet, over the past few years, right-wing Hindu groups have filed hundreds of petitions with courts across the country seeking control of many mosques and other Islamic structures claiming that they stood on the sites of razed Hindu temples. Professor and social activist Apoorvanand said that while the deaths in Sambhal are concerning, it is more worrying that Indian courts are "too willing" to initiate processes aimed at turning sacred Islamic sites into disputed structures. "Across India, courts are admitting petitions claiming that Islamic places of worship were earlier Hindu ones," the Delhi University professor, who goes by only his first name, told VOA in an email. "The violence at Sambhal also shows that the civil and police administration work as the coercive arms of the Hindutva bodies. They criminalize protests by Muslims and are not shy of firing on them at the first instance," he added. Former chairman of the Delhi Minorities Commission, Zafarul-Islam Khan told VOA that old monuments like ancient mosques are "easy targets" for Hindu nationalist forces because such sites usually do not have any documents from when they were first built. "The Hindutva party, too, does not possess any papers or historical evidence. So, they demand a 'survey' of any particular mosque and such surveys are done by people sympathetic towards them, eager to support the Hindutva claim," he said, adding that the Hindu Nationalist groups have prepared a list of 3,000 such mosques, which means that such anti-Muslim cases may continue for years. Interpol arrested 1,006 suspects in Africa during a massive two-month operation, clamping down on cybercrime that left tens of thousands of victims, including some who were trafficked, and produced millions in financial damages, the global police organization said Tuesday. Operation Serengeti, a joint operation with Afripol, the African Union's police agency, ran from September 2 to October 31 in 19 African countries and targeted criminals behind ransomware, business email compromise, digital extortion and online scams, the agency said in a statement. "From multi-level marketing scams to credit card fraud on an industrial scale, the increasing volume and sophistication of cybercrime attacks is of serious concern," said Valdecy Urquiza, the Secretary General of Interpol. Interpol pinpointed 35,000 victims, with cases linked to nearly $193 million in financial losses worldwide, stating that local police authorities and private sector partners, including internet service providers, played a key role in the operation. Jalel Chelba, Afripol's executive director, said in the statement: "Through Serengeti, Afripol has significantly enhanced support for law enforcement in African Union Member States." Serengeti's results were a "drastic increase" compared to operations in Africa in previous years, Enrique Hernandez Gonzalez, Interpol's Assistant Director of Cybercrime Operations, told The Associated Press. Interpol's previous cybercrime operations in Africa had only led to 25 arrests in the last two years. "Significant progress has been made, with participating countries enhancing their ability to work with intelligence and produce meaningful results," Gonzalez said. In Kenya, the police made nearly two dozen arrests in an online credit card fraud case linked to losses of $8.6 million. In the West African country of Senegal, officers arrested eight people, including five Chinese nationals, for a $6 million online Ponzi scheme. Chelba said Afripol's focus now includes emerging threats like Artificial Intelligence-driven malware and advanced cyberattack techniques. Other dismantled networks included a group in Cameroon suspected of using a multi-level marketing scam for human trafficking, an international criminal group in Angola running an illegal virtual casino and a cryptocurrency investment scam in Nigeria, the agency said. Interpol, which has 196 member countries and celebrated its centennial last year, works to help national police forces communicate with each other and track suspects and criminals in fields like counterterrorism, financial crime, child pornography, cybercrime and organized crime. The world's biggest if not best-funded police organization has been grappling with new challenges including a growing caseload of cybercrime and child sex abuse, and increasing divisions among its member countries. Interpol had a total budget of about 176 million euros (about $188 million) last year, compared to more than 200 million euros at the European Union's police agency, Europol, and some $11 billion at the FBI in the United States. The chance for an end to more than a year of fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and the release of about 100 hostages held by the militants is now more likely because of last weeks ceasefire reached by Israel with Hezbollah in Lebanon, a top U.S. national security official said Sunday. The U.S. and other negotiators may have a chance to end 14 months of fighting in Gaza, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CNNs State of the Union show but declined to make a prediction, because weve come close before. Israels mostly ceremonial president, Isaac Herzog, said Sunday, "There are negotiations taking place behind the scenes, and it can be done. Sullivan told NBCs Meet the Press show, We are engaged deeply with the key players in the region, and there is activity even today. There will be further conversations and consultations, and our hope is that we can generate a ceasefire and hostage deal, but we're not there yet. Sullivan spoke a day after Hamas released a videotape of one of the hostages, Israeli American Edan Alexander. Speaking under duress, Alexander blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, saying, "The prime minister is supposed to protect his soldiers and citizens, and you abandoned us. Sullivan said the video was a cruel reminder of Hamas' brutality and of the fact that they are holding so many hostages from so many countries. Hamas triggered the war with Israel, killing about 1,200 people and capturing 250 hostages in the attack 14 months ago. Israel says that about a third of the remaining 100 or so hostages are believed to be dead. In its counteroffensive, Israel has killed more than 44,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants. Israel, without providing evidence, says it has killed more than 17,000 militants. Sullivan called the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, which has largely been holding steady, a huge step forward in the Middle East the opportunity for people to ultimately be able to return to their homes in Israel and in Lebanon. He said the United States, France and other allies are going to work together with the Lebanese Armed Forces through a mechanism to ensure that the ceasefire is implemented effectively. Our goal is to get through these first few days, critical days of a ceasefire, when it's most fragile, have it take full hold, and then ultimately build on it so that it becomes the permanent ceasefire it's intended to be. Whether the Israel-Hezbollah pact translates into a ceasefire in Gaza remains uncertain. The United States, Qatar and Egypt have spent much of the past year trying to broker a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the remaining hostages. But the talks have been stalemated, with Israel rejecting Hamas' demand for a complete withdrawal from the territory and Israel demanding that any vestige of Hamas control in the narrow territory along the Mediterranean Sea be erased. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to end the wars in the Middle East, without saying how, and pushed Israel to end its fight against Hamas before he takes office January 20. Trump, like Biden, has been a staunch defender of Israels prerogative to defend itself. On the Gaza war front, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees said Sunday it is halting aid deliveries through the main cargo crossing into Gaza because of the threat of armed gangs who have looted recent convoys. It blamed the breakdown of law and order on Israeli policies. Israel had no immediate comment. Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, the main aid provider in Gaza, said the route leading to the Kerem Shalom crossing is too dangerous on the Gaza side. Armed men looted nearly 100 trucks traveling on the route in mid-November, and he said gangs stole a smaller shipment Saturday. Kerem Shalom is the only crossing between Israel and Gaza that is designed for cargo shipments and has been the main artery for aid deliveries since the Rafah crossing with Egypt was shut down in May. Last month, nearly two-thirds of all aid entering Gaza came through Kerem Shalom, and in previous months it accounted for an even larger amount, according to Israeli figures. In a post on X, Lazzarini largely blamed Israel for the breakdown of humanitarian operations in Gaza, citing "political decisions to restrict the amounts of aid," lack of safety on aid routes and Israel's targeting of the Hamas-run police force, which had previously provided public security. Meanwhile, Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least six people overnight, including two young children, ages 6 and 8, in the tent where their family was sheltering, medical officials said Sunday. The strike in the Muwasi area, a sprawling tent camp housing hundreds of thousands of displaced people, also wounded the children's mother and their 8-month-old sister, according to Nasser Hospital. In still another Mideast conflict, the Syrian military rushed in reinforcements to push back insurgents from advancing farther after they seized Aleppo in a surprise offensive. The insurgents look over most of the Syrian city Saturday and claimed to have entered the city of Hama. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is traveling to the Syrian capital Damascus later Sunday. He told reporters that Tehran will back the Syrian government and army. The swift insurgent offensive is an embarrassment for Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and comes at a time when his allies Iran and its militant groups and Russia are preoccupied with their own conflicts. Some material in this report came from The Associated Press. Residents and relatives say at least nine people were killed during an attack in the Arsi Zone of the Oromia region of Ethiopia on Thursday. Adebebu Workineh is a resident of the Shirka Woreda or district in the Arsi Zone, about 250 kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa. He told VOA his younger brother, Haile Workineh, was among the nine victims. "The perpetrators called him from his house and later killed him at a nearby river alongside others," Workineh said in Amharic. Among the dead were women and elders, he added. "During the raid I heard [about] the abduction by phone, but I thought they would ask for ransom as usual. They were carrying rifles, and we were afraid to confront them at the time," he said in Amharic. A second resident of Shirka, who would not give his name because of fear for his safety, said most of the victims were Christians. The whereabouts of four other people who were abducted are not known, he told VOA. Social media sites published purported video of nine bodies wrapped in white clothes being buried together. VOA was not able to independently verify the video. The Arsi Zone, a region known for agriculture, is now marred by violence and killing. Residents blamed the Oromo Liberation Army, an outlawed rebel group fighting against the Ethiopian government army, for the killings. Jiregna Gudeta, an adviser to the OLA commander, told VOA he has no detailed information about the incident and denied OLA was involved. Residents say local authorities do little to protect civilians. The ENAT Party, one of the opposition political parties in Ethiopia, has condemned the attack. "Our concern is not the dead ones, we [are] reaching out to the state officers for the people who are about to be the victim of such killing, we immediately call for the state to act," said Getnet Worku, secretary-general of the party. Oromia regional authorities declined to comment on the attack. Peace rallies were held in six zones in the Oromia region in mid-November. Participants of the demonstrations said the aim was to condemn OLA and demand peace in the region. Oromia region spokesperson Hailu Adugna said at the time that the rallies were organized by the local communities and that government officials had no role. But some witnesses told VOA that government officials were urging people to participate in the demonstrations. Jiregna, reacting to the demonstrations in mid-November, said their group is ready to resolve conflicts peacefully. He said it is doubtful whether the people or the government organized the rally for peace. A previous round of peace talks last year between Ethiopia's federal government and the OLA in Tanzania's semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar has failed to end the violence. The two sides blamed each other for the failure of the talks. The government cited "unrealistic demands" by the armed group while OLA accused the government of failing to address "fundamental problems" facing the country, according to Reuters. This story originated in VOA's Horn of Africa Service. A decade-long conflict over the condition of a New Jersey resort town's beaches, involving tens of millions of dollars in litigation and fines, could come to an end soon. Patrick Rosenello, the mayor of North Wildwood, says his town has reached an agreement with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to drop claims on both sides and move forward with measures to widen beaches in the community, popular with tourists from the Philadelphia area. The agreement, which is up for a vote Tuesday by North Wildwood's council, would resolve all outstanding disputes between the parties, the Republican mayor said. The tentative timing of the replenishment is sometime in 2025, he said. The agreement includes canceling the $12 million New Jersey has fined North Wildwood for unauthorized beach repairs that the state says could actually worsen erosion. It also calls for the city to drop a lawsuit against the state seeking reimbursement for the $30 million it has spent trucking in sand for emergency repairs to eroded sections of its beach over the past decade. We agreed that we will concentrate on protecting our beaches instead of suing each other, Rosenello said Wednesday. At the root of the dispute is the fact that North Wildwood is virtually the only Jersey Shore community that has yet to receive a full beach replenishment project from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Officials say difficulty in getting easements from affected property owners has contributed to the delay. Erosion had become so bad in parts of North Wildwood that protective sand dunes were obliterated, leaving homes and businesses vulnerable to flooding and wave damage in the event of a major storm, At one point in January, Rosenello posed for photos on the beach with what was left of a dune barely reaching his knees. The state Department of Transportation did an interim replenishment project last summer after Democratic Governor Phil Murphy called the erosion in North Wildwood shocking. Rosenello said that work has held up well in the ensuing months. The environmental department declined to comment on the proposed agreement. Rosenello predicted it will be approved by the council and signed and sent to the state Tuesday. In addition to ending the litigation, North Wildwood will contribute $1 million to the eventual cost of the federal beach replenishment project once it arrives in the city, and will pay $700,000 into a state water pollution control fund, the mayor said. The agreement also lays out a clear regulatory path for North Wildwood to obtain the environmental permits it needs to carry out other shore protection work including extension of a sea wall. On several occasions, North Wildwood carried out emergency repairs, including construction of an earlier bulkhead without approval from the state. Shawn LaTourette, New Jerseys environment protection commissioner, warned the town in 2023 that unauthorized work could have more serious consequences if it continues, including potential loss of future shore protection funding. Namibia's top opposition presidential candidate, Panduleni Itula, said Saturday that his party would not recognize the results of a controversially extended election marred by chaos and allegations of foul play. Speaking just before the close of polls on the final day of voting, Itula, whose Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) is hoping to end 34 years of rule by the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), said that no matter the result, "the IPC shall not recognize the outcome of that election." "The rule of law has been grossly violated, and we cannot call these elections by any means or measure as free, fair and legitimate," said Itula, who finished second in the 2019 vote. With just 10 of the country's 121 constituencies counted, partial results showed SWAPO's candidate, Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, leading with 48% of the vote, followed by Itula with 29%. Electoral authorities decided to prolong voting in the presidential and legislative polls, after the original election day Wednesday was marred by logistical and technical failures that led to hours-long queues, which some voters eventually abandoned. Opposition parties have complained about the chaos and alleged voter suppression by the authorities in the face of a strong turnout for the ruling party's rivals. An organization of southern African human rights lawyers serving as election monitors said that the delays at the ballot box were intentional and widespread. "There were deliberate delays of voting processes in more than 63% of the total polling stations across the country," the lawyers said in a report. Itula said that the IPC would "fight... to nullify the elections through the processes that are established within our electoral process," calling on Namibia's President Nangolo Mbumba to call a cabinet meeting "to determine exactly what should be done." On Saturday, hundreds of people queued up at the sole polling station in the capital Windhoek, where some 2,500 voters had cast their ballots Friday. Sielfriedt Gowaseb, 27, managed to vote in less than 30 minutes Saturday but was critical of the arrangements. "They should have set up at least another polling station where the majority of Namibians live. We would have needed more venues, one in the suburbs. Most Namibians don't live in the central business district," he said. Namibia's opposition is hoping to unseat SWAPO, which is facing its toughest challenge ever as disenchanted younger voters across southern Africa reject traditionally dominant liberation-era parties. SWAPO has governed Namibia since leading it to independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990, but high youth unemployment and enduring inequalities have eroded its support. Around 42% of the 1.5 million registered voters are aged under 35. Naita Hishoono, executive director of the Namibia Institute for Democracy, a nonpartisan group, echoed popular dissatisfaction. "It would have been helpful to open more than 36 polling stations... each constituency should have at least one polling station open to accommodate everybody. Every voter should only stay half an hour to an hour in line and the whole voting process should take no more than 15 minutes," she said. SWAPO's Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, could become the first woman to lead the country if she is elected. But she is facing a fierce challenge from Itula, who said that Namibia had been "betrayed" by the electoral authority's incompetence. The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has admitted to failures in the organization of the vote, including a shortage of ballot papers and the overheating of electronic tablets used to register voters. Itula, a former dentist and lawyer, came second in the last presidential election with 29% of the vote while standing as an independent. That performance was all the more remarkable for the fact it reduced SWAPO leader Hage Geingob's vote share to just 56%. Geingob, who died in February, had won nearly 87% of the vote five years before that. The EU's new top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, and head of the European Council, Antonio Costa, arrived in Kyiv on Sunday in a symbolic show of support for Ukraine on their first day in office. "We came to give a clear message that we stand with Ukraine, and we continue to give our full support," Costa told media outlets including AFP accompanying them on the trip. The European Union's new leadership team is keen to demonstrate it remains firm on backing Kyiv at a perilous moment for Ukraine nearly three years into its fight against Russia's all-out invasion. Questions are swirling around the future of U.S. support once Donald Trump assumes office in January and there are fears he could force Kyiv to make painful concessions in pursuit of a quick peace deal. Meanwhile, tensions have escalated as Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to strike government buildings in Kyiv with his new Oreshnik missile after firing it at Ukraine for the first time last month. The Kremlin leader said the move is a response to Kyiv getting the green light to strike inside Russia with American and British missiles, and he has threatened to hit back against the countries supplying the weaponry. As winter begins, Russia has also unleashed devastating barrages against Ukraine's power grid and on the frontline Kyiv's fatigued forces are losing ground to Moscow's grinding offensive. "The situation in Ukraine is very, very grave," Kallas, a former prime minister of Estonia, said. "But it's clear that it comes at a very high cost for Russia as well." Ceasefire? The new EU leaders -- the bloc's top officials along with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen -- were set to hold talks with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy on Friday appeared to begin staking out his position ahead of any potential peace talks. He called on NATO to offer guaranteed protections to parts of Ukraine controlled by Kyiv in order to "stop the hot stage of the war," and implied he would then be willing to wait to regain other territory seized by Russia. "If we speak ceasefire, [we need] guarantees that Putin will not come back," Zelenskyy told Britain's Sky News. Kallas said that "the strongest security guarantee is NATO membership." "We need to definitely discuss this -- if Ukraine decides to draw the line somewhere then how can we secure peace so that Putin doesn't go any further," she said. Diplomats at NATO say there appears little prospect of the alliance granting Ukraine membership soon given opposition from a raft of members cautious of getting dragged into war with Russia. Kallas said the EU "shouldn't really rule out anything" in terms of the question of sending European troops to help enforce any ceasefire. "We should have this strategic ambiguity around this," she said. 'Transactional language' Trump has cast doubt on continuing Washington's vast aid for Ukraine and called on EU countries to do more. Europe together has spent around $125 billion on supporting Ukraine since Russia's 2022 invasion, while the United States alone has coughed up over $90 billion, according to a tracker from the Kiel Institute. Kallas said the EU would use a "transactional language" to try to convince Trump that backing Kyiv was in the interest of the U.S. "Aid for Ukraine is not charity," she said. "A victory for Russia definitely emboldens China, Iran, North Korea." The new EU foreign policy chief said the bloc would continue seeking to put Ukraine in the "strongest" position -- if and when Kyiv chose it was time to negotiate with Moscow. But she conceded that it was becoming "increasingly difficult" for the 27-nation bloc to agree on new ways to ramp up support for Ukraine. "This war has been going on for quite some time and it is harder and harder to explain it to our own people," she said. "But I don't see any option." Sergio Mena's life dissolved in hours. After years resisting President Daniel Ortega, the rural activist fled Nicaragua in 2018, joining thousands of protesters fleeing a yearslong crackdown on dissent. Mena returned from exile in neighboring Costa Rica in 2021 to continue protesting, only to be thrown in a prison where he said jailers hung prisoners by their feet and shocked them with electricity. "We were tortured all the time, physically and psychologically, from the moment we arrived until the very last day," said Mena, 40. Now in exile in Guatemala, Mena may be out of prison but he's far from free. Upon their release, he and hundreds of religious leaders, students, activists, dissidents and journalists were rendered "stateless" stripped of their citizenship, homes and government pensions. The United Nations says that they're among 4.4 million stateless people worldwide who struggle to find jobs, education and healthcare or even open bank accounts or marry without valid ID documents. "Statelessness is torture," said Karina Ambartsoumian-Clough executive director of United Stateless, a U.S.-based organization advocating for the stateless. "You just legally cease to exist, even if you're here physically as a human." Free but unfree In September, Ortega's government loaded Mena and 134 other prisoners onto the flight that took them to Guatemala. They joined 317 others whom the government has deemed adversaries who no longer deserve legal Nicaraguan identities. The Associated Press spoke to more than 24 Nicaraguan exiles who have been stripped of their citizenship and are trying to chart paths forward. They're scattered across the United States, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mexico and Spain in limbo as they struggle to recover from physical and psychological trauma, extending the torture many suffered in Nicaragua. The Ortega government did not respond to a request for comment by the AP. The agony of statelessness The majority of stateless people worldwide are born to refugees and migrants in countries that don't offer birthright citizenship, the right to become a citizen if you're born within a country's territory. Many Nicaraguans struggle to scrape together enough money to feed themselves. Others hide away in fear that the Nicaraguan government will someday come for them. Many more reel from watching their lives go up in smoke. For those stranded in the U.S. or seeking respite there, President-elect Donald Trump's promises to crack down on immigration and asylum have added more uncertainty. Intensifying repression Ortega's government began stripping people of their citizenship early last year. It was in that crackdown that Mena, the member of a rural activist movement, said he was imprisoned. The government claimed that he had participated in drug trafficking and organized crime, which he denies. In February 2023, the government broke international law when it began sending prisoners to the U.S and most recently to Guatemala. Others in exile were stripped of their citizenship without ever having been jailed. Torment beyond borders The Nicaraguan government has not explained why it released Mena and other people from prison, although experts have speculated about the desire to duck international criticism and the costs involved while continuing to maintain a grip on enemies. Mena lives in a hotel in Guatemala City, where he flips through photos of a crumbling jail, scraps of food and his bruised, beaten body indelible memories of more than two years in prison. His life is painted by constant fear. "The tentacles of (the Nicaraguan government) still reach here," he said with tears in his eyes. The Biden administration has offered the Nicaraguans temporary protections and Mena hopes the U.S. government will grant him asylum, but such protections are likely to vanish or be severely restricted under Trump. The Spanish government has offered to provide nationality to some of the stateless exiles, but few have the resources needed to build a new life in Spain, or are confused about the process. Stateless struggle Allan Bermudez, 54, was a university professor in Nicaragua. He was imprisoned after accusations that he was conspiring against the government as Ortega identified universities as hotbeds for antigovernment protests. In February 2023, he was among 222 prisoners loaded onto a flight to the United States with no idea where they were going. While the U.S. government provided Bermudez and others with temporary support, a few days at a hotel, a new phone, $400 and limited access to aid from a group of NGOs, help has since dried up. Today, Bermudez, who has multiple advanced degrees, works at a Dunkin' Donuts on the fringes of Salisbury, Maryland, struggling to pick up hours. He rents a small room, suffers from chronic heart problems and post-traumatic stress disorder, and has no medical care. "I haven't bought my medicine, because if I do, I'll have nothing to eat," he said. Back in Nicaragua, his mother had stroke this year. He's struggled to send money home. With his daughter and wife also back home, he's plagued with anxiety and depression. He applied for asylum in February after living in the U.S. under humanitarian parole offered by the Biden administration but said he hasn't heard back. He's put all his hopes into building a life in the U.S. and doesn't know what he'll do if asylum doesn't come through. "I can't leave, I have my hands tied," he said. "All I can do is pray that God helps me." Lives upended Like Bermudez, hundreds of thousands have fled Nicaragua. Thousands of civil society organizations have been shuttered, their assets seized as the government seeks to silence any dissent. While many of the Nicaraguan exiles hope to one day return to their country, 82-year-old Moises Hassan has given up hope as he hides away in a town in the mountains of Costa Rica. Hassan was once a guerrilla fighter against the Anastasio Somoza dictatorship and then, alongside Ortega, a member of the junta that succeeded it. He built a family and a home with thousands of books, and planned to live out the rest of his days there. He was elected mayor of the capital, Managua, but saw his life and hopes sour when he began to criticize Ortega's anti-democratic moves. He fled the country in 2021. While on a trip to visit his daughter he heard the government was detaining critics, and knew they would come for him. It was no surprise when his name appeared on a list of people who were stripped of their citizenship and home and called traitors. "The message is ... 'Don't think that just because you're out of the country that you're out of our reach,'" he said. But he said that with his pension seized along with his belongings, it has been a shock to depend on money from his children. He and his wife remain in their corner of Costa Rica, too scared to even go to the capital, where they worry Ortega's agents could track them down. "I feel like I'm under house arrest," he said, cradling his worn, now useless Nicaraguan passport. "I'm a prisoner in my own home." U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has held multiple phone conversations with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban since winning the November 5 presidential election, according to sources who spoke to RFE/RLs Hungarian Service. Hungarian government sources said Trump has sought Orbans opinion on ending the Ukraine war, which has continued to drag on since Russias full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022. On the campaign trail, Trump criticized the billions of dollars that the United States has poured into Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion. He has also said he could end the war within 24 hours of retaking the White House, a statement that some have interpreted as meaning that Ukraine would have to surrender territory that Russia now occupies. Orban, who has maintained friendly ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump, has been critical of EU aid for Ukraine and has obstructed the blocs sanctions regime against Moscow. Preparations reportedly are under way for Orban to take a second crack at a peace mission in December to bookend Hungarys rotating EU presidency after his first attempt in July when Budapests tenure started. In a move criticized by several EU leaders, Orban traveled to Moscow to meet Putin in July after a trip to Kyiv with a mystery ceasefire proposal for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He then traveled to China and finally the United States to meet Trump, who was then on the presidential campaign trail. Details of a potential peace mission in December are not clear, but sources suggested to RFE/RLs Hungarian Service that it may involve delivering Trumps messages to Zelenskyy, Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping. President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday he intends to nominate real estate developer Charles Kushner father of Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France. Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post, calling Charles Kushner a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker." Kushner is the founder of Kushner Companies, a real estate firm. Jared Kushner is a former White House senior adviser to Trump who is married to Trumps eldest daughter, Ivanka. The elder Kushner was pardoned by Trump in December 2020 after pleading guilty years earlier to tax evasion and making illegal campaign donations. Prosecutors alleged that after Charles Kushner discovered his brother-in-law was cooperating with federal authorities in an investigation, he hatched a scheme for revenge and intimidation. Kushner hired a prostitute to lure his brother-in-law, then arranged to have the encounter in a New Jersey motel room recorded with a hidden camera and the recording sent to his own sister, the mans wife, prosecutors said. Kushner eventually pleaded guilty to 18 counts including tax evasion and witness tampering. He was sentenced in 2005 to two years in prison the most he could receive under a plea deal, but less than what Chris Christie, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey at the time and later governor and Republican presidential candidate, had sought. Christie has blamed Jared Kushner for his firing from Trumps transition team in 2016, and has called Charles Kushners offenses "one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes that I prosecuted when I was U.S. attorney." Trump and the elder Kushner knew each other from real estate circles and their children were married in 2009. President-elect Donald Trump said on Saturday he wanted former National Security official and loyalist Kash Patel to lead the FBI, signaling an intent to replace the bureau's current director, Christopher Wray. Patel, who during Trump's first term advised both the director of national intelligence and the secretary of defense, has previously called for stripping the FBI of its intelligence-gathering role and purging its ranks of any employee who refuses to support Trump's agenda. "The biggest problem the FBI has had, has come out of its intel shops. I'd break that component out of it. I'd shut down the FBI Hoover building on day one and reopen it the next day as a museum of the deep state," Patel said in a September interview on the conservative "Shawn Ryan Show." "And I'd take the 7,000 employees that work in that building and send them across America to chase down criminals. Go be cops. You're cops. Go be cops." With the nomination of Patel, Trump, a Republican, seems to be preparing to oust Wray, a Republican first appointed by Trump. Wray's 10-year term at the FBI does not expire until 2027. Asked about Patel's nomination, which will need Senate confirmation, an FBI spokesperson said on Saturday: "Every day, the men and women of the FBI continue to work to protect Americans from a growing array of threats. Director Wray's focus remains on the men and women of the FBI, the people we do the work with, and the people we do the work for." FBI directors by law are appointed to 10-year terms as a means of insulating the bureau from politics. Wray, whom Trump tapped after firing James Comey in 2017 for investigating his 2016 campaign, has been a frequent target of Trump supporters' ire. During Wray's tenure, the FBI carried out a court-approved search at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate to look for classified documents. He also has faced criticism for his oversight role of a directive by Attorney General Merrick Garland aimed at working to protect local school boards from violent threats and harassment. Special Counsel Jack Smith, who led the two federal prosecutions against Trump for his role in subverting the 2020 election and retaining classified documents, asked on November 25 the judges overseeing those cases to dismiss them before Trump takes office on January 20, citing a Justice Department policy of not prosecuting a sitting president. Wray had previously signaled no intention of stepping down early and was busy planning events well into his 2025 calendar, according to a person familiar with the matter. Patel, 44, previously worked as a federal public defender and a federal prosecutor. He was instrumental in working to lead House Republicans' probe into the FBI's 2016 investigation into contacts between Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia during his time as an aide to former House Intelligence Committee Chair Devin Nunes. Later, during Trump's first impeachment trial, ex-National Security Council official Fiona Hill told House investigators she was concerned Patel was secretly serving as a back channel between Trump and Ukraine without authorization. Patel denied those allegations. After Trump left office in January 2021, Patel was one of several people Trump designated as a representative for access to his presidential records. He was one of the few former Trump administration officials who claimed, without evidence, that Trump had declassified all of the records in question. He was later subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury in connection with the probe. Also Saturday, Trump named Chad Chronister, the sheriff of Hillsborough County, Florida, as his choice for administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency. In that role, Chronister would work closely with Trump's choice for attorney general, Pam Bondi. Bondi is from the Tampa area that Chronister serves. "As DEA Administrator, Chad will work with our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to secure the Border, stop the flow of Fentanyl, and other Illegal Drugs, across the Southern Border, and SAVE LIVES," Trump wrote on his social-media platform Truth Social. Trump also named real estate mogul Charles Kushner to serve as U.S. ambassador to France. Kushner is the father of Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner. "He (Charles Kushner) is a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker, who will be a strong advocate representing our Country & its interests," Trump said in a post on Truth Social announcing the pick. Photo: hareif Ziyadat/Getty Images Rolling Stone reports that fashion designer Bryana Bana Bongolan has filed a new lawsuit against Sean Diddy Combs, claiming he threatened to kill her and dangled her over a 17th-floor balcony in 2016. Bongolan filed a 17 page lawsuit in Los Angeles for sexual battery, infliction of emotional distress, and false imprisonment and seeks $10 million in damages. The lawsuit filed by attorney James R. Nikraftar of Miller Barondess goes into greater detail, writing, The only purpose of dangling someone over a balcony is to actually kill them or to intentionally terrorize them and rob them of any concept of dominion over their own bodily autonomy and safety. This lawsuit is no surprise to Combs as they told the outlet, Since last year, Ms. Bongolan has expressed an intention to sue Mr. Combs and has sought legal representation to pursue her claims. Mr. Combs firmly denies these serious allegations and remains confident they will ultimately be proven baseless. Bongolan met Combs through Cassie Ventura in 2014 and hoped that working with Combs would help her fashion career. Ultimately it only led to terror and abuse at his hands, the lawsuit writes. She worked with him for two years, claiming to witness Combss abuse of Ventura firsthand before the abuse was then directed at Bongolan. Combs allegedly told her, Im the motherfucking devil. You have no idea what I could do to you. I could kill you. Violence escalated when one night, Bongolan was staying with her girlfriend at Venturas apartment when Combs allegedly came storming in. He allegedly lifted [Bongolan] up on the banister of the 17th floor balcony, while repeatedly yelling, Do you know what the fuck you did? Do you know what the fuck you did? where only Combs grip keeping her from falling to her death. Ventura references this incident in her own lawsuit against Combs in 2023. Eventually, Combs pulled Bongolan over the balcony, as Ventura pointed out that her girlfriend was a witness to his assault. As the lawsuit writes, In a last fit of violence, he slammed Ms. Bongolan onto the balconys patio furniture, including a table. Combs pleaded not guilty to all the claims in the lawsuit. Sicilia Express offers Sicilians living in northern Italy a low-cost way to get home for Christmas. Italy will offer a special rail service this Christmas with the launch of the Sicilia Express, a sleeper train that links the northern city of Turin with the island of Sicily. The aim of the one-off service is to give Sicilians based in the north a low-cost way to get home for Christmas with an alternative to flights which can be very expensive during the festive season. The 18-hour train service, organised by Italy's FS Treni Turistici, will leave Turin on 21 December and return from Messina after the Christmas holidays on 5 January 2025. The initiative came about following a request from Sicily governor Renato Schifani who said the regional government is "taking every possible action to support all those Sicilians, workers or students, who by choice or necessity live in northern Italy and wish to join their loved ones to spend the Christmas holidays together." Schifani added that he hopes the north-south rail service can be repeated at other times of the year. The train has 544 seats and two dining cars, offering traditional Sicilian food and wine, and will pass through many of Italy's main cities. Pets will also be allowed on board. The train will depart from Turin Porta Nuova on 21 December at 15.05, arriving in the Sicilian city of Messina the next morning at 09.45. There are nine stops along the way including in Novara, Milan, Parma, Modena, Bologna, Florence, Arezzo, Rome and Salerno. After the train arrives in Sicily, aboard a ship, the rail service splits into two directions: one headed to Palermo in the nnorth-west and the other to Siracusa in the south-east. The return journey will depart from Messina on 5 January at 18.50, arriving in Turin at 12.50 the following day. Tickets for the Sicilia Express - starting from 29.90 one-way for a seat or 129 for a sleep compartment - go sale from 3 December via the FS Treni Turistici website and through Trenitalia sales channels. Earlier this year FS Treni Turistici launched new tourist trains on several routes including Rome to Puglia, Milan to the French Riviera, Milan to the coast of Tuscany and Rome to Assisi and Alba. Fine Gael Candidate John Cummins has been elected on the 9th count with 11,159 votes, having received 440 transfers from the elimination of Green Party candidate Marc O Cathasaigh. The win returns Fine Gael to the Dail after a four-year gap - the longest since the formation of the state. "I'm overwhelmed and humbled by the support that I have received from the people of Waterford. To get 10,400 first preferences, and all the twos and threes and fours that came after, I'm just so grateful to the people of Waterford for putting their faith in me to represent them for the next five years in the Dail." The new TD said he is "looking forward to the challenge" and "can't wait" to "sign the register to become an official TD for Waterford." "I have taken my representation [of Waterford] to the next level and am really looking forward to being able to work on the ground for people right across the city and county to deliver the much-needed projects for the city and county," he said. Deputy Cummins said he believes the "hard work on the ground" made the difference in this election compared with 2020 when Fine Gael narrowly missed out on taking the final seat in Waterford. "There has probably been an underestimation of the amount of work we were doing in our constituency offices in Waterford City and Dungarvan," he said. His next steps, the newly-elected TD said, are to "celebrate tonight and to get some sleep tomorrow!" The Senator fell just 12 votes short of election on the 8th count and was confident that he would secure the second seat during the next count. "We have just seen the elimination of Marc O Cathasaigh there," he said to waterford-news.ie following the 8th count. "We've seen more than 12 votes going into the Pigeon boxes for us here. So we are definitely going to be over the line here on this count." In 2020, Fine Gael failed to return a TD in Waterford for the first time since the death of Thaddeus Lynch caused a bye-election in 1966. The ensuing three years is the only period since then that Fine Gael did not have a TD from Waterford in Dail Eireann. The Senator said he was "very, very, very grateful" for the voters putting their trust in him, saying it is "humbling". "That I got more than 10,400 people going into a ballot box, across the whole county, to put number one beside my name, as well as the twos, threes, and fours... I don't know what to say." "It's so humbling and I'm so grateful." Getting elected to the Dail would mean that Cummins would go one step further than his father, former Fine Gael Senator Maurice Cummins, continuing the family legacy in politics he says will make being elected "a bit extra special". John Cummins and his team at the count centre. Photo: Joe Evans "My Dad put so many years into politics, first elected in 1975 he contested a number of General Elections but was unsuccessful. It makes it a bit extra special to be able to get over the line, but I said it yesterday, it's all about the team." Senator Cummins' Mother said she was "very proud of him" for the "hard work he had put in over the last 15 years." "He's done a lot of work over the past 15 years," said former Senator Maurice Cummins, "but there's a lot more ahead of him!" Speaking to WLR FM, Former Senator Maurice Cummins said he believed his son is Ministerial material. Cummins said the work his team has put into canvassing for him has "clearly paid off". "The first preference vote was way ahead of even our best expectations." General Election 2024 - Waterford Constituency That's a wrap from the Waterford Constituency - here are your new TDs! Your Waterford TDs - clockwise from top left, David Cullinane, Sinn Fein; John Cummins, Fine Gael; Conor McGuinness, Sinn Fein and Mary Butler, Fianna Fail. Thank you for staying with the Waterford News & Star for your live updates from the count centre at SETU's Cork Road Campus in Waterford city across the weekend. The Waterford News & Star team at the Waterford Count Centre at SETU for General Election 2024, from left, Adrian Flanagan, Shannon Sweeney, Mary Frances Ryan, Hugh Dooley, Darragh Murphy, and behind the lens, photographer Joe Evans Conor D. McGuinness of Sinn Fein is elected to Dail Eireann. Photo: Joe Evans 12TH COUNT: McGuinness takes 2nd Sinn Fein seat as Shanahan eliminated Matt Shanahan has lost his seat in Dail Eireann. Photo: Joe Evans 17:39pm, Sunday, December 1st Conor D. McGuinness has been elected on the 12th count in Waterford, taking the fourth and final seat in the Waterford Constituency. Outgoing Independent TD Matt Shanahan has lost his seat in Dail Eireann. A jubilant Conor McGuinness flanked by fellow TD David Cullinane as Sinn Fein takes two seats in the Waterford constituency. Photo: Joe Evans Mary Roche's transfers have been distributed as follows: D. McGuinness, Conor, Sinn Fein 9,519 (+1,694) ELECTED Shanahan, Matt, Ind 8,526 (+1,340) Mary Roche of the Social Democrats speaks with Dymphna Nugent of WLR FM following her elimination on the 11th count in Waterford. 11TH COUNT: Mary Roche of Social Democrats eliminated Mary Roche of the Social Democrats pictured with her family. 16:17pm, Sunday, December 1st Ronan Cleary's transfers have been distributed as follows: Butler, Mary, Fianna Fail 10,830 (+204) ELECTED Cleary, Ronan, Aontu 2,262 (+5) ELIMINATED Conway, Frank, Ind 1,038 (+71) ELIMINATED Cullinane, David, Sinn Fein 11,936 ELECTED Cummins, John, Fine Gael 11,159 (+440) ELECTED Curtin, Patrick, People Before Profit - Solidarity 643; 669 (+26); 672 (+3); 688 (+16) ELIMINATED D. McGuinness, Conor, Sinn Fein 7,825 (+411) Joyce, Aaron, Ind 162; 164 (+2) ELIMINATED Mangan, Killian, Ind 798 (+103) ELIMINATED O Cathasaigh, Marc, Green Party 2,085 (+288) ELIMINATED O'Neill, Mark, Ind 56; 57 (+1) ELIMINATED O'Neill, Sadhbh, Labour 1,701 (+28) ELIMINATED Roche, Mary, Social Democrats 4,887 (+254) ELIMINATED Shanahan, Matt, Ind 7,186 (+820) Walsh, John D, Irish People 482; 485 (+3); 514 (+29) ELIMINATED Mary Roche's transfers will now be distributed. Minister of State Mary Butler is elected, taking the third seat for Waterford, with only one seat remaining to be filled. 10TH COUNT: Mary Butler elected for Fianna Fail, Aontu's Cleary eliminated Mary Butler and her team at the Waterford count centre. 14:35pm, Sunday, December 1st John Cummins' surplus has been distributed as follows: Butler, Mary, Fianna Fail 10,830 (+204) ELECTED Cleary, Ronan, Aontu 2,262 (+5) ELIMINATED Conway, Frank, Ind 1,038 (+71) ELIMINATED Cullinane, David, Sinn Fein 11,936 ELECTED Cummins, John, Fine Gael 11,159 (+440) ELECTED Curtin, Patrick, People Before Profit - Solidarity 643; 669 (+26); 672 (+3); 688 (+16) ELIMINATED D. McGuinness, Conor, Sinn Fein 7,414 (+18) Joyce, Aaron, Ind 162; 164 (+2) ELIMINATED Mangan, Killian, Ind 798 (+103) ELIMINATED O Cathasaigh, Marc, Green Party 2,085 (+288) ELIMINATED O'Neill, Mark, Ind 56; 57 (+1) ELIMINATED O'Neill, Sadhbh, Labour 1,701 (+28) ELIMINATED Roche, Mary, Social Democrats 4,633 (+105) Shanahan, Matt, Ind 6,366 (+52) Walsh, John D, Irish People 482; 485 (+3); 514 (+29) ELIMINATED Ronan Cleary's transfers will now be distributed. 9TH COUNT: John Cummins elected, returning Fine Gael's lost Waterford Dail seat John Cummins of Fine Gael is the second TD elected in Waterford. Photo: Joe Evans 13:46pm, Sunday, December 1st Sadhbh O'Neill's transfers have been distributed as follows: Butler, Mary, Fianna Fail 10,626 (+352) Cleary, Ronan, Aontu 2,257 (+50) Conway, Frank, Ind 1,038 (+71) ELIMINATED Cullinane, David, Sinn Fein 11,936 ELECTED Cummins, John, Fine Gael 11,159 (+440) ELECTED Curtin, Patrick, People Before Profit - Solidarity 643; 669 (+26); 672 (+3); 688 (+16) ELIMINATED D. McGuinness, Conor, Sinn Fein 7,396 (+137) Joyce, Aaron, Ind 162; 164 (+2) ELIMINATED Mangan, Killian, Ind 798 (+103) ELIMINATED O Cathasaigh, Marc, Green Party 2,085 (+288) ELIMINATED O'Neill, Mark, Ind 56; 57 (+1) ELIMINATED O'Neill, Sadhbh, Labour 1,701 (+28) ELIMINATED Roche, Mary, Social Democrats 4,528 (+722) Shanahan, Matt, Ind 6,314 (+235) Walsh, John D, Irish People 482; 485 (+3); 514 (+29) ELIMINATED John Cummins' surplus of 428 will now be distributed. 8TH COUNT: Marc O Cathasaigh, Green Party, eliminated Marc O Cathasaigh was eliminated on the 8th count in Waterford. Photo: Joe Evans 12:10pm, Sunday, December 1st Sadhbh O'Neill's transfers have been distributed as follows: Butler, Mary, Fianna Fail 10,274 (+170) Cleary, Ronan, Aontu 2,207 (+58) Conway, Frank, Ind 1,038 (+71) ELIMINATED Cullinane, David, Sinn Fein 11,936 ELECTED Cummins, John, Fine Gael 10,719 (+193) Curtin, Patrick, People Before Profit - Solidarity 643; 669 (+26); 672 (+3); 688 (+16) ELIMINATED D. McGuinness, Conor, Sinn Fein 7,259 (+136) Joyce, Aaron, Ind 162; 164 (+2) ELIMINATED Mangan, Killian, Ind 798 (+103) ELIMINATED O Cathasaigh, Marc, Green Party 2,085 (+288) ELIMINATED O'Neill, Mark, Ind 56; 57 (+1) ELIMINATED O'Neill, Sadhbh, Labour 1,701 (+28) ELIMINATED Roche, Mary, Social Democrats 3,806 (+590) Shanahan, Matt, Ind 6,079 (+166) Walsh, John D, Irish People 482; 485 (+3); 514 (+29) ELIMINATED There were 100 non-transferable votes. Green Party's Marc O Cathasaigh has been eliminated following the 8th count. 7TH COUNT: Sadhbh O'Neill, Labour, eliminated Sadhbh O'Neill, Labour candidate, was eliminated from the count on the 7th round. She is already looking towards her next campaign. Photo: Hugh Dooley 11am, Sunday, December 1st Frank Conway's transfers have been distributed as follows: Butler, Mary, Fianna Fail 10,104 (+40) Cleary, Ronan, Aontu 2,149 (+270) Conway, Frank, Ind 1,038 (+71) ELIMINATED Cullinane, David, Sinn Fein 11,936 ELECTED Cummins, John, Fine Gael 10,526 (+44) Curtin, Patrick, People Before Profit - Solidarity 643; 669 (+26); 672 (+3); 688 (+16) ELIMINATED D. McGuinness, Conor, Sinn Fein 7,123 (+110) Joyce, Aaron, Ind 162; 164 (+2) ELIMINATED Mangan, Killian, Ind 798 (+103) ELIMINATED O Cathasaigh, Marc, Green Party 1,797 (+10) O'Neill, Mark, Ind 56; 57 (+1) ELIMINATED O'Neill, Sadhbh, Labour 1,701 (+28) ELIMINATED Roche, Mary, Social Democrats 3,216 (+32) Shanahan, Matt, Ind 5,913 (+273) Walsh, John D, Irish People 482; 485 (+3); 514 (+29) ELIMINATED There were 231 non-transferable votes. Independent Sadhbh O'Neill, Labour, has been eliminated following the 7th count. The General Election count so far 10:27am, Sunday, December 1st Have you missed any of the General Election counts? We've got you covered. Here's the entire election count so far. We are currently following the sixth count, which eliminated Independent candidate Frank Conway. Wondering how the final seat will be decided? Check out the transfers columns, the darker the green the more transfers the candidate has received. 6TH COUNT: Frank Conway eliminated 10:15am, Sunday, December 1st Killian Mangan's transfers have been distributed as follows: Butler, Mary, Fianna Fail 10,064 (+21) Cleary, Ronan, Aontu 1,879 (+21) Conway, Frank, Ind 1038 (+71) ELIMINATED Cullinane, David, Sinn Fein 11,936 ELECTED Cummins, John, Fine Gael 10,482 (+29) Curtin, Patrick, People Before Profit - Solidarity 643; 669 (+26); 672 (+3); 688 (+16) ELIMINATED D. McGuinness, Conor, Sinn Fein 7,013 (+131) Joyce, Aaron, Ind 162; 164 (+2) ELIMINATED Mangan, Killian, Ind 798 (+103) ELIMINATED O Cathasaigh, Marc, Green Party 1,787 (+68) O'Neill, Mark, Ind 56; 57 (+1) ELIMINATED O'Neill, Sadhbh, Labour 1,673 (+82) Roche, Mary, Social Democrats 3,184 (+211) Shanahan, Matt, Ind 5,640 (+95) Walsh, John D, Irish People 482; 485 (+3); 514 (+29) ELIMINATED There were 69 non-transferable votes. Frank Conway, Independent, has been eliminated following the 6th count. Counting recommences at SETU Waterford 9:05am, Sunday December 1st Counting has recommenced at the Waterford count centre, with the results of count 6 expected mid-morning. 5TH COUNT: Killian Mangan eliminated 23:40pm, Saturday November 30th Patrick Curtin's transfers have been distributed as follows: Butler, Mary, Fianna Fail 10,043 (+16) Cleary, Ronan, Aontu 1,858 (+36) Conway, Frank, Ind 967 (+25) Cullinane, David, Sinn Fein 11,936 ELECTED Cummins, John, Fine Gael 10,453 (+12) Curtin, Patrick, People Before Profit - Solidarity 643; 669 (+26); 672 (+3); 688 (+16) ELIMINATED D. McGuinness, Conor, Sinn Fein 6,882 (+147) Joyce, Aaron, Ind 162; 164 (+2) ELIMINATED Mangan, Killian, Ind 798 (+103) ELIMINATED O Cathasaigh, Marc, Green Party 1,719 (+29) O'Neill, Mark, Ind 56; 57 (+1) ELIMINATED O'Neill, Sadhbh, Labour 1,591 (+57) Roche, Mary, Social Democrats 2,973 (+193) Shanahan, Matt, Ind 5,545 (+30) Walsh, John D, Irish People 482; 485 (+3); 514 (+29) ELIMINATED There were 40 non-transferable votes. Counting will resume at 9am on Sunday morning. Election count to end tonight and resume at 9am Sunday 23:05pm, Saturday November 30th Vote counting will end today after the completion of the 5th count, following the transfer of eliminated People Before Profit - Solidarity candidate Patrick Curtin, the Returning Officer Michelle O'Connell is set to announce. The fifth count is expected to end at around 11:30pm. Both Fine Gael candidate John Cummins and Fianna Fail candidate Mary Butler are within three figures of the quota. Their campaign teams are unhappy that the counting will stretch on until tomorrow morning. Voting will continue tomorrow, Sunday, December 1, at 9am. PATRICK CURTIN, PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT, ELIMINATED 4TH COUNT: John D Walsh's transfers distributed 22:40pm, Saturday November 30th John D Walsh's transfers have been distributed as follows: Butler, Mary, Fianna Fail 10,027 (+16) Cleary, Ronan, Aontu 1,822 (+129) Conway, Frank, Ind 942 (+171) Cullinane, David, Sinn Fein 11,936 ELECTED Cummins, John, Fine Gael 10,441 (+9) Curtin, Patrick, People Before Profit - Solidarity 643; 669 (+26); 672 (+3); 688 (+16) ELIMINATED D. McGuinness, Conor, Sinn Fein 6,735 (19) Joyce, Aaron, Ind 162; 164 (+2) ELIMINATED Mangan, Killian, Ind 695 (+27) O Cathasaigh, Marc, Green Party 1,690 (+4) O'Neill, Mark, Ind 56; 57 (+1) ELIMINATED O'Neill, Sadhbh, Labour 1,534 (+9) Roche, Mary, Social Democrats 2,780 (+10) Shanahan, Matt, Ind 5,515 (+72) Walsh, John D, Irish People 482; 485 (+3); 514 (+29) ELIMINATED Patrick Curtin, People Before Profit, has now been eliminated. Photo: Hugh Dooley Patrick Curtin has now been eliminated. His votes will now be distributed. There were 32 non-transferable votes. JOHN D WALSH OF IRISH PEOPLE PARTY ELIMINATED 3RD COUNT: Aaron Joyce and Mark O'Neill transfers distributed 22:00pm, Saturday November 30th Aaron Joyce and Mark O'Neill's transfers have been distributed as follows (there were 18 non-transferable votes): Butler, Mary, Fianna Fail 10,011 (+7) Cleary, Ronan, Aontu 1,693 (+13) Conway, Frank, Ind 771 (+49) Cullinane, David, Sinn Fein 11,936 ELECTED Cummins, John, Fine Gael 10,432 (+4) Curtin, Patrick, People Before Profit - Solidarity 672 (+3) D. McGuinness, Conor, Sinn Fein 6,716 (+24) Joyce, Aaron, Ind 162; 164 (+2) ELIMINATED Mangan, Killian, Ind 668 (+41) O Cathasaigh, Marc, Green Party 1686 (+3) O'Neill, Mark, Ind 56; 57 (+1) ELIMINATED O'Neill, Sadhbh, Labour 1,525 (+7) Roche, Mary, Social Democrats 2,770 (+5) Shanahan, Matt, Ind 5,443 (+18) Walsh, John D, Irish People 482; 485 (+3); 514 (+29) ELIMINATED John D Walsh has now been eliminated. His votes will now be distributed. John D Walsh, left, was eliminated on the third count. Photo: Joe Evans MCGUINNESS BENEFITS FROM CULLINANE SURPLUS 2ND COUNT: Cullinane surplus distributed, Aaron Joyce and Mark O'Neill eliminated David Cullinane's surplus of 1,205 votes has been distributed as follows: Butler, Mary, Fianna Fail 10,004 (+42) Cleary, Ronan, Aontu 1,680 (+16) Conway, Frank, Ind 722 (+7) Cullinane, David, Sinn Fein 11,936 ELECTED Cummins, John, Fine Gael 10,428 (+52) Curtin, Patrick, People Before Profit - Solidarity 669 (+26) D. McGuinness, Conor, Sinn Fein 6,692 (+901) Joyce, Aaron, Ind 162; 164 (+2) ELIMINATED Mangan, Killian, Ind 627 (+7) O Cathasaigh, Marc, Green Party 1683 (+12) O'Neill, Mark, Ind 56; 57 (+1) ELIMINATED O'Neill, Sadhbh, Labour 1,518 (+18) Roche, Mary, Social Democrats 2,765 (+48) Shanahan, Matt, Ind 5,425 (+70) Walsh, John D, Irish People 485 (+3) Conor McGuinness and supporters at Waterford count centre. Photo: Joe Evans Aaron Joyce and Mark O'Neill have now been eliminated. Their votes are now being distributed. Historic highs and historic lows Fact: Independent candidate Mark O'Neill's 56 votes amounts to the second worst General Election performance in Waterford ever, bettering only fellow Independent Francis Hennessy's result of 53 votes in 2007, 0.1% of the vote. Aaron Joyce's 162 votes puts him in 9th place in the lowest vote table. Aaron Joyce, pictured right, got 162 first preference votes. Photo: Joe Evans Cullinane 'humble and proud' to be elected on first count 19:29pm, Saturday November 30th David Cullinane has been re-elected on the first count in Waterford, with 11,936 first preference votes. Speaking to the Waterford News & Star immediately after election, Cullinane said he felt humble and proud, but that he was now looking towards getting running mate Cllr Conor McGuinness elected. Cullinane added that Sinn Fein are very much 'in the hunt' for a second seat, reports Darragh Murphy More on this report available here David Cullinane celebrates his reelection to Dail Eireann. Photo: Joe Evans First count from Waterford 18:30pm, Saturday November 30th David Cullinane of Sinn Fein has been elected on the first count in Waterford Quota: 10,731; Total Poll: 54,013; Valid Poll: 53,650; Spoiled Votes: 363; Total Electorate: 97,153 Butler, Mary, Fianna Fail 9,962 Cleary, Ronan, Aontu 1,664 Conway, Frank, Ind 715 Cullinane, David, Sinn Fein 11,936 Cummins, John, Fine Gael 10,376 Curtin, Patrick, People Before Profit - Solidarity 643 D. McGuinness, Conor, Sinn Fein 5,791 Joyce, Aaron, Ind 162 Mangan, Killian, Ind 620 O Cathasaigh, Marc, Green Party 1,671 O'Neill, Mark, Ind 56 O'Neill, Sadhbh, Labour 1,500 Roche, Mary, Social Democrats 2,717 Shanahan, Matt, Ind 5,355 Walsh, John D, Irish People 482 David Cullinane's surplus of 1,205 votes will now be distributed Waterford Constituency Returning Officer Michelle O'Connell. Photo: Joe Evans Fine Gael tallies 'very strong' - Cummins 16:55pm, Saturday November 30th Fine Gael candidate John Cummins said the tallies in Waterford look very strong but refused to celebrate until he received an official count. The final tallies indicate that Senator Cummins has received 10,203 first preference votes, in touching distance of the expected quota of roughly 10,750 votes. John Cummins Obviously we dont have an official first count so Ill be a lot happier when I see that, but the tallies look very strong. We look to be at about 19%, which is an increase from 16.5% in 2020. It would be quite a strong showing, and its a trend we see right across the entire country. I think thats down to the hard work over the last five years, not just the last five weeks. In my offices in Dungarvan and Waterford City, Lauren, Branden and Jennifer work so hard to represent the people as they come into the offices, and our fantastic team of eight councillors across the entire county do too. The Senator said: It was always the right strategy for this election to refrain from running two candidates in Waterford as the party did in 2020. Certainly at this moment in time it looks like it was the correct strategy. While running two candidates will maximise the first preference votes, you then arent guaranteed the transfers between the candidates, thats what happened in 2020, the Senator explained. I am so thankful for all my team, everybody that has helped to canvass and campaign, whether it's dropping in posters, making phonecalls or sending text messages. Everything has come together for this, what appears to be a positive result for us. Full tally revealed 14:00pm, Saturday November 30th The full tally is now in for Waterford, with all boxes opened: Shanahan and McGuinness to fight for the last seat 12:52pm, Saturday, November 30th "It's going to be a fight between Matt Shanahan and Conor McGuinness for the last seat," says Mayor of Waterford and Fianna Fail Councillor Jason Murphy. The battle between Independent candidate Matt Shanahan and Sinn Fein's Conor McGuinness is widely expected to be resolved on transfers. Waterford Mayor Jason Murphy participating in the tally at the Waterford count centre in SETU. Photo: Hugh Dooley "At the moment it's looking like Conor McGuinness is the slight favourite, Matt Shanahan is about a percentage point behind. So that is going to be interesting!" David Cullinane, Sinn Fein, with tallies of 23.7%, Mary Butler of Fianna Fail, at 18.1%, and Fine Gael's John Cummins at 19% are all expected to be elected. Waterford quota is expected to be around 10,750 12:10pm, Saturday, November 30th Early signs of the turnout in Waterford point to the election quota being around 10,750. Turnout is believed to be 54,012, with the number of spoilt ballots yet to be revealed. A four-seat constituency, this means the quota is likely to be around 10,750 but may drop slightly when spoiled ballots are counted, reports Hugh Dooley The final tally numbers mean that David Cullinane, Sinn Fein TD, is expected to be elected on the first count with 11,835 votes. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail neck and neck in Waterford 12:10pm, Saturday, November 30th 70% of the total boxes have now been opened at the count centre at SETU. Early indications show Sinn Fein with 34.43% of the tally, followed by Fine Gael at 18.96% and Fianna Fail at 18.04%. More on this report from Darragh Murphy here Sinn Fein 'in contention for second seat' - Cullinane 11:35, Saturday, November 30th Sinn Fein are confident of a good result in Waterford following strong early tally performance, says Sinn Fein candidate David Cullinane. The party believe they are in contention for a two seat result. Read more on this report from Hugh Dooley here Waterford News & Star reporter Hugh Dooley with David Cullinane Early tallies put Sinn Fein well ahead in Waterford 10.45am, Saturday November 30th Tallies are coming in from across the country, a gold result for Deputy David Cullinane in Farronshoneen in the city, taking half of the first preference votes in one box. Fine Gael's John Cummins came in second with Matt Shanahan and Mary Butler tieing in third. Mount Sion NS tallies have Cullinane flying ahead of the crowd, getting nearly half of one tally in what would be a scoop for Sinn Fein. Shanahan has topped a number of tallies in Ballygunner, with Cullinane, Butler and Cummins performing strongly alongside him. Tallies from Sacred Heart in Waterford City also reflect positively on Deputy Matt Shanahan, coming in second place, just behind Cullinane. Butler and Cummins are neck and neck in third place, reports Hugh Dooley 10.30am, Saturday November 30th Early tallies suggest Sinn Fein are well in the lead in the Waterford constituency. At over 35% of the vote, they are currently leaps and bounds ahead of Fine Gael at 18%, followed by Fianna Fail on 15%. Social Democrats are doing the best of the smaller parties at over 6%, while Independent candidates make up a large portion at 14%, reports Shannon Sweeney Turnout at almost 60% in city 20:30pm, Friday November 29th With polling stations set to close in less than two hours, here are the latest turnout percentages from across the county. Holy Cross (Tramore): 55.3% Sacred Heart: 59% St Paul's (Lisduggan) Mount Sion (City): 42.2% St Martin's Special School:57.2% St Mary's Farranshoneen: 49.5% Faithlegg:36% Butlerstown: 50.5% Passage East: 49.5% Scoil Lorcain: 46.6% Realt Na Mara (Dunmore East): 53% Killea: 50.5% St Paul's Lisduggan: 58% More to follow... reports Shannon Sweeney Latest turnout figures from Waterford polling stations 18:30pm, Friday November 29th Here are the latest turnout percentages from polling stations across Waterford, with turnout high in parts of Waterford city Holy Cross (Tramore): 36% Sacred Heart (City): 52% St Paul's Lisduggan: 47% Mount Sion (City): 28.3% Ballybeg: 34-35% St Martin's Special School (City): 40.8% Dungarvan: 38.5% Voting continues until 10pm tonight at polling stations across Waterford city and county. More to follow... reports Shannon Sweeney How much does it cost to run an election campaign in the Deise? 17:20pm, Friday November 29th Some of the costs facing General Election candidates have soared this year as some General Election candidates have reported a nearly 60% rise in the cost of election posters. Election candidate Killian Mangan spoke to Waterford News & Star about how this was affecting his campaign and revealed the details of his campaign finances, reports Hugh Dooley. Find out the full details and what major party candidates are spending on this election campaign here! Independent candidate Killian Mangan shared his campaign finances with the News & Star, giving an insight into the cost of an independents general election campaign. Graph: Hugh Dooley Strong voter turnout reported from polling stations in Waterford 17:05pm, Friday November 29th Some initial turnout numbers are available for polling stations in Waterford. Percentages are as of 3pm and stand as follows: St Mary's in Ballygunner: 26.6% Farranshoneen the youth centre: 23.3% Faithlegg: 20.6% Dunmore East: 21.1% Butlerstown: 24% Passage East: 20.6% More to follow... reports Shannon Sweeney Cllr Mary Roche congratulates Social Democrat leader Holly Cairns on birth of baby girl 15:35pm, Friday November 29th Social Democrat leader Holly Cairns has given birth to a baby girl, on none other than polling day. Waterford General Election candidate, Cllr Mary Roche, has congratulated Ms Cairns, saying: Holly DELIVERS ON ELECTION DAY. Congratulations to yourself and Barry and welcome to your beautiful daughter", reports Darragh Murphy Labour's Sadhbh O'Neill heads to the polling station 15:30pm, Friday November 29th General Election hopeful Sadhbh ONeill has been pictured on her way to vote today. The Labour candidate commented on social media: Finally! Voting day is here - we are lucky to be able to vote freely and fairly for our public representatives. Please vote Sadhbh O Neill no.1 Labour Party in Waterford", reports Darragh Murphy Cllr Conor McGuinness casts vote 15:05pm, Friday November 29th General Election candidate Cllr Conor McGuinness has cast his vote in his native An Rinn. Commenting on social media, Cllr McGuinness said: "Mo vota caite agam in Ionad Pobail na Rinne moch maidin inniu in eineacht le mo Reailtin agus mo Mheadhbh!!", reports Darragh Murphy Independent candidate Matt Shanahan has thanked those who have voted for him so far 14:15pm, Friday November 29th In a post on social media, he said: "Thank you to everyone who has already voted, canvassed, and supported me throughout this election. Your dedication and belief in our cause for #Waterford means the world. Together, I hope we can continue to push for a brighter future and make positive changes for all in #Waterford and the #SouthEast. Please #Vote1 for Matt Shanahan #WaterfordFirst #GE24" Senator John Cummins votes at former 6th class classroom 14:08pm, Friday November 29th Fine Gael Senator and General Election candidate John Cummins was spotted casting his vote in his old classroom at St Stephen's De La Salle school. Senator Cummins said it was "a unique enough experience to be casting a vote for yourself in your former 6th class classroom!" "Little did I think when I was sitting in this room as a 12-year-old lad that Id be back there 25 years later casting a vote for myself in a General Election," he said, "I dont know where the time has gone." Fine Gael candidate John Cummins voting in his former 6th class classroom. The Fine Gael candidate said he was "very grateful for the support Ive received throughout the campaign and Im hopeful that the work Ive done over the past 15 years as a politician will show in the results tomorrow. If you havent cast your vote yet, I would be grateful if you could consider me for your number 1 vote or next highest preference," reports Hugh Dooley Voting opens across Waterford 7am: Friday November 29th Voting has opened in the General Election at polling stations across Waterford city and county. Polling stations will remain open until 10pm tonight. A polling centre off O'Connell Street in Waterford city centre. Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm across Waterford. Don't forget to bring valid ID, such as a driver's licence or passport, to cast your vote. If you are registered to vote but don't have your polling card, you can still vote with valid ID as long as you are on the register at the relevant polling station. Counting of votes will commence for the Waterford constituency at 9am on Saturday, November 30. Photo: Joe Evans Counting will commence at the Cork Road campus of South East Technological University at 9am tomorrow morning, Saturday, November 30. Live count update for the Waterford Constituency Waterford How the national political landscape is taking shape National results In a way, tariffs, sanctions and bans all boil down to one word: no. Weve just had a month of no. No-vember, you could even say. But not all noes are the same. Tariffs, sanctions and bans are designed to achieve different things. This November, the words became confused, a scrambled negation. So it is with Donald Trumps tariffs, promised during the election campaign as a way to protect American manufacturing interests in the face of competition from global trade. These promises spoke to the towns and cities gutted and citizens rendered jobless and hopeless as corporates offshored their business. They painted a picture of resurgent industry and innovation in America, leading to prosperity for working people. Trumps tariff announcement wiped billions from the Australian sharemarket. Credit: The idea of tariffs has economists in a flap. As you are sure to have heard them patiently, if condescendingly, explain by now, tariffs are really taxes on consumers in the country that imposes them. They make imported goods more expensive, lowering the overall buying power of the average punter. 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 December 1 edition of Sunday Life. See all 13 stories . Viola Davis has been called one of her generations greatest actors, and every film is vastly improved by her presence. Whether its her Oscar-winning role in Fences (2016), her Oscar-nominated performance in 2011s The Help (a role she later regretted taking, saying: I betrayed myself and my people because the film catered to a white audience) or her innumerable stage performances (shes only the 18th person ever to achieve EGOT status, the grand slam of American show business that defines those whove won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards), Davis brings deeply felt emotion and mesmerising gravitas to every part. Researching Davis ahead of our interview, I stumble upon a video called Lessons of Worth, part of a series featuring her and other LOreal ambassadors including Kate Winslet, Helen Mirren and Andie MacDowell. Youre worth it, Davis intones. Three words we have all heard at least a thousand times, right? But do you really understand what that means? The video is only two minutes long, but by the end of it, Ive teared up. Its one thing to bring meaning to a finely nuanced character in a Hollywood film. It takes another level of skill entirely to make a beauty ad feel heavy with meaning. Hello Viola, my queen is too simultaneously obsequious yet casual a greeting for such a legend, but she takes it in her stride. Shes speaking from Paris, and beauty is on her mind. Unsurprisingly, her routine is far more focused on products than any preventative surgery. Every day, I like to steam my face, she smiles. Then, I always wash it with a Shu Uemura oil cleanser, followed by LOreals Midnight Serum. And now that Im a woman of a beautiful age a perfect 59 I use an oil moisturiser. Davis attending the 2023 Met Gala celebrating Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty in New York. Credit: Getty Images Nor is she sparing. I overly moisturise. I moisturise to the point where I look greasy. Its probably sacrilege, but then on top of that, Im not going to lie, I put on SK-II skin conditioner. I slap it on. You shine, but Im telling you, within a very short period of time, your skin has soaked it all up. Davis has been married to the actor Julius Tennon since 2003. Does he ever pass comment on how shiny she looks? Oh no, he does not. Because guess what? Hes doing the same thing! In fact, I do it for him because then everyone tells him how pretty he looks. It makes him so happy when people tell him he looks pretty. Advertisement She says her mindset will always be more important than the products she uses. Theyre just an extension. Everything else in your life is an extension of your definition of beauty, and mine is that beauty is within. Beauty is parallel to the radical love affair you have with yourself your ability to set boundaries, your ability to say no, your ability to love yourself and feel like youre worthy even when you made the biggest mistake in your life. Your ability to disappoint other people, to avoid disappointing yourself. All of those things make you beautiful. It surpasses age. It surpasses everything. She agrees that, as a society, were obsessed with the idea of chasing youth. Its benign focus, is what it is. It doesnt even touch the surface of what it means to live a life because, at some point, you have to make peace with the fact that ageing is a privilege. Not everyone gets to age. If youre privileged enough to get to 59, and you have more life behind you than ahead of you, then you know your mortality is staring you in the face. No one will have beautiful whoever on a gravestone. Davis: What stops people is fear. Not fear of anything specifically just fear in and of itself. Credit: Dario Calmese/Trunk Archive/Snapper She says she feels most beautiful when shes with her husband and daughter. My husband makes me feel beautiful. I sometimes have to see myself through his eyes. And my daughter makes me feel beautiful. The other day, I was with her at the swimming pool, and I was like, Oh, man. I was under a certain light, lamenting my thighs. She said, Mama, stop. Your thighs are beautiful. Her daughter, Genesis, is 14 and embarking on her own beauty journey. What advice would she pass on? Id tell her that she is the love of her life. Id tell her you have to have a radical, fierce, passionate love affair with yourself. You dont have to smile all the time. You definitely dont have to be perfect, because youre not going to be. Even if you make the biggest mistake of your life, and youre in a lot of pain, we have to understand that the one person we really need in life is us. Viola Davis Even if you make the biggest mistake of your life, and even when youre in a lot of pain, we have to understand that the one person we really need in life is us. When I discovered the love that I had for myself is when everything else started to become beautiful. It started to serve me because I knew what I did not deserve and what I did deserve, and I migrated towards that. Advertisement MK: There was a woman who police in Bali had their eyes on. They knew her name, they knew she was from Thailand, and they tried to get her, but somehow mysteriously, they never did and she was never charged. There were also several other people in Australia downstream who were later charged with barely any publicity most of them from Brisbane. They went to jail for various short periods and have now been out for years and years. Fitz: In the meantime, on the ground, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were identified as the ringleaders? MK: Yes. They were a couple of boys from Homebush High, who kind of knew each other at school, but no more than that. Sukumaran really intrigues me. School references labelled him as honest, reliable, responsible, punctual, with high standards. He took part in the national maths and science competitions. He was a gold medal winner in karate. He was in the schools second grade rugby team. He gave blood in the annual school appeal. He was a volunteer for the Salvation Army Red Shield appeal. This wasnt a kid who you expected in 2015 to be shot in the dead of the night by an anonymous marksman, just because he fell in with a bad crowd and made a decision that he went to his death ruing. Myuran Sukumaran (left) and Andrew Chan pictured in 2006. They were executed by firing squad in 2015. Credit: AP Fitz: I do remember Sukumaran seemed to have, despite the extremity of his circumstances, a certain dignity, a certain courage in his public pronouncements, starting with his expression of deep remorse? MK: Yes. Both of them were incredibly apologetic. Andrew Chan actually turned to religion, and became a pastor. Before his arrest, Chan had got into some teenage trouble, and was a small-time thug in some ways. But they had both got themselves into a situation where they were sucked into a syndicate that was trafficking heroin. In jail though, even the Indonesian authorities said they were both fantastic in mentoring other people. They knew what theyd done was wrong and in their cases, it wasnt fake. It wasnt because they were facing a firing squad. They actually had time to sit in squalor and look at what theyd done. Both of them saw their families, perhaps particularly their mothers, absolutely destroyed. Imagine being told your child is going to be lined up in a field at some time without anyone there, and shot? I feel sick even saying those words. All the Bali Nine parents were hardworking. In the case of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, the parents were good people trying to give their child a better life, and theyve each had to live with the consequences of one absolutely stupid (and criminal) decision by their sons. Fitz: Speaking of stupid decisions, what about the others, like the son of the notably Christian parents, Scott Rush? Somebody must have said to him, Scott, heres the plan. But what on earth was in it for him and the others to go through customs with heroin strapped to their bodies? MK: About $5000 each. The Australian government is negotiating with Indonesia for the repatriation of the five remaining incarcerated members of the Bali Nine (from left) Martin Stephens, Si-Yi Chen, Michael Czugaj, Matthew Norman and Scott Rush. Credit: Composite: Nathan Perri Fitz: Thats it? Theyre risking the death sentence, on a million-dollar consignment, in return for just $5K? MK: Thats all. And in one case, Michael Czugaj this kid from Brisbane whod never been overseas, who was one of I think nine siblings he met one of the others at a nightclub in Brisbane, went home, got his passport without his parents knowing where he was, and left for Bali. A few days later his parents get a phone call, turn on the news and find out their sons been arrested for drug trafficking! He and Scott Rush knew each other at school, through sport, but not particularly well, and both of them had been in a little bit of trouble here and there, but they were young kids. And Scott Rush comes from a strong, united family. Fitz: Again, an extraordinary fate, for young men with such grounded backgrounds. MK: Exactly. But thats the point. It wasnt necessarily what kind of family they came from that put them there. I had young children myself at the time, and when I was doing the book with Cindy Wockner I became obsessed with trying to get to the bottom of why these nine? Whats to stop my own children, or anyones children one day going down the same path? In some cases, their parents loved each other so much that they still held hands while their children were sitting on death row or in court in Bali. In other cases, their parents despised each other so much that despite their kids being in this much trouble, they never even picked up the phone to each other. That broke my heart. So you cant say theyre from a good family or a bad family, or a divorced family or a together family. This was more about the kids themselves. Fitz: And did you find the unifying thread? MK: Two things Firstly, every single one of them wanted to belong, whether it was in a tiny street gang, or working with others, or on a holiday to Bali that someone promised at a nightclub in Brisbane they wanted to find this sense of belonging. And the other thread was an absolute lack of confidence. They had no confidence in themselves. I remember talking to one parent, and there was a picture of their child on the wall, and I said, Oh, they look like they were a bit sporty when they were young. And that parents response was, But they would have never made it really, look at their knobbly knees. I was quite taken back. Then they handed me a photo album of their child, and Im going through it. I said, Oh my god, that smile could light up a room. The response from the parent was,Yeah, but look at the crooked teeth. Fitz: That would break your heart! Loading MK: It did, but they werent being mean. This parent loved their child. But I got on the plane and I cried all the way back to Brisbane, thinking,How do you actually bring your child up so they know right from wrong? You cant compliment them all the time, but I think kids lean into what they learn. And I think what Briony Scott said in that fabulous interview you did with her last week is so true. Theyve got to be confident, and theyve got to be able to make decisions without wanting to fit in at any cost. And if we thought it was bad 20 years ago, social media has made that demand for girls to fit in at any cost a thousand times worse. Fitz: So on the night in question, is it fair to say that because the Australian Federal Police tipped off the Indonesian authorities, their cards were always marked and, as we say in rugby, shits was trumps on the blind? MK: I dont understand rugby, but this group almost every one of them was known to the AFP. They didnt have all the evidence, but they were tracking them. They knew where they bought their tickets, where they were headed, and why. Fitz: So heres my key question. Why not arrest them on landing in Australia? Theyre Australians, so let them face Australian justice. Beyond not spending 20 years in a hell-hole, there would have been every chance that the two men executed could have come back here, paid their dues, and gone on to live fruitful lives. Wouldnt that have been the decent thing to do? MK: I think Australians are very split on that, and I can really see both sides. But one thing many have pointed out is that we have agreements with various countries not only about drugs, but terrorism, too and we have to be careful about breaching those agreements for our own ends. Because the boot can be on the other foot at other times, and could we be expecting them to not share information with us about illegal activities in our country planned by Indonesian nationals? Loading Fitz: As a matter of interest, do you personally accept the sheer absurdity of the whole so-called war on drugs? For every massive drug bust like this, the only result is that it drives up the price on the streets to make even more fabulous profits for the puppeteers and the whole thing will go on until such times as sanity prevails and drugs are treated as a health problem, not a criminal problem. All the war on drugs does is drive the whole thing underground, where it is truly dangerous. MK: No, I dont. For the six or seven years after the Bali Nine were arrested, we talked to our children every second night over the dinner table about the importance of the law, about the influence of friendships, about getting in the wrong crowd, about making a decision that they might regret for the rest of their life. We all used these kids to teach our own kids about the perils of drugs. But I can also see how, after having paid such a long and heavy price, its time to bring them home, because the lesson in their arrest has been lost. Teenagers now have never heard of them. Thousands of Australian students have been told their qualifications will be cancelled in an unprecedented government crackdown following the closure of three colleges accused of issuing fake diplomas. Experts say legitimate students in areas such as childcare and disability services have been caught up in the saga and are probably unaware their qualifications have been cancelled. The government is cracking down on dodgy providers. Credit: Andrew Quilty The regulator, Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), said the college closures and cancellations were made in the interest of public safety because former students may be working with vulnerable people without proper training. Over the past month, it has cancelled the registration of three colleges and issued notices of intent to cancel 17,000 students qualifications issued by the institutions. I must admit that it was with some trepidation that I approached the latest virtual reality offering at the WA Museum Boola Bardip, The Great Kimberley Wilderness. I wasnt impressed with a VR documentary I saw several years ago, and as a consequence have not kept up with the developments in the field. I was further put off by a knowledgeable fellow journalist who quipped on the way into the media screening that he didnt think the technology was worth bothering with. Luke Hemsworth filming for The Great Kimberley Wilderness. Credit: White Spark Pictures Thirty-five minutes later the media pack stepped out of the screening or stumbled, as though wed been flying alongside a helicopter as it zoomed over the red Kimberley landscape and through the breathtaking otherworldly gorges completely overwhelmed by a full-immersion cinematic adventure that is as close being there as imaginable. Sitting in the swivel chairs in the purpose-built museum theatre, we quickly found ourselves rubber-necking like crazy so as not to miss a thing in this eye-popping 360 degree environment, an experience so immersive you forget youre in a room in Northbridge and not on an actual Kimberley adventure. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has signalled next years federal election will be later rather than sooner while accusing Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and confidante to US President-elect Donald Trump, of pursuing his own interests in opposing Australias ban on social media for under-16s. Albanese said he was prepared to talk to Musk about the ban, and he assured Australians they would have a bit of time before worrying about going to the polls. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has accused Elon Musk of having an agenda on social media. Credit: Aresna Villaneuva The social media ban was one of 45 pieces of legislation passed by the parliament last week which has prompted speculation Albanese will seek to go to the polls as early as the end of February or in early March. Parliament is due to resume for a two-week sitting from February 4 while Treasurer Jim Chalmers is scheduled to deliver his fourth budget, likely to show a substantial deficit, on March 25. Is taking offence the new form of protest? If so, then senator Lidia Thorpe, the Green-turned-independent whose disruptions of parliament have become commonplace, could teach a masterclass in it. Under Thorpes model, the more performative the offence-taking, the better the protest. On Wednesday, the Victorian senator caused another parliamentary ruckus. It began when One Nation senator Pauline Hanson questioned the eligibility of senator Fatima Payman to sit in parliament. Payman who defected from Labor to the crossbench in July was born in Kabul, but her family fled the Taliban, and she came to Australia as a child in 2003. Lidia Thorpe and Pauline Hanson after a division in the Senate on Wednesday. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen She was made an Australian citizen in 2005, but has had trouble cancelling her Afghan citizenship because the Taliban government does not have diplomatic relations with Australia. Nonetheless, the legal advice is that Payman is eligible for parliament, having taken all reasonable steps to renounce her other citizenship. In the Senate, Payman said Hanson was vindictive, mean, nasty and that she [brought] disgrace to the human race. I am sympathetic to Paymans anger. At the end of year 4, I said goodbye to my classmates and my teacher. I was a little sad, a little excited: the next year, I was to change schools. The new year began, and I entered a new world. Lunchtime was handball against the wall or cricket, the wickets metal bins. I didnt get on with my new teacher. Two kids made my life difficult: theyd be nice to me and then they wouldnt. And I made a new best friend. I summon this because I have been trying to remember what it was like to be 10. In much of Australia, that is the age at which you may be judged criminally responsible for your actions. New laws in Queensland, introduced last week under a slogan chilling in its childishness adult crime, adult time mean 10-year-olds will now be sentenced as adults if they commit certain offences. Illustration: Joe Benke Credit: Because youth detention centres are crowded, children are sometimes held in watch houses alongside adults. In 2019, the ABCs Four Corners reported on some of the children held in these horrible places. A boy who had the cognitive function of someone younger than six years old. A boy who said he had been held, alone, for 23 days was worried about his birthday being forgotten. A girl placed in a pod with two alleged male sex offenders. Last week, Queenslands government released a legally required statement on the laws impacts. Because it has to be, the statement is shockingly honest. The laws mean more children could be held in watchhouses for extended periods of time despite the fact watchhouses are not appropriate or humane places in which to detain children. And there will be a greater impact on Indigenous children. In 2025 Rome is hosting the Jubilee of Hope, a Catholic celebration that happens once every 25 years. The Jubilee begins when Pope Francis celebrates Mass in St Peters Basilica in the Vatican City on December 24, 2024, and runs until the end of 2025. As well as celebrations of faith and worship, the mega-event will encompass cultural events, saints canonised and a Pilgrimage of Hope that takes in churches and other places of spiritual significance. The Jubilee will begin on December 24 in Vatican City. Credit: iStock The Jubilee is expected to attract 35 million visitors to Romes Holy City. Thats in addition to non-Jubilee travellers, and Rome attracted 35 million visitors in 2023. Anyone planning to visit Rome in 2025 can expect premium hotel prices, attractions even more packed than usual, crowded markets and harassed locals. A Jubilee of Hope (see iubilaeum2025.va) is something the world needs right now, and the Eternal City is investing massively in public works that will improve the visitor experience well into the future. The transport network is undergoing a major upgrade while the city is racing to complete more than 3000 public works that will put a fresh shine on some of its favourite attractions, such as the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. That should make post-Jubilee visits a sensation. Meanwhile, if Italy is on your wish-list for 2025, you might want to steer clear of the capital unless youre planning to join the pilgrims who will flock to the Vatican. Most of those Jubilee visitors will not venture outside Rome, and happily, Italy has much to discover outside its capital, including parts that see few tourists. London: A man who was shocked when he found a Mars bar without its signature ripple causing an online storm has received 2 ($3.91) in compensation and an apology from the global food giant. Harry Seager, 34, bought the chocolate bar from a service station in Thame, a market town near Oxford, while on his way to a classic car show in Birmingham this month. A man who bought a Mars bar without its signature ripple has been given a voucher for his hassle. Credit: Harry Seager When he opened the packet, he thought the lack of ripple was a new cost-cutting measure. He posted it to the Dull Mens Club page on Facebook. More than 16,000 comments from the groups thousands of members ensured Seagers find gained widespread media attention throughout Britain. Mars Wrigley UK, the famous bars maker, said this one had slipped through its production line and confirmed the swirl was being kept. Amman: Thousands of Syrian insurgents took over most of Aleppo on Saturday, establishing positions in the countrys largest city and controlling its airport before expanding their shock offensive to a nearby province, which has forced the army to redeploy in the biggest challenge to President Bashar al-Assad in years. The Syrian army said on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) dozens of its soldiers had been killed in the major attack, led by Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebels once known as the Nusra Front. HTS is designated a terrorist group by the US, Russia, Turkey and other nations. Syrian opposition supporters stand on a captured Syrian army tank in the town of Maarat al-Numan on Saturday. Credit: AP Russias Defence Ministry said its air force had carried out strikes on Syrian rebels in support of the countrys army, Russian news agencies reported. The strikes followed what was the boldest rebel assault for years in a civil war where front lines had largely been frozen since 2020. The swift and surprise offensive is a huge embarrassment for Assad and raised questions about his armed forces preparedness. The insurgent offensive launched from their stronghold in the countrys north-west appeared to have been planned for years. It also came at a time when Assads allies are preoccupied with their own conflicts. James Cox, Michael Bolton and Kenneth Fox Counting on day one has come to a close in the general election, you can follow live updates again on Sunday morning. Here are the key points after the first day of counting: Independent TD Michael Healy Rae was elected in the first count in Kerry. Sinn Fein's Pearse Doherty was elected in Donegal. Fine Gael deputy leader Helen McEntee was elected in Meath East. Fine Gael leader Simon Harris was elected in Wicklow on the first count Aontu leader Peadar Toibin was elected in Meath West. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald was elected in Dublin Central. Fine Gael TD Jennifer Caroll McNeill was first TD to be elected, followed by Patrick O'Donovan and Neale Richmond. Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch is in contention for a seat, Jack Chambers and Paul Donnelly were elected in Dublin West. Micheal Martin was elected on first count in Cork South Central. You can get the rundown on every constituency in our Election Results Hub by clicking here 12:20am The Business Post focuses on Sinn Fein faring well in the general election but without a route into government. The Green Party's disastrous showing is also highlighted. This Sundays edition. Pick up a copy in stores or subscribe at https://t.co/u5ystSGUtr: Harris and Martin look to power as Sinn Fein shut out Charlie Taylor on consequences of NDRC closure Unparallelled analysis of election results pic.twitter.com/VhmuyTEl1k Business Post (@businessposthq) November 30, 2024 12:18am As we move past midnight, the latest from Sligo Leitrim delivers a good showing for Fianna Fail's three candidates. Leading the 4 seats is Fine Gael's Frank Feighan with 8,980, followed by Martin Kenny of Sinn Fein on 7,764. With a quota of 11,381, next up is Independent Ireland candidate Michael Clarke with 5,979, closely followed by Fianna Fail trio Eamon Scanlon on 5,913, Edel McSharry on 4,466 and Paddy O'Rourke on 4,066. Also in the mix is Sinn Fein's Chris McManus on 5,173. Independent Marian Harkin is at 4,347. 12:00am Another look at the Sunday papers. The Sunday Independent leads with Micheal Martin likely being the next Taoiseach and another Fianna Fail/Fine Gael coalition on the cards. Sunday Independent P1 In-depth general election reports and analysis over 13 pages - plus lots more across the five sections pic.twitter.com/HW2lsLGBqQ Alan English (@AlanEnglish9) November 30, 2024 11:46pm Independent TD Michael Healy Rae has been elected in the first count in Kerry, receiving 18,596 first preference votes and exceeding the quota of 13,083 with a large surplus, a lot of which will likely go to his brother, fellow outgoing TD Danny Healy Rae who received 8,603. Minister for Education and Fianna Fail TD Norma Foley received 10,302 and Sinn Feins Pa Daly received 11,647 votes. 11:31pm It doesn't look like Grainne Seoige has enough to get over the line in Galway West. In the five seater with a quota of 10,047, Mairead Farrell has 8,164 first preferences, Fianna Fail's John Connolly has 7,192 first preferences, independent candidate Noel Grealish has 6,887, and fellow independent Catherine Connolly is on 6,747. Next up is Hildegarde Naughton of Fine Gael with 6,011, and then Independent Ireland's Noel Thomas on 5,700. Against these figures, Seoige has 2,929. 11:24pm In the big Carlow-Kilkenny constituency 5 seater FF's John McGuinness is in the lead with 9,794, followed by his party colleagues Jennifer Murnane O'Connor on 8,087 and Peter 'Chap' Cleere on 7,194. The quota is 11,627. After this it's Fine Gael's Catherine Callaghan on 6,788 and David Fitzgerald on 4,743. 11:20pm Sinn Fein's Pearse Doherty, of Donegal, has been elected to the 34th Dail. He has been elected on the first count having received 18,898 votes, widely exceeding the quota of 12,771. Pat The Cope Gallagher looks likely to return to the Dail for Fianna Fail having received 10,024 first preference votes in the first count, with sitting TD and Minister for Agriculture and the Marine Charlie McConalogue receiving 8,019 first preferences. Padraig MacLochlainn of Sinn Fein received 9,799 first preference votes and notably Charles Ward of the 100% Redress Party is ahead of Independent TD Thomas Pringle with them Ward getting 6,862 first preference votes and Pringle getting 5,289. 11:18pm Independent candidate Carol Nolan, of Offaly, has been elected to the 34th Dail. 11:16pm Fine Gael deputy leader Helen McEntee has been elected to the 34th Dail in Meath East. 11:15pm Reports from our colleagues in the Western People say the fifth count in Mayo is sure to be an interesting one as Fine Gael's Martina Jennings 3,362 votes are distributed. "The big question is whether they go mostly in the direction of her fellow Fine Gael candidates Alan Dillon (who is still about 1,900 votes shy of the quota), Fine Gael's Keira Keogh and Fine Gael's Mark Duffy or if they spread more geographically. This would be to the benefit of south Mayo-based Independent candidate Patsy O'Brien, who is still very much in contention for a seat. Aontu's Paul Lawless also tallied well in the Claremorris area." 11:02pm With an eye on tomorrow, the Sunday Times focus on Fine Gael and Fianna Fail looking to form a coalition next week and Gerry 'The Monk" Hutch being close to being elected. SUNDAY TIMES Martin and Harris to open coalition talks next week as both vie to be Taoiseach Labour knocks back early overtures from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael The Monk close to Dail seat pic.twitter.com/0nLPHP0DRi Hugh O'Connell (@oconnellhugh) November 30, 2024 22:55pm A quick recap on where things currently stand, 23 of the 174 seats have now been filled in the 34th Dail. The counting of votes will continue in some constituencies tonight, while others have been stood down and will resume on Sunday morning. As it stands Fine Gael have 8 TD's, Sinn Fein has 6. Fianna Fail is on 5, Aontu's leader Peadar Tobin is their sole TD elected so far, while there are 2 independents returned in Michael Lowry and Verona Murphy. Independent Ireland has 1 seat so far, as does People Before Profit - Solidarity. 10:46pm Fine Gael TD and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke has been re-elected in the Longford/Westmeath constituency receiving 10,864 first preference votes and exceeding the quota of 10,315. Also in Longford/Westmeath Fianna Fails Robert Troy got 8,116 and Kevin Boxer Moran received 8,056 first preference votes, and Fine Gaels Micheal Carrigy received 7,090. 10:40pm Independent TD Michael Lowry has been re-elected in Tipperary Norths first count with 12,538 first preference votes, exceeding the quota of 11,442. 10:20pm Fianna Fail's Aisling Dempsey has just been elected to Dail Eireann having received 8,806 votes overall, filling the final seat in the Meath West constituency and joining Sinn Fein's Johnny Guirke and Aontu's Peadar Toibin. Dempsey beat Fine Gael's Linda Nelson Murray in the fifth and final count. Meath West is the first constituency to fill all of its seats in the General Election. 10:10pm With a quota of 12,182 in Clare, Fianna Fail Senator Timmy Dooley is set to be re-elected to the Dail after receiving 11,313 first preference votes. It also looks like outgoing Fianna Fail TD Cathal Crowe will be reelected after receiving 8,261 votes, while Sinn Feins Donna McGettigan received 7,843 first preferences and Fine Gael candidate Joe Cooney received 7,575. Notably, sitting Independent TD Violet-Anne Wynne received just 310 first preference votes, over 8,000 less than when she was elected as a Sinn Fein TD in 2020 before leaving the party in 2022. 9:45pm Independent Mattie McGrath and Fine Gael's Michael Murphy look set to be elected, with 10,014 and 8,371 first preferences respectively in Tipperary South three-seater. The quota is 10,270. Behind them is Fianna Fail's Imelda Goldsboro on 5,838 and Sinn Fein's Martin Browne with 4,937 9:40pm In Meath West, Aontu leader Peadar Toibin has been elected. Simon Harris celebrates with his wife Caoimhe (left), his parents, his sister Gemma and his political team after being re-elected to the Dail parliament as a TD for Wicklow on the first count. Photo: PA 9:35pm Fine Gael leader Simon Harris been elected on the first count in Wicklow. He celebrated with his wife Caoimhe, his parents, his sister Gemma and his political team at the count centre in Greystones. 9:30pm In Laois, Fine Gael's William Aird has been elected. 9:25pm Meanwhile, Fine Gael's Paschal Donohoe said the main theme of the election is one of the centre holding, describing Sinn Fein as the weakest opposition party in Europe. He told reporters at the RDS in Dublin: I think were on the verge of a very, very positive election for the party and a very, very strong electoral performance. On the potential election of Gerard Hutch in his constituency, he said: I think its worth noting that the vast majority of people in Dublin Central have not voted for him, and the vast majority of voters in Dublin Central have chosen to put their votes behind other candidates and we will have to reflect in due course regarding why he performed like he did, but the big picture today is one of the centre holding, thats the big picture. The big picture is, at a time in which incumbent governments all over Europe are struggling to get re-elected, the two larger parties within this government, in particular Fine Gael, are going to deliver a very strong performance. Fine Gael's Paschal Donohoe at the election count centre at the RDS in Dublin. Photo: PA 9:2opm In Dublin Bay South, former Fine Gael TD Kate O'Connell has been been elimnated. 9:15pm Fine Gael's Emer Currie has been elected in Dublin West. She claimed the third seat in the consituency after Fianna Fail's Jack Chambers and Sinn Fein's Paul Donnelly. 9:10pm Michael Collins of Independent Ireland in the lead in Cork South-West with 11,002 first preferences, just shy of the quota of 11,824 in the three-seater. He is followed by Holly Cairns, leader of the Social Democrats with 9,421 first preferences, FF's Christopher O'Sullivan with 9,118 and then FG's Noel O'Donovan with 6,122. 9:00pm Michael Fitzmaurice has been elected on the first count in Roscommon-Galway's 3-seater with a vote of 12,002, on a quota of 10,283. In the running for the other seats are Sinn Fein's Claire Kerrane with 8.039, Fianna Fail's Martin Daly on 7,283 and some way back, independent candidate Eugene Murphy on 4,327. In the first count for the three-seat Cork North West, Fianna Fail's Aindrias Moynihan tops the first preferences with 8,047 on a quota of 10,712. Herth West, is followed by Fianna Fail's Michael Moynihan 7,678, John Paul O'Shea from Fine Gael with 7,607 and Michael Creed also of Fine Gael on 7,321 8:55pm In the first count for the four-seat Cork East, Fine Gael's Mark Stanton tops the first preferences with 5,740 votes on a quota of 9,602. He is followed by Fianna Fail's James O'Connor with 5,891 votes, fellow party member Deirdre O'Brien with 5,196 and Independent William O'Leary on 4,615. 8:45pm In the first count for the four-seat Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael's Neale Richmond has been elected with 10,044 on a quota 9,752. He is followed Maeve O'Connell also of Fine Gael with 6,375, Sinn Fein's Shay Brennan with 5,913 and Independent Michael Fleming on 4,380. In Dublin South West Sinn Fein's Sean Crowe tops the first preferences with 9,869 on a quota of 11,138. He is followed by Fine Gael's Colm Brophy on 8,498, Fianna Fail's John Lahart on 8,263 and then some gap to Labour's Ciaran Ahern on 5,788, People Before Profit's Paul Murphy on 5,081 and Sinn Fein's Niamh Whelan on 4,031. 8:40pm Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald has been elected in the Dublin Central constituency. Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald celebrates topping the poll at the election count centre at the RDS in Dublin, after voters went to the polls to elect 174 TDs across 43 constituencies during the General Election. Photo: PA. In the four-seater Kildare South it's Fine Gael's Marin Heydon topping the first preference vote with 9,262, just short of the quota of 10.734. He is followed by Fianna Fail's Fiona O'Loughlin on 7,489, Sinn Fein's Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh with 7,241and Labour's Mark Wall on 6,654. Next up is Social Democrat Chris Pender on 3,157 and Cathal Berry on 3,007. 8:35pm Good news for the Social Democrats with Cian O'Callaghan topping the first preference vote in Dublin Bay North on 9,738 with a quota of 10,929 for the five seater. Next up is Sinn Fein's Denise Mitchell on 9,012, and Fianna Fail's Tom Brabazon on 6,854. Next up is his colleague Deirdre Heney on 5,509, followed by Fine Gael's Aoibhinn Tormey on 5,313. After these comes Sinn Fein's Micheal MacDonncha on 3,892 and Labour's Shane Folan on 2,921. 8:15pm In Meath East, Fine Gael's Helen McEntee tops the first prefrences with 9,957 on a quota of 9,997. She is followed by Sinn Fein's Darren O'Rourke with 8,175, Fianna Fail's Thomas Byrne with 6,403 and Independent Gillian Toole with 4,459. 8:05pm In Meath West, Sinn Fein's Johnny Guirke has been elected. It is the first of three seats in the constituency to be decided. More than 40 per cent of the eliminated candidate Ronan Moore's 2,542 transfers went to Mr Guirke, taking him over the line. 8:00pm In the four seater of Galway East, Fianna Fail's Albert Dolan tops the poll with 10,140, just ahead of independent Sean Canney with 10.030. The quota is 10,843. Others in the running are Sinn Fein's Louise O'Hara on 7,459, Fine Gael's Peter Roche on 5,521, Independent Ireland's Declan Geraghty on 5,150, FF's Anne Rabbitte on 4,056 and Fine Gael's Clodagh Higgins on 3,458. 7:50pm In Louth, Sinn Fein have two in the running with Joanna Byrne of Drogheda on 8,728 and Ruairi O Murchu on 8,169 on a quota of 10,623 for the 5 seat constituency. Of the rest, Labour's Ged Nash got 7,594 first preferences, while Fine Gael's Paula Butterly has 5,646. Fianna Fail's two candidates stand at 5,772 for North Louth's Erin McGreehan and 4,913 for Drogheda's Alison Comyn. Fine Gael's John McGahon, who was caught up in controversy, got 4.021. 7:40pm Fine Gael leader Simon Harris thanked the electorate for the mandate they gave him and his party and said he is cautiously optimistic. He told reporters at the count centre in Wicklow: Im really grateful to the other people for the mandate they have given me and my party in terms of the future. Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris speaks to the media as he arrives at the election count centre at Shoreline Leisure Greystones in Co Wicklow, after voters went to the polls to elect 174 TDs across 43 constituencies during the General Election. He added: I think anybody who makes any suggestion about who is going to be the largest party or the construct of the next government, theyre a braver person than I am. Our electoral system dictates that therell be many, many transfers that will go on for hours, if not days, before we know the final computations at all. But what I am very confident about is that my party will have a very significant role to play in the years ahead, and Im cautiously optimistic and excited. 7:05pm Fianna Fail Leader Micheal Martin is the latest TD to be elected in Cork South Central after he was elected on the first count. He tops the first preferences with 14,526 on a quota of 10,451. He is followed by Fianna Fail's Seamus McGrath on 7,794, Sinn Fein's Donnchadh O Laoghaire with 6,947 and Padraig Rice from the Social Democrats on 5,368. 6:55pm Sinn Fein's Eoin O'Broin, in Dublin Mid-West, is the latest TD to be elected to the next Dail. Fianna Fail's Jack Chambers, in Dublin West, has been elected with Sinn Fein's Paul Donnelly in the constituency. 6:50pm Independent Verona Murphy, in the Wexford constituency, is the fourth TD elected to the next Dail. 6:40pm Sinn Fein's David Cullinane, in the Waterford constituency, is the third TD elected to the next Dail. He is followed by Fine Gael's John Cummins with 10,376, Fianna Fail's Mary Butler with 9,962 and Conor D. McGuiness of Sinn Fein on 5,791. 6:35pm In the much watched Dublin Central, Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch has secured 3,098 first preferences. With a quote of 6,551 SF's Mary Lou McDonald on 6,389 tops the poll, followed by FG's Paschal Donohoe with 5,493. He is followed by SD's Gary Gannon with 4,353; Labour's Marie Sherlock with 2,465; FF's Mary Fitzpatrick on 2,344. Of the rest, Green Party's Neasa Hourigan has 1,952, PBPS Eoghan O Ceannabhain on 1,471 and Independent 4 Change's Clare Daly on 1,317 Fine Gaels James Geoghegan has topped the poll in Dublin Bay South with 6,060 votes in the first count, almost 2,000 short of the quota of 7,957. Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik is econd on 5,684 with Jim OCallaghan of Fianna Fail in third with 5,536. Chris Andres of Sinn Fein lies fourth with 4,875 with Fine Gaels second candidate Emma Blain amassing 4,102 votes. The Green Party seat looks at risk as Hazel Chu has 3,250 votes, which will make it difficult for her to retain the seat. The new Social Democrats candidate Eoin Hayes is ahead of her at 3,615 votes. 6:10pm In the first count for the 3-seat Laois constituency, Fine Gaels Willie Aird tops the first preferences with 9.269 on a quota of 9,570. He is followed by Sean Fleming from Sinn Fein with 8,123, Independent Brian Stanley with 6,782 and Sinn Fein's Maria McCormack on with 4,914. In Wicklow-Wexford, the 3-seater has a quota of 9,560, with Brian Brennan on 8,820, followed by Malcolm Byrne of Fianna Fail on 8,311 and Fionntan O Suillebhain of Sinn Fein on 7,719. 5:55pm In the first count for the 3-seat Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail's Darragh O'Brien tops the first preferences with 8,906 on a quota of 9,475. he is followed by Ann Graves of Sinn Fein with 5,450, Labour's Duncan Smith with 5,396, and Fine Gael's Alan Farrell with 5,379. 5:40pm Fine Gael has taken the second seat in this election, with Patrick O'Donovan elected on the first count in Limerick County. The quota in the three-seat constituency is 11,385 and O'Donovan got 11,563 first preferences. Next up is Independent Ireland's Richard O'Donoghue with 10,540, followed by Fianna Fail's Niall Collins with 9,284 and Sinn Fein's Joanne Collins with 6,005. 5:35pm Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has paid tribute to his coalition colleagues from the Green Party. His comments come amid the possibility that the Green Party may suffer an electoral wipeout. I think the Green Party made a very positive contribution to government, he said. I think some good, constructive, positive policies emerge from the last government. He added: The Greens, to their credit, didnt buckle over the four and a half years. Being in government can be difficult for any political party. It is to the credit of the Greens that they went into government. We had challenges, we had different priorities of three political parties, but this government went full term, and I think Ireland was for the better for that. 5.20pm Time to look at the national scene as the counts start to come in. You can get the rundown on every constituency in our Election Results Hub by clicking here. Social Democrats Gary Gannon arriving for the count at RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin after voters went to the polls to elect 174 TDs across 43 constituencies during the general election. 5:15pm First candidate elected and it's in Dun Laoghaire with Fine Gael's Jennifer Caroll MacNeill securing 11,685 first prefences in the four-seater cosntistuency where the quota is 11,134. Of the rest, Cormac Devlin of Fianna Fail has 8,831, Barry Ward of Fine Gael has 8,337, Richard Boyd Barrett of People Before Profit-Solidarity has 6,795 and Shane O'Brien of Sinn Fein with 4,995. 5:00pm Sinn Fein's Johnny Guirke has topped the first count in the three-seat Meath West constituency with 8,604 first preferences. With a quota of 9,427, he is followed by Aontu leader Peadar Toibin with 7,563 first preferences. After that it is Fianna Fail's Aisling Dempsey with 6,535, Fine Gael's Linda Nelson Murray on 6,164, and Social Democrats Ronan Moore on 2,542. 4:45pm First count is in and it's Fingal West. With a quota of 7,530, Sinn Fein's Louise O'Reilly tops the count with 6,965 first preferences, ahead of Robert O'Donoghue of Labour with 5,044, Grace Boland of Fine Gael with 4,583 and Lorraine Clifford-Lee of Fianna Fail with 4,417. Outgoing Green Party TD Joe O'Brien secured just 1,844 first preference votes. 4:35pm The complete tally for the four seat Clare constituency has Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) comfortably topping the poll in Clare. The tally of the 180 boxes has the east Clare senator set to return to the Dail after missing out in 2020 on 11,041 tallied first preferences - or 18.29 per cent of the vote - which will leave him around 900 votes shy of the expected quota of around 12,000 votes. Outgoing deputy, Cathal Crowe (FF) is expected to return to the Dail with 13.69 per cent of the vote in a seat gain for Fianna Fail with 8,264 tallied votes in a strong showing for FF. First time General Election candidate, Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) will secure a seat for Fine Gael while Donna McGettigan (SF) is favourite to secure the fourth seat on 12.44 per cent of the vote. A member of Clare Co Council, Cllr McGettigan lies 2,281 tallied votes ahead of nearest competitor, Leonora Carey (FG) who has 5,228 tallied first preferences. Outgoing Independent TD, Violet Anne Wynne has polled only 286 tallied votes and looks likely to be eliminated after the first count. The former Sinn Fein candidate was the story of the 2020 General Election in Clare when she topped the poll taking 15.11 per cent of the first preference vote. The final tally shows FF with 38 per cent of first preferences with FG having 25 per cent followed by SF on 12 per cent. 4:25pm The Social Democrats have had a positive day as they look set to grow their representation in the Dail. Party leader Holly Cairns, who gave birth to a baby girl on polling day, is well placed to retain her seat in the highly competitive constituency of Cork South-West. The Social Democrats, founded in 2015, won six seats in the 2020 election with around three per cent of first preference votes. The exit poll after Fridays General Election put the party on 5.8 per cent, which would give them the most support of the smaller groups in the Dail. 4:10pm The full tally is now in for Waterford's four-seat constituency, with all boxes opened, and shows Sinn Fein's David Cullinane on 22.4 per cent; Fine Gael's John Cummins 19.3 per cent; Mary Butler, Fianna Fail 18 per cent; Sinn Fein's Cllr Conor McGuinness 10.8 per cent; Independent Matt Shanahan 9.9 per cent and Mary Roche, Social Democrats, five per cent. In Kildare South, Martin Heydon of Fine Gael is leading the tally, followed by Fianna Fail's Fiona O'Loughlin. Independent TD Cathal Berry is set to lose his seat. 3:55pm The final tally of the 3 seat Roscommon-Galway constituency is in, with the estimated quota of 10,561. The number of votes cast is estimated to be 40,681, indicating the turnout is well down on 2020, which saw 45,942 votes cast. According to tally, Michael Fitzmaurice appears almost certain to top the poll. He is followed by SF TD Claire Kerrane and Dr Martin Daly (FF). In Clare, Gordon Deegan reports that outgoing Independent TD, Violet Anne Wynne has polled only 286 tallied votes and looks likely to be eliminated after the first count. The former Sinn Fein candidate was the story of the 2020 General Election in Clare when she topped the poll taking 15.11 per cent of the first preference vote. The final tally shows FF with 38 per cent of first preferences with Fine Gael having 25 per cent followed by Sinn Fein on 12 per cent. 3:45pm Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin is set to top the poll and be elected on the first count in Cork South Central. The final tallies show Sinn Fein's Donnchadha O Laoighaire and Fianna Fail councillor Seamus McGrath are also set to take seats. In Wexford the tallies are showing Independent Verona Murphy is topping the poll, followed by Fianna Fails James Browne is on 16%. After those two it is Johnny Mythen from Sinn Fein and Labours George Lawlor in the four-seater. Fine Gaels Cathal Byrne and Aontu's Jim Codd are chasing those initial four. 3:42pm Michael Healy-Rae making clear his view of the Green Party's election performancce. 3:38pm With almost all of the Co Carlow ballot boxes opened, tallies indicated that Fianna Fail's Jennifer Murnane OConnor is on 20 per cent, Fine Gaels Catherine Callaghan on 15 per cent and Sinn Fein's Aine Knox Gladney on 13 per cent. 3:20pm In the Dublin Fingal West Constituency Minister of State and Green Party TD Joe O'Brien has conceded he will not be re-elected to the Dail. "Clearly I've lost my seat and that's very disappointing from my point of view. We put a lot of work in, and I think the key for me was the redraw of the constituency. I knew last August I was going to be up against it when I lost over half of my base, and then tide went out [on the Green Party]." 3:15pm Gordon Deegan reports from Ennis that Fianna Fail look on course to gain a seat in the four seat Clare constituency. With 80 per cent of the 180 boxes tallied, Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) remains on course to top the poll with running mate, sitting TD, Cathal Crowe now lying second overall. The latest tallies have Deputy Crowe edging Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) into third place. Sinn Feins Cllr Donna McGettigan has increased her share of the tallied vote to 12.26 per cent and is in a strong position to take the fourth seat. Cllr McGettigan on 6,872 tallied first preferences is 2,376 votes ahead of her nearest rival, Leonora Carey (FG) who sits on 4,567 tallied votes. 3pm Tallies in Wicklow are showing Taoiseach Simon Harris will get enough votes for a quota and a half. Counting takes place at Nemo Rangers GAA Club in Cork, after voters went to the polls to elect 174 TDs across 43 constituencies during the general election. 2.50pm Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is in real danger of losing his seat in Wicklow. He's currently holding the fourth seat but Simon Harris has a large surplus to transfer Grainne Seoige is not going to win a seat for Fianna Fail in Galway West The Greens are facing a wipeout - and deputy leader Catherine Martin looks likely to lose to the Social Democrats. It would be one of at least two extra seats for the Social Democrats who will take one in Cork South Central through Padraig Rice. Gerry Hutch is in the frame to take a seat in Dublin Central but it's not guaranteed, he has a battle with Labour Independent TD Cathal Berry also looks likely to lose his seat in Kildare 2.45pm The final tallies for Mayo show Sinn Fein's Rose Conway-Walsh in the lead, followed by Alan Dillon of Fine Gael, and Dara Calleary of Fianna Fail. Then it is Ballina Fine Gael candidate Mark Duffy in fourth, followed by a trio who will be fighting for the final seat: Fine Gael's Keira Keogh from Westport; Lisa Chambers of Fianna Fail and then former Fine Gael member and now independent Patsy O'Brien. Tallies in Wicklow are showing Taoiseach Simon Harris will get enough votes for a quota and a half. He will be followed by John Brady of Sinn Fein and Jennifer Whitmore of Social Democrats in the four-seater. Then it is a battle for the final seat. In Roscommon-Galway, Independent Ireland's Michael Fitzmaurice appears almost certain to top the poll. He's followed by Sinn Fein's Claire Kerrane Dr Martin Daly of Fianna Fail on 7,252. Independent TD Michael Healy Rae looks set to top the poll in Kerry based on tallies. Predicting the final seat count, he says: "You will have two Healy-Rae's and you will have Sinn Fein and you will have Fianna Fail, which I'm calling for Minister Norma Foley. And the last seat I'm calling that for Michael Cahill from Fianna Fail becuase he is transfer-friendly." 1.45pm Similar bad news for the Green Party in Dublin Bay South, the stomping ground of former party leader Eamon Ryan. The four-seater looks set to see Fine Gael James Geoghegan and Labour leader Ivan Bacik safe, while Fianna Fail's Jim O'Callaghan and Sinn Fein's Chris Andrews are in the running with Fine Gael's Emma Blain. Green Party candidate Hazel Chu is languishing in seventh place. 1.38pm In Dublin South West, all tallies are in and Sinn Fein TD Sean Crowe topping the poll, followed by Fine Gael's Colm Brophy and Fianna Fail's John Lahart. The last two seats are going to be hard fought, with Labour's Ciaran Ahern, People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, Fianna Fail's Teresa Costello, Fine Gael's Sarah Barnes and Social Democrats Ross O'Mullane all fighting it out. It seems to mean there will be no room for Green Party TD Noel Francis Duffy. 1.28pm In the Mayo 5 seat constituency, former Fine Gael TD Jim Higgins told the Western People that, while not all tallies are in. he sees it going to Fine Gael's Alan Dillon, Fianna Fail's Dara Calleary, and Sinn Fein's Rose Conway-Walsh in the first three seats. He predicts the fourth seat may go to Fine Gael's Mark Duffy. After that he says it will be a real battle for the final seat, with the chances of Fine Gael taking it. 1.26pm Chairperson of the Green Party Senator Pauline O' Reilly concedes it's not the Green's day today. She said: "The feeling on the ground was very positive towards us and overall we were squeezed out by a lot of choice. Whether that's within Government or the centre left." 1.20pm With 10% of the boxes open in the Carlow/Kilkenny constituency, three Carlow candidates are performing well with Fianna Fail's Jennifer Murnane OConnor on 25.5%, Fine Gaels Catherine Callaghan on 19.9% and Sinn Fein's Aine Knox Gladney on 17.4%. 1.18pm Early signs of the turnout in Waterford point to the election quota being around 10,750. Turnout is believed to be 54,012, with the number of spoilt ballots yet to be revealed. A four-seat constituency, this means the quota is likely to be around 10,750 but may drop slightly when spoiled ballots are counted. The final tally numbers for the first count mean that David Cullinane, Sinn Fein TD, is expected to be elected on the first count with 10,839 votes. 1pm Limerick county: Tallies show Fine Gael's Richard O'Donovan, Independent Ireland's Richard O'Donoghue and Fianna Fail's Niall Collins leading the way, followed by Sinn Fein's first-time candidiate Joanne Collins who is the best of the remaining 11 candidates on 12%. 12.52pm Sinn Fein's director of elections Matt Carthy says it would be a phenomenal performance if they emerge as the largest party when the votes are counted. He told Newstalk: "I think in virtually every consistency where I've been looking at the tallies, the last one if not two seats are in play between several contenders so all I can say is if you consider where we were just a few short weeks ago, the prospect that Sinn Fein could emerge as the largest party out of this election will be an absolutely phenomenal result." 12.20pm Meath West too nearing a full tally - there will be one Sinn Fein and one Aontu TD, and then the final seat looks to be a fight between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. A member of the count staff as counting takes place at Nemo Rangers GAA Club in Cork, after voters went to the polls to elect 174 TDs across 43 constituencies during the general election. Photo: Jacob King/PA Images 12.10pm Final tallies are starting to come in starting in Dublin Central where Mary Lou McDonald will top the poll but the big story is Gerry the Monk Hutch could finish 4th and take a Dail seat The other story there is the underperformance of Clare Daly who looks well off the pace. 11.42am Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch is performing well in early ballots in the Dublin Central constituency, and is currently in fifth place. Mary Lou McDonald 19% Paschal Donohoe 17% Gary Gannon 13% Gerry Hutch 9% Mary Fitzpatrick 7% Marie Sherlock 7% Neasa Hourigan 6% Malachy Steenson 5% Clare Daly 4% 12pm In Dublin West, figures don't look good for Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman. Fianna Fail deputy leader Jack Chambers is currently at 21 per cent, followed by Sinn Fein's Paul Donnelly at 19 per cent. Fine Gael Senator Emer Currie is at 13 per cent, Peope Before Protfit's Ruth Coppinger is at eight per cent with Mr OGorman and Labours John Walsh both holding six per cent. There are five seats in the constituency. 11.36am Incoming EU Commissioner Michael McGrath has said that there is a danger in reading too much in to the exit poll last night and insists that everything is still to play for. 11:30am Taoiseach Simon Harris is on course to top the poll in Wicklow. However, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly is struggling. Early counting shows Mr Harris in first place (28 per cent), followed by Sinn Feins John Brady (15 per cent) and Social Democrats Jennifer Whitmore in third (14 per cent). There are four seats in the constituency and Stephen Donnelly is currently in fith (6.6 per cent), trailling Fine Gael's Edward Timmins (6.8 per cent). Xac minh 'than y' chua ung thu bang phuong phap 'truyen nang luong' "Than y" Nguyen Van Kien (trai) lam viec voi co quan chuc nang - Anh: Cong an cung cap Ngay 28-2, ong Nguyen Tuong Duy - chu tich UBND xa Hai Yang (huyen ak oa, Gia Lai) - cho hay ang phoi hop cac co quan chuc nang xac minh truong hop nguoi xung... An Giang lien tiep xuat hien mua trai mua Mua bat chot giua cao iem ma kh khien nguoi dn bat ngo. Theo ng Luu Van Ninh, Gim oc i Kh tuong Thuy van tinh An Giang, nguyn nhn cua hien tuong ny l do nhieu ong nhiet oi trn cao trong ieu kien La Nina ket hop cua ra pha Nam khoi khng kh lanh... Flash A Bulgarian girl raises her hand to ask questions during the "Talking with Taikonauts" event in Sofia, Bulgaria, Nov. 30, 2024. Three Chinese astronauts, or taikonauts, connected with Bulgarian youth via video link on Saturday, sharing their experiences in space exploration and answering questions about life aboard the Tiangong space station. [Photo/Xinhua] Three Chinese astronauts, or taikonauts, connected with Bulgarian youth via video link on Saturday, sharing their experiences in space exploration and answering questions about life aboard the Tiangong space station. Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong, and Wang Haoze, members of the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceflight mission, fielded 15 questions from Bulgarian participants aged 8-22 during the event "Talking with Taikonauts." Topics ranged from comfort in spacecraft and spacesuits to daily activities like eating, using gadgets, and working on the space station. The event marked several milestones, including the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Bulgaria, the 155th anniversary of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), and the 45th anniversary of Bulgaria's first astronaut Georgi Ivanov's mission. It featured space science lectures, a quiz, and an exhibition showcasing a mock-up of the Tiangong space station. Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, in a letter to the event, emphasized the opportunity to deepen cooperation between the two countries in areas such as cultural exchange, space exploration, and high technology. He highlighted the potential for innovative partnerships to accelerate technological progress and provide opportunities for young people. Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria Dai Qingli noted that China's rapidly advancing space industry is fostering international collaboration, with over 150 intergovernmental space cooperation agreements signed with more than 50 countries and organizations as of November 2023. Bulgaria's Deputy Minister of Education and Science Nikolay Vitanov described astronauts as symbols of the human spirit and the pursuit of knowledge, which transcends borders and unites humanity. Members of the Bulgarian Parliament, Atanas Atanasov and Gabriel Valkov, praised the event as a meaningful platform for scientific exchange and strengthening bilateral relations. "Such events should happen more often, so we can understand more about China, and also about Bulgaria," Valkov said. Cai Xuzhe (C, on screen), Song Lingdong (R, on screen), and Wang Haoze (L, on screen), members of the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceflight mission, speak via video link during the "Talking with Taikonauts" event in Sofia, Bulgaria, Nov. 30, 2024. Three Chinese astronauts, or taikonauts, connected with Bulgarian youth via video link on Saturday, sharing their experiences in space exploration and answering questions about life aboard the Tiangong space station. [Photo/Xinhua] Claim: An image authentically showed Taylor Swift holding an ice cream cone as children were crying beside her. Rating: Rating: Fake A photo is circulating online, purportedly showing musician Taylor Swift holding an ice cream cone as children beside her cry. A November 2024 X post with the image, which has since been deleted but is archived here, amassed at least 1.8 million views before it was removed. (X user @hmhasgf) A screenshot in the X post claimed: "All I know is that she went to Africa and flew on her private jet just to take this photo." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The image supposedly showing Swift also appeared on a blog in August, Threads in September and X in October. Months earlier, in 2023, we found other instances of the picture on social media when one Reddit user claimed it was "from the Africa leg of her tour." Reverse-image search results showed that the photo had been shared on iFunny, a meme website, as well. However, no reliable news sources posted the picture, nor was it published on any of Swift's official social media accounts. Moreover, the image had telltale signs of being generated using artificial intelligence (AI) software. For example, a child's body in the center of the picture was deformed, and several hands in the background were unnaturally shaped and blurred. (X user @TheButcher_1776) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In sum, because the photo was created using AI software, we have rated it as fake. Furthermore, when the image first gained popularity online in 2023, Swift had not made a trip to a small village in Africa or anywhere else on the continent. She was instead in South America for a run of performances in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as part of "The Eras Tour." Sources: Argentina, Billboard. '5 Highlights From Taylor Swift's First of Three Sold-Out Shows in Buenos Aires'. Billboard, 10 Nov. 2023, https://www.billboard.com/music/concerts/taylor-swift-buenos-aires-concert-highlights-1235468238/. Lyle Menendez has been locked up in California for more than three decades for shooting his parents dead in their Beverly Hills mansion. But despite spending the majority of his life behind bars, he has racked up two marriages and allegations of infidelity. The latest chapter in his romantic saga involves a 21-year-old British University of Manchester student, who flew 5,300 miles to visit him in his California prison after becoming besotted with him online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Milly Bucksey, from Altrincham, apparently fell for the convicted killer, 56, when he contacted her under an alias after he noticed her in a Facebook group run by his estranged second wife, Rebecca Sneed. The blonde student is the same age Lyle was when he and his brother fired more than a dozen shotgun rounds at their parents Kitty and Jose Menendez in their home in August 1989. After carrying out the bloody murders, they called the emergency services in tears and pretended they had discovered the dead bodies. They were arrested the following year and later admitted to the killings, but said they had committed them in self-defence after years of sexual, physical and psychological abuse by their father. They were sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Erik and Lyle Menendez could soon be paroled - California Dept. of Corrections via AP The 35-year-old case has garnered fresh attention in recent months after a hit Netflix dramatised TV series and a documentary about the killings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Menendez brothers have since been awaiting a resentencing hearing which could grant them parole. George Gascon, the Los Angeles County district attorney, said he supported reducing their sentences to 50 years to life, which would make them eligible for parole immediately; however, he lost his re-election campaign in November to former federal prosecutor Nathan Hochman. Mr Hochman has said he will review what he described as an extensive case file and consult with prosecutors, defence lawyers and relatives before making a decision. A judge will then be responsible for rejecting or supporting Mr Hochmans decision. George Gascon, the Los Angeles County district attorney, supported reducing the brothers sentences, but has since lost his re-election campaign - Allison Dinner/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock As this has been rumbling on, Lyle is understood to have been visited by his new girlfriend at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in southern San Diego County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pictures obtained by The Daily Mail from September, a few weeks before this years university term began, show Ms Bucksey grinning as she sits on Lyles lap in a long green skirt as the pair pose in front of a mural. In another photo he places a hand on her knee as they crouch down to pose with a dog, while in a third Lyle stands behind Ms Bucksley with his arms around her. Her father Peter Bucksey, 78, told The Telegraph he knows nothing about the romance. Speaking from their semi-detached home on a cul-de-sac in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, he said: Its a private matter. Milly Bucksey apparently fell for Lyle Menendez when he contacted her under an alias One neighbour who knew the family said the situation was all a bit strange. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They added: I would never have believed that someone like her would get involved with him. After Lyles new romance was reported, Ms Sneed announced that she and her convict husband had separated after 21 years of marriage. This is NOT a cheating scandal, she wrote on the Facebook page she manages under his name. Lyle and I have been separated for a while now but remain best friends and family, she wrote on November 21, adding: I continue to run his Facebook pages, with input from him, and I am forever committed to the enduring fight for Lyle and Eriks freedom, as has been so evident over the years. The Menendez brothers with their parents Kitty and Jose - AP Photo/CNN Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Bucksey was born just months after Lyle married Ms Sneed, 55, at Mule Creek State Prison near Sacramento. Ms Sneed has for decades been one of the Menendez brothers biggest campaigners, fighting continuously for their freedom. The estranged couple had been in contact for 10 years before they married, meeting when Ms Sneed was a magazine journalist who wrote to him in prison. Speaking about their relationship in 2017, Lyle said they probably have more intimate conversations than most married spouses do, who are distracted by lifes events. We try and talk on the phone every day, sometimes several times a day, he told People magazine. I have a very steady, involved marriage and that helps sustain me and brings a lot of peace and joy. Its a counter to the unpredictable, very stressful environment here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two years before he married Ms Sneed, his relationship derailed with his first wife, former model and receptionist Anna Eriksson, who he had married on speaker phone on the day he and his brother Erik were convicted of murdering their parents on July 2 1996. Lyles first wife Anna Eriksson married him by phone - AP Photo Ms Eriksson, who was from Chicago, had started writing to Lyle during their first trial in 1993. She moved to California to be closer to him the following year and attended the brothers retrial. But the pair divorced in 2001 amid reports Ms Eriksson had discovered Lyle had been writing letters to another woman from prison. Erik, 54, the younger Menendez brother has had a somewhat stable family life in comparison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has been married to his wife, Tammi Menendez, since 1999, years after she began writing to him in prison. I saw Tammis letter and I felt something. I received thousands of letters, but I set this one aside. I got a feeling, Erik previously told People. He added: And I wrote her back. Tammi and I continued to correspond. I enjoyed writing to her. It was a slow friendship. It was special to me because it was not associated with the trial and the media. Tammi was someone not in the craziness. Tammi Menendez, centre, and her daughter, Talia, left, have both campaigned for Erik to be released - Caroline Brehman/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The couple married at Folsom Prison, near Sacramento, with a Twinkie as their wedding cake. It was a wonderful ceremony until I had to leave, Mrs Menendez said. That was a very lonely night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tammi is what gets me through, Erik told People in 2005. I cant think about the sentence. When I do, I do it with a great sadness and a primal fear. I break into a cold sweat. Its so frightening I just havent come to terms with it. Mrs Menendez, who published her memoir They Said Wed Never Make It: My Life with Erik Menendez in 2005, continues to push for her husbands release. Her daughter Talia Menendez, Eriks stepdaughter, recently started a social media page to support his release. On it she shares pictures of her visiting her stepfather, whom she calls dad, in prison. I am getting a lot of questions about Erik not having a daughter, she wrote alongside one image of Erik lifting her up as a child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He does not have a biological daughter but he does have me. In the late 80s, my mom had watched Erik and Lyles court case on court TV. She wrote Erik a letter explaining the sympathy she had for them and he wrote back two months later. She added: My biological dad passed away when I was 10 months old in 1996. A while after my real father had passed, my mom flew to CA to visit Erik for the first time. The rest was history, she moved... took me with her and I visited Erik for the first time at Folsom State Prison when I was two-years-old. Whether or not Lyle and Erik will soon be able to walk free from prison and test their relationships in the real world hangs in the balance. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The party was over for Miley Cyrus after a provocative pole dance to her hit single "Party in the U.S.A." at the 2009 Teen Choice Awards. Although the performance attempted to be innocent, with the former Disney Channel star dancing atop an ice cream cart, Cyrus received backlash for the pole dance. She recounted the incident on a new episode of Spotifys Billions Club . While chatting with her older sister Brandi Cyrus, 37, Miley pointed to her mother, Tish, as reason for the controversy, per People . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is going to be no surprise to you. Do you know whose idea that was?" Miley Cyrus, 32, asked her sister, who answered correctly. "Yup, that was my moms idea. So she always lets me take the blame," the two-time Grammy winner continued, "When I got in trouble the next day, you know who was nowhere to be found? Tish Cyrus." Despite the public criticism she received at the time, Cyrus remembered the performance as the first time she wore "real diamond jewelry on stage." "So you guys remember a little old ice cream truck, I remember the diamonds," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cyrus family dynamic has reportedly been complicated since Tish divorced Billy Ray Cyrus and married actor Dominic Purcell , who previously dated her youngest daughter, Noah Cyrus . In her teens, Miley Cyrus also came under fire for her 2008 Vanity Fair photoshoot, taken by Annie Leibovitz, in which she appeared to be topless under a sheet. It wasn't until her 2013 album Bangerz that Cyrus would lean into an edgier stage persona. Last year, Miley discussed the Vanity Fair shoot and Teen Choice Awards performance as part of her Used to Be Young interview series, and she clarified that the pole was used for "stability." "I had a heel on! Like, what did you want from me?" she said. "Was I really gonna do my performance without dancing on top of an ice cream cart?" Advertisement Advertisement Aulii Cravalho was only 16 years old when she voiced her breakout role as Moana. And today, eight years later, she is reprising the iconic Disney character at the premiere of the much-anticipated sequel, Moana 2. Playing Moana has been the opportunity of a lifetime voicing a character who isnt afraid to grab a demigod by the ear and take him on a journey across the sea is a ton of fun, Cravalho said in an email interview, referring to Moanas superhuman friend Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson). Moana sailed out on her first big screen adventure in 2016. She used the ancient navigation technique of way-finding, which relies on the stars, wind, waves and other clues from nature to find a path or direction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Way-finding can also be applied as a philosophy, a way to find your true self in the world. And this year, Moana 2 builds on that initial adventure of self-discovery with a much broader mission that can put her leadership to a test: bringing different island peoples together. As we meet her in this sequel, three years have passed in the Moanaverse, Cravalho said. To be able to watch Moana grow into the leader she was always meant to be is incredibly special, and I know Im not the only one excited to see just how far shell go! A still from Disney's Moana 2." Cravalho said that before Moana, she found inspiration in another Disney character a Chinese folk heroine. I remember watching and re-watching the movie Mulan and resonating with her background of Asian/Pacific Islander and her dedication to family and culture. She also was the first princess to run off into battle and kick butt! I still watch that film even as Im turning 24, and shes still one of my favorites today, she said. Cravalho's and Hawaii's multicultural heritage Moana is widely recognized by viewers as a Polynesian hero. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cravalho said that her character "showcases way-finding and navigation by the stars, which is a true piece of Indigenous knowledge," and that she feels great pride in celebrating the people of the Pacific on the big screen. But while Cravalho is partly connected to her characters culture through her own Native Hawaiian decent, she also has roots in another island roughly 6,000 miles east Puerto Rico as well as Chinese, Irish and Portuguese ancestries. Im of proud mixed descent and grew up with many traditions in my house! she said. Cravalho said she connected with her mixed heritage through the foods she ate at home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cravalho would celebrate Chinese New Year by eating noodles for long life, corned beef and cabbage on St. Patricks Day and Hawaiian dishes like lau lau and lomi lomi salmon for graduation parties. Homemade pasteles and arroz con gandules Puerto Rican dishes were "staples" in her family's fridge, according to Cravalho. In a way, Cravalhos diverse background reflects a small part of the much larger history of migrations, including Latinos, to Hawaii. Auli'i Cravalho at the "Moana 2" U.K. premiere in London on Nov. 24. One popular example: Hawaiis musical instrument the ukulele was brought over by Portuguese contract workers who migrated to Hawaiian sugar plantations in the late 1800s. Similarly, a 1901 New York Times article about the "Porto Rican exodus" reported on the migration of contract workers from the Caribbean island to Hawaii to work on sugarcane plantations, just as they had in Puerto Rico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other Spanish-speaking migrants also left footprints in the Aloha State. Mexican cowboys taught Hawaiians how to rope, slaughter and breed longhorn cattle in the early 1800s. In fact, the Hawaiian word for cowboy (paniolo) is a version of the word espanol (Spanish). In addition, a Spanish sailor wrote the first record of Hawaiis state fruit the pineapple in 1813, almost 90 years before James Drummond Dole opened the Hawaiian Pineapple Co. Looking at the two other lineages of Cravalhos mixed ancestry, less than 5% of Hawaiians identified as Irish in the most recent American Community Survey just over 66,000. And almost 237,000 reported Chinese ancestry (excluding Taiwanese) in an older survey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reflecting on her beloved character, Cravalho said Moana's bold actions redefine how girls and women can identify as heroes in pop culture. I think Moana has truly allowed the words hero and princess to become interchangeable," she said. "Its amazing to see the waves of her impact, not just for young women of Pacific Island decent, but for countless people across the world." This article was originally published on NBCNews.com When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Bethesda Vetern voice actor Troy Baker wasn't going to audition for Indiana Jones at all, apparentlybecause he didn't think he'd be able to pull it off. Despite that, Baker will be the voice of the famous archaeologist and pulp hero for Machine Games' sprawling and very large adventure Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. "I originally passed [on the Indiana Jones role] because, truth be told, I was so scared that I would not be able to pull it off. And fortunately, [voice acting director] Tom Keegan saw past my insecurities and encouraged me to put myself on tape for this still," said Baker in an interview with GamesRadar+. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rest is archeology, I mean, history: Baker's going to play Indy, mostly because he realized he's not trying to be a Harrison Ford impersonator, he's just trying to be Indiana Jones. "The beauty of this is that it's not about 'can you make a bang-on impression?', it's 'can you help us feel like this is an authentic Indiana Jones?' Because that's what the core of all this is: does this feel like it's an authentic Indiana Jones?," said Baker. What's funny is that Bethesda Game Studios head Todd Howard didn't think Troy Baker was a good choice for the rolethough he obviously came around on casting Baker before the end. "My favorite part of that story is how Todd Howard, when they originally brought my name to him, rolled his eyes like, 'No, I'm not putting Troy Baker in my game.' And I never thought that I would be [in it either]," said Baker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Troy Baker's a pretty famous voice actor at this point, especially in video games. He's Joel in The Last of Us Part 1 and 2, Sam Drake in Uncharted 5, Booker Dewitt in Bioshock, The Joker in Batman: Arkham Origins, and many, many other roles. Taking on a storied character like Indiana Jones that's very closely tied to a particularly famous actor, however, is a new thing for baker. For more on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, check out the most recent 15 minutes of Nazi-punching tomb raiding action or go read about how, with a face-melting four hours of cutscenes, it's the biggest game that Machine Games have ever done. Whether it has the most Nazis bonked remains to be seen. (Very, very unlikely.) We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. I expected a lot of things when I planned a trip to the North Island of New Zealand. I expected to see lots of beautiful green fields and rolling hills, Shire-style -- got them. I expected an epic visit with one of my best friends -- did not disappoint. I expected to get mobbed by her herd of cats and wildly enthusiastic dog -- cannot accurately convey the level of enthusiasm. What I did not expect was truly excellent food. If you'd asked me beforehand where to go for amazing grub, I would have told you France or Thailand or Brazil, but New Zealand wouldn't have been on my list. Oh, how wrong I was. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the course of eight days, I was exposed to more delicious meals than I can record here, many of them semi-familiar. However, my hosts surprised me with a shockingly delightful amount of savory pastry and a number of dishes I'd never even heard of. I immediately knew I had to report back. So without further ado, here are foods to try next time you're in New Zealand, in no particular order. Read more: Mistakes Everyone Makes When Cooking Sweet Potatoes Ika Mata ika mata raw fish salad with lemon - Sarah Moore/Chowhound If you like ceviche, you absolutely have to try ika mata. It's the world's yummiest combination of fresh raw fish, veggies, and creamy sauce, and I couldn't get enough of it. I ordered it several times (essentially whenever I had the opportunity), and it was surprising how consistent its flavor and excellence were. From street stalls to nice brunch places, it was just great. What exactly is ika mata? It's a signature dish from the Cook Islands, a widely scattered group in Polynesia, south of Hawaii and east of New Zealand. Traditionally it uses tuna, chopped small and mixed with coconut milk and citrus. Stir in some chopped cucumber, red pepper, and purple onion, and you have a glorious medley of flavor and freshness that's perfect for a warm day. Since there's no cooking involved, this is a great dish for inexperienced home cooks to make. Just be sure to taste it to make sure your salt levels are right before serving. Mince Savory small mincemeat pie on white plate - Sarah Moore/Chowhound When I was planning my trip, I was told by the good friend with whom I'd be staying that mince savories were The Thing To Try when I was in New Zealand. Essentially miniature hand pies of a size and shape you'd get from baking in muffin tins, they're a favorite of hers, so naturally I had to try one when we went to the nearby bakery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What Americans must understand about mince is that it is not the same as mincemeat. That is a traditional holiday mixture that incorporates dried fruit, sweeteners, and booze, with roots in Medieval cuisine. Mince, on the other hand, is simply the word that British and New Zealanders use to refer to ground meat. In addition to the meat (usually beef), the mince includes onions, carrots, garlic, mushrooms, tomato paste, and beef stock, cooked down into a meltingly savory paste. Sometimes the little pie also has cheese in it, thus turning it into a mince and cheese savory. Hurrah for names that don't make you think. Bacon And Egg Pie bacon and egg pie made with puff pastry - Sarah Moore/Chowhound Bacon has some sort of strange sorcery. It's good on its own, it's delicious seasoned, it's amazing stuffed into pies and placed between patties and dropped onto donuts. And of course, it's the yummiest when paired with eggs. Enter the bacon and egg pie, a New Zealand specialty that was every bit as delicious as my hosts promised it would be, especially homemade. To make a bacon and egg pie, you first line a tin with puff pastry. My host mama advised a tin that pulls apart, so you can put the cooked pie on a board before slicing. A cake pan with a removable bottom will work nicely, though she had a nifty contraption that broke into two pieces laterally. Whatever works, I guess. The addition of tomato chutney, cheese, bacon, and herbs lays a savory base. The real novelty for Americans, though, is that you crack the eggs in whole. That way, when they bake, you get nice chunks of yolk in your portion. Before you stress that puff pastry is simply too hard to make, I will say two things: My New Zealand hosts agreed, informing me that store-bought puff pastry was the only way to go; and the queen of the Great British Baking Show herself agrees with this. Yes, Prue Leith prefers store-bought puff pastry, plain and simple. That means you can, too. Gold Kiwifruit gold kiwi sliced in half sitting on bar - Sarah Moore/Chowhound Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People, listen to me when I say: I'll never look at green kiwis again, because they cannot possibly compare to gold kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis). Now, yes, I know you can get gold kiwifruit in the United States. No, it is not and never will be the same, sorry. There were cute little kiwi farms all over the side of the road in New Zealand, and I wanted to raid literally all of them. The fruits were so fresh, soft, and flavorful, in ways that they never are by the time they get to American grocery stores. Which isn't to say they're not still delicious, because they are. Believe it or not, kiwis even work to tenderize meat. Seriously, what can't they do? One of the things I enjoyed most about the kiwifruit in New Zealand is that my hosts had put it in the fridge. I've personally only ever kept kiwi on the counter at room temperature, but it turns out there are better ways to store ripe kiwifruit. The fridge makes them cold, where they retain their soft texture but don't disintegrate. On a final note, in New Zealand, one never refers to kiwifruit as kiwis. The latter means either the bird or a New Zealand citizen. Either way, it is inappropriate and illegal to consume them, so don't. Stick with kiwifruit, eh? Kiwi Dip crinkle-cut potato chips dipped in kiwi dip - Sarah Moore/Chowhound If there is one dish that rises above the rest on the list of Things You Must Try Or It Will Be Like You Didn't Even Come to New Zealand, it's kiwi dip. Again, this is not a dip made of kiwis (birds, fruit, or people). It is, rather, named after its country of origin. While it's really no more than glorified onion dip, it is hard to express exactly how much more glorious it is than the traditional version until you've tried it. The takeaway: soooo much more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why, you're wondering? It all comes down to the dairy. Like your average game day onion dip, this calls for a packet of onion soup powder (Maggi brand is best) to be stirred into a milk product. Unlike the usual, the dairy called for here is a can of reduced cream. This is exactly what it sounds like: cream that has been boiled down until it has lost much of its moisture content and becomes super thick. The thing is, you can't get reduced cream outside New Zealand and Australia. This leaves you with two choices. Option one: Reduce some cream, which isn't hard. The fat content of cream is so high it will not break even if you boil the crap out of it. It's time-consuming and sweaty labor, though, which leads to option two: Spend 28 hours traveling to New Zealand and eat kiwi dip that someone else has prepared for you using the correct ingredients. There is a less-than-ideal option of three: Use evaporated milk. Since it isn't sweetened, it may provide the same thickening qualities without adding extra flavor. I'm told that even then it's not the same, though. Go for option two, and don't forget the crinkle-cut potato chips. Salt And Pepper Squid deep-friend calamari rings on paper bag - Sarah Moore/Chowhound Now for the absolute best thing I ate on my trip: salt and pepper squid. I got this at a hole-in-the-wall shop while staying in Auckland. Granted, I was quite hungry, having made the uninformed choice to walk from my flat all the way to the zoo, getting lost several times along the way. Still, though, I think I would have loved it no matter what. Essentially, salt and pepper squid is just a type of calamari with an Asian spin. Calamari is, in turn, simply a type of breaded and fried squid, rebranded in the '90s with a gourmet Italian spin to appeal to American diners. The craze for calling it calamari hasn't reached full saturation in New Zealand, where at least half the menu items still use the simple "squid" designation. That doesn't seem to be the only difference, though, as the squid was bigger and more tender than what we're used to here. Like the ika mata, I ordered this whenever I could. Peppermint Slice peppermint slice stacked on white plate - Sarah Moore/Chowhound At this point, it's probably best if you take a seat, because what I'm about to say will change your life: Peppermint slice is the only dessert worth eating ever again. Okay, that might be a stretch, but I will say that it quickly skyrocketed to No. 1 on my list of home-baked treats. My host mistress Lisa was admittedly a sorceress in the kitchen, but I think this would be delicious prepared by anyone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peppermint slice consists of a base of chocolate, nuts, and coconut, with a layer of peppermint cream (think York Peppermint Patties) on top of that, all covered with a layer of chocolate. Let set in fridge, slice into squares, serve to the American... perfection achieved. I got the recipe and will be making this myself at Christmas this year. Literally Every Other Slice bakery case displaying various brownies and bars - Sarah Moore/Chowhound Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As if peppermint slice weren't enough of a boon, there are a million other types of slice to choose from, as well. It must be said that "slice," while it sounds intriguing, is merely another way of saying "dessert you cut up into squares." The British call this a tray bake, while Americans use the generic term "bar." Still, it includes absolutely everything in that category, including brownies, blondies, lemon bars, crumble bars, and so on and so forth. As such, it's a handier catchall than any term we have. And it's, like, a big deal there. Walk into any bakery (and I walked into as many as I could, you better believe), and you'll see that slices make up a huge component of the food on offer. There wasn't enough to try them all, so my recommendation for visitors is this: do your best and book your next flight as soon as you get home. Chicken And Mushroom Pie chicken and mushroom handpie with sesame seeds - Sarah Moore/Chowhound As a foreigner, I was a bit confused by the definition of pie at first. To kiwis, the generic term pie can refer to a dessert, a large savory pie meant for sharing, or an individual serving that we would call a turnover or hand pie. Pies are a classic lunch item for laborers ("tradies," in the New Zealand parlance) because they're hot, filling, and quick. Honestly, though, even if you work in an office all day, they're a good lunchtime bet. Chicken and mushroom pie is a great example. It's kind of like a mini bacon and egg pie, except the filling is different and it's meant for one. It's also a bit like a savory, in that it has classic umami flavors. But unlike savories, which use what looks to be shortcrust pastry, chicken and mushroom pies are larger, shaped like hand pies rather than little muffins. If your head is spinning, don't worry: Mine was, too, and I had them all laid out at the counter for me. Chicken Liver Pate cracked pepper pate sitting out counter - Sarah Moore/Chowhound To be fair, you can get good chicken liver pate in many countries, including the U.S. However, as a diehard aficionado, I can honestly say that the New Zealand jarred pate my hosts put in my fridge for me (thoughtfulness to a new level, seriously) was the best I've ever had. And that includes the version I make myself using the recipe invented by culinary goddess Ruth Reichl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The brand pictured above is the one I tried, and it had all the attributes you need in a good pate: creaminess, richness, a brown outside and a pink inside (due to oxidization), and a perfect mix of salty and sweet, with a slightly boozy finish. The one thing this pate had that I haven't experienced before was a little layer of jelly at the bottom, a bit like aspic. That was a nice treat, making me wish I'd brought home about 10 jars of it. French Fries french fries in tin bowl on restaurant table - Sarah Moore/Chowhound French fries aren't even really French at all. They purportedly have their origins in Belgium, when the residents of Namur couldn't fry the fish to which they were accustomed due to a deep freeze. So they did what anyone would and went for potatoes instead. Wherever fries are from, we can agree they rock, and nowhere do they rock as much as in New Zealand. Seriously, I ate a lot of fries while I was there. Like, a lot a lot... on four separate occasions in eight days, if I recall correctly. You might point out that I seem to have a problem with fries, and you might be right. But more importantly, each time I ordered fries, they were the best fries I'd ever had. How? Epic potatoes? Extra fat? Vacation high? I really don't know, but I humbly submit that whatever magic was working in my favor would work in yours as well. On a final note, let me just say that fries in general are awesome, but the truffle fries were *chef's kiss* at a whole new level. If you find those at a restaurant, you'd be remiss not to try them. Melting Moment 'melting moment' cookie on white plate - Sarah Moore/Chowhound Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While they're not a common find in American cafes, melting moments are a staple in New Zealand and Australia. They're essentially shortbread sandwich cookies that have lemon frosting between them, but according to my friend, they're so much more than that. They melt. For a moment. And during that moment, you are in heaven. Now, we're all going to have to take my friend's word for this, because the one I tried was good but not transportive. I'd gotten a second for her, and she confirmed that it was not the best one she'd had. My advice here is definitely to try and find one that's better, because I was assured multiple times that it's a truly unmissable experience when done right. Also, they're not that hard to make, so you might want to put them on your holiday cookie plate this year. Loquats ripe loquats hanging on tree branch - Sarah Moore/Chowhound For your penultimate New Zealand recommendation, I feel duty-bound to put forth loquats (Eriobotrya japonica). This is less because they're so delicious, and more because it's just a fun experience to eat something that you simply can't get around here (at least where I live in Portland, Oregon). They grow everywhere in New Zealand, however, including my hosts' yard, so I was naturally going to try them. To be fair, I was forewarned they wouldn't hold a candle to, say, gold kiwifruit (but, then, nothing can). They're tasty enough, with sweet flesh and big seeds that are easy to spit out. Apparently, they're a popular jam ingredient, too. But, to be honest, this is more a recommendation for the simple reason that the next time you get a weird specialty ice cream flavor or kind-of-out-there candle that includes loquat, you'll know where it's coming from. Lamb And Mint Pie lamb and mint pie on white plate - Sarah Moore/Chowhound As is only right and proper, I saved one of the most orgasmically exciting recommendations for last. While it wasn't my absolute favorite (a spot reserved for the salt and pepper squid), this was a truly wonderful lunch experience. I love lamb, so it may just be me, but this pie is basically heaven on earth. It was much like a mince savory in terms of filling, with classic leg of lamb and mint sauce flavors rather than beef pie flavors. The other difference between that and a savory is the crust, because like the chicken and mushroom pie, puff pastry was the star of the show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like the other puff pastry-based pies on this list, you could make one yourself if you were so inclined. It's basically just a lamb stew that's been slow-cooked until it's super thick, then poured into a pastry base. Fresh mint is always lovely, but if you don't have any growing in your yard (which is probably for the best, given how invasive it is), and it's too spendy at the store, dried mint is a good option. It still has plenty of seasoning power and tastes great with meat. Buy sifted leaves so you avoid the stems, though. Better yet: Hop on a plane to New Zealand and just buy a lamb and mint pie there. Read the original article on Chowhound. Nov. 30This week we celebrated Thanksgiving, a festive day that begins the month-long holiday season capped off by Christmas and New Year's Day. In Bolivia, where my family lived for 19 years, there is no tradition of turkey and dressing, no giant floating Sponge Bob in the Macy's parade, no national day of frenzied materialism the day after. It's just another Thursday This meant a certain risk to being the first American in town to say to the others, "Let's do it at my house." By the time the turkey got served you would end up with pretty much every American in town at the table, and a good number of Bolivians as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The end of November is late spring in Bolivia. This meant we celebrated Thanksgiving outside under tall trees just turned freshly green. A young Bolivian friend told me afterwards that he finally understood what this strange gringo holiday was about: "You get together, eat three days worth of food in one meal, then sit around complaining about how stuffed you are." He wasn't completely wrong. Christmas in Bolivia comes just as summer begins. Conjure up an image of bringing home your Christmas tree in July and you pretty much get the strangeness of it. One year our city's mayor came up with the idea of adorning a main plaza with hundreds of strings of cheap green and red flashing Christmas lights. Visually, it was impressive. Unfortunately, whoever bought the lights and hung them neglected to notice that those strings of lights also had another feature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They each belted out tiny electronic versions of Christmas songs, from Jingle Bells to Silent Night, none in synch with any other. It was like listening to a hundred cats fighting. But the Bolivian holiday strollers seemed not to mind. Christmas in Bolivia was not much focused on Santa in the years we lived there, or on advertising, or even gifts. It was a holiday about the birth of Jesus. It was celebrated, not on Christmas morning, but at midnight on Christmas Eve as families gathered for a feast. And then explosives. At exactly midnight, hundreds of families all across the City of Cochabamba would begin shooting off serious fireworks into the night sky. We are not talking about the toy fireworks you can buy in the U.S. In Cochabamba you can buy pretty much any pyrotechnic wonder imaginable. Nothing says, "Welcome Baby Jesus" like a huge, simultaneous fireworks display five miles wide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In our first year in Bolivia my wife and I were there as volunteers in a local orphanage. We tried to have a Christmas pageant, complete with a live baby sheep in the manger. But the whole thing fell apart when the sheep started to poop all over the floor and the delighted toddlers went crazy. On Christmas morning we handed out gifts to the children, bought with donations from our friends and family in the U.S. Afterwards we headed off for the long walk home in the Andean foothills. We carried a bag of extra toys to hand out to the girls and boys who lived along the way. We came upon a girl, maybe seven years old, standing quietly alone in a field watching over her family's small collection of sheep. We handed her a wrapped present, a doll, and saw her shyly unwrapping it behind us as we walked on. I don't think I have given a more meaningful Christmas present before or since. Each New Year's Eve at midnight, with all the neighborhood kids looking on, I would pack a formidable explosive into the middle of a giant, overripe papaya, then light the fuse and run away fast. We would all marvel at the instant transformation of a papaya into papaya juice, hopefully escaping the spray. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here in the U.S. we have wonderful holiday traditions from pumpkin pie to decorating our front yards to look like the North Pole. We also have many wonderful people and organizations around us who remind us what it means to actually walk the walk of Jesus this time of year. They are the ones extending hand and heart right now to the people most hurting around us. I am thankful for all of you. Jim Shultz is the founder-executive director of the Democracy Center and an occasional CNHI columnist. Reach him at: jimshultzthewriter@gmail.com. CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Camden Road in South End was packed Saturday afternoon. Hundreds of customers were eager to spend money with over 100 Charlotte small businesses in the annual Shop Small Saturday. To see all these people starting small businesses versus shopping online or at big box stores. Its just it means a lot to people who are trying to start their own business, said Queen and Cotton Charlotte employee Trent Thurston. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports there are 33.2 million small businesses in the U.S., making up 99% of all businesses. Officials say for the past 20 years, small businesses have accounted for about 40% of the United States economic activity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Timothy Estabrooks and his wife had already spent a good chunk of money by mid-afternoon before he stopped at Queen and Cotton Charlotte. Charlotte shoppers relish Black Friday holiday deals I bought a shirt that says the North Davidson demolition derby at exit three, which is the exit that I take coming home from work every day, except I actively avoid it because I dont want to be part of the demolition derby. I just wanted to support the local companies and not buy everything on Amazon. Just keep the money in the community, said Estabrooks. Commerce officials say nearly half of consumers agree with Estabrooks. People shop at a small business over a larger retailer to contribute to their communities. That helps small niche businesses like Melted Moods and Gather Ye Honey. Its been a tough retail year. So to see all the customers out here ready to shop and theyre literally like we were looking for small businesses to support, said owner Bria Smith. Melted Moods is a self-care company that helps you access self-care through the mediums of candles and pajamas and loungewear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We try to promote with every scent that we have is always something relaxing, which is fun names like Staycation and Miami Nights, Smith said. This is their second time participating in the shop small Saturday. Last year, they made over $1000. Local honey business, Gather Ye Honey, had the same success. I think the response from the customers that come out, its been really strong today. Weve had a huge number of people come out. So I think that it shows that Charlotte is a city that cares about small businesses too, said owner Brett Tempest. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Its about to get more expensive to visit the Maldives. Starting January 1, 2025, the Maldives Green Tax will increase significantly, with most hotels and resorts charging $12 per person, per night double the current rate. Smaller establishments with fewer than 50 rooms will see a reduced rate of $6 per person, per night. Additionally, beginning July 1, 2025, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) will rise from 16% to 17%, impacting a wide range of services, including spas, shops, and water activities across the islands. Air travel to The Maldives is also set to increase Pexels Starting December 1, 2025, travelers departing the Maldives will also face higher airport taxes, with fees ranging from $40 to $960, depending on their flight class. All passengers, including locals, will be subject to this departure tax, though the rates differ by class. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to the departure tax, all passengers flying internationally from Velana International Airport (MLE) will also be charged a separate airport development fee. These increased costs apply to both foreign and local travelers, adding to the overall expense of flying out of the Maldives. In total, economy class passengers will see an increase to $100 (up from $60), business class will rise to $240 (from $120), and first-class passengers will pay $480 (up from $180). Travelers on private charters will pay $960, an increase from $240. This change will impact both short-term visitors and long-term residents, as the Maldives government looks to raise funds for infrastructure development while also adjusting to the growing tourism demand. The post The Maldives raises tourism taxes: Heres whats changing appeared first on The Manual. Many Americans don't understand the political relationship between China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Both Hong Kong and Macau are "special administrative regions" of China. That's not a designation much of the world uses, but it means that the two areas fall under the government of the People's Republic of China but are not part of mainland China. Typically these areas have enjoyed more autonomy than other parts of the country. Related: Carnival expands new ban; more on Norwegian's cancellations "The concepts of 'special administrative regions' and 'one country, two systems' were established by the Chinese government to reintegrate Hong Kong and Macau into China," Practical Law explains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As SARs, Hong Kong and Macao retain their capital systems and have a high degree of autonomy. [The] mainland government remains responsible for the defense and foreign affairs of both SARs, but each SAR is authorized to engage in external affairs and participate in international organizations if so permitted by its terms." Both Hong Kong and Macau have been popular tourist destinations and regular cruise stops for multiple cruise lines. Macau has been a regular tender port for Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises and Holland America, while smaller ships from luxury cruise lines can dock there. The U.S. State Department says, however, that's a bad idea and issued a Level 3: Reconsider Travel warning on Nov. 27 for the port. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise. Macau has become a global tourist destinations. Image source: Shutterstock Macau cruises have been paused It's worth noting that, even before the State Department warning, all major cruise lines operating with North American headquarters had stopped sailing to Macau. That's at least partly because the cruise lines have been slow to return to China even though they had big plans to grow there before the Covid-19 pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spectrum of the Seas returned to China in April and Royal Caribbean plans to bring a second ship to the market in 2025. Holland America Line, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, Silversea, and Viking have all been sailing in China, but not with sailings open to Americans. The US State Department warning is specific to Americans. The US government has a limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in the Macau SAR due to Peoples Republic of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs travel restrictions on diplomatic personnel. Even in an emergency, the PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs requires all U.S. diplomatic personnel, including those accredited to the Macau SAR, to apply for and receive visas before entering the Macau SAR. This takes at least five to seven days, significantly limiting the U.S. governments ability to offer timely consular services in the Macau SAR. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On a broad level, the Level 3 warning advises Americans to rethink any Macau travel plans. "Reconsider travel due to a limited ability to provide emergency consular services. Exercise increased caution due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws" is the headline for the warning. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Dual citizens need to be extra careful The Macau SAR government does not recognize dual nationality, according to the U.S. State Department. "Dual U.S.-PRC citizens and U.S. citizens of Chinese descent may be subject to additional security and harassment," the agency wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If you are a dual U.S.-PRC citizen and enter the Macau SAR on a U.S. passport, and you are detained or arrested, PRC authorities are under an obligation to notify the U.S. Embassy or a U.S. Consulate General of your detention and to allow U.S. consular officials to have access to you." That's what's supposed to happen, but the reality may be very different. "In reality, however, US consular officials may be prevented from providing consular assistance, even to those who have entered on their U.S. passports," it added. ALSO READ: Top travel agents share how to get the best price on your cruise It's also very important for anyone who still opts to visit Macau to understand the local rules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Participating in demonstrations or any other activities that authorities interpret as constituting an act of secession, subversion, terrorism, or collusion with a foreign country could result in criminal charges. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid demonstrations," the State Department warned. Are you taking a cruise or thinking about taking one? Visit our Come Cruise With Me website to have all your questions answered. Nov. 30United Way is calling all employers, asking to hear their opinions on childcare and how it affects their workforce. The goal of United Way's Success by Six program is to prepare each child to prepare each child before they enter kindergarten, by making sure they are on track with their learning. Due to the Success by Six program, many conversations have surfaced within the United Way and St. Joseph community focused on childcare and the impact it has on families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kylee Strough, President of United Way of Greater St. Joseph, says for the last year and a half, United Way has been working with Kids Win Missouri to address what gaps currently exist with regard to childcare. "The next stage of this conversation... 'is there a way to make child care more affordable and accessible for families that want to work and that need child care, but often run into barriers'?" said Strough. One idea that has gained popularity in some communities is the idea of when the cost of childcare is shared between multiple parties. "So the employer might offer it as a benefit to their employee. The family pays a little bit, and sometimes this state will kick in to help," Strough said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through a series of previous input sessions and an upcoming session on Tuesday, December 3, United Way is seeking opinions from employers, small business owners, human resource professionals and more. "Is that something you would be interested in? Does that actually make sense for your business? What would you need to know? How would it need to be shaped? Or is this not really something you're hearing about and dealing with?," said Strough. During a previous input session on November 25, Strough says a number of guests identified as parents who struggle to find childcare. "We had one person who shared that they were on a waiting list for 18 months," said Strough. "Luckily she had a position where she could flex her hours to go weekends only, but not every family has that." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some families may even have to resort to having a stay-at-home parent. Childcare providers that were in attendance at previous United Way sessions said that they would love to open more spaces to service more kids. However, attracting and retaining the necessary workforce can be challenging. Especially when hiring extra people means raising prices for already struggling families. "The bigger issues are to help find more space for children to go first, because if you just lower the cost for the families who already have care, that doesn't actually mean more children are able to access care," she said. After Tuesday's session, the next step for United Way and Kids Win Missouri is to summarize and discuss their results among the six to eight other communities within the state cohort. Then, at the beginning of the new year, United Way and Kids Win Missouri will determine what solution will make sense for St. Joseph. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For any business owners, human resources professionals, or employers that are interested, the upcoming input session will take place on Tuesday, December 3 at 9 a.m. at the United Way of Greater St. Joseph, located at 118 S. 5th St. If that time doesn't work, individuals are being asked to contact United Way at 816-364-2381, in order to make their voices heard. For more information about the Success by Six program, visit the United Way's website at www.stjosephunitedway.org/united-way-success-6. Social media, and in some cases the actual media, has been filled with people angry about a change Royal Caribbean has made to recent Symphony of the Seas sailings. The cruise line has swapped out a stop in San Juan, Puerto Rico for one at its private destination in Labadee, Haiti. Many people are simply angry at losing the Puerto Rico stop, while others don't understand how the cruise line can stop in Haiti, for which the United States State Department has issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel warning and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has banned flights to Haiti for at least 30 days. Related: Why Royal Caribbean is swapping Labadee, Haiti stops for San Juan Yvette Avila is booked on one Symphony of the Seas Sailing that was going to San Juan and is now going to Labadee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In between doing the last minute things, we need to decide are we going to go," she told WPTV, a South Florida television station. "Are we going to go? Are we going to compromise ourselves? Are my kids going to get kidnapped? Is something going to happen on the ship? Other people can take that chance. We just really dont want to do that." Avila, in the interview, is clearly upset that if she cancels her cruise, the cruise line will only return her family's port fees and taxes. She's also mad that the last-minute change was made as in addition to being scared about going to Haiti, she's upset about losing Puerto Rico as a stop. More Royal Caribbean: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First, there is nothing to worry about for passengers stopping in Labadee. The fenced-in private destination has a security force, and Royal Caribbean can monitor whether any people or groups try to approach the area. Labadee is a remote part of the island that is nowhere near any fighting. There is actually a port in the Dominican Republic which is much closer to Port au Prince and the actual fighting. Labadee is Haiti, but kind of in name only and the US State Dept. continues to support Royal Caribbean stopping there. Second, while it's sad that Avila won't get to visit Puerto Rico, she should have always known that itinerary changes were possible. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise. Labadee is a beach resort that's very remote. Image source: Daniel Kline/ComeCruiseWith.com 1. Your itinerary may change In the case of Symphony of the Seas, Royal Caribbean made an itinerary change because the pier in San Juan, which can handle larger ships, is not cleared to accept them at the moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In reality, however, the cruise line does not need a reason to make a change. Usually, Royal Caribbean will only change itineraries when forced to. Usually, that means weather. Sometimes, the cruise line will change its stops in order to sail the ship away from a storm. That can mean anything from visiting the initial ports in a different order to extreme cases where a Caribbean cruise becomes a New England and Canada cruise. Royal Caribbean will also make changes in the rare case a medical emergency or damage to the ship forces a change in plans. The cruise line never wants to not give its passengers what they paid for, but it can't control the weather, damaged piers, or other factors that may force a change. That's why your cruise contract, a document few people likely read, clearly gives Royal Caribbean the right to change itineraries for any reason. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. 2. You won't get a refund unless you buy travel insurance When you book a cruise, it's generally not refundable after the day the final payment is due. Even before that day, you will generally only get a refund in cruise credit, and there will be a penalty for canceling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There might be certain cruise fares that offer better terms, but you will generally pay more for the ability to cancel or change your cruise. With most fares, in the event you are not able to make your sailing the reason does not matter you won't get a refund. That's true if your itinerary changes and you don't like the new one, or if your dog dies, your grandmother passes away, or you get a horrifying medical diagnosis. Royal Caribbean does not offer a refund unless it has to. To protect yourself, it's important to get travel insurance. You can buy insurance from the cruise line or from various third parties. ALSO READ: Top travel agents share how to get the best price on your cruise When it comes to cruise travel insurance, it's important to know exactly what's covered. Some policies, for example, will pay you back for your missed cruise if you don't make the ship due to a canceled flight while others may not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The insurance company is only going to pay when something the policy covers occurs. That generally does not include itinerary changes. Are you taking a cruise or thinking about taking one? Visit our Come Cruise With Me website to have all your questions answered. On Nov. 29 at approximately 2:10 p.m., two people were arrested in Henry County for possession of 1,146 pounds of cocaine, a press release says. The Illinois State Police (ISP) Blackhawk Area Task Force (BATF) arrested 27-year-old Vanshpreet Singh from Ontario, Canada, and 36-year-old Manpreet Singh from Ontario, Canada, for three Class X felonies- possession of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine and cocaine trafficking, the release says. (Illinois State Police) An ISP trooper conducted a commercial motor vehicle inspection on a Volvo truck-tractor semi-trailer combination on Interstate 80 eastbound in Henry County. During the inspection, the trooper observed numerous indicators of criminal activity. A subsequent search revealed suspected cocaine. According to police, the total approximate weight of the cocaine located was 1,146 pounds and has an approximate street value of more than $40 million dollars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The release says both Vanshpreet Singh and Manpreet Singh were taken into custody and transported to the Henry County Jail, where they await a pre-trial release hearing. No further information is available at this time. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) One driver is dead and another was hospitalized after a three-vehicle crash near Mulino in Clackamas County Wednesday evening. Just after 5 p.m., Oregon State Troopers responded to reports of a crash on HWY 213 near milepost 10.5. Teen killed in North Portland crash possibly related to street racing event, police say On arrival, they found out a Mazda had been driving southbound when it crossed into the northbound lanes driving along a curve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Mazda then hit a pickup driving in the northbound lane, officials said. The impact of that crash caused the pickup to turn into the southbound lane and crash head-on into an SUV, authorities said. Brothers identified as victims in Barbur Boulevard crash The driver of the Mazda, identified as 54-year-old Delfino Navarro, was airlifted to a hospital where he later died from his injuries. Police say Navarro is also believed to be associated with a driving complaint reported a few minutes before the crash. The driver of the SUV was hospitalized for non-life-threatening injuries. No other injuries were reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. NEWPORT NEWS One man was killed and two others seriously injured in a shooting early Sunday morning. Around 2:36 a.m., police were sent to the 700 block of Gloucester Drive, a residential area off Marshall Avenue just southwest of the Achievable Dream middle and high school campus, according to a news release about the incident. When officers arrived at the scene, they found three men inside a home who had been shot. One of those men was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The other two were taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement None of the men had been identified as of Sunday morning, and no other information was provided. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 757 -247 - 2500 or to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1 - 888-LOCK-U-UP or online at P3Tips.com. MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) The cause of a deadly house fire in Montgomery County is under investigation after one person died and another was rescued from the blaze on Sunday morning. The structure fire was reported around 8 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1 in the 900 block of Calvert Drive, located in the Woodlawn community. Montgomery County Fire Service said mutual aid was requested from Clarksville Fire Rescue due to the location and initial reports of a person trapped in the home. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts Two deputies who were the first to arrive at the scene worked to rescue two people who were trapped inside the house, according to the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office (MCSO). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the residents reportedly managed to escape safely, but the other didnt make it out and was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials said they notified the next of kin but did not release the identity of the person who died. Residents displaced, firefighter injured after house fire in Hermitage The two deputies were evaluated at the scene for heat exposure and smoke inhalation, but one of them was brought to the hospital for further evaluation, the MSCO said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the MCSO, Montgomery County Fire Service, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, according to officials. No additional information was immediately released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. DENVER (KDVR) A pair of Colorado volunteers just returned from the war zone in Ukraine, after a mission to provide medical and mental health support to Ukrainians exposed to the daily ravages of war. The volunteers were part of a team from Global Care Force, a non-profit that sends teams of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals into Ukraine every few weeks to set up make-shift medical clinics in small towns throughout the country. They provide basic medical care and medicine to people whove been displaced by the war. Theyve been forced to move from their homes because of the Russian occupation. FOX3s Jeremy Hubbard went to Ukraine with them earlier this month, during an especially active week in the conflict. During the week of their mission, Russia launched 900 aerial bombs, 600 combat drones and 140 missiles into the sky over Ukraine, according to Ukrainian military officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This FOX31 news special, 1000 Days of War: Coloradans Helping in Ukraine, documents their November mission, and takes a look at the challenges these volunteers face as they try to make life better for Ukrainians whove now dealt with the harsh reality of war for more than 1,000 days. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) A small business owner in Providence was honored by a city councilor on Saturday for achieving not one, but two major milestones. Manuel Pedroso turned 105 years old earlier this month and his business, Friends Market located on Brook Street, has been open for 75 years. The family said Friends Market is one of the first Portuguese-American markets in Rhode Island. Manuel, and his wife Maria Pedroso, were presented a citation by Councilman John Goncalves for their contributions to the community and celebrating the business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Manuel and Maria Pedroso, at ages 105 and 99, represent the very best of our community, Goncalves told 12 News. From their journey as immigrants to building one of the earliest Portuguese businesses in Rhode Island, their story is one of perseverance and commitment. Manuel Pedroso was also honored with a street dedication for Pedroso Way back in 2022. NEXT: Let It Glow: 2024s best holiday light shows & displays in RI, Mass. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. This year has been a busy one for Tacomas bar and restaurant world, and fall did not slow down the pace of fresh faces. Coming off a late-summer burst of coffee shops, taprooms and the anticipated return of Burger Seoul, we have a host of new options for brunch, sandwiches, wine and cocktails. Heres a look at recently opened restaurants in and around Tacoma. YIS TRADITIONAL KOREAN BEEF SOUP 8797 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma, yistraditional.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Years into operating a Federal Way restaurant, the owners have begun expanding to other states and recently added a Lakewood location. Tacoma Cheong Guk Jang closed here earlier this year. The menu focuses on seolleongtang, a Korean soup forged from ox marrow bones simmered for hours to conjure a milky, cloudy broth, but youll also find spicy beef soup and sundubu jjigae (tofu soup). Otherwise the menu is shorter than most of its peers but no less exciting, with handmade dumplings, pajeon (scallion pancake) and steamed meat platters. Open daily 8:30 a.m.-9 p.m. BORDEAUX WINE BAR 2208 N. 30th St., Tacoma, bordeauxwinebar.com The owners of Bordeaux Wine Bar in Enumclaw have opened a second location in Tacoma, taking over the space most recently occupied by Old Town Wine Skins. Taste-test the varied selection in a flight ($13-$21 for three pours) or share a bottle the list leans into affordable value here, starting at $30 for a French merlot and cab franc to a $52 champagne. Its also a full bar with lots of local brews and an array of spritzes elderflower, Aperol, lemon-cucumber among them and a few classic cocktails and a requisite espresso martini. From the kitchen, nibble through various charcuterie or dip boards, deviled eggs or full-serving paninis, flatbreads, soup and salad. Throwing back to this units past life as a brunch restaurant, head here on Sundays for bloodies, mimosas, crepes and waffles. Open Sunday-Thursday 3-9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 3-10 p.m. Corbeau opened late this summer at 3819 N 26th St. in Tacomas Proctor neighborhood. In addition to seasonal French cooking, the wine and cocktails are destination-worthy. COR BEAU 3819 N. 26th St., Tacoma, corbeautacoma.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This contemporary French-by-way-of-Tacoma delight from sommelier Trevor Hamilton and chef Craig Tronset is off to a roaring start in Proctor. Since opening in August, the menu has already changed a few times, but staples include a textural frisee salad, onion soup, a luscious chilled duck breast and beef-fat fries. The wine list is playful and approachable, especially by the glass where a quadrant chart tells you where youre headed delicate, powerful, nice or natty as in natural. Megan Henson has created an equally impressive cocktail program that deserves a trip unto itself. Reservations recommended for peak times. Open Monday-Saturday 4-9 p.m. Sweet and savory tarts are just some of the housemade pastries youll find at Three Hearts, a new daytime cafe at 1116 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Tacomas Hilltop neighborhood. THREE HEARTS 1116 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma, threeheartstacoma.com The former chef of Wooden City and a coffee pro introduced their daytime-only restaurant in October. Find expertly prepared Bluebeard coffee drinks, a full bar with brunch-friendly cocktails and zero-proof options, and a pleasing menu of breakfast and lunch plates. There are Dutch babies, an impressive quiche and a tofu scramble plus several sandwiches juicy, shaved pork loin on a baguette, salmon burger with house cucumbers and shitakes. Homemade pastries are a huge draw, from croissants and morning buns to cookies and petite tarts. Order at the counter, find a seat and staff will deliver food to the table, or just pop in for a quick treat or breakfast sammie on-the-go. Open weekdays 6 a.m.-3 p.m. and weekends 7 a.m.-3 p.m. The Huckleberry Club opened this fall at 1014 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Tacoma, with a menu specializing in loaded baked potatoes. THE HUCKLEBERRY CLUB 1014 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, instagram.com/the_huckleberry_club Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From a team that knows bars, THC opened in late September, replacing Broken Spoke. The dark bar has a little something for everyone, plus pinball. In addition to a full bar with beer and cocktails, the food from a food-truck-sized kitchen has been a surprising hit. The specialty is one-pound baked potatoes, split and loaded with meat or beans, house sauces and pickled things. There are also personal-sized nachos, esquites and salads. Open daily at 4 p.m. Fusion Donuts & Lounge replaced Dancing Goats Coffee at the Brewery Blocks in downtown Tacoma. Its a doughnut and coffee shop by day and a Latin-leaning bar by night, with cocktails and shareable plates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FUSION DONUTS & LOUNGE 2102 Commerce St., Tacoma, fusionwa.online Fusion opened this fall in the former home of Dancing Goats Coffee at the Brewery Blocks downtown, joining Camp Colvos Brewing, The LivingTapRoom and Incline Cider House. In the morning, its a coffee and donut shop with an impressive spread including gigantic fritters, bear claws and sticky buns. House specialties include a guava-filled raised, a Tajin-mango round and a strawberry cake with shortcake crumbs. In a shift from most of the citys beloved doughnut shops, here there is plenty of room to sit and stay a while. At night the lights dim to a pink-and-purple tint for the PM cocktail lounge part of the experience, where drinks head south (spiced cucumber margarita, blackberry-coconut mojito) and the food follows. There are shrimp and steak tacos, a trio of guacamole, avocado flatbread and shrimp diablo. Open daily at 6 a.m. to midnight on weeknights and 1 a.m. Friday-Saturday. All ages until 4 p.m. Steve Ramsay and Jenny Smith have reopened their Stink Cheese & Meat wine bar and sandwich shop at 909 A St. in downtown Tacoma. STINK CHEESE + MEAT 909 A St., Tacoma, stinktacoma.com Jenny Smith and Steve Ramsay are back in action about a year after closing their St. Helens wine bar and sandwich shop. As of Nov. 25, find them in a spacious new setting inside the office tower at 909 A St., which boasts a grand view of Murray Morgan Bridge and Mt. Rainier. This iteration will focus on breakfast, lunch and happy hour. In addition to an eclectic selection of wines from around the world, the duo also serves coffee here. Expect a similar slate of done-up sandwiches, soup, salad and of course their mac and cheese. Open Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. TACOMA KNIFE & MERCANTILE 502 S. 11th St., Tacoma, tacomaknife.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You cant order food or drink here, but you can gather all the culinary tools your kitchen needs (and maybe your heart desires!) at this new dual-concept boutique on a creative stretch of downtown Tacoma. Not only is it a well-stocked shop for all the cooks in your life notably featuring co-owner Sarah Woodsons functional pottery, among other handcrafted ceramics but its also a working knife sharpening studio. Partner and chef Stephen Gangl can fix up even the dullest of blades. He accepts other sharp things, too, like lawn mower blades and paper slicers. Drop off and come back when convenient to pick up. Open Wednesday-Friday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m., with additional holiday hours likely. Sandwich Starr stands out for details like house-smoked pastrami (here in the Sir Robot) and housemade pickles. SANDWICH STARR 102 N. G St., Tacoma, sandwichstarr.com After a stint inside the late Edison City Alehouse in South Tacoma, Trey Beattie and Megan Lafler found a new home in the Stadium District for their sandwich shop, where youll find creative East Coast-style sandwiches with West Coast flair. Signatures combine spicy capicola and pepperoni with mozz, prosciutto and salami with cucumbers and Dijon, and the house-smoked pastrami with dill havarti. Breakfast sandwiches can be had all day, including the Appa with a fried egg, pepperjack and kimchi. Its intended to be an all-day hangout, with coffee from local roasters, beer and wine. Open Tuesday-Thursday 8 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Holy Moly Bar, a new cocktail bar with a vintage 70s vibe serving light bites, opened at 3013 6th Ave. in Tacoma this fall. HOLY MOLY BAR 3013 6th Ave., Tacoma, holymolybar.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matt Coppins has breathed new life into this Sixth Ave space, adding a kitchen and designing a suave 70s-style bar that feels primed for everything from date-nights to group hangs and solo outings. Cocktails ($12) lean classic, including a freezer martini, a sazerac and an amaro-laced Manhattan, but the full bar also pours local beer and about a dozen wines. Snack on olives, house-spiced nuts or a charcuterie board. More substantial options include a veggie ciabatta sandwich and an ancient grain bowl with roasted chicken. Open Tuesday-Friday at 3 p.m. TOREROS COCINO MEXICANA (FORMERLY AZTECA) 4801 Tacoma Mall Blvd., Tacoma, toreros-mexicanrestaurants.com What was Azteca near Tacoma Mall is now Toreros, the second location of a family-owned Mexican restaurant in Renton. The menu features all the hits, from combo platters with chimichanga, chile relleno and tamales; fajitas on a sizzling skillet with corn or their popular homemade flour tortillas; and platters of carne asada, carnitas and enchiladas. Cocktails focus on 20-ounce margaritas and the go wild double. Lunch specials (11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays) offer an array of $13-$15 meal deals, while daily happy hour (3-6 p.m. and 8 p.m.-close) serves up $9 snacks and cocktails for $8-$10. Open daily at 11 a.m. through 9 p.m. weeknights and 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. KURA REVOLVING SUSHI 4502 S. Steele St. (Tacoma Mall), kurasushi.com/locations/tacoma-wa Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kura Sushi USA operates a few dozen locations in 22 states. The new Tacoma revolving sushi spot opened this fall, joining one other Washington state outpost in Bellevue. Billed as an eater-tainment concept, guests snag sushi from labeled domes conveyor belts rolling through the restaurant and drinks from robot servers named Kur-B the KuraBot. Theres nigiri, maki, handrolls, snacks like crispy-rice bites, ramen and udon noodle soup. Open at 11:30 a.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. Saturday-Sunday. THE KNOT KOREAN STEAKHOUSE 4502 S. Steele St. (Tacoma Mall), knotkoreansteakhouse.com The Knot, across from BJs Brewhouse, replaced Blazing Onion this fall. The K-BBQ restaurant at Tacoma Mall serves Black Angus beef for grilling at your table, starting with the 8-ounce order of brisket and flat-iron for $69 and ending with 24 ounces of those two plus galbi and ribeye for $149, plus banchan. The menu also offers a la carte dishes including dumplings, corn cheese and spiced fries. With all of the food safety regulations that exist in the U.S. today, one would think the risk of contracting a deadly food borne illness is at an all-time low. This is not the case. In 2024 alone, the U.S. has seen over a dozen deaths associated with recalled foods. No one should die from eating fresh produce or miscarry a child after having a sandwich, yet it happens. Historically, food manufacturers have struggled to uphold safety standards that prevent food borne pathogens from poisoning domestically consumed products. A lack in quality control testing on imported goods or unsanitary conditions inside processing plants are some of the root causes that allow contaminated food to reach consumers' hands. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are tasked with recalling potentially deadly foods that are available to the public. Too often, these federally-appointed agencies aren't aware of which foods are tainted until people get sick. The stories covered here illustrate instances where food recalls weren't issued soon enough, resulting in multiple deaths. The fact that many of these tragedies occurred recently, shows that the food industry's health and safety standards still have a long way to go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Sausage Brands Made With The Highest & Lowest Quality Ingredients Diamond Shruumz Edibles In 2024 - Three Deaths Diamond Shruumz bags of gummies - burners_smokeshop / Instagram Psychotropic edibles aren't on everyone's grocery list, but there is a demand on the modern market. Prophet Premium Blends of Santa Ana, California hoped to meet that demand with Diamond Shruumz edibles, but found itself implicated in three deaths instead. Adverse effects forced a recall of all Diamond Shruumz products in June 2024. Mental health benefits associated with microdosing aided the marketability of Diamond Shruumz muscimol-infused cones, chocolate bars, and gummies at U.S. vape shops and online. The recall was issued after repeated reports of seizures, involuntary muscle contractions, agitation, confusion, abnormal heart rates, nausea, and vomiting were linked to Diamond Shruumz. The FDA cited toxic muscimol levels as the recall reason. By July 2024, nearly 60 reported illnesses (including some in children) and two deaths involving Diamond Shruumz were under investigation. As of October 31, 2024, that count rose to 180 reported illnesses, 73 hospitalizations, and three deaths. Diamond Shruumz sample results released by the FDA indicate varying combinations of troubling ingredients. Among them are psilocin a Schedule I-controlled substance, pregabalin a prescription anti-convulsant, and muscimol a psychoactive compound found in amanita muscaria mushrooms. Boar's Head Deli Meat In 2024 -10 Deaths Boar's Head sandwiches with deli meat and condiments - boarshead_official / Instagram In July 2024, meat slicers nationwide ground to a halt after Boar's Head liverwurst samples taken by the Maryland Department of Health tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes and were recalled. Boar's Head bacon, numerous types of ham, bologna, and salami were recalled as well accounting for 207,528 pounds of meat. Two deaths and 34 illnesses had already been reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Damage control was intense. The Class I recall was expanded on July 30, 2024 to include another 71 products and seven million pounds of meat. The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) traced the contamination source to a Boar's Head plant in Jarrett, Virginia. Between August 2023 and August 2024, the FSIS made a series of visits to the Jarrett plant and noted 69 noncompliances. Rotten meat buildup on rusty equipment, meat-clogged drains, moldy walls, puddles of blood, and insect infestations were among the violations observed. Boar's Head's persistent negligence resulted in 59 hospitalizations and ten deaths. The Jarrett plant ceased operations in July 2024 and hasn't reopened. Legal action, including multiple wrongful death lawsuits, have permanently damaged Boar's Head's once-illustrious reputation. Rizo-Lopez Cheeses In 2024 - Two Deaths Plastic container of Tio Francisco cotija grated cheese - tiofranciscocheese / Instagram On September 27, 2024, the FDA slammed Rizo-Lopez Foods with a permanent injunction, legally barring the company from manufacturing goods until its Modesto, California facility complies with federal safety and sanitation requirements. Had Rizo-Lopez run a cleaner operation, it wouldn't have sold listeria-laden cheeses to the public. Moreover, the two deaths, one miscarriage, and 26 reported illnesses stemming from the contamination wouldn't have happened. Testing performed by the Hawaii State Department of Health in January 2024 identified Listeria monocytogenes in Rizo-Lopez Aged Cotija Mexican Grating Cheese. The bacterial strain matched the one responsible for multiple listeriosis cases the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was investigating. On January 11, 2024, Rizo-Lopez recalled 344 cases of its Aged Cotija . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A subsequent FDA inspection of Rizo-Lopez's facility, unearthed the same listeria strain in two locations and a generally unsanitary environment. Then, Rizo-Lopez recalled its entire inventory due to listeria. Its various dairy products were sold under many different brand names including Tio Francisco and 365 Whole Foods Market. Cantaloupe In 2023 - 15 Deaths Close-up of sliced cantaloupe - New Africa/Shutterstock Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As several brands of cantaloupe were being recalled in late 2023, salmonellosis was tearing through the U.S. and Canada. Clusters of cases in both countries led to a collaborative effort from the CDC, FDA, and Canadian public health officials to find the contamination source. As investigators narrowed in on Mexican cantaloupes sold under multiple brand names, individuals who had eaten the salmonella-tinged melon were dying. In Canada, a mass recall was issued for cantaloupe sold between October 10 and November 24, 2023 under the brands Malichita and Rudy. Both brand stickers bore a "4050" PLU code. Canada's 190 lab-confirmed salmonella cases resulted in 68 hospitalizations and nine deaths. On November 6, 2023, U.S. manufacturer Sofia Produce recalled its Trufresh cantaloupe, which was also produced by Malichita and labeled with a "4050" PLU code sticker. The recall was expanded on November 22 to include Rudy cantaloupe. Throughout November and December, more recalls were initiated for whole cantaloupe and fruit cups or trays containing these brands' compromised products. Of the 44 states affected, 158 related hospitalizations and six deaths were reported. Cucumbers In 2015 - Four To Six Deaths Piled cucumbers - Aakruti/Shutterstock A salmonellosis serotype known as Salmonella Poona that was traced back to cucumber growers in Mexico, hit the U.S. hard in September 2015. At least 907 individuals across 40 states fell ill, 204 were hospitalized, and six deaths were reported. Public health officials determined that the cumbers were distributed around the U.S. by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce and sold under the label Limited Edition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On September 4, 2015, Andrew & Williamson launched a Class I recall for its Limited Edition cucumbers and named possible salmonella contamination as the reason. That same day, Triple B Corporation of Anchorage, Alaska recalled 78 two-pound bags of sliced cucumber. The bags were purchased wholesale from Andrew & Williamson to be used in the deli departments of retail stores. One week later, Custom Produce Sales recalled its Fat Boy label cucumbers which had been supplied by Andrew & Williamson. As the CDC looked into the fatalities connected to the Salmonella Poona outbreak, it could not confirm that two of the three deaths reported in California were directly linked to the consumption of Mexican-grown cucumbers. Illnesses related to potential cross-contamination were never determined. Frescolina Marte Ricotta Cheese In 2012 - Four Deaths Rows of fresh ricotta - Forever Cheese / Facebook When a food recall for Frescolina ricotta cheese hit the U.S. in September 2012, American food factories weren't to blame. This time, listeria from Fattorie Chiarappa's cheese production facility in Conversano, Italy was to blame. The FDA immediately enforced strict import regulations upon the Italian cheese producer, but stateside, four people had already lost their lives. The listeria strain associated with 22 reported illnesses across 13 states and Washington D.C. was rare. Public health investigators used pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to trace the contamination's origins to Fattorie Chiarappa's ricotta, which was distributed throughout the U.S. by Forever Cheese, Floyd Peterson Company, and Whole Foods. Forever Cheese and Floyd Peterson recalled Frescolina ricotta on September 10, 2012. Whole Foods followed suit two days later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These measures happened too late. Among the deaths connected to the listeria breakout was an infant boy, whose premature birth at 27 weeks was spurred by contracting listeriosis in the womb. The infant's death and one survivor's battle with listeria-induced meningitis were motivating factors behind lawsuits lobbied at Forever Cheese and Floyd Peterson. Jensen Farms Cantaloupe In 2011 - 33 Deaths Rows of cantaloupe grown on a farm - Pattikky/Shutterstock Colorado-based Jensen Farms had a lot of answering to do in 2011 after its cantaloupes were traced to a wave of listeria cases that left 33 dead. Brothers Eric and Ryan Jensen faced criminal charges brought forth by the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FDA. After investigations performed by the FDA and CDC, it was alleged that the Jensen brothers knowingly implemented insufficient cleaning methods for its cantaloupe yet shipped them anyway. Six shipments of improperly cleaned cantaloupe were distributed to 28 states. An investigation of the Jensen brothers' fourth-generation farm revealed signs of negligence. Pooled water from dripping condensation tested positive for listeria. The equipment intended to clean the cantaloupe was not only unclean, it was designed to sanitize potatoes. The Jensen brothers were sentenced to five years' probation and six months of in-home detention. A $150,000 fine of restitution and 100 hours of community service were also part of the sentencing. It was a reckoning for U.S. farmers, to ensure that the goods they grow and distribute are safe for public consumption. In addition to the 33 individuals who died, 110 illnesses in 28 states were reported. Sangar Fresh-Cut Produce Celery In 2010 - Five Deaths Rows of cut celery - Lew Robertson/Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Listeria-contaminated celery from a produce factory in Texas became a hot topic for food safety advocates' in 2010, who were urging the Senate to pass a bill that would tighten health and safety regulations in domestic food processing facilities. The San Antonio produce factory belonged to Sangar Fresh-Cut Produce and its celery was implicated as the source of an uptick in listeriosis cases within Texas, with some instances resulting in death. When the FDA inspected Sangar's premises and tested its celery in October 2010, listeria bacteria found in the celery and on food contact surfaces was identical to the strain associated with the deceased. Sangar reportedly resisted the FDA's push toward a recall, insisting that in-house testing had cleared the product. The Texas Department of State Health Services wasn't buying it and shut down the facility on October 20, 2010. Sangar's cut celery wasn't sold in grocery stores, it was wholesaled to schools, restaurants, hospitals, and other institutions. The five individuals who died after eating Sangar's celery did so while their health was compromised. The listeriosis they contracted afterward was too much for their bodies to handle. King Nut Peanut Butter In 2008-2009 - Six Deaths Overhead view of peanut butter on sliced bread - Rimglow/Getty Images The peanut butter industry as we know it came crashing down in 2009 when the insidious methods of mega manufacturer Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) were exposed in deadly fashion. That January, King Nut Companies recalled roughly 1,000 cases of salmonella-afflicted peanut butter made with PCA's product. King Nut wasn't available to the general public, but was widely used in nursing homes and other institutions. In 2008, bacteria-laced batches consumed by a vulnerable population caused the deaths of six people. PCA owner Stuart Parnell's callous mantra "just ship it" created one of the most tragic food recalls in history. Three additional deaths were attributed to store-bought snacks made with PCA peanut butter, yet King Nut's product accounted for the most casualties. Parnell's negligence and greed earned him a 28-year prison sentence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike the now-shuttered PCA, King Nut managed to survive the recall. Still, atonement was fleeting. Their company's catastrophic entanglement with PCA and the lives lost because of it are conveniently omitted from the historic timeline published on King Nut's website. Dole Spinach In 2006 - Three Deaths Close-up of baby spinach leaves - Ctrphotos/Getty Images In the mid-2000s, spinach was a power player among health-conscious eaters, but a ghastly E.Coli recall in 2006 took fresh spinach from superfood to super-dangerous. On September 11, 2006, the CDC learned of a cluster of food-poisoning cases in Wisconsin linked to bagged spinach. The cluster's geographical scope widened in a matter of days and included one death, prompting the FDA to put out a national warning against consuming fresh spinach. Meanwhile, investigators focused on California grower Natural Selection Foods as the orchestrator of the problem. The FDA named field-level contamination at one of Natural Selection Foods' farms as the likely source of the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak. Natural Selection Foods supplied spinach to 30 brands, yet Dole was later determined as the sole carrier of the tainted spinach. Even so, brands like RLB Food Distributors, Pacific Coast Fruit Company, and Triple B Corporation recalled spinach products out of an abundance of caution. Before the outbreak was effectively contained, Dole's fresh spinach caused 205 confirmed E.Coli cases and four deaths. Pilgrim's Pride Poultry In 2002 - Seven Deaths Recalled turkey from Wampler Foods with boxes - William Thomas Cain/Getty Images In October 2002, USDA investigators uncovered listeria bacteria in floor drains at a Wampler Foods plant in Franconia, Pennsylvania, that matched the strain responsible for seven deaths and three miscarriages. Wampler's parent company, Pilgrim's Pride, attempted to thwart the blame, claiming listeria found in pre-cooked poultry at a competing facility was behind the fatalities. The feds shut down the plant anyway and Pilgrim's Pride recalled 27.4 million pounds of chicken and turkey meat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The staggering recall quantity was an expansion of a recall Pilgrim's Pride announced days earlier. The company pulled 295,000 pounds of ready-to-eat poultry from distribution after samples tested positive for listeria. The listeria found in the initially recalled products weren't a match to the strain identified connected to the deadly outbreak. The 2,695,000-pound meat recall kicked off a lengthy investigation by the USDA's Office of Inspector General. Details of the investigation remain under-wraps, but allegations that Pilgrim's Pride delayed reporting its listeria findings to the USDA in 2002 are likely part of the inquiry. Cargill Deli Meat In 2000 - Four Deaths Piled slices of deli turkey meat - Lauripatterson/Getty Images Ecological destruction, price gouging, and child labor are just a few of the unsavory practices agribusiness giant Cargill has engaged in, and many food recalls have peppered its greed-paved path. A recall of Cargill deli meat in 2000 was one of its worst four people wound up dead. The December 2000 recall affected 16.7 million pounds of Cargill-produced meat that tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The announcement came after a months-long, multi-state listeria outbreak led investigators to Cargill. A handful of deli brands were looped into the recall, including Boar's Head, Dine Rite, Honeysuckle White, Old South, Owen's, Plantation, and Riverside. In addition to the four deaths, Cargill's adulterated deli meat was responsible for three miscarriages. Listeriosis is particularly deadly to babies in utero, and although a pregnant woman who contracts listeriosis may not die, there is an increased likelihood that the fetus will. Quantity-wise Cargill's deli meat recall was the largest of its kind up to that point, though it would be far from the last to rattle the company's mammoth enterprise. Sara Lee Meat In 1998 - 15 Deaths Pre-packaged hot dogs on white background - Collins Unlimited/Shutterstock Household name Sara Lee's attempts to conceal listeria found in its hot dogs and deli meats backfired in 1998, causing 15 deaths, six miscarriages, and 108 hospitalizations. A December 1998 recall from the brand that started with 15 millions pounds of meat, eventually grew to 35 million pounds. Investigators who interviewed former employees of Sara Lee's Bil Mar plant in Michigan said that cursory in-house testing and secrecy were deeply woven into the facility's daily operations. A demolished refrigeration unit was cited as a cause for bacterial contamination entering the plant's environment. In 2001, Sara Lee pleaded guilty in federal court for its multi-state distribution of adulterated goods. The company paid a $200,000 fine and agreed to donate $3 million to food safety research. A civil suit levied by the U.S. government was settled for $1.2 million while five wrongful death lawsuits filed on the victims' behalf saw Sara Lee pay another $1.6 million settlement. In the aftermath, Sara Lee took the path of least resistance. It published ads in 80 newspapers to assure the public its meat was safe, and made good on its promise to promote better food safety standards. Jack In The Box Hamburgers In 1993 - Four Deaths Double cheeseburger with Jack in the Box wrapping - jackinthebox / Instagram A deadly E.Coli disaster in Jack in the Box's history is something this fast food chain would rather forget. It happened in 1993, and although the hamburgers were recalled, four children died from eating them. Public health officials in Washington state determined that the E. coli 0157:H7 contamination occurred at slaughterhouses owned by Vons Companies the chain's hamburger supplier however, Jack in the Box didn't require testing prior to shipment, then proceeded to undercook the meat. The fatalities, along with 700 reported illnesses were a catalyst for major regulation changes concerning commercial meat. The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system, developed decades earlier by NASA and Pillsbury, became mandatory in May 1993. A zero fecal tolerance for beef carcasses was also mandated. In the wake of Jack in the Box's recall, E. coli 0157:H7 was officially declared a contaminant in beef. Prior to the '90s, the mortal dangers of this bacterial strain went unrecognized. Sadly, it took children dying to motivate change. Jalisco Queso Fresco And Cotija Cheeses In 1985 - 28 Deaths Fresh grated cotija cheese on cutting board - Marcos Elihu Castillo Ramirez/Getty Images The mortal consequences of listeriosis became all too real in 1985 when 28 deaths were caused by Jalisco brand Mexican-style soft cheese. The fatalities were concentrated in the Los Angeles area and directly linked to Jalisco's queso fresco and cotija cheeses. Among the lives lost were 18 adults, 10 newborns, and 20 miscarried fetuses. The outbreak was the most tragic of its time, accounting for 142 confirmed listeriosis cases between January 1 and August 15, 1985. Of the reported cases, over half were pregnant women who fell ill after consuming Jalisco cheese. The CDC tested samples of Jalisco queso fresco and cotija cheese purchased from Los Angeles markets. Four samples tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes serotype 4b. The nearly two month range between the purchased products' expiration dates suggested that contamination in Jalisco's production facilities had been there awhile. Recall alerts for Jalisco cheese were announced and its factory was closed. Warnings were also issued Jalisco's sibling cheese brands Guadalajara, Jimenez, and La Vaquita. Analysis conducted by public health officials pointed to unpasteurized milk incorporated in Jalisco's cheese manufacturing process as the source of the lethal bacteria. Read the original article on Mashed. Two people were hospitalized on Saturday afternoon after what Phoenix police suspected to be a road rage incident involving a tow truck driver and the driver of a passenger vehicle believed to have been armed with a hammer. Sgt. Brian Bower, a department spokesperson, said officers responded to calls of an aggravated assault at around 2:20 p.m. near Interstate 17 and Greenway Road. Bower said officers were told a tow truck driver and the driver of a passenger vehicle was heading east on Greenway Road when the two got into an argument that turned physical. "At one point the driver of the car attacked the driver of the tow truck with what is believed to be a hammer as the driver of the tow truck tried to strike the driver of the car with his truck," Bower said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bower said the two drivers damaged several nearby vehicles that were not involved in the conflict. Both drivers were taken to a hospital as a precaution and would be booked into jail upon discharge. Bower did not elaborate on what criminal charges the drivers would face. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arrests made after Phoenix road rage incident involving a hammer A 2-year-old is dead and a 6-month-old is seriously injured after a house fire in Indiana on Saturday, according to the Indiana State Police. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The fire occurred around noon at 646 Columbus Street in Wabash, which is southwest of Fort Wayne. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State police said a passerby noticed the fire and alerted family members who were in a separate part of the house. When Wabash Fire Department crews arrived on scene, they found that the house was actively burning. Firefighters found the two children inside the house. The 6-month-old was found unconscious and not breathing, according to state police. First responders immediately began life-saving measures. The infant was transported to a hospital, where they remain in stable condition. State police said 2-year-old Deliaha Goforth was pronounced dead on scene. Preliminary findings from the State Fire Marshals Office suggest that the fire began on the first floor in an area occupied by Deliah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Initial information indicates the children were reportedly sleeping in separate rooms when the fire started. The investigation is expected to take time to ensure thoroughness, state police said. State police will work with the fire marshals office and the Wabash County Coroners Office to determine if there is anything suspicious about this incident. According to state police, these details are preliminary and may be subject to change as more information becomes available. The fire remains under investigation by Indiana State Police and the State Fire Marshals Office. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Dec. 1The remains of two people were found inside a structure that caught fire early Saturday in Sutton, Alaska State Troopers said. Troopers in Palmer responded to a report about the fire around 6:22 a.m. Saturday, troopers said in an online report. The building was fully engulfed in flames, troopers said, when they arrived in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough community northeast of Palmer along the Glenn Highway. Troopers spokesman Tim DeSpain said Sunday that the structure appeared to be a "single room dry cabin with electricity fed from the home approximately 30 feet away," and that there appeared to be "multiple electric heaters" inside the structure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sutton Fire and EMS put out the blaze, and personnel working the fire found the remains of two people inside the burned building, troopers said. The State Medical Examiner Office will conduct an autopsy and work to positively identify the deceased, according to troopers. What caused the fire remains under investigation, DeSpain said. Alaska State Fire Marshals investigated the scene as part of the fire response, troopers said. A north Georgia mother is being charged with her newborn babys murder. The Walker County Sheriffs Office told WTVC-TV that Ana Alissa Guice, 37, is being charged after she slept in bed with her 2-week-old child and the baby died. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Authorities say the baby died on Nov. 14. Guice tested positive for drugs when deputies responded to her home. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives told WTVC-TV that Guice had placed the baby in the bed with her improperly and determined that she was negligent in caring for the child. Guice was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and cruelty to children. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] FAYETTE COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) A 20-year-old Fayette man was killed in a car crash early Sunday morning, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Jordan Hallman was fatally injured when the Toyota Camry he was operating left the road, hit an embankment and overturned. The crash happened around 2:40 a.m. on Alabama 171 about five miles south of Fayette. Texas woman dead after northwest Alabama crash Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hallman, who reportedly was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. A passenger in the Camry was taken to Fayette Medical Center for medical treatment. Troopers with the ALEAs Highway Patrol Division are investigating the crash. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said three people were arrested in connection to a Northwest D.C. robbery that took place on Thursday. MPD said that at about 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 28, two suspects approached the victim near the intersection of 16th and Q Streets. Then, the pair allegedly assaulted and stole items from the victim before getting into a vehicle that was waiting for them and leaving the area. A third suspect operated the car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man shot, killed in Upper Marlboro The victim was not injured. Police soon identified and found the stolen suspect vehicle. The three suspects ran from the car, but officers quickly found and arrested them. Police recovered the stolen items as well as a firearm. Officers charged Previous Hill, 18, of Northeast, Maleek Jones, 19, of Richmond, Va. and Lamont Fleming, 23, of no fixed address, with Robbery Force and Violence. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) The Bakersfield Police Department is asking the community to help locate a missing person with a medical condition. Police say 32-year-old Tiffany OBrien was last seen at about 10:30 a.m. in the 700 block of 8th Street on Nov. 29. OBrien is considered at-risk, due to a medical condition. OBrien is described as 5 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs about 150 pounds. She has blonde hair, blue eyes and was last seen in a white shirt with multi-colored pants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information regarding OBriens whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Bakersfield Police Department at 661-327-7111. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. The race to develop powerful electric vehicles with higher ranges has accelerated as many auto manufacturers have invested heavily in this technology. Electric vehicles not only reduce dependency on fossil fuels but also benefit the environment, helping the world achieve its climate goals. In this arena, Renault claimed that its new 2025 MY E-Tech T electric semi-truck has a range of about 375 miles (600 km) on a single charge. The company will be taking orders for an extension of its Renault Trucks E-Tech T model. This vehicle opens up new prospects for the decarbonization of long-haul transport, according to Renault. Increased range The company maintains that the increased range of the Renault Trucks E-Tech T is achieved by integrating a new component, namely an electric axle. E-axle technology enables all the elements of the powertrain electric motors and transmission to be grouped together at the rear of the vehicle, freeing up space between the side members to accommodate additional battery packs. Renault Trucks E-Tech T equipped with e-axle can cover 375 miles (600 km) on a single charge, according to the company. Transition to electric mobility "The advent of this electric truck will boost the transition to electric mobility," said Emmanuel Duperray, Senior Vice President Electromobility at Renault Trucks. "We believe that a range of 600 km (375 miles) on a single charge, combined with the development of public charging infrastructure networks by 2026 in particular through our joint venture Milence will enable us to achieve the operational parity [with diesel technology] that our customers expect." For long-haul transport, this Renault Trucks E-Tech T with an extended range will enhance the manufacturer's electric offering without replacing current solutions. Renault Trucks will indeed continue to offer a wide range of autonomies, configurations and equipment tailored to specific uses. In order to help hauliers find the ideal solution, Renault Trucks is also providing them with advanced simulation tools enabling each electric truck to be configured according to their specific needs, according to a press release. With 30 million kilometers (18.6 million miles) of use by hauliers, Renault Trucks' electric trucks have already saved 29,000 tonnes of CO emissions. With this new offer, the French manufacturer is further extending its range of sustainable transport solutions to support its customers in their energy transition, added the release. Reimagining low-carbon logistics Duperray highlighted that the company is not looking to enter a race for autonomy on a single charge. Oversized batteries penalize the payload, raise total operating costs, and increase the environmental footprint. In essence, an electric truck is more expensive than a combustion vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We need to rethink low-carbon logistics, in other words, reconsider transport patterns to optimise the use of transport vehicles and therefore reduce the cost per kilometre," said Duperray. The company claims that it encourages its customers to adjust the size of the batteries according to their actual needs and provides support in optimizing the solution, including the charging strategy. "This approach is already enabling us to achieve daily mileage of over 700 kilometers (435 miles) with our series production Renault Trucks E Tech T," added Duperray. When it comes to learning cooking basics, some of the most important lessons are those involving food safety. That includes everything from being familiar with proper cooking temperatures to knowing whether or not you should throw out that food that's possibly been in the fridge a little too long, but sometimes, the danger lurking in your food had nothing to do with you. Food safety organizations like the U.S. Food & Drug Administration regularly issue recalls for products found to be contaminated with the pathogens that cause food poisoning, and while things like meat might come to mind first as being among the biggest offenders, nationwide recalls have also been issued for items like produce and even ice cream. In 2024, multiple ice cream brands were recalled for a listeria risk, and listeria is nothing to mess around with. Listeria is a bacterial infection that can cause fever, chills, gastrointestinal distress, and in extreme cases, it can be deadly. Those most at risk for developing severe, life-threatening illnesses include those who are pregnant, newborn infants, anyone with a compromised immune system, and anyone over the age of 65. In late 2024, the U.S. found itself in the midst of a major outbreak, with around 10 million pounds of meat and poultry from BrucePac being recalled for listeria risk. Shockingly, that wasn't even one of the worst listeria outbreaks in U.S. history, so let's take a closer look at some of the deadliest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: 25 Most Popular Snacks In America Ranked Worst To Best Boar's Head Listeria Outbreak (2024) Display of Boar's Head deli meats with recall notice - Justin Sullivan/Getty Images By August 2024, the listeria outbreak that had been linked to Boar's Head deli meats had become the worst that the nation had seen in more than a decade. At the time of this writing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was reporting that the 19-state, months-long outbreak had resulted in 59 cases, 59 hospitalizations, and 10 deaths. Seven million pounds of meat were impacted by a recall that impacted products manufactured in June and July, had sell-by dates as late as October, and since listeria has as long as a 10-week incubation period, that presented a massive problem. The outbreak was linked to a factory in Jarratt, Virginia, and started with contaminated liverwurst. However, the outbreak was further connected to 70 other meat products. Consumers were instructed to check any meat products for the number "12612" on the inspection label, throw away any recalled products, and thoroughly clean anything that those products came into contact with. An investigation into the factory where the contaminated meat products were manufactured was the stuff of nightmares, and the USDA discovered health code violations that weren't limited to mold and mildew on equipment, puddles of blood, improperly cleaned equipment with spoiled meat still on it, and contaminants dripping from the ceiling onto the production floor. Reports also suggest the violations were routine problems at the factory, and multiple lawsuits have been filed against the company for wrongful death and negligence (among other charges). Multi-State Cantaloupe Listeria Outbreak (2011) Sliced cantaloupe on a blue table - Pjohnson1/Getty Images The 2024 listeria outbreak linked to Boar's Head had the dubious honor of being the worst that the nation had seen since 2011 when there was a massive outbreak linked to cantaloupe sourced from Jensen Farms in Colorado. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were officially 147 cases, 143 hospitalizations, and 33 deaths that occurred in 28 different states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The outbreak occurred between August and October, and the investigation that followed determined that it could be traced back to the processing center and a change to equipment that happened in May of that same year. Cantaloupes were harvested and packaged without being treated with an antibacterial agent, a crucial step in the process that would have gotten rid of any bacteria on the fruits. It was also found that pooling water and unsanitary conditions contributed to the outbreak, and in addition to the widespread illnesses and the death toll, area agricultural organizations reported that all farmers in the area were impacted by the warning, even though it was linked to a single farm. In 2014, the two brothers who ran Jensen Farms were sentenced to five years of probation, 100 hours of community service, six months of in-home detention, and were given a $150,000 fine. The brothers issued a statement apologizing for the oversight, and at the time, it was the third deadliest listeria outbreak in the country's history. Fruits remain a listeria risk, with peaches, plums, and nectarines recalled in 2023. Pilgrim's Pride/Jack Lambersky Poultry Listeria Outbreak (2002) Pieces of raw poultry on cutting board - Huizeng Hu/Getty Images In 2002, Pilgrim's Pride announced that it was recalling 295,000 pounds of turkey and chicken, and that's when things got complicated. When investigators isolated the strain of listeria that was discovered in the Pilgrim's Pride Pennsylvania plant, they were unable to link it definitively to an in-progress listeria outbreak. At about the same time, another poultry producer in New Jersey, Jack Lambersky Poultry Company Inc., also issued a massive recall for listeria. By the time that was done, they recalled about four million pounds of meat, and when that listeria strain was isolated, investigators found that there was no way to tell the two apart. By the time the outbreak ended, 11 were dead including three fetal deaths and 54 people had fallen ill across nine states. Pilgrim's Pride ended up recalling around 27 million pounds of potentially contaminated meat, and there's a strange end to this story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pilgrim's Pride ended up being sued in several wrongful death cases, and although it settled those cases, the company also issued an official statement saying that they maintained the recalled meat was not actually responsible for the deaths or the illnesses, and the settlement in the case was done in order to just put an end to the matter instead of dragging things out through the courts. Jack Lambersky Poultry was also taken to court, but the outcome is unclear. Listeria Outbreak Associated With Hot Dogs (1998-1999) Raw hot dogs on a white plate - Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The final numbers for the listeria outbreak that lasted from August 1998 to January 1999 are difficult to read: There were 108 cases across 24 states, and in addition to 14 deaths, there were also four fetal deaths associated with the outbreak. (Some sources cite 15 deaths and six fetal deaths.) The outbreak was traced back to hot dogs that were sold under a variety of brand names, including Grillmaster, Ball Park, Mr. Turkey, and Hygrade. The listeria-tainted hot dogs came from a Bil Mar plant just outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and interestingly, it was almost immediately reported that the particular strain of listeria was easily identifiable by a unique DNA structure. The source of the contamination was less clear, and around 15 million pounds of deli meat and hot dogs were recalled. Parent company Sara Lee invested an almost shocking amount of money in trying to set things right, including a $25 million overhaul at the plant linked to the source of the contamination, and around $4 million in donations to Georgetown and Michigan State universities for research into food safety. They also settled a series of lawsuits that suggested many more people were sickened in the outbreak than the official illness and death toll numbers. Jalisco Products Cheese Listeria Outbreak (1985) Cotija cheese whole and grated on a cutting board - Marcos Castillo/Shutterstock Reports on a listeria outbreak that happened from January to August 1985 are unsettling. By the time it was over, there were 142 cases identified and 48 were dead. That included 18 adults, 10 newborns, and 20 fetal deaths. The source of the outbreak was found to be a Mexican-style soft cheese including cotija and queso fresco from Jalisco Mexican Projects Inc., which was accused of using unpasteurized milk in the manufacturing process. In addition, milk that was pasteurized at the Jalisco plant was found to be overseen by employees not authorized in the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The scale of the outbreak isn't really known. Although most of the cheese connected to the outbreak was sold in California, it was also distributed across multiple states. There were also multiple batches of cheese with different expiration dates that were found to be contaminated, suggesting that it wasn't an isolated case, incident, or problem. The death toll also varies, with The New York Times reporting in 1985 that there were 62 deaths that had been linked to Jalisco, which was at the time denying any wrongdoing. Jalisco's owner, Gary McPherson, ended up serving a 30-day jail sentence. Between $48,000 in fines and insurance money, it was found that it wasn't enough to compensate the large number of victims, and no one really walked away feeling as though justice had been done. Jalisco closed, and there were a number of reforms in the cheese and dairy industry including stricter regulations in cheese-making. Read the original article on Tasting Table. National security adviser Jake Sullivan responded to developments in the conflicts in the Middle East including the Syrian army withdrawing troops from Aleppo in multiple Sunday show appearances, as the Biden administration slowly comes to a close. Let me tell you one thing we weren't surprised by. We were not surprised that these rebels would try to take advantage of a new situation, in which the Syrian government's main backers, Iran, Russia and Hezbollah, were all distracted and weakened by conflicts and events elsewhere, Sullivan said in an interview with Kasie Hunt on CNNs State of the Union. Sullivan, whose tenure is reaching its end as the Biden administration prepares to hand off to President-elect Donald Trump, discussed the success of the rebel offensive in Syria, the Israel-Hezbollah cease-fire and the lack of a cease-fire in Gaza in his multiple TV appearances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking of Syria on CNN, he added, Now, the speed of this offensive I think very much surprised the Syrian government and other observers in the region. But the fact that we have seen activity in Syria coming off of all the other things we have seen in the Middle East and Ukraine and elsewhere, that is something that is the natural result of those adversaries ending up in a weaker strategic position. Sullivan noted that the rebel offensive is led by a U.S.-designated terrorist entity, and that his team was working to see U.N. Security Council resolutions that could bring peace and stability to Syria and protect its civilians. But in regards to whether the government of Bashar Al-Assad will fall, Sullivan declined to predict what would happen. As far as the fate of Bashar Al-Assad, people have been predicting that for a long time. I'm not going to make any predictions here, Sullivan said in an interview with NBCs Meet the Press. All I'm going to say is that we will stay deeply engaged in the days ahead. Syria's civil war began in 2011. Last week's rebel advance was a surprise breakthrough but created new potential problems for the West. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked whether the developments in Aleppo advance American strategist interests, Sullivan said, Its a complicated question that the U.S. is monitoring closely and communicating with regional partners about. The group at the vanguard of this rebel advance, HTS, is actually a terrorist organization designated by the United States. So we have real concerns about the designs and objectives of that organization, Sullivan said in his CNN interview. At the same time, of course, we don't cry over the fact that the Assad government, backed by Russia, Iran and Hezbollah, are facing certain kinds of pressure. So it's a complicated situation. Sullivan also discussed the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, calling it a huge step forward in the Middle East. This is a huge step forward in the Middle East, a ceasefire across the border between Israel and Lebanon, the end to more than a year of very significant violence on both sides of that border, the opportunity for people to ultimately be able to return to their homes in Israel and in Lebanon, Sullivan said on NBC. So this is a good thing, and we need to protect it and ensure that it is fully implemented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sullivan added that this is different because the United States, France and other allies are involved to ensure that the ceasefire is implemented effectively. He said this would not mean American forces would be deployed, but rather that the U.S. will fully support the agreement that states that both parties have the right to self-defense. Our goal is to get through these first few days, critical days of a ceasefire, when it's most fragile, have it take full hold, and then ultimately build on it so that it becomes the permanent ceasefire it's intended to be, Sullivan said. On NBC, Sullivan also called his work with incoming national security adviser Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) transparent and said that the two have been committed to ensuring a smooth transition. Waltz credited Trump for the ceasefire, saying he brought everyone to the table. Sullivan did not agree with that assessment, and instead attributed the ceasefire to Israel effectively weakening Hezbollah by, among other things, killing its leadership. You've done a good thing when other people take credit for it. We're proud of the work we've done on bringing the ceasefire about, Sullivan said on NBC. And it came about because of the relentless diplomacy directed by the current president of the United States, Joe Biden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Sullivan said, Were not there yet, but discussed a video Hamas released of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, the first video of him since being captured over 400 days ago. Sullivan said his team has been in contact with Alexanders family since the release of the video, which he called a cruel reminder of Hamas' brutality." We are engaged deeply with the key players in the region, and there is activity even today, Sullivan said on NBC. There will be further conversations and consultations, and our hope is that we can generate a ceasefire and hostage deal, but we're not there yet. Trump has repeatedly indicated plans to close the US Department of Education, which, among other things, provides college grants and money to schools with low-income students, manages financial aid, protects students against discrimination, funds programs for kids with disabilities, and requires schools provide data on student and teacher performance so that they remain at a high level. Brandon Bell / Getty Images While eliminating the Department won't necessarily mean all of these things will go away individual states and other agencies may take up the mantle these rights would fall into question. Experts have predicted that it would particularly worsen already dire teacher shortages and disadvantage low-income and disabled students. Greggory Disalvo / Getty Images Oh, but don't worry Trump has suggested creating a Cabinet position to oversee education! And we've all seen how well his Cabinet picks have gone thus far. RFK Jr., in particular, poses a massive threat to US Health which is inextricably tied to education, especially when it comes to vaccine requirements for students. And all this isn't even getting into what Project 2025 could do to our education system. Rebecca Noble / Getty Images This could all cause some massive, massive problems when it comes to US schools, which are already hugely struggling with issues small and large. In case you're curious about what schools in America look like now and would like to picture them getting even worse here are some photos to demonstrate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And before you say, "But all these photos are of schools under Biden," I know. Education is already a massive public crisis in America. Risking funding can only make it worse. 1.Don't worry about the teacher shortage the teachers we've got are all so great and encouraging! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2.We DEFINITELY shouldn't be encouraging better teachers (and for teachers to attend more schooling) by increasing pay rates. I'm not trying to shade teachers here, many of whom are overworked and placed with dozens of students. But it all starts from the bottom up if we provide better education, the teacher pool will be better educated. If we provide more affordable college and graduate school, the teacher pool will be better educated. If we encourage extra schooling beyond that by offering higher-salary roles (more so than we do now) to those who choose graduate school, the teacher pool will be better educated. And more people will be attracted to teaching! CaptainSylus / Via reddit.com 3.Better-educated teachers? Who needs them? 4.In fact, don't worry about the teacher shortage at all. Just have students teach! 5.Welcome to America, where you may just have to pee in your pants. This may seem like a frivolous issue, but to me, it goes back to bodily autonomy and the trust we place in students. Why are we making students feel like they can't listen to their bodies? Or like they're already criminals? u/Imayhaveeatenthedog / Via reddit.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 6.Don't worry; you can just use the bathroom between periods or during lunch! Oh wait... 7.Technology sure is improving education. Sure, students can cheat with ChatGPT, but programs can easily detect that! (This is sarcastic. These programs are notoriously unreliable.) 8.Teachers are always held to the same standard as students they'd never be allowed to use ChatGPT! 9.There's never any hypocrisy when it comes to teachers! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 10.Technology makes teachers' jobs easier by correctly grading homework and tests! 11.Expensive, easily-broken equipment obviously makes learning better! 12.Privacy concerns? Who needs 'em? 13.It's so great that students now have their private browser activity monitored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 14.This is definitely not giving 1984 which, BTW, will probably be banned. 15.Blocking websites on kids' devices is soooo important! Especially dangerous ones like TedTalk's website. 16.This text pretty perfectly encapsulates going to school in America. 17.America won't ban assault rifles, but they'll keep your kids safe by...not allowing them to have backpacks. Because that makes sense! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 18.Or you could always just have the school check each and every bag, which is a great use of time! 19.This is the future conservatives want. 20.As is this. 21.And this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 22.I can't *wait* for kids to only be allowed to read books for class if words are censored out! 23.This will NEVER happen under RFK! 24.When he gets rid of vaccines and deems every health emergency a hoax, we'll all be so much healthier! Kids definitely won't be forced to stay in school sick! 25.If masks ever do make a comeback in schools, I'm certain schools would follow safety guidelines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 26.This is *definitely* enough food for a high school linebacker. 27.This isn't even enough to be considered Girl Dinner. 28.And I'm not even sure this could be considered food. 29.At least the schools above still provide lunch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 30.I bet gender and self-expression will be even more open and free under Trump! 31.Teachers sure are appreciated in today's day and age! 32.And they're never fired for silly reasons. 33.I'm sure glad we don't have overpopulated, underfunded schools. 34.It's so creative and fun that students don't even have chairs to sit in! 35.Teachers don't get fair pay, but they do get a single Kool-Aid pack! 36.Our kids are receiving such a great education. 37.OPEN THE SCHOOLS!!! But maybe not this one. 38.Kids today are learning such accurate geography! 39.They're learning great fitness techniques and from home, too! 40.Gen Alpha is going to be SO much better off than us. 41.Isn't it so great that teachers have to pay for supplies out of pocket, and hope to receive gifts from the school or parents? 42.Isn't it sooooo great how affordable college is? 43.I love how we really trust our students, y'know? 44.We'd never punish them for silly or meaningless things. 45.I'm so glad we still use lines to punish kids. I'm sure it's effective! 46.I especially think it's great to make 7-year-olds write lines for things their parents are responsible for. 47.Schools have become a microcosm of capitalism, apparently. 48.It's beautiful how we charge students so much just to learn. 49.Ah, Texas. I'm not surprised this is you. 50.In our capitalistic society, we might as well use required education tools to advertise! 51.If anyone was *actually* worried about bathroom comfort and safety, maybe they should tackle something like this instead of completely made-up concerns about trans kids. 52.Arbitrary gender norms definitely aren't screwing with the system! 53.I'm sure glad that schools don't let women show their shoulders. And they're always just as diligent about guys! 54.And finally, I'm SO glad we're keeping politics, graphic photos, misinformation, and propaganda out of our schools! A 61-year-old woman has been arrested, and charged with a DUI after she slammed her car into a utility pole in Pelham, NH. According to police on November 29 around 11:42 p.m., officers responded to a call for a single-vehicle accident on Old Gage Hill Road. Upon arrival, officers found a white 2020 Lexus sedan embedded in a utility pole by Eddy Lane. The driver, identified as sixty-one-year-old Denise Winn of Pelham, NH was not injured. Investigation determined that Winn was driving south on Old Gage Hill Rd. when she failed to negotiate the left-hand turn after Eddy Ln. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Lexus left the road and struck the utility pole with its front end. Officers observed indicators of impairment on scene, and Winn was arrested for driving under the influence. The road was closed as utility crews worked overnight to replace the broken utility pole. Winn was charged with Aggravated DUI and Criminal Mischief. Denise was released on personal recognizance bail and will be arraigned at Salem District Court on December 9th, 2024. Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact police at 603-635-2411. 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 Nine Georgians face federal indictments for what officials call a money laundering conspiracy. The U.S. Department of Justice said the main man behind it all, Asaad Amir Hasuan, orchestrated his part of the conspiracy from behind bars while serving time in a Georgia prison. From about September 2021 through at least May 2024, while incarcerated in Georgia, Hasuan perpetrated fraud schemes against the family and friends of his fellow inmates, according to officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hasuan, also known as Dante Frederick, was already serving time for charges of false imprisonment, theft by deception and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to Georgia Department of Corrections records. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] State records show a years-long criminal history, with state incarcerations dating back to 2006 and cases against him as far back as 2003. Federal officials said that while in prison, Hasuan made his victims transfer money and property to him, and to others, and falsely promised legal assistance, physical protection and investment opportunities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While incarcerated, Mr. Husuan orchestrated an illegal scheme that defrauded victims of millions of dollars. Working with our law enforcement partners, my office will continue to prioritize prosecuting individuals who choose to continue to disregard the rule of law, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware David C. Weiss said. I commend the FBI for their work in investigating this case. The Justice Department said that the conspiracy spread from Georgia all the way to Delaware and netted Hasuan money and property worth more than $3.5 million due to his actions to defraud his victims. Hasuan ultimately defrauded his victims out of millions of dollars, including one Delaware resident who transferred money and property valued at more than $3.5 million, USDOJ said. Hasuan then conspired with a network of money mules to launder the proceeds of his fraud schemes through various financial transactions, including the purchase of real property, mobile homes, and automobiles. The defendants also funneled the fraud proceeds through a car rental company doing business in the name of One Way Auto. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Justice Department, the following individuals were charged for their parts in the conspiracy. Asaad Amir Hasuan, also known as Dante Frederick, age 43, of Brunswick, Ga. One count of conspiracy to commit money laundering Eight counts of money laundering One count of wire fraud One count of attempted Hobbs Act extortion Deborah Danielstunstill, age 73, of Brunswick, Ga. One count of conspiracy to commit money laundering Three counts of money laundering Destinee Lecount, age 27, of Brunswick, Ga. One count of conspiracy to commit money laundering Audrey Gibbons, age 64, of Brunswick, Ga. One count of conspiracy to commit money laundering Penny Hunter, age 58, of Brunswick, Ga. One count of conspiracy to commit money laundering Three counts of money laundering Beverly Fredrick, age 59, of Brunswick, Ga. One count of conspiracy to commit money laundering Two counts of money laundering Lakisha Easton, age 40, of Brunswick, Ga. One count of conspiracy to commit money laundering Jasmine Warren, age 31, of Brunswick, Ga. One count of conspiracy to commit money laundering Manuel Joseph Rocha, age 53, of Brunswick, Ga. One count of conspiracy to commit money laundering Federal officials are still working to identify additional victims of Asaad Amir Hasuan a/k/a Dante Fredrick. If you, your family member, or anyone that you know had contact with Hasuan and would like to provide additional information, please contact the FBI at Baltimore Field Office at 410-265-8080. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Recent studies have shed light and offered new insights into the Nebra Sky Disc, a 3,600-year-old artifact, which is recognized as the oldest known depiction of the cosmos. New discoveries published in the journal Scientific Reports have helped people learn more about this ancient bronze disc. It was first discovered by chance in Nebra, Germany in 1999, by treasure hunters Henry Westphal and Mario Renner. It spreads more than 12 inches and is a few milimeters thick. Researchers have been studying this disc for years, and it is also listed in UNESCOs Memory of the World register. This new study stresses how the disc was created, and the process involved is indeed a complex one, as per reports. Metallographic analysis reveals the complex forging of the Nebra Sky Disc According to the journal Scientific Reports, researchers leveraged modern metallographic analyses to show that the disc was created through a complex warm forging technique. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, an Archaeology Magazine report notes that the "disc was crafted through a highly sophisticated hot-forging process. Using advanced metallographic techniques, including energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and light microscopy, researchers uncovered a manufacturing process involving approximately ten cycles of heating to 700C, forging, and annealing. The study is conducted by the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt. It is in collaboration with Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg and DeltaSigma Analytics GmbH. The findings reveal that early Bronze Age craftsmen excelled as casters and mastered advanced bronze processing techniques with exceptional skill. Bauers replica experiments reveal key insights into the Sky Discs creation In the process, coppersmith Herbert Bauer created a replica of the Sky Disc using a cast blank. Bauers experiments showed that the original artifact required fewer forging cycles than the replica, indicating that the original cast blank was larger and thinner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigations continue to produce such fundamental new findings more than 20 years after the Sky Disc was secured not only once again demonstrates the extraordinary character of this find of the century, but also how highly developed the art of metal processing was already in the Early Bronze Age," said State archaeologist Prof. Dr. Harald Meller. Meller also added that the Sky Disc also establishes its importance to examine popular findings when new methods are available as per Phys.org. The Nebra Sky Disc features gold patterns representing the sun, moon, and stars. The disc is attributed to the Unetice culture, which became popular during the Central European Bronze Age. It has been studied extensively since its recovery by police return to Saxony-Anhalt in 2002. In recent years, it has also provided important insights like the raw materials of the original color of the Sky Disc. The Archaeology Magazine report also notes that the Sky Disc was central to the agricultural and ritual practices of the Unetice culture. It likely functioned as an astronomical tool and a symbol of cosmic order. Its creation in four distinct phases and its eventual burial as a ritual offering underscores its cultural and spiritual significance. Natalia Kamenska, a Ukrainian designer, co-founder and creative director of GUNIA Project, spoke about her collaboration with the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska. The stylist has been working with the wife of the Ukrainian president since August 2021, leaving her post a month ago. In addition, the artist named the most successful image of Zelenska for more than 3 years of collaboration. ADVERTISIMENT In an interview with the YouTube channel "Speaking Support," Kamenska explained what she and the public figure were trying to convey to the audience. "With the war, of course, we rethought our entire wardrobe and positioning, we didn't sew new things, but we always wanted to speak. Lena had to speak louder than before the war, and I think she became the voice of Ukraine at some point," the fashion designer said. In particular, the designer emphasized, special attention was paid to details when creating images for the first lady. One of the elements that became iconic for Volodymyr Zelenskyy's wife was the symbolic brooches that could often be seen on the first lady's lapels. ADVERTISIMENT Kamenska believes that the best image for a public figure was the outfit she wore to address the U.S. Congress. "For me, Olena's speech in Congress was the most memorable. It was an event in general, because she was the first woman speaker (the first wife of a foreign president - Ed.) to speak in Congress. The topic she raised was the war in Ukraine," the stylist recalled. ADVERTISIMENT The designer added that the image was carefully thought out in detail: "We made a very elaborate costume, because at that time, I don't want to be wrong, but I think there was a very difficult situation with the war in eastern Ukraine. We added embroidery from a towel from the eastern (part of - Ed.) of Ukraine to the costume, which we used in the storytelling, and I think it really enhanced the whole speech." Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote about how First Lady Olena Zelenska showed a new trendy look: with a headscarf and in the most fashionable colors. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! "I voted" stickers are seen on display in the headquarters offices of the Alaska Division of Elections in Juneau on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon) Alaskas election results were made official on Saturday, after the state review board finished certifying the results. Here are five takeaways from the final results: There were no changes in the outcomes, but the margin defeating ranked choice repeal grew The margin between the votes rejecting the repeal of the states open primary and ranked choice voting system and those in favor of it grew. There were 737 more votes against Ballot Measure 2 than for it, an increase of 73 votes compared with the margin when the unofficial count was completed on Nov. 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican U.S. Rep.-elect Nick Begichs 7,876-vote margin of victory over U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, after ranked choice tabulation was slightly smaller than the unofficial results. In the state Senate, five Democrats and five Republicans won, leaving the partisan makeup of the chamber unchanged, at 11 Republicans and nine Democrats. In the Alaska House, 21 Republicans, 14 Democrats and five independents were elected. Thats one fewer Republican and one more Democrat than the outgoing Legislature. Voters passed Ballot Measure 1 by nearly 16 percentage points. The measure will increase the minimum wage in three steps over the next two and a half years, reaching $15 per hour in July 2027. It also mandates paid sick leave for all Alaska workers, and bars employers from requiring workers to attend meetings on political and religious issues. Trump won Alaska by a bigger margin than 2020, but the state is trending away from Republicans compared with other states President-elect Donald Trump won Alaska by a 13.13-percentage point margin, more than 3 points better than in 2020. Trumps margin was 11.58 points more than his national popular vote margin, which currently stands at 1.55 percentage points. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its the 15th consecutive time that the Republican candidate won Alaskas three Electoral College votes for president. But while Alaska remains a red state, its less Republican compared with the rest of the country than it has been in a long time. The Republican margin over the Democrats ranked 22nd among the states that is, Trump defeated Kamala Harris by a bigger margin in 21 other states. Thats the lowest-ranking performance for a Republican in Alaska relative to other states since Richard Nixon in 1972. Since George W. Bushs margin in Alaska was the fourth-highest among the states in 2000, Alaska has been drifting away from being one of the more Republican states: In 2004, Alaska had the eighth-biggest Republican margin; in 2008, with Gov. Sarah Palin on the ballot, it was sixth; in 2012, 16th; in 2016, 19th; and in 2020, 20th. Turnout was down compared with four years ago, especially in rural Alaska There were 340,981 ballots cast in Alaska this year, which is more than 20,000 fewer than four years ago, when 361,400 Alaskans voted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because there were more than 15,000 more people registered in the state, the turnout percentage drop was relatively steep, from 60.67% in 2020 to 55.8% this year. However, the number of registered voters is actually higher than the number of voting eligible people in the state, since voter registration is nearly universal, while legal requirements mean it can take years for voters who leave the state to be removed from the rolls if they dont notify the Division of Elections. Turnout declined in the four northern and western state House districts more than the state as a whole, after a similar decline in 2022. For example, House District 40, which covers the North Slope and Northwest Arctic boroughs, has the same boundaries as four years ago, but saw the number of ballots cast drop 4,677 to 3,362, a 28% decline. Direct comparisons are harder for the other rural districts, since some precincts were moved to House District 36 in the Interior. But the drop in rural voting was consistently greater than the statewide decline. The parties geographic strengths shifted For decades, Republicans were strong in South Anchorage, while Democrats excelled in rural Alaska. This year, that balance of power shifted, with Harris winning three of the six Anchorage districts that are mostly south of Dowling Road on her way to winning more votes than Trump across the city. But Trump performed relatively strongly in rural northern and western areas, winning House District 40 by nearly 10 percentage points after losing it to President Joe Biden in 2020, and cutting the margins in the traditionally Democratic strongholds in the Bering Strait and Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta regions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Southeast Alaska, House District 1, which includes Ketchikan, voted more Republican than four years earlier, while Juneaus Mendenhall Valley continued to move toward the Democrats. The Kenai Peninsula and Matanuska-Susitna boroughs remain the mainstays of Republican statewide wins. In the Interior, the congressional and legislative Democrats outperformed Harris in Fairbanks. Both conservatives and progressives have things to cheer about For Alaska Republicans, Trumps win means the White House will be more likely to approve resource development projects than it was under Biden. Begichs defeat of Peltola returns the state to the all-Republican congressional delegation it has had since 1981, with the exception of Peltolas two-plus years in the U.S. House and Begichs uncle Mark Begichs six years as a U.S. senator, from 2009 to 2015. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the state Senate, more-conservative Republicans will be a part of an official caucus for the first time in two years. While the caucus breakdown isnt finalized, it looks like the Senate minority is doubling in size, from three to six senators. Senate caucuses must have five members to be officially recognized under legislative rules. That means minority-caucus senators will again sit on committees. For Alaska Democrats, Peltolas win in 2022 was historic, and her defeat this year is a disappointment. However, the Legislature is positioned to have two mostly Democratic majority caucuses albeit in bipartisan or multipartisan coalitions. The currently announced House majority has all of the 14 House Democrats and five independents, as well as two Republicans. The currently announced Senate majority has all nine Democratic senators and five of the 11 Republicans. If most Democrats are in the majorities it both chambers, it would be for the first time in nearly 44 years, since June 1981. All four caucuses are still trying to woo members, so there is still time for changes ahead of the scheduled Jan. 21, 2025, start to the 34th Alaska Legislature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And both ballot measure outcomes were victories for progressives, who supported the labor-backed Ballot Measure 1 and tended to oppose the Ballot Measure 2 repeal of ranked choice voting. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Albertsons will be opening a new store in Horizon City next week. The store will open at 6 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 6 at 13671 Eastlake Blvd. in the Market at Darrington. A ribbon-cutting and celebration event will be held starting at 9 a.m. that day. Nearly two dozen schools and community nonprofits will be awarded more than $100,000 in grants from the Albertson Foundation, including $60,000 earmarked for El Pasoans Fighting Hunger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of the celebration, 300 shoppers that day will receive a $100 gift card following the ribbon-cutting, Albertsons said. Were thrilled to unveil this beautiful and highly upgraded Albertsons store to residents in Horizon City, said Carl Huntington, president of the Southwest Division at Albertsons. This upscale Albertsons will provide shoppers the finest selection of fresh foods along with a memorable experience each time they shop. The new store features a full service, drive-thru pharmacy, an expanded Starbucks and lounging area, designer floral department, and a produce section that includes a variety of organics. The store will also feature an extensive wine and craft beer area along with a full-service sushi counter. The store will also have a deli, meat and cheese departments and bakery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) An Albuquerque man is facing charges after police say he sexually assaulted a 5-year-old girl at a daycare facility in the East Mountains. According to the criminal complaint, a 5-year-old told their parent that their teacher, identified as 32-year-old Michael Kimball, had inappropriately touched them several times. The complaint said those reports started in late 2023. The complaint also stated when deputies asked Kimball about the incident, he denied it ever happened. Trial set to begin for woman accused of crash that killed Santa Fe officer, Las Vegas resident DNA evidence from September came back with male DNA but not specifically Kimballs. Kimball was arrested earlier this week and booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center. Prosecutors asked for Kimball to be held in custody through his trial. That hearing is scheduled for Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. A day after entering Aleppo, rebels have reportedly seized most of the city, Syrias second-largest, pushed south toward Hama and captured much of Idlib province on Saturday in their surprise offensive launched on Thursday. In reaction, the Russian Air Force bombarded rebel positions in Aleppo, the first time theyve struck the city in any robust capacity in the better part of a decade . Meanwhile, there are unconfirmed reports of a coup attempt against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the capital of Damascus. You can catch up with our previous report on the rebel advance here. Led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, this offensive is its first major attack against the regime in four years and comes as Irans top proxy force Hezbollah and Russia Assads biggest backers are embroiled in their own conflicts. Hezbollah, which supports the Assad regime, has been greatly degraded after open conflict with Israel and some Russian resources have been realigned away from Syria to fight in Ukraine. HTS, formerly an al-Qaida-affiliated group known as al-Nusra Front, has since cut its ties to the notorious Sunni jihadi organization. ALEPPO, SYRIA NOVEMBER 30: Armed groups opposing Syrian President Bashar al-Assads regime seized control of much of Aleppos city center in Syria on November 30, 2024. Reaching Sadallah al-Jabiri Square, a central location in the city, the groups advanced further, taking over a significant portion of Aleppo. In a short period, the opposition forces also seized the governors office, the police headquarters, and Aleppo Citadel, a symbolic landmark of the city. (Photo by Kasim Rammah/Anadolu via Getty Images) Anadolu Videos emerging on social media showed rebel fighters throughout Aleppo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syrian rebels drifting with their Toyota trucks in Aleppo. pic.twitter.com/oI3TYZr7F6 Clash Report (@clashreport) November 30, 2024 Historic: Syrian rebels at Umayyad Mosque (Great Mosque of Aleppo). pic.twitter.com/MQpppyRBIg Clash Report (@clashreport) November 30, 2024 Syrian rebel fighter in the palace of the governor of Aleppo. pic.twitter.com/9v2wYCXenL Clash Report (@clashreport) November 29, 2024 Assad forces completely collapse in northern and central Syria, rebel commanders said in a WhatsApp message late Saturday, according to The Washington Post. Assad on Saturday vowed to defend [Syrias] stability and territorial integrity in the face of all terrorists and their backers, according to the BBC. [The country] is capable, with the help of its allies and friends, of defeating and eliminating them, no matter how intense their terrorist attacks are, his office quoted him as saying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Syrian strongman is getting help in the form of the aforementioned Russian airstrikes on rebel positions in Aleppo. Russian tactical jets and attack helicopters have been active from Khmeimim Air Base, near the city of Latakia, since 2015, providing vital support to the regime in Damascus. The bombardment reportedly resulted in civilian casualties, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a London-based watchdog organization monitoring the conflict. At least 16 civilians were killed and 20 others were injured in a horrific massacre carried out by fighter jets believed to be Russian, targeting a gathering of people at Al-Basel Roundabout in Aleppo city, SOHR claimed The number of civilians and combatants, who were killed in Idlib and Aleppo countryside during the Deterrence of Aggression operation which started in the early hours of November 27, has increased to 327. Aleppo has already been badly ravaged by years of war. It was first captured by rebel forces in 2012 and it became the site of a months-long siege in 2016. Russia and Syrian aircraft carried out constant air strikes that destroyed entire neighborhoods as Syrian regime forces fought to recapture the city of roughly two million residents. HTS also said on Saturday that it had taken control of several areas on the outskirts of Hama, a government-controlled city and Syrias fourth-largest. The rebels took over regime positions in at least 15 villages and towns, according to SOHR. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This approach coincided with consecutive withdrawals by the regime forces from positions in Hama City, Hama Military Airport and several other positions, while several members of a military convoy of the regime fled, SOHR reported. Meanwhile, nearly 15 military convoys withdrew from Hama towards Homs. The status of control over Hama remains unclear and the city could still remain at least partially contested. Regardless, the airbase there that was used by Russia and the regime as under rebel control, as is the main airport in Aleppo. Russian and Syrian forces have reportedly fled Hama airbase, most likely leaving behind a large amount of equipment and munitions. pic.twitter.com/h20cZNElBP OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) November 30, 2024 HTS leader Abu Mohammed al Jawlani vowed to fight on to Damascus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New video of HTS leader Abu Mohammed al Jawlani says we will not rest until we reach #Damascus well proudly show this to the world. Unclear when exactly this filmed but appears to be rebel forces adding to goals after managing to re-take #Aleppo from Assad forces #Syria pic.twitter.com/5ND2Oe8w2a Lizzie Porter (@lcmporter) November 30, 2024 The HTS-led offensive includes other allied factions, including Turkish-backed Syrian rebel groups. After HTS fighters flooded out of their base in the rebel-held Idlib countryside, the northwest of Syria was scene to some of the fiercest fighting seen in the country for several years. As it pushed south toward Hama, HTS had reportedly captured a number of regime troops, which you can see in the video below. Syrian regime forces captured by the opposition between Aleppo and Hama. pic.twitter.com/HVMXfM0tap Preston Stewart (@prestonstew_) December 1, 2024 By Saturday, the rebels had secured full control over Idlib province, seizing strategic towns such as Maarrat al-Numan and Khan Sheikhoun, according to Iranian media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syrian rebels liberate Abu al-Duhur & its Air Base in Idlib, northwestern Syria. pic.twitter.com/ZEcO81b1gz Clash Report (@clashreport) November 30, 2024 As they gobbled up territory and sent regime forces not the run, HTS reportedly captured a large amount of weaponry along the way. Syrian rebels showcase the captured equipment abandoned by the Assad regime army. pic.twitter.com/gV4kP3oKJ8 Clash Report (@clashreport) November 30, 2024 The stunning collapse of Syrias Russian-backed forces has reportedly prompted Moscow to sack Gen. Sergei Kisel, the leader of Russian troops in Syria. Sergei Kisel keeps getting fired. He was fired from his post as commander of #Russia's 1st Guards Tank Army in the early part of its invasion of #Ukraine for not capturing Kharkiv. Now he has been fired again in #Syria. https://t.co/chIGda4XSF Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) November 30, 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Complicating matters, the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces have also entered Aleppo. The Kurdish forces have been deployed in the towns of Nubl and Al-Zahraa in the north-western suburbs of Aleppo city, following the withdrawal of the Iranian-backed militias from both towns, as well as the deployment of Kurdish forces in Aleppo International Airport and neighborhoods in Aleppo suburbs following the withdrawal of regime forces from them, according to SOHR. Since last night, Nubl and Al-Zahraa towns have witnessed mass displacement by residents towards Al-Ashrafiyah neighborhood, several areas in the eastern countryside of Aleppo and other areas outside the province such as Homs and Hama. The U.S-Backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launched a Major Operation from the East into the Western Districts of Aleppo this morning, securing Aleppo International Airport from Syrian Regime Forces and halting the Advance of Hayat Tahir al-Sham (HTS) as well as other pic.twitter.com/cnCXpah9ZB OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) November 30, 2024 Though some forces loyal to Assad have largely fled wide swaths of territory without putting up a fight, it appears they may be massing for a stand at Hama, likely backed by Russia and Irans proxies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syrian troops are positioned at a key elevation in Hama, known as Hamdella, specifically on Zien al-Abedine hill, the official Iranian Press TV news outlet reported on Telegram. Footage shows Syrian Arab Army men arriving as reinforcements to Hama countryside. pic.twitter.com/XwzuG8AAfb Press TV (@PressTV) November 30, 2024 The Syrian Arab Army, Assads ground forces, are moving tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and other equipment north toward Hama. There is an expectation of a major clash there in the coming hours. The Syrian army is sending additional forces north to defend Hama. pic.twitter.com/UOH9UgSC3m Mike (@Doranimated) November 30, 2024 Tanks, BMPs, and other Military Equipment of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its Allies continue to gather tonight in and around the City of Hama in Northwestern Syria; after Rebel Forces who had captured the City earlier today, decided to withdraw towards the North, where they pic.twitter.com/gvC94eEsr9 OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) December 1, 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amid the fighting taking place in Idlib, Aleppo and Hama provinces, claims about a coup attempt against Assad emerged. Video posted on social media purporting to show gunfire near the headquarters near the presidential palace. It is alleged to have been led by Syrian State Security Director General Hosam Louqa. Reports have appeared that in Damascus, Syria, there is an attempt of a coup against Assad. It is reported that gunshots are heard by the presidential palace. Syria state TV stopped broadcasting. The videos and information are not verified. https://t.co/u9MAAs6Dst pic.twitter.com/y3SGGTM83X Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) November 30, 2024 Officials from Iran have pushed back on those claims. Hossein Akbari, the Iranian Ambassador to Syria, said there was no military coup in Damascus nor any attempt to detain Assad, the official Iranian Shafaq news agency reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The news published by some Iranian online platforms about a coup in Damascus surprised us, Akbari stated, The Syrian army knows what needs to be done. This sedition will be crushed, God willing. A reporter for Tasnim, another official Iranian news outlet, said the streets of Damascus are calm and called the claims a psychological operation by the terrorists and their supporters to break the resistance and advance further. The War Zone cannot confirm any of these claims The ongoing offensive against the regime is one of the most serious challenges Assad has faced since the Syrian civil war began in 2011 when regime forces responded to Arab Spring protests with deadly force. That ignited years of bloodshed, forcing some 14 million Syrians to flee their homes, about half to places elsewhere in the country. The vacuum created by all this conflict has turned Syria into a regional crisis, drawing in troops from Turkey, Kurdish forces from Iraq and Iranian-backed Lebanese Hezbollah fighters. Israel routinely bombs Iranian troops and weapons concentrations in Syria. Jerusalem is watching the rebel advances in Syria with considerable wariness, as intelligence chiefs told the political echelon developments in Syria could ultimately spell trouble for Israel, according to Israeli media. Referring to a consultation hurriedly convened by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday evening with key figures in the defense establishmentintelligence officials assessing that Iranian infrastructure in Syria has been harmed, and much of it has been captured by the rebels, the Times of Israel reported. Netanyahu was reportedly said that Hezbollahs attention will now be shifted to Syria, and so will its forces, in order to defend the Assad regime. Israeli intelligence officials are concerned that Assads fall could allow the strategic capabilities of his regime to fall into the jihadists hands. The prime concern relates to the remnants of chemical weapons, according to the Times of Israel. Amid all this, the U.S. maintains a presence near Deir Ezzor in the north officially to continue the fight in a coalition against ISIS, which established a so-called caliphate in large portions of Syria and Iraq in the wake of years of conflict. Saturday night, the White House said the U.S. has nothing to do with this offensive, which is led by Hayat Tahir al-Sham (HTS), a designated terrorist organizationWe will also continue to fully defend and protect U.S. personnel and U.S. military positions, which remain essential to ensuring that ISIS can never again resurge in Syria. The White House has released its First Statement, since the beginning of the ongoing Rebel Offensive in Northern Syria, with them stating, The United States has nothing to do with this Offensive, which is led by Hayat Tahir al-Sham (HTS), a Designated Terrorist Organization - pic.twitter.com/jTGDqC5RqA OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) December 1, 2024 As we previously mentioned, there appears to be a major fight looming in and around the city of Hama. How much longer Assad can hold on is a lingering question, exacerbated by the fact that his two main backers have their own troubles siphoning off resources otherwise available for Syria. Russia is bogged down in a nearly three-year-old war in Ukraine, forcing it to redeploy capabilities and personnel that were previously being used in support of the Syrian regime. Russian interests in Syria include the aforementioned Khmeimim Air Base, as well as access to port facilities at Tartus. These two bases serve as the only Russian facilities of their kind in the Mediterranean, making them highly strategic but also symbolic prizes that Moscow gained in exchange for saving Assad. Iran, meanwhile, has seen its proxy Hezbollah, which has a substantial presence is Syria, severely weakened by Israel, and the Israeli Air Force has continued to pound Iranian and Iranian-proxy targets in Syria. The HTS-led offensive has been as stunning as it has been swift. Whether it has the troops, equipment and logistical tail to not only push through Hama, but further south to Homs and eventually Damascus is something we will learn more about in the coming days. And while a lightning-fast blitz may be impressive, holding the territory gained against regrouped Syrian-Russia-Iranian-backed forces will be no easy task. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com Donald Trump chose MAGA hardliner Kash Patel to lead the FBI in his second term. The diehard supporter of the president-elect has shared grand designs for the bureau, and that's set off alarm bells among pundits, elected officials and intelligence reporters. MSNBC contributor Hayes Brown said the conspiracy-minded Patel and his plans to launch investigations into the 2020 presidential election would lead the FBI down a deeply paranoid path. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kash Patel as FBI director would be like if you crossed Alex Jones with J. Edgar Hoover in terms of just how much he would want to ignore precedent and the constraints that have been put on the FBI over the years, Brown said on Saturday. With all of the conspiracy theorizing, all of the eagerness to fan the flames of the worst instincts of President Trump put into power, those two things should never mix." Axios reporter Sophia Cai called Patel's nomination a "massive middle finger to the intelligence community." Never-Trump commentator Charlie Sykes agreed in a post to X, adding that the move from Trump shows he expects the Supreme Court to fall in line with any planned retribution against his political enemies. "A huge FU to the Supreme Court because Trump doesnt think they will be a check on his campaign of lawless retribution," he wrote. "Nice work, John Roberts." MSNBC legal analyst Joyce Vance also thought the Patel nom signaled Trump's focus on revenge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is clearly about revenge prosecutions," Vance shared on the network on Sunday. "If you're Donald Trump and you are committed to a series of revenge prosecutions, well, you need someone like Kash Patel a loyalist running the FBI for you." The Patel announcement was largely met with cheers by GOP legislators and Fox News hosts. House Speaker and Trump running dog Mike Johnson congratulated the "America First patriot" Patel for his nomination on X. "Kash Patel has extensive experience in national security and intelligence," he wrote. "He is an America First patriot who will bring much-needed change and transparency to the FBI." During a stop by CBS' "Face The Nation" on Sunday, Sen. Ted Cruz pushed back against "the weeping and gnashing of teeth" over Patel's nomination, calling him a "real reformer." "I think Kash Patel is a very strong nominee to take on the partisan corruption in the FBI," Cruz said, A US-Israeli hostage pleaded with Donald Trump to use his influence to free him in a proof-of-life video released by Hamas. Edan Alexander, 20, screams, cries and buries his head in his hands as he sits inside a dark room pleading for help. In the three-and-a-half-minute video, Mr Alexander addressed Benjamin Netanyahu before switching to English and appealing directly to Mr Trump: Please use your influence and the full power of the United States to negotiate for our freedom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In what is thought to be the first time a hostage has directly called on Mr Trump for aid, Mr Alexander added: Please, do not make the mistake Biden has been doing. The weapons he has sent are now killing us and the unlawful sieges are now starving us. I dont want to end up dead like my fellow USA citizen [Hersh Goldberg-Polin]. Mr Goldberg-Polin was killed by Hamas in August. Edan appears in a Hamas proof-of-life video released on Saturday - REUTERS It was not immediately clear whether Hamas had given Mr Alexander instructions to speak or exactly when the video was filmed. Mr Netanyahus office said the video was cruel psychological warfare. Mr Alexander, who grew up in New Jersey, was a soldier in the Israeli military when he was captured by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Alexanders parents urged Mr Trump, Joe Biden and Mr Netanyahu to work together to secure the release of the hostages, adding that the video is a haunting reminder that 101 innocent people remain in the clutches of Hamas. Sean Savett, US National Security Council spokesman, said the White House had been in contact with Mr Alexanders family. The direct plea to Mr Trump, 78, reflects the shifting political landscape, with Mr Trump vowing to secure peace in the Middle East when he takes over from Mr Biden next month. Lindsey Graham, a Republican Senator, said earlier this week Mr Trump wanted to see a Gaza ceasefire deal in place before he is inaugurated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Trumps team also credited the president-elect for the success of the Israel-Hezbollah cease-fire deal, which was brokered by the Biden administration and other world leaders. Mr Alexanders grandmother Varda Ben Baruch - YURI CORTEZ The Biden administration said it had briefed Mr Trumps team about the agreement but said they had not been involved in the negotiations. Despite his apparent dedication to a hostage release deal, Mr Trump is said to have been unaware that half of the hostages being held in Gaza are thought to still be alive. When Israeli president Isaac Herzog spoke to Mr Trump following his election victory, Mr Trump reportedly said most of the hostages are likely dead, prompting Mr Herzog to explain the Israeli intelligence assessment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It comes after the Biden administration said it is not there yet on a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza. We are working actively to try to make it happen. We are engaged deeply with the key players in the region, and there is activity even today, said Jake Sullivan, US national security advisor. There will be further conversations and consultations, and our hope is that we can generate a ceasefire and hostage deal, but were not there yet, he added, according to ABC News. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Elections have consequences, the winning side has often boasted. Donald Trumps victory and return to the White House could have major consequences on health care specifically on Medicaid expansion in Mississippi. In theory, Trumps election should make it easier to finally enact Medicaid expansion in the state to provide health insurance for the working poor. During the 2024 Mississippi legislative session, efforts to pass Medicaid expansion were unsuccessful, in part because of an insistence by some Republican leaders that to qualify for Medicaid expansion, a person, should be working in most instances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The work requirement created an impasse in the Mississippi Legislature because the administration of President Joe Biden was not approving work requirements to be eligible for Medicaid expansion. So Medicaid expansion ultimately died because some supporters of expansion believed that mandating the work requirement was a type of poison pill in essence, lawmakers could say they voted for Medicaid expansion, but in reality did not pass a bill that would expand health care options for poor people. But there is a general belief that the Donald Trump administration will approve work requirements and might even try to demand them in the 40 states that already have expanded Medicaid. With Trump poised to reclaim the White House this January, it is likely that the people who supported Medicaid expansion but opposed the work requirement in the 2024 Mississippi legislative session will acquiesce in the 2025 session and accept the aforementioned work requirement. After all, it seems that Medicaid expansion with a work requirement would be better than no Medicaid expansion at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based on that assumption, it seems likely that a bill to expand Medicaid to provide health care to poor, working Mississippians will sail through the Legislature during the quickly approaching 2025 session. But there still may be obstacles. One big potential obstacle is Gov. Tate Reeves. The second term Republican governor has been adamant in his opposition to Medicaid expansion throughout his lengthy political career. During the upcoming 2025 session, the question will be: Can Medicaid expansion, presumably with a work requirement, make it through the legislative process with the two-thirds majority needed to override a potential gubernatorial veto? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if the Legislature is able to ascertain the two-thirds majority needed in each chamber and override a possible gubernatorial veto, there could be the potential of Reeves still working to prevent Medicaid from being expanded in Mississippi. Will the governor personally lobby the Trump administration to not approve the work requirement and reject the Mississippi Medicaid expansion plan? Richard Roberson, chief executive officer of the Mississippi Hospital Association, points out that in 2020 before COVID-19 hit, the Trump administration in its first term had proposed a kind of Medicaid expansion program that would include work requirements. Roberson said that proposal the Healthy Adult Opportunity waiver might not work in many of the 40 states that already have Medicaid expansion, but would align very closely to the Medicaid expansion program with work requirements that was offered but eventually shot down during the 2024 Mississippi legislative session. If nothing else, Trump has been inconsistent in his health care proposals. He has campaigned at times on repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which includes the Medicaid expansion program, and even tried to kill it during his first time. At other times, he has said he would not try again to repeal the ACA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is not clear what the Trump policy toward Medicaid will be during his second term and whether Congress will block portions or all of his plan. Remember, in his first term he could not get a repeal of the ACA, including Medicaid expansion, through a Republican Senate. That could be the case this time with a few Republican senators appearing poised to oppose some of his proposals. There has been speculation that Trump will try to reduce the amount of money going to the states for Medicaid. Such a proposal, if successful, could impact what Mississippi does on Medicaid expansion. At any rate, there will be many question marks concerning health care as the Mississippi Legislatures 2025 session begins. Those potential answers are consequences, in large part, of the most recent presidential election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Will those consequences result in improvements to Mississippis already dire health care outcomes or make those outcomes worse? After all, behind those consequences are people whose lives can hang in the balance. This analysis was produced by Mississippi Today, a nonprofit news organization that covers state government, public policy, politics and culture. Bobby Harrison is Mississippi Todays senior Capitol reporter. Dec. 1The public section of the only cemetery in Anchorage that offers free burial plots is nearly full. As a result, more families are opting for stacked casket burials putting coffins one on top of the other and officials hoping for extra space donated by a religious organization are squeezing a few more graves into poorly mapped sections of the property's historical section in the meantime. The few remaining spots will likely be filled by next summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Established in 1915, the Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery is an important part of Alaska history: Bush pilots, prospectors and early business owners are buried there alongside notable politicians like Gov. Wally Hickel and artists including Sydney Laurence. The rows of headstones, including two whale jawbones marking one plot, sit in a fenced-off space roughly nine square city blocks at the edge of downtown between East Sixth and Ninth avenues. [From Wally Hickel to Miss Wiggles, the storied history of Anchorage's first cemetery] It's estimated that the cemetery holds more than 15,000 graves. Nearly 2,000 spaces in the cemetery remain empty. But those are set aside for public reservations or private tracts saved for families or members of specific groups and organizations such the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, The American Legion and Pioneers of Alaska. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cemetery director Rob Jones said the public section of the cemetery filled up significantly faster than predicted. With businesses and houses on all sides, there isn't room to expand. There are no active plans to build a new municipal memorial park. Voters rejected a bond this year to establish cemeteries in Eagle River and Girdwood. As the public section of the cemetery fills, those seeking burials may have to shift to the Angelus Memorial Park in South Anchorage. The biggest difference between the two is cost plots at the downtown cemetery are free because it sits on public land, while burial spots at the private, nonprofit cemetery can cost thousands. The median cost of a funeral with a burial last year in America was $8,300, according to the National Funeral Directors Association. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Squeezing in the last few spaces Along with the private plots and other reserved areas, the cemetery also still has ample room for cremated remains to be buried or stored in the Columbarium Wall. But the park reached capacity for public burials in June. As the public plots filled, crews began using specialized equipment to review that older section of the cemetery and found areas with enough room for additional plots. The older tracts were dug without as much precision as is possible today and record-keeping has vastly improved, Jones said. "We're pretty sure we know where people are, but the lines in the old part of the cemetery weren't done by engineers, so they drift east and west, they get narrow and wide for no apparent reason and things don't really line up the way we would really like them to," he said. "So when we get into that old part of the cemetery, it's kind of a mystery." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crews identified 25 plots over the summer for families who wanted their loved ones buried in the cemetery but didn't care where, Jones said. Out of those 25 spots, 23 were usable. Another 20 or so potential graves were identified in the historical tract that can be dug next spring and summer. He's hopeful a donation from the Catholic Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau will open up an additional 46 casket plots for next year. Even so, he estimated any space for public burials will be completely full by June. A more costly option At Angelus Memorial Park, a private cemetery in South Anchorage, plot prices start at $1,700, said Ben Spink, who manages the cemetery. Angelus offers some discounts for burials eligible for financial assistance, but they are still more expensive than those at the city cemetery, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Families who need financial assistance can apply through the state Department of Health and receive funds to cover the cost of a plot and any additional burial requirements at the least expensive local cemetery. The department's costs may increase as plots fill in the public section of the cemetery, but no policy changes should be needed, said Alex Huseman, a spokeswoman for the department. The Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau has also offered 46 of the spots in their tract for public use, Jones said. As long as the municipality approves, that will open enough spots that burials could continue into June, he said. With so few remaining spots, Jones said, the cemetery likely won't take reservations for the remaining plots, but families could elect to fit two caskets in one spot. The cemetery digs graves deeper and can bury one person and then later bury a second family member on top of the first casket, he said. It's easier to prepare for such burials in advance, but it's possible to disinter a casket and dig deeper to add an additional casket to the grave, Jones said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stacked burial option is one that more families have been choosing as plots filled, he said. 'It's expensive already' This year, Anchorage voters shot down a $4.1 million bond that would have funded public cemeteries in Eagle River and Girdwood. Those cemeteries could have served as a place for new state-assisted burials to take place, said Tommy O'Malley, who has spent decades advocating for a Girdwood graveyard. Additional public cemeteries in the Anchorage area would save the state money but also ensure burials are affordable for the general public, O'Malley said. "Some people can't afford $6,000 or $8,000 to bury their loved one," he said. "It's expensive already the free plots kind of made it egalitarian." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement O'Malley said he was disappointed that the bond failed, but he plans to continue pushing for a cemetery in Girdwood and hopes even a basic one could open in the near future with limited funding. Cemeteries are an integral part of communities and their history, he said. "Everybody expresses their spirituality and their mortality differently, but they all express it," O'Malley said. "And it's important, it's a remembrance and it's our past." At first glance, Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, and Melania Trump, the 45th First Lady of the United States, seem to be people from different worlds. One is the wife of Prince Harry, and thus represents the British royal family, and the other is the wife of the American political leader and 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump, who won the presidential election in 2024. What could these ladies have in common? They have in common the fact that they both worked in the modeling industry. In addition, they have an impeccable sense of style: they know how to adapt fashion trends to their figure and color type. ADVERTISIMENT In the OBOZ.UA material, we have prepared a selection of images of Meghan Markle and Melania Trump that will prove that they are "style twins". Check if you have noticed any similarities in their styling techniques. 1. Milk dresses In February 2019, the Duchess of Sussex and her husband arrived on an official visit to Morocco. Meghan wore a milky-colored dress with cape sleeves from the Carolina Herrera brand, decorated with subtle synthetic gemstones. The outfit harmonized with her skin color and gently emphasized her facial features. In the same year, but in December, Melania Trump appeared in public in a similar piece. She attended the traditional Congressional Christmas Ball at the White House, wearing a milk dress by Reem Acra, decorated with precious stones, and cape sleeves. In order not to overwhelm the look, Donald Trump's wife wore nude makeup and lightly curled her hair. ADVERTISIMENT 2. Gray coats Even minimalist looks can look spectacular and emphasize high status. Meghan Markle and Melania Trump know exactly what they are doing. For example, in April 2018, the former attended a morning service on the occasion of ANZAC Day (National Day of Remembrance in Australia and New Zealand), wearing a black turtleneck, a wide-brimmed hat, a gray double-breasted coat from Matthew Williamson with large lapels and double pockets, and pumps. And in May 2020, the first lady of the United States appeared in public in an outfit with similar details to Meghan's. Unlike the Duchess, Trump wore a checkered coat rather than a monochrome one, as well as a black dress instead of a turtleneck. ADVERTISIMENT 3. Red maxi dresses In June 2019, Melania Trump visited the Winfield House mansion in London, wearing a sophisticated red dress with cap sleeves by Givenchy, which she styled with matching shoes and diamond earrings. A year later, Meghan Markle wore an almost identical Safiyaa outfit, but with shorter sleeves and a different neckline, at the Mountbatten Music Festival (in the Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences). She completed her look with laconic red earrings, a satin bag and red shoes. ADVERTISIMENT 4. Hats in champagne color The Duchess of Sussex and the First Lady of the United States are both fans of elegant hats from the Philip Treacy brand. This is evidenced by their almost identical hats, the so-called slice hats, which they "walked" during public appearances: Meghan in 2018 to celebrate the 70th birthday of Charles III, and Trump in 2019 to mark the 75th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy during World War II. Please note: both ladies created monochrome bows and tied their hair in a bun. And even the earrings were similar in shape. ADVERTISIMENT 5. Trench dresses When sleeveless trench dresses were in vogue, both celebrities wore them with pleasure. In 2018, Meghan Markle wore this piece to an exhibition dedicated to the centenary of the birth of former South African President Nelson Mandela. She styled her look with a clutch and shoes to match the outfit. Donald Trump's wife wore a similar dress by Dior in 2020 when she attended the National Day of Prayer celebration at the White House. She completed the look with a thin belt at the waist and Christian Louboutin snakeskin shoes. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! We met former German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a fitting place for her: the museum in Berlin dedicated to the Wall, that great symbol of the Cold War division between East and West. Parts of the wall have been preserved as a reminder of those hard times, especially for someone who lived through them. She said images of the wall still conjure up highly emotional memories for her. I asked, "When you look at the wall, what comes to mind to you immediately?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Between the ages of seven and 35, I had to live with this wall," she replied. "I was, so to speak, behind the wall, and couldn't come to this side. And of course, that's still very moving." Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, with correspondent Mark Phillips, in Berlin. / Credit: CBS News Merkel's new book, "Freedom: Memoirs 1954-2021" (published by St. Martin's Press), is filled with moving memories of what it was like growing up in the Communist-controlled police state that was East Germany. Her family had moved there when she was an infant because her father, a Protestant pastor, was assigned to a church there. But it was the fall of the wall that spurred her political awakening, and jump-started a career nobody would have bet on: A woman, from the East, who would not only become Chancellor of Germany, but who would hold the job for 16 years; who would be called the most powerful woman in the world, and who would deal with its most powerful men. It turns out, life in the East actually had given her one advantage for dealing with all those men in dark suits: Those bright pant suits of hers weren't an accident. "In my book I write that maybe my love for colorful clothes is due to the fact that in the East, everything was very gray," she said. Merkel's uniform became part of her identity, and helped her break through the American pop-cultural barrier, on "Saturday Night Live," the way few European leaders could. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Merkel left power three years ago this week, and has gone into a kind of self-imposed political radio silence since then, keeping her recollections and opinions to herself. Not anymore. Among the more awkward memories: that first shocking, even embarrassing, meeting with President Donald Trump in 2017. I said, "I think it's fair to say your most difficult relationship with an American president was with President Trump in his first term. You talk about your first encounter in the Oval Office where he refused to shake your hand, and you say that it occurred to you that he was fascinated with Putin and with politicians with authoritarian and dictatorial traits. Why did you say that?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Why he didn't want to shake my hand, that, you'd have to ask him," Merkel replied. "I think he often conveyed a message with a handshake. With some men he shook hands for a long time." "What were you thinking? Should I reach over? Will we shake hands? Won't we shake hands? What's he trying to do?" "I describe it in my book because it was so interesting. I whispered to him, 'I think they want us to shake hands.' And at that moment when I said it, I noticed that he wanted to convey a message. And I was quite naive, telling him that they want us to shake hands." "But did you get what he was trying to do?" I asked. "Did you think, Oh, he's going to play it that way, that's how we're going to do it?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Yeah, that's the way it was. I left being convinced that multilateral cooperation would be difficult with Donald Trump," Merkel replied. "You can make deals with Donald Trump because he always thinks in terms of advantage and disadvantage. But in my experience, win-win situations are not only good for one side, but for both sides. That's not really his way of thinking." German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Donald Trump meeting at the White House, March 17, 2017. / Credit: CBS News Merkel's book, which is being released around the world, went to press before last month's election. In it, she wrote that she wishes "with all my heart that Kamala Harris defeats her competitor and becomes president." Of the election results, she said, "I was sad. First of all, I wanted a woman to win. I was also in favor of Hillary Clinton. And secondly, I'm closer to Kamala Harris' political conviction. But the American voters have decided, and it was a democratic election." / Credit: St. Martin's Press Merkel has come in for her own share of criticism since she left office. Her decision to allow more than a million refugees and migrants fleeing Syria into Germany is now often cited as a reason for the rise of anti-immigrant, right-wing political parties in Europe. She says those forces were on the rise anyway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her decision to allow the German economy to become too dependent on Russian natural gas is seen as another reason for Germany's economic decline since the flow was stopped. She says staying engaged with Vladimir Putin seemed like the right idea at the time, difficult though it was. And it didn't stop him from invading Ukraine. I asked, "You dealt a lot with Vladimir Putin. I take it, reading between the lines of your book, that you found him a very difficult and manipulative character as well, even an intimidating character at times. Famously, you don't like dogs; he'd bring his dog to the meeting. Do you think he did that in an intimidating kind of way? And how would you suggest people deal with him, especially as things are heating up again?" "Without fear," she replied. "Of course, there are attempts to see how people react under a certain amount of pressure. And Putin can do that, too. And with the dog he expressed exactly that. But it all depends on how I manage the situation. I'm used to political pressure since childhood, so that did not shock me." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite all her experience, Merkel says she now refrains from giving advice. But she does give hints. She says that, in general, she is worried about developments in the world: "I've always said that fear is not a good advisor. Times have become rougher. We are now sitting in a place where the world was divided in the Cold War, and then there was 1990. We had great hopes that things would become easier after the end of the Cold War. Things have not become easier." READ AN EXCERPT: "Freedom: Memoirs 1954-2021" by Angela Merkel Watch an extended interview with Angela Merkel about growing up in East Germany: For more info: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Freedom: Memoirs 1954-2021" by Angela Merkel (St. Martin's Press), in Hardcover, eBook and Audio formats, available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.orgAngela Merkel, Council of Women World LeadersBerlin Wall Memorial, Berlin Story produced by Erin Lyall and Anna Noryskiewicz. Editor: Jack Howell. "The Barn": A murder in Mississippi, and the evil hiding in plain sight Missing hiker found after nearly six weeks in the Canadian wilderness Ted Turner's nature preserves: A carefully curated "Heaven on Earth" HONOLULU (KHON2) The annual Toys for Tots motorcycle event will take place in Honolulu on Sunday, December 1, 2024, bringing together an expected 4,000 riders to raise funds and collect toys for children in need. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You The ride will begin at Magic Island, traveling along Ala Moana Blvd., Kalakaua Ave., Monsarrat Ave., and ending at the Waikiki Shell Lots 3 and 4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event aims to spread holiday cheer and is part of the long-running Toys for Tots program, which began in 1947. Taiwan President visiting Hawaii, discusses future The program was founded by Major Bill Hendricks of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, who, along with a group of fellow reservists, collected and distributed 5,000 toys to children in Los Angeles. The idea came from Bills wife, Diane, who crafted a homemade doll and suggested Bill deliver it to a local organization for a needy child. When Bill discovered no such organization existed, Diane encouraged him to start one. The pilot projects success led the Marine Corps to adopt and expand the campaign nationwide in 1948. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news On Sunday, road closures will begin at 10:30 a.m. to accommodate the event, with streets reopening by 12 noon. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. By Mustafa Abu Ganeyeh BETHLEHEM, West Bank (Reuters) - For a second year running, there is no Christmas cheer in Bethlehem, with tourists shunning the Palestinian city and many residents seeking a way out as the Gaza war grinds on. Bethlehem's Manger Square in front of the Church of the Nativity is largely deserted and souvenir shops are shuttered. Once again, there are no plans to put up the traditional light-festooned Christmas Tree in the ancient settlement that is venerated by Christians as the birthplace of Jesus and now sits in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "During these difficult times that our Palestinian cities are going through, especially in the Gaza Strip, it is difficult to show any signs of joy and happiness," said Issa Thaljieh, an Orthodox priest who ministers at the Nativity Church. Adding to the gloom, many local Christian families are also looking to escape, demoralised by both the tourist slump that has ravaged their economy, and the constant threat of violence hovering over the territory northeast of Gaza. "The emigration out of Bethlehem is increasing daily and monthly, and ... this has a negative impact on the city," Thaljieh said. Christian communities have been in decline across the Middle East for generations, and the West Bank is no exception. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the last year of British rule over the region in 1947, some 85% of Bethlehem's population were Christian. As of a 2017 census, the overall population of Bethlehem was 215,514 with only 23,000 Christians among them. That puts the percentage of Christians in Bethlehem in 2017 at around 10%. Locals say the rate of departure has been gathering steam in recent months in the cradle of Christianity, with the economic lifeblood of the city no longer flowing and the Israeli occupation preventing freedom of movement around the territory. Bethlehem resident Alaa Afteem, who runs a falafel restaurant, said one of his cousins had recently moved to Australia. "Due to the bad living conditions and bad financial conditions, people have started looking for better opportunities for their children, for better education, for a better future," he told Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'THERE IS NO SECURITY' Since the 1967 war between Israel and neighbouring Arab countries, Israel has occupied the West Bank, which Palestinians want as the core of a future independent state. Israel has built Jewish settlements, deemed illegal by most countries, across the territory. Israel disputes this, citing historical and biblical ties to the land. Several of its ministers live in settlements and favour their expansion. Violence has surged across the hilly land since the start of the Hamas-Israel war in Gaza in October last year. Hundreds of Palestinians - including armed fighters, stone-throwing youths and civilian bystanders - have died in clashes with Israeli security forces, while dozens of Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks, Israeli authorities say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Difficult at the best of times, travel between West Bank cities has become increasingly fraught. "There is no security if you are commuting between districts within the West Bank like between Bethlehem, Ramallah, Jericho, Hebron," Afteem said. Munther Isaac, a pastor at Bethlehem's Lutheran Church, says local Muslim families have also been emigrating, squeezed by both financial problems and broader worries about the future. "(There is) the fear that this war might extend to areas in the West Bank, especially after the arming of the settlers and the announcement of the possible annexation of the West Bank," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The West Bank has been transformed by the rapid growth of Jewish settlements over the past two years, with strident settlers pushing to impose Israeli sovereignty on the area. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said on X in October that since the start of the Gaza conflict more than 120,000 firearms had been distributed to Israeli settlers to protect themselves. In Isaac's church, the nativity scene has a figure of the baby Jesus lying in a pile of rubble. "We feel that this war will never end," he said. (Writing by Crispian Balmer; additional reporting by Ali Sawafta; Editing by Andrew Heavens) WASHINGTON (DC News Now) Two people and a cat were displaced after a fire erupted at an apartment in D.C. early Saturday morning. In a post on X shortly after 5 a.m., the DC Fire and EMS Department (DCFD) said crews were responding to a fire in the 3800 block of South Capitol St. Man shot, killed in Upper Marlboro Crews reported that smoke was showing when they arrived but that the fire had been extinguished. (Courtesy: @dcfireems) (Courtesy: @dcfireems) (Courtesy: @dcfireems) No one was injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Red Cross of the National Capital and Greater Chesapeake Region (NCGC) and the Mayors Office of Community Relations and Services are assisting the displaced residents. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. An Arctic blast brought snow, frost and dangerously cold winds to the northern Plains, the Midwest and the Great Lakes, creating very difficult to impossible travel conditions on one of the busiest days of the year, as millions of people head home from their Thanksgiving destinations. About 9 million people are under winter alerts across the nation, with nearly 3 million in parts of New York state, Pennsylvania and Ohio under warnings for lake effect snow showers, triggered by a clash of the south-moving arctic blast and comparatively warm lake water. More than 2.3 million in parts of New York state, Michigan, Minnesota and West Virginia are covered by winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories, with the warnings stating heavy snow, ice and blizzard conditions are almost certain. The advisories state rapidly accumulating snow, freezing rain and blowing snow are likely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Travel-thwarting lake effect snow bands developed anew downwind of the Great Lakes in northeast Ohio, far northwest Pennsylvania and western New York and parts of northwest New York on Sunday, generating fresh accumulations and burying some locations in feet of the white stuff. A location along the Black River in Jefferson County, New York, produced an accumulated-snow reading on Sunday of nearly 46 inches, according to National Weather Service data. Silver Creek in Chautauqua County measured 32 inches of accumulated snow, the data show. A location in Calcium, a small northern New York community east of Lake Ontario, measured nearly 1 foot on Sunday alone, the weather service said. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in multiple counties Friday, including Erie, Oswego and Allegany. Lake effect snow will continue falling in western and north New York through Monday, where residents can expect 1 to 4 inches per hour, according to Hochul's office. Hochul warned New Yorkers to avoid unnecessary travel. More than 100 National Guard troops were staged in western New York to support local communities, she said in a statement. A couple make their way through lake effect snow in Hamburg, N.Y., on Saturday. Interstate 90 in western New York reopened to passenger vehicles Saturday afternoon after it was closed Friday, Hochul announced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the region was subject of a lake effect snow warning through Tuesday evening, Hochul said on X Sunday night that the ban on buses, commercial trucks and tractor-trailer trucks would end at 2 a.m. ET. The highest snow accumulations are expected east of Lake Ontario, where some isolated areas could get up to 60 inches of lake effect snow by early in the week around the Watertown, New York, area, the NWS said. The Tug Hill Plateau will be hit especially hard, with an additional 1 to 3 feet of snow expected through Tuesday morning. In metropolitan BuffaloNiagara Falls, Orchard Park could get 8 to 20 inches of snow before Tuesday morning. The weather service office in Cheektowaga, New York, which covers Buffalo, said Saturday that bands of lake effect snow would be active in the Southtowns of Buffalo overnight, with 2 feet of snow and extremely hazardous travel possible. Sunday Night Football on NBC saw the Buffalo Bills beat the San Francisco 49s 35-10 to win the NFL's AFC East championship as snow fell at the Bills' home venue, Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local fans shoveled about 2 feet of snow that had buried seats and aisles ahead of the matchup. After the game, Bills quarterback Josh Allen and coach Sean McDermott made show angels on the field to celebrate the team's win. Lake effect snow was forecast to begin affecting central New York and parts of the Mohawk Valley area Sunday into Monday, according to Hochul's office. Snow accumulations could reach 10 inches in central New York, while the Mohawk Valley region could get up to 5 inches. Erie, Pennsylvania, has recorded 30 inches of snow, the most so far, according to the agency. Federal forecasters said as much as 6 feet of snow could cake the ground in northern Erie County by Tuesday. An additional 10 to 20 inches of snow can be expected in the city. Drivers move slowly on a snow-covered Grandview Boulevard in Erie, Pa., on Friday. Brenton Davis, executive for Eerie County, Pennsylvania, said at a news conference Sunday that private contractors have been hired to clear snow across the region. The county is recommending that schools remain closed Monday and Tuesday, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement National Guard troops have been enlisted to transport those who need the rides to warming centers in the county, Davis said. Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation Michael Carroll urged people in the region to stay off the roads. "Give us today and tomorrow to restore order to the to the transportation network," he said at the news conference. The weather service office in Cleveland said as much as 18 inches of lake effect snow was possible from the city to the Pennsylvania-New York state border on Sunday, which could affect travel throughout the snowbelt, the region southeast of Lake Erie. An additional 2 to 10 inches of snow will be possible through Monday, affecting cities like Traverse City, Marquette and Ironwood in Michigan, and Milwaukee in Wisconsin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parts of eastern Kentucky and West Virginia remained under winter alerts Sunday morning as scattered snow showers persisted, according to the weather service. Charleston and Jackson, Kentucky, were included in these alerts through the afternoon, with 1 to 2 more inches of snow possible. Freeze warnings and watches and frost advisories were in effect for more than 4 million people through Sunday night for southern parts of Georgia and northern sections of Florida. In Lake City and Gainesville, Florida, overnight lows will dip into the upper 20s and the low 30s. The warnings state an extended period of subfreezing temperatures are likely, the watches state such temperatures are possible in the next day or so, and frost advisories warn that vegetation could be threatened by cold temperatures. The arctic blast also lowered temperatures Sunday from the northern Plains through the Midwest and the East Coast roughly 10 degrees below average, not accounting for wind chill, according to weather service data. Highs in the Dakotas reached the teens, while much of the Midwest was in the 30s and 40s. Chicago O'Hare International Airport recorded an unofficial high temperature of 28 degrees on Sunday, according to weather service data. In the mid-Atlantic and the Northeast, highs reached the 40s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Temperatures across the Central and Eastern U.S. will generally stay at or below freezing through the week. Grounds crew members shovel snow off the yard lines at Huntington Bank Field Stadium in Cleveland on Nov. 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier in November, the Transportation Security Administration projected that Sunday would be one of the three busiest travel days of the year. The weather service says lake effect snow is produced when a cold air mass moves south from Canada and beyond over the comparatively warm Great Lakes, pulling some of the lake water quickly into the atmosphere, forming fertile clouds and generating snow at a rate of 2 to 3 inches or more each hour. Water temperatures on Sunday morning for Lake Erie and Lake Ontario were each 46 degrees, measured at a depth of 30 feet or more, which means surface temperatures were likely warmer, according to the weather service. The arctic blast's effects are expected to taper off early in the week, but forecasters warned that colder air was still headed south, with an Arctic air mass spilling south out of Canada. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com If Ukraine were to join NATO, the alliance's Article 5 collective defense principle may not apply to Ukrainian territories facing active combat, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec. 1. "We understand that Article 5, when you're a member of NATO, cannot apply to the entire territory of Ukraine during wartime, as countries are against the risks of being drawn into the war," Zelensky said during a news conference alongside Antonio Costa, the new President of the European Council, referring to occupied territory. Zelensky's comments come as Ukraine has been urging NATO allies to invite Ukraine to join the alliance as early as next week, during the NATO Foreign Ministerial Meeting on Dec. 3-4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We believe that the invitation should be extended at this stage," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on Nov. 29. Earlier this week, Zelensky also suggested ending the "hot phase" of war along Ukraine's eastern front in exchange for NATO membership, not immediately including occupied territories. "If we want to stop the hot stage of the war, we should quickly take under NATO umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control. That's what we need to do first, and then Ukraine can get back the other parts of its territory in a diplomatic way," Zelensky said during an interview published on Nov. 29. Clarifying those comments on Dec. 1, Zelensky said that no matter the concessions Ukraine makes to end the war, the entirety of the country must nonetheless be invited into the alliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There cannot be an invitation to NATO for only part of Ukraine's territory. This would automatically mean recognizing that all other territories are not only at risk but also not Ukrainian. Therefore, Ukraine will never agree to this. If there is an invitation, it must include all of Ukraine's territories." Kyiv submitted its application to join NATO in September 2022, and in July 2024, the alliance affirmed Ukraine's "irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership" although Ukraine has not received any definitive news about its future accession. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's election has intensified uncertainty around Ukraine's accession into the military alliance. Some reports also indicate this would entail forcing Ukraine to cede territory and at least temporarily give up on its NATO accession plans. Throughout the U.S. election campaign, NATO allies concerned about the prospects of the Unites States' support for NATO under a Trump administration led some of the alliance members to attempt to "Trump-proof" long-term aid for Ukraine, as well as reinforce the principle of collective defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, Trump said that we would let Russia do "whatever the hell they want" to NATO member countries failing to meet defense spending criteria, while encouraging countries to spend more on defense. Zelensky, who has previously said that he will work with any U.S. administration, urged the Biden administration on Dec. 1 to attempt to convince other NATO allies who are skeptical of Ukraine's accession in the final two months of Joe Biden's presidency. Read also: Zelensky suggests ending hot phase of war in exchange for NATO membership without occupied territories Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Syrian president Bashar al-Assad vowed to crush a rebel uprising that swept the north east of his country and took control of the second city of Aleppo. Assad, who faces a renewed threat to his regime after years of frozen conflict, called the rebels terrorists who he said understand only the language of force. He sent fighter jets, joined by allied Russian bombers, to strike the rebel stronghold of Idlib, killing at least eight people, including two children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syrian government forces also launched a counter-attack to prevent rebels taking another major city on a main highway to the capital of Damascus. A patchwork of rebel groups largely led by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham took the city of Aleppo in a lightning offensive that began on Wednesday. The offensive reopened a dormant conflict at a time when Assads Russian backers are engaged in Ukraine and Iranian partners have been weakened by Israel. Irans top diplomat arrived in Damascus on Sunday. Abbas Araqchi said the situation in Syria is difficult but the government of Assad will successfully confront rebels like it did in the past. There was no pledge of military support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office blamed Assad for the uprising, in a statement on Sunday night. The Assad regime has created the conditions for the current escalation through its ongoing refusal to engage in a political process and its reliance on Russia and Iran, it said. Russian and Syrian fighter jets bombed residential Idlib on Sunday morning, evoking memories of the original sieges of Homs and Aleppo in the early part of the war. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Russian strikes had killed eight civilians in Idlib on Sunday. Syria and Russia denied targeting civilians and said they had hit rebel hideouts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United Nations special envoy for Syria said the fighting poses a risk to regional security and called for diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. As well as clashes with government forces, some rebels also seized territory in the north from rival groups. Pro-Turkey fighters took a strategic northern town from Kurdish forces on Sunday, as a whole new front threatened to open up. Turkey wants to clear Kurdish separatists from along its border. In Aleppo, rebel commander Col Hassan Abdulghani said that his fighters were continuing to make gains against Assads forces, despite the government counteroffensive. Col Abdulghani said 65 Syrian troops had been taken prisoner in eastern Aleppo, and that the insurgents had advanced in the Idlib countryside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rebels have said they will push all the way into Damascus, but life in the Syrian capital remained normal with no signs of panic. In south-eastern Aleppo, however, the main road out of the city was gridlocked as people fled the fighting, and gas stations in the area were short on fuel. 06:41 PM GMT Todays live coverage has ended Todays live coverage has ended. Heres a roundup of the days events: The Iranian foreign minister visited Damascus as a show of support for the Assad regime. The Foreign Office said that the situation unfolding in Syria was the fault of the Assad regime for its reliance on Russia and Iran. Russian and Syrian warplanes bombed the rebel-held city of Idlib on Sunday, killing a reported eight people. A general mobilisation order was declared in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (Aanes), also known as Rojava, in the wake of an offensive launched by Turkish-backed militant groups. Assad forces stabilised their lines north of Hama as the president vowed to crush the rebel offensive. 05:20 PM GMT Pictured: Rebel fighter poses outside captured city of Saraqib Rebel fighter poses with a weapon outside the captured city of Saraqib, Dec 1 - Mahmoud Hassano/REUTERS 05:18 PM GMT Russian general in Syria sacked after troops forced to flee Russia has replaced the general in charge of its forces in Syria as rebel forces continue their lightning offensive in the countrys north west, Harriet Barber writes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The news came as Moscows forces were forced to rapidly withdraw from their Al-Suqaylabiyah base in the northern Hama countryside, and the Hama air base, leaving behind a large amount of equipment and munitions. You can read the full story here. 05:04 PM GMT Pictured: Rebels capture government warplane Rebels wave a Syrian opposition flag over a jet captured when fighters stormed the Kuweires military airfield east of Aleppo on Sunday. The aircraft is a Czech Aero L-39 Albatros, a 1970s-designed jet trainer that the Syrian air force uses to attack targets on the ground. Anti-government fighters celebrate around a Syrian regime military aircraft at the Kuweires military airfield in the eastern part of Aleppo province on Dec 1 - AREF TAMMAWI/AFP Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 04:56 PM GMT UK: This is Assads fault for relying on Russia and Iran The Foreign Office has said that the situation unfolding in Syria was the fault of the Assad regime for its reliance on Russia and Iran. In a statement, it also urged all parties to protect civilian lives and infrastructure to prevent further suffering, the displacement of vulnerable people, and disruption to essential humanitarian aid. We reiterate our call for a Syrian-led political solution to the conflict, the Foreign Office said. The statement went on to call for all parties in the conflict to support and engage with UN Security Council Resolution 2254. The resolution, which calls for a ceasefire and a political settlement in Syria, was adopted in late 2015 but has not been implemented. 04:50 PM GMT Pictured: White Helmets respond to air strikes on Idlib White Helmets respond to Russian and Assad strikes on Idlib province, Syria on Dec 01 - Anadolu/Anadolu 04:31 PM GMT Iranian foreign minister to visit Syria in show of support for regime The Iranian foreign minister visited Damascus on Sunday in a show of support to the Syrian regime as the Assad government attempts to quash a major rebel offensive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abbas Araghchi said he would travel to Syria on Sunday to convey the strength of Tehrans backing for Bashar al-Assad. We firmly support the Syrian army and government, he said, according to the official news agency IRNA. According to Iranian media, Mr Araghchi told Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday that the rebel offensive in northern Syria was part of an American-Israeli project that aims to spread disorder across the region. Bashar al-Assad (R) talks to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (L), in Damascus, Syria, 01 Dec - IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICE/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/Shutterstock 03:27 PM GMT Russian jets pound rebel stronghold of Idlib Russian and Syrian warplanes bombed the rebel-held city of Idlib on Sunday in an attempt to push back fighters who have swept across northern Syria. The Syrian defence ministry said its forces were preparing to conduct a major counterattack and that rebel attacks on the city of Hama had been repelled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents said one air strike hit a crowded residential area in the centre of Idlib, which has been the major Syrian opposition stronghold since it was wrestled from government control in 2015. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that at least eight people were killed in Sundays strikes. It added that Russian jets had also hit rural parts of Hama, a city that rebels attacked on Saturday night after capturing Aleppo following a lightning offensive that began on Wednesday. Syria and Russia denied that they were targeting civilians and said they hit terrorist hideouts. 02:38 PM GMT General mobilisation announced in Rojava A general mobilisation order has been declared in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (Aanes), also known as Rojava, in the wake of an offensive launched by Turkish-backed militant groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, the regions authorities said that Turkish-backed groups had launched an assault with aim of conquering territory for Ankara. Aanes is a collection of self-governing regions in northern Syria that gained de facto autonomy in 2012 as a result of the Rojava Revolution and the wider Syrian civil war. Initially a largely Kurdish territory, it has expanded and is now home to sizeable populations of Arabs, Assyrians, Armenians Turkmen and Yazidis. 01:59 PM GMT Aleppo Christian leader says churches will remain open A Christian leader in Aleppo has vowed to remain in the city and keep churches open in all circumstances. We are fine, and we will remain in Aleppo alongside our parishioners in all circumstances, Greek Orthodox bishop Afram Maluli said on Sunday. We assure you that prayers will continue in the churches, he added. Aleppo was captured by rebel groups, including jihadists, on Saturday following a lightning offensive that began on Wednesday. The assault has led to fears for the safety of Christians who come under rebel control as they have suffered persecution from opposition groups in the past. 01:23 PM GMT Assads army fights back Syrian government forces launched overnight counter attacks on rebel troops in and around the city of Hama, according to reports. A convoy of pro-Assad troops, armoured vehicles and tanks was filmed at the northern edge of the city hours after rebel troops were seen swarming into the area. Rebels moved on Hama after taking Aleppo in a lightning offensive. Hama sits on the main road between Aleppo and Damascus. Observers said that government forces had also driven rebel troops out of the towns of Morek and Qalaat Al-Madiq, both north of Hama. It comes after Syrian president Bashar al-Assad on Saturday vowed to defend Syria against terrorists and their supporters. He added that government troops would be able to defeat the rebels no matter how much their attacks intensified. 01:16 PM GMT Watch: Syrian government troops on the northern edge of Hama The Syrian defence ministry said its troops had overnight pushed back rebel forces from the northern edge of Hama, and from towns in the surrounding area. #Syria: regime forces are back at the northern entrance to the city of #Hama, having recaptured the Jabal Zine al-Abidine just outside of the city. Next 24 hours will show whether the rebels will try to mount another assault on the city. pic.twitter.com/c5Mb5wVliy Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) November 30, 2024 12:38 PM GMT More than 370 people killed in fighting, monitor says At least 372 people have been killed - including at least 20 civilians - since Syrian rebels launched a lightening offensive against government forces on Wednesday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The rebels, who are a coalition of Islamist and secular Turkish-backed groups, captured the city of Aleppo on Saturday and before moving 100 miles south to the city of Hama. Government forces have claimed to have repelled rebel assaults in and around Hama. 11:58 AM GMT Pictured: Syrian rebel prays in Aleppo after capturing city Fighter kneels in prayer inside the Umayyad Mosque in Aleppo on Nov 30, after Jihadists and their Turkish-backed allies captured the city - AAREF WATAD/AFP 11:28 AM GMT Russian strikes hit rebel stronghold of Idlib Russian air strikes near the rebel stronghold city of Idlib on Sunday killed at least four people and wounded 50 others, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. On Saturday, Moscow carried out strikes against rebel fighters in Aleppo, hitting the second largest city for the first time since 2016. Russia has long been a key supporter of the Syrian government. The Kremlin launched an air campaign in support of the Assad regime in 2015 that crucially turned the war in its favour. An injured girl and a woman are transported to a hospital following a strike on a neighbourhood in Syrias rebel-held northern city of Idlib, Dec 1 - AFP/AFP 11:13 AM GMT Watch: Syrian rebels seize huge stockpile of weapons near Aleppo 11:03 AM GMT US: Assads reliance on Iran and Russia caused this The events unfolding in Syria are due to the Assad regimes reliance on Iran and Russia and its refusal to engage with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, the US has said. Its [Syrian government] reliance on Russia and Iran created the conditions now unfolding, including the collapse of Assad regime lines in northwest Syria, US national security council spokesman Sean Savett said. He added that the United States had nothing to do with the rebel offensive, which is led by Hayat Tahir al-Sham, a designated terrorist organisation. Mr Savett went on to say that the US urges de-escalation, protection of civilians and minority groups as well as a political process that can end this civil war once and for all. UN Security Council Resolution 2254 was adopted in 2015 as a means of bringing the Syrian Civil War to an end, although little has been done to implement it. 10:43 AM GMT Pictured: Syrian Islamist rebels patrol the streets of Aleppo Anti-government fighters patrol in central Aleppo on No 30, 2024 - MUHAMMAD HAJ KADOUR/AFP 10:37 AM GMT Hama: Syrias rebel city Hama is Syrias fourth-largest city and sits around 115 miles south of Aleppo on the highway to Damascus. Rebel forces were seen pushing into the citys northern suburbs on Saturday but were reportedly driven back by government troops overnight. It is a majority Sunni Muslim city and a historic anti-Government stronghold. It was the scene of a massacre in 1982 when Hafez al-Assad, father of the current president Bashar al-Assad, unleashed a bloody 27-day assault on that city that killed thousands of people. The killings led New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman to coin the term Hama Rules, which meant that the way to rule the Arab world was to strike fear in the heart of your own people so that they would never think about rebelling. 10:17 AM GMT Welcome to our live coverage Welcome to our live coverage of events in Syria after a lightening rebel offensive pushed government forces out of Aleppo. Well be keeping you up to date with events as they happen. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Sunday that criticism by Elon Musk of Australia's social media ban on children under 16 was the X owner pushing an agenda for the social platform, while indicating he was open to talk to the billionaire about the ban, legislated this week. Australia approved the social media ban for children late on Thursday after an emotive debate that has gripped the nation, setting a benchmark for jurisdictions around the world with one of the toughest regulations targeting Big Tech. The ban, which the centre-left government says is world-leading, could strain Australia's relationship with key ally the United States, where Musk, a central figure in the administration of president-elect Donald Trump, said in a post this month it seemed a "backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians". Albanese, asked on Sunday if he was prepared to talk to Musk about the social media ban said: "We'll talk to anyone". "With regard to Elon Musk, he has an agenda, he's entitled to push that as the owner of X, formerly known as Twitter," Albanese added in remarks on Australian Broadcasting Corp. television. The law forces tech giants from Instagram and Facebook owner Meta, to TikTok to stop minors logging in or face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million). A trial of enforcement methods starts in January with the ban to take effect in a year. "We are determined to get this done, the parliament has overwhelmingly passed this legislation," Albanese told the broadcaster. X did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment outside of business hours. Albanese's Labor party won crucial support from the opposition conservatives for the bill that was fast-tracked through the country's parliament as part of 31 bills pushed through in a chaotic final day of parliament for the year. (Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney, Editing by Nick Zieminski) Authorities are searching for a suspect and trying to find a motive behind a deadly shooting in the city of Vernon early Sunday morning. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, the shooting occurred at 1:06 a.m. in the 4900 block of Charter Street. The area where the shooting occurred is primarily surrounded by commercial buildings. A later update from LASD stated that deputies were originally called to the location on a suspicious circumstances call. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department later confirmed that the unidentified victim was found near the train tracks. They succumbed to their wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Video from the scene shot by KTLA shows crime scene tape blocking off train tracks as squad cars were parked in front of semi-truck loading bays. Dec. 1, 2024. Video from the scene shot by KTLA shows crime scene tape blocking off train tracks as squad cars were parked in front of semi-truck loading bays. Dec. 1, 2024. Video from the scene shot by KTLA shows crime scene tape blocking off train tracks as squad cars were parked in front of semi-truck loading bays. No other information was immediately available, but LASD said that deputies are assisting the Vernon Police Department in the investigation. The 2020 Census found that the city of Vernon had a population of 222 people, making it one of the least populated cities in all of California. KTLA photojournalist John Greenwood contributed to this report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. The fourth suspect who caused a multi-agency manhunt after running away during a traffic stop is in custody. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] It happened Sunday morning just before 10 am in Candler County. Deputies said they were notified that Georgia State Patrol was in pursuit of a vehicle on Interstate 16 entering Candler County after a trooper saw a red Dodge Challenger driving 87 mph in a marked 70 mph zone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trooper chased the driver of the Challenger after he refused to stop. Troopers were able to perform a PIT maneuver to end the chase near mile marker 95 in Candler County. The Challenger struck the cable barriers, causing debris to scatter into the roadway. When the Challenger came to rest, the four people inside of it jumped out and ran into the woods. GSP and Candler County deputies searched the area near Interstate 16 in Aline. Three of the suspects were arrested Sunday afternoon and a gun was recovered. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The car was confirmed to be stolen out of Kentucky. Late Sunday evening, deputies said the fourth suspect was arrested. According to Candler County officials, a citizen called in a tip after spotting him walking down the highway near the search area. None of the suspects ages or identities were released. The investigation is active and ongoing. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] MEYERSDALE Authorities are trying to identify a man who was found dead Wednesday in Meyersdale Borough. It could take six weeks for autopsy results to determine how the man died, Somerset County Coroner Cullen Swank said Friday. State police were dispatched around 11 a.m. Wednesday to the area of Flaugherty Creek near the 100 block of Dale Street in Meyersdale for a report of a person observed in the water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upon further examination, it was determined the 45- to 65-year-old man was deceased. Its not certain how long the man had been there. State police and the coroners office are investigating. The Meyersdale Volunteer Fire Department was at the scene Wednesday. This is an adapted excerpt from the Nov. 23 episode of "Ayman." If confirmed, Donald Trumps pick for the next director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, would gain oversight of 18 intelligence agencies. Gabbard would provide national intelligence to the president and officials within the White House and the Pentagon. She would also oversee coordination between U.S. intelligence communities and those of foreign governments. And, so far, the response in Washington to that potential reality has been utter panic. To understand why that is, we have to start at the beginning of her political career, as a Democratic congresswoman representing Hawaii. When she was first elected in 2012, Gabbard, an Iraq war veteran, was a staunch critic of U.S. foreign policy, particularly its military intervention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She went on to become a surrogate for Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign before eventually running for the Democratic nomination herself in 2020, where she ran on a noninterventionist foreign policy platform. The United States needs to get out of the regime-change business, Gabbard told NPR at the time. The United States needs to stop trying to act as the policeman of the world Unfortunately, there are very few examples of this justified use of military force. I think its very telling that the last time Congress officially declared war was World War II. However, one justified use of military force, according to Gabbard, was military action against terrorists. She told a Hawaiian newspaper, just a few years prior, When it comes to the war against terrorists, Im a hawk. When it comes to counterproductive wars of regime change, Im a dove. As you know, Gabbard was not the Democratic nominee for president in 2020. And after that loss, she joined Fox News as a contributor. Its there where she fully transformed into a MAGA warrior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, she waited to officially join the Republican Party until this year and formally endorsed Trump for president in August. Gabbard soon joined Trump at a rally and offered praise for his diplomacy. He exercised the courage that we expect from our commander-in-chief, Gabbard told the crowd. In exhausting all measures of diplomacy, having the courage to meet with adversaries, dictators, allies and partners alike in the pursuit of peace, seeing war as a last resort. Having the courage to meet with dictators. That line highlights Gabbards own gravitational pull toward strongmen around the globe. That includes Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, whos been accused of killing hundreds of thousands of civilians. In 2015, she publicly called for the U.S. to allow him to remain in power, and two years later she traveled to Syria to meet with him for a so-called fact-finding mission. Gabbard even challenged U.S. intelligence that found Assads forces had used chemical weapons. Then theres Gabbards well-documented closeness with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During her 2020 presidential campaign, she was a favorite among the Russian propaganda machine. According to NBC News, less than a month into her run, there were at least 20 Gabbard-related stories on three major Moscow-based English-language websites supportive of the Russian government. In 2022, she used her platform to amplify a Russian talking point that the U.S. had somehow provoked Putin to invade Ukraine. Gabbard posted on X, This war and suffering could have easily been avoided if the Biden admin slash NATO had simply acknowledged Russias legitimate security concerns regarding Ukraines becoming a member of NATO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dont forget Gabbards ties to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Hindu nationalism. Gabbard has received support from U.S. chapters of an India-based network of Hindu nationalist advocacy organizations that are working to turn India into a Hindu nationalist state. These groups, which are part of an ideological web that orbits around a collective called RSS, have increasingly stoked violence against Muslims and other religious minorities in India. Theyve also lobbied foreign governments to turn a blind eye to human rights abuses in that country. Lastly, theres Gabbards unflinching support of the Israeli campaign in Gaza. Gabbard has said Western leaders have failed to defeat this supposed threat because they refuse to acknowledge that it must be defeated ideologically and militarily. She also has been a vocal critic of those protesting the war in Gaza. These are not the alliances or the values of an American leader with a commitment to democracy. Gabbards winding career shows her consistently flocking to whoever has amassed the most political power, regardless of what it takes to get and stay there. And that is what makes Gabbard an incredibly dangerous pick for Americas next director of national intelligence. Allison Detzel contributed. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has criticized China's support for Russia's war against Ukraine ahead of a visit to Beijing. "Instead of shouldering responsibility for peace and security in the world as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China is going against our core European interests by providing economic and military aid to Russia," Baerbock said on Sunday before her departure for a brief visit to the People's Republic of China. Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine poses an immediate threat to peace, the top German diplomat asserted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The fact that we cannot simply ignore this in our relations with China is something I will also be discussing in Beijing," she added. Baerbock is meeting with her Chinese colleague Wang Yi on Monday. One of the main topics of her planned talks in Beijing is likely to be allegations that China is supporting Moscow's fight against Ukraine by supplying drones or drone parts. The Green Party politician recently warned Beijing that there would be consequences. Monday's talk will be the third in-depth meeting between the two politicians this year. The EU is currently in the process of preparing a 15th package of sanctions against Russia, which will in part target companies based in China that are involved in the manufacture of drones for Russia's war against Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beijing regularly calls for de-escalation in view of Russia's war of aggression and, according to its own statements, plans a political solution to the conflict. However, Beijing is considered to be Moscow's most important source of support and has not condemned Russia's actions in Ukraine. DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) Bangladeshs High Court on Sunday acquitted former Prime Minister Khaleda Zias son, Tarique Rahman, and 48 others, overturning their verdicts in a deadly 2004 grenade attack on a political rally. The ruling comes at a critical time as the South Asian country suffers political tension after longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country to India in August following a mass uprising that left hundreds dead. Rahman serves as the acting chairperson of Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party while in self-exile in London, and he could become Bangladesh's next leader if his party is voted into power. Rahman and the 48 others were found guilty in 2018 in the attack targeting a rally held by supporters of Hasina, who led the opposition at the time, leaving two dozen people dead and wounding about 300 others. A court sentenced 19 of them to death while Rahman got life in prison, with Zia's party accusing the ruling of being politically motivated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A two-member judge panel scrapped Sunday the entire 2018 ruling for all 49 men, following an appeal lodged by the defendants. Shishir Monir, a defense lawyer, told reporters the court declared the trial and verdict illegal. As a result, all defendants have been acquitted, he said. Zia, who ruled the country as prime minister between 2001-2006, and Hasina are the country's most powerful politicians and longtime rivals. Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus has been the countrys interim leader since Hasina left, but authorities have been struggling to enforce order amid mob justice, chaos and claims of systematic targeting of minority groups, particularly Hindus, which Yunus said are "exaggerated." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hasinas Awami League party blasted the court ruling in a Facebook post on Sunday, saying it wasn't Yunus Kangaroo court" and that the people of Bangladesh would be the ones trying those responsible for the attacks. Zia's party welcomed Sunday's ruling. The attorney generals office can appeal the ruling in the Supreme Court. The Yunus-led government has not declared any timeframe for the next election, but Rahman and his party want the new election sometime soon. Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami party, which shared power with Zias party in 2001-2006 with important portfolios in the Cabinet, said it wants to allow the Yunus-led government to stay in power to bring in reforms in various sectors before a new election. Hasina faces charges of crimes against humanity for deaths during the summer's student-led uprising. The interim government has sought help from Interpol to arrest Hasina. It is not clear if India will respond to any request from Bangladesh for Hasinas extradition under a mutual treaty. Rebel forces in Syria have seized control of most of the city Aleppo after launching a surprise offensive against government forces, a war monitor reported on Saturday as Russia says it deployed fighter jets against rebels in Syria. An alliance of rebel factions led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has advanced deep into Aleppo and now controls the majority of the northern city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The insurgence, which began on Wednesday, appears to have taken President Bashar al-Assad's regime by surprise, with experts describing it as a significant turning point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thousands of fighters from the rebel groups made major territorial gains within a few days in the area around Idlib and Aleppo, the second-largest city which had been under government control for years. The alliance now appears set on taking control of the entire neighbouring province of Idlib. On Friday, the rebels advanced to the western outskirts of Aleppo and from there continued to enter the city. The future course of events will largely depend on decisions made in Russia, one of al-Assad's closest allies. Russia says it deployed fighter jets in Syria Russia announced on Saturday that its fighter jets had conducted multiple missions in Syria, targeting rebel command posts, artillery positions, and camps, reportedly killing around 300 fighters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Captain Oleg Ignasyuk, head of the Russian mission in Syria, said that operations against "extremist aggression" would continue, the state-run news agency TASS quoted him as saying. The information could not be independently verified. Ignasyuk did not provide information about the locations of the fighter aircraft. Russia, a key ally of the Syrian government, has supported President Bashar al-Assad since 2015 and stationed forces at the Khmeimim airfield and the port city of Tartus. The Syrian military said the large number of insurgents involved in the surprise multi-front offensive prompted government forces to redeploy and prepare for a counter-attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rebels' offensive marks a significant escalation in Syria's civil war, which has raged since 2011 and had recently seen relatively stagnant front lines. US says it has nothing to do with rebel offensive The US, meanwhile, has distanced itself from the ongoing rebel offensive. "The United States has nothing to do with this offensive, which is led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a designated terrorist organization," White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said in a statement released late on Saturday. Savett blamed Syrian President al-Assad's reliance on Russia and Iran, along with his refusal to pursue a political solution, for creating the "conditions now unfolding." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Savett also called for "de-escalation, protection of civilians and minority groups, and a serious and credible political process" to end the civil war, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254. Adopted in 2015, the resolution calls for peace talks between the Syrian government and opposition forces. Aleppo airstrike kills at least 16 A few hours after the Syrian government confirmed that it had lost check of large parts of Aleppo to rebels, the centre was hit by a fierce airstrike. At least 16 people were killed, according to the observatory. The suspected attack by Russian fighter jets on Saturday afternoon killed at least 16 people and injured 20 others, the observatory said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current fighting has killed at least 327 people and displaced at least 50,000 others, the war monitor estimated. Rebel advance boosted by retreat of Iran-backed militias Mustapha Bakour, spokesman for Jaish al-Izza, a faction participating in the rebel attack on Aleppo, said the opposition fighters are currently in the final stages of combing through the city. He told dpa that the advance had been swift because the rebels prepared well for the attack and Iran-backed militias loyal to the Syrian government had withdrawn. HTS is considered one of the most powerful armed militias in north-western Syria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The opposition assault is considered the largest by rebels on Aleppo since 2016 when they were ousted from the eastern areas of the city. Iran, Syria's most important ally after Russia, has significantly expanded its military influence in recent years, establishing a land corridor through Iraq and Syria to Lebanon. Syria remains a critical part of Iran's Middle East strategy. Idlib, south-west of Aleppo, is the last rebel stronghold in war-torn Syria. On Saturday, Syrian rebels reportedly captured at least 11 villages in the countryside around Hama, where Syrian government forces were stationed, the war monitor said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What we are witnessing in Syria now is a total collapse of government troops," Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told dpa. All eyes on Russia's reaction According to one expert, the success of the collective offensive by the Syrian rebel groups on Aleppo depends largely on Moscow's reaction. Without substantial Russian air support, al-Assad's government forces will probably not be able to recapture Aleppo, Heiko Wimmen from the think tank International Crisis Group told dpa. In this case, the rebels could possibly even make further territorial gains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Wimmen does not believe that Russia will let al-Assad fall. The Kremlin has invested too much in the Syrian president for that to happen, he noted. Meanwhile, on Saturday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed the escalating situation in Syria with his counterparts from Iran and Turkey, according to the Russian state-run news agency TASS. According to the statement, "the ministers agreed with the need to make more active joint efforts aimed at stabilizing the situation in Syria." Members of the Syrian armed opposition forces pose for a photo as they rest their feet on the bust of a statue of former Syrian President Hafez al-Asad in Abdullah al-Jabri Square after seizing control of most parts of Aleppo, Syria's second largest city. Anas Alkharboutli/dpa Rebel forces in Syria have seized control of most of the city Aleppo after launching a surprise offensive against government forces, a war monitor reported on Saturday as Russia says it deployed fighter jets against rebels in Syria. An alliance of rebel factions led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has advanced deep into Aleppo and now controls the majority of the northern city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The insurgence, which began on Wednesday, appears to have taken President Bashar al-Assad's regime by surprise, with experts describing it as a significant turning point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thousands of fighters from the rebel groups made major territorial gains within a few days in the area around Idlib and Aleppo, the second-largest city which had been under government control for years. The alliance now appears set on taking control of the entire neighbouring province of Idlib. On Friday, the rebels advanced to the western outskirts of Aleppo and from there continued to enter the city. The future course of events will largely depend on decisions made in Russia, one of al-Assad's closest allies. Russia says it deployed fighter jets in Syria Russia announced on Saturday that its fighter jets had conducted multiple missions in Syria, targeting rebel command posts, artillery positions, and camps, reportedly killing around 300 fighters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Captain Oleg Ignasyuk, head of the Russian mission in Syria, said that operations against "extremist aggression" would continue, the state-run news agency TASS quoted him as saying. The information could not be independently verified. Ignasyuk did not provide information about the locations of the fighter aircraft. Russia, a key ally of the Syrian government, has supported President Bashar al-Assad since 2015 and stationed forces at the Khmeimim airfield and the port city of Tartus. The Syrian military said the large number of insurgents involved in the surprise multi-front offensive prompted government forces to redeploy and prepare for a counter-attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rebels' offensive marks a significant escalation in Syria's civil war, which has raged since 2011 and had recently seen relatively stagnant front lines. Aleppo airstrike kills at least 16 A few hours after the Syrian government confirmed that it had lost check of large parts of Aleppo to rebels, the centre was hit by a fierce airstrike. At least 16 people were killed, according to the observatory. The suspected attack by Russian fighter jets on Saturday afternoon killed at least 16 people and injured 20 others, the observatory said. The current fighting has killed at least 327 people and displaced at least 50,000 others, the war monitor estimated. Rebel advance boosted by retreat of Iran-backed militias Mustapha Bakour, spokesman for Jaish al-Izza, a faction participating in the rebel attack on Aleppo, said the opposition fighters are currently in the final stages of combing through the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He told dpa that the advance had been swift because the rebels prepared well for the attack and Iran-backed militias loyal to the Syrian government had withdrawn. HTS is considered one of the most powerful armed militias in north-western Syria. The opposition assault is considered the largest by rebels on Aleppo since 2016 when they were ousted from the eastern areas of the city. Iran, Syria's most important ally after Russia, has significantly expanded its military influence in recent years, establishing a land corridor through Iraq and Syria to Lebanon. Syria remains a critical part of Iran's Middle East strategy. Idlib, south-west of Aleppo, is the last rebel stronghold in war-torn Syria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, Syrian rebels reportedly captured at least 11 villages in the countryside around Hama, where Syrian government forces were stationed, the war monitor said. "What we are witnessing in Syria now is a total collapse of government troops," Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told dpa. All eyes on Russia's reaction According to one expert, the success of the collective offensive by the Syrian rebel groups on Aleppo depends largely on Moscow's reaction. Without substantial Russian air support, al-Assad's government forces will probably not be able to recapture Aleppo, Heiko Wimmen from the think tank International Crisis Group told dpa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this case, the rebels could possibly even make further territorial gains. However, Wimmen does not believe that Russia will let al-Assad fall. The Kremlin has invested too much in the Syrian president for that to happen, he noted. Meanwhile, on Saturday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed the escalating situation in Syria with his counterparts from Iran and Turkey, according to the Russian state-run news agency TASS. According to the statement, "the ministers agreed with the need to make more active joint efforts aimed at stabilizing the situation in Syria." Members of the Syrian armed opposition forces pose for a photo as they rest their feet on the bust of a statue of former Syrian President Hafez al-Asad in Abdullah al-Jabri Square after seizing control of most parts of Aleppo, Syria's second largest city. Anas Alkharboutli/dpa PLATTSBURGH Veterans of the North Country raised $5,500 to support the Battlefield Memorial Gateway project fund to honor the veterans who served and fought in the North Country. American Legion Post 1619 members raised $5,000 at a fundraiser raffling off a camper, and the Sons of the American Legion donated $500 on top of that. Gary Stark, American Legion Post 1619 commander, said the fundraiser was in the form of a 50/50 raffle for a camper with half from the members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have the Battlefield and North Country Honor Flight, and the Memorial needed money now our next fundraiser will be for the Honor Flight, Stark said. The Battlefield Memorial Gateway is a lakefront property owned by the Town of Plattsburgh that is fully planned and designed to be developed into a military remembrance park in partnership with the Clinton County American Legion. The park, which sits off Route 9 just south of the City of Plattsburgh, has been designed with veterans in mind, to serve as access to the site of the Battle of Plattsburgh, access to Crab Island where American and British soldiers are buried together, and the former site of Cold War military activity. I think its important that weve been telling people we are seeking private donations, and it is absolutely amazing to see these veterans who have already made a sacrifice for this country really leaning in with their hearts and their wallets, Michael Cashman, Town of Plattsburgh Town Supervisor, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project formally broke ground for Phase 1 of the Battlefield Memorial Gateway May 26, 2023. Construction was completed in November of 2023, and Phase 2 will begin early 2025. As we continue to make significant progress we hope to give a status update at the end of the year, or early January, Cashman said. Looking forward to sharing good news. The camper was donated to Post 1619 by Diane Carignan in honor of Helen and Alexander Carignan, who was a Korean War veteran in the Royal Canadian Army. A couple from Canada, their daughter had passed and they donated the camper to the American Legion to raffle off, Stark said. PARIS (AP) Starting Sunday, sex workers in Belgium will be able to sign formal employment contracts and gain labor rights on par with those in other professions in a legal breakthrough some call a revolution." The new law also establishes fundamental rights for sex workers including the right to refuse clients, choose their practices and stop an act at any moment. The move follows the countrys 2022 decision to decriminalize sex work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the new regulations, sex workers will have access to health insurance, paid leave, maternity benefits, unemployment support and pensions. The legislation also establishes rules on working hours, pay and safety measures, addressing a long-standing gap in legal protections for those in the industry. This is an incredible step forward, said Isabelle Jaramillo, coordinator of Espace P, an advocacy group involved in drafting the legislation. It means their profession can finally be recognized as legitimate by the Belgian state. From the employers perspective, this will also be a revolution. Theyll have to apply for a state authorization to hire sex workers, Jaramillo said. Under the previous legislation, hiring someone for sex work automatically made you a pimp, even if the arrangement was consensual, said Jaramillo. Now, Theyll have to apply for state authorization to hire employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Employers must now obtain authorization, adhere to strict safety protocols, and meet background requirements, including no prior convictions for sexual assault or human trafficking. They must provide clean linens, condoms, and hygiene products, and install emergency buttons in workspaces. Independent sex work remains permitted, but unregulated third-party hiring or violations of the legal framework will be prosecuted. Critics argue the law cannot fully address the stigma and risks tied to the trade, especially for undocumented sex workers. Theres still a lot of work to be done, said Jaramillo, emphasizing the need for better police and judicial training to protect marginalized workers. While countries such as Germany and the Netherlands have legalized sex work, none have implemented labor protections as comprehensive as Belgiums. In an act of self-harm, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Prime Minister Keir Starmer agreed to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a nation that has never governed them, last summer. The Chagos, a series of atolls in the Indian Ocean midway between Africa and Asia, houses the strategically valuable Diego Garcia airbase. The Chagos Islanders are unhappy with the deal and were not consulted. The incoming Trump administration is concerned. So are some European allies. What is particularly galling is our leaders may have fallen victim to what the Russians call a special influence operation, whereby the Kremlin used its diplomatic and possibly other forms of power; say espionage or finance, to work with others to pressure the UK. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fear is that Lammy and Starmer may have been, in part, played by the Kremlin. Others agree. The respected Royal United Services Institute reported: Russia saw this issue as a way of imposing costs on the UK, and it seems to have succeeded. The result is that we are giving British territory to an ally of China and Russia, and then paying for the privilege of leasing it back. It is arguably the worst security deal in our history. The Deigo Garcia airbase is important because it sits in the middle of the Indian Ocean, and in an increasingly dangerous world we need to preserve long-term sovereignty over our bases, even if this one is primarily used by the US, our closest ally. The world is becoming more dangerous. Putin is winning in Ukraine. He will try to break NATO too. His shadow war against the West and he appears to hate Britain especially is underway. MI5 spy agency chief Ken McCallum said that Russias spies were on a sustained mission to generate mayhem on British and European streets: weve seen arson, sabotage and more. That is not tabloid journalistic hyperbole or James Bond fiction, but the head of our domestic spy agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Russias global conflict, it uses diplomatic and espionage tools to manipulate others, especially in the developing world against us. However, it is not only Russia that is creating a more confrontational world. China is preparing to be able to invade Taiwan by force in 2027. It doesnt mean it will, but when dictators arm for war, they often proceed down that path. If our adversaries see us as being too naive or weak to defend our interests, it will make conflict less likely not more. Both Russia and China want to weaken Western unity and break the alliance between the US and Europe. Such a result will see the end of the West and the beginning of a new era where authoritarian might becomes right. We risk a return to the era of state-on-state wars. The Chagos talks started when the Tories were in power, but were sensibly halted by David Cameron. As soon as Conservatives lost the election, the deal was dusted down and agreed by defeatist diplomats and Labours woke worriers. The Foreign Secretary has said that the base is more secure now. It isnt. Around Diego Garcia is ocean. If these waters are ours, we can police them to prevent unwelcome visitors. Keeping them also preserves the relatively pristine oceans from overfishing. Losing the freehold damages the environment as well as our security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia and other nations are actively working against us. They have probably done so here. Our wartime leader Winston Churchill was born 150 years ago this weekend. The great man reminded us that weakness encourages dictators, whilst strength deters them. There is still time to kill this deal. We should do so. Dr Bob Seelys book, The Return of Total War, Russias War in Ukraine and Against the West, is published by Biteback in the Spring Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Democratic Party of Wisconsin chairman Ben Wikler launched his bid to lead the Democratic National Committee Sunday morning after encouragement from top party members in the state. "If were going to take on Donald Trump, Republican extremists, and make progress as a country, we need the Democratic Party to be stronger. I have led the Democratic Party of Wisconsin for the last five years, helping to transform it into an organizing, fundraising, and winning machine, and Im now running for chair of the Democratic National Committee to supercharge our work in every state," Wikler said in a statement. Jaime Harrison, the current chair of the national party, is not seeking reelection. DNC members will elect a new chair on Feb. 1, following four in-person and virtual forums for candidates to make their case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wikler joins three other contenders who have jumped into the race so far, including Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party chair Ken Martin, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and New York state Sen. James Skoufis. Top Democrats in Wisconsin, including U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, had encouraged Wikler to run. National Democrats, such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, praised Wikler's leadership of the state party during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. More: Top Democratic Party officials at the DNC heap praise on Wisconsin chairman Ben Wikler More: What to know about Ben Wikler, chairman of the Wisconsin Democratic Party Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Current and former party leaders in Wisconsin have pointed to Wiklers success since he became state Democrats chairman in 2019 as evidence of his fitness for the DNC. Wisconsin Democrats have won nine of the last 12 statewide races under Wiklers leadership. Several Democrats also credited Wikler with reducing Democrats bleeding in Wisconsin. While President-elect Donald Trump and the wave of Republican support swept the country last month, the shift toward Trump was less pronounced in Wisconsin than in other swing states. More: Gilbert: How small voting shifts made Wisconsin the closest state in the nation Wisconsin was the closest contested state in the presidential election Trump won by just 0.9% and Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin narrowly hung onto her Senate seat as other Democratic incumbents suffered losses elsewhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When the polls are within the margin of error, we win by the margin of effort," Wikler said in a video launching his campaign. "And what has made a difference in Wisconsin can make a difference everywhere. We need a nationwide permanent campaign, a 50-state strategy in every state and every territory across the United States." Contact Hope Karnopp at HKarnopp@gannett.com or on X at @hopekarnopp. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Democratic party chair Ben Wikler launches bid to lead DNC Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) might not be a big fan of billionaires, but he can agree with Elon Musk on one big thing. The left-wing legislator gave a small bit of credit to tech mogul and Donald Trump ally, Musk, while criticizing the governments outsized defense budget in a social media post on Sunday. Elon Musk is right, Sanders declared in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. The Pentagon, with a budget of $886 billion, just failed its 7th audit in a row. Its lost track of billions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pointing out congress reluctance to tackle the governments glut of military spending, the avowed Democratic Socialist noted how last year, only 13 senators voted against the Military Industrial Complex and a defense budget full of waste and fraud. That must change, he went on. Defense spending has long been one of the bulkiest parts of the federal budget. Elon Musk is right. The Pentagon, with a budget of $886 billion, just failed its 7th audit in a row. Its lost track of billions. Last year, only 13 senators voted against the Military Industrial Complex and a defense budget full of waste and fraud. That must change. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) December 1, 2024 Congress approved $841 billion in funds for the Pentagon in 2024, an amount that added up to about 12.5% of the federal governments total yearly expenses. While the Democratic socialist and free market fanatic may seem like unlikely allies, Musk has already made a pledge to hedge government waste while copiloting Trumps new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with former Republican presidential candidate, Vivek Ramaswamy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Ramaswamy shot down seasoned State Department official, John Bolton, when the former National Security Advisor urged DOGE to redirect any of its potential savings to the military. We need to strengthen our military by focusing on the *effectiveness* of our defense spending, rather than just reflexively increasing the magnitude, Ramaswamy said in response to one of Boltons appearances on CNN. Musk was in agreement, promising that DOGE will improve the efficiency of Defense spending in a reply. Related... Correlation isnt causation As noted in Blaine Conzattis recent opinion piece, citing increases in crime and teen pregnancies as one consequence of no longer reading the Bible in schools, is like saying the increase in ice cream sales must be the cause of crime increasing (because theyre both rising at the same time). If the Bible is going to be read in schools, please read it on Monday; The Quran on Tuesday; the Book of Mormon on Wednesday; and Buddhist Scriptures on Thursday. If school is in session on Friday, it could be teachers choice (and maybe do MATH instead). More religions than Christianity support moral choices. How many wives did King David have? Maybe more than Trump and Musk combined. Maybe. Donna Carlson, Boise The terrible toll of Alzheimers Alzheimers disease is devastating. There are more than six million Americans living with the disease and 11 million family and friends acting as caregivers. Here in Idaho, there are 66,000 family caregivers. The caregiving needs for someone living with Alzheimers are extensive and progressive, lasting an average of four to eight years following a diagnosis. Many caregivers juggle work and other family responsibilities. They are often stretched thin and are overwhelmed. Most could use help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was one of these caregivers. I was tasked with the job of helping to take care of my grandmother while she was declining due to Alzheimers. I was just starting nursing school, so my family decided that I was the most qualified to be her caregiver. Watching her struggle to remember things and seeing her slip away was heartbreaking. During the holiday season, lets support our caregivers. Run errands for them and help with household chores. Give caregivers a break by spending time with the person. If youre a caregiver and need assistance, the Alzheimers Association 24/7 Helpline (800.272. 3900) is a free service offering support for people living with dementia, caregivers, families and the public. We are here for you every day. Bretta Perry Rowell, Boise Oppose Wilks bros development I strongly oppose the 30,000-acre Red Ridge Village project proposed by the Wilks brothers/DF Development in Valley and Adams Counties. As a long-time McCall resident, Ive spent a good portion of my life exploring Idahos mountains and forests, and the development destroying these wild areas has been heartbreaking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, beyond the emotional, there are practical reasons why the project would be disastrous. Idaho 55, U.S. 95, and the roads throughout Valley County are already straining with increased traffic from greater Boise and could not sustain a large development. The development would also have a long-term impact on unspoiled terrain, altering the environment forever with a potentially lethal effect on flora and fauna. Additionally, a development of this scope would escalate real-estate prices, making homes even more unaffordable to Idahoans. Bottom line: The Wilks brothers/DF Development have no interest in what is good for Idaho, its residents, or the environment. They are simply profiting by destroying pristine land without truly caring about the consequences. Please send comments to Valley County P&Z Administrator Cynda Herrick at cherrick@co.valley.id.us and attend the P&Z hearing on Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. at the Valley County Courthouse in Cascade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Erin Fanning, McCall Keep your unvaccinated selves in Idaho I see one of your local health districts voted to stop providing COVID-19 vaccinations. I have this day contacted my Washington state senator asking that immediate legislation be drafted, enacted, and signed into law restricting out-of-state care for COVID-related illness in all W. Washington hospitals to WA residents first and foremost and, secondly, only to Idaho residents seeking COVID treatment who produce an up-to-date vaccination record. WA residents tax dollars should not be spent on Idaho idiocy. Randal McChesney, Bellevue, Washington Axe for Gaetz no surprise Who is actually surprised with the withdrawal of Matt Gaetz from nomination to be attorney general of the United States? Was Gaetz dumb enough to not actually understand that he was merely a stalking horse for Herr Trump to thumb his nose at those Herr Trump says are enemies. Apparently the nominee for Secretary of Defense doesnt need experience/knowledge just problems with his sex life Herr Trump seems to revel in such discussions. What else will happen? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Janette McFarland, Fruitland Everyone wants a tax cut In response to the opinion about eliminating payroll taxes business pay for the portion of their workers tips. First, it sounds like the letter writers want a $282,000 tax cut. Can I have that too? I promise Ill invest it. Second, the letter writers contempt for payroll taxes is misguided. Payroll taxes fund the Social Security and Medicare system in the US--the most effective and popular government programs in the history of the earth. Each American is entitled to these benefits when they reach retirement age and may enjoy a robust health care system and modest income support in their golden years. Without Medicare, the elderly would be essentially without affordable health insurance and would saddle their children with bills as was the case prior to its enactment. Without Social Security, Americans are estimated to have to work well into out 70s before we can enjoy retirement. It is disingenuous to describe the payroll tax as money simply sent to Washington and unwise to prescribe more ways to deplete it. There is a compromise. The payroll tax for Social Security is capped at 6.2% of ones income of $176,100 or less. Remove the cap and we can exempt the tip. Richard L Zuercher, Boise President Joe Biden gives a speech at Intel Ocotillo Campus on March 20, 2024, in Chandler, Arizona. Biden announced $8.5 billion in federal funding from the CHIPS Act for Intel Corp. to manufacture semiconductors in Arizona. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images) As hes poised to leave office in two months, President Joe Biden will leave a legacy of proactive, nuanced and effective tech policy strategy behind him, technologists across different sectors told States Newsroom. Bidens term was bookended by major issues in the tech world. When he took office in early 2021, he was faced with an economy and workforce that was struggling to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, and longstanding issues with a digital divide across the country. As he prepares to exit the White House, federal agencies are working to incorporate the principles from the 2023 AI Bill of Rights, on evolving technologies that will undoubtedly continue changing American life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though he was unable to get federal regulations on AI passed through Congress, Bidens goal was to bring tech access to all Americans, while safeguarding against potential harms, the technologists said. I think everything that he does is foundational, said Suriel Arellano, a longtime consultant and author on digital transformation whos based in Los Angeles. So it definitely sets the stage for long term innovation and regulation. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The digital divide For Arellano, Bidens attempt to bring internet access to all families stands out as a lasting piece of the presidents legacy. Broadband internet for work, healthcare and education was a part of Bidens 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, especially targeting people in rural areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden earmarked $65 billion toward the project, which was dolled out to states and federal departments to establish or improve the physical infrastructure to support internet access. As of September, more than 2.4 million previously unserved homes and businesses have been connected to the internet, and $50 billion has been given to grant programs that support these goals across the states. Arellano said he thinks theres still work to do with the physical broadband infrastructure before that promise is realized I think that should have come first, he said. But I think as a legacy, I think breaching the digital divide is actually one of the strong maybe not the strongest, but I would say its definitely a strong legacy that he leaves, Arellano said. Shaping the U.S. conversation about AI During Bidens presidency, practical and responsible application of artificial intelligence became a major part of the tech conversation. The 2023 AI Bill of Rights created the White House AI Council, the creation of a framework for federal agencies to follow relating to privacy protection and a list of guidelines for securing AI workers, for navigating the effects on the labor market and for ensuring equity in AI use, among others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The guidelines put forth by the administration are subtle, and not likely to be felt by the average consumer, said Austin-based Alex Shahrestani, an attorney and managing partner at Promise Legal, which specializes in tech and regulatory policy. It was something thats very light touch and essentially sets up the groundwork to introduce a regulatory framework for AI providers without it being something that theyre really going to push back on, Shahrestani said. A editing screen shows a deep fake facial image created with artificial intelligence through face swap technology. (Tero Vesalainen/Getty Images) In recent months, some federal agencies have released their guidelines called for by the AI Bill of Rights, including the Department of Labor, and The Office of Management and Budget, which outlines how the government will go about responsible acquisition of AI. It may not seem like these guidelines would affect the average consumer, Shahrestani said, but government contractors are likely to be larger companies that already have a significant commercial footprint. It sets up these companies to then follow these procedures in other contexts, so whether thats B2B or direct-to-consumer applications, thats like more of a trickle down sort of approach, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheena Franklin, D.C.-based founder of Kept Health and previously a lobbyist, said Biden emphasized the ethical use and development of AI, and set a tone of fostering public trust and preventing harm with the AI Bill of Rights. Franklin and Shahrestani agreed its possible that President-elect Donald Trump could repeal some of Bidens executive orders on AI, but they see the Bill of Rights as a fairly light approach to regulating it. It was a really nuanced and effective approach, Shahrestani said. Theres some inertia building, right? Like a snowball rolling down the hill. Were early days for the snowball, but it just got started and it will only grow to be a bigger one. The CHIPS Act Bidens CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which aimed to strengthen domestic semiconductor manufacturing, supply chains and the innovation economy with a $53 billion investment, is a major piece of his legacy, Franklin said. The bill centered on worker and community investments, and prioritized small businesses and underrepresented communities, with a goal of economic growth in the U.S., and especially in communities that needed support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two years after the bill was signed, the federal government, in partnership with American companies, has provided funding for semiconductor manufacturing projects that created more than 100,000 jobs and workforce development programs. The U.S. is on track to produce 30% of the worlds semiconductor chips in 2032, up from 10% today. He was really trying to position the U.S. as a global leader when it came to technology, because that industry is going to continue to grow, Franklin said. Its hard to quantify what the lasting impact of the CHIPS act will be, but one immediate factor is computing, Shahrestani said. The AI models being developed right now have infinite abilities, he said, but the computing power had previously held the industry back. Being able to provide more compute through better chips, and more sophisticated hardware is going to be a big part of what provides, and what is behind the best AI technologies, Shahrestani said. Accountability for Big Tech Many in the Big Tech community see Bidens AI Bill of Rights, and its data privacy inclusions, as well as the Justice Departments monopoly lawsuits against tech giants like Apple and Google, as hampering innovation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arellano is optimistic about the technological advances and innovation that the U.S. may see under a less regulation-focused Trump presidency, but he cautions that some regulations may be needed for privacy protections. My concern is always on the public side, you know, putting the dog on a leash, and making sure that our regulations are there in place to protect the people, he said. Franklin predicts that if Biden attempts any last-minute tech policy before he leaves office, it will probably be to pursue further antitrust cases. It would align with his goal of fostering competition between startups and small businesses and reinforce his legacy of safeguarding consumer interests, she said. When she considered how to describe Bidens tech legacy, Franklin said she nearly used the word strength, though she said he ultimately could have done a little bit more for tech regulation. But she landed on two words: thoughtful and proactive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meaning, hes thinking about everybodys concerns, Franklin said. Not just thinking about the Big Tech and not just thinking about the consumers, right? Like there has to be a balance there. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE By Jessica Donati and Trevor Hunnicutt WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Joe Biden headed to Angola on Sunday for a trip that will deliver on a promise to visit Africa during his presidency and focus on a major U.S.-backed railway project that aims to divert critical minerals away from China. The project, partly funded with a U.S. loan, links the resource-rich Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia to the Angolan port of Lobito on the Atlantic Ocean, offering a fast and efficient route for exports to the West. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At stake are vast supplies of minerals like copper and cobalt, which are found in Congo and are a key component of batteries and other electronics. China is the top player in Congo, which has become an increasing concern to Washington. China signed an agreement with Tanzania and Zambia in September to revive a rival railway line to Africa's eastern coast. While Biden's trip is taking place in the waning days of his presidency, Donald Trump will likely back the railway and remain a close partner to Angola when he returns to the White House in January, according to two officials who served under the previous Trump administration. Tibor Nagy, a retired career ambassador and top envoy to Africa under the last Trump administration, said Trump will likely have two overarching concerns regarding Africa. The first is competition with China and Russia, the second is access to critical minerals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This checks both boxes," he said in an interview, referring to the Lobito Atlantic Railway. The project is backed by global commodities trader Trafigura, Portuguese construction group Mota-Engil and railway operator Vecturis. The U.S. Development Finance Corporation has provided a $550 million loan to refurbish the 1,300-kilometer (800-mile) rail network from Lobito to Congo. Biden was set to land briefly in West Africa's Cape Verde on Monday morning, and meet Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva there before flying on to Angola, the White House said. He will visit the National Museum of Slavery in the capital Luanda during the two-day trip and stop at the Lobito port on Wednesday. His trip delivers on one of a sweeping set of pledges to Africa. Others remain unrealized, such as gaining two permanent seats for Africa at the U.N. Security Council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond the railway project, Washington has also done little to advance access to vast reserves of African minerals it says are critical for national security and has racked up other diplomatic setbacks. This summer, it lost America's major spy base in Niger and has not been able to find an ally that will host those assets. This leaves the U.S. without a military foothold in the vast Sahel region that has become a hotspot of Islamist militancy. Angola has long nurtured close ties with China and Russia but has recently moved closer to the West. Angolan officials say they are keen to work with any partner that can advance their agenda to promote economic growth and hope the project spurs investment in a range of sectors. "China has only gained prominence because Western countries have probably not been paying much attention to Africa," Angola's transport minister, Ricardo Viegas dAbreu, said in an interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GROWING TIES WITH ANGOLA Biden's visit reflects a turnabout in U.S. ties with Angola after a complicated and bloody history. The U.S. and the Soviet Union backed rival sides in the nation's 27-year civil war. Washington established relations with Angola in 1993, almost two decades after it gained independence. "It's probably poetic justice that the United States should finance the rehabilitation of this route to which it had contributed destruction so many decades ago," said Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika, a former Zambian government minister who also ran part of the railway that is to form the Lobito corridor. Biden administration officials have said the Lobito rail project is not a one-off, but a test run to prove the private-public partnership works, and it will lead to other major infrastructure projects in Africa. They also hope it will deepen U.S. ties with Angola, including in security cooperation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics have questioned whether the project, which has no date for completion, will deliver the promised goals. A particular source of scrutiny is a second phase which would connect the railway to Africa's east coast through to Tanzania, potentially offering a rival route to China. Judd Devermont, until recently Bidens top Africa adviser, said Congo wants to diversify its mining partners and rejected the idea that connecting the project to an eastern port in Tanzania undermines the effort to loosen Beijings grip on Congo's minerals. The Congolese have been very clear that they dont want to see their entire mining sector dominated by China, he said in an interview. It benefits everyone if theres an easy way to move across the continent, whether thats critical minerals or just moving stuff from India to Brazil to New York. (Additional reporting by David Lewis in Nairobi, Simon Lewis in Washington and Miguel Gomes in Luanda; Editing by Frances Kerry and Chris Reese) The Biden White House has spoken to the family of American hostage Edan Alexander, who was taken captive along with 253 others during the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks in Israel, said U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Face the Nation Sunday. I do think that Hamas is feeling the pressure. Theyre feeling the pressure because one of their main partners in crime here, Hezbollah, has now cut a ceasefire deal, he explained. Theyre feeling the pressure, of course, because their top leader, Sinwar, has been killed. So, they may be looking anew at the possibility of getting a ceasefire and hostage deal, Sullivan added. A 13-part ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel was announced last week. Sullivan added that the Biden administration is working actively with all of the key players in the region, including Israel and Turkey and Qatar and Egypt, to bring to fruition a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas one that will hopefully return the remaining hostages home and also end the war in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the same day the Hezbollah ceasefire was announced, Sullivan continued, and Prime Minister Netanyahu told him he agreed, the time is right for a similar agreement with Hamas. On Oct. 25, the New York Times reported dozens of those taken captive in 2023 are still in Gaza. Of those, at least 60 are believed to be alive. Israeli authorities also believe the bodies of approximately 35 hostages who have died are still in Gaza as well. Of the total number of hostages, 12 people hold U.S. citizenship. Hamas released a video of Alexander Saturday. The video is not dated, but appears to have been recorded sometime this week. In the video, Alexander asks President-elect Trump to assist in his rescue and the rescue of the remaining hostages. Alexanders mother Yael told NBC News, To get this video, its a huge relief for me to see that hes still strong. It was amazing. To see him speaking, crying, just to see him like, Im still shaking. He cried a lot in this video. It was very tough to see Edan like this. It was real. It was tough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 20-year-old Alexander grew up in New Jersey and volunteered to serve in Israels military. He was stationed outside Gaza when he was taken hostage. The Biden administration is also gravely concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the citys remaining citizens are starving to death. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is a crisis. You have too many people who are suffering from shortages of food, water, medicine, access to sanitation. Innocent people who deserve a measure of peace and deserve access to all of those lifesaving supplies in abundance, Sullivan explained. He added that a major problem for the city right now is that while aid is moving into Gaza, its proven difficult to allocate it through the appropriate channels once inside the city. The UN, in fact, said it was suspending movement from certain areas of Gaza because of concerns about looting. These are all things that would be helped if there were a ceasefire in place, Sullivan added. In September, the Norwegian Refugee Council published a press release co-signed by 15 aid organizations, who claimed that up to 83% of aid intended for Gaza could not enter the city. While Israeli military attacks on Gaza intensify, lifesaving food, medicine, medical supplies, fuel, and tents have been systematically blocked from entering for almost a year, the organizations wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decrease in aid means that people can count on one meal every other day, the organizations also stated. Additionally, 65% of insulin needed is not available, half the blood supply Gaza needs cannot be accessed, and at least one million women cannot access hygienic items they need. You can watch the interview with Jake Sullivan in the video above. The post Biden Spoke to Family of American Hostage Edan Alexander, U.S. Security Advisor Says: Hamas is Feeling the Pressure | Video appeared first on TheWrap. Providing Ukraine with nuclear weapons, which it willingly gave up in the early 1990s, is not considered part of the United States' military support efforts. Source: Jake Sullivan, US National Security Advisor, in an interview with ABC News, as reported by European Pravda Details: Sullivan was asked to comment on The New York Times article, according to which certain Biden administration officials admitted the possibility of returning to Ukraine the nuclear weapons that were taken away from it after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "That is not under consideration. No. What we are doing is surging various conventional capacities to Ukraine so that they can effectively defend themselves and take the fight to the Russians, not nuclear capability," Sullivan said. He also assured that the current US administration will do everything in its power to provide Ukraine with "everything in our power for these 50 days to strengthen their position on the battlefield so that they'll be stronger at the negotiating table." "And President Biden directed me to oversee a massive surge in the military equipment that we are delivering to Ukraine so that we have spent every dollar that Congress has appropriated to us by the time that President Biden leaves office," Sullivan said. Background: In October, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that he discussed the need for Ukraine to be accepted into NATO with US presidential candidate Donald Trump, mentioning Kyiv's renunciation of nuclear weapons. Zelenskyy later stated that Ukraine had no intention of restoring its nuclear arsenal, and that NATO was the only alternative to ensuring the countrys security. Support UP or become our patron! (NewsNation) Donald Trump is a money man, and the billionaire himself will lead a wealthy White House Cabinet should all of his nominations gain Senate approval. The President-elect has a net worth of $5.7 billion, as of Dec. 1, according to Forbes, and he has chosen a slew of fellow billionaires to serve in his second administration. His proposed Cabinet, with Senate confirmation, will include former professional wrestler and WWE co-founder Linda McMahon, Wall Street executive Howard Lutnick, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and hedge fund money manager Scott Bessent all billionaires. Cyber Monday 2024 Deals Top Cyber Week deals still live Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Top gifts under $100 Best stocking stuffers BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Donald Trumps new admin.: Who has he chosen so far? Their combined net worths total $10.7 billion, according to U.S. News & World Reports calculations. Thats $4.5 billion more than Trumps first-term Cabinet. In comparison, President Joe Bidens Cabinet total net worth was $118 million with an M. Trump also selected tech entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead his inaugural Department of Government Efficiency. These positions do not require Senate confirmation, but they raise the overall net worth of Trumps incoming administration to $344.4 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. On a recent Friday morning, Alyssa Laxamana arrived at a laboratory on the UC Davis campus to continue California's race against bird flu. A note from her supervisor had alerted Laxamana that about 130 samples of cow milk and other dairy products were en route a large but manageable workload. She got to work preparing the buffer solutions and other supplies she would need to test the samples for H5N1 influenza, the virus that causes the flu spreading through California's cattle and poultry farms. Laxamana's plans, however, quickly went out the window. More samples kept popping up in a digital queue as another lab worker logged unexpected shipments. Around noon she had to draw a line. She calculated she could get through about 270 samples that day. The rest would have to wait. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I can only do so much," Laxamana recalled saying to herself. Laxamana works in the biotechnology department of the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, the first line of defense in the state's effort to track and prevent the spread of the H5N1 virus. Read more: As bird flu outbreaks rise, piles of dead cattle become shocking Central Valley tableau Far from working at full capacity, however, the Davis lab has been roiled over the past year by workplace tensions. Understaffing and poor management, Laxamana and other current and former employees say, have left lab employees overworked and struggling to keep pace with testing demands, while creating an environment where mistakes are more likely. An exodus of most of the staff this year left Laxamana and a co-worker for a period as the only two people testing for the virus on a daily basis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stakes for the lab are high: It is the only lab in the state with the authority to confirm bird flu cases. Although there is no evidence that the alleged workplace problems have contributed to an outbreak, processing tests quickly gives farmers a jump on quarantining or culling infected animals. Any potential delay in testing could result in greater spread," said Richard Webby, a virologist at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Tennessee, who specializes in influenza in birds and other animals. The problems come amid a rising tide of bird flu cases at poultry and dairy farms and an increasing threat to humans. Last week the Davis lab confirmed the virus had been found in a retail sample of raw milk from a Fresno-based dairy, which health officials warn may have been sold in stores in Los Angeles County. And, so far, about 30 people in the state the vast majority of them dairy workers are known to have been infected. Bill Kisliuk, a spokesperson for UC Davis, denied that workplace issues have left the lab ill-equipped to handle bird flu testing. He said the facility has "maintained the supervision, staffing and resources necessary to provide timely and vital health and safety information to those asking us to perform tests throughout the current outbreak of avian flu." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After The Times inquired about staffing levels and other workplace issues, the Governor's Office of Emergency Services inspected the lab in October, while UC Davis officials hired more staff and got help from a lab in Wisconsin, according to current staff. UC Davis officials declined to confirm the moves. The spokesperson for the California Department of Food and Agriculture, which jointly operates the lab, deferred questions to UC Davis, saying, "CAHFS lab has done tremendous work under demanding circumstances." Read more: Despite warnings from bird flu experts, it's business as usual in California dairy country The virus is taking a rising toll on the state's dairy and poultry industries. Since September, outbreaks at turkey farms, chicken broilers, egg-laying facilities and other producers around the state have affected more than 6 million birds, according to USDA data. And while the virus is less lethal in cows than birds, dead cows and calves have piled up along roadsides in Tulare County, with farmers and veterinarians reporting mortality rates far higher than expected. Also worrisome for a state that produces 20% of the country's milk is the steep drop-off in milk production farmers have reported among cows that recover from the flu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Discontent over staffing, pay and other alleged workplace issues has pervaded the lab over the past two years, emails and other communications reviewed by The Times show. In May 2023, employees in the biotechnology section sent a petition to the lab's managers demanding they address the staff's concerns. After getting no reply, they sent another note viewed by The Times in November, accusing managers of refusing "time and again" to make improvements. Their workload, they added, had "measurably increased" since the temporary closure of the another CAHFS lab in Tulare earlier that year due to flooding. California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory worker Alyssa Laxamana, left, and former worker Kayla Dollar at the UC Davis lab in September. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) "We operate with the mindset that the next outbreak is always around the corner, and we need proper training opportunities and competitive salary to remain adequately staffed for that eventuality," they wrote. Several lab staff quit their jobs in the first half of 2024, leaving behind what they described as a relatively inexperienced, skeletal crew. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Helen Kado-Fong, a supervisor who had worked in the biotechnology department for about 12 years decided to retire early in May. She said she had become fed up with what she described as an attitude of indifference or hostility toward efforts by her and others in the lab to raise concerns. In an email she sent a few months before she left to the dean of UC Davis veterinary school and CAHFS director, Kado-Fong warned the high turnover and disengagement of technical staff is weakening the ability of the CAHFS laboratory to fulfill its mission. Another to quit was Kayla Dollar, a lab assistant in the department for about two years, who said she left in June after being rejected for a promotion to a lab technician. Dollar said she was told she didn't get the job because she didn't have sufficient experience. Dollar said she was perplexed by the explanation because her supervisor Kado-Fong had been trying to get the OK to have Dollar receive training to prepare her for the technician role. "I was hitting a wall at every turn," Dollar said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dollar was hired at a UC Davis veterinary genetics lab in June as a biotechnologist, the same position she had been rejected from at CAHFS. And Jasmine Burke quit her post as one of the lab's technicians in July, she said, after being threatened with discipline for raising concerns about long work hours and rushed testing procedures. She and others said that as the lab rushed to meet 24-hour turnaround times for bird flu testing, other types of tests became backlogged, and she and other staff failed at times to keep up with routine lab maintenance, such as recalibrating machines and ensuring refrigerators holding samples and chemical solutions were set at the correct temperature. "Every attempt to communicate concerns here goes nowhere," she wrote to the university's human resources department, according to an email viewed by The Times. Burke now works as a barista at a coffee shop. Kisliuk, the UC Davis spokesperson, declined to respond to questions about specific incidents involving employees. "When a staff member reports concerns about workplace safety or conditions, we review the matter and take the appropriate steps," he wrote in an emailed statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By July, five employees had departed, leaving behind only Laxamana and colleague Victoria Ontiveros, who have worked in the lab for two years or less. Late one afternoon on a day in September, Ontiveros recalled how she changed into scrubs and donned two sets of surgical gloves, goggles, an N95 mask, a lab coat and a hairnet the required gear for entering the Biosafety Level 3 lab, or BSL-3, where samples suspected of containing the virus are tested. Only approved staff can enter the facility through a locked door that requires an iris scan to open. California officials have blocked Raw Milk dairy in Fresno from distributing its raw dairy products. (Tomas Ovalle / For The Times) Ontiveros had already done several long shifts in the BSL-3 that week, which with normal staffing would have been divided among multiple people, she said. Now, she was preparing to test cow milk samples that had arrived at the lab around 2 p.m. Typically, samples received after noon were tested the following day, but she said her supervisors had insisted these needed to be turned around quickly as infections spread. She said she worked for hours, painstakingly pipetting drops of the samples into tiny glass wells as part of the testing process, which extracts genetic material in order to detect the presence of the virus. Then, late in the evening, she realized she had programmed one of the machines analyzing the samples incorrectly. Ontiveros felt a sharp pang of despair. All her work, and the hours Laxamana had spent earlier in the day mixing a chemical solution to wash the samples, had been wasted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was around 9 p.m. when she emerged from the lab. She had started her workday around 8 a.m. The tests would have to be redone the next day. We are stretched so thin that mistakes can happen," Ontiveros said. "I was so tired and mentally drained. Read more: 'More serious than we had hoped': Bird flu deaths mount among California dairy cows At the time, Ontiveros said she was handling the testing of cow milk largely on her own, although another worker was sometimes sent up from the Tulare lab to help on weekends. While Laxamana had the required security clearance, she hadn't yet completed the necessary training. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There's this huge pressure on me and responsibility to show up to work every day because I have no backup," Ontiveros said. Later in September, Laxamana described being put straight to work as the number of cattle milk samples was ramping up. She said she was asked to run 44 samples without ever having completed a practice run. The only hands-on training she had had was twice shadowing the testing process. As Laxamana worked, Ontiveros stood nearby, supervising. Already nervous, Laxamana said she was distracted by a walkie-talkie that crackled with voices as she tried to work. Colleagues in the main lab were peppering her with questions about what to do about another batch of tests that appeared to have failed. Holding a pipette carefully in one hand, Laxamana talked through the radio to troubleshoot the problem. At times this year understaffing has led to quality control missteps, current and former workers said. Laxamana described coming to work one morning in October and realizing results of tests she had run the day before had not been analyzed properly by lab staff. She said a manager assured Laxamana the errors would be corrected, but when she checked later that day the results had not been changed. She said she stopped a case coordinator from releasing the incorrect results to farmers, which would have resulted in the culling of birds. Earlier this year, a poultry sample got misplaced and went untested for three weeks, Laxamana said. She attributed the mistake to being overworked, saying, "There were only two people handling the workload, and things were missed in all of that chaos." Kisliuk, the UC Davis spokesperson, declined to answer questions about specific incidents described where workers made mistakes or where managers made mistakes. "We have multiple levels of quality assurance and extensive training of staff," he said. In late summer the lab hired a supervisor and others to join the lab. The move created additional work for Laxamana and Ontiveros, who said they were required to juggle their own work while also helping with training the new arrivals. In recent weeks the supervisor and another new hire took over testing of high-risk poultry samples, but Laxamana and Ontiveros said staffing shortages remain. Still, Laxamana doesn't think about leaving. There are things that I can do to help prevent a disaster, she said.I could not bear to leave the lab in the condition that it is right now. Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) A 3-year-old boy was discovered shot at a west Birmingham apartment complex Sunday morning. According to officer Truman Fitzgerald with the Birmingham Police Department, officers responded around 7:50 a.m. to a child shot call at the Forest Hills Village apartment complex in the 2600 block of Tempest Drive SW. Police entered an apartment and found the 3-year-old boy suffering from a gunshot wound. The boy was transported to Childrens of Alabama. He was diagnosed with not life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police saw a man in the apartment complexs parking lot running from the scene. Officers pursued the man on foot and took him into custody. Another man was also put into custody at the complex. Officers retrieved a firearm in the parking lot. Jefferson County Sheriffs Office investigating homicide Fitzgerald stated the polices preliminary investigation shows family members told officers they heard shot fired outside the apartment and realized the boy was shot. The victim was in a bedroom where gunfire damaged a wall. Officers will transport the suspects to BPD Headquarters. BPD felony assault detectives are planning to inverview them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those with information on the case are urged to call the BPD at 205-254-1764 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. A body believed to be Vendula Wendy Rose, a missing hiker from Marysville, Ohio was found in Alabama on Saturday. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The Cleburne County Sheriffs Office told our news partners at WBNS-10 TV that a hunter found Roses body about five miles northeast of Cheaha State Park in Alabama around 11:30 a.m. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upon notification of family, with the assistance of the Cleburne County Coroners Office, Coroner Adam Downs, we have evidence to believe that the deceased subject is the missing person from October of this year, Vendula Wendy Rose, the sheriffs office said in a press release. Rose has been missing since last September when she left Marysville for a camping trip in Alabama. She was set to return on Oct. 2 but never showed up for work. Her car was recovered in the parking lots of the Cheaha State Park, along with multiple notes that were deemed abnormal for rose. A magazine, as well as a box of ammunition missing seven rounds, was also found in the vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriffs office said they have no evidence that would lead them to believe that foul play was suspected. They also believe Rose was suffering from a mental health crisis. A cause of death has not yet been released. More information is expected to be released during a press conference on Monday. We will continue following this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] TWO RIVERS The body of 7-year-old Jacob Baer was recovered from the West Twin River Sunday morning, Two Rivers police confirmed in a news release. Baer had been missing since Saturday night when he was last seen around 4:36 p.m. at Veterans Park, 1818 School St. Police said in the release that Jacob was described as an autistic boy who was playing outside when his parent lost sight of him. An immediate search was conducted using many resources throughout the night as well as an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Missing and Endangered Alert and a local alert were sent through the Emergency Operations Center. Search efforts located several items belonging to Jacob and they were recovered from the water Saturday night. Sunday morning, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources identified a possible location in 5 to 6 feet of water, for what was believed to be Jacob. Recovery operations then continued until late Sunday morning when a body was recovered from that location and positively identified as Jacob Baer, police said. Missing Wisconsin children: Elijah Vue, later found deceased, was one of more than 30 missing children in Wisconsin Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This tragic event is a reminder of how dangerous the ice can be on our waterways, especially this time of year when it is very thin, the release from police said. Please stay off the ice and keep your children safe by monitoring them closely when around any waterway. Police said they also respect the familys right to privacy and added the incident is under investigation and no further details would be immediately released. Agencies assisting with the search included the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Coast Guard Ice Search and Rescue Team, the Wisconsin National Guard and local fire departments and law enforcement. The search also included drones, a helicopter and K-9 units. Anyone with information can call Two Rivers Police Department at 920-686-7200. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fatal crash: 2 die in crash on Interstate 43 in Manitowoc County Sunday morning Contact Brandon Reid at 920-686-2984 or breid@gannett.com, or follow him on X at @breidHTRNews. This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Missing Two Rivers boy Jacob Baer: Body found in West Twin River DELTA, Ala. (WCMH) The body of a Marsyville woman last seen in September has been found Saturday by a hunter in Alabama. The sheriffs office for Cleburne County said that the hunter reported the body around 11:30 a.m., sending deputies to an area five miles northeast of Cheaha State Park. The county coroners office then identified the remains as belonging to Vendula Wendy Rose. Last seen Sept. 24, the Marysville Police Division said Rose was over nine hours away in Alabama for a hiking trip. She was supposed to return to Marysville on Oct. 2, but never arrived. A Columbus business lost nearly $500,000. Then, investigators checked Paypal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after she was initially reported missing, investigators found her car parked Oct. 8 at the Pinhoti Trailhead. Cleburne County deputies searched for Rose on foot through 36 miles of surrounding trails, and also checked remote areas with helicopters and drones. The Cleburne County Sheriffs Office said it would issue an official release regarding Roses recovery on Monday. It asked for anyone with information or questions to call the chief deputy at 256-463-2277. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. On Thanksgiving, the homes of multiple Democratic members of Congress were interrupted by targeted bomb threats. Senator Chris Murphy, Rep. Joe Courtney, Rep. Jahana Hayes, Rep. Jim Himes, Rep. John Larson and Rep. Rosa DeLauro all said their homes were targeted on Thursday. A spokesperson for Courtney said the home was targeted with a bomb threat while Courtney and his family were home for Thanksgiving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early this morning, Mr. Courtneys home was targeted with a bomb threat while he and his family were home to celebrate Thanksgiving, Courtneys spokesperson said. Thanks to the swift and professional response of Vernon Police Chief Petruzzi and Lieutenant Robert Marra, the United States Capitol Police, and the bomb squad, the Courtneys are safe, and there was no evidence found of a bomb on their property. Joe and Audrey extend their utmost gratitude to the law enforcement officers, whose response should signal to perpetrators that these types of threats will not be tolerated. No bombs or explosive materials were found at any of the homes. Authorities have not said if the threats are connected. Nov. 30CORBIN In recognition of an extraordinary 50-year medical career, C. William Briscoe MD was named Physician of the Year by the Baptist Health medical staff at their annual meeting on November 13. A pioneering leader in behavioral health across Southeastern Kentucky, Dr. Briscoe has been instrumental in establishing and advancing the Trillium Center and Briscoe Clinic at Baptist Health Corbin, the latter named in his honor for his invaluable contributions to the field. When Dr. Briscoe joined what was then known as SEKB Hospital in 1973, the facility was expanding to include an inpatient psychiatric unit a rare commitment to behavioral health at the time. In 1985, the hospital, now Baptist Health Corbin, authorized the construction of the Trillium Center, a 50-bed facility dedicated to comprehensive behavioral health services, marking a new era of mental health care for the region. Under Dr. Briscoe's leadership, behavioral health services at Baptist Health Corbin have since expanded to meet growing needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It has been a fulfilling career," said Dr. Briscoe. "Over the years, many dedicated individuals have contributed to the growth of these programs for the people we serve. I am deeply honored to have worked alongside them." Dr. Briscoe's impact reaches beyond his clinical work. Over the past five decades, he has served on the Kentucky Medical Licensure Board for 24 years, held the presidency of the Kentucky Psychiatric Association, and maintained an active role on the Medical Executive Committee at Baptist Health Corbin for 45 years. Today, he continues to work with colleagues and the dedicated team at the Trillium Center, furthering the mission of compassionate, quality care. Vauxhall Motors last week announced the closure of its Luton van-making factory, which employs 1,100 people directly and many, many more across local and national supply chains. The news shocked Luton, once a major hub of the UKs automotive industry. Vauxhall has operated in this Bedfordshire town for almost 120 years. This is just the latest disturbing industrial closure driven in large part by the overzealous net zero policies of successive UK governments. Unless mainstream politicians are careful, this relentless pursuit of environmental goals will seriously alienate millions of voters across our industrial heartlands in fact, it already has. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive spent years arguing for a gradual shift away from fossil fuels. Everyone wants a cleaner planet for their kids whether they live in Luton or elsewhere. But that transition must happen at a pace that is economically, technologically and politically realistic. The UKs net zero policies fulfil none of those criteria which is why they are now being widely castigated. The decision to close Luton was taken by Stellantis the worlds fourth-largest auto-making conglomerate, comprising European and US brands including Chrysler, Fiat and Peugeot, as well as Vauxhall. Carlos Tavares, Stellantis chief executive, said earlier this year that the zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) mandate was making carmaking in the UK economically unviable which is obvious, to anyone who has been paying attention. Stellantis chief Carlos Tavares says the ZEV mandate is making carmaking in the UK economically unviable - Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse Much of our political and media class, protecting their eco-credentials and averse to awkward details, have waved away the warnings. But Britains net zero policies, not least ZEV, are now imposing existential damage on parts of the country least able to withstand major economic shocks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From 2035, the sale of new petrol and diesel cars is to be banned, with second-hand sales remaining legal. Thats the law in the UK and across the European Union. Labours manifesto pledged to bring that ban forward to 2030, which is where it was under the Tories until Rishi Sunak moved the target back to 2035, in line with the EU. But Sunak only moved the headline date back five years, with the underlying transition period remaining the same. The result is that, since January, UK-based carmakers have faced extremely stiff fines if 22pc of the cars they sell in Britain arent fully electric having to shell out an astonishing 15,000 for every vehicle by which they fall short. The target ratchets up to 28pc next year, incrementally rising to 80pc by 2030 (or 70pc for vans) even if the complete ban remains at 2035. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But consumers arent buying it. Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) remain low for all kinds of reasons, including a still-poor charging network, concerns about battery performance and related range anxiety. New EV sales are far lower than official forecasts, having stalled at less than a fifth since 2022 despite carmakers offering deep discounts and ongoing tax breaks for company-bought EVs. Between January and October, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), new EV sales pointed to demand of 363,000 during 2024, just 18.7pc of the market. This compares to official forecasts of 457,000 sales, an estimated 23.1pc market share, when the ZEV rules were announced in late 2023. With hefty fines looming, manufacturers have been rationing new petrol and diesel cars, trying to hit the 22pc of market-share EV target despite low EV sales. Prices of conventional vehicles have soared as a result adding to the UKs ongoing cost-of-living crisis. SMMT last week said UK car manufacturers have absorbed 4bn of EV discounts, but still face 1.8bn in fines a compliance bill of almost 6bn this year alone. These are simply ruinous sums for the UK-based car industry, while still employing around a million people, often providing well-paid jobs in parts of the country like Luton where well-paid jobs are scarce. Its not widely known because green-grandstanding politicians never mention it that the UKs transition to 2035 is particularly punitive. The EU has the same deadline, but looser targets, based on CO2 emissions rather than EV sales percentages, that ramp up more slowly. So while Europes car industry as a whole is suffering from low EV take-up, the UK-based part is suffering a whole lot more all in the name of global environmental leadership. Britain is uniquely vulnerable these idiotic policies will soon hand vast swathes of our car market to massively subsidised EVs made in China, which already account for around 60pc of global production. What with the closure of Port Talbot steelworks and the Labours ban on new drilling in the North Sea, net zero policies are now seriously riling the UKs trade unions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gary Brown, head of the GMB, the UKs third-largest union, says Labours green policies are hollowing out working-class communities. No wonder Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds is now listening and has pledged to consult on these ZEV rules. Its good the Government now recognises policy and reality have been moving in opposite directions, says Robert Forrester, co-founder of car retailing giant Vertu Motors, often a lone voice across a subsidy-hungry car industry reluctant to question net-zero. We need a plan driven by the market, not by government diktat, changing the percentage targets to slow the transition to 2035. But powerful vested interests and party donors including the EV charging industry and its financial backers, along with power companies producing the most expensive electricity in the developed world are pushing Labour to hold their nerve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Britains net zero policies particularly those relating to EVs are a fiasco, now costing serious jobs and threatening entire regional economies. This is what happens when politicians think they know best putting vanity and ideology above economic and commercial logic. Follow Liam on X @liamhalligan Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. This article was originally published by APTN News. Leanne Sanders APTN News The police watchdog in British Columbia is looking into the in-custody death of a First Nations man in Prince George in northern British Columbia. The Independent Investigations Office is investigating the death of Eugene Joseph, 47, of Tlazten First Nation just a few days after he was arrested by members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to his common-law wife, Dawn Agno, Joseph was a day school survivor and an intergenerational survivor of residential school. She said Josephs father had recently passed away. According to a news release from the investigations office, the RCMP said that on Nov. 6 officers detained a man for being intoxicated and transported him to the police detachment. The man was found unresponsive in a cell during a routine check later that evening. First aid was administered, and the man was then transported to the hospital where he was in critical condition, according to the investigations office. The office said it was notified of the incident shortly after it occurred and commenced an investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Nov. 11, investigators said they learned the man died in the hospital. Officials said the investigation will try to determine what role police action or inaction may have played in Josephs death. The Independent Investigations Office is the independent civilian oversight agency of the police in British Columbia. It investigates all officer-related incidents that result in serious harm or death, regardless of whether there is any allegation of wrongdoing. The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) refuted claims that the deportation of accused Filipino scammer Hector Aldwin Liao Pantollana from Indonesia to the Philippines was part of a prisoner exchange deal. Pantollanas arrest is the result of good relations between the Philippines and the Indonesian National Police, according to PNP-CIDG Director Police Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III. - Advertisement - The 35-year-old man, who was apprehended in Indonesia for his role in a billion-peso investment scam, was returned to the Philippines to face charges and ensure justice for his victims. Torre emphasized that the Indonesian government did not request any reciprocal arrangements or individuals in exchange for Pantollanas deportation. This development follows the Philippines recent deportation of an Indonesian fugitive involved in scam operations, who was arrested at a suspected Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Bataan. Torre also clarified that the PNP has not received any formal communication suggesting a prisoner exchange between the two nations. A British holidaymaker fell down a lift shaft and died while on a family holiday in Turkey. Tyler Kerry, 20, was found fatally injured on Friday morning at a hotel in Antalya where he had been staying with his grandparents and girlfriend. The labourer from Basildon in Essex was found in a lift shaft at around 7am and could not be resuscitated by ambulance staff. His family said they did not know whether his body was found at the bottom of the shaft or on top of a lift. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His uncle, Alex Price, told the BBC: We are unclear about how he came to be in the lift shaft or the events immediately preceding this. Kerry had been staying in the popular tourist city with his grandparents, Collette and Ray Kerry, girlfriend Molly and other relatives. He had told friends he was having a great time, the Southend Echo reported. Family friend Ryan Wilde told the newspaper: We believe he fell roughly around 4am our time as he had been messaging family members just before about what a great time he was having. We think he mustve woken up early and gone for a walk or to get some food. A lovely young man The most likely explanation is that he pressed the button for the lift and walked in without it being there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was a compassionate lad. He faced some slightly challenging circumstances when he was younger but he had evolved into a really mature and lovely young man. Kerrys family hope his body will be repatriated by Tuesday and almost 5,000 has been raised through a GoFundMe page to help pay for his funeral costs. Mr Price said the family had been issued with a death certificate after a post-mortem examination was completed. On the GoFundMe page, he described his nephew as a young man full of personality, kindness and compassion with his whole life ahead of him. He was completely devoted to his family and girlfriend Molly. We are all absolutely devastated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A UK Government spokesman said: We are assisting the family of a British man who has died in Turkey. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A burglar broke into a luxury, high-rise apartment on the Upper West Side on Thanksgiving and stole a safe containing nearly $400,000 in cash and jewelry early, cops said Saturday. The crook smashed through the door at 75 West End Ave., breaking the door jamb, and grabbed the safe that contained about $220,000 in cash and $160,000 in baubles around 12:15 a.m., police said. The burglar also snatched three Goyard pouches worth a total of $6,000 and seven pairs of Louis Vuitton sneakers worth about $7,700, police sources said. The front of the building where a residents apartment was burglarized. Robert Miller The small, handmade Goyard bags can cost up to $2,000 each. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A friend of the units resident has been staying there for about a month but was out when the break-in happened, police sources said. It wasnt clear how the burglar got into the 39-floor, door-man building. Investigators are reviewing security videos, cops said. Lawyer Anjori Mitra lives in the building and said she was amazed a burglar had gotten past security. Thats surprising to me because its a safe building, the 34-year-old said. There is security, a team of doormen. A lot of people live and work in the building. Cops are reviewing video to determine who broke down the door of a unit in this luxury UWS building. Robert Miller Shes wary of walking at night in the area and uses a car service. Walking down West End Avenue is O.K. but the side street is particularly West 63rd, West 64th and West 65th, I would not walk there late at nights, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are paying a lot of rent for having to take cars home late at night. Isaac Saidmehr, 62, said he and his wife were on edge about crime in the neighborhood. Its happening more and more, he said. Its scary like my wife tells me these things, she comes home shaken up. I want to see more cops on the streets. For Laura Ornelas and thousands of other South Stockton residents, harmful air pollution is a fact of life. Hemmed in by freeways and rail lines and bordered by heavy industry and the Port of Stockton, the area has been dubbed an "Asthma Capital" by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Ornelas, who rents a house in the Boggs Tract neighborhood, says she has to wear a mask just to work outside, or to clean the soot off her car every few days. She said her 91-year-old mother's mysterious cough worsened after they moved in at the start of the year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We just need to get out of here," she said. Boggs Tract resident Laura Ornelas reads a flier posted in the neighborhood advertising a public meeting to discuss the GSNR wood pellet project. (Noah Haggerty / Los Angeles Times) For Ornelas and her neighbors, local air pollution could get even worse if officials approve plans for a massive forest management and biofuel project that would harvest trees across California through wildfire mitigation work, process them into wood pellets at facilities in Lassen and Tuolumne counties and ship them off to Europe and Asia to burn for electricity. All of the wood more than 1 million tons of it every year would converge at storage facilities at the Port of Stockton. The proposal has alarmed local groups that say the community has suffered poor health and government neglect for far too long. They question whether the proposal will actually reduce the threat of wildfire, and wonder why South Stockton should shoulder the burden of increased truck and shipping pollution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: The Mountain fire was the third most destructive wildfire in a decade. These maps show why Environmental advocates also worry that the forest thinning portion of the project will focus more on biofuel companies' bottom lines than forest health, doing little to prevent wildfires. The enormous project has been proposed by Golden State Natural Resources, a nonprofit created by a coalition of rural county governments. Heavy machinery transports logs at a Tuolumne County property where GSNR hopes to build a pellet processing plant. (Noah Haggerty / Los Angeles Times) GSNR's leaders as well as many residents from Stockton to the Sierra foothills view the project as a bold and much-needed step toward protecting California's people and forests from wildfires, creating a renewable energy source and generating jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GSNR claims that, although the project will release a significant amount of carbon into the air through operations and the trees that are burned for energy, the project could ultimately be carbon neutral or even carbon negative through the wildfires it prevents and the carbon re-absorbed by forests after they're treated. However, scientific studies have found that biofuel projects often fail to meet this benchmark, and sometimes even perform worse than coal. But researchers note that using more sustainable harvest practices, such as the wildfire mitigation work GSNR says it will perform, can result in lower carbon emissions. I think what differentiates us is that were coming from this from a public agency ethos, said Patrick Blacklock, president of GSNR. Were here to help our communities and invest in our communities. Megan Fiske, an environmental advocate with Ebbetts Pass Forest Watch, photographs a dogwood tree in Stanislaus National Forest. (Noah Haggerty / Los Angeles Times) Sixty miles inland from Stockton, Megan Fiske, an environmental advocate with Ebbetts Pass Forest Watch, drove through the winding dirt roads of Stanislaus National Forest in her black Tacoma pickup. The understory of the ponderosa and sugar pine forest was speckled with manzanita, oak trees and dogwoods with yellow leaves, marking the start of fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Piles of twigs, pine needles and larger logs are scattered through the forest. The bases of many pine trunks were charred black but the culprits weren't a logging company or a wildfire. It was the U.S. Forest Service. The agencys SERAL project is one of the Forest Services 10 initial projects trailblazing an ambitious national, interagency plan to confront the crisis of worsening wildfires and protect vulnerable communities. (SERAL is short for Social and Ecological Resilience Across the Landscape.) GSNR hopes to use leftover wood from projects like these to produce more than 1 million tons of pellets annually. Many forest health experts view prescribed burns as the golden standard of forest health management tools. But in many places where fire has been suppressed for decades if not centuries theres often so much vegetation that even controlled burns run the risk of exploding into a megafire. When the Forest Service performs mechanical thinning, it often leaves piles of logs that cannot be sold. The GSNR project hopes to use such logs in its biofuel business. (Noah Haggerty / Los Angeles Times) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, forest experts must turn to another tool. Mechanical thinning does much of the work of prescribed burning methodically by hand: cutting down small trees, removing brush, pruning the lower limbs of larger trees so fire cant climb up into the canopy. Once all this vegetation is chopped, its typically thrown into piles in the forest, which are then burned. GSNR wants to process this wood instead, and also conduct its own mechanical thinning work. In 2021, a task force created by Gov. Gavin Newsom found that California needs to treat roughly 1 million acres of forest with mechanical thinning and prescribed burns every year to prevent the dangerous buildup of flammable vegetation that can fuel devastating wildfires. In 2023, state and federal agencies along with private entities treated nearly 700,000 acres in California. Megan Fiske stands in a clear-cut logging site. She and other forest advocates fear that the GSNR biofuel project would open the door to similar practices. (Noah Haggerty / Los Angeles Times) GSNR plans to thin up to 85,000 acres every year. But whereas mechanical thinning projects like SERAL are backed by decades of forest science, some activists and forest watchers worry financial pressures could push GSNR to go too far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most forest health experts agree that trees with a diameter at chest height of around 16 inches are fair game for mechanical thinning work. But while GSNRs draft environmental impact report guides its projects to follow this consensus, it leaves the door open for the nonprofit to chop down trees with a diameter of up to 30 inches. GSNR says that it will do its best to stick to 16 inches and under, but that some situations may warrant larger trees to get the chop. It has yet to explicitly define which situations would allow for this exception. Activists worry that, if GSNR is struggling to meet its production goals, it could abuse this ambiguity to cut larger trees in a wide range of circumstances. "That's why we're going through this process to get that feedback, to get the recommendations," Blacklock said of concerns about the size of trees allowed to be taken. "Are there ways to tighten it up, to alleviate those concerns? ... If so, then we would absolutely consider it and build it into the final" environmental impact report. Parts of South Stockton already have worse air quality than 99% of the state . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the most affected neighborhoods, residents have a life expectancy 13 years lower than the states average. They are also 60% more likely to die of a respiratory disease and almost twice as likely to die of heart disease. "Asthma is so accepted in our community that it's like getting glasses," said Dillon Delvo, co-founder of Little Manila Rising, a group that was created to protect the city's Filipino neighborhood once the largest population of Filipinos outside the Philippines from getting bulldozed. The air near the Port of Stockton already fails to meet state and federal regulations on particulate matter made up of soot, metals, construction dust and smoke. A draft of GSNR's environmental impact report found that the project would worsen the pollution by roughly 2%. The pellet facility operations would also exacerbate nitrogen oxide air pollution which can cause eye irritation, nausea and respiratory issues by roughly 18%, in violation of local air standards, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's not just the fact that they're trying to bring these industries in," Delvo said, "but they've come at a cost specifically to the health of South Stockton residents." In 2015, a San Joaquin County grand jury found that South Stockton cut off from the north by a cross-town freeway had been largely neglected by City Hall for years. Through the early 2000s, Delvo and Little Manila Rising co-founder Dawn Mabalon successfully got the city to designate the Filipino neighborhood within South Stockton, just a few miles southeast of Boggs Tract, as a historic site and fended off an eight-square-block project to demolish homes and replace them with a strip mall. But they struggled to get environmental justice programs off the ground. Gloria Estefani Alonso Cruz, environmental justice advocacy coordinator at Little Manila Rising, reflects at an altar for co-founder Dawn Mabalon, who died of an asthma attack in 2018. (Noah Haggerty / Los Angeles Times) "The city refused to partner with us, which is insane," Delvo said. "All the data shows obviously, its in the 100% percentile for asthma-related issues. You built a freeway next to places where there are families and children and schools. Theyre all breathing that air. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, in 2018, Mabalon suddenly died of an asthma attack at age 46. I didnt really understand that a diagnosis at the age of 11 could mean a death sentence at the age of 46, Delvo said. It took Dawns death for me to understand that. In the years since, Little Manila Rising has seen significant progress. It started a program Decreasing Asthma Within Neighborhoods (DAWN), named after Mabalon aimed at helping residents manage their asthma. The city is also starting to see millions from investments announced in 2017 to clean up its air and address environmental inequities. Delvo and Gloria Estefani Alonso Cruz, Little Manila's environmental justice advocacy coordinator, view the GSNR project as a betrayal of these promises. Although GSNRs environmental review found that an increase in pollution in violation of current standards is unavoidable, Blacklock said GSNR hopes to support efforts to electrify port operations to reduce pollution. In October, the port won a $110-million federal grant to do so. GSNR also claims the pollution from the port would pale in comparison with pollution created from wildfires including in the Stockton area. Particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in size, PM2.5, sits at a concentration around 40 micrograms per cubic meter in Stockton, but the 2020 August Complex fires raised that level to more than 70 for multiple days . GSNRs project would raise pollution levels by roughly 1 microgram per cubic meter for the duration of its operations in the port area. Industrial buildings stand at the Port of Stockton. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) In general, chronic exposure to PM2.5 can result in health outcomes eight times worse than short-term exposures from sources such as wildfires, according to Joel Schwartz , a professor of environmental epidemiology at Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health. However, he noted, GSNRs project could potentially reduce short-term exposures for many more people than the number for whom it would worsen chronic exposures, likely resulting in a net positive. That's a troubling prospect for area residents. I want prosperity in our community, Delvo said. I am not against economic development. I want more of our young people to be able to go off to college and come back and have jobs here. Were just concerned about why is the cost always the health of our community? This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Protect farmworkers If Trump deports farm workers, who will be left to pick Californias crops? | Opinion, (modbee.com, Nov. 20) I read with interest Fresno Bee Opinion Writer Tad Webers column about the vast dangers Donald Trumps mass deportation plan poses for the Central Valley as well as our entire national economy. Deporting hard working taxpayers who harvest our food is ill conceived and will cause both far-reaching economic and social consequences. I urge our lawmakers to provide a safeguard against deportation of these folks who are, frankly, the backbone of our economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joan Tilbury Escalon Opinion Season of giving Freeze warning issued for Modesto area. Heres how long cold weather is expected to last, (modbee.com, Nov. 19) Its going to be a cold winter, and local charities are asking folks to look in their closets for coats and jackets that can be donated to help keep low-income people warm. In this season of giving, I encourage those who can donate items or cash to local charities to do so. Local nonprofits like The Modesto Love Center, the Salvation Army, Modesto Gospel Mission and Church in the Park all have websites that take donations. Any bit you can contribute is wanted and appreciated. Donations made in our community stay here to benefit friends and neighbors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daniel Marsh Modesto Protecting ag land If Stanislaus County wants to remain a top ag producer, it must protect prime farmland | Opinion, (modbee.com, June 15) On November 2, the California Farmland Trust celebrated its 20th anniversary in a 100-year-old barn in Modestos Wood Colony. While the trusts offices are in Elk Grove, it seemed fitting to hold the celebration in Modesto where our story began. The trust first started as a group focused on the bounty of and challenges in Californias Central Valley one of those challenges being protecting agricultural land. A handful of citizens began work on creating a farmland trust. Fast forward to today, Carol Whiteside and the persistence of many have helped permanently protect 18,259 acres of farmland in Californias Central Valley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jeani Ferrari Founding director, Stanislaus Farmland Trust Charlotte Mitchell Executive director, California Farmland Trust Shocked and disappointed COP29 ends with deal on climate finance after bitter fight, (modbee.com, Nov. 23) While the outcome of the COP29 summit in Baku may have been hailed as a step forward, the reality is far more concerning. As a climate justice activist and member of various ecological associations, I have followed international climate negotiations for over a decade. I could not disagree more with this articles assertion that COP29 succeeded in keeping the multilateral system alive. Although there is some modest increase in funding, negotiations at the conference entailed many compromising measures that effectively water down the urgent need to tackle the climate crisis. Alarmingly, it contains no clear commitments to the phasing out of fossil fuels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What is perhaps most troubling is the failure of delivery on the needs of the worlds most vulnerable nations. Developing countries have long demanded more significant financial support, especially in the form of grants and not loans that would only add to their indebtedness. Jorge Manuel Tun Rocha Atwater California Sen. Alex Padilla aims to keep Californias resources out of President-elect Donald Trumps mass deportation plans, adhering to the constitutional requirement that the federal government control the border, he said Sunday. "There's an important distinction here. No state's government, not Texas, not California, not any state in the nation has a constitutional authority to impose federal immigration law. That is the responsibility of the federal government, Padilla, a Democrat, told guest host Major Garrett on CBS' "Face the Nation." Trump has promised to declare a national emergency and use the military for mass deportations, with backlash to the threat from many Democrats and even some Republicans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Let the federal government do the federal government's job, but have state and local officials do the state and local officials' job. There doesn't have to be a conflict unless that's what Trump wants, Padilla said. California Senate Bill 54, a 2017 law which prohibits state and local law enforcement from using resources to assist in federal immigration enforcement, might bring that conflict. Incoming Trump administration border czar Tom Homan recently warned that local law enforcement who do not cooperate with I.C.E. agents in the process of deportation will be federally prosecuted. Some states like Texas want to push the envelope and try to find a way to assist, but there's no obligation to do so, Padilla said. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has insisted that if the U.S. fails to protect the border properly, Texas has the right to do so on its own. For instance, the state has installed razor wire across its border with Mexico. Padilla emphasized that California will not utilize state and local resources to do the federal government's job for them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Padilla is not the only California politician to speak up against Trumps border policies. California State Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas has promised to ensure that people feel protected and they feel welcomed. Gov. Gavin Newsom made it clear that California will be leading the resistance to Trump in a myriad of ways, including on immigration. California is the most populous state in the nation, the most diverse state in the nation, home to more immigrants than any state in the nation, Padilla said. The last thing you want to do is have immigrants who are victims of crime afraid to come forward to report the crime. The last thing you want is immigrants who may be witnesses to crime be afraid to come forward and share any information they have in the investigation and prosecution of crimes. In addition to immigration, Padilla expressed concern over Trumps relationship to California at large. If the federal government will continue to support California in its leadership and so many policy areas, there's a lot of good work to be done there. But Donald Trump has made it no secret he has it in for California, the senator said, referencing money from FEMA that Trump tried to keep from not the government of California but from California families simply because it's a state that did not vote for him in the presidential election. He continued: We're trying to inoculate ourselves from those types of threats. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Just over a month away from the start of the regular bi-annual legislative session, with mechanizations already in motion. Capitol View host Roby Brock met with Republican senator Jonathan Dismang to talk about the new budget plan presented by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, along with other priorities on the legislative plate. Roby then talks with Arkansas-Democrat-Gazette columnist John Brummett to talk about President-elect Donald Trumps cabinet picks and the upcoming legislative session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Capitol View airs on Sundays at 8:30 a.m. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. FRENCH CREEK, W.Va. (WBOY) Thanksgiving may have been just a few days ago, but for many this weekend means the beginning of holiday shopping, including for the perfect Christmas tree. The trees are much more than Christmas decorations as they play an important part in maintaining the health of our environment. According to the West Virginia Christmas Tree Growers Association (WVCTGA), one acre of Christmas trees produces the daily oxygen requirements for 18 people. In West Virginia, more than 400 Christmas tree farms are protecting the soil from erosion, providing habitat for wildlife and much more. 12 News spoke with the local French Creek Christmas Trees farm to learn all you need to know about how to care for a live Christmas tree. French Creek Christmas Trees farm (WBOY image) We just recommend that they slice a little sliver off the end of the trunk, immediately put it in water and keep the tree watered and there is no reason that these fir trees were producing right now wont stay fresh in their house at least well into January without dropping needles, owner of the farm Ron Fowler said. Keep them away from heat, dont put them next to a fire, and keep them watered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Will West Virginias drought affect your chance at getting a live Christmas tree? The WVCTGA also recommends the Christmas tree stand should hold at least one gallon of water. You should check water levels daily and do not let it go dry. If it does, the sap will seal the stump and it will not take in water. And when it comes to lighting, WVCTGA recommends to use UL-listed lighting and check their condition. To see all the local Christmas tree farms in the area, click here. French Creek Christmas Trees farm (WBOY image) Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. Every morning, Nichole Babbitt walks her twin 3-year-olds to the day care facility down the street when it opens at 7 a.m. Then she calls a ride-hailing service to get to her office at the Texas Department of Transportation by 7:30 a.m. If she took the bus, she would be late every day. If she needs to go to the grocery store, she loads up car seats and the twins into a ride-hailing service vehicle. The Austin mom, who celebrated her first year of sobriety in November after 20 years of addiction, knows that not having a car is just a small bump in the road. But it's a $500-a-month expense that she cannot afford. Every night, Nathan Davis takes a $60 ride-hailing service trip to get to work from his mother-in-law's home in Pflugerville to the airport, where he loads planes. Then, during the day, he takes college courses online while caring for his son, Nakari, 16 months, who has a disorder that affects his eyesight, hearing and development. The family's car was stolen in the spring, and they had to leave their South Austin apartment after the air conditioning broke yet again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Del Valle teacher William Daugherty uses ride-hailing services, or a friend's truck if it's available, to get to work when he is healthy enough. The rides are expensive because he lives in Bee Cave. His non-Hodgkin lymphoma has returned for the fourth time, making teaching every day difficult and making a vehicle to get to his treatment a necessity. These are just three of the people highlighted in this year's Austin American-Statesman Season for Caring program. The families are chosen by local nonprofits, who will use donations to help the featured families first and then help hundreds of other families throughout the year. Nichole Babbitt, right, plays with her 3-year-old daughters Harlow Babbitt, center, and Harper Babbitt, left. Getting a car would mean that Babbitt would no longer have to rely on ride-hailing services to get to work or the grocery store or to the emergency room if one of her daughters is sick. This year, the most requested thing the featured families have on their list is a gently used car or car repairs. They are stuck between relying on expensive ride-hailing services or taxis or begging friends or family for rides or the use of a vehicle. Often, the bus doesn't get them easily to where they need to go. Season for Caring invites the community to help our families with reliable transportation. Donate a vehicle, donate car repairs, or buy an Uber or Lyft gift card and send it to the agency. We also invite local car dealers to help Season for Caring agencies with securing a deal on a used car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, First Texas Honda helped the Breast Cancer Resource Center get a used vehicle for its Season for Caring recipient. It has made all the difference in that family's life. Here are the families who need help with transportation: Dexy Amador and Dennis Rodriguez: These parents from Honduras came to the United States to seek better medical care for their son, who was having seizures. They need a pickup for Rodriguez's work. Foundation Communities, 737-267-5738, foundcom.org. Nichole Babbitt: This single mom is rebuilding her life after being homeless and getting sober. She needs a gently used car and ride-hailing service gift cards. Foundation for the Homeless, 500 E. St. Johns Ave., Suite 2.400, Austin, TX 78752, 512-453-6570, foundationhomeless.org. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jazmin Campbell: This 21-year-old went from being a high school cheerleader to being in a wheelchair because of a neurological disorder. She needs repairs to her wheelchair-accessible van. Austin Palliative Care, 512-397-3360, option 3, austinpalliativecare.org. Thamairis Canales Yanez: This mother from Venezuela has breast cancer that has gone to her brain. She wants to create stability for her daughter, Ivanna, who is 14. Her biggest need is a car with self-braking. Breast Cancer Resource Center, 512-524-2560, bcrc.org. Teacher William Daugherty walks on campus at the Del Valle school district's Alternative Education Program. He currently does not have a vehicle to get to work or to treatments for his lymphoma. William Daugherty: The Del Valle middle school teacher's car was repossessed during his cancer treatments. He needs a gently used car as well as ride-hailing service gift cards. Community Action Inc. of Central Texas, 215 S. Reimer Ave., Suite 140, San Marcos, TX 78666, 512-392-1161, communityaction.com. Kathia Gomez: This mom of three boys continues to deal with the trauma of raising herself after her mother was deported when she was 12. She wants better for her boys. She needs a gently used car. SAFE, 512-844-1392, safeaustin.org. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ana Laura Martinez Aranda and Olga Aranda Guzman: Ana and her mother, Olga, came to the United States from Mexico to escape violence. They have been homeless and lived in their car. They need car repairs. Hospice Austin, 512-342-4726, hospiceaustin.org. Gina Lopez: This Georgetown mom has pancreatic cancer and is unable to work during treatment. She and her family need help with car repairs. Wonders & Worries, 512-329-5757, wondersandworries.org. Nathan Davis lifts his son, Nakari, out of his stroller during an evening walk. Nakari, 2, has septo-optic nerve dysplasia, which causes eyesight problems and development issues. The family's car was stolen in the spring. Jalayah Patterson and Nathan Davis: They need a gently used car and ride-hailing service gift cards. Any Baby Can, 6207 Sheridan Ave., Austin, TX 78723, 512-276-8199, anybabycan.org. Carlos Vallejo Jr.: This native Austinite lost his right arm and leg in a boating accident. He needs a more accessible vehicle. Meals on Wheels Central Texas, 512-476-6325, mealsonwheelscentraltexas.org Statesman Season for Caring logo Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About Season for Caring The Statesman will be sharing the stories of all 12 Season for Caring families throughout the holiday season. Find more stories and information at statesman.com/seasonforcaring. All donations are being matched up to $500,000 by the Sheth family through Christmas Day. You can donate online or use the coupon on Page 27A and mail it to Austin Community Foundation, c/o Statesman Season for Caring, 4315 Guadalupe St., Suite 300, Austin, TX 78751. Make checks payable to Statesman Season for Caring. Use the form below or click here: https://statesmansfc.kimbia.com/statesmanseasonforcaring This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Statesman Season for Caring families need used cars. How you can help. Delegates seeking the worlds first deal to curb plastic pollution began openly advocating for an extension of talks on Sunday, accusing a handful of nations of obstructing an ambitious agreement. Nearly 200 nations are in South Koreas Busan for negotiations that are supposed to result in a landmark accord after two years of discussions. - Advertisement - But a week of talks has failed to resolve deep divisions between high-ambition countries seeking a globally binding agreement to limit production and phase out harmful chemicals, and like-minded nations who want to focus on waste. A new draft text, released Sunday afternoon after multiple delays, still includes a wide range of options, making clear the ongoing level of disagreement. German delegate Sebastian Unger told AFP he was disappointed about lack of progress. The text should be preserved to continue negotiations and bring (the) process forward at (a) future meeting. The prospect of an INC 5.2 meeting to follow the INC5 talks in Busan was also raised by Senegals Cheikh Sylla. If you ask me we stop, we adapt the paper as it is and we try to do another session, he told AFP. That would offer time to bring the positions closer together, and at this session 5.2, we can reach an agreement that is balanced. The calls reflect a sense that there is simply too little time left to overcome the opposition from mainly oil-producing nations such as Saudi Arabia and Russia, who have repeatedly refused to comment when approached by AFP. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Getty Images Transport for London (TFL) is reportedly installing CCTV cameras at 20 bus shelters in London to help combat violence against women and girls. The technology was tested at five bus stops in March, and will now be installed at 15 more locations in Brent, Croydon, Hackney, Hammersmith, Fulham, Hillingdon, Lambeth, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest and Westminster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TFL has explained that the locations in these boroughs were chosen to help understand the effectiveness of CCTV cameras across a wide range of areas in London, including areas with a high footfall, as well as quieter areas with infrequent buses, high crime areas, or places with significant reports of incidents involving female victims. The Metropolitan Police will have live access, and the footage will be held for 31 days to aid in any potential investigations. The results of the trial will be used to evaluate the costs and the feasibility of a wider rollout of CCTV cameras to other locations in London. There are currently 19,000 bus stops in London, so these cameras will currently only monitor 3.8% of the city's locations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Independent London thinktank Center for London reported that 45% of women in London feel unsafe at night at their local bus stop, while 47% feel unsafe on the tube. They also reported that while 44% of women said they would like to see more police resources focused on improving safety for women and girls, 51% would like to see an introduction of respect and consent training in schools. Met Commander Ben Russell said: This pilot will help protect women and girls, meaning they can enjoy safer spaces across the capital. It also aims to help us bring more dangerous predators to justice, with CCTV being used as a key tool as part of our investigations. Nicola Kalms, associate professor and founder of XYX Lab, a design research company exploring gender-sensitive design practices and theory, believes that CCTV can actually deter women. Her immediate response is to think that shes in an unsafe place The symbolic impact of the CCTV camera is really shaping womens behaviour in cities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She believes that while CCTV cameras provide a short term solution, they do not capture certain types of sexual harassment such as verbal or stalking. She also alluded to maintenance, and the ease with which CCTV cameras can be vandalized, as well as issues with quality of footage and glitches with the technology. Why not take a look at our guides to the best 360 degree outdoor security cameras, the best fake security cameras, and the best floodlight security cameras. While you're here, why not take a look at the best best Black Friday camera deals, and the best Black Friday drone deals. Experts from the Olomouc Archaeological Center recently uncovered a large Celtic cremation burial site dating to the 3rd2nd centuries BC. Besides this, skeletal graves belonging to the 9th10th centuries AD were also discovered. The site also included an Early Stone Age settlement of the first farmers, dated around 5,000 BC. The discovery was made in Dluhonice near Prerov (a city in the Czech Republic) from mid-September to the end of November. The area measured approximately 250 x 15 meters. The research area is designated for the future construction of a road leading to family houses. The contractor for the project is the city of Prerov, as per a press statement. Celtic cremation graves and warrior burials uncovered in Dluhonice The press statement added that a key discovery in Dluhonice is a large necropolis from the Latene cultural period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to lead archaeologist Marek Kalabek, This is an exceptional find, as Celtic graves from other sites are usually skeletal and occur in lower numbers. Here we managed to uncover several dozen cremation graves, which is truly unique. Archaeologists also discovered a total of 33 cremation graves, which makes this burial ground one of the most numerous in Central Moravia. However, some parts of the burial site got damaged due to deep plowing in the last century, making it difficult for archaeological intervention. Additionally, the excavations revealed the grave of a Celtic warrior buried with his iron sword, spear, and belt, indicating his eliteness. An iron sword with a double-edged edge, used for fighting or defense. On the blade of the sword, we found traces of dents and battering said trailologist Michael Kamarad. The other graves, however, were modest, noted the statement. Most of these were small sunken pits with a circular or rectangular plan with poor equipment in the form of fragments of metal artefacts and ceramics." It added that the equipment used by the deceased was made of ceramics, bronze, and iron, including a bronze buckle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also noted that the Celts would carry out the cremation rituals so effectively that only small fragments of skeletal remains were preserved, a common issue in the analysis of cremation burials. Their bodies were burned at temperatures around 600C, as per experts. Slavic graves from the Great Moravian Empire with unique artifacts found Besides this, archaeologists also discovered Slavic skeletal graves and a double grave from the 9th and 10th centuries. These belong to the period of the Great Moravian Empire. This culture represented deep chamber graves, which the researchers also discovered in Dluhonice. According to the Christian burial method, the body was placed in the grave with the head facing west, with the lower limbs stretched out and mostly without rich equipment, noted experts. One of the most interesting ones among these included the grave of a woman carrying a ceramic vessel, a chisel set, and an iron sickle with a wooden handle. Some of the other graves consisted of little jewelry, iron knives, ceramic vessels, and flint sets. A grave from the Great Moravian Empire. Courtesy: Olomouc Archaeological Centre First farmer settlement and over 300 artefacts discovered from the Late Stone Age The oldest settlement, which numbered over 300 found objects, is associated with the culture of the first farmers living in the younger Stone Age, who are the bearers of the so-called cultures with linear ceramics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here, experts discovered floor plans of long houses, storage pits, furnaces, and sunken pits. They used clay from pits as insulation for wooden walls and to build furnace vaults. It also served as raw material for ceramics. Once the pits were no longer needed, they were usually filled with waste. "We discovered numerous ceramics, chipped flint tools, fragments of ground axes, and stone mills for grinding grain," said Kalabek. These artifacts provide valuable insights into the daily lives of prehistoric people. Experts added that they examined a total of 51 graves and 300 residential buildings. As of now, they will hand over the discovered objects to the Comenius Museum in Prerov. They also note that the artifacts will help contribute to further research about Moravia. ST. CHARLES, Ill. A use-of-force investigation is underway in the fatal police shooting of a chainsaw-wielding man who threatened residents of a St. Charles assisted living center Sunday morning. On Monday afternoon, authorities identified the man as Daniel Escalera, 41, of Stockwell, Indiana. Escalera has no known ties to the area or the senior living center. The St. Charles Police Department has no previous contacts with him and his reason for being in St. Charles or at this facility are unknown at this time, police said in a press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He had a lengthy criminal history, according to court records. The St. Charles Police Department said at around 8:45 a.m. Sunday, officers were sent to the 900 block of North Fifth Avenue for a welfare check after witnesses said a shirtless man was holding a chainsaw and attempting to cut down a tree on the property of the River Glen of St. Charles assisted living center. Just before police arrived, witnesses said Escalera had gotten into the lobby of the building and had started confronting residents with the chainsaw, according to investigators. High School secretary killed in apparent murder-suicide in Portage Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said officers arrived on scene and tried to de-escalate the situation, to no avail. Despite a taser being deployed on Escalera, he continued his threat, forcing an officer to fire his weapon, hitting the suspect. Escalera was then taken to Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital, where he died. Residents of the assisted living facility and responding officers were treated at the scene for minor injuries, according to police. Jay Davis, who was scheduled to do work Sunday for a resident at the facility, spoke to WGN about arriving at the scene. I came in, and I dont know, he said. It was weird. It was really weird. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Illinois State Police said its investigators will conduct an investigation regarding the officers use of force. Once thats completed, ISP will turn all reports over to the Kane County States Attorneys Office for an independent review of the facts. The shooting officer has been placed on paid administrative leave, per protocol. Habitual criminal charged with felony murder in Oak Park detectives shooting death River Glen of St. Charles also issued the following statement regarding Sunday mornings incident: An unauthorized person briefly entered our community and was quickly stopped by responding officers. We are deeply grateful for the swift action of our team and law enforcement. We want to emphasize that our community is secure, and all residents and staff members are safe. The safety and security of our residents and staff remain our highest priority. We are working closely with law enforcement as they continue their investigation of this isolated incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. More than 20,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel since Sir Keir Starmer became Prime Minister. It is understood official Home Office figures due out on Monday will show that the total has topped 20,000 crossings since Sir Keir entered Number 10 in July. Some 50,637 arrivals were recorded during Rishi Sunaks premiership, which began on October 25 2022. It took around eight-and-a-half months for migrant crossings to top 20,000 after Mr Sunak became prime minister. More than 20,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel since Labour won the election (Gareth Fuller/PA) (PA Wire) His tenure began in the autumn, meaning his first few months in power coincided with winter weather conditions when typically fewer crossings take place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By contrast, Sir Keir took on the role in the middle of the summer period when crossings are usually at their most numerous and frequent amid spells of better weather. It took about five months for migrant crossings to hit 20,000 after he came to power. A Labour source told the PA news agency: Robert Jenrick told the truth last week. He said the Tory Partys handling of immigration let the country down badly, and caused immense and lasting harm. He said the public had a right to be furious and that the Conservative Party should feel ashamed. We will not repeat those same mistakes, and nor will we let the Tories forget them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The source added: The country voted for change. The Home Secretary went to Iraq last week to sign a world-first deal on tackling these evil smuggling gangs that facilitate these Channel crossings. The Tories gimmicks like Rwanda didnt work, the former immigration minister, Robert Jenrick, admitted that. We have to smash the gangs, secure our borders, tackling this problem upstream. It comes after the Prime Minister announced a major overhaul of the immigration system and accused the Conservatives of running a one-nation experiment in open borders amid concerns over the number of people legally arriving in the UK. Sir Keir said his Government had inherited an utter mess in the Home Office and new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch admitted her party had failed on migration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Prime Minister told a Downing Street press conference: Let me say directly to the people watching: where the last government failed you, this one will not. They drove immigration numbers up. We will get them down. Recent figures showed the cost of the UKs asylum system has risen to 5 billion, the highest level of Home Office spending on record and up by more than a third in a year. Other data showed 35,651 asylum seekers were being housed in UK hotels at the end of September, up more than 6,000 since the end of June, signalling the first quarterly rise for a year. Meanwhile, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced a landmark deal with Iraq, intended to crack down on people-smuggling and boost border security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Prime Minister has put international co-operation with law enforcement agencies in Europe at the heart of his bid to cut the number of arrivals. He previously said his Government inherited a very bad position with record numbers of migrants in the first half of the year because the entire focus until we had the election was on a gimmick, the Rwanda gimmick, and not enough attention was on taking down the gangs that are running this vile trade. But if the boats and the engines arent available, it obviously makes it much more difficult for these crossings to be made. His comments came after he vowed to treat people smugglers like terrorists as he announced extra cash for his Border Security Command. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Cooper has so far not committed to a target or timeframe for curbing Channel crossings but pledged the Government will try and make progress as rapidly as possible. The National Crime Agency has said it is leading around 70 live investigations into organised immigration crime or human trafficking. Some 50 people have died while trying to cross the Channel this year, according to incidents recorded by the French coastguard, in what is considered the deadliest year since the crisis unfolded. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has also reported several more migrant deaths believed to be linked to crossing attempts so far in 2024. President-elect Donald Trump is unlikely to continue many of Biden's student-debt relief efforts. Borrowers are still waiting for a final court decision on the SAVE student-loan repayment plan. Even if the plan survives the courts, Trump and GOP lawmakers could take steps to rein in relief. During his term as president, Joe Biden has used various programs to cancel $175 billion in student debt for nearly 5 million borrowers. Those efforts will likely fizzle out over the next four years. Two of Biden's key debt-relief initiatives are tied up in court: his SAVE income-driven repayment plan, intended to make student-loan payments cheaper for borrowers, and his broader loan forgiveness plan, set to benefit over 30 million borrowers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Millions of federal borrowers remain in limbo as they wait for court decisions, and even if the plans do survive the courts, President-elect Donald Trump is unlikely to prioritize either the broad or the incremental relief efforts that Biden planned to implement. "The Biden administration has taken a stance of, 'We want to try and forgive as much debt as possible through various different programs,'" Preston Cooper, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, told Business Insider. "And to put it mildly, we're not going to see that same attitude under the Trump administration." Trump has offered minimal detail on his student loan plans once he takes office. However, he has criticized broad student-loan forgiveness and ran up backlogs processing student-debt cancellation applications for key programs during his first term. Some higher education experts said borrowers can expect targeted relief and cheaper payments through SAVE to cease under Trump, and GOP control over Congress and the White House could enable that to happen quicker. Jared Bass, the senior vice president for education at the left-leaning Center for American Progress, told BI that Trump's administration "will not be as kind to student-loan borrowers." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think it'll be rolling back a lot of the progress that we saw for borrowers and borrower protections," Bass said. While Trump's team did not comment on future plans for debt relief, Trump called Biden's student-loan forgiveness "vile" during a June campaign rally and said that the relief "is not even legal." The fate of cheaper payments under Biden's SAVE plan Biden's SAVE plan lowered monthly payments for many borrowers based on their income and set them on a quicker path to relief. It has been blocked since July, following legal challenges from a group of GOP-led states. 8 million enrolled borrowers have been on an interest-free forbearance as they wait for a final court decision, and Cooper said that even if SAVE does prevail in federal court, Trump could work to eliminate the plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It looks probably more likely than not to be struck down in courts, but even if it's not, it's likely that the Trump administration would move to try and reverse that through regulation," Cooper said. Borrowers would likely lose the lower monthly payments they were receiving under SAVE if Trump eliminates the program, Bass said. To get rid of SAVE, Trump's administration would have to undergo the negotiated rulemaking process, which takes time and would not happen immediately, and borrowers would likely be put back on other existing income-driven repayment plans. With Republicans holding a majority over the House and Senate, it's possible that lawmakers would also introduce legislation to rein in loan cancellation plans like SAVE. That could include the College Cost Reduction Act, introduced by GOP Rep. Virginia Foxx in January. This bill would constrain the Education Department's ability to create new repayment plans by narrowing repayment options to a 10-year "mortgage-style" plan and an income-driven repayment plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Student-loan debt is skyrocketing, and completion rates are plummeting. There's bipartisan agreement that lasting reforms are needed to correct course," Foxx previously told BI. Uncertainty around public service loan forgiveness and relief for defrauded borrowers Two other of Biden's major relief efforts have been improvements to Public Service Loan Forgiveness, or PSLF, which forgives student debt for government and nonprofit workers after 10 years of qualifying payments, and borrower defense, which forgives debt for borrowers who were defrauded by the schools they attended. Trump proposed eliminating PSLF during his first term but doing so would require congressional approval, and there has not yet been sufficient support among lawmakers to get rid of the program. However, Cooper said it's possible that Trump's administration could "take a bit more of a skeptical attitude" with borrower defense applications because the Education Department determines if a borrower faced fraud and meets the qualifications for relief. "I think that if a loan cancellation program is set out clearly in law, the administration will have to implement that faithfully," Cooper said. "If it's a loan cancellation program that leaves a lot more discretion up to the Department of Education, we could certainly see some major swings in policy." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Bobby Scott, the top Democrat on the House education committee, urged Biden's Education Department in a November letter to follow through on its loan discharges for borrowers deemed eligible for relief before Trump takes office. "As the Administration winds down its work, I am deeply concerned about the future and whether much of this progress will be undone, ultimately harming student borrowers, particularly those who have already been promised debt relief through Borrower Defense and through Public Service Loan Forgiveness," Scott wrote. Trump could also choose not to carry out Biden's broader relief plans, including one that aims to provide relief to categories of borrowers, including those whose balances have grown due to unpaid interest, along with a separate proposal to provide relief to borrowers experiencing financial hardship. Read the original article on Business Insider CHICAGO A man was killed and a woman was seriously injured after a shooting Friday night in Chicago Lawn. Chicago police said the shooting happened at around 9:50 p.m. in the 6700 block of South Western Avenue. Habitual criminal charged with felony murder in Oak Park detectives shooting death The victims were reportedly standing on the sidewalk when an unknown male suspect fired shots. A 33-year-old man was shot multiple times and taken to Christ Hospital where he died. A 30-year-old woman was also shot multiple times and taken to the hospital in serious condition, according to investigators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No arrests have been made and Area One Detectives are investigating. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. CHICAGO A 37-year-old Chicago man has been charged with first-degree murder for the fatal Friday morning shooting of an Oak Park police detective, according to local authorities. On Saturday, the Cook County states attorneys office charged North Lawndale resident Jerell Thomas with the murder of Detective Allan Reddins, who was killed in the line of duty in the near west suburb. Reddins, who has worked with the Oak Park Police Department since 2019, was shot while responding to a call regarding an armed offender seen leaving a bank in the 1000 block of Lake Street, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Reddins and other officers began to approach Thomas, he refused to follow their commands and opened fire, shooting Reddins in his left side, according to investigators. Reddins was transported to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, where he died of his injuries. Court records reveal a history of violence between Thomas and police officers. Two years ago, he pled guilty to aggravated battery of a police officer for allegedly punching a Chicago police officer in the face and resisting his arrest in 2019, according to court records. In 2015, Thomas faced aggravated battery to a police officer charges after allegedly resisting arrest and struggling with officers as they attempted to cuff him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thomas also had several arrests for domestic battery. In 2013, he pleaded guilty to domestic battery, but his conditional discharge was terminated unsatisfactorily, the records showed. Thomas was shot in the leg during the Friday confrontation and is currently receiving treatment at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood for his non-life-threatening injury, according to authorities. The date and time of his detention hearing had not yet been determined due to his hospitalization, Oak Park authorities said. In addition to first-degree murder, Thomas also faces charges of attempted murder of a peace officer, possession of a stolen firearm and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon. Reddins was the first Oak Park police officer to be shot in the line of duty in over 85 years, according to authorities. OAK PARK, Ill. (AP) Authorities have charged a 37-year-old Chicago man with first-degree murder in the shooting death of a suburban police detective. Detective Allan Reddins of the Oak Park Police Department was killed Friday morning after responding to a report of a man leaving a bank with a gun in the suburb just west of Chicago, according to police. He later died at a local hospital. On Saturday the Cook County state's attorney's office charged Jerell Thomas of Chicago in the killing. Thomas was also charged with attempted murder of a peace officer, possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oak Park authorities alleged Thomas began shooting when approached by Reddins and other officers. Thomas was injured in the leg and remained hospitalized Sunday with non-life threatening injuries. No bond hearing has been set. A listed phone number for Thomas was disconnected. An email message seeking comment was left for him Sunday. Investigators called Thomas a habitual criminal with a previous arrests for aggravated battery of a police officer, domestic battery, battery and resisting a police officer. Reddins, 40, was the first Oak Park police officer shot in the line of duty since 1938, according to Oak Park officials. He had worked for the department since 2019. CHICAGO Chicago police are warning Oakland residents about a series of armed robberies. Police said the incidents happened at the following times and locations: 4000 block of south Oakenwald Ave. on October 4, 2024 at 6:45 P.M. 4000 block of south Oakenwald Ave. on November 10, 2024 at 3:30 P.M. 1000 block of east 40th Pl. on November 26, 2024 at 4:00 P.M. The suspects reportedly placed an advertisement on an online marketplace offering to sell a motorcycle. The victims agreed to meet the suspects to buy the motorcycle and when they arrived, the suspects directed them to a back alley, according to investigators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Police said thats when one of the suspects showed a handgun and took the victims money before all suspects ran off. The suspects are described as two men between 58 and 510 in height and wearing dark clothing. Anyone with information is asked to call Area One Detectives at 312-747-8380 or submit an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com and using reference number #P24-1-183A. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te was feted with red carpets, garlands of flowers and alohas as he kicked off his two-day stopover in Hawaii on Saturday, part of a Pacific tour that has sparked fiery rhetoric from Beijing. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has responded to Lais first overseas trip as president with threats to resolutely crush any attempt for independence. - Advertisement - Looking relaxed in a Hawaiian shirt, Lai flitted around the US island state, visiting a Pacific island history museum, an emergency management centre and the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbour. Earlier, he was given the red carpet treatment on the tarmac of Honolulus international airport, according to his office, which said it was the first time a Taiwanese president had been given such a welcome. He was met by Ingrid Larson, managing director in Washington of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), Hawaii Governor Josh Green, and others. At every turn, Lai was presented with garlands of brightly coloured flowers or leaves known as leis, greetings of aloha, and other Hawaiian gifts. In the evening, Lai received a standing ovation as he walked down a red carpet for a dinner with US government officials and Taiwanese people living abroad. In his first public speech of the week-long trip, Lai said he was grateful to the United States for its assistance in helping to ensure the success of the tour. The chairperson of the AIT, the body that serves as the de facto US embassy in Taiwan, said the partnership between Washington and Taipei was rock solid. The opportunity for you to engage with thought leaders, the diasporas community and state and local leaders is invaluable, and I know will contribute to further strengthening the rock solid US-Taiwan partnership, Laura Rosenberger said in a pre-recorded video played at the dinner. Beijing opposes any international recognition of Taiwan and its claim to be a sovereign state and especially bristles at official contact between the island and the United States. Like most countries, Washington does not recognize Taiwan diplomatically but is its most important backer and biggest supplier of arms. In a statement, Chinas foreign ministry said it strongly condemns the United States for Lais stopover and that it had lodged serious protests with the US. CHICAGO With Decembers arrival, bitterly cold weather is set to continue into early next week with wind chills in the single digits. The Chicago area has not seen such chilly weather since mid-January, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures on Saturday and Sunday nights are predicted to reach lows in the teens, according to the weather service forecast. Sunday should look like a carbon copy of Saturday, bringing cold weather, highs in the 20s and some sunshine in the afternoon, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Gino Izzi. There is also a slight chance of flurries on Sunday morning, but nothing of significance, Izzi said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The coldest wind chills a metric that describes how temperatures feel to the human body when combined with the wind intensity are predicted to occur in the early morning hours Sunday, when the wind chill may plummet down to 0 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the weather service. As a new week begins, the daily highs are predicted to be around freezing in the high 20s and lower 30s, with a chance of a little bit of light snow on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, according to Izzi. Wednesday should be the mildest day in the next 10 (days), Izzi said, with temperatures nearing 40 degrees. More cold air will return afterward and remain through next weekend, he added. The City of Chicago opened its warming centers on Friday and plans to make them available again on Monday, according to the Office of Emergency Management and Communications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only some of the warming locations will remain open throughout the weekend. Individuals seeking respite from the cold on Saturday and Sunday can visit the Garfield Community Service Center at 10 S Kedzie Avenue, Chicago Park District locations or most Chicago Public Library locations, which are all open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Chicago police district stations are also open for warming and do not have a stated time limitation. China has sent officials to the Russian central bank to study the effects of Western sanctions for a better understanding of how it would be affected if it were to invade Taiwan. Beijing had already set up a task force months after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, which was tasked with producing reports about the impacts of Western sanctions on the Russian economy. China is very interested in practically everything about the sanctions, including potentially positive effects on domestic production, a person with knowledge of the specialist task force told the Wall Street Journal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, China vowed resolute countermeasures on Sunday after the US approved an arms shipment to Taiwan. In addition to reports produced through the inter-agency, Chinese officials have been sent on recurring trips to Moscows central bank, ministry of finance and other government agencies that deal with Western sanctions. Western sanctions on China triggered by an invasion of Taiwan could put $3.7 trillion overseas bank assets and reserves at risk - Sergei Bobylev/Pool Sputnik Kremlin For the Chinese, Russia is really a sandbox on how sanctions work and how to manage them. They know that if there is a Taiwan contingency, the tool kit that will be applied against them will be similar, said Alexander Gabuev, director of Carnegie Russia Eurasia Centre. Russias economy defied expectations after Western sanctions were imposed, with consumer confidence increasing and wages growing in the months after the invasion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the Kremlin was recently forced to reassure Russians who feared they would be significantly impacted by the sudden collapse of the rouble, which plunged to its lowest level since the invasion began. The creation of a task force reflects deepening relations between Beijing and Moscow. Chinese companies are believed to be playing a pivotal role in the supply of weapons used by Russia in Ukraine. It also reflects concerns in Beijing over the $3.3 trillion it holds in foreign-exchange reserves the largest in the world. Officials in China have therefore been tasked with diversifying away from dollar-denominated assets, including American treasury bonds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Western sanctions on China triggered by an invasion of Taiwan could put $3.7 trillion in Chinese overseas bank assets and reserves at risk, according to a report by the Atlantic Council and Rhodium Group . One lesson China has learnt from Russias invasion of Ukraine is preparation, according to analysts, after watching how Russia diversified foreign reserves and de-dollarised its economy in the months before February 2022. But it has also learnt that the West can get their act together on sanctions when they have to, according to Agathe Demarais, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Lai Ching-te, president of Taiwan, said in the United States on Saturday that we have to fight together to prevent war, as he kicked off a week-long tour of the Pacific. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peace is priceless, and war has no winners, we have to fight, fight together to prevent war, Lai said during a visit to the USS Arizona Memorial in Hawaiis Pearl Harbour. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A Chinese invasion of Taiwan must focus on seizing a port to bring in tanks and supplies. Commercial or industrial ports are prime targets that would allow for rapid offloading. Taiwan may have the weapons and obstacles to turn its ports into fortresses. There are two requirements for a major amphibious invasion. The first is storming the beach. The second is no less important seizing a port. Without docks and cranes to unload reinforcements especially armored vehicles and supplies, everything has to be brought in over the open beach or flown in by helicopter. This can result in a race against time: can the invaders reinforce a large enough beachhead before the defenders try to push them into the sea? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As it contemplates an invasion of Taiwan, China is well aware of this problem. It knows full well that Taiwan will desperately defend its ports. Chinese military journals "argue that the success or failure of an invasion of Taiwan likely would hinge on whether Chinese amphibious-landing forces are able to seize, hold, and exploit the island's large port facilities," naval analyst Ian Easton wrote in a new book published by the China Maritime Studies Institute at the US Naval War College. "By themselves, Taiwan's beaches and coastal airports are too small to land enough [People's Liberation Army] troops, tanks, and supplies to secure a solid lodgment ashore," Easton wrote. "Because these sites lack purpose-built infrastructure for unloading large transports and because they occupy inherently exposed positions, PLA researchers fear that Chinese landing forces could be encircled on the beaches, showered with defensive fires, and overrun by Taiwanese counterattacks." Chinese analysts worry that Taiwan will turn its ports into fortresses against sea assault, including mines and obstacles, sink containerships to block shipping channels, and set the waters alight by pouring oil into them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The People's Liberation Army, as China's military is officially known, sees six options for taking Taiwan's ports, all of which have disadvantages, according to Easton. A direct assault runs into the teeth of port defenses. Landing on either side of a port with armor in a pincer attack is time-consuming. Quick surprise attacks with troops in hovercraft and sea-skimming helicopters suffer from limited transport capacity. Large air assaults with helicopter-carrying troops are threatened by Taiwanese air defenses. Special operations forces may be too lightly armed to seize ports. And beach assaults like D-Day come with the risk that Taiwanese troops could bottle up the attackers. Based on Chinese military writings, Chinese planners seem to be leaning towards a mix of these options, per Easton. An invasion would begin with heavy air, missile and naval bombardment, followed by commandos to knock out coastal defenses. "After beach obstacles and coastal fortifications have been destroyed using direct fires, large amphibious forces will make landings from the sea, supported by troops arriving by helicopters, hovercraft, and ultralights," Easton wrote. "Once ashore, amphibious-assault units will conduct pincer movements from the beaches, surrounding port zones and isolating defenders into pockets of resistance." Taiwanese forces train to defend against threats at sea, and in this exercise fired a US-made anti-tank missile. SAM YEH/AFP via Getty Images Once ashore, PLA troops will attack areas near the port from two sides at the same time as other assault units in low-flying helicopters and hovercraft strike at the port directly. Once it is captured, Chinese forces will dig in to resist a counterattack, while engineers repair the docks and clear the shipping lanes. The ports most likely to be attacked are those "that could support the rapid off-loading of main battle tanks and other heavy equipment. The ideal candidates for attack would be well-developed commercial or industrial ports flanked by beaches and river deltas in relatively flat and lightly urbanized areas," wrote Easton. The port of Taichung on the west coast of Taiwan is the most probable candidate, followed by Kaohsiung, Mailiao, Anping and Taiwan's capital Taipei. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Would this Chinese strategy work? Historically, armies and navies have avoided attacking heavily defended ports directly ("A ship's a fool to fight a fort," said the legendary British admiral Horatio Nelson). The most infamous example is the disastrous raid on the port of Dieppe in northern France by 10,000 Allied troops (the majority of them Canadian) in August 1942. Intended as a test operation for D-Day, the attackers suffered 5,000 dead and wounded, or about the half of the assault force. The lesson was so stinging that the Allies opted to make the Normandy invasion over the beaches, and then go on to capture a port. The challenge isn't just seizing a port, but also getting it in usable enough condition to allow tanks to be unloaded. As the Allies discovered while taking fortified ports such as Brest and Cherbourg in 1944, the Germans made such effective use of demolitions that the port facilities were inoperative for months. Easton suggests that Taiwan can beef up its port defenses, including missiles and mines, as well as units specially trained in urban warfare. Easton also believes that a first step could be removing the Chinese presence from Taiwanese ports, despite China accounting for 40% of Taiwan's exports. "Taiwanese leaders could close [Chinese Communist Party]-controlled representative offices," Easton wrote. "They could remove and replace critical port infrastructure that is linked to the Chinese military." In the end, the fate of an invasion of Taiwan turns on which side controls the ports. "The imagination-crushing dimensions of a PLA amphibious operation against Taiwan the moving of millions of humans and machines all rely on robust logistics lines," Easton wrote. "Without them, everything else quickly crumbles and falls apart." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds an MA in political science from Rutgers Univ. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn. Read the original article on Business Insider The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber has announced the four individuals who will be honored as Great Living Cincinnatians early next year. Great Living Cincinnatians are recognized for their business and civic attainment on a local, state, national or international level; leadership; awareness of the needs of others, and distinctive accomplishments that have brought favorable attention to their community, institution or organization. The 2025 honorees are: Jim Anderson, Dolores Lindsay, Chuck Scheper and Geraldine "Ginger" B. Warner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2025 honorees will join the previous 172 awardees chosen since 1967 for service to the community; business and civic attainment on a local, state, national or international level; leadership; awareness of the needs of others; and distinctive accomplishments that have brought favorable attention to their community, institution, or organization. 'Im uneasy with the status quo.' Jim Anderson, former Cincinnati Children's board chair, named Great Living Cincinnatian 'I loved every moment of it.' Dolores Lindsay, founder of the HealthCare Connection, named Great Living Cincinnatian 'I dont think Ive ever had a resume.' Chuck Scheper, Covington businessman and former mayor, named Great Living Cincinnatian Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'Look ahead.' Geraldine 'Ginger' Warner, longtime arts advocate, named Great Living Cincinnatian They will be honored at the chamber's 2025 annual dinner, "Legacy & Promise: A Celebration of Leadership," at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. For more information, visit cincinnatichamber.com/annual-dinner. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Chamber announces 2025 class of Great Living Cincinnatians An office sits vacant in San Francisco in October 2022. The city is one of several across the country offering incentives to convert unused office space into housing. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Read more Stateline coverage of how communities across the country are trying to create more affordable housing. Nearly a fifth of office space across the country sits empty, a record high vacancy rate thats expected to keep growing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seeking both to boost their economies and ease their housing shortages, cities are taking steps to encourage the conversion of unused office space into much-needed housing. They include reductions in approval times, exemptions from affordable housing rules and changes in building code requirements. Some cities and states also are providing tax incentives or subsidies to developers. Cities need to focus on making conversions feasible by removing unnecessary regulatory barriers, said Alex Horowitz, project director of the Housing Policy Initiative at The Pew Charitable Trusts. The U.S. is short millions of homes, and office vacancy rates are at record highs. It makes all the sense in the world to convert underused commercial space into housing, but the cost per square foot is just too high. Purchasing and converting an office building for residential use costs an average of $685 per square foot. Buying a completed multifamily property costs an average of $600 per square foot, while building a new multifamily development costs about $588 per square foot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regulatory hurdles such as outdated building codes, minimum unit sizes and natural light requirements push up costs. Cities are trying a variety of ways to overcome these obstacles. From coast to coast In September, Minneapolis peeled away several regulations in an effort to encourage conversions, including removing public hearing requirements, requiring less intensive traffic studies, and exempting converted buildings from the typical requirement that 20% to 30% of units be rented at below-market rates. San Francisco has waived certain planning and building code requirements as well as real estate transfer taxes for downtown conversions that are approved before 2030. Seattle in July approved exemptions for commercial-to-residential conversions from certain design development standards and from housing affordability requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New York Citys Office Conversion Accelerator program provides a single point of contact for office building owners to streamline conversions, from zoning questions to permitting. And Denver last year launched an adaptive reuse pilot program to make it easier and faster to get conversions approved by the city. Jon Gambrill, managing director of global architecture firm Genslers Denver office, said that converting the top 16 buildings identified by the firm and city leaders into housing could add more than 5,000 units to the downtown area. Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix, the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle stand to benefit the most from converting underused offices to housing, according to a June Urban Institute analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, conversions have made little dent in the housing crisis so far. Between 2016 and April 2024, office-to-multifamily conversion projects created more than 22,000 apartments, according to CBRE, a commercial real estate services and investment firm. The 169 projects planned or underway are estimated to produce another 31,000 apartments over the next several years. Despite the growth, that total is less than a half-percent of total U.S. apartment inventory. During a June presentation by Seattles Office of Planning and Community Development, city leaders estimated that they expect fewer than a dozen conversion projects to result in 1,000 to 2,000 new housing units over seven years. Money matters Cities and states also are trying to promote conversions by offering incentives and funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New York Citys 2025 budget included a new incentive for conversion of commercial properties to rental housing, offering up to a 90% tax exemption for projects with at least 25% affordable units. Chicago has committed $151 million for developers to transform four office buildings into 1,000 apartments, about a third of which would have affordable rental rates. Washington, D.C., provides 20-year tax abatements for commercial-to-residential conversions through its Housing in Downtown initiative. The District of Columbia led the nation in adaptive reuse from 2021 to 2024, creating 5,820 new housing units from office properties, followed by New York (5,215 units) and Dallas (3,163 units), according to RentCafe, an apartment search website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement California in 2022 approved $400 million for office-to-residential projects. Commercial-to-residential legislation has hit some hurdles. California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in October vetoed legislation that would have provided financial incentives for developers, including the option for local governments to allocate up to 30 years of property tax revenue to support affordable housing conversions. It also would have fast-tracked the approval process for conversion of office buildings into residential or mixed-use developments. Newsom objected to changes in labor practices including the issuance of stop-work orders for violations and procedures for contesting violations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And in Colorado, a bill that would have offered refundable tax credits up to $3 million per commercial-to-housing project starting in 2026 failed in the legislature earlier this year. Still, experts expect housing conversion efforts to increase across the country. All Americans, particularly underserved communities, need homes they can afford, said Pews Horowitz. But outdated rules make it harder to create deeply affordable housing. Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and X. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Jamie Dunphy was in the news well before he was elected to Portland City Council. Hes been a staffer for U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and a senior policy director for the late Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish. Come January, Dunphy will return to Portland City Hall as a city councilor in District 1. It covers Portland east of 82nd and I-205 to Gresham, including Portland International Airport. It also has the lowest per capita income of any of Portlands four districts. Recently, weve gotten to know Dunphy as a spokesperson for MusicPortland, which supports local musicians and music venues. In that role, he was also advocating against the future Live Nation music venue in Portlands inner east side, which the current City Council actually approved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Portland police holiday walking patrols return In his new role, Dunphy said he will continue to fight for Portlands independent music status. Live Nation continues to be a bad actor. They continue to be being sued by the U.S. Department of Justice and 40 U.S. states for anti-competitive monopoly practices, he said. They are not somebody who is reflective of the kind of values of our city and I will do everything I can to minimize the damage that they can do in our city. Regarding the citys compromise between Portland State University and the renovation of the Keller Auditorium, Dunphy believes the PSU proposal will paint a broader picture of downtown activation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im really encouraged by PSU proposal on what that might look like and how we can support not only the arts in Portland, but also the next generation of the professionals who will be working in those roles, he said. We cannot have a break between when those productions are happening, because we will lose those jobs and those are really important to our identity as a region. At the top of everyones list of problems to be solved in Portland is affordable housing, with downtown and East County receiving a lot of that attention. Dunphy argues that, while East Portland has ample space for affordable housing, projects get stalled due to the permitting process. The problem is that in Portland, sometimes it can take twice as long to permit a apartment complex as it does in neighboring jurisdictions like Gresham, Milwaukee or Happy Valley, he said. They arent getting half the quality of housing. Their systems just work better. Theres so much more that we could do if we were being intentional about siting those apartments, those housing units in East Portland and all throughout the city. Being no stranger to City Hall, Dunphy noted he is cautiously optimistic about the new form of city government, which now more than doubles the number of city councilors in a whole entirely new system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I knew exactly how that old system did not work and it did not represent people in many ways, he said. And I think this has a lot of the reasons for us to be hopeful. I think that having a city manager or city administrator who is responsible for the outcomes of these things, of the things that are passed and actually delivering on what the results of those programs and policies look like, thats going to obviously lead to efficiencies and better service delivery for people. Further, Dunphy asserts his intent to be laser-focused towards better outcomes for his district, which he claims has been ignored and forgotten for so many years. People in this city believe that 82nd Avenue is our eastern border, but its actually our geographic center. Half of all the families are out east of Portland. It is imperative that East Portland be centered in all of that, he stressed. So I come from I spent years working for Senator Merkley, doing constituent services, helping find real solutions to complex problems. Im going to dedicate as much of my office resources and my limited staffing focused on bringing the government to people. Yearly Benson Hotel Gingerbread Masterpiece returns Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While working in Nick Fishs office, Dunphy served as his liaison to the small business community and saw firsthand how the city can provide better aid in that department. There is so much more that the City of Portland can do and its not about necessarily having street fairs or having those extra little fun opportunities, he said. Its really about identifying what the needs of these folks are and honing down on it and getting rid of things that just get in the way that makes sense for the Nikes and the Intels to do but doesnt make sense for the mom-and-pop shop out in East Portland. Watch the full interview in the video above. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. 36,718 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others? 36,718 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others? Nov. 30The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board Oklahoma is scheduled to meet Wednesday to decide clemency for a death row inmate scheduled to be executed for the 2006 murder of a 10-year-old girl in Purcell. Kevin Ray Underwood, 44, to be executed on Dec. 19, his birthday, by lethal injection in the death chamber at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. A Cleveland County jury sentenced Underwood to death for acting on his fantasies of cannibalism and killing Jamie Rose Bolin on April 12, 2006, in his apartment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He admitted to investigators during an interview he lured the girl into his apartment to play with his pet rat. While watching a cartoon show, he admitted to hitting the girl in the back of the head with a cutting board before suffocating her. Underwood also admitted he tried to sexually assault the girl's body and attempted to remove her head with a knife. The man said he then became "disgusted with himself" and did not eat the girl as he planned to fulfill his fantasy. Bolin was found stuffed in a plastic container by an FBI agent in Underwood's apartment. "Go ahead and arrest me," Underwood told the agent. "She's in there. I hit her and chopped her up. I'm going to burn in hell." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Underwood's attorneys, in their clemency packet, say Underwood was bullied in school, had mental health issues and was addicted to pornography. His father demeaned him while his mother had a temper, according to the packet. "We hope you try to view Kevin holistically, including what he's been through and who he could have been had he received proper care," they wrote. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is asking the Board to reject clemency for Underwood. "Kevin Underwood is a deeply evil monster who committed an unthinkable murder that took a 10-year-old child away from her parents and loved ones," Drummond said. "The death penalty is the only appropriate punishment in this case and I urge the Pardon and Parole Board to reject clemency and ensure justice for Jamie." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorneys for Underwood earlier this year filed a suit challenging the constitutionality of the state's execution protocol, arguing the Oklahoma Department of Corrections' policies can be changed at any moment without legislative oversight, making it unconstitutional. The Oklahoma Supreme Court denied the challenge in October. Underwood was originally scheduled to be executed on Dec. 7, 2023, prior to the AG's office asking for more time in between executions to lessen the workload on Oklahoma Department of Corrections employees. 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: Karolina Grabowska from Pexels Tad Carper had no idea the technology to detect more than 50 cancers with one test existed. He does now, and the Dallas Cowboys senior vice president of communication wants to help spread the word. Carper recently underwent surgery for Stage 2 throat cancer. He exhibited no symptoms. The Galleri blood test, developed by GRAIL, allowed him to attack the cancer sooner than he would have been able to otherwise. The story of Carper and others helps put a face on its impact and increases awareness of this relatively new technology. "There is nothing that is more motivating and inspiring than hearing these stories," said Dr. Josh Ofman, president of GRAIL, a California-based biotech company that specializes in early cancer detection. Single-cancer screenings are the norm. The focus is usually on three specific cancers in women (breast, colon and cervical) and two in men (prostate and colon). Lung is a focus for heavy smokers. Screening for these cancers helps save lives. But it creates what Ofman calls a classic spotlight problem, shining the light over there while other, more aggressive cancers go unscreened. More than 70% of cancer deaths in the United States occur from those less common cancers, Ofman said. The Galleri test doesn't target a specific area. It looks for the fingerprint, the biological signal in DNA that has been shed from cancer. It's a very specific marker and detects where that cancer is in the body. It creates a more effective and efficient screening program. "This really is a game-changer," Ofman said. "In the past, people always thought of a cancer diagnosis as a death sentence, so they didn't want to know. With the new technology that GRAIL has pioneered, we can now find many of the aggressive, early cancers. "That can change the way we think about cancer." Blood is drawn and shipped to the company's lab in North Carolina to test for more than 50 cancers. The results are available in seven to 10 days. Patients receive one of two messages: No cancer signal detected. Please continue doing recommended single-cancer screening. Cancer signal detected. The patient is given the predicted location and told to set up an appointment with their primary physician to have a CT scan. There are more than 8 million false positive results yearly with the single-screening cancers mentioned above, Ofman said. That's a 10% false positive rate. The false positive rate of the Galleri test is 0.5%, he said. Galleri has been on the market for almost three years, Ofman said, and there have been 250,000 tests administered and another 380,000 people are in individual studies. The technology has received a breakthrough designation from the FDA. The cost is $949. The last module of information for the company to submit in seeking final FDA approval comes in the first half of 2026. A bill regarding Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) screening is currently before congress. It was passed unanimously (38-0) out of the House Committee on Ways and Means. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network is hopeful it will be passed in the coming weeks. The bill enjoys broad bipartisan support with 318 sponsors in the House and 63 sponsors in the Senate. While the current bill doesn't mandate Medicare coverage, it would allow the Medicare program to determine coverage if clinical benefit is shown. Carper wrote a letter to congressional leaders last week supporting the bill. "Tad's willingness to help bring awareness is so important," Dr. Ofman said. "It will hopefully reach countless people who can then benefit from screening." 2024 The Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Models continue to indicate that a clipper system will arrive in Minnesota on Tuesday and leave "shovel-able" snow in its wake. Three shortwave systems will land in Minnesota over the coming days, the first of which on Sunday will produce little more than light flurries but the latter two will generate accumulating snow. The first of the heavier systems arrives on Tuesday, with the National Weather Service in Duluth the one describing the snow it'll bring as "shovel-able." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Will the Twin Cities seen any of this? Not likely. The NWS is forecasting that the models are increasingly in agreement that the heaviest stuff will fall along the Minnesota-Canada border, with the North Shore also set to see some larger amounts. NWS Duluth "The clipper system will skirt over the Great Lakes, with most of the snow remaining in far northeastern Minnesota and the South Shore. Widespread snowfall amounts of 2 inches is expected, with slight (20%) chances for snow over 4 inches," the forecast discussion reads. "Additional winter weather advisories will be considered for this system as confidence increases in amounts and timing," it adds, noting that lake effect snow may continue into Thursday night in the wake of the system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Towards the end of the week another system could potentially arrive, with the NWS Twin Cities saying in its forecast discussion that this one "looks more promising for totals in the 2 to 4 inch range." The problem for snow lovers? It's still way too early to determine its path, with the American and Euro models currently showing "split confidence for the main band passing through the Twin Cities or the Twin Ports," though it adds that the "recent pattern has favored a track through northern Minnesota." Looking further ahead, things are more promising in terms of snow chances in the middle of December, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's 8-14 day outlook favorable for higher-than-average precipitation in Minnesota. The U.S. Coast Guard is searching alongside Good Samaritans for five people from a fishing boat that capsized in cold seas near Point Couverden, southwest of Alaskas capital of Juneau. The USCG announced the search Sunday morning, adding that responders could face tough conditions due to a winter storm warning. Local weather conditions consist of heavy snow, winds up to 45-60 mph, and 6-foot seas. U.S. Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska watchstanders first received a Mayday call at 12:10 a.m. from the crew aboard the fishing vessel Wind Walker, reporting they were overturning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bystanders familiar with the crew reportedly informed the USCG that five people were on board, but the USCG reminded people that the number is subject to change pending new information. The watchstanders then attempted to gather additional information but received no response. They did receive an emergency position-indicating radio beacon alert registered to the vessel originating just south of Point Couverden in Icy Strait. According to the USCG, Sector Southeast Alaska watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and directed the launch of an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka and a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Juneau to search the area. The ferry vessel AMHS Hubbard overheard the broadcast and offered to assist, arriving on scene first. As of 1 p.m. on Sunday, the crew had yet to be found, but seven cold-water immersion suits and two strobe lights were located in the water in the search area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An update later that night confirmed they still hadnt been found, saying, We are continuing to search for the missing persons near Couverden Pt. USCGC Healy is on scene, and USCGC Douglas Denman is en route to assist. Anyone with information about this situation should contact Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska at 907-463-2980. Thirty-five years after her murder, Tracy Whitneys family finally has the name of her killer, thanks to genetic genealogy. On August 28th, 1988, fishermen at the Puyallup River near Sumner found the body of a woman. According to the Pierce County Sheriffs Department, detectives investigated the case as a homicide after an autopsy revealed the womans cause of death was asphyxia caused by strangulation and probable smothering. She also had several blunt-force injuries and was believed to have been sexually assaulted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two months after her body was discovered, dental records identified 18-year-old Tracy Jean Whitney as the victim. Whitneys last known location was a Burger King in Federal Way, where she had reportedly been seen arguing with her ex-boyfriend the night before her body was found. During the investigation, police spoke with multiple suspects, including Whitneys friends and ex-partners. Despite following up on multiple rumors and leads, police say the investigation stalled. In 2005, a DNA profile of the suspect was uploaded to CODIS (Combined DNA Index System), a national database run by the FBI to link crimes with violent offenders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Swabs taken from Whitneys body back in 1988 were resubmitted for forensic genetic genealogy testing in March of 2022 by a retired detective sergeant. The results came back five months later, linking the DNA evidence with family lines leading back to the 1700s. Police were then able to establish a family tree linking to a suspect, John Guillot Jr. Unfortunately, Guillot Jr. had died just eight months prior from cancer. He was cremated after his death, which meant the DNA evidence gathered in 1988 could not be matched to any current DNA. However, his son had also recently died, and detectives were able to use his DNA from the Medical Examiners office to affirm his fathers link to this crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Guillot Jr. couldnt be arrested or posthumously charged in Whitneys death, the family was finally able to answer the decades-long question hanging over them. Detectives concluded that Guillot Jr. and Whitney were not connected before the crime, leading to the belief that this case was a stranger abduction, rape, and, murder and the case was closed as death of offender. Whitneys father and sister both remember her as a sweet, good kid, who has been dearly missed since her death. Her sister, Robin Whitney, says they are happy that Tracy Whitney can finally rest peacefully now that her killer has been found. In a social media post, Robin Whitney added, We believe that John Guillot Jr. likely committed other crimes. However, since he is deceased and due to current legal restrictions, his DNA cannot be uploaded into CODIS (law enforcement DNA database). We hope that this policy can be reevaluated, as it could aid in solving additional cases. She hopes to honor Tracys memory and raise awareness of John Guillot Jr.s name, which may potentially lead to information about other unsolved cases. Nov. 30Facing attempted murder, nine kidnapping charges A man accused of stabbing the South Point Elementary School principal in late October has been indicted on 18 charges, including attempted murder, menacing by stalking and nine counts of kidnapping. Joshua Collins is accused of stabbing Bill Christian on Oct. 24 in the lobby of the school and then breaking a window and entering the school itself. Collins was arrested at the scene and taken to a hospital and held in a West Virginia jail before being extradited back to Ohio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Collins was indicted by the Lawrence County Grand Jury on two counts of first-degree misdemeanor menacing by stalking, first-degree misdemeanor telecommunications harassment, second-degree felony felonious assault with a specification for committing a crime in a school zone, first-degree felony attempted murder with a specification for committing a crime in a school zone, nine counts of first-degree felony kidnapping with a specification for committing a crime in a school zone, fifth-degree felony breaking and entering, first-degree felony illegal conveyance or possession of a deadly weapon or deadly ordnance in school safety zone and fourth-degree felony inducing a panic. If convicte on all counts, the sentence would be more than 150 years in jail. Collins was in the Lawrence County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday and waived his right to a speedy trial. Without that waiver, a trial would have to start within 90 days of when Collins was charged. He is currently being held in jail on a $2 million bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to reports, Collins was upset over a custody issue and was creating a scene in the lobby and Christian came out to deescalate the situation. When Christian turned away from the man, Collins stabbed Christian in the neck and upper torso. Christian fled back into the office behind a locked door, at which point Collins broke the glass out of the window in the door and entered the office. Collins pursued Christian through multiple parts of the office and finally into the cafeteria area. This is where the South Point Police officer confronted Collins and took him into custody. According to a post from Carrie Childers, the wife of Aaron Childers, pastor of Solida Baptist Church where Christian attends, the principal was released from the hospital Oct. 29 and is recovering at home. Christian has been the South Point Elementary School principal since April, prior to that he had been the school's assistant principal for 12 years. He replaced Chris Mathes as principal after Mathes became the school district's superintendent. HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) Two dozen artisan vendors gathered in Hartford Saturday morning to present a curated holiday shopping experience at Small Business Saturday. Makers with Moxie, a collaborative of woman artisans in Connecticut, partnered with the Parkville Market on Park Street to present this years market. Small Business Saturday not only provides Hartford with the opportunity to meet and shop from vendors in their community, it also allows the vendors to meet and work with each other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im super fortunate for the opportunity today, said Tiffany Hsu, owner of Yarnshaper. It is a collaborative joint venture with Makers of Moxie. So historically just a lot of small businesses, women owned, all over the state of Connecticut supporting one another. Along with the craft vendors on the second floor, the first floor featured more than 19 food stalls and three bars. For anyone that missed this weeks market, Makers with Moxie will be hosting Holidays on Main at Heirloom Market at 5:00 p.m., Thursday, December 5th. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. The enthusiasm for a park along Elmwood Avenue and South Street to be named after Aaron Mossell needs to be capitalized on, said the parks committee chair Allan Jack. The park has been in the works since 2017 and Jack said that he intends to see it done as quickly as possible. If I had my way itd be there tomorrow, Jack said in a phone interview. Jack was asked by Lockport Mayor John Lombardi III to chair the committee which has had three meetings. Lombardi is also appointing two more members to the committee, one of which is Rev. William Pulliam of the First AME Church on South Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jack said this is important because Pulliam is a long-time stakeholder in the community. Jack believes that the only way the park will be completed and thrive is through neighborhood engagement, including himself whos lived on Erie Street for 50 years. There may even be plans for neighborhood maintenance of the park, he said. I dont want it to go downhill. I want it to be kept a pristine place for kids to play on. Aaron Mossell Park is the long-sought new use of the old Harrison Radiator parking lot between South Street and Elmwood Avenue. In 2015, a needs assessment of the 16-block area around South and Genesee streets showed that the residents wanted a recreation space. The original Mossell Park plan included a walking path, a playground, a pavilion and benches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mossell was a leader in school integration and entrepreneur who often donated bricks to local houses, churches and schools. The city received a state grant of $450,000 for the park in 2017, but because remediation was needed, the project was stalled for a couple of years, Jack said. Then the Covid pandemic stopped any work at all. The project was in limbo. However, interest picked up again earlier this year and Lombardi appointed a committee to finish the job and get Aaron Mossell Park planned and completed Heather Peck, who has left her post as CEO and president of Greater Lockport Development Corp., is still involved in the project and said that part of securing the $450,000 from New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is to submit another design plan, new renderings and an updated budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To that end, the GLDC is contributing approximately $9,000 for Joy Kuebler, a landscape architect, who did the original renderings in 2017, to not only design the proposed park but also to create public engagement sessions and find out what the neighbors want out of a park, now. Its a city project and it will be a city park, but because of the GLDCs history with the project, it is funding the design, Peck said, though added that more funding would be needed to complete the project. Jack said there are a couple of things to be figured out, including parking, but he intends to keep the project running. His first piece of business will be to clean up the lot, pick up trash and keep people excited. Just to get a crew over there, I think that will keep people excited, he said. I dont intend to go another year without getting anything done. Floridas United Ways Ryan White program and the Central Florida HIV Planning Council will host the 7th annual World AIDS Day event on Sunday. The company said World AIDS Day is an opportunity for the community to empower those living with HIV/AIDS and to prevent further transmission. The event will provide a space for supporters and individuals devoted to ending the epidemic, live performances, and remember, honor, and celebrate the lives of those who lost to HIV/AIDS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event starts at 2 p.m. at the Winter Club Venue Villa Tuscany, 2950 Aloma Ave, Winter Park. According to the CDC, Dec. 1 is a day for voices to unite through shared experiences, remember those lost, and stand together in the fight against HIV. The World Health Organization started World AIDS Day in 1988 as an international day for global health. According to the Associated Press, nearly 40 million people were living with the HIV that causes AIDS last year, over 9 million werent getting any treatment, and the result was that every minute someone died of AIDS-related causes, the U.N. said in a new report launched Monday. Click here to register for the event. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. EAU CLAIRE A court determination about a defendants competency was delayed last week until February. Ben Lashley, 40, faces five counts of possession of child pornography. His attorney has raised questions about his competency to face trial on the charges. Its a critical issue because a finding of incompetence could prevent the case from moving ahead. Courts typically depend on doctors reports when there are such questions, and thats the case here as well. But the courtroom notes from last weeks hearing said the attorneys received the report earlier that morning and need more time to review the report. That led the judge to push back the date for the hearing until Feb. 24, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the criminal complaint, police were called after a maintenance worker in the apartment below Lashleys found a cell phone hidden in a drop ceiling. The apartments owner said the phone didnt belong to them, so the worker turned it on to see if it could identify the owner. Thats when the worker found child pornography on the device and called police. Investigators got a warrant to search the phone and found a number of accounts for email and other services, all with the same name. It wasnt Lashleys name, but one of the emails was a job offer for Lashley, allowing investigators to tie the phone to him. In all, investigators found 158 separate pieces of child pornography on the phone. When they asked Lashley about them his behavior changed. He told officers he had split personality disorder and spoke about himself as we. He also spoke to himself as if to a separate person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eventually Lashley admitted the phone was his. He said it was hidden so his probation officer wouldnt find it. Court records show Lashley was convicted after pleading no contest in 2019 of first degree child sexual assault involving a child under age 13. That conviction resulted in 15 years probation, with terms that specifically prohibited access to electronics like computers, tablets and smartphones. The discovery of the phone reactivated that case, which remains pending. Lashleys record extends beyond that conviction to include a 2016 guilty plea to a charge of child enticement as party to a crime. He failed to complete probation in that case and was ordered to serve a jail sentence in 2019. While neither of the other cases specifically indicate a claim of split personalities, one did see a note filed raising concerns about Lashleys competence. The child pornography charges are Class D felonies, which carry the potential for 25 years in prison under Wisconsin law. The reactivated case is far more serious. Its a Class B felony, which can result in as much as 60 years in prison. A convicted Conyers killer could get out of prison in a matter of weeks, and family members of the woman murdered said the state parole board failed to warn them. He said when he got out, he would finish what he started, Amber Lett-Hammond told Channel 2s Courtney Francisco. Her aunt was Shirley McKnight. This year marked 30 years since her murder on their family property. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] McKnights sister, Melba McKnight-Lett, described the terror of that night in 1994. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stab wounds all in her hands, over 46, trying to fight him off. I know she was scared, terrified, McKnight-Lett said. In 1996, a jury found her boyfriend, Joseph Monroe, guilty of stabbing her to death. Hes serving a life sentence at Coffee Correctional Facility. Since he committed the offense before 1995, he was eligible for parole after serving seven years in prison, according to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. Each time Monroe has been up for parole, the McKnight family said theyve received letters in the mail informing each one of them that they could write letters of concern to the board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That is, until this year. Members of the McKnight family said they have not received notices in the mail, and the parole board tentatively approved Monroes parole in September. The family knows that because McKnights niece received an e-mail informing her of the decision. The letter asked that she send an objection letter by Oct. 14 if she has concerns with that decision. What if I didnt have that e-mail address anymore? What if I didnt look at that e-mail? Lett-Hammond said. How are we supposed to know? She described reading the letter to her mother. I read the letter, and my mother collapsed on the floor, Lett-Hammond said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said no one else in the family received letters in the mail or e-mails notifying them of the parole consideration. She said she immediately called the parole board and spent hours working with a staff member to send the notice to family members via e-mail. She spent days notifying other family members, collecting their objection letters, and sending them to the parole board through the mail and through e-mail. Then, she confirmed the board received each one. Now that theyve had time to work through that, the McKnight family is worried about other violent crime survivors. Im just wondering if it has happened before because this is scary, McKnight-Lett said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A parole board spokesperson said staff are investigating to find out why the family has not received the notice in the mail. The board said if a survivor is registered with the Georgia Office of Victim Services, they should receive letters in the mail asking them to send objection letters within 20 days. In serious, violent cases, the board said it would accept letters of concern for a 90-day period. In the McKnight familys case, they should have until Dec. 20 to submit letters to the parole board. The e-mail McKnights niece received did not explain that. The board said a countys district attorney should also receive a notice 90 days before the objection leader deadline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Channel 2 has reached out to the Rockdale County District Attorneys Office to find out if prosecutors received a notification in the McKnight familys case yet. We are waiting to hear back. I want the process to change, Lett-Hammond said. Plus, the other family members said they have still not received their notifications in the mail. TRENDING STORIES: The process that they have in place is flawed, Lett-Hammond said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While staff at the parole board are investigating their familys case, they want other families to check. If you survived a violent crime, you can call 404-651-6668 to confirm your address, e-mail, and your preferred method of communication with the office of victim services. More details are found here. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] 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: With hundreds of different types of mosquito in Australia, knowing whats biting helps determine local health risks. Credit: Cameron Webb/NSW Health Pathology Warm weather is here and mosquitoes are on the rise in Australia. Unseasonably large swarms are causing problems in some parts of Sydney already. Health authorities track mosquitoes across the country to provide an early warning of mosquito-borne disease risk, but they can't be everywhere. Citizen scientists can step in to helpwith excellent success. Our latest research explored the value of an Australian program called Mozzie Monitors, not just as a surveillance tool but an educational one too. Citizen scientists are everywhere Citizen sciencewhen non-scientists help scientists collect datahas become a powerful tool in environmental research. With appropriate training, the community can contribute to scientific discoveries alongside professional scientists. By combining citizen science data with professionally collected data, everyone benefits. With a greater quantity of reliable data, authorities are more informed when making decisions about environmental protections, wildlife conservation and human health. People are often drawn to "charismatic" wildlife such as cute mammals, birds or frogs. But our project shows that helping scientists track mosquitoes can improve community understanding of these pesky insects and the public health risks they bring. Mosquitoes and mosquito-borne disease in Australia There are hundreds of types of mosquitoes in Australia. Only a dozen or so pose pest and public health risksbut these risks are serious. Ross River virus infects around 5,000 people every year. The disease it causes isn't fatal but can be debilitating. There are other viruses spread by mosquitoes that, while very rare, can be deadly. There are limited opportunities for mosquito control. To prevent disease, raising awareness of mosquito risk and avoiding being bitten are key strategies. To provide an early warning of elevated public health risks, most state and territory health authorities monitor mosquito and virus activity. But they can only operate so many mosquito traps each season, leading to gaps in coverage. This is where citizen scientists come in. What's the Mozzie Monitors program? Scientists at the University of South Australia started Mozzie Monitors in 2018 to offer an innovative approach to mosquito monitoring. It collects valuable data on mosquito populations and provides participants with useful knowledge. Participants use low-cost mosquito traps in their backyards to capture mosquitoes. They photograph the collections and send them to researchers for identification. Citizen scientists also contribute observations through the existing online platform iNaturalist. The beauty of tapping into this platform is that it captures observations by both active participants and casual citizen scientists. More than 200 people have participated in Mozzie Monitors to date, capturing more than 15,000 mosquitoes and uploading some 8,000 photographs online. It's already been shown to be a cost-effective complement to traditional mosquito monitoring programs in Australia. This approach has also been adapted overseas. Monitoring mosquitoes and picking up knowledge We compared data collection by Mozzie Monitors participants in South Australia and Western Australia. There were differences in both the types of mosquitoes collected and their numbers. While the Australian backyard mosquito (Aedes notoscriptus) and the southern house mosquito (Culex quinquefasciatus) were the most common across both areas, the citizen scientist data also provided insights into the coastal wetland mosquitoes unique to each area. Mosquito collections were just the start. We surveyed 26 people about their experience participating in Mozzie Monitors. Their mosquito identification and technical skills significantly improved while taking part in the program. They successfully learned to identify the most common mosquitoes in their backyards while improving their photography skills. For scientists who received the data, better photos resulted in better specimen identification. Perhaps most importantly, the study highlighted behavioral changes in citizen scientists that will have public health benefits for themselves, their families and neighbors. Before their participation in Mozzie Monitors, the citizen scientists we surveyed stopped mosquito bites around their properties only by using insect screens. After participating in the program, they were more likely to check their backyards for mosquitoes and eliminate their source (for example, by tipping out water-filled containers). This change in attitude highlights the program's power to translate knowledge and skills into actions that can protect participants, and their households, from the health risks of mosquitoes. Participants had a range of motivations for joining the program. Many were driven by concerns about nuisance or mosquito-borne diseases, while others were motivated by a general interest in science and volunteering. They appreciated the program's ease of participation and the opportunity to contribute to valuable research. They also reported improved understanding of mosquito species. Seen mosquitoes around your home? Mozzie Monitors shows how citizen science can empower communities to identify common local mosquito species, understand their impact on human health, and take proactive measures to avoid mosquito-borne disease. By combining knowledge, technical skills and action, the program helps safeguard local communities from the health threats of mosquitoes. If you're noticing more mosquitoes around your home, consider sharing photos with scientists by uploading them to iNaturalist. This database makes scientific observations freely available to all. Identifying mosquito species helps us better understand disease risks and nuisance biting, enabling more effective prevention and control efforts. Mosquitoes may not be the most charismatic of Australia's wildlife. But by participating in citizen science projects such as Mozzie Monitors, learning about these pests may be the secret to keeping your family safe from their bites this summer. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) The Baton Rouge Police Department is investigating a crash that left one person dead on Sunday, Dec. 1. Baton Rouge Police said the crash occurred around 10:43 a.m. in the 16000 block of I-10 West at the Essen Lane crossover. According to Baton Rouge Emergency Medical Services, the East Baton Rouge Coroners Office was called to the scene. Police identified the victim as Kathryn Templet, 34. Templet lost control of her 2004 Nissan Xterra, which caused her to crash into a Mercedes G30 and roll onto its side, where she was then partially ejected. According to Baton Rouge Police, Templet was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baton Rouge Police stated the driver of the Mercedes was transported to a local hospital with moderate injuries. The two passengers in the Mercedes did not suffer any injuries. Three dead, eight wounded in separate New Orleans shootings I-10 westbound was shut down where the crash took place, but in an 12:47 p.m. social media post, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development said all lanes are open and congestion remains approaching Siegen Lane. This is an ongoing investigation. Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com. Construction workers specializing in pipe-laying work on a section of pipeline on July 25, 2013, outside Watford City, North Dakota. (Andrew Burton/Getty Images) This story originally appeared in the North Dakota Monitor. A lawsuit before a North Dakota federal district court could upend nearly five decades of environmental regulations affecting infrastructure projects. The Council on Environmental Quality was created by Congress in 1969 as part of the National Environmental Policy Act, which directs federal agencies to assess how projects under their jurisdiction will impact environmental factors like air and water quality. President Jimmy Carter gave the council the power to issue rules implementing the legislation in an executive order in 1977. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A coalition of 21 Republican-led states, including North Dakota, seeks to overturn a new regulation adopted by the council that took effect in July. The states argue that the rule introduces unreasonable requirements that will slow or even sink important infrastructure including new highways, airports, bridges and water systems, and unlawfully over-emphasizes climate change and environmental justice in the environmental review process. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In a lawsuit filed in May, the states asked the court to strike down the rule, direct the council to adopt regulations consistent with federal law and reinstate a weaker version the agency enacted during President Donald Trumps administration in 2020. A group of 13 other states, including Colorado, plus the District of Columbia, New York City and a handful of advocacy groups, have joined the case on the side of the Council on Environmental Quality. The defendants argue the agencys work is vital to protect the environment and public health, and that the 2024 rule should be left in place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A different lawsuit over a proposed Utah railway, which could result in a dramatic increase in hazardous oil shipments through Colorado, also has the potential to weaken implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in that case Dec. 10. Its possible that neither side will get what it wants in the North Dakota case. In a hearing last month, U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Traynor said the Council on Environmental Qualitys entire regulatory regime may be unlawful. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit found in a November order that the agency does not have rulemaking authority because Congress never explicitly granted it the power to implement the National Environmental Policy Act. The appellate court did not strike down any of the councils regulations, leaving it up to other courts to decide whether the rules should stand. Traynor questioned how he could leave the regulations intact given the D.C. courts findings. He said if he were to apply the courts reasoning to the North Dakota case, he may conclude that all National Environmental Policy Act regulations passed by the council are void. The council issued its first rule implementing the act in 1978. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If they have no authority, they have no authority, Traynor said of the council. It is a paper tiger. An attorney representing the Council on Environmental Quality, Gregory Cumming, rebuffed during the hearing the notion that the agency is operating without approval from Congress. The council keeps Congress apprised of its work with annual reports, he noted. If the assembly did not want the agency to pass rules, it could have passed legislation clarifying that stance, Cumming said. Jan Hasselman an attorney representing several advocacy groups that joined the case as defendants said theres a reason the councils rulemaking authority has gone unquestioned for almost five decades. Nobody benefits when theres no rules, he told the judge. Its just sort of a mutually assured destruction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Traynor voiced skepticism that such a decision would create disarray. Even if the councils rules disappear, other local and federal regulations would still be intact, he reasoned. Its not like it becomes the wild west, he said. Traynor asked the plaintiffs and defense to prepare legal briefs explaining how they would be impacted if he adopts the D.C. courts reasoning. The discussion came as part of a hearing on motions for summary judgment by the plaintiffs and defense. Both sides asked Traynor to decide the case in their favor without going to trial. James Auslander, an attorney representing the plaintiff states, said the council is unlawfully and arbitrarily infringing on state sovereignty and the new rule will cause them significant economic harm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are critical projects for plaintiff states and our citizens, Auslander said. Cumming argued the plaintiff states have not demonstrated that the new rule has actually harmed them, and that many of the components of the rule challenged as cumbersome are guidelines, not requirements. Traynor took the motions under advisement and has yet to issue a ruling. The 21 plaintiffs states are Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kentucky, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, South Carolina, Kansas, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Texas and Alaska. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 13 states that joined the defense as intervenors are California, Oregon, Washington, Massachusetts, Colorado, Michigan, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Wisconsin. Editors note: This story was updated to correct that Congress established the Council on Environmental Quality and to clarify that President Jimmy Carter gave it rulemaking authority. North Dakota Monitor is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. North Dakota Monitor maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Amy Dalrymple for questions: info@northdakotamonitor.com. Follow North Dakota Monitor on Facebook and X. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE VERNON TOWNSHIP Crawford Central School Board voted unanimously this week not to raise taxes for the 2025-26 school year more than allowed by the state-imposed Act 1 tax index. This is one that we approve every year, board Vice President Jeff Rose said in introducing the proposal. The Act 1 index is used to determine the maximum tax increase a district can levy without an exception from the Pennsylvania Department of Education or voter approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The index factors in state and federal data on wages. A statewide base index is then further adjusted by comparing each districts average wealth to the state average. The base index for 2025-26 is 4 percent, down from 5.3 percent for the current school year. Crawford Centrals adjusted index for 2025-26 is 5.6 percent, down from 7.5 percent for the current year. Crawford Centrals adjusted index for 2023-24 is 5.8 percent. Adopting the index puts a cap on potential tax increases for district property owners, but the board could still vote to hike taxes up to 5.6 percent with no approval from voters. For the owner of a Crawford County residence with the districts median assessed value of $30,030, such a hike would mean the annual tax bill would rise from $1,708.24 to $1,807.32, an annual increase of $99.08. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June, the board approved a 2 percent increase in district property taxes. Tax increases approved over the past 15 years have typically fallen well short of the maximum allowed by the Act 1 index. Board members also unanimously voted to write off nearly $18,300 in past-due student invoices from the 2018-19 school year through 2021-22. The unpaid bills included numerous charges for replacement charges stemming from broken laptop computers or missing laptop equipment, including at least one case in which a student allegedly punched laptop screen and shattered it, according to the list of unpaid invoices released by the district. Individual bills ranged as high as $626.10 for the replacement of a tempered glass window, but much more common were $45 bills for the replacement of laptop chargers. This is money that weve invoiced for and just never received the check, Business Manager Austin Stofferahn told the board during the Nov. 18 work session. The kids are graduated. Theyre gone. The district typically sends up to four notices, Stofferahn added, and had sent as many as 13 notices for some items. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Responding to comments from board members, Superintendent Jenn Galdon said the district is not able to withhold diplomas due to past-due invoices. Stofferahn attributed the prevalence of past due invoices to the very archaic system for tracking invoices that was in place when he was hired in mid-2023. I dont want this to be like an every year thing, he added, and I think moving forward, were OK. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) defended President-elect Trumps threat to impose steep 25 percent tariffs on all goods from Canada and Mexico two key U.S. allies pointing out that the remark produced immediate action. I got to say, you look at the threat of tariffs against Mexico and Canada, [it] immediately has produced action, he told Major Garrett on CBS Newss Face the Nation on Sunday. Weve seen the president of Mexico stand up and promise that she is going to work hand in hand with the president of the United States, President Trump, to secure the border, Cruz added. This is about using leverage to get Mexico and Canada to cooperate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also blamed President Biden and Democrats for the situation at the border. Ill tell you, representing Texas, weve seen four years of an invasion at our southern border, Cruz said. Let me ask you, Major. Why hasnt Joe Biden done this? Why hasnt Joe Biden actually stood up and used leverage to secure the border? And the reason is, Joe Biden and the Democrats wanted this invasion to happen. Cruzs remarks come after Trump announced last week that he will impose 25 percent tariffs on all goods from Canada and Mexico and ramp up tariffs on China with an executive order he plans to sign on Day 1 of his administration. In the same week, Trump threatened to impose a 100 percent tariff on countries that try to undervalue the U.S. dollar, saying they can go find another sucker!' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Just in, a hot take from everyones least favorite senator on the nomination of Kash Patel as incoming FBI chief. Speaking with CBSs Face The Nation on Sunday, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) told host Major Garett that criticism of Patels perceived lack of qualifications for the post has come only from commentators alarmed at the prospect of a real reformer heading up the agency. I gotta say, all of the weeping and gnashing of teeth, people pulling their hair out, are the people dismayed about having a real reformer come into the FBI and clean out the corrupted partisans who sadly have burrowed into senior career positions at the FBI, the firebrand Texan told the network. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBI and the Department of Justice are two institutions incredibly important to the rule of law in the United States, he added. I revere both, and one of the most tragic consequences of four years of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris is, both the DOJ and the FBI have been politicized and weaponized, and I think Kash Patel is a very strong nominee to take on the partisan corruption in the FBI. Current FBI director Christopher Wray was nominated to the post by Donald Trump in 2017 after his predecessor, James Comey, was fired as part of a suspected effort to ease pressure on the then-president over the Mueller investigation into Russian interference during the previous years election. Trump is now reportedly planning to also fire Wray, and replace him with staunch MAGA loyalist Patel, due to a deep and bitter grudge over the FBI having raided his Florida residence of Mar-a-Lago as part of an investigation into alleged concealment of classified documents in 2022. These minor, perhaps inconvenient facts appear to have been of little consequence to Cruz during his CBS appearance on Sunday. Listen, if you look at James Comey and Chris Wray, there has never been a period in our nations history where the FBI has suffered a greater loss of respect, where more Americans doubt the fundamental integrity of the FBI, he said. I think either [Wray] will resign or President Trump will fire him, Cruz added. But its no secret to anybody, including Chris Wray, that he is not going to continue to serve as the head of the FBI under Donald Trump. (COLORADO SPRINGS) The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) was informed of a stabbing that occurred downtown around 2 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1, and when officers responded, they found that one person had been wounded. According to CSPD, the Downtown Area Response Team (DART) officers were in the area and were immediately able to respond to the scene near East Pikes Peak Avenue and North Tejon Street. When they arrived, they found out that the victim had been taken to the hospital in a private vehicle. The victim has serious injuries but is expected to survive. CSPD said that while investigating, officers were able to identify the location of the stabbing and several witnesses. Police are tracking the suspect, but there is no threat to the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. When Barack Obama created the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in 2012, granting deportation protections and work permits to eligible immigrants to the U.S., Dreamers who came to the country as children breathed a sigh of relief. But they felt under threat during Donald Trumps first administration, when the then-president attempted to end the program. Although he was unsuccessful, immigrants under DACA worry that a second Trump White House may ultimately remove the Obama-era protections, considering the president-elects frequent threats to carry out mass deportations. I have to take [Trumps] words very seriously, that when they say mass deportation, it also includes people like me, DACA recipient Reyna Montoya, who came to the U.S. at age 10 and now runs an immigrant rights advocacy organization in Arizona, Aliento, told the Associated Press. Montoya says DACA allowed her to work legally, receive health and dental care and get a drivers license. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were upwards of 535,000 active DACA recipients as of August, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services reported. Most live in California, New York and Texas. A majority U.S. voters support the program, according to 2023 polling by Data for Progress. Theres a lot of fear involved and theres a lot of uncertainty, Ramiro Luna, a DACA recipient, told NPR after Trumps election. But theres also this resilience and this fight in our community. Trumps efforts to cancel DACA were stymied in 2020 when the Supreme Court ruled he illegally ended the program, sending the case back to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals where it remains. I dont know that [the incoming Trump administration] could actually terminate the program any faster than the current ligation is going, Stephen Yale-Loehr, Cornell University professor of immigration law practice, told the AP. They could still do it, but theyve got an awful lot of immigration policy matters on their plate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has threatened to declare a national emergency, so he can use the military to deport migrants, claiming there is no price tag too steep for carrying out mass deportations. Stephen Miller, a close Trump advisor, has repeatedly used the word camps to describe where they plan to send immigrants prior to deportation. When asked about the possibility of putting immigrants in camps, Trump told Time magazine this past April, I would not rule out anything. But he added, There wouldnt be that much of a need for them because his plan is to send them back to their country of origin as soon as possible. Were not leaving them in the country, Trump said. Were bringing them out. In addition to deportations, Trump has vowed to bring back another much stronger travel ban. Concerned about the possibility of a new travel ban, some colleges have begun warning international students that they should return to campus before Trump is sworn in on Jan. 20, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Living scared every day, living scared of like walking out every time theres a police officer around, Im like, Oh my god, do they know? Can they do something about it? first-generation student Grecia Esparza, a Dreamer who attends Wichita State, told KWCH. Legally, I have no control over it, Esparza added. I try to live day-by-day. Im here in college, trying to get my degree. And if thats what God wants, then thats whats going to happen. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. PHOENIX (AP) Reyna Montoya was 10 when she and her family fled violence in Tijuana and illegally immigrated to the U.S. Growing up in Arizona, she worried even a minor traffic violation could lead to her deportation. She didn't feel relief until 11 years later in 2012, when she received a letter confirming she had been accepted to a new program for immigrants who came to the country illegally as children. All of the sudden, all these possibilities opened up, Montoya said, fighting back tears. The Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program granted her and hundreds of thousands of others two-year, renewable permits to live and work in the U.S. legally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, after an unsuccessful bid to end DACA in his first term, the roughly 535,000 current recipients are bracing yet again for a whirlwind of uncertainty. Meanwhile, a years-long challenge to DACA could ultimately render it illegal, leaving people like Montoya without a shield from deportation. I have to take his (Trump's) words very seriously, that when they say mass deportation, it also includes people like me, said Montoya, who runs Aliento, an Arizona-based advocacy organization for immigrant rights. Uncertainty is nothing new for DACA recipients. As many matured from school age to adulthood, they have witnessed a barrage of legal threats to the program. DACA hasn't accepted new applicants since 2021, when a federal judge deemed it illegal and ordered that new applications not be processed, though current recipients could still renew their permits. The Biden administration appealed the ruling, and the case is currently pending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For those who secured and renewed DACA permits, the benefits have been life-changing. With DACA, Montoya for the first time was able to work legally, get health and dental care, and obtain a driver's license. Many recipients had hoped Vice President Kamala Harris would win the presidency and continue fighting for them. But the reelection of Trump, who has repeatedly accused immigrants of fueling violent crime and poisoning the blood of the United States, has heightened their fears that DACA could end and they could face deportation. Out of caution, some are rushing to renew their permits, according to the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, which has been providing free legal aid to help them through the extensive process. Others are preparing for potential family separations. Phoenix native and DACA recipient Pedro Gonzalez-Aboyte said he and his immigrant parents, along with his two U.S.-born brothers, recently discussed the possibility of being split. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gonzalez-Aboyte recalled his parents, who immigrated from Mexico, saying that even if they were unable to stay in the country, "as long as the three of you are here and you're OK, then that's what we want." That was a very real conversation we had, Gonzalez-Aboyte said. Officials for the Trump transition team did not respond to emailed requests for comment. While it is unclear how Trump could impact DACA this time, he has suggested scaling back other programs that offer temporary protection for immigrants and is staffing his incoming administration with immigration hardliners, including Stephen Miller and Thomas Homan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his first term, Trump tried to rescind DACA. But in 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court concluded his administration ended the program improperly, though it didn't rule on the program's legality. But DACA's fate wont be immediately left up to Trump, if at all. A three-judge panel on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals regarded as the country's most conservative appeals court heard arguments in October concerning the legality of DACA. The case, initially filed by Texas and other Republican-led states in 2018, now focuses on a Biden administration rule intended to preserve and fortify DACA. Attorneys for DACA opponents argued that immigrants in the country illegally are a financial burden on states. Meanwhile, the Biden administration, along with intervenors, contend that Texas has not shown the costs it cites are traceable to the policy and, therefore, lacks standing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The panel doesnt have a deadline to issue a ruling. Regardless, its ruling will likely be appealed, potentially elevating the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Stephen Yale-Loehr, a professor of immigration law practice at Cornell University, said the most likely scenario is the panel affirming that DACA is illegal and that the case goes before the Supreme Court. He doesn't anticipate Trump immediately trying to end DACA but didn't rule out the possibility. I don't know that they could actually terminate the program any faster than the current ligation is going, he said. They could still do it, but they've got an awful lot of immigration policy matters on their plate. Yale-Loehr said the Biden administration is limited in how it could help DACA recipients at this stage, but it could enable recipients to renew their permits early and process them as quickly as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greisa Martinez Rosas is a DACA recipient and executive director of United We Dream, a youth-led advocacy network for immigrants that boasts more than a million members nationwide. She said the immigrant rights movement has grown so much since Trumps first term, and its been preparing for this moment for years, building a nimble and responsive infrastructure so that we will make shifts as threats emerge. She said theyre calling on Americans to offer immigrants sanctuary, preparing to ensure people's physical and psychological safety in case of mass deportations, planning demonstrations and asking for help from the current administration. We still have a couple of months for the Biden administration to use every single tool at its disposal to protect and defend as many people as possible, Martinez Rosas said at a recent press briefing. Were expecting for them to do that now more than ever. ___ Gabriel Sandoval is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) 2025 will mark the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. We remember and honor those 168 who lost their lives on April 19, 1995, when a bomb went off in front of the Murrah building in downtown Oklahoma City. 168 Days to remember those lost in the OKC bombing: Dr. Margaret L. Peggy Clark. Image courtesy Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum. We want to remember Dr. Margaret L. Peggy Clark, while honoring those who survived and thanking those changed forever. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) Local businesses celebrated Small Business Saturday in downtown Dayton, welcoming holiday shoppers through their doors. The Small Business Administration says small businesses make up nearly half of the countrys economy and this is no different right here in Dayton. Every year, Small Business Saturday gives us the opportunity to celebrate local entrepreneurs. The national initiative started back in 2010, encouraging consumers to do their holiday shopping at local businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local vendors say this day is a big deal. Supporting them and helping their dreams come true and giving you a place to go, thats a fun place to go. Thats what its all about, said Rebecca Shawver, owner of Blonde Betty Vintage Homegoods. It gives us a way to connect with the community, too, and get to know people from around, and let people know were here, said Marlene Steele, owner of My Color Strokes. At Front Street, vendors and artists showcased their items during a holiday market. I have ornaments for sale and small art for sale, said Steele. We have gifts for under $40. Then I also have the larger art as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event allowed the community a chance to learn more about local artists and the exciting creations going on at Front Street. Front Street is just one of the most unique places in Dayton. you walk in each door and theres something different behind each door, said Shawver. So you never know what youre going to get. And its just a really fun place to come get out and discover the Dayton community. In celebration of Small Business Saturday, the Downtown Dayton Partnership and the Real Elf teamed up to host their second annual giveaway at various businesses. More than $2500 in prizes was up for grabs throughout the day. Daytons mayor encourages local residents to shop small this holiday season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats the engine, as far as this community is concerned, said Mayor Jeffrey Mims Jr. Have small businesses downtown, and have people coming from all over town to spend time and money in downtown Dayton is really beneficial for us. The Downtown Dayton Partnership has a month of free events lined up for the holiday season. Click here to learn more. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. By Mushtaq Ali and Charlotte Greenfield PESHAWAR (Reuters) - Deadly sectarian clashes have continued in Pakistan's north-western Kurram district in spite of a tentative ceasefire struck late last week, local officials said, with the death toll now over 130 as authorities try to broker a solution. Kurram, near the border with Afghanistan, has been a flashpoint for sectarian tensions for decades. They spilled over into a fresh wave of attacks last month when clashes between Sunnis and Shias left dozens dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement District administration official Wajid Hussain said 133 people had been killed in the attacks in the last week and a half. "The district administration and other relevant authorities have initiated efforts to stop fighting between the two communities but there is no breakthrough yet," he said. A Pakistani government team mediated a seven-day ceasefire deal between the rival groups last Sunday. Armed Shi'ite and Sunni Muslims have engaged in tribal and sectarian rivalry for decades over land and other local disputes in Kurram. Provincial authorities put the death toll at 97, with 43 people killed in the initial attack when gunmen opened fire on mostly Shia drivers and the rest killed in retaliatory clashes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chief Minister for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province Ali Amin Khan Gandapur visited the area on Saturday for a large gathering of tribal elders and leaders. "Anyone who takes up arms will be treated as a terrorist, and their fate will be that of a terrorist," said Gandapur according to a statement from his office late on Saturday, adding that security forces would remain in the area. Residents and officials said the main highway connecting Kurram's main city of Parachinar to the provincial capital Peshawar was blocked, which had created challenges transferring wounded people to hospitals. "Our medical team is working around the clock to perform surgeries due to the challenges in referring patients to larger hospitals in Peshawar and elsewhere," said Dr Syed Mir Hassan, from Parachinar's district hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that they were currently treating around 100 wounded patients and had received 50 bodies during the violence. (Reporting by Mushtaq Ali in Peshawar and Charlotte Greenfield in Islamabad; Editing by Kim Coghill) Several people have been killed in an Israeli airstrike near Jenin in the northern West Bank, the Palestinian WAFA news agency reported. It said that a vehicle with several young men had been fired upon. The Israeli military said an "aircraft conducted a strike on terrorists in the area of Jenin." According to WAFA, several Israeli military vehicles blocked the site of the attack, preventing access to ambulances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jenin is considered a militant Palestinian stronghold. The already tense situation in the occupied West Bank has significantly worsened since the massacre in Israel carried out by the Palestinian militant Hamas organization and the ensuing Gaza war. Since then, more than 760 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military operations, armed clashes or extremist attacks, according to the Ministry of Health in Ramallah. CLEBURNE COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) A deceased individual believed to be missing hiker Vendula Rose was located about five miles south of Cheaha State Park on Saturday, according to the Cleburne County Sheriffs Office. Rose travelled from her home in Marysville, Ohio on Sept. 20 to go hiking in Alabama. On Oct. 4, the Marysville Police Division received a report that she had not been seen since Sept. 24. Her vehicle was later found by the CCSO in a lot at Cheaha State Park. Woman charged with manslaughter a year after killing woman in Tuscaloosa Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, the CCSO was dispatched to an area of Highway 281, approximately five miles south of Cheaha State Park, responding to a deceased subject found by a hunter. After notifying Roses family, with assistance from the Cleburne County Coroners Office, the CCSO says they have evidence to believe the deceased individual is missing hiker Vendula Rose. The CCSO said they will conduct an official press On Dec. 2 at 11 a.m. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. Ukraine's Defense Ministry, in cooperation with the Health Ministry, presented a draft reform of military medical commissions to be implemented by November 2025, according to the statement published on Nov. 30. Military medical commissions have come under increasing scrutiny after suspected instances of corruption and other violations. During the presentation, Deputy Defense Minister Serhii Melnyk said that the principles of the commissions' work "have not changed for decades," and the current system is "a vestige of the old administrative approach." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It has flaws, unnecessary bureaucratic complications, and corruption risks. We must significantly reduce these risks," Melnyk added. According to the presentation's participants, the current system of medical commissions has "double-sided disadvantages," allowing individuals to avoid military service without legal grounds and, at the same time, not preventing people with serious illnesses from joining the military, which creates additional difficulties for the Ukrainian army. The reform is expected to divide the commissions' decisions into two data sets: medical and administrative. Some specialists will conduct medical examinations for medical commissions, while others will analyze the anonymized results. Persons liable for military service will no longer need to go to enlistment offices to get a referral for a medical examination. Instead, they will be able to choose a hospital to undergo the process, with their data then transferred into the Electronic Healthcare System. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The data will then be sent to the Ukrainian Armed Forces medical commissions, which will decide whether a person is fit to serve in the army for health reasons. The anonymized data will be sent to a random commission whose members will not know whose documents they are reviewing, which is expected to prevent data manipulation and corruption risks. "This reform is necessary for those liable for military service to trust the system. To undergo medical examinations in civilian facilities. To feel that their rights are protected and that after the medical examination, they are not immediately recognized as fit if they have any illnesses," Deputy Defense Minister Kateryna Chernohorenko said. According to Chernohorenko, a "digital trace" will be visible after each decision electronic signatures of both the doctor and the military medical commission employee. The commissions' conclusions will be stored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These steps should simplify the verification and monitoring of the commissions' activities by law enforcement agencies, Chernohorenko added. Read also: Ukraines fight against Russian invasion undermined by draft-dodging graft Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A federal investigation found that 10 Delaware employers owe workers nearly $400,000 in back pay, the U.S. Department of Labor announced Nov. 25. Workers entitled to money can claim the funds through an online tool. The $391,000 in wage debt was recovered through investigations conducted by the Labor Departments Wage and Hour Division in Philadelphia. Officials are encouraging workers to use the departments online search tool Workers Owed Wages, or WOW, to check if their employer owes them wage arrears. Leni Fortson, a spokesperson for the department, explained that once a worker has successfully confirmed they are owed back pay using the online claim process, the Wage and Hour Division will mail the owed compensation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Otherwise, the Department of Labor will search for workers owed unpaid wages for three years. If the employee is not found during this time, the department is required to send the money to the U.S. Treasury. A PASSING THRU TAX: Delaware issues guidance ahead of new tax on Airbnb and similar short-term rentals How to claim unpaid wages If you think you might be owed wages, here's how to check and claim your money: Go to the WOW website and submit your employer's name. Look for your name in the search results. The system will confirm any owed wages. Provide your contact information so the labor department can send a claim form. Set up an account at login.gov to upload your signed claim form and documents verifying your identity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Claims are typically processed within six weeks, according to labor officials. The Wage and Hour Division enforces federal labor laws and worker protections through regular investigations to ensure employers comply with wage payment requirements. The Philadelphia Regional Office, which oversees Delaware, is one of several offices nationwide working to return recovered wages. For more information or to report wage problems, workers can contact the Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division. You can contact Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware employers owe workers $400,000. Use WOW to claim it With their party hollowed out on the national stage, the eyes of many Democrats are now turning to state leaders as they search for a new bench of candidates for 2028 as well as signs of life for the resistance to the GOP White House. After Kamala Harris was virtually swept in across the battleground states by Donald Trump and Democrats in the Senate suffered key losses, the partys leadership in Washington is as unpopular as ever. Members of Congress who were previously playing nice with the administration are now coming forward to say they wished theyd spoken out sooner about the need for Joe Biden to step aside. The chair of the party, Jaime Harrison, is reportedly not seeking another term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, Democrats are turning to governors as it becomes clear that Democratic minorities in both chambers will be able to do little to block the agenda of Donald Trumps second term without support from some of their Republican colleagues. Some of those same governors are seen as the partys likeliest prospects for the next presidential election cycle as many in Washington are now tainted somewhat by the stink of the Harris campaigns defeat. One of those Democrats is Andy Beshear of Kentucky, who won reelection in Kentucky last year at a time when his party was facing a serious branding issue nationally, especially among voters in rural areas and across the industrial Midwest. An op-ed in the Kentucky Lantern described the governor as firmly in the hunt to succeed Trump as president in 2028 following Harriss loss. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear at his reelection victory party in 2023. He is one of the governors helping to lead Democrats' efforts to slow the Trump agenda and look to 2028 (Getty Images) In a post-election interview, Beshear said that he planned to lobby the administration to keep the Biden administrations grants and tax credits for electric vehicle manufacturing flowing. Its a priority hell likely share with Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and the newest member of the incoming presidents inner circle, but one that puts him at odds with fossil fuel interests and conservatives (including, at times, Trump himself) who have derided the policy as an EV mandate killing American jobs. "I will work with any administration when it benefits Kentucky. I will oppose any administration when it hurts Kentucky or threatens our democracy, Beshear said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He hasnt said yet how his state will react to one of the cornerstone policies planned for a second Trump term: a supposed mass deportation program that will aim to boot more than 1 million undocumented immigrants before the end of his presidency. Beshear has repeatedly criticized the president-elect for his demeaning and dehumanizing language about immigrants from Central and South America, and elsewhere, while maintaining his support for border control policies. Other Democrat governors are already pledging to resist the deportation effort. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey said last month that state police would not assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in conducting deportation operations within the state, while other governors including JB Pritzker of Illinois, Jared Polis of Colorado and Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, to name a few, have offered similar statements. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has won allies for his willingness to champion progressive policies and make the case against Republicans (REUTERS) Pritzker, another figure widely viewed as a potential candidate for the Democratic nomination in 2028, even dared Trumps incoming administration to attempt deportation raids in his state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A favorite of many younger Democrats and even some progressives, Pritzkers challenge is a sign that many of the partys newer generations are seeking a different kind of champion after four years of Bidens whispery sort-of jabs at his onetime opponent. "If you come for my people, you come through me, warned Pritzker. Another Democrat widely seen to be preemptively building a national profile ahead of a possible bid for higher office is Gavin Newsom of California. Newsom was also seen as a potential contender in the hours after Joe Biden dropped out, before it became clear that the Democrats would not endure an accelerated battle for the nomination. California Governor Gavin Newsoms deep pockets, Hollywood ties and connections in the party put him at the top of the list for many listing potential replacements for Joe Biden in 2024. (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Last month, the California governor called a special session of the state legislature in order to Trump-proof his states laws and statutes before the president-elect takes office in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Part of that effort also includes searching for more funding for state programs likely to be targeted by the Trump White House, such as drug addiction treatment, homelessness outreach and LGBTQ+ support organizations. Newsom has hit Washington directly to lobby for federal funding on those points, while his team is also seeking alternative funding avenues. This is the first of several actions by the Newsom administration, in partnership with the Legislature, as the governor begins shoring up Californias defenses against an incoming federal administration that has threatened the state on multiple fronts, his office said in a statement, adding: The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack and we wont sit idle. A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives. On Dec. 1, 1938, a bus carrying 39 students from Jordan High School had stopped in front of railroad tracks near 10600 S. and 300 W. in South Jordan, Utah. The bus driver had stopped to look for a train, but a blizzard with fierce winds caused almost zero visibility and prevented the driver from seeing the northbound Denver & Rio Grande Western train that hit the bus as it crossed the tracks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Twenty-five school kids died, plus the bus driver Slim Silcox. It remains the worst railroad crossing tragedy in U.S. history. The Deseret News provided coverage of the tragic event, and helped to put in context what happened, who was affected and the impact that continued. The Deseret News was also there in 2013 as a memorial to the children who lost their lives were honored with a memorial installation at Heritage Park in South Jordan. Some who survived the collision were there to share in the commemoration. The accident also led to many improvements in school bus safety nationwide. Here are numerous articles from Deseret News archives about the events on Dec. 1, 1938, the investigation afterward, and how the survivors have been remembered: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About Utah: Bus crash in 1938 led to train laws Victims of school bus-train crash remembered 75 years later South Jordan unveils a monument Monday, Dec. 2, 2013, at Heritage Park, in memory of 23 children and one adult killed when a train hit a school bus in 1938. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Survivors of 38 bus crash to reunite Thursday South Jordan to mark 75th anniversary of tragic bus accident Training to cross tracks Families and friends mourn teens killed in train tragedy Work under way to identify victims Homework assignment handed to family member during bus crash memorial Lawmakers, citizens say close RR crossing now Migrants living in city-run shelters have made up a relatively small number of Illinois Department of Child and Family Services investigations in Chicago. At the peak of migrant shelter operations, thousands of people were crammed into dozens of shelters across the city. Despite the large influx of new arrivals, the number of DCFS investigations at over 35 sites that have at one time or are currently sheltering migrants was a small part of the agencys total investigations in Cook County. Since August 2022, more than 51,600 migrants have come through Chicago, the majority sent on buses by Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, according to city census data. The mostly Venezuelan migrants have faced challenging conditions upon arrival, many without the ability to work legally and entering a housing market with a lack of available options. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite tough living conditions at shelters, migrant families appear to be mostly intact and able to care for themselves, according to DCFS data provided to the Tribune. Less than 1% of total DCFS investigations in Cook County were tied to a migrant shelter in each of the three consecutive years that asylum-seekers have been arriving in Chicago, according to the data. In Cook County, there were 24 distinct investigations that involved someone at a migrant shelter out of almost 39,000 in 2022; 218 out of over 96,000 in 2023 and 276 out of more than 55,000 in 2024. Indeed, it is a very small portion of our investigations, said Tierney Stutz, executive deputy director at DCFS. Anyone with information on a potential case of child neglect or abuse may call DCFS hotline. Between 30% and 40% of hotline calls become investigations, in which DCFS officials travel to the site and assess the situation and the childs safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After determining that a situation falls under the DCFS definition of abuse or neglect, the investigation is deemed indicated versus unfounded. In severe cases of abuse or neglect, DCFS will petition the court to have the child temporarily placed in DCFS custody. According to the DCFS website, less than 10% of children who are part of an investigation enter foster care. The statewide agency said it does not remove a child from their parents unless the child is at urgent, immediate risk of harm. Most often, DCFS works with other organizations to connect a family to outside services for help. The ultimate goal statewide is to return the child to a parent or guardian. From Dec. 20, 2023, to last October, 16 children from Venezuela have entered into DCFS care, according to the most recent data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DCFS is recruiting bilingual employees as well as foster parents to respond to these childrens immediate and future needs, officials said. People in Illinois can get help from DCFS until age 21, and officials said they place high importance on trauma-informed care for children who have made long migratory journeys. Stutz said she typically gets a direct call from the city when there is a DCFS concern related to a migrant at a shelter. Chicago officials want to make sure theyre properly identifying the DCFS definition of abuse or neglect, she said. Sometimes the calls that come in for this setting are concerning for social issues, not abuse and neglect issues, Stutz said. About 90% of the DCFS investigations that occurred this year at migrant shelters were unfounded and 10% were indicated. This is a much higher margin than the average nationwide typically 70% unfounded and 30% indicated, according to Stutz. Related Articles Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 20% difference is likely caused by cultural misunderstanding, said Aimee Hilado, a professor, clinician and expert on immigrant trauma at the University of Chicagos Crown Family School of Social Work. Shelters have put in place strict rules about leaving children alone without supervision, and there has been some mismatch in cultural boundaries, Hilado said. (The city) has been more thoughtful about educating staff on what is actual abuse and neglect, rather than just calling DCFS every time theyre concerned that a child is not being tended to by their parents, she said. DCFS said it does not have a contract to work with unaccompanied minors, or migrant children who come to the United States without guardianship. There are, however, overlaps between unaccompanied children and migrant children in DCFS care. When there isnt an adult access liaison between a migrant child and a service or an institution, that child can miss out on important processes such as filling out legal forms, said Salvadoran-American sociologist Stephanie Canizales, who wrote the book Sin Padres, Ni Papeles: Unaccompanied Migrant Youth Coming of Age in the United States. Migrant children who are undocumented face all sorts of barriers to accessing services, Canizales said. nsalzman@chicagotribune.com A cartoon from the Library of Congress' collection depicts the moralistic crusader "Anthony Comstock as a monk thwarting shameless displays of excessive flesh, whether that of women, horses, or dogs, with a 'Jane Doe Warrant.'" (Library of Congress) During the fall of 1886, both jail cells in the Jefferson County Courthouse at Oskaloosa were occupied by a pair of newlyweds: 16-year-old Lillian Harman and her husband, Edwin C. Walker. Their crime? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having been married without benefit of clergy or marriage license at the home of Lillians father on Sept. 19 in nearby Valley Falls. The free lovers had declared themselves unfettered by church or state and had spent just one night together before a family member swore out an affidavit against them, resulting in their arrest. Although Lillian Harman was not as famous as other sex radicals in Victorian America, her prosecution resonates today regarding equality, free speech and the role of the state in determining what individuals can do with their bodies. Her father, Moses Harman, who had officiated at the wedding, was a leading anarchist, feminist and free thinker who published a newspaper, provocatively titled Lucifer: the Light-Bearer, that scandalized not just the community of tiny Valley Falls but invited the scrutiny of law enforcement. Among those who took notice of the birth control information and other content of the newspaper was self-appointed moral censor and special postal agent Anthony Comstock, who waged a long and ultimately successful campaign to throw Moses Harman and others in federal prison for the material they published. At least 15 individuals, hounded by Comstock, are believed to have committed suicide. Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw, in a 1907 letter, declared: The reason I do not go to America is because I am afraid of Mr. Anthony Comstock and being imprisoned like Mr. Moses Harman. Moses Harman is one of those figures in Kansas history who, once encountered, jars us out of what we think we know about our past. It wasnt all sunflowers, cattle drives and Bleeding Kansas. Harmans evolution was from schoolteacher to abolitionist to anarchist. Anarchism in the 1880s, at least before the Haymarket Bombing caused it to be popularly associated with terrorism, placed an emphasis on individual sovereignty and opposed any attempts to limit autonomy. In some ways, these ideals are reflected in the modern Libertarian party. And although Harman typically advocated nonviolent change, he once wrote a column in which he praised dynamite as a way to achieve political change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Harman was also a feminist and an advocate of free love, when that term meant something different than it does today, and he eventually became a leading voice in the eugenics movement. Eugenics the scientifically unsound theory that selective breeding can improve desirable traits in human populations was generally accepted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It wasnt until after the Nazis used it to persecute and murder individuals they considered inferior that eugenics fell out of the scientific mainstream. Moses Harman was a believer in the power of fact and came up with his own dating system, the Era of Man, which began the year after Italian philosopher Giordano Bruno was burned at the stake for heresy by the Inquisition in 1600. Editions of Lucifer published at the time of Lillian Harman and Walkers marriage carry the confusing date of E.M. 286, a count of the years since free-thinking Brunos execution. Both Lillian and Walker worked for Lucifer as well; she as a compositor and Edwin as an editor and roving speaker on anarchy and related topics, including opposition to conventional marriage, which the Luciferians saw as sex slavery for the woman. As publisher, Moses Harmon set the tone for the publication, including the title. First named the Kansas Liberal, Moses Harman changed the name of his publication in 1883. As scholar Hal D. Sears noted in his 1977 book, The Sex Radicals, the name change was an attempt to escape regionalism and embrace a bigger vision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the herald of dawn after the black night of the Age of the Gods, Sears wrote, the morning star, Lucifer, would appropriately shine forth from the Kansas plains. It was also likely chosen for its diabolical overtones. Lucifer, according to Christian theology, was once favored by God among all the angels but was cast out for leading a rebellion. A subscription to Lucifer cost $1.25, or more than $40 in todays money. The weekly had a few hundred subscribers, according to Sears, but it really was a shoestring operation, and having two of its employees in jail created extra work for Moses Harman and the rest of the staff. In the weeks before the autonomistic marriage, the paper had published, unedited, a series of letters describing horrific situations, including one about a husband who had forced himself upon a wife still healing from the complicated childbirth. The letters may have influenced Harman father and daughter, and Walker, to test the marriage laws of Kansas. Although Moses Harman had repeatedly stressed that marriage should be a private affair between individuals, the marriage of Lillian and Edwin and the aftermath was carefully chronicled in Lucifer. The vows exchanged during the ceremony were not to love, honor and obey, but rather a list of expectations with the caveat that either party could terminate the relationship. Either was free to reject the advances of the other. The care of any children from the union (and there would be one) was agreed upon. And Lillian would keep her maiden name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since first reading about this marriage years ago, I have had questions. Foremost is whether a 16-year-old girl, raised in a household with an eccentric and larger-than-life father, could resist the ideas that were coin for the Lucifer. It would be only natural for her to adopt her fathers political and social views; Lillians own mother was dead, and her father had brought her to Kansas, where she grew up in the family business of iconoclasm. What teenager could resist a doctrine of unfettered individual freedom? Then there is the matter of Edwin Walker, who had a former wife and two children elsewhere in Kansas, according to Sears. He was 36 years old, more than twice Lillians age. In addition, he was an editor at Lucifer, outranking her. Whatever the case, after the wedding ceremony the couple retired to a bedroom. In the morning, having presumably consummated the union, a step-brother of Lillians reported the unlicensed marriage to the local police, and the couple was arrested. The Jefferson County Courthouse at Oskaloosa as it appeared in October 1938 in a Farm Security Administration photo by John Vachon. Sex radicals Lillian Harman and Edwin C. Walker were jailed there while awaiting trial in 1886 for violating state marriage laws. (Library of Congress) The arrest was widely reported in the local press and eventually made its way to the national and international papers. If there was another case of free lovers being arrested in America, nobody could think of it. There were others who advocated love without chains, such as Victoria Woodhull a spiritualist, suffragist, and the first woman to run for president, in 1872 on the Equal Rights Party. In America in the late 19th Century, there was a curious synergy among those who believed in trance mediumship, advocated for free love, and supported womens suffrage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The marriage case created an immediate sensation. In Valley Falls, according to Sears, one of the reasons the step-brother may have alerted authorities was to save the couple from a local mob of objectors. The local and state papers were quick to condemn the marriage, presumed guilt and urged maximum penalties. Meanwhile, the pair were being held on $1,000 bond, first in the Jefferson County Jail and later in the Shawnee County Jail at Topeka. Unable to make bail or to persuade wealthy supporters of their newspaper to do so, they spent weeks behind bars. The Topeka jail was particularly objectionable, Walker wrote in a dispatch to the Lucifer, full of rats, rough characters and precious little privacy for his teenaged wife. The trial was held Oct. 14, 1886, before Judge Robert Crozier. The jury quickly brought in a guilty verdict. Crozier sentenced Walker to 75 days in jail and Lillian to 45. They were also ordered to pay court costs, which they refused, resulting in the couple being kept in jail after they had served their allotted sentences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement National sympathy began to turn in favor of the couple being held in jail on a conviction that seemed increasingly absurd. As explained by Charles J. Reid Jr. in a 2012 issue of the Michigan Journal of Gender and Law, the conviction had tied the law in knots. Even though common law marriage was legal in Kansas, the couple had been convicted of living as man and wife without benefit of a license or officiating clergy. From the beginning, Reid says, it was clear the free love marriage was meant to be a test case and presaged arguments that continue today. Freedom of Choice, Moses Harman wrote, is a natural right. The couple appealed, and the case went to the Kansas Supreme Court, which sidestepped the issue of whether the Kansas Marriage Act of 1867 and its requirement of a license effectively ended the recognition of common law unions. The Kansas Supreme Court affirmed the lower court decision. Lillian Harman and Edwin Walker were freed from jail April 4, 1887, after Moses Harman paid court costs of $113.80. At the time, Moses himself was under indictment by a federal grand jury in Topeka on 270 counts of sending obscene material through the mail. It was just the first of several prosecutions of Harman under the Comstock laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1890, Moses Harman moved the publication of Lucifer to Topeka and, in 1896, to Chicago. In 1906, at the age of 75, after another obscenity conviction, he was sentenced to hard labor at the penitentiary at Joliet, where he broke rocks during an Illinois winter, according to Sears. Transferred to the federal pen at Leavenworth, he was released in 1907. Moses Harman died in 1910, after having moved his operation to Los Angeles. Anthony Comstock died of pneumonia in 1915, age 71. The Comstock Act outlived them both. On the books since its passage in 1873, the enforcement of the act has been increasingly limited in scope by Congress and decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court. The defanging of Comstock began when a federal judge in 1933 declared the James Joyce novel Ulysses was not obscene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sending birth control information through the postal service hasnt been a crime in more than 50 years. Decisions about what constitutes obscenity, notably Roth in 1957 and Miller in 1971, have made it more difficult to declare pornographic materials obscene. Even so, Comstock still has provisions making it illegal to distribute materials for producing abortion through the mail, even though enforcement was stayed after 1973s Roe v. Wade. Now that the constitutional right to an abortion has been overturned by the Dobbs decision, the Comstock Act may again be used to restrict access to reproductive rights material. In the Project 2025 playbook for the new conservative administration, Comstock is cited as a means of limiting access to abortion pills. Following the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs, there is now no federal prohibition on enforcement of (Comstock), the 2025 document says. The Department of Justice in the next conservative administration should therefore announce its intent to enforce federal law against providers and distributors. The urge to control womens bodies, as Lillian Harman knew, is powerful. It often comes wrapped in religious dogma, reinforced by patriarchal institutions, and abetted by the shaming of those who would take back control of their own selves. Its disturbing that Moses Harman flirted with the idea of using dynamite and fell for the pseudoscience of eugenics, but its tragic that he was sentenced to hard labor in a federal penitentiary for exercising his Constitutional right of free speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As we stand at the border of a political Dark Age that is likely to reshape Constitutional law, it is helpful to remember Moses and Lillian Harman and others, such as birth control activist Margaret Sanger, who were targets of legalized persecution. We are likely to be confronted by such Comstockery, a word coined by playwright Shaw, once more. The best dynamite against oppression is the truth widely spoken. Speak now, while we can. Max McCoy is an award-winning author and journalist. Through its opinion section, the Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here. An equal justice statue sits outside the doors of the Minnehaha County Courthouse in Sioux Falls. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) A 2023 bill that paved the way for higher payments to counties that keep kids out of the justice system has increased the number of diversion offers from prosecutors across South Dakota. That was among the takeaways from an annual juvenile justice report presented recently to the states Juvenile Justice Oversight Council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Bill 5, passed by the Legislature in 2023, extended the lifespan of the council, a group created in 2015 alongside a sweeping juvenile justice reform package that aimed to reduce the number of youth in secure detention. The reforms were meant to avoid the harms associated with incarceration for children and offer more fiscally responsible alternatives. Locking up children costs considerably more than probation supervision or in-community programming. The bill also empowered the council to make adjustments to things like the amount of money paid per kid for diversion programs. The council recommended offering $750 to counties for each successful diversion, a $500 increase. The Department of Corrections (DOC) sponsored a successful bill to boost that funding during the 2024 session. In the past nine years, counties have collected $4.2 million in incentives from the state. Avoiding a judge Children are not charged with crimes in the juvenile justice system, but rather adjudicated for the alleged commission of a criminal act. With diversion programs, prosecutors use a report from law enforcement for criminal behavior as the starting point for a set of actions an accused child must take to avoid seeing the incident move through a formal adjudication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A child charged with alcohol consumption, for example, might be asked to complete a substance abuse evaluation and to check in with the prosecutors office monthly while maintaining good behavior for a few months. If the child satisfies the diversion requirements, their case will be closed without them ever seeing a judge. According to the annual report presented to the oversight council on Tuesday, diversion programming increased for the most common juvenile infractions in 2024. The last fiscal year saw two times as many kids getting diversion opportunities from where we started with the reforms nearly 10 years ago, according to Kristi Bunkers, an oversight council member who leads the DOCs juvenile justice programming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those opportunities translate into better long-term outcomes for troubled youth, Bunkers told the oversight group. The research continues to come out in support of diversion, she said. Its a really promising window of opportunity for the system to get it right. About 82% of the 2,439 kids offered diversion programming last year were successful, the annual report says. The year before that, there were 2,180 diversions, and just over 83% were successful. Diversions for alcohol and drugs, crimes against property and persons, sex offenses and tobacco use increased in 2024, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Truancy, however, saw fewer diversions than in 2023, down to 270 from 313 in 2023. There were 694 and 565 in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Homeschooling concerns with truancy David Knoff, a First Circuit judge and oversight council member, said the councils truancy subgroup met three or four times this year to discuss the issue. Truancy is when a kid is chronically absent from school. Knoff was among the council members to note that truancy cases often suggest deeper issues in a childs home life. A child has often missed weeks or months of school by the time a case lands in court, Knoff said, so the subgroup was focused on finding out ways to intervene sooner. The Department of Social Services Division of Behavioral Health offers programming to kids and families, serving 4,775 youth in individual or family sessions in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How do we make the family aware of how they can tap into those resources, or school districts, how they can get those to the families and get them tapped in to see that they can qualify and get the counseling they need to find out what kind of issues are going on within the homes, Knoff said. Knoff also talked about the possibility that truancy cases have been affected by a 2021 law making it easier for parents to pull their children from school and place them in alternative instruction such as online schooling or homeschooling. The law change struck down things like testing requirements and instruction time requirements, and removed a clause that allowed the states Department of Education to investigate situations where theres concern a child might not be getting the instruction theyre required to under state law. If a child is pulled from school for in-home instruction, Knoff said, then there is no truancy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Knoff said he and others on the council are concerned that some students attendance and participation have suffered in certain homeschooling situations. Its not that homeschooling itself is the problem, Knoff said. Its certain parents who maybe dont have the ability or resources to be able to effectively homeschool, and they can just pull their kid out of school, which has a lot of long-term effects. Council member Tiffany Wolfgang of the DSS will leave state government, and the council, at the end of the year after nearly three decades in various social service roles. Wolfgang told the council that as valuable as state-level reports and oversight can be, local school districts and community leaders are critical to crafting the approach to things like truancy. Truancy really is a local, local issue in really, truly needing to get the players at the local level in a room together, communicating and talking about what resources we have, Wolfgang said. How do we want to address truancy in this community and who needs to talk to whom? SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) The Prince Georges County Police Department (PGPD) said it has identified the man who was killed in a shooting outside an area restaurant on Saturday. Police said that at about 12:45 a.m., officers responded to a restaurant in the 9600 block of Lottsford Court for the sounds of gunshots. There, they found a man shot outside. He died there. PGPD later identified the man as 33-year-old Cornelius McDonald of Upper Marlboro. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers fire shots at armed man during standoff in Howard County, police say Police said detectives are working to identify and arrest the suspect, who left the area after the shooting. Officers also said they are investigating whether the suspect and McDonald were involved in an altercation before the shooting. On Sunday, Prince Georges County Council Member Wala Blegay released a statement on the shooting of McDonald, who was known as a community leader in the DMV. The tragic shooting outside Jaspers Restaurant in Largo has deeply shaken our county. We lost a beloved leader, Cornelius Neal McDonald, a longtime community member who attended Largo High School and whose dedication to uplifting others has left a lasting legacy. My heart goes out to his family, friends, the Largo High School community, and all those mourning this senseless act of violence. I have spoken with law enforcement, and they assured me that their investigation is well underway. I thank them for their diligence in seeking justice for Neal and ensuring accountability. Gun violence has no place in Prince Georges County. This tragedy underscores the urgent need for stronger safety measures, conflict resolution programs, and partnerships to prevent such incidents. I will work to strengthen policies that promote safety in our community spaces. Let us come together to honor Neals memory by standing united against violence and supporting one another during this difficult time. We can and must build a safer, stronger Prince Georges County. Prince Georges County Council Member Wala Blegay Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What hit hard with this staff here is because people saw his advocacy and work and to die in this manner can be so frustrating, Blegay said on Monday. Four people arrested for triple shooting outside District Heights convenience store, Prince Georges County police say McDonald worked in case management and was a crisis hotline and support worker for youth mental health, according to his LinkedIn profile. He was also the founder and executive director of the nonprofit Stay Solid For Mental Health where he was an advocate for anti-gun violence and mental health in todays youth. His organization stated, in part, Neals legacy will continue to inspire us to pursue his vision, a world where every person can thrive, free of violence and supported in their journey toward mental wellness. Photograph of Cornelius McDonald. The community activist was shot and killed outside of a Prince Georges County restaurant on Saturday. (Courtesy: Stay Solid) Photograph of Cornelius McDonald. The community activist was shot and killed outside of a Prince Georges County restaurant on Saturday. (Courtesy: Stay Solid) Bowie resident Ben Singleton said wants something to be done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sadly he lost his life over whatever, and I am not even sure what it was about and the fact of who he was and it didnt really matter, Singleton said. He was a person and it seems like too many people are losing their lives over nonsense. Patrick Graham with the Glenridge Seventh-Day Adventist Church said he was one of McDonalds followers on Facebook. I see the things he is doing with mental health and this is the same thing he is going about teaching young people to be careful about what they do, he said. To see that this happened to him leaving a child and his family is a rough thing. Angela Alsobrooks resigns as Prince Georges County executive after US Senate win Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Glendale resident Ellis Covington said McDonalds death is heartbreaking and disheartening. Especially for a guy who has put his heart and his time in these types of efforts and for that to happen to him is uncalled for and there has to be a reduction in crime, Covington said. Anyone with information about the shooting is encouraged to call police at 301-516-2512. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Great Living Cincinnatians are recognized for their business and civic attainment on a local, state, national or international level; leadership; awareness of the needs of others, and distinctive accomplishments that have brought favorable attention to their community, institution or organization. The 2025 honorees are: Jim Anderson, Dolores Lindsay, Chuck Scheper and Geraldine "Ginger" B. Warner. Dolores Lindsay was named a 2025 Great Living Cincinnatian by Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. At 87, Dolores J. Lindsay still likes to drive through the part of Walnut Hills where she grew up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whenever Im in the community, I like to reflect on the warm family connections I formed not only with my blood family but with my neighbors and my community, Lindsay said. In no small way, Lindsay has recreated that safety and caring atmosphere through the founding of the HealthCare Connection, where she devoted 53 years as a champion for equal access to health care. Born in Cincinnati during the 1937 flood, Lindsay is the eldest of three children. Raised by her mother and grandmother, she worked at Friedmans Dress Shop downtown after school. She often stopped for lunch at the nearby Orange Bar, where she met her future husband, Arthur. They married after she graduated high school, moved to Lincoln Heights, and went on to have five children, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Lindsay is a devoted grandmother, and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren are the joys of her whole life. Arthur passed away in 2013, but family was and remains extremely vital to her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My grandchildren have all lived in general close proximity to us, so they got the benefit of cousins and those beautiful family relationships that I myself experienced in my youth in Walnut Hills, Lindsay said. That was a great blessing to me and my husband. While Arthur worked, Lindsay made a home for their children. During high school, she had considered pursuing nursing but was discouraged when it was hinted that she wouldnt be accepted in the profession as a Black woman. It wasnt until 1967, pregnant with her fifth child, that she reengaged with the health care field. I was inspired by the collective activities during the Civil Rights Movement to get involved, Lindsay said. There were no primary care physicians practicing in Lincoln Heights, and I wanted to help bring access to my community. The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 established the Health Center Program as a way to improve health care among marginalized and underserved communities in the nation. The then-mayor of Lincoln Heights called a meeting of community agencies to join in the movement. Lindsay was vice chair of the St. Simons PTA, where her children attended, and she attended in lieu of the chair. This proved fortuitous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That meeting showed me that it was possible to make a difference and improve lives through equal access to health care, and I wanted to help make that happen, Lindsay said. St. Simons priest, the Rev. James Francis, galvanized an ecumenical effort to create a local option to access primary health care, and they were off the races. Lincoln Heights could not have done this alone, Lindsay said. Not only did we receive an initial $10,000 grant from the city of Lincoln Heights, but Father Francis brought other local denominations like Baptists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and others together for this unified goal that would change all of our lives. He also provided a four-room apartment to get us started. Initially called the Lincoln Heights Infirmary, this established Ohios first health care center. It was such a community effort that each church involved paid the rent, utilities and phone bills on a rotating basis. The group buy-in is what led to the HealthCare Connection name of today, underscoring the connections of what would grow to serve 23 political jurisdictions and 46 census tracts in northern Hamilton County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We discovered that not only were some Lincoln Heights residents in need of health services, but there were pockets of poverty and need outside of our city, and we were committed to serving them, too, Lindsay said. Doctors, nurses and medical professionals worked on a volunteer basis. Dental services in the basement were funded by Cincinnati Dental Association through Christ Church Cathedral. Lindsays role transformed from front office volunteer to service coordinator to administrator. I had the opportunity to go back to school, at the University of Cincinnati, and studied health care administration, Lindsay said. I thought I needed a medical background, but I realized I didnt. I learned how to manage and coordinate the efforts and activities of the organization, build relationships and fundraise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She even went back to school a second time, continuing her education at the University of Southern California through a program called On the Job, On the Campus. Lindsay attended seven-day intensive semesters during the two-year program, earning a Master of Public Administration. Lindsay served on many boards, including the Cincinnati Community Action Agency, and received many awards and honors, among them Enquirer Woman of the Year in 1996. She is an Alpha Kappa Alpha-Sigma Omega chapter member. During her tenure, the HealthCare Connection expanded services to a center in Mount Healthy in 1987. The center worked with the Head Start Program to establish children and family health services in Forest Park in 1996. It established a school-based health center in 2013 in the Princeton School District. Lindsay led the HealthCare Connection until her retirement in 2020. It was not a career for me, it was a ministry, Lindsay said. I loved every moment of it the good, the bad, and the ugly. 3 questions with Dolores Lindsay What advice do you have for the next generation of Cincinnatians? "Fight for the things you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join in. Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Sometimes, you have to fly the plane while youre building it." Do you have a motto or creed by which you live your life? "Do all you can, for as many as you can, for as long as you can. "It takes a village to raise a child. African Proverb" Who has been an inspirational figure in your life? "Harriet Tubman, Fannie Lou Hamer, Ruth Bader Ginsberg. The women from my neighborhood, who helped to guide my life, family and career. My family my mother, my grandmother, aunts, uncles, cousins, school friendships - all helped to shape me in my early years." This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Dolores Lindsay named 2025 Great Living Cincinnatian We know less about the bottom of the Great Lakes than we do about the surface of Mars, according to Jennifer Boehme. The oceanographer is executive director of the Great Lakes Observing System, an Ann Arbor, Michigan-based nonprofit leading a concerted effort to fully map the worlds largest freshwater body from coast to coast, surface to floor. Only 15% of the lakebed has been documented to modern standards, which could have major consequences for coastal communities as climate change makes storms and floods more frequent and severe. Without an understanding of how the depth and contours of the lakebed are shifting, scientists cannot accurately predict how extreme weather will affect natural habitats and built infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are questions that need to be answered about coastal safety for the Great Lakes, but we cant answer them because basic information is missing, Boheme said. For me, its very much a safety issue. The Great Lakes, which nearly 40 million people in the United States and Canada depend on for drinking water, have already taken a beating from climate change. Water levels dropped this fall to the lowest in years, affecting shoreline ecosystems, access to docks and shipping routes. Most of the imaging taken of the Great Lakes is decades old and low resolution. It does not show the pipelines, cables, shipwrecks and boulders that new technologies make visible. Updated, high-resolution imaging has been taken piecemeal over the years, primarily to inform shipping routes and targeted research. When Boehme and her team began their concerted effort in 2019, 12% of the lakes had been mapped to modern standards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They called the initiative Lakebed 2030, intending to complete the project in 2030. But in the last five years, the Great Lakes Observing system has only mapped another 3% of the lakebed. Systematically creating a holistic picture of the lakes bathymetry the underwater equivalent of topography is a massive undertaking. The five Great Lakes have a combined surface area of 94,250 square miles, roughly the size of the United Kingdom. And they vary greatly, with depths ranging from 210 feet in Lake Erie to over 1,300 feet in parts of Lake Superior. If all that water was spread across the contiguous United States, the nation would be evenly submerged in nearly 10 feet of water. The primary roadblock is money. The Great Lakes Observing System estimates mapping all five lakes will cost $200 million. The money would be spent on a combination of advanced sound and light detection technologies over approximately a decade. Halfway to 2030, theyre rethinking the initiative name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What weve been calling Lakebed 2030 could morph into a more organized and concerted effort. Were calling it Building the Great Map, said Boheme. Nevertheless, the time pressure remains as weather events become more extreme. The amount of rain falling in the heaviest 1% of storms in the Great Lakes region has increased by 35% over 66 years. Earlier this year, Michigan U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain introduced the Great Lakes Mapping Act, a bipartisan bill directing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association to conduct high-quality mapping of the Great Lakes lakebeds. The Great Lakes generate ($)6 trillion to Americas GDP and support over 51 million jobs, yet we have barely scratched the surface of understanding the depths of the lakes, said McClain, a Republican. Investing in comprehensive exploration will offer an enhanced look at the potential these bodies of water offer to bolster our economy and inform efforts to protect one of Americas greatest natural resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill sits in the House Natural Resources Committee, and McClain plans to reintroduce it next Congress should it not make it to the floor this year. Its unlikely to pass in President-elect Donald Trumps Washington, however. Project 2025, a political framework affiliated with several of his recent Cabinet picks, aspires to abolish the federal agency in charge of weather forecasting and climate monitoring. This isnt deterring Boheme, who said the team will continue seeking private funding to complete the ambitious project. At the end of the day, the oceanographer is confident the undertaking will pay dividends beyond the intangible benefits of protecting wildlife and public safety. Knowledge about lakebed movements could help industries, from shipping to recreation, better plan their activities. Mapping would also likely create permanent jobs; data would constantly need to be updated as climate change-induced weather events dramatically shift the lakebed. Ultimately, the Great Lakes Observing System plans to make the lakebed map accessible to everyone and easy to use. _____ The nomination of Kash Patel to serve as Americas next FBI director is a warning shot across the bow for journalists as Donald Trumps threats to attack the First Amendement intensifies. Patel, a longtime Trump loyalist, served in the previous administration in a political appointment at the Pentagon. Now, hell be in charge of the nations largest law enforcement agency, pending approval by the Senate. His nomination, coupled with president-elect Trumps clear desire for a similar close ally at the head of the Justice Department, is a sign that the incoming president wants those agencies firmly in his pocket. And Patel has largely laid out his vision for what that will look like. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections. Were going to come after you, whether its criminally or civilly, he said on an episode of Steve Bannons War Room podcast. He expanded on the threat, using very similar language, in an interview with the Washington Examiner. What the president has stated simply, whether its DOJ, FBI, DOD were just going to stop the politicization of law enforcement, intelligence, he said. Its simple. If they broke the law, you prosecute them, criminally or civilly, he added. If they broke the law, use the Constitution, thats it. Kash Patel, Donald Trumps pick to run the FBI, has vowed to come after journalists criminally or civilly as he has threatened to attack the First Amendment (AP) The implicit threat also may have tipped Patels hand: the admission that civil law may come into play is as clear as a sign that even Trumps closest loyalists understand the limitations of criminal statutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For all the president-elects bluster on the campaign trail and the vows of Bannon and his circle to come after the media, there is little in terms of criminal prosecution with which the DOJ or FBI can threaten journalists who report on the Trump administration either past or present. Neither the FBI nor the DOJ actually has the power to make up new statutes with which to criminally charge journalists, and the vast majority of published media works in the US fall under the First Amendments protected speech and debate clause. The best Trumpworld and its fans on social media will be able to hope for, in this regard, will be civil suits filed against major media organizations, but the incoming president has no track record of success on that front even after promising virtually the same thing during the 2016 campaign. The DOK was previously utilized by Trump ally-turned-inconvenience Bill Barr to defend the commander-in-chief from a defamation suit during his first presidency. Despite Barrs efforts to pit the resources of the federal government against E Jean Carroll, the author who accused Trump of sexual abuse and defamation for supposedly lying about it, Carroll prevailed in the end. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One real red flag is raised for journalists in the national security field in particular with Patels nomination, however. His appointment would likely mean the FBI would eagerly prosecute journalists who publish classified documents or other documents obtained from government whistleblowers, a somewhat ironic outcome given Trumpworlds support for Julian Assange and Wikileaks role in exposing leaked documents stolen from the servers of the Democratic Party in 2016. That support aside, it was Barr in 2019 who led the DOJ in prosecuting Assange after the Obama administration declined to do so, citing press freedom concerns. Patel previously served at the Department of Defense during Trumps first term, and is a close ally of Steve Bannon. (Getty Images) Most experts agree that this is the most likely avenue for Trumps team to take if they are truly serious about coming after the press. The reason? A decades-long failure by the Washington class to address press freedom concerns surrounding the Espionage Act, which was first used by the Obama administration to aggressively pursue leakers despite those efforts having been criticized at the time as having a chilling effect on journalism (and perhaps being unconstitutional, too) by First Amendment groups. It would be the most likely statute under which charges would be brought for a direct prosecution, David McGraw, general counsel for The New York Times, told the Columbia Journalism Review in the leadup to Trumps election victory this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Journalist and author Kyle Paoletta added in a separate piece for CJR: For all the danger that Trump represents to the media, the uncomfortable truth is that the risks journalists now face were created by widespread inattention to the gradual encroachment on press freedom that the Espionage Act made possible over the past century. Importantly, no journalists were prosecuted under Trumps first term in office, with the exception of Assange. The last time a reporter was jailed by the federal government for refusing to reveal a classified source was during the George W. Bush administration. Unless the law changes, thats likely to be the same reality under four years of Trump 2.0. The people in real danger for prosecution will be, as it was from 2017-2021, the various federal employees of different agencies who leak unauthorized documents and materials to the press the FBI and DOJ were laserlike in their focus on prosecuting leakers as the president was confronted with officials in many agencies alarmed and worried about his teams policies and directives. Theres also the constitutional question of whether journalists even could be prosecuted under the Espionage Act, the law governing classified information which Bannon and his allies have long argued is the rights best course of action for silencing the media. While the Supreme Court is now firmly conservative, it is not wholly deferential to the incoming president. A battle over that would likely be escalated to the nations highest court, which has consistently bucked Trump on his more outlandish legal pushes. The generation that lived through World War II needs no reminder of Pearl Harbor Day. Dec. 7, 1941, is burned into the minds of older Americans, just as Nov. 22, 1963, and Sept. 11, 2001, are for subsequent generations. Even postwar baby boomers recall Pearl Harbor vividly because of the annual documentary specials about the battle, which started when Japanese fighter pilots surprised the U.S. fleet in Hawaii. Those news films, articles and photographs dominated print and broadcast media each year on Dec. 7. On Dec. 8, 1941, the U.S. declared war on the Japanese Empire. On Dec. 11, the U.S. did the same with Japan's ally, Nazi Germany. More than 400,000 Americans died during World War II. That war and life on the homefront profoundly altered the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One outcome the kind that historians tend to expect in the aftermath of wars was a change in the social dynamics and politics of race in this country. Three years after the war, in 1948, President Harry Truman integrated the armed forces. Black and Hispanic veterans often led the civil rights and social justice movements that continue to evolve to this day. A wartime poster shows Doris "Dorie" Miller, who, without training and despite bans on African Americans serving in combat roles, manned anti-aircraft guns during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He shot down as many as four Japanese fighter planes. One figure bolstered both patriotic fervor during the war and potential social progress after it: Doris "Dorie" Miller, the first Black recipient of the Navy Cross and a nominee for the Medal of Honor, performed heroically during the attack. Without training and despite bans on African Americans serving in combat roles, he manned anti-aircraft guns and downed as many as four Japanese planes. He otherwise protected fellow crew members during the waves of attacks. A native of Waco, Miller was hailed as a hero in Texas. Adm. Chester Nimitz, a native of Texas and commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet, pinned the Navy Cross on him. Miller returned to the United States to bolster war bond tours, but on Nov. 24, 1943, he was serving on the escort carrier Liscome Bay when it was torpedoed. His parents learned that he was considered missing in action on Dec. 7, 1943, two years after the Pearl Harbor attack. Austin's link with Miller is a slim but sturdy one. After his death, schools, roads, military assets, veterans groups and community centers were named after him. In 1944, the city started construction on Doris Miller Auditorium in Rosewood Park. Considering the politics of the time, U.S. Rep. Lyndon Johnson and Austin Mayor Tom Miller probably had a hand in the naming. Since it was constructed in 1944, Doris "Dorie" Miller Auditorium, named for the World War II hero, has witnessed events happy, sad and, in some cases, jubilant, such as this "Rosewood N The Park" summer jam concert in 2004. Decades later, Austin educator, businesswoman, community leader and school namesake Bertha Sadler Means recalled the rush of events in 1941, the year she married James H. Means Sr., a professor of mathematics at what is now Huston-Tillotson University, where she was a student. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of things happened in 1941, she told the American-Statesman in a 2015 profile of her distinguished family. The war started. I had a high school friend who was killed Doris Miller. He was a student in Waco. We always teased him for having a girls name. After he was killed, Mayor Tom Miller named an auditorium after him: Dorie Miller. I called the mayor and said: His name is Doris. Would you change it? And he did. According to Miller family stories, he was named "Doris" because the midwife who attended his mother had predicted the birth of a girl. "Dorie" might have been a nickname or perhaps a misspelling. Today, the community center that bears his name uses both: Doris "Dorie" Miller Auditorium. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin keeps a bit of Pearl Harbor history alive in park center The Russian authorities have claimed that 29 unmanned aerial vehicles attacked Russian oblasts on the night of 30 November-1 December. Source: Russia's Defence Ministry Details: The Russians claimed that all drones had been shot down. They added that 20 UAVs had been spotted over the territory of Bryansk Oblast, seven over the territory of Kaluga Oblast, and one over each of Smolensk and Kursk oblasts. Support UP or become our patron! QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuadorean police reported on Sunday that officers found 10 dead bodies at a property in Guabo, a community in El Oro province in the Andean country's south. Violence has exploded throughout Ecuador in recent years, which authorities attribute to gangs of drug traffickers vying for control of territory and smuggling routes. The spiraling crime and violence this year pushed President Daniel Noboa to declare a state of internal armed conflict and designate almost two dozen gangs as terrorist groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There are nine dead bodies and a kilometer further in there is a corpse that is completely dismembered in a jute bag," Colonel Pablo Fajardo told local journalists. The nationality of the 10 victims is unknown, Fajardo said, noting that they could be foreigners who were attacked as they were resting. Bullets recovered from the scene include 9-millimeter rounds and 5.56 caliber rifle ammunition, Fajardo said, adding that other people who were with the victims might have escaped. Preliminary investigations suggest the victims could have criminal records for illicit trafficking of controlled substances, robbery and attempted murder, Ecuador's police said. (Reporting by Alexandra Valencia in Quito; Writing by Luis Jaime Acosta and Oliver Griffin; Editing by Richard Chang) A little over a year ago, we wrote about how Peoples Gas overbudget, unaffordable pipe-replacement project needed to be rethought completely. Thankfully, the Illinois Commerce Commission, which regulates utilities, agreed and called a halt to the Chicago natural gas utilitys massive infrastructure plans. Since then, Peoples, the ICC staff and other parties have filed pages upon pages of testimony in response to the commissions call for a cheaper way to replace the underground pipes that need replacing rather than a total rebuild of Chicagos entire gas system, which Peoples had been pursuing. For anyone who has followed the issue, and youre forgiven if you havent, it will come as no surprise that Peoples continues to believe it necessary to upgrade the entire pipe system in Chicago, to the tune of $7 billion more (if Peoples current estimates are to be believed). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, the ICC staff and two administrative law judges tasked with sifting through all the evidence presented to date have sided with the utility and against consumer advocates like Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, the Citizens Utility Board and Illinois PIRG. They agree with Peoples that the commission ought to let the utility resume rebuilding the entire system, going neighborhood by neighborhood, as its done for over five years. The judges proposed order, to be taken up by the commission in January, was issued early last week. So, just like last year, the five-member commission itself, led by Chairman Doug Scott, will have to reject the advice of its staff and judges and keep the brakes on Peoples profligate spending if low- and lower-middle-income Chicago households are to be able to afford to keep warm in winter over the foreseeable future. The commissioners should do just that. We havent spoke to Scott and his fellow commissioners indeed, theyre not allowed to talk to people like us about open dockets but it would surprise us greatly if they thought they were taking the bold step of halting Peoples work in late 2023 only to resume it a year later with minimal changes. Peoples project was a train wreck and not just because its contractors did damage to residents yards and have been unresponsive to claims and repeated requests to fix problems, at least in our experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peoples has been missing progress goals on a yearly basis even as spending remained inflated and budget estimates ballooned, and ever-increasing number of Chicago households were finding themselves buried in gas bills they couldnt pay as a result. Heating bills in Chicago for the average household were topping $1,000 a year. While the (likely temporary) low cost of natural gas itself is helping to ease the situation for now, 16% of residential customers at last count were more than 30 days late on their Peoples Gas bills. In 10 of the lowest-income Chicago ZIP codes, delinquent households are more like 30%. And there were and are over 1,000 miles of pipe under Chicagos streets made of leak-prone cast or ductile iron that still need updating, 13 years after Peoples launched its accelerated pipe replacement program. Returning to business as usual will keep happy the Milwaukee-based corporate overlords at WEC Energy Group, the parent of Peoples, and the politically potent trade unions like Local 150 of the International Union of Operating Engineers whose members benefit from digging up Chicagos streets and inconveniencing residents. But it would amount to the classic definition of insanity: doing the same thing and expecting different results. It also would exacerbate a creeping cost-of-living crisis afflicting Chicago households at the lower end of the income spectrum. Weve already seen a public uprising at Mayor Brandon Johnsons proposal to hike property taxes by $300 million in order to preserve union jobs. The public recoil was reflected in the City Councils 50-0 rejection of the mayors budget. If heating bills resume rising at levels seen before the ICC halted the program, all public officials deemed responsible likely will incur similar wrath. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many upper-income households in Chicago dont have to worry about Peoples Gas misadventures. Most of the landmark high-rises along the lake, which are home to many well-to-do Chicagoans, long have been heated with electricity. Likewise, most downtown office buildings are kept warm that way. As Peoples heating bills continue to rise, we are likely to see other high-income households in places like Lincoln Park and the Gold Coast switch to electricity-powered heat pumps. The economics of the conversion, for those who can afford the up-front costs, already justify the move in many cases. In that scenario, an ever-shrinking pool of middle- and lower-income households, as well as apartment dwellers when landlords pass along the heating costs in rents, will be left holding the bag to pay for Peoples gold-plated system overhaul. These residents already are being squeezed by rising property taxes, insurance rates and electricity rates, among other necessities of modern living. There is no more basic a need than staying warm. In addition, there continues to be uncertainty about the long-term future of natural gas as both a heating and cooking fuel. Yes, Mayor Johnsons effort to ban natural gas in new Chicago buildings has died (for now) for lack of support in the City Council. But over the longer haul the warming climate will continue to raise questions about the use of methane a greenhouse gas for home heating. A complete rebuild of natural gas infrastructure, designed to last 50 years or longer, presents a better-than-even risk of saddling residents and businesses with paying for an obsolete system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, the commission, at the urging of Gov. JB Pritzker, who appointed all five of the present commissioners, earlier this year began an expansive effort to assess the future of gas in Illinois. With that important policy assessment far from completed, it would be odd to green-light resuming Chicagos complete system conversion to medium-pressure piping from the current low-pressure pipes. Old, leaky pipes must be retired or repaired. On that point no one disagrees. But that important work must be performed more surgically and with far more attention to the equipment in the worst shape. If the commission insists, as we believe it should, on this more cost-effective approach, Peoples Gas must become part of the solution and cooperate with efforts to upgrade the gas system without burning a hole in economically stressed Chicagoans pockets. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. Voting sign at Leon County Courthouse. (Photo by Jay Waggmeester/Florida Phoenix) President-elect Donald Trump may have quieted his lies about widespread voter fraud after his win earlier this month, but the impact of his effort to cast doubt on the integrity of American elections lingers on. Although this post-election period has been markedly calmer than the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, there were isolated flare-ups of Republican candidates borrowing a page from Trumps playbook to claim that unsatisfactory election results were illegitimate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Wisconsin, Republican U.S. Senate challenger Eric Hovde spread unsubstantiated rumors about last-minute absentee ballots in Milwaukee that he said flipped the outcome of the race. Though he conceded to incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin nearly two weeks after the election, his rhetoric helped stoke a spike in online conspiracy theories. The Milwaukee Election Commission disputed his claims, saying they lack any merit. In North Carolina, Republican state Senate leader Phil Berger told reporters last week he feared that the vote-counting process for a state Supreme Court seat was rigged for Democrats. Karen Brinson Bell, head of the State Board of Elections, skewered Berger for his comments, saying they could inspire violence. And in Arizona, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake, who has spent two years disputing her defeat in the 2022 governors race, hasnt acknowledged her Senate loss. While she thanked her supporters in a video posted to X, the platform formerly called Twitter, she stopped short of conceding to Democratic U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego. Republicans disinformation campaigns have caused Americans confidence in elections to plummet and exposed local election officials to threats and harassment, and some observers worry about a return of the GOPs destructive rhetoric the next time they lose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have to turn this rhetoric down, said Jay Young, senior director of voting and democracy for Common Cause, a voting rights group. There cannot be this continued attack on this institution. Voter confidence Still, many politicians who either denied the 2020 election results or criticized their local voting processes won election. In Arizona, for example, voters chose state Rep. Justin Heap, a Republican, to lead the election office in Maricopa County, home to Phoenix and the largest jurisdiction in the critical swing state. Heap ran on a voter confidence platform and suggested at a Trump rally that Maricopas election office is a national laughingstock. Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, Donald Trumps nominee for U.S. attorney general. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Trump tapped former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to oversee the U.S. Department of Justice. Bondi, a Republican, served as an attorney for Trump while he disputed the results in 2020. She could use her position as U.S. attorney general to prosecute election officials involved in that election, as Trump promised in an X post in September. While the rhetoric around stolen elections has been somewhat muted among the GOP ranks since Trumps victory, conservatives attempted to flip the election denial script on Democrats in at least one race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Pennsylvania, Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey refused to concede defeat until last Thursday, two weeks after The Associated Press called the race for Republican challenger David McCormick. Casey lost by fewer than 16,000 votes, less than half a percentage point. Casey said he wanted to see the results of an automatic recount and various court cases filed on his behalf, but Republicans jumped on his refusal to bow out quickly. Last week, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican who resisted pressure from Trump in 2020 to find votes after he lost the state, lambasted Casey for not conceding the Senate race. Election denialism needs to end, now, Raffensperger wrote in a statement. We are a country of laws and principles, not of men and personalities. Do your job! Follow the law. Accept election results or lose your country. Starlink conspiracy theory Even as Republicans mostly toned down their rhetoric this year, some left-wing social media accounts repeated a debunked conspiracy theory that Starlink, the internet provider owned by billionaire and Trump supporter Elon Musk, changed vote counts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those posts, however, arent comparable to GOP election denialism, according to the University of Washingtons Center for an Informed Public, which fights strategic misinformation. While the claims are similar, the rumoring dynamics on the left are markedly different due to the lack of endorsement or amplification by left-leaning influencers, candidates, or party elites, the center posted last week. Young, of Common Cause, said its clear that election disinformation of any kind has a devastating impact on the local officials tasked with administering the vote. Threats to election workers continued even after Election Day. Bomb threats were called into election offices in California, Minnesota, Oregon, and other states, forcing evacuations as workers were tallying ballots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But this was just a slice of the onslaught many officials faced over the past four years. Local election officials need the resources to beef up the way they fight disinformation and physical attacks, Young said. We should be doing better by them, he said. This story first appeared in Stateline, part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and X. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE People line up to vote on November 5, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Andy Manis/Getty Images) President-elect Donald Trump may have quieted his lies about widespread voter fraud after his win earlier this month, but the impact of his effort to cast doubt on the integrity of American elections lingers on. Although this post-election period has been markedly calmer than the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, there were isolated flare-ups of Republican candidates borrowing a page from Trumps playbook to claim that unsatisfactory election results were illegitimate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Wisconsin, Republican U.S. Senate challenger Eric Hovde spread unsubstantiated rumors about last-minute absentee ballots in Milwaukee that he said flipped the outcome of the race. Though he conceded to incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin nearly two weeks after the election, his rhetoric helped stoke a spike in online conspiracy theories. The Milwaukee Election Commission disputed his claims, saying they lack any merit. In North Carolina, Republican state Senate leader Phil Berger told reporters last week he feared that the vote-counting process for a state Supreme Court seat was rigged for Democrats. Karen Brinson Bell, the head of the State Board of Elections, skewered Berger for his comments, saying they could inspire violence. And in Arizona, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake, who has spent two years disputing her defeat in the 2022 governors race, hasnt acknowledged her Senate loss. While she thanked her supporters in a video posted to X, the platform formerly called Twitter, she stopped short of conceding to Democratic U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans disinformation campaigns have caused Americans confidence in elections to plummet and exposed local election officials to threats and harassment, and some observers worry about a return of the GOPs destructive rhetoric the next time they lose. We have to turn this rhetoric down, said Jay Young, senior director of voting and democracy for Common Cause, a voting rights group. There cannot be this continued attack on this institution. Still, many politicians who either denied the 2020 election results or criticized their local voting processes won election. In Arizona, for example, voters chose state Rep. Justin Heap, a Republican, to lead the election office in Maricopa County, home to Phoenix and the largest jurisdiction in the critical swing state. Heap ran on a voter confidence platform and suggested at a Trump rally that Maricopas election office is a national laughingstock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump tapped former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to oversee the U.S. Department of Justice. Bondi, a Republican, served as an attorney for Trump while he disputed the results in 2020. She could use her position as U.S. attorney general to prosecute election officials involved in that election, as Trump promised in an X post in September. While the rhetoric around stolen elections has been somewhat muted among the GOP ranks since Trumps victory, conservatives attempted to flip the election denial script on Democrats in at least one race. We have to turn this rhetoric down. Jay Young, Common Causes senior director of voting and democracy In Pennsylvania, Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey refused to concede defeat until last Thursday, two weeks after The Associated Press called the race for Republican challenger David McCormick. Casey lost by fewer than 16,000 votes, less than half a percentage point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Casey said he wanted to see the results of an automatic recount and various court cases filed on his behalf, but Republicans jumped on his refusal to bow out quickly. Last week, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican who resisted pressure from Trump in 2020 to find votes after he lost the state, lambasted Casey for not conceding the Senate race. But Kathy Boockvar, president of Athena Strategies and former Pennsylvania secretary of the commonwealth told the Capital-Star that comparisons between what the Casey campaign was doing and Republicans efforts to overturn results in the 2020 election were not valid; under Pennsylvania law, a recount is automatically triggered when the margin of votes is under 0.5%, as it was in the Casey-McCormick race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added that the practice of calling elections has done more damage to perceptions of elections than a lot of other things, because people think that when the Associated Press calls an election or Decision Desk calls an election, that that has any official relevance, and it has none, she said. The Associated Press and others calling of elections exist solely for the purpose of feeding peoples need for quick answers to a process that is not designed to be quick for good reasons. Even as Republicans mostly toned down their rhetoric this year, some left-wing social media accounts repeated a debunked conspiracy theory that Starlink, the internet provider owned by billionaire and Trump supporter Elon Musk, changed vote counts. Those posts, however, arent comparable to GOP election denialism, according to the University of Washingtons Center for an Informed Public, which fights strategic misinformation. While the claims are similar, the rumoring dynamics on the left are markedly different due to the lack of endorsement or amplification by left-leaning influencers, candidates, or party elites, the center posted last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Young, of Common Cause, said its clear that election disinformation of any kind has a devastating impact on the local officials tasked with administering the vote. Threats to election workers continued even after Election Day. Bomb threats were called into election offices in California, Minnesota, Oregon and other states, forcing evacuations as workers were tallying ballots. But this was just a slice of the onslaught many officials faced over the past four years. Local election officials need the resources to beef up the way they fight disinformation and physical attacks, Young said. We should be doing better by them, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kim Lyons of the Capital-Star staff contributed. Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and X. JOPLIN, Mo. While we cast our ballots nearly four weeks ago, the presidential election is not quite over yet. To make it official, one more group will cast their ballots. I am the elector, the presidential elector, for the seventh district of Missouri, said Dane Roaseau, MO 7th District presidential elector. In other words, Dane Roaseau is a member of the Electoral College. A journey that began close to home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It all starts with the county caucuses. Those caucuses chose delegates to the district and state conventions, said Roaseau. Roaseau, who currently serves as chair for the Lawrence County Republicans, was elected to his post at the 7th District convention several weeks ago and already knows how hes voting. Were bound to who we vote for, said Roaseau. Missouri, like most other states, is a winner takes all state, where whoever wins the statewide presidential vote gets all ten electoral college votes. The same process of selecting electors takes place for both the Democrats and Republicans, but only the party who wins the state gets to cast a vote, and thats for the winning candidate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So unless something weird happens, and that person is no longer the candidate, were bound to Donald Trump, said Roaseau. Roaseau and Missouris other nine electors will meet in Jefferson City on December 17 to cast their ballots. After that, hell pass the responsibility for the next election. Doing it once is, I think, enough. It would be something to share with someone else and allow them to have that opportunity as well, said Roaseau. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. ELK POINT, S.D. (KCAU) A South Dakota community kicked off the holiday season with a new community tradition. The Elk Point Chamber of Commerce hosted its first Hometown Christmas Market on Main Street Saturday afternoon. The German-style celebration included vendors with handcrafted goods, cookie decorating, and the opportunity to get a picture with Santa. Siouxland shoppers support local on Small Business Saturday Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the towns first Christmas market, Chamber members say the event was a way to not only welcome the holiday season but welcome folks to the Elk Point community. We love our town. Our businesses love supporting the town, and so we wanted a chance to highlight not only the businesses but Elk Point in itself, Elk Point Chamber member Kirstin Carlson said. Elk Point has never really done an event like this. Its not really a touristy town, but its a town that you come to live in, and we want people to come and visit and see that this is a place that you could raise a family in, you could move to and live in. The festivities were wrapped up with a tree lighting ceremony and carol singing at the Elk Point city park. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. Elon Musk is seeking an injunction against OpenAI to stop its transition to a for-profit entity. It's part of Musk's suit against Sam Altman, which says OpenAI engaged in anticompetitive behavior. The injunction would block OpenAI's for-profit transition and partnerships with Microsoft. Elon Musk is trying to get the court to stop OpenAI's transition to a for-profit entity, a new filing shows. In a motion filed Friday, Musk's lawyers asked Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of the US District Court for the Northern District of California to issue an injunction against OpenAI, preventing it from completing its transition from a nonprofit to a for-profit company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The request also argues that OpenAI has engaged in anticompetitive behavior by discouraging investors from partnering with its competitors, such as Musk's company xAI, and has benefited from "wrongfully obtained competitively sensitive information" through its ties with Microsoft. Reid Hoffman, the cofounder of LinkedIn, previously served on the boards of OpenAI and Microsoft simultaneously. Musk's lawyers write that Hoffman's role in both companies, which they describe as "the Microsoft-OpenAI board interlocks," resulted in information being wrongfully shared between the companies and monopolistic market practices. Musk's lawyers say the partnership amounted to violations of antitrust law. "It would be one thing if Microsoft were, once again, engaging in anticompetitive conduct, this time with OpenAI. It would be another if OpenAI, aided and abetted by Microsoft, were violating the terms of Musk's foundational contributions to the charity," the filing reads, referring to OpenAI as a charity due to its founding as a nonprofit organization. "But OpenAI and Microsoft together exploiting Musk's donations so they can build a for-profit monopoly, one now specifically targeting xAI, is just too much. Plaintiffs and the public need a pause." If granted, the request for an injunction would stall OpenAI's for-profit transition and force the company to halt its partnerships with Microsoft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawyers for Microsoft, Hoffman, and Musk did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider. No longer a nonprofit Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman were part of a group of Silicon Valley figures, including Hoffman and former PayPal CEO Peter Thiel, who cofounded or helped fund OpenAI in 2015 as a nonprofit. Musk invested between $45 and $50 million in the company, the Tesla CEO told CNBC last year and OpenAI says on its website, and served on its board of directors until his departure in 2018. In the years since, Musk and Altman have publicly feuded over OpenAI's direction, Musk's role in its success, and AI development more broadly. In September, OpenAI now worth more than $150 billion announced that it planned to restructure itself to a for-profit entity nearly a decade after its launch. The Friday filing argues that OpenAI's path from a nonprofit to a for-profit entity has been "replete with per se anticompetitive practices, flagrant breaches of its charitable mission, and rampant self-dealing." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Whatever leeway OpenAI might have been due under antitrust law as a purported charity it chose to forego when it subordinated itself to Microsoft for profit," the filing reads. "OpenAI must therefore play by the same rules as everyone else. It cannot lumber about the marketplace as a Frankenstein, stitched together from whichever corporate forms serve the pecuniary interests of Microsoft and Altman at any given moment." The filing is the latest in the ongoing legal saga between Musk and Altman that has escalated this year. Musk originally filed the suit against Altman and other OpenAI executives in March before withdrawing it in June. He re-filed a new version of the suit in August, arguing he was "deceived" into cofounding the company. Earlier this month, Musk's lawyers added Microsoft and Hoffman as defendants. Hoffman, in August, described Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI as a case of "sour grapes." A spokesperson for OpenAI told Business Insider the latest filing in the case, "which again recycles the same baseless complaints, continues to be utterly without merit." Read the original article on Business Insider High tech companies with Elon Musk seemingly on their side are gearing up to push the incoming Trump administration to let more high-skilled immigrants into the U.S., setting up a potential conflict with the nativist figures in Trumps orbit who want to minimize immigration at all costs. During Donald Trumps first term, Silicon Valley firms tried to impress upon Washington the importance of high-skilled immigration. They were stymied by people like Stephen Miller, a key figure in the first Trump administration now slated to serve as White House deputy chief of staff for policy. But the tech lobby now has a powerful new ally in Musk, a key Trump donor and close confidant who since the election has called for fixes that would make it easier for super talented people to immigrate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other newly minted Trump backers in Silicon Valley, including venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, have placed high-skilled immigration at the center of their Washington agenda. Their rising influence has already had an impact, prompting Trump himself to float giving green cards to talented students earlier this year. We definitely see it as an opportunity, said Linda Moore, president and chief executive of industry group TechNet. Silicon Valley views the incoming administration and GOP congressional majority as its best chance in years to pass policies that let in more immigrants with rare skills in science, technology, engineering and math. Though it feels counterintuitive, Trumps antipathy toward illegal immigration could leave him uniquely positioned to argue for more of the legal kind especially if it comes wrapped in an argument about making America more competitive. In the same way that it took Nixon to go to China because he was tough on China President Trump may have an interesting opportunity to get the GOP onboard with high-skilled immigration, said Vivek Chilukuri, director of the technology and national security program at the Center for a New American Security think tank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But tech lobbyists and Musk arent the only ones working Trump on STEM immigration. Hardcore immigration restrictionists informally led by Miller are also in the president-elects ear, cautioning that foreign STEM workers take American jobs and depress wages in high-tech industries. They prevailed during Trump's previous presidency, when under Millers influence, Trump slashed the number of green cards issued and denied applications and extensions for H-1B and other skilled visas, causing some companies to lose skilled workers. Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, believes Trump is definitely going to be more receptive to certain kinds of legal immigration expansion than he was in the past. Like other restrictionists, hes warily eyeing the emerging influence of tech billionaires on the president-elect and warning of consequences if Trump and congressional Republicans cave to their immigration asks. These tech lobbyists think they're going to be feeding at the trough, just making all kinds of demands because Elon is going to support them. They're in for a big surprise, said Stein. He added that Trump has to walk a very fine line so that people don't feel betrayed. Other restrictionists are also alarmed. Will the Trump administration kowtow to Silicon Valley CEOs or will it protect American tech workers? We shall see, said Eric Ruark, director of research at anti-immigration group NumbersUSA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tech lobby has long urged Washington to boost the amount of STEM immigrants allowed into the country typically through increases to the annual cap of H-1B and other visas, or through programs that would increase the availability of green cards or attach them to diplomas earned by foreign students. From microchip companies to emerging artificial intelligence firms, a wide range of tech interests warn there simply arent enough tech experts to staff their facilities or achieve Americas long-term strategic goals. AI, quantum, biotechnology we can't snap our fingers tomorrow and create the STEM PhDs that we need to compete in all of these areas, said Chilukuri, whose nonprofit is funded in part by tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon and Google, as well as tech billionaires like Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Under increasing pressure from Chinese tech advances, in recent years Washington has inched closer to boosting high-skilled immigration. But it could never stick the landing a bipartisan effort to shoehorn the issue into the CHIPS and Science Act fell apart in 2022, largely due to opposition from Republican senators. But that was under President Joe Biden and a Democratic-controlled Congress not a Republican trifecta led by a president whos both cozy with tech billionaires and tough on illegal immigration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of Trumps comments during the campaign suggest a change of heart on skilled immigrants compared to his first term. Speaking in June to the All In podcast a show hosted by several Silicon Valley venture capitalists, including Musk confidant David Sacks Trump said foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges should automatically receive a green card, giving them permanent residency. (Trumps campaign promptly walked back his remarks.) Industry lobbying on STEM immigration began mere hours after Trumps election victory. Aaron Levie, CEO of cloud software company Box, posted on X that Musk could single handedly solve high skilled immigration, arguing that the close Trump confidant could push it through swiftly. Musk promptly reposted it, saying I agree. Musk did not respond to a request for comment. But in an interview, Levie said Musk personally has experienced the importance of high-skilled immigration, both through his search for talent at Tesla and SpaceX and his own status as a STEM immigrant. Levie said he plans to continue his advocacy on the issue through TechNet, which counts Box as a member. TechNet CEO Linda Moore said her organization is engaging with the Trump transition team on ways to boost high-skilled immigration, which could include reductions in green card backlogs and efforts to press Congress on broader fixes. Weve got two months now to really affect a lot of things before the inauguration, and were certainly focused on that, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moore said TechNet also plans to press Musk on high-skilled immigrants through his and Vivek Ramaswamys new Department of Government Efficiency. This sort of streamlining and speeding up of the processing of H-1Bs and other skilled visas, I would think that that will be in their realm, she said. Other advocates of STEM immigration are also urging DOGE to take up the issue. Even top Republicans on Capitol Hill are warming to the idea of a high-skilled immigration fix next Congress. We do need work visas. We need to encourage legal immigration, House Speaker Mike Johnson said in mid-November. Johnsons comment sparked pushback from NumbersUSA, which warned the GOP leader that the American people just decisively voted for lower immigration levels. And Stein from FAIR said he expects Miller, among others, to be a powerful force arguing against major increases to high-skilled immigration. Miller, Stein said, is not a shrinking violet. Miller did not respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stein said restrictionists arent necessarily opposed to a small increase in high-tech immigration, at least for truly exceptional candidates. But he said any changes must be paired with much stricter enforcement of immigration laws at all levels, along with commitments by top tech companies to plow their profits into domestic STEM education. The kind of promises that need to be extracted out of these tech companies are a lot different than just talking about $10 million for a training program, Stein said. There needs to be a wholesale revision in how these companies deal with what's happening in elementary school and middle school and high school and everything else. Christine Mui contributed to this report. Austin voters, your work for this year isn't over yet. Candidates in two races are headed to the Dec. 14 runoff after no one received more than 50% of the vote for those seats in the general election. Early in-person voting starts Monday, Dec. 2, and ends on Tuesday, Dec. 10. If youre unsure which City Council district you live in, this map is helpful: https://maps.austintexas.gov/GIS/CouncilDistrictMap/ Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our recommendations in the runoff elections are below. Austin City Council, District 7: Gary Bledsoe With Council Member Leslie Pool not seeking another term, the race for North Austins District 7 drew six contenders. The top finishers on Nov. 5 were two civil rights lawyers: Mike Siegel, who earned nearly 40% of the vote, and Gary Bledsoe, who received 19%. We recommend voters pick Bledsoe, the Texas NAACP president who has spent much of his life fighting for social justice and equity at local and state levels. In our meeting earlier this fall, Bledsoe rattled off a list of accomplishments, including championing bills at the Legislature in 2001 to prohibit racial profiling by police officers, and leading efforts to create single-member districts on the City Council. He said addressing the need for more affordable housing would be his top priority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bledsoe noted the council has credibility issues, citing a state district judge's ruling that council members violated the Texas Open Meetings Act when they tried to place 13 city charter amendments on the Nov. 5 general election ballot. (Those proposed amendments will be decided in a future election.) "Austin needs someone to try to restore the trust," Bledsoe said. "When we go forward, we're going to need someone who will have respect on both sides to try to bring the city together." In our view, Bledsoe has earned that respect with his experience and his passion of fighting for equity. We recommend District 7 voters pick him for council. Austin school board, District 8 at-large seat: Lindsey Stringer The race to succeed outgoing Trustee Noelita Lugo in the District 8 seat drew a crowded six-person field. Headed to the runoff now are Fernando Lucas de Urioste, an advocate for students seeking disability services, who led the pack on Nov. 5 with 32% of the vote; and Lindsey Stringer, an education expert with the National Math and Science Initiative, who received nearly 26% of the vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We saw a lot to like with both of these candidates, but we recommend Stringer, who impressed us with her pragmatic, problem-solving mindset. In the candidates panel discussion with the Statesmans Editorial Board earlier this fall, Stringer called out the districts poor outcomes with economically disadvantaged students as a moral problem, that this is how it's been for so long." "There's a lot of bridge building and trust-building work that has to be done again," Stringer said. For students needing special education services, Stringer emphasized the importance of not only tracking the support provided, but tracking the outcomes. Are we actually seeing progress and the needle moving? And if not, why not? And what are you going to do differently? she asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement De Urioste also brings an impressive track record of working to help students access the support they need. Either candidate would serve Austin families well, but we believe Stringers results-oriented focus gives her the edge. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin runoff election endorsements: Bledsoe and Stringer are best fit The European Union's new team of executives, led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, took office on Sunday as the 27-country bloc faces a new geopolitical reality. The European Commission is the only institution empowered to propose EU legislation and ensure compliance with the bloc's laws. The start of von der Leyen's first mandate as commission president in 2019 had coincided with the height of the global climate movement and produced a package groundbreaking climate and environmental EU legislation known as the Green Deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Five years on, a significant sign of the bloc's changing priorities is the introduction of an EU defence commissioner position, a role held by former Lithuanian prime minister Andrius Kubilius. Kubilius' mandate will include boosting Europe's military independence and streamlining investment in European defence projects. Estonia's Kaja Kallas takes on a critical role as the EU's top diplomat. The bloc is also bracing for the return to office in January of US President-elect Donald Trump, who has pledged to introduce hefty tariffs. Von der Leyen's centre-right European People's Party (EPP) emerged victorious in the European elections held in June. She was elected for a second term as commission president in July and unveiled her team in September, setting the stage for her leadership over the coming years. Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, and Marta Kos, Commissioner for Enlargement, visited the Wall of Remembrance on Independence Square in Kyiv on 1 December. Source: Kos on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: Kallas, Kos and Costa arrived in Kyiv on a visit on Sunday, 1 December. They visited the Wall of Remembrance on Independence Square. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Humbled to walk to the Wall of Remembrance and the Maidan square, a place of hope, dignity and resilience. Where people of Ukraine shared loud and clear their dream of joining our European Union," Kos tweeted. The delegation also noted that Ukraine is now making great strides on its European path. The delegation visiting the Wall of Remembrance Photo: (Twitter) Background: At its meeting on 27 November, the European Parliament approved the new European Commission headed by Ursula von der Leyen, formed after the European elections in 2024, which will commence work on 1 December. On 29 November, President of the European Council Charles Michel officially transferred his powers to former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa. Support UP or become our patron! The European Union has delivered 1 million artillery shells to Ukraine, fulfilling the pledge it initially promised to deliver by the spring of 2024, the EUs new top diplomat Kaja Kallas told the Kyiv Independent on the sidelines of her visit to Kyiv. "This one million rounds of shells have been delivered, but of course, as we know here... it's not enough, more needs to be done," Kallas told the Kyiv Independent in an exclusive interview on Dec. 1. "I think also the investments to Ukrainian defence industry are very, very welcome that these things are produced here and immediately used as well. So we are thinking about different initiatives, how we can more support and help Ukraine," Kallas said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kallas, the former Estonian prime minister, made the comments during a surprise visit to Kyiv on the first day of her mandate as the EU's top diplomat. Kallas visited the Ukrainian capital alongside Antonio Costa, the new president of the European Council. When asked by the Kyiv Independent how much military aid Ukraine can expect in 2025, Kallas did not provide a specific estimate. "There is no actual number yet, but I think it's important we know your needs, and of course, it's not enough what we are producing. So we need to really speed up the process of producing more," Kallas said. "We have a new commissioner for defense, we intend to work with him very closely, how we can do this, how we can find also new financing to speed up the process. So there is the political will to do it." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The full delivery of the shells, initially expected to be completed by the end-of-Spring, were delayed into November amid unexpected production capacity limitations, the EU's former chief diplomat Josep Borrell said on Nov. 11. During a news conference with President Volodymyr Zelensky following their meeting in Kyiv, Costa said that the EU would continue to provide economic, humanitarian, and military assistance to Ukraine, including 4.2 billion euros ($4.4 billion) to support the Ukrainian budget by the end of the year. In 2025, the EU will also transfer 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) to Ukraine monthly. Read also: Zelensky meets with new president of European Council, top EU diplomat in Kyiv Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. In his speech marking his election win, President-elect Donald Trump hailed a new golden age of America and claimed to have pulled off the greatest political movement of all time. The president-elect and his camp celebrated the Republicans political comeback as a triumph against wokeism, liberal immigration and other Biden-era policies. Europes far-right is taking notes. Many of Europes populists are hoping that the return of Trump a transatlantic ally who promotes the same conservative Christian values and shares the same disdain for progressive politics will help to serve their interests back home and further normalize their anti-immigrant, nation-first rhetoric. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congratulations President Trump Never stop, always keep fighting and win elections, Geert Wilders, the populist leader of the Dutch Freedom Party (PVV), wrote on X on November 6. Alternative for Germany (AfD) co-leader Alice Weidel also offered her congratulations and declared that it was not woke Hollywood but rather the working American people that decided the election. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban attends a debate on the presentation of the programme for Hungary's six-month Council Presidency on October 9. - Frederick Florin/AFP/Getty Images For Hungarys Viktor Orban, of the Fidesz party, it was a much needed victory for the world. However, Armida van Rij, a senior research fellow at Chatham House, stresses the importance of not viewing far-right parties in Europe as one homogenous group. Yet, there are common overlapping themes among Europes populists that are also present in Trumps playbook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Van Rij points to the anti-woke, traditional values, anti-green transition and the anti-migration agenda. Europes Green Deal has faced backlash from far-right groups who want to weaken climate legislation or ignore climate action entirely. Similarly, Trump has promised to take a wrecking ball to virtually all of President Joe Bidens efforts to reduce carbon emissions and accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels. Normalizing and amplifying ideas Another common theme between Trumps agenda and his European allies, Van Rij told CNN, is the strong notions of what an American is and looks like, and what a European or a Hungarian or an Italian or a French person is or looks like. This sentiment is clear when looking at the language employed by the far-right; In Austria, provocative anti-migration slogans such as homeland love instead of Moroccan thieves are the norm for the Freedom Party (FPO). In Germany, anti-Islam sentiment has been palpable in AfD posters with the tagline Burkas? We prefer bikinis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such rhetoric seems shocking to many who read it. But, according to analysis from the Center for European Reform, a London-based thinktank focused on European integration, Trump will strengthen Europes far-right by normalizing and amplifying their ideas. Trump himself has employed controversial rhetoric while vocalizing his hardline views on immigration, calling the US a garbage can for the world. One far-right leader who on the surface looks set to benefit from a Trump presidency is Hungarys long-standing leader, Viktor Orban. He has been among the most prominent of Europes populists voicing his support for Trump and even said he toasted to his election victory with vodka, according to the Agence France-Presse. Russian President Vladimir Putins closest ally in Europe, Orban has been ostracized by the bloc for his introduction of anti-LQBTQ laws, his increasingly authoritarian rule in his home country and his soft approach to Russia. While provoking the ire of his European peers, Orbans relationship with Trump appears positive, with Orban endorsing his presidency, and Trump touting the prime ministers backing. Van Rij believes that with Trump in power in the US, Orban could feel further emboldened to put aside any rule of law concerns, whether thats domestically or within an EU context, reasoning that if Trump can do that, why should anyone follow rule of law. Trump earlier this week had his last remaining federal criminal case, relating to illegally retained classified documents as well as charges related to election subversion, dismissed by a US court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With Trump in the White House, Orban and other populist European leaders who have a softer approach to Russia could feel emboldened in their calls to end the war in Ukraine. In Romania, far-right populist Calin Georgescu who has risen to prominence and is set to face a center-right opposition leader in a presidential election runoff, in 2022 described Putin as a man who loved his country. Trump has been vocal in his goal to end the war in Ukraine as soon as possible, even claiming in July that he could settle the conflict in one day. He has also been accused of cozying up to dictators, including Putin. As we know, any kind of peace agreement on Putins terms would be terrible for Ukraine and terrible for European security, Van Rij stresses. Trumps reelection purely underscores all of that. Warm air of historical righteousness Overall, Van Rij sees a lot of convergence in thinking between Trump and some of Europes populist parties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, despite the fanfare with which Trumps reelection was met with, surface-level similarities may soon reveal underlying key conflicts of interest. Theres a bit of a contradiction between (populists) feeling like theyve got their man in the White House, versus the actual implications for their countries of his policies, Van Rij believes. She points to economic policy as a prominent example. The president-elects promise of an America First trade policy has the EU bloc on a knife edge. And the fallout could hit populist leaders hoping to gain power in Europe. Frances Marine Le Pen, who leads the populist National Rally (RN) party, offered a more muted response to Trumps election win perhaps an indication of a populist leader showing early signs of concern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Data from Eurostat shows that France was the fourth-largest EU exporter of goods to the United States in 2023. Van Rij says France would therefore be disproportionately hard-hit by Trumps America First trade policy. Further, Le Pen, whose party holds a large number of seats in parliament, might be concerned that any trade tariffs on Europe could impact her campaign for the French presidency. Liana Fix, a fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations, also sees why Le Pen could be concerned about her chances of gaining power. Shipping containers stacked on a dock at the Marseille-Fos Port in Marseille, France, on January 6, 2023. - Jeremy Suykur/Bloomberg via Getty Images Le Pen hopes to get elected if she gets out of her current embezzlement scandal earlier than 2027. That means she would have to deal with Trump - who is not necessarily good at dealing with women leaders in addition to the (economic) aspects, Fix told CNN. Earlier this month, French prosecutors asked for prison time and a five-year ban from politics for Le Pen, potentially derailing her bid to become president in 2027. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is also reason to believe that Orbans celebrations are premature. The Hungarian leaders strong business ties with Chinas Xi Jinping could prove to be a major sticking point. Hungary has successfully attracted Chinese foreign investment to the country, and the close relationship is already causing concern among some Republicans. China is seen as arch enemy number one by some in the Republican party, and Trump shares that view, Van Rij says. Thats an interesting contradiction and something Orban will have to face and reckon with at some point. I think the US will try to force Orban in one direction or the other. Orban wont like that because he likes being able to place different bets. Similarly, Fix sees Orban running into difficulties with trying to court Trump and Xi at the same time. Fix says that while a Trump win definitely emboldens European populists and inoculates them against criticism from Brussels, we must not forget that European populists are divided amongst each other - Le Pen does not get along with (Italian Prime Minister Giorgia) Meloni, for example, and no one gets along with the AfD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The diversity of Europes populists will be the greatest challenge to benefiting from the warm air of historical righteousness coming from DC, Fix believes. Of course, all populists parties share the migration topic, and the anti-left rhetoric. But on economic policy? Big divergences between Trump and Le Pen. Foreign policy? Meloni has been a Ukraine supporter. Trump not. The closer you zoom in, the more nuanced it becomes. CNNs Ronald Brownstein contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com New European Council President Antonio Costa has pledged Ukraine swift progress in the EU accession process during discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev on Sunday. Costa, a former Portuguese prime minister, said they would work together to open at least two areas of accession negotiations in the first half of next year. The new European Council leader officially took up office earlier on Sunday along with the new team of commissioners under the second term of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Costa also assured Ukraine of further EU financial assistance in the fight against Russia's ongoing invasion, and committed to efforts on the 15th package of sanctions against Russia. He noted that starting next year, proceeds from frozen Russian assets in the EU would provide 1.5 billion ($1.6 billion) per month in aid to Ukraine. Additionally, Costa emphasized that further sanctions would intensify pressure on Russia's economy and undermine its war efforts. The European Union officially opened accession negotiations with Ukraine in June. The duration and successful conclusion of the negotiations remain uncertain, and it is widely regarded as unlikely that Ukraine will join the EU before the war's end. The European Union could impose sanctions over the latest developments in Georgia, the EU's new foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Sunday. "It is clear that using violence against peaceful protesters is not acceptable, and [the] Georgian government should respect the will of the Georgian people, but also the Georgian constitution," Kallas said during a visit to Kiev. "When it comes to European Union, then this clearly has consequences on our relationship with Georgia," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kallas, a former Estonian prime minister, took office as the EU's top diplomat on Sunday. Kallas mentioned sanctions and visa restrictions as possible steps, but said any consequences would be discussed and agreed together with EU member states. Georgia has been rocked by three straight nights of mass protests and violent clashes between demonstrators and police, following an announcement by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze that he would put EU membership talks on ice. "Clearly, [the] Georgian government is not respecting the will of Georgia people when it comes to the European future," said Kallas, "and I think we shouldn't let them slip away." EU sanctions can only be imposed if all EU countries agree. This is currently questionable, not least since Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban recently expressed support for Kobakhidze. The new EU Council President Antonio Costa (front, 2nd R), the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas (2nd L) and the new EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos (R) talk to a war veteran (L) on the Maidan during a visit to the Ukrainian capital Kiev. Ansgar Haase/dpa Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanischyna (R) welcomes the new EU Council President Antonio Costa (2nd L), the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas (L), and the new EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos (2nd R) as they arrive in Kiev a few hours after taking office. Ansgar Haase/dpa By Dan Peleschuk KYIV (Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on the outgoing U.S. administration of President Joe Biden on Sunday to help convince NATO members to invite Ukraine to join the alliance, as Ukraine's war with Russia enters an unpredictable new phase. Kyiv wants NATO members to issue an invitation at an alliance meeting in Brussels this week as the invasion grinds toward its three-year mark and Russia makes battlefield gains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskiy spoke to reporters in Kyiv alongside the new president of the European Union's council of member states, Antonio Costa, who travelled to Ukraine on his first day in office to show support for Kyiv in its war with Russia. The Ukrainian leader, who has been calibrating Ukraine's positions before Donald Trump succeeds Biden in January, acknowledged that some NATO allies were still wary of inviting Kyiv to join the alliance, which obliges all members to aid each other if attacked. "There are two months left in the current administration in the United States," he said. "They have influence on those few European sceptics of our future (in NATO)." Trump has criticised the scale of U.S. support for Ukraine and has promised to end the war quickly, without saying how. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia and Ukraine have both interpreted this as increasing the likelihood of peace talks, which are not known to have been held since the first months after Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Both foes have tried to improve their positions on the battlefield and among diplomatic allies. RUSSIAN ADVANCE Moscow's troops have been capturing village after village in Ukraine's east, part of a drive to seize the industrial Donbas region, while Russian airstrikes are targeting a hobbled Ukrainian energy grid as winter sets in. In November, the Biden administration granted Ukraine permission to use Western weapons to strike further into Russian territory. Moscow responded by attacking Ukraine with a new intermediate-range ballistic missile and has threatened further strikes on government sites in Kyiv. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kyiv has long demanded Moscow withdraw all troops from its territory, and said Ukraine must be granted guarantees for its security comparable to NATO membership to prevent Russia from attacking again. Moscow, which controls nearly a fifth of Ukrainian territory, demands recognition of its annexation of Ukrainian land and permanent neutrality for Ukraine. In an interview last week, Zelenskiy floated the idea of his country being granted NATO membership even while Russia occupies some captured territory, a solution he said could end the "hot stage" of the war. In his remarks on Sunday Zelenskiy clarified that any invitation to join the alliance must extend to all Ukrainian territory, even if the alliance's collective defence agreement might not operate in areas occupied by Russian forces. "There can be no NATO invitation to (only) a part of Ukrainian territory," he said, saying an invitation extended only to parts of Ukraine would amount to recognising that other parts were no longer Ukrainian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Costa, who visited Ukraine along with the new EU foreign policy chief and the bloc's head of enlargement on the day they all took office, said the EU had "stood with you since the very first day of this war of aggression, and you can count on us to continue to stand with you." "These are not just words," added Costa, a Portuguese former prime minister who replaced Charles Michel as president of the European Council and chair of EU summits. Costa said Ukraine's process of joining the EU was marked by "a sense of urgency" and the bloc could take steps to integrate Ukraine before its entry, such as coordinating mobile phone roaming rules and letting some goods into the single market. "We cannot manage this process as business as usual because it is a geopolitical choice," he said. (Reporting by Dan Peleschuk; Additional reporting by Andrew Gray and Philip Blenkinsop in Brussels; Editing by Bernadette Baum, Frances Kerry, Peter Graff) HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) One man is in custody after police say he threatened to stab a Taco Bell employee early Sunday morning. Authorities say they responded to a customer trouble call at Taco Bell in the 1000 block of Green River Road. Employees say Andrew Leach was told he could not come inside the store to order food, but could do so at the drive-through. It is said Leach ignored the employees and walked inside the store. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After being told to leave, officials say Leach pulled out a knife at an employee in the parking lot. The employee says he ran away after Leach told him he was going to stab him multiple times. Authorities say they located Leach in a nearby parking lot with a box cutter on him. After being identified as the suspect, Leach was arrested and charged with Intimidation with a Deadly Weapon. Police say he also had three active misdemeanor warrants as well. Leach is currently booked in the Vanderburgh County Jail. Andrew Leach (Courtesy: Vanderburgh County Jail) Eyewitness News. Everywhere You Are. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). GOSHEN In response to the generosity of its members and community, Everence has announced the expansion of its Everence Helps: Hurricane Relief matching gift initiative aimed at supporting ongoing hurricane recovery assistance efforts. Since the initiatives launch on Oct. 14, Everence members, clients and employees have contributed nearly $68,000 exceeding the organizations initial $50,000 challenge. To further amplify this collective impact, Everence is adding another $50,000 to the initiative, bringing the total dollar-for-dollar match to $100,000 and the total potential impact of the matching gift initiative to $200,000. Given the ongoing need and the generous support weve already received, we feel compelled to deepen our commitment to help our neighbors in need, Ken Hochstetler, Everence president and CEO, said in a news release. Mutual support and caring for one another are foundational to who we are as an organization. We hope that, through our shared commitment to one another, we can help bring some comfort, healing and hope to those affected by these disasters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recognizing that assistance is critical both now and into the future, Everence is directing $120,000 of the funds raised and matched thus far to humanitarian assistance organizations providing aid to communities impacted by the 2024 hurricanes: * Brethren Disaster Ministries A program of the Church of the Brethren, providing immediate emergency relief, early recovery and cleanup, long-term rebuilding and volunteer mobilization to assist hurricane-affected areas. * Christian Aid Ministries An Anabaptist-related nonprofit providing rapid response clean-up and rebuilding assistance in Georgia and Florida. * Christian Disaster Relief An organization sponsored by Church of God in Christ (Mennonite) providing immediate disaster relief assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Church World Service An ecumenical humanitarian organization providing emergency preparedness, response, and recovery assistance in the U.S. and globally, including support for communities affected by hurricanes. * Mennonite Disaster Service A faith-based organization providing emergency response, recovery, and rebuilding assistance in the U.S. and Canada, with a focus on communities impacted by natural disasters, including hurricanes. * Samaritans Purse A Christian organization providing emergency aid, disaster relief, and recovery efforts to communities impacted by hurricanes and other natural disasters. Individuals, churches, or organizations looking to participate in the matching gift initiative may contribute through Dec. 31, via monetary donations, donor advised fund distributions, IRA qualified charitable distributions, or charitable gifts of public securities and farm commodities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All donations made as part of the Everence Helps: Hurricane Relief initiative will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Everence, up to the new total of $100,000. The matched funds will further support organizations and partners in their continued efforts to restore homes, livelihoods and hope to affected individuals, families and communities. Contributions must be made payable to Everence Foundation, the donor-driven charitable services arm of Everence, and designated for "Everence Helps: Hurricane Relief." For additional details on how to donate or to learn more, visit everence.com/everence-helps. Editors Note: This story has been updated to clarify the organization that issued the eviction notices. VISTA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) As of Saturday night, an eviction deadline was just hours away for dozens of families living at an RV park in Vista, with residents scrambling to find new housing. After 9 years in this tight-knit community, resident LaRen Reed and her family are preparing to say their goodbyes. My heart is broken right now, said Reed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are one of nearly three dozen families living at an RV park inside Green Oak Ranch who received eviction notices earlier this month. Tenants must be out by Dec. 1, but Reed and her family are staying put for now. Were still looking, were looking everyday, she told FOX 5/KUSI. We have a tiny home that we bought here on property and we need a place where it has full hookups that can accommodate 40-feet and somewhere safe for our kids. Reed also explained that they are part of a civil lawsuit against the property owner. The site is managed by Green Oak Ministries, which offers substance abuse recovery programs on location and managed the parcel of land where the RV park was located. Starting in January, however, the nonprofit Solutions for Change is taking over the lease. Green Oak Ministries served the eviction notices in preparation for the handoff, in part because the land had not been properly permitted as a mobile home park with the city of Vista. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I still cant wrap my mind around how a homeless organization prides itself on helping homeless families, yet theyre making 70 people homeless right before Christmas, Reed expressed. She said the San Diego Rescue Mission is offering to help with relocation but moving her tiny home will cost $10,000. For the past few weeks, the city has been trying to help connect residents with resources. Weve helped some families move their vehicles. We bought tires for some families. Were providing moving assistance dollars and resources, said Vista Mayor John Franklin. And we now have all but two families out of 25 have a resolution that has been identified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mayor continued, saying its an unfortunate situation that is out of the citys control. The new lessee of the property knew that there were some code deficiencies that would have to be remedied as they pulled new building permits, he stated. Franklin also said the city doesnt have specifics from Solutions for Change about exact plans for the property. In a previous statement, a representative said the nonprofit is interested operating an RV park at the site in the future, but cannot and will not operate services outside of the law or at the expense of our core programs. Meanwhile, Reed and her family are hoping to stay local near loved ones. The option to move to New Mexico or Pennsylvania just isnt home, she explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FOX 5/KUSI reached out to Green Oak Ranch Ministries and the nonprofit Solutions for Change for comment did not hear back at the time of publication. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Kuwait ruler urges immediate Gaza ceasefire Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah (left0 also called on the international community to provide protection for innocent civilians. File photo: AFP Kuwait's ruler on Sunday urged an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, as he addressed a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council held after nearly 14 months of war in the Palestinian territory. Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah called on the international community to implement "an immediate ceasefire, providing international protection for innocent civilians and ensuring the opening of safe corridors and the arrival of urgent humanitarian aid". The meeting of the six-member GCC comes at a time of acute and ongoing uncertainty for the Middle East following Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel and a subsequent war on Gaza, which has repeatedly threatened spillover into a wider regional conflagration. Sheikh Meshal hit out at what he characterised as the "double standards in the application of relevant international laws, charters and resolutions" which he said had undermined "the region's security and stability". He said Kuwait was "optimistic" about a ceasefire agreed between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon that he said would contribute "to reducing escalation in the region". Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar and other countries also welcomed last week's a truce after a year of conflict that killed thousands in Lebanon and caused mass displacement on both sides of the border. Fighting escalated in September after continuous cross-border strikes, initiated by Iran-backed Hezbollah in support of Hamas. The Kuwaiti ruler spoke in support of Saudi's work to form a global body pushing for an independent Palestinian state and lauded "positive and constructive" work by Iran and the GCC. Saudi Arabia had appeared close to a normalisation deal with Israel prior to October 2023 but Riyadh indicated it was unwilling to move ahead while Israel pursued its campaign in Gaza, hardening its position in recent months saying it would not recognise Israel without an independent Palestinian state. Anxious about being drawn into tit-for-tat strikes between Israel and nearby Iran, also precipitated by fighting in Gaza, the wealthy and traditionally western-allied Gulf monarchies have sought to cultivate improved relations with Tehran. An Israeli air raid on Iran in October was the most recent in a series of retaliatory attacks between the two countries. (AFP) Former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe on Saturday issued a dire warning after Donald Trump selected Kash Patel, a fierce loyalist to the president-elect, as his pick to lead the agency. The installation, or the nomination I guess we should say at this point of Kash Patel as FBI director, can only possibly be a plan to disrupt, to dismantle, to distract the FBI and to possibly use it as a tool for the presidents political agenda, said McCabe in an appearance on CNN. McCabe, a harsh Trump critic since being fired as acting FBI deputy director in his first term, called Trumps controversial choice a terrible development for those working at the agency and for the country who depends on it to be highly functioning, professional and independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fact that Kash Patel is profoundly unqualified for this job is not even like a matter for debate, McCabe said. McCabes reaction arrived after Trump tapped Patel who previously served as chief of staff to acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol to be his FBI director. Trumps move follows reports that he considered firing FBI Director Christopher Wray and ending his 10-year term early to replace him with Patel. The choice aligns with the president-elects affinity for picking loyalists to serve in his cabinet that could go after his perceived foes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patel has signaled an interest in upending the FBI and once vowed to shut down the agencys D.C. headquarters on day one to replace it as a museum for the deep state. McCabe, in a CNN appearance prior to Trumps announcement, warned that no part of the agencys mission would be safe under Patel should he take on a leadership position there. If you enter into that position with nothing more than a desire to disrupt and destroy the organization, there is a lot of damage someone like Kash Patel could do, McCabe told CNNs Kaitlan Collins at the time. On Saturday, McCabe used Trumps pick to reflect on J. Edgar Hoovers controversial tenure as FBI director and noted how the agency under his leadership struck fear in the hearts of Americans across the spectrum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Thats] because the director operated at the direction of presidents to collect political intelligence and to utilize the legal authorities, the investigative authorities of the FBI to terrorize and intimidate Americans, he said. So the question is, is that where were going back to with this nomination? I would argue that Kash Patel would be the perfect person for Donald Trump to nominate if thats, in fact, his intent for the FBI. H/T: Mediaite Related... U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) speaks to the media as he exits Manhattan federal courthouse on July 16, 2024, in New York City. Jurors found Menendez and two co-defendants guilty on all counts in a wide-ranging bribery scheme. (Adam Gray | Getty Images) Attorneys for former Sen. Bob Menendez and two businessmen convicted last summer of bribing him want a federal judge to vacate their convictions and order a new trial, saying an evidentiary error prosecutors recently revealed deprived the men of a fair trial. Prosecutors alerted the defense and Judge Sidney H. Stein two weeks ago that they accidentally uploaded nine documents to a laptop jurors could consult during deliberations that had fewer redactions than Stein had ordered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in a flurry of filings Wednesday, defense attorneys say they since have found two more insufficiently redacted exhibits given to jurors including one in which Menendez co-defendant Fred Daibes referenced Adolf Hitler. The defense attorneys also complained that prosecutors wiped the laptop clean, without their knowledge or consent, making it impossible for a forensic review that could determine if jurors reviewed any of the 3,074 exhibits that had been there, and which ones. Menendezs attorneys called prosecutors goof undoubtedly prejudicial because the documents at issue could have eliminated a skeptical jurys reasonable doubt. The pall cast over Senator Menendezs convictions by the revelation of the governments error and the attendant prejudice to Senator Menendez is more than sufficient basis for this Court to vacate all counts of conviction and order a new trial, they wrote. They also urged Stein not to accept prosecutors contention they made an innocent mistake in uploading the wrong exhibits. Prosecutors fiercely fought to get the documents introduced as evidence because they deemed them very critical to their argument that Menendez was acting as a foreign agent for Egypt when he signed off on billions in U.S. funding and military sales to Egypt. Uploading them for jurors review without Steins ordered redactions could amount to recklessness that warrants court sanctions, they added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Had prosecutors blurted out the contents of the Unredacted Exhibits during closing, there is no doubt this Court would have ordered an immediate mistrial, Menendezs attorneys wrote. The only question here is whether a different remedy is warranted, because the government slipped this very critical evidence to the jury via a laptop, rather than a summation. The answer is no. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams outside the federal courthouse in Manhattan on July 16, 2024. (Adam Gray | Getty Images) The drama over the documents comes just days after Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York who brought the case, said he would resign next month. President-elect Donald Trump had already announced that he picked former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Jay Clayton to lead the office. Defense attorneys have asked for fuller discovery in the matter. Prosecutors have until Dec. 6 to respond. In a letter to Stein sent earlier this month, prosecutors insisted the mistake caused no harm because jurors who deliberated less than three full days probably never saw the documents in dispute, given that the laptop contained thousands of pages of exhibits and theyd heard nine weeks of testimony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All the defense attorneys blasted that argument, though, saying it insulted jurors by assuming they ignored Steins directive to deliberate carefully. The government declares that the Court need not worry, because the jury probably did not bother looking at these violative exhibits, Menendezs attorneys wrote. But the government offers nothing for this Alfred Neuman defense which is premised on the jury ignoring this Courts instruction to review the summary charts underlying exhibits. The only proper remedy here is vacatur on all counts. Besides, attorneys know jurors consulted the laptop because early in their deliberations, they alerted the judge they had a technical problem and needed a cord to help them view the laptops contents on a TV screen in the jury room. For the convictions to stand, prosecutors must prove not presume their error was harmless, said attorney Lawrence Lustberg, who represented Menendez co-defendant Wael Hana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A criminal defendants Sixth Amendment rights are violated when a jury considers incriminating evidence that was not admitted at trial, Lustberg wrote. Indeed, courts have consistently reversed convictions under circumstances like those present here, where information that should have been redacted was provided to the jury. The wrinkle in this wrongly introduced evidence is that it centers on a constitutional protection known as the speech or debate clause, which protects legislators from liability for actions they take in the course of their jobs. A 1992 federal ruling in a money-laundering case against a congressman from Georgia held that harmless-error arguments dont excuse a violation when the speech or debate privilege is invoked, Menendezs attorneys argued. This Court expressly prohibited any evidence of past legislative activity, including involvement in the provision of any particular military aid to Egypt, Menendezs attorneys wrote. The Unredacted Exhibits squarely crossed that line, however, and allowed the jury to infer bribery from Senator Menendezs legislative acts exactly what the Speech or Debate Clause is meant to prevent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Hana and Daibes arent protected by that clause, their attorneys argued that the evidentiary gaffe harmed them too because prosecutors argued all the defendants actions were part of a single, overarching scheme in which the businessmen would benefit by bribing Menendez and his wife, Nadine, with gold bars, cash, a luxury car and more in exchange for his influence. Attorneys for Daibes had portrayed the Edgewater real estate developer during the trial as a longtime, dear friend of the Menendezes who gave them gold and other gifts because he was generous. But one of the unredacted documents at issue is a text from Daibes to a Qatari official that referred to an antique Mercedes Benz Daibes had bought that he referred to as his Hitler car, because it was believed to have been commissioned by Hitler or used by his generals, Daibes attorneys wrote. The prejudice to Mr. Daibes could not be more obvious, his attorneys wrote. A Palestinian-born American citizen, conversing with an Arab, and making reference to Adolf Hitler would certainly lead a contemporary jury to question his character. One of the exhibits uploaded to jurors laptop included this text from Fred Daibes to a Qatari official that referenced Adolf Hitler a reference the judge had ordered be redacted. (Screenshot from Bob Menendez motion) New Jersey Monitor is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. New Jersey Monitor maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Terrence T. McDonald for questions: info@newjerseymonitor.com. Follow New Jersey Monitor on Facebook and X. A former UFO investigator with the U.K.'s Ministry of Defense has suggested potential links between recent drone incursions at the Royal Air Force (RAF) bases in the U.K. and foreign adversaries, including Russia and China, the Guardian reports on Nov. 30. The drones were spotted between Nov. 20 and 22 over RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell, bases used by the U.S. Air Force. While the U.S. officials could not confirm if the drones were hostile, their appearance coincided with ongoing preparations for RAF Lakenheaths upcoming nuclear mission. I dont rule out the activity being connected with nuclear weapons, Nick Pope, former UF investigator, told the Guardian. He explained that adversaries might deploy drones to collect intelligence on nuclear operations, avoiding riskier methods such as using declared intelligence officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incursions are not unprecedented at RAF bases linked to nuclear weapons. In 1980, U.S. airmen stationed at RAF Bentwaters reported witnessing unidentified objects over nearby Rendlesham Forest, including crafts that reportedly sent beams of light into the weapons storage area. Pope described this case as unique due to its "multiple witnesses, including the military," as well as physical evidence such as radar data and ground markings. Despite these connections, Pope considers commercial drones the most likely explanation for the November incidents. "Perhaps some are operated by plane spotters, but as most of these people abide by CAA rules on drone operation, its more likely to be the work of irresponsible hobbyists," he said. While Pope acknowledged that adversary involvement couldnt be ruled out, especially given the timing of U.K.-supplied missile strikes in Ukraine, he emphasized the lack of current evidence supporting this theory. Misidentified items, such as Chinese lanterns or the star Sirius, might also account for some sightings, the expert added. Read also: UK prepared to fight Russia if it invades Eastern European NATO member, British general says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A new top prosecutor for the nations largest county is taking office Monday with a promise to usher in a tougher-on-crime approach after Los Angeles voters took heightened anxiety over crime and public safety to the polls last month. Nathan Hochman, a former Republican candidate for California attorney general and federal prosecutor, is the new district attorney for Los Angeles one of the countrys most progressive cities. The 61-year-old lifelong Angeleno describes himself as a centrist and ran as a registered independent this year, vowing to both reject mass incarceration and to crack down on many of the progressive policies championed by incumbent George Gascon. Gascon, known as the Godfather of progressive prosecutors, promised to enact a more humane criminal justice system when he was elected in 2020 amid a national criminal justice reform movement fueled by uprisings following George Floyds killing by police in Minneapolis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hochman who has attacked Gascon policies that he says led to increased crime says hes committed to bringing back prosecution for low-level, nonviolent crimes, restoring accountability and prioritizing public safety. While homicides in Los Angeles were down last year, according to police, fears about crime persist as videos of smash-and-grab burglaries routinely go viral and more stores lock up their deodorant and toothpaste shelves. A poll released in August by researchers at the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies shows 60% of likely Los Angeles County voters thought public safety declined in the previous three years, with only 5% saying it improved. Hochmans election suggests some of the momentum in the push for reform efforts has dissipated with the rightward shift in mood, as a large portion of the public believes stricter policies are necessary for public safety, experts told CNN. Progressive prosecutors are on their way out in several of the nations major cities after the recent general election, with voters in Oakland recalling Pamela Price, and Chicagos Kim Foxx opting not to run for re-election. Others, however, celebrated big wins in Orlando and Austin, aligning with reform-minded approaches mirrored by Price and Gascon, who both sought to reform harsh sentencing for low-level offenders, end mass incarceration and address racial disparities in the criminal justice system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Hochman, the plan is to balance effective criminal justice reform with prioritizing public safety. What were going to do is adopt a hard middle approach that doesnt substitute one extreme policy decarceration, with another extreme policy of mass incarceration, Hochman told CNN. I reject both extremes and I favor a hard middle approach. Still, criminal justice advocates are skeptical Hochman will embrace reform efforts while rolling out his hard middle agenda. Some county public defenders fear their clients will spend much more time in jail under a Hochman administration, with an increase in misdemeanor and felony filings, along with sentencing enhancements, Garrett Miller, president of the Los Angeles Public Defenders union, told CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hochman says he wants to focus on deterrence an approach that banks on the notion that a relatively few people are responsible for a disproportionate share of a communitys violent crime. His message to criminals, he says, is not that he wants to fill prisons to the breaking point. If anything, thats a failure of the criminal justice system, Hochman said. I want to deter criminal conduct before it occurs, thus saving a whole lot of victims in the process. What voters want is action Perceptions among voters of a decline in public safety dont necessarily mean voters want mass incarceration as a solution, said Anne Irwin, director and founder of Smart Justice California, a criminal justice advocacy organization. What voters want is action, but action that gets at the root causes of why people are committing crime, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the years since Gascon took office, residents have harbored perceptions that his policies were soft on crime, resulting in a lack of accountability among criminals and a general permissiveness of quality-of-life crimes, according to experts on both sides of the political spectrum. The outgoing district attorney and former San Francisco police chief faced two failed recall attempts during his four-year tenure. Hochman points to data from the California Department of Justice that shows violent crimes in Los Angeles County increased by 12% in Gascons first three years in office, with property crimes and robberies also spiking. While critics draw a straight line from Gascons progressive policies to increases in crime, analyzing what led to the surge is complicated. The rise in 2020 also mirrors a national trend in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic when much of the country saw such increases in crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gascon has repeatedly defended his record as district attorney, emphasizing in a news release at the end of November that he maintained or increased filing rates for violent crimes, while shifting misdemeanor priorities away from criminalizing public health issues. He pursued an agenda centered on reducing incarceration, with measures including a virtual prohibition on trying juveniles as adults, rejecting enhancements that extend sentence lengths and not prosecuting quality of life misdemeanors associated with homelessness. CNN has reached out to Gascons representatives for comment but did not immediately hear back. This years election results dont represent a wholesale repudiation of criminal justice reform, said Irwin, as a closer look reveals more complicated feelings among voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Voters in the election overwhelmingly approved Proposition 36, which captured over 65% of the vote, despite opposition by California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democratic leaders. The measure imposes stricter penalties for some drug and theft crimes. Its impossible to disconnect what happened in the Hochman and Price races from Proposition 36 passing by such a big margin in the state, said Eric Schickler, a political science professor at the University of California Berkeley. A poll by Berkeley IGS researchers a month before the election showed that many voters who favored the measure also supported expanding rehabilitation and treatment for first-time offenders to improve the criminal justice system. Hochman understands that nuance in public feelings and believes he can do real and effective criminal justice reform while prioritizing public safety, he told CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To do this, Hochman says his administration will mark a return to reviewing each case individually, looking at the individual defendant and the defendants background, the crime committed, and the impact on the victim, to determine who the true threats are to our public safety. Hochman further notes that accountability can mean something other than incarceration. First-time non-violent offenders still owe a debt to society, he says, but it can be satisfied outside of prison with community service, restitution or participation in diversion programs. Outgoing Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon, speaking during a news conference about the case of brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez on October 24, 2024. - Mike Blake/Reuters Hochman backed by major police unions One of Hochmans endorsers is Michael Cao, who wears a dual hat as the mayor of Arcadia city and president of the Los Angeles division of the League of California Cities, which represents dozens of cities in the county. Cao says Gascons reluctance to prosecute low-level offenses trickled down into the streets as residents and small businesses repeatedly told him they felt unsafe in their local community. The concern is that it fostered an environment where perpetrators who dont fear consequences become more brazen, Cao said, and law enforcement officers feel their hands are tied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our local residents, our small businesses, were really, really in a tough situation, Cao said, adding Hochman was appealing because of his pragmatism and commitment to continue criminal justice reform efforts. Hochman was swept into office with endorsements from major law enforcement agencies and unions in Los Angeles County, including the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs and the Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers Association, according to his website. Irwin and other criminal justice reform advocates are concerned Hochmans overwhelming support from law enforcement unions will pose a potential conflict of interest in holding them accountable. Hochman strongly refutes that perception, asserting the people who contend he is inherently compromised dont know me at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I will not tolerate a law enforcement officer who crosses the law, and I will go after them with the force of the office, Hochman said. But I do believe that the overwhelming numbers of law enforcement officers are doing a dangerous and difficult job very well every day, and those officers will get my full partnership. Along with robust police accountability, Hochman says during his first year in office he intends to bolster the work of the countys Conviction Integrity Unity, one of more than a hundred such units around the country that re-evaluate cases and investigate claims of innocence. For Hochman, success in the first year must include increased levels of confidence that criminals are being held accountable in every community. One high-profile case returned to the national spotlight just two weeks before the election, when Gascon announced he would ask a judge to consider resentencing Erik and Lyle Menendez, the two brothers who shot and killed their parents in 1989. Gascon filed a motion recommending a judge resentence the siblings following a review that came after defense attorneys said in 2023 they had new evidence pointing to abuse by their father. But the brothers fate is now uncertain, as Hochman has promised to personally review the case from top to bottom by revisiting thousands of pages of confidential prison files, transcripts from trial, and interviewing prosecutors, defense attorneys and family members. Whatever decision I end up taking is one I need to be able to defend in court, said Hochman. A reaction to a heightened sense of public disorder The high-profile losses of the two reform prosecutors on the West Coast represent a setback for advocates of criminal justice reform, but it doesnt mean California is a bellwether for the nation, according to Schickler. Residents in California tend to be more prone to voting in reaction to the unique challenges in the state ongoing crises of addiction, mental health and homelessness in nearly every community that lead to a heightened sense of public disorder, according to Schickler and Irwin of Smart Justice California. While Hochman did embrace reform efforts in his campaign such as an alternative response to prosecuting low level crimes, Irwin points to his record of traditional prosecution work as a defense attorney and his aggressively tough-on-crime platform as a state attorney general candidate. Irwin says one area of concern is whether Hochman will decide to criminalize homelessness in the county in the wake of Gov. Newsoms controversial recent executive order directing state officials to clear encampments. Hochman says its not his job as district attorney to solve the homelessness crisis, instead pointing to the success of the states Homeless Outreach & Mobile Engagement (HOME) program as a model for partnering law enforcement with social services to help unhoused people rather than lock them up. He advocates treating the homeless compassionately, however making clear that he will enforce the laws. You can deal with homeless encampments in a way that actually helps the homeless people themselves, but then clears the areas for the public so that the public can enjoy public spaces, Hochman said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Friends and family spend Saturday morning searching for a 22-year-old woman who has been missing for more than a week. Ta-Haley Payton was last seen on the 700 block of Charlottetowne Avenue on November 20. Her sister, Karlotta Payton, said Ta-Haley was originally from Greenville, South Carolina, but came to Charlotte to celebrate her birthday with her boyfriend. However, the boyfriend returned back to Greenville without Ta-Haley. When questioned about her whereabouts, he admitted to leaving her Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He then questioned why her family hadnt been to Charlotte to pick her up, according to Karlotta. Its very disheartening just to know she was out here by herself and she was supposed to be with someone who was supposed to protect her, Karlotta expressed. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: CMPD searching for missing 22-year-old woman The family said the couple has had their ups and downs. Anyway, she contacts us, and anyway she contacts anybody, is through his phone. Her social media is on his phone. Its all through him, Karlotta explained. On Saturday, Karlotta and a few of Ta-Haleys friends decided to return to Charlotte to search the greenway near where she was last seen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Karlotta said she was hoping to find a piece of clothing or anything that belonged to her sister. Her family and I have been knocking door to door to try and spread the word to the locals, and its extremely hard, Karlotta said. She said its been a tough couple of weeks for the family, especially Ta-Haleys mother, who went through Thanksgiving without knowing where her daughter is. To be honest, she screamed for her child; she screamed her childs name all day. She cried; she wanted her child. Thanksgivingthats all she did, expressed. A disturbing report Kelanie Davis was one of the friends helping out on Saturday. She helped pass out flyers with TaHaleys picture on them, and they retraced TaHaleys footsteps to midtown, where she says TaHaley reportedly made a call to her mother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davis told Channel 9s Tina Terry that she also went into an Arbys restaurant where TaHaley was last seen. She says workers reported seeing her. TaHaley came in there at nighttime frantic her shirt was messed up covered in dirt and blood claiming she had just been jumped, Davis said. Davis says the workers told her that TaHaley reported being chased. It makes me extremely upset and terrified for my best friend; what happened? Davis said. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is actively involved in the search for Ta-Haley Payton, but they have not confirmed that information. Davis is hoping someone will help detectives find her friend quickly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Someone needs to know. Her family is worried. Her mama cant stop crying. Her sister has lost a lot of sleep. Please just speak up, Davis said. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call 911 immediately. VIDEO: Deputies searching for 67-year-old woman reported missing in Union County The family of a British woman still missing after the Red Sea yacht disaster have complained about the lack of help from the Foreign Office. Jenny Cawson, 36, and her husband Tariq Sinada, 49, are among the seven people still missing after the Sea Story vessel was capsized by a huge wave off the coast of Egypt. Ms Cawsons parents said the Foreign Office has not given them enough information about the sinking and the search operation by Egyptian authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pamela, her mother, said they receive daily updates from the Foreign Office, but there is still no news. The Sea Story was carrying 31 tourists and 14 crew when it capsized on Monday, Egyptian officials said - Red Sea Governorate Ms Cawson and Mr Sinada had been enjoying a reef safari when the boat sank early on Monday. There were 31 tourists and 13 crew on board, 28 of whom were saved by Monday evening, including two other Britons Colin Sharratt, 65, and his partner, Sally Jones, 58. On Tuesday, five survivors were saved after they managed to stay alive for 30 hours using air pockets in a cabin. Four bodies were also recovered. Youssef Al-Farmawi, a diving instructor, spent more than a day inside the underwater boat in complete darkness until Egyptian naval forces rescued him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His father, Hossam Al-Farmawi, said: As soon as the incident took place, Youssef, along with Captain Alaa Hussein another diver whose body was found yesterday sent out a distress signal before the boat sank. Then Youssef rushed to help a man and a woman. Youssef was their diving instructor and they were trapped in a cabin but the water flooded the boat. However, about 20cm inside the cabin were still not flooded, which helped them breathe and stay alive until the rescue teams arrived. Mr Sinada, an IT consultant and an astrophysics graduate of Imperial College, and Ms Cawson, who works for the Devon Wildlife Trust, have lived together for some years in Ashburton, near Newton Abbot, Devon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They have both previously worked as scuba diving instructors in Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. An official source said they were among those missing, presumed drowned. Authorities have been searching for almost a week - AFP Michael Williams, Ms Cawsons father, told the BBC that Mr Sinadas mother broke the news of the sinking to the family. Tariqs mother messaged us that the Sea Story sank in the Red Sea and asked me if I knew the name of the boat, he said. Pamela added: Your heart sinks. You ask yourself, have I misread the news? Lets look again. Almost a week on from the sinking, Ms Cawsons parents have complained about a lack of solid information on the search operation, which is being led by the Egyptian navy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Williams said: Were surprised that our Foreign Office cant pressure anybody in Egypt. Without any solid information, the family have been forced to approach local sources in Egypt for news. One of the local sources was kind enough to try and look for them in local hospitals, Pamela said. She added: Everything Jenny and her husband do is highly considered; they do proper research before travelling anywhere. They are not the type of people who take anything at face value. A Foreign Office spokesman said: We are providing consular support to a number of British nationals and their families following an incident in Egypt and are in contact with the local authorities. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. (Bloomberg) -- Marine Le Pens ultimatum to French Prime Minister Michel Barnier, even after he caved on a key demand from her party, lays bare the unprecedented clout the far-right leader now wields in Paris halls of power. Most Read from Bloomberg Following weeks of hardening threats to bring down Barniers government in a no-confidence vote, the French premier on Thursday dropped plans to raise taxes on electricity in 2025, in what is a key budget concession. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It wasnt long before the longtime face of the French far right flexed her muscle again with yet another threat over her demands that Barnier adjust the budget: Today is Thursday. He has until Monday, Le Pen told Le Monde. Le Pens National Rally is requiring that Barnier further tweak his 2025 budget, which incorporates 60 billion ($63.5 billion) of fiscal adjustments, to abandon a proposal to reduce drug reimbursements and call a moratorium on new or higher taxes on most individuals, among other asks. The emboldened Le Pen has dominated the French media landscape for days a political moment that is a far cry from her partys relegation in the second round of the legislative elections this summer, when a coalition comprising the center-left and far-left parties coalesced to keep her out of power. Le Pen is now the ultimate power broker in Paris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And she relishes the role in which she has effectively rendered other political players subordinate. As the nation braces for what could be a roller coaster week starting Monday, the uncertainty has pushed investors to sell French assets, driving up the countrys borrowing costs compared with European peers. Frances 10-year yield premium over Germany, a closely watched gauge of risk, rose Friday to about 84 basis points. The political difficulties and market jitters began in June when President Emmanuel Macron called snap elections in a bid to bring clarity in a National Assembly where his party was already short of an outright majority. The gamble backfired, leaving the lower house split into three fiercely opposed blocs: A diminished center supporting the president, a leftist alliance, and a strengthened far-right led by Le Pen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The leftist bloc the New Popular Front has pledged to propose no-confidence votes if the government uses a constitutional provision called 49.3. But only the combined votes of the left and the far right on a motion of censure tabled by one or the other would be able to evict the government. That has given far-right leader Le Pen and her lawmakers the role of de-facto power broker. Her National Rally is the single biggest party in parliament. What Bloomberg Economics Says... Getting the budget through parliament and the survival of Prime Minister Michel Barniers cabinet will likely depend on the decisions of far-right politician Marine Le Pen. Antonio Barroso, Eleonora Mavroeidi. For full insight, click here Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Assembly will start reviewing the social security portion of the budget bill on Monday. Barnier could use article 49.3 to adopt the bill without a vote. That will open the door to being toppled by a no-confidence vote as early as Monday unless Le Pen abstains. On Sunday, both the socialist party and the far-left France Unbowed, which represent a majority of the leftist bloc, confirmed that they would vote against Barnier in the no-confidence motion if he uses the 49.3, unless the prime minister takes into account their policy proposals. Le Pen is now not just seeking amendments to the 2025 budget in exchange for her abstaining in a noconfidence vote, but also that Barnier show respect for her partys voters by spelling out loud that hes making concessions to please them. Avoiding saying that he respects RN voters is the best way to keep our voters asking us for censure, Le Pen told Le Monde. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The full-frontal power moves by the far-right leader in recent days also stand in stark contrast to her political fragility as a presidential hopeful. She risks missing out on the nations next presidential race altogether after prosecutors sought an immediate five-year ban on her running for office at the end of an embezzlement trial in which she is accused of misusing EU funds. A ruling in the case will be delivered on March 31. According to recent polls however, Le Pen remains a frontrunner in the 2027 French presidential election. Le Pens move from fringe to front of pack has been due in large part to her willingness to renounce her political heritage: where the overt racism of her father Jean-Marie Le Pen consigned him, over a long career, to no better than a distant second place, she has sought to soften some of his more divisive rhetoric and to reassure business over her economic policies. The power broker status is in sharp contrast to Le Pens lows in 2017, when memes lampooning her debate performance versus Macron her true nemesis flooded the internet. It is also the result of years of careful work to de-demonize her party, at a time when her ideas are becoming increasingly mainstream, with far-right leaders grabbing power across the globe. In a financially weakened, politically divided France, Le Pen continues to reap the benefits by exploiting concerns around purchasing power and immigration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement --With assistance from William Horobin and Benoit Berthelot. (Adds comments from the leftist bloc in 13th paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. A breadbasket state has just endured one of its harshest Octobers, continuing a yearslong trend that has put farmers and their crops in dire straits. What's happening? PBS reported that Oklahoma underwent its fourth-driest 30-day stretch in documented history last month, receiving 0.4 inches of rain. This near-record starkly contrasts what falls are like in the state, which typically brings cooler and wetter conditions. Data from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows that 52.68% of the state experienced some level of drought on Nov. 19, but as much as 92.27% was in some form of drought as recently as Oct. 29. Southwest Oklahoma, the state's hub for cotton production, had less than a half-inch of rain in each of the last three months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the lack of precipitation is one of many climate issues Oklahoma is facing, as some counties have recently seen tornadoes, flash floods, and dropping temperatures wreak havoc on residents. "You'd really like to find someone to point the finger at and blame it on. But that person is not out there," cotton farmer Harvey Schroeder told PBS. Why is Oklahoma's drought concerning? These extreme and erratic weather patterns have devastated Oklahoma's agricultural sector, which finished in the top 10 in wheat and cotton production nationally last year. According to Oklahoma State climatologist Gary McManus, the state has lost $500 million for the former and $240 million for the latter over the last two years because of extreme weather, per PBS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We get a lot of erosion, crop damage, flooding after huge rains like what we've had after long periods of drought," he added. "November is shaping up to be one of the craziest ones we've had in quite some time." These declining yields have forced farmers to rely on reimbursements for lost crops via insurance to continue operating. However, that source of money can only go so far and may soon dry up if insurance companies cancel policies or pull out altogether. "I just hope they can stay hooked," Schroeder said of the producers he leases his land to. "If they can't receive financing or if insurance companies stop insuring, it won't be good for anybody." The extended drought has also exhausted local reservoirs reserved for emergencies and could permanently disrupt habitats, increase the likelihood of wildfires, and send the food supply into disarray. What's being done about Oklahoma's drought and suffering crop harvests? Experts worldwide are researching cotton and wheat at a genetic level to breed drought-tolerant variations. Farmers in Oklahoma could soon benefit from these developments, helping preserve their livelihood and stabilize their income. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Oklahoma is taking a more proactive approach to rising global temperatures through its wind power, as Climate Central found it ranked fourth domestically in wind capacity and electricity generated from wind power. Sustainable forms of energy can help curb our reliance on dirty energy and, thus, all of the repercussions of an overheating planet. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Authorities said the tragic death of a young child in Merced appears to be the result of the child finding an unsecured ghost gun at the residence. The Merced County District Attorneys Office has filed charges of felony child abuse with enhancements and misdemeanor possession of a firearm with identification numbers removed against 20-year-old Zaquan Woodard in what authorities say was the accidental shooting death of his 2-year-old daughter. The firearm involved in the tragic death was an unregistered illegal ghost gun, police said. According to the United States Department of Justice, ghost guns are firearms that are often assembled from kits. The parts do not contain serial numbers and are sold without background checks. Authorities said this makes such firearms difficult to trace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Merced police officers responded to the residence in the 1100 block of B Street at 4:18 p.m. on Nov. 22, for a report of a gunshot wound. According to a Merced Police Department incident report, it appears a neighbor who heard the gunshot assisted in providing medical aid to the child before paramedics arrived on scene. Officers at the scene retrieved the firearm from a closet after they spoke to Woodward. Police reports indicate the childs parents were home at the time of the incident and the three of them were in a bedroom when the firearm discharged. The reports indicated that the parents said they were lying in bed when the gun discharged and Woodard ran to check on his daughter while the childs mother ran outside to get help. The toddler was transported to Mercy Medical Center in Merced and ultimately pronounced deceased just after 5 p.m.. Anyone with information is asked to contact Merced Police Detective Edwin Aries at 209-388-7826 or by email at ariase@cityofmerced.org. The All India State Bank Officers' Federation (AISBOF) on November 30, elected Rupam Roy as its new General Secretary, according to an official release. The decision was made unanimously during the 6th Executive Committee Meeting, held in Chandigarh on November 26-27, it said The newly elected Roy will officially assume office on December 1, 2024. Rupam Roy, who previously served as the President of AISBOF and is currently the General Secretary of the All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC), is well-regarded for his negotiating skills and dedication to officers' welfare. The release added that Roy will further strengthen AISBOF's unity and efforts to address the evolving needs of its members. The meeting also saw the election of Arun Kumar Bishoyi, General Secretary of SBIOA Bhubaneswar Circle, as the new President of AISBOF. Meanwhile, Deepak K Sharma, the outgoing General Secretary, will retire on November 30, 2024, after an illustrious 39-year career. According to the information available on its website, the AISBOF represents over 80,000 officers of State Bank of India and its six Associates namely State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Hyderabad, State Bank of Indore, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Patiala and State Bank of Travancore. Membership of the Federation extends to Officers belonging to Junior, Middle level as also Senior Grades performing functions of over 18,000 Branches/Offices of the State Bank Group throughout the Country. The Federation was founded in the year 1965 (30th August 1965). It has 15 affiliates consisting of 14 Circle Associations and ABOA representing 6 Associate Banks with a total membership of over 80,000. The Federation is an apolitical and independent trade union, as per the organisation. It is led by serving bank officers only. It is affiliated to All India Bank Officers' Confederation, which is also an independent Trade Union led by serving officers. The Federation is committed to the objectives for which the banks were nationalized. It actively participates in, and supports all schemes and measures initiated by the Government for ameliorating the poorer sections of the society and priority sectors of the economy. (ANI) COPPERAS COVE, Texas (WJW) A Texas father left behind his wife and seven children after he died in a house fire early Thanksgiving morning. Crews with the Copperas Cove Fire Department were called out to a fire in the 2100 block of Circle Drive around 4:33 a.m. When they arrived, firefighters found fire and smoke coming from the front and garage side of the home. They learned that one person who lives at the home was unaccounted for, according the fire department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohio State players get into fight after Michigan plants flag at Ohio Stadium Firefighters went inside to rescue the man, but they were met with heavy smoke, making it difficult to see. Crews eventually found the man and pulled him from the burning home. He was not breathing and did not have a pulse, the department said in a press release posted to social media. Fire officials started life-saving measures, but the man, identified as 61-year-old George Freeman, was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators say Freemans wife and seven children were able to get out safely. The American Red Cross is working with the family at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Truck carrying 44,000 pounds of dried chickpeas catches fire in Death Valley National Park It took firefighters roughly a half hour to get the blaze under control. The fire, which started in the garage and caused damage to the familys dining room, kitchen and living, remains under investigation by the fire marshal. The cause of the fire is unclear at this time. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. It is a well-known fact that a majority of farmers voted for Donald Trump. The focus of this column is not about the morality of that choice, but rather about a president-elect whose economic agenda is antithetical to the financial interests of American agriculture. Earlier this year, I wrote a commentary that addressed a fundamental issue with our agricultural economy. It pointed out that since the dawn of this century, the world has added 398 million acres of land for the production of food grains, feed grains, and oil seeds. Much of that acreage has been in tropical regions. At the same time, population growth in China, a primary buyer of U.S. agricultural goods, has slowed, and its population is aging. Similar trends can be seen in other countries that have been traditional importers of U.S. goods. We are also faced with major geopolitical events, such as the Ukraine-Russia war, and most resolutions of that war would likely adversely affect U.S. farmers. The world has changed. Competition among major producing nations has changed the ability of American agriculture to be a preferred and low-cost provider of grains to other nations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Against this backdrop, one must ponder the question of how an isolationist foreign policy and the use of heavy tariffs could possibly lead to anything other than serious adverse consequences for our U.S. agricultural sector. History teaches us lessons, and sadly we often forget them while drunk on the political cocktail of the moment. During the first Trump presidency, significant tariffs were imposed on China. This led to major negative impacts on U.S. farmers. What did the government do? The Trump administration created an ad hoc disaster relief program that paid billions to U.S. farmers. Ad hoc is just a shiny term for an administration not being able to get its act together to have a consistent and logical approach to setting policy. It is akin to government by chaos going from one fire drill to another. Trump was elected based on many promises, one of which was to drain the swamp. There is a lot of chatter about reducing government outlays for all sorts of programs. Trump wants to put America first. Setting aside political differences, the reality is that America is not an island. It is an important part of the larger world. Withdrawal from engagement with other nations, whether in the context of trade or overall foreign relations, cannot lead to good consequences from the standpoint of economic security for America, nor for our nations ability to play a strong role in maintaining a stable and peaceful world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My fellow farmers, it is time for a reality check. There is way more than a theoretical risk of losing a large share of the markets for our grains and livestock. Dont count on that brown envelope from Uncle Sam in your mailbox to bail you out from hardship. From the extensive reading that I have done on the topic of the economic impact of Trumps tariffs, no credible economist paints any picture other than one of significant detrimental consequences to our agricultural sector. The same is true for many other segments of the economy. America has to maintain a global perspective rather than one that stops at our shores to stay competitive and to remain in its role as a world leader. The proposed paths of Trumps next presidency are antithetical to those roles. Ben Palen is a Kansas native and a fifth-generation farmer and agriculture consultant in Colorado and Kansas. This commentary originally appeared in the nonprofit Kansas Reflector . The Syrian government has lost control of the city of Aleppo, the country's second-largest, as opposition forces have made more territorial gains, a war monitor reported on Sunday. "The Syrian regime has completely lost control of Aleppo," head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel-Rahman, told dpa. The northern city is under the control of an opposition alliance led by the Islamist extremist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) organization except for four neighbourhoods north-west of the city, which are being controlled by the Kurdish forces, according to Rami. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aleppo was overrun by rebel groups earlier this week in a surprise offensive against forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Rebels seize power plant and military airbase HTS insurgents seized control on Sunday of a power plant, a field artillery college and a military academy on the outskirts of Aleppo following clashes with the government troops, the Britain-based observatory reported. Meanwhile, Turkey-supported rebels, part of the opposition alliance, captured two towns and a military airbase in the eastern countryside of Aleppo from the government forces, added the observatory that relies on a network of contacts inside Syria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fighting also erupted between the Kurdish militias and the rebels backed by Turkey in the Aleppo countryside, the monitor added. Russian airstrikes target rebel-controlled areas Russia, an ally of al-Assad, has launched a series of airstrikes on several areas of Syria where opposition forces have recently made territorial gains. The Russian strikes early Sunday targeted opposition towns and villages in the north-western province of Idlib and the central province of Hama. At least four civilians were killed and 50 others injured in Russian strikes on a refugee camp in the city of Idlib, capital of the province of the same name, according to the observatory. Similar strikes were also reported in Aleppo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the observatory, at least five people were killed and an unspecified number were injured due to Russian airstrikes on a university hospital in central Aleppo. "The Russians have not stopped their bombing on all fronts since last night," Abdel-Rahman said. Syria's state news agency SANA, citing a military source, reported on Sunday that government and Russian jets had intensified strikes on "terrorists" and killed or injured dozens of them. Insurgency marks major escalation of ongoing civil war The attacks by the HTS-led rebel factions led by HTS, which began on Wednesday, mark a significant escalation in the country's civil war, which has raged since 2011 and had recently had relatively stable front lines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HTS is considered one of the most powerful armed militias in north-western Syria. The opposition assault is considered the largest by rebels on Aleppo since 2016 when they were ousted from the eastern areas of the city. On Saturday, the Syrian army said the large number of insurgents involved in the multi-front offensive had prompted government forces to redeploy in preparation for a counter-attack. The fighting has displaced thousands of local inhabitants, activists said. With the help of his allies Russia and Iran, al-Assad has managed to regain control of about two-thirds of the country from rebels in the past years. UN envoy for Syria sees 'collectivefailure' amid new clashes UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen stated that a lack of commitment to a peace solution in Syria has resulted in the renewed escalation of violence in the country's long-running civil war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What we see in Syria today is a mark of a collective failure," said the Syria mediator. Pedersen said he has repeatedly warned of the risk of escalation and the danger of relying on conflict management instead of conflict resolution. The recent developments pose a threat not only to the Syrian civilian population, but also to regional and international security, he added. Pedersen, a Norwegian diplomat, also urged the Syrian conflict parties and involved states to engage in negotiations. Before the fire that set Melissa Lamesch's home ablaze on Nov. 25, 2020, the day had started with excited anticipation. Melissa was due to give birth to a baby boy in just two days, and Thanksgiving was a day away. Cassie Baal: She was gonna have a nice private Thanksgiving with dad. So, I gave her a call the morning of the 25th and we talked for about two-and-a-half hours. Cassie Baal and her sister Melissa had lots to chat about. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cassie Baal: We talked a lot about the future. We talked about what was gonna come with the baby. The conversation ended because she looked outside the window. She said, "you gotta be kidding me." She's like, "he's freaking here again. I told him he's gotta stop doing this." At the door was 33-year-old Matthew Plote, the expectant father of Melissa's baby. Cassie Baal: She said "I'll tell you what he wanted. I'll give you a call right back, bye." Hung up. Nikki Battiste | "48 Hours" contributor: Did she ever call back? Cassie Baal: No, my sister never called back. Melissa Lamesch and Matthew Plote met and became friends seven years earlier, while each was in college. They maintained a casual relationship. The friendship, says the Lamesch family, cooled off once Melissa let Plote know about the pregnancy. Melissa told her family he did not share her interest in becoming a parent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cassie Baal: He wanted her to get an abortion. She didn't want that. He blamed her, ghosted her. It did come to upset Melissa because they were friends for so long. Nikki Battiste: She thought he'd at least wanna be involved a little bit? Cassie Baal: Yes. Melissa thought that he would want something to do with the baby. To that point, she thought he was a pretty nice guy. then she saw a different side of him and that really upset her. MELISSA LAMESCH LOOKS FORWARD TO BECOMING A MOTHER Deanna and Gus Lamesch were fully prepared to help their daughter with whatever she needed for the baby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deanna Lamesch: I had said, if he doesn't wanna be a part of the baby's life, you know, don't push, the baby is your child. Gus Lamesch: I told her, whatever you needed, I'll help you financially. Deanna Lamesch: She knew she had plenty of family support. Everything would have been fine. The Lamesch family was a large one. Melissa had four siblings, she was already an aunt, and was known for following her own path. Cassie Baal: Melissa was unapologetically herself, and that is what she was. She's a perfect mix of sugar and spice. Not too spicy, not too sugary, it was just perfect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deanna Lamesch: Melissa was strong. She was fierce. She was a go-getter. Melissa Lamesch, 27, was a devoted EMT. Melissa liked to reinvent herself through hairstyles and careers. Most recently, the 27-year-old had been working as an EMT. Gus Lamesch: Melissa kind of fell into the line of work. She had an experience in college that that took her to an emergency room. And she really appreciated how she was treated and she wanted to do the same for other people. Nikki Battiste: You were proud? Gus Lamesch: Yes. That was her job and she took it seriously. As her due date neared, Melissa had to stop working. To make things easier, she moved into her childhood home with her dad. Her parents had divorced several years earlier. Melissa grew increasingly excited about becoming a mom, even though she and Plote had little contact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cassie Baal: Melissa would continue to send him like, sonograms or things would happen sometimes he would respond a little bit, but she didn't know really where he stood exactly. But Melissa wanted her baby to have the option of having the mother and the father so she kept the communication with him. He often shut down. Plote wasn't just shutting out Melissa. He kept the fact that he was going to be a father a secret including from his coworkers and Chief Rob Schultz at the Carol Stream Fire District, several counties away from Melissa's home. Chief Rob Schultz: We're here 24 hours a day. And it's a just a normal, uh, course of being a firefighter that you talk about your family, your personal life, and what's going on good, bad, or indifferent. I knew Matt as a single guy that didn't have any kids. Even Plote's own parents did not know about the pregnancy until Melissa told them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cassie Baal: Melissa wanted them to have the opportunity to be part of their grandchild's life. Nikki Battiste: How did Melissa say his parents responded to the news of a grandson? Cassie Baal: Melissa said that his parents were very nice, that, um, they said, let me know what you need, I'll help you any way we can. Nikki Battiste: How did Matthew find out that Melissa had told his parents they were having a baby? Deanna Lamesch: I believe that the parents then approached him but it was not long after that that she had said "he's mad I told them." Nikki Battiste: Because he had kept it a secret? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deanna Lamesch: Yes. Melissa celebrated the upcoming birth with family and friends at a baby shower. She had let everyone know she was having a boy. It was a happy time until nearly two months later, on that fateful Thanksgiving eve. Deanna Lamesch: It was just all so surreal. While Melissa's family tried to process their loss, investigators were hoping to provide them with answers about what had happened. Lt. Brian Ketter: The fire debris is everywhere. Brian Ketter, then the lead detective at the Ogle County Sheriff's Office, headed to the kitchen, where Melissa had been found. Lt. Brian Ketter: Everything's covered in smoke. Ceilings, walls, have fallen down and everything's a mess. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ketter and other investigators also headed outside, to an ambulance, to view Melissa. Lt. Brian Ketter: We noticed that she didn't have a whole lot of fire damage to her. Nikki Battiste: What does that say? Lt. Brian Ketter: That the fire didn't kill her. WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE? Michael Poel, then a special agent with the Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office, was trying to establish whether the fire at Melissa's Lamesch's home was accidental or intentionally set. Michael Poel: We needed to identify the area of fire origin and what may have caused that fire. Nikki Battiste (looking at photos): What are you looking for? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Poel: Where the greatest damage is at, where the fire patterns are at. We're looking at everything and everything in this picture that may have something to do with the origin of the fire. Nikki Battiste: Where do you think the fire started? Michael Poel: Uh, I believe the fires over here. Actually it's in these cabinets where these cabinets used to be above the stove area. Melissa Lamesch was found dead on the floor by the oven in the kitchen. Investigators did not find any electrical issues at the house and learned that the oven and stove burners were all in the off position. / Credit: Ogle County State's Attorney Office But when Poel examined the stove, thinking that perhaps cooking flames caused the cabinets to catch fire, he saw that neither the oven nor the burners had been turned on. Michael Poel: All the controls are in the off position and there is no fire damage in the interior of this oven to show that this was some type of cooking fire. Poel also did not find any electrical issues. Michael Poel: So, we're starting to run out of accidental causes And we could identify at least three very simple and easy ways to exit this residence. Much of the house, besides the kitchen, remained accessible, so Poel thought Melissa could have found a way out. Michael Poel: It was what I would call a survivable fire. This young lady was a paramedic. She is used to dealing with emergencies. For her to totally lose her perspective and stand there and try and fight that fire. When you start putting all these things together, you start coming up with, OK, this makes no sense. While Poel was inspecting the house, investigators talked with the Lamesch family. Ketter learned about the phone call that day between Melissa and Baal, that Melissa ended when Plote arrived at the house. Lt. Brian Ketter: We learned from the family that he was a fireman. Matthew Plote was a firefighter-paramedic with the Carol Stream Fire District. Melissa's brother Karl Lamesch told investigators he had already spoken on the phone to Plote, telling him he knew he had been at the house that day. Karl Lamesch also told Plote about the fire, and that someone had died, but not that it was Melissa. Investigators did that when they asked Plote to come in for an interview that evening. DEPUTY: Melissa is deceased. MATTHEW PLOTE: Oh. OK Nikki Battiste: As you watched his interview, what did you think about his demeanor, his responses? Lt. Brian Ketter: Emotionless. Very soft spoken. Matthew said he went to talk to Melissa. He wanted to talk about money about being allowed at the hospital when she was set to be induced in two days. And that's why he was there. There was evidence that Matthew Plote had been at Melissa Lamesch's house the day of the fire something Plote admitted when he spoke with investigators. / Credit: Ogle County State's Attorney's Office In that interview, Plote made a reference to a deadline when explaining his decision to go to the house that day: MATTHEW PLOTE: I mean, there's a deadline for for that. So, we were trying to DEPUTY: A deadline for what? MATTHEW PLOTE: For pregnancy there's a deadline. It was a phrase that investigators didn't quite know how to interpret. Nikki Battiste: Was Matthew, a suspect at that point? Lt. Brian Ketter: No, He was not a suspect. Nikki Battiste: What are the next steps in the investigation? Lt. Brian Ketter: We need to determine the cause of death. We don't know if if Melissa had a medical episode or if somebody did something to her or if the carbon monoxide from the fire killed her, we don't know. To get those answers, two autopsies would be performed: one, two days after Melissa's death, and then another, about two weeks later while lab work was completed. The results: normal carbon monoxide levels, and no soot was found in her system. What was found was evidence of strangulation, including hemorrhages around her neck. Melissa, it was determined, had been murdered. Deanna Lamesch: We have to plan a funeral and while we were still waiting for things, it was nearly three weeks. Melissa Lamesch was two days away from delivering her son when she and her unborn baby died. / Credit: Photography by Angel Studio On Dec. 14, 2020, the Lamesch family held a funeral for Melissa and her unborn baby, whom Melissa was going to name Barrett. Deanna Lamesch: We didn't get to kiss his forehead, touch his cheek. The first time we got any kind of contact, they were in a casket. And the first time I touched his hand. I just remember gasping, just (gasps) and I decided I was going to keep holding his hand, something Melissa didn't get to do. Melissa's family was convinced that Matthew Plote was responsible for their profound grief that he killed Melissa, simply because he did not want to become a father. Plote, investigators would learn, had been juggling multiple women in his life. Gus Lamesch: I believe he did it because he's selfish and it was gonna change his life, having a child. Nikki Battiste: Melissa wasn't asking him for anything, no money, nothing. He could have walked away. So why? Cassie Baal: I think it was his pride. He wanted to keep it a secret. With no other suspects, and with Plote admitting to being at Melissa's home that day, investigators were also circling in on Plote, but were still gathering evidence. Lt. Brian Ketter: We had collected DNA evidence at the autopsy and we sent that to the crime lab. We had gotten search warrants for phone records. We were in the process of getting that information back. They were also waiting to get information back from Amazon, about possible recordings from an Echo Dot that Ketter had noticed and was retrieved from the fire damaged kitchen. Lt. Brian Ketter: We were hoping it would record conversations or something from the day between the two of them. Nikki Battiste: That Amazon Echo Dot could turn this case around. Lt. Brian Ketter: Could have it could have recorded Melissa screaming for help, yelling out his name. We didn't know what it would be. QUESTIONING MATTHEW PLOTE When Carol Stream Fire Chief Rob Schultz returned the call, he couldn't believe what he was hearing. Chief Rob Schultz: I was contacted by our police chief to give him a call immediately that he had something very important, sensitive to talk about. One of our firefighters was being investigated .. as a suspect in a murder that occurred about two hours from our fire district's boundaries. It was now nine months since Melissa Lamesch's death in a house fire that had sent shockwaves through the community in Mt. Morris where her home was located. But firefighters where Matthew Plote worked in Carol Stream, about 75 miles away, were unaware of the fire. Plote had said nothing. Nikki Battiste: When you heard the name Matthew Plote in that call, what did you think? Chief Rob Schultz: I was you know there is no way this could be Matt they have something wrong here. But that disbelief started to change when Chief Schultz checked to see if Plote worked the day of fire and learned he had called out sick. Chief Rob Schultz: The knot in my stomach, like literally wanted to throw up. The fire chief's sinking feeling only got worse when he learned that investigators believed Plote killed Melissa and their unborn child because he did not want to be a father and then set the house on fire in hopes of destroying evidence. Chief Rob Schultz: We had placed Matt immediately on paid administrative leave. When I called Matt in to to tell him I just said "I'm being told that you're under investigation for a murder of your estranged girlfriend and the baby that you're a father of." Nikki Battiste: Did you ask him why he hadn't mentioned it? Chief Rob Schultz: Didn't feel that it was, uh, something that he wanted to talk about and he felt it was a personal matter and didn't want to disclose it. While on leave, on Aug. 28, 2021, Plote was called in again for questioning. (BRIAN KETTER 209.01/00:11 My name is Brian. I'm a lieutenant with the sheriff's office.) Plote willingly appeared without an attorney. MATTHEW PLOTE (Sheriff's Office interview): I wanted to contribute to the in the life of our child. Over the course of the seven-hour interview, he explained to investigators why he was at Melissa's the day of the fire. MATTHEW PLOTE (Sheriff's Office interview): So, we talked about, you know, what I could pay her and that we'd we just said we'd work it out later to visiting. He said when he left that afternoon, Melissa was talking about making lunch. MATTHEW PLOTE (Sheriff's Office interview): She talked about cooking some food or something, but I I didn't stay around. Most of the seven hours was filled with investigators asking questions and Plote saying very little. LT. BRIAN KETTER (to Plote): So, did you go there to kill her, or did you just go there to talk to her and something happened? Lt. Brian Ketter: We kept accusing him of things and he never said I didn't do it. He never said you guys got the wrong person. He was just emotionless and he wouldn't communicate. Not once in seven hours, not once did he get upset. Most people would've told us I'm done, but he just sat and listened to us. Nikki Battiste: Had you ever experienced an interview like that before? Brian Ketter: Never. During questioning, Matthew Plote said very little, but told investigators, It wasn't just the lack of communication that made Ketter think Plote was guilty, but on the rare times Plote did talk, the unusual way he phrased things. LT. BRIAN KETTER Did you intend to kill her? MATTHEW PLOTE: I had no intention of hurting Melissa. Lt. Brian Ketter: During that seven-hour interview, at one point, Matthew did say " I had no intentions of hurting Melissa." Nikki Battiste: Did that make you do a double take? Lt. Brian Ketter: Yes. 'Cause in our opinion, that means I hurt Melissa, but I didn't intend to do it. But it was not an admission of guilt, so Ketter wanted to see if Plote would say anything more and made an unusual request of Fire Chief Schultz. Lt. Brian Ketter: We asked Chief Schultz if he would wear a listening device. So that he would have a conversation with Matthew, we would be able to hear it and record it and try to gain some evidence that way. Chief Rob Schultz: When Brian asks this of me, I'm pretty taken aback And initially I said, "no way," and I did some thinking about it and called him back and said "yes." Nikki Battiste: You have a lot of responsibilities as a fire chief, but I can't imagine you ever thought wearing a wiretap would be one of them. Chief Rob Schultz: No. and I don't freely talk about it It's not something that I'm proud of. It was something that needed to be done in the hopes of helping the investigation. There's a grieving family out there that's looking for answers. So, on Sept. 9, 2021, Chief Schultz called Matthew Plote and asked him to come in to talk. Chief Rob Schultz: And he agreed. He says," I'd like to come talk to you." Plote came in later that day. The fire station was quickly cleared of all other personnel, and Ketter and other investigators headed over. They were able to place a device that just recorded audio on a phone on Fire Chief's Schultz' desk and listened in from outside the fire station and from an adjoining office. Nikki Battiste: How were you feeling? Chief Rob Schultz: Nervous. Very nervous. A bit scared. Schultz tried to learn what happened to Melissa, by appealing to Plote on a personal level. ROB SCHULTZ (to Plote): I'm trying to find answers and I'm trying to help you. Help me help me walk through I mean, what what happened? But the nearly two-hour conversation yielded very little info from Plote, with him again barely speaking about the day Melissa died. Chief Rob Schultz: I remember saying "fill in all the blanks for me." And "isn't it odd that no one here knows that you're going to be a father." Like that's that's something we celebrate here. Nikki Battiste: What did he say? Chief Rob Schultz: Nothing. Uh, head was down, uh, a lot of the conversation. Nikki Battiste: Did he ever say I didn't kill Melissa and my baby? Chief Rob Schultz: He did not. With none of the interviews resulting in a confession, there was still no arrest something that exasperated the Lamesch family. Gus Lamesch: It was excruciating. And, I mean, we were pestering the police constantly. There were several reasons for the delay. There was the wait for the fire marshal's report which concluded that "the fire cause is most likely incendiary in nature, possibly the result of a fire being intentionally set in an effort to conceal a potential homicide." And getting information from Amazon on whether Plote's voice was recorded on that Echo Dot they retrieved from the kitchen took time. Lt. Brian Ketter: It did reveal voices, but nothing that proved helpful for our case. It wasn't even on the day of the murder. Investigators had also waited to obtain Plote's DNA until after the August 2021 interview, hoping he would first confess to killing Melissa. Lt. Brian Ketter: We got the results back saying that it was his DNA under her fingernails. Matthew Plote was arrested and charged more than a year after Melissa Lamesch's death. / Credit: Ogle County Sheriff's Department On March 9, 2022, after a year-and-a-half of investigating Melissa Lamesch's death, Matthew Plote was arrested on charges including murder, the intentional homicide of an unborn child and arson. John Kopp: The motive that the State painted, was just an inaccurate portrayal of Matt. By the time of Matthew Plote's arrest, he had hired attorney John Kopp. John Kopp: They painted him to be this monster that at the drop of a hat, after a career of saving people, decided to suddenly start killing people. John Kopp: The evidence doesn't show that Matthew Plote murdered Melissa Lamesch or their unborn child. MATTHEW PLOTE ON TRIAL Allison Huntley: Melissa Lamesch was loved. This is not someone who had enemies lined up around the block who wanted to see her deceased. Rather, there was one person and one person only and that was Matthew Plote. Assistant State's Attorneys Allison Huntley and Heather Kruse were part of the team prosecuting Matthew Plote. Heather Kruse: All signs pointed toward Matthew Plote from the very beginning. John Kopp: What we wanted to portray to the jury is that he was a a guy saving lives for his entire career. Defense attorneys John Kopp and Liam Dixon say their client was misunderstood and as a firefighter, was a responsible person, not a murderer. John Kopp: Matt's plan was to financially support her. He had offered her money before. His plan was to be there. Plote pleaded not guilty to all charges. On March 18, 2024, more than three years since Melissa's murder, his trial began in Ogle County, Illinois. The prosecution argued that Plote murdered Melissa and their unborn child because he didn't want to be a father. Allison Huntley : He was keeping a secret the fact that he fathered a baby in the hopes that the child wouldn't be born. The defense told the jury there's no evidence Plote harmed Melissa, and that he had gone to see her that day just to talk. John Kopp: They discussed their finances; they discussed what would happen with the birth of the child and then Matt left as she was making some lunch. Heather Kruse: I believe, from the very beginning, he was trying to set up a story that there was an accidental house fire, that she had been cooking something. I believe that was how he laid out the scene which would explain why her body was found in the kitchen. Fire Investigator Michael Poel testified that he found no evidence of an electrical or cooking fire in the home where Melissa Lamesch's body was discovered. / Credit: Ogle County State's Attorney's Office Prosecutors called Fire Investigator Michael Poel to testify about his findings. He told the court that he found no evidence of an electrical or cooking fire. MIKE POEL (in court): And you start ruling these these various different things out. Nikki Battiste: How certain are you that this fire was intentionally set? Michael Poel: I'm certain that it was intentionally set. Nikki Battiste: No doubt. Michael Poel: No doubt. During cross examination, the defense suggested that Poel was unsure of his findings, citing language in his report such as "most likely" and "it is believed." JOHN KOPP (in court): You used the phrase "it is believed" because that's an uncertain opinion. Correct? MICHAEL POEL: It's the way I described it. JOHN KOPP: But that's an uncertain opinion. Correct? MICHAEL POEL: Not to me. Poel says he was just using standard terms used during fire investigations. The State also called forensic pathologist Dr. Amanda Youmans, who had performed one of the autopsies. DR. AMANDA YOUMANS (in court): There was no soot in her airways And her measure of carbon monoxide in the blood was within normal limits. So she was deceased prior to the fire. Youmans testified that Melissa's body showed evidence of a violent struggle. The jury heard about the hemorrhages around Melissa's neck a specific type of broken blood vessels called "petechial hemorrhages" which according to Youmans, is a telltale sign of strangulation. DR. AMANDA YOUMANS (in court): This is the most petechial hemorrhages I've ever seen in a strangulation case. Deanna Lamesch: To sit through trial was beyond devastating. Deanna Lamesch came to court every day. Deanna Lamesch: I had been prepped by the victims' advocate. Things were going to be gruesome. I was going to see a lot. Deanna Lamesch says she always kept Melissa and her baby Barrett in her thoughts. Deanna Lamesch: She was so strong-willed and had such pride. That baby was gonna be a strong guy. Plote's parents also attended the trial. Nikki Battiste: They've been by his side throughout this? John Kopp: Yes. Every court date. One of the most important witnesses to testify was Melissa's sister, Cassie Baal, talking about the day Melissa died and that call which Baal says was interrupted by Plote. ALLISON HUNTLEY (in court): What was the last thing your sister said to you during that phone call? CASSIE BAAL: Sorry (emotional). She said she would make the conversation quick and she would call me right back. ALLISON HUNTLEY: Did Melissa call you back? CASSIE BAAL: No. Jurors watched those recorded interviews with investigators, where Plote admitted he was at the house. DEPUTY: How long were you at the house? MATTHEW PLOTE: It wasn't more than an hour I don't think Prosecutors wanted jurors to hear that phrase Plote used MATTHEW PLOTE: I mean, there's a deadline for for that. referring to the birth of his son as a "deadline." Allison Huntley: He said, there's a deadline to these kinds of things. That was his deadline to murder Melissa. Heather Kruse: So, if you think about it logically, Thursday's Thanksgiving and Friday is her due date, his deadline. The only time to do this was Wednesday. So he took off work and completed his goal. The prosecutors found even more telling what Plote didn't say especially during that seven-hour interview four hours of which were played for the jury. Allison Huntley: What is chilling is the fact that he never denied murdering Melissa. And he never denied killing her baby boy, not one time. It's chilling from a personal perspective, but that's also excellent evidence that the defendant couldn't bring himself to lie about that fact. John Kopp: Over the course of multiple interviews for several hours, he was calm and reserved. His silence, the defense says, actually points to his innocence not his guilt. Prosecutors wanted jurors to hear that phrase Plote used MATTHEW PLOTE: I mean, there's a deadline for for that. referring to the birth of his son as a "deadline." Allison Huntley: He said, there's a deadline to these kinds of things. That was his deadline to murder Melissa. Heather Kruse: So, if you think about it logically, Thursday's Thanksgiving and Friday is her due date, his deadline. The only time to do this was Wednesday. So he took off work and completed his goal. The prosecutors found even more telling what Plote didn't say especially during that seven-hour interview four hours of which were played for the jury. Allison Huntley: What is chilling is the fact that he never denied murdering Melissa. And he never denied killing her baby boy, not one time. It's chilling from a personal perspective, but that's also excellent evidence that the defendant couldn't bring himself to lie about that fact. John Kopp: Over the course of multiple interviews for several hours, he was calm and reserved. His silence, the defense says, actually points to his innocence not his guilt. QUESTIONING THE INVESTIGATION John Kopp: The State's expert didn't do a fraction of what he should have done to properly determine the cause of the fire. This should have been an undetermined fire. To try to poke holes in the prosecution's case, the defense called only one witness: retired firefighter and independent inspector John Knapp. He was not at the scene of the fire but did study reports and photos. JOHN KNAPP (in court): I felt like there was probably more information that could have been gathered that wasn't He disputed the prosecution's claim that Plote set the fire. He testified that the evidence collected doesn't prove that the fire was intentionally set by anyone. JOHN KNAPP (in court): I couldn't make that determination to whether or not what the cause of the fire should be other than undetermined. Michael Poel: When you're not there at the scene, you don't see what we've seen, not always does every little tidbit end up in a report. Poel says the defense's expert is wrong, and that his investigation was thorough. Michael Poel: We're looking for anything and everything that could have contributed to the origins of this fire. They weren't there. You needed to be there when we were doing the examination. Plote waived his right to testify. During closing arguments, the defense accused investigators of having tunnel vision. John Kopp: The complete lack of investigation of any other individual is shocking. I've never seen such a poorly investigated case. Liam Dixon: They didn't follow-up on any other leads that may have happened. Any other boyfriends, any other anybody else. Allison Huntley: If there had been another lead, investigators certainly would've followed it. There simply wasn't.. Prosecutors told the jury that the evidence was clear: Melissa Lamesch was strangled to death by the only person who had a motive to kill her, Matthew Plote, who was juggling multiple women and didn't want to change his lifestyle. Allison Huntley: He clearly did not want to be involved in this baby's life. This is someone who actively hid the fact that a woman in the community was carrying his child. John Kopp: He clearly had made some choices about having multiple relationships but did not make him a killer. The trial lasted a week. After two hours of deliberation, the jury returned with a verdict: guilty of all charges. Deanna Lamesch: I could hear people sobbing and gasping but like, I I couldn't even lift my head Nikki Battiste: What did you feel? Deanna Lamesch: Shock. Shock. The verdict was a relief for Chief Schultz. He says the case had long weighed on him and everyone at the firehouse who had worked with Plote. Chief Rob Schultz: There was a huge closure here when Matt was found guilty. You still have the family out there that lost a daughter or lost a grandson You're never going to change that. Three months later, on June 27, 2024, Melissa's family and friends gathered at the courthouse for sentencing. Plote listened with little reaction as victim impact statements were read: GUS LAMESCH (in court): We lost Melissa in the prime of her life. Melissa and Barrett should still be alive and enjoying life with her loving family. Cassie Baal looks at Matthew Plote, foreground left, as she gave her victim impact statement at Plote's sentencing. / Credit: CBS News CASSIE BAAL (in court): I shouldn't have spent Thanksgiving that year feeling like there was nothing to be thankful for. This shouldn't be real, but it is real. It is all real because one man decided to make the decision that Barrett and Melissa weren't needed or wanted. DEANNA LAMESCH (in court): None of this had to happen, all he had to do was walk away. Plote also addressed the court with this brief statement: MATTHEW PLOTE (in court): To say anything other than I share the pain and the sadness and the loss of Melissa and Barrett. Nikki Battiste: Do you believe him? Gus Lamesch: Oh, no, definitely not. Cassie Baal: For him to say, "I too have pain and loss for Melissa and Barrett," like that what a joke. Judge John Roe imposed the maximum sentence: life behind bars. Nikki Battiste: Matthew Plote will likely die in prison. Does that give you any sort of peace? Deanna Lamesch: No. I know it's the justice system and we received our justice, but nothing about this is just. Nothing about this is fair. No punishment in the world brings them back. Melissa's sister Julialyn Shedd tries to hold onto fond memories. Julialyn Shedd: I miss her personality. I think it's her sass. Melissa was I believe still is the best person that I've ever met. Nikki Battiste: What do you miss most about your daughter and there's a grandson you never got to meet? Gus Lamesch: Where do you start. I mean he was gonna come into my home. I was looking forward to raising him. Through all of their grief, the Lamesch family honors Melissa in many ways. Deanna Lamesch: We took toys to a local homeless shelter. Nikki Battiste: To honor Barrett? Deanna Lamesch: To honor Barrett. We donated money to the no-kill shelter that Melissa got her cat from. They also sponsored a tree at a local arboretum that Melissa loved. Deanna Lamesch: Every year at the holidays, this tree will always be lit as part of their display. Shining brightly, like Melissa always did. Cassie Baal: Melissa was strong. She was fierce. She was powerful. Nothing was gonna stop her. And she was always gonna prove herself and she'd do whatever it take to do it. Matthew Plote is appealing his convictions. 48 HOURS" POST MORTEM PODCAST "48 Hors" contributor Nikki Battiste and producer Ruth Chenetz discuss the relationship between Melissa Lamesch and Matthew Plote, the defense's attempt to cast doubt on the investigation, and the touching story of how Melissa's family discovered the name she had chosen for her soon-to-be-born baby boy. Produced by Ruth Chenetz and Emily Wichick Hourihane. Michelle Sigona is the development producer. Michael Baluzy and Phil Tangel are the editors. Anthony Batson is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer. Crypto cash flooded the election. Here's why and the impact it may have | 60 Minutes Extended interview: Billie Eilish Young forecaster's Hurricane Helene reports credited with saving lives LEBANON COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) Firefighters rescued one person trapped inside a house that caught fire in Lebanon County Saturday afternoon. According to a Facebook post from Lebanon Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 1952, crews were dispatched to Clearview Drive in South Lebanon Township on Nov. 30 at around 3 p.m. for multiple reports of a structure fire with people trapped inside. The post says crews confirmed entrapment upon arrival and began suppressing the fire. Assistant 15 and members of Company 48 and Company 33 immediately performed aggressive searches, locating and removing the trapped occupant within minutes. The victim was then transferred into the care of EMS and taken to a local hospital for treatment, per the post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. Jacksonville City Council Member Rahman K. Johnson is holding a meeting to discuss a new townhome development planned for Firestone Road. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< The meeting is happening on Monday at 5 p.m. You can attend at the Webb Wesconnett Regional Library. Youll be able to ask questions and share your opinions. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] 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. Five French MPs from different political groups have written a joint letter to Sebastien Lecornu, the country's Defence Minister, calling for military instructors to be sent to Ukraine. Source: MP Frederic Petit of the Les Democrates party on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: Petit noted that the letter had been written by five MPs from five political groups: Laurent Mazaury from the Yvelines, Libertes, Independants, Outre-Mer et Territoires party; Anna Pic from the Socialistes et apparentes party; Constance Le Grip from the Ensemble pour la Republique party; and Xavier Roseren from the Horizons & Independants party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They urged Lecornu to send French military instructors to Ukraine. "The intensity of the fighting and Russia's growing pressure in Donbas make us believe that the training currently being conducted by the military in France and Poland should continue on Ukrainian soil," they stressed. The signatories stressed their support for the proposal to create a European coalition to send military instructors to Ukraine. "France can play a leading role in this coalition, along with the militaries of the United Kingdom, Poland, the Baltic states and Scandinavia," the signatories said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawmakers added that while Russia is "calling up thousands of North Korean troops to fight against Ukrainian forces, our response should be to increase our direct support for Ukraine". They also noted that France should not send soldiers to fight against the Russians in Ukraine but should send military instructors to train Ukrainian soldiers on their soil. Background: On 23 November, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in an interview with the BBC that he would not rule out sending troops to Ukraine if necessary, echoing earlier remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron this year. A short time later, French newspaper Le Monde reported that the UK and France had resumed discussions on sending Western troops to Ukraine following a visit to France by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Afterwards, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that his country was not considering sending its military to Ukraine at that time. Support UP or become our patron! DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) Firefighters in Daytona Beach battled a brush fire that spanned nearly 100 acres Sunday. The Daytona Beach Fire Department said multiple crews were at the scene around 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1. 2 found dead with apparent gunshot wounds at Haines City home, police investigating The flames reportedly ignited in an area just north of Daytona Beachs Margaritaville community, located off of LPGA Boulevard. (Credit: Daytona Beach Fire Department) (Credit: Daytona Beach Fire Department) However, officials said no structures or homes were affected, and there were no injuries reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firefighters worked alongside the Florida Forest Service to extinguish the blaze. In an update around 3 p.m., the fire department said the blaze had been contained. As of Sunday afternoon, the cause of the fire remained unclear. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. These 23 Sacramento-area restaurants opened their doors in November 2024, introducing customers to options from casual pizza to upscale Italian food. Four restaurants opened in Folsom, while another three opened in Elk Grove and Placerville. Roseville, West Sacramento, Davis and Rancho Cordova each had one restaurant open. Beach Hut Deli (1440 Broadway, Placerville): Hefty sandwiches like the Surfin Bird (turkey, avocado, bacon and cream cheese) define this beach-themed chain, which was founded in Granite Bay in 1981 and now has more than 40 locations in California, Oregon and Nevada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burning Barrel Brewing & Spirits (640 Main St., Placerville): Jack and Duncan Alexander built off their Rancho Cordova brewerys success by opening a distillery, taproom and restaurant Nov. 8 in downtown Placerville, which serves bites such as chimichurri wings, Southwestern salads and buffalo chicken sandwiches. Capriottis Sandwich Shop (4041 Sunrise Blvd., Suite D, Rancho Cordova): This approachable sandwich chain has a wealth of options, from Impossible Meat cheesesteaks to French dips made with American Wagyu from Idahos famous Snake River Farms. Chuk Chuk Dessert & Snacks (6825 Stockton Blvd., Suite 240, Sacramento): Opened on Nov. 18, Chuk Chuk is the place to try Vietnamese street foods, from durian crepes and fried fish balls to coconut ice cream and corn milk pandan jelly drinks. Darbar Halal Restaurant (8649 Elk Grove Blvd., Elk Grove): Biryani is a focus at this Indian restaurant with Chinese and Afghan influences, which opened its second location after initially launching near the UC Davis Medical Center in North Oak Park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delish Pizza (2121 Natomas Crossing Drive, Suite 600, Sacramento): Paul Masevichs family-friendly local pizza chain now serves pies such as the Garlic Supreme (creamy white garlic sauce, pepperoni, mushrooms, Italian sausage, green onions, diced tomatoes, mozzarella, cheddar and Parmesan) in Natomas Crossing, along with seven other area locations. Diablos Bar, Lounge & Grill (696 Main St., Placerville): A heated patio, neon-lit interior and cave-like party room keep people coming to Diablos for Cali-Mex dishes and drinks until midnight seven days per week. Esmeraldas Cafe (5825 Madison Ave., Suite 2, Sacramento): Griselda Sanchezs Cali-Mex breakfast nook just north of Carmichael whips up items such as chilaquiles, dulce de leche pancakes and chicken-fried steak for eager customers. Forever by 18 Grams (1725 S St., Sacramento): 18 Grams coffee roastery in Howe Bout Arden shopping center led to an Elk Grove cafe, which led to this Cali-Asian restaurant in Richmond Grove serving hash brown smash burgers, longanisa breakfast sandwiches and fried chicken over ube-mochi waffles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement JJs Hawaiian BBQ + Ramen (2300 W. Capitol Ave., West Sacramento): JJs second brick-and-mortar location (the original is in Old Foothill Farms) began twirling out fast-casual dumplings, sushi burritos and plate lunches on Nov. 8. Late Mouse Lounge (13000 Folsom Blvd., Suite 302A, Folsom): Francesca Mota and Taven Tangers bar-style coffee shop opened as an all-ages hangout and game lounge on Nov. 2 in Folsom Premium Outlets. Food includes burritos and taiyaki (fish-shaped cones with sweet fillings) to go with ube lattes, mocktails and other drinks. Marilyns Pizza (2011 J St., Sacramento): Late-night, New York-style slices and pies are the M.O. at Marilyns, a pint-sized midtown Sacramento pizzeria that opened not far from owner TJ Bruces bars in Lavender Heights. Mia Restaurant & Bar (1475 Eureka Road, Suite 120, Roseville): Open for weekend brunch Benedicts through ritzy steak dinners, this Italian American restaurant in Stone Point shopping center on Nov. 19. Omakase Por Favor (1050 20th St., Suite 150, Sacramento): Jeana Marie Pechas upscale Mexican-Japanese raw bar, already a hit in Lincoln, debuted Nov. 14 in midtown Sacramentos MARRS Building with former Seasons Kitchen + Bar chef Katerina Balagian at the helm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pegasus Bakery (2619 W. Taron Court, Suite 150, Elk Grove): A Hong Kong-style cafe with an existing footprint in south Sacramento, Pegasus is one of the best places around to find mooncakes, traditionally eaten around Chinas Mid-Autumn Festival. Rameshwaram Cafe (1167 Riley St., Folsom): South Indian dishes such as tamarind rice, dosa and bisi bele bath are flagship items at this Folsom Central Shopping Center restaurant, which was preceded by a Fremont location. Round Table Pizza (4551 Second St., Suite 110, Davis): Founded in Menlo Park in 1959, this pizza chain returned to Davis four years after closing its last location, bringing back pies such as the King Arthurs Supreme (pepperoni, Italian sausage, salami, linguica, mushrooms, green peppers, onions and black olives). Sanaa Cafe (901 K St., Sacramento): Sacramentos first Yemeni coffee shop began serving chai, smoothies and pastries such as rawani (a fluffy egg cake) on Nov. 22 in a long-vacant downtown Sacramento corner spot. Shake Shack (210 Palladio Parkway, Suite 2105, Folsom): This New York-based burger chain has built a cult following on the back of never-frozen beef, crinkle-cut fries and milkshakes, with locations in Roseville and midtown Sacramento opened over the past five years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taqueria La Valentina (9304 Elk Grove Blvd., Suite 150, Elk Grove): Taqueria La Valentina replaced Cilantros Mexican Grill with a wide range of Mexican options, including tacos, veggie burritos and camarones a la plancha. Tequileros (801 Howe Ave., Sacramento): Founded in Stockton with a Galt restaurant and two Elk Grove taco trucks, Tequileros continued making its way north by opening its neon-lit cantina on Nov. 9 near Campus Commons. Tru Bowl Superfood Bar (420 Palladio Parkway, Suite 1701, Folsom): Tru Bowls acai and cold-pressed juices became popular in Southern California before Cassidy Chan and Lindai Do opened the first Northern California location on Nov. 11 in the Palladio. Zeldas Original Gourmet Pizza (1415 21st St., Sacramento): Midtowns signature deep-dish pizza parlor, closed after more than 45 years on Aug. 31, reopened for indoor dining on Nov. 29 with new owners. National Film Award-winning filmmaker Prakash Jha on Sunday met Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at the Chief Minister's camp office. During the meeting, they held a detailed discussion on the state's film policy and new possibilities for film production in Uttarakhand. Meanwhile, the actor on Friday, attended the inauguration of the Crime Literature Festival in Dehradun. Speaking with media, Prakash Jha expressed happiness on attending the festival and shared, "This festival will help audience understand the crime genre in a better way. I am extremely happy to be here...I would like to thank the organisers for inviting me." Recently, Prakash Jha also attended the 55th edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) for the screening of his film 'Amar Aaj Marega'. In a conversation with ANI, he talked about the film and how the story is relatable, "The story of 'Amar' is a forever story. We all go through that at some point of time in our life when we feel that enough is enough and we have lived our life and we take a call on that." On talking about Rajat K's quirky story, Jha added, "So the way he had written it, the way he had treated it, there are layers of it, like how the others feel. So in a very dark, humorous way it was written and I felt that in a film it's a good opportunity to try and find that character." The Rajat K directorial venture premiered at the IFFI Goa here on November 24."I felt that he has made a very valid film and It will connect with people. People will understand it. And also, it's a very competent film," said the ace filmmaker about the film.The multiple National Award-winning director has acclaimed films like 'Damul', 'Mrityudand', 'Gangaajal', 'Apaharan', and 'Raajneeti' among others. Prakash Jha has revealed his plans to develop the third installment of the 'Gangaajal' franchise. Jha is also working on a sequel to the political drama 'Raajneeti'. "Work is going on. There are political changes. What changes have occurred in past ten years. Political changes have been made, improvements have been made, new stories have been made. So, work is going on but right now I am consumed with 'Janadesh'." (ANI) The Sapphire Mountains are a range of mountains located in southwestern Montana. (Photo by Michael Schweppe via Flickr | DEED 2.0). New details about recurring, verified grizzly bears in Montanas Sapphire Mountains are significant, and they require the U.S. Forest Service to conduct more environmental review for the Gold Butterfly Project, alleges an updated lawsuit against the federal agency. Additional information about the presence of wolverines also requires more scrutiny due to the impacts the logging and road-building project will have on 55,147 acres of the Bitterroot National Forest and its wildlife, the lawsuit alleges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2023 monitoring efforts detected five wolverines in the Bitterroot National Forest four males and one female, the lawsuit said. Four of the wolverines (three males and one female) were detected at the Sapphire Mountains monitoring station. Those wolverines were apparently identified within the project area, but their presence didnt prompt additional environmental review of the project, and it should have, said the lawsuit. Wolverines were listed under the Endangered Species Act in November 2023. Environmental groups sue Bitterroot National Forest over Gold Butterfly Project The Gold Butterfly Project authorizes commercial logging on 5,281 acres in the Sapphires, including clearcutting; non-commercial tree-cutting and burning on another 2,084 acres; and the transport of up to 7,000 truckloads of wood, according to the lawsuit. It is estimated to cost taxpayers $4.2 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September this year, The Alliance for the Wild Rockies and the Native Ecosystems Council, two conservation nonprofit organizations, sued the Bitterroot National Forest and U.S. Forest Service alleging their approval of the Gold Butterfly Project was contrary to the National Environmental Policy Act and other federal laws. Last week, the conservation groups amended their complaint to allege the Forest Service acknowledged it had received new information about grizzly bears and wolverines in the area, yet it still failed to do additional environmental analysis, or a supplemental environmental impact statement, as required by law. The groups said in a new May 2024 Endangered Species Act consultation, the Forest Service admits grizzly bears have been verified in the Sapphire Mountains and may be present in the action area for the project. In that same consultation, the Forest Service admits the construction of 17.3 miles of new temporary roads allowed by the project could harm bears, the groups said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the amended lawsuit said the agency has refused to address the new findings with a new analysis, and the Forest Service nonetheless continues to conclude the project would have no effect on grizzly bears. Federal agencies must prepare a supplemental NEPA document when there are significant new circumstances or information relevant to environmental concerns bearing on the proposed action or its impacts, the complaint said. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US It said after the Forest Service finished its environmental impact statement for the project, the Missoulian reported three verified and distinct grizzly bears in the Sapphire Mountains, in August 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March and April 2024, the Forest Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service admitted grizzly bears may be affected by the Gold Butterfly Project, the complaint said. But the law requires the agency do a supplemental review in order to meet its obligation to take a hard look at a project, the complaint said. It said the new information about wolverines also requires closer environmental scrutiny. A spokesperson for the Bitterroot National Forest was not available for comment on Friday, but the Forest Service generally does not comment on pending litigation. In their original complaint, the conservation groups also allege the logging and clearcutting project will make it harder to hunt elk, inflates the amount of old growth that would be left, and misinforms the public about effects on pine marten, among other problems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daily Montanan, like the Idaho Capital Sun, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Daily Montanan maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Darrell Ehrlick for questions: info@dailymontanan.com. Follow Daily Montanan on Facebook and X. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE RAY BROOK Here is a roundup of calls and events New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers responded to and participated in recently in their duties to perform search and rescue incidents statewide. Town of Newcomb, Essex County: The 24th Basic School for Forest Rangers finished a 28-week academy training in Newcomb on the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry Huntington Wildlife Forest campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After graduation, recruits will complete 12 weeks of field training in permanent regional assignments. In these final weeks of the academy, recruits completed training in backcountry preparedness, wilderness first aid, crisis intervention and Officer wellness. Academy activities finished with a shield ceremony and a color run. The class organized the color run to commemorate a final run together while carrying their class flag bearing the names of Forest Rangers who have died in the line of duty, passed while engaged in Ranger-related activities or succumbed to suicide. Academy staff and field Forest Rangers participated in the color run with the class. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Town of Harrietstown, Franklin County: Ray Brook Dispatch requested Forest Ranger assistance in the search for a missing hunter Thursday, Nov. 21 at 10:35 a.m. The 79-year-old from Lake Placid lost his way on the trail, at 11:24 a.m., Rangers Corey and Curcio located the subject and helped him back to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 12:56 p.m. Town of North Elba, Essex County: On Nov. 23 at 6:38 p.m., while on patrol, Forest Ranger Foutch met a hiker who reported they had seen a hiker from Connecticut struggling to hike down Phelps Mountain due to a knee injury. The injured hiker was being helped by his hiking party. Ranger Foutch responded with a UTV on the truck trail, reached the hiker, and gave him a ride to his vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The subject declined further medical assistance, resources were clear at 7:18 p.m. Town of Keene, Essex County Ray Brook Dispatch received a call that two hikers were overdue on Big Slide Mountain Sunday, Nov. 24 at midnight. The caller, who was originally with the two overdue hikers but finished the hike before they did, went back out to find the 58 and 60-year-olds from New Jersey. At 12:37 a.m., that hiker found the pair in good condition and hiked back down alone. At 2:31 a.m., the hikers still had not returned. Forest Rangers Foutch and Lewis hiked in to find the missing duo. Rangers found the two subjects, warmed them, and helped them back to their vehicle, resources were clear at 4:47 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DECs Hike Smart NY, Adirondack Backcountry Information, and Catskill Backcountry Information webpages for more information. If a person needs a Forest Ranger, whether its for a search and rescue, to report a wildfire, or to report illegal activity on state lands and easements, they should call 833-NYS-RANGERS. If a person needs urgent assistance, call 911. To contact a Forest Ranger for information about a specific location, the DEC website has phone numbers for every Ranger listed by region. By Crispian Balmer JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A former Israeli defense minister has accused Israel of committing war crimes and ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip, drawing a sharp rebuke from government ranks. Moshe Yaalon, a hawkish former general, told Israeli media that hardliners in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right cabinet were looking to chase Palestinians from northern Gaza and wanted to re-establish Jewish settlements there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I am compelled to warn about what is happening there and is being concealed from us," Yaalon told Israel's public broadcaster Kan on Sunday. "At the end of the day, war crimes are being committed." Yaalon is a former army chief of staff who served as defence minister under Netanyahu from 2013-16, and has been a fierce critic of the prime minister ever since. Netanyahu's Likud party accused him of spreading "slanderous lies", while Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, head of a small rightist party, said his accusations were baseless. "Everything Israel does is in accordance with international law and it is a pity that former minister Ya'alon does not realise the damage that he has done and retract his remarks," he told a conference hosted by Israel Today newspaper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The International Criminal Court (ICC) last month issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defence chief Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict. Netanyahu and Gallant both rejected the charges, but in a separate interview with Democrat TV on Saturday, Yaalon warned that the nation was at a crossroads with the government looking "to conquer, to annex, to carry out ethnic cleansing". SURPRISE ATTACK Palestinians have long accused Israel of looking to chase them out of swathes of Gaza during the ongoing conflict. Israel has been at war in Gaza since October 2023, after Hamas militants launched a surprise attack in which they killed about 1,200 people and abducted more than 250 hostages. Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 44,400 people and displaced nearly all of the enclave's population. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent weeks, the Israelis have focused much of their firepower back on northern Gaza, saying they are targeting Hamas fighters who have regrouped, and urging civilians to leave the area until further notice. "What is going on there? There is no Beit Lahiya, no Beit Hanoun, they are operating now in Jabaliya and basically cleaning the area of Arabs," Yaalon told Democrat TV, referring to Palestinian neighbourhoods north of Gaza City. He added that hardliners wanted to establish Jewish settlement there, 19 years after Israel withdrew from the territory - a disengagement Yaalon had opposed at the time. Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf visited the Gaza border last Thursday and backed an initiative to re-establish settlements in the enclave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Jewish settlement here is the answer to the terrible (Oct. 7, 2023) massacre and the answer to the International Criminal Court in the Hague," Goldknopf was quoted as saying in Israeli media. Most world powers deem settlements built in territory Israel seized in the 1967 war as illegal and see their expansion as an obstacle to peace, since they eat away at land the Palestinians want for a future state. (Writing by Crispian Balmer; Additional reporting by Maayan Lubell; Editing by David Holmes) Former German justice minister Marco Buschmann is to become the new general secretary of the pro-business liberal Free Democrats (FDP), after two top party figures resigned amid uproar over an internal party strategy paper. Buschmann and other FDP ministers left Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government in early November, after Scholz sacked FDP leader Christian Lindner from his post as finance minister following months of budget clashes. Buschmann will be tasked with organizing the FDP's campaign ahead of early elections, which are expected to be held on February 23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I feel very honoured by the great trust placed in me. The liberal party must now show that it has the best answers to get the economy back on track and protect the freedom of every individual from bureaucracy and state encroachment," Buschmann told the Bild newspaper, which first reported the news. Opinion polls have suggested the FDP may be in danger of falling below the 5% threshold required to take seats in Germany's parliament, and miles away from the 11.5% result they achieved in 2021. The previous FDP general secretary, Bijan Djir-Sarai, stepped down on Friday after an internal party strategy paper which laid out a plan for the FDP to quit Scholz's coalition government became public. The party's operational manager, Carsten Reymann, also resigned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The paper contains a detailed scenario for the FDP's exit from the coalition with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens, using military terms such as "D-Day" and "open warfare." Critics have accused the FDP, and Lindner in particular, of deliberately undermining the government in order to trigger a break-up. Lindner, the face of the FDP and the party's top politician, said that the paper was only prepared and discussed at staff level, and that it was reasonable to prepare for a coalition break-up given tense deadlocks over several key policy issues. Former German justice minister Marco Buschmann is to become the new general secretary of the pro-business liberal Free Democrats (FDP), after two top party figures resigned amid uproar over an internal party strategy paper. Buschmann and other FDP ministers left Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government in early November, after Scholz sacked FDP leader Christian Lindner from his post as finance minister following months of budget clashes. Buschmann will be tasked with organizing the FDP's campaign ahead of early elections, which are expected to be held on February 23. Lindner is the party's top candidate for the campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opinion polls have suggested the FDP may be in danger of falling below the 5% threshold required to take seats in Germany's parliament, and miles away from the 11.5% result they achieved in 2021. Buschmann said that Lindner had asked him to become the FDP's general secretary in a difficult situation. "I will invest all my energy in the task," he wrote in a post on social media platform X on Sunday. Germany needs "a party for freedom and responsibility, performance and a market economy." Lindner quickly praised Buschmann as just the right man for the tough job. "Marco Buschmann was not only a highly respected minister of justice, but also a highly successful party manager before that. I am relieved that he has agreed to take on one of the most difficult offices in one of the toughest election campaigns of the last 70 years," Lindner told the Rheinische Post newspaper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The previous FDP general secretary, Bijan Djir-Sarai, stepped down on Friday after an internal party strategy paper which laid out a plan for the FDP to quit Scholz's coalition government became public. The party's operational manager, Carsten Reymann, also resigned. The paper contains a detailed scenario for the FDP's exit from the coalition with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens, using military terms such as "D-Day" and "open warfare." Critics have accused the FDP, and Lindner in particular, of deliberately undermining the government in order to trigger a break-up. The paper also sparked fierce criticism within the party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the wake of the paper's publication on Thursday, Scholz accused Lindner and the FDP of having "systematically sabotaged" the work of the coalition government for months. "They actively wanted to prevent this federal government from being successful," Scholz said at an SPD election campaign event in Berlin on Saturday. "Something like this must never happen again in Germany." Some FDP politicians, however, have accused Scholz himself of staging Lindner's dismissal - which triggered the collapse of the coalition - to score political points. Lindner, the 45-year-old face of the FDP and the party's top politician, said that the paper was only prepared and discussed at staff level, and that it was reasonable to prepare for a coalition break-up given tense deadlocks over several key policy issues. Buschmann, 47, is seen as a close confidant of Lindner, and is well known in party headquarters. He was the FDP's managing director from 2014 to 2017, and previously led the state-level FDP organization in the populous western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia from 2012 to 2014. People are still asking me whether the first federal trial of former Kansas City, Kansas, police detective Roger Golubski, scheduled to begin in Topeka on Dec. 2, is really going to happen. And I always say yes. Barring an act of God, or any of the more mundane sniffles and piffles that can delay a judicial proceeding, yes. After all that the Black community in KCK has been through with 71-year-old Golubski and all of those who protected him, this is a perfectly rational question, though. The man spent 35 years on the force, is charged with routinely abusing his authority by repeatedly raping and violating the civil rights of Black women, and yet is still defended by a number of his former superiors. Even now, some still worry that hell kill himself to avoid trial. I never believed that would happen, and dont know why it would now, when Golubski, who has denied all allegations, has excellent legal representation and a chance of walking away. Defense attorneys smear victims because doing so often works, and it could here, too. As always, the burden is on prosecutors to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I also disagree with those who still think maybe hell be Epsteined murdered, as many believe the prolific upscale predator Jeffrey Epstein was to make sure he takes no one more important down with him. Unlike Epstein, of course, Roger Golubski is not in custody, having been on lightly supervised home detention for the more than two years since the morning he was put in handcuffs. Golubski told victims no one would believe them Im not sure how much will come out at trial about his enablers at the KCKPD, though there is plenty of evidence that his superiors knew about his wrongdoing and protected and promoted him anyway because he cleared so many cases. But if any harm did come to him, it would only bring more attention to them. This entire case is going to hang on the credibility of a bunch of terrified women who I have always believed were telling the truth. Panic attacks are not that easy to fake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are also women who say Golubski told them all along that no one would ever believe them. One of the two main victims in this case, identified in court documents as S.K., was 13 when prosecutors say his attacks on her began in 1997. The other, Ophelia Williams, met him when he came to her house to arrest her 14-year-old twins for a double homicide in 1999. When he returned later to rape her, she has always said, he promised to help her with their case. Seven other women, whose testimony the judge has ruled that hell allow, will say that he assaulted or attempted to assault them, too. Prosecutors believe that these witnesses will establish a pattern of abusive behavior during Golubskis time on the force, from 1975 until 2010. That is a long time to fool your bosses. These are women who had no money, no standing and in most cases were people hed met because they had a family member in legal trouble or were in trouble themselves. No one, he said, would ever listen to them over upstanding him. In this photo from the early 1990s, Ophelia Williams is seen with her four children. The years of waiting are over for victims In my early days of reporting this story, in 2020, women told me that I was naive to think that anything could ever happen to Roger Golubski legally. He was immune from arrest, they said, while they could so easily wind up dead, as he warned them they would if they ever talked. No one would ever find their remains and no one would ever know what had happened, he said. Because after all, they were nobody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defense team has said these women are in this for the money, and only cooked up these stories after watching Lamonte McIntyre be awarded a $12.5 million settlement from the Unified Government in 2022. The civil suit from McIntyre, who served 23 years for a double murder he did not commit, alleged that Golubski had framed him and raped his mother. Of course, his other victims had been telling loved ones what happened to them long before 2022, and before McIntyre was released from prison in 2017. The day Golubski was finally arrested, in September of 2022, was not just a hopeful day for them, but one theyd believed would never come. But then came two years of wondering, as more and more time passed, if prosecutors were maybe just waiting for Golubski, who is in kidney failure and was hospitalized last year, to die and thus relieve them of having to prosecute a former law enforcement officer. Its like theyre playing games with us, Ophelia Williams told me 17 months after his arrest, with no trial date yet in sight. Well, its in sight now, and Golubski is still with us. Williams, who herself has been hospitalized multiple times this year, is too. At the last pretrial hearing, on Nov. 18, the lawyers who will try this case seemed ready and well-matched. For the defense, thats Chris Joseph, and for the prosecution, Tara Allison, a trial attorney from the criminal section of the DOJs civil rights division in Washington, D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At that hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Toby Crouse ruled on a number of motions that will shape this first Golubski trial. Another fear of victims has been that Golubski would be offered a plea deal, but attorneys in the case told the judge that that didnt happen. Crouse said he would not allow testimony about an armed criminal action conviction for one of the 7 additional victims who will testify. Its essentially to smear the victim, Allison argued, and does not speak to her truthfulness, which is whats relevant. Somebody with a felony conviction has an issue the jury needs to hear about, Joseph countered. Its just relevant. Crouse said that the crime itself needs to address truthfulness, and ruled to exclude that testimony. Ophelia Williams shares a hug with her youngest son Ortez Johnson at her home. In trafficking case, will Trump DOJ prosecute ex-cop? Anything can happen in a courtroom, and I wont pretend to know what will happen over the five or so weeks that this first trial is expected to last. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But what Ive been more worried about, vis-a-vis these two federal cases against Golubski, since Donald Trump was elected, is that the second, sex trafficking conspiracy case against him, which is considered the easier case to win, might not happen. In that case, Golubski and three other men allegedly held girls as young as 13 in involuntary servitude. The president-elect has signaled that the Department of Justice should focus on prosecuting those Trump considers his enemies, and his DOJ will not be pursuing patterns and practices cases against police departments for systematic civil rights violations. Activists in KCK have been begging for a probe like that for quite some time. That wont happen now, at least for the forseeable future. A DOJ investigation into the KCPD, launched in 2022, didnt seem to have gotten very far as of two months ago, and now Bidens DOJ is reportedly hustling to finish as much as it can of all such work before the lights go out. So how interested, once Trump takes office, will the DOJ that he wanted Matt Gaetz to run be in taking on a Roger Golubski? Would a president who has said that we need one real rough, nasty and violent day of police retaliation to end crime immediately really let the Justice Department that he wants to populate with loyalists pursue a case against a cop who is charged with having many real rough, nasty and violent days? I dont think it will really be on Washingtons radar Former Kansas U.S. Attorney Steve McAllister, the Trump appointee who actually launched this federal investigation into Golubski, and whose integrity I very much appreciate, told me not to worry about the trafficking case, if only because I dont think it will really be on Washingtons radar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patterns and practices investigations into police departments arent going to go forward, he said, but the trafficking conspiracy case against Golubski case in his view will. The vast majority of prosecutions are not going to be on the radar because theyre within the mainstream of what gets prosecuted no matter who is in charge. And in the second case, hes got co-defendants. What McAllister didnt say, but I will: Golubski has three Black co-defendants in that second federal case. One is Cecil Brooks, a drug kingpin with a long history of violence. At the hearing on whether he should be released pending trial, a prosecutor told the court that, People are terrified because of the defendant, to the point that its not uncommon for them to be physically ill while giving a statement about him. Its that Brooks and his two underlings were charged in the sex trafficking conspiracy along with Golubski that makes me much more confident that the second case will go forward. Gregory Thornton, who spent four years as superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools, died Friday, the school district confirmed. Thornton was 69 years old, just a few weeks shy of his birthday on Jan. 12. Thornton worked in Milwaukee from 2010 to 2014, resigning the position to work as CEO of Baltimore City Schools. Before his role in Wisconsin, he worked in K-12 leadership for other school systems in Maryland and Philadelphia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He came in with fresh ideas. He came in with an openness and willingness to really expand partnerships. I think it was refreshing to people," Denise Callaway, who worked for Thornton as a director of partnerships, and later communications and outreach, told the Journal Sentinel. "He just had an incredible ability to talk to people, to get people to understand the importance of education and the work that he was doing in Milwaukee Public Schools, and to work with him," she said, including the business and philanthropic community. Callaway credited Thornton with reestablishing a centralized curriculum in the school system, so students who moved between schools could continue learning the same material. He worked within the budget to provide arts teachers and partnerships, she said. Staff appreciated that he welcomed good ideas for new initiatives and innovations, even if they weren't his own. Thornton understood the "tough" job of superintendent and the responsibility that comes with it, Callaway said, but he also had a "great sense of humor. He loved to laugh; he would often laugh at his own expense." Former Milwaukee Public School superintendent Gregory Thornton talks with an attendant before a speech of former Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in 2014 at the Journey House, a south-side social service agency linked to Longfellow School in the Clarke Square neighborhood. Rhemar Pouncey was a friend of Thornton, naming him the godfather of her son Syheem, now 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pouncey described Thornton as a true advocate for education on every level, and said he helped her to understand the complicated process of individualized education programs for special education services. As a parent of a special needs son I was not knowledgeable about my rights as a parent nor my son's rights as a student. Dr. Thornton took the time out to explain to me about an IEP and how to become the best advocate for my son I could be, she said. In a statement, MPS media relations manager Stephen Davis said, "Milwaukee Public Schools sends its condolences to his family and recognizes Dr. Thorntons service to the district. The family has not yet announced funeral arrangements. This story will be updated as more information becomes available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contact Hope Karnopp at HKarnopp@gannett.com or on X at @hopekarnopp. Cleo Krejci covers education and workforce development as a Report For America corps member based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at CKrejci@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @_CleoKrejci. For more information about Report for America, visit jsonline.com/rfa. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Milwaukee schools superintendent Gregory Thornton dies at 69 Four people were killed and 19 others injured in Russian attacks on Kherson and Donetsk oblasts on 30 November. Source: Kherson Oblast Military Administration; Donetsk Oblast Military Administration Details: Two people have been killed and 15 others injured in Kherson Oblast over the past 24 hours. Russian troops struck the premises of educational institutions and residential areas of Kherson Oblast's settlements, damaging 11 houses. The Russians also damaged a gas pipeline, warehouses and garages, a bus and cars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two people were killed and four others injured in Donetsk Oblast. In particular, another civilian was injured in Pokrovsk, adding to the two dead and three injured in Myrnohrad. Support UP or become our patron! French Prime Minister Michel Barnier's government faces a major test over approval of a disputed draft budget, with far-right leader Marine Le Pen threatening a no-confidence vote in parliament should its budget demands not be addressed. In a key demand, Le Pen's National Rally is demanding that pensions be reassessed. The next few days could be decisive for the French government. Just a few days ago, Barnier made a concession by waiving a tax increase on electricity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Le Pen is demanding new concessions. A no-confidence vote is "not inevitable" if Barnier agrees to negotiate with parliament on the draft, she told the Sunday edition of La Tribune newspaper. Barnier, who has only been in office a few months at the helm of an uneasy centre-right coalition, recently reminded television viewers that France is in debt to the tune of 3.2 billion ($3.4 billion) and needs to cut spending. His minority government has introduced an austerity budget. Next year, the government aims to save 60 billion through savings and additional revenues. On Monday, the bill on the financing of social security will be presented to the National Assembly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without a majority, the prime minister could opt for the application of Article 49.3 of the Constitution, a special constitutional power which allows for the authorization of a budget text without a vote. However, he would risk the fall of the government if Le Pen's party were to unite with an alliance of left-wing parties. The Barnier government is currently tolerated de facto by Le Pen's National Rally. Cyclonic Storm Fengal on Sunday began crossing the coast of north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall to the region. According to the latest updates from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclonic Storm Fengal is expected to move west-southwestwards and cross the north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram, near Puducherry. The storm is expected to maintain a wind speed of 70-80 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 90 kmph over the next hour. After making landfall, Cyclone Fengal is forecasted to move west-southwestwards and gradually weaken into a deep depression within the next six hours. Meanwhile, people living in nearby areas have been shifted to relief camps near Kalpakkam in Chengalpattu district, in the wake of Cyclone Fengal. Earlier, as Cyclone Fengal began making landfall, Puducherry and several parts of Tamil Nadu experienced heavy rain and gusty winds, disrupting road and air services and affecting normal life. "The Cyclonic Storm 'FENGAL' [pronounced as FEINJAL] over the southwest Bay of Bengal moved west-southwestwards at a speed of 7 kmph over the past six hours and was centred at 1730 IST today, November 30, 2024, over the southwest Bay of Bengal, off the north Tamil Nadu coast near latitude 12.2N and longitude 80.3E. It was located approximately 40 km from the coast, 50 km south-southeast of Mahabalipuram, 60 km east-northeast of Puducherry, and 90 km south of Chennai," the IMD stated in a post on X earlier. "Latest observations indicate that the forward sector of the cyclone's spiral bands has entered land. The storm is expected to move west-southwestwards, crossing the north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram, close to Puducherry, as a cyclonic storm with wind speeds of 70-80 kmph, gusting to 90 kmph, within the next 3 to 4 hours," the post updated at 7:30 pm added. Authorities in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu reviewed the situation and implemented precautionary measures. Puducherry District Collector A Kulothungan stated that the district administration had taken comprehensive steps to prepare for Cyclone Fengal. "The district administration has made elaborate arrangements to address the impact of Cyclone Fengal," Kulothungan told ANI. "The war room is operational, and relief centres have been established with all necessary arrangements in place. Warning messages have been disseminated, and approximately 4,000 government officials are on duty," he added. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin also assessed the preparedness and precautionary measures. He visited the Chennai State Operation Center, accompanied by state ministers KN Nehru and KKSSR Ramachandran. The Chief Minister interacted with the District Collectors of Chennai, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, and other districts via video conferencing to evaluate on-ground conditions. He assured the public that the state government is closely monitoring the situation and implementing necessary measures. Addressing the media, CM Stalin said the government had been conducting continuous inspections and taking steps to mitigate the impact. "The MET Department has warned of continuous rainfall for the next two to three days. The Tamil Nadu government has been conducting inspections and taking precautionary measures. We have received information that the cyclonic storm will cross the coast tonight. The Chennai Corporation Commissioner has been in touch with the District Collectors of Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, and other districts to assess the field conditions. Relief work is underway, and relief camps have been set up to accommodate affected people," CM Stalin said. (ANI) A Fresno County woman died after being bitten by a rabid bat in the middle school classroom where she taught art, according to public health officials and published reports. The Fresno County Department of Public Health reported last week that a county resident had died from rabies after being bitten by a bat in Merced County. Health officials did not name the victim, but friends identified her as Leah Seneng, 60, an art teacher at Bryant Middle School in the small Merced County city of Dos Palos, according to reports in the Fresno Bee and KFSN-TV. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seneng found a bat in her classroom about a month ago, her friend, Laura Splotch, told KFSN. The bat bit Seneng, and although she didn't show any symptoms of rabies in the following days, she fell ill about a month later, Splotch said. Four days after checking herself into the hospital, Seneng died on Nov. 22, according to her friend and county health officials. Describing her friend as a "great explorer" who loved the outdoors, Splotch said Seneng was likely trying to help the bat out of her classroom when it bit her. Merced County health officials said they were notifying people who may have been exposed as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, rabies is "almost always fatal" if it isn't treated before symptoms appear, Fresno County officials warned. Bats and skunks are common transmitters of the disease. Health officials said bat bites are often too small to be detected. Anyone who comes into contact with a bat, alive or dead, should report the encounter to their healthcare provider. Anyone who wakes up with a live or dead bat in their room should also report it. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Question marks continue to surround the disappearance of Hannah Kobayashi, the 31-year-old Hawaiian woman who went missing last month in Los Angeles. Her friends now say that Kobayashis last text messages seemed out-of-characterdue to a distinct lack of emojis. Friend Ariana Ursua, a 30-year-old freelancer from Hawaii, told the New York Post over the weekend that Kobayashi had a very distinct way of messagingand it was notably different from the way her last texts were worded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ursua told the outlet that Kobayashi, a free spirit, would typically end messages with hearts, stars, butterflies, rainbows and other emojis. I dont feel like its her to make people concerned. She wouldnt just ghost out of nowhere. Usually at parties shes the one that will make sure she says bye to her friend, Ursua told the Post. Kobayashi was declared missing on Nov. 11 in Los Angeles after missing a connecting flight to New York City days prior. Just last weekend, her father Ryan took his own life at Los Angeles International Airport, a death family members said was caused by a broken heart. After missing her flight, Kobayashi sent several concerning text messages to her family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Strange, cryptic messagesthings about the matrix, it was so unlike her. And then all of a sudden, no more communication, Her aunt told KTLA. Deep Hackers wiped my identity, stole all of my funds, & have had me on a mind fk since Friday, she texted one of her friends, according to the Post. I got tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds For someone I thought I loved, she wrote in another text. It feels really weird, Ursua said to the outlet. I pray shes still alive. Nov. 30City Manager Mike Peacock recently announced the appointment of Shawn Fullagar as the new chief of police for the Joshua Police Department. After a thorough selection process, including a review of numerous applications and interviews with the top candidates, Fullagar was selected to continue leading the department. Over the past several weeks, Peacock has reviewed resumes and applications for the position, narrowing the field down to seven applicants. The top three candidates were interviewed, and following an extensive review process, Fullagar emerged as the clear choice. "Interim Chief Fullagar has demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to the Joshua Police Department," Peacock said. "He has earned the respect and support of the officers, and his performance over the past several months as interim chief has exceeded expectations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This promotion not only recognizes his dedication but also provides an opportunity for additional promotions within the department, which will help build morale and offer other officers a path for advancement." As the new chief, Fullagar will continue to guide JPD with a focus on maintaining safety and strengthening community relationships. This leadership transition also ensures that the department remains strong and resilient as it grows and adapts to the needs of Joshua's residents. "We are excited to continue working alongside Chief Fullagar and look forward to the positive impact his leadership will have on the department and the city as a whole," Peacock said. Guerrero hired Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city also hired a new code enforcement officer, Daniel Guerrero. Guerrero has a rich and fulfilling life, both professionally and personally. After moving from El Paso to Fort Worth in 2005, he embarked on a journey that included a significant career shift from banking to municipal work. In 2012, Guerrero began a municipal career with the city of Fort Worth, which ultimately led to joining the city of Joshua on Nov. 12. He lives in Burleson with his wife, Robyn, and their five children, whose ages range from 9 to 21. PD hosting holiday lights contest The Joshua Police Department is hosting its first annual Holiday Lights Contest, a festive event designed to spread holiday cheer and recognize the creative decorations that brighten the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents are invited to participate by nominating their own homes or a neighbor's beautifully decorated house for consideration. Whether it's a classic display of twinkling white lights or an extravagant wonderland of color, all styles are welcome to showcase the holiday spirit. Judging will be conducted by Joshua police officers, who will evaluate the decorations during their nighttime patrols throughout the holiday season. This unique approach not only highlights the officers' commitment to community engagement but also adds an element of surprise for participants. TEXARKANA, TX. (KTAL/KMSS)Entrepreneurs, small business owners, and lenders are invited to the Funding the Dream workshop to gain industry knowledge and tools to set your business up for success. On December 3rd, the free event will help businesspersons navigate the lending process in securing funding, attain expert advice, and network with local business owners. This workshop will demystify the funding process, helping you understand what lenders look for, how to prepare a solid business plan, and strategies for securing the financial backing you need to bring your vision to life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement $1.8M sidewalk project to make Texarkana safer, more walkable Presented by The Assembly Line, a new business incubator and entrepreneurial community with the mission to eliminate the barriers that rural entrepreneurs face to creating new businesses and jobs for the community. Hear from Kristy Couch, SBA Economic Development and Lender Relations Specialist, Corky Strode with State Bank, and Chris Ranniger, lender with Communities Unlimited, a CDFI, who will share practical tips on preparing for the lending process. The event is scheduled for December 3rd from noon until 2 p.m. at The Palm Room at The Lofts at The Grim (302 N State Line Avenue in Texarkana). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conquer public speaking anxiety at training course Additionally, patrons will receive comprehensive guidance on funding such as SBA Free Resources and tools, loan programs, conventional loans, and alternative financing options available to small businesses. Hosted by the Assembly Line, it presents the workshop in partnership with the Northeast Texas SBDC. According to the ticketing website, individuals are encouraged to reserve a spot to attend. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. Deputies in Effingham County have arrested a man in connection with a crash that killed a Georgia man. On April 24, 2024, deputies with the Effingham County Sheriffs Office responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 80 at Pine View Drive. Ernest Howard Masten of Bloomingdale, Georgia died in the crash. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Deputies determined that Connor Ray Hillis was the driver at fault in the crash and was under the influence of multiple substances at the time of the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They said Hillis was driving at twice the posted speed limit. Hillis was arrested on Tuesday, Nov. 26, and charged with first-degree homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence of drugs, and reckless driving. He was booked into the Effingham County Jail where he awaits his court date. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] A 21-year-old Georgia man faces charges after he allegedly used drugs before getting behind the wheel. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On November 25, deputies in Laurel County, KY conducted traffic safety checkpoints on Kentucky 909 and Interstate 75. Deputies said 21-year-old Dylan Claiborne, of Thomasville, was driving a white Telsa, and operating on a suspended license. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the investigation, Kentucky officials determined Claiborne to be under the influence after he stated he used meth before driving. He was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence and operating on a suspended or revoked license. Claiborne was booked into the Laurel County Correctional Center. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Mayor Peter Schwartzman will host a public forum on mental health at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, at the Galesburg Public Library Community Room, according to a news release. This event serves as an opportunity for local residents and mental-health providers to talk about challenges they face as well as opportunities for collaboration and improved levels of care. Bridgeway performed a community needs assessment this year that resulted in a report released a few months ago . You can red it here. This work provides great background information on the topic. Attendees to the public forum should read the report, the release says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. Georgia's pro-European incumbent president, Salome Zourabichvili, has called for fresh parliamentary elections given the turmoil her country faces as protests continued Sunday following the government's decision to suspend talks on joining the European Union. Following the allegations of electoral fraud and the government's departure from the path towards the EU, a way to a new vote must be found, Zourabichvili asserted. "We only have one demand, which is based on the constitution after the elections were rigged," she said at a meeting with opposition representatives. "The only way to achieve stability is through new elections, there is no other way." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also Georgia's Constitutional Court of not even having set a date to consider the allegations of electoral fraud she had submitted. Von der Leyen says 'door to the EU remains open' European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed the European Union's openness to Georgia despite concerns over the country's leadership shifting away from pro-European values as the country enters its fourth night of protests. In a statement posted on Sunday to X, von der Leyen expressed regret over the Georgian governments decision to diverge from EU principles. The comments follow days of violent protests that have rocked the country's capital Tbilisi and other cities against the government's pro-Russian course and decision to suspend talks on joining the European Union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The door to the EU remains open," she wrote. "The return of Georgia on the EU path is in the hands of the Georgian leadership." She also emphasized the EUs solidarity with Georgian citizens seeking a European future. Thousands protest again in the centre of Tbilisi Thousands of people gathered again in the capital Tbilisi and in a number of other Georgian cities this evening to continue their anti-government protests. In Tbilisi, police again deployed a large force in case of a possible operation against the demonstrators. According to a report by the Interpressnews agency, the police have already sporadically used water cannon to push the demonstrators back from the parliament building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Violent clashes between police and anti-government demonstrators broke out overnight in Georgia for the third night in a row after the government in Tbilisi decided to suspend talks on joining the EU. Police officers used water cannon and tear gas on the crowds, while some demonstrators launched fireworks at the police, according to Georgian media. It was not until Sunday morning that the uniformed officers succeeded in pushing the protesters away from the parliament building. By Sunday, demonstrators had set up roadblocks near Tbilisi State University in the capital. The clashes - and a deepening political crisis between the nationalist conservative government and the pro-European opposition - are threatening to tear Georgia apart. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Official information on the number of injured and arrested overnight was not immediately available on Sunday. On Saturday night, the police reportedly arrested 107 people for hooliganism in the capital Tbilisi alone. Demonstrations are also taking place in other cities across Georgia. The background to the protests is the parliamentary elections at the end of October, which were overshadowed by allegations of fraud and in which the ruling Georgian Dream party was declared the winner. The opposition has not recognized the election results and opposition lawmakers have refused to accept their mandates. What sparked the latest protests? The latest wave of protests kicked off after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that he would cancel EU accession negotiations until 2028. He has accused the EU of interference in Georgian matters and blackmail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to polls, the majority of Georgians want their country to join the EU, a goal that is formally enshrined in the country's constitution. The conflict has also spread to an institutional level. Several ambassadors have resigned in protest, while Zourabichvili, has declared her intention of resisting the change in government. Zourabichvili, whose term is due to end in mid-December, has said that she will remain in office, since an "illegitimate parliament cannot elect a new president." Georgian law has been changed so that, for the first time, her successor will not be directly elected by the people, but is instead to be appointed by members of parliament and regional representatives. EU warns Georgia of 'consequences' for violence The European Union could impose sanctions over the latest developments in Georgia, the EU's new foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is clear that using violence against peaceful protesters is not acceptable, and [the] Georgian government should respect the will of the Georgian people, but also the Georgian constitution," Kallas said during a visit to Kiev. "When it comes to European Union, then this clearly has consequences on our relationship with Georgia," she said. Kallas, a former Estonian prime minister, took office as the EU's top diplomat on Sunday. Kallas mentioned sanctions and visa restrictions as possible steps, but said any consequences would be discussed and agreed together with EU member states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Clearly, [the] Georgian government is not respecting the will of Georgia people when it comes to the European future," said Kallas, "and I think we shouldn't let them slip away." EU sanctions can only be imposed if all EU countries agree. This is currently questionable, not least since Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban recently expressed support for Kobakhidze. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the first day of the DGP/IGP Conference in Bhubaneswar, engaging in discussions on various subjects related to policing and security. "Had a productive first day at the DGP/IGP Conference in Bhubaneswar. Discussed various subjects on policing and security," PM Modi posted on X on Saturday. According to the Prime Minister's Office, the three-day conference, being held from November 29 to December 1, will cover critical components of national security, including counterterrorism, left-wing extremism, coastal security, new criminal laws, and narcotics, among other issues. During the next two days of the conference, the top brass of police leadership across the country will devise a roadmap to counter existing and emerging national security challenges, including LWE, coastal security, narcotics, cybercrime, and economic security. The conference will also provide an interactive platform for senior police officials and security administrators to freely discuss and debate various national security-related issues, as well as operational, infrastructural, and welfare-related challenges faced by the police in India. The progress in implementing new criminal laws, as well as initiatives and best practices in policing, will also be reviewed at the conference. The statement from the PMO added that the Prime Minister has consistently demonstrated a deep interest in the DGP Conference. "This year, some unique features have also been added to the conference. The entire day is being effectively utilised, starting with yoga sessions, business sessions, break-out sessions and thematic dining tables. This will also provide senior police officials with a valuable opportunity to present their perspectives and suggestions on critical policing and internal security matters that impact the country to the Prime Minister," it stated. Since 2014, the Prime Minister has encouraged the annual DGsP/IGsP Conference to be held across the country. The conference has previously been held in Guwahati (Assam), Rann of Kachchh (Gujarat), Hyderabad (Telangana), Tekanpur (Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh), Statue of Unity (Kevadiya, Gujarat), Pune (Maharashtra), Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), New Delhi, and Jaipur (Rajasthan). Continuing with this tradition, the 59th DGsP/IGsP Conference 2024 is being organised in Bhubaneswar (Odisha). The conference will be attended by the Union Home Minister, Principal Secretary to the PM, National Security Adviser, Ministers of State (Home Affairs), DGP of States/UTs and Chiefs of Central Police Organisations among others. (ANI) Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has described claims that Georgian fighters in Ukraine are ready to come to Tbilisi and support the protests as a "provocation". Source: Interpressnews, citing Zourabichvili, as reported by European Pravda Details: In an address on 1 December, Zourabichvili warned that Georgia's State Security Service may be orchestrating provocations during the anti-government protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "I have received several messages in different forms linked to claims that Georgian fighters from Ukraine are supposedly planning to arrive or have already arrived in Georgia to join in with the protests as military personnel." Zourabichvili emphasised that such reports are "a direct provocation". "This is not happening, no one should believe this, because it is directly directed against the protest. This is what worries the ruling party the most," the Georgian president stressed. Earlier, media outlets had circulated a statement from a so-called "Military Committee of the Caucasian Union" which claimed that Georgian fighters are prepared to defend the Georgian population "by any means" and are allegedly "waiting for a signal from the Georgian president". Background: Large-scale anti-government protests have been taking place in Georgia for the third day in a row following the government's announcement that it will not take part in EU membership negotiations over the next four years. Georgian law enforcement has employed harsh measures against the protesters, drawing condemnation from Western nations. Support UP or become our patron! The IG Metall trade union has called for widespread labour strikes at all Volkswagen plants in Germany from Monday as workers at the company fight back against possible lay-offs and wage cuts. Production will be "temporarily on hold" at all of the German automotive giant's plants in Germany, announced Thorsten Groger, IG Metall's chief negotiator, who also warned of "strikes that the company cannot ignore." Volkswagen, Europe's largest carmaker, has been demanding across-the-board wage cuts for workers, and has threatened plants closures and mass lay-offs as part of a major cost-cutting programme to boost sagging financial results. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the walkout, the trade union hopes to increase pressure on the company in the dispute over multi-billion-dollar wage cuts. "We don't want this conflict - but we will continue it as long as the executive board only focuses on cuts and lay-offs instead of prospects," said Groger. "If necessary, this will be one of the toughest conflicts Volkswagen has ever seen." A Volkswagen corporate spokesman said the company has been preparing for a possible strike, but did not provide details about what disruptions are expected. "We want to minimize the impact of the warning strike on our customers, our partners and our industrial plants as much as possible," the company spokesman said. "That is why the company has already taken specific measures in advance to ensure emergency supplies." Bitter battle ahead? Labour leaders have vowed to wage an intense struggle against any such cuts. Collective bargaining talks between VW and the IG Metall trade union are currently ongoing, but have yielded little agreement so far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Volkswagen works council, at least three Volkswagen plants in Germany and tens of thousands of jobs are under threat. Volkswagen management has justified the cuts by citing high costs and low capacity utilization at the company's plants in Germany. According to the works council, the Group is looking to save an additional 5 billion ($5 billion). "There is a lot of frustration among the workforce," said the VW Works Council's leader, Daniela Cavallo, who expects a large share of VW workers to join in the strikes and "let off some steam." A mandatory labour truce at VW, which prohibited strikes, expired on Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Volkswagen spokesman said the company "respects the right of employees" to take part in short strikes, and will rely on constructive dialogue with trade union leaders in order to reach a sustainably and mutually agreeable deal. Further talks upcoming Both sides will meet for their next round of wage negotiations on December 9. On Wednesday, Volkswagen Group chief executive Oliver Blume is scheduled to address the workforce at a labour meeting in Wolfsburg. German Labour Minister Hubertus Heil is also expected to attend as a guest speaker. The talks directly apply to about 120,000 workers at Volkswagen's plants in western Germany, although any agreement would also have direct implications for another 10,000 workers employed at Volkswagen plants in the eastern German state of Saxony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Volkswagen cancelled its long-standing job security agreement with workers in September, clearing the way for lay-offs as soon as July. Volkswagen has never shut down a plant in Germany, and it's been decades since the carmaker has closed a production facility anywhere in the world. National concern over VW future Volkswagen has long been seen as one of Germany's great industrial success stories, and its rise in the aftermath of World War II is widely seen as a key part of the post-war economic boom in West Germany known as the "economic miracle." Trouble at Volkswagen has drawn major attention in Germany, where there is growing concern about the future of the industrial manufacturing base and the continued viability of the country's export-oriented economic model. VW execs sticking with cuts In a recent interview, Volkswagen brand boss Thomas Schafer defended the cost-cutting course as necessary, and said that he didn't see a way to hit targets without shutting vehicle and component plants Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have to reduce our capacities and adapt them to the new realities," Schafer said. Volkswagen had previously stated that, due to weak demand in Europe, the company currently has unused capacity to produce about 500,000 additional vehicles every year at its plants, or roughly the total capacity of two entire factories. The factories in Dresden and Osnabruck in particular are considered to be at risk, although the Handelsblatt newspaper has reported that VW is also considering the closure of the plant in Emden, which could reportedly save around 600 million. However, nothing has been decided yet. VW itself has not yet provided any information on specific locations. By Maria Martinez BERLIN (Reuters) - German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has accused China of providing Russia with weapons for its war against Ukraine and threatening peace in Europe and the Indo-Pacific. Instead of taking responsibility for peace and security in the world as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, China is opposing our core European interests with its economic and weapons aid to Russia, Baerbock said in a statement ahead of a visit to Beijing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The German foreign minister will travel to China next week, where she will meet with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to discuss issues including the war in Ukraine. Putins brutal war of aggression against Ukraine is a direct threat to our peace," Baerbock said. "I will also speak in Beijing about the fact that we cannot simply ignore this in our relations with China. The war in Ukraine shows how security in Europe is inextricably linked with that in Asia, she noted. "If North Korea sends soldiers and weapons against Ukraine, while Russia supports Pyongyang's nuclear programme, then this jeopardises peace both here and in the Indo-Pacific," Baerbock said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baerbock also said that as Europe's largest economy, Germany stands up for its interests just as much as China stands up for its own. "In economic, climate and security policy, the following applies: cooperation where possible, independence where necessary," the foreign minister said, adding that Germany would not turn a blind eye when others violate international rules to the detriment of German and European industry. (Reporting by Maria Martinez; Editing by David Holmes) To many on the tiny German island of Borkum, the Christmas festival of Klaasohm is a harmless nod to their pagan roots. But the annual chasing of women down the streets with cow horns is facing cancellation after a television expose revealed violent beatings. Borkum Lads Club, which has organised the festivities since the 1830s on the North Sea Frisian island, was forced to apologise for historical actions of past years and said it distanced itself from any form of violence against women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the festival, six members of the club - who have to be unmarried men born in Borkum with at least one island-born parent - dress up as the Klaasohm monster wearing woollen costumes and rampage through the town to hunt women. The members are then tasked with beating the womens backsides with a bulls horn, all while being accompanied by a man in milkmaid-style clothes known as the Wiefke. STRG_F/X Certain villagers known as catchers help with the hunt, finding women and holding them until the Klaasohms come and beat them one by one as villagers look on. The women are then given a gingerbread cake afterwards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The festivities are linked to 17th and 18th century fishing seasons when the men would leave the women to run the island while they were at sea. When they came back they would run amok to take back their island. However, a German Panorama-style documentary has exposed some of the harsh beatings and suffering that play out among the festive re-enactments. A German Panorama documentary has exposed some of the harsh beatings and suffering It has triggered local ministers from Lower Saxony to intervene. Christine Arbogast, a Lower Saxony state secretary in the ministry of social affairs, said that anyone who wants to be spanked with a horn is allowed to do so, but that those that dont must be respected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Jurgen Akkermann, the islands mayor, criticised the documentary investigation as dubious and said it is celebrated by men, women and children every year in the streets and local pubs. Borkum Lads Club, which has organised the Klaasohm festivities since the 1830s on the island, apologised for historical actions of past years and said it distanced itself from any form of violence against women. Some of the women interviewed in the documentary said they were beaten so badly they were bruised for days. I really cried and at the same time, I was angry at myself because I asked why I went with them, why did I listen to others and not to my instincts? And then I cursed them all said one woman, who remained anonymous out of fear for her family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another woman described how she fought off three young men that she knew as they tried to drag her into a van. After punching one of them in the face, she was called the bad one a crazy cow, mentally ill. On Klaasohm, the men of Borkum, during the festival Organisers appear to be aware that their tradition would look controversial, with the Borkum Lads Club chairman - known as the Olderman - warning residents against posting content on social media out of fear of the festival becoming a viral hit. It cant be well known, the chairman reportedly said. Their fears were confirmed when undercover reporters visited the island for a documentary titled Hunting Women with Bull Horns. It gained 700,000 views on YouTube in just two days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A former Klaasohm participant said the tradition is not questioned or explained. And when youre raised that way, the image of women that comes through the backdoor says a lot, if you think you have the right to beat women once a year. The club confirmed the event will take place without violence in the future. The documentary also showed a TV report from the 1990s where a female reporter was attacked by revellers, held in the air and hit hard on the bottom. Local police are also accused of having ignored the assaults, with no charges issued during Klaasohm in the last five years. Alongside Klaasohm, some of Europes other rowdy Christmas traditions are being re-evaluated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Tirol in Austria, a masked Krampus monster beat a paramedic with his staff in front of 2,000 onlookers and she had to seek medical treatment for a seriously injured finger. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has warned of growing confrontation between Russia and NATO, in an interview with the Handelsblatt newspaper published on Sunday. Russian President Vladimir Putin no longer has any scruples, according to Faeser, and has become more aggressive towards NATO members like Germany since launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. "Since the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, we have experienced a turning point in internal security. Russia is waging a hybrid war in Europe. It is obvious that disinformation campaigns, acts of sabotage and cyberattacks are state-controlled," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Faeser urged restraint and judiciousness in response, saying that she did "not hope that the threshold for a NATO alliance case will be crossed. We must continue to act decisively, but at the same time prudently." Chancellor Olaf Scholz had always acted to prevent Germany from falling into such a scenario - "but of course we can see that the hybrid threat situation is increasing. That's why we have to position and protect ourselves completely differently," she said. Before the European Parliament elections in June, Germany's security services and other EU partners uncovered a massive Russian campaign of influence and lies, Faeser noted. German authorities will take the necessary steps to counter any such efforts to influence Germany's upcoming early elections slated for February, and the country's domestic intelligence agency has set up a task force, she said. When asked whether Russia had intensified its sabotage activities, Faeser said: "We are registering a significant increase. That is why critical infrastructure must be better protected." German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has warned of growing confrontation between Russia and NATO, in an interview with the Handelsblatt newspaper published on Sunday. Russian President Vladimir Putin no longer has any scruples, according to Faeser, and has become more aggressive towards NATO members like Germany since launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. "Since the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, we have experienced a turning point in internal security. Russia is waging a hybrid war in Europe. It is obvious that disinformation campaigns, acts of sabotage and cyberattacks are state-controlled," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Faeser urged restraint and judiciousness in response, saying that she did "not hope that the threshold for a NATO alliance case will be crossed. We must continue to act decisively, but at the same time prudently." Chancellor Olaf Scholz had always acted to prevent Germany from falling into such a scenario - "but of course we can see that the hybrid threat situation is increasing. That's why we have to position and protect ourselves completely differently," she said. Before the European Parliament elections in June, Germany's security services and other EU partners uncovered a massive Russian campaign of influence and lies, Faeser noted. German authorities will take the necessary steps to counter any such efforts to influence Germany's upcoming early elections slated for February, and the country's domestic intelligence agency has set up a task force, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked whether Russia had intensified its sabotage activities, Faeser said: "We are registering a significant increase. That is why critical infrastructure must be better protected." She said that the current coalition government has tabled a law aimed at improving the physical security of important facilities, such as energy, transport and telecommunication hubs. She urged the conservative CDU/CSU opposition to support the law, saying that blocking it would be irresponsible given the current heightened threats. The outgoing government lacks a majority in parliament and must rely on support from the opposition to pass any measures into law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Faeser also commented on plans for a national network identifying bunkers and other defence shelters: "First of all, it's about easily accessible shelters such as underground car parks, underground stations or basements of public buildings, which must be easy to find using navigation and warning apps. We also provide tips on how to protect your own cellar with simple means." When asked when the concept would be ready, Faeser said: "We are working on it. But we can't make up for decades of neglect in just a few years." The German Foreign Office called on all parties in Syria to adhere to international humanitarian law following the resurgence of fighting, stating that the civilian population and infrastructure must be protected. Germany is closely monitoring the rapidly changing situation in the north-west of the country, according to a statement issued on Sunday by the Foreign Office in Berlin: "We underline the need for a political solution in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions." The fighting in Syria, which has been gripped by civil war since 2011, has recently flared up again violently for the first time in several years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An offensive launched on Wednesday by an alliance of rebel groups led by the Islamist extremist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) apparently came as a surprise to the government of President Bashar al-Assad. On Sunday, the Syrian government lost control of the city of Aleppo, the country's second-largest, as the opposition forces made more territorial gains, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Sunday. HTS is considered one of the most powerful armed militias in north-western Syria. The opposition assault is considered the largest by rebels on Aleppo since 2016, when they were ousted from the eastern areas of the city. The fighting has displaced thousands of local inhabitants, the war monitoring group said. Leaders of Germany's Green Party have been distancing themselves from Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Ukraine policy ahead of early parliamentary elections expected in February. The Greens have been the main coalition partner for Scholz's centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), but have clashed with him over what some critics describe as an overly cautious approach to aid for Ukraine. The new Green Party Chairwoman Franziska Brantner signalled a closer alignment to conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz, the leader of the centre-right CDU/CSU bloc, over the handling of the Ukraine conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Polls give the CDU/CSU bloc a strong lead ahead of the election, expected to be held on February 23, making Merz the favourite to replace Scholz as chancellor. Asked by the Bild newspaper what the Greens could do better with Merz than Scholz, Brantner said: "Peace, freedom in Europe and standing clearly on the side of the Ukrainians." Katrin Goring-Eckardt, deputy leader of the Green faction in parliament, likewise criticized Scholz's comments at a party campaign gathering on Saturday in which he sought to portray himself as a prudent and careful leader when it comes to the war. Scholz "has nothing to do with prudence for me. It would really be better to reflect, to support Ukraine sufficiently and thus also to protect our security and to be able to bring about sustainable peace," Goring-Eckardt said in a post on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scholz had accused Merz of taking a risky line on Ukraine policy, and suggested Merz's stance in favour of delivering long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine risked an escalation with the nuclear power Russia. "I can only say be careful: you don't play Russian roulette with Germany's security," said Scholz. Many Green lawmakers have long favoured sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine. By Maxwell Akalaare Adombila ACCRA (Reuters) - Ghana's parliament is unlikely to pass a provisional budget before the Dec. 7 general election, former officials and experts say, which risks triggering an unprecedented government shutdown early next year. The West African nation is set to elect a successor to President Nana Akufo-Addo whose two-term mandate ends in January. Typically, a provisional budget is passed in November during election years to cover the gap until the president-elect takes office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We risk a government shutdown or at best, lean government spending from January," Seth Terkper, former finance minister from 2013-17, said in an interview. The government might have to cut back on interest payments and funding for the transition, he added, unless a budget is passed in December. The failure to pass a budget would be a first in over 30 years for Ghana, the world's number two cocoa producer. Ghana's parliament has been on an indefinite break since Oct. 23 over an impasse on which of the two main parties has majority of seats. The Supreme Court ruled on Nov. 12 that Parliament Speaker Alban Bagbin's declaration was unconstitutional. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bagbin has since refused requests to recall parliament, saying it would interrupt the election campaign. "There is nothing like this before," Patrick Yaw Boamah, chairman of parliament's finance committee told Reuters. The Finance Ministry didn't respond to a request for comment. Finance Minister Mohammed Amin Adam had set a Nov. 15 deadline for presenting the provisional budget. Parliament now has a few weeks to pass the provisional budget to avert cuts and a potential shutdown. Ghana's labour unions have been hoping for parliament to work on a solution before it impacts workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's a big problem ... We hope they resolve it before January so it doesn't affect salaries," Joshua Ansah, head of Trades Union Congress, told Reuters. (Reporting by Maxwell Akalaare Adombila; Editing by Jessica Donati, Sofia Christensen and David Evans) Delhi Police conducted vehicle checks to ensure the proper implementation of Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), as the air quality in the national capital continued to remain in the 'very poor' category. Stage IV enforces a ban on the operation of Delhi-registered BS-IV and below diesel-operated medium goods vehicles (MGVs) and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), except for essential services. Dhal Singh, DCP Traffic, New Delhi Range said that they are not allowing vehicles that do not comply with Stage IV of GRAP to enter the national capital. "We are checking the vehicles to ensure the proper implementation of Stage-IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)...We are not allowing the vehicles to enter which are not following Stage-IV of GRAP," he told ANI on Saturday night. Meanwhile, the air quality in the national capital was recorded as 349 as per the Central Pollution Control Board on Saturday as of 7 am. AQI in different areas of Delhi was recorded as 351 at Alipur, 351 at Burari crossing, 377 at DTU, and 328 at ITO as per CPCB data. Visuals from Connaught Place, India Gate, and Anand Vihar showed a thick blanket of smog covering the whole area. Residents suffering from the drastically increasing pollution levels said that the government's intervention could help resolve several issues. "The pollution is a lot; we are not able to breathe properly. The government needs to do something about this. The situations are worse for the elderly people and the labourers who are not able to work because of the current situations," said a cyclist near the India Gate speaking to ANI. Another pedestrian suggested that the government should focus on transitioning to EV cars and explore better technologies for stubble burning. "The government should work on the vehicles and try to shift the current transportation to EV cars. The government should also learn about better technologies for stubble burning," said the pedestrian. An AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 is satisfactory, 101-200 is moderate, 201-300 is poor, 301-400 is very poor, and 401-500 is severe. (ANI) Farmworkers, many of them immigrants, harvest strawberries in Oregon. (Oregon Department of Agriculture) Im fortunate to be able to type out this column. Over a year ago, while pruning my yard, I accidentally sliced the base of my thumb, severing two tendons. Luckily, an excellent surgeon sewed them back together, restoring to me the gift of a working hand. This surgeon I surmise, based on his accent and last name is an immigrant from South Asia. This Thanksgiving, I give thanks for him and all the immigrants who make Oregon and our nation a stronger, more vibrant place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anti-immigrant sentiment reached fever pitch during election season, with dehumanizing rhetoric flowing from Donald Trumps campaign. Having won, the incoming administration says it will carry out its campaign promise of mass deportations. This would be a tragedy and a historic mistake. While Trump and others blame immigrants for the economic struggles that many people endure, the reality is that immigrants strengthen the economy. Immigrants boost the economy beyond what their numbers would suggest. They make up 10% of Oregons economy but account for 13% of the states economic output, a report co-released by the Oregon Center for Public Policy shows. The reason for this is that they are more likely than native-born people to be of prime working age. Immigration benefits those who arrive from abroad, of course, but also those already here. When immigrants move to the United States, researchers point out, it means more jobs: there are more consumers, more workers, more business owners. Study after study shows that there is no fixed number of jobs in the economy. Immigration creates benefits for U.S.-born workers too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So important are immigrants to the economy that some industries could not survive without them. In Oregon, 60% of the states full-time farmworkers are immigrants. Fruit would die on the vine and fields would go fallow without the hard-working immigrants who perform this difficult, low-paid labor. On the other end of the income spectrum, immigrants have long played a vital role in Oregons high-tech economy. No company casts a bigger shadow in Oregon than Intel, a company co-founded and led during its heyday by a refugee from Hungary. In 1997, Time Magazine named this immigrant, Andy Grove, Man of the Year, calling him the person most responsible for the amazing growth in the power and the innovative potential of microchips. Today, immigrants still help power Oregons technology sector, accounting for about one-third of advanced computer jobs. Expelling the roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants residing in the U.S., as the Trump administration proposes, would weaken our nation. Based on past instances of mass deportations, researchers estimate that deporting 7.5 million immigrants today could shrink the economy by as much as 6.2%, a massive hit to our well-being. To put that in perspective, the economy declined 4.3% during the Great Recession of 2008. Rather than open job opportunities for native-born workers, mass deportations would lead to a negative ripple effect throughout the job market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, if a shortage of construction workers prevents a house from getting built, the businesses that would be furnishing that house from kitchen appliances to bedframes lose business, too, explains the American Immigration Council. Without field workers to pick crops, truckers have no goods to transport, and farmers have no need to buy new farm equipment. The damage, of course, would be much more than economic. Undocumented immigrants are our family members and neighbors. In 2022, some 7 million undocumented immigrants belonged to households that included U.S. citizens. Deportation breaks these bonds, separating children from their parents, uprooting people who have built lives and businesses in our communities. Mass deportation would leave devastation in its wake. Theres no guarantee that the persecution of immigrants would end there. Remember that the most notorious attack on immigrants during the campaign was aimed at Haitian immigrants residing legally in the country. For his part, Trumps influential adviser Stephen Miller has called for greater use of a process that strips naturalized immigrants of their citizenship. History shows that once the evil genie of xenophobia and bigotry has been unleashed, it can be hard to contain. I was 13 when I celebrated my first Thanksgiving. My family had much to be thankful for that day. We had arrived weeks earlier to the safety of the U.S., having fled a civil war in the country of my birth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, I remain grateful for the opportunities that this country has given me. Likewise, I give thanks for the millions of other immigrants whose contributions make it a stronger nation. Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Lynne Terry for questions: info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com. Follow Oregon Capital Chronicle on Facebook and X. Republican Sen. Bill Hagerty is excited for Kash Patel to dismantle the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is taking credit for encouraging Trump to bring Patel to the table. Ive encouraged Trump to bring Kash Patel to the table for precisely this reason He represents the type of change that we need to see in the FBI, Hagerty told NBCs Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker on Sunday. Patel is a Trump loyalist and conspiracy theorist who aspires to clean out the alleged Deep State. He has vowed to target and prosecute Trumps enemies in the media and government, saying in 2023, We will go out and find the conspirators not just in government, but in the media. Were going to come after you whether its criminally or civilly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patel served in various roles in Trumps previous administration, including senior roles at the National Security Council, Office of National Intelligence and Department of Defense. This entire agency needs to be cleaned out. Its not doing its job, Hagerty said, claiming that FBI leadership conspired to try to keep President Trump out of office and then put together this fake Russia-gate investigation. The bureau launched a two-pronged investigation into Trump after he fired then-director James Comey. The investigation includeda counterintelligence probe into whether trump wittingly or unwittingly was acting as an agent of the Russian government against American interests as well as a criminal investigation to determine if Trump obstructed justice by firing Comey. Trump appointed Christopher Wray as Comeys replacement, and now he intends to oust Wray for Patel. When Welker asked about former Trump attorney general Bill Barrs warning that Patel is not experienced enough to run the FBI Hagerty dismissed those concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think Kash does have relevant experience, Hagerty said, particularly when it comes to the mandate the American public has assigned of turning these agencies around that have become completely corrupted. Kash has pointed it out. Hes probably the best at uncovering whats happened at the FBI. And I look forward to seeing him taking it apart. Bidens National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan expressed concern that Trump intends to fire Wray before his 10-year term as director ends, turning the role into a position influenced by politics. We, the Biden administration, adhere to the long-standing norm that FBI directors serve out their full terms because the FBI director is a unique player in the American government system. Theyre appointed for 10-year terms, not terms just for the duration of a given president, Sullivan told Welker on Sunday. Former national security advisor under Trump John Bolton was much more direct in his rejection of Patel and compared him to Stalins secret police under Soviet rule in an interview with CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate should reject this nomination 100-0, Bolton said. So far Patel has the support of at least two GOP senators: Hagerty and Sen. Ted Cruz. But other Republicans in the Senate have displayed caution regarding Patel. But Sen. Chuck Grassley, who will likely chair the Judiciary Committee next session, showed a bit more caution, saying Patel must prove to Congress he will reform & restore public trust in FBI. Sen. Mike Rounds also did not jump to support Patel, saying he has no objections to how Wray has been leading the FBI. Well see what [Trumps] process is, and whether he actually makes that nomination, Rounds said Sunday on ABCs This Week. [O]nce theyve been nominated by the president, then the president gets the benefit of the doubt on the nomination, but we still go through a process. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. GOP Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., on Sunday expressed support for FBI Director Christopher Wray, just one day after President-elect Donald Trump said he would nominate Kash Patel to lead the agency as Wrays replacement. After Watergate, FBI directors have typically served 10-year terms to deter the bureau from being seen as a political tool for the president. Wray was previously nominated by Trump and confirmed by the Senate in 2017, so Trump would need to fire Wray or Wray would have to voluntarily step down before 2027 for Patel to take over. Chris Wray, who the president nominated the first time around I think the president picked a very good man to be the director of the FBI when he did that in his first term, Rounds said during an interview on ABC News This Week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When we meet with him behind closed doors, Ive had no objections to the way that hes handled himself, and so I dont have any complaints about the way that hes done his job right now, Rounds added about Wray. Still, Rounds said that he would evaluate Patel and Trumps other Cabinet nominees fairly during the Senates advise and consent process. Patel will have to be confirmed by a majority vote of the full Senate after he is formally nominated, something that cannot happen until after Trump is inaugurated in January. The president has the right to make nominations, but normally, these are for a 10-year term, Rounds said. If he does [nominate Patel], just as with anybody who is nominated for one of these positions, once theyve been nominated by the president, then the president gets, you know, the benefit of the doubt on the nomination, but we still go through a process, and that process includes advice and consent. Rounds' colleague Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, didn't share Rounds' concerns, saying Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation" that he expects Patel to be confirmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Listen, I think Kash Patel is a very strong nominee. I think the entire slate of Cabinet nominees President Trump has put forward is very strong," Cruz said. "I believe every one of these Cabinet nominees is going to be confirmed by the Senate. I think Kash Patel is going to be confirmed by the Senate." Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who is in line to chair the Judiciary Committee in the next Congress, came out forcefully against Wray's tenure as FBI director Sunday morning but stopped short of endorsing Patel's nomination, writing on X that Wray "failed at [the] fundamental duties" of his position atop the FBI and that it's time to "chart a new course [for] transparency and accountability at FBI." "Kash Patel must prove to Congress he will reform &restore public trust in FBI," Grassley added. Representatives for the Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Rounds remarks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier Sunday, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan declined to share his thoughts about Patel but told NBC News Meet the Press that we, the Biden administration, adhere to the long-standing norm that FBI directors serve out their full terms, because the FBI director is a unique player in the American government system. Theyre appointed for 10-year terms, not terms just for the duration of a given president. Sullivan noted that Biden allowed Wray to serve throughout his administration, even though he was a Trump appointee. The current FBI director, Chris Wray, was actually appointed by Donald Trump. Joe Biden didnt fire him. He relied upon him to execute his responsibilities as the director of the FBI and allowed him to serve out the fullness of his term, Sullivan added. In a statement Sunday, Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., echoed Sullivan's concerns, saying, "We already have a FBI Director, Christopher Wray, and his term does not expire until 2027." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Durbin went on to blast Trump, saying, "President-elect Trump knows this, because he nominated Director Wray in 2017 after he fired the previous Director, James Comey, another lifelong Republican who failed Trumps loyalty test. President Biden kept Director Wray in office because the FBI is supposed to be insulated from partisanship." He also called on the Senate to vote against confirming Patel, saying in the statement, "Now, the President-elect wants to replace his own appointee with an unqualified loyalist. The Senate should reject this unprecedented effort to weaponize the FBI for the campaign of retribution that Donald Trump has promised. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A senior Republican has given full-throated backing to Kash Patels nomination as head of the FBI, revealing he personally urged Donald Trump to bring the controversial former Department of Justice official to the table and looks forward to watching him rip the agency apart. Speaking with NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday morning, Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) told host Kristen Welker that Patel represents the type of change that we need to see in the FBI, adding that this entire agency needs to be cleaned out. Its not doing its job. A diehard MAGA loyalist, Patel has leveled severe criticism at federal investigative agencies, writing in his 2023 book Government Gangsters that the FBI has became so thoroughly compromised that it will remain a threat to the people unless drastic measures are taken. Kash Patel uncovered FBI Russiagate corruption and has the right experience to fix the FBI. Its no surprise that the establishment in Washington is lining up to oppose someone who wants to change Washington. pic.twitter.com/XMUoRCldsv Senator Bill Hagerty (@SenatorHagerty) December 1, 2024 Trump had previously considered Patel for the deputy director post back in 2020, but the plan encountered serious pushback from senior officials, with former Attorney General William Barr later writing in his memoir he had told then-Chief of Staff Mark Meadows that Patel would run the FBI over my dead body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Welker put these comments to Hagerty on Sunday, asking the Senator how seriously do you take Barrs warnings? Hagerty replied by claiming President Joe Bidens administration is currently packed with unqualified officials. President Trump is entitled to name his appointees, Hagerty said. That is exactly what hes doing, and Im gonna support this appointment. Welker nevertheless pressed the Senator over how firmly Barr had previously opposed Patel moving up the ranks. Im saying there are people that are serving the current administration that are woefully inexperienced, Hagerty responded. I think Khash does have relevant experience, particularly when it comes to the mandate the American public has signed of turning these agencies around that have become completely corrupted. Hes probably the best at uncovering whats happened to the FBI, he added. I look forward to seeing him taking it apart. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) backed FBI Director Christopher Wray during a Sunday interview with ABC News This Week. Rounds remarks come a day after President-elect Donald Trump announced his desired replacement for Wrays position, Trump loyalist Kash Patel. Wray, who was appointed by Trump in 2017, is seven years into a 10-year term. Chris Wray, who the president nominated the first time around I think the president picked a very good man to be the director of the FBI when he did that in his first term, Rounds told journalist Jonathan Karl. When we meet with him behind closed doors, Ive had no objections to the way that hes handled himself, and so I dont have any complaints about the way that hes done his job right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rounds added that he was unsurprised that Trumps administration picks are people that [Trump] believes are very loyal to himself, and thats been a part of the process. Every president wants people that are loyal to themselves, Rounds continued. Trump has bashed Wray and the FBI as a whole in recent years. At one point, the former president reportedly called Wray the worst member of his former administration, according to former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christies memoir. (For context, the FBI raided his Mar-a-Lago home in 2022, uncovering classified documents from his presidency that were improperly stored.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president has the right to make nominations, but normally, these are for a 10-year term, Rounds said. If he does [nominate Kash Patel], just as with anybody who is nominated for one of these positions, once theyve been nominated by the president, then the president gets the benefit of the doubt on the nomination, but we still go through a process, and that process includes advice and consent. Months prior to Trumps election win last month, Wray told NBC News Lester Holt in April that he intended to stay in office if the former president was reelected. Im enjoying doing this job, Wray said. I love the people, the men and women of the FBI, who are some of the finest people Ive ever had a chance to work with. And as long as I think I can continue doing that in a way that adheres to all those rules and norms, its what Id like to keep doing. Related... (Bloomberg) -- A Republican senator said Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Wray is unobjectionable, though Donald Trumps pick to head the FBI will get the benefit of the doubt if hes formally nominated. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kash Patel, a prominent critic of the FBIs investigation into whether Trumps 2016 campaign conspired with Russia to interfere in that years presidential election, is Trumps choice for the agency, the president-elect said. If confirmed by the US Senate, Patel would replace Wray, a Trump appointee who still has years left in his term. It doesnt surprise me that he will pick people that he believes are very loyal to himself, but Trump also picked a very good man in Wray, Senator Mike Rounds, a Republican from South Dakota, said Sunday on ABCs This Week. Normally these are for a 10-year term, Rounds said. Well see what his process is and whether he actually makes that nomination. As the leading US law enforcement agency, the bureau has been at the center of the highest-profile investigations related to the president-elect. After Trump left the White House in 2021, FBI agents raided his Florida resort to seize classified documents, probed his efforts to overturn the 2020 election result and investigated people who stormed the US Capitol in his support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has pledged a drastic overhaul, claiming the FBI carried out politically motivated probes against him and his allies. Patel has criticized US government agencies for actions that he says unfairly target Republicans and has endorsed calls to fire government employees who undermine the presidents agenda. Rounds said that once nominees are presented, the president gets the benefit of the doubt on the nomination, but we still go through a process and that process includes advice and consent which for the Senate means advice or consent sometimes. Trump chose Wray to lead the FBI in 2017, calling him impeccably qualified. Yet speculation has been mounting that once inaugurated, Trump would remove Wray, if he doesnt resign beforehand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think hell make a choice, Senator Ted Cruz said on CBSs Face the Nation. I think either he will resign or President Trump will fire him. Senator Chuck Grassley said Wray has failed at fundamental duties of FBI director and showed disdain for congressional oversight. Kash Patel must prove to Congress he will reform & restore public trust in the agency, Grassley said in a social media post. Grassley and Cruz are on the Senate Judiciary Committee, whose oversight roles include the FBI. Wray remains focused on his job, the FBI said in a statement after Trumps announcement on Patel Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every day, the men and women of the FBI continue to work to protect Americans from a growing array of threats, according to the statement. Director Wrays focus remains on the men and women of the FBI, the people we do the work with, and the people we do the work for. Rounds who also warned that negotiating a trustworthy Ukraine settlement with Russian President Vladimir Putin will be very difficult said he had no objections to how Wray handled himself in closed-door meetings with senators. So I dont have any complaints about the way hes done his job right now, Rounds said. Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois whose party will be in the minority starting January, called Patel an unqualified loyalist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate should reject this unprecedented effort to weaponize the FBI for the campaign of retribution that Donald Trump has promised, Durbin said in a statement. Middle East Envoy Separately, Trump named Massad Boulos, the father-in-law of Trumps youngest daughter, Tiffany, as senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump called the businessman and lawyer a dealmaker and an unwavering supporter of peace in the Middle East. Boulos, born into a Christian family in Lebanon, was a conduit to Arab Americans, including in swing-state Michigan, as Trump ran for reelection this year and President Joe Bidens administration faced a backlash over its military support for Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said Sunday that Boulos has been an asset to my Campaign, and was instrumental in building tremendous new coalitions with the Arab American Community. --With assistance from Chris Strohm. (Updates with comments from senators starting in 10th paragraph and Trumps new Middle East envoy.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) said he encouraged President-elect Trump to bring Kash Patel to the table after the incoming president nominated him to serve as head of the FBI. During an appearance on NBCs Meet The Press, Hagerty said Patel represents the type of change that we need to see in the FBI. This entire agency needs to be cleaned out. Its not doing its job, he said. Hagerty detailed the politicization in the agency, noting there are serious problems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American public knows it, he added. They expect to see sweeping change and Kash Patel is just the type of person to do it. Patel, whom Trump nominated Saturday to lead the FBI, has continued to echo the president-elects claims about a deep state and cast doubt on the agency he would lead, along with its investigation into Trumps 2016 campaign. Patel has called for mass firings, particularly at both the Justice Department and the FBI. He also called for stripping security clearances from anyone involved in investigating Trump during his 2016 candidacy for president. However, Patel has faced some pushback, especially from former members of the FBI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hagerty noted that though he might not agree with all of Trumps nominees, including Trumps pick for director of national intelligence, former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii), he plans to support them. I certainly dont have to agree with every point of every one of President Trumps nominees, but I am here to support them, and Im here to support the type of dramatic change thats underway, he said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Republican Sen. Mike Rounds emphasized his support for current FBI Director Christopher Wray after President-elect Donald Trump announced he intended to nominate loyalist Kash Patel for the department's top job. I think the president picked a very good man to be the director of the FBI when he did that in his first term, Rounds told ABC "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl about Wray. When we meet with him behind closed doors, I've had no objections to the way that he's handled himself, and so I don't have any complaints about the way that he's done his job right now. However, Rounds reiterated the president-elects right to select his Cabinet and Trump's selection of Patel is not surprising. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Trump says he'll fire FBI Director Christopher Wray, replace him with longtime ally Kash Patel It doesn't surprise me that he will pick people that he believes are very loyal to himself, and that's been a part of the process, Rounds said. Every president wants people that are loyal to themselves. PHOTO: Sen. Mike Rounds appears on 'This Week,' Dec. 1, 2024. (ABC News) In his book "Government Gangsters," Patel calls for a "comprehensive housecleaning" of the Justice Department and an eradication of "government tyranny" within the FBI, promising to fire and prosecute officials. Patel has also promoted conspiracy theories about the Deep State and vehemently defended Jan. 6 rioters. FBI directors are nominated and confirmed to serve 10-year terms. After being nominated by Trump, Wray's term began in August 2017. Months earlier, Trump had fired James Comey, who was still less than four years into his tenure as director. Trump did not mention Wray in his Truth Social post announcing Patel for director, but unless Wray resigns the position, Trump will have to fire him to nominate a new leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The president has the right to make nominations, but normally these are for a 10-year term," Rounds explained. "We'll see what his process is and whether he actually makes that nomination." MORE: Jake Sullivan: Biden team wants to finish strong on Ukraine, Gaza Rounds reiterated that although the Senate will give Trump the benefit of the doubt, it will uphold its constitutional role. "We still go through a process, and that process includes advice and consent, which, for the Senate, means advice or consent sometimes," Rounds promised. Turning to the global stage, Rounds a staunch supporter of the U.S. aiding Ukraine in its war against Russia called Russian President Vladimir Putin a tyrant and suggested that negotiating with him may be futile. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think Mr. Putin is a tyrant. I think dealing with him is going to be extremely difficult, Rounds said, expressing hope for Trump to succeed but recognizing that this would present a challenge for any president. I want to see Ukraine with its sovereignty protected, he said. I just think it's going to be a major, major task to overcome what Putin is offering on Ukraine giving up territory to end the war. MORE: North Carolina was a bright spot for Democrats, governor-elect says He added that you cannot trust a guy that doesn't honor their word, which he says Putin has done. In regard to Trumps promise to slap 25% tariffs on all imports from Canada and Mexico, Rounds said the president-elect is a successful businessman" who "really does believe that tariffs can be a great tool." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He thinks that by suggesting these tariffs right now, he's going to get the attention of the leaders in the other countries, Rounds said, adding that Trump believes the tariffs will fix our borders. However, Rounds also recognized the potential impact tariffs could have on his constituents, particularly South Dakota farmers who could be affected by the tariffs. In 2018, China retaliated against Trumps tariffs by implementing its own on U.S. soybean exports that hurt U.S. farmers. Look, we're an [agricultural] state. And when I talk to my farmers and to my ranchers about that, they're concerned about retaliation, Rounds said, though he added that they understand the importance of tariffs, especially when it comes to the border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we've got to have tariffs, so be it, he said. Were going to support the president. GOP senator praises current FBI Director Christopher Wray, calls Putin a 'tyrant' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The Counter Intelligence (CI) unit of Punjab Police in Amritsar arrested two individuals on Saturday in a major blow to illegal arms smuggling networks amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state. They were apprehended while waiting to receive a weapon consignment smuggled from Pakistan, according to Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, Gaurav Yadav. Those arrested have been identified as Jagjit Singh alias Nikku and Gurwinder Singh alias Gandhi, both residents of village Kaulowal in Amritsar. Police teams have also recovered a consignment of eight 'sophisticated' pistols including four Glock Pistols (Austria-made), two Turkish 9mm Pistols and two X-Shot Zigana .30 bore Pistols along with 10 cartridges from their possession. DGP Gaurav Yadav said that in an intelligence-led operation, teams from CI Amritsar learned that individuals had been involved in smuggling heavy consignments of weapons from Pakistan into India. Acting swiftly, police teams laid a trap and arrested the accused, Jagjit alias Nikku and Gurwinder alias Gandhi, near Nurpur Padhri, Gharinda, in Amritsar, while they were waiting for someone to deliver the consignment. The DGP added that CI Amritsar has also identified the main kingpin of this module, and several teams have been formed to apprehend him. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the kingpin was in contact with Pakistan-based weapon smugglers via encrypted apps. Further investigations are underway to establish both the backward and forward linkages. An FIR was also registered on November 29 under Section 25 of the Arms Act and Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Police Station State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Amritsar. The arrested accused will be presented before the local court to seek police remand. (ANI) If you doubt Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s leadership of HHS would be catastrophic to public health, just ask Hawaii Governor Josh Green. He joins Jonathan Capehart to discuss the serious consequences of vaccine misinformation and his first-hand experience in Samoa during a deadly measles outbreak. Governor Green is also urging Donald Trump to take a second look at who should lead HHS. Gregg Wallace is facing a mounting backlash after claiming allegations of sexually inappropriate behaviour made against him came from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age. The former MasterChef presenter, 60, stepped away from the cooking show last week in the wake of allegations published by The Telegraph as part of a four-month investigation into his alleged behaviour. On Sunday morning he defended himself in an Instagram video that has been heavily criticised by women who accused him of misconduct, with accusations of playing the working-class card. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It comes amid growing calls for the BBC to pull the remaining episodes of the cooking show that are due to be broadcast and to clarify what it knew about Wallaces alleged behaviour on set. The corporation is facing a mutiny from staff who believed that senior bosses could have intervened after receiving complaints about the stars behaviour as early as 2012. It emerged on Sunday that the BBC had been warned about Wallaces behaviour four times between 2017 and 2022. Presenter and former Celebrity MasterChef contestant Asmah Mir, 53, warned BBC executive Kate Phillips about Wallaces behaviour twice after Wallace allegedly made inappropriate comments during filming, according to the Sunday Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The broadcaster was also sent a letter in 2022 laying out several allegations of a pattern of behaviour by Wallace that did not meet sexual harassment and bullying standards, according to the Daily Mail. The same newspaper also claimed Nestle had complained after staff alleged Wallace had joked about their weight while filming Inside The Factory. greggawallace/Instagram Bosses are also likely to face questions from MPs on the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee to scrutinise its complaints process. Wallace has been accused by multiple women of inappropriate behaviour, including mimicking a sexual act on a member of staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some 13 people who spoke to a separate BBC News investigation into Wallaces alleged behaviour, spanning different shows over 17 years, are among the accusers. The investigation exposed allegations that Wallace had made sexually inappropriate comments on set and left staff feeling uncomfortable by taking his clothes off. He denies the allegations. On Sunday morning, Wallace took to Instagram to post a story addressing the claims directly and claimed they were made by middle-class women of a certain age during his stint on MasterChef. Now Im reading in the paper that there have been 13 complaints in that time, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I can see them coming from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age just from Celebrity MasterChef. This isnt right. Over 20 years of TV, can you imagine how many women on MasterChef have made sexual remarks or sexual innuendo? Women who accused Wallace of misconduct led criticism, with Ulrika Jonsson, 57, who claimed Wallace was forced to apologise after making a rape joke during the filming of an episode of Celebrity MasterChef, saying she was outraged by the comments. Ulrika Jonsson, who also appeared on Celebrity Masterchef, said Wallaces comments were that of a man that has zero introspection or self-awareness - Geoff Pugh The television presenter told The Telegraph: When he made reference to women of a certain age I was just seething... I was just absolutely wild. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My first reaction was just, Keep digging, Gregg. Keep digging because this shows the arrogance of a man who has zero introspection or self-awareness. Its about being respectable and having some ability to not just read the room, but to read the world. Actress Emma Kennedy, 57 who won Celebrity MasterChef in 2012 and claims to have complained about Wallaces alleged behaviour at the time saying it doesnt matter what the age of any woman is. She told BBC News: If you behave inappropriately, you behave inappropriately. Its a story as old as the tides that people who have been accused of inappropriate behaviour turn the tables on those pointing it out and try and change the narrative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added: Playing the theyre having a go at me because Im working class card is ridiculous. One woman told The Telegraph: Im incredibly angered by Gregg Wallaces response. The arrogance of this man to maintain his innocence, is frankly astounding. Being a junior to mid-level freelance crew member, female aged under 30, when I worked on MasterChef, there were frequent occasions when his behaviour behind the scenes was utterly unprofessional. Another woman who worked with Wallace and spoke to The Telegraph about the presenters alleged behaviour said she was shocked by his comments. She added: His refusal to apologise further indicates his dismissive opinions of women and his arrogance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He appears to be of the opinion he is untouchable as he was on MasterChef, where there was a culture among senior producers to ignore his actions in a bid to keep talent happy. Political figures also weighed in, with Baroness Davidson, former leader of the Scottish Conservative Party, writing on X, formerly Twitter: I mean, this is going to be taught in future years as a stellar example of how not to do defensive comms. My God. Meanwhile, Labours Diane Abbott said it was not a crime to be a middle-class woman of a certain age. She told BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: Gregg doesnt get it, the world has moved on. Back in the day, he could harass women and it was about power really. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Women werent in a position to say anything or do anything. He just doesnt understand that the world has moved on. Charities also distanced themselves from the presenter. Wallace, who in the video wore a t-shirt promoting the Matt Hampson Foundation a charity supporting young people seriously injured through sport faced criticism from its founder, who said he does not condone the kind of behaviour and comments contained in these allegations. Gregg Wallace (right) is best known for co-hosting MasterChef with fellow presenter and celebrity chef John Torode (left) - Anthony Devlin/PA Archive It followed Wallace being dropped as ambassador of the charity Ambitious About Autism, which had appointed him in honour of his autistic son, on Friday. More claims emerged about Wallaces behaviour on Sunday, with Kirstie Allsopp, TV presenter and writer, saying he boasted of a sex act he and his partner enjoyed every morning while the pair filmed a pilot episode. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 53-year-old labelled the former MasterChef host totally unprofessional while recalling the encounter, writing on X, formerly Twitter: Did he get off on how embarrassed I was? It was totally unprofessional, Im a #MiddleClassWomanOfaCertainAge. The Telegraph revealed Mir warned BBC bosses over Wallaces alleged behaviour in 2017 after he made sexist comments during filming. She is said to have emailed BBC executive Kate Phillips, the director of unscripted TV, to complain about an alleged incident during which she claimed Wallace called a friend of hers a sexy bitch, according to the Sunday Times. Mir claimed that this was done brazenly in front of everybody. Ms Phillips, now head of unscripted television for the BBC, reportedly responded by saying that the comments were unacceptable, that the incident had been logged, and that she would be informed of any future incidents. Mir later wrote this must not happen again to another woman in an email Ms Phillips was copied into, the newspaper said. Wallace retained his role, contracted to MasterChef producers Banijay, a company independent of the BBC, which last week launched an investigation into the allegations against him. While the BBC does not produce the show, insiders have suggested that as its powerful commissioner it could have done more to act on allegations. Tough questions expected for BBC Concerns have been shared by Caroline Dinenage, the Conservative chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee (CMSC), who expects MPs on the influential committee to ask tough questions of BBC executives. She said: BBC bosses appear in front of us on a regular basis and at the next opportunity Im sure members will want to raise the issue of the BBC complaints process and whether its protecting the staff who work there or on its behalf. Paul Waugh, Labour MP and CMSC member, said: Both BBC staff and the wider public will want to know whether the corporations processes are fit for purpose. And I hope the director-general will have some answers when hes next before the committee. BBC insiders said that the BBC seeks to manage risk rather than deal with reported problems, which leads to monumental f--- ups that damage the broadcasters reputation. One said: The issue is whether they have the will to pull them up on their behaviour and whether theres ever any will in these cases, where theres big-name talent or senior leaders involved. Another added: The priority is always to protect those most important to them. The remaining episodes of MasterChef are still scheduled to be aired as planned, including two pre-recorded specials this Christmas, The Telegraph understands. Another scandal Rebecca Ryan, campaign director of Defund the BBC, said: Licence-fee payers across the country will rightly be sickened by yet another scandal swept under the rug. While this is being investigated, it is only right that any remaining episodes are not broadcast. Wallaces lawyers have denied the accusations. The corporation said it had robust processes in place to deal with allegations of misconduct but admitted it would be inappropriate to comment amid Banijays investigation. A BBC source said: While we are not going to comment on individuals or any internal HR processes, particularly when there is an ongoing process in place being run by Banijay who have the direct contractual relationship with Gregg Wallace, it would be wrong to report the BBC has done nothing if or when matters have been raised with us not least because it is already being widely reported there were interventions in both 2017 and 2018 where action was taken. We continue to urge caution about pre-judging any of this, particularly the involvement of BBC staff members and any inference they have not acted appropriately. Immediate, external review Banijay UK, the production company that makes MasterChef for the BBC, said it was conducting an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate. A statement about the historical allegations from Banijay UK said: While these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate. While this review is under way, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully co-operating throughout the process. Banijay UKs duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set. While these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. If results from this years election hold, the Minnesota House is headed for a partisan tie for the first time since 1979. Governments divided between parties already have a tough time agreeing on much of anything. So how did power-sharing work out last time? Political observers and lawmakers who were in office during the last tied House say the Democratic-Farmer-Labor and Republican House leaders are already off to a much better start in negotiations than they were more than 40 years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the end, it will boil down to some of the personalities involved, said former Rep. Lyndon Carlson, a Hennepin County DFLer who is Minnesotas longest-serving lawmaker. Im left with the impression that the two leaders on the House side at least as an outside observer it seems like they work relatively well together. Current House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, and House Republican Leader Lisa Demuth of Cold Spring have already announced that committees will be co-chaired and evenly split between parties. While the speakership question remains, earlier negotiations havent been nearly as public or acrimonious as they were in the past. The 1978-79 power-sharing agreement For the sides to reach a power-sharing agreement in 1978-79, it took six weeks of grueling negotiations between House Independent Republican caucus leader Rod Searle, of Waseca, and DFL caucus leader Irv Anderson, a representative from International Falls. And even then, the House didnt elect a speaker until nearly a week into the 1979 session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his 1990 book on the tied House, Minnesota Standoff: The Politics of Deadlock, Searle paints a picture of Anderson as a tough bargainer who wasnt afraid to butt heads, a trait Carlson said he may have picked up as a union leader in his hometowns paper plant. Searle, on the other hand, had a more reserved style, said Carlson, who was present for the negotiations. Mary Murphy, the longest-serving female Minnesota legislator, was serving her second term when the House had its first tie. I think there will be power-sharing, but it wont be by the same rules, said Murphy, a DFLer who represented a Duluth-area district from 1977 to 2023. I think having women leaders will make a big difference. How did it happen? Until half a century ago, partisan ties werent possible in the Minnesota House, which had 135 seats. And when a panel of judges redrew the district map with an even 134 seats in 1972, the possibility of a partisan tie was reportedly seen as a remote one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It couldnt happen in a hundred years, a judge allegedly said, according to Searles 1990 book. But just six years later, exactly that happened. In what some political writers called the Minnesota Massacre, more than 30 DFL representatives lost their seats in the 1978 election, losing the party its 100-seat House supermajority and resulting in a 67-67 tie with Republicans then known as the Independent Republicans of Minnesota. Republicans had struggled nationally in the years following Nixons Watergate scandal in the early 70s, but the party started to make gains again on a fiscally conservative message centered around lowering taxes. Like this upcoming session, the tied House in 1979 came with an asterisk due to election challenges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the initial election results yielded a 67-67 split, the results of one race won by an Independent Republican were challenged in court. St. Paul Rep. Bob Pavlak had been accused of campaign law violations, and DFLers were seeking to have him disqualified from office. But before the session, a Ramsey County judge ruled in Pavlaks favor, appearing to put the issue to rest and leaving the tie intact. However, it would once again appear later in the session. Right now, House Republicans have either contested or plan to contest the results of two races. If they prevail in either of those lawsuits, they could gain a majority in the House. How did they decide to share power? For the sides to reach a power-sharing agreement, it took six weeks of negotiations in the final weeks of 1978 between Searle with the Republicans and Anderson with the DFL. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sides went back and forth with offers on various proposals for splitting control of the committees. At one point, they weighed the possibility of a co-speakership until they realized it wouldnt be constitutional. By the time the session started, they had come close to an agreement but nothing was finalized. The House didnt elect a speaker until nearly a week into the 1979 session. Minnesota Secretary of State Joan Growe served as speaker for a few days after gaveling in the session on Jan. 3, 1979. She was only able to preside over sessions of the House and could not appoint members to any committees. The parties then settled on an agreement within the first week of the session, giving the Independent Republicans the speakers seat and the Democrats three top committees Appropriations, Rules and Taxes. Searle was elected speaker in a 67-66 vote after DFL Rep. Richard Kostohryz, of North St. Paul, was absent after suffering a heart attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though as part of the deal, Independent Republicans gave up some of the speakers powers. The DFL-led Rules committee would be given the power to assign bills to committees if their chairs rejected the speakers assignment, giving them more power over the legislative process. Democrats also had control over the most powerful committees. At the time, Pioneer Press Legislature reporter Bill Salisbury wrote that the IR caucus paid a high price for the speakership by giving the DFL control of three of the four cornerstones of power in the House, Searle notes in his book. Searle still insisted, however, that there were enough checks on committees and the speakership to form an effective compromise. How did it go? What did they get done? Much of the session went smoothly, by most accounts, though like many legislative sessions with a divided government, it came to a chaotic close in May and required the governor to call a special session to allow lawmakers to finish their work. Carlson said lawmakers from both sides treated one another respectfully and didnt try to take advantage when colleagues had obligations that pulled them away from the Capitol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carlson recalled Searle assuring Anderson he wouldnt call up any controversial measures when Carlson attended his grandfathers funeral in South Minneapolis for a few hours. Though Anderson, not taking any chances, still had a House DFL staffer parked outside the church ready to give Carlson a ride if Searle tried to pull a fast one. Its a people-oriented institution, Carlson said of the House, noting that public rhetoric doesnt always match the respect lawmakers have for one another in more personal settings. Chaotic end of session Throwing matters into disarray in the final 10 days of the session was the return of Pavlaks campaign problems. While the House DFL agreed to not appeal the matter to the state Supreme Court, Senate DFLers paid for an appeal on their own. The Supreme Court in May of that year ruled Pavlak had violated campaign laws by distributing false information about his opponent, and asked the Legislature to decide his fate. Pavlak fell ill and collapsed on the House floor from stress related to the court decision, Searle wrote. Within the week, DFLers voted to oust him from the chamber, giving themselves the majority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the final day of the 1979 session, lawmakers adjourned in chaos as Searle and Independent Republicans tried to reinstate Pavlak to the House minutes before the midnight deadline to pass bills. Republican Gov. Al Quie ended up calling a special session following adjournment so lawmakers could pass the remaining bills, including a transportation budget. A DFLer went on to win Pavlaks seat in a special election after the session, giving the party a 68-66 majority. Anderson passed away on Nov. 17, 2008. Searle died on Jan. 5, 2014. Whats next for the upcoming session? If the House is still tied 67-67 when the Legislature convenes on Jan. 14, 2025, lawmakers will have several approaches to sharing power. So far, the deals theyve announced dont resemble what IR and DFL lawmakers put together more than four decades ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the parties cant reach an agreement by Jan. 14, Secretary of State Steve Simon would act as speaker of the House in a largely ceremonial capacity. But theyll have to figure out who will preside in order for the House to function. Itll be an odd-numbered year at the Legislature, so lawmakers are required to pass a two-year state budget before the end of the session on May 19. That means House Democrats and Republicans could risk a government shutdown after the June 30 constitutional deadline if they dont find a way to cooperate. Related Articles The nationwide pet adoption event, Empty Shelters, begins this weekend with 13 organizations in Arizona. At a reduced adoption rate of $50 or less, new pet parents can adopt a spayed or neutered, fully vaccinated and microchipped cat or dog Dec. 1-17, according to information from the Bissell Pet Foundation. "Adoption saves two lives the adopted pet and the one who takes their place in the shelter," read a statement on the foundation's website. "Our nations animal shelters are facing an overcrowding crisis unlike anything we have experienced in more than a decade." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Below are the sites participating in this quarterly event. Prospective adopters are recommended to call and verify specific requirements, hours and locations. Arizona Animal Welfare League Arizona Humane Society Chino Valley Animal Shelter Friends of Pima Animal Care Center Holbrook Az Animal Care & Control Humane Society of Central Arizona Humane Society of Sedona (call 928-282-4679 for appointments to see the animals) Humane Society of Yuma Inc. Maricopa County Animal Care and Control Pinal County Animal Care and Control The Western Arizona Humane Society Verde Valley Humane Society Yavapai Humane Society Saved: Watch the rescue of a lost dog on a busy Phoenix-area freeway This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Looking for a pet? Here's where to adopt in Arizona for less UPDATE : 4 p.m. Saturday The National Weather Service has extended Saturdays high surf warning for north and west shores of most islands. The warning is extended until midnight for north and west shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai ; and for the north shores of Maui. In addition, the weather service extended the warning for west shores of Hawaii island until Sunday at 6 a.m. Forecasters expect surf up to 25 feet for north shores, and up to 20 feet for west shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Expect very strong breaking waves and powerful currents. Waves breaking in channel entrances may make navigating the channels dangerous, the warning said. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. PREVIOUS COVERAGE A massive North Shore swell that generated waves of 25 to 40 feet kept Honolulu Ocean Safety lifeguards busy Friday, with large surf expected to continue through the weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of 5 :30 p.m. Friday, lifeguards had rescued 15 people and conducted an estimated 10, 000 preventative actions to keep others out of danger, according to Honolulu Ocean Safety spokesperson Shayne Enright. Just before 2 :30 p.m., lifeguards and Honolulu Emergency Medical Services personnel co-responded to three injured men who were out on the rocks in between Ke Iki Beach and Sharks Cove when a large set overtook them. The men were barely able to get to shore on their own, Enright said in a news release. EMS treated them for multiple abrasions from head to toe, but they declined transport to an emergency room. Honolulu Ocean Safety strongly advises people to stay off the rocks during high surf. The tide pools are not safe from the powerful waves and you are risking your life, Enright said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Weather Service extended its high-surf warning for an extra-large northwest swell through 6 p.m. Saturday and also expanded the notice to include west-facing shores of Hawaii island. Forecasters advised of the potential for periodic overtopping of vulnerable coastal roadways and wave runup to coastal properties, especially around high tide early Saturday morning. Surf is expected to trend downward this weekend, with surf potentially dipping below the advisory levels by the end of the weekend, according to NWS. Wave heights of 20 to 30 feet were forecast for the North Shore Saturday, with surf of 15 to 20-feet on west-facing shores and 3 to 5 feet on east-and south-facing shores. A small-craft advisory in effect for most coastal waters for seas greater than 10 feet is expected to hold through Saturday. Looking ahead into next week, a stretch of elevated north and west shore surf is expected, produced by overlapping northwest pulses ranging from large to potentially extra-large, particularly from Wednesday onward, NWS said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Surf along east-facing shores will remain slightly elevated through the weekend and remain small early next week. Forecasters said surf along south-facing shores will see an uptick heading into next week, resulting in small to moderate surf, peaking Monday and Tuesday. 7 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? . Dec. 1FREEPORT Highland Community College in Freeport will host the Northwest Illinois Agronomy Summit Conference on Wednesday, Jan. 29. The Northwest Illinois Agronomy Summit is an annual event that brings together farmers, agronomists, researchers and other agricultural professionals to discuss the latest trends, research and advancements in agriculture. The University of Illinois Extension is holding the event from 10 a.m. to 2:35 p.m. at the Highland Community College Conference Center, 2998 W. Pearl St. in Freeport. The summit will feature research updates from U of I Extension faculty specialists covering several topics, including pest and weed control, soil health and fertility, precision agriculture technologies, sustainable farming practices, agricultural economic market trends, and corn and soybean management techniques. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other presentation topics include: * Connor Sible, research assistant professor in the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois, will present "What we Know Today About Biologicals in Illinois Row Crops and Corn and Soybean Management Considerations for 2025." * "Managing P & K to Optimize Corn Response to N in Northern Illinois Soils" will be presented by John Jones, assistant professor of agronomy and soil fertility Extension specialist in the Department of Crop Sciences. * Aaron Hager, professor and weed science Extension specialist in the Department of Crop Sciences, will hold a discussion on "Resistance, Mitigations, and Metribuzin: Aspects of Weed Management in 2025." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Highland community agriculture instructor Justin Ebert will share insights into the college's agriculture program and provide updates on the college research plots, including the recently installed subsoil irrigation system. Registration is required and costs $25. For more information or to register, visit go.illinois.edu/jsw or call U of I Extension program coordinator Nikki Keltner at 815-235-4125. BRANDON, Fla. (WFLA) The Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office is asking for the publics help finding a woman who has been missing for several days and never made it to Thanksgiving dinner. Stephanie L. Cannady, 49, was last seen around noon on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at her home on Courtney Palms Boulevard in Brandon, authorities said. Woman searching for phone on side of I-4, fatally struck by vehicle Stephanie L. Cannady (Credit: Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office) Her family members told deputies they are concerned for Cannadys well-being, and that it was unusual for her to have missed Thanksgiving dinner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said Cannady may be driving a white BMW 5 Series with Florida tag 32BRXG. She is 5 feet, 5 inches tall and has brown eyes and black hair with freckles and a scar on the left side of her face. Cannady also has a tattoo on her chest. Anyone who has information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the sheriffs office at 813-247-8200. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Nov. 30George Rivera had a half-century-old state liquor license when he operated a package retail store and the former Club Alegria nightclub for years on Agua Fria Street, just outside Santa Fe city limits. To hear him tell it, Rivera faced unexpected headwinds in 2014 that nearly rendered the valuable license worthless. That's when the city annexed a residential Santa Fe County corridor with a string of local businesses, including his. The property long held by his family began to carry residential zoning under city codes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The nightclub and store closed in 2014, but Rivera was considering remodeling the 5,000-square-foot building, which he eventually leased; it is now the home of Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery. To ensure he could keep his liquor license active, Rivera had to have his property rezoned from residential to commercial, a complicated and costly process. "What I am saying is that annexation was not very helpful to the people of Agua Fria who owned businesses," Rivera said. Since 2008, as part of an agreement with Santa Fe County, the city of Santa Fe has annexed a number of adjacent neighborhoods, assuming jurisdiction of areas that are home to thousands of people, primarily on the city's southwestern edge. One small area near the Santa Fe River, between West Alameda Street and N.M. 599, is the last stretch set for an annexation that hasn't yet happened. As the city and county continue to wrangle over the future of Area 1B, as the section is known, residents cite what they say are unfulfilled promises by the city in other neighborhoods where the yearslong annexation process is complete. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics point to concerns about police response times in neighborhoods that have undergone annexation, a new fire station that was never built on the south side, and infrastructure issues such as the longtime lack of sewer lines connecting to the city's wastewater system and the lack of functioning streetlights. Bringing the debate into sharp focus in recent years is the long-running saga of the 1,075-acre Area 1B. The area has been planned for annexation since 2008. Residents there have been vocal, however, about their desire to remain in Santa Fe County, expressing concerns about the city's ability to provide services and fears around encroaching development. "You look at a city that is struggling to have basic services for its existing residents, and struggling with so many other problems, and we don't want to become a part of that," said Sid Monroe, a resident of the Coyote Ridge neighborhood in Area 1B who has been a critic of the planned annexation. Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber said in a recent interview the vision for the 2008 annexation agreement between the city and the county was to create a "logical and sustainable" plan for city boundaries, allowing Santa Fe to streamline and concentrate public services while marshaling sensible growth that is environmentally responsible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He pushed back against complaints the city has not followed through with its promises in new areas brought within city limits. "I would not agree with his basic assumption, which is that the city is not providing basic resources to its residents," Webber said of Monroe's comment. "The city has a pretty good track record of providing a lot of services at a high level to people who are beneficiaries." Homes and businesses within city limits have more police and fire protection, he said. He cited other benefits as well: "There's improved access to city services, whether it's our rec centers, our parks," Webber said. "The benefits are substantial. In addition, if you are a part of the city, you get to vote in city elections. You actually have a say in your own government, and that's a plus." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neighborhood concerns Residents of Jemez Road and Vereda de Valencia south-side neighborhoods off Airport Road that were annexed by the city years ago were still waiting for a sewer connection in January while depending on septic tanks, which they said were old and failing, costing them thousands of dollars a year. It had been an inordinately long wait for Isaac Dean, a resident of Vereda de Valencia. "They annexed us, and then they didn't take care of us. They basically neglected their duties for years and years," Dean said. "All of us were paying this sewer and storm drainage fee without any sort of facilities." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His road finally has sewer lines, Dean said. Earlier this year, the city received appropriations from the New Mexico Legislature to install sewer lines on Vereda de Valencia $160,000 and Jemez Road $210,000. State Rep. Linda Serrato, a Santa Fe Democrat, had previously secured money for the work, but more was needed because of rising construction costs. "The project is moving forward, and there is service being extended to that neighborhood," Webber said. He acknowledged there are "pockets" of the city, recently annexed, that still need infrastructure improvements. "These annexation issues, they take decades to play out. It really is a forecast into the future about what kind of a city and what kind of a community we want 10 to 20 years into the future," Webber said. "And so in general, I think the process has been reasonable. ... There are pockets of communities that we really have to extend those infrastructure services to." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plans to build a 14,000-square-foot fire station in southwestern Santa Fe, primarily to serve annexed areas, were put on hold in 2020 due to a budget shortfall. In a 2023 interview with The New Mexican, Santa Fe County Commissioner Anna Hansen, who has supported Area 1B residents who oppose annexation, said the city committed to building the fire station near South Meadows Road and N.M. 599, "which they have failed to do." Residents in another annexed neighborhood, the Tierra Real Mobile Home Community off Airport Road, say they face persistent problems with homelessness and crime, issues they feel the city isn't addressing. "I think it's been really tough on our community," Evangelina Torres, a resident of the neighborhood, said of the annexation, noting the mobile home community does not have working streetlights, which can exacerbate crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A concerned group of residents in the community decided earlier this year to conduct their own cleanup, clearing out trees and other vegetation in parks and open spaces and removing heaps of trash. One day in July, as they tackled the project, at least a dozen needles lay strewn across a dirty mattress flanked by shopping carts in a wide alley running parallel to some of the mobile homes. Tierra Real is considered private property on the city's books; therefore, residents are responsible for maintenance, city spokesperson Regina Ruiz wrote in a text message at the time. The city has jurisdiction through the annexation and easement, however, to perform enforcement and policing in Tierra Real. Torres and others in the neighborhood have called on the city to "step up" its enforcement practices. The belief in the neighborhood is that crime has increased under city jurisdiction, Torres said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I know when I first got here, I didn't worry about locking the gate or people coming in the yard," she said. "Now it's, like, even with the gate locked, they'll just jump the fence and come in the yard." Some have argued the city's south side has long been underserved. "It seems like this is kind of a neglected side of town," Dean said. "... It's night and day between sides of town." Rivera, the owner of the former Club Alegria, eventually was successful in getting his property rezoned to allow operation of a business and ensure his liquor license remained valid, but it cost him considerable time and effort, as well as money, he said. He had to hire legal counsel to assist him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When you have a half-a-million-dollar investment in a liquor license, well, you put it to use," Rivera said. "And I wasn't able to do anything with it because they zoned it residential. ... They just did it, and it hindered us. All the commercial businesses along Agua Fria were hindered by that annexation." Webber noted the city's zoning code has a provision creating default residential zoning for properties annexed into the city. History of annexation Through annexation and a deluge of new housing developments, Santa Fe has welcomed many new residents over the past decade. The 2020 census reported the city's population had ballooned by nearly 30% since 2010, an increase of about 20,000 residents, and a large portion came via a series of annexations of populated areas as the result of the 2008 agreement with the county to shift 10,000 acres into city limits. In 2014, the city annexed 4,400 acres on its southwest side, adding about 13,200 new residents. Residents of annexed areas have long complained about the process, accusing the city of taking on too much new territory and not being able to keep up with the service burden. "The cost of that annexation far exceeds any income that it might raise. The cost of one trash truck alone is over $300,000, and the projected plus from the annexation was what, $1 million? That math never worked, and the people that were annexed had little voice in the process as well," one person wrote in a March 2015 opinion piece in The New Mexican. "They are taking too much land too quickly, and there is no plan ... and so everyone has languished," William Mee, president of the Agua Fria Village Association, said in a recent interview. The organization helped secure the state designation of Traditional Historic Community for the village, which remains in the county. A fiscal impact report for the 2014 annexation Phase 2 of the yearslong effort had estimated it would mean $9.8 million in new costs over four years, with $4.2 million in operating and personnel costs and $5.6 million in one-time capital costs. The report also estimated $2 million a year in new tax revenues. The city saw a larger purpose: Annexation creates control of development in areas brought into city limits, allowing for denser neighborhoods and the prevention of sprawl. "We don't want to be like other places in the country where there is sprawl and a lack of attention to the environmental consequences of development," Webber said. "That has really been the driving philosophy behind the annexation policy." Residents in limbo Area 1B residents, weary of waiting for annexation, contend their neighborhoods have been thrust into an undesirable limbo in which the city exerts authority without providing any services. As negotiations between the city and county over the proposed annexation were underway in 2023, county commissioners passed an ordinance designating about 60% of Area 1B as part of Agua Fria village giving it the Traditional Historic Community status and ensuring it stays in the county. The vote came in response to a petition from residents. The move spurred a legal dispute between the city and county that swung in the city's favor in May. State District Judge Bryan Biedscheid, who had heard arguments in the city's lawsuit against the county, issued a ruling overturning the ordinance that called for Area 1B parcels to remain under county jurisdiction. The county opted not to appeal the judge's decision. Commissioner Justin Greene said although county leaders "strongly disagree" with the ruling, "for the greater good of the community, let's move on." Ruiz, the city spokesperson, wrote in a recent email the city is "going to contract for a fiscal impact study to assess the operational impacts of annexation, such as environmental services operations and vehicles and anticipated public infrastructure." City officials are also going to meet with the residents of Area 1B to better understand their perspectives, Ruiz wrote, adding "with that additional information, the City will provide the County a counterproposal," meaning the city plans to work with the county in the near future to establish a path forward. Monroe and others in Area 1B where they note horses and poultry are a common site said they don't want to become city residents. "We're very distinctly different than a city neighborhood," Monroe said. He has lived in a bucolic neighborhood he loves for more than 20 years, he said, adding Area 1B has everything from mobile homes to "home-built earthy structures," with a topography consisting of ridgelines with steep slopes and arroyos "a slice of New Mexico living." Homewise Inc., a nonprofit housing developer, owns property in the area and plans to build on it. The organization successfully requested to be left out of Agua Fria village under the county ordinance. Monroe said 1B residents are concerned about the prospect of a large housing development, which they fear will increase traffic. "You get tired of living in limbo with a threat hanging over their head," he said, accusing the city of "contempt" and "continued disregard" for the residents. Residents of Arroyo Negro and Pueblo Quemado who oppose Area 1B annexation said in a recent statement, "For over two decades, the City of Santa Fe has expressed its intent to annex this area but has repeatedly failed to do so in a timely and ethical manner. The City's deadline for annexation expired seven years ago, even after a five-year extension." The statement continued, "Furthermore, the City's own zoning agreement and development promises remain unfulfilled. The City has admitted that the funding and staffing does not, and never did, exist to provide the promised city services. Thus, we reject the City's commitment to ever fulfill promises." The Agua Fria Village Association adopted a resolution this fall outlining some concerns about annexation, according to an email from Monroe. Concerns outlined in the document, signed by Mee, were the appearance of homeless encampments in neighborhoods that have been annexed, the "myth" of annexation benefits, the "overdevelopment" of neighborhoods within the city limits, and the "lack of progress" on the adjudication of water rights. Webber said, however, the city has heard from people in the area who support the annexation plan. "The city has heard from quite a few people who live in Area 1B who are very supportive of annexation," the mayor said. "So Mr. Monroe and those who oppose annexation don't speak for a majority of the residents." Many families look to add a furry companion to the bunch as a holiday gift, however, Boston police warn the public of the most common scam: The puppy scam. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), when looking online to purchase a pet, about 80 percent of all pet advertisements may, in fact, be fake. The Boston Police Department has provided contacts to report to if you or someone you know has been scammed: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local Police Departments Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at https://www.ic3.gov/ If the scammers obtained your Social Security number, go to IdentityTheft.gov (https://www.identitytheft.gov/), to see what steps to take including how to monitor your credit. So, before hitting that pay button, make sure you really paws and see if its the real deal. 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 Expressing gratitude for the Vice President's participation, the Governor, on Saturday, said that Jagdeep Dhankhar embodies the highest ideals of democracy. He emphasized Dhankhar's role in ensuring the smooth functioning of the Rajya Sabha and representing a beacon of impartiality and fairness in the parliamentary system. He said that the leadership of the Vice President reinforces the principles of justice, equity, and decorum that form the bedrock of our democracy. The Governor further stated, "Arunachal Pradesh, India's easternmost state, symbolises the nation's commitment to democracy even in remote regions." "The State reflects India's democratic strength, thriving despite geographical remoteness, cultural diversity, and unique challenges. While progress has been made, challenges like connectivity, education, healthcare, and civic participation persist. Efforts are focused on inclusive development to achieve the vision of a 'Viksit Arunachal' and a 'Viksit Bharat,' aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's aspirations," he added. Highlighting the historical background of the state and its Legislative Assembly, the Governor shared that the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly is the first paperless one in the Northeast, equipped with IT-enabled facilities. The Assembly library houses over 13,227 books, accessible to members, officials, and students. The Assembly Museum preserves the State's legislative history with 3D sculptures, paintings, and archives of past leaders. "The 'Know Your Assembly' initiative invites students state-wide to learn about its functions, fostering awareness of democratic processes and governance," the Governor added. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, Assembly Speaker, Ministers, and MLAs were also present on the occasion. (ANI) Following their Thanksgiving feast, those returning to the Phoenix area Sunday saw some delays if they were driving south on Interstate 17. The Arizona Department of Transportation posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Sunday morning warning drivers that a crash was blocking the left lane in Black Canyon City near milepost 245. I-17 southbound at milepost 245 in Black Canyon City: A crash is blocking the left lane. pic.twitter.com/JvU3pwmkR6 Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) December 1, 2024 ADOT did not say how the crash occurred or how significantly the blocked left lane would impact holiday travel. The agency posted at 12:10 p.m. that the lane had reopened. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Southbound lane on I-17 near Black Canyon City reopens after crash The most talked-about neighborhood in Peoria still has its Halloween decorations up. The festive decor a pumpkin, a garland of orange leaves and a lantern with bat cutouts is arranged on a chair outside one of the camping tents planted at the southern shoulder of the Dirksen Memorial Highway. About a dozen more tents hug the fence overlooking the highway. Although living in the encampment can at times be perilous, Alyiah Samara said shes found a community there and will fight to stay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If they remove me from here, I will put my tent right in front of them, said Samara, 26. If someone comes into your home, thats what you would do, fighting for your home. Samara and her neighbors are facing warnings, fines and possible jail time after Peoria became the largest city in Illinois to penalize public camping on the heels of a U.S. Supreme Court decision earlier this summer that allowed municipalities to enforce bans on people sleeping outdoors. The ordinance, narrowly passed by the Peoria City Council on Nov. 19, follows a wave of local governments in Illinois, from Mundelein to downstate Effingham and suburbs of Peoria like East Peoria and Pekin, that have passed similar measures as the state struggles with rising homelessness and an affordable housing shortage. The Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness counts 21 Illinois municipalities so far that have penalized public camping, a trend that worries providers who say theyre being squeezed in their efforts to shelter and house people who have nowhere else to go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no evidence that ticketing and incarceration will improve outcomes for individuals who are experiencing homelessness, Illinois chief homelessness officer, Christine Haley, said. In fact, we believe it will make it worse. Indeed, Peoria Mayor Rita Ali, who voted against the ordinance, fears that the ban will only exacerbate chronic street homelessness in a city where 500 people are already on waitlist for permanent housing. Peorias official estimate of its street homeless population is around 50 people. In a symbolic gesture, Alis refusing to sign it. Theyre going to get a criminal record from being poor, from being unhoused, and that, Im totally against, Ali said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But council member John Kelly, who backed the ordinance, said he saw the citys current approach to homelessness as enabling problems like addiction that can leave people without a place to live. Kelly, who is challenging Ali alongside another backer of the ordinance in next years mayoral race, added that he didnt understand how allowing someone to remain in a tent while they sought housing was a more humane approach to the issue. These are terrible places, he said of the encampments. If we call this compassion, I think we need to redefine the word. City Council member Tim Riggenbach originally opposed the ordinance when city staff first presented it to the council in August. But he was swayed after changes were made to the proposal that mirrored the citys trespassing ordinance. Violators arent historically landing in jail, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jail time is the last thing I want to see anybody face, he said. If anybody (ends) up in jail because of this ordinance, then I would say we as a community have failed with the money and the resources we have available. Riggenbach instead looked ahead to the housing projects the city has in the works and said he saw the encampment ordinance as a way to give residents a way out of the situation rather than just accepting the situation. Show Caption1 of 12 Olivia Hutchison, 29, left, Tristan Newland, 26, center, and Richard Thomas Jr., 51, sit near a tent at a homeless encampment near Interstate Highway 74 in Peoria on Nov. 26, 2024. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Expand He said his goal was to get people into housing, beginning with placing them in shelters. I would like to think that even those who arent thrilled with the mechanism in which the city has chosen to go about that stand with us 100% in that goal, he said. Riggenbachs vote put the measure over the top. Officials divided on ordinances impact Peorias City Hall is just a few blocks from the citys most visible encampments along the highway. Ali said shes sympathetic to downtown business owners and workers who have expressed safety and sanitation concerns about the encampments. Moreover, she feels it is unsanitary, unsafe and unpleasant for both the people living outside and other residents who are using public property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said she would have supported a version of the ordinance that didnt include jail time and had lower fines. But the measure that cleared the Peoria City Council specifies that those who are sleeping outside on public property will receive a warning and three penalties, beginning at $50 and escalating up to $750 for a third violation, though a judge could impose community service instead of a fee. People who are cited three times within six months may be sentenced to up to six months in jail under the measure. The ordinance also requires that city workers refer people living on the street to shelters, but Ali said local organizations that serve homeless people dont have beds available. Were not listening, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The roughly 500 already on the waitlist for permanent housing live on the street or in a temporary shelter. The citys housing providers and social service organizations are racing to get as many encampment residents as they can into a housing pipeline, their workers say. Many were already on the path to housing, but the ordinances passage has accelerated and scrambled that process. Molly Pilgreen is the chief operating officer of Phoenix Community Development Services, Peorias largest affordable housing provider. She said she needs to find a way to help people secure eight IDs, 15 birth certificates and 19 mental health assessments. That documentation can make the difference between getting someone into housing and forcing them to toggle between streets and shelters that are already stretched thin or at capacity. It all keeps me up at night, she said. Pilgreen and Chief Executive Officer Christine Kahl said the organization was preparing to host a set of clinics meant for people in the encampments to get the paperwork or evaluations or even vaccinations for their pets that would allow them to meet the requirements for a housing placement. But the group has only 16 vacant housing units available, and they need work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are not units that somebody could walk in and occupy, Kahl said. There are several plans in progress to increase the number of shelter beds and permanent housing in the city, including a 55-unit housing complex that will be run by Phoenix CDS. But that project wont break ground until next year, Kahl said. Pilgreen on Monday had represented Phoenix CDS at a meeting with social service providers and city officials, where theyd been asked to figure out what it would take to get those vacant units ready for occupation. But they want an answer today, Kahl said. Thats not something I could do in a day. In Chicago, a housing-first approach The cities and towns to pass public-way camping bans so far are scattered around the state, but its unlikely Chicago would follow suit, according to advocates and the citys chief homelessness officer, Sendy Soto. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is absolutely not our plan to focus on any type of incarceration, Soto told the Tribune in July after the Supreme Courts ruling. We really want to ensure that our unhoused community does not find this to be a reason to be afraid of their local administration. The city, however, is at a critical juncture on how to address its rapidly growing homeless population, which has been exacerbated by the migrant crisis. The city has historically prioritized finding housing for its homeless, many of whom reside in tent cities across its parks and under bridges. But with low affordable housing stock, depleted federal and state funding and other challenges, the citys number of homeless people is outpacing what the city can provide. Since the summer, the city has cleared a number of homeless encampments from North Park to the Dan Ryan expressway as part of a larger initiative to close such sites down and relocate residents to shelters or other housing. Advocates for homeless people, however, have criticized such strategies as insufficient and potentially traumatic for encampment residents, emphasizing that the only solution for homelessness is permanent housing. More recently, encampments in Humboldt Park and Gompers Park have sparked disputes among local residents and leaders. Last month, Ald. Jessie Fuentes, 26th, said that their wards controversial tent encampment in Humboldt Park would be officially cleared and shut down on Dec. 6, though local outreach workers deemed the impending closure criminalization in a letter to Fuentes and Soto. Measures such as sweeps, property confiscation, and penalties for life-sustaining activities create harm, erode trust, and move us further from solutions that address the root causes of homelessness, the letter read. But Fuentes office pushed back on the letters characterization of the closure and said police would only be onsite as a precautionary measure. We are committed to a human-centered process that prioritizes support and does not criminalize anyone, the 26th Ward chief of staff Juanita Garcia told the Tribune earlier this week. As advocates and city leaders debate how to best address encampments and homelessness, most agree that the work has become more urgent after the reelection of former President Donald Trump, who in the past has demonstrated hostile views toward the LGBTQ+ population, which makes up a large portion of homeless youths seeking refuge in Illinois and, more specifically, Chicago. Haley, the states chief homelessness officer, said the state would keep its focus on supporting the work of the 19 social service systems that serve homeless people around Illinois. In particular, she said, the state will continue to prioritize housing that comes with social services, known as permanent supportive housing. No answers In Peoria on Tuesday afternoon, advocate Kshe Bernard was visiting the tent city when one of the residents emerged from a tent and asked Bernard what she and her neighbors should do. Bikes, clothes, tarps, cooking equipment and furniture were scattered across the grass overlooking the highway. Bernard didnt have an answer. As the program director of outreach services of the harm-reduction organization JOLT and a co-founder of the street outreach organization LULA, she is in the encampments almost every day. She and others who work directly with Peorias street homeless fear that people who cant or wont find a spot in an emergency shelter will scatter into more remote, less safe locations to avoid the ordinance. If youre forcing people to hide, how are you going to find them when they get housed? she told the Tribune. Dustin Armstrong had returned to the site with an armload of debris and a white bandana tied around his head. He scowled as he approached a packed tent on the far east end of the encampment. Armstrong, 31, said hed recently been approved for housing after four years of battling a meth addiction while homeless. He was angry about the ordinance, which he felt would only create more problems for the city, and worried for his neighbors who werent as close to being housed as he was. You (wont have) no room in your jails, because youve got people out here in jail for being homeless, he said. I want to get a petition started, and I want to get (the ordinance) back up in front of the City Council. In one corner of the encampment, amid blood soaked clothes, a tent and bedding materials, Bernard distributed bagged lunches, cases of water bottles and hugs to residents. She got a first-aid kit out to look at one mans hands, which were covered in scratches and cuts. Wesley Ramirez, whose right arm had taken the brunt of what he, Bernard and other homeless people described as a vicious dog attack the night before, said he wasnt sure where he was going to go after the ordinance took effect. But he was more worried for his neighbors. I wanted to help them out, get them where they needed to go, and help them clean up and stuff like that, said Ramirez, 36. I know Ill be able to handle it. Chicago Tribunes Sylvan Lebrun contributed. CHICAGO (WGN) A man is in the hospital after he crashed into a Chicago Police Department vehicle in the citys Fuller Park neighborhood Sunday morning, according to CPD. Police said a 24-year-old man was traveling through an intersection on a hoverboard in the 4700 block of South Princeton Avenue around 7:14 a.m., when he crashed into a Chicago police squad car. Woman, 35, stabbed to death by 16-year-old girl in Woodlawn early Sunday, Chicago police say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man struck his head on the passenger side window of the squad car and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition. Area One Detectives are leading the investigation into the incident. No other information is available at this time. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Floridian homeowners face mounting uncertainties following hurricanes Helene and Milton. One resident is afraid of residents abandoning homes after storms if they can't pay to be fixed. An inland real-estate agent worries that some snowbirds won't return to buy new properties. A destructive hurricane season has dealt a blow to Florida's housing market, which was already struggling with surging homeowners' association costs and a home insurance crisis. In October, the five metropolitan areas nationwide with the biggest year-over-year drops in pending home sales were all located in the Sunshine State, according to a new report from real-estate site Redfin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over a four-week period ending November 10, pending home sales dropped 15.2% in Ft. Lauderdale, 14% in Miami, 13.8% in West Palm Beach, 9.5% in Jacksonville, and 7.2% in Tampa. In Tampa, pending home sales actually fell as much as 32.2% during the month prior, when both Hurricanes Milton and Helene made landfall. The drop has leveled out at 7.2%, indicating the worst impacts may be over. Pending home sales are deals where a contract is signed, but the sale has not closed. With a typical window of one to two months between the sales of homes and their closings, pending home sales can be an early indicator of market shifts. Hurricanes Helene and Milton have exacerbated concerns about the future of property values and the cost of homeownership in Florida. After the storms, which made landfall in September and October, the state suffered an estimated $21 to $34 billion in damages, including uninsured properties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, insurance experts have raised the alarm that an affordability crisis is likely to worsen. Some Florida cities, like Jacksonville and Cape Coral, saw average home insurance payments for mortgaged single-family residences jump at least 85% since 2019, according to financial services company Intercontinental Exchange. "Florida represents an outsize amount of risk compared to other areas of the world," Kyle Ulrich, president and CEO of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents, told Business Insider in October. For some residents, the mood on the ground is anxious. Three Florida homeowners shared their concerns about the cost of rebuilding after hurricane damage, their home values, and the storms' impact on seasonal residents who are key drivers of the state economy. Retirees couldn't afford to raise their home, then it was hit by a hurricane In 2021, Jon and Lyn Drake purchased a home in Yankeetown, Florida, which is about two hours north of Tampa and less than 10 minutes from the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their 800-square-foot house, located just feet away from a small riverbed, had belonged to a neighbor who died and cost them $190,000. The dream home soon turned into a nightmare for the retired couple, aged 71 and 69. Last fall, Hurricane Idalia floodwaters reached within a foot of the house, the closest it had ever been, prompting Jon to look into services that could raise the home. Hurricane Milton flooded this Florida neighborhood's streets. Associated Press The Drakes said they were quoted prices to lift the house from around $130,000 to as high as $229,000, which they felt they couldn't afford. "There's not a lot of companies that do it here, and it's just really price-gouging right now," Jon told BI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then Hurricane Helene barreled through Yankeetown. The couple lost their kitchen appliances, washer and dryer, and a new generator. The floors will have to be torn up. For now, the couple is waiting to see how their insurance claims shake out to figure out their next steps. They want to rebuild, but are worried about how much of the cost they'll have to shoulder themselves. "We're in a holding pattern right now," Jon said. A coastal resident worries about his home value President Biden listens to remarks from the St. Pete Beach, Florida mayor following Hurricane Milton. Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images John Adams, a retiree who lives near Yankeetown in Inglis, said his home was 15 inches away from taking on water during Hurricane Helene. His home, raised 12 feet above ground, is the highest in his neighborhood, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the increasing power of storms coupled with skyrocketing insurance costs, Adams worries about homeowners in a pinch walking away from devastated homes. That could, in turn, lower the quality and value of the neighborhood. As Adam sees it, it's in his best interest to help pay for other peoples' homes to be raised. "I'm in favor of paying for somebody else's fund to raise their homes. Because if we can solve that problem, it helps my values," he said. Adams thinks either taxes could be raised or a new state agency could be created specifically to focus on raising low-lying homes that are most at risk. Currently, regional authorities like the Southwest Florida Water Management District are tasked with flood prevention and FEMA provides grants to some homeowners after a disaster. "Nothing is ever going to fix or safeguard homes from flooding except 'elevate, elevate, elevate,'" he said "You can't outrun the water." A real-estate agent thinks snowbirds could get scared away In Ocala, located an hour from the Gulf of Mexico coastline, real-estate agent Emily White worries about how the severity of this year's storm will impact the snowbirds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The annual migration of mostly elderly residents from cold-weather states who flock to the Florida sunshine to ride out the winter months plays a key role in the state's economy. An estimated 1.5 million seasonal residents make up the snowbird flock, according to the Associated Press, representing a temporary 6.5% bump in the state's population. "I'm praying the snowbirds come back this year. I need them to come back so I can get some of my listings sold, but we'll see how it's affected," White told Business Insider. "Will they come as hot and heavy as they did before these storms?" Ocala, Florida. Michael Warren/Getty Images White said a potential buyer from Arizona called her after seeing the devastation of Hurricane Milton, wondering if she might need to alter her plans to buy and how the storms would affect home-insurance costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if there's no immediate impact this winter, White expects the hurricane jitters to leave a lasting impact. Buyers who were looking at coastal properties might move more inland and some prospective buyers may choose to rent instead, she told BI. "I think it'll deter people overall," White said. Read the original article on Business Insider Susan Lane-Fournier's husband Michel Fournier is being held without bail on a charge of second-degree murder Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Michel Fournier and Susan Lane-Fournier Michel Fournier and Susan Lane-Fournier The husband of an Oregon hiker who was reported missing last week with her two dogs has been charged with second-degree murder after her body was discovered and later identified. The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) began a search for Susan Lane-Fournier on Friday, Nov. 22 after her employer said she didnt come to work. The search for Susan, 61, who was missing alongside her two dogs, was then suspended after four days, the CCSO announced on Nov. 25. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, Nov. 30, the CCSO said that Michel Fournier who multiple outlets including KOIN, The Oregonian and KGW report being her husband was booked into the Clackamas County Jail and is being held without bail on a charge of second-degree murder after Susan's body was discovered on Friday, Nov. 29. Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Michel Fournier Michel Fournier Related: Oregon Womans Truck Found After She Vanished with 2 Dogs: 'She's Just the Most Kindest, Most Loving Person' In a news release, authorities said that Susan's remains were discovered on Nov. 29 in the Welches area around 8:30 a.m. local time, near East Highway 26 and East Miller Road. She was identified by the local medical examiner's office, and her manner of death was determined to be a homicide. The finding of her body came six days after her white 1992 Ford F-250 was found parked near East Salmon River Road and the Green Canyon Way Trail south of Welches, which prompted a multi-day search by the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue team. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Susan's body was found four miles from the location of her truck, per KOIN, and her two dogs have not yet been located. Michel, 71, was then arrested by detectives after the discovery of her body. Per KOIN, Susan filed for divorce from her estranged husband after 12 years of marriage. KGW reported that she filed the divorce proceedings on Oct. 31 in Clackamas County Circuit Court, and a petition for dissolution of marriage stated that "irreconcilable differences between the parties have caused an irremediable breakdown of their marriage." Friend James Evans told KOIN that he found Susan's body after searching the area. I went down the path, maybe 20 yards. Ive seen some tarp. I thought it was trash, Evans said. I bent over to pick up the tarp and as I bent over and came up, I seen a pair of boots connected to a leg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I directly dropped the tarp, backed up, gathered myself together, turned around and went to the lodge and had the office call 911 immediately, he added. It was pretty heartbreaking. While Evans said he wasn't "super-super close" to Susan, he told himself he was "gonna find" his friend. He now intends to continue looking for Susan's large Malinois-mix dogs on Sunday, Dec. 1, per KOIN. Related: Search Suspended for Missing Oregon Woman and Her 2 Dogs: Heres What We Know So Far Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Susan Lane-Fournier Susan Lane-Fournier Before the initial search for Susan was suspended a decision that was made "based on weather conditions and the likelihood of survivability" the sheriffs department reported dozens of volunteers had spent more than 800 search hours looking for the missing woman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Per KGW, Susan's friend, Cari Gesch, is the person who spotted her truck. She described Susan as the most kindest, most loving person she knew. "We're just all concerned," Gesch, who called her friend an experienced hiker, said at the time. "It's not like her to not show up to work, not call and no one's seen or heard anything. ... She's a little bit eccentric but everyone up here on this mountain is a little bit eccentric. Gesch also referred to Susan's dogs as "her protectors, stating, Those were guard dogs. I mean, if anybody would get near her, they would lose their minds. The re-election of Donald Trump as President of the US is a serious matter, and if you have grave concerns about the man, and his promised policies, then it is perfectly fair to be angry. I know plenty of people, myself included, who loathe the yellow-headed elderly frat boy. But did we head for a beach in freezing cold Wisconsin, to have a group scream about it, after he was elected? No we did not. Democracy can certainly bring disappointment when a vote yields a worrying result. But its a bit self-indulgent, if not downright ridiculous, to throw a tantrum about it in public. But thats exactly what a group of female Wisconsin progressives did after Trumps victory. One said that the scream, which took place on the shores of Lake Michigan, and which included a freezing dip by some, took place in order to release our pain and frustration after the election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such behaviour, while possibly cathartic, is not likely to bring about the kinds of change its practitioners would hope for. As John Fetterman, the Democrat senator for Pennsylvania, noted, the Democrats would lose any kind of relevance if they freak out on everything. The Democrats have made their bed out of rotten woke thinking and subservience to activist agendas which have poisoned Americas workplaces, schools, police and universities. Now they can either lie in that bed, or, more useful, have a rethink and come up with a new way to be Democrats that doesnt alienate and scare so many. Americans need less primal screaming from progressives, and more sanity. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. CHICAGO Illinois State Police confiscated more than $40 million worth of cocaine during an inspection of a semi-truck driving on the interstate in western Illinois, authorities announced Saturday. Two Canadian men, Vanshpreet Singh, 27, and Manpreet Singh, 36, both of Ontario, were arrested and charged with multiple felonies for cocaine possession, cocaine possession with intent to deliver and cocaine trafficking, according to state police. On Friday afternoon, an Illinois State Police trooper conducted an inspection of a Volvo semi-truck driving eastbound on Interstate 80 and discovered numerous indicators of criminal activity, police said Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the ensuing search, police then found packages containing 1,146 pounds of cocaine with an approximate street value of more than $40 million, according to state police. Both men were then arrested by the Illinois State Police Blackhawk Area Task Force and transported to the Henry County Jail, where they await a pre-trial detention hearing. ISPs coordinated focus on trafficking is helping keep dangerous drugs out of our communities, wrote state police director Brendan F. Kelly in the Saturday news release. From commercial motor vehicle inspections to daily patrol to targeted anti-violence and trafficking details, ISP is making communities safer. The Drug Enforcement Administrations Chicago field division provided valuable assistance in the investigation, according to police. The Indian Navy held a rehearsal at Puri Beach ahead of the Navy Day celebration on December 4. Puri Superintendent of Police (SP) Vineet Agarwal on Saturday said that preparations and rehearsals are being done for the Navy Day celebration. "All arrangements have been made for the event...I appeal to all the people of the state to support the administration and police teams," Puri SP told ANI. On Saturday, the Indian Navy is set to conduct an 'Operational Demonstration' off the coast of Puri in Odisha as part of the Navy Day celebrations. According to Indian Navy release, "In an exciting celebration of Navy Day 2024, the Indian Navy will perform a spectacular Operational Demonstration off the coast of Puri, Odisha, showcasing the strength and versatility of its naval fleet. This event is not only a tribute to India's rich maritime heritage but also an opportunity for the general public to witness first-hand the world of naval operations, a realm often hidden from public view." The demonstration will showcase the Indian Navy's strength and versatility, offering spectators a rare glimpse into the operational capabilities of India's maritime force. Highlights will include coordinated ship manoeuvres, mock rescues, and dynamic displays by naval helicopters, fighter jets, and patrol aircraft. he event will also provide an insight into the complex skills and rigorous training required to safeguard India's maritime interests. During the event, Indian-built ships such as Delhi-class destroyers, Shivalik-class frigates, Kamorta-class ships, Naval Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), as well as HAL-manufactured Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs) will be on display. The event is also a tribute to Odisha's maritime legacy. Odisha, historically renowned for its ancient sea trade routes, was a hub of maritime activities and is celebrated annually during Bali Jatra (Bali Yatra) in Cuttack. This event off Puri is a fitting tribute to Odisha's maritime legacy. Known for its ancient sea trade routes, Odisha's connection to the ocean runs deep, with historic voyages by the Sadhabas (Odia mariners) to Southeast Asia, which to this day is commemorated annually as Bali Jatra in the historic city of Cuttack. This ancient heritage will be rejuvenated as modern Indian naval warships manoeuvre off the coastline, symbolising a continuum of maritime traditions from ancient times to today," it stated. Celebrated on December 4th annually, Navy Day commemorates the Indian Navy's pivotal role in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, specifically its triumph in 'Operation Trident'. (ANI) Gates had better ideas than Inslee Gov. Jay Inslee has now signed an agreement to build a huge wind farm of affordable energy on the slopes of the Horse Heaven Hills. Michael Rucker of Scout Clean Energy says this will produce cost-competitive electricity. Whats not to like about this? Only that being affordable will not be true if you run the numbers. This will also have an indelibly negative impact on the growth of Benton County. So, what if another Washingtonian had been governor in 2024. Lets say Bill Gates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bill Gates has lobbied for 20 years that nuclear power is the best solution for our future clean energy needs, not wind and solar. Maybe he would have suggested Benton County leverage its historical nuclear expertise for such development. Maybe today TerraPower (a Gates nuclear startup company) would have already broken ground for a demonstration plant in Washington state instead of Kemmerer, Wyo. A single Natrium power station (345 MWe) would provide as much electricity annually as the proposed wind (1150 MWe) farm; and the power would be on-demand, available 24/7, unlike wind and solar. Just imagine, being able to drive by or through the Horse Heaven Hills for decades to come and seeing pronghorn antelope, not windmills and solar panels. Craig Brown, Richland Bring back 40s soda fountains Well, not enough of you paid attention to my advice about the election, so I will write about something that might cheer us up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some enterprising soul should open an old-fashioned ice cream parlor in downtown Richland. Really! We should try keeping a pleasant part of our important history from the 1940s alive. Yes, we have ice cream shops, but when I asked the owner or server at Baskin Robbins if he could make an ice cream soda, I was led to a cooler with soft drinks in it. I could choose whichever one I wanted and add whatever flavor of ice cream I wanted. Not! I want the soda and syrup dispensers, the counter, the red swiveling stools. And I recently learned that there was a Newberrys in Uptown that had a soda fountain! It really was part of our history. Please, somebody, cheer up an old lady! Judith Loomis, Richland Health partners improve medicine The University of Washington School of Medicine-Gonzaga University Health Partnership unites providers in rural communities with students, faculty and providers to improve health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This holiday season, we express deep gratitude for the time, expertise, collaboration and support from our health partners the extensive network of physicians, nurses, physician assistants, medical assistants and allied healthcare professionals who are educating and mentoring the next generation of healthcare providers to serve communities like Tri-Cities. Our health partners are a cornerstone in delivering top-ranked medical education. Together, we are stronger, preparing the next generation of physicians for Tri-Cities and beyond. With gratitude, Geoff Jones, M.D., Spokane Assistant Clinical Dean, Eastern and Central WA University of Washington School of Medicine Detectives are asking the public for help in solving the shooting death of a man on the Green Light light-rail train near the Hamline Avenue station in St. Paul on Friday night. The man was shot about 8:30 p.m. Officials said Metro Transit police responded to a shooting reported onboard the westbound train and discovered the victim suffering from gunshot wounds. He was rushed to the hospital, where he died. We are deeply saddened and disturbed by the fatal shooting that occurred Friday evening. Gun violence has no place on our transit system or in the communities we serve. While incidents like this are rare, this fatality underscores the importance of acting with urgency to improve public safety on transit, which is our highest priority, said Drew Kerr, a spokesman for the Metro Transit Police Department. A cornerstone of our work is the ongoing effort to expand the official presence on transit by bringing more police officers, Community Service Officers, supplemental security officers, Transit Rider Investment Program personnel, and service providers onto the system. We will also continue working closely with our many partners to support the shared work of addressing the larger, societal issues that appear on transit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Metro Transit police are leading the investigation with support from the St. Paul Police Department and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Metro Transit police tip line at 612-349-7222. On Nov. 6, the department shared its latest crime data with the Metropolitan Council, Kerr said. We reported at that time an 8.4% decline in total reported crime comparing the first three quarters of this year to the first three quarters of 2023. The most serious crimes, including homicide, were down 14.5% in that same time period. During the meeting, Kerr said, the department shared its ongoing efforts to recruit police officers and Community Service Officers, to expand our Transit Rider Investment Program to up to 100 employees by the end of 2025, to double our investment in supplemental security at stations where we see more calls for service, and more. On the Green Line, Metro Transit police officers are proactively patrolling light-rail vehicles, stations and station areas throughout the day, every day. Related Articles BEIRUT Iran has thrown its support behind Syria's government after thousands of insurgents took control of the country's second-largest city of Aleppo and seized nearby towns and villages in a swift and surprise offensive. We firmly support the Syrian army and government, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was quoted as saying by the state-run IRNA news agency, before he set off for Syrias capital Damascus on Sunday. The Syrian army will once again be victorious over these terrorist groups as in the past, he added. His comments came after the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based war monitor, reported that insurgents led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham had seized control of Aleppo International Airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Observatory said that fighters from the group posted pictures from the airport that would mean its the first international airport to be controlled by insurgents. The rebels now control the majority of Aleppo after forcing the governor, police and security branches to retreat from the city center, it added. Russian and Syrian jets responded by striking the rebel-held city of Idlib on Sunday, according to the Observatory and the Syrian state-run news network Al-Ikhbariyah, in a second day of intensive bombing aimed at pushing back the insurgents. At least 347 fatalities, including 40 civilians, have been reported during the clashes, according to the war monitoring group, which relies on a network of on-the-ground information sources. Five children and three women were among the civilians killed by bombardment and airstrikes, it added. National security adviser Jake Sullivan told NBC News Meet the Press that the U.S. has designated Hayat Tahrir al-Sham a terrorist enemy, so we have concerns, obviously, about that group. He also called for the full implementation of U.N. Security Council resolutions that can bring a measure of peace and stability to Syria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fighting further exacerbates Syrias humanitarian crisis, already one of the worlds worst after 13 years of civil war, which began in 2011 as a protest movement against Assads authoritarian rule but has since killed an estimated half-million people. Anti-government fighters patrol in central Aleppo on Saturday. The offensive raises questions about the preparedness of Syrian President Bashar Assads armed forces. In his first public comments released by the state news agency Saturday evening, Assad said Syria will continue to defend its stability and territorial integrity against terrorists and their supporters. Syria is able to defeat them no matter how much their attacks intensify, he added. The Observatory reported Sunday that his forces were sending large reinforcements and drawing a defensive line around several cities and villages in the Hama Governorate, which sits to the south of Aleppo. Irans renewed commitment to Assad underscores the geopolitical stakes in the conflict and exposes a complex web of rivalries, factions and foreign interventions that ensure Syrias turmoil persists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Assad controls roughly 70% of Syrian territory, the remaining areas are held by a mix of opposition groups, Kurdish forces and countries like the U.S. and Turkey. Tehran sees Syria as a critical part of its regional strategy, providing a land corridor to Hezbollah in Lebanon and a front against Israeli influence. Irans support for Assad mirrors that of Russia, which helped to turn the tide of the war during 2016s battle for Aleppo between Syrian government forces and rebel fighters. The victory helped Assad to secure his hold on strategic areas of Syria, with opposition factions and their foreign backers controlling areas on the periphery. Anti-regime fighters gather near a road leading to the Hama province in central-west Syria on Sunday. Moscows intervention also secured its military presence in Syria, including the naval base at Tartus, while bolstering Assads grip on power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A main backer of Syrian opposition groups, Turkey said in recent weeks its diplomatic efforts had failed to stop government attacks on opposition-held areas. These were in violation of a de-escalation agreement it sponsored along with Russia and Iran. However, its primary focus is undermining Kurdish-backed rebel groups near its borders. Ankara has said Syrian Kurdish fighters are an extension of the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has been fighting for autonomy in southeastern Turkey since the 1980s a conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people. The U.S., for its part, opposes Assad, opposes Russia and opposes Iran, but has allied itself with Syrian Kurdish forces despite their fight against the United States NATO ally Turkey. Sullivan said it was no surprise that rebels have tried to take advantage of the main players backing the Syrian government, because Iran, Russian and Hezbollah have been distracted by other conflicts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inside Aleppo, schools and government offices were closed Saturday as most people stayed indoors, according to Sham FM radio, a pro-government station, although bakeries were open. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Friday that Aleppos two key public hospitals were reportedly full of patients, while many private facilities were closed. Charlene Gubash reported from Beirut and Freddie Clayton from London. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com (Bloomberg) -- Ireland is heading for a return of the coalition government led by Prime Minister Simon Harriss Fine Gael party and Fianna Fail, as voters bucked a recent international trend of ousting incumbent parties. Most Read from Bloomberg With more than two thirds of the results announced, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael were together on track to get more than 80 seats. They need 88 for a majority in the 174-seat Dail or parliament, so a deal with a smaller party or independent lawmakers would likely get them over the line. Both have ruled out working with Sinn Fein, which was expected to win close to 40 seats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The final standings are unlikely to be clear until Monday or later. The premier called the election early it wasnt due until March to try to take advantage of a surge in the polls since he became Taoiseach in April. What the media dubbed the Harris hop didnt survive a gaffe-ridden campaign, and it was Micheal Martins Fianna Fail that jumped ahead in the popular vote and potentially in total seats. That could give him the upper hand in coalition talks. But the bigger picture is that the two parties that have dominated Irish politics since the state was founded 100 years ago have likely been returned by voters. In Fine Gaels case, its possible the party will have been in power for almost two decades by the time of the next election. While Harriss Fine Gael had a significant poll lead ahead of the campaign, much of the focus was on whether growing concerns about rising immigration and the pressure it put on housing supply and public services would hurt the government, as happened in recent elections in the US, UK and parts of Europe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the event, the threat posed by independents didnt materialize, or at least not at the level that would radically shape the makeup of the parliament. The spending power available to the government, underscored by a giveaway budget in October, was likely a key reason why. Ireland enjoys a budget surplus that is rare among European nations, driven by tax receipts from US firms including Apple Inc. that have made the country their regional headquarters. Management of Irelands billions was front and center in the campaign, with parties competing on promises to fix infrastructure and build houses. Theyre able to make these promises because Ireland at the moment is in a good position fiscally, said Lisa Keenan, political science assistant professor at Trinity College Dublin. Theres a significant pot of money there for the government to say that its going to spend. The reelection of Donald Trump, and his threat of trade tariffs that could upset those tax receipts, may also have injected a sense of caution among voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, the two major parties do have cause for concern. While Sinn Feins support dropped compared to 2020 after a roller-coaster year, the partys emergence since McDonald took over from Gerry Adams as president in 2018 becoming its first leader unconnected to the sectarian violence in Northern Ireland known as the Troubles has upended politics in the Republic. Its left-leaning agenda has appealed to voters struggling with the cost of living, and Sinn Fein looks established as an electoral force with major implications for Irish politics. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael now likely need each other to get into power, shifting the dynamic of a rivalry that dates back to the Irish civil war. McDonald is also building considerable personal support, especially among young people. The official exit poll showed her just behind Martin, and well ahead of Harris, on the question of who should be next Taoiseach. For now, though, the focus is on the formation of the next government. Much will depend on the final seat count, and the political dynamic between Harris and Martin. Having reached an agreement last time on time-sharing the role of prime minister, a similar deal is expected this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But that could change if Fianna Fail, the party that was frozen out of power for about a decade after overseeing the 2008 financial crisis, wins significantly more seats than Fine Gael. Martin will be happier of the two leaders, according to Aidan Regan, professor political economy University College Dublin. The closer the two parties are together, the higher the probability of a rotating Taoiseach, Regan said. The further they are apart, the more tension, the more conflict emerges over that. Its a far from what Harris likely envisaged when he was riding high in the polls. But his campaign was beset with slip-ups, including a video that went viral of him walking away from a disability care worker and dismissing her view that the government wasnt doing enough. He later apologized. Voter turnout was 59.7%, the lowest since 1923, according to RTE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Fine Gael Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who struck the coalition deal with Fianna Fail after the 2020 election, said the slip in the polls showed Harriss party didnt escape the burden of incumbency entirely. The longer you are in office, the harder it is to win votes and the harder it is to win elections, he told RTE late Saturday. All around the world, governments are being booted out of office, incumbents are losing. And this is an example of a government that is being reelected potentially with a different third coalition partner but not an insignificant result in international context. Who that third coalition partner is could take weeks to decide. The Green Party, who were in government last time, are at risk of losing all but one of their 12 seats. The Social Democrats, whose leader Holly Cairns gave birth on election day, and Labour could emerge as options. But after the tensions in government with the Greens, the two big beasts of Irish politics could decide independents would be easier to deal with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Updates with latest figures in second paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. LINCOLNWOOD, Ill. A pedestrian was killed following a crash on the Edens Expressway at Touhy Avenue early Sunday morning, Illinois State Police say. The northbound lanes on I-94 were closed at the scene, with traffic being diverted onto Peterson Avenue, as police investigated the crash. All lanes reopened just after 12:30 p.m. Sunday, police say. Record-breaking travel day expected Sunday around Chicago, U.S. to conclude Thanksgiving holiday week Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to police, the crash happened around 6:30 a.m. and involved two vehicles and a pedestrian, who was pronounced dead at the scene. No other information is available at this time. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Israel has killed a World Central Kitchen aid worker it claims took part in Hamass October 7 terror attack. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had killed Hazmi Kadih, a volunteer at the US-based charity, which has been accused of taking part in the terror organisations assault of Kibbutz Nir Oz last year. The military said it had monitored Mr Kadih, who was hit in a vehicle in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, and was struck following credible information regarding his real-time location. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His family claimed the allegations he took part in the terror attack are false and being used by Israel to justify his killing. They said he was an engineer who dedicated his life to charitable work. World Central Kitchen confirmed the airstrike, which it is claimed killed five people including two other of its volunteers, and said it had no knowledge about an employee involved in the 2023 terror attack. Israel says it was targeting Hazmi Kadih, a volunteer at the US-based charity, who they claim took part in the October 7 terror attack on the Nova festival - Reuters/Ronen Zvulin It said in a statement posted on X: We are heartbroken to share that a vehicle carrying World Central Kitchen colleagues was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. World Central Kitchen had no knowledge that any individual in the vehicle had alleged ties to the October 7th Hamas attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charity told The New York Times three of its volunteers were killed. It said it was pausing operations in Gaza, adding that it was working with incomplete information and was urgently seeking more details. A Palestinian inspects the vehicle in which employees of the World Central Kitchen were killed - REUTERS The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that three employees of the charity were killed in the strike, with medics saying a total of five people died in total. In early April, World Central Kitchen temporarily suspended work in Gaza after an air strike that killed seven of its workers. Three British aid workers, John Chapman, James Henderson and James Kirby, were among those killed in the controversial April missile strike. Belongings of the air strike victims found in the wreckage - DOAA ALBAZ/ANADOLU via GETTY IMAGES The attack was condemned by world leaders, including the-then prime minister Rishi Sunak who told Benjamin Netanyahu, his Israeli counterpart, that he was appalled by the killing of humanitarian workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An IDF investigation into the killings said the strikes were a grave mistake and officials who approved the attacks had believed they were targeting Hamas operatives. It comes as leaders of Hamas were expected to arrive in Cairo on Saturday for ceasefire talks with Egyptian officials, days after Israel and Hezbollah agreed to pause fighting in Lebanon. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Former Israeli defence minister Moshe Ya'alon has accused Israel of "ethnic cleansing" in the Gaza Strip in an interview with Israeli broadcaster Kan. Ya'alon, who was defence minister from 2013-2016, spoke of alleged Israeli plans to expel Palestinian residents from the northern Gaza Strip and establish Israeli settlements there instead. He said he was speaking on behalf of Israeli commanders deployed in northern Gaza who are very concerned about the situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They are being put in life-threatening situations, they are facing moral dilemmas," he said, adding that they could also face charges before the International Criminal Court. Israel was committing war crimes in the Gaza Strip, Ya'alon said. His remarks were condemned by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing conservative Likud party as "malicious lies." Far-right members of the Israeli government have repeatedly advocated for the return of Israeli settlers to the Gaza Strip, but this is not an official government policy. (Reuters) - The Israeli military said on Sunday that a projectile launched from Yemen was intercepted before it crossed into Israeli territory. The military earlier said sirens had sounded in a number of areas in central Israel following a launch from Yemen. The Houthis have fired missiles and drones at Israel repeatedly in what they say is solidarity with the Palestinians, since the Gaza war began in 2023. (Reporting by Emily Rose and Jaidaa Taha; Editing by William Mallard) The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted extremely heavy rainfall in Puducherry on Sunday as Cyclone Fengal made landfall on the coast on Saturday evening. According to IMD, Puducherry is likely to receive extremely heavy rainfall today and "moderate" for December 2. The cyclone made landfall on the Union Territory's coast at 7 in the evening on Saturday. According to IMD, the isolated places over north Tamil Nadu are likely to witness "heavy to very heavy rainfall" today. The weather department had informed that the wind speed along and off north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts would reach "70-80 kilometres per hour gusting to 90 kmph". "It is likely to prevail till the night of November 30 and gradually decrease thereafter," IMD said in its National Bulletin. Cyclonic Storm Fengal crossed the North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts on Saturday late night and is likely to continue moving west-southwestward, weakening into a deep depression within the next few hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. According to the IMD, the cyclone crossed the coast near Puducherry between 10:30 pm and 11:30 pm IST, with wind speeds of 70-80 kmph gusting up to 90 kmph. "The Cyclonic Storm FENGAL crossed North Tamil Nadu & Puducherry coasts near latitude 12.05N and longitude 79.9E, close to Puducherry, between 2230 hrs IST and 2330 hrs IST yesterday, the 30th November as a cyclonic storm with wind speed of 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph. It lay centred at 2330 hours IST yesterday, the 30th of November over north coastal Tamilnadu & Puducherry near latitude 12.0N and longitude 79.8E, close to Puducherry. It will continue to move west-southwestwards slowly and weaken gradually into a deep depression during the next 3 hours," IMD said in a post on X. The official statement added that residents in the affected areas have been advised to remain indoors and follow all instructions from local authorities to ensure their safety. Meanwhile, people living in nearby areas have been shifted to relief camps near Kalpakkam in Chengalpattu district, in the wake of Cyclone Fengal. (ANI) DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Sunday it is halting aid deliveries through the main cargo crossing into the war-ravaged Gaza Strip because of the threat of armed gangs who have looted convoys. It blamed the breakdown of law and order in large part on Israeli policies. In Israel, a former defense minister and fierce critic of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a hard-liner on the Palestinians accused the government of ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza, where a military offensive continues. The U.N. agency's decision could worsen Gaza's humanitarian crisis as a second cold, rainy winter sets in, with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in squalid tent camps and reliant on international aid. Experts already warned of famine in the north, which Israeli forces have almost completely isolated since early October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, the main aid provider in Gaza, said the route leading to the Kerem Shalom crossing is too dangerous on the Gaza side. Armed men looted nearly 100 trucks on the route in mid-November. Kerem Shalom is the only crossing between Israel and Gaza that is designed for cargo shipments and has been the main artery for aid since the Rafah crossing with Egypt was shut in May. Last month, nearly two-thirds of aid entering Gaza came through Kerem Shalom, and in previous months it accounted for even more, according to Israeli figures. In an X post, Lazzarini largely blamed Israel for the breakdown of humanitarian operations in Gaza, citing political decisions to restrict the amounts of aid, lack of safety on routes and Israel's targeting of the Hamas-run police force, which previously provided public security. Yesterday we had assurances aid would be fine. We tried to move five trucks and they were all taken, Scott Anderson, director of UNRWA affairs in Gaza, told The Associated Press. So weve kind of reached a point where it makes no sense to continue to try to move aid if its just gonna be looted. When asked whether UNRWA has seen evidence supporting Israeli claims that Hamas has been behind aid looting, he emphasized that there's no systemic diversion of aid in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesman for UNICEF, Ammar Ammar, confirmed the security situation was unacceptable and said it was evaluating its operations at the crossing. The Israeli military body in charge of humanitarian aid to Gaza said on X that it will continue to work with the international community to increase aid into Gaza through Kerem Shalom and other crossings, and said UNRWA coordinated less than 10% of the aid that entered Gaza in November. The Israeli military accuses UNRWA of having allowed Hamas to infiltrate its ranks allegations the agency denies and passed legislation to sever ties with it last month. Israeli strikes kill at least six people, including children Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least six people overnight, including two children, ages 6 and 8, in their family's tent, medical officials said Sunday. The strike in the Muwasi area, a sprawling coastal camp housing hundreds of thousands of displaced people, also wounded their mother and 8-month-old sister, according to nearby Nasser Hospital. An Associated Press reporter saw the bodies, which were buried in the sand. A separate strike in the southern city of Rafah, on the border with Egypt, killed four men, according to hospital records. The Israeli military said it was not aware of strikes in either location. Israel says it only targets militants and tries to avoid harming civilians, but its daily strikes across Gaza often kill women and children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former defense minister accuses Israel of war crimes A former top Israeli general and defense minister accused the government of ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza, where the army has sealed off the towns of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya and the Jabaliya refugee camp and allowed almost no humanitarian aid to enter. Moshe Yaalon, who served as defense minister under Netanyahu before quitting in 2016, said the current far-right government is determined to occupy, to annex, to ethnically cleanse. Pressed by a local news outlet on Saturday, Yaalon said: (They) are actually cleaning the territory of Arabs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added Sunday in an interview with Israeli radio: My issue is not with the soldiers of the Israeli army. On the contrary: Im speaking on behalf of commanders who are active in northern Gaza and turned to me because they are troubled by what is happening there. They are being placed in life-threatening situations; they are being thrust into moral dilemmas. Netanyahus Likud party criticized his earlier remarks, accusing him of making false statements that are a prize for the International Criminal Court and the camp of Israel haters. The ICC has issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu, another former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, and a Hamas commander, accusing them of crimes against humanity. The International Court of Justice is investigating allegations of genocide against Israel. Israel rejects the allegations and says both courts are biased against it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel says Gaza ceasefire talks resume 'behind the scenes' The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage. Some 100 captives are still held inside Gaza, around two-thirds believed to be alive. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 44,429 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The war has destroyed vast areas of the coastal enclave and displaced 90% of the population of 2.3 million, often multiple times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel reached a ceasefire with Lebanon's Hezbollah militants last week that has largely held, but that agreement did not address the war in Gaza. Gaza ceasefire efforts have stalled as Israel rejected Hamas' demand for a complete withdrawal from the territory. The Biden administration has said it will make another push for a deal. There are negotiations taking place behind the scenes, and it can be done, Israel's mostly ceremonial president, Isaac Herzog, said Sunday after meeting with the mother of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, who appeared in a video released Saturday by Hamas. ___ Magdy reported from Cairo and Goldenberg from Tel Aviv, Israel. ___ Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war By Nidal al-Mughrabi CAIRO (Reuters) -Hamas leaders held talks with Egyptian security officials on Sunday in a fresh push for a ceasefire in the Gaza war, two Hamas sources said, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set to hold security talks on the matter, two Israeli officials said. The Hamas visit to Cairo was the first since the United States announced on Wednesday it would revive efforts in collaboration with Qatar, Egypt and Turkey to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza, that would include a hostage deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan said he thought the chances of a ceasefire and hostage deal in the Palestinian territory were now more likely. "(Hamas) are isolated. Hezbollah is no longer fighting with them, and their backers in Iran and elsewhere are preoccupied with other conflicts," he told CNN on Sunday. "So I think we may have a chance to make progress, but I'm not going to predict exactly when it will happen ... we've come so close so many times and not gotten across the finish line." Through several rounds of negotiations over the past year, Hamas has insisted that any deal should conclude with Israel ending the war, while Israel says the war will end when Hamas no longer rules Gaza or poses a threat to Israelis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Sunday that there was some indication of progress toward a hostage deal but that Israel's conditions for ending the war have not changed. "We will know in the coming days. From our perspective, the government of Israel, there is a desire to advance in this direction," he said at a Israel Hayom newspaper conference. Fighting raged on meanwhile in the enclave and the head of the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) said it had to halt aid deliveries through one crossing a day after armed gangs inside Gaza seized food from a truck convoy. "This difficult decision comes at a time hunger is rapidly deepening," UNRWA's Philippe Lazzarini said in a post on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The halting of aid deliveries through the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing came almost two weeks after a large shipment was hijacked on the same route. UNRWA's Lazzarini said it was Israel's responsibility "as occupying power" to protect aid workers and supplies, and that the humanitarian operation had become "unnecessarily impossible" due to what he said were Israeli restrictions. COGAT, the Israeli military department responsible for aid transfers, denies it is hindering humanitarian relief into Gaza, saying there is no limit on supplies for civilians and blaming delays on the United Nations, which it says is inefficient. FIGHTING Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The conflict started when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israeli communities on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and abducting more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli officials. Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 44,400 people and displaced nearly all of the enclave's population, Gaza officials say. Vast swathes of the enclave lie in ruins. On Sunday, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 20 people, medics said, as Israeli forces kept up bombardments across the enclave and blew up houses on its northern edge. In the central Gaza camp of Nuseirat, an Israeli airstrike killed six people in a house, and another attack killed three in a home in Gaza City, medics said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two children were killed when a missile hit a tent encampment in Khan Younis in the south, while four other people were killed in an airstrike in Rafah, near the border with Egypt, medics told Reuters. Residents said the military blew up clusters of houses in the northern Gaza areas of Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun, where Israeli forces have operated since October. Palestinians say Israel's operations on the northern edge of the enclave are part of a plan to clear people out through forced evacuations and bombardments to create a buffer zone. The Israeli military denies this and says it is fighting Hamas. The military says it has killed hundreds of Hamas militants in that part of Gaza as it fights to stop the faction regrouping. It has also lost around 30 soldiers there in combat over the past two months, a relatively high death toll. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas does not provide details on its own fatalities. Two Palestinian detainees from Gaza have died in Israeli custody, prisoner advocacy groups said on Sunday. There was no immediate comment by Israeli authorities. (Reporting and writing by Nidal al-MughrabiAdditional reporting by Maayan Lubell and David LjunggrenEditing by Andrew Heavens and Frances Kerry) At least seven people, including two children, were killed in new Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, as the UN halts aid deliveries through a key border crossing due to security concerns and a former Israeli defence minister decries 'ethnic cleansing' in Gaza. The Palestinian WAFA news agency reported on Sunday that at least seven people have been killed in new Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip. Several others sustained injuries in the airstrikes on the central and southern parts of the coastal strip, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the dead were two children who were struck in a "humanitarian zone" in the south of the Gaza Strip, it wrote. The Israeli military announced on Saturday that the air force had targeted a rocket launch site in an area declared a humanitarian zone. After the attack, rockets had been launched from the targeted site but these did not hit Israeli territory, it said. The Israeli military said that it is taking action in the Gaza Strip against the Palestinian militant Hamas organization, and contends that Israeli forces are taking measures to minimize the risk to civilians, such as the use of precision weapons and aerial surveillance. Deaths reported in West Bank after Israeli airstrike Meanwhile, in the north of the West Bank, several people have been killed in an Israeli airstrike near Jenin, WAFA reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It said that a vehicle with several young men had been fired upon. The Israeli military said an "aircraft conducted a strike on terrorists in the area of Jenin." According to WAFA, several Israeli military vehicles blocked the site of the attack, preventing access to ambulances. Jenin is considered a militant Palestinian stronghold. The already tense situation in the occupied West Bank has significantly worsened since the massacre in Israel carried out by the Palestinian militant Hamas organization and the ensuing Gaza war. Since then, more than 760 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military operations, armed clashes or extremist attacks, according to the Ministry of Health in Ramallah. Israeli ex-minister decries 'ethnic cleansing' in Gaza Former Israeli defence minister Moshe Ya'alon has accused Israel of "ethnic cleansing" in the Gaza Strip in an interview with Israeli broadcaster Kan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ya'alon, who was defence minister from 2013-2016, spoke of alleged Israeli plans to expel Palestinian residents from the northern Gaza Strip and establish Israeli settlements there instead. He said he was speaking on behalf of Israeli commanders deployed in northern Gaza who are very concerned about the situation. "They are being put in life-threatening situations, they are facing moral dilemmas," he said, adding that they could also face charges before the International Criminal Court. Israel was committing war crimes in the Gaza Strip, Ya'alon said. His remarks were condemned by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing conservative Likud party as "malicious lies." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Far-right members of the Israeli government have repeatedly advocated for the return of Israeli settlers to the Gaza Strip, but this is not an official government policy. UN halts aid transport through key Gaza crossing On Sunday, the head of the UN relief agency said the Kerem Shalom border crossing into the Gaza Strip, the most important transit route for aid deliveries, will no longer be used until further notice for security reasons. In mid-November, a large aid convoy was looted at the crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip by armed gangs, and on Saturday an entire convoy of several lorries carrying food was stolen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This difficult decision comes at a time hunger is rapidly deepening," Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), said in a post on X on Sunday. "The delivery of humanitarian aid must never be dangerous or turn into an ordeal." As the occupying power in the Gaza Strip, Israel must ensure the protection of humanitarian aid workers and the supply of relief supplies, Lazzarini emphasized in his post. The Israeli government, however, has repeatedly denounced UNRWA and passed a highly controversial ban against the aid agency that would prohibit any operations on Israeli territory beginning early next year. "I call once again for a ceasefire that would also secure the delivery of safe and uninterrupted aid to people in need," Lazzarini said. Nov. 30SKOWHEGAN For the last three decades, Jeff Hewett says he has never been bored at his job. "It's always been interesting," said Hewett, Skowhegan's director of economic and community development. "It's always been a fast-moving target. In other words, you just never know what you're going to work on that day. You can plan all you want, but the minute you walk through the door and that phone rings, and something's wrong here and something's wrong there, we're off and running." But after 34 years working for the town, Hewett, 66, is calling it quits, leaving a job that has given him a front row seat to the ups and downs in the region's economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much falls under the purview of Hewett's office, made clear by his cluttered desk which he refused to let a reporter photograph during a recent interview. His position technically falls under two umbrellas, the town itself and the Skowhegan Economic Development Corp., a quasi-municipal nonprofit development agency, though the two are often intertwined. As director of economic development, Hewett oversaw two industrial parks and a building downtown. He administered grants for businesses and homeowners. He managed the town's GIS (Geographic Information Systems) mapping system. He was the point person among businesses and municipal officials regarding tax increment financing, or TIF, agreements, a development tax incentive and property valuation sheltering tool. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And he was also in charge of the municipal building at 225 Water St., overseeing everything from renovations to contracts for supplies and information technology systems. "It's going to be hard to replace him," said Paul York, the chairman of the Board of Selectmen. "He knows the town. Now, we've got to try to get someone up to speed on the things that are happening." Hewett knows the area well: He grew up in Skowhegan in a family of dairy farmers, who owned farms on Notch Road and Eaton Mountain Road. After graduating high school in 1976, Hewett studied agricultural business at the University of Maine in Orono, though he finished the last year of his degree at the university's campus in Augusta, having returned home to the farm after his father died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Farming is a great way of living, as long as you want to do it seven days a week, 24 hours a day," Hewett said. "And I decided that wasn't quite what I wanted to do." Hewett's family ultimately decided to close down the farm, and he went on to run a real estate office in Canaan for six or seven years. In 1990, he was hired by the town of Skowhegan as its community development director to oversee housing programs. The job quickly grew when he was asked to also oversee the Skowhegan Economic Development Corp., a nonprofit established in 1963. SEDC has tackled various projects during Hewett's time. According to his records, the corporation has brought more than $6.6 million in grants and bonds to Skowhegan for economic development projects since 1976. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We've tried to be open to different projects, and sometimes that takes us in very unique directions," Hewett said. Some projects have been successful, Hewett said, like in 1999 when SEDC worked with Central Maine Power Co. to build a 10,000-square-foot, $550,000 building in the Northgate Industrial Park to keep the utility from moving its base to Farmington. Others, not so much, Hewett said. At one point, in response to retail vacancies, SEDC set up a store that sold merchandise from dozens of local vendors. It only lasted about two years. A willingness to be flexible in trying new things to support businesses and residents, though, is key to Skowhegan's economic future, Hewett said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think Skowhegan's got a good, strong future," he said. "We've got a lot of strong infrastructure in the area. I think we're running through some rough patches right now. We've had a lot of projects going, and I think there's a lot of good coming out of those projects. But I think Skowhegan has to try to be flexible in how they're looking at the future." As an example, Hewett cited Consolidated Communications' recent completion of broadband internet infrastructure in the area. The project was a longtime coming, but officials need to keep their eyes on the future to keep up with changes in technology and the global economy, he said. It is not uncommon now for someone living in Skowhegan to work remotely for a company based in Boston or another major city. "They're coming here because they want to leave the city, or they want some land or something," Hewett said. "But, you know, their job skills are maybe totally different than what is needed right at the moment here. But they can work anywhere in the world." Hewett has noted other changes in Skowhegan. The larger-scale farms of his youth have been sold and replaced by smaller-scale or hobby operations. The Sappi paper mill, though still a major employer, represents a smaller portion of the tax base than it once did, while other businesses have diversified the economy, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outside groups are also much more involved in town affairs, compared to 34 years ago, Hewett said. "There's always been a core group of involved people," Hewett said. "But you definitely have seen a lot stronger citizen involvement with the creation of the Main Street program and all the other different groups that are out there in Skowhegan." Kristina Cannon, president and CEO of the economic revitalization nonprofit Main Street Skowhegan, said her group and Hewett's office collaborated frequently, but they also separated responsibilities well. "He was a great partner in all of this economic development work that has been underway in Skowhegan," Cannon said. "He was always super willing to help with anything." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some who worked with Hewett within town government also praised his friendliness and willingness to lend a hand. "Even as a new chief here, he was immediately there to help me," said police Chief David Bucknam, who was also interim town manager from the fall of 2023 to this spring. Hewett, meanwhile, in his final days at the municipal building, has been working to set up his successor to take over the economic and community development office. As for his retirement plans, Hewett said he has not given it any thought. He just hasn't had the time. His wife, Joanne, died in July after battling cancer. His 23-year-old son Shawn, adopted from Russia when he was 2, lives in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hewett said he enjoys working outside, whether on his property in Skowhegan or on local trails. In the winter months, though, he said he could see himself fleeing Maine's cold temperatures for somewhere with a warmer climate. His last day was officially Friday, but with the town office closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving, Wednesday was Hewett's last day of work. "The day after Thanksgiving," Hewett said, "I have to sit down and really think about it." Copy the Story Link National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday that the FBI should remain an independent institution insulated from politics in the wake of Donald Trump picking Kash Patel as FBI director before Christopher Wrays term is finished. The current FBI director, Chris Wray, was actually appointed by Donald Trump. Joe Biden didnt fire him, Sullivan said in an interview with host Kristen Welker on NBCs Meet the Press. He relied upon him to execute his responsibilities as the director of the FBI, and allowed him to serve out the fullness of his term over the course of the Biden administration. He added: That's how we approach things, and we would like to ensure that the FBI remains an independent institution insulated from politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wray, who Trump picked as FBI director during his first administration, is supposed to hold his 10 year-term until 2027. But on Saturday night, the president-elect announced he would tap Patel as FBI Director to replace Wray, who would either have to resign or be fired by Trump, as was the case with his predecessor, James Comey. Patel, a staunch Trump loyalist, previously served as chief of staff for the Defense secretary in the first Trump administration. His name was floated as a potential deputy director of the FBI during the first Trump administration something then-Attorney General Bill Barr said would occur over my dead body. As for Patel himself, Sullivan said he was not going to speak about the president-elects nominees and let Trump speak for his own rationale, in interviews across the Sunday shows, appearing on CBS, CNN, and ABC in addition to NBC. Sullivan also said Wray has done a very good job in the role, on CNN. President Biden scrupulously adhered to that long-standing bipartisan tradition and for good reason, because the FBI director should not be subject to the whims of the tos and fros of politics, Sullivan said. But as for the announcement yesterday, or the decisions President-elect Trump has made, they'll have to speak to that themselves." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBI released a statement Saturday night, saying: Wrays focus remains on the men and women of the FBI, the people we do the work with, and the people we do the work for. This is a good, deep, bipartisan tradition that President Biden adhered to, and that's really all I can say. As for me personally, I got 50 days left to continue to try to protect this country from threats, to continue to advance our national interests, Sullivan said in an interview with ABCs Jonathan Karl on This Week. I'm going to spend every day doing that, and not worry about other things." Sullivan was also asked whether he fears retribution from Patel, who listed Sullivan as part of the deep state. The national security adviser said instead he is solely focused on defending the country and protecting the national interests: "I can't worry about after January 20th. I have to worry about until January 20th," Sullivan said in an interview with ABC. I'm going to stay totally focused on every single one of those days to make sure that we have a smooth handoff to the next team and we put them in the best strategic position possible, Sullivan said in an interview with CNNs Kasie Hunt on State of the Union. And I can't spend my time worrying about other things at this point. Former national security adviser John Bolton compared Kash Patel, President-elect Trumps nominee to head the FBI, to one of the former Soviet Unions most feared secret police chiefs, Lavrentiy Beria. Trump has nominated Kash Patel to be his Lavrentiy Beria, Bolton said in a statement to NBC Newss Meet The Press on Sunday. Fortunately, the FBI is not the NKVD. The Senate should reject this nomination 100-0. NKVD refers to the interior ministry and secret police of the Soviet Union, which was in place from 1934 to 1946. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beria was appointed by former Soviet Union Prime Minister Joseph Stalin as deputy chief of the Soviet secret police and was head of the Soviet atomic bomb project, according to the Atomic Heritage Foundation. He is known for his violent tactics, including kidnapping, torture and rape, which he used to advance within the ranks of the secret police. At the time, Soviet leaders reportedly feared that Beria would use his control of the secret police to fully seize power. Beria was later tried and convicted of treason and was executed in Moscow in 1953. Updated at 12:59 P.M. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. DES MOINES, Iowa Around 1,000 people visited the Jolly Holiday Lights display during its first two nights, according to the new owners. Jolly Holiday Lights is an annual holiday light display in Des Moines. For over 25 years, Make-A-Wish Iowa has organized the event. They previously told WHO13 News that this was their largest event, funding thousands of wishes for children across the state with critical illnesses. Last years display was located at the Outlets of Des Moines. It was free to attend, and people needed to walk through the mall and see the light displays. However, they hosted several ticketed events, allowing them to raise funds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, Jolly Holiday Lights is under new ownership and its back to being a drive-thru event on display at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Winterland Inc. is a winter holiday decoration provider. They manufacture light displays from their homebase in Indiana and distribute them across the country. This is their first light display in Iowa, but they have partnered with Make-A-Wish Iowa for the last decade, according to a spokesperson for Winterland Inc. 200 unique Christmas trees are on display at Jasper County Museum Every year when you would go drive [or walk] through their show, the lights you would see were our lights. We would come put them up, we would come take them back down, so incredibly natural fit for us to take the show over, said Madelyn Graham, the Light Parks Director for Winterland Inc. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Winterland Inc. will continue its partnership with Make-A-Wish Iowa, donating $1 from every ticket sold this year to the nonprofit. Graham said there are new light displays for Iowans to check out this year as they make their way through the Fairgrounds. The entrance is at Gate 2, which is located near the intersection of East University Avenue and East 33rd Street in Des Moines. Tickets are $20 per car, or $50 per bus or limo, and can be purchased online or at the gate. The light display can be seen every night until January 4th. On weeknights, theyre open from 5-9 p.m., and on weekends from 5-10 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. A jury picked in federal court this week will decide the fate of Roger Golubski, a retired Kansas City, Kansas, homicide detective accused of raping women while lording his power as a policeman over them. The criminal trial, set to begin Monday, stems from the first of two federal indictments brought against Golubski, 71, since 2022. Prosecutors have charged him with six felony counts of depriving the civil rights of two women, one of whom was as young as 13 years old when the alleged abuse began. Both women will testify to instances of rape and sexual misconduct during the 1990s and early 2000s at the hands of Golubski. He is accused of repeatedly forcing himself on them, in his patrol vehicle or in the case of one in her home, under the threat of death or retribution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government is also expected to rely on as many as seven more witnesses, referred to as Other Victims, to demonstrate a longstanding pattern of sexual violence and abuse of power. Golubski has maintained innocence. His defense will argue the victims fabricated the claims against him, possibly for some type of personal gain. Hearings in Golubskis criminal case will be held in Topeka. The trial could be as long as 17 courtroom days, including two for jury selection. An accommodation for Golubskis medical conditions means court will be in session only three days per week. No hearings will be held on federal holidays or the day before Christmas Eve. In all, the trial is expected to stretch over the course of five weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To secure a conviction, prosecutors will need to prove to jurors that Golubski abused his official authority as a police officer, committed sexual assaults that deprived the women of their right to bodily integrity, and did so willfully. Longtime officer accused of misconduct A Kansas City, Kansas, police officer between 1975 and 2010, prosecutors allege Golubski routinely used his badge to shield himself from justice. Golubski, who is white, is accused of targeting vulnerable Black women and sexually exploiting several he encountered while on the job. One of the victims, identified in court papers as S.K., claims the former detective first lured her into his patrol car by telling her she was a witness to a crime. He is accused of raping her on occasions between 1998 and 2001, threatening to kill her or her grandmother if she failed to adhere to his demands. The second victim, referred to as O.W. in court papers, is Ophelia Williams, who has shared her allegations against Golubski publicly. She accuses Golubski of raping her repeatedly since 1999, beginning shortly after her teenage sons were arrested and charged in a homicide case that Golubski investigated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The allegations raised by the women first came to light in civil court through a lawsuit brought by Lamonte McIntyre, who contended Golubski framed him for a 1994 double murder. Lawyers for McIntyre and his mother, Rose, said in court filings that Golubski victimized, assaulted or harassed more than 70 women. In 2017, McIntyre was exonerated and released from prison, following 23 years of wrongful incarceration. In 2020, Golubski was asked during a deposition as part of the McIntyre civil case if he understood he was being accused of raping women and coercing women into giving false testimony, some of the grossest acts of corruption a police officer can commit. He invoked his 5th Amendment right, declining to respond 555 times during that deposition. The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, later settled the McIntyre civil case for $12.5 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department acknowledged the receipt and cooperation with investigative subpoenas from the FBI that concerned Golubski since 2019. Second case upcoming Federal prosecutors allege Golubski also served as a protector of feared drug kingpin Cecil Brooks. The former detective is one of four alongside Brooks and associates LeMark Roberson and Richard Bone Robinson accused of running an underage sex trafficking ring out of an apartment complex at Delavan Avenue and 26th Street. Prosecutors allege the girls were held at the apartment complex in a condition of involuntary sexual servitude and used like chattel. As a detective, Golubski allegedly protected Brooks and the others from police investigation as they trafficked and raped the girls. No trial date has been set in that case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kansas City, Kansas, community leaders have long pointed to Golubski as evidence of deep-seated problems within the citys police department, calling on the U.S. Justice Department to launch a pattern or practice investigation. Local faith leaders are organizing a bus trip from Kansas City, Kansas, to Topeka on Monday to rally on the courthouse steps. Other organizations, such as Team Roc, the social justice arm of rapper and businessman Jay-Z, and the Kansas City-based Midwest Innocence Project, have also urged federal officials to open a broader investigation into alleged police corruption in Kansas City, Kansas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday extended greetings on the occasion of Border Security Force Raising Day on Sunday and said that their vigilance and courage contribute to the safety and security of our nation. "Warm wishes to the Border Security Force on their Raising Day! The BSF stands as a critical line of defence, embodying courage, dedication and exceptional service. Their vigilance and courage contribute to the safety and security of our nation," PM Modi said in a post on X. The BSF, which is the largest border guarding force in the world with a strength of nearly 2.65 lakh personnel, celebrates its Raising Day every year on December 1. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also extended his greetings to BSF India personnel and their families. "On BSF Raising Day, I extend my greetings to BSF India personnel and their families. Guided by the motto "jiivn pryNtt krtvy", the BSF safeguards the sovereignty and security of our nation with unmatched courage and dedication. Salute to their sacrifice and unwavering commitment," LG Manoj Sinha posted on X. Mandated to guard the India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders, the BSF is the only force of the nation with a distinctly defined wartime as well as peace-time role. The force has successfully proved its mettle in accomplishing every task assigned to it in times of war and peace situation while ensuring peace and tranquillity on the border. The BSF troops, deployed in the most challenging terrain and remote locations, have been serving as the guardians of India's borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. Till 1965, India's border with Pakistan was manned by the State Armed Police Battalion. On April 9, 1965, Pakistan attacked Sardar Post, Chhar Bet and Beria Bet in Kutch. This exposed the inadequacy of the State Armed Police to cope with armed aggression, due to which the Government of India felt the need for a specialised, centrally controlled Border Security Force that would be armed and trained to man the international border with Pakistan. As a result of the recommendations of the Committee of Secretaries, the Border Security Force came into existence on December 1, 1965. Initially, in 1965, BSF was raised with 25 battalions and, with the passage of time, was expanded as per the requirement of the nation to fight against militancy in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and the Northeast region. The BSF, with a sanctioned strength of over 2,65,000 personnel spread across 192 battalions, is responsible for securing India's borders stretching over 6,386.36 kilometres with Pakistan and Bangladesh. (ANI) The wide-open race for Democratic National Committee chair already has an emerging front-runner. In a measure of outreach even his competitors have acknowledged in recent days, Ken Martin, head of Minnesotas Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, said he has locked down nearly half of the needed endorsements to win the contest. The race is widely perceived as a battle over the future of the party, which saw swaths of its coalition flock to President-elect Donald Trump. Martins early efforts may ultimately be put to the test by other, bigger-name potential candidates who have not yet entered the race, like Rahm Emanuel or Sherrod Brown. But his initial lead also seems to reflect the diminished role of the DNC in the post-Obama era, and especially after losing the White House in November. If he wins, the party wont be electing him as a force of personality, but as a safe pair of hands for the nuts-and-bolts operation on South Capitol Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also may reflect the fact that some DNC members are looking to avoid a proxy war between progressives and establishment Democrats like the one that emerged during the party leadership race in 2017 after leaked emails revealed DNC officials criticized Bernie Sanders' challenge to Hillary Clinton. Even one of Martins potential opponents, former New York Assemblymember Michael Blake, said that the Minnesotan is the current front-runner. I think thats fair, he said, adding that it factored into his decision to campaign for mayor of New York City, while also eying the chairs race. Thats why I say there have to be considerations of how to serve. You look at your paths, you look at your plans, and then make a decision. After Trumps victory this year, there has been no shortage of finger-pointing between centrists and liberals. But there is also a deep exhaustion among Democrats that wasnt present in the days after Trumps first surprise win, which spurred hundreds of thousands of people to take to the streets. Martin and his allies are selling him as a neutral leader who would avoid messy disagreements in the party that some are in no mood to have right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The key for a successful party chair is to get all of those various ideological wings of your party to work together, said Martin, who is also president of the Association of State Democratic Parties. For me, it doesn't really matter where I stand on any of that, because my job is to make sure that we are winning elections. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who unsuccessfully ran for DNC chair in 2017 with the backing of progressives, said he is endorsing Martin and that he knows that his role is essentially a process role. He's trying to get people to vote, to run. He's not trying to say, Here's what you need to stand for. William Owen, a DNC member from Tennessee, said Martin isnt his first choice and that he would prefer Brown, the senator from Ohio, if he can be convinced to run. But he said Martin has credibility with all factions of the party and is someone everyone could get behind. Some outside Democrats argue that, one way or another, they need to have a serious intraparty debate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maybe the best thing is for the Democratic Party chair to be essentially a technician addressing the operations of the party, said David Axelrod, the former top Barack Obama adviser. But someone has to ask the question, How did we lose 90 percent of the counties in this country? And is that a workable model moving forward? The DNC chair election will be held on Feb. 1, during the committees winter meeting. The DNC announced it will host four candidate forums throughout January. To participate, the candidates must submit 40 endorsements from DNC members, the committee announced on Monday. Martins campaign provided a list of endorsers to POLITICO. His haul of backers 100 out of 448 DNC members also hasnt been overwhelming enough to scare at least two candidates out of the race. Former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley announced a bid shortly before Martin did, and his aides said he has been working the phones several hours a day talking to DNC members, party leaders and elected officials. They argue that he has relationships across the party after chairing the Democratic Governors Association, running for president in 2016 and recently campaigning for Democratic candidates. In an interview, OMalley pitched himself as an operational leader with an ability to turn around complex and challenged organizations. He argued that he is so far the only person in this race who has actually chaired a national committee and won back red states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A person close to OMalley, who was granted anonymity to speak freely, downplayed Martins rollout of endorsements, saying he has been inside the DNC for years so of course hell have some immediate commitments. New York state Sen. James Skoufis is also launching a longshot campaign. Other Democrats are openly eyeing a run for DNC chair, and some of them would likely kick off an ideological debate within the party. Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler announced Sunday that he is running. Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, the only woman so far publicly considering a bid, said she is exploring it and beginning lots of conversations. Chuck Rocha, a Democratic strategist and self-described non-college-educated Mexican redneck, said he is also mulling a run. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rocha argued that many of the other declared and potential candidates have been involved in the party a long time, so it seems like if you always do what youve always done, youll always get what youve always gotten. Rocha is also critical of the fact that the DNC chair field is mostly composed of white men, citing several other elected officials he hopes will consider the role, including Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. We talk about Latino voters all the time when it comes to blaming them for the election or why did they underperform, he said. But when it comes to positions of power in the party, were nowhere to be seen right now. Blake, who is Black, likewise said, There is an urgent need for a Black candidate to be a part of all these conversations and specifically a Black man candidate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added, It's concerning that, thus far, despite the Black vote still being the strongest base of the party, we only seem to have one person that's being talked about being invited to the party. Democrats are also trying to woo Emanuel, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, former New York Rep. Max Rose and 2020 Bernie Sanders campaign manager Faiz Shakir into the race. Shakir would likely ruffle the feathers of some moderate Democrats. On the other end of the spectrum, progressive groups and elected officials are already mobilizing against Emanuel, with the anti-establishment Justice Democrats writing in an email to supporters that a corporate-friendly Democrat like Emanuel is the opposite of what the Party needs at this moment. Axelrod, who floated an Emanuel candidacy on social media, said that he knows how to win, and he led the party sort of out of the wilderness in 2006 and helped win the House back as then-chair of the DCCC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, California Sen. Laphonza Butler and former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, meanwhile, took their names out of contention in recent days. The larger the field, the more it would likely benefit Martin given his base of support. But a strong start doesnt always end with success. Nearly eight years ago, another Minnesota Democrat was widely considered the early front-runner in the DNC chair contest. Ellison, now the states attorney general, earned the backing of Democratic heavyweights like Chuck Schumer, Harry Reid and Sanders. In the end, he narrowly lost to former Labor Secretary Tom Perez, who was endorsed by now-President Joe Biden and other Obama alumni. So far, in this years contest, Biden and Obama, along with Vice President Kamala Harris, have not publicly weighed in. The mother of a British lawyer who died of suspected methanol poisoning in Laos has described her race from the UK to be by her daughters side as she underwent brain surgery. Simone White, 28, was one of six tourists who died after drinking alcoholic drinks which are believed to have been laced with methanol in Vang Vieng. Her mother, Sue White, has opened up for the first time about her death and the horrendous 16-hour journey to be with her as her condition deteriorated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the 61-year-old, from Orpington, arrived in South-East Asia, Simone was being wheeled into theatre for surgery. I knew when I had that phone call I dont know what it was, call it a mothers intuition but I knew that she was going to die, she said. It later became clear that her brain function was gone, and she died on Thursday, Nov 21. Laos police detain eight Nana Backpackers Hostel employees for questioning while the owners deny serving illicit alcohol - Beatrice Siveiro Mrs White told The Sunday Times: The flight from the UK was horrendous. Before I left, I got a call from the hospital to say she needed urgent brain surgery and I had to give my consent. It was a terrible, terrible journey. Simone was a lawyer with global law firm Squire Patton Boggs, working in general commercial matters, including intellectual property law, according to the firms website. Totally devastated She and her two childhood friends drank six free vodka shots from Nana Backpackers Hostel, where they were staying. They began to feel ill the next day, and as their condition worsened they decided to go to hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Simone, who had recently bought a flat in Lewisham, died nine days after she and her friends drank the vodka. Her two friends recovered but are said to be traumatised. Mrs White was told by doctors that while all the friends drank the same amount, people break down methanol differently within their metabolism, which in Simones case went straight to her brain. It was so unfortunate. It just affected Simone so much more than the other two, she added. Zak, Simones 23-year-old brother, is totally devastated. It can happen to anybody Laos police have since detained eight hostel employees for questioning over the incident, while the owners denied serving illicit alcohol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neil White, 58, Simones father, said: I hope that the police investigation brings those responsible to justice, both for Simone and all the other victims. We hope this raises awareness to all future travellers about the dangers of consuming local alcohol. Urging caution to fellow travellers, Mrs White told The Sunday Times: Please be careful when it comes to drinks. Simone was a university-educated, highly intelligent person. If it can happen to her, it can happen to anybody. Laos keeping a tight lid Police in Laos have detained several people in connection with the death of Ms White and five others, who are also believed to have been poisoned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vang Vieng is particularly popular among backpackers seeking parties and adventure sports. Officials in Laos have released almost no details about the case, with the government keeping a tight lid on information. Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, two Australian friends, both aged 19, two Danish women, Frela Vennervald Sorensen, 21, and Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and a US citizen, James Louis Hutson, 57, also died of methanol poisoning after staying at Nana Backpackers hostel. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Question : I heard you cannot walk into the Social Security office anymore. Is this true ? I have a problem that I need help with as the instructions in the mail did not make sense to me. I planned to go to the office but my friend said to check first. Answer : The Social Security Administration will soon require most customers to schedule an appointment for in-person service, including to process requests for Social Security cards, but the new policy isnt scheduled to take effect at field offices nationwide until Jan. 6, according to the agency. Even after that, walk-in service will remain available, but customers may wait longer than if they had made an appointment. We want to make clear that we will not turn people away for service who are unable to make an appointment or do not want to make an appointment. For example, members of vulnerable populations, military personnel, people with terminal illnesses, and individuals with other situations requiring immediate or specialized attention may still walk in for service at our field offices. Some of our offices also have minimal to no wait times, and they will still serve customers who walk in, Dawn Bystry, associate commissioner of the SSAs Office of Strategic and Digital Communications, said in a news release Nov. 14. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many tasks involving Social Security can be handled online, via, or by using automated telephone services, as listed at. These options are available 24 /7 and dont require you to speak to a representative. If you are unable to handle your issue online or by phone, you may call 800-772-1213 to make an appointment for in-person service, the news release said. Call Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. local time, according to ssa.gov. Wait times to speak to a representative are typically shorter in the morning, later in the week, and later in the month, the website says. Q : Regarding the bird flu, does this mean the state will cull feral chickens roaming in urban and suburban areas (not on farms )? It seems like they would be a health risk. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. A : From a medical perspective, it is not clear that a mass culling of feral chickens would appreciably reduce the risk to humans, according to the state Department of Health, which addresses a version of this question on its website. For the general public, the best defense at this point is to avoid interacting with feral chickens and wild birds as much as possible, it says. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI ) was detected in mid-November in a backyard flock of various birds in Central Oahu. The virus is very contagious among birds, and can spread to humans who come in contact with an infected bird or have certain indirect contact, such as with an infected birds droppings. The current risk to the general public in Hawaii remains low, the DOH says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents are encouraged to report sick or dead birds, especially when multiple or unusual. Please contact Animal Industry Division at Hawaii Department of Agriculture at 808-483-7102 Monday to Friday from 7 :45 a.m. to 4 :30 p.m., or 808-837-8092 during non-business hours and holidays, it says. Theres much more information on the DOH website devoted to this topic, . Mahalo Mahalo to the unknown angel who found my dog-walking fanny pack on Pohue Street in Aiea. I was hunting everywhere looking for it, not knowing that I had dropped it. What a wonderful Thanksgiving blessing to find it a couple of days later hanging in perfect shape on the tree that my dog and I usually enjoy the shade under its beautiful branches. Many mahalos for your kindness and thoughtfulness, bless your heart.Donna and Noa------------Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 2-200, Honolulu, HI 96813 ; call 808-529-4773 ; or email.------------ Russia's leadership has dismissed General Sergei Kisel, who commanded Moscow's military group in Syria, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) reported on Dec. 1. Following years of low-intensity fighting, rebels led by the radical group Tahrir al-Sham entered Aleppo on Nov. 29 and engaged the government forces of President Bashar al-Assad. They left the city and reported that they were preparing a counteroffensive. Pro-Assad Syrian government forces had held nearly 70% of the country with the support of Russia, Iran, and allies from Hezbollah, a terrorist group based in Lebanon, according to the Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian troops deployed in Syria have suffered "significant" losses, some Russian units are surrounded, and "hundreds" of Russian soldiers are missing, according to HUR. Before serving in Syria, Kisel participated in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine but was dismissed from his post due to his failed activities, the intelligence's report read. According to Ukrainian intelligence, Kisel will be replaced by another Russian general, Alexander Chaiko, who has already arrived in Syria. Chaiko commanded Russian troops in Syria from 2017 until 2019. Russian Navy Commander Admiral Alexander Moiseev also appeared at the naval base in Tartus, HUR added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moscow has not yet commented on the new appointments to the army in Syria. The Kyiv Independent could not verify Ukraine's military intelligence's claims. Russian warplanes previously joined the Syrian Air Force in bombing rebel positions in the northwestern city of Aleppo, Syria, Reuters reported, citing two undisclosed Syrian military sources. The reports of the Nov. 30 attacks came the day after Islamists and their Turkish-backed allies broke through to Syria's second-largest city Aleppo. On Nov. 29, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia considers the rebels' actions as "a violation of Syria's sovereignty." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Its excruciating Ukrainians describe surviving Russian attacks that cost them health, loved ones, and homes Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) analysts said in a report on 30 November that Russia has stepped up diplomatic efforts to support the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad amid the active advance of opposition forces. Source: ISW Details: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on 29 November that the Syrian opposition forces' offensive represents an "encroachment on Syria's sovereignty" and affirmed Russia's support for Syrian authorities to restore "constitutional order." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a phone conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on 30 November to address the situation in Syria. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs asserted that both officials voiced serious concerns regarding the "dangerous developments" in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. Lavrov and Fidan reportedly discussed the necessity of coordinating joint Russian-Turkish efforts to stabilise the situation, mainly through the Astana Process initiated by Russia, Turkiye and Iran in December 2016. ISW observes that the Astana Process is an alternative to the UN-led Geneva Process established under UN Security Council Resolution 2254. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also reportedly called Lavrov on 30 November, during which they expressed "extreme concern" over the "dangerous escalation" in Syria.ISW notes that Russia has been facing difficulties in providing additional support to the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad due to the high intensity of hostilities in Ukraine. Russia redeployed S-300 systems from Syria to Russia in 2022, likely to bolster operations in Ukraine. ISW gathered unverified reports in March 2022 that Russia withdrew both Russian soldiers and Wagner Group militants from Syria, likely to reinforce its efforts in Ukraine. To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 27 November: Kremlin officials responded to Syrian opposition forces' offensive into Syrian regime-held territory on 29-30 November and expressed interest in using the Astana Process to respond to the situation. Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov met with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un during his unannounced trip to Pyongyang on 30 November. Ukrainian forces recently regained lost positions north of Kharkiv, and Russian forces recently advanced near Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, and Vuhledar. Russian milbloggers continued to criticise poor Russian military command decisions and poor training and discipline among Russian personnel. Background: On 30 November, the Syrian authorities announced a "temporary withdrawal of troops" from the city of Aleppo in the northwest of the country to prepare a counterattack against the rebels. Reuters sources reported that the Syrian military had been ordered to "safely withdraw" from the main opposition-held areas of Aleppo. The sources said that Russia has promised Damascus additional military assistance to counter the opposition forces and that new equipment will start arriving within the next 72 hours. Support UP or become our patron! The Kremlin dismissed former German chancellor Angela Merkel's description of a 2007 meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin as simply further evidence of Merkel's anti-Russian bias. In her newly published memoirs, the former long-time German political leader wrote that Putin had known about her fear of dogs and had deliberately let his pet Labrador into the room to stress her. "If she wrote something like that, then she was probably not as open to dialog as Putin was," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told pro-Kremlin TV correspondent Pavel Sarubin on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peskov said he suspects Merkel was probably already internally opposed to Russia at the time, even if he could not say this with certainty. According to Peskov, Putin only wanted to create a cozy atmosphere by bringing his dog into the negotiating room. A few days ago, Putin had also made a similar statement after the passage in Merkel's memoirs first came out. At the time, Putin said, he knew nothing about Merkel's fear of dogs. He had later apologized to Merkel when he found out about it, but said he was prepared to apologize again. "Angela, sorry, I didn't want to cause you any grief," Putin said at a press conference. It is unclear whether Putin was speaking sincerely or making light of Merkel. Sarubin, who was also present at the press conference, appeared clearly amused by Putin's comments. UPDATE: Las Cruces woman Jo Ann Melon Guadian, 70, was located and is safe, Las Cruces Police said. ORIGINAL: EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The Las Cruces Police Department is asking for the publics help in finding a missing 70-year-old woman. Las Cruces Police said Jo Ann Melon Guadian, 70, was last seen on Tuesday, Nov. 26 near the 200 block of East Picacho. She is described as being 5 feet, 2 inches tall, weighs 140 pounds and has brown eyes and black hair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was last seen wearing light pink pajama bottoms and a black shirt, police said. If you have any information on this womans whereabouts or have seen her, call the Las Cruces Police Department immediately at (575) 526-0795. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. At least one person was killed in a crash involving a semi truck on Interstate 94 in Stearns County Saturday afternoon. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a Toyota Prius was traveling east on I-94 at around 2:30 p.m. when it rear-ended a semi near mile marker 145 in Albany Township. The crash was fatal and involved at least one person who was not wearing a seatbelt, the State Patrol says. The driver of the Prius was a 42-year-old Minneapolis woman. A 15-year-old girl from Minneapolis was also in the car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver of the semi was identified as a 21-year-old Minneapolis man. Further details about the crash, including the victim or victims killed, have not yet been released. Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change. NANYUKI, Kenya (AP) Margaret Wandia became pregnant after a week-long relationship with a British soldier training near her community in Kenya. They met while she worked at a bar in her early 20s. She knew little about him. He left her with a biracial child. Now that son is 26, and he is part of an effort by a Kenyan lawyer to take a number of such children to Britain. The goal is to confront authorities over hundreds of such cases reported over the years, and to find the fathers and seek their support. It is a long shot after years of attempts by human rights groups to hold the British military and its personnel accountable for their actions during weeks of training in Kenya including alleged rapes and the children they leave behind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The countries $44 million defense cooperation agreement was renewed in 2021. It allows up to 10,000 British forces to train for eight weeks in Kenya every year. Kenyas biracial children are part of broader concerns about the British mission, notably the persistent allegations of rape of local girls and women. Like many biracial children in largely conservative Kenya, Wandia's son, Louise Gitonga, said he has felt excluded by society and left out of education and employment opportunities for being too white. I have an identity crisis that has driven me to alcoholism, the unemployed Gitonga told The Associated Press at his home in the central town of Nanyuki. Everywhere I pass, people call me a white man. Others call me an albino. These names cause me a great deal of pain and hurt." His mother recalled taking him to boarding school and being asked to pay higher fees for her white child. She later married a local farmer, Paul Wachira, who acknowledged the challenges of raising a biracial child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At times, I had to hide him from the rest of the family during gatherings to avoid many questions, as he looked very different from his siblings," Wachira said. Kenyan lawyer Kelvin Kubai represents 10 such children of visiting British forces. He asserted that not all of their parents' relationships were consensual. In collaboration with a British law firm he declined to name, he hopes to take some of the children to Britain next year and go to court. You know, such children do not know the circumstances under which they were born, Kubai said. He hopes they'll obtain citizenship. According to British law, children born to British citizens are eligible for British citizenship and care of both parents if they are below 18. Seven of the children Kubai represents are under 18. For those older than 18, the trip is a quest for identity and support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kubai is also raising money $4,600 so far to conduct DNA testing to help find the childrens fathers. The identity crisis affects children born to white fathers. Kubai said he has yet to come across children of Black British fathers. They would not be easy to spot and not face discrimination, he said. A British High Commission spokesperson in a statement to the AP said it and the British military training mission in Kenya cooperate fully with local child support authorities where there are claims relating to paternity. Those authorities didn't respond to questions. But Kenyan mothers and civil society groups have long said British authorities have been little or no help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jenerica Namoru, 29, has a 5-year-old after dating a British man with the training mission. The mans name appears on the birth certificate as the father after he consented and shared his documentation for the process. Namoru said the man initially accepted the child and communicated with her but refused to send financial support. She sought help at the British Army Training Unit Kenya offices. She said they wouldnt listen. At times, they even blocked me from entering the gate, she said. She's now being represented by Kubai. Biracial children in the area around the British training site date back to the 1960s when Kenya was under British rule. Those born decades ago are also part of current efforts to seek justice and support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David Mwangi Macharia, 68, bears the nickname British due to his light skin color. He said his mother had a relationship with a British soldier. He works as a night guard and part-time mason after dropping out of primary school due to being ridiculed and discriminated against. (Kenyans) always think that I cannot do menial jobs despite the fact that I am not educated, Macharia said. He has even found it difficult to get along with his darker-skinned siblings. Attempts to hold visiting British forces accountable have long gained little traction, Kenyans say. Marion Mutugi, a commissioner with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, said the relationships between British soldiers and local women range from consensual to transactional to forced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commission says it has documented over 200 rape cases involving British troops between 1983 and 2003, and it continues to collect data. Britain's defense ministry dismissed the rape cases as not genuine, and an investigation by the Royal Military Police in 2007 did not lead to compensation or justice for the victims, the KNCHR said in a report to Kenya's parliament protesting a past renewal of the countries' defense agreement. (Authorities) also interfere with investigations by compromising the local community. The human rights defenders on the ground are threatened and intimidated by both the BATUK and the Kenyan forces and Kenyan officials to ensure that justice is not reached, Mutugi said. "Our take at the commission was that they wanted to put a Band-Aid on a wound instead of lacerating, dealing with it and operating on it, the commissioner added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The British High Commission has said it was looking into the allegations. Kenyan authorities have never responded to the allegations. The most well-known case is that of Agnes Wanjiru, was killed in 2012 after an evening in the company of British soldiers. An inquest in 2019 concluded that Wanjiru was murdered by British soldiers but no suspect has been charged. A public hearing by the Kenyan parliament's defense committee, which started in May, has revived investigations. Kubai said he hopes to provide Kenyan children of British soldiers a much-needed sense of identity. What we are bringing in the UK court is not just the issue of rape, it is the issue of these children who happen to be prisoners of an identity they did not chose for themselves, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ___ For more on Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse ___ The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. James Solomon Jr., a local civil rights icon and one of three Black students to desegregate the University of South Carolina, died Friday. He was 94. Solomon, along with Henrie Monteith Treadwell and Robert Anderson, descended the steps of USCs Osborne Administration Building in 1963 and walked toward Hamilton College to register for classes. With their admission, the three desegregated the university as its first students of color in more than a century. Born in McDonough, Georgia, Solomon graduated high school at 16 and attended college for a year before leaving to serve in the Air Force in Japan during the Korean War. When he left the service, he met his wife, Helen, in Sumter and went on to earn a bachelors degree from Morris College and a masters degree from Atlanta University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While he was a professor at his alma mater, Solomon began considering applying to USC. After Anderson and Monteith were admitted, he applied to and enrolled in USCs graduate program in mathematics. The USC College of Arts and Sciences and the mathematics department honored Solomon with a plaque in LeConte College in 2019. And more than 60 years after Solomon first stepped on campus, his role in desegregating USC was celebrated with a 12-foot bronze monument on the historic Horseshoe in April. The University of South Carolina family is saddened by the death of James L. Solomon Jr. His legacy of bravery and service to community is an enduring inspiration to us all, a university spokesman said in a statement. His role in desegregating the Columbia campus, along with Henrie Monteith Treadwell and Robert G. Anderson, is immortalized on our campus as a testament to his personal courage and an unwavering commitment to justice. We share our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and everyone who was affected by his life of selfless sacrifice. Carmen Smith, Henrie Monteith Treadwell and James Solomon Jr. pose in front of the new desegregation monument at The University of South Carolina. The monument, which was unveiled on Friday, April 19, 2024, was created from a photograph showing Treadwell, Solomon and Robert Anderson as the first Black students admitted to the university. Carmen Smith is Robert Andersons sister. While many remember Solomon as a trailblazer for students at USC, his service to the community spanned much further. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He became the first Black elected official in Sumter since the Reconstruction era of the 19th century when he was elected to the Sumter District 17 school board. After being a dean and a vice president at Morris College, Solomon was a leader for the states Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Social Services. Solomon was also involved with the Columbia Urban League, United Way of the Midlands and the American Public Welfare Association, among others, and was elected to Richland County Council and Richland School District 1s school board of which he became the first Black chairman. Solomons civic dedication twice earned him the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor in South Carolina, awarded by former governors Richard Riley and Carroll Campbell. He will be missed but his legacy lives on, state Sen. Tameika Isaac Devine, D-Richland, wrote on social media. Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Bihar Governor Rajendra Arlenkar offered prayers at Mahakal temple in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain on Sunday morning. Sisodia and Arlenkar attended Baba Mahakal's Bhasma Aarti. After attending the Bhasma Aarti, they offered prayers to Baba Mahakaleshwar. Speaking to ANI after the darshan and prayers, Sisodia said that he had a "very divine experience" adding that he sought the Lord's blessings for the people of the whole country. "Today I visited Baba Shiva, visited Bholenath, sat in his presence for 2 hours, had a very divine experience. Every moment felt like merging, especially when the Bhasma Aarti took place, I felt like everything, my ego, all the fear, all the desire, all the scene, everything is merging into the five elements. It is wonderful, it is very difficult to describe in words. I am thankful to the commission here for the way it has made arrangements," Sisodia said. "I sat at Baba's feet and prayed for the people of Delhi, prayed for the country, prayed for the world, may Lord Shiva reside in everyone's heart and let there be no hatred in anyone's mind. I prayed especially that he engage me in education. I have prayed at Baba's feet that whatever service is worthy of me, keep me engaged in it, but every person of the country and the world should be engaged in it. Children should get the best possible education," he added. Highlighting the Delhi Assembly elections likely to be held in Februrary next year, the AAP leader said, "There are elections in Delhi and Aam Aadmi Party is fighting the elections under the leadership of Kejriwal and with the blessings of Baba Mahakal, Kejriwal ji has done so much work for the people of Delhi that no party in the whole country has ever done." "Aam Aadmi Party and all of us have got the devotion of Baba Mahakal and we will keep on serving the people of Delhi by being immersed in the service of Baba," he added. Bihar governor Rajendra Arlekar said, "If I say I came for the Darshan of Lord Mahakal it would be wrong, he called me. My wish for a long time has been fulfilled now." Both Sisodia and Arlenkar were accompanied by their wives and close family as they visited the Mahakal temple. (ANI) A Michigan man died Sunday morning as the result of a shooting on Chinoe Road in Lexington, according to police. Officers with the Lexington Police Department were dispatched to the 1000 block of Chinoe Road around 6:45 p.m. Saturday. Police found a man with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. He died shortly after, according to police. The Fayette County Coroner identified the man as 35-year-old Gregory Williams, of Warren, Michigan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police did not release any details about what led up to the shooting or any suspect information. Detectives continue to investigate and ask anyone with information about this case to call Lexington Police at 859-258-3600. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers by calling 859-253-2020, online at bluegrasscrimestoppers.com, or through the P3 Tips app at p3tips.com. Quantum computers are extremely expensive to build, often costing millions of dollars due to the need for specialized materials, components, and equipment such as cryogenic systems and advanced electronics. This is one of the reasons why scientists in only some developed parts of the world currently have access to this advanced computing technology. However, a new study by researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (Wits University) proposes a quantum computer made with ordinary equipment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This innovation has the potential to make powerful quantum computing technology more affordable and accessible to all. It may sound unbelievable, but the study authors build a quantum computer using only laser beams, digital displays (like those found in projectors), and simple lenses. When they ran tests, their computer successfully performed complex tasks and processed multiple levels of information beyond the capabilities of classical computers. The uncanny power of light The quantum computer built by the researchers is driven by the properties of light. They used a classically structured light, a type of light beam manipulated to have specific shapes, structures, or phases, enabling them to carry complex information. By applying quantum principles, like state superposition (where a system can exist in multiple states at once), the researchers performed photonic matrix multiplicationa process where light patterns are used to perform mathematical operations with matrices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The key was linking how light interacts with optical devices, such as digital displays and lenses, to the mathematical operations that a quantum operation in a quantum computer performs, the study authors note. Once the classically structured light was successfully integrated with the optical components of the computer, the researchers tested their quantum system using the Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm. This particular algorithm addresses a specific problem; identifying whether a function is constant (producing the same output for all inputs) or balanced (giving different outputs for half of the inputs). It may sound simple but this algorithm reveals whether a system is faster, better, and more efficient than a classical computer. Analyzing the quantum computers performance When the researchers tested their quantum computer, its performance surprised them because, similar to an expensive quantum system, their innovation outperformed classical computers by a significant margin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While traditional computers work with only 0 and 1, Weve shown that our system can work with 16 different levels of information," highlighted Mwezi Koni, lead researcher and an M.Sc. candidate at the Wits University. "In theory, we could expand this to handle millions of levels, which would be a game-changer for processing complex information," Koni added. Moreover, since this quantum computer uses light to process information, the speed at which it can solve multiple complex calculations simultaneously is unmatchable. "Traditional computers work like switchboards, processing information as simple yes or no decisions. Our approach uses laser beams to process multiple possibilities simultaneously, dramatically increasing computing power," Isaac Nape, one of the study authors and an expert in quantum technology at Wits, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Wits team is hopeful that their innovation will increase access to quantum computers in labs and quantum research facilities located in countries that cant afford expensive quantum technologies. The study is published in the journal APL Photonics. AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) One local author hosted her first of three book signing sessions on Saturday for two new books coming out in December. June Summerss upcoming book, What Happened to the Boy is a thriller mystery, which is what she typically writes. The other, Hope Unleased, is a memoir that follows the story of her daughter, who died from breast cancer but compassionately cares for animals. Saturdays book signing was at Leanas Books and More in Austintown. Summers says the signings are a good time to meet fans but also for them to share their stories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A woman was in earlier. She had a niece who passed away 36 years old and thats how old my daughter was when she first got it. She passed away a couple of months after her niece, but you hear other peoples stories, too, Summers said. Summers will host another signing from noon to 4 p.m., Dec. 7 at the Trumbull County Animal Welfare League, and another from 1 to 4 p.m., Dec. 14 at Leanas Books and More at the Eastwood Mall. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Scioto County to get $288K in grants Scioto County will receive $288,000 to provide funding for the Shawnee State Golden Bears Program, which will provide physical and social health services to 773 Scioto County senior citizens. The county will also conduct flood and drainage improvements in the Village of Otway, benefiting 100 residents. Additionally, Scioto County received a Critical Infrastructure grant from OCI, which will support this project. Scioto County commits a total of $1,027,228 in leveraged funds the project cost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. DeWine signs college bills into law Gov. Mike DeWine has signed into law a bill that would amend the Ohio Revised Code in regards to both the College Credit Plus program and gendered restrooms on college campuses. Senate Bill 104, sponsored by State Sens. Jerry Cirino, R-Kirtland, and Andrew Brenner, R-Delaware, amends the Revised Code regarding the College Credit Plus Program and to enact the Protect All Students Act regarding single-sex bathroom access in primary and secondary schools and institutions of higher education. College Credit Plus allows secondary students to attend college classes for credit at no cost to the student. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Terry Johnson, R-McDermott, was a co-sponsor of the bill. OFAF recognizes forestry programs The Ohio Forestry Association Foundation awarded grants for conservation education projects throughout Ohio. These grants are generally small-scale and are designed to assist an organization with funding for activities that align with the mission of OFAF in the following year. The 2024 grant recipients are: * A DAY in the WOODS/Vinton Soil and Water District McArthur, Ohio * River Valley High School Bidwell, Ohio * South Gallia FFA Crown City, Ohio If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to the Ohio Forestry Association Foundation as part of your year-end giving practices, you can donate online at OhioForest.org. The Ohio Forestry Association Foundation is a charitable, non-profit organization working to promote conservation education and critical awareness of the importance of forest resources to our environment and economy. Our mission is focused on providing financial, educational, and technical resources to individuals and organizations throughout Ohio whose purposes include conservation, development and protection of forests and wildlife resources and research in the science of management and sustainable utilization of forests and related resources. NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) Small Business Saturday is one of the busiest shopping days of the year for locally-owned stores in Western New York. Shops along Webster Street in North Tonawanda are hoping to cash in on the shopping holiday. Were all local. We put our money back into the neighborhoods and back into the local areas. That in general is what small business does, said Suzanne Todaro, who owns Gleam and Glimmer Stained Glass Studio. Todaro is also the secretary of the Downtown Merchants Association. She said downtown North Tonawanda has seen a lot of progress and business growth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the last couple of years, we have added a number of new retail on the street and a lot of those folks have been waiting a long time for folks to get here, she said. This area in particular because of the restaurants, the Riviera (Theatre) and the general support of the city. Maria Andres, who owns the boutique Aster and Lilies, waited 10 years to open a shop on the street. We just wanted to make sure we help North Tonawanda flourish, Andres said. The business just celebrated its one-year anniversary. North Tonawanda is really up and coming, especially Webster Street, Andres said. We are trying to just make sure people understand that shopping local and small is very important. Its great for you to do Christmas shopping in big stores, but just remember these are the stores that are going to support your local community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There will be another chance to score deals and shop local next weekend in North Tonawanda during the Lumber City Winter Walk and Tree Lighting ceremony on Dec. 7. Latest Local News Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter and Buffalo native who has been a part of the News 4 team since 2019. Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahMinkewicz and click here to see more of her work. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. AGAWAM, Mass. (WWLP) Saturday in Agawam, two local companies teamed up to put a brighter smile on kids faces this Christmas. I heard a saying the other day, expressed Charlie Thomas, Owner/Operator, Chem-X Customer Service. Express gratitude, lose the attitude. Be grateful for what we have. The fact that were able to give back in any capacity is huge. This third annual truck show presented by Chem-X and Gear Jammer Trucking Magazine showcased trucks from all around the region, displayed Gear Jammers items, and offered an extended Black Friday sale of Chem-X trucking supply products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The price of admission? A new, unwrapped toy. They said the hope is to fill an 18-wheeler with toys, all to be donated to Toys for Tots! Its events like these, where businesses use their reach to do good, that make such a difference in kids lives at such a crucial time of year. Anything that you can do for the community is beneficial, not just for the business, but especially for the community, said Chem-X owner, Bob Hoyle. You just gotta keep that as the first place. Any little thing helps, added Gear Jammer Magazine owner Bob Conrad. One toy or one dinner at Thanksgiving, whatever businesses can give is a good thing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the trucking community, this means coming together on their day off, even if theyve been driving through the nights, to do their part to help others. Chem-X will be bringing donations collected Saturday to the 22News lobby Sunday as part of our annual campaign, and as we continue into the holiday season you can do the same! Our lobby will be open Sunday from 9 am to 1 pm. Here is our full drop-off calendar! Just over a week left! And, if you cant make it in person, you can always make a monetary donation! Just head to our Toys for Tots page! Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. The family of missing Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashi is pushing back at the Los Angeles Police Departments assessment that the 30-year-old purposely ditched her connecting flight to New York when she vanished last month. On Friday, Nov. 8, 23-year-old Hannah Kobayashi missed her connecting flight from LAX to New York, which the investigation determined was intentional, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said in an update last Tuesday getting Kobayashis age wrong, her family later pointed out. McDonnell added that detectives had been diligently reviewing video surveillance and employing various investigative techniques to locate Hannah since taking on the probe Nov. 15. He noted her family was continuing to search as well, and emphasized authorities remain fully committed to locating Hannah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hannah Kobayashi had been due to land at Kennedy Airport in New York to visit family and explore the city, but she never arrived. Video surveillance showed her leaving the L.A. airport, and a string of disjointed texts to friends and family members raised an alarm. Her mother and sister issued a statement Saturday through the RAD Movement, a nonprofit assisting them in the search, insisting Hannah would never cut off contact like that, and taking issue with factual inaccuracies in the police statement. It is completely out of character for Hannah to simply disappear without a trace, her mother and sister wrote in a statement on Facebook. We remain deeply concerned about Hannahs safety, her well-being and her current state of mind. Theyd been blindsided by some of the revelations in the update, the pair said, and expressed concern over what they felt was a lack of transparency. According to the mother and daughter, the biggest tell was that Hannah would never have remained silent after learning about the suicide death of her father, Ryan Kobayashi, in Los Angeles last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lack of communication surrounding some important details has left us feeling excluded from potentially crucial developments, the mother and daughter said. However, we do remain hopeful and optimistic that the Los Angeles Police Department is doing everything in their power to assist us in locating Hannah. With News Wire Services Loved ones are devastated after an 18-year-old was killed in a hit-and-run rollover crash that also left six others injured in downtown Los Angeles Saturday. The deadly crash occurred at the intersection of Broadway and Cesar Chavez Avenue near the Chinatown area shortly before 1 a.m. The high-speed collision caused one vehicle to flip over and land on its roof while the second vehicle sustained severe damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Isaac Arellanes, Jr. a passenger in the car hit by the suspect, was among two people who were trapped in the wreckage and extricated by firefighters. Arellanes was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Six others were transported for treatment while two people remain in critical condition. The suspect driver ditched the car and fled the area on foot, leaving his injured passengers in the vehicle. Isaac Arellanes, Jr., 18, was killed in a hit-and-run rollover crash in downtown Los Angeles that left six others hospitalized on Nov. 30, 2024. (Arellanes Family/RMG) Isaac Arellanes, Jr., (on left) is pictured with a friend. (Arellanes Family) A crash in downtown Los Angeles left one person dead and six others hospitalized on Nov. 30, 2024. (RMG) The aftermath of a violent crash in downtown Los Angeles that occurred early Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Citizen App) A crash in downtown Los Angeles left one person dead and six others hospitalized on Nov. 30, 2024. (RMG) A crash in downtown Los Angeles left one person dead and six others hospitalized on Nov. 30, 2024. (RMG) Heartfelt messages from loved ones honoring Isaac Arellanes, Jr. is seen in a makeshift memorial in downtown L.A. on Nov. 30, 2024. (KTLA) Isaac Arellanes, Jr., is seen in a family photo. Flowers, candles and heartfelt messages honoring Isaac Arellanes, Jr. is seen in a makeshift memorial in downtown L.A. on Nov. 30, 2024. (KTLA) A crash in downtown Los Angeles left one person dead and six others hospitalized on Nov. 30, 2024. (RMG) A crash in downtown Los Angeles left one person dead and six others hospitalized on Nov. 30, 2024. (RMG) A crash in downtown Los Angeles left one person dead and six others hospitalized on Nov. 30, 2024. (RMG) The aftermath of a violent crash in downtown Los Angeles that occurred early Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Citizen App) The aftermath of a violent crash in downtown Los Angeles that occurred early Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Citizen App) The teens grandmother, Sandra Torres, said Arellanes recently got a job at a bakery and was looking forward to beginning the next chapter of his young life. His family told the L.A. Times that the teen was also the father of a young child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a grandmother, Im devastated, Torres told KTLAs Angeli Kakade. He got a car and just started college, doing good. Now his girlfriend is in the hospital with broken bones, fighting for her life. Although investigators have not determined who was at fault, witnesses believe speed was likely a factor in the crash. I would say he was speeding up, like if he was trying to catch up on the freeway, Ryan Cowell, a witness, said of the suspect. I pulled over in my wheelchair and immediately called 911. A growing memorial filled with flowers, candles and heartfelt messages could be seen at the crash site on Saturday night. Loved ones, who remain devastated, hope the suspect will be caught soon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You need to turn yourself in, Torres said. You left your wallet behind and its only a matter of time before the cops get you. Not to mention, you left your passengers in the car who are in critical condition. Turn yourself in and do whats right. You killed my grandson. The suspect remains at large and faces multiple charges including vehicular homicide. Anyone with information on the incident can call LAPD at 1-877-527-3247. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Despite his latest film being censored, Luca Guadagnino remains cautiously optimistic about the power of filmmaking. After a screening of Queer was banned in Istanbul earlier this month, the Oscar-nominated director vowed to fight any institution that wants to tarnish cinema while speaking at the Marrakech International Film Festival, where he presides over this years jury. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They banned the movie because they said the movie was creating social disorder, said Guadagnino in the press conference, according to Agence France Presse. I really hope they do believe that the form of the movie brings the possibility of societal collapse. Because this means that my belief in the power of cinema is true and not delusional. Based on William S. Burroughs 1985 book, Queer follows Lee (Daniel Craig) after fleeing from a drug bust in New Orleans to 1940s Mexico City, where he becomes infatuated with Allerton (Drew Starkey), a young discharged American Navy serviceman. I wonder if theyve seen the movie or if they are just judging it by the outline or, lets say, the facetious stupidity of some journalist focusing on James Bond going gay, the director mused. Luca Guadagnino attends Deadline Contenders Film: Los Angeles on Nov. 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Guadagnino added, Its an obtuse censorship particularly in this world where you can download the movie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Mubi acquired multiple territory rights for Queer, the streaming platform canceled its Mubi Fest Istanbul at the last minute after the citys governor banned its opening screening of the film this month. Hours before the start of Mubi Fest Istanbul 2024, which took months to prepare and was sold out days ago, we regretted to learn that the screening of Queer, which was part of the festival program and which was also the opening film, has been banned, Mubi Turkey shared in a statement. The decision states that the movie is banned because it contains provocative content that would endanger the peace of the society and that the ban would be implemented for security reasons. The statement continued, We believe this ban is an intervention that restricts art and freedom of expression This ban takes not just one movie away but also the meaning and purpose of the entire festival. Mubi wants to take the stance that our audience expects from us and we regret to inform you that we have taken the decision to cancel the entire Mubi Fest Istanbul. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Indian Army troops from the Chennai Garrison Battalion, operating under the Dakshin Bharat Area, were mobilized in the early hours of Sunday to assist in rescue operations in flood-affected areas of Puducherry. Requisitioned by the Puducherry District Collector around 1 am, a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) column consisting of one officer, six Junior commissioned officers and 62 other ranks was deployed swiftly. The team left Chennai at 2 am and covered a distance of 160 kilometres overnight, reaching Puducherry around 5:30 am. The team led by Major Ajay Sangwan was briefed about the critical situation in the Krishna Nagar area upon reaching Puducherry. The water level in some localities of Krishna Nagar rose to nearly five feet, leaving residents of nearly 500 houses stranded. The efforts made by the Indian Army during its rescue operations started at 6:15 am, with over 100 individuals being evacuated in the first two hours. Cyclone Fengal remains stationary for the last six hours close to the union territory nearly 30 kilometres north of Cuddalore and 40 kms east of Villupuram. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed that as of 5:30 in the morning, the cyclone has not moved in the past six hours and remains stationary 120 kilometres south-southwest of Chennai. It is expected to move westward slowly and likely to weaken into a deep depression over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the next six hours, as per IMD. The weather department has issued a red alert for north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh. "The Cyclonic Storm Fengal over north coastal Tamil Nadu & Puducherry remained stationary during past 6 hours and lay centred at 0530 hours IST of today, the 1st December 2024 over the same region near latitude 12.0N and longitude 79.8E, close to Puducherry, about 30 km north of Cuddalore, 40 km east of Villupuram and 120 km south-southwest of Chennai. It is likely to move westwards slowly and weaken gradually into a deep depression over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during the next 6 hours. The system is being continuously monitored," IMD said. After Cyclone Fengal made landfall yesterday, the beaches in Chennai witnessed high tides and rough sea conditions this morning. The weather forecast issued by the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) predicted "isolated heavy to very heavy" rainfall in Chennai for Sunday. The official statement added that residents in the affected areas have been advised to remain indoors and follow all instructions from local authorities to ensure their safety. Meanwhile, people living in nearby areas have been shifted to relief camps near Kalpakkam in Chengalpattu district, in the wake of Cyclone Fengal. (ANI) SHAWNEE COUNTY (KSNT) A male is in stable condition after an officer-involved shooting in Shawnee County late Friday night, November 29. According to a press release from the the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), at approximately 10:30 p.m., Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) initiated a traffic stop near the 2400 block of SE 45th Street for a suspected impaired driver. During a standardized field sobriety test, the driver ran away on foot. Later, a physical altercation broke out between the male subject and Trooper. During the altercation, the trooper deployed a taser, pepper spray and a firearm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The male suspect was then taken to a Topeka hospital where they are in stable condition. The KBI will take over in this investigation and bring findings to the Shawnee County District Attorney for review. This is an ongoing investigation and 27 News will bring you more information when it becomes available. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. The garage of the familys California home caught fire on Nov. 30 Getty Los Angeles Fire Department truck (stock image) Los Angeles Fire Department truck (stock image) A family is left without their father and pets after their California home went up in flames. The blaze began in the garage of his home in La Habra during the morning of Saturday, Nov. 30, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department and local outlet KTLA. Firefighters were dispatched to the residence at 10:38 a.m. and put out the bulk of the blaze by 11:10 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After putting out the flames, the fire crew found a fatally injured man the 48-year-old owner of the home inside the garage, per KTLA and CBS News. Two of the familys dogs were also found dead, while another unresponsive dog was taken to an animal hospital. Neighbors were alerted to the garage fire after it caused tires to pop loudly a sound that Alisa Grace thought was an explosion, she told KTLA. Knowing that the home belongs to a family of four and their dogs, she went outside to investigate. Related: Texas Dad Dies in Thanksgiving House Fire Leaving Behind His Wife and 7 Kids We ran up to the front door and we were knocking to see if anybody was home, she told the outlet. But the flames were just coming out of the garage, smoke was billowing out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All the cars are in the driveway and youre thinking, Well, maybe theyre all out of town because nobodys answering the door, the neighbor added. STRUCTURE FIRE w/1 Fatality | E191| 1300 Block of Farrington Dr, #LaHabra | #LACoFD Disp: 10:38, OnS: 10:43, KD 11:10. Primary search discovered one fatally injured patient. Cause of fire unknown, investigators en route. #FarringtonIC L.A. County Fire Department (@LACoFDPIO) November 30, 2024 Other neighbors including a retired L.A. County fire captain also gathered to try and extinguish the fire to no avail, KTLA reported. The retired captain, Art Arzaga, told the outlet that this incident is particularly tragic because of the holiday season. It hurts any time, he said, and because youre around family and friends and you just want to have a festive time. Its a tragic loss for everyone, for our neighborhood, he said. The Los Angeles County Fire Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities traced the fire to the garage, but the cause of the blaze is still unknown. Its challenging because it depends on how good of an idea they have of where the fire started and what caused it, Fred Fielding, an L.A. County Fire spokesperson, told KTLA. So, that can take longer depending on how clear that picture is, he added. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The wife and children of the victim, whose identity has not been made public, are trying to return home as soon as possible, their loved ones informed KTLA. Its just very sad, Grace said of the situation. Someone lost their husband and their father. It just breaks our hearts for our neighbors. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) About a week after his estranged wife was reported missing, a 71-year-old man was arrested for her murder. Michel Fournier was taken into custody late Friday night hours after the body of his wife, Susan-Lane Fournier, was discovered in an unincorporated part of Clackamas County near Welches. 1 dead, 2 injured in Clackamas County head-on crash On Saturday, officials confirmed the body found was that of the 61-year-old woman who had been reported missing on November 22, along with her two dogs. Susan Phoenix Lane-Fournier of Brightwood, Ore. was reported missing on Nov. 22. (Photo provided by a friend of Susan Lane-Fournier.) After Lane-Fourniers truck was found on Nov. 23, rescue crews spent four days scouring the Mt. Hood National Forest for signs of Lane-Fournier and the dogs, but the search was called off Tuesday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 12-year-old boy drives stolen car 161 miles across Washington state Lane-Fourniers body was discovered four miles from where her truck was found, authorities said. However, the dogs have not been found at this time. James Evans, her friend who spent days looking for her, told KOIN 6 News he had a feeling he would find her body there. James Evans said he found the body of Susan Lane-Fournier not far from her home in Welches and called the police. Her husband was later arrested for murder, November 30, 2024 (KOIN) James Evans said he found the body of Susan Lane-Fournier not far from her home in Welches and called the police. Her husband was later arrested for murder, November 30, 2024 (KOIN) I went down the path, maybe 20 yards. Ive seen some tarp. I thought it was trash, Evans told KOIN 6 News. I bent over to pick up the tarp and as I bent over and came up, I seen a pair of boots connected to a leg. I directly dropped the tarp, backed up, gathered myself together, turned around and went to the lodge and had the office call 911 immediately, he said. It was pretty heartbreaking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evans said Susan Lane-Fournier was my friend and you know I wasnt super-super close to her, but she was my friend and I told myself that I was gonna find her. He said he knew the search for the woman in the Mount Hood National Forest would not produce any results. We knew she wasnt up there. We tried to tell (the official search teams) that but, you know, they were just doing their job, Evans said. Photos of Susan Lane-Fourniers dog that remain missing. Her body was found near her Welches home and her husband was arrested for murder, November 30, 2024 (Courtesy photo) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added he plans to go out Sunday to look for the missing dogs. Lane-Fournier had also filed for divorce against Michel after 12 years of marriage, according to court documents. Its unclear if the divorce had any connection to her murder. Investigators add they are looking to speak with anyone who may have seen Michel Fournier or may have knowledge of his whereabouts in the days before Lane-Fourniers disappearance. Fournier is currently being held without bail in the Clackamas County Jail. Michel Fournier, November 30, 2024 (Clackamas County Sheriffs Office) Susan Lane-Fournier in an undated photo. Her husband was later arrested for murder, November 30, 2024 (Courtesy photo) Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office. This is a developing story. Stay with KOIN 6 News for updates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. DENVER (KDVR) A man was arrested in Greeley and accused of entering a bar early Saturday morning and shooting a woman before fleeing from the scene. Jimmy Cazares, 32, was taken to the Weld County Jail after his arrest. Greeley police said officers responded to Wylers Pub and Brew, located in the 2300 block of 27th Street for a shooting. When they arrived, officers found multiple shell casings on the ground and bullet holes in the front door of the business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim, a 38-year-old woman, was found suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers performed life-saving measures before she was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. She is expected to survive. Download the FOX31 App: Breaking news alerts & Pinpoint Weather Police said detectives quickly identified Cazares as a suspect. They went to the home on 27th Street and made announcements for him to leave. He eventually exited the home unarmed and was taken into custody without incident. Cazares was booked for attempted first-degree murder with extreme indifference, prohibited use of a weapon, illegal discharge of a weapon, large capacity magazine possession during a crime and possession of a weapon by a previous offender, according to police. Bar owner thankful for quick police response, but still shaken Newt Wyler, owner of Wylers Pub and Brew, told FOX31s Alliyah Sims that the bar was closed when the shooting happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were closed at the time our two staff members were cleaning just finishing out their shift and they had no idea this was coming. They couldnt see anyone out there because it was happening from out of their view so they were essentially ambushed, Wyler said. What we know right now without getting in the way of the police investigation is there was an altercation from some gentleman that they ended up leaving after last call, they went to a residence and came back with firearms and shot into the front of our building. Wyler said the victim was coming along in the hospital and maintaining her sense of humor, but that she was still in a lot of pain. What we found was that one of them had been struck and we ended up going straight to the hospital was our first reaction, Wyler said. True to the tight nature of our staff relationship they were mostly already all there. Wyler has owned the business since 2011 and never had a shooting at the bar previously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This happened so recently, that we opted to close for the weekend, Wyler said. Obviously the staff is shaken and the community is unnerved when something like this happens so we want to give people time that this one incident isnt going to define us and we want to make physical repairs as well as emotional repairs just make sure everyone can feel safe again. As for the damage to the bar itself, Wyler doesnt know how much hell have to pay yet. We came in just yesterday to do a lot of the assessment and cleanup and we got some things to do, but nothing that we cant, Wyler said. This is the easy part its making sure our staff was OK, is OK is the part were most concerned with. Wyler said that the shooting will not define how they move forward, but said he was thankful the second staff member was at the bar to provide life-saving medical care after she was shot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the most difficult part to process something like this is hey .. this thing doesnt happen here, this is not something that happens to this establishment or any establishments in Greeley, Wyler told Sims. We have a great community with a large amount of support through not only the community patrons and friends but also other business owners. None of us want to see something like this happen at any other business. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Robert Lombardi, 65, was charged in connection to the death of his roommate Frank Griswold, 80, after he fatally shoved him at their home on Nov. 27 Getty A stock photo of handcuffs A stock photo of handcuffs A Massachusetts man has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of his roommate following a disagreement over Thanksgiving dinner. Robert Lombardi, 65, was charged in connection to the death of his roommate Frank Griswold, 80, after he "shoved" him in a dispute over "holiday meal preparations" at their home in Marshfield on Nov. 27, Plymouth County District Attorneys Office stated in a press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The release added that Marshfield Police received a "911 call for a report of an unconscious male on the floor of the kitchen located at 853 Main Street." Griswold was found "bleeding from the head" by authorities having suffered a laceration to his forehead and a fractured neck, and was transported to South Shore Hospital, where he died of his injuries. Per the release, a preliminary investigation determined that the suspect shoved the victim following a disagreement over holiday meal preparations and he subsequently fell to the floor and struck his head. According to local media outlet WCBV, citing court records, Lombardi told police he was cooking a meal and "got in an argument with Frank Griswold and that he did not want him in the kitchen touching the food." Lombardi said his roommate "often sneezes" and he did not want him to "sneeze or contaminate the food" being made for Thanksgiving. He said he left the kitchen and later returned to find Griswold near the food and grabbed him from behind and "surmised that Frank Griswold's feet got tangled up, and he fell and hit his head on the floor," prosecutor Joseph Presley said, per WCBV and CBS News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He did see the victim, Mr. Griswold, near that food doing dishes, said that he went over and grabbed Mr. Griswold from behind, grabbed his back and threw Mr. Griswold to the right and tossed him to the side," Presley said, per WCVB. Getty A stock photo of a Thanksgiving dinner A stock photo of a Thanksgiving dinner Lombardi then called 911, according to the outlets and NBC 10 Boston. Lombardi was subsequently arrested over the incident. On Friday, Nov. 29, the suspect pleaded not guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter and one count of assault and battery on a person over 60 in Plymouth District Court per the release. Defense attorney Marshall Johnson said in court that the incident was as close to an accident and nothing more as I have heard in a long time, according to CBS News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lombardi is currently being held without bail. 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. According to court documents obtained by NBC 10 Boston, Lombardi and Griswold met in the 1990s while working together in finance. They started living together in 2001 and had been renting their Marshfield home since 2008. The exact manner and cause of death of the victim is still being determined by the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, per the release. An investigation is ongoing. A Hudson man has been arrested and charged with a DUI after rolling over his Jeep on Friday. Hudson police were dispatched to the area of Kimball Hill Road and Speare Road to reports that a motor vehicle was on its side, leaning against a telephone pole. The driver was identified as Hudson resident Randall Maier, 47. Preliminary investigations concluded that Maier was traveling on Speare road before colliding with several boulders, losing control, then rolling over onto Kimball Hill A Hudson Road Maier was charged with a DUI as police noticed his signs of impairment, and denied medical attention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maier was released on Personal Recognizance and is slated to appear in court on December 9. 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 North Macedonian police arrested a Macedonian citizen for the first time on suspicion of preparing to join Russia's army and fight against Ukraine. Source: North Macedonias Interior Ministry, as cited by European Pravda Details: The North Macedonian Ministry of Internal Affairs identified the man solely by his initials, Ya. K.; he was arrested late on Friday 29 November. It is claimed that the individual communicated on the Internet with a person posing as a representative of the Russian army, recruiting people for a payment of 3,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect flew to Moscow in October with the intention of joining the newly-established military detachment. During interrogation after returning to Skopje, the defendant stated that he was required to "sign a contract for service in the Russian army and be taken to a training camp", where he would be "trained to participate in hostilities in Ukraine." The individual is accused of "participation in a foreign army, police, paramilitary or paramilitary formation," and if found guilty, he risks at least three years in prison. Background: North Macedonia, which joined NATO in 2020 and has begun membership talks with the EU, has imposed sanctions on Russia and supplied weapons to Ukraine. North Macedonia signed a joint proclamation in February 2024 to support Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration. Support UP or become our patron! Nov. 30A man accused of shooting and killing a domestic dog on a North Yarmouth trail Friday morning and then fleeing the scene turned himself in and is facing charges, according to the Maine Warden Service. Troy Hall, 51, of Windham, turned himself in to the Windham Police Department on Saturday morning. He was charged with one count of shooting a domestic animal, and may face more charges, said Mark Latti, communications director for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Three people were walking with their dogs on a marked trail in the Knight's Pond Preserve in North Yarmouth at about 11 a.m. Friday when someone shot one of the dogs, which had wandered a few yards ahead of the group, Latti said in a statement Friday evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, witnesses described the shooter as having dark hair and scruffy facial hair and wearing an orange vest and hat with camouflage pants. The dog's owners had a brief interaction with the shooter before he fled the scene. A man matching the shooter's description was seen leaving the area in a dark, full-sized pickup truck, Latti said. Maine Operation Game Thief offered a $2,000 reward for information leading to the shooter's arrest. Officials asked neighbors to share security footage near Henry Road and Edna Lane. Wardens were following up on multiple leads from the public when Hall turned himself in, Latti said. People walking their dogs at Knight's Pond Preserve on Saturday morning said the incident makes them worry about being in the woods during hunting season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Knight's Pond Preserve is a 212-acre parcel in North Yarmouth and Cumberland that allows hunting and other recreational uses. The last day of rifle hunting season for deer in Maine was Saturday. Signs posted at the preserve advise hikers and hunters to wear blaze orange in October and November. Cindy Pepper, of Blue Hill, was walking with her small dog Greta in the preserve Saturday. "I always put orange on (Greta), because you have to, they look like animals in the woods. She looks like a squirrel," Pepper said. Maryann Nowak, of Gray, frequents the Cumberland side of the trail but only walks a short way to the water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I've never seen hunters (at the preserve)," Nowak said. Nowak said she didn't think to dress her daughter's dog, Moose, in orange before heading out to the trail with her. "It didn't even occur to me," she said. After learning about the incident, Nowak said she worries about Moose in the woods and will take precautions in the future. Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Judy Camuso called the shooting "heinous and inexcusable" in a news release Friday. "The incomprehensible and appalling act of one individual tarnishes the reputation of all of Maine's 230,000 hunters," she said. The warden service is still investigating the shooting, Latti said. Copy the Story Link KANSAS CITY, Mo. Kansas City police are investigating after a man was found dead in a donation bin on Thursday in Waldo. Police said around 6:40 p.m. Thursday, responders found a man partially inside a donation bin near 72nd and Wornall. The man was pronounced dead at the scene by KCFD. View the latest headlines from Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas at fox4kc.com According to police, there are no signs of foul play. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is an ongoing death investigation. Police said medical examiners will make an official determination for the cause of death. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) said officers responded to the block of Gould Street in Bayview at 9:41 p.m. Friday for a report of a shooting. SFPD investigates fatal stabbing in Mission District SFPD said officers found a male victim at the location who was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound and rendered aid until paramedics arrived. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Homicide Detail of SFPD is now leading the investigation. San Francisco police confirmed this is an open and active investigation, and there have been no arrests made so far. Anyone with information is asked to call SFPD at 415-575-4444. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended best wishes to the people of Nagaland on Statehood Day on Sunday and said that Naga culture is known for its "spirit of duty and compassion." "Greetings to the people of Nagaland on their Statehood Day. Nagaland is widely admired for its rich culture and the wonderful nature of people belonging to the state. Naga culture is known for its spirit of duty and compassion. Praying for Nagaland's continuous progress in the times to come," PM Modi posted on X. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended greetings on Nagaland Day and said that Nagaland is blessed with a glorious culture and heritage. "Warm greetings to our Naga sisters and brothers on Nagaland Day. Blessed with a glorious culture and heritage, Nagaland is a shining example of our diversity on Bharat's rich cultural tapestry. I pray to God for the state to prosper under the leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio Ji," Amit Shah posted on X. BJP chief JP Nadda said that Nagaland is blessed with a mesmerizing landscape, rich traditions, and a deep cultural heritage. "On Nagaland's Statehood Day, I extend my warmest greetings to all my brothers and sisters of this vibrant state. Renowned as the 'Land of Festivals,' the state is blessed with a mesmerizing landscape, rich traditions, and a deep cultural heritage. May Nagaland continue to scale new heights of development, and may its people be blessed with good health and prosperity," JP Nadda posted on X. In 1957, Naga leaders and the central government reached an agreement to create a separate region of the Naga Hills. The State of Nagaland Act, 1962, was enacted by the Parliament to give Nagaland statehood. It was formally recognized as a separate state on December 1, 1963, with Kohima being declared its capital. (ANI) MEMPHIS, Tenn. A man is dead and a woman is injured following a shooting in Fox Meadows on Sunday morning, Memphis Police announce. At 7:06 a.m., officers responded to a shooting in the 3400 block of Emerald Street. Man shoots woman he thinks is trying to break into his home A male shooting victim was located and pronounced dead on the scene and a woman was also injured. Her injuries were listed as non-critical. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to police, preliminary information indicates that the man died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. UPDATE: Gene Perry was taken into custody and charged with Aggravated Robbery and Convicted Felon in Possession of a Handgun in connection to the shooting. He is being held on a $360,000 bond. Gene Perry (SCSO) Alexius Deberry was also arrested and charged with Aggravated Robbery. She is being held on a $100,000 bond. Her mugshot is not available at this time. ***** MEMPHIS, Tenn. A would-be victim turns the tables on his accused attackers, leaving two people with gunshot wounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Memphis Police told WREG that the turn of events happened during an attempted robbery at a Parkway Village hotel. On Friday morning, a man and a woman were shot by a man they tried to rob at the Classic Inn on American Way. According to the police, the victim met the female suspect at the hotel and was lured to the back of the building. ORIGINAL STORY: 2 injured after shooting at Classic Inn Hotel Thats when she allegedly pulled out a gun and demanded the victims belongings. A second suspect appeared, also with a gun. Then in a surprising twist, a loud noise distracted the two suspects and the victim managed to snatch the gun from the female suspect and began to fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bullets hit both the man and the woman. The victim then took off running but was not physically injured. A guest at the hotel who spoke with WREG wished to remain anonymous but expressed fear after hearing about the incident. MPD: Woman cuts boyfriend after going through his phone Im afraid you have to watch your surroundings every day. You hear shootings, they said. It gets so bad where you know youre scared to do anything because you dont know what theyre going to do. The male suspect was shot multiple times and is in critical condition. The female suspect was shot in the arm and is being treated at Regional One. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a police report WREG obtained, Memphis Police said that they believed one of the suspects was connected to another report theyd already taken. Officers also noted surveillance cameras at the hotel and a nearby business which could hopefully provide more insight into what unfolded early Friday morning. So far, they have not been identified. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A woman has been hospitalized after a man claims he shot her because he thought she was breaking into his East Memphis home, Memphis Police say. At 2:56 a.m., officers responded to a shooting with a person struck call in the 4000 block of Crossover Lane. When officers arrived on the scene, they saw a female victim sitting on the doorstep in front of the residence suffering from a gunshot wound to her left thigh. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the police report, when officers asked Are you shot? the victim responded, No, Im not shot. and began to cry. Officers noted that the victim appeared to be under the influence, with slurred speech and didnt appear to know where she was. Man shoots duo attempting to rob him at hotel Officers asked the woman where she lived and she told them a different residence on Crossover Lane. She was taken to Regional One Hospital in non-critical condition. Officers went inside the residence and spoke with two people occupying the house. Occupant #1 (a man) told officers that he heard someone at the door and thought it was Occupant #2 (a woman). When he realized it wasnt her, he then walked to the front door of the residence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said thats when he saw an unknown person attempting to make entry into the residence. He claims he grabbed his Glock 43X from his bedroom and shot once through the door. Occupant #2 told officers she was woken up by Occupant #1. She said that he believed she was the one making noise but soon learned it was someone they believed was trying to break into the residence. She said when she looked through the front door peephole, she saw someone with hair bending down to get inside. MPD: Woman cuts boyfriend after going through his phone After getting his gun, she said that Occupant #1 gave a verbal warning to the person outside the home saying, Stop before I shoot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers found the gun used in the incident on the kitchen countertop. They also found two keys outside the residence near the front door on the doormat. Occupant #2 said she believed Occupant #1 accidentally left the keys inside the door. Both occupants were detained and taken to 170 N. Main for further investigation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) A man police are investigating in connection to an alleged rape of a minor in northeast Columbus has been arrested in Florida. According to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, 50-year-old Robert Burke was wanted rape after a woman told St. Petersburg police in Florida that he assaulted her over a nine-year period. Burke and the victim previously lived in the northeast section of Columbus, in Mifflin Township, where the victim said the rapes began. A juvenile at the time, she told police that Burke began having sex with her from the ages of 13 to 21. Court documents indicate the first reported rape occurred in August 2015. Police said the victim told Burke, to stop, it hurt, and she didnt want to have sex with him, on several occasions, but that Burke forced sex regardless of her protest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police reported that the victims mother stated Burke approached her when the victim was 12 years old and told her he had taken the victims virginity. It was also reported that the victim bore a child in February 2023 as a result of Burke raping her. Police also said that Burke, who resides in St. Petersburg, was known to frequent the east side of Columbus and a warrant for his arrest was issued by CPD on Nov. 18. Court documents in Pinellas County, Florida state that he was arrested Monday morning, over 1,000 miles south of Columbus, in the 200 block of 104th Avenue by sheriffs deputies. The criminal complaint lists a charge of rape and no bond issued in municipal court. It is unknown when he will be extradited back to Columbus to face local charges. Anyone with additional information to this case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrime.org and e-mail your tip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. ST. MARYS COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) The St. Marys County Sheriffs Office said deputies arrested a Fort Washington man in connection to a home invasion that happened in Great Mills. On Friday, Nov. 29, deputies responded to the 45000 block of Military Lane after someone reported that a man was trying to enter their home. During the 911 call, dispatchers heard a loud disturbance as the suspect forced his way into the home. When deputies arrived, they arrested the suspect, identified as 38-year-old Robert Eric Hyatt Jr. Upon searching Hyatt, deputies said they found a 9mm handgun, brass knuckles and a large knife. He was also wearing body armor, according to the sheriffs office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PHOTOS: Miracle puppy hurt in deadly plane crash on road to successful recovery Responders found the victim on the balcony of the home, suffering from a laceration to the head and a gunshot wound to the shoulder. A Maryland State Police helicopter flew him to the hospital. As of Saturday, there is no word on his condition. Authorities said Hyatt faces 10 charges, including attempted first and second-degree murder, wearing bulletproof armor in the commission of a violent crime and first and second-degree assault. Deputies encourage anyone with information to contact detective Raley at 301-475-4200, extension 8076. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Planned Parenthood of Illinois has repeatedly been hearing the same question from transgender patients since Donald Trump won the presidential election. Patients want to know how many refills they can get of hormone therapy medications, which they often need to maintain their health and certain physical characteristics. Weve definitely had people ask, Can you send me four years of medications? said Mallory Klocke, director of the Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy program at Planned Parenthood of Illinois. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Transgender patients and providers of gender-affirming care in Illinois are preparing for potentially dramatic upheaval once Trump takes office. During the campaign, Trump pledged to strip federal funding from hospitals and other providers that provide certain gender-affirming care to minors. He said he would sign an executive order barring federal agencies from promoting the concept of gender transitions. Trump advertising declared: Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you. Gender-affirming care can include a range of services, such as counseling, medications to delay puberty, hormone therapy and/or surgery. Supporters of access to gender-affirming care for minors, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, say its important health care with implications for mental health. Trump has called gender-affirming care for minors child abuse and mutilation. The group Do No Harm says gender-affirming care can inflict dangerous and irreversible harm on children. Many Chicago-area hospital systems and health care organizations provide gender-affirming care, and a number provide such care to patients under age 18. Its unclear how those hospitals and providers would survive, or whether they would continue to provide that care, if Trump pulled their Medicare or Medicaid dollars major sources of funding for most hospitals and health care providers. Hospitals and clinics will have to basically assess what they can and cant do in light of an immediate reduction of funds, said Mony Ruiz-Velasco, deputy director of Equality Illinois, which advocates for equal rights for LGBTQ+ people. Were concerned about what that means because most hospitals and clinics cant operate without federal funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A loss of federal funding would create a huge hole in our operating budget, said Tim Wang, director of policy and advocacy for Howard Brown Health, which specializes in caring for patients who are LGBTQ+ and people living with HIV, at centers across Chicago. We would not be able to operate in the same way we do now, Wang said. Howard Brown treats nearly 38,000 patients a year, and about a quarter of its patients are on Medicare or Medicaid. Even just the threat of pulling out federal funding would be enough to coerce a lot of health care providers into just ending their gender-affirming services, which would lead to transgender folks having nowhere to go to get the health services they need, Wang said. Klocke, with Planned Parenthood of Illinois, said the organization is preparing for all possibilities. It provides gender-affirming hormone therapy to about 4,000 patients a year, Klocke said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Transgender people, in general, and the affirming medical care that we get is on the short list of things that people want to take away, and that has people feeling scared, Klocke said. But were here, were providing that care, and were going to continue providing that care as long as were legally able to. Three Chicago-area health systems that provide gender-affirming care Rush, Advocate Health Care and University of Chicago Medicine either declined to make representatives available for interviews on the topic or did not respond to requests for comment. Lurie Childrens Hospital, which has faced criticism in the past for its gender development program, said in a statement that the hospital is proud to provide gender-diverse youth access to comprehensive, family-centric, and developmentally appropriate healthcare in a safe and inclusive clinical space. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that youth who identify as transgender or gender-diverse have access to comprehensive, gender-affirming, and developmentally appropriate health care. The American Medical Association has urged governors to oppose state legislation that would prohibit medically necessary gender transition-related care for minors. In a 2021 letter to the National Governors Association, the CEO of the AMA wrote that evidence has demonstrated that forgoing gender-affirming care can have tragic consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Illinois has laws in place meant to protect gender-affirming care. In 2023, Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill requiring state-regulated health insurance plans to cover hormone therapy medications to treat gender dysphoria, which is when people experience distress when their gender identity differs from their sex at birth or physical characteristics. That law also shields patients and providers of gender-affirming care in Illinois from legal actions from other states. At least 26 states have laws restricting gender-affirming care for minors, according to KFF, a nonprofit health policy research, polling and news organization. The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case in December on the constitutionality of a law banning gender-affirming care for minors in Tennessee. As with abortion, some patients now travel to Illinois from other states for gender-affirming care, Klocke said. But its unclear how Illinois laws would stand up to federal action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Congress were to pass a ban on this care, I think our laws here would be seriously compromised, said Ruiz-Velasco of Equality Illinois, though some have noted that any type of federal ban would certainly be challenged and could be tied up in court for some time. Illinois advocates of gender-affirming care arent waiting to find out exactly how far the Trump administration will go before they take action. Wang, with Howard Brown, said advocates are working with state lawmakers to explore whether there might be state funding streams to help provide gender-affirming care if federal funding is lost. State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, said Illinois lawmakers years ago began preparing for the possibility of the federal government trying to restrict gender-affirming care. Illinois law shielding gender-affirming care from out-of-state legal attacks came out of a House working group established after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cassidy said shes already working on a bill to enhance protections for people seeking reproductive and gender-affirming care in Illinois, by better protecting certain types of health data. The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois is also constantly looking at the ways we can, through litigation or legislation, combat any of these attacks on access to care, said Aisha N. Davis, senior policy counsel for the group. We know the next four years is going to look a lot different than the last four years, but we also know that whatever is coming were going to do our best to be ready and make sure this care is not interrupted or denied, Davis said. Ours is not a country known for protest. We have always preferred debating over demonstrating. When we do, its milder than protests abroad. We advocate rather than disrupt. No longer, it seems. Since Hamas 7th October atrocity last year, we have watched as, week after week, demonstrations that emphatically do seem designed to disrupt our lives have taken over our streets, stifled debate on our campuses, forced Parliament to change its proceedings out of fear for MPs safety, scared schoolchildren, forced Jews to hide their identity on public transport, intimidated us in our workplaces and even encroached into our hospitals. And has this activism done anything to change things in Israel, Gaza, Lebanon or Iran? Or are they just changing the face of our society over here? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Consider some of the activism that we have witnessed just this week. Teenage thugs boarded the school bus of the 292-year-old Jewish Free School shouting F*** Israel, nobody likes you at the children aboard, as passersby stood inertly, filming (not one of them called the police, by the way). What impact on the war did that have? What changed all those thousands of miles away when a 14-year-old girl was hospitalised after being hit by one of several glass bottles hurled at her and her friends as they left their Jewish school? In the military situation rooms and terrorist bunkers of the Middle East, what happened when students at Oxford called for intifada, a form of violent uprising characterised by suicide bombings, as they headed to the library? Who was it who felt cowed after the Trades Union Congress urged the 5.5 million members of its 48 unions to turn up at work wearing clothing to show which side of the Gaza war they are on? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And who lost out when Candida Gertler OBE, a patron of the arts in Britain, resigned from all of her voluntary positions, including the board of the foundation she set up, saying I can no longer stand silent when institutions, intimidated by violent and aggressive activism that dismisses dialogue or any kind of communication fail to uphold the foundational values of equality and respect? It was democracy in Britain, not Israel, that had to be protected this week as a crowd of anti-Israel protesters tried to force their way into Downing Street, prevented only by a hurriedly-formed scrum of police holding the crowd back with their bodies. This activism is futile as regards the Middle East, but extremely potent right here. The effects of this campaign of intimidation start quietly. Christmas shoppers dodge anti-Israel marches. Students ensure that they dont stray outside the lines of permitted thought. Jewish parents instruct their children to cover up any sign of their faith as they head to school. A Jewish restaurant critic quits The Guardian after 28 years because being Jewish there has become excruciating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But these quiet effects add up. The power of the performative anti-Israel activism is not global but local. Shoppers and work colleagues intimidated by thuggery, and children and students brainwashed by bigotry. It is British streets that are made unsafe by people openly supporting terrorist organisations. It is British traditions that are being trampled. That is why next Sunday (8 December), we are having a march of our own. A march of the mainstream. A very British protest. Last year, we gathered over 100,000 to stand shoulder to shoulder with British Jews, when they were on the front line. Now, we are all on the front line and we are running out of time. This year our message to the Government, police, universities and schools is to act against hate, before its too late. Please sign up, because if we dont take a stand, the extremists will win. Gideon Falter is Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism. You can learn more at antisemitism.org/march Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. This article was originally published in CommonWealth Beacon. As state officials move closer to considering changes to admission policies governing vocational high schools, including potentially requiring the use of a blind lottery system to award seats, the temperature of the debate is getting turned up. The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has held a series of four hearings over the past month, including two this week, and a subcommittee of the board has been tasked with studying the issue further before potential changes are considered. But its clear that, more than seven years after questions about voc admissions began to surface, the issue is coming to a head and one side in the debate will not be happy with the outcome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At issue is big disparities in voc school enrollment of lower-income students, English learners, special needs students, and students of color. Under state regulations adopted in 2003, the schools had been using selective admission criteria that considered applicants middle school grades, attendance and discipline record, and a recommendation in awarding seats. Education is at a Crossroads: Help Us Illuminate the Path Forward. Donate to The 74 Vocational schools have grown markedly in popularity in recent years, and there are many more applicants each year than seats available. Nearly half of the roughly 20,000 middle school students who applied in 2023, or about 8,500 students, did not get admitted. Under pressure from civil rights and education advocates, the state board modified the regulations in 2021 to make use of the criteria optional. It also said excused absences cant factor in the attendance measurement and only major discipline infractions can be considered. The new regulations also warned that schools cannot use any admissions criteria that have a disproportionate impact on the enrollment of demographic groups protected by state and federal law unless they can show they are essential to participation in the schools program, and that there are not other equally effective standards that would not have such an effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many schools tweaked their admission scoring rubric, but nearly all retained selective standards for accepting students. Critics said the changes the state made did not go far enough, and they called on officials to mandate the use of a lottery to award seats. Russell Johnston, the states acting education commissioner, said in the recent hearings that the disparities have persisted in the years since the changes. In 2024, across the board admittance rates were lower in nearly all the schools for specific student populations, he said pointing to rates for English learners, special needs students, students of color, and low-income students. We are having a discussion that goes beyond legal compliance, Johnston said. This is a question thats really about access to public education. Critics say the selective criteria are locking out some of the students who would benefit most from voc schools focus on applied, hands-on learning those who may have struggled academically in the traditional classroom setting during middle school or had attendance problems as a result. Given the high demand for vocational schools, leaders at these schools say its important to ensure that these seats go to students who are ready to take on the demands of their combined program of academic and vocational courses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Testifying at Monday nights hearing, Stephen Zrike, superintendent of the Salem Public Schools, said there are homeless students or those arriving from other countries who will never have a chance at gaining admission to the regional vocational school Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School under selective admission criteria. I dont believe that public schools should have admission criteria that put up barriers for the most marginalized students, he said. At Tuesdays state board meeting, Heidi Riccio, the superintendent of Essex North Shore, defended screening applicants based on discipline history, saying its a safety issue for schools. This is essential in a vocational school that gives students weapons upon arrival, she said, referring to the use of chainsaws and nail guns at the schools. Whats more, she said, traditional high schools like Salem High also use discipline history in admissions. Salem High Schools website does say serious discipline infractions could lead to a student being disqualified from pursuing a particular vocational pathway, but this isnt an admissions standard for acceptance it applies to student behavior while in a vocational course. In an interview on Tuesday, Zrike, now in his fifth year as Salem superintendent, said all high schools are able to access vocational courses. He called raising the policy a red herring, and said, in practice, that there hasnt been a single student expelled from a voc program at Salem High during this time in the district. Nobody is being restricted from [vocational programs] here, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre trying to protect the status quo, Zrike said of vocational schools effort to maintain use of selective admission criteria. I get charged up about this because its so obvious to me the inequities here. Patrick Tutwiler, Gov. Maura Healeys secretary of education, who sits on the board, seemed to share that view. Its hard to look at that data, as an educator, as a man of color, as a leader in this state who leads with a set of core values, principally anchored in this idea of equity, Tutwiler said at the hearing held last Friday. We talk a lot about this idea that our job is to create conditions for all students to realize their dreams, and when you look at slides that clearly show a lack of access for certain students, thats hard to look at. I feel a moral obligation to continue this conversation in earnest, but more importantly, to do something about it, he added. And I hope my colleagues on the board feel the same way. This article first appeared on CommonWealth Beacon and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. A thick layer of toxic foam was seen floating on the surface of the Yanuma River, raising serious concerns about the potential health risks it poses to the surrounding communities. The Drone visuals from Kalindi Kunj at around 7:45 AM on Sunday revealed thick toxic foam floating on the Yamuna River, underscoring severe pollution. The air quality of the national capital continued to remain in the 'very poor category,' with the city blanketed with smog on Sunday. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was recorded at 316 as of 7 am today, categorised as 'very poor'. A dense layer of smog enveloped the city of Delhi, and several parts of Delhi witnessed AQI above 300, according to the SAFAR. Several areas recorded the AQI in the 'very poor' category, with Dwarka sec 8 - 335, ITO 327, Okhla phase 2- 319, R Rohini - 329, Vivek Vihar -338, Anand Vihar 346 and Bawana -332 respectively. Earlier, on November 8, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla criticized AAP for the river's deteriorating state, alleging misuse of Rs7,000 crore for pollution control. During the Chhath festival, he linked the foam to health risks and slammed Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for inaction. He blamed AAP's political actions for the contamination of the river. Speaking to ANI earlier at Yamuna ghat at Kalindi Kunj, the BJP leader said, "Many people have gathered here to offer prayers to the Sun god. But the situation is such that the Delhi High Court had to say that no one should go to the ghats to offer prayers as it may affect their health. Even Congress leaders have said how the condition of the Yamuna river has deteriorated." "Today, a thick layer of toxic foam is floating on the surface of the river. The health of the sisters from Purvanchal, who have come to the Yamuna ghat to offer prayers to the Sun god, is being compromised. Rs 7,000 crore have been spent but the condition of the river has worsened. Devotees have gathered here but Arvind Kejriwal is missing. AAP's politics is responsible for pollution," said Poonawalla. (ANI) President-elect Donald Trump announced that Massad Boulos, the father-in-law to his daughter Tiffany Trump, will serve as his senior adviser for Arab and Middle Eastern affairs in to a Truth Social post Sunday. Massad is an accomplished lawyer and a highly respected leader in the business world, with extensive experience on the International scene, Trump said in the post. He has been a longtime proponent of Republican and Conservative values, an asset to my Campaign, and was instrumental in building tremendous new coalitions with the Arab American Community. Boulos, a prominent Lebanese-American businessman, is the father of Michael Boulos, Tiffany Trumps husband. The pick comes a day after Trump announced his pick of Charles Kushner the father of Ivanka Trumps husband, Jared Kushner to serve as the ambassador to France. In his first term, Jared Kushner pursued diplomatic initiatives in the Middle East on Trump's behalf. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boulos, who is head of the family automobile business, campaigned for Trump, especially in Michigan with Arab American voters. In his announcement, Trump described Boulos as a dealmaker who supports peace in the Middle East. Massad is a dealmaker, and an unwavering supporter of PEACE in the Middle East, Trump said in the post. He will be a strong advocate for the United States, and its interests, and I am pleased to have him on our team! Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation's National Security Council, has responded to Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili's refusal to resign from office after her term expires, saying that "they used to hang for such things" and pointing out to the protesters that revolutionary activities "usually end badly". Source: Medvedev on Telegram Quote: "In Georgia, there is an attempt at another colour (of roses, orange, etc.) revolution. Some of the individuals on the street yell, destroy, and set fire to everything around them. The remaining half is silent. The eccentric broad Salome [Zourabichvili - ed.], expired president of Georgia and the industrious French student of Zbigniew Brzezinski, failed to resign her office because she refused to recognise the elections. Formerly, they used to hang on lampposts for such things. We live in much more humane times now. So she dodged a bullet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In general, all of the conditions are in place to plunge Georgia back into civil war... In summary, the neighbours swiftly follow the Ukrainian path down the black abyss. It typically ends badly." Background: Medvedev claimed that if Donald Trump tries to stop Russian aggression against Ukraine, he "could be the new John F. Kennedy," the 35th President of the United States, who was assassinated in 1963. Support UP or become our patron! When Mindy Osterbur started her drive to Sams Club on the morning of July 21, the main thing on her mind was making sure gravy didnt spill in her car. The Spring Hill resident was on her way to visit friends for their weekly Sunday fun day, and a cooker full of homemade sausage gravy and biscuits was stowed on the passenger floorboard. "Suddenly, a car ahead slammed on their brakes, she said, remembering how car parts went flying and smoke began filling the air. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an instant, everything changed. Now an employee at Mitsubishi Motors Warranty Operations, Osterbur is a former Illinois EMT. She pulled to the side of the road to assess the damage. I rolled down my window and asked them if someone was still in the car," she said, noting that when someone said yes, she told them to call 911 and then over ran to help. One person was stuck in the car, which was on fire, so Osterbur crawled through the broken windshield into the front of the car, which was littered with glass and debris, and began to assist the trapped passenger. I've been away from Illinois for 12 years now, but your training never leaves you, Osterbur said. "In cases like that, you don't even realize you did it until after. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As an EMT, Osterbur frequently responded to serious accidents. She lived in a small town right off a major highway. Hers is a family dedicated to service. Osterbur's ex-husband was an assistant fire chief, her daughter works at the Cookeville emergency room, one son is a paramedic and another is a firefighter. After crawling through the glass in her Sunday best, Osterbur was trying to wake up the unconscious passenger and remove him from the fiery vehicle when emergency crews arrived. They managed to finish rescuing him before they lifted her out, too. Osterbur suffered a cut to her hand. She's grateful for the scar, she says. I'll look at that and think of them always, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While she encourages people to help if they come across an accident, Osterbur warns against trying to remove a person from a vehicle unless they have professional training. Nine times out of 10, you're not supposed to move anybody like that with a neck injury or legs trapped because you can cause additional damage to their spine or their back, she said. But in a situation like that with a car on fire, the first thing is to get him out and keep him alive. While a car catching on fire is a rare occurrence, Capt. Jonathan Gill of Fire Station 2, who responded to the scene, said that, unfortunately, multi-car accidents are a common occurrence. We do frequently get people who will try to help when an accident occurs, he said. A lot of times its a doctor, nurse or EMT. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since that day, Osterbur has kept in contact with the man she helped to rescue. Were in contact daily, she said. I would imagine that ... they will never not be a part of my life. Despite everything, Osterbur says she doesnt consider herself a hero. It wasnt just me, she said with tears in her eyes. "It was a group of people working together, stopping for the right reasons to do the right thing and help. Im just thankful I was there at that moment. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Middle TN Mitsubishi employee helps rescue man from burning car Dina Boluarte, Perus deeply unpopular president, has hit a fresh polling low, receiving just three per cent approval in a new survey, in what appears to be a world record for a head of government in any nation where pollsters are able to work freely. The survey, carried out by market researchers Datum for El Comercio, the Andean nations main conservative newspaper, had a margin of error of 2.8 per cent. That means Ms Boluarte might even effectively have recorded zero support. She and her ministers are now so deeply loathed that they rarely make public appearances as they are routinely jeered or pelted with objects, with security personnel having to rush them to their limos or helicopters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reason Ms Boluarte, 62, is so deeply loathed by Peruvians of all classes is a toxic cocktail of alleged incompetence, corruption, authoritarianism and frivolity all while ordinary citizens clamour in vain for government action against a violent crimewave and stalling economy. Her presidency kicked off in December 2022 with security forces killing dozens of mainly poor indigenous demonstrators against the ousting of Pedro Castillo, the previous, far-left president. Human rights groups and the United Nations, among others, have characterised those deaths, which she has repeatedly justified, as an excessive use of lethal force and driven by racism. Ms Boluarte, 62, had been Mr Castillos vice president, also representing the Marxist-Leninist Free Peru party. But when she replaced him, she morphed into a business-friendly centre right leader, possibly to avoid her own impeachment, triggering accusations of opportunism. Anti-government protests are rife in Peru, with the demonstrators burning a mock coffin with a photo of Dina Boluarte in November. - Fernando Vergara/AP Scandals since then have included Rolexgate, in which she was found to have suddenly acquired a 400,000 jewellery collection on her 40,000 presidential salary, and allegedly taking two weeks off work to undergo a nose job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former mid-level career bureaucrat did so at a time when Peru had no vice president to stand in for her and while ordinary Peruvians continued to suffer the economic fall out of the Covid-19 pandemic, with 50 per cent experiencing food insecurity and widespread hunger including rising malnutrition and anaemia among children. Ms Boluarte, who routinely complains about critical journalists, has yet to explain what she was up to during her public vanishing act. She has also made light of the food crisis, insisting she cooks her family three-course meals for 10 Sols (2.10). To make matters worse, Ms Boluarte has repeatedly approved laws signed by the equally detested congress, more than half of whose members have been the targets of police investigations, that favour organised crime, including rampant illegal mining and the cocaine trade. Counter reforms include stopping surprise police raids on suspects homes and blocking officers from seizing black market explosives. November demonstrations saw protestors demand the resignatio of Ms Boluarte. - CRIS BOURONCLE/AFP With Peru suffering an extortion epidemic, having more than a score of bus drivers murdered recently and gangs even detonating grenades at schools, Ms Boluarte has allowed lawmakers to legally redefine organized crime, excluding extortion and therefore curbing detectives powers to investigate it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is this clear image of frivolity just as ordinary Peruvians are having a really difficult time. Its such a strong feeling of dissonance and being out of touch, says Arturo Maldonado, a political scientist at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. She clearly loves the pomp of the presidency, appearing in expensive dresses, with her fancy Rolex. And then she comes out with this remark about cooking a three-course meal. Its a slap in the face. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Democrats are asking what went wrong and where they go from here, as President-elect Trump prepares to take office in January. The dust may be beginning to settle from Vice President Harriss loss, but the questions for a party that has lost control of every branch of government have only grown sharper. Every aspect of the Democrats political project who will lead the party, how they will counter Trump, and what adjustments they need to make to ensure a defeat like Novembers does not get repeated is in flux. And, in an era of perpetual campaign, the clock is already ticking toward the 2026 midterms and the battle for the White House four years from now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One big unknown is whether Harris herself will stay in active politics once she leaves office as vice president in January. On one hand, American politics is usually harsh on losers. Until Trump this year, the last person to have won a presidential election having lost on a previous occasion was Richard Nixon more than half a century ago. On the other hand, Harris partisans note that she faced a hard task this year. Having taken over in dramatic circumstance atop the ticket after President Biden abandoned his reelection bid in July, the vice president had to crank up a fundraising apparatus, make herself better known to the nation at large, and try to thwart an opponent with an avid base of supporters. Even though she came up short, the possibility of another attempt for the White House has not been ruled out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the shorter term, one of the more notable and controversial postmortems on the Harris campaign so far came earlier this week when several of the vice presidents senior campaign staff were interviewed on Pod Save America, the podcast run by prominent veterans of former President Obamas White House. Among the explanations offered for her loss was that the political atmosphere was pretty brutal, the shortened campaign made it very difficult to do all that the things that you would normally do, and that right-wing attacks on social issues, including trans rights, made Harris vulnerable to the charge of being out of touch. Those explanations were offered by senior adviser David Plouffe, campaign chair Jen OMalley Dillon and principal deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks, respectively. But the interview was cited by some on the left as further evidence that the Harris campaign strategy was too focused on trying to win the votes of moderate Republican voters and not sufficiently attuned to working-class concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pod Save America group interview also did not make a single mention of Gaza, Israel or the Palestinians in its 90-minute-plus duration, despite the Biden-Harris administrations policy on Israel being a subject of deep contention within the Democratic Party. Usamah Andrabi, communications director of Justice Democrats, a progressive group, contended that the election loss this year wasnt the failure of a single cycle or a single campaign. Its a decades-long failure, where working class people no longer see us as fighting for their interest. They see the Democratic Party as beholden to the needs of a handful of corporations and billionaires. In concrete terms, Andrabi said a reset would foreground policies like increasing the federal minimum wage, imposing higher taxes on billionaires and providing universal health care. Those views are broadly in alignment with others on the left such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right after the election, Sanders released a statement contending that the big money interests and well-paid consultants who control the Democratic Party were failing to understand the pain and political alienation that tens of millions of Americans are experiencing. It is, at a minimum, plain that Trump had an advantage among the large number of Americans who believe the nation is in need of a fundamental shift. According to a voter analysis conducted for The Associated Press and Fox News, Harris won overwhelmingly among voters who wanted either no change or a small change in how the country is run. Unfortunately for her, those people accounted for fewer than 1-in-5 votes cast. Among the roughly 1 in 4 who wanted complete and total upheaval, Trump crushed Harris by more than 40 points. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, votes in the center and on the center-left caution against any shift to harder left positions. Their argument is equally stark. They argue it makes no logical sense to believe that voters opted for the right-wing populism of Trump because they felt the Democrats were not left-wing enough. Any strong shift toward the left, according to the centrists, would put Democrats even further away from the national political center of gravity. There are, too, some vexing social issues for Democrats to contemplate perhaps none more politically potent than trans rights. Some Democrats contend that one of Trumps most effective attack ads against Harris cited her support for allowing trans rights generally, including allowing transgender people to participate in girls and womens sports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kamala is for they/them President Trump is for you, the ads narrator intoned. Soon after the election, Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) told The New York Times that Democrats spend way too much time trying not to offend anyone. Moulton added: I have two little girls, I dont want them getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athlete, but as a Democrat Im supposed to be afraid to say that. Those comments set off their own firestorm, with the Democratic governor of Moultons state, Maura Healey, among those accusing him of playing politics. Beyond those battles, there is the question of who could be the partys next standard-bearer four years from now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the names most frequently mentioned are several governors: Gavin Newsom of California, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Andy Beshear of Kentucky. Democrats have a lot of hard questions to answer before their attention turns to a 2028 pick. The Memo is a reported column by Niall Stanage. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Jose Rincones sat on a crowded couch in his Brickell condominiums wine and cigar room, a space where a November breeze swept in from the balcony to cool the hundred owners gathered Saturday. Rincones was one of many who had flown in from out of town his a 1,600-mile journey from Venezuela for this event. At 9 a.m., Rincones voted to oust his condominiums president who approved a $21 million special assessment without the majority of the buildings blessing. We have to review everything that has been done, of course, and see in what time we can make [the changes], not necessarily in a year, if we can go about making some of the changes we agree on, the most critical, Rincones said in Spanish. Well, thats basic, how they say, Common sense in English. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The election, which ended the two-year reign of condo board president Jacob Kassell, promised a fresh start for owners at 1060 Brickell, on the main artery of Miamis financial district at 1060 Brickell Ave. The two towers have 605 residences. In recent months, Kassells actions have proven too much for owners like Rincones. Kassell eliminated electronic voting once a saving grace for the majority foreign investors in the building rushed in a $21 million special assessment, and tried to postpone board elections until December. Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation sent two volunteers to oversee the election. The agency oversees condo associations, and the volunteers sat throughout the five-hour meeting to ensure proper protocol was followed with the voting process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By 2 p.m., condo owner and resident Dorinda Spahr was voted in with 192 votes with 115 votes the minimum needed as the president-elect. Pablo Lignarolo and David Treiger were also voted in as part of the three-member board. Kassell received zero votes. We won the election, but we still need ownership, Spahr said to owners at the end of the election, urging participation in meetings and votes in the months ahead. The first task for Spahr and her fellow board members would be the $21 million special assessment. Kassell failed to hold a vote to approve the multi-million dollar special assessment for the 16-year-old building in November. While large assessments are permissible under state law, boards must get 50% of owner approval for any project over $50,000 or exceeding 115% of assessments for the preceding calendar year, according to state statute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While a vote by owners is required by Florida statute, the board refused to allow this to happen. Kassell and another board member the majority of the board approved the assessment in a virtual meeting where residents were muted. Instead, owners got hit with assessments that averaged $40,000 to $50,000, depending on the size of the residence. Kassell set a deadline for January for a quarter of each owners assessment, with the rest paid over nine quarterly payments. Condo owners gathered Saturday at 9 a.m. to cast ballots and vote in new board members after many raised concerns over decisions taken by the associations president as of 2022. This mock election will be thrown out come Monday, Kassell told the Miami Herald. He declined to answer questions, citing the associations law firm and representative Halpern Rodriguez. Marc Halpern, a senior and founding partner of the Coral Gables-based Halpern Rodriguez law firm, did not respond to a request for comment. Financial pressures after Surfside collapse The election at 1060 Brickell follows a series of owners pushing back at associations raising monthly condo assessment fees, requesting special assessments and setting expectations for reserve contributions come January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The increases have come after the collapse of the Champlain Towers South, which killed 98 people in June 2021. The building collapsed after owners had delayed structural repairs and a $15 million special assessment for the 39-year-old condo at the time of the disaster. In an attempt to protect lives, the state established new laws forcing owners to address structural issues and build reserves for future renovations and projects. The problem is the process, not the price of the special assessment, said Diego Navia, who lives at 1060 Brickell. More accountability and guardrails need to be established, Navia said, for board members. There needs to be more timely enforcement, he said. The laws passed were a great step forward. The majority of owners at 1060 Brickell, about 80%, are international investors. Many owners flew in from across the globe to cast their ballot on Saturday, including from Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela. Above: A photo of envelopes holding owners votes at 1060 Brickell on Saturday, November 30. Over the next few days, the newly elected board plans to fight for recognition from Kassell and clarity behind the $21 million demanded special assessment. Spahr said they just needed time to plan. We understand owners want answers. This was the first step today. This was the most important step today The rest of it, Spahr said, is a little unknown territory. Republican Sen. Mike Rounds on Sunday cast doubt on President-elect Donald Trump's ability to settle the Russia-Ukraine war, saying, The presidents got a huge job on his hands if we're going to be successful in stopping Putin. "I don't think that we should deceive ourselves, I think Mr. Putin is a tyrant, Rounds (R-S.D.) told host Jonathan Karl on ABC's "This Week." I think dealing with him is going to be extremely difficult. I give President Trump credit for saying that he wants to end this. He wants to end the bloodshed. He doesn't like the suffering that's out there. I just think this is going to be an enormous task for anybody to negotiate with Putin. Trump has previously promised to end the war in 24 hours after taking the presidency a promise that many have been skeptical of. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you take a look back, look, we made a deal with Ukraine the United States was one of the parties, Russia was one of the parties, and that's when they gave up their nuclear weapons, Rounds said, referring to the 1994 Trilateral Statement that assured Ukraine's security in return for its agreement to transfer nuclear warheads to Russia for elimination. It's not the United States that's causing the problems there in Ukraine right now, Rounds continued. It is Russia going back on their written commitment to help protect the lines that were drawn in 1994. So once again, it is Putin going back on his country's word of honor. I don't think you can trust a guy that doesn't honor their word of honor." Some are also wary of Trumps relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as the president-elect once praised Putins invasion of Ukraine as genius and "savvy. His choice of former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard considered by some as a Russia sympathizer to serve as director of national intelligence has heightened concerns. This is not the first time that the South Dakota senator made his opinion heard on this topic. At the Halifax International Security Forum in November, he spoke on Putin's strategies, a message he returned to Sunday on ABC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think wherever we look, Mr. Putin is going to do his best to find a weakness. If he finds a weakness within NATO, he's going to try to utilize that to his advantage, Rounds said. He continued: I think and once again, not taking anything away from a president who wants to find peace I just point out just how big of a project this is going to be for any president to be successful in negotiating with this tyrant. And I wish him the best. A missing child alert was issued in Manitowoc County on Saturday evening for a 7-year-old boy last seen about 4:36 p.m. at Veterans Park in Two Rivers. Jacob Baer is described as a white male, who is 3 feet 5 inches tall and weighs about 56 pounds, according to the Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Missing Persons. He has blue eyes and blond hair and was last seen wearing a black jacket with green on the hood, a black and gray hooded sweatshirt, black pants and size 13 Realtree camouflage boots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is missing from 1818 School St. in Two Rivers. Anyone with information is asked to call Two Rivers Police Department at 920-686-7200. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Missing child alert issued in Manitowoc County for 7-year-old boy The woman, 30, disappeared days after she missed her connecting flight to New York City from Los Angeles on Nov. 8 Courtesy of Larie Pidgeon Hannah Kobayashi. Hannah Kobayashi. Hannah Kobayashi intentionally missed her connecting flight from Los Angeles to New York City, police say, though her family disagrees. The missing Hawaii woman, 30, landed at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Nov. 8, when she was due to take a connecting flight to Manhattan. However, Hannah never made it onto the plane, her family told Fox affiliate KHON. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hannah's phone last pinned her location at LAX three days later on Nov. 11, which was also the final time anyone from her family heard from her. Hannahs aunt, Larie Pidgeon, later wrote on Facebook on Nov. 14 that the last text messages her family received from her were alarming." Speaking at a Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners meeting on Nov. 26, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said police determined Hannah had intentionally missed her flight that day. On Friday November 8th, 23-year-old Hannah Kobayashi missed her connecting flight from LAX to New York, which the investigation determined was intentional, McDonnell said. On November 15th our missing persons unit assumed investigative responsibility. Detectives have been diligently reviewing video surveillance and employing various investigative techniques to locate Hannah, while her family has continued their personal search efforts, he continued, adding that authorities remain fully committed to locating Hannah. Courtesy of Larie Pidgeon Hannah Kobayashi Hannah Kobayashi Related: What Happened to Hannah Kobayashi? What We Know About the Hawaii Woman Who Went Missing After Not Getting on a Connecting Flight Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, Nov. 30, in a statement shared on Facebook that was seen by PEOPLE, Hannahs mother and sister addressed the police investigation. Hannahs sister said that it does not appear that Hannah intentionally missed her flight" and claimed she and her family were unaware of the alleged findings presented at the Los Angeles Police Commission meeting until multiple videos of the meeting were sent to us by multiple citizens. These alleged findings have yet to be relayed to my mother and I directly from the Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department or any detective involved in Hannahs case, Hannahs sister further explained. The mother and daughter went on to claim that certain details shared by McDonnell about the case in the meeting were inaccurate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Specific facts contained in that report were inaccurate, such as Hannahs age. Hannah is 30 years old, not 23, the pair wrote. Also, Hannah was reported missing to Law Enforcement on November 11th, not November 13th, as stated by the Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. The lack of communication surrounding some important details has left us feeling excluded from potentially crucial developments. However, we do remain hopeful and optimistic that the Los Angeles Police Department is doing everything in their power to assist us in locating Hannah, the statement added. An LAPD spokesperson declined to comment on the family's criticism, telling PEOPLE that "the investigation is ongoing and there are no updates." Related: Father of Missing Hawaii Woman Found Dead in Los Angeles 2 Weeks After His Daughter's Disappearance Courtesy of Larie Pidgeon Hannah Kobayashi Hannah Kobayashi Hannahs mother and sister also said in their statement that they were devastated by Hannahs disappearance and now my father Ryans passing." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hannahs father Ryan Kobayashi, who had traveled to Los Angeles to look for his daughter, died by suicide on Nov. 24, two weeks after his daughter disappeared, according to the L.A. County Medical Examiner. His cause of death was multiple blunt force traumatic injuries, according to the medical examiner report reviewed by PEOPLE. 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. Concluding their social media statement, Hannahs mother and sister said it is completely out of character for her to simply disappear without a trace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We remain deeply concerned about Hannahs safety, her well being [sic] and her current state of mind, they wrote. Hannah if you happen to see this, know that we are not going to give up or stop searching until we find you. We know that this is something that you would never do on your own accord, unless you felt some type of threat or you were unwell. We know how much you love all of us, and we love you deeply. Pidgeon, Hannah's aunt, previously told PEOPLE We are terrified. Were really afraid. We have to get her face into as many people's hands as we can, added Pidgeon, a travel photographer who is acting as family spokesperson. We're fighting desperately, and that's why we're talking to as many people as we can. We're trying to remain hopeful. Amid massive security, three-member judicial committee conducted inspection near the Shahi Masjid area in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal on Sunday where stone-pelting incident took place on November 24. The committee members visited the areas and spoke to the residents as well as officials regarding the incident. The panel was accompanied by security personnel as they visited the violence-hit area. Earlier Moradabad Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh said that the committee will visit the place to collect evidence today and all arrangements to ensure smooth probe process has been made. "The probe committee will do their job, they will decide what to do, we just need to assist them, wherever they go and collect the evidence," Singh said. The commissioner said that the situation in Sambhal is currently peaceful and the authorities are constantly monitoring the same. "The situation in Sambhal is absolutely peaceful, there is no problem there right now, constant monitoring is being done. Vigilance is maintained so as to ensure peace and order," he said. The Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday held a flag march in the area. "We have strengthened the security and forces have been deployed. We are committed to organising all the events safely. There is no sign of violence and the police force is deployed at every crucial point. Namaz will be offered tomorrow (at Shahi Jama Masjid)," Sambhal ASP Shrishchand said. Tensions in Sambhal have been high since November 19, when a local court ordered a survey of the mosque. Clashes between protestors and police over the court-ordered survey of the Jama Masjid resulted in four deaths. The survey was initiated following a petition claiming the mosque site was originally a Harihar temple. A stone-pelting incident occurred on November 24 during the ASI's examination of the Mughal-era mosque, resulting in the deaths of four individuals and injuries to several others, including officials and locals. So far, 27 individuals, including 25 men and two women, have been arrested, and seven FIRs have been registered in connection with the violence, according to police. On November 29, the Supreme Court asked Uttar Pradesh to ensure "harmony and peace" in Sambhal and directed the trial court there not to proceed in the suit against the Jama Masjid till the petition filed by the Masjid Committee against the survey order is listed in the High Court. A bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar directed that the report of the advocate commissioner, who conducted the survey of the mosque, should be kept in a sealed cover and should not be opened in the meantime. The top court was hearing the plea of the Committee of Management of Jama Masjid in Sambhal against the November 19 order of the local court for the survey of the mosque. (ANI) Towering flames and thick plumes of smoke engulfed a Queens strip mall early Saturday afternoon. One firefighter was taken to Northwell Health with minor injuries from battling the two-alarm blaze in the rear of 62-16 Woodhaven Blvd., between 62nd Avenue and 62nd Road, which housed Uzbeki restaurant Taste of Samarkand, according to FDNY. The eatery was closed when firefighters responded to the fire just before 11 a.m., the department said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by fire marshals, an FDNY source said. Obtained by NY Post One firefighter was taken to Northwell Hospital with minor injuries. Brigitte Stelzer Also located in the Rego Park strip mall were additional restaurants and other small businesses, several of which also appear to have caught fire in videos posted on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photographs showed the charred remains of one outdoor dining shed destroyed. In total, 25 FDNY units and 106 fire and EMS personnel responded to get the blaze under control at around 12:16 p.m., the department said. Investigators are looking into whether the fire was sparked by space heaters in outdoor dining extensions on one or two of the restaurants, an FDNY source told The Post. Russian police conducted raids on several bars and nightclubs across Moscow on Nov. 30, intensifying the governments ongoing crackdown on what it calls "LGBTQ+ propaganda," according to Russian state media. Officers reportedly seized smartphones, laptops, and video cameras while inspecting clubgoers' documents. Tass, Russias state news agency, cited law enforcement sources in its coverage of the events. The raids coincide with the one-year anniversary of Russias Supreme Court decision to classify the "LGBTQ+ movement" as an "extremist organization." The ruling followed a years-long effort to suppress LGBTQ+ rights in the country, with President Vladimir Putin frequently emphasizing "traditional family values" as a key aspect of his administration during his 25 years in power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Videos circulating on social media showed a heavy police presence at Moscows Arma nightclub. In one clip, officers appeared to order partygoers to lie on the floor while the venue was searched. Another venue, Mono bar, was also reportedly targeted in the raids. Authorities also detained the head of the "Men Travel" tour agency under Russias anti-LGBT laws. Tass reported that the 48-year-old is suspected of planning a trip for "supporters of nontraditional sexual values" to Egypt during Russias New Years holidays. The raids reflect the broader fears expressed by activists who warned about the potential consequences of labeling the LGBTQ+ movement as "extremist" despite it not being a formal organization. Other recent legislative measures, including the Nov. 23 law banning the adoption of Russian children by citizens of countries where gender transitioning is legan, show the Kremlins push to enforce "traditional values." The law targets over a dozen countries, including several in Europe, as well as Australia, Argentina, and Canada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin also signed a law prohibiting the dissemination of informational material encouraging people not to have children. Read also: Kremlin finds new enemies to target Russians without kids Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. When 19-year-old Cayley Mandadi didn't show up to a weekly sorority meeting on Oct. 29, 2017, her friends at Trinity University in San Antonio feared the worst. They tried calling her cellphone and sending messages on social media but couldn't get confirmation that the college cheerleader was OK. "We were very panicked. Like, frenzied. We were calling everybody we knew," Trinity student Ariana Conway said. Mandadi's friends said her boyfriend Mark Howerton was the only person who ever responded to them. When Morgan Sampson made a FaceTime call to Mandadi's phone, Howerton answered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He said she can't talk right now," Sampson said. Cayley Mandadi / Credit: Taylor Clement Feeling the situation had escalated, Mandadi's friends reached out to the San Antonio Police Department for help. "We went to a police station and tried to file a police report. But they wouldn't let us do that," Conway said. "We also tried to file a wellness check, I believe. But that wasn't an option, either."' At the time of Mandadi's disappearance, there was nothing in place for law enforcement to broadcast information about missing adults ages 18-64 in Texas. Just 19 years old, Mandadi did not qualify for the Amber Alert program, a nationwide missing children alert system that sets off notifications for endangered persons from infancy to age 17. And the only other alert systems in Texas at the time were for the mentally disabled or senior adults, ages 65 or older. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mandadi's mother, Alison Steele, didn't find out her daughter was missing until she got a call from Kyle, Texas, authorities, who told her Cayley was in critical condition at a rural hospital. Tragically, Mandadi was declared brain dead on Oct. 30, 2017 and taken off life support the next day, just 48 hours after her friends had desperately tried to report her missing. Her boyfriend Mark Howerton was later charged with kidnapping, sexual assault, and murder. He pleaded not guilty, and his defense argues that Cayley's fatal injuries were caused by the aggressive lifesaving measures the medical team put her through. Howerton's case is still pending. Steele turned her grief into action and vowed that her only daughter's death wouldn't be in vain. Steele, an environmental industry professional for 27 years, put her career on hold to dedicate herself to creating a new law in her daughter's memory. Alison Steele was able to get the CLEAR Alert Bill passed. Now in the state of Texas when someone between the ages of 18-64 goes missing, an emergency text will go out to the community. Steele wants In September 2019, less than two years after Mandadi's death, the Texas Legislature approved the Coordinated Law Enforcement Adult Response, or CLEAR Alert. The program has also been implemented in Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, when someone reports an adult ages 18 to 64 missing in Texas, authorities issue a CLEAR Alert through the state's Emergency Broadcast system with the endangered person's information and last known whereabouts. A CLEAR Alert was issued for Savanah Soto, a pregnant 18-year-old who was missing for several days in December 2023 before she and her boyfriend were found dead in a vehicle in San Antonio. "The CLEAR Alert is a game changer. It's a paradigm shift in terms of our ability to find missing persons and to intervene in active situations that could turn fatal," Steele said. "We couldn't save Cayley. But maybe we can save the next one." The CLEAR name has a double meaning, Steele said, representing Cayley Mandadi, D'Lisa Kelley, Erin Castro, Ashanti Billie, and the rest of victims who died before the law existed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Symbolically, it actually stands for some of the victims, who may have been saved if there had been an alert available at the time," Steele said. Although the CLEAR Alert went into effect in 2019, Steele said her job is far from finished. To support the legislation, Steele formed the nonprofit Cayley's Calling and travels around Texas giving presentations to law enforcement agencies and other groups about best practices for implementing the alert. She hopes one day it will become a nationwide law, just as the Amber Alert, which also originated in Texas, did. "I don't want to be the mom who made the law, and made the news and didn't make the grade," Steele said. "I'm committed to actually pushing out and developing this program." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To learn more about the CLEAR Alert and how to request assistance for a missing adult in Texas, visit the Texas Department of Public Safety website. Missing hiker found after nearly six weeks in the Canadian wilderness War in Ukraine pushes women into new roles How severe weather could impact Christmas trees WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said officers arrested a suspect for assaulting a person with a screwdriver and stealing their phone in Southeast D.C. on Wednesday. MPD said that on Nov. 27, at around 5:30 a.m., the victim reported that they confronted a person they thought had broken the window of a vehicle in the 1200 block of Half St. This is near the Navy Yard Metro Station. The suspect then allegedly struck the victim repeatedly in the head with a screwdriver, causing them to lose consciousness and fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 3 arrested in connection to Northwest DC robbery They then took the victims phone and left, according to police. Responders took the victim to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. On Friday, Nov. 29, officers arrested Craig Hunter, 29, of no fixed address, in connection to the alleged assault. Authorities charged Hunter with Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (Screwdriver) and Theft Two. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) Two people were detained Sunday in connection with a weapons discharge reported by staff members at a high-rise hotel on S. Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach. Officers went to the Paradise Resort on 2201 S. Ocean Blvd. shortly before 8:30 a.m. Sunday to investigate an incident that occurred at an earlier, undisclosed date. No one was hurt in the incident. Police said evidence at the scene led to the detention of two people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * * * Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) A woman was arrested on Friday after a child that was in her care was found to have injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome, according to arrest documents. Lindsay Johnson, 32, was arrested on Nov. 29 on one count of aggravated child abuse, intentionally or knowingly, which is a second-degree felony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 3 Utah children missing since 2022 found living with FLDS Church, returned to mother According to an affidavit of probable cause filed in Summit County, Johnson was the only person to be in contact with the 6-week-old child between the hours of 10 p.m. on Nov. 26 and 7:30 a.m. on Nov. 27. Both parents stated that at approximately 0700-0730 on the morning of 11/27/2024, after taking custody of the child from Ms. Johnson, the child was not responding appropriately and was found to be experiencing seizures, prompting them to take the child to a doctor, the affidavit reads. After taking the child to the doctor, the parents learned the child had brain injuries, which physicians reportedly ruled as non-accidental trauma, the affidavit said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two separate X-rays of the childs chest showed a fractured rib, which physicians said was inertia generated and common in patients suffering from shaken baby syndrome, according to arrest documents. The childs parents told officers that the child was healthy before Johnson watched the baby. Johnson confirmed to officers that she was the only person to have contact with the child overnight. Johnson was arrested on the aforementioned charge. She moved to Utah at the beginning of November, according to the affidavit, and the arresting officer said she may try to flee to another state if released on bail. What is shaken baby syndrome? According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, shaken baby syndrome happens when babies or young children are shaken violently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When this happens, the brain can bounce back and forth against the skull which can cause bleeding, bruising, and swelling, NINDS explains. Shaken baby syndrome can cause long-term damage or death, in some cases, NINDS said. Some symptoms may become more evident as the child gets older, but more immediate symptoms may include the following: Seizures. Unconsciousness. Vomiting. Breathing difficulties. Bleeding, bruising, or swelling in the brain. Bleeding in the retina. For more information on shaken baby syndrome, visit the NINDS website. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Ahead of the Karthigai Deepam festival scheduled to be celebrated on December 13, the Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar temple in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvannamalai were decorated and lit with lights. Karthigai Deepam or Karthika Deepam is one of the most ancient festivals of Tamil Nadu celebrated on the day of the full moon in the Tamil month of Karthigai, according to the Indian calendar. Karthigai Deepam has references dating back to the Sangam Age with famed poet of the era Avaiyyar refrerring to the festival in his poems. As per ancient Hindu scriptures, the two great deities Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma once started arguing with each other about who is superior. Each one claimed to be stronger than the other. At that point, Lord Shiva appeared to quell the fight. He took the shape of a huge fire and challenged the two Gods to find the end of the fire from the top and bottom. As per a description in the Incredible India website, Lord Vishnu took the form of a boar and tried to reach the end of the fire beneath the earth, but he couldn't and came back to Lord Shiva saying that he was unable to find it. Lord Brahma on the other hand, took the shape of a swan and flew to find the beginning of the fire on top. But his search too was in vain as he was unable to find the top of the fire. Thus, Lord Shiva proved his supremacy over the two Gods and managed to stop the fight. He then appeared in the form of a hill in Thiruvannamalai. A temple dedicated to Lord Shiva stands on the hill, where Karthigai Deepam celebrations include the lighting of a big fire. Another legend links Karthigai Deepam to Lord Muruga. It is said that Lord Muruga adopted the form of six babies in Saravana poigai, a lake and was looked after by six Kritika stars. On this day, Goddess Parvathy united all the six forms of Skantda. Thus, Lord Karthikeya has six faces and popularly known as Aarumugan in Tamil culture. As per Tamil customs, Karthigai Deepam is a grand celebration that begins with a thorough cleaning and decoration of homes and the creation of intricate kolams, floral patterns drawn in front of houses. Mango leaf festoons adorn doorways, while lamps, known as agal, are ignited. These lamps come in various shapes, including Lakshmi Villaku (depicting a woman with folded hands), Kuthu Vilakku (resembling five-petal flowers), and Gajalakshmi Vilakku (shaped like an elephant). Devotees observe a fast on this day, breaking it after sunset with special dishes. Houses across Tamil Nadu are seen lit with lamps, marking the triumph of light over darkness and unity over discord. (ANI) Wallace Fard Muhammad, the founder of the Black Muslim movement, concluded the tutorial of his designated successor, Elijah Muhammad, in 1934. That was the year Fard, who under the Nation of Islams theology was an Allah, one of a series of divine messengers whose time on Earth was limited, disappeared. The two mens paths had first crossed in Detroit, where Fard Muhammad was a street peddler of silk goods who also preached a self-help faith. Elijah Poole, later to take the name Muhammad, had moved with his family to Detroit from Georgia in 1917 and worked in industrial plants. The Great Depression left him unemployed and despondent. His wife, Clara, and their children barely survived on the pittance of aid provided to those who signed up for public assistance, while Elijah fruitlessly begged at factory doors for any kind of job. Day after day, hed come home without being able to buy anything to put on the kitchen table. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At other times, he would drink to unconsciousness in alleyways where Clara would find him and bring him in off the streets on her shoulders, Claude Andrew Clegg III reported in An Original Man: The Life and Times of Elijah Muhammad. Elijah, whose father was a Baptist lay preacher and sharecropper, quoted the Old Testament and the Gospels and proclaimed that God hears the faithfuls suffering, just as his father had. But neither resonated with Elijahs experience as a Black man in America. In Detroit, the Christian references were to be replaced by quotations from the Quran, Islams holy book, after Elijah was first exposed to Fard Muhammads teaching in the fall of 1931. I recognized him to be the person the Bible predicted would come 2,000 years after Jesus death, Elijah Muhammad later said, according to his 1975 Chicago Tribune obituary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elijah joined the Black Muslims and witnessed Fards creation of a counterfaith to Christianity. It was based on the proposition that white people werent content to just import Black people from Africa to be their slaves in America. God-fearing Christians didnt hesitate to profit from the product of their very flesh. This took place when the slave master wanted to produce lots of slaves. He put himself to try to make some slaves, then took all the children and sold them off, Fard taught. From a corollary that the evil white people inflicted on Black people continued when slavery ended, Fard posited a metaphysics and a battle plan that began with the theory that the first humans were Black, their innocence earning them the gift of life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Yakub, a devilish prodigy, back-bred a strain of brown in the original humans. By lying to the mother of a baby who carried that seed, Yakub produced a white person: Born to make trouble, break peace, kill and destroy his own people with a made enemy to the black nation, according to the Book of Yakub, a collection of Fard Muhammads articles in Muhammad Speaks, the newspaper of the Nation of Islam. One of Yakubs tricks was the Civil Rights Movement and its promise to enable Blacks to live peacefully side by side with whites. The Nation of Islam theology rejected that premise. In his book The True History of Master Fard Muhammad, Elijah Muhammad wrote: If you say the races should be merged, and live together, and not be separated, Im asking you, where do you find it, where can you point to me in the past history where such ever happened and it was a success? The Black communitys problems required not integration but separation, under Nation of Islam teachings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amid succession questions following Fard Muhammads disappearance, Elijah Muhammad decamped permanently to Chicago, which remained the Nation of Islams headquarters. He set up what is known as Temple No. 2 Temple No. 1 being in Detroit which is now in a former Greek Orthodox Church at 7351 S. Stony Island Ave. Blacks who joined the Great Migration only to find that discrimination and violence in the North wasnt much better than in the South were ripe for recruiting by the Black Muslims message. They were given a home-study course in the movements interpretation of Islam. If they passed a finely detailed examination, they were stripped of Christian names forced upon them by the slave owners and their enslaved ancestors. Many who entered a Black Muslim congregation were given the last name X. The movement flourished in Chicago under Elijah Muhammads leadership, building a portfolio of businesses and amassing millions of dollars in assets and attracting adherents including boxer Muhammad Ali. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To the FBI, however, the Black Muslims insistence on autonomy in a slice of America made them a security threat. The agencys secret file on the organization said Nation of Islam members because of their fanatical anti-white and anti-United States government teachings and beliefs would be potentially dangerous and likely to seize upon the opportunity presented by a national emergency to endanger the publics safety and welfare. Therefore, the FBI must determine the identities, whereabouts, and activities of these individuals constituting a threat to the internal security, the file read. FBI agents spied on Nation of Islam officers. They were arrested wherever they preached. Fard Muhammad disappeared without leaving even a hint of why, or instructions to his followers on how to carry his mission. Their dejection might have effectively written the Nation of Islams obituary, except for Elijah Muhammad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He consoled the abandoned flock with a vivid word picture of his final sight of Fard. The Messenger was sitting in a souped-up automobile, surrounded by the faithful in Chicago. He was urging them not to lose their faith. His words would become a Black Muslim legend that, passed from one generation to the next, sustained the separatist movement. Dont worry. I am with you. I will be back to you in the near future to lead you out of this hell, he said before roaring off to the Chicago Municipal Airport. Elijah Muhammad was with him as he departed, according to Cleggs book: For Elijah, the final moments were as pregnant with mystery and symbolism as the first, as the man he knew as Fard Muhammad, the second Jesus, the Mahdi, the Son of Man, and Allah in Person, soared into the Chicago sky. Biden wants to help Ukraine before he leaves office. Jake Sullivan told ABC News that Biden aims to help Ukraine "strengthen' its position. President-elect Trump has been skeptical of the level of US aid sent to Ukraine. National security advisor Jake Sullivan on Sunday said President Joe Biden was doing what he could to "strengthen" Ukraine's position as the commander-in-chief prepares to leave office in just under two months. Sullivan made the remarks on ABC's "This Week," telling chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl that Biden aims to continue advancing his foreign policy objectives which includes cease-fire discussions between Israel and Hamas even as President-elect Donald Trump is set to be sworn back into office on January 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are going to do everything in our power for these 50 days to get Ukraine all the tools we possibly can to strengthen their position on the battlefield so that they'll be stronger at the negotiating table," Sullivan said. "And President Biden directed me to oversee a massive surge in the military equipment that we are delivering to Ukraine so that we have spent every dollar that Congress has appropriated to us by the time that President Biden leaves office." Last month, Biden greenlighted Ukraine's use of powerful US-supplied ATACMS long-range missiles to strike inside Russia. Trump has expressed skepticism regarding the level of aid sent to Ukraine, which puts him at odds with Biden, who has been a staunch ally of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the country continues its fight against Russia. "I've encouraged the Ukrainian team to engage the incoming team as well as to engage all of our allies and partners, because, again, on January 21, the war in Ukraine doesn't just go away," Sullivan told Karl. "Obviously, the new team will have its own policy, its own approach, and I can't speak to that, but what I can do is make sure that we put Ukraine in the best possible position when we hand off the baton." Read the original article on Business Insider WASHINGTON In addition to articles already covered by Native News Online, here is a roundup of other news released from Washington, D.C. that impacts Indian Country recently. Senate Passes Bills to Promote Economic Development in Indian Country U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Committee, released the following statements on Senate passage of three bills pertaining to economic development in Native communities across the country. The legislation passed unanimously after Schatz led an effort on the Senate floor to immediately consider the bills, which had stalled in the Senate after being advanced out of Committee. The bills now head to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These bills will help unlock economic development opportunities for Native communities nationwide, said Chairman Schatz. Passage of these bills builds on a historically productive period for the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and I look forward to getting additional bills over the line in the remaining weeks of this Congress. As Native led tourism continues to develop nationwide, these NATIVE Act amendments will help highlight the vibrancy and resiliency of Native cultures and traditions while furthering economic development. The UNLOCKED Act will provide Tribes the needed certainty to better plan and execute economic development projects. Our bill will eliminate red tape so that opportunities for development afforded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law can move forward without cumbersome, unnecessary delays, said Vice Chair Murkowski. I am proud to have led these bills with my friend and partner, Chairman Schatz, and appreciate the support of my Senate colleagues. The following bills passed the U.S. Senate by unanimous consent: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement S. 385, introduced by Chairman Schatz and Vice Chairman Murkowski, makes technical corrections to the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act, which authorizes grants to Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations for recreational travel and tourism activities. S. 1322, the Unlocking Native Lands and Opportunities for Commerce and Key Economic Developments Act introduced by Chairman Schatz and Vice Chairman Lisa Murkowski, will enable Indian tribes to lease their land for up to 99 years for business and other purposes, and to approve certain rights-of-way on their lands under existing law. S. 2868, introduced by Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) on behalf of the Lower Sioux Indian Community, revokes the Tribes Indian Reorganization Act, Section 17 charter of incorporation. The Tribe previously testified before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs that the charter is actively hindering its economic development given that it cant act without the approval of the Interior Secretary. HUD to Host Webinar on Radon in Tribal Housing The U.S Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will be hosting a webinar to provide an overview of radon, including what it is, what it does, how it is measured, and how to reduce exposure. Speakers will share resources, including funding opportunities, for Tribes to test and mitigate for radon. The webinar will feature speakers from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Kansas State University Radon Program, Institute of Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP), and HUD. The webinar will be recorded and posted on Codetalk. Background Exposure to radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and overall, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, responsible for approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. On January 11, 2024, HUD issued its Departmental Policy for addressing Radon in the Environmental Review Process. This policy requires consideration of radon for all HUD environmental reviews. The policy will go into effect for Tribes, Tribally Designated Housing Entities, and Department of Hawaiian Homelands in January 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Register here for this. Create your own user feedback survey About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. " Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net Ran Coble reached out recently with some thoughts that reminded me of what North Carolina politics has lost and is poorer for. The email from Coble, a longtime good government advocate, provides an analysis of whats wrong with radical legislation just passed by Republican state lawmakers. The proposed law, Senate Bill 382, aims to strip powers from Democrats who were just elected to statewide office. House Democratic leader Robert Reives, a member since 2014, called the bill the biggest abuse I have seen since Ive been here and that is saying a lot. Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, vetoed the bill, but the veto may be overridden by the Republicans, who have a supermajority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While in power, Democrats engaged in their own strong-armed tactics, Coble acknowledged, but he wrote that the power grabs, abuses in legislative process and violations of the Constitutions separation of powers clause by the Republican legislative supermajorities are far more excessive, far more aggressive, and far more dangerous to a healthy democracy. Cobles analysis is clear and backed by a deep knowledge of North Carolinas legislative history. You can read it online at newsobserver.com/opinion. Along with commenting on the news of the day, Cobles analysis evokes nostalgia for a more purposeful and less combative political climate. It recalls a time when the states lawmakers and governors of both parties worked to move the state forward.Its far different than now, as Republicans wield their supermajority to build legislative power and advance a divisive agenda. Coble, 75, has deep North Carolina roots. A native of Graham, he graduated from Davidson College, has a law degree from UNC and a masters in public policy from Duke. From 1981 to 2014, he served as executive director of the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research, a nonprofit think tank governed by a bipartisan board. The Center for Public Policy Research issued in-depth reports on state issues that led to legislation and published the magazine N.C. Insight, an even-handed review of state policies and trends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are similar research groups today, but they tend to divide along partisan lines in their funding and their focus. The centers 34-member board of directors was continuously adjusted to mirror the states population by gender, race, geography and voter registration. That board was whatever the state was and it changed over time, Coble told me. It gave us tremendous credibility in the legislature when we would go and testify on what we found in the latest research.Certainly there was no other organization that had that kind of balanced board at the time and I still dont know of anybody who has it. The center, which has since been absorbed into the nonprofit EdNC, thrived during an era when North Carolina sought to be a leader in education through strong support of public schools and early childhood education. Partisan labels were taken off judicial races and the state Supreme Court ruled in ways that appeared nonpartisan. Changes in election laws encouraged wider participation, moving North Carolina from 48th in the nation in voter turnout to the top 10. Environmental protections were passed, including measures to channel development along the coast. Now Republican lawmakers, insulated by extreme gerrymandering, push an agenda of voting restrictions, less environmental regulation, tax cuts favoring the wealthy and large corporations and expanding private school vouchers while neglecting public schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coble said a veto-proof majority has emboldened Republicans to act to take an extreme path. Once the supermajority came in, he said, it sort of was licensed to go as far as you can go as fast as you can. Whats contributed to the shift, Coble said, is a loss of nonpartisan oversight both within and outside of the legislature, particularly the shrinking and closing of the nations daily newspapers. The newspapers were a significant factor, he said. Legislators read them everyday and paid attention to both the statewide newspapers and their home paper. Some of that oversight could be restored, Coble said. The courts, the media and the nonprofit community are not the guardrails against legislative overreach that they used to be, he said, but Theres nothing keeping them from going back to a more normal moderating role. Legislation being passed with little notice or without allowance for amendment could be stopped by a revolt of legislators of both parties who are fed up with being left out of the process, Coble said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A legislature run amuck eventually will run into opposition, he said. At some point people are going to get mad enough that theyll say, Lets have some rules. Associate opinion editor Ned Barnett can be reached at 919-404-7583 or nbarnett@ newsobserver.com Some 2,000 families are on the school voucher list so we can send our children to schools that work with special needs students. Vouchers of $3,000 to $7,000 are being offered per year. Patrician families are hardly lining up for that money. These are sums, however, that can make all the difference for a middle class family. Families with special needs kids such as mine bear tremendous health care costs. Our children have weekly doctors appointments. They require around-the-clock care. These expenses can render the healthiest of salaries insufficient. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parents of the children on these wait lists have been failed by the public schools. They pay their taxes anyway. To ask for a fraction of that money back is not entitlement, it is common sense. Amanda Unsworth, Charlotte Vouchers but not forgiveness? I wonder if all the people who claimed a foul when they asserted taxpayers were funding student loan forgiveness are just as angry about taxpayers funding private school vouchers? I doubt it. Kris Newton, Charlotte Thank you, officers I recently completed the Cornelius Police Department Citizens Academy, a 12-week program offering residents insight into many aspects of policing training, communications, patrol techniques and more. I came away with enormous respect and gratitude for the men and women who work selflessly to keep our communities safe. Most never make the news, but they should for their kindness, generosity, sacrifice and dedication. Please take a moment to share your appreciation the next time you have an opportunity to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brian Buckley, Cornelius Charlotte airport Over the past few months, its become apparent that Charlotte residents need to ask the question of who exactly is benefiting from Charlotte Douglas International Airport expansion as a major hub. Is it the residents of Charlotte? Residents near the airport are actually feeling pushed out and displaced with the airport facilitating destruction of historic properties. Is it the airport workers? Earlier this week, workers went on strike as many reported unsafe working conditions and poverty wages. Flight attendants with American and Piedmont voted to go on strike this year and a couple years ago, citing the same issues of pay and working conditions the other workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So who exactly benefits from this airport fit for a Queen? Itd be a fools errand to let the executives at the airport and the airlines answer that without any skepticism. Tom Pontecorvo, Charlotte Bad overtime opinion Its disappointing to see the Observer post anything from the Heritage Foundation, given its contributions to Project 2025, but the Nov. 29 editorial Federal judges order brings relief to works and employers by Rachel Greszler was a study in literary gymnastics. She went over the river and through the woods to explain how a judge denying overtime pay benefits workers. Really? One only has to look at California to see that her fear mongering over wage increases is absolutely false. They raised minimum wage for fast food workers to $20 an hour. The result no job losses and only minimal price increases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lisa Baucom, Kannapolis Migrant kids How did the majority of White voters turn blind eyes to the innocent Hispanic children their president put into metal pens in 2018? Sickening and sin-filled. Laurin McCarley, Clover, SC Just wait When I first heard that all the untried criminal charges against Donald Trump would be dismissed, I was infuriated. No man in our nation should be above the law, especially one who incited a riot that desecrated the U.S. Capitol, even if he were later elected to high office. I now, however, feel reassured. Weve had decades of his behavior to learn from. Any psychologist knows that people with personality disorders almost never reform their behavior. He will do something else just as egregious. All we have to do is wait, and he will violate our law and mores again likely sooner than later. Joel Miller, Hickory RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) With just over 2 million in North Carolina forecast to take Thanksgiving road trips, Sunday is predicted to be the worst for return traffic during the holiday. AAA Carolinas predicted 2.2 million North Carolinians would travel over the holiday with 2 million taking road trips longer than 50 miles, an increase of 5,000 travelers from last year. With Monday a workday for many, Sunday is known as the busiest travel day and Inrix, a leading traffic forecasting company, ranks noon to 6 p.m. as the heaviest for Sunday after Thanksgiving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In North Carolina, about 270 roads are still closed in the mountains from Hurricane Helene damage. Elsewhere, several crashes were reported on Sunday the worst so far on Interstate 95 southbound in Cumberland County. A wreck there around 2:35 p.m. closed at least two southbound lanes along a newly opened stretch. Congestion along I-85 at the Durham-Orange county line on Sunday. NCDOT image The right lanes were closed two miles after Exit 71, which is Long Branch Road. The NCDOT said the area reopened around 3:35 p.m. Earlier in the afternoon, a wreck in the same area closed lanes headed north in Harnett County, according to the NCDOT. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com. Rachel Glass choked back tears as she looked up at her daughter's smiling face on an electronic billboard near downtown Phoenix on Saturday afternoon. It was the 14th year that she was standing in a parking lot at the corner of Seventh and Lincoln streets, begging the public to send in tips that could help solve the mystery of who killed Nicole Glass and Melissa Mason. The 27-year-old roommates were found strangled to death in their east Phoenix home on Dec. 3, 2010. Mason was pregnant, and the incident is considered a triple homicide. Advertisement Advertisement Since then, there has been little movement in the case, with no named suspects or stated motive. The billboard urges passersby to call Silent Witness with information, advertising a $8,700 reward for anyone who provides a tip that leads to an arrest. Phoenix police Sgt. Brian Bower said officials receive tips each year, but so far, none has led to new information. He confirmed that police haven't had an active lead in the case for years, making it a so-called "cold case." "We're just waiting for that one person," he said. "We know they're out there. We know that they have information." But Rachel Glass still holds onto hope that her daughter's killer can be found and justice delivered. It's why she has continued to show up in the parking lot to talk to local media about the case, even though doing so makes her anxious and the crowd of cameras, friends and family around her for the annual event has dwindled. Advertisement Advertisement "I will never give up," she said, looking up at her daughter. What happened to Melissa Mason, Nicole Glass? The bodies of the two women were discovered in a single-story brick home near 40th Street and Thomas Road that Nicole had purchased in 2006. Police said there was no sign of forced entry, and the doors to the house were locked. The two had been friends for years. They met while working together as bartenders at local nightclubs. Nicole was a junior at Phoenix Community College, studying communications. Melissa aspired to be a dental hygienist. A few months before her death, Nicole had been embroiled in a large-scale wiretapping investigation that resulted in dozens of arrests and charges involving drugs, street gangs, weapons and money laundering. Advertisement Advertisement She became involved after police recorded her calling a friend and asking to buy marijuana, according to court documents. She took a plea deal in April 2010. Rachel Glass gives an interview about her daughter, Nicole. On the day Nicole and Melissa were found dead, Rachel said she was supposed to go to the home to help set up a printer. She left a voicemail to reschedule. Later, she received a panicked call from one of her daughter's friends, who said she had seen Nicole's house on the news. Rachel turned on the television. She recognized the house and the two cars parked in the driveway as a newscaster reported that bodies were found inside. "I knew," she said. "I knew what that meant." Hoping for answers Bower said Rachel has shown "a lot of courage" in the years since her daughter's death. She doesn't just show up to the annual press conference, he said. Advertisement Advertisement "She's throughout the year," Bower said. "She's calling me. She's constantly in contact with my office." Rachel said she's not going to give up on finding her daughter's killer. She said she will keep looking "forever" if she has to. She and other members of Nicole's family started a GoFundMe last year to increase the reward amount for tips leading to an arrest, setting a goal for $100,000. "I'll be in a wheelchair and I'll be out here, asking people if they know something to say something," Rachel said. Anyone with information surrounding the case can contact Silent Witness to submit anonymous tips at 480-WITNESS or on the website. Advertisement Advertisement Reach the reporter at sasha.hupka@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X: @SashaHupka. Follow her on Instagram or Threads: @sashahupkasnaps. Gun violence: Maryvale residents say gunfire common occurrence after police shooting Thanksgiving night This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: It was a triple homicide in Phoenix in 2010, but still no answers People participate in a Puerto Rican Day parade in New York City. Multiracial cultures such as Puerto Rican and Dominican may pose problems for new proposed Census Bureau survey formats that ask about race and Hispanic status separately. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) The U.S. Census Bureau and a growing number of states are starting to gather more detailed information about Americans race and ethnicity, a change some advocates of the process say will allow people to choose identities that more closely reflect how they see themselves. Crunching and sorting through those specific details known as data disaggregation will help illuminate disparities in areas such as housing and health outcomes that could be hidden within large racial and ethnic categories. But some experts say the details also might make it harder for Black people from multiracial countries to identify themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Racial data gleaned from the census is important because local, state, tribal and federal governments use it to guide certain civil rights policies and in planning and funding government programs that provide funds or services for specific groups, according to the Census Bureau. The form will have checkboxes for main categories current census groupings include Asian, Black, African American and White, among others followed by more specific checkboxes. Under Asian, for example, might be Chinese, Asian Indian, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean or Japanese. And then there will be an empty box for people to write in more specific subgroups. Collecting more detail by allowing free-form answers, for example, will make it possible for people to identify themselves as part of more racial and ethnic subgroups such as Sardinian (an autonomous region within Italy) instead of simply Italian and include alternative names for certain groups, such as writing Schitsuumsh, the ancient language for Coeur DAlene Tribe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the Census Bureau will for the first time include Middle Eastern/North African as a separate racial/ethnic category for respondents with that heritage. Until now, Middle Eastern people who did not choose a race were treated as a subcategory under white, based on a 1944 court ruling intended to protect Arab immigrants from racist laws banning U.S. citizenship for nonwhite immigrants. Under new federal guidelines approved in March, the bureau also will give people the option to check no race at all if they identify as Hispanic or Middle Eastern/North African. The Census Bureau already has decided to use more open-ended questions in both the 2027 American Community Survey and the nations 2030 census. But the agency is seeking public comment on the way write-in responses will be categorized. The bureau wants to hear how people are likely to identify themselves, said Merarys Rios-Vargas, chief of the bureaus Ethnicity and Ancestry Branch, Population Division, in a recent webinar. The agency also is interested in whether there are missing or incorrect entries in its proposed list of possible responses. Its about peoples lives Nancy Lopez, a University of New Mexico sociology professor, said she and other experts in Black Hispanic culture think the census should have a visual race or street race question, so people can communicate how others see them as well as how they identify themselves. The answer might be Black or a yet-unrecognized racial category such as brown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A separate question on race as a visual status helps illuminate the kind of things we are interested in discrimination in housing, discrimination in employment, discrimination in education and accessing health care in public spaces, said Lopez, who is the daughter of Dominican immigrants and a co-founder of the universitys Institute for the Study of Race & Social Justice. Its about peoples lives, its about the future, its about children, its about access to opportunities and its about fairness, she added, noting that even if the federal government doesnt add such questions to surveys and the decennial census, state and universities can still do it on their own as they collect data for health care, student enrollment and other topics. The NALEO Educational Fund, an organization representing Latino elected and appointed officials, supports the decision to make a race choice optional for Hispanics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many Latinos did not see themselves in any of the categories for their racial identity, said Rosalind Gold, NALEOs chief public policy officer. Theres a large number of Latinos who feel that identifying as Latino is both their racial and ethnic identity. Gold said NALEO understands the concern some have that failing to require a race designation will obscure racial information on Black Hispanics. But her group argues that the census can get what it needs by educating the public on how to respond and by including prompts on the questionnaires to guide race choices. Black Hispanic people often see themselves as having a single racial and ethnic identity, according to several experts in Hispanic identity who spoke at a Census Bureau National Advisory Committee meeting Nov. 7. They conceptualize themselves as belonging to one [group], said Nicholas Vargas, an associate professor of ethnic studies at the University of California, Berkeley, speaking at the committee meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They check Black and they check Dominican and dont want to be counted as two or more, he said. In response, Rachel Marks, an adviser for the Census Bureau on race and ethnicity, said the bureau will consider that issue and other feedback on how people want to be represented before making a final decision on survey details. Its about peoples lives, its about the future, its about children, its about access to opportunities and its about fairness. Nancy Lopez, University of New Mexico sociology professor The bureau may recognize a term, Afro-Latino, that could be used to indicate both Black race and Hispanic ethnicity, according to a proposed code list from the agency, as well as Blaxican for Black Mexican and Blasian for Black Asian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition of civil rights groups, called the more detailed questions a step forward but also suggested more guidance on the forms to ensure people are categorized the way they want to be. In its comment on the changes, the group noted that in 2020, some people who wrote in British under the Black checkbox were categorized as partly white even if they didnt mean that. The group also said it is concerned about a conflation of the concepts of race and ethnicity, and it asked for more research to make sure people understand how to respond. State actions Some states are acting on their own to gather more detailed data about identity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Jersey is among the latest states to pass a law requiring more detailed race and ethnic data collection for state records such as health data and school enrollment. A similar bill in Michigan would require state agencies that gather information to offer multiracial and Middle Eastern or North African as choices; the bill remains in committee. And advocates in Oregon, which already has a law requiring detailed ethnic data collection, are asking the state for more details on Asian subgroups who face education challenges. A December 2023 report by The Leadership Conference Education Fund identified 13 other states with laws requiring more detailed state data on ethnic and racial groups, including laws passed last year in Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts and Nevada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The states of California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington already had such laws, the group found. Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and X. Technophobes in the NHS who stop you getting anything done risk ruining Labours attempts to transform the health service, the former boss of a health app has said. Ali Parsa, whose company previously ran the GP at Hand digital doctor service, said overhauling the health services approach to technology would be hard, hard, hard. He cautioned against trying to change too many practices at once. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Parsa said: I wouldnt focus on getting the entire system to change, you always have the slow adopters and late adopters. Theyre always the majority and that majority will always stop you from getting anything done. He said the Government, which under Health Secretary Wes Streeting is trying to revamp the NHSs use of digital tools, should focus all on the 2pc who can provide an example, and get new technology into the hands of those who can champion it. Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, is trying to revamp the NHSs use of digital tools - Maja Smiejkowska/REUTERS Mr Parsa previously ran Babylon, which at one stage was valued at $4bn (3.2bn) and offered digital GP services to NHS patients in the UK. He also ran UK hospital provider Circle Health. However, Babylon collapsed into bankruptcy after expanding aggressively and undertaking a disastrous public listing in the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Parsa has since launched a new artificial intelligence (AI) venture, called Quadrivia, and secured funding to launch a digital assistant for clinicians called Qu. The start-up is aimed at tackling a shortfall in healthcare workers by freeing up time for doctors using AI bots, which can take patient histories, gather information for doctors and help them make decisions. It is also planning to use AI to monitor patients in the community after medical interventions or to manage chronic conditions. Mr Parsa said he hoped AI could in time be used to assist with everything before diagnosis and everything after diagnosis, and leave the clinicians to do the diagnosis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said worldwide there was a lack of healthcare staff where demand and supply just cannot balance. Shafi Ahmed, chairman of Quadrivias global clinical advisory council, said Qu could be the personal assistant created by clinicians for clinicians and their patients. Quadrivia is one of a clutch of AI companies aiming to use chatbots to revamp healthcare. Cera Care, another UK start-up, has raised hundreds of millions of pounds to automate tasks for care workers. Mr Parsa said the failure of Babylon remained highly painful. It filed for bankruptcy last year with the loss of hundreds of jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite raising more than $1bn and being valued at around $4bn when it went public, the companys share price collapsed and it struggled to raise more money. Mr Parsa has previously said going public when the company did was a disaster as markets went cold on new companies. He said Babylons failure was partly down to extremely bad luck, although admitted it should have been more careful to control spiralling costs. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Chief Priest of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, Acharya Satyendra Das on Sunday expressed concern over the condition of Hindus in Bangladesh amid the row triggered over the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das and alleged that government and police are supporting people who are committing atrocities in Bangladesh. "Hindus are being tortured and allegations are put against them in Bangladesh. Whatever is happening in Bangladesh is wrong. The government of India should do something about it. Until the government says or does something, injustice will be done to the Hindus in Bangladesh... Those who are committing atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh, the government and police are supporting them," Satyendra Das told ANI. On Saturday, ISKCON Kolkata alleged that Bangladesh authorities have arrested two monks, Adipurush Shyam Das and Ranganath Das Brahmachari, and the secretary of Chinmoy Krishna Das. Vice President of ISKCON Kolkata Radha Raman said that the monks were arrested on Friday by the police while on their way to home after meeting Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was arrested on the charges of sedition on November 25. Vice President of ISKCON Kolkata, Radha Raman said, "On November 29, when Adipurush Shyam Das and Ranganath Das Brahmachari were returning after meeting Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu, they were arrested by the police. We are also getting information that the secretary of Chinmoy Krishna Das has also been arrested," Radha Raman said in a self-made video. Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das has been charged with sedition for allegedly hoisting a saffron flag above Bangladesh's national flag in Chittagong on October 25. Even though ISKCON's Bangladesh unit has rejected allegations linking the religious organisation to the killing of a lawyer in Chattogram, protests continue in the country. The situation has been tense after a lawyer was killed during clashes between police and alleged followers of Das in the Chattogram Court Building area on November 27. ISKCON had earlier expressed solidarity with Chinmoy Krishna Das. In a post on X, ISKCON, Inc. stated, "ISKCON, Inc. stands with Chinmoy Krishna Das. Our prayers to Lord Krishna for the protection of all these devotees." Chinmoy Krishna Das is currently lodged in a Bangladesh jail after a Chittagong court denied him bail on Tuesday. (ANI) Florida-based, Black-owned healthcare company HealthyMD, has partnered up with Stonecrests New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and Pastor Dr. Jamal Bryant to provide free health testing in honor of World AIDS Day. The event is being held at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church on Woodrow Road and features HealthyMDs mobile clinics and free testing services until 2 p.m. HealthyMD said there are nearly 1.2 million people living with HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus, in the United States, and that despite progress to treat the virus, there are still challenges, especially in underserved communities. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Black and Brown communities, making up only one-third of the population, account for over half of new HIV cases, HealthyMD said in a statement. Across the U.S., southern states were home to nearly half of all new HIV infections in 2022, the organization said, and in Georgia, the rate of diagnosis was twice the national average. Part of that is owed to facing disparate healthcare shortages and poverty rates, HealthyMD said. The New Birth-HealthyMD partnership is intended to encourage ways to address HIV prevention by providing free and confidential healthcare testing. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] After a change in state law forced Virginia cities to consolidate local elections with federal elections in November, leaders in at least one Hampton Roads city are looking to change the timing of municipal elections again this time to align with gubernatorial elections held in odd-numbered years. Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander, who defeated two challengers this year for his reelection, asked Norfolk Intergovernmental Relations Officer Jessica Dennis to add the change to the citys legislative agenda for 2025. The City Council will vote Dec. 10 on the legislative agenda, a wishlist of legislative items they hope the General Assembly will take up in January. Alexander, who made the ask during an informal City Council meeting earlier this month, said a move from May to November was pushed by state lawmakers with very little input from the Virginia Municipal League local government advocacy group or the localities impacted by the switch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We didnt even have an option to even opine on what was the optimal time for us to have these elections, Alexander said during the meeting. For decades, many localities held local elections in May. But Virginia passed legislation in 2021 moving them to November. Advocates said the change would save money for elections offices and increase voter turnout. Related Articles However, local candidates in several localities told The Virginian-Pilot the shift has created new challenges. Alexander said its more difficult to compete with federal candidates for limited ad space and more costly to run a campaign. Other candidates said local issues got lost when competing for voter attention with higher profile matters such as abortion or the war in the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the Norfolk meeting, some City Council members agreed with Alexander. Tommy Smigiel said certain races, like School Board, experienced a large drop-off in votes compared with others. Unfortunately, too, the local candidates end up on the back of the ballot, he said. He said voters didnt know who was running in some local races. Outgoing council member Andria McClellan said she agreed with Smigiel. In a text message, Norfolk City Attorney Bernard Pishko said the switch would either require an amendment to the city charter, which would require a General Assembly action, or another legislative bill. Alexander said he supported the latter, because he wanted to give other locales the opportunity to be included. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear whether the idea will receive backing from state lawmakers. Norfolk city leaders will meet with the Norfolk delegation to the General Assembly on Dec. 2 at the Slover. Del. Marcia Cia Price, D-Newport News and chair of the House of Delegates Privileges and Elections Committee, did not respond to an email asking if any other localities or lawmakers were interested in switching election years for local races. State Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach and chair of the Virginia Senates Privileges and Elections Committee, also did not respond to a request for comment. Trevor Metcalfe, 757-222-5345, trevor.metcalfe@pilotonline.com Police in North Macedonia have arrested a Macedonian national suspected of planning to join the Russian army to fight in Ukraine, the countrys Interior Ministry announced. This marks the first instance of a Macedonian citizen facing charges under this specific offense. North Macedonia, a NATO member since 2020, has imposed sanctions on Russia. Authorities identified the man by his initials, J.K., and detained him late on Nov. 29, according to the Associated Press. An investigative judge ordered him to remain under house arrest for 30 days. He faces charges of "participating in a foreign army, police, paramilitary or parapolice formation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If convicted, the man could receive a minimum sentence of three years. According to the ministry, the suspect communicated online with an individual who claimed to be recruiting soldiers for the Russian army, offering compensation of 3,000 euros. The suspect expressed willingness to join a newly formed detachment and traveled to Moscow in October. Upon returning to North Macedonia a week later, the suspect underwent questioning at Skopje airport. During the interrogation, he admitted plans to "sign a contract for work in the Russian army and be taken to a training camp where he would be trained to fight in Ukraine." Police searched the mans home on Nov. 29 and confiscated documentation related to the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Putin signs law allowing criminal defendants to join the military Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. By Gwladys Fouche and Nerijus Adomaitis OSLO (Reuters) -A small leftwing environmentalist political party in Norway succeeded on Sunday in blocking plans to mine the sea bed at the bottom of the Arctic, by demanding the government scrap its first licensing round in return for support for the budget. "We are stopping plans to open mining on the sea bed," Kirsti Bergstoe, leader of the SV party which is outside the governing coalition but supports the minority government, told reporters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government, which had planned to offer its first deep-sea mining exploration permits in the first half of 2025, said that although the plan was suspended, preparatory work would continue, including creating regulations and mapping the environmental impact. "This will be a postponement," Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, from the Labour Party, told private broadcaster TV2. Norway, whose vast hydrocarbon reserves made it one of the world's wealthiest countries, had taken a leading role in the global race to mine the ocean floor for metals that are in high demand as nations transition away from fossil fuels. "This is a crucial win in the fight against deep sea mining. It should be the nail in the coffin for the destructive industry," Frode Pleym, head of Greenpeace Norway, told Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oslo had plans to open large areas of its Arctic region next year for its inaugural sea bed licensing round, despite opposition from green campaigners and a coalition of 32 countries, including Germany, France, Canada and Brazil. The agreement concluded on Sunday by SV and the government, consisting of Labour and the agrarian Centre Party, means that planned licensing round will not proceed. Norwegians head to the polls in September and two opposition parties leading in opinion surveys, the Conservatives and the Progress Party, are in favour of deep-sea mining. "If a new government attempts to reopen the licensing round we will fight relentlessly against it," said Greenpeace's Pleym. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Preliminary official resource estimates showed "substantial" accumulations of metals and minerals, ranging from copper to rare earth elements, the government said in 2023. At least three Norwegian seabed mineral start-ups - Stavanger-based Loke, Oslo-based Green Minerals and Bergen-based Adepth, have previously said they planned to bid in the first licensing round. The companies were not immediately available for comment. (Reporting by Gwladys Fouche and Nerijus Adomaitis vtin Oslo; Editing by Peter Graff) Nov. 30NORWICH The city will conduct a delinquent tax auction sale of 29 properties after repeated attempts to contact the owners for payment plans. The live auction will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4 at City Hall, 100 Broadway, Norwich. As of Nov. 27, the list of properties included 16 residential or business properties with structures, nine mobile homes and four vacant lots. Tax Collector Karlene Deal said in each case, the city has made repeated attempts to contact the owners for payment. But the auction announcement itself proved to be a strong incentive. The initial list turned over to auction attorney Adam Cohen of Pullman & Conley LLC in Bridgeport, contained 43 properties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, 11 property owners have paid off back bills totaling $346,971.86, Deal said. Another three owners have made arrangements to pay another $85 609.77, including $44,196.43 on the day before Thanksgiving from the owner of a commercial building at 4 Willow St., removing that from the auction, Deal said. The list and details on each property can be found at www.cttaxsales.com. Go to Dec. 4 to find the Norwich auction. A link to the tax sale website also is on the city's website at www.norwichct.org. Deal said the city had planned to conduct tax auctions every two years, but city officials decided to allow more time after the COVID-19 pandemic to allow owners to pay back bills. In the auction sale, the city receives only the total owed on the properties for back taxes, interest and legal costs. Any additional amount will go to the state to pay off other debts owed on the property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bidders must bring government-issued ID for the potential new owners of the property, a mandatory $5,000 deposit, or other amount specified for individual properties, with the remaining balance due by Dec. 9. The auction includes the Rose City Auto Sales & Service building at 543 E. Main St., with $73,579 in taxes and fees owed as of Aug. 31, and a small commercial building at 65 W. Town St., with $39,619 owed as of Aug. 31. Two five-family apartment houses are in the auction, one at 19 School St. with $48,856 owed, and one at 252 Franklin St., with $62,874 owed. Several single-family homes are in the auction, along with the nine mobile homes. c.bessette@theday.com In November, the Russian army suffered the most losses since the start of the large-scale invasion: 45,720 military personnel were killed and wounded during that month. Source: Ukraines Defence Ministry Details: According to the General Staff, on one day in November, Ukrainian forces had 2,030 Russian soldiers killed or wounded. This also marks the largest number of Russian casualties in a single day since 24 February 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In November, Ukraines Armed Forces struck 307 Russian tanks. In addition to the tanks, 899 Russian armoured fighting vehicles and 884 artillery systems were destroyed. Ukraines Defence Ministry assessed that the Russian overall loss of weapons and equipment in November exceeded US$3 billion. Support UP or become our patron! The number of casualties has risen to 24 following a Russian attack on the Dnipro district of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on 30 November. Source: Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration Details: It is reported that 18 people are in hospitals, and seven remain in a critical condition. The death toll remains at four. Also, the Russians shelled the Chervonohryhorivka hromada in the Nikopol district with heavy artillery at night. The consequences are unknown. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories ed.] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: Earlier it was reported that as a result of a Russian missile strike in the village of Tsarychanka in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, four people were killed and 21 people were injured. Support UP or become our patron! NEW JERSEY (PIX11) After a record number of flights on Thanksgiving in the United States, the TSA expects to screen more than 3 million passengers on Sunday alone. The weather could affect travelers who are flying and driving alike this weekend. NYCs Fifth Avenue to close streets for 200th birthday celebration The tri-state area is feeling the cold Sunday, and upstate New York, Pennsylvania and the midwest are some of the areas getting hit hard with snow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are currently no significant delays at area airports, and Sunday morning is expected to be the busiest time to fly. Travelers told PIX11 News that despite the holiday rush, they are hoping for a smooth ride. If you are driving back home today, experts say its best to hit the road before 1 pm. If youre heading here to the airport, give yourself that extra time. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. NORTH COUNTRY, N.Y. (WWTI) New York State Police announced on Facebook on Sunday, Dec. 1, at about 12:30 p.m. that Troopers have assisted over 30 motorists so far. They also gave an additional warning saying that heavy snow conditions and low visibility continue to be causing issues for motorists. They said to use extreme caution if you must travel. Travel advisories have been issued for Jefferson and Lewis Counties due to poor driving conditions because of the weather. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWTI - InformNNY.com. DENVER (KDVR) A man died after a shooting involving deputies with the Adams County Sheriffs Office. The incident happened after a well-being check call. According to the sheriffs office, deputies were called to the residence in the 7600 block of Heather Place at 4:42 p.m. Saturday evening to check on the well-being of an adult man. The deputies arrived and called into the residence to check on the man for several minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At 5:20 p.m., deputies called to dispatch that shots had been fired, according to the sheriffs office. Preliminary information from the investigation indicated that shots were fired by several deputies when the man displayed an axe or similar style weapon while approaching deputies, the sheriffs office said. Download the FOX31 App: Breaking news alerts & Pinpoint Weather According to the sheriffs office, deputies gave him several verbal commands for the man to drop the axe. After the shooting, medical personnel treated the man and he was taken to a local hospital, the sheriffs office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was later pronounced dead. The 17th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team is investigating the incident. The deputies have been placed on paid administrative leave, per standard procedure. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Calling the alleged attack on former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal a "drama," the Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday said that the AAP chief is the "writer, director and producer" of the attack. On Saturday, a person was apprehended by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal's security staff when he attempted to throw a liquid at Kejriwal during his padyatra. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said that former Delhi CM is playing a "fake sympathy card." "There is a lot of anger among people against Arvind Kejriwal because he looted people and built a 'Sheesh Mehal'...people of Delhi know that AAP can't seek vote based on governance so Kejriwal is playing a fake sympathy card, he is the writer, director and producer of this," Bhandari said. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said that not only the BJP Congress has also raised questions that whenever there are elections around in Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal stages such "drama." "It's not us but Congress has also spoken and said that whenever there are elections around in Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal stages such dramas, where someone attacks him, throws ink on him. Are these things staged? Or, it is the genuine angst of people towards AAP and Arvind Kejriwal. AAP should explain this," BJP leader Ramesh Bidhuri said, "There was no attack on Kejriwal, it's just a drama...after 4 days, you will get to know that this was their own person." Meanwhile, AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar alleged that the Union government was responsible for the attack on the former Delhi CM. "Arvind Kejriwal has been raising questions on the collapsed law and order situation of Delhi. Instead of improving that Amit Shah made this attack happen on Kejriwal. This is not the first time...yesterday, a BJP member threw a liquid at Kejriwal...BJP should understand that they and Amit Shah have to stop attacks, not Kejriwal," Kakkar said. The incident occurred while Arvind Kejriwal was on his padyatra in Delhi's Greater Kailash area. In October, the AAP had claimed that its convenor, Arvind Kejriwal, was attacked during a rally in the national capital, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party orchestrated the attack using its supporters. The Aam Aadmi Party has intensified its efforts ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, with the party's national convenor and senior leaders focusing on voter engagement and strengthening grassroots support. (ANI) Dotted across Ohio are communities that were once host to thriving Jewish populations. Though some of the members of those communities have moved on, they have left traces of their culture and history across the state. Austin Reid, a Lancaster native, first discovered some Jewish history in his hometown as a teenager walking the streets. There were two historical signs noting the history of Jewish people including one denoting a former synagogue converted into a home, he said. Austin Reid Reid, now 28, wondered about the people who came before him and decided to dig deeper into Lancasters mostly forgotten Jewish history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After doing this with Lancaster, he has traced different Jewish communities across the state, creating a written history for each using newspaper archives, first-person accounts and other research. The Columbus Jewish Historical Society has featured some of Reid's histories including Lancaster, Mansfield and Newark on its website at www.columbusjewishhistory.org. "They're wonderful ways to get a look at what the lives were like in the small towns," said Toby Brief, executive director of the society. "For us, they're very valuable to add to our collection, to put on our website, so that people get a real sense of the towns." B'nai Israel of Lancaster about 1990, Fairfield County Heritage Quarterly, Fall 2018. Reid started documenting Lancaster's Jewish history for a history class at Capital University in 2017, where he also converted to Judaism. Since then, hes completed Jewish histories for 20 Ohio cities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And he continues the work, despite moving in June to Rochester, New York, and not having lived in Ohio since 2018. Why is documenting previous Jewish communities important? Beyond his class work, Reid kept going, eager to uncover what he has since found were vibrant Jewish communities that thrived in small Ohio cities and towns. Some communities still have Jewish populations, while others have completely ceased, moving on to bigger cities. "It's really interesting and exciting to be able to point out, to realize, how involved these families were for multiple generations," Brief said. "They built their synagogues; they had their restaurants; they built community centers." The Jewish populations had an impact on shaping communities, Reid found. But their histories were often never recorded, he said, partly because smaller cities frequently have fewer resources to document their own histories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lack of recorded history of these populations can also be attributed to changes happening quickly as Jewish people moved to other places for jobs or to follow family members, Reid said. Toby Brief of the Columbus Jewish Historical Society shows its new, permanent exhibit space for its collection of donated items. "Sometimes Judaism is seen as a religion that only exists in larger communities, and the reality is, in the 1800s and 1900s, Jewish life was very vibrant in small towns," Reid said. Two waves of immigration from Europe created most of the Jewish communities seen in Ohio today, Reid said. One in the mid-1800s and another from 1881 to 1924. By the early 2000s, those once-vibrant Jewish communities were often much smaller or nonexistent in small Ohio towns, Reid found. That's due to general population loss over the intervening decades and the fact that the Jewish communities were small to begin with never more than 3% of a town's total population so losing just a few people could be devastating, Reid said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "People have forgotten that there was a Jewish population in many smaller towns," Brief said. "It's important to see how immigration worked originally, who came into central Ohio, where and why they settled, and how they moved on." Beyond written histories Sketch of Ohev Israel at the time of its dedication, Newark Advocate, Nov. 07, 1953. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After learning more about the towns, Brief said she hopes people may connect with the society or another local or regional archive to share their own stories or items. "We look for the deeper story," Brief said of the society's work. "We look for the items that may be in somebody's basement. We look to make connections to people we already know in those towns. ... We love to hear the stories." Reid's histories are a way to connect with the public and show people the society's other collections, Brief said. Some people have followed the stories beyond the written word and have connected with Brief to share historical items after talking with Reid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One Tuscarawas County woman gave the society the Star of David that once hung on the outside of a former Jewish community center and synagogue in the county, Brief said. The woman's father had made the star."It's probably the last tangible piece of a building that that community had," Brief said. "It's the last thing you can touch from that community, and that's a really special one. ... We love the fact that that's what history is. History can be as small as a simple wooden star." What are the communities that had a Jewish presence? Reid has documented the Jewish history of 20 Ohio cities and towns, 15 of which are digitally published on the Columbus Jewish Historical Society's website. Some are still home to active Jewish communities. Here are the communities he's documented: dking@dispatch.com @DanaeKing This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: History shows Jewish communities across Ohio. See where, what happened An Oklahoma City woman who fraudulently took COVID-19 relief money has been sentenced to two years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Prosecutors said Madinah Malikah Montgomery, 33, submitted an application in 2020 for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan from the Small Business Administration. The loans are designed to help small businesses that are struggling. Montgomery applied for a $150,000 loan. Prosecutors said she falsely claimed she owned a salon that had 10 employees and gross revenues of $600,000. The SBA approved the loan and deposited $149,900 into Montgomerys bank account in Enid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said Montgomery fraudulently applied for three separate EIDL loans and received a total of $300,000. In March, she was charged with wire fraud. Montgomery pleaded guilty to one count and admitted to receiving $149,000. She used some of the money to pay for personal expenses. At sentencing, U.S. District Judge Stephen P. Friot ordered Montgomery to pay $300,000 in restitution to the United States. In a separate federal court case, Montgomery faces a charge of possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute. She pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. Montgomery has previous felony convictions including possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia, grand larceny bringing contraband into a penal institution. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC woman sentenced to prison, fined for COVID-19 loan fraud When it comes to K-12 education, setting passing scores on state assessments can be a boring and little-noticed process, but its one of the most important things a state can do to ensure student success. Why, you ask? Because a students score on the state assessment and whether that score indicates the student is at, below or above grade level performance is the only objective signal the state sends to parents about how an individual child is doing. In most states, students who are below grade level in other words, who fall below the states passing score receive additional attention, supports, interventions and resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, the Oklahoma State Department of Education has undermined the integrity of this system by lowering passing scores on the states standardized assessments, effectively moving the goalposts on student achievement. When states determine passing scores on annual assessments, that line determines whether a student is on grade level or proficient in the subject. By substantially lowering that score, a large swath of Oklahoma students now appear more proficient on paper than they may be in real life. More: Oklahoma schools won't get better until Walters' OSDE goes in different direction | Opinion Some have said Oklahoma needed to reset cut scores because it revised the state standards and revised the state test. If Oklahoma had significantly changed its test, the best practice would have been to be transparent about these changes by renaming the test, altering the test scale and clearly communicating the reasons behind the adjustments. This transparency would have allowed stakeholders and the public to understand the new expectations and how they differ from the past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, that didnt happen. By Oklahoma lowering its passing scores, a potential challenge is posed within the state, as well as regionally and nationally. This is because every state administers its own state assessment aligned to its own standards, making it difficult to compare scores across state lines. However, all 50 states participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), otherwise known as the Nations Report Card, providing a way to compare performance across state lines. We can tell if a state has what we refer to as an honesty gap by looking at the difference between the percent of students the state reports as grade level on their state assessment to the percent of students who achieve proficiency on the national test. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than a decade ago, Oklahoma had a wide honesty gap. In 2013, Oklahoma reported that 69% of fourth-graders were reading on grade level on the state test, but that same year only 30% of fourth-graders scored proficient on the national test. This 39-point gap is a good indicator that Oklahoma had a very low passing score on its state test. In 2018, Oklahoma changed its state test and undertook a thoughtful process to significantly raise the bar on the passing scores on the state test. This positive change was reflected in the 2019 comparison between Oklahomas fourth-grade reading scores and the national test scores, with only a one-point difference reported. So, what is the honesty gap this year? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Education Department is reporting that for 2024, 47% of fourth-graders are reading on grade level compared to only 24% scoring proficient on the 2022 national test, a gap of 23 points. Its clear that Oklahoma is going backward and lowering the passing score bar on the state test. This means tens of thousands of parents are being told their children are doing better than they actually are, making it difficult for them to truly understand their childs academic standing. The true measure of how Oklahomas students are doing will come when the NAEP results are released in early 2025. These results will provide an unfiltered look at student performance, free from the influence of lowered state expectations. If Oklahomas NAEP scores reveal a widening gap, it will confirm that the states recent changes were a disservice to its students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oklahoma still has an opportunity to reverse this error. More: Critics say Oklahoma damaged trust, failed students by quietly lowering testing rigor The Education Department could reconvene a panel of teachers and experts to take another look at the standard-setting process, this time informing teachers of the impact of their recommendations before they are finalized. The state can clear the air and ensure that students are held to a standard that reflects their abilities and prepares them for future success. We encourage Oklahomas education leaders to take this step not just to restore public trust, but to ensure that every student has access to the high-quality education they deserve. Patricia Levesque Patricia Levesque is the CEO of ExcelinEd, an education policy nonprofit. She has more than 25 years of experience in education policy and public service. She lives in Tallahassee, Florida. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Students' passing score bar were lowered on state tests | Opinion SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) One person was killed early Sunday morning in a wreck in Greenville County. According to Greenville County Coroners Office, shortly before 4 a.m. coroners and the South Carolina Highway Patrol were called to a scene on Rocky Creek Road in Simpsonville regarding a single-vehicle wreck. According to highway patrol, the wreck happened when the driver of a 2022 Honda Civic going north on Rocky Creek Road went off the right side of the road and hit a tree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver in the wreck was pronounced dead at the scene. The wreck remains under investigation by the coroners office and highway patrol. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. During the campaign, President-elect Donald Trump resurfaced his idea of implementing extreme vetting of new immigrants. Now that he has been reelected, he may try to make his idea a reality. The Republican Party platform states that Trump wants to keep foreign Christian-hating Communists, Marxists, and Socialists out of America. While the president-elect has not yet disclosed a practical procedure for how he would accomplish this, he and his advisors would be wise to abandon the project altogether. I oppose communists, Marxists and socialists myself, but I also know that extreme ideological vetting of immigrants is a fundamentally authoritarian practice, one that promotes the very ideas the policy claims to oppose. Instead of monitoring newcomers for ideas the government might not like, the new Trump administration should continue the current systems focus on vetting for actual national security threats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ideological screening is not merely an immigration policy that would affect new arrivals. Its a concession of sweeping government power that would affect American citizens as well by authorizing the government to police thought and decide which ideologies are correct, surrendering core American values. Vetting actual criminals and terrorists who engage in violent acts is legitimate and proper, and current federal law addresses that problem by filtering out members of authoritarian parties and terrorists, among others whose goal is to inflict harm on Americans. But Trumps policy goes far beyond that. It is designed in part to protect America from becoming like the places some immigrants come from generally authoritarian, leftist regimes that exercise censorship and despise democracy. The belief is that immigrants will turn America into the places from which they escaped. But foreign-born citizens typically come to America to enjoy its freedoms, not to recreate the regimes they fled. And people are not determined to think in one way or another based on where they come from or their race, as Trumps recent success with Latino voters shows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New immigrants, despite what Trump and others have claimed, do not have the power to vote, run for office or effect concrete political change unless theyre naturalized (a process that takes many years and is not mandatory). This fact makes ideological screening all the more relevant for American citizens who already can vote, be elected and implement actual changes. If the government becomes the thought police, it will eventually be interested in rooting out allegedly evil ideas from the people who can actually create change by using tools such as censorship and control of the press. Freedom of speech and of thought are fundamental American values, as demonstrated by their protection in the Constitution. By withholding them from immigrants, we betray our core principles. In granting the government permission to police these things for immigrants, we would surrender the universality of those rights, imperiling them for Americans as well. Many governments have claimed authority to decide what the right ideas are, and to root out the wrong ones. A few current examples include Venezuela, Cuba and China. All of these regimes are based on thought control: they control the press and have quashed dissent; they control what people can see and share online; and they have a monopoly on education to indoctrinate students. All this is in the name of protecting the governments chosen ideology. Its not a coincidence that immigrants escape those regimes to live in freedom in America. But implementing ideological control would take America much closer to the authoritarianism of those regimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are people (whether foreign or native-born) who do hate America, and many actually aspire and attempt to hurt Americans, including by trying to interfere with elections or overthrow the government. Government has the obligation to protect the rights of Americans by screening for foreign agents, terrorists, spies and others actively seeking to cause harm to America and its institutions. But seeking through action and force to violate the rights of Americans and impose an idea is different than believing and expressing that idea, no matter how morally appalling or twisted we may consider such thoughts. Government must stop people from attacking others or their property and violating their rights. Thats how to uphold and protect the freedom of individuals. Thats also part of what current law already does by rejecting those who want to harm America. Ideas have power, and bad ideas can be dangerous. But its not the role of the government to root them out its the role of citizens. It is the responsibility of each American to argue against ideas they consider evil and to ostracize people they deem immoral, to counteract bad ideas with better ones using the tools that a free society and the Constitution provide. Americans should reject thought control and oppose the extreme ideological vetting of immigrants out of principle if they want to preserve core American values. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Agustina Vergara Cid is a Young Voices contributor. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Last month, the House passed a bill that would give the Treasury Department nearly unfettered ability to snatch the tax-exempt status of nonprofits, based on little more than whatever the incumbent administration considers support for terrorism. If the Senate passes a version of the bill, this power will soon be in the hands of President-elect Donald Trump, who repeatedly mused on the campaign trail about exacting vengeance on his political opponents. On the surface, the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act (H.R. 9495) appears to safeguard the country against groups hostile to American interests. But civil rights and womens health groups rightfully fear the incoming Trump administration will use it to retaliate against organizations that are critical of its policies. While votes largely fell along party lines, 15 congressional Democrats broke from their party to support the bill, including Reps. Tom Suozzi of New York, Colin Allred of Texas and former DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida. Even more Democrats had initially expressed support for the bill, but withdrew their endorsements after outcry from organizations like the NAACP, AFL-CIO, United Auto Workers and Planned Parenthood sent a letter to Congress voicing strong opposition. Even Amnesty International raised concerns that H.R. 9495 would harm organizations that document human rights abuses globally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be sure, the president should (and largely does) have the ability to investigate foreign entities, and courts have given the executive branch nearly free rein to target groups outside our borders. But Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., has already questioned this bills constitutionality, in part because the language does not sufficiently distinguish between foreign and domestic threats. Its quite significant that the first iteration of this legislation emerged during the spate of campus protests this year, where participating faculty and students may have been targeted with blanket surveillance. Rep. Rashid Tlaib, D-Mich., called the bill dangerous because it provides the president unchecked power to target nonprofit organizations as political enemies. Tlaibs language isnt hyperbole. Vice President-elect JD Vance wrote in 2021 while running for Senate: These organizations have declared war on America; now, we fight back. This all comes at a precarious moment for nonprofit organizations, given their robustness and integration in our civic framework. Labor unions, universities, museums, membership organizations and tenant advocates serve a significant public service and under the next Trump administration are likely to face threats to their funding streams. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colleges and universities have come under pressure for what Trump referred to as wokeness and has threatened to tax or take away their endowments, and they will pay us billions and billions of dollars for the terror they have unleashed into our once-great country. Among the potential ramifications, student aid could substantially be reduced, creating greater disparities among the student body by making enrollment even more prohibitive for poor students. The entire pipeline among nonprofit organizations that support students making the transition from high school to college could see immediate and irreparable damage. Religious institutions could face grave challenges, as well. Black churches congregants overwhelmingly vote Democratic and have historically promoted social justice, literacy and economic development to uplift their communities. Black churches have become more active lately to help residents navigate the backlash to equity policies. Theres reasonable trepidation among black congregations that they, too, will be targeted by federal agencies The next Trump administrations hostility to nonprofits it finds objectionable could lead to a chilling effect among donors, as well. Corporate, philanthropic and individual giving could be severely curtailed for fear of retaliation. A crucial part of American life the care and concern for our neighbor through nonprofit organizations could be deeply diminished. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Americans trust nonprofits more than political and governmental institutions and the media. Not only should the Senate reject H.R. 9495, but Congress and state legislatures should take measures to shield nonprofits that routinely serve the most vulnerable among us from partisan retribution and retaliation. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Two significant geopolitical maneuvers one by the Biden administration and the other by Russia President Vladimir Putin appear to have aggravated the trajectory of the high-stakes war in Ukraine. These developments, occurring just two months before Donald Trumps anticipated return to the White House, reveal a situation bracing for what could be a dramatic shift in American foreign policy. Trumps bragging about ending the war within 24 hours looms large, adding urgency to the current strategic calculus. President Joe Bidens green light for Ukraine to deploy long-range ATACMS missiles deep into Russian-held territory marks a striking departure from the U.S.s earlier restraint. Alongside this, nearly $300 million in new military aid, including anti-personnel landmines, highlights the Biden administrations desperation to fortify Kyiv against relentless pressure in the eastern front. For Ukraine, these measures arrive at a critical juncture, as its forces are struggling to preserve territorial integrity amid escalating Russian assaults. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Apparently, Bidens policy shift is widely seen as a response to an alarming new development: the deployment of thousands of North Korean personnel to bolster Russias frontline. The U.S. views this as a massive escalation, prompting a recalibration of its red lines. On the other hand, Putin has further amplified tensions by loosening conditions for the use of nuclear weapons an ominous signal that Moscow will stop at nothing to avoid defeat. As the conflicts dynamics grow more perilous, the specter of Trumps potential reentry only intensifies the uncertainty surrounding Ukraines future. As Russias slow but steady advance continues in eastern Ukraine, it leaves a trail of devastation and uncertainty in its wake. The human cost is staggering, and Ukraine now faces a dual challenge: halting Moscows momentum and bracing for the political shakeup looming in Washington. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his government are left to decipher what Donald Trumps vague promise to end the war in 24 hours might mean in practice. Trump, famously enigmatic and unpredictable, is no stranger to bold proclamations. His track record, however, paints a complicated picture admiring Vladimir Putin on the one hand, while positioning himself as a shrewd, albeit transactional, negotiator on the other. Zelensky, despite his skepticism, appear cautiously optimistic, hoping Trump might prioritize a broader, more strategic approach over short-term deal making. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian officials suggest that Trumps overriding goal will be to project strength, an endeavor that may define his foreign policy. This posture, they argue, will require tough choices: pressuring both Ukraine and Russia without undermining U.S. leadership. Walking away, as tempting as isolationism may sound to some in Trumps base, is unlikely to be an option. The stakes are high. Any misstep could haunt Trump as Afghanistan did Biden, a foreign policy wound that still festers. If Ukraine becomes Trumps Afghanistan, the consequences both for Ukraines survival and Americas global standing could be just as severe. Its a gamble with no guarantees, and one that will test the limits of strength, strategy and statesmanship. It is certain that the war will end sooner with the policies of the team that will now lead the White House. This is their approach, their promise to their citizens, Zelensky said in an interview with the Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne. His remarks carried a mix of candor and calculation. Recently, he expressed a desire to end the war through diplomacy by 2025 but hinted that peace could come sooner with Donald Trump in the White House. It was classic Zelensky an artful blend of flattery and challenge aimed as much at Trump as at his own weary population. For those suffering most acutely under Russias invasion, peace is a priority, even if it demands further sacrifice. Similarly, in another talk with Fox News, he sounded more pragmatic and flexible to adjust to the new ground realities: We cannot spend dozens of, thousands of our people so that they perish for the sake of Crimea coming back we understand that Crimea can be brought back diplomatically. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin appears to view this moment as a strategic pause, one that places him in a position of advantage. Russia launched its largest aerial assault on Ukraine in three months, a brutal reminder of the stakes at hand. With fears of further strikes mounting, several Western embassies shuttered their operations temporarily. Russias stockpiling of Iskander and Kinzhal missiles signals more than tactical preparation; its a calculated effort to send a message ahead of a potential Trump administration. Putins aim is clear: to enter any future negotiations from a position of unyielding strength. For Moscow, this isnt about compromise; its about dictating terms. The Kremlins maneuvers suggest a deliberate attempt to test Ukraines resolve and set the stage for discussions with Trump. For Zelensky, the challenge is monumental maintaining resilience while navigating a future that hinges as much on external politics as on the battlefield itself. Factually speaking, in Moscow, a quiet confidence pervades a belief that Ukraines resistance is merely a prelude to its eventual collapse. Yet, come January, the calculus shifts. For Vladimir Putin, Donald Trumps ascension to power complicates the path forward. Putin will have to tackle a new reality: Trump is now at the helm. Escalation, while tempting, risks derailing any chance for a favorable deal. In Washington, the Biden administrations latest military aid package reflects its commitment to Kyivs survival. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ammunition, drones, missiles and anti-personnel landmines signal a determination to bolster Ukraines defenses in the face of unrelenting Russian aggression. The decision to permit Kyivs use of ATACMS missiles on Russian soil is a calculated escalation one aimed at reshaping the battlefield. Yet the timing of this move is unmistakable: it reverberates beyond the immediate conflict, reaching into the corridors of Trumps transition team. While Trump has remained uncharacteristically silent on Ukraine so far. As Moscow weighs its next moves, it must contend not only with Ukraines resilience but with the potential volatility of an American president eager to assert control. The stakes, as ever, teeter on the edge of clarity, leaving all sides grappling with a future that remains perilously undefined. Imran Khalid is a physician and has a masters degree in international relations. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Dec. 1The chug-chug-chug of the CV-22 Osprey once again fills the air around Albuquerque as CV-22 flights have resumed at Kirtland Air Force Base after being grounded for months following a crash last year that killed eight U.S. service members in Japan. The first Osprey, a unique tiltrotator aircraft, arrived at Kirtland on March 20, 2006. The aircraft first went through Operational Utility Evaluation testing by the Air Force Operations Test and Evaluation Center, and was formally transferred to the 58th Special Operations Wing. The first training flight in Albuquerque skies was on July 19, 2006, Lt. Will Witherow, a spokesman for the Air Force, said in an email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ospreys have had a spotty safety record. Just last week, an Osprey carrying White House staff and government officials from an event in New York was grounded because of a safety issue. Flames were reportedly seen near one of the engines. There are seven CV-22s at Kirtland, Witherow said. He said 12 initial qualification pilots are trained to fly the aircraft each year. Once trained on base, Witherow said the pilots are delivered to Air Force Special Operations, which supports the U.S. Special Operations Command. The Osprey can fly like a plane and also hover and land like a helicopter. Witherow said the primary mission of the aircraft is covert, clandestine infiltration and extraction missions, and the re-supply of special operations forces around the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why do they train in New Mexico? It's "great high-altitude training in a dusty environment," Witherow said. "There are no plans to move the CV-22 training and we are very happy training at Kirtland." Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Sunday, lashed out at Congress blaming EVM for losing the election. He stated that those who have won the Jharkhand elections should also explain to the people of Jharkhand. "Congress has won Jharkhand; they should clarify the win. The situation resembles a frustrated cat scratching at a pillar. The Prime Minister, the Home Minister, and I had all predicted that following the election results in Maharashtra, we know that these people would start to criticise the EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines). Indeed, this is what is happening now. Whenever parties lose elections, they tend to blame the EVMs," he said The Union Culture and Tourism Minister further said, "I had told you earlier also that before the by-elections, we will win maximum assembly seats with a huge majority. The people of the country and the state have completely rejected the Congress, the ideology of the Congress and its leadership. These are the people who do politics by talking about divisive politics, their conduct and character have now been exposed. Now they will never allow the people of Rajasthan and the country." On BSF Raising Day, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that the Indian government formed the Seema Suraksha Bal, the largest central armed police force in India, to protect the country's borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. "According to the Geneva Convention, it was decided that the army would always patrol behind the border. The Seema Suraksha Bal was formed in India. When Atal Bihari Vajpayee was in power, it was decided that a force would ensure the security of the border. The Seema Suraksha Bal is working as the largest central armed police force of the country on the Indian borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh and is protecting our borders. The Seema Suraksha Bal and BSF are the only central armed police forces that can carry out operations on land, water and air," he said. The Seema Suraksha Bal and the Border Security Force (BSF) are the only central armed police forces that can carry out operations on land, water, and air. (ANI) CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Two years after 17-year-old Nahzir Taylor was shot and killed in east Charlotte, his parents have filed a lawsuit against the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education (CMBE) and the former principal of Rocky River High School, Kwame Stith. On Nov. 30, 2022, Taylor, who was a student at Rocky River High School, was shot while getting off a bus by another student. He died on Dec. 2, 2022. Following his passing, two juveniles were arrested and charged for their involvement in the teens death. According to the wrongful death lawsuit filed by Taylors father, Keon Marcel Taylor, on Nov. 27, it claims a fight occurred on Nov. 30 in the school cafeteria, which was witnessed by staff and other students. The lawsuit claims Nahzir was not involved in the fight but was falsely accused by a Rocky River staff member. A student, identified in the lawsuit as R.S., allegedly threatened to shoot and kill Nahzir in the presence of Rocky River staff members and students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Taylor family claims that neither Stith nor any employee of the high school or the CMBE reported the fight or threat to law enforcement, Nahzirs parents, or other family members. The lawsuit claims that staff members and CMBE were negligent ahead of the fatal shooting by not reporting the threats, not detaining R.S., preventing him from leaving school grounds as well as failing to stop R.S.s alleged bullying and threats. The suit claims that if the parents had been notified of the threats or the incident in the cafeteria, they would have picked Nahzir up from school, instead of riding the bus home. Additionally, the family is suing for damages including medical expenses while Nahzir was hospitalized, funeral costs and compensation for pain and suffering in the amount of $25,000. The NAACP released the following statement in 2022: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Education Committee with the Charlotte Chapter of the NAACP would like to send our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends, the Rocky River High School staff, the student body, and all impacted by the senseless death of Nahzir Taylor. As a community, we must work at a fever pitch to solve the gun violence destroying lives, our Charlotte communities, and reaping havoc within our school district. Schools must be safe havens for learning. We need all hands on deck to improve safety throughout our communities. Gun violence is not only a CMS issue but a City of Charlotte issue as we are losing countless young lives to this unspoken city-wide pandemic. Queen City News reached out to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools for comment, to which they responded saying they can not comment on pending litigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Getty Images In April, just 12 weeks into her pregnancy, Kathleen Clark was standing at the receptionist window of her OB-GYNs office when she was asked to pay $960, the total the office estimated she would owe after she delivered. Clark, 39, was shocked that she was asked to pay that amount during this second prenatal visit. Normally, patients receive the bill after insurance has paid its part, and for pregnant women thats usually only when the pregnancy ends. It would be months before the office filed the claim with her health insurer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clark said she felt stuck. The Cleveland, Tennessee, obstetrics practice was affiliated with a birthing center where she wanted to deliver. Plus, she and her husband had been wanting to have a baby for a long time. And Clark was emotional, because just weeks earlier her mother had died. Youre standing there at the window, and theres people all around, and youre trying to be really nice, recalled Clark, through tears. So, I paid it. On online baby message boards and other social media forums, pregnant women say they are being asked by their providers to pay out-of-pocket fees earlier than expected. The practice is legal, but patient advocacy groups call it unethical. Medical providers argue that asking for payment up front ensures they get compensated for their services. How frequently this happens is hard to track because it is considered a private transaction between the provider and the patient. Therefore, the payments are not recorded in insurance claims data and are not studied by researchers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patients, medical billing experts, and patient advocates say the billing practice causes unexpected anxiety at a time of already heightened stress and financial pressure. Estimates can sometimes be higher than what a patient might ultimately owe and force people to fight for refunds if they miscarry or the amount paid was higher than the final bill. Up-front payments also create hurdles for women who may want to switch providers if they are unhappy with their care. In some cases, they may cause women to forgo prenatal care altogether, especially in places where few other maternity care options exist. Its holding their treatment hostage, said Caitlin Donovan, a senior director at the Patient Advocate Foundation. Medical billing and womens health experts believe OB-GYN offices adopted the practice to manage the high cost of maternity care and the way it is billed for in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When a pregnancy ends, OB-GYNs typically file a single insurance claim for routine prenatal care, labor, delivery, and, often, postpartum care. That practice of bundling all maternity care into one billing code began three decades ago, said Lisa Satterfield, senior director of health and payment policy at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. But such bundled billing has become outdated, she said. Previously, pregnant patients had been subject to copayments for each prenatal visit, which might lead them to skip crucial appointments to save money. But the Affordable Care Act now requires all commercial insurers to fully cover certain prenatal services. Plus, its become more common for pregnant women to switch providers, or have different providers handle prenatal care, labor, and delivery especially in rural areas where patient transfers are common. Some providers say prepayments allow them to spread out one-time payments over the course of the pregnancy to ensure that they are compensated for the care they do provide, even if they dont ultimately deliver the baby. You have people who, unfortunately, are not getting paid for the work that they do, said Pamela Boatner, who works as a midwife in a Georgia hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While she believes women should receive pregnancy care regardless of their ability to pay, she also understands that some providers want to make sure their bill isnt ignored after the baby is delivered. New parents might be overloaded with hospital bills and the costs of caring for a new child, and they may lack income if a parent isnt working, Boatner said. In the U.S., having a baby can be expensive. People who obtain health insurance through large employers pay an average of nearly $3,000 out-of-pocket for pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care, according to the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker. In addition, many people are opting for high-deductible health insurance plans, leaving them to shoulder a larger share of the costs. Of the 100 million U.S. people with health care debt, 12% attribute at least some of it to maternity care, according to a 2022 KFF poll. Families need time to save money for the high costs of pregnancy, childbirth, and child care, especially if they lack paid maternity leave, said Joy Burkhard, CEO of the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, a Los Angeles-based policy think tank. Asking them to prepay is another gut punch, she said. What if you dont have the money? Do you put it on credit cards and hope your credit card goes through? Calculating the final costs of childbirth depends on multiple factors, such as the timing of the pregnancy, plan benefits, and health complications, said Erin Duffy, a health policy researcher at the University of Southern Californias Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics. The final bill for the patient is unclear until a health plan decides how much of the claim it will cover, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But sometimes the option to wait for the insurer is taken away. During Jamie Daws first pregnancy in 2020, her OB-GYN accepted her refusal to pay in advance because Daw wanted to see the final bill. But in 2023, during her second pregnancy, a private midwifery practice in New York told her that since she had a high-deductible plan, it was mandatory to pay $2,000 spread out with monthly payments. Daw, a health policy researcher at Columbia University, delivered in September 2023 and got a refund check that November for $640 to cover the difference between the estimate and the final bill. I study health insurance, she said. But, as most of us know, its so complicated when youre really living it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the Affordable Care Act requires insurers to cover some prenatal services, it doesnt prohibit providers from sending their final bill to patients early. It would be a challenge politically and practically for state and federal governments to attempt to regulate the timing of the payment request, said Sabrina Corlette, a co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University. Medical lobbying groups are powerful and contracts between insurers and medical providers are proprietary. Because of the legal gray area, Lacy Marshall, an insurance broker at Rapha Health and Life in Texas, advises clients to ask their insurer if they can refuse to prepay their deductible. Some insurance plans prohibit providers in their network from requiring payment up front. If the insurer says they can refuse to pay up front, Marshall said, she tells clients to get established with a practice before declining to pay, so that the provider cant refuse treatment. Clark said she met her insurance deductible after paying for genetic testing, extra ultrasounds, and other services out of her health care flexible spending account. Then she called her OB-GYNs office and asked for a refund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I got my spine back, said Clark, who had previously worked at a health insurer and a medical office. She got an initial check for about half the $960 she originally paid. In August, Clark was sent to the hospital after her blood pressure spiked. A high-risk pregnancy specialist not her original OB-GYN practice delivered her son, Peter, prematurely via emergency cesarean section at 30 weeks. It was only after she resolved most of the bills from the delivery that she received the rest of her refund from the other OB-GYN practice. This final check came in October, just days after Clark brought Peter home from the hospital, and after multiple calls to the office. She said it all added stress to an already stressful period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why am I having to pay the price as a patient? she said. Im just trying to have a baby. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF. Subscribe to KFF Health News free Morning Briefing. This article first appeared on KFF Health News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) Visit Panama City Beach helped residents get into the holiday spirit this weekend. They hosted their 9th annual Beach Home for the Holidays celebration. The free 2-day event kicked off last night at Aaron Bessant Park. Friday night, event-goers enjoyed smores by campfires, pictures with Santa Claus, hot cocoa, and the Panama City Ballets rendition of the Nutcracker. Saturday, attendees listened to live music and watched the Christmas movie Elf. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christmas Tree Lighting brings holiday magic to Historic St. Andrews Visit Panama City Beach officials said this is a great way to kick off the holiday season. Its a great activity for the whole family to enjoy. I personally love Santa meet-and-greet the most. The kids just light up when they get to see him and hang out with him for just a little bit, Visit Panama City Beach Communications & Social Media Manager Sydney Clifton said. Visit Panama City Beach will be hosting its annual New Years Eve Beach Ball Drop on December 31st. There will be live music, fireworks, a kids beach ball drop at 8 p.m., and the main beach ball drop at midnight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) A pedestrian was seriously injured after being hit by a car in Temple Hills on Saturday afternoon, according to the Prince Georges County Police Department (PGPD). Details are limited; however, police told DC News Now that at around 2:20 p.m., officers responded to Branch Avenue north at Colebrooke Drive for a crash involving a pedestrian. Water main breaks in Rockville during near-freezing temperatures Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Responders took the pedestrian, who was hit by the car, to the hospital in critical condition. They are expected to survive, according to PGPD. The driver of the car also stayed at the scene. The investigation is ongoing. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Sameer al-Doumy / AFP / Getty Images Migrants have been illegally crossing the 20-mile stretch of the Channel between northern France and Britain on boats for decades. However, the "industrialisation" of the process began in earnest in 2018. In the years prior to this, most people smuggling was done in lorries, via cross-Channel ferries or the Eurotunnel. The European migrant crisis of 2015-18 led to extra security measures around the ports and the tunnel's entrance area, as did high-profile trafficking tragedies such as the deaths of 39 Vietnamese people in a recently arrived truck in Essex in 2019. Brexit and Covid made truck journeys still more difficult and expensive. As a result, smugglers' business models changed: lorries are still used, but places in them are rarer and much more expensive. The smugglers' solution was the small boat crossing. What makes Channel people smuggling an attractive business model? The outlay involved is modest. According to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, a respected NGO, in its report Small Boats, Big Business, smugglers buy a boat, usually a cheap rigid inflatable with an outboard motor made in China, and shipped clandestinely via Turkey and Germany. The total cost, including delivery, is about 10,000. But the smugglers put about 50 people, each paying at least 2,000, into each boat (the boats, usually eight metres by two metres, are actually designed for about ten passengers). This means that a single trip can generate 100,000 in profit, though, of course, gangs have costs other than the hardware. One smuggler told Sky News that he had launched 12 dinghies last year and had made around 800,000. Who are the people smugglers? They are largely of Iraqi Kurdish origin. The first gangs to use small boats in 2018-19 were of Kurdish Iranians, migrants who had made the trip themselves and had seen the money to be made. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since 2019, Iraqi Kurds have largely taken control of the key embarkation points: there are only about 100 miles of viable coast between Dunkirk and Le Touquet, and the territory is divided according to smugglers' home regions. Gangs from Ranya in Iraqi Kurdistan control the prime section around Calais and Dunkirk; Iranian Kurds maintain some control west of Calais. Turf wars are often violent, and gangs are heavily armed with knives and guns. Albanian gangs have also been involved, but largely as middlemen for established Iraqi Kurd networks; likewise, Africans and Afghans often work for the Kurdish gangs. How does the process work? Migrants are directed to "holding pens" across northern Europe as far away as Paris, Amsterdam and Frankfurt to await their journey. These include rooms rented by the gangs, as well as hotels, some of which offer discounts for migrants and provide services, such as sending luggage on to the UK. When sea conditions are deemed safe enough for a crossing a swell (the level of the waves) below 70cm and wind at less than 15 knots the migrants are transported, or make their own way, to the embarkment sites along the northern French coast. The smugglers will send details of where to head to, usually by WhatsApp, and will often send multiple locations. Once migrants are on the beach, the gang's local members deliver the boat for the crossing, inflate it and assemble it. The boat will then launch for the journey, which can take between four and eight hours. The craft are usually "captained" by migrants who are offered free or cheap transit in exchange, though they often have no seafaring experience. How many people use the boats? In 2018, the number was just 299, but since then it has grown exponentially; 2022 saw the highest, with 45,774 registered arrivals. This dipped to 29,437 in 2023, but 2024 had logged 33,500 arrivals by 17 November, so this year will be the second-largest figure. In total, more than 147,000 are known to have arrived in this way (about 80% of all registered irregular arrivals to the UK). At least 250 people are known to have died in the attempt. Most crossings take place in the second half of the year, particularly the summer, when conditions are safer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Five countries dominate numerically among small boat arrivals, making up two-thirds of the total over the past six years: Iran (18.5%); Afghanistan (14.7%); Iraq (13.2%); Albania (12.1%); and Syria (7.6%). Other nations represented include Eritrea, Sudan, Turkey and Vietnam. What has the Government done about this? In 2023, Rishi Sunak made "stopping the boats" one of his key priorities. A deal to return migrants to Albania which is deemed a safe country led to Albanian asylum applications falling from 14,347 in the year to March 2023 to 2,836 the year after. He also pledged to send all asylum seekers who had arrived irregularly to Rwanda. Keir Starmer abolished the Rwanda scheme; and in the absence of political solutions such as a returns agreement with France, or official safe migration routes has promised to "smash" the gangs, in part by creating a unified Border Security Command. How successful will this be? Martin Hewitt, the new Border Security Commander, has talked less of smashing the gangs and more of "chipping away" at their business models: cooperating with Bulgaria to intercept smuggling boats at the Turkish border; working with social media companies to remove smuggling adverts from TikTok, X and YouTube; trying to disrupt the gangs themselves by arresting key players. However, pursuing criminals abroad poses major challenges, and success will depend largely on global trends, not British actions. As long as there are profits to be made the Channel smuggling trade was worth an estimated 150 million a year in 2022 removing one crime group will just create an opportunity for another. But the growing tendency to tighten borders in Europe will see fewer migrants arriving in northern France. (Reuters) - Peru has named Jorge Montero as its new minister of mines and energy, according to a government resolution published on Sunday, after his predecessor was removed by the country's congress. Former minister Romulo Mucho was removed from his post on Tuesday as protesters from small-scale miners camped outside the Peruvian legislature's building in capital Lima, and intermittently halted traffic throughout the south. Peruvian small-scale miners - many of whom do not operate with proper permits - have been demanding a two-year extension of a program that allows them to operate temporarily. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities say the program, meant to regularize the artisanal miners, has caused illegal mining to multiply and legislators argued in Congress that Mucho had shown a lack of interest and/or ability to solve the issue. The resolution naming Montero was published on Sunday but also dated Saturday, Nov. 30. The appointment represents a return to Peru's ministry of mines and energy for Montero who, according to his LinkedIn profile, served as Peru's vice minister of mines from November 2020 to August 2021. (Reporting by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Marguerita Choy) Alongside the Pennsylvania National Guard and emergency response crews, Pittsburgh International Airport sent teams to Erie on Saturday to help clear snow. Pittsburgh International Airport officials say they sent five snow fighters to help clear an airfield at Erie International Airport. Several feet of lake-effect snow has fallen in the city since Friday, with more expected to fall overnight. The heavy snowfall has restricted travel on several interstates and within the City of Erie. Josh Shapiro issued a disaster declaration on Saturday to help state agencies assisting communities impacted by the significant snowfall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement >>> Gov. Shapiro issues disaster declaration for heavy snowfall in Erie This isnt the first time Pittsburgh International Airport crews have responded to Erie to help during severe lake-effect snowstorms. Safety and security are always the top priorities and when Erie asked for help, our team stepped up to answer the call, Moorhead said. PITs team of snow fighters is among the best in the country, and we knew we could help. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW A Richmond-based company has achieved significant fusion neutron yield and plasma stability. General Fusion attained world-first achievements using its uniquely practical Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF) technology. The experiment's peer-reviewed scientific results have been published in an IAEA-backed journal. During the Plasma Compression Science (PCS) experiment series, the company successfully produced significant fusion neutron yield by compressing plasmas in the spherical tokamak configuration required for its MTF approach. The company claimed that neutron yield increased significantly, exceeding 600 million neutrons per second in one compression shot. Plasma became 190 times denser General Fusion maintains that during compression, the plasma became approximately 190 times denser than it started, consistent with plasma particle confinement time being significantly longer than the compression time. In experimental tests, the magnetic field that provides robust confinement for the hot plasma also became over 13 times higher than it started due to compression. During our PCS series, General Fusion was the first in the world to compress a spherical tokamak plasma with a collapsing metal liner, and we are thrilled to now share in a peer-reviewed publication the results we achieved in demonstrating fusion from MTF through this experimental campaign, said Dr. Michel Laberge, Founder and Chief Science Officer, General Fusion. "This research is another example of our trailblazing work over the past two decades. Now, were approaching breakthrough milestones with LM26. Our practical approach translates to an economical power plant, putting us on the path to electricity on the grid by the early to mid-2030s." High-performing plasmas remained stable The high-performing plasmas remained stable and maintained magnetic flux while the fusion neutron yield increased significantly during the PCS experiment. The experiments showed the effectiveness of new technology for plasma formation and compression using a metal liner, providing the foundation for its Lawson Machine 26 (LM26), which is the companys large-scale fusion demonstration. The test results demonstrated that significant volumetric compression of a spherical tokamak plasma is practical, de-risking LM26, which will compress plasmas at a large scale to reach higher fusion yields. In the company's MTF approach, the proprietary liquid metal liner in the fusion vessel is mechanically compressed by high-powered pistons. Fusion conditions in short pulses This allows General Fusion to create fusion conditions in short pulses, rather than creating a sustained reaction, while protecting the machines vessel, extracting heat, and re-breeding fuel. The technology is designed to scale for cost-efficient power plants. It does not require large superconducting magnets or an expensive array of lasers, according to a press release. Published in Nuclear Fusion, the experiment results are claimed to be the best-performing compression test outcome. PCS-16 was the fifth of the most recent experiments that compressed a spherical tokamak plasma configuration. The company highlighted that thermodynamics during the early phase of compression were consistent with increasing Ohmic heating of the electrons due to a geometric increase in the current density at near-constant resistivity, and with increasing ion cooling that approximately matched ion compression heating power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Magnetohydrodynamic simulations were used to model the emergence of instabilities that increase electron thermal transport in the final phase of compression, according to the experiment results. Viability of stable fusion process using MTF Weve demonstrated the viability of a stable fusion process using our MTF approach, laying the foundation for our groundbreaking LM26, said Mike Donaldson, Senior Vice President, Technology Development, General Fusion. These achievements in plasma compression are a testament to our teams deep expertise and capabilities, accumulated over two decades of fusion technology development. Through our PCS series, we also made major advances in plasma systems, materials, coatings, and diagnostics." Donaldson highlighted that the company is ready for the next step demonstrating fusion and significant heating at a large scale with LM26. "Our incredibly talented team has made it all possible, building a practical, clean energy technology with world-changing potential from the ground up." Company is accelerating its progress by building LM26 The fusion demonstration machine is on track to achieve transformative technical milestones in the next 24 months1 keV in the first half of 2025, then 10 keV, and ultimately scientific breakeven equivalent (100 percent Lawson criterion) by 2026. Its results will significantly de-risk the companys commercial-scale machine, fast-tracking its path to provide commercial fusion energy to the grid by the early to mid-2030s, added the press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent, multiple companies have made significant advances in fusion research. OpenStar Technologies, a New Zealand-based fusion research company, recently achieved a key milestone by obtaining its first plasma. The company has adopted a novel approach to achieving fusion energy that does not use a tokamak or stellarator design for its device. Instead, it uses a levitated dipole reactor (LDR). Besides, Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) also known as South Koreas artificial sun fired up to tackle tungsten impurities in nuclear fusion. Tungsten has a melting point of around 3,422C (6,192F) the highest among all metals. Therefore, it has an exceptional ability to tolerate high thermal loads and resist damage from erosion caused by the high-energy particles that strike it. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday blamed the government after the first week of the Winter session of Parliament was washed out and alleged that the "government is cooperating" in getting the Parliament proceedings adjourned. "The session gets washed out because the government does not want the Parliament to function...The opposition wants the Adani issue, the Manipur situation, Sambhal incident to be discussed in the parliament...The govt is cooperating in getting the Parliament proceedings adjourned...For the first time I am seeing whenever we raise an issue, the parliament gets adjourned...The government does not want a discussion on the Adani issue, Manipur, Sambhal incident, Ajmer. Why is the government running away from discussion?...BJP MPs come to get the Parliament session adjourned while we go to raise issues," Jairam Ramesh told ANI. On November 29, amid continuous sloganeering by opposition MPs in both Houses for the fourth straight day, Parliament was adjourned till December 2 (Monday), failing to conduct substantial business. Parliament proceedings have been stalled since the beginning of the Winter Session amid protests by opposition parties over the Adani issue and violence in Manipur and Sambhal. Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said that the actions are not "public-centric." "This cannot be appreciated. We have become a laughing stock, and parliament disruptions are in public distaste. We are creating a very bad precedent. Our actions are not public-centric. We are getting into irrelevance. Rule 267 is being weaponised as a tool of disruption," the Rajya Sabha Chairman said. The Chairman expressed his deep anguish and profound regret at the disruption in the normal business of the House. Opposition members have been continuously pushing to have a discussion on the floor on the Adani issue, Sambhal violence and the Manipur situation, raising slogans in the Parliament. The first session of the winter Parliament commenced on November 25, with both Houses getting adjourned fairly early due to disruptions. The winter session will go on till December 20. Meanwhile, Jairam Ramesh said that the Congress would meet with the Election Commission on November 5 to take up issues of EVMs. "The Election Commission has given us time on Monday 5th and Congress leaders will meet them. The memorandum that we gave is related to the election process. EVM is a part of the election process. There are issues in the entire election machinery in the Maharashtra assembly elections and targeted manipulation has taken place...The results of the Maharashtra assembly elections are impossible. No one can understand them...We have raised questions on the entire election machinery which is very dangerous for democracy...The parties of the INDIA alliance passed a resolution in Dec 2023 that 100% counting of VVPAT slips should then be done...I have sought time from the Election Commission of India to discuss the issue of VVPATs but we did not get time from them," Ramesh said. (ANI) A man was shot dead Sunday by St. Charles police as he wielded a chainsaw and threatened residents of an assisted living facility, according to authorities. Around 8:45 a.m. Sunday, dispatch officers with the police department responded to a welfare check on the property of the River Glen of St. Charles in Kane County, at 975 N. 5th Ave. Witnesses had reported a shirtless man trying to cut down a tree with a chainsaw. Shortly before police arrived, the man had entered the buildings lobby and reportedly confronted residents with the power tool. The responding officers attempted to de-escalate the situation but were unable to do so, police said, as the man continued his threats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attacker was shocked with a Taser but didnt stop, according to St. Charles police, so an officer fired his service weapon and struck the suspect. Despite emergency assistance efforts, the man was pronounced dead after being transported to Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva. He had yet to be identified by authorities Sunday evening pending notification of next of kin. Some residents of the facility and responding officers received treatment on the scene for minor injuries. Per protocol, the Illinois State Police announced Sunday that its Division of Criminal Investigation is leading an inquiry into the shooting. Afterward, the state police will turn its findings in to the Kane County states attorneys office for an independent review of the facts. Violent clashes between police and anti-government demonstrators broke out overnight in Georgia for the third night in a row following the government's deicision to suspend talks on joining the European Union. According to Georgian media, police officers used water cannon and tear gas on the crowds, while some demonstrators launched fireworks at the police. It was not until Sunday morning that the uniformed officers succeeded in pushing the protesters away from the parliament building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Demonstrators have now set up roadblocks near Tbilisi State University in the capital. The clashes - and a deepening political crisis between the nationalist conservative government and the pro-European opposition - are threatening to tear Georgia apart. Official information on the number of injured and arrested overnight was not immediately available on Sunday morning. On Saturday night, the police reportedly arrested 107 people for hooliganism in the capital Tbilisi alone. Demonstrations are also taking place in other cities across Georgia. The background to the protests is the parliamentary elections at the end of October, which were overshadowed by allegations of fraud and in which the ruling Georgian Dream party was declared the winner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The opposition has not recognized the election results and opposition lawmakers have refused to accept their mandates. The latest wave of protests kicked off after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that he would cancel EU accession negotiations until 2028. He has accused the EU of interference in Georgian matters and blackmail. According to surveys, the majority of the population wants to join the EU, a goal that is enshrined in the country's constitution. The conflict has also spread to an institutional level. Several ambassadors have resigned in protest, while the pro-European incumbent president, Salome Zourabichvili, has declared her intention of resisting the change in government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zourabichvili, whose term is due to end in mid-December, has said that she will remain in office, since an "illegitimate parliament cannot elect a new president." Georgian law has been changed so that, for the first time, her successor will not be directly elected by the people, but is instead to be appointed by members of parliament and regional representatives. Violent clashes between police and anti-government demonstrators broke out overnight in Georgia for the third night in a row following the government's deicision to suspend talks on joining the European Union. Police officers used water cannon and tear gas on the crowds, while some demonstrators launched fireworks at the police, according to Georgian media. It was not until Sunday morning that the uniformed officers succeeded in pushing the protesters away from the parliament building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Demonstrators have now set up roadblocks near Tbilisi State University in the capital. The clashes - and a deepening political crisis between the nationalist conservative government and the pro-European opposition - are threatening to tear Georgia apart. Official information on the number of injured and arrested overnight was not immediately available on Sunday morning. On Saturday night, the police reportedly arrested 107 people for hooliganism in the capital Tbilisi alone. Demonstrations are also taking place in other cities across Georgia. The background to the protests is the parliamentary elections at the end of October, which were overshadowed by allegations of fraud and in which the ruling Georgian Dream party was declared the winner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The opposition has not recognized the election results and opposition lawmakers have refused to accept their mandates. What sparked the latest protests? The latest wave of protests kicked off after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that he would cancel EU accession negotiations until 2028. He has accused the EU of interference in Georgian matters and blackmail. According to polls, the majority of Georgians want their country to join the EU, a goal that is formally enshrined in the country's constitution. The conflict has also spread to an institutional level. Several ambassadors have resigned in protest, while the pro-European incumbent president, Salome Zourabichvili, has declared her intention of resisting the change in government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zourabichvili, whose term is due to end in mid-December, has said that she will remain in office, since an "illegitimate parliament cannot elect a new president." Georgian law has been changed so that, for the first time, her successor will not be directly elected by the people, but is instead to be appointed by members of parliament and regional representatives. EU warns Georgia of 'consequences' for violence The European Union could impose sanctions over the latest developments in Georgia, the EU's new foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Sunday. "It is clear that using violence against peaceful protesters is not acceptable, and [the] Georgian government should respect the will of the Georgian people, but also the Georgian constitution," Kallas said during a visit to Kiev. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When it comes to European Union, then this clearly has consequences on our relationship with Georgia," she said. Kallas, a former Estonian prime minister, took office as the EU's top diplomat on Sunday. Kallas mentioned sanctions and visa restrictions as possible steps, but said any consequences would be discussed and agreed together with EU member states. "Clearly, [the] Georgian government is not respecting the will of Georgia people when it comes to the European future," said Kallas, "and I think we shouldn't let them slip away." EU sanctions can only be imposed if all EU countries agree. This is currently questionable, not least since Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban recently expressed support for Kobakhidze. Police say two people are dead after a shooting early Sunday morning in Salisbury. Officials with the Salisbury Police Department say that they were called to an address on 3rd Street around 8:40 a.m. for a reported shooting. Officers found two victims who were pronounced dead at the scene from apparent gunshot wounds. The two victims have been identified as Shamarion Hooker, 20, and Skylar Mackey, 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police believe the two victims shot each other. Its just crazy to get a phone call and hear your nephew got shot, said Shawate Hooker, Shamarions uncle. Shawate told Channel 9s Glenn Counts he didnt know all the details, but just knew that the two victims were shooting at each other. Police said one of the men was in the street and the other was in a car when they opened fire on each other. The driver of the car then crashed into a power pole. Police said they caught a man who ran away from the scene, but its not clear if hell be charged. Both families say theyre just trying to cope with their loss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know what happened here but it seems like he didnt get back on the right road. I just wish this would never have happened to him, I wish something different would have happened, said Shawate. All I want to say for the other family, a prayer go out to you all, and you all pray for my family, said another family member. Officials say an investigation is underway and that they will provide updates as they have them. Police are asking anyone with information on this shooting to call Lt. Casper at 704-638-5333 or via email at investigations@salisburync.gov. RELATED STORY: 3 hurt in Salisbury shooting according to court documents Police investigating double homicide in Salisbury SALISBURY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Two people were killed following a homicide on Sunday morning, according to the Salisbury Police Department. Around 8:40 a.m. on Dec. 1, officers responded to the shooting on the 1800 block of 3rd Street. When they arrived, they found two people with apparent gunshot wounds and both were pronounced dead at the scene, officials said. Those people were later identified as 20-year-old Shamarion Hooker and 21-year-old Skylar Mackey. Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area >> Latest stories here Details of the shooting are unknown, but police have located a male subject who, police say, fled the scene following the shooting. Detectives are now interviewing that person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information should contact Lt. Casper at 704-638-5333 or 704-638-5211. This is a Developing Story . Check back for updates Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) One was arrested after a high-speed police pursuit ended in Vigo County on Friday afternoon. Around 3 p.m. on Friday, a Clay County deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle that had been believed to be driven by a male with an active warrant. According to a news release, the vehicle fled onto State Road 340 before pulling into a residential area. The driver then struck a Clay County deputies patrol car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vehicle then entered Vigo County fleeing from law enforcement driving through fields before wrecking into a nearby yard. The driver then fled on foot before being apprehended by deputies. The driver was identified as Joshua Corbin, 31 of Brazil. Corbin has an active felony warrant out of Vigo County. Corbin was transported to the Clay County Justice Center, where he is preliminarily charged with resisting law enforcement, criminal recklessness, reckless driving, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, and leaving the scene of a property damage. Indiana Conservation officers, Vigo County Sheriffs Office, and Seelyville Town Marshall Office all assisted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com. If it was not clear already, the House of Commons vote to legalise assisted suicide on Friday confirmed one of the biggest problems with our modern politics. Too often, our national debate is no such thing. Too many have stopped trying to persuade and lead, preferring instead to dissemble and obfuscate. We were told after the vote on Friday that this had been Parliament at its best. And it is true that there were strong arguments made in speeches on both sides of the argument, such as by Andrew Mitchell, a Conservative in favour, and by Diane Abbott, a Labour MP who is against. But the speech proposing the Bill, made by its sponsor Kim Leadbeater, fell far short. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leadbeater did not try to make a moral case for her proposals. She did not make an argument for its processes and safeguards. Nor did she address head-on the various problems identified by those who had criticised the details. Instead, she gave a series of accounts of terrible human suffering, which however moving did not alone make the case for the profound legal and systemic change she proposes. Some MPs objected to language used to describe the Bill that was undoubtedly accurate. The use of the word suicide was dismissed as offensive by Cat Eccles, even though the Bill seeks to amend the Suicide Act 1961, and narrow the legal definition of encouraging or assisting suicide or attempted suicide. Some expressed outrage when Danny Kruger, responding to Leadbeaters speech, described what specialist medics do in Canada as killing patients. But this of course is indeed what they do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This refusal to use words that reflect the reality of what was being debated reveals an unwillingness to confront obvious truth. But the obfuscation also reveals a reluctance among some to take seriously their responsibility having supported the principle of the bill to found a safe and functioning legal framework. More than anybody, this applies to the Prime Minister himself. Before the general election, he promised Esther Rantzen, the former television celebrity and campaigner, that he would provide time for a debate and vote on assisted suicide. He did this not by providing government time but encouraging a Labour MP to bring forward a private members bill. There was no public consultation, and the vote was held on a proposition drafted by a private campaign group. Despite repeated pleas from MPs to grant debates on the proposal in government time, and despite time awarded for general debate on many other subjects, no time beyond the proceedings on Friday was granted to consider the legalisation of assisted suicide. Because it is a private members bill, Commons rules mean its committee for the next stage will be picked entirely by Kim Leadbeater. No doubt Keir Starmer would say conscience issues such as this are necessarily free votes, but free votes do not need to be held in this way. The House of Commons has now agreed in principle to legalise assisted suicide. As Prime Minister, Starmer has a responsibility to make sure that a new law as significant as this is implemented appropriately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He should tell Leadbeater to withdraw her bill and launch a government consultation to make sure that if this is to be done at all, it is to be done as safely as possible. That he will not do so is an abdication of leadership, but it is far from an isolated example. Just last week in Prime Ministers Questions, a Labour MP asked Starmer to prohibit the desecration of all religious texts and the prophets of the Abrahamic religions. The PM should have made clear that blasphemy laws are inimical to life in a free society, and he could never support them. Starmer could have pointed out that referring to Jesus as a prophet and not the Son of God might be considered blasphemous by Christians, which demonstrates the absurdity of blasphemy laws in societies like ours. He could have noted that the MP had excluded non-Abrahamic religions, giving free rein to those who dismiss others as apostates and idol worshippers. Instead he chose to condemn desecration and vowed to tackle Islamophobia in all its forms. In doing so, Starmer endorsed the logic of blasphemy laws, for those who campaign against Islamophobia do not seek to protect individuals from harm since the law already does that but defend Islam and Islamism from criticism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This failure to lead, and preference to instead skirt the issue entirely, continues through other political problems. This week Starmer seeks to relaunch his struggling government, but the reason for the permacrisis he faces is his own failure to lead and seek an honest mandate before the election. He seeks to defend his policies by challenging critics to name which of his spending rises they would cut. But less than five months ago, he said such spending rises were unnecessary. Of course, the problem lies not only with Labour. Last weeks statistics showed net migration to Britain had been even higher than thought, peaking at 906,000 in 2023. This, after my party promised in our 2019 manifesto that overall numbers will come down. Nobody made the case for immigration of this kind, and nobody wanted it. The Conservatives will not be trusted with power again until we have shown the country we get it, and have disowned the policies that caused this catastrophe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Part of the problem may be old-fashioned cynicism, but the intellectual climate matters too. The decline of Christianity has played its part. So too has the fragmentation of the media. But the fashion for critical theories imported from American universities, and the obsession with supposedly oppressive discourse, means objectivity is rejected as impossible and false. Instead, validity is said to come only from those with lived experience, usually defined by the possession of the appropriate protected characteristics. Problems like cancel culture are closely related, and so is the political culture we now endure. Where leaders once sought to persuade and lead, now the norm is to dissemble and obfuscate. With the size of the problems we face, our politics and its intellectual influences have never looked so small. It simply has to change. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. (NEXSTAR) The White House held an event Sunday to commemorate World AIDS Day with survivors, their families, and advocates. First Lady Jill Biden spoke first, reaching out to a fellowship of people who have lost sons or daughters. Though we are strangers, we know untellable truths about one another, Dr. Biden said. That we will spend the rest of our lives longing for a face thats gone forever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In President Bidens remarks, he thanked medical professionals for all of their work fighting against AIDS, including direct recognition of former White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci, and retiring HRSA Associate Administrator Dr. Laura Cheever. He also expressed appreciation for the families of AIDS victims, as well as for survivors of the disease. I know the fight to end this terrible epidemic is hard, President Biden said, but I look around today at all of you survivors, families, heroes, who have never given up and I know its a fight were gonna win. The historic AIDS Memorial Quilt was also on display at the event. A section of the quilt was previously displayed at The White House during President Barack Obamas administration in 2012. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This event comes as AIDS research is pushing further to try and make the disease a thing of the past. In a report issued to mark World AIDS Day on Sunday, UNAIDS said that the number of AIDS deaths last year an estimated 630,000 was at its lowest since peaking in 2004, suggesting the world is now at a historic crossroads and has a chance to end the epidemic. World AIDS Day was first held in 1988, and aims to show strength and solidarity against HIV stigma and to remember lives lost. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha expressed concern as he pointed out that many terrorists who were jailed when Sheikh Hasina was Prime Minister in Bangladesh are free and Tripura shares its boundaries with the country. Speaking to ANI, CM Saha also criticised the current government in Bangladesh and said that the situation there is not good as he stressed that "nothing should be forced on anyone." "The situation in Bangladesh is not good. How is the government functioning there? The news that we're receiving, seeing on social media these days regarding the violence against the minorities is not right at all. Atrocities are being committed against minorities in Bangladesh. Nothing should be forced on anyone," CM Saha said. "Then the terrorists who were jailed during the Sheikh Hasina government are free now. Where are they now? We are concerned regarding their whereabouts. Especially when Tripura shares its borders with Bangladesh it's a concerning matter. They have to check where these terrorists are now and what their activity is. This is not how it should be, fundamentalists doesn't mean that you will do whatever you feel like. I want to say that the current government there has to take care of the minorities," he added. The Chief Minister asserted that the Indian government is monitoring the situation. "Indian government is monitoring the situation. Ultimately Bangladesh's existence without India is not possible. So they also have to think about this. How their GDP spiked up earlier and how its coming down. This isn't how a country should be run, right?," he said.The situation in Bangladesh has been marked by increasing violence against minority communities, with temples, being destroyed after the arrest of a former priest Chinmoy Krishna Das. The international community has expressed concern over the situation, with India's Ministry of External Affairs stating that it is "concerned" about the safety and security of Hindus and other minority groups in Bangladesh. Speaking on the alleged attack on a Kolkata-bound bus going from Tripura, the Chief Minister said, "As per the information I received on the matter, when the bus was going from Tripura that way and an auto which came on the way collided. Then it was settled later and the auto driver was given whatever monetary benefit was required. Then there was no issue and they reached Dhaka as far as the information I have." (ANI) CENTERVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) The Duck River is one of Tennessees most valued treasures. Besides its use for recreation, it is considered to be one of the most biologically diverse rivers in North America. Governor Bill Lee signed an executive order this month to preserve the Duck River and promote water resource management statewide. RELATED: Were all excited: Conservancy organization celebrates executive order to protect Duck River Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Duck River becomes more of a gravel bed than a river in places like Hickman County during the dry summer months and through the states recent drought conditions. That appearance has a lot of people concerned about the future of this river. Douglas Jones is president of The Duck River Conservancy and told Jones that the river is at a tipping point. We formed this new group, The Duck River Conservancy, in light of the fact that Columbia Power now is trying to take an additional twelve million gallons of water out of the Duck and its in crisis mode, Jones said. The little river is at a tipping point now. Columbia Power and Water Systems President Jonathan Hardin defended their water withdrawals as responsible, explaining that the company is overseen by both the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. That scrutiny, and being transparent in the process along the way, helps ensure that withdrawals are responsible, meaningful, and that were protective of the precious ecology of the Duck River Watershed, Hardin added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gary Baker, a concerned Hickman County property owner, said hes in favor of development, but also values environmental conservation. The question that keeps getting asked is, Is this about saving the Duck River, i.e. environmental conservancy, or is this about development?' Baker said. Take your pick. Which is it? Wrong question. Because we can easily easily have both. Lees executive order, which mandates the development of comprehensive watershed management recommendations, has made Jones and the rest of the Duck River Conservancy happy. TV host, fisherman details great fishing on the Duck River Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lees stepping forward and taking this leadership role with his executive order straightens all of that out and gives us a good future, Jones exclaimed. It turns TDEC loose so that TDEC, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, can do their job. TDEC does an excellent job and they have excellent people. Now, they can go to work protecting the Duck River. One possible solution is to construct a pipeline from the Tennessee River to the Duck River Valley, supplying an almost infinite supply of water for residents and businesses in the area, instead of taking it out of the smaller Duck River. A clause in Governor Lees Executive Order directs TDEC to evaluate large-scale engineering projects, making a pipeline a possibility. WKRN News 2 will keep you informed on future developments. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Protests on the evening of 1 December have continued outside the Georgian Parliaments building in Tbilisi and next to the countrys public broadcasters building. The police have used water cannons, while protesters have thrown stones and fireworks at law enforcement. Source: Echo Kavkaza (Echo of the Caucasus), a Georgian service of Radio Liberty Details: Starting at 17:00, a demonstration took place outside the Georgian public broadcaster building. Participants demanded, among other things, the resignation of the broadcaster's management. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protesters called for airtime on the broadcaster to be granted to Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili and leaders of four opposition parties that refuse to recognise the results of the parliamentary elections. Protesters outside the Georgian public broadcaster building blocked Kostava Avenue. Later, the Georgian presidents press service announced that Zourabichvili would give an interview to the public broadcaster on Tuesday or Wednesday. Vazha Siradze, Head of the Patrol Police Department at Georgias Ministry of Internal Affairs, accused active demonstrators of engaging in acts of violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Near the Georgian Parliament building, protesters used fireworks and stones against law enforcement. Police responded with water cannons, just like they did on 30 November. Background: On Saturday, 30 November, protests resumed in Georgia against the Georgian Dream partys decision to abandon negotiations on the countrys accession to the European Union. Demonstrations are taking place at several locations in Tbilisi, including outside the Georgian Parliament and near the Georgian Public Broadcaster. In addition to Tbilisi, protests are occurring in the cities of Batumi, Zugdidi, Kutaisi, and Telavi, with additional demonstrations planned in Kvareli and Gurjaani. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has stated she will not leave her post after her term ends and announced her intention to "lead political processes" in the country. On the evening of 30 November, clashes occurred between demonstrators and police in the city of Tbilisi. Local media reported that protesters targeted special forces with firecrackers, while police responded with water cannons. Support UP or become our patron! The News Massive protests erupted in Georgia over the governments decision to suspend the countrys bid to join the European Union. Authorities clamped down hard on the demonstrations, prompting condemnation from the US: Police fired tear gas and used water cannons, and more than 40 people were injured on Saturday, officials said. The unrest has sparked a crisis for Georgias ruling party, which has been criticized for seemingly steering the country away from Brussels and into Moscows orbit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Georgias prime minister accused the opposition of plotting to overthrow the government, while the countrys pro-EU president called for fresh elections. This resistance has really gone beyond previous public demonstrations, one expert told Politico. Mass protests have resumed in Georgia against the country's departure from the European path. The government is using force to disperse the protesters. Source: Georgian service of Radio Svoboda (Radio Liberty) Details: Opponents of the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party and the current government gathered on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi in front of the parliament building on the evening of 30 November. People oppose the decision of the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party to abandon negotiations on Georgia's accession to the EU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The protesters blocked the roadway of the central avenue of the Georgian capital. : Photo: Ekho Kavkaza (Echo of Caucasus) The protesters burned an effigy of the party's founder, Bidzina Ivanishvili, in order to protest. In response, the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs announced police forces would be put on alert. Later in the night, the Georgian Interior Ministry stated that the protest "went beyond the law on meetings and demonstrations". Meanwhile, clashes broke out between demonstrators and police on Zubalashvili Brothers Street. The local media reported that the protesters fired firecrackers at the special forces, and the police responded with water cannons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At around 23:00, the protesters began to erect barricades on Rustaveli Avenue. The special forces used water cannons and tear gas against them. Some of the demonstrators moved to the 9 April park. The protesters erect barricades, while the police throw tear gas at them. In addition to Tbilisi, large-scale protests are taking place in Batumi, Zugdidi, Kutaisi, Telavi, Gurjaani and other cities in Georgia. As reported by Ekho Kavkaza (Echo of Caucasus), people gathered in Batumi to protest both near the government building and the office of the Ajara TV channel. The Georgian authorities responded by deploying a lot of police officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The protesters express their disagreement with the decision of the Georgian Dream party and demonstrate solidarity with the protesters arrested the day before. Background: On 30 November, the United States suspended its strategic partnership with Georgia following the Georgian Dream's decision to suspend the country's EU accession process. Earlier, President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili, who is in opposition to the government and parliament, said she would not resign after her term of office and announced her intention to "lead the political processes" in the country. She justified her decision by arguing that there is currently "no legitimate parliament" in Georgia that could elect her successor. On Thursday, 28 November, Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the ruling Georgian Dream party confirmed that Tbilisi would not be negotiating EU membership "until the end of 2028". Several Georgian ministries have already criticised this decision. President Salome Zourabichvili later stated that the ruling party had declared war on its own people. On the evening of Thursday, a large demonstration took place under the walls of the parliament in Tbilisi and there were clashes with the police. Protesters were brutally dispersed with water cannons and tear gas. The security forces used physical violence against people, including journalists and their equipment. The protest continued on Friday evening, and police again resorted to violence against the protesters. On Saturday, protests resumed in Georgia against the decision of the Georgian Dream party to abandon negotiations on joining the European Union. The protests are taking place at several locations in Tbilisi, including near the Georgian parliament and the building of the Georgian First Channel. Support UP or become our patron! The search for Amelia Earhart's missing airplane continues nearly a century after her death. Back in January, South Carolina-based imaging company Deep Sea Vision shared an exciting update that its technology might have found the wreckage of Earhart's Lockheed Model 10 Electra plane. But after more investigation, it turns out it was nothing more than a rock formation coincidentally shaped like a plane. "Talk about the cruelest formation ever created by nature," Deep Sea Vision CEO Tony Romeo lamented to CNN. "Its almost like somebody did set those rocks out in this nice little pattern of her plane just to mess with somebody out there looking for her." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earhart's plane is believed to have gone down near Howland Island, a remote spit of land in the Pacific Ocean roughly halfway between Hawaii and Australia, in July 1937. A monument on the uninhabited island commemorates the area as the final resting place of Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan. Deep Sea Vision expressed their disappointment in an Instagram post showing what the team believed was the plane wreck. "After 11 months the waiting has finally ended and unfortunately our target was not Amelia's Electra 10E (just a natural rock formation)," the company wrote. "As we speak DSV continues to search, now clearing almost 7,700 square miles. The plot thickens with still no evidence of her disappearance ever found." It was a sad setback, to be sure, but the company isn't giving up yet. In fact, they've already started searching some new areas for any evidence of Earhart's presence. "I hope this inspires other people to maybe go look for her or at least learn about her and her story," Romeo said. I want to see the plane found. Shes out there. She didnt just disappear into thin air." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thankfully, Deep Sea Vision is able to laugh about their discovery that ended up being nothing. Shortly after declaring the latest find to be a dud, the company shared that it was heading to American Samoa for a sea floor mineral project; while unrelated to the Earhart search, they began selling T-shirts poking fun at the failure with an image of the plane-shaped rock formation and the promise "We find rocks." Two members of Congress offered very different views Sunday morning of whether the Justice Department and FBI have been biased against Republicans in recent years. In consecutive appearances on CNN's "State of the Union," Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) discussed President-elect Donald Trump's choice of Kash Patel to lead the FBI. The agency is now led by Chris Wray, a previous Trump appointee whose term has yet to expire, but who will presumably be fired if he doesn't resign. "Obviously, in recent years, we have seen the FBI and the Department of Justice weaponize in a way that it has become completely political," Lawler said in his interview, also discussing Trump's pick of Pam Bondi to be attorney general. "That's not good for the American people. It's not good for our system of justice. The lack of confidence that Americans have in the Department of Justice and the FBI is terrible." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though Trump talked about "retribution" during the 2024 campaign, Lawler said he believed "revenge" was not the order of the day. "I don't think the American people are interested in a revenge tour," he told host Kasie Hunt. "But, obviously, if people did wrong in their official capacities, then that's something they should be concerned about. But if they didn't do anything wrong, if they upheld the law, then there shouldn't be a problem." Hunt pointed out to Lawler that the FBI director he was so critical of had been appointed by Trump himself. She also asked him if Patel, who was highly critical of what he repeatedly blasted as "deep state" corruption, was not himself very "partisan." "Look, I'm not concerned about partisanship here. I think we have seen a DOJ and an FBI that have been weaponized," Lawler responded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Appearing afterward, Raskin was very skeptical of Lawler's assertion that the Justice Department and FBI during the Biden administration had targeted Trump, given the recent prosecutions of some prominent Democrats. "I haven't seen what the proof is that the FBI has been weaponized against a political party or the Department of Justice. Of course, this Department of Justice has brought charges against a Democratic U.S. senator in New Jersey, a Democratic congressman in Texas," Raskin said, referencing former Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas). "And so some people just seem to think that it should go only in one direction, and, if it doesn't, then somehow it's politicized." Referencing a recent award-winning biography of longtime FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover by Beverly Gage, Raskin said that undoubtedly at some point the FBI was weaponized against the likes of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others. But he seemed dubious of that still being true now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I mean, the deep state, nobody's ever defined it. Apparently, it just means anybody who doesn't do the will of Donald Trump," Raskin told Hunt. Raskin declined to say whether President Joe Biden should pardon his son Hunter Biden, who was prosecuted during his father's presidency. "I mean, I haven't even remotely looked at it. I mean, I know, basically, what the alleged crimes were," Raskin said. When Timothy Ash travelled around the Soviet Union in the late 1980s, he met young veterans who had returned from the war in Afghanistan. They were psychologically broken and drunk. They were pretty f----- up, a lot of them, says Ash, now associate fellow at Chatham Houses Russia and Eurasia programme. One night in Volgograd, in southern Russia, Ash met a man in his mid-20s who had fought in Afghanistan. He got absolutely blasted, drunk as hell. Something was not right with the kid. He ended up getting attacked by a group of youths because hed gotten so drunk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He got beaten to pulp. I had to drag him out. Russia has a long history with alcoholism. But after the fall of the Soviet Union, drinking was in decline. Now, following Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, official figures show alcohol addiction is surging again for the first time in a decade. Vodka sales this year surged to a record high and policymakers are scrambling to halt a rise in alcohol-related deaths. Many Russian soldiers may turn to alcohol to cope with trauma - AFP via Getty Georgy Filimonov, the firebrand governor of Vologda, a region north of Moscow, has just passed laws restricting alcohol sales to two hours a day on weekdays, which will come into effect in March, after 7,500 people in his region died because of drinking in the last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis, cardiomyopathy, stabbings, shootings, drunk driving, Filimonov told Russian newspaper Kommersant in October. This year, according to official statistics alone, the incidence of alcoholism has increased by 30pc. 71pc of deaths among our able-bodied citizens are related to alcohol. Filimonov will not say why. Something is going wrong, says Ash. You had a period where you saw declining alcoholism in Russia. Now we are going the other way. What has changed is the war. Broadly speaking, the countrys economy is holding up. High demand from the army means Russia is close to full employment and although much trade has been sanctioned, the Kremlin has been able to substitute most goods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But underneath all of this, it is becoming increasingly clear that the fabric of Russian society is falling apart. As in the 1980s, Russian soldiers are returning from the frontline wounded and traumatised. Thousands more are dying, leaving grieving families at home. But what is happening today is on a completely different scale. Around 15,000 Soviet soldiers died in Afghanistan. The Russian death toll in Ukraine is at least eight times that already. Between Feb 24 2022 and Nov 19 this year, there have been at least 120,000 Russian military deaths in the war in Ukraine, according to analysis of probate records by Mediazona, a site that works in collaboration with BBCs Russian service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As many as 728,000 more have been injured, according to analysis by The Economist, based on leaked documents from Americas defence department. That means around 2pc of all Russian men aged between 20 and 50 have been killed or severely wounded. Russia will have to come to terms with this. A whole generation of youth has been lost in Ukraine, says Ash. These men are not spread equally across the country. Mobilisation has been heavily weighted to rural areas in the south and east. These are the places where alcohol consumption has been rising fastest, according to an analysis by Olha Zadorozhna, assistant professor of economics at Kozminski University. The steepest jumps of all of Russias 86 regions were in Ingushetia and Karachay-Cherkessia. In these two regions on Russias southern border with Europe, the consumption of vodka and brandy surged by 25pc in 2022, according to Zadorozhnas analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rising alcohol consumption is also heavily concentrated in rural areas that have particularly low incomes, she says. Nationally, vodka sales hit their highest level since records began in the first 10 months of 2024, according to alcohol regulator Rosalkogoltobakkontrol (RATK). Total alcohol sales rose to a seven-year high of 1.84bn litres. The new surge in drinking is taking a clear toll on public health. Between 2010 and 2021, the number of patients with a first-time diagnosis of alcohol dependence plunged from 153,900 to 53,300, according to data from official statistics agency Rosstat, published in Kommersant. But in 2022, this trend went into reverse, with the figure rising to 54,200. Russian policymakers are moving to restrict the sale of alcohol to just two hours per workday - Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg Filimonovs regional campaign has sparked weeks of intense discussion across Russian media and Telegram channels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the end of October, State Duma deputy Sultan Khamzaev proposed rolling out similar restrictions across the country. I am in favour of limiting the sale of alcohol. First to five hours a day, then to two, he told Russian news outlets. At face value, Filimonovs campaign against heavy drinking seems in stark contrast to the Russian governments typical approach. Historically, during the USSR, Russia used alcohol to control the population, says Zadorozhna. In the 1960s, actually people spent twice as much on alcohol as on meat. When you drink a lot, your memory deteriorates, it affects your long-term planning. People just dont think about the future that much. When President Vladimir Putin met with mothers of deceased soldiers in 2022, he told them it was better that their sons died fighting in Ukraine than if they had died from drinking at home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is kind of part of the strategy to make people go and fight, says Zadorozhna. She is sceptical of Filimonovs motives. Drinking is still everywhere in pop culture in Russia and it is cheap. A litre of vodka costs just 2.18. Banning alcohol sales during certain hours does not stop people from buying alcohol, but it will make them feel more ashamed about it, says Zadorozhna. There is a psychological effect, people feel guilty for consuming alcohol. People who have these feelings of discontent and guilt may be easily manipulated. Definitely alcohol is a way to control the population. Filimonov insists he has a different reason one that also tells a story about the toll of the war in a different way. He wants to tackle Russias shrinking population. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russias birth rate hit a 25-year low in the first six months of this year a statistic that the Kremlins press secretary said was catastrophic for the future of the nation. It is a demographic crisis that will only get worse as the war casualties continue to mount. Curbing alcohol sales will not only mean fewer deaths but more births, Filimonov argues. He has pointed to Chechnya, where alcohol sales are restricted and the birth rate is the highest in Russia. He told Kommersant that his measures mean the birth rate in Vologda will rise by 1.5 to 2 times in five years. Whatever policymakers motives for restricting alcohol sales, they are not addressing the root causes: the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is going to be a scar on Russian society for an awfully long time, says Ash. And theyre unlikely to win an actual decisive victory. If you suffer war losses but youve won the war, it feels a bit different. [If you lose] Its like Vietnam or Iraq war veterans. People ask, Why the hell did we do that? Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin approved budget plans, raising 2025 military spending to record levels as Moscow seeks to prevail in the war in Ukraine. Around 32.5% of the budget posted on a government website Sunday has been allocated for national defense, amounting to 13.5 trillion rubles (over $145 billion), up from a reported 28.3% this year. Lawmakers in both houses of the Russian parliament, the State Duma and Federation Council, had already approved the plans in the past 10 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine since February 2022 is Europes biggest conflict since World War II and has drained the resources of both sides. Kyiv has been getting billions of dollars in help from its Western allies, but Russia's forces are bigger and better equipped, and in recent months the Russian army has gradually been pushing Ukrainian troops backward in eastern areas. New EU leaders in Kyiv pledge continued support for Ukraine New European Council President Antonio Costa and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas arrived in Kyiv on Sunday, marking their first day in office with a strong message of support for Ukraine. Their visit comes as doubts are deepening over what Kyiv can expect from a new U.S. administration led by Donald Trump. From day one of the war, the EU has stood by the side of Ukraine, Costa posted on X, together with a photo of himself, Kallas and EU enlargement chief Marta Kos. From day one of our mandate, we are reaffirming our unwavering support to the Ukrainian people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking at a news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Costa reiterated the EU's recent commitment to help Ukraine continue through the war, including 4.2 billion ($4.4 billion) to support Ukraines budget and 1.5 billion ($1.6 billion) of assistance every month from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets. Asked whether the EU would step up funding if Trump withdrew support, Costa said the block would stand for Ukraine as long as necessary. Zelenskyy said that any future ceasefire negotiations with Russia would need to include representatives from the EU and NATO, because Ukraine seem its future security in both alliances. However, he said he failed to see what any such negotiations would focus on, adding that Ukraine would never legally recognize any occupation of our lands by the Russian Federation. He urged the outgoing Biden administration to use the remaining two months in office to exert influence over those few European skeptics about our future. I see nothing, I personally see no risks, and most NATO countries see no risks from the recommendation regarding the positive future of Ukraines membership in NATO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskyy said Friday that an offer of NATO membership to territory under Kyivs control would end the hot stage of the war. 3 killed in Ukraine and a child dies in a drone attack in Russia On the ground in Ukraine, three people died in the southern city of Kherson when a Russian drone struck a minibus on Sunday morning, regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said. Seven others were wounded in the attack. Meanwhile, the number of wounded in Saturday's missile strike in Dnipro in central Ukraine rose to 24, with seven in serious condition, Dnipropetrovsk Gov. Serhiy Lysak said. Four people were killed in the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moscow sent 78 drones into Ukraine overnight into Sunday, Ukrainian officials said. According to Ukraines air force, 32 drones were destroyed and a further 45 drones were lost, likely having been electronically jammed. In Russia, a child was killed in a Ukrainian drone attack in the Bryansk region bordering Ukraine, according to regional Gov. Alexander Bogomaz. Russias Defense Ministry said that 29 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight into Sunday in four regions of western Russia: 20 over the Bryansk region, seven over the Kaluga region, and one each over the Smolensk and Kursk regions. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine A research team at the University of Genova has developed the spin quantum battery, an energy storage system that uses the spin degrees of freedom of particles. The battery utilizes the spin properties of particles for energy storage and release, with a distinctive charging method that eliminates the need for an external field. Quantum many-body theory and non-equilibrium physics are longstanding research areas within the quantum condensed matter theory group led by Maura Sassetti at the University of Genova, according to senior author Dario Ferraro. Researchers merge interests to develop spin quantum battery Ferraro further explained that his work focuses on quantum batteriesminiaturized devices designed to store energy using quantum mechanical principles. He saw an opportunity to advance this research through Riccardo Grazis masters thesis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Together with colleagues at the University of Genova, they extended their investigation of spin quantum batteries to a regime involving a significantly larger number of elements. This advancement overcame limitations previously faced with conventional approaches to designing such batteries. The Italian scientist further explained that the quantum battery works by intercalating two collections of -spins, which are the simplest possible quantum systems. By adjusting the interaction between the elements of the two chains, such as shifting one relative to the other, energy can be trapped in the quantum battery in a stable manner. The developed protocol offers several advantages over existing spin quantum battery designs, particularly by enabling the battery to charge without relying on an external field. Furthermore, the main results of their work include the development of an alternative charging protocol for spin quantum batteries, which relies on time-dependent modulation of one of the system's internal parameters, as well as the ability to study this protocol in a system with a very large number of elements. Quantum battery research could lead to neutral atom-based devices Ferraro and his colleagues suggest this development could open new possibilities in quantum battery research, including the potential to use systems like neutral atoms, which are important in the development of large-scale quantum computers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The team tested the new spin quantum battery design and charging protocol in a series of initial experiments. The results were highly promising, demonstrating the robustness of the proposed charging method, which does not require precise accuracy to manipulate the battery in real-time. This study could lead to the development of more efficient and stable solid-state quantum batteries. Building on their previous work, the team are now exploring how factors like temperature and long-range interactions affect the charging process of various quantum batteries, including the Ising model. As Ferrero pointed out, their main goal is to create a general framework that can assess the suitability of different systems for use as quantum batteries. "We are currently exploring how factors like temperature and long-range interactions affect the charging process of a large class of quantum batteries, which includes the Ising model already briefly discussed at the end of our paper. the scientist noted. WASHINGTON (AP) Republicans will control the White House and both houses of Congress come January. But President-elect Donald Trump's intent to nominate loyalists to fill key Cabinet posts has set up a possible confrontation with the Senate, which has the constitutional responsibility for advice and consent on presidential nominees. Trump and his Republican allies are talking about going around the Senate and using temporary recess appointments, which last no more than two years. Invoking that authority could result in a fight that lands at the Supreme Court. Trump might also have to claim another, never-before-used power to force the Senate into a recess, if it won't agree to one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supreme Court has decided only one recess appointment case In its 234 years, the Supreme Court has decided only one case involving recess appointments. In 2014, the justices unanimously ruled that Democratic President Barack Obama's recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board were illegal. But they disagreed sharply over the reach of the decision. Five justices backed a limited ruling that held the Senate wasn't actually in recess when Obama acted and, in any event, a break had to be at least 10 days before the president could act on his own. Justice Antonin Scalia, writing for the other four justices, would have held that the only recess recognized by the Constitution occurs between the annual sessions of Congress, not breaks taken during a session. That would have ruled out the appointments Trump may be considering after the new Congress begins in January and he is sworn into office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conservatives' previous rulings may offer clues Just two justices, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, remain from the five-justice bloc that took the view that preserved the president's power to make recess appointments during a session of Congress. Three others, John Roberts, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, joined the Scalia opinion that would have made it virtually impossible for any future president to make recess appointments. The rest of the court has become more conservative since then, a result of Trump's three high court appointments in his first term. Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett have no record on this issue, which rarely arises in the courts. Nor does Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, a 2022 appointee of Democratic President Joe Biden. There is tension between respect for precedent and original meaning Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A more conservative Supreme Court might come out differently today, though its by no means certain. Once the court decides a case, the ruling is regarded as precedent that is not lightly discarded. So even some justices who initially dissent from a ruling will go along in later cases on a similar topic. Scalia, an icon of the right, applied his originalist approach to the Constitution to conclude that there was little doubt what the framers were trying to do. The whole point of the constitutional provision on recess appointments, adopted in 1787 in the era of horse and buggy, was that the Senate could not quickly be summoned to fill critical vacancies, he wrote. Reading a summary of his opinion aloud in the courtroom on June 26, 2014, Scalia said the power to make recess appointments is an anachronism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate always can be convened on short notice to consider a presidents nominations, he said. The only remaining practical use for the recess appointment power is the ignoble one of enabling presidents to circumvent the Senates role in the appointment process, which is precisely what happened here, Scalia said. How could the issue return to the high court? It's not likely to happen quickly. Only someone who has been affected by an action taken by an official who was given a recess appointment would have the legal right, or standing, to sue. In the NLRB case, Obama made his recess appointments in January 2012. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The board then ruled against Noel Canning, a soft drink bottling company in Yakima, Washington, in a dispute over contract negotiations with a local Teamsters union. The company sued, claiming that the NLRB decision against it was not valid because the board members were not properly appointed and that the board did not have enough members to do business without the improperly appointed officials. The Supreme Court's ultimate decision came nearly 2 1/2 years later. Who's who among recess appointments Among the most prominent people who were first given recess appointments and later confirmed by the Senate are Chief Justice Earl Warren, Justice William Brennan and Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan. Among those who left office after failing to win a Senate vote is John Bolton, who was given a recess appointment as U.N. ambassador under Republican President George W. Bush. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump could try to force a congressional recess A separate novel legal issue could arise if Trump were to invoke a constitutional provision that his allies suggested would allow him to force the Senate to adjourn, even if doesn't want to, and enable him to make recess appointments. Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution includes a clause about congressional adjournments that has never been invoked. Trump's allies read it as giving the chief executive the power step in when the House and Senate cant agree on when to adjourn. The provision reads that in case of disagreement between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper. But some scholars, including conservative ones, argue that the House has no power to force the Senate to adjourn, and vice versa. Congressional adjournments are spelled out in Article I, which requires one chamber to consent when the other wants to take a break of more than three days. Under this view, the president could intervene only when one house objects to the other's adjournment plan. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday flagged off a youth-focused awareness drive on the occasion of World AIDS Day. Speaking at the event, the Chief Minister emphasized the critical need for awareness in combating HIV/AIDS, saying, "Such initiatives encourage youth engagement and pave the way toward a healthier and AIDS-free Himachal Pradesh." On of the main events, was an awareness race organized as part of the awareness campaign, starting from the court premises, and culminating at Peterhoff. The event witnessed active participation from boys, girls, and students from across the region. Sukhu remarked on the enthusiasm of the youth, reiterating, "Our goal is to eliminate the remaining cases and make Himachal Pradesh AIDS-free. Programs like these enhance social participation and bring communities together." The race is part of a series of awareness activities planned throughout the day, aiming to educate families and local communities about AIDS prevention and management. Sukhu also underscored the importance of such campaigns in strengthening social bonds and fostering a collective resolve to address pressing health challenges. On a different note, CM Sukhu raised concerns over what he termed the central government's "discriminatory behaviour" towards non-BJP-ruled states, particularly in matters of disaster relief and tourism development. Referring to the post-disaster needs assessment following the devastating natural calamities in Himachal Pradesh, the Chief Minister alleged that the state has been unfairly sidelined. "Despite submitting three cases under the Tourism projects and personally discussing the matter with Union Minister Gajendra Singh, Himachal Pradesh has not received the funds it is entitled to," Sukhu stated. "This is not just a demand but our right. Himachal Pradesh is a small state, and such neglect severely hampers our recovery efforts," Sukhu added, emphasizing his determination to continue lobbying central ministers for the state's rightful share. Reflecting on his recent visit to Delhi for the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, Sukhu shared that he had met Union Minister Piyush Goyal to advocate for Himachal Pradesh. "I requested that Himachal Pradesh be given benefits similar to those extended to Jammu and Kashmir. Goyal assured me that he would look into the matter," Sukhu revealed. The Himachal Pradesh government will commemorate its two-year tenure with a program in Bilaspur on December 11. However, Sukhu clarified that this event is not a celebration but a reflection of the government's achievements. "This is not a celebration but an occasion to showcase the systemic changes and progress we have achieved in two years. From social security measures to tender reforms and strides towards economic self-reliance, we have focused on building a self-sufficient Himachal," he explained. Ministers, MLAs, Congress leaders, and AICC in-charge Rajiv Shukla will attend the event, where the government will highlight its key initiatives and outline future goals. (ANI) Nov. 30BEMIDJI With the support of a community panel review, the Region 2 Arts Council recently awarded $198,000 in Arts and Cultural Heritage Funds to 12 organizations within its five-county region. According to a release, each awarded organization will offer two or more activities that benefit the people of Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods and/or Mahnomen Counties. "The funded arts activities must either be designed to remove barriers that audiences may have to access arts activities; develop knowledge, skills and understanding of the arts for all ages; represent the diverse ethnic and cultural arts traditions in our state; or specifically be designed to build bridges between Minnesotans through arts and culture," the release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The following organizations received grants: * Lake of the Woods Art Guild in Baudette was awarded $18,000 in funds to provide a variety of arts activities including loom beading, beaded ornament making, basket making, greyscale drawing with colored pencils, mixed media, acrylic and watercolor painting workshops. * The Northern Light Opera Company in Park Rapids was awarded $18,000 in funds to provide arts activities including a large-scale summer musical, NLOKids Theater Camp, the NLOC Workbench New Play Workshop and the NLOC Workbench Filmmakers Intensive. * The Clear Waters Life Center, with locations in Clearbrook and Gonvick, was awarded $18,000 to offer community arts programming including youth theater arts and piano activities, art therapy for residents of their 12-month Men's Recovery Program and a workshop creating arts with concrete and welding techniques. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * The Bemidji Symphony Orchestra in Bemidji was awarded $18,000 in funds to present three different styles of "pops concert," featuring music of the holiday season, Disney movie music and an Elvis Presley-inspired concert featuring a guest artist. * The Bagley Area Arts Collaborative in Bagley was awarded $18,000 in funds to provide arts workshops and activities in alcohol inks, batik, oil painting, pottery, watercolor, colored pencil and acrylic, plein air, Scandinavian snowflakes and Yupo paper art. * Bemidji Community Theater in Bemidji was awarded $18,000 to pay stipends to vendors and contractors including directors, stage managers, accompanists, lighting and sound design, set construction, costuming, etc. for six different productions, as well as cover partial costs for the cast of Disney's "The Little Mermaid Jr." to travel to the Twin Cities as part of a cultural enrichment activity. * The Nemeth Art Center in Park Rapids was awarded $18,000 in funds to provide resources including materials, stipends, display and promotions for a series of locally created exhibitions in May, a youth art show, community art workshops and summer exhibitions by locally-tied and visiting artists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * The Mask and Rose Women's Theater Collective in Puposky was awarded $18,000 in funds to produce the Tony Award winning musical "Hadestown," collaborate with theater group Mixed Precipitation to present a walking picnic operetta, show a second season of modern dance films and organize and host the Sister Song music festival. * The Armory Arts and Events Center in Park Rapids was awarded $18,000 in funds to provide arts activities including live concerts and art workshops featuring local artists. * Northern Artist Association in Bemidji was awarded $15,026 to offer free art classes in a variety of genres to young people and adults including plein air workshops featuring intermediate techniques for artists to gain advanced skills. * The Beltrami County Historical Society in Bemidji was awarded $12,075 in funds to provide a series of workshops and artist-in-residence programs led by women artists for the local community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Headwaters Music and Arts in Bemidji was awarded $8,899 to provide a series of introductory art, music and creative writing experiences for adults. Region 2 Arts Council Season/Series Arts Support Grants are made possible by the voters of Minnesota thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. PLATTSBURGH Weather forecasts call for heavy snowfall in the western part of the North Country, but local officials are hoping people are ready just in case it heads toward the Champlain Valley. The first big snowfall is always a bit of a learning curve, Clinton County Emergency Services Director Eric Day said Friday. People need to remember to leave a little earlier than usual when they are going somewhere, drive slower and watch out for ice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FOUR TO SIX FEET Weather forecasts were calling for four to six feet of snow accumulation possible with snowfall rates of two to four inches per hour in some portions of the western and southwestern parts of the state. More than 100 National Guard members were staged in Western New York prepared to help communities east of Lakes Erie and Ontario dig out if necessary. The heaviest snowfall was forecast to occur Friday evening through Saturday morning, particularly in the higher elevations in the Western New York and North Country Regions, with an additional period of heavy snow possible on Sunday, the state was predicting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As lake effect snow moves into parts of Western New York, Central New York and the North Country, we are monitoring the situation closely and mobilizing resources to respond, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said. Alongside our partners in local government, we are taking every step necessary to protect New Yorkers and keep our communities safe. Snow is forecast to fall steadily all weekend, including before, during and after the Buffalo Bills game on Sunday. Four to five feet of snow is anticipated along eastern Lake Ontario with a possibility for up to six feet in the Watertown area, the state said. Lake effect snow showers are expected to stay in the North Country Sunday, with Central New York remaining mostly dry until Sunday evening where the band is expected to move south and remain through Monday providing additional light accumulations of one to three inches through the Central New York region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state warned that, Hazardous to impossible travel conditions are expected on Friday through Monday due to snow covered roads and reduced visibilities. Wind gusts will likely cause blowing and drifting snow, and isolated power outages. Snow will accumulate rapidly in persistent snow bands, and visibility will be drastically reduced with near whiteout conditions. TEAMS READY State Department of Transportation forces were ready to go with 3,527 supervisors and operators available statewide. Statewide equipment numbers are as follows: 1,635 large plow trucks 339 large loaders 150 medium duty plows Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 51 tow plows 35 snow blowers 18 graders Day said he and assistant Kelly Donoghue attended the Clinton County Highway Superintendents Association meeting last week and area Highway Departments are prepared for winter. Everyones trucks are suited up with plows and wings and some like Schuyler Falls have already been out sanding, Day said. Day said area drivers should consider putting snow tires on their vehicles and have emergency stores on hand. Have your cars prepared. Snow brush, scraper, blankets, extra shoes and clothes and things like that, he said. In addition to those items, the state also recommends motorists have a shovel, flashlight and extra batteries, set of tire chains, battery booster cables, quick energy foods and brightly colored cloth to use as a distress flag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you have a cell phone or other communications device such as a two-way radio available for your use, keep the battery charged and keep it with you whenever traveling. If you should become stranded, you will be able to call for help, advising rescuers of your location. DEC WARNINGS The state Department of Environmental Conservation was also warning those who may consider outdoor activity in the region such as hiking, to take extra precautions. DEC Emergency Management staff, Environmental Conservation Police Officers, Forest Rangers and regional staff remain on alert and continue to monitor the developing situation and weather forecasts. Working with partner agencies, DEC is prepared to coordinate resource deployment of all available assets to targeted areas in preparation for potential impacts due to rain, snow and high winds, including swift water rescue teams and sawyers, a statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, unpredictable winter weather and storms in the Adirondacks, Catskills and other backcountry areas can create variable conditions. Visitors should be prepared with proper clothing and equipment for snow, ice and cold to ensure a safe winter experience, the state said. Snow depths range greatly throughout the Adirondacks, with the deepest snow at higher elevations in the High Peaks region and other mountains over 3,000 feet. Lower elevation trails have mixed conditions of snow, ice and slush, including many of the Catskill Mountains where the potential for icy trail conditions exist. The state also said that it is important for motorists on all roads to note that snowplows travel at speeds up to 35 mph, which in many cases is lower than the posted speed limit. Oftentimes on interstate highways, snowplows will operate side by side, to safely clear several lanes at one time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Motorists and pedestrians should also keep in mind that snowplow drivers have limited lines of sight, and the size and weight of snowplows can make it very difficult to maneuver and stop quickly. Snow blowing from behind the plow can severely reduce visibility or cause whiteout conditions. Motorists should not attempt to pass snowplows or follow too closely. The safest place for motorists to drive is well behind the snowplows where the roadway is clear and salted. Never attempt to pass a snowplow while its operating. Parts of western Clinton County in the higher elevations received about an inch or two of snow on Thursday, but the area was not expected to be hit as hard as the Watertown area could be. Day said winter is here and snow storms are part of it that people are used to. But hopefully not this weekend, he said. Tensions boiled over during Project Libertys Summit on the Future of the Internet at Georgetown Universitys Capitol campus in Washington, D.C. , recently, as U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat , confronted South Carolina Republican U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace over her anti-trans rhetoric following the ejection of trans rights activist Evan Greer from the event. Greer, director of Fight for the Future, interrupted the panel discussion to call out Maces inflammatory remarks and broader attacks on transgender rights. Holding an LGBTQ + Pride flag, Greer accused Mace of spreading dangerous lies. Weve had dozens of trans people die this year because of the lies youre spreading, Greer said, drawing applause from the audience before being escorted out by security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mace continued to make derogatory comments, referring to transgender identities as a mental illness, misgendering Greer and then spoke about Greer's genitalia. The crowd booed Mace's remarks. Khanna pushed back against Mace, advocating for the dignity and rights of transgender individuals. We just have a profound disagreement on this issue, he said, defending the need for fairness and inclusion. Mace responded by accusing Khanna of being anti-woman. The confrontation came at the end of a week when Mace introduced controversial measures in Congress targeting transgender people. One proposal aimed at barring Delaware Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, the first transgender member of Congress, from using womens restrooms in the U.S. Capitol has been widely condemned as an unprecedented attack on a Congressional colleague. Mace also introduced federal legislation to ban transgender people from using bathrooms aligned with their gender identity on federal property, including post offices and military bases. Critics, including LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and Democratic lawmakers, have decried these measures as politically motivated. New York U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warned that such actions create a culture of suspicion that endangers all women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think that Representative McBride deserves dignity and fairness, Khanna said to Mace. Khanna has been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. In a 2023 interview with The Advocate, he likened current attacks on the trans community to the discrimination faced by gay and lesbian Americans in the 1970s. The fundamental value of the Democratic Party is to stand up for those who are most vulnerable, Khanna said at the time, adding that silence in the face of hate allows harmful narratives to take root. However, Greer, who acknowledged Khannas push-back against Mace, later criticized Khanna for his support of the Kids Online Safety Act, legislation that advocates say could censor LGBTQ+ content online. If Rep. Khanna wants to be an ally to trans people, he can do more than say sohe can fight for policies that will protect us, Greer said in a statement to The Advocate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khanna responded to Greers criticism. I deeply respect Evan Greers activism and courageous advocacy for trans rights. During my exchange with Rep. Mace, I stood up for Rep. McBride and reaffirmed that everyone should be treated with respect," Khanna told The Advocate in an email. "I am open to dialogue about how we ensure the Kids Online Safety Act protects both LGBTQ rights and kids safety. After the incident, Greer also posted online about what happened to her. She said she was handled roughly by security while being escorted out. In her reflection post, she wrote, "Im just one trans femme punk rocker with a loud voice. I dont have all the answers. But I hope that by speaking up, I can move us toward calling the question." Maces actions are part of a larger Republican strategy to use trans rights as a wedge issue, particularly ahead of the incoming Trump administration. LGBTQ+ advocates argue that these attacks perpetuate harmful stereotypes while distracting from pressing issues like housing and healthcare. Earlier in the week, McBride dismissed Maces actions as political gamesmanship. Delawareans sent me here to make the American dream more affordable and accessible, McBride said. We should be focused on bringing down the cost of housing, healthcare, and child care, not manufacturing culture wars. Editor's note: This story was updated with remarks by Rep. Ro Khanna. Watch the confrontation at the Project Liberty conference below. At least seven people have been killed in new Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip early on Sunday, the Palestinian WAFA news agency reported. Several others sustained injuries in the airstrikes on the central and southern parts of the coastal strip, according to the report. Among the dead were two children who were struck in a "humanitarian zone" in the south of the Gaza Strip, it wrote. The Israeli military announced on Saturday that the air force had targeted a rocket launch site in an area declared a humanitarian zone. After the attack, rockets had been launched from the targeted site but these did not hit Israeli territory, it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli military said that it is taking action in the Gaza Strip against the Palestinian militant Hamas organization, and contends that Israeli forces are taking measures to minimize the risk to civilians, such as the use of precision weapons and aerial surveillance. Palestinians inspect the devastation in front of a building destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Nuseirat, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Saed Abu Nabhan/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa By Tim Reid WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (Reuters) - Several Republican U.S. senators said on Sunday they would back President-elect Donald Trump's choice of Kash Patel to head the FBI, an early show of support for a loyalist who has called for the bureau to be purged of those who oppose Trump's agenda. Patel, nominated by Trump on Saturday, also has advocated for a campaign of retribution against Trump's perceived enemies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patel, 44, could face a challenging confirmation process with the U.S. Senate. During Trump's first term, Patel, who advised both the director of national intelligence and the defense secretary, drew animosity from some more experienced national security officials, who saw him as volatile and too eager to please the then-president. While some Democrats on Sunday voiced concerns that the law enforcement agency would become politicized and a tool for Trump to pursue adversaries under Patel, several senior Republican senators praised Trump's pick. Republican U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty told NBC's "Meet the Press" that he had encouraged Trump to pick Patel. "There are serious problems at the FBI. The American public knows it. They expect to see sweeping change, and Kash Patel is just the type of person to do it," Hagerty said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican U.S. Senator Ted Cruz called Patel "a very strong nominee." Cruz told CBS' "Face the Nation" that Patel was a "real reformer" who would enter the FBI "to clean out the corrupted partisans" running the agency. Republicans will have a majority when the new U.S. Congress reconvenes in January. By nominating Patel, Trump is signaling that he is preparing to carry out his threat to oust current FBI Director Christopher Wray, whose 10-year term does not expire until 2027. Wray, a Republican appointed by Trump in 2017, has since drawn his ire, especially after an FBI raid in 2022 on Trump's Mar-a-Lago Florida estate to search for classified government documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Republican Senator Mike Rounds said he was not surprised Trump would want personnel "that he believes are very loyal." Rounds said he had no issues with Wray's performance as FBI director, however, calling him "a good man" on ABC's "This Week." Dick Durbin, a senior U.S. Democratic senator who will be one of the senators questioning Patel during his confirmation hearing, said in a statement: "The Senate should reject this unprecedented effort to weaponize the FBI for the campaign of retribution that Donald Trump has promised." Chuck Grassley, a veteran Republican senator, wrote on X that he would be happy to see Wray replaced but said Patel needed to prove himself in his confirmation hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Kash Patel must prove to Congress he will reform & restore public trust in FBI," Grassley said. (Reporting by Tim Reid in West Palm Beach, Florida. Additional reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Richard Chang) Rebel forces have taken control of Aleppo from Syrian government forces, the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told dpa. "The Syrian regime has completely lost control of Aleppo," head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel-Rahman, told dpa. The northern city is under the control of an anti-government opposition alliance led by the Islamist extremist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), with the exception of four neighbourhoods north-west of the city, which are being controlled by Kurdish forces, according to Rami. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The HTS-led alliance launched an offensive that quickly made surprising gains against the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The rebel offensive, which began on Wednesday, appears to have taken al-Assad's regime by surprise, and rebel forces quickly made advances into the Aleppo area. Aleppo, a historic and sprawling metropolis in northern Syria, was retaken by al-Assad's forces from rebels in 2016 after years of bloody and destructive fighting. Experts have described the rebel gains in recents days as a significant turning point in the brutal and long-running Syrian civil war. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) With the winter storm in full force across much of Western New York, state officials and experts at AAA are reminding drivers to keep in mind safe driving practices on roadways. The storm caused many travel delays across the state. Part of I-90 was temporarily closed in both directions to commercial vehicles between Exit 46 (outside of Rochester) to the Pennsylvania state line. It reopened around 5 p.m. Saturday. AAA officials said that using the time before a storm hits to make sure your vehicle is adequately prepared is crucial. This includes checking the tread and pressure of the tires, testing the battery charge as well as stocking your vehicle with necessary supplies like jumper cables and emergency gear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AAA Fleet Operations Manager Todd Ingraham said theres more you can do behind the wheel to remain safe, too. The biggest thing is to plan ahead. Give yourself extra time, leave additional spacing between you and the vehicle in front of you and dont make any fast changes with the steering wheel to change lanes, Ingraham said. Weather Forecast: Lake effect warnings still remain in place west of Rochester State officials said that its important to stay off of roadways when there is an active ban in effect. If youre faced with driving in harsh weather conditions and experience an emergency, youre encouraged to call 911 for assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. CHICAGO A Robbins man is in custody for burglarizing a Mount Greenwood church on Friday. According to church leaders, the suspect tried to steal precious relics and other items belonging to St. Christina Catholic Church. A church volunteer alerted police to the burglary and officers quickly took the suspect into custody. Witnesses said the suspect appeared to be having a mental health crisis. It was really sad on multiple levels, said Fr. Ryan Brady, who saw the suspect as police put him into the squad car in the 3300 block of West 111th Street at around 5:30 a.m. Friday. This really is a sacred place and to have that violated, it broke some hearts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fire at Evanston restaurant prompts evacuation The suspect, identified by police as 57-year-old David Randich, faces one felony burglary charge and a misdemeanor criminal damage to property charge. Amidst all the broken items and precious relics, damaged or still missing, Brady saw a desperate human being. He was desperate and that desperation came from mental illness, he said. Any my hope and my prayer is that as we recovered from this, we can pray for people who suffer from mental illness. Ald. Matt OShea (19th Ward), surveyed the damage and investigators said the suspect allegedly broke through the bathroom window Friday morning. For reasons that are not yet clear, the suspect badly damaged a Thanksgiving food pantry the parish had set up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite this, OShea and others are proud of how the St. Christina community and Brady came together for a deeper understanding. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Bringing his flock together, turning something so negative into something so positive, OShea said. Were gonna be able to use this opportunity to share with families and with community how we can address mental illness, Brady added. To replace damaged food pantry items, Brady is asking people to bring non-perishable food items to Sundays church services as a way to help others in need this holiday season. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. He had written more than 20 books, drew healthy audiences speaking across America and attracted coverage from the country's top newspapers and magazines. Still, by the height of the pandemic, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he felt muzzled. Facebook and Instagram had banned posts by Childrens Health Defense, the Kennedy-founded organization that questions the value of vaccines. The social media sites noted that Kennedys group trafficked in medical misinformation, and a science research team labeled him a superspreader of bogus claims about COVID-19 vaccines. But as 2024 loomed, the scion of Americas most famous Democratic family saw a way back into the public eye. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I started thinking, Well, the one place that they couldnt censor me was if I was running for president, Kennedy told the New Yorker. As he prepared to announce his candidacy in 2023, he proclaimed, The censors are permitting me to talk to Americans again! Indeed, a 16-month run for the White House and subsequent two months as a supporter of Republican nominee Donald Trump succeeded in keeping RFK Jr. close to the center of the publics consciousness. Its a prominent perch hes likely to maintain if he succeeds in being confirmed as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Loyola Marymount University political scientist Michael A. Genovese said Trumps designation of Kennedy for the Cabinet post demonstrates the power of mutual opportunism. RFK revives his failing career. Trump is linked to the glamour of the Kennedy name, said Genovese, ticking off factors that may have informed Trump's decision. RFK gains some measure of respectability. Trump puts Kennedy in a Cabinet position he cares little about. RFK finds a way to stay in the glow of the spotlight. Trump gets an anti-science colleague to complement Trump's anti-science sentiments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kennedy's halting ramble from Democratic Party fringe player to fervent MAGA ally did not shock anyone who has watched him closely in recent years. They recall how Kennedy visited Trump Tower shortly before Inauguration Day in 2017 and proclaimed that Trump would make him chair of a commission on vaccine safety and scientific integrity. The Trump administration position never materialized. Campaigning for the White House this year, Kennedy criticized both major parties, though he saved his most spirited beat-downs for the Democrats. Part of the reason surely was that Democratic nominee Kamala Harris had spurned his overtures. It eventually became clear that Trump as he had so many times before was more than willing to strike a strategic alliance with a former adversary. Kennedy, 70, came with a checkered personal history. Controversial even bizarre revelations dotted his presidential run. But several Trump appointees came with unsettling personal histories. Kennedy, who declined to be interviewed for this article, has persevered over the course of a life frequently turned upside down by tragedy. He was 14 when his father and namesake was assassinated in 1968 at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Not long after, he became addicted to heroin, a habit he did not kick until he was 29. Despite that, he graduated from Harvard and the University of Virginia law school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His two strongest calling cards as a candidate appeared to be his family name and his career as an attorney who fought to clean up the environment. But both became overshadowed by his later preoccupations. Read more: Trump's Cabinet picks will test Senate independence Kennedy spread the myths refuted by science that vaccines commonly injure children and cause autism. He outraged many in 2022 by comparing vaccine mandates to the totalitarianism of Nazi Germany. When he announced last fall that he would continue his presidential run as an independent rather than as a Democrat, many in his family did not hesitate to heap on their disdain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision or judgment, three of the candidates sisters and one brother said in a joint statement. We denounce his candidacy and believe it to be perilous for our country. This spring, nearly 50 of his former colleagues and leaders of the Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund pilloried Kennedy. In nothing more than a vanity candidacy, RFK Jr. has chosen to play the role of election spoiler to the benefit of Donald Trump the single worst environmental president our country has ever had, the environmental leaders wrote in a broadside published in several newspapers. Not unlike the man who would later offer him a Cabinet position, the candidate seemed impervious to criticism, positioning himself as someone who was delivering inconvenient truths to an unyielding establishment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: A Trump win could spell major changes for California's drinking water, RFK Jr. says The candidate liked to quote his famous relatives, suggesting he was living by his father's words: Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change a world that yields most painfully to change. Not long after the NRDC disowned him, Kennedy suffered another embarrassment. The New York Times reported on a 2012 deposition in which he described his concerns that he might have a brain tumor. A doctor, Kennedy said, had told him that his abnormal brain scans were likely caused by a worm that got into my brain and ate a portion of it and then died. The revelation made him the butt of a slew of jokes on late-night TV, just as he was trying to assure voters of the seriousness of his candidacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kennedy also took incoming fire from the right. "Kennedy is a Radical Left Democrat, and always will be!!! Trump posted in April on his Truth Social platform. It's great for MAGA, but the Communists will make it very hard for him to get on the Ballot. Kennedy accused Trump of a barely coherent barrage of wild and inaccurate claims." Into the summer, Kennedy continued to insist that the American people would eventually turn to him and away from the major party candidates. But while he wanted to talk about the evil of corporate and government elites, his past kept resurfacing in the media. In July, Vanity Fair reported that a woman accused Kennedy of groping her decades earlier when she was the 23-year-old nanny of his children. Kennedy was married at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the story broke, the candidate texted an apology to the woman, while contending that he remembered nothing of the episode. Not long after that, a video surfaced that raised questions about Kennedys long-term commitment to the race. In the recording, posted by his son on social media, the candidate is speaking by phone with Trump, who hints that he wants Kennedy to jump to his side. "I would love you to do something," Trump said, without offering further context. "And I think it'll be so good for you and so big for you. And we're going to win." Kennedys response: Yeah. Read more: Hiltzik: Trump's appointment of anti-vaxxer RFK Jr. to his Cabinet has scientists fearing a catastrophe for public health Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet in public Kennedy insisted he offered a third way, unattached to the two major parties. Then in August came a series of events that set the stage for Kennedy's later emergence as a Cabinet pick. He weathered yet more embarrassing revelations, but also threw his backing behind Trump. 'I like him a lot, I respect him a lot.' Donald Trump, on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in August interview A story in the New Yorker recounted an odd prank that Kennedy had pulled several years prior. After finding a dead bear cub on a mountain roadside, according to his account, he loaded the carcass into his car and drove into New York City. Kennedy then deposited the body in Central Park, alongside a bicycle. The New Yorker reported: A person with knowledge of the event said that Kennedy thought it would be funny to make it look as if the animal had been killed by an errant cyclist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of the attention from the story surrounded the dead bear, but it also revealed text messages in which Kennedy called Trump a terrible human being and probably a sociopath. But Kennedy judged that President Biden was more dangerous to the Republic and the planet. Despite Kennedy's assurances he was running to win, his campaign manager hinted in the profile that he might be willing to take a lesser role. She called the possibility of Kennedy as Trumps secretary of Health and Human Services incredibly interesting. Kennedy had reached out to Harris, too, CNN reported, expressing interest in a role in her administration. He was rebuffed. No one has any intention of negotiating with a MAGA-funded fringe candidate who has sought out a job with Donald Trump in exchange for an endorsement, Democratic National Committee spokesperson Matt Corridoni told the cable network on Aug. 14. It became apparent change was afoot six days later when Trump began to publicly flatter Kennedy, while the Democratic National Convention was in full swing and buoyed by Harris' energetic candidacy. "I like him a lot, I respect him a lot, Trump told CNN. At a campaign event in Arizona, Trump called Kennedy "very smart." On Aug. 23, the day after the Democratic convention ended, the Kennedy heir endorsed the Republican, saying that, together, they were going to Make America Healthy Again. Trump's handlers later rhapsodized at how a MAGA crowd in Glendale, Ariz., greeted Kennedy "like a rock star." The campaign knew it had a problem with some young female voters, particularly because Trump's Supreme Court picks had eliminated federal protection of abortion access by overturning of Roe vs. Wade. But some of those same women were won over by Kennedy's calls for improving healthcare and removing food additives that could harm children, said a senior campaign official who declined to be named. "A lot of that group of young moms loved what Bobby was saying," said the advisor. "He moved that group for us." It's impossible to know how many voters were moved by such feelings. Or how many were turned off by the continuing drumbeat of Kennedy oddities. Just three days after Trump and Kennedy took the stage together for the first time, Kennedy faced another embarrassing headline. An old magazine article surfaced in which one of Kennedys daughters remembered her fathers strange encounter with a dead whale on Cape Cod. Town & Country magazine reported that, many years earlier, Kennedy ran down to the beach with a chainsaw, cut off the whales head, and then bungee-corded it to the roof of the family minivan for the five-hour haul back to Mount Kisco, New York. Again, late-night comics had fodder for Kennedy jokes. But, again, Kennedy weathered the storm and went on to campaign vigorously for his new ally. Read more: At Nixon library, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. calls for cutting U.S. military budget in half Kennedys path to confirmation is uncertain. Although the incoming GOP majority in the Senate should clear the way, even some Republicans have said the former Democrat will have to answer questions about his vaccine stances and his desire to change how processed foods are made. Kennedy proclaimed on X his readiness to free the agencies from the smothering cloud of corporate capture so they can pursue their mission to make Americans once again the healthiest people on Earth. Though well short of the spot in the Oval Office once held by his uncle and coveted by his father, the Cabinet post would put Kennedy the closest he has ever been to the heart of a federal government that he previously pilloried only from the outside. Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox twice per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Union Textile Minister Giriraj Singh on Sunday made sacthing remarks against the Congress and its leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, saying that the opposition party indulges in votebank politics and only cares about "pro-Islam votes." He said that Rahul Gandhi would remain silent on Bangladesh but would visit Sambhal for "political tourism." "Congress does the politics of vote bank. They see pro-Islam votes with Muslims. Hence they are going to Sambhal. But if something happens to Hindus, they keep quiet," Union Minister Giriraj Singh told ANI. The Union Minister further lashed out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for being silent on the Bangladesh issue. Taking a dig at Gandhi, Singh said that he was silent on Bangladesh but would go to Sambhal on December 2 for "political tourism." "Rahul Gandhi is silent on the Bangladesh issue. He will go to Sambhal on December 2 for political tourism," Union Minister Singh said. Reacting to the remarks made by Priyanka Gandhi against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in her rally on Saturday, Singh attacked her saying that Congress doesn't have the right to speak about Constitution. "The leader (Priyanka Gandhi) who you named, her grandmother imposed an Emergency and destroyed the Constitution. The person whose grandfather didn't care about the Constitution is speaking about the Constitution. Chot Chori ke khilaaf bol raha hai. Congress has no right to speak," the Union Minister said. Speaking on the ongoing tension in Bangladesh, Singh appealed to the Hindus of Bangladesh to stay united while holding Congress and Partition responsible for the current situation. "Partition of the country was an unfortunate incident which Congress has done in 1947. There are no Hindus left in Pakistan. If what BR Ambedkar had said had been heard, all the Muslims would have been sent to Pakistan (joint Pakistan) and Hindus to India. This situation would not have arisen. The Indian government has warned its counterpart in Bangladesh. I appeal to Hindus in Bangladesh to stay united and the Hindus of India are with you," Giriraj Singh said. Giriraj Singh's comments come after Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi on Saturday alleged that Parliament has witnessed disruptions over the past week because the BJP is afraid to discuss certain issues with opposition parties.Priyanka Gandhi asserted that the Congress is fighting to uphold the Constitution. Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai informed that his party's delegation was also visiting the violence-affected district in the state on December 2. Singh and Minister of State (MoS) for Textiles Pabitra Margherita on Sunday were in Guwahati, attending the International Conference on Sustainability and Climate Change. The Union Minister also visited the stalls of an exhibition organized on the occasion.(ANI) CHICAGO As holiday shoppers flock to big name stores, malls and online for gifts, small business owners want you to consider them, too. Small Business Saturday is being celebrated in Rogers Park where business owners without storefronts got the chance to showcase their merchandise. One Rogers Park Business Alliance Office typically used for small business training welcomed in several local entrepreneurs who operate home based businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weekend Break: Small Business Saturday in Ravenswood We have 20 businesses in here. Small, independently owned businesses that were helping promote, Executive Director of Rogers Park Business Alliance Sandi Price said. Organizers described the setup as a mercadito, with vendors selling various handmade items, such as winter wear, jewelry and artwork, all in celebration of Small Business Saturday, started by American Express in 2010. It builds comradery. They learn from each other, they get to meet new business owners in the same vein as them and, hopefully, build some sort of relationship and maybe open a storefront together, Price explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shoppers brave the cold in Chicagos Loop for Black Friday deals As a small business owner, Emma Ramirez, owner of Arte Eclectico, said staying in her neighborhood builds a strong sense of community. I prefer to stay close to home, get to know my neighbors. As I do it more regularly, I start to see people I recognize and they recognize me, and its just a fun part to be local instead of trying to hustle around the city, Ramirez said. Several businesses with storefronts in Rogers Park also participated in Small Business Saturday and offered shoppers deals on merchandise and services. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ten percent off for the first ten clients that came in, said Mado Mbasso, owner of Mados African Hair Braiding Salon. Everybody is striving to be up there, so its important to support the small businesses strive so they can get to where they wish to be. Mbasso told WGN News she also owns other businesses and encourages other not to be afraid to start small and pursue their dreams. Its doable. Thats all I can say. Dont limit yourself, she said. I believe if I can do it, anyone can do it, too. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Romanias ruling leftist Social Democrats (PSD) looked set to win the most votes in a parliamentary election on Sunday, defeating a resurgent far-Right movement challenging the countrys pro-Western orientation, an exit poll showed. The vote is the second of three consecutive ballots for both a new parliament and a new president. It comes after the first round of the presidential election on November 24 saw an independent far-Right candidate, Calin Georgescu, emerge from relative obscurity to become the frontrunner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His unexpected win ushered in support for ultra-nationalist, hard-Right parties, some with overt pro-Russian sympathies, which political analysts said could undermine Romanias backing for Ukraine. If the exit polls are confirmed by official results, a pro-western coalition led by the PSD would likely have enough seats in parliament to form a government, although the hard-Right would be a substantial force in the legislature. The ruling PSD has been forecast to receive 26 per cent of the votes - Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters However, the exit polls do not include the votes of the hundreds of thousands of Romanians working abroad, who are expected to favour far-Right groupings and a centrist opposition party led by presidential runner-up Elena Lasconi. In addition, a broad coalition would be difficult to form amid disagreements over the measures needed to rein in the countrys gaping budget deficit, now the highest in the European Union at 8 per cent of economic output. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Social Democrats will take a few days and wait to be courted, said political commentator Radu Magdin. A coalition with centrist parties is more likely than with the hot potato extremists. And much depends on who becomes president. Exit polls showed the PSD winning 26 per cent of votes, ahead of the hard-Right Alliance for Uniting Romanians on 19 per cent. Marcel Ciolacu, the Social Democrat Prime Minister, had ranked third in the presidential ballot first round after a campaign dominated by voters concerns over the cost of living and anger at mainstream parties infighting and allegations of corruption. Calin Georgescu, a far-Right candidate, recently finished first in the opening round of the presidential vote - Vadim Ghirda/AP Who gets to form the government will depend on who wins the presidential election, since the president designates a prime minister, and the timeline for that is unclear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Romanias top court on Friday postponed a decision on whether to annul the first round of the presidential vote until December 2, after the shock result caused suspicions of interference in the campaign. Romanian authorities say they have found evidence of meddling by hostile actors, and the Constitutional Court is yet to validate the results. The court has ordered a recount of the 9.46 million votes cast in the first round while also considering a request to annul the first-round vote. If a rerun is decided, the first round of voting in the presidential election could take place on December 15 and the runoff could be on December 29. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. By Luiza Ilie BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romanians were voting in a parliamentary election on Sunday, in which the far right is expected to gain from uncertainty over whether the shock result in a presidential election will stand. Sunday's vote is the second of three consecutive ballots for both a new parliament and a new president, after the first round of the presidential election on Nov. 24 saw an independent far-right candidate emerge from relative obscurity to become the front-runner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His unexpected win ushered in support for ultranationalist, hard-right parties, some with overt pro-Russian sympathies, which could upend Romania's pro-Western orientation and undermine backing for Ukraine, political analysts said. After a campaign dominated by voters' concerns over budget problems and the cost of living, the election pits the far-right contenders against pro-European mainstream parties which have angered their voters with infighting and corruption allegations. Far-right parties have also used Romania's championing of Ukraine to stoke fears the war could spill over the border unless the country halts its support, as well as resentment over alleged preferential treatment for refugees from Ukraine. "I am not voting for any party which has been in parliament before, it is an elimination vote," said Marian Gheorghe, a cab driver. "I have children and I am tired of telling them 'No' because I can't afford what they need." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Where is the justice, why are Romanian children less than Ukrainian children?" Romania has been a strong ally to neighbouring Ukraine, helping export millions of tons of grain, training its fighter pilots and donating a Patriot air defence battery. About 3.1 million Romanians, or 17.6% of registered voters, had voted by 1000 GMT, data showed. Voting will end at 1900 GMT with exit polls to follow immediately. Preliminary results are expected later in the evening. DISTRUST Days after far-right politician Calin Georgescu won the most votes in the first round of the presidential election, an opinion poll this week showed the hard-right Alliance for Uniting Romanians (AUR) had a narrow lead over the governing Social Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two far-right splinter parties are also seen entering parliament, potentially giving ultranationalists a third of seats in the legislative. Georgescu's unexpected success last Sunday raised concerns over interference in the campaign, prompted a vote recount and led to a defeated candidate asking the country's top court to rerun the first round of voting. The confusion means the parliamentary election is going ahead, with voters uncertain whether the outcome of the presidential first round vote will stand. They also do not know whether the presidential run-off - scheduled for Dec. 8 between Georgescu and centrist Elena Lasconi - will proceed or be held at a later date, with the court expected to decide on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "No decision made during this crucial period should limit the right of Romanians to vote freely or further put at risk the credibility of the election process," U.S. ambassador Kathleen Kavalec said in a statement on Saturday. Georgescu, 62, has been critical of NATO and Romania's stance on Ukraine, and has said Bucharest should engage with Russia, not challenge it. Opinion polls had not predicted his success. Political analysts say far-right parties are likely to gain from the uncertainty. "The net beneficiaries ... are Georgescu and the anti-establishment camp which is now getting additional ammunition: here is how state institutions work, how discretionary they are," said Sergiu Miscoiu, a political science professor at Babes-Bolyai University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An AtlasIntel opinion poll conducted from Nov. 26-28 put the hard-right AUR at 22.4%, with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu's Social Democrats at 21.4%, down 10 percentage points over two weeks, and Lasconi's Save Romania Union at 17.5%. The poll did not factor in the recount. The next parliament and government will face a tough task in trying to cut the EU's highest budget deficit at 8% of economic output and uphold defence spending goals when Donald Trump's U.S. presidency starts. Romania has the EU's biggest share of the population at risk of poverty, and swathes of the country need investment. "We have an unevenly developed country and the biggest frustrations accumulate in these periphery areas which will fall prey to candidates who know how to address them," said anthropologist Bogdan Iancu. (Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Justyna Pawlak, Timothy Heritage and Bernadette Baum) Roy Thomason, who has died aged 79, looked set for an influential career at Westminster when he was elected Conservative MP for Bromsgrove in 1992 after chairing the partys local government committee and the Association of District Councils. But he gave up his seat at the following election after debts incurred during the property market crash of the 1980s caught up with him, the Standards and Privileges Select Committee having censured him for not declaring a 2.8 million loan taken out to stave off bankruptcy. Thomason, previously senior partner with a Bournemouth firm of solicitors, returned to business and cleared his debts, but it would be 2005 before the Court of Appeal finally lifted the financial shadows. His last political campaign would be fought as a village activist in Co Durham. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kenneth Roy Thomason was born on December 14 1944, the son of Thomas and Constance Thomason. From Cheney School in Oxford, he trained as a solicitor at the College of Law, gaining a London University LLB and being admitted in 1969. Joining Horden & George in Bournemouth, he became senior partner in 1979, standing down just before his election to Parliament. With his wife he invested heavily in Karelodge, a company that owned and managed nursing homes. Thomason was elected to Bournemouth council in 1970 and was its leader from 1974 to 1992; he was elected an honorary alderman in 1993. He led the Conservative group on the Association of District Councils from 1981 to 1987, then chaired the ADC until 1991. Thomason chaired his constituency association in 1981-82 and became an influential figure in the Conservative Party nationally, chairing its Local Government Advisory Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the 1983 election he fought the new seat of Newport East, losing to Labours Roy Hughes by 2,630 votes. Between 1988 and 1991 he served on the executive of the National Union, the Conservative Partys administrative body. When Sir Hal Miller, the long-serving and respected MP for Bromsgrove, decided to retire, Thomason seemed an ideal replacement; at the 1992 election he held the seat by 13,702 votes. By then, Karelodge had run into trouble and in 1990 he had taken out a loan of 2,812,426 from UCB Corporate Services to cover its debts. Lord Justice Brooke would say in 2005 that Thomason was already financially embarrassed when he was elected for Bromsgrove. Thomason pictured with Sally Cooper of Bromsgrove Conservative Association after being deselected - Joel ChantNews Team Int At Westminster, he was one of 26 new Conservative MPs to sign a Eurosceptic motion calling for a fresh start in Britains negotiations with the EEC, but went on to support John Major in ratifying the Maastricht Treaty. He supported a reduction in the homosexual age of consent to 18 rather than equalising it with the heterosexual age at 16. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thomason served on the Environment Select Committee and the Joint Committee on Statutory instruments, and chaired the all-party group on exports. In December 1994 he resigned from the Carlton Club during a dispute over the admission of women; newspapers hinted that he could not justify the cost of membership. After his financial straits became public, Thomason was censured by the Standards and Privileges Committee in July 1996 for not having declared the loan from UCB in the Register of Members Interests; it was reported at the time that his debts had escalated to 6 million. Bromsgrove Conservatives reacted by inviting fresh applications to be their candidate. Having lost the backing of his party officers, he decided that September to stand down, telling them: I am conscious that the association is divided over my candidacy to serve as the member of Parliament after the next general election. Even though my financial position has now been satisfactorily settled on a commercial basis, I must accept responsibility for the difficulties that have arisen. He left the Commons at the 1997 election, the former Daily Telegraph Lobby journalist Julie Kirkbride holding the seat for the Conservatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thomason went back into business, becoming executive chairman of Charminster Estates and from 2002 to 2006 chairing the London Strategic Housing Association. Meanwhile, he and his wife were engaged in a legal battle with UCB. The bank had agreed to a waiver and accepted 34,000 to release the couple from the guarantees they had signed in respect of Karelodges debts, but had taken them back to court claiming they had not fully disclosed their assets. The Thomasons won in the High Court but UCB appealed, seeking repayment of the entire 2.8 million. The Court of Appeal ruled that given the state of their finances at the time, UCB lost nothing by agreeing to the waiver. Lord Justice Latham said he ruled in the couples favour with a lack of enthusiasm. Thomason remained active in Bromsgrove, being bailiff of its Court Leet in 2012 and serving for 14 years on Dodfords parochial church council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Retiring to Middleton St George, outside Darlington, he chaired its PCC, and in 2021 headed a campaign to save the villages Fighting Cocks pub, which had closed during the Covid pandemic, from conversion into a Sainsburys Local. Fighting Cocks had been a stopping point on the original Stockton & Darlington Railway, and Thomason and his fellow campaigners hoped both to reopen the premises as a community pub and to involve it in the lines 200th-anniversary celebrations in 2025. Thomason told the Northern Echo: Its a sad sight at the moment and its in a prominent position in the village. Ive spoken to a lot of people in the village and Ive had a lot of feedback. People are hugely supportive. It will take a little while to get the funds in, but we are reasonably confident we can. Sainsburys told the council there would be seating outside the store for walkers, and interpretation panels, with the aim of it becoming a stopping point along the railways original route. The building reopened as a convenience store in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thomason was appointed OBE in 1986. He married Christine Parsons in 1969; they had two sons and two daughters. Roy Thomason, born December 14 1944, died October 16 2024 Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Russia launched a total of 347 missiles as well as over 2,500 Shahed-type attack drones at Ukraine in November, President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a news conference on Dec. 1. During the news conference alongside Antonio Costa, the new President of the European Council, Zelensky called on Western allies to provide additional air defense. "We discussed today the need for adequate air defenses to protect against Russian terror, protect our energy infrastructure and civilians," Zelensky said. "I conveyed concrete proposals to our partners to strengthen our air defense. I very much expect their support." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent months, Russia has stepped up its attacks targeting cities and towns across Ukraine on a near daily basis since the start of September. Russia also launched multiple large-scale aerial attacks against Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure in the month of November. On Nov. 28, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said that Russia struck a "massive blow" at the nation's power grid, with attacks on energy infrastructure occurring throughout the country. Overnight on Nov. 17, Russia launched one of the largest aerial strikes on Ukraine leaving at least seven civilians dead and at least 19 injured across multiple regions. Russia continues to pummel energy infrastructure set to once again test Ukrainians' resolve ahead an expected harsh winter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia has launched tens of thousands of cheap but effective Iranian-designed Shahed-type drones against Ukraine since the fall of 2022. The number of drones launched over the past month marks an increase from the 2,000 Shahed-type drones at Ukraine in October. On Oct. 20, Zelensky said that a total of 6,130 Shahed-type drones since the start of 2024 although that number does not account for the thousands of drones launched since. As the war along Ukraine's eastern front continue, Russia also continues to sustain record military losses. In November, 45,720 Russian soldiers were wounded, killed, or captured and thus unable to continue participating in combat operations. Russia also lost weapons and equipment in November estimated to be worth over $3 billion, according to Ukraine's Defense Ministry ministry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Russia loses almost 46,000 troops, over $3 billion worth of military equipment in November, Defense Ministry says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The Russian army suffered record losses in military equipment and personnel in November in the war against Ukraine, Ukraine's Defense Ministry reported on Dec. 1. Russian losses at the front increased significantly in the fall, while Russia continued to advance in the Donetsk sector, aiming to capture the towns of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove. In November, 45,720 Russian soldiers were wounded, killed, or captured and thus unable to continue participating in combat operations. This number is equivalent to more than three motorized rifle divisions of the Russian army, according to the ministry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement November also saw the record broken for the enemy personnel losses in one day with 2,030, the highest figure since Feb. 24, 2022. In November, Ukrainian forces also destroyed 307 Russian tanks, 899 armored combat vehicles, and 884 pieces of artillery. According to the ministry's calculations, Russia's lost weapons and equipment in November is estimated to be worth over $3 billion, which is more than in September and October. As of the morning of Dec. 1, the Russian army had lost about 742,130 soldiers, according to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Over the past day, Russian losses amounted to 1,730 people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Once liberated Kupiansk braces for worst as Russian troops approach, and future Western support looks uncertain Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian war bloggers reported on Sunday that Moscow has dismissed Sergei Kisel, the general in charge of its forces in Syria, after insurgents swept into the city of Aleppo in the biggest challenge to President Bashar al-Assad in years. Russia is a key Assad ally. The removal of Kisel, 53, was reported by the Rybar Telegram channel, which is close to the Russian defence ministry, and by the Voenny Osvedomitel (Military Informant) blog. Reuters has requested comment from the Russian defence ministry. Since the start of the Ukraine war, Russia has made a number of military reshuffles that were not publicly announced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unconfirmed reports said Kisel was being replaced by Colonel General Alexander Chaiko. The military blogs were scathing about the performance of Kisel, who previously commanded Russia's 1st Guards Tank Army in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine, where Moscow's forces were driven back in a lightning counter-attack by Ukrainian troops in late 2022. "Apparently he was supposed to reveal his hidden talents in Syria, but something got in the way again," Voenny Osvedomitel wrote. Rybar commented: "The approach needs to change. The Syrian sandbox has long been a place for laundering the reputations of unsuccessful generals who turned out to be incompetent in the zone of the special military operation" - Russia's term for the war in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rybar speculated that Russia might even turn to Sergei Surovikin, a general who earned the nickname "General Armageddon" for his ruthlessness in Syria and was briefly in charge of the Ukrainian war effort. Surovikin was demoted last year, when unconfirmed reports said he had been investigated for possible complicity in a mutiny by Russia's Wagner mercenary group. The insurgent advance in Syria was the first since March 2020 when Russia and Turkey, which supports the rebels, agreed to a ceasefire that led to the halting of military action in northwest Syria. On Sunday, the Syrian army said it had recaptured several towns that had been overrun by rebels in recent days. The insurgents are a coalition of Turkish-backed mainstream secular armed groups, along with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamist group that is the opposition's most formidable military force. Aleppo had been held by the government since a 2016 victory there, one of the war's major turning points, when Russian-backed Syrian forces besieged and laid waste to rebel-held eastern areas of what had been the country's largest city. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Mark Trevelyan and David Holmes) MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Russian defence ministry said on Sunday its forces had gained control over two settlements, Illinka and Petrivka, in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region. It also said that Russian air defence shot down 55 Ukrainian drones for the past 24 hours. Reuters could not independently verify battlefield accounts from either side. Russian forces hold a little less than 20% of Ukraine's territory and have advanced through Donetsk region over the past two months at their fastest rate since March 2022, according to open source data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are approaching Kurakhove and the town of Pokrovsk to the north, site of the sole colliery that supplies Ukraine's steel industry with coking coal. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Frances Kerry) Russian strikes against Ukraine killed at least 11 civilians and injured at least 51 over the past day, regional authorities reported on Dec. 1. Russia launched 78 drones against Ukraine overnight on Dec. 1 from the Russian cities of Kursk, Orel, and Bryansk, according to a report from Ukraine's Air Force. Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare units, and mobile firing groups shot down 32 drones in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Sumy, Poltava, and Zhytomyr oblasts. Forty-five drones were lost allegedly due to electronic warfare countermeasures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia attacked the Dniprovskyi district of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on the evening of Nov. 30, killing four people and injuring at least 24 others. President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia targeted the village of Tsarychanka with a missile strike. Eighteen people are in hospital, seven of which are in a serious condition, Governor Serhii Lysak reported at 7:30 a.m. local time on Dec.1. The injured victims include an 11-year-old boy. In Kherson Oblast, Russia targeted 14 settlements, including the regional center of Kherson, overnight on Dec. 1. As a result of the attacks, two people were killed, and another 15 were injured, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. In Kherson, the Russian military attacked a public transport vehicle with a drone at around 8 a.m. local time on Dec. 1, killing at least three people and injuring at least seven. All the injured were hospitalized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Donetsk Oblast, Russian strikes killed two people in the town of Myrnohrad. Four people were also injured due to attacks across the front-line region, Governor Vadym Filashkin said. In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a 50-year-old man suffered injuries as Russian forces attacked the village of Mala Tokmachka with an FPV (first-person-view) drone. The man was hospitalized with shrapnel wounds, according to the local military administration. Read also: Its excruciating Ukrainians describe surviving Russian attacks that cost them health, loved ones, and homes Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russia struck a shuttle bus in the regional center of Kherson on Dec. 1, killing three and injuring eight people, local authorities reported. The attack occurred at 8:15 a.m. local time in the Dniprovskyi district of the city. There were 15 people in the vehicle at the time of the strike. Seven of the injured were immediately hospitalized. Another victim, a 70-year-old woman, was brought to the hospital later with a mine-blast injury and a fractured tibia, Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The injured were diagnosed with shrapnel wounds and various wounds to the chest, abdomen, arms, and legs, Vitalii Khomukha, head of the surgical department of the city hospital, told Suspilne. Ukraine's Armed Forces liberated Kherson and other settlements on the west bank of the Dnipro River during a counteroffensive in the fall of 2022. Russian troops were pushed to the river's east bank, from where they have since been firing at the liberated territories, regularly resulting in civilian deaths, as well as large-scale destruction of homes and infrastructure. Read also: Once liberated Kupiansk braces for worst as Russian troops approach, and future Western support looks uncertain Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Union Minister and BJP National President JP Nadda on Sunday, emphasized the importance of commitment to preventing AIDS and making the lives of those suffering from HIV meaningful. Addressing the National Event for World AIDS Day, he also stressed understanding the situation of those suffering from HIV, developing sensitivity, and protecting their human rights during the World AIDS Day 2024 event in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. "The enthusiasm with which I see you all in this programme shows that all of you are committed to the prevention of AIDS and along with prevention, you are also committed to making the lives of people suffering from HIV meaningful...I would request all of you to understand the situation of people suffering from HIV, develop sensitivity and also protect their human rights," he said. He further stated, "We all should give this message today and throughout the year and reiterate that we are there for the human rights of people suffering from HIV, they should be kept safe and we are for having a human angle towards the people suffering from this disease and protecting their rights." Meanwhile, WHO called for a global commitment to combat HIV on World AIDS Day, urging rights-based healthcare for everyone. The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Southeast Asia, Saima Wazed, along with WHO, called for global commitment in the fight against HIV/AIDS on the occasion of "World AIDS Day" on Sunday, under the theme "Take the Rights Path: My Health, My Right!" This theme highlights the need for accessible, rights-based healthcare for individuals living with HIV. In a statement, Wazed underlined that the WHO urged global leaders and citizens to address inequalities that continue to hinder progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals target of ending AIDS by 2030. She noted that the WHO stressed the importance of ensuring that people living with HIV have access to the necessary healthcare without facing stigma or discrimination. The organisation also emphasised the need for a rights-based approach to healthcare that respects the dignity and autonomy of individuals, particularly those at heightened risk. (ANI) Russian and Syrian warplanes bombed the rebel-held city of Idlib on Sunday in an attempt to push back insurgents who have swept across northern Syria. The Syrian military rushed in reinforcements and said it was preparing a major counter-attack, while Moscows air force joined in the bombardment of Aleppo and Idlib. The Telegraph witnessed a number of air strikes. According to local sources in Idlib, the aircraft were taking off from the Russian military base at Hmeimim airport in the Latakia countryside in Syria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Russian strikes had killed 12 civilians in Idlib on Sunday. Syria and Russia denied targeting civilians and said they had hit rebel hideouts. The conflict also appeared to be widening on Sunday, with Turkish-backed forces also reportedly attacking the PKK/YPG terror group. The United Nations special envoy for Syria said the fighting poses a risk to regional security and called on resuming diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. The lightning offensive, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has been a huge embarrassment for Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, and raised questions about his troops preparedness. Assad vowed on Sunday to violently crush a major Syrian rebel offensive because it is the only language that terrorism understands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a phone call with Badra Gomba, the acting president of Georgias breakaway Abkhazia region, Assad vowed to break and eradicate the supporters of terrorism. At least 372 people have been killed including at least 20 civilians since Syrian rebels launched a lightning offensive against government forces on Wednesday, according to the Observatory. Russia, a staunch ally of Assad, also faces scrutiny. Its forces rapidly withdrew from their Al-Suqaylabiyah base and the Hama air base, while reports have circulated that hundreds of Russian soldiers had been listed as missing. Moscow has since replaced Lt Gen Sergey Kisel, the general in charge of its forces in Syria, with Gen Alexander Chayko, who commanded Russian forces in Syria from 2017 to 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lt Gen Kisel had previously faced criticism for his failures during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Lt Gen Sergey Kisel was sacked as head of Russian forces in Syria after rebel insurgence - Wikimedia Rebel commander Col Hassan Abdulghani said that despite the government counter-offensive, his fighters were making gains in Aleppo, and had taken control of the Aleppo industrial city, Aleppos military academy and the field artillery college. Col Abdulghani said 65 Syrian troops had been taken prisoner in eastern Aleppo, and that the insurgents had advanced in the Idlib countryside. While Russia has agreed to intensify efforts to stabilise the situation, it remains unclear whether the Kremlin will be able to deploy additional assets to support Assads regime as it wages its war in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the New York Times, Russia redeployed critical military hardware, including S-300 air-defence systems, and troops from Syria in 2022, to support its invasion of Ukraine. Officials told the newspaper that more than 1,000 soldiers had been withdrawn. X Omer Ozkizilcik, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council think tank, told the Middle East Eye digital newspaper that Russias immediate response suggests that much of its air force capability has been deployed to Ukraine. Mr Ozkizilcik said that satellite images from Russias Hmeimim air base in north-west Syrias Latakia province show a dramatic reduction in its air force presence compared to 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reports from local sources on air activity show that Russia is primarily using older fighter jet models, he added. Syrian opposition forces, meanwhile, appear to have captured valuable military equipment that the Syrian and Russian armies had abandoned, observers say. Videos posted on social media appeared to show rebels armoured vehicles, Aero L-39 Albatros aircraft and 80mm S-8KOM unguided rockets from various bases in the country. Analysts also highlighted that if the rebels take Homs, Damascus will be cut off from Russias naval base, which could have significant strategic implications for the Kremlin. Russia cannot take its warships out of the Black Sea under the Montreux Convention while at war with Ukraine, so would have to reinforce their naval base from the Baltic Sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Ukrainian intelligence, Adml Alexander Moiseev, the commander of the Russian navy, has now appeared at the Russian naval base in Tartus, in Syria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vladimir Putin last met with Assad in Moscow in July to discuss what the Russian leader described as continued escalation in the Middle East. Russia has been pushing for Syria to restart relations with Turkey, its other close partner, and had brokered meetings between Syrian and Turkish officials. Turkey severed ties with Syria in 2011 after the outbreak of the Syrian civil war. With Israel recently stepping up its strikes on Iranian bases in Syria, Damascus meanwhile has been pushing for Russia to use its influence to get it to rein in strikes. Tom Tugendhat, the former minister of state for security, said Russia and Syria had recently begun to fall out because Putin didnt find Assad deferential enough or responsive to Russias needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abbas Araghchi, Irans top diplomat, was expected to travel to Damascus in a show of support to the Syrian regime on Sunday. Arab leaders, including Jordans King Abdullah II and president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, of the United Arab Emirates, have also expressed their solidarity with Damascus. The United States, meanwhile, said Assad lost control of Aleppo because of his reliance on Russia and Iran. Syrias reliance on Russia and Iran, along with its refusal to move forward with a 2015 peace process outlined by the UN Security Council, created the conditions now unfolding, Sean Savett, National Security Council spokesman, said in a statement. He added that the US had nothing to do with the rebel offensive, which is led by Hayat Tahir al-Sham, a designated terrorist organisation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The UK blamed Assad for the escalation in the Syrian civil war that has seen the city of Aleppo fall to rebel forces. The Assad regime has created the conditions for the current escalation through its ongoing refusal to engage in a political process and its reliance on Russia and Iran, the British foreign ministry said in a statement that called for negotiations and for both sides to protect civilian lives and infrastructure. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The Ukrainian authorities have reported that a Russian Shahed UAV destroyed a house in the Pryluky district of Chernihiv Oblast. Source: Chernihiv Oblast Military Administration Details: A local resident, 58, managed to escape from the burning house. She suffered minor burns. Support UP or become our patron! Russian and Syrian aircraft intensified bombing in the rebel-held northwest of Syria on 1 December. Source: British news agency Reuters; Russian propaganda agency RIA Novosti Details: Reuters, citing military sources, reported that Russian and Syrian aircraft struck the rebel-held city of Idlib in Syrias north on 1 December. Residents said one of the strikes hit a densely populated residential area in the centre of Idlib, the largest city in the rebel enclave near the Turkish border, where about four million people live in makeshift tents and dwellings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rescue workers reported that at least seven people were killed and dozens were injured. Syrian forces and the Russians claimed they were targeting rebel shelters, denying attacks on civilians. On 30 November, Russian and Syrian planes bombed other towns in Idlib province that are fully under rebel control. On 1 December, Syrian forces claimed recapturing several towns seized by rebels in recent days. Meanwhile, rebels announced that they had advanced further south of Aleppo, capturing the town of Khansir in an effort to cut off the armys main supply route to Aleppo. Rebel sources also reported taking control of Sheikh Najjar estate, one of the country's major industrial zones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Separately, the Russian propaganda news agency RIA Novosti, citing the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria, claimed that the Syrian forces, with support from Russian Aerospace Forces, were repelling what it called "terrorist aggression" in Idlib, Hama and Aleppo provinces. Over the past day, they reportedly killed at least 320 rebels and destroyed 63 pieces of equipment. The report mentioned missile and bomb strikes targeting rebel gatherings, equipment, ammunition and weapons depots, MLRS and artillery positions and command centres. Background: Syrian authorities announced a "temporary withdrawal of troops" from the city of Aleppo in the northwest on 30 November to prepare a counteroffensive against the rebels. Reuters sources reported that the Syrian forces received orders for a "safe withdrawal" from key areas of Aleppo captured by the rebels. The sources added that Russia had promised Damascus additional military support to hinder the rebels, with new equipment expected to arrive within 72 hours. Support UP or become our patron! By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN (Reuters) -Russian and Syrian jets struck the rebel-held city of Idlib in northern Syria on Sunday, military sources said, as President Bashar al-Assad vowed to crush insurgents who had swept into the city of Aleppo. Residents said one attack on the second day of raids hit a crowded residential area in the centre of Idlib, the largest city in a rebel enclave near the Turkish border where around four million people live in makeshift tents and dwellings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least seven people were killed and dozens injured, according to rescuers at the scene. The Syrian army and its ally Russia say they target the hideouts of insurgent groups and deny attacking civilians. On Saturday, Russian and Syrian jets bombed other towns in Idlib province, which had fallen completely under rebel control in the boldest rebel assault for years in a civil war where front lines had largely been frozen since 2020. Insurgents swept into the city of Aleppo, east of Idlib province, on Friday night, forcing the army to redeploy in the biggest challenge to Assad in years. In remarks published on state media, Assad said: "terrorists only know the language of force and it is the language we will crush them with". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Syrian army said dozens of its soldiers had been killed in the attack on Aleppo. On Sunday, the army said it had recaptured several towns that had been overrun in recent days by rebels. The insurgents are a coalition of Turkey-backed mainstream secular armed groups along with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamist group that is the opposition's most formidable military force. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is designated a terrorist group by the U.S., Russia, Turkey and other states. The war, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced many millions, has ground on since 2011 with no formal end. But most major fighting halted years ago after Iran and Russia helped Assad's government win control of most land and all major cities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CIVILIANS LEAVE ALEPPO Inside Aleppo city, streets were mostly empty and many shops were closed on Sunday as scared residents stayed at home. There was still a heavy flow of civilians leaving the city, witnesses and residents said. Armed rebel fighters waving the opposition flag drove through the city, Yusuf Khatib, a resident, told Reuters by phone. Some rebels took up positions on street intersections, he added. Ahmad Tutenji, a merchant in the affluent New Aleppo neighbourhood, said he was surprised how quickly the army left. "I am shocked at how they fled and abandoned us." Abdullah al Halabi, a pensioner whose neighbourhood was bombed near the central area of Qasr al Baladi, said people were terrified they would see a repeat of the Russian-led bombing that killed thousands of people before driving out rebels a decade ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syrian troops who had withdrawn from the city were now regrouping and reinforcements were also being sent to help in the counter-attack, army sources said. Aleppo had been firmly held by the government since a 2016 victory there, one of the war's major turning points, when Russian-backed Syrian forces besieged and laid waste to rebel-held eastern areas of what had been the country's largest city. Rebels said on Sunday they had pushed further south of Aleppo city and captured the town of Khansir in an attempt to cut the army's main supply route to Aleppo city. Rebel sources said they had also captured Sheikh Najjar estate, one of the country's major industrial zones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reuters could not independently confirm the battlefield accounts. Iran sent thousands of Shi'ite militias to Syria during the Syrian war and, alongside Russia with its air power, enabled Assad to crush the insurgency and regain most of his territory. A lack of that manpower to help thwart the rebel onslaught in recent days contributed to the speedy retreat of Syrian army forces, according to two army sources. Militias allied to Iran, led by Hezbollah, have a strong presence in the Aleppo area. Israel has also in recent months stepped up its strikes on Iranian bases in Syria while also waging an offensive in Lebanon which it says has weakened Hezbollah and its military capabilities. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi, Additional reporting by Adam Makary and Menna Alaa El Din, Editing by Frances Kerry and Andrew Heavens) Russian and Syrian fighter jets have struck the rebel-held city of Idlib on Dec. 1 amid attempts to push back an insurgency that has taken over most of Aleppo, Reuters reported, citing Syrian army sources. The intensive bombing campaigns in Idlib struck crowded areas in the center of the city, Reuters reported, killing four people and injuring dozens more. The renewed bombings come as Syrian rebels swept into the northwestern city of Aleppo on Nov. 30, launching a major attack that forced the army to redeploy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The renewed offensive marks a new stage in a largely frozen conflict, since government forces backed by Russia and Iran pushed rebels out of Aleppo eight years ago. The front lines in the conflict between anti-government rebels and the army of dictator Bashar al-Assad have been mostly frozen since 2020. Damascus has been supportive of the Kremlin during the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Russian forces operating in Syria have been accused by the U.N. and other organizations of committing war crimes in the country, including the intentional bombing of hospitals and the usage of "double-tap" attacks, a tactic Russia has repeated in Ukraine. Read also: Kremlin dismisses commander of Russian forces in Syria amid significant losses, Ukraines military intelligence says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a military focused budget for 2025-2027, a document published on the official legal acts website showed on Sunday. The state budget for next year includes a 25% hike in military spending but will be the most secretive in post-Soviet history, with almost a third of all spending closed to public scrutiny. The government has acknowledged that the needs of what Moscow calls its special military operation in Ukraine and support for the military will remain the budget priority along with social needs and technological development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government has presented the draft budget as "balanced", with the deficit falling to 0.5% against this year's projected deficit of 1.7% and state debt remaining below the 20% mark for the next three years. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by David Goodman) SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Small Business Saturday was kicked off in Salt Lake City by Mayor Erin Mendenhall at Game Night Games in Sugar House on Nov. 30. It was a fitting place to hold the kick-off as traditional board games can serve as a metaphor for building community in the way local businesses do. Shop local: The ultimate guide to Utah Christmas gifts Owner Tim Hall explained, Theres so many pressures on our society to contact each other remotely. And I think it kind of waters down the quality of our interactions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mendenhall detailed the difference between shopping online and shopping locally, saying, This is about relationships between the business owner, the customer, but also everybody whos here having a great time learning how to play Pokemon today. Hall added, Having a diverse set of local businesses really adds to the quality of life. The mayor said small businesses are at the heart of Salt Lake Citys culture. She said the citys economic development team has invested over $1.9 million this year in grants and low-interest loans for small businesses. We help them through construction-related impacts when the citys rebuilding a road to do wayfinding and marketing, Mendenhall said. We do low-interest loans to grow their business. We do facade improvement grants to help them improve the outside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive discovered that games have an incredible power to build communities. Tim Hall, Owner of Game Night Games Mendenhall said the best way to spend your dollar this holiday season is to keep it local, noting that it goes further than shopping online by re-investing in the local community. She affirmed, It helps us build community because you show up and you make relationships. You have a good time. You build care for your local economy and the people who are running it and you help Salt Lake City continue to grow and prosper. The event also highlighted the Sugar House Savings Pass that can be downloaded to unlock discounts at local stores. More information can be found on shopsugarhouse.org. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. A local hospital needs help identifying a man who was found critically injured in San Bernardino. On Nov. 12, the male patient was discovered unconscious at a Motel 6 located at 777 West 6th Street at around 1 p.m. He was transported to the St. Bernardine Medical Center where he remains hospitalized in critical condition. An unidentified male patient in his 40s has been hospitalized at St. Bernardine Medical Center in San Bernardino since Nov. 12, 2024. (Dignity Health) No personal belongings were found at the time to help hospital staff identify him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is described as a Hispanic male in his 40s who stands 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs around 189 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair. Hospital workers have released a photo of the man in hopes someone may have recognized him. Anyone who recognizes the man or has information that may help identify him is asked to call the St. Bernardine Medical Center at 909-883-8711, Ext. 23420. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) The U.S. Coast Guard successfully conducted a medical evacuation of a 66-year-old woman from a Holland America Line cruise ship, about 280 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico maritime boundary on Friday morning. At 7:12 a.m., Coast Guard watchstanders received an urgent notification from the crew of the Koningsdam, a cruise ship sailing in the Pacific Ocean, reporting that the woman was experiencing stroke-like symptoms and required immediate medical attention. Dogs transported from kill shelters along border to safety in San Diego: how to help Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, Coast Guard Air Station San Diego launched an MH-60 Dolphin helicopter crew, while a second aircraft, a C-27 Spartan from Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento, was dispatched to provide additional support. Both crews worked in coordination to reach the ship. Upon arrival, the Sacramento-based crew managed communications, while the San Diego-based helicopter crew hoisted the patient aboard the helicopter. The rescue operation was conducted smoothly, thanks to precise coordination and teamwork between the two aircrews. Rescues like this are exactly what our crews train for, said Lt. Brady Stepan, pilot at Air Station San Diego. Through coordination from the command center and outstanding support from our C-27 cover aircraft crew, we were able to get the patient to higher-level care. The woman was airlifted and transported to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla in San Diego, where she was reported to be in stable condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Sunday criticised the current government in Bangladesh and said that the situation there is not good as he stressed that "nothing should be forced on anyone." Speaking to ANI, CM Saha said, "The situation in Bangladesh is not good. How is the government functioning there? The news that we're receiving, seeing on social media these days regarding the violence against the minorities is not right at all. Atrocities are being committed against minorities in Bangladesh. Nothing should be forced on anyone," CM Saha said. CM Saha also expressed concern as he pointed out that many terrorists who were jailed when the Sheikh Hasina was Prime Minister in Bangladesh are free and Tripura shares its boundaries with the country. "Then the terrorists who were jailed during the Sheikh Hasina government are free now. Where are they now? We are concerned regarding their whereabouts. Especially when Tripura shares its borders with Bangladesh it's a concerning matter. They have to check where these terrorists are now and what their activity is. This is not how it should be, fundamentalists doesn't mean that you will do whatever you feel like. I want to say that the current government there has to take care of the minorities," he added. The Chief Minister asserted that the Indian government is monitoring the situation. "Indian government is monitoring the situation. Ultimately Bangladesh's existence without India is not possible. So they also have to think about this. How their GDP spiked up earlier and how its coming down. This isn't how a country should be run, right?," he said. Earlier Chairman of the Muslim Students' Organisation of India, Shujaat Ali Quadri expressed concerns over the interim government's inability to safeguard minority groups in Bangladesh and stated that the interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, has failed to "protect the minorities, especially Hindus." Speaking to ANI, Quadri stated, "The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has been failed to protect the minorities, especially Hindus, and also the other sects like Ahmadiyyas, Sufis, Barelvis and even Christians." "We have seen in the news that several temples have been destroyed. The targeted killing of Hindus and Sufi Barelvi leaders has been carried out. So, I think the government led by Muhammad Yunus has been failed to protect the minorities." he added. Further, Quadri warned that the volatile situation in Bangladesh poses a significant threat to regional security, particularly in India, South Asia, and Asia. Quadri condemned the demand to ban ISKCON, stating that it is an "inappropriate act" by fundamentalist groups who are allegedly backed by Pakistan and its government.The situation in Bangladesh has been marked by increasing violence against minority communities, with temples, being destroyed after the arrest of a former priest Chinmoy Krishna Das.The international community has expressed concern over the situation, with India's Ministry of External Affairs stating that it is "concerned" about the safety and security of Hindus and other minority groups in Bangladesh.Earlier, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal urged Bangladesh's interim government to take steps for the protection of minorities. On the situation of minorities in Bangladesh, Jaiswal said, "India has consistently and strongly raised with the Bangladesh government the threats and targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities. We made our position very clear as far as the situation of Hindus and minorities in Bangladesh is concerned. The interim government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities." "We are concerned about the surge of extremist rhetoric, and increasing incidents of violence and provocation. These developments cannot be dismissed only as media exaggerations. We once again call upon Bangladesh to take all steps for the protection of minorities and safeguarding their interests," he added. (ANI) (Reuters) - Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman flew to the United Arab Emirates, the Saudi state news agency said on Sunday, the first such visit in three years. The visit comes days ahead of a Dec. 5 OPEC+ oil policy meeting that had been postponed from Sunday. Sources have told Reuters that among the issues that need to be addressed include an output hike for the United Arab Emirates agreed in June this year that's scheduled to start in January 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OPEC+, which groups the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies such as Russia, had postponed its meeting on the back of a Gulf Summit scheduled for Sunday in Kuwait. The Saudi state news agency did not give a reason behind the crown prince's visit to the UAE. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are traditional allies but economic rivalry has on occasion seen them chart separate paths on certain topics. (Reporting by Hatem Maher and Ahmed Tolba; Editing by David Goodman and Peter Graff) SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) A man was seriously injured in a shooting Saturday afternoon in the Cuyler-Brownsville area, the Savannah Police Department (SPD) said. The incident occurred in the 800 block of Kline St. The victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment, SPD said. SPD investigates fatal shooting on Augusta Ave Further details on the incident were not immediately available. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 912-234-2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. With Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo urging communities to stop adding fluoride to their tap water, the decades-old debate over the virtues and perils of the nations foremost dental health initiative may soon pop up on Central Floridas local government agendas again. Winter Haven city commissioners voted 3-2 this month to remove fluoride from their water system, prompting Ladapo to visit the Polk County citys water treatment plant last Friday, where he labeled fluoridating water as public health malpractice. I anticipate we are going to see a lot more discussions happening, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alan Hays hopes not. A Republican constitutional officer in GOP-dominated Lake County where he practiced dentistry for 27 years, Hays took issue with Ladapos views, saying fluoride has proven over many years to safely protect teeth and boost oral health. If the surgeon general would quit being a politician and start being a scientist, he, too, would agree that fluoride is inarguably in the proper dosage a tremendous asset to deter the decay of teeth, said Hays, who still holds an active state dentistry license but focuses his professional life as his countys Supervisor of Elections. Taking fluoride out of water will help enrich my practicing colleagues in dentistry. But thats not what were about. Were about helping people stay healthy and keeping mouths healthy. Fluoridation concerns over the last 80 years have ranged from objections about so-called forced medication to allegations that fluoride was part of a Communist plot to contaminate the nations potable water supply. But what was once considered a fringe issue is now going mainstream, and Hays position notwithstanding becoming partisan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Days before the Nov. 5 election, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. since named President-elect Donald Trumps choice to be secretary of Health and Human Services posted on X that the Trump White House will advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water. Ladapos subsequent proclamation is also advisory; water treatment has traditionally been left to local governments. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is probably the nations most important champion of the practice, listing fluoridated water among the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century. The agency estimates the optimal level of fluoride concentration to be 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water. Thats roughly equivalent to 3 drops of fluoride in a 55-gallon barrel. No public water system in Central Florida regularly exceeds that level by more than a fraction, a sampling by the Orlando Sentinel showed. But the Sentinels survey also indicated that some local government agencies say they will reconsider their fluoridation practices given Ladapos and Kennedys concerns, while others dismiss the need to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Orange County Utilities is committed to providing reliable and safe drinking water for our community and meets all federal and state standards, spokesperson Jamie Floer said in an email. The utility, which has 855,000 water customers, began adding fluoride in July 2004, abandoning its distinction as the last fluoride holdout among Floridas largest counties. Asked if the Orlando Utilities Commission was considering any fluoridation changes, spokesperson Michelle Lynch said in an email, OUC complies with all federal regulatory requirements. Should the U.S. Public Health Service or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the regulatory body for drinking water standards, make a new determination on fluoride, OUC will comply with any federal requirements. Seminole County has been adding fluoride to its water for at least a quarter century. It has no definitive plans to discontinue the practice, county spokeswoman Andy Wontor said in an email. But commission Chair Jay Zembower said he would like county staff and commissioners to have an in-depth discussion with experts in the coming months on whether to stop fluoridating the water the county delivers to nearly 40,000 residential and commercial customers. Osceolas Toho Water Authority also told the Sentinel it would reassess its fluoride program due to the recent recommendation from the Florida Surgeon General. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, Zembower said he was somewhat perplexed about the recent controversy regarding fluoridation of drinking water. A county commissioner since 2018, Zembower said he has never received a phone call from a resident concerned about fluoridation. Dr. Johnny Johnson, president of the American Fluoridation Society and a member of the American Dental Association and the Florida Dental Association, said countless studies over the decades since fluoridation was introduced in the United States in 1945 have shown it has provided far-reaching health benefits, especially for young children. Fluoride helps slow the growth of bacteria and strengthens enamel, he said. Johnson disagreed with the argument that fluoridation in public water systems is no longer needed because of the wide array of toothpastes with fluoride on the market. They both work in complementary ways, he said. If you use fluoridated toothpaste, you get about a quarter of the amount you need. When added to water, you get an additional quarter. Its similar to airbags and seatbelts in a car. When airbags came out, we didnt stop using seat belts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Practices vary locally. More than 70 percent of customers of Orange, 80 percent in Seminole and 90 percent in Osceola water systems receive fluoridated water, but only 15 percent in Lake County do. Hays said he helped persuade Eustis and Umatilla two of just three communities in Lake County on the fluoride bandwagon to provide fluoridated water. The countys two largest cities, Clermont and Leesburg, dont fluoridate. In Mt. Dora, voters rejected the practice by a 2-1 margin in a 1982 referendum. Then, about a decade ago, Hays was among experts who defended fluoridation when the Eustis City Commission considered removing the mineral from the citys tap-water system because of a residents concern. The Commission retained the practice of adding fluoride. Ladapo said he based his opinion on the neuropsychiatric risk associated with fluoride exposure, particularly in pregnant women and children, and the wide availability of alternative sources of fluoride for dental health. In Winter Haven, city commissioner Brad Dantzler, who introduced the measure to take fluoride out of the citys tap water, said the proposal started as a citizen initiative in February and just kind of grew and grew on its own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city had been adding fluoride to its water since 1986. Dantzler said the idea was spurred on by a federal court ruling in September that concluded that fluoride, known to be toxic at high levels, poses an unreasonable risk of reduced I.Q. in children even in amounts close to what federal rules allowed. That ruling, turn, cited an August report from the National Toxicology Program, part of the federal HHS, declaring with moderate confidence that higher fluoride exposures are consistently associated with lower I.Q. in children. The levels it termed high, however, are more than twice what any Central Florida water system is providing. All along Ive said fluoride on your teeth is great. Its when it gets in your gut that we have a problem, Dantzler said. I just felt like, you know, citizens didnt have a choice whether they wanted to have it in their bodies or not. When we put it in their water, its just done. Staff writer Natalia Jaramillo contributed to this story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement shudak@orlandosentinel.com Local water systems that fluoridate Lake County 15.1 percent of county water customers receive fluoridated water City of Eustis Tavares Water Department Umatilla Water Works Orange County 79.7 percent of county water customers receive fluoridated water City of Maitland City of Ocoee Orlando Utilities Commission City of Winter Park OCUD/Western Regional Water System OCUD/Southern Water System OCUD/Eastern Water System Osceola County 97.8 percent of county water customers receive fluoridated water City of St. Cloud Harmony CDD TOHO Water Authority Eastern TOHO Water Authority Western TOHO Water Authority Poinciana System Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TWA Sunbridge Water Treatment Plant Seminole County 82.6 percent of county water customers receive fluoridated water Altamonte Springs Water Department City of Lake Mary City of Longwood City of Oviedo City of Sanford Seminole County Northeast Seminole County Southeast Seminole County Southwest Seminole County Northwest In 1976, beloved chef, cookbook author and television personality Julia Child returned to WGBH-TVs studios in Boston for a new cooking show, Julia Child & Company, following her hit series The French Chef. Viewers probably didnt know that Childs new and improved kitchen studio, outfitted with gas stoves, was paid for by the American Gas Association. While this may seem like any corporate sponsorship, we now know it was a part of a calculated campaign by gas industry executives to increase use of gas stoves across the United States. And stoves werent the only objective. The gas industry wanted to grow its residential market, and homes that used gas for cooking were likely also to use it for heat and hot water. The industrys efforts went well beyond careful product placement, according to 2023 research from the nonprofit Climate Investigations Center, which analyzes corporate efforts to undermine climate science and slow the ongoing transition away from fossil fuels. As the centers study and a National Public Radio investigation show, when evidence emerged in the early 1970s about the health effects of indoor nitrogen dioxide exposure from gas stove use, the American Gas Association launched a campaign designed to manufacture doubt about the existing science. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a researcher who has studied air pollution for many years including gas stoves contribution to indoor air pollution and health effects I am not naive about the strategies that some industries use to avoid or delay regulations. But I was surprised to learn that the multipronged strategy related to gas stoves directly mirrored tactics that the tobacco industry used to undermine and distort scientific evidence of health risks associated with smoking starting in the 1950s. Manufacturing controversy The gas industry relied on Hill & Knowlton, the same public relations company that masterminded the tobacco industrys playbook for responding to research linking smoking to lung cancer. Hill & Knowltons tactics included sponsoring research that would counter findings about gas stoves published in the scientific literature, emphasizing uncertainty in these findings to construct artificial controversy and engaging in aggressive public relations efforts. For example, the gas industry obtained and reanalyzed the data from an EPA study on Long Island that showed more respiratory problems in homes with gas stoves. Their reanalysis concluded that there were no significant differences in respiratory outcomes. The industry also funded its own health studies in the early 1970s, which confirmed large differences in nitrogen dioxide exposures but did not show significant differences in respiratory outcomes. These findings were documented in publications where industry funding was not disclosed. These conclusions were amplified in numerous meetings and conferences and ultimately influenced major governmental reports summarizing the state of the literature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This campaign was remarkable, since the basics of how gas stoves affected indoor air pollution and respiratory health were straightforward and well established at the time. Burning fuel, including natural gas, generates nitrogen oxides: The air in Earths atmosphere is about 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, and these gases react at high temperatures. Nitrogen dioxide is known to adversely affect respiratory health. Inhaling it causes respiratory irritation and can worsen diseases such as asthma. This is a key reason why the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established an outdoor air quality standard for nitrogen dioxide in 1971. No such standards exist for indoor air, but as the EPA now acknowledges, nitrogen dioxide exposure indoors also is harmful. More than 27 million people in the U.S. have asthma, including about 4.5 million children under age 18. Non-Hispanic Black children are two times more likely to have asthma compared with non-Hispanic white children. EPA How harmful is indoor exposure? The key question is whether nitrogen dioxide exposure related to gas stoves is large enough to lead to health concerns. While levels vary across homes, scientific research shows that the simple answer is yes especially in smaller homes and when ventilation is inadequate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This has been known for a long time. For example, a 1998 study that I co-authored showed that the presence of gas stoves was the strongest predictor of personal exposure to nitrogen dioxide. And work dating back to the 1970s showed that indoor nitrogen dioxide levels in the presence of gas stoves could be far higher than outdoor levels. Depending on ventilation levels, concentrations could reach levels known to contribute to health risks. Despite this evidence, the gas industrys campaign was largely successful. Industry-funded studies successfully muddied the waters, as I have seen over the course of my research career, and stalled further federal investigations or regulations addressing gas stove safety. This issue took on new life at the end of 2022, when researchers published a new study estimating that 12.7% of U.S. cases of childhood asthma about one case in eight were attributable to gas stoves. The industry continues to cast doubt on gas stoves contribution to health effects and fund pro-gas stove media campaigns. A concern for climate and health Residential gas use is also controversial today because it slows the ongoing shift toward renewable energy, at a time when the impacts of climate change are becoming alarmingly clear. Some cities have already moved or are considering steps to ban gas stoves in new construction and shift toward electrifying buildings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As communities wrestle with these questions, regulators, politicians and consumers need accurate information about the risks of gas stoves and other products in homes. There is room for vigorous debate that considers a range of evidence, but I believe that everyone has a right to know where that evidence comes from. The commercial interests of many industries, including alcohol, tobacco and fossil fuels, arent always compatible with the public interest or human health. In my view, exposing the tactics that vested interests use to manipulate the public can make consumers and regulators savvier and help deter other industries from using their playbook. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Jonathan Levy, Boston University Read more: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jonathan Levy has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Health Effects Institute for studies on the contribution of outdoor and indoor sources to air pollution levels in homes. ASSIST OTHER UNIT: Report from Highland Bend Road of a request from CSX requesting fire department due to a burnt up switch heater sending 2- to 3-foot flame off the tracks. Reported by a passing train. Fires extinguished. 4:19 a.m., Friday, Nov. 22. INVESTIGATED: Report from Dogwood Ridge of a found shotgun in case. 8:59 a.m., Friday, Nov. 22. THEFT: Report from Henley Deemer Road of a house broken into multiple times. 9:27 a.m., Friday, Nov. 22. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement THEFT: Report from McDermott-Pond Creek of stolen rings. 9:43 a.m., Friday, Nov. 22. INVESTIGATED: Report from Vernon Street of an argument with school staff. 10:02 a.m., Friday, Nov. 22. NEIGHBOR COMPLAINT: Report from Burns Hollow Road of neighbors coming on property without permission. 10:26 a.m., Friday, Nov. 22. SUSPICIOUS PERSON: Report from Blue Run Road of an unknown male saying he was selling degreaser door-to-door. 1:10 p.m., Friday, Nov. 22. INVESTIGATED: Report from Dogwood Ridge Road of a possibly stolen cell phone. 1:18 p.m., Friday, Nov. 22. ANIMAL COMPLAINT: Report from Shirley Road of neighbors pigs on callers property again, digging up yard. 4:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 22. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement INVESTIGATED: Report from Coriell Road of a male pushing his way into a residence, refusing to leave. 5:25 p.m., Friday, Nov. 22. SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE: Report from Marne Avenue of people abusing drugs in a vehicle. 7:12 p.m., Friday, Nov. 22. INVESTIGATED: Report from Slab Run Road of a vehicle stuck in callers yard, damaging property trying to get unstuck. 9:25 p.m., Friday, Nov. 22. DOMESTIC COMPLAINT: Report from Calverts Lane of a loud argument between a male and female. 1:18 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 23. DOMESTIC COMPLAINT: REport from U.S. 23 of a male with a firearm threatening a female. Male taken into custody. 4:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement THEFT: Report from McCorkle-Rockwell Road of a stolen truck. 5:13 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 23. SHOTS FIRED: Report of shots fired and people screaming at a residencde on Tatman-Coe Road. Neighbors reported they had not been home all day. 5:31 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 23. SUSPICIOUS PERSON: Report from U.S. 23 of a female walking on roadway screaming and punching fuel pumps. 6:37 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 23. SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE: Report from Dogwood Ridge Road of a fellow motorist threatening to shoot caller. 8:57 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 23. THREATS OR HARASSMENT: Report from Ohio 104 of a male threatening female and sending harassing texts. 9:28 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement THREATS OR HARASSMENT: Report from Junior Furnace-Powellsville Road of a male with a firearm threatening another male. 9:42 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 23. INVESTIGATED: Report from Queensbury Apartments of two males staring into residences doorway, speaking gibberish when confronted. 12:09 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 24. INVESTIGATED: Report from Ohio 104 of a party with underage drinking. 1:34 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 24. INVESTIGATED: Report from Ohio River Road business of reckless driving in the parking lot. 7:27 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 24. INVESTIGATED: Report from Neff Bratton Road of property damage due to someone driving through property. 10:51 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 24. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement INVESTIGATED: Report from Rarden Hazelbaker Road of a tree stolen off property with property damaged from dragging by a vehicle. 11:28 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 24. THEFT: Report from Ohio 140 of items stolen off a work truck. 12:49 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 24. NEIGHBOR COMPLAINT: Report reform Pershing Avenue of a neighbor stealing electricity. 3:56 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 24. FIRE: Report of a fully engulfed residential fire on Hughes Road with explosions heard. Rush Fire Department, AEP responded. Fire marshal requested. 7:35 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 24. INVESTIGATED: Report from Eighth Street of a male breaking down the door of a residence. Male was on probation. Male taken into custody at secondary location. 8:47 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 24. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement THEFT: Report from Pine Lane of someone going through vehicles. 4:07 a.m., Monday, Nov. 25. VANDALISM: Report from Pine Lane neighborhood of several cars and a tractor trailer spray painted and an electric bike missing. 5:52 a.m., Monday, Nov. 25. STOLEN VEHICLE: Report from U.S. 52 of a stolen vehicle found in Washington Court House. 8:29 a.m., Monday, Nov. 25. INVESTIGATED: Report from Ohio 335 of people fighting loudly and making a disturbance. 2:25 p.m., Monday, Nov. 25. THEFT: Report rom Norwood Street of a package theft from a porch. 3:01 p.m., Monday, Nov. 25. THEFT: Report from Pine Lane of a vehicle console damaged and cash stolen. 5 p.m., Monday, Nov. 25. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement INVESTIGATED: Report from Ohio 73 of female yelling in yard, creating a disturbance. 5:29 p.m., Monday, Nov. 25. FIRE: Report from Poplar Fork Road of an abandoned house on fire. Lawrence County requesting assistance from Green and Vernon departments. 11:28 p.m., Monday, Nov. 25. THREATS OR HARASSMENT: Report from Center Street of a female threatening a female and attempting to climb in residents window. 12:37 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 26. INVESTIGATED: Report from Center Street business of a male sleepign in a car in the parking lot. 8:05 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 26. THEFT: Report from U.S. 52 business of theft of unspecified items. 9:36 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 26. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement THEFT: Report from Gallia Pike of a stolen package. 10:42 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 26. INVESTIGATED: Report from Richard Road of malnourished dogs at a home with no utilities. No dogs observed at property. 10:43 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 26. INVESTIGATED: Report from Bierly Road of an elderly male walking in middle of road near overpass. Deputy reports male is appropriately walking on side of roadway. 11:45 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 26. INVESTIGATED: Report from Twin Valley Road of backhoe hitting gas line. Columbia Gas contacted, shut off gas. 12:32 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 26. INVESTIGATED: Report from Back Road of a child locked in a vehicle. 1:45 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 26. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement JUVENILE COMPLAINT: Report from Ohio 73 of an unruly juvenile damaging residence. 1:46 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 26. ACCIDENT WITH INJURY: Report from Center Street and Ohio River Road of a crash with injuries. Air bags deployed. 2:51 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 26. INVESTIGATED: Report from Holmes Avenue of females blackmailing a male in regards to sharinginappropriate photos on social media. 3:28 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 26. SUSPICIOUS PERSON: Report from an Ohio 335 business of a possibly impaired female in parking lot with two minors. 4:25 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 26. INVESTIGATED: Report from Kinker Drive residents of a neighbor who keeps parking behind callers vehicle, blocking them in. 7:47 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 26. NEIGHBOR COMPLAINT: Report from North Preston Street of shots heard in the area. Unable to locate on patrol of the area. 8:14 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 26. INVESTIGATED: Report from Hammerstein Road by caller who said they heard someone trying to get in their door. 9 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 26. INVESTIGATED: Report from Center Street caller who loaned a debit card and the person was not returning card. Card was retrieved. Subject could not be located. 10:29 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 26. DOMESTIC COMPLAINT: Report from Lincoln Street neighbor of a domestic situation with screaming in background and sound of shots fired. Both parties said the loud sound was a window closing. 11:41 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 26. Scottish households are braced for record hikes to council tax with the SNP poised to scrap Humza Yousafs freeze on bills. A commitment to ending a council tax freeze is understood to be a red line demand for the Scottish Lib Dems, seen as the most likely party to allow the spending plans to pass, while it is also a key request from local authorities. Senior SNP sources have briefed that the policy, which Mr Yousaf abruptly announced at the SNP conference last year, is likely to be abandoned in the 2025-26 spending plans, which are to be announced on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It would pave the way for double-digit percentage point increases in bills, with warnings that some town halls could increase rates by up to 17 per cent. Argyll and Bute Council had previously voted for a 10 per cent rise this year, but later reversed the decision after the Scottish Government agreed to more funding. Shirley-Anne Somerville, an SNP Cabinet minister, says local authorities need to be trusted to make their own decisions - Jane Barlow/PA Shirley-Anne Somerville, the SNP Cabinet minister, described reports that the freeze would end as speculation on Sunday. However, it is understood the Scottish LibDems would refuse to back any Budget that included the tax freeze, with the SNP requiring at least one opposition party to abstain or support its plans for them to pass. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SNP is reluctant to strike another deal with the Greens, who are also opposed to the council tax freeze, while Tory and Labour sources have ruled out any agreement. Were still on the bus, were still talking, but it all depends on what they reveal on Wednesday, a senior Lib Dem source said. We have not been definitely told that a council tax freeze is coming to an end, but we firmly believe local authorities need to be trusted to make their own decisions. We will hold to our red lines and there are poison pills we will not swallow. A deal is further away than has been reported. A deal with sink or swim on whether they are prepared to reverse the massive year-on-year cuts to local government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They added: We couldnt support a Budget that would stop councils making the decisions on tax they feel is right for their local communities. Katie Hagmann, an SNP councillor, says a council tax hike is essential to protect vital services - Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images Europe The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) has also demanded an end to the freeze and is also lobbying strongly against any form of cap on bill increases. The SNP implemented a council tax freeze for almost a decade after winning power in 2007 but scrapped the policy nine years later. However, increases to bills were capped at three per cent until 2022, with Mr Yousaf resurrecting the freeze last year. Katie Hagmann, an SNP councillor and Cosla resources spokeswoman, said a council tax increase was essential to fund public services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added: We have been consistent and clear that there should be no freeze on council tax and, importantly, there should be no cap either because this is very much for local decision-making. The last thing local leaders want to do is raise council tax in a cost-of-living crisis, we are acutely aware of that, but we also need to protect those vital services. Ms Somerville refused to confirm reports that the council tax freeze was set to be scrapped but did not deny them either. While the devolved Governments finances have been given an almost 5 billion boost as a result of the UK Governments Budget, experts have warned that much of the cash has been swallowed up by large public sector pay deals agreed by the SNP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Somerville said: The council tax freeze was an important part of last years Budget because there was an exceptional push on a cost-of-living crisis and it was important that we took action on that. I love reading the newspapers the week before the Budget, but I am not going to comment on speculation. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The benefits of art can be found in any age group, with endless studies to support art education helping children stay engaged. But there's also research to suggest that older adults doing art helps them to keep their memory and improve their cognitive function. "When you're engaged in something, you're going to learn better. When you're engaged in something, you're going to be happier," said Natalie Marsh, director of learning and innovation at Scottsdale Arts. Scottsdale Arts has a number of different programs to help people of all walks of life be engaged with the arts, including helping local teachers implement art into their classrooms and Memory Lounge, which is an arts program for people with mild to moderate memory loss and their care partners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The art forms range from improv to painting to music, meaning there is practically something for everyone. Memory Lounge is organized by the nonprofit Scottsdale Arts in partnership with HonorHealth. Sessions are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month, rotating between the Bove Neuroscience Institute at HonorHealth and Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. 'If I had to sum it up, I would say it's fun' Anne Halvorson and her mother, Nancy Halvorson, have been attending Memory Lounge since 2022. Nancy was diagnosed with Alzheimer's the year prior, Anne said. Nancy lives in an assisted living facility, but she spent much of her career as a music therapist working with children with special needs in the public school system, Anne said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since her mother was already naturally drawn to art, the two became frequent attendees of Memory Lounge after hearing of the program through Hospice of the Valley. "It's been a lifesaver for us. It has given my mother an outlet for all of her creativity, which she has in abundance," Anne said. Memory Lounge also allows Anne's mother the chance to use a different part of her brain and to learn something new. It's also a space for her to simply socialize and talk about something other than her doctor's appointments and where she's living, Anne said. "If I had to sum it up, I would say it's fun. We don't have to plan anything. There are amazing artists who come and share their talents," Anne said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anne said her mother has a very outgoing personality, though Alzheimer's has made her more hesitant to interact with others. Anne said she finds art to be relaxing for her as well. It helps her forget about her worries about her mother or anything else going on in the world, she said. Anne said her mom feels the same way. She shared one of the most touching comments from her mother about the program: "That was fun. It almost made me forget that I have this stupid brain thing." How can art help people with memory loss? The mission of Memory Lounge is to provide people with dementia and their caregivers like Anne Halvorson and her mother a place to go that does not involve seeing the doctor, Marsh said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When you're diagnosed with a disease like that, it can be really isolating, and your time is often taking going to doctor's visits," Marsh said. Unsurprisingly, people who have been recently diagnosed with something like dementia often don't immediately see what's going on at their local arts organizations. But they are going to their hospitals and their doctors, Marsh said. The partnership with HonorHealth helps people learn about programs going on within their community. "There are programs out there where like-minded people can come together and have social experiences, make some art, make some new memories and just live in the moment," Marsh said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Memory Lounge started in 2008 when local art organizations piloted the program. Then in 2017, the Arizona Commission on the Arts held a creative aging cohort where a number of organizations, including Scottsdale Arts, began developing their own creative programs again. Wanting to rejuvenate the program, Scottsdale Arts brought back Memory Lounge. Arizona and Florida two popular retirement states had the highest number of people being diagnosed with Alzheimer's, Marsh said. In fact, there are more than 150,000 people over the age of 65 living with Alzheimer's in the state of Arizona, according to the Alzheimer's Association. That's 11% of all adults over age 65 in the state. What is the mission of Scottsdale Arts? According to the organization's website, Scottsdale Arts' mission is to "develop, advance and deliver high-quality arts, cultural experiences, and opportunities in Scottsdale to residents, cultural institutions, artists, and visitors from around the world." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to Memory Lounge, Scottsdale Arts also works closely with Scottsdale schools on art integration. Art integration is when a curriculum is taught through arts and can apply to any subject, such as social studies or math and sciences, Marsh said. Artists help classrooms from the pre-K level all the way up to the high school, where teachers are taught how to incorporate art into their classrooms no matter the subject. "What we find is that students are learning the content more deeply. They have curiosity and agency in their learning. So they're invested, they're engaged, they're participating," Marsh said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And there are some similarities between working with children and seniors, Marsh said, indicating how art can have similar benefits across all age groups. While children are often not afraid to try new things, adults do have a fear. But that fear lessens when everyone is engaged in Memory Lounge together, Marsh said. "They're not scared to try improv. Everyone's here because they want to have something fun to do," Marsh said. How to support Scottsdale Arts There are multiple ways to support Scottsdale Arts listed on the organization's website. Donations directly to Scottsdale Arts can be made either online, over the phone or by mail. Another option is by becoming a ONE Member, which comes with benefits like Scottsdale Arts newsletters, priority seating or early ticket-buying and free admission to the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. Memberships vary between $50 and $2,500 per year depending on the tier. Scottsdale Arts also has programs such as its legacy society, which incorporates the organization into estate planning, as well as programs for businesses, including becoming a corporate partner or fundraising events. How Season for Sharing is helping art engagement Scottsdale Arts is just one of the groups that received funding from Season for Sharing to help assist with arts programming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are a few other groups that are making a difference in the state and how Season for Sharing is helping: Arizona Opera: Arizona Opera provides more than 40,000 K-12 students and educators across the state with free arts programming through live performances and digital offerings that help inspire students and enhance their learning in the classroom. Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona: Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona successfully offers free, year-round arts education programs. The programs empower thousands of at-risk youth (ages 3 to 26) and helps them develop resilience across personal, educational and professional settings. Rosie's House: A Music Academy for Children: Rosies House provides free mariachi lessons each week to students from across the Phoenix area. The program aims to use art to help students develop their full creative and personal potential. How to donate to Season for Sharing There are several ways you can donate to Season for Sharing and help organizations like Scottsdale Arts continue to help the community. Fill out the secure online form at sharing.azcentral.com. Text "SHARING" to 91-999 and click on the link in the text message. Go online at facebook.com/seasonforsharing and look for the featured "DONATE HERE" post. Clip the coupon on Page 4A of The Arizona Republic, fill it out and mail it to P.O. Box 29250, Phoenix, AZ 85038-9250. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How you can help: Season for Sharing returns to assist Arizonans in need this holiday season Reach the reporter at ahardle@gannett.com or by phone at 480-708-1633. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @AlexandraHardle. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Can art help with memory loss?This Arizona group proves it can They're all fighting back, in whatever way they can for as long as they can. And they all need help in that fight, help that would say as much about the broader community in which they live as it does about them. The Palm Beach Post's Season to Share project has served as a conduit, a thread connecting those who have urgent needs and those willing to help. This year marks 29 years for that thread, and as our community grows, so, too, does its needs. Who couldn't empathize with Leason Wallace, a 46-year old West Palm Beach man with cerebral palsy hoping to re-establish connections he had through a program he can no longer afford? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Season to Share 2024: Meet your neighbors in need Leason Wallace has cerebral palsy and difficulty in communicating. And lately, his world has been shrinking. First his mother died and then he could no longer afford the program that gave him social connection, one for adults with disabilities. With his mother now gone, that program was his social lifeline. But he earns just enough through a custodial job to have lost government benefits that paid for the program. For now, Wallace's world is smaller than it was, smaller than he needs it to be. Gabe Pacheco was left for dead after a beating that cracked his skull and rendered him blind. The same is true for Gabe Pacheco, a 35-year old Lake Worth Beach man blinded three years ago after a brutal assault. Pacheco, a former bartender, needs a pair of surgeries not covered by health insurance and dental work to repair some of the teeth and jaw damage he suffered during the assault. Determined to reclaim self-sufficiency and return to the work world, he's hoping to get a wearable device that can read text, recognize faces, identify products and accurately answer questions and provide data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the Bleiler family of Jupiter, they need help affording the regular treks to Miami, where 3-year old Axel gets care for spinal cancer. Axel Bleiler and his family try to find the happier moments in between painful procedures and doctor visits to arrest the cancer strangling his spine. Axel is uncomplaining and sweet, soothed during terrible moments by the love of his family and the sounds of Taylor Swift songs. In Belle Glade, another 3-year old, Moreitza Major, is battling an undiagnosed digestive problem that causes frequent bouts of intense pain and malnourishment. Her grandparents, farmworkers caring for Moreitza and her siblings, need better living conditions and reliable transportation. The Major family (left to right), Kethshainna, Meversly Paul, Moreitza, grandmother Marie, Diavens and grandfather Jean in their cramped Belle Glade apartment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year's Season to Share project will introduce readers to people with a variety of challenges and needs, cancer patients and car accident survivors, people trying to expand their world and those caring for children who are seeing the worst of it. Season to Share has raised more than $17 million for needy families and individuals in Palm Beach County and the Treasure coast since its inception 28 years ago, including nearly $500,000 for eight recipients in 2023. HOW SEASON TO SHARE WORKS All Season to Share donations, which are made via the Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties website, go to helping nominees via their nominating agencies. Once the nominees needs are met, the charitable agencies can use the funds to assist other needy families within their agencies. Season to Share funds are not to be used by the agencies for administrative purposes. The reader-donated funds are managed and distributed to the agencies by the Community Foundation, a respected philanthropic presence in our region for more than 50 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To make a donation online, please click the DONATE link below and follow the instructions on the Community Foundation's page. To mail in a donation, please download and print the form below. 2024 Season to Share donation form. Wayne Washington is a journalist covering West Palm Beach, Riviera Beach and race relations for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at wwashington@pbpost.com. Help support our work; subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach Post Season to Share 2024 charity: Families who need help You see them, heads close together, chatting quietly, in their favourite restaurants in Rome. It might be Velando, close to St Peters Basilica. Or they might go further west to Rinaldi alQuirinale, where members of the Italian intelligence service enjoy the seafood as much as the princes of the Church do. Not that those princes the elite squad of the Roman Catholic Church, its cardinals who elect the Pope seem all that different to other priests, as, for lunch, they dress down in black suits and Roman collars. The giveaway is the heavy gold ring each wears placed on their finger by whichever pope made them a cardinal. Now, those lunching cardinals are becoming more gossipy, more conspiratorial in tone. On December 7, Pope Francis will create another 21 cardinals in a lavish Vatican ceremony. But there are mutterings about the health of the Pope himself, who is in his 87th year and often in a wheelchair. Who should be the next Pope, they ask, and how can someone ensure his favoured fellow cardinal reaches the throne of St Peter? The plotting that surrounds the election of a Pope is the stuff of Conclave, the film based on Robert Harriss novel of the same name, and starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow, released this weekend. It is set when a fictional pope has died and cardinals from across the world are locked into the Sistine Chapel for secret deliberations until they reach a two thirds majority decision to elect a new pope. Sergio Castellitto stars as Cardinal Tedesco in director Edward Bergers Conalve - Focus Features But the election of a pope is more complicated and conspiratorial than Conclave suggests. Rather than be the only setting for such plotting, a conclave is the endgame. For conversations about those considered papabile likely candidates to become Pope happen with increasing frequency as an existing papacy grows longer, and a pontiff grows older. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, cardinal-electors are supposed to be guided by the Holy Spirit in their final choice of Pope. But, in reality as in Conclave mucky manoeuvrings are par for the course. As John Cornwell wrote in A Thief in the Night, his celebrated investigation into the curious death of Pope John Paul I in September 1978 just 33 days after his election, todays Vatican can be a palace of gossipy eunuchs a village of washerwomen they get down in the river, wash clothes, punch them, dance on them, squeezing out all the old dirt. Well before the cardinals will gather in the Sistine Chapel for a real conclave, blocs of voters have started to form. Elderly cardinals over the maximum voting age of 80 have lobbied the eligible voters; lunches and dinners of the type described above have taken place; and even the embassies of various nations to the Holy See the UKs included have held some sway. Despite its name con clave means with key and suggests deliberations are secret what goes on behind locked doors has rarely stayed private for long. Prior to the first conclave in 1241, popes had either been imposed on the Church by the powerful kings or rulers in charge of Rome, or elected by the citys inhabitants by popular acclaim. They included, it is written in many papal chronicles, the ninth-century Joan, a woman disguised as a man whose true identity was only revealed when she gave birth in the street mid-papal procession. The change of format came about following the death of Pope Gregory IX, who had been at odds with the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick II. A group of 10 cardinals were locked in the ancient and squalid Septizonium Palace in the city (two other cardinals were being held prisoner elsewhere by Frederick) by those who wanted the new pope to be staunchly anti-Emperor. Cardinals attend the Ash Wednesday mass lead by Pope Francis at St. Peters Basilica in Vatican City - Corbis/Getty Images Europe Despite their privations, the prelates couldnt agree on the right man. One died in the sweltering heat. Finally, after 60 days it all became too much. They compromised on an elderly monk, who took the name Celestius IV. The nine remaining cardinals quickly fled the city. Their haste was rewarded when, two days after taking office and without performing a single official duty, the aged and frail new Pope promptly died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such abject failure of the first conclave did not stop them becoming key to the papal election process going forward. And the physical discomfort endured by the first participants was retained, as far as was possible, with poor rations, basic quarters and quasi-imprisonment for months on end. In fact, the papal election following the death of Pope Clement IV lasted almost three years, from November 1268 to September 1271. The last two conclaves took place in 2005 (after the death of John Paul II, which led to the election of Benedict XVI) and in 2013 (when Benedict shocked the world by resigning and was replaced by the current Pope Francis). Each involved a first vote in the evening, more the next day, and was over within 28 hours. The famous white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney, bells rang, the crowds cheered and a cardinal announced from St Peters balcony: Habemus papam We have a Pope. In 2005, Joseph Ratzinger was one of the most senior cardinals based in the Vatican. There was a sense that well-organised conservative Cardinals outplayed liberal ones with their lobbying of the undecided, ensuring that Ratzinger, with his critique of modern culture, love of traditional liturgy, and a focus on European Catholicism, took the throne of Peter as Benedict XVI. Pope Benedict XVI greets young Catholics in St Peters Square at the Vatican - ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP By 2013, when Benedict resigned, the progressive cardinals, who advocate more involvement of the laity in the Church, prefer modern worship, and are less insistent on strict rules opposing birth control and divorce, were more organised. One key, pre-conclave meeting was held by the UK Embassy to the Holy See. For some years, the ambassador to the Holy See, Francis Campbell, had, like other ambassadors, hosted dinners for major Vatican events at his residence. The guests included not only Vatican officials and cardinals and bishops from the UK, but also cardinals from around the Commonwealth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We once had 28 cardinals around our table, Campbell recalls. We would gather cardinals from Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, south-east Asia. It was about the networking capability of the Foreign Office, but it also gave these cardinals an opportunity to meet Vatican-based cardinals they might not know and talk about the Church and its needs. By the time Benedict resigned, Campbell had been succeeded by another ambassador, Nigel Baker, who continued the tradition, hosting an event with the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-OConnor, for Commonwealth cardinals. Although he was just over the maximum conclave voting age of 80, Murphy-OConnor was in Rome for the pre-conclave gatherings called general congregations. He was a friend of Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Buenos Aires and made sure that he let the embassy gathering know who they should vote for. Bergoglio was duly elected as Pope Francis. Bergoglio himself spoke to the assembled cardinals during their pre-conclave gatherings and seemingly convinced his colleagues that he had the strength of character and the vision to take on reform of the Church and of the Vatican, including its troubled finances. Jean-Baptiste de Franssu, chairman of the Vatican Bank, told me recently how much impact the time between Benedicts resignation and Franciss election made on the cardinals. There were more opportunities to talk about the challenges the Church faced, he said. It was unusual. During the days of the sede vacante, or interregnum, before the conclave, Vatican officials are forbidden from leaving Rome unless for a personal emergency, but undoubtedly speculate about who will get elected. One bishop who was permitted to leave to attend a relatives funeral before the 2013 conclave sheepishly admitted to me that back home he had placed a bet on the conclaves outcome. He won: he had heard enough gossip in Rome to be convinced, even before the doors of the Sistine Chapel were locked, that Bergoglio would emerge as pope. White smoke emerges from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, indicating that a new Pope has been elected - Gregorio Borgia/AP Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, 11 years later, Francis is thinking about the future, with his latest batch of 21 cardinals about to be installed. Analysis of the College of Cardinals shows a sharp change in its make-up during his 13 year papacy. There are just six voting cardinals left from John Pauls time, plus another 24 voters appointed by Benedict. Once the Dec 7 cardinals are included, there will be 111 voters appointed by Francis and so his liberal picks could easily achieve the two thirds majority needed. With the new intake, the number of English cardinals will rise to four. Arthur Roche, head of a Vatican department on worship, Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols and Michael Fitzgerald appointed after a lifetime of service to interfaith dialogue will be joined by Timothy Radcliffe, a Dominican friar and former master of his Order. The cardinals installation ceremony called the consistory is when cardinals are introduced into the College of Cardinals and get to know their fellow red hats. Cardinal Nichols, who was consulted by Ralph Fiennes for Conclave regarding the rituals and practices of a cardinal, holds membership of several Vatican departments, including the one that chooses bishops and meets every fortnight, so he sees more of Rome than most. It is difficult for those who are not doing so, he says. At one time we also used to have discussions organised around the time of consistories but that has not happened so often. The head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster - Victoria Jones/PA That has consequences for what happens at the next conclave, when cardinals some of them little known and inexperienced weigh up the Churchs future and assess who is best placed to lead it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Will Francis do a Ratzinger and resign, after attempting to reform the Catholic Church? Neither Nichols nor Fitzgerald thinks so. At first he thought he would be there just five years, says Fitzgerald, but now I believe he will die in office. Hes gone past the moment for resignation. The eminent church historian Alberto Melloni wants voting to change, arguing that the general congregations have inevitable leaks and distracting incidents. He wants a gathering without the too-old-to-vote red hats. Fitzgerald, too old to vote, disagrees: I think we have something to say. And what about the man who will be the next Pope? As Paul Gascoigne said, talking about Newcastle United, said Nichols. I dont do predictions. He might be the soul of discretion about naming names, but he is clear what it takes something much more profound and timeless than the social media dominated 21st century might suggest: Strength of purpose, a strong will, and an unshakeable trust and confidence in the Lords presence. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Ultra-liberal Sen. Bernie Sanders posted to X on Sunday that he supports the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) providing it takes a hard look at the Pentagons budget. Elon Musk is right. The Pentagon, with a budget of $886 billion, just failed its 7th audit in a row. Its lost track of billions, the 83-year-old Vermont senator posted on X. Elon Musk is right. The Pentagon, with a budget of $886 billion, just failed its 7th audit in a row. Its lost track of billions. Last year, only 13 senators voted against the Military Industrial Complex and a defense budget full of waste and fraud. That must change. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) December 1, 2024 Last year, only 13 senators voted against the Military Industrial Complex and a defense budget full of waste and fraud. That must change, Sanders added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy will serve as the co-heads of DOGE, which plans to make recommendations on government waste cutbacks until it concludes its work by July 4, 2026. DOGE is an outside organization that will coordinate with the White House and Office of Management and Budget to discover and eliminate waste. Sanders was among the bi-partisan legislators appalled when the Department of Defense failed its seventh independent audit in a row. The DoD has a budget of $824.3 billion for the 2024 fiscal year. Mike McCord, the Pentagons chief financial officer, has stated that the department is working toward a clean audit. But that will likely take several more years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several comments on Sanders X account supported his take. Musk replied to Sanders post with several American flag emojis. Sensible spending is not a partisan issue. The general public supports @DOGE holding government accountable to spend taxpayer money more wisely, Musks America super PAC wrote in response. Former Congressman Matt Gaetz had a gleeful response. Welcome home, Bernie, Gaetz wrote. Collin Rugg, co-owner of Trending Politics, added on X, Glad you realized Elon Musk is not the problem. The problem is the federal government which has wasted and lost trillions of dollars of taxpayer money, The post Sen. Bernie Sanders Backs DOGE: Elon Musk is Right appeared first on TheWrap. Delhi Police on Sunday launched a comprehensive month long campaign against drugs, amid ongoing preparations for the New Year celebration in the National capital. According to Delhi Police, it is working rigorously on a zero-tolerance policy against narcotics and is committed to eradicating narcotic drugs from the root, with the support of all stakeholders and the general public. Special Commissioner of Police, Crime Devesh Chandra Srivastava said that "During the current year till November 15, Delhi Police has arrested 1520 Narco-offenders in 1121 NDPS cases and recovered about 73.3 kgs of heroin/smack, 1293.3 kgs of cocaine, 4257.3 kgs of ganja, 103.7 kgs of opium, 50.5 kgs. of Charas, 80.5 kgs. of poppy head etc." In addition, Delhi Police is taking stringent action against narco-offenders under the PITNDPS Act (Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act) & Financial Investigation under section 68 NDPS Act. During the current year 2024, upto November 15, detention orders against six drugs traffickers were issued. In one matter, the screening committee approved the proposal; however, a detention order is yet to be issued by Department of Revenue, Union Finance Minister. The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), Crime Branch, and District police are also preparing PITNDPS proposals against many other active drug traffickers. Financial Investigation has been done against 34 Narco offenders and freezing orders were issued for their assets amounting Rs 3,13,11,937/- and six freezing orders amounting Rs 2,94,74,557/- are under process. The 9th State Level Committee meeting of NCORD was convened on 20th November 2024 at the Delhi Secretariat under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, Delhi. Subsequently, a review meeting was held on November 26, at Raj Niwas, Delhi, under the chairmanship of the Delhi LG. The purpose of this meeting was to review the decisions of the 9th State Level Committee and discuss strategic measures to eradicate drug trafficking and abuse in Delhi. At the end of the meeting, Delhi LG emphasized inter-departmental coordination, timely reporting, and strict compliance with directives. He stressed the need for concerted efforts to achieve the vision of a "Drug-Free Delhi" within 03 years. The LG directed to launch of a "One-Month Comprehensive Campaign as a Pilot Project" starting from December 1. This initiative is envisioned as a significant step toward freeing Delhi from drug-related issues. Key Activities of the Campaign include Targeted Locations for Surveys, Awareness Programs, and Raids, 200 hostels, 200 schools, 50 colleges, 200 pan shops, 200 pharmacy shops, 200 bars/pubs/clubs/restaurants, All shelter homes, All railway stations, 03 ISBTs, and other public places and Random checks on auto-rickshaws, taxi drivers, Courier/Parcel services, and e-Commerce Companie(s) suppliers, to curb drug trafficking involvement. Delhi police will also collaborate with Educational Institutions for the Involvement of hostel wardens, school principals, and university administrators to prevent drug-related incidents on their premises. The LG also directed to give away handsome Cash Rewards to the general public for providing information related to "Drug Trafficking", with the assurance to keep his name secret. He emphasized leveraging various platforms like print/visual media, social media, radio, and DTC buses/public transport to enhance public awareness. Police will also collaborate with celebrities, influencers, NGOs, and community leaders. (ANI) President-Elect Donald Trump has proposed some highly questionable individuals for cabinet positions in his administration. Mr. Trump is fighting to bypass traditional Senate review, claiming he will order senators into recess if needed to slide his picks through. I applaud U.S. Senator Thom Tillis for opposing recess appointments of cabinet members. He stated, That should be absolutely off the table. Senator Tillis is right to emphasize the importance of the advise and consent of senators as stipulated in the Constitution. We relinquish the Constitution and the rule of law at our peril. Im grateful that Sen. Tillis is taking a stand and encourage his colleagues to do so as well. Heather Stein, Chapel Hill Reps. protect kids I worry about my toddler son growing up in a world filled with smartphones and social media. Social media is great for keeping in touch with your friends and relatives, but it is also designed to be addictive. Developing brains dont know better than to swipe through video after video. Ive seen kids loose sleep, worry about their body image and receive messages from strangers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its time to reclaim our kids online safety. The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) is a very straightforward bill sponsored by Democrats and Republicans that protects kids online by regulating addictive features and harmful content. Rep. Wiley Nickel, please give parents the autonomy we so desperately need. Help KOSA pass before the end of the year. If you dont, our kids may never get the chance to flourish that they deserve. Marta Whitfield, Clayton Sen. Bergers comment I strongly disagree with the statements made by Sen. Phil Berger concerning the vote counting process. I worked at my precinct for about 20 years and was the chair of the Wake County Board of Elections for 10 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The people who work in precincts and local election boards are hard-working, dedicated citizens. No one would work there unless they were dedicated to the election process and wanted the best and most accurate elections. My suggestion is for the elected members of the General Assembly and Congress to volunteer to work on a November General Election. Provisional ballots take a long time to see if that vote can legally be counted. There are laws that could be changed to help with this process. Perhaps, Sen. Berger may wish to meet with election board director Karen Brinson Bell and ask for suggestions to expedite the election process. Constance Mitchell, Rolesville Tomorrows workers With only 55 workers for every 100 open jobs as of 2023, North Carolina faces a severe workforce shortage. As a Durham Technical Community College instructor, I recently joined a panel to discuss equipping our current and future workforce with skills in A.I. and other emerging technologies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the high demand, many workers feel unprepared. Roughly 53% of North Carolina workers report feeling unequipped to use A.I. tools. Those most familiar with these technologies often come from privileged backgrounds, leaving under-served communities at a disadvantage. We need equitable access to A.I. and hands-on STEM learning to bridge this divide and prepare students for tomorrows job market. From applying digital tools in small businesses to using machine learning in healthcare, the potential applications are vast. We must act to ensure these opportunities are accessible to all North Carolinians. Lets invest in the skills that will power our future. Cecila Chan Milla, Durham GOP harms elections North Carolinas Republican leadership has shown its identity. Justice Allison Riggs parents are among the 60,000 voters Republican Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin has challenged statewide. This is a brazen display of raw political power that damages the concept of fair elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With 14 years service as an election official in Durham and Wake counties and eight years experience as a reporter who covered state government and politics, I hope North Carolinas voters take notice. Mark G. Rodin, Morrisville By Anait Miridzhanian and Ngouda Dione Thiaroye, SENEGAL (Reuters) -Senegal on Sunday commemorated the 80th anniversary of a massacre of African soldiers who fought for France during World War Two, and were gunned down by French troops in 1944 for demanding fair treatment and payment on their return. The West African country has long demanded its former coloniser take responsibility, officially apologise and properly investigate the massacre that took place in Thiaroye, a fishing village on the outskirts of Senegal's capital Dakar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event, which renewed these demands, comes as France is losing influence over its former African colonies, many of which have turned to Russia for security instead. "The riflemen sacrificed everything. They gave of their youth, they gave of their blood, they gave of their flesh for freedom and world peace," Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye told guests and reporters. Accounts of the massacre vary, as does the death toll, which French ex-president Francois Hollande raised to at least 70 from 35 during a visit to Thiaroye in 2014. Historians say hundreds may have died in the confrontation with colonial authorities. The ceremony, which France's foreign affairs minister attended alongside other African heads of state, started with a visit to the Thiaroye military cemetery to lay flowers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A printed guide to the ceremony described the "horrific repression" of members of the Senegalese infantry unit, who were surrounded and gunned down for requesting due compensation. A few days before the commemoration, French President Emmanuel Macron wrote a public letter to his Senegalese counterpart Faye in which he referred to the killings as a "massacre". Faye said Macron's acknowledgement was a significant step in the process of rehabilitating the honour and dignity of victims. France's foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in a speech his country had recognised that on that day, "a chain of events was set in motion that led to a massacre". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaspard Mbaye, head of an association dedicated to the soldiers' memory, told Reuters he was disappointed because he expected more from the French government. "They continue to conceal the truth and try to divert attention," Mbaye said. (Additional reporting by Elizabeth Pineau in ParisWriting by Sofia ChristensenEditing by Christina Fincher) BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic pledged on Sunday his country would help investigate after an explosion in Kosovo that disrupted water supplies and that the government there blamed on Belgrade. The explosion on Friday evening hit a canal that sends water to Kosovo's two coal-fired power plants - accounting for most of the country's power production. It also caused water supply cuts in some parts of the country, but there were no power cuts. The incident inflamed longstanding tensions between Kosovo and Serbia. The Kosovo government called the explosion an act of terrorism by Serbia, which Serbia denied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Finding out the truth is in the best interest of our country," Vucic told reporters on Sunday. "We are ready to share information with everyone even with Pristina." He reiterated that Serbia had nothing to do with the explosion. He also accused Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti of using the incident to firm up his grip in the north of the country, where a Serb majority refuses to recognise Pristina institution and sees Belgrade as their capital. The Kosovo government has not said why it believes Serbia was responsible for the explosion. Kosovo police arrested eight people and seized weapons and explosives on Saturday in raids in connection with explosion. Kosovo media reported on Sunday that water supplies were getting back to normal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kosovo declared independence in 2008, almost a decade after NATO bombed Serb forces to halt the killing and expulsion of ethnic Albanians from the region during a 1998-99 war. But Serbia does not recognise Kosovo as its sovereign state and together with its ally Russia is blocking Kosovo's membership in the United Nations. Both Kosovo and Serbian governments have set membership in the European Union as their goal, but in order to achieve that the two countries have to normalise relations. Nearly 17 years after Kosovo's declaration of independence, more than 4,000 NATO troops oversee fragile peace in the country. (Reporting by Ivana Sekularac; Editing by Frances Kerry) BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) Serbia on Sunday rejected any responsibility for a powerful explosion that temporarily cut water and power supplies to large swathes of neighboring Kosovo, with Serbia's president claiming such accusations are part of a hybrid warfare against his country. Kosovo officials said police had arrested eight people after an explosion on Friday in the northern Serb-populated part of the state hit a canal that sends water to its two main power plants. Pristina called it a terrorist act conducted by Serbia. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic rejected those accusations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, there was an attempt of a large hybrid attack on our country, Vucic said. Belgrade and Serbia have nothing to do with those events. The populist Serbian leader suggested Kosovo was behind the attack but said he would refrain from directly accusing Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti pending an investigation conducted by Belgrade. I will not say that Kurti directly ordered the attack," Vucic said. The investigation will show, we have certain suspicions. We believe we have certain findings who could be the perpetrator. During that so-called anti-terrorist operation, Kurtis special forces occupied new intersections and streets, harassing Serbs, and it was all a show for the international public," Vucic said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti said the recent attacks in Kosovo on a water canal, town hall building and police station were correlated with the recent attacks from Russia in Ukraine. That attack has correlation with the massive air attacks of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, attacks which targeted energy infrastructure in Ukraine, he said at a news conference on Sunday. Kosovo police have raided 10 locations in the north, confiscating more than 200 military uniforms, six shoulder-fired rocket launchers, long weapons, pistols and ammunition, they said. About 15 to 20 kilograms (30 to 45 pounds) of explosives were used to damage the critical infrastructure, according to Kosovo police chief Gazmend Hoxha. Police also found many emblems of the Russian special forces and Russian empire flags, according to Kurti, adding that Serbia is copying Russian methods to threaten Kosovo and the region in general. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The explosion has further fueled tensions between the two Balkan states. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, which is not recognized by Belgrade. Most of the Serb minority living in Kosovo still consider Belgrade as their capital. The European Union and the United States strongly denounced the explosion and demanded that the perpetrators are brought to justice. A shooting victim was found dead inside a vehicle Saturday in Kansas City, Kansas, a police spokeswoman said. Officers responded about 11:20 a.m. to check on reports of a person who was dead inside a vehicle near North Second Street and Quindaro Boulevard, said Officer Jovanna Cheatum with the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department. Arriving officers discovered that the deceased man had a gunshot wound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives with the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Departments major case unit are investigating the homicide. The killing is the citys 23rd homicide of the year, according to data tracked by The Star, which includes fatal police shootings. By this time last year, Kansas City, Kansas., had 21 homicides. Anyone with information on the killing is asked to contact the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). A team of Canadian and American doctors from Face the Future Foundation, working with Ukrainian doctors, have been preparing Dmytro, a 42-year-old veteran of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, to be fitted with a prosthetic eye. Dmytro joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the autumn of 2022, swapping his career as an architect for reconnaissance. He defended Donetsk Oblast for two years before being wounded. A shell from a tank exploded a few metres away from Dmytro and a fragment of the shell hit him in the face, the Patients of Ukraine charity said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Driven by adrenaline, Dmytro walked a kilometre to the evacuation centre, and then everything went dark. The soldier had to undergo brain surgery and spent 18 days in a coma, but he fought his way back to life," Patients of Ukraine said. Once the defender's health was no longer in danger, a team from the international mission Face the Future Ukraine took over the aesthetic treatment of the "traces of war" on his face and prepared Dmytro for an ocular prosthesis. Medics from Face the Future Ukraine. Photo: Patients of Ukraine In place of the shattered bones of Dmytros eye orbit, doctors installed a Materialise, a personalised 3D implant, which replaced the lost part of his face. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dmytro also underwent surgery on his nose to restore nasal breathing and fill in the cavity left after brain surgery, which the veteran had been disguising by wearing caps. "Because the shrapnel had shattered his eye orbit, it was impossible to put in a cosmetic prosthetic eye; it would have kept falling in. Also, the eyelid could not have been opened sufficiently because the eye incision was too small," said Natalia Komashko, one of the mission coordinators. "The reconstructive surgery performed on Dmytro has prepared him for future prosthetics, and soon he will be able to use an ocular prosthesis." The charity notes that Dmytro made a rapid recovery after the operation and has now returned home, where his 10-year-old son was waiting for him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Face the Future Foundation has carried out four missions to Ukraine. During the last one, they operated on 34 Ukrainians. Earlier, Ukrainska Pravda reported on how an international team of surgeons from Canada, the US and Ukraine reconstructed the face of a Ukrainian soldier who was seriously wounded while fighting in Donetsk Oblast. Support UP or become our patron! Dont even want to see the name I couldnt believe the announcement that Dickies is moving to California. (Nov. 24, 1A, Iconic Fort Worth brand Dickies moving HQ to California) Why? It doesnt make any sense because so many companies are moving out of California. Fort Worth needs to remove the name from Dickies Arena immediately. Fair Park in Dallas needs to find someone else to make clothes for Big Tex. Theres no need to promote companies that dont like Texas. - Jim Villwock, Aledo State doesnt protect its workers On the news that Dickies an iconic Fort Worth brand for 100 years is moving its headquarters to California, Mayor Mattie Parker suggested that the company will regret leaving a business-friendly environment. Why, Mayor? We have few worker-protection laws. The state even banned cities from passing ordinances requiring water breaks for outdoor workers during the summers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im saddened Dickies is leaving after a century. - Aram Azadpour, Grapevine Not the right women here I take issue with the conclusion of a Nov. 24 letter-writer that the U.S. has fallen behind other countries because we havent elected a female president. The issue is more that the major political parties have not nominated a woman acceptable to the masses. Hillary Clinton was generally disliked, to the point she squandered a huge lead and Donald Trump won. She carried the baggage of failed socialized medicine and, of course, the basket of deplorables comment about Trump supporters. Kamala Harris problems included a bloodless coup, promising to raise corporate taxes and running on joy while turning to Trump bashing. Spending a billion dollars bashing Trump and hiring celebrities was never a recipe for success. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are ready for a woman to be president, just neither of these. Bill Clinton may be right that a center-right woman will be first. - Charles Andrews, Fort Worth What MAGA really means to me What is a MAGA Republican? If you support or accept the support of Donald Trump, you support authoritarianism, extremism and racism, reject fair and free elections, are defiant toward law enforcement and promote political violence. - Leslie J. Smith, Grapevine Support principals and teachers To solve education problems, first, the principal must be in charge of the school. Second, the teacher must be in charge of the classroom. And the primary responsibility for the superintendent and staff? To help principals and teachers be more effective and efficient in their essential roles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - Omar Winter, Fort Worth Gateway Church is an outlier Its interesting that attendance and financial contributions have dwindled at Gateway Church after sex abuse allegations against founder Robert Morris. And yet, many evangelical Christians condemning Morris couldnt wait to vote for a presidential candidate who makes Morris look like an innocent choirboy. - Jack Bowen, Fort Worth Just what is a serious law? A Nov. 19 Chicago Tribune editorial in The Star-Telegrams online edition, Trumps immigration deportation plans need compassion and a dose of reality, argues that we should deport those in noncompliance who have broken serious laws. If a law is not serious, it should be repealed. The Tribune argues that the U.S. has not meaningfully enforced its own laws for years, but ignoring laws and flippantly calling some serious and others nonserious is subjective and unfair. - Mark Swanson, Mansfield Dec. 1In 50 years, New Mexico will have 25% less water. That's the crux of why Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's administration is pushing again for the Legislature to fund her strategic water supply proposal, which would channel money to industrial water reuse projects. Policymakers in the most recent Legislature wouldn't pass any money for the pitch, and some this time around still have doubts about the details or lack thereof backing the idea. The strategic water supply is a way to commercialize the cleanup and reuse of saltwater brackish water or oil and gas wastewater produced water to go toward projects like green hydrogen, solar panel manufacturing and data centers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That'll help conserve the massive amount of freshwater those projects use and act as an economic boost, is the state's line of thinking. This year, the New Mexico Environment Department is approaching the Legislature with a $75 million proposal to support strategic water supply projects. The state would use that money to award grants and contracts and administer pilot and industrial-scale projects focused on treating produced water and brackish water. It comes after the Legislature earlier this year didn't pass even a $100 million appropriation request for a strategic water supply proposal. The state originally sought out $500 million, but policymakers stripped the request out of the capital outlay package. In the time since the legislative rejections, NMED has issued a request for information, participated in various strategic water supply events around the state, presented its updated proposal to multiple interim legislative committees and released a feasibility study. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyone has learned more since the start of this year, state Environment Secretary James Kenney told the Journal. He envisions New Mexico with three to seven water treatment facilities cleaning up brackish and produced water. "The science and technology and everything else is at the right moment for us to do this," he said. Leaders from the Legislature's Democratic majority who largely control getting funding past the legislative finish line have yet to completely agree. What is the strategic water supply? The strategic water supply is part of New Mexico's 50-year water plan and seeks to help solve the state's water shortage that will only worsen. Over the next 50 years, the state is expected to have about 25% less water available in rivers and aquifers, according to NMED. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, state officials think it's time to incentivize the treatment and reuse of brackish and produced water for certain operations. New Mexico has an estimated 652 trillion to 1,303 trillion gallons of brackish water in its brackish aquifers likely more and the oil and gas industry generates 85 million gallons of produced water per day, according to a feasibility study NMED and Eastern Research Group Inc. released last week. These "major untapped water resources" could offset reliance on freshwater resources, the study found, in projects like green hydrogen production, data centers, semiconductor manufacturing, solar panel manufacturing, electric vehicle manufacturing, pumped storage hydropower, and cement and concrete production. Some of the projects would require the discharge of treated water into the environment. That's especially concerning to some environmental advocates, who point to potential negative human health and environmental effects, something the study also mentions as a possibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There's no question about advocate Mariel Nanasi's opposition to the strategic water supply. There's no evidence it won't harm the public and environment, said Nanasi, executive director of New Energy Economy. "And so without evidence, we can't move forward," she said. More research needs to be developed on produced water before New Mexico can determine its "beneficial reuse," Nanasi said. She'd rather see money go toward updating water infrastructure. There will always be people who don't support the proposal, Kenney said. "If you're anti-fossil fuels, you may not ever get to a point where you could support that aspect of this bill," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But with an energy demand that's only growing, especially as renewable energy production and generative artificial intelligence ramp up, Kenney described the strategic water supply as a "must-have." Where exactly projects like desalination plants would be located is still up in the air. The study proposes Santa Teresa and Albuquerque as areas that could develop brackish water resources, and New Mexico's two major oil and gas-producing regions the Permian and San Juan Basins as suitable locations for produced water treatment facilities. A new detail in the state's most recent strategic water proposal could bridge the gap between the $500 million NMED originally wanted from the state and the $75 million it's asking for now: a strategic water supply fund paid for by the oil and gas industry. Kenney told lawmakers last week the legislation would establish a fee of 5 cents per barrel on any produced water generated in the state that's not recycled or reused. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That's estimated to generate about $68 million a year for a strategic water supply fund, which the state could use to award grants, contract or administer pilot and industrial-scale treated brackish and produced water projects. The state also wants to incentivize private industry participation in the strategic water supply by offering subsidies to businesses that purchase treated water. That would help offset the estimated costs, which range from $13 million to $667 million for produced water projects and from $3 million to $107 million for brackish water projects, according to NMED. Indeed, business leaders have jumped to invest tens of millions of dollars in treatment projects, even after the strategic water supply bill didn't pass the Legislature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For instance, American West Water Advisors LLC and process patent investor Marvin Nash last week announced a patented process for water treatment in New Mexico. The patent would monitor and test whatever the reused water is being used for, helping appease health and safety concerns about the strategic water supply, said John D'Antonio, owner of American West Water Advisors and former New Mexico state engineer. For example, he said, the process for irrigational uses of reused water would include testing soil, monitoring crops and then testing the crops once mature. "The whole idea is you look at applying the conservation by design patent process because it works with any technology and you can verify by doing actual monitoring and observing, pre(-project), during project and post-project," he said. New Mexico will fall behind other states if it doesn't fund the strategic water supply, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The governor's strategic water supply will revolutionize water markets in New Mexico," D'Antonio said. Lawmakers didn't support it before. Do they now? The state listened to feedback submitted on its proposal, Kenney said, which is reflected in its smaller financial request and the broader project scope. The state is also much more focused on understanding the science and technology behind a strategic water supply, he said, which the feasibility study highlights. Nobody disagrees that a lack of water availability is an issue, Kenney said, and he's optimistic about how lawmakers will approach the strategic water supply come 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think they're digesting what we're providing them," he said. Sen. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, said in a statement to the Journal the newest proposal is "right-sized." He added that he likes the proposed fee on barrels of produced water, which creates a recurring revenue stream. "Key for me will be the guardrails in the bill, which we have yet to see," Wirth said. Rep. Matthew McQueen, D-Galisteo, held similar concerns. Though the financial ask has gotten much smaller, the proposal still needs more details, McQueen said. He chairs the House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee as well as the interim Water and Natural Resources Committee, where the state last week presented its updated strategic water supply. "The original proposal was a really big number without any details, and so the number has gotten smaller that's probably a good thing but we're still looking for details," McQueen said. "And they certainly added details, but I still want to understand how the whole thing would work." The legislators last week had a deficit of information, Kenney said, because the state didn't at the time provide them with a draft bill. NMED aims to share a draft with the committee this week. "So, of course, they need more details," Kenney said. Even still, $75 million is a big ask, McQueen said. Though New Mexico is flush with dollars in its budget now, particularly due to the oil boom, it won't always be that way. "So even though the current request is down to $75 million, it's still $75 million that's still a lot of money," he said. With only 30- and 60-day-long sessions, it's a rush to get things done, McQueen said. "I'm always looking forward to hearing more details," he said, "and we're running short on time." Getting funding for the strategic water supply is more important now than ever as New Mexicans wait to see if President-elect Donald Trump will halt the flow of dollars the state has gotten for energy and infrastructure under President Joe Biden's administration, Kenney said. "You could think of the strategic water supply as shoring up the economic investments that President Biden and Congress brought into New Mexico," he said. Not everyone is convinced yet, including some of the most important players. "If there is a feasible and responsible and safe way to increase the (water) supply, that's something we should look at," McQueen said. "But feasibility and safety remains to be seen." Micheal Martin and Simon Harris are in a tight race to become Irelands next taoiseach, leaving Sinn Fein locked out of power, according to the latest general election results. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are expected to secure a combined total of more than 80 seats, just shy of the 88 needed to secure a majority in the Dail. Sinn Fein is expected to secure around 40 seats, well short of a majority, and it has little prospect of entering into a coalition with the other two major parties. Exit polls on Friday had initially placed them first, but counting over the weekend altered final projections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The party has said it wants to be in the next government, but Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have said they will not work with Sinn Fein due to policy differences. Irish premier Simon Harris was reelected and his party will not work with Sinn Fein - Niall Carson/PA With all 43 constituencies first counts in, first preference percentage share for the largest three parties was: Fianna Fail 21.9 per cent, Fine Gael 20.8 per cent and Sinn Fein 19 per cent. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, the two centre-Right parties that have dominated Irish politics for a century, served together in the outgoing government and they have signalled a willingness to form another coalition. Based on the latest totals, Fianna Fail is well-placed to emerge as the biggest party, meaning Mr Martin would likely become taoiseach once again. He has been serving as tanaiste, the second most senior member of the Irish government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Numerically, Labour is well-placed to serve as Fianna Fail and Fine Gaels junior coalition partner, but there is no consensus within the party on serving in a coalition with the two centre-right parties. Aodhan O Riordain, a Labour MEP, said the disrespect shown to the Greens by Fine Gael was galling to watch. There is no indication they would change their attitude. We remember what they were like in 2011 to 2016, he said. Mr Martin and Mr Harris are expected to begin policy talks this week as they gear up to agree on an official coalition. However, any such administration is not expected to be formed until the new year. Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald celebrates her victory, but the party may be locked out of power - Brian Lawless/PA Who serves as taoiseach will likely depend on which party has the most seats after the final count comes in, though Fine Gael has cast doubt on this principle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fianna Fail believes it will return between 43 and 46 seats, which would make it the largest party. Fine Gael expects to take between 38 and 42. Mary Lou McDonald, Sinn Feins leader, has not given up hope of her party joining any future coalition. When we know the lie of the land, we will be talking to people about the government, she said. It represents a setback for the partys plans to hold a referendum on a united Ireland by 2030. The other two major parties are committed to a united Ireland as a long-term policy. Support for the Green Party collapsed across the country, with only party leader Roderic OGorman expected to retain his seat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Social Democrats, on the other hand, made several gains. Its leader, Holly Cairns, who gave birth on polling day, was re-elected in Cork South-West, with total seat figures expected to hit double figures. Turnout at the general election was 59.7 per cent, a drop from 62.9 per cent in 2020. More than half of the Dails 174 seats have been filled, with counting expected to be completed in the coming days. The election was marked by a strong anti-establishment feeling, despite the governing parties looking set to be returned to office. An alleged Dublin gangland figure known as The Monk came close to being elected to a seat in Dublin just weeks after he was arrested in Spain for alleged money laundering. The Monk narrowly missed out on a seat - Charles McQuillan/Getty Gerry Hutch registered his candidacy for Irelands election - giving his profession as consultant - after he was released on bail. He missed out on a parliament seat by less than 700 votes. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday criticised the manipulation of Indian history, stating that it has been distorted to create a monopoly around a select few individuals being credited for India's independence. "Our history books have done injustice to our heroes. Our history has been manipulated and doctored, creating a monopoly of a few who are credited with gaining us independence. It is an unbearable pain on our conscience. It is a burden on our soul and heart. I am certain we must bring about significant change. There is no better occasion to reflect on this than the commemoration of the first Bharat Sarkar in 1915," Dhankhar said while addressing the 138th Birth Anniversary Celebration of Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Dhankhar described Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh as a natural diplomat, statesman, visionary, and nationalist. He highlighted how Raja Mahendra Pratap epitomised patriotism, nationalism, and foresight by demonstrating what could be achieved for the nation. Expressing his anguish over the lack of recognition for unsung heroes of the freedom struggle, Dhankhar said, "What a travesty of justice, what a tragedy. In the 75th year of our independence, we have failed--miserably failed--to acknowledge the heroic feats of great men like Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh. Our history has not given him the place he deserves. The foundations of our independence, built on the supreme sacrifices of people like him and other unsung or lesser-sung heroes, have been misrepresented." He further added, "In 1932, this extraordinary visionary, who rose above ordinary concerns in the name of freedom, was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by N.A. Nielsen. And why? For his role in the same campaign in South Africa for which Gandhi became renowned. I urge everyone to read that nomination--it reflects the towering personality of the man." The Vice-President criticised the way history has been written, marked by an unfortunate tendency to overlook certain national heroes. "We cannot nurture our history by indulgently crediting a few while marginalising others who played pivotal roles. It is imperative to present unvarnished historical accounts to inspire patriotic fervour in this generation and those to come." At the event, Dhankhar also emphasised the importance of farmers' welfare in achieving the status of a developed nation. "Our current economic progress is phenomenal, with exponential growth and an enhanced global image. However, to attain developed nation status by 2047, the satisfaction and welfare of our farmers are essential. It is our precondition for progress," he said. Urging farmers to resolve issues through dialogue and understanding, Dhankhar remarked, "We must remember not to fight amongst ourselves or deceive our own people--that is what we reserve for our enemies. Our people must be embraced. How can anyone rest when farmers' issues remain unresolved? I appeal to my farmer brothers to resolve their problems through dialogue. Raja Mahendra Pratap was known for such an approach." The Vice-President's speech underlined the need for an honest recounting of history and the prioritisation of issues such as farmers' welfare for national progress. (ANI) SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) Downtown Partners of Sioux City invited the Siouxland community to support independently owned retailers for Small Business Saturday. This years campaign, Destination Downtown, highlighted the unique offerings Sioux Citys local shops have to offer, including The Expansion Center, which hosted a pop-up shop market to help customers discover more than a dozen unique local vendors for their holiday shopping. Elk Point hosts first Hometown Christmas Market Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its just a really beautiful thing to go and buy from a small business owner, to interact with them, to hear about their product and what theyve done to really differentiate it and make it just a little more special, The Expansion Center co-owner Stacie Anderson said. And of course this is what this particular Saturday is for, small businesses. Customers said they use Small Business Saturday to get a start on their holiday shopping and to find things they cant buy at a large retail store. I like to shop locally because I can get more unique gifts but then I am also able to see and meet the people that I am actually buying their products from, so it feels good to have that connection with the community, local shopper April Allen said. This was the 15th year the United States has participated in the Small Business Saturday initiative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. MOUNTAIN BROOK, Ala. (WIAT) Alabamians are being encouraged to shop local and support small businesses. A proclamation from Governor Ivey deemed the Saturday after Thanksgiving Small Business Saturday. Nowadays, its easy to shop at a big box store or order online, but you dont always get the service and care that you can find at small businesses. When Jo Self had to fix one of her faucets, she came to Little Hardware, a locally owned small business in Mountain Brook, to get the materials for the job, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You get a lot of personal service, and these guys know what they are talking about, Self said. Self was able to be in and out of the store quickly with exactly what she came for. Interactions like this are what Little Hardwares manager, Patrick Davies, says are the benefit to shopping small. If you shop local, people have grown up around here that are shopping here, working here, so its good to have that sense of community, you know? said Davies. In Alabama, there are over 400,000 small businesses that employ around 800,000 Alabamians. The National Federation of Independent Businesses estimates that for every dollar spent at a small business, 67 cents stay local. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putting tax dollars back into the local communities, roads, stop signs, police forces, stuff like that, you know? Davies said. Davies says supporting small business is important throughout the year, but its especially crucial during the holidays. The holiday season is the biggest time of the year, right, its where you make your money. Staying busy this time of year is huge, Davies added. A lot of small businesses are running specials this weekend and will continue to have sales throughout the holiday season. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) On 127 acres of farmland in Frankfort, there is a bit of a hidden gem along the Bourbon Trail. But Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. folks dont have anything to hide regarding the craft distillerys bourbon. We allow our customers to taste straight from the barrel, so its single barrel, uncut, unfiltered, the way nature meant it to be, said Jeffrey Markowitz, Chief Operating Officer at Whiskey Thief. Stores across the Bluegrass saw large crowds Black Friday, including Fayette Mall Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The distillery offers a unique tour and tasting experience to its visitors that you cant get in a major distillery. As we walk them down to the barrels to begin their tasting, and theyre observing people filling their own bottle, said Markowitz. It usually brings in an ear-to-ear smile, and its like, Oh, I can do that? We havent been able to do that anywhere else. And we love when we generate those smiles. Its truly a one-of-a-kind experience. This place is awesome. I love the atmosphere here. You know, its a small business. I love supporting small businesses in Kentucky, said Bryan Methvin, who was visiting the distillery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whiskey Thief staff even grow its corn, involving visitors in each process of production from the fields to filling their bottles. Standing at one of the giant fermentation tanks, Markowitz explained how the distillation process eliminates any bacterial content inside, saying, We welcome our guests to get down, to take a whiff. They want to put their finger in; see what its all about; we welcome that as well. And Whiskey Thief is getting recognition. When it went under new ownership in 2021, the distillery was seeing about 8,000 visitors per year. But this year, Markowitz says theyre on track to hit 54,000. Perhaps its because you wont find this bourbon on liquor store shelves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more of the latest Kentucky news We dont distribute. We choose to have people come here, and if they like what theyre tasting, we encourage them to fill their own bottle, said Markowitz. Whiskey Thief recently expanded, opening a second tasting room in Louisville. But for the full experience, youll have to come to Frankfort. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) Black Friday is a day dedicated to finding the best deals, typically led by the biggest businesses. However, the day after is Small Business Saturday, a day meant to highlight small businesses around the country, like The Front Porch Farm, owned by Abraxas Patton, who said the timing of Small Business Saturday is perfect. Polar Bear Express begins another year of Christmas light tours Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everybodys coming out, and theyre shopping for Christmas and the holidays, Patton said. After the holidays, theres not a whole lot. It gets cold; nobody wants to come out to the farmers markets. And so, those profits would carry us through to the end of January. Like many other farms in Texoma, the Front Porch Farm provides an alternative to buying eggs, meat, and other goods from big stores. Patton enjoys being a small business, but it provides many challenges that bigger companies might not have to deal with. Really, its the economy of scale of what we can buy, Patton said. Were not going to be the best price, but were definitely going to have a lot of love and caring that we put into our products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visiting farmers markets is a great way to support small businesses. Many of them set up shop and sell their goods in person, like Jeremy Ramsey with Owl and Spice Co. To him, supporting a small business can mean a number of things for a communitys future. When you buy local, you might be helping them grow, Ramsey said. They might be able to, you know, ten years down the line, your kids might get hired as their first employee, you know? So, it really helps support the economy and grow the community that youre in. On a day dedicated to small businesses everywhere, its important to remember what supporting one can mean to them and the community as a whole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. Small property owners are urging Massachusetts Senators to reject Boston Mayor Michelle Wus commercial and residential property tax increase. The Small Property Owners Association (SPOA) is appealing to senators to hold the line on fiscal sanity and protect Boston property owners from this unnecessary and unfair tax increase. Mayor Wu proposed a dramatic 8% increase to Bostons FY 2025 budget that relies heavily on her proposal to shift the citys tax burden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mayor is seeking a budget increase of more than twice the proposed increase for the state budget. SPOA is asking senators to insist the city cut its excessive spending before considering any tax increase. We hope the Senate will resist this tax shift, as it harms small businesses and commercial owners from Boston and other cities, said SPOA Vice President Amir Shahsavari. Its like throwing ice water on the citys economy. We do not support Mayor Wus bill as any tax should not be considered without budget cuts. City spending is out of control. We may not all live in Boston, but our businesses and livelihood are there, as are the important contributions we make to the Boston economy, Shahsavari added. Peter Forman, President and CEO of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce, recently noted that allowing the city of Boston to change state laws to increase commercial property tax rates would have a chilling effect across Massachusetts. Boston is trying to break the established ceiling. Being the largest community in the state, they will be setting a new and higher standard that other towns will probably want to adopt, and I think that will lead to some economic harm in the state, said Forman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Massachusetts Senate will take up the tax hike on Monday. 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 Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Temperatures are 10 to 15 degrees below average over parts of the Northern Plains to the Ohio Valley and the eastern third of the country Sunday, while snow is making post-Thanksgiving holiday travel treacherous in the Great Lakes region. More than 2 million people near Lakes Erie, Michigan and Ontario remain under a snow warning where snow has already blanketed parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York state, the National Weather Service reported. Western New York has already gotten 4 feet of snow, and warnings are expected to expire there Sunday night and Monday, but have been extended in parts of northeast Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania until Tuesday, according to the Weather Prediction Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These intense bands will result in deep and drifting snow, likely measured in several feet in the hardest-hit areas," the center's storm summary said. "Travel will remain very difficult to impossible in these areas." Nearly 70% of the United States will experience overnight temperatures below freezing over the next few days as Arctic air moves down from Canada and blankets much of the country. "Yesterday, I shoveled for four hours and today I've been here for about an hour," Erie resident and native Richard Korytowski told local TV station WICU as he dug out his driveway. "I expected to shovel," he said, "but not this much." The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has closed several roads in Erie County, and state officials have advised people to avoid roadways, if possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Stay home, stay in place, stay safe. Only travel when necessary," Erie County Executive Brenton Davis said at a news conference Sunday, where he described the storm as a "snowmageddon event." The state's transportation department has reduced travel speeds on Interstates 80 and 96 to 45 mph. Debris has prompted the Ohio Department of Transportation to close several roads, and officials are reminding travelers to use caution on snowy and icy roadways. While it is snarling holiday weekend travel across much of the northeast, some residents are not bothered by the heavy snowfall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tug Hill, N.Y., resident Kathy Davis called Saturday's snowfall a "good old-fashioned winter," in a video on WWNY. "This is what I remember as a kid," Davis said, according to WWNY. "It just keeps coming and coming." The Buffalo Bills are scheduled to host the San Francisco 49ers at home Sunday night, where snow blankets Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. The team has solicited the help of fans to help remove the snow before kickoff. The Bills announced in a press release that the team would pay people $20 an hour and provide food and hot drinks for their efforts, and offered a link to sign up online. WILLIAMSBRIDGE, The Bronx (PIX 11) A three-year-old girl has been hospitalized after being struck by a moped in a hit-and-run accident Friday afternoon, according to police. The young victim, Mylah Rojas, has been recovering at New York Health + Hospitals/Jacobi since the incident happened on Holland Avenue in Williamsbridge. More Local News Now, the family is pleading for the publics help in finding the man responsible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was crazy, said Robert Rojas, the victims uncle. You know, one day, were having Thanksgiving dinner. Next day, we get this surprising news and we just been doing a lot of chain of prayers throughout everywhere. Robert says his niece, Mylah, was walking on the sidewalk with her mother near Holland Avenue in Williamsbridge when it happened. Thats when his sister gave him a daunting phone call. She called me saying, you know, that someone had ran over the baby with a scooter, and in the ambulance, I can hear the ambulance person saying keep your eyes open and things like that, Robert said. So, basically, my world was upside down when I heard that. The family said the young victim suffered a fractured skull and bleeding on her brain. Now police are searching for the mopeds driver in connection to the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She took a step from the building door, and he just ran over her, and after that, they rushed her to the hospital. They say that the guy, he basically came, took a look, saw that she was heavily bleeding, and he just took off, said Robert. The driver was last seen wearing an orange jacket, black sweatpants, and black sandals. He was driving a blue moped with black stripes on the side, according to investigators. The family is now holding onto hope and praying for Mylahs recovery. Its just something you dont expect. You see things like this happen on the news, but you never think its going to happen to your family, Robert said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has been re-elected as secretary general of his centre-left Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) at a party conference in Seville on Sunday, according to the Europapress news agency. The show of support for Sanchez comes despite several ongoing investigations into several Sanchez associates on allegations of corruption. He won 90% of votes cast by delegates, and several prominent PSOE politicians - including the leaders of Spanish autonomous regions such as Castilla-La Mancha and Catalonia - stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanchez has been at the helm of the party for a full decade, and Sunday's party vote was the fourth time he's been re-elected as secretary general. At the party conference, he expressed his conviction that the PSOE will win Spain's 2027 general election. In snap general elections in July 2023, PSOE came second behind the conservative People's Party (PP). However, Sanchez managed to gather enough votes to be elected prime minister and is now leading a minority government with the left-wing Sumar alliance. Sanchez's wife, Begona Gomez, is being investigated on suspicion of influence peddling and corruption. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She holds no public office and is a marketing expert who has worked for banks and non-governmental organizations. A major storm that unleashed deadly flooding in late October in eastern and southern Spain has also upended Spanish politics with anger from voters and allegations of an inadequate response. The particularly hard-hit region of Valencia, where 222 people died, is governed by PP leader Carlos Mazon. He has so far rejected widespread calls for his resignation over his handling of the crisis, and has instead accused the central government in Madrid of negligence. On Saturday, tens of thousands of people protested against Mazon in the regional capital of Valencia. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) The 26th annual Tuba Christmas concert and eighth Holiday Craft Show returned to Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown. There were 83 vendors this year, displaying their unique arts, crafts and foods on all three floors of the auditorium. Stambaugh was decorated with lots of holiday spirit. The event is a way for people to enjoy the historic building. We really want to support local arts, musicians, crafts, etc. So for us to kick off the holiday season, for us and along with the city it really just brings people together and brings awareness to the importance of arts in our community, said Dani Dier, with Stambaugh Auditorium. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vendors came from all over the area to participate. Tino DeCenso contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. The Fort Worth Star-Telegrams Crossroads Lab stands as a testament to the power of local journalism to make our community a better place. For more than three years, the community-funded Lab has informed and engaged citizens about under-covered issues and helped drive change. For instance, education reporter Silas Allen wrote a story last year about a disconnect between how parents think their kids are doing in school and how they are really doing. This year, the Fort Worth Independent School District began to shift its grading systems and improved its online portal to make it easier for parents to understand how their kids are doing in school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Labs five reporters fill coverage gaps that have developed due to stresses on the traditional model for local news in recent years. They cover topics such as education, early childhood development, health care, racial equity, economic development and more. You may be familiar with other fully philanthropic news organizations in Fort Worth and around our state. Those organizations do good work. But the Star-Telegrams Crossroads Lab has some distinct advantages in terms of the potential for impact in terms of how donations are used, and the likelihood of the reporters work bringing change. Donations to the Crossroads Lab go almost exclusively to fund the work of reporters, rather than the institutional structure and salaries of support staff around them. McClatchy, our parent company, provides editing support and unlimited services through its audience growth, human resources, information technology and legal departments. And the Crossroads Lab has far more audience than that of a startup news organization. It taps into the already established readership of the Star-Telegram, bringing a greater opportunity for impact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What do I mean by impact? Since the Labs inception, its work has driven policy changes in the Fort Worth school system regarding library expenses and the use of restraints in dealing with problematic student behavior. Crossroads Lab stories have prompted people to donate to worthy causes and to help fight for positive change. One organization even credited a Crossroads Lab story with saving a mans life by connecting him with critical medical care. In this past year, the Lab has impacted our community with work such as this: Much of the Labs funding comes from prominent local philanthropic foundations. But we need your help, too. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution gifts of any size make a difference to the Crossroads Lab and its five reporters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can donate through star-telegram.com/donate. Or, if you prefer to send a check, please put Fort Worth Star-Telegram in the memo line and mail it to 1601 Alhambra Blvd., Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95816. Please include your email address. The Crossroads Labs mission is to inform and engage citizens about issues critical to the future of our community, ultimately making Fort Worth a better place. Thank you for being an essential part of that mission with your readership and your support of the Crossroads Lab. Steve Coffman is the president and editor of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Historian Irfan Habib has condemned the ongoing violence against minority communities in Bangladesh and said that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina "destroyed the unity and integrity" of the neighbouring country. "Whatever is happening in Bangladesh and this is my stated position on religious violence anywhere like what is happening in Bangladesh is to be condemned. Violence and hatred in the name of religion, in the name of ideology, political ideology, or extremism of another form need to be condemned. This is what I have been seeing all this whether when it happens in our country and neighbouring country I have spoken against violence against minorities in Pakistan as well," Habib told ANI on Sunday. So I stand for a position where hatred, and violence in the name of religion anywhere even in our country or in other countries. Should not be justified, should be condemned outright there is no if and but in that," he said. He further said that Bangladesh which was created in the name of culture, civilization and language did not go along with those "values." "Hasina Sheikh destroyed the unity and integrity of our own country of the people of her own country. Which is sad. People are indulging in violence in the name of religion, so for me, the history of Bangladesh is not what has happened now. The country was divided in the name of religion in 1947 and Pakistan was formed. Bangladesh was created because there were issues regarding language culture and all sorts of political issues with West Pakistan. Religion was the same, but there were differences on so many other counts and a new nation was created. Now that new nation which was created in the name of culture, civilization and language, did not go along those values, unfortunately," he added. Habib held the former Bangladesh PM "responsible" for everything happening in the country and said that her governance was "not good." "If anyone looks at that violence on the basis of religion, it is very sad. And I hold Sheikh Hasina responsible for that, because of her governance everything happened. Governance was not good and because of that, these people got a chance. So this is a matter of great sadness," he said. The situation in Bangladesh has been marked by increasing violence against minority communities, with temples, being destroyed after the arrest of a former priest Chinmoy Krishna Das. A student-led movement ousted Bangladesh's then Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, after weeks of protests and clashes that killed over 600 people. Hasina, 76, fled to India on August 5 and an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus was formed. (ANI) Nov. 30WILKES-BARRE The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), in partnership with Penn State Harrisburg's Douglas W. Pollock Center for Addiction Outreach and Research, Shatterproof, and PGP also known as the Public Good Projects this week announced findings from the fourth year of the Life Unites Us campaign an evidence-based approach to reducing the stigma of substance use disorder (SUD). Life Unites Us is a people-forward, research-driven campaign that DDAP launched in September 2020. The campaign utilizes social media to spread stories of individuals in recovery, their family members and allies who support those with SUD. Additionally, the campaign gives local organizations an opportunity to learn through webinars, fosters community partnerships to promote recovery-focused support at the local level, and maintains an interactive data dashboard detailing the campaign's progress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The hard truth is that stigma still stops people from reaching out and getting treatment, and that must change," said DDAP Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones. "Every move we make with Life Unites Us is guided by that principle. It is encouraging to see that as a result of Life Unites Us, attitudes are improving toward issues like medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), SUD treatment, and harm reduction. We're making progress with each year of the campaign; that's what we want to see. I look forward to our continued success in erasing stigmatizing views and attitudes and replacing them with positive views and acceptance." During its fourth year, the campaign served over 9 million impressions to almost 2 million Pennsylvanians with information and messaging to encourage stigma reduction. Additional statistics include: More than 360 individuals in recovery, family members, and allies recorded or submitted testimonials that were shared on the campaign's website and social media channels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Partnering with over 200 community-based organizations with stigma-reduction resources and messaging. Hosting six webinars across numerous topics related to stigma reduction with over 400 attendees. A survey of Pennsylvanians conducted three and a half years into the campaign found several trends, including greater agreement that fentanyl test strips should be used as a harm reduction strategy in the Commonwealth. Pennsylvanians also indicated higher willingness to purchase naloxone. Some additional findings from the survey include: Nearly 75% of respondents who viewed the campaign agreed that the opioid epidemic is a serious problem, compared to nearly 61% of respondents who did not view the campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 85% of respondents who viewed the campaign agreed that they would be willing to provide naloxone to friends or family members, compared to 78% who did not view the campaign. Nearly 70% of respondents who viewed the campaign believe that employers should not be allowed to deny employment to a person taking MOUD, compared to 58% who did not view the campaign. Rep. Meuser co-sponsors legislation to increase affordable home-ownership U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, this week co-sponsored H.R.3940 the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act which establishes a new tax incentive to create 500,000 starter homes in under-resourced communities over the next decade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meuser said this legislation addresses the growing challenges families face nationwide as rising costs and limited housing supply make home-ownership increasingly difficult. He said in many rural, urban, and suburban areas, the cost to build or rehabilitate a home often exceeds its market value upon completion. Meuser said the proposed tax credit in this legislation bridges this "value gap" by covering up to 35% of eligible development costs, reducing the financial risk for developers and spurring investment in new and rehabilitated housing. Meuser added that H.R.3940 will make home-ownership more attainable for families nationwide, including in Pennsylvania, while revitalizing under-invested communities and creating opportunities for lasting growth and renewal. "Families throughout the country and in Pennsylvania's Ninth District are facing an affordable housing crisis," Meuser said. "In rural areas, like many across America, the cost of building or refurbishing homes has outpaced what people can afford, making home-ownership harder to achieve. The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act is a big step toward addressing this issue by offering a tax incentive to help invest in new homes and the rehabilitation of older ones. This initiative will expand home-ownership opportunities and act as a catalyst for revitalizing under-served urban and rural areas, driving economic growth, and building on the foundation of the American Dream. I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this bipartisan, commonsense legislation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation is supported by many organizations focused on expanding affordable home ownership, including the American Bankers Association, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Mortgage Bankers Association, National Association of Realtors and Habitat for Humanity. H.R.3940 was referred to the Ways and Means Committee for further consideration. New report details state of health insurance market in Pennsylvania To further its efforts to promote transparency to consumers, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) this week announced the availability of the first Pennsylvania Affordable Care Act and Qualified Health Plans (QHP) Summary Report a report explaining how PID reviews health insurance products and enforces laws to ensure a fair insurance market and equitable treatment of consumers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Shapiro Administration will not stop pushing for insurance plans and benefits that work for all Pennsylvanians," said Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys. "We're proud of the expanded benefits that will be offered to Pennsylvanians in 2025. We worked with insurers to expand benefits to specifically address coverage concerns that we've heard directly from individuals and families across the Commonwealth. Further, understanding what benefits must be covered by insurance can be complicated. The QHP summary report followed our annual analysis of plans and provides important transparency into our health insurance markets." The summary report provides an overview of the Pennsylvania health insurance market and outlines how PID analyzes health insurers' compliance with rules and regulations related to products and rates. The review found that, for plan year 2025, Pennsylvanians covered under individual and small group plans will see full coverage of: Over-the-counter (OTC) contraception Opill with no cost-sharing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for autism spectrum disorder. HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Integral Services with no cost sharing. At least one kind of HIV PrEP medication with no prior authorization or cost-sharing. Pennsylvanians will also see that several insurers: Removed prior authorization requirements on certain drugs, meaning Pennsylvanians are no longer required to seek permission from an insurer when prescribed specific medications. Moved certain drugs to lower-cost formulary tiers, making those drugs more affordable for Pennsylvanians. Added certain drugs to their formulary, providing consumers with greater access to specific medications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement $20M in grant funding approved for school safety, mental health supports The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency's (PCCD) School Safety and Security Committee (SSSC) this week approved nearly $20 million in competitively awarded school safety grants for nonpublic schools and municipalities, law enforcement agencies and approved security vendors supplying school security personnel services to schools. The awards announced complete the $120 million school safety grants program package appropriated in the bipartisan 2024-25 budget. "I've listened to our kids as they've told me about their mental health struggles that's why my administration is getting real help to students all across Pennsylvania quickly," said Gov. Josh Shapiro. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FY 2024-25 school safety grants package provides $120 million through the following two solicitations: Competitive FY24-25 Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools. Under this solicitation, 367 applications were approved totaling $19,665,000. The purpose of this funding is to support programs addressing school violence and improving school safety and security. In addition to nonpublic schools, municipalities, law enforcement agencies, and approved security vendors were also eligible to apply for funding to support school security personnel services in all Pennsylvania schools. Noncompetitive FY24-25 School Safety & Mental Health Grants. Under this solicitation, 779 public school entities 500 school districts, 176 charter schools, 29 Intermediate Units, and 74 area career and technical schools received a combined total of $100 million in formula grant funding to address both physical security and behavioral health needs. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle. (NewsNation) Incidents of explicit AI-generated deepfakes of children have rapidly cropped up in recent years, leading to a charge among several states to pass laws to protect against them. Lawmakers in over a dozen states have passed a flurry of legislation to ensure local prosecutors can bring charges under state laws for AI-generated deepfakes and other sexually explicit images of kids. Deepfakes are video, photo or audio recordings that appear to be real but have been manipulated with artificial intelligence. A deepfake can depict someone appearing to say or do something that they, in fact, never said or did. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of these laws are targeted at sexually explicit or pornographic video images, with some expanding existing nonconsensual intimate image laws, according to the National Conference of State Legislators. AI-generated TikToks, YouTube videos push websites that turn photos into AI nudes States with laws protecting children against deepfakes Governors in more than a dozen states have signed laws this year cracking down on digitally created or altered child sexual abuse imagery, according to a review by The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Fourteen states have laws in effect that include specific references to children in order to protect them against deepfakes and other AI-generated content, according to an analysis from MultiState Associates shared with NewsNation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These include Utah, Idaho, Georgia, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Another five states have laws that will take effect by the beginning of 2025. In September, California closed a legal loophole around AI-generated imagery of child sexual abuse and made it clear child pornography is illegal even if its AI-generated. The previous law did not allow district attorneys to go after people who possess or distribute AI-generated child sexual abuse images if they cannot prove the materials depict a real person, but under the new laws, such an offense qualifies as a felony. AI nudes spread of teen. Now shes fighting against deepfake porn Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Dakota updated its laws against child sexual abuse images in July to include those created by artificial intelligence. The law includes mandatory minimum prison sentences of one, five and 10 years for first-time offenses of possession, distribution and manufacturing, respectively. There are no federal laws currently addressing nonconsensual deepfake pornography, but there is proposed legislation to address the issue for adults. The Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act, or Defiance Act, would allow victims of deepfake pornography to sue as long as they could prove the deepfakes had been made without their consent. The Take It Down Act would require platforms to remove both revenge porn and nonconsensual deepfake porn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Justice Department officials say they already have the tools under federal law to go after offenders for such imagery. A federal law signed in 2003 bans the production of visual depictions, including drawings, of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct that are deemed obscene. The Justice Department has used that law to charge cartoon imagery of child sexual abuse and notes theres no requirement that the minor depicted actually exist. Will deepfake laws work to protect children? While laws are an important tool for criminal prosecutions, they will likely not curb the behavior, especially when it is other students who are creating the deepfakes, said Justin Patchin, a criminal justice professor at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center. Teens are not deterred by the threat of formal punishment. Theyre deterred more by informal punishment, like what their friends would think, what their parents might do or how their teacher might feel about them, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He adds that laws are a necessary, but not a sufficient response, to nonconsensual explicit deepfakes. While technology is outpacing legislation and likely will continue to, many argue that laws are necessary to help law enforcement and prosecutors go after perpetrators. Weve got to signal early and often that it is a crime, that it will be investigated and prosecuted when the evidence supports it, Steven Grocki, who leads the Justice Departments Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, said in an interview with The Associated Press. And if youre sitting there thinking otherwise, you fundamentally are wrong. And its only a matter of time before somebody holds you accountable. These laws exist. They will be used. We have the will. We have the resources, Grocki also said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the California legislation became more far-reaching, Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said that it cleared the way for his office to prosecute eight cases involving AI-generated content between last December and mid-September. AI nude photo scandal prompts calls for more oversight of tech Patchin said that its more important to focus on education and awareness of the dangers of deepfakes both at schools and by parents. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A missing York County man has been found safe, state troopers said Sunday evening. According to police, 58-year-old Richard Rinehart was last seen in the area of Manchester Street, Glen Rock, York County on December 1, 2024, at approximately 6:40 a.m. Troopers said he was located safe around 6 p.m. Sunday. This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. Project Summary: This special edition of our statewide political program is part of our teams A Hanging on Backbone Creek Catalyst investigation, launched November 18, 2024. As Texas population grows, critics point to the need for more medical examiners in death investigations, instead of the state relying so heavily on its current process in most counties, where an elected justice of the peace already assigned many court-related duties also has the power to determine cause and manner of death with scant training and often without autopsies or forensic expertise. During our reporting, Texas lawmakers resumed efforts to modernize that antiquated system, as a nearly-forgotten mystery resurfaced with a fresh review of a young girls strangulation case. (AUSTIN) Nexstar In 2015, Rick Hill was busy launching a new career in the Piney Woods of East Texas Brazos County justice of the peace. The retired teacher and principal had campaigned and won the judicial post as a school administrator (who) listened to both sides of an issue, weighed the evidence, and rendered fair and just decisions. To hold the office, Hill had to be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, a resident of Texas for at least a year and his Precinct 3 for at least six months. He must also have no felony convictions and be mentally competent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What I tell people is to get elected (justice of the peace) in the state of Texas basically, you have to have a pulse, Hill joked. As long as you can keep getting elected, you can stay in office. Still, the role came with steep expectations. Like his counterparts across the state, Hill would be on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays. And his duties would be wide-ranging and plenty. Brazos County Justice of the Peace Rick Hill (Arezow Doost/KXAN Photo) Ninety percent of all the cases filed at any level in the state of Texas are found at our level, Hill said. For the vast majority of Texans, the only experience they will have in a justice court system is at our level I like to kind of consider (justices of the peace) as the landfill of cases that no one else has to do. Texas justices of the peace hold civil, criminal and traffic trials. They sign misdemeanor and search warrants, conduct truancy court and perform marriages. They oversee complaints in many areas, including parks and wildlife and the health department. They conduct bail examinations, issue emergency protective orders and hold several other magistrate hearings, including stolen property, drivers license suspensions, towing, animal cruelty and even dangerous dog determinations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WATCH: Dead at 13, her strangulation casts doubt on Texas antiquated inquest system In counties like Brazos with no medical examiner, justices of the peace also hold inquests which can be a very unfamiliar process for many who are newly elected. Hill had no medical or legal background when he took office, but he faced his first inquest just two days into the job. I go in and observe the body, he explained. (I) consult with law enforcement, medical personnel, family members It was a murder, which made it kind of easy. With any kind of criminal activity like that, Im going to order an autopsy. Travis County Medical Examiners Office exam room (Richie Bowes/KXAN Photo) Now in his third four-year term, Hill has carried out more than a thousand inquests. Annually, he and his countys three other justices each send around 300 bodies for autopsies west to Travis County, which contracts with several counties with no medical examiners of their own. Counties may also send bodies to private medical examiners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think that some judges order autopsies when theyre not as comfortable, Hill said. And thats the great part of our job. If were not certain, we can order an autopsy; the county pays for it. Today, a comparison of county audits shows some spending as much as $4,700 on a single autopsy, a cost that can vary depending on transport expenses and the location in the state. LISTEN: Who killed Daynon Lewis? Podcast uncovers buried details in 1965 Texas mystery Ultimately, it comes down to the discretion of the justice of the peace, but its a matter of being trained, Hill said. While the Justices of the Peace and Constables Association of Texas the states largest organization of elected officials has been educating its members since 1958, the level of learning opportunities dramatically increased in 1971. That year, through a grant from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, JPCA created the Texas Justice Court Training Center housed at Texas State University with a mission of quality education for justices of the peace, constables and court personnel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For most of his time in office, Hill has served on the training centers faculty, traveling the state and using his teaching skills to instruct other judges. When first elected, a judge must undergo 80 hours of training, plus an additional 20 for each subsequent year through live courses, webinars and other workshops on a variety of topics, including inquests. When C.B. Wall was Burnet County justice of the peace, the training center and its resources and requirements did not exist. Census records reference Walls real estate business before his first election, but there is nothing to indicate he had any medical training. Hill said, back then, new judges got the keys, then it was like, Good luck! From 1965 to today is like the dark ages to the modern world, he said. And every year that goes by, we try to get better at what were doing. Order an autopsy The role of justice of the peace has gradually evolved over the last 200 years in Texas. According to state archives, the position existed well before statehood since the earliest days of the colony, introduced by a man known as the Father of Texas Stephen F. Austin through his Code of 1824. Justices were then included in the Constitution of the Republic of Texas and in every Constitution to follow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement READ: Texas justices of the peace date back 200 years, still investigate deaths today (They) historically are individuals in the community where, if a cow wandered over into somebody elses property and there was an argument over who the cow belonged to, (the determination) went to a justice of the peace, Hill said. But as responsibilities in the role increased, so did concerns about justices misusing their authority. In 1965, Texans first had a way to officially complain through a newly-created State Commission on Judicial Conduct. In the past 25 years the timeframe of data readily available to the public online the commission has investigated and administered more than 400 disciplinary actions against justices of the peace including sanctions, suspensions and resignations. Some were related to death inquests a potential dilemma no other state faces in quite the same way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement READ: Who can investigate cause of death? Texas JP system may be unique in U.S. According to the U.S. Center for Disease Controls Collaborating Office for Medical Examiners and Coroners, 23 states and the District of Columbia primarily use medical examiners to conduct autopsies to investigate and certify deaths. The majority of counties in 20 states utilize elected or appointed officials called coroners, who have some training for that purpose. (Several of those states have a mixture of the two systems, and in Washington State there is no majority between the roles.) Death investigations in six states, including Texas, fall mainly on other elected county officials, like the county attorney or sheriff. But Texas is the only one to use the multi-faceted role of justice of the peace. That obligation comes from the portion of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure known as the Inquest Law, allowing justices to investigate deaths, including those that were: unattended, unnatural or unidentified; in prison or jail; caused by unlawful means; suspected suicides; and children younger than six. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EXPLORE THE FULL PROJECT: Death, debate and A Hanging on Backbone Creek in Texas Hill said, generally, certain unnatural deaths should almost always warrant an autopsy. Suicides, homicides, traffic fatalities, young people who really we dont know what happened you order an autopsy, because you want to know the manner of death, cause of death, he said. But the ability to make that decision also means many death investigations never include autopsies. For instance, in the last five years in Burnet County where Daynon Lewis died, justices of the peace have investigated nearly 800 deaths, sending less than half to medical examiners elsewhere for autopsies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oversight of justices of the peace, death inquests and autopsy orders may be lacking in Texas. There is no central repository for the public to request related information, with each county maintaining its own records which are sometimes incomplete, heavily redacted or costly to obtain. READ: Scattered death data, missing records among challenges in JP investigation Recent reporting has highlighted problems with justices of the peace in unnoticed murders and suicides, flawed COVID-19 death findings and unidentified migrant remains, while academic studies have pointed out justices failures in nursing home foul play and oversights with state death data. Further tracking any potentially troublesome trends can be challenging, even by securing individual death certificates which are sealed by law from the public for 25 years after each death as our team found. That means the most recent death certificates available in Texas date back to 1999. Not practicing medicine Based in San Antonio, the Bexar County Medical Examiners Office became the states first such entity in 1956 following the passage of the Texas Medical Examiner Act. That measure allowed counties of more than 250,000 to change from the justice of the peace system for investigating violent and unexpected deaths to a medical examiner system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, just 14 of Texas 254 counties have medical examiners offices. Options are limited but necessary for justices who want to order autopsies. Obviously, (justices of the peace) understand that theyre not practicing medicine, said Dr. Reade Quinton, vice president of the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) and former deputy chief medical examiner in Dallas County. So really its just understanding the death investigation system. What should have an autopsy, what shouldnt? To carry out an autopsy, the states criminal code specifies the strict requirements and expectations of a medical examiner. Anyone appointed to that role must be a physician licensed by the state, and to the greatest extent possible, the medical examiner shall be appointed from persons having training and experience in pathology, toxicology, histology and other medico-legal sciences. WATCH: Unraveling the autopsy expertise of Texas medical examiners NAME explains further on its website that medical examiners are most often forensic pathologists: experts in determining cause and manner of death. They are specially trained to perform autopsies, making sure that the appropriate procedures and evidence collection techniques are applied to the body. This includes an external and internal examination of the body, taking small samples of tissues to examine under the microscope for abnormal changes not visible to the naked eye, along with other testing involving x-rays, toxicological analysis and more. Forensic pathologists are also trained in multiple areas beyond traditional medicine, including toxicology, firearms examination (wound ballistics), trace evidence, forensic serology and DNA technology, according to NAME. This all comes after earning college and medical school degrees, then spending additional years on various types of pathology and practical experience, supervised by others in that role. One must also pass an examination by the American Board of Pathology to become certified. Nationally, we only have probably about 750 practicing forensic pathologists across the entire country, Quinton said. Texas has got a lot of them, and were still understaffed. As the states population increases, so does its death count. Some observers have suggested judges in some counties may be overworked and overburdened with massive caseloads, ready to relinquish the inquest part of their jobs to medical examiners completely. As nearby Austins population spills into Williamson County, justices there have been the latest to tackle the topic, advocating in recent months for a medical examiner and lately landing on hiring supplementary death investigators to help them with inquests. Updates to state laws and the census have increased that population threshold, now requiring counties with 2.5 million people or more to establish a medical examiners office. It is a rule debated in recent legislative sessions and is already on the political agenda for the next session in January. Time to take action The population threshold has risen since the law was first enacted in 1955. In 2019, Texas lawmakers raised it from one million to two million people, which just four counties exceed: Harris, Dallas, Tarrant and Bexar. The change meant three additional counties near that previous million mark no longer needed to establish a medical examiner office. However, most on that list already had one except Denton County in North Texas. Denton County is one of the fastest growing counties in the country and is rapidly approaching a population now of one million people, then-Rep. Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound, told a legislative panel that year, as he presented the proposal. If they were required to establish their own medical examiner it would initially cost approximately $4 million to address this issue. Sen. Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound, at the Texas State Capitol (Richie Bowes/KXAN Photo) Parker has since risen politically to the Texas Senate and now represents a much larger constituency in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs. His successful passage of the 2019 bill allowed Denton County and its taxpayers to avoid the new population requirement. My Denton County judge and commissioners said we can partner with our neighboring Tarrant County and get terrific services, taking care of all of our people at a fraction of the cost, Sen. Parker told our team. Tarrant County, with its own established office, has a longstanding partnership with neighboring Parker, Johnson and Denton Counties to fund and operate a regional service. A recent report showed Denton County paid $662,000 to take part in 2023. So those kind of cooperative arrangements locally make a lot of sense, and thats the reason why I like to maintain local control whenever possible, Parker said, regarding the potential for filing new legislation in 2025. But again, were looking at what the best way is to address the issue for the state as a whole. A new bill could pave the way for more counties to enter regional agreements, opening up medical examiner services regularly to more places in need across the state. The model is something both Quinton and Hill predicted to be a promising idea in the future for autopsies, county budgets and the already-stretched justice of the peace system in Texas. READ: Texas leaders population pushback to resurface in medical examiner debate My perspective is when you see locally that your (justices of the peace) are being overwhelmed, because of the workload that they have well, then its time to take action, Parker added. But most Texas counties are nowhere close to an existing medical examiners office, so a regional option might not be an immediate possibility. Critics worked last legislative session to lower the population requirement back to one million to force more growing counties to build their own offices sooner. Their efforts failed. Back to Main graphic linking to the Backbone Creek landing page Back to Main graphic linking to the Backbone Creek landing page We found two elderly folks that (other officials) wanted to as their normal procedure, send off to the funeral home, Fort Bend Countys chief medical examiner, Dr. Stephen Pustilnik, told a House panel in 2023. They were homicides. Theyre being prosecuted, because we brought in investigators who were trained medical examiners. The Fort Bend office is one of the states newest, established in 2019. Adding others, Pustilnik said, would lead to similar outcomes as his story and improve everything for the entire state. To get as many people under a medical examiner system and out of the 19th-century death investigations, he added, I consider it a moral imperative. KXANs Kathleen Dunbaugh, Eric Lefenfeld, Chris Nelson, Robert Sims, Chris Wilkerson and Kate Winkle contributed to this report and program. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. NEW YORK (AP) Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares is stepping down after nearly four years in the top spot of the automaker, which owns car brands like Jeep, Citroen and Ram, amid an ongoing struggle with slumping sales. The worlds fourth-largest carmaker announced that its board accepted Tavares' resignation Sunday, effective immediately. Stellantis noted Sunday that the process of finding a new, permanent CEO is well under way. In the meantime, the company says a new interim executive committee, led by chairman John Elkann, will be established. As head of PSA Peugeot, Tavares took control of the Netherlands-based company in January 2021 when it merged with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, creating an automotive giant that is the parent to several well-known brands today. Beyond Jeep, Citroen and Ram, the company portfolio includes Dodge, Chrysler, Fiat, Peugeot, Maserati and Opel. Stellantis' North American operations had been the companys main source of profits for some time, but struggles piled up this year, with the company citing rising competition and larger market changes. As a result of lofty sticker prices and fewer affordable options, many high-priced vehicles have been left unsold on dealers' lots. For its third quarter, Stellantis posted 27% plunge in net revenues, as gaps in launching new products and action to reduce inventories also slashed global shipments of new vehicles by 20%. The carmaker reported net revenues of 33 billion euros (nearly $36 billion ) in the three-month period ending Sept. 30, down from 45 billion euros in the same period last year. All regions except South America reported double-digit dips in revenues led by North America, which plunged 42% to 12.4 billion euros ($13.1 billion). In recent months, Tavares had come under fire from U.S. dealers and the United Auto Workers union after the release of dismal financial performance reports. He also oversaw cost-cutting efforts that included delaying factory openings and laying off union workers further straining the company's relations with the UAW, which filed several grievances against Stellantis and threatened to strike in recent months. The UAW welcomed Tavares' resignation with president Shawn Fain calling the move a major step in the right direction for a company that has been mismanaged and a workforce that has been mistreated for too long. He noted that thousands of UAW members had been calling for Tavares' firing for weeks for what Fain called the CEO's reckless mismanagement of the company. Tavares is leaving behind a mess of painful layoffs and overpriced vehicles sitting on dealership lots, Fain said in a statement. He added that the union looks forward to sitting down with Stellantis new chief executive and will keep using all means available to hold the company accountable. French officials reportedly removed the woman from her attempted return flight, and she is now in French custody Spencer Platt/Getty Delta planes sit on the tarmac at John F. Kennedy Airport Delta planes sit on the tarmac at John F. Kennedy Airport A stowaway who sneaked onto a Delta Airlines flight from New York City to Paris and hid in bathrooms was reportedly removed from what would have been her return flight on Saturday, Nov. 30, after causing a disruption. According to CBS and CNN, the woman was set to fly from Charles de Gaulle Airport in France to John F. Kennedy International Airport in N.Y.C. on Delta Flight No. 265 when French officials removed her prior to takeoff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stowaway was reportedly disruptive after being escorted to the plane by authorities. Due to the womans disturbance, the flight was delayed for more than two hours, and she was later removed from the flight by police. Eric PIERMONT / AFP/Getty Charles de Gaulle Airport in France (stock image) Charles de Gaulle Airport in France (stock image) Related: Alaskan Woman Drops Thanksgiving Turkeys from Plane in an Effort to Feed Neighbors Who Live Off the Grid The woman's flight back to the United States has not yet been rescheduled, and she is now in French custody, per CBS and CNN. French officials have yet to release the womans identity, but CNN reports that she has a drivers license from Philadelphia and is in the U.S. on a green card. She is also reportedly native to Russia, CNN learned from the French Ministry of the Interior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prior to the attempted flight back to the U.S., she had been held at a waiting zone in the airport as she does not meet the conditions to enter Europe. TSA and Delta Airlines both declined to provide additional information to PEOPLE. Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty A Delta plane (stock image) A Delta plane (stock image) Related: Stowaway Found on International Flight After Passing Through Security, Evading Discovery in Plane Bathrooms PEOPLE previously reported that the woman sneaked on the nearly full Delta Flight 264 from N.Y.C to Paris on Nov. 26 during travel surges amid Thanksgiving. She managed to get through airport security and boarded the plane without a boarding pass. A flight attendant discovered the stowaway while the flight was in the air after growing suspicious of her frequent, long visits to the planes bathrooms. 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. A TSA spokesperson told PEOPLE at the time that the woman "bypassed two identity verification and boarding status stations and boarded the aircraft." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Nov. 28, a spokesperson for Delta told PEOPLE in a statement that "nothing is of greater importance than matters of safety and security." "Thats why Delta is conducting an exhaustive investigation of what may have occurred and will work collaboratively with other aviation stakeholders and law enforcement to that end," the statement concluded. The airline added that it will "decline further comment at this time given ongoing investigations." Sian Beilock said social media has made it difficult for young people to interact with each other in person Students can no longer converse with people who disagree with them because of a rise in online echo chambers, an Ivy League university president has warned. Sian Beilock, a cognitive scientist who took the reins at Dartmouth College last year, said social media has made it difficult for young people to interact with each other in person. Were seeing that students arent practised at having conversations with people who disagree with them, in part because social media puts you towards people who agree with you, Ms Beilock told The Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Dartmouth College president said that learning to talk to people who are different from you is a muscle that you build with training and that it is something her university encourages alongside counselling and wider support mechanisms. Dartmouth College, in New Hampshire, also takes new students on trips into nature in a bid to teach them how to spend time off their phones. Ms Beilock said students used to debate with people in person who they disagreed with, but now they communicate online and some are even scared to make a phone call. Dartmouth College takes new students on trips into nature in a bid to teach them how to spend time off their phones - Scott Eisen/Getty I see that as a progress away from interaction and I want to bring that back, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She went on to explain that face-to-face communication is usually better than emailing because things get lost in translation and especially in a crisis. Donald Trump made ending wokeness and left-wing indoctrination in education a central feature of his campaign. The president-elect said he planned to cut money to any school pushing critical race theory and hinted he could introduce fines for universities that adopt diversity initiatives. In order to get colleges to shun diversity programs which Mr Trump said amounted to discrimination the Republican said he will advance a measure to have them fined up to the entire amount of their endowment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It comes after the anti-woke University of Austin (UATX) launched itself as an antidote to what its founders described as creeping cancel culture on American university campuses. At the new Texas-based university, students are encouraged to disagree with each other and it is all but impossible for faculty members and undergraduates to get cancelled. UATX claims to be a place where students and faculty have the right to pursue their academic interests and deliberate freely, without fear of censorship or retribution. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Caretaker Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde reiterated his full, unconditional support to the chief ministerial candidate in Maharashtra, stating that the people have delivered a historic mandate in favour of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance. Shinde mentioned that he had retreated to his native village in Satara district to take a break following a hectic election schedule. He also confirmed that he had recovered from a fever and was in good health. Speaking to reporters in Satara, Shinde said, "I am feeling better now. I came here to rest after the busy election schedule. I didn't take any leave during my 2.5 years as Chief Minister. People are still visiting me here. This government will listen to the people. I have already given my unconditional support to the party leadership, and I will stand by their decision." Shinde, who travelled to his native village on Friday evening, also highlighted the unity among Mahayuti leaders, stating, "Our government's work over the past 2.5 years will be remembered in history. This is why the people gave us a historic mandate and denied the opposition even the chance to elect a Leader of the Opposition. All three allies of the Mahayuti have a good understanding. The Chief Minister candidate will be decided tomorrow." Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief Ajit Pawar had earlier clarified that the Chief Minister would be from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with the other two coalition partners holding Deputy Chief Ministerial positions. "During the meeting in Delhi, it was decided that the Mahayuti would form the government with the Chief Minister from BJP, while the remaining two parties would have Deputy Chief Ministers," Pawar said. Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis--widely considered the frontrunner for Chief Minister--Ajit Pawar, and other Mahayuti leaders met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President JP Nadda in Delhi on Thursday evening to discuss the deadlock over the Chief Ministerial position. The Maharashtra Assembly election results, declared on November 23, saw the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance achieve a landslide victory, but the alliance has yet to finalise its Chief Ministerial candidate. The BJP emerged as the largest party with 132 seats in the 280-member Maharashtra Assembly, while its allies--the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, and the NCP, led by Ajit Pawar--won 57 and 41 seats, respectively. (ANI) BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) A new study revealed that Louisiana is among the top U.S. states where households spend the highest percentage of their income on utility bills in 2024. Eden Emerald Hot Water, hot water experts, inspected the average cost of utilities in each U.S. state, including gas, electric and water. According to a news release, the total cost was then compared against the annual salary in each location. According to research by CNN, 39% of Americans are more worried that their income might not cover essential household expenses in 2024, said Nick Wallace, CEO of Eden Emerald Hot Water. Louisiana ranked 10th on the list with 14.02% of annual income spent on utilities, which amounts to $7,141 out of an average salary of $50,940, according to the study. West Virginia has the most expensive household bills, while Colorado has the least. Study: Louisiana in top US states that spend the most on college education Check out the top 10 U.S. states where households spend the highest percentage of their income on utility bills, according to the study from Eden Emerald Hot Water. West Virginia Mississippi Maine Hawaii Alabama Arkansas Oklahoma Kentucky South Carolina Louisiana Latest News Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com. Sarah Boone, the woman recently found guilty of murdering her boyfriend in 2020 by suffocating him in a suitcase, will be sentenced in an Orlando courtroom on Monday and faces up to life in prison. The Orlando Sentinel spoke to two defense attorneys about how the sentencing hearing may play out and whether Boone will have grounds for an appeal. Boone, 47, was quickly convicted on Oct. 25 of second-degree murder in the killing of Jorge Torres Jr., 42, the night of Feb. 23, 2020, in their Winter Park residence. An Orange County jury made up of five women and one man took about 90 minutes to reach a guilty verdict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think that the jury verdict and how fast it came back speaks volumes about what the judge is thinking about this case, said South Florida attorney Jessica Mishali, predicting a stiff sentence for Boone. [The 90-minute verdict] means that they were all sure there was nobody that had to be convinced, and they probably knew before the trial was even over what they were going to do. Boone faces a minimum of 22 years in prison and up to a life sentence, significantly more than the 15-year plea deal she rejected prior to the trial. Boone initially told police Torres died as a result of a drunken game of hide-and-seek gone horribly wrong, but her defense team later argued that she was an abused woman suffering from Battered Spouse Syndrome and killed Torres in self-defense. Orange County Circuit Court Judge Michael Kraynick will hand down Boones sentence at the Orange County courthouse in downtown Orlando. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mishali, who successfully defended a client facing a first-degree murder charge in her husbands killing using Battered Spouse Syndrome, says she expects a lengthy hearing that could take an entire day or more. She estimates Boone will probably get around 25 and 35 years in prison, but said it is not uncommon for someone convicted of second-degree murder to be given a life sentence. Between 22 years all the way to life, theres a lot of discretionthe defense is going to want to call any and every witness they possibly can to beg the judge for mercy, she said. Boones main attorney, James Owens did not respond to requests for comment. He told reporters following the verdict he hoped to have the defenses expert witness, forensic psychologist Dr. Julie Harper, testify in-depth about Boones mental health issues at the sentencing. Prominent Central Florida defense attorney Mark NeJame whos served as a media analyst for some of the regions most historic criminal cases, including the murder trials of Casey Anthony and George Zimmerman said that judges may take a convicted murderers background into consideration to justify a lesser sentence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [If] two people commit a murder, but one of them has been abused all their life, [if] they have an addiction issue, which is contrasted to somebody that just for fun, with all the privileges of life, goes out and kills somebody just for the heck of it, he said. The trial delved deeply into Boones personal life, showing her often violent relationship with Torres who was arrested three times for battery against her as well as their frequent consumption of alcohol, which was described as central to their lives. Harper and the prosecutions expert witness, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Tonia Werner, both testified that Boone suffered from Battered Spouse Syndrome as a result of consistent abuse and alcohol use disorder, the official medical term for alcoholism. Kraynick has already ordered a presentencing investigation, which will look into Boones background including family history, work, criminal history and any substance abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boone is divorced and shared custody of her young son with her ex-husband before her arrest in 2020. She was previously a clerical worker and her only known criminal history is an arrest for battery against Torres during a 2018 incident in which he was also arrested for battery against her. Also important are the sentencing guidelines for second-degree murder, which provides the minimum and maximum sentencing ranges. Mishali says its possible Owens will attempt to ask Kraynick to sentence Boone to less than the minimum guidelines by arguing there are extenuating circumstances, but that it is unlikely to succeed. Owens previously told reporters he believes Boone is likely to appeal and that he will not be representing her if she does so. He has already filed a motion for a new trial with Kraynick, which is separate from an appeal. The motion makes five arguments which could be used in an appellate filing: The court was mistaken in revoking Boones right to a court-appointed attorney (Kraynick revoked Boones right to a court-appointed attorney in June because her antagonism and hostility had led eight previous attorneys to quit). The court was mistaken in denying Owens multiple motions to delay the case (the case had been delayed 16 times prior to Owens representation of Boone, and Kraynick declined to delay it further). The court was mistaken in failing to grant a new trial after an emotional outburst from Torres family in the presence of the jury (Torres mother audibly wept during closing arguments when the prosecution played a video of Boone taunting Torres while he says he cant breathe in the suitcase; Owens unsuccessfully motioned for a mistrial because of it). The court should have disallowed Werners testimony after the prosecution failed to disclose before trial that she had formed a new opinion (Owens claimed Werners trial testimony went beyond her pre-trial deposition on the question of whether Boone perceived an imminent threat at the time of Torres killing). The prosecution committed misconduct by essentially making a second closing argument instead of a rebuttal argument. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NeJame expects the strongest avenue for appeal is Werners alleged change of opinion. Of course she will appeal and appeal and appeal in great likelihood, NeJame said. Boones sentencing hearing will begin at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Orange County Courthouse in Orlando. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday that the militant group Hamas is feeling the pressure in the wake of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal last week. I do think that Hamas is feeling the pressure. Theyre feeling the pressure because one of their main partners in crime here, Hezbollah, has now cut a ceasefire deal, and they thought that Hezbollah would be with them till the end, Sullivan told CBSs Face the Nation. The agreement to end the fighting across the Israeli-Lebanon border was struck on Tuesday and sparked a new push for a ceasefire in Gaza from the Biden administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sullivan said that Hamas is also feeling pressure after the October killing of Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas and the architect of the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel. Theyre feeling the pressure, of course, because their top leader, Sinwar, has been killed, Sullivan said. So, they may be looking anew at the possibility of getting a ceasefire and hostage deal. And we are working actively with all of the key players in the region, including Israel and Turkey and Qatar and Egypt, to try to bring that about. In the coming days, conversations will be happening, even this very day, to try to make that happen as soon as possible. Sullivan also discussed the release of a video of Israeli-American Edan Alexander speaking about the horrors of life as a captive of Hamas for more than 420 days. The White House has called the video a cruel reminder of Hamass terror. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The video was posted to Telegram and had a message for Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President-elect Trump, asking him to use his influence to negotiate for freedom and to not make the mistake Biden has been doing. Sullivan told CBS on Sunday that the administration was in touch with Alexanders family the day before and plans to talk to them again this week. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said that militant group Hamas is the key actor holding the vision on the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal. During an appearance on CBS News Face the Nation, Sullivan said Hamas is a key player in the ceasefire deal, noting the group is motivated by whether agreeing to it makes sense at this point. I think the key actor right now holding the vision on the ceasefire is Hamas, he said. And the key thing motivating Hamas is not American politics or the American presidential transition. Its their determination about whether or not it makes sense for them at this point, after Hezbollah has abandoned them, after their leader has been killed, after their military formations have been degraded, to finally say yes to a ceasefire and hostage deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that the Biden White House has been in communication with the incoming Trump Administration on the situation in the Middle East to aid in a peaceful transition. There has been very good coordination between our team and the incoming team on all of the aspects of the crisis in the Middle East, Sullivan said. We felt it was important that we be in touch with them, to keep them up to speed on whats happening, because this handoff has got to be smooth, and they, in turn, have reciprocated by being open and transparent working with us. President-elect Trump is a vocal supporter of Israel. He has widely pledged to end the nations unrest during his second administration swiftly. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President-elect Trumps transition is slowly beginning, as the incoming president has announced more appointees for his upcoming second administration in the past week. In the Middle East, the White House and France brokered a ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, but the temporary armistice is off to a rocky start as each side has accused the other of violating the terms. Both topics are likely to get mentioned on this weeks Sunday talk shows. On Saturday morning, Israeli fighter jets hit alleged Hezbollah weapons smuggling sites close to the border of Syria and Lebanon, with Jewish State officials alleging Hezbollah violated the agreement. The attack came just as Syrian rebels continued their advancements against President Bashar al-Assad and reached deep inside the city of Aleppo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan will nearly perform the full Ginsberg by sitting down for four Sunday shows this weekend. He will likely address all of the topics related to the Middle East as he will appear on ABCs This Week, NBCs Meet the Press, CNNs State of the Union and CBS Face the Nation. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is set to appear on Fox News Sunday, where she will likely discuss the latest developments in the Middle East, Trumps transition picks and the latest news from the Russia-Ukraine war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview on Friday that NATO welcoming Ukraine into the military alliance could prevent the hot stage of the war while Russia would temporarily keep the territories it took. But earlier this week, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Ukraine is not in a strong enough position to discuss ending the conflict. The race to determine the next chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) is heating up with New York State Sen. James Skoufis (D) launching his bid on Saturday. Skoufis joins Minnesota Democratic Party chair Ken Martin and former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley in a contest to replace current head Jaime Harrison. Other names have been tossed around, including Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and political strategist Chuck Rocha. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement North Carolinas Governor-elect Josh Stein (D) will be on ABCs This Week where he will likely discuss which direction the party needs to go following the 2024 presidential election where Democrats lost the White House, Senate and failed to capture the majority in the lower chamber. Stein, who defeated controversial Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R) in a battleground state, may also discuss the latest developments in the DNC chair race. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) was one of several Connecticut Democrats who received bomb threats targeting their homes on Thanksgiving Day. In all instances, law enforcement did not find any bomb near their residences. The incident occurred just a day after nearly a dozen of Trumps appointees and nominees were similarly targeted. Murphy is set to appear on NBCs Meet the Press where he will likely discuss the latest developments regarding those incidents. Heres the full list of appearances on this weeks Sunday talk shows: NewsNations The Hill Sunday: NewsNation Political Contributor Mick Mulvaney, former Chair of the SEC Christopher Cox and author Amity Shlaes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ABCs This Week: National security adviser Jake Sullivan; Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.); North Carolina Gov.-elect Josh Stein (D). NBCs Meet the Press: Sullivan; Sens. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) CNNs State of the Union: Sullivan; Reps. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), and Jamie Raskin (D-Md). CBS Face the Nation: Sullivan; Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) Fox News Sunday: Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.); OpenAI CEO Sam Altman; former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Sunday Morning Futures: Sen Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.); FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr; Rep Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) and TPUSA Founder Charlie Kirk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. American democracy is about to undergo a serious stress test. I know how it feels, in part because I lived through the slow and steady march of state capture as a journalist working in Recep Tayyip Erdogans Turkey. Over a decade as a high-profile journalist, I covered Turkeys descent into illiberalism, having to engage in the daily push and pull with the government. I know how self-censorship starts in small ways but then creeps into operations on a daily basis. I am familiar with the rhythms of the battle to reshape the media, state institutions and the judiciary. Having lived through it, and having gathered some lessons in hindsight, I believe that there are strategies that can help Democrats and Trump critics not only survive the coming four years, but come out stronger. Here are six of them. 1. Dont Panic Autocracy Takes Time President-elect Donald Trumps return to power is unnerving but, as I have argued previously, America will not turn into a dictatorship overnight or in four years. Even the most determined strongmen face internal hurdles, from the bureaucracy to the media and the courts. It took Erdogan well over a decade to fully consolidate his power. Hungarys Viktor Orban and Polands Law and Justice Party needed years to erode democratic norms and fortify their grip on state institutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am not suggesting that the United States is immune to these patterns, but its important to remember that its decentralized system of governance the network of state and local governments offers enormous resilience. Federal judges serve lifetime appointments, states and governors have specific powers separate from those granted federally, there are local legislatures, and the media has the First Amendment as a shield, reinforced by over a century of legal precedents. Sure, there are dangers, including by a Supreme Court that might grant great deference to the president. But in the end, Donald Trump really only has two years to try to execute state capture. Legal battles, congressional pushback, market forces, midterm elections in 2026 and internal Republican dissent will slow him down and restrain him. The bottom line is that the U.S. is too decentralized in its governance system for a complete takeover. The Orbanization of America is not an imminent threat. 2. Dont Disengage Stay Connected After a stunning electoral loss like this, theres a natural impulse to shut off the news, log off social media and withdraw from public life. Ive seen this with friends in Turkey and Hungary, with opposition supporters retreating in disillusionment after Erdogan's or Orbans victories. Understandably, people want to turn inwards. Dancing, travel, meditation, book clubs its all fine. But eventually, in Poland, Hungary and Turkey, opponents of autocracy have returned to the fight, driven by a belief in the possibility of change. So will Americans. Nothing is more meaningful than being part of a struggle for democracy. Thats why millions of Turks turned out to the polls and gave the opposition a historic victory in local governments across Turkey earlier this year. Thats how the Poles organized a winning coalition to vote out the conservative Law and Justice Party last year. It can happen here, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The answer to political defeat is not to disconnect, but to organize. You can take a couple of days or weeks off, commiserate with friends and mute Elon Musk on X or erase the app altogether. But in the end, the best way to develop emotional resilience is greater engagement. 3. Dont Fear the Infighting Donald Trumps victory has understandably triggered infighting inside the Democratic Party and it looks ugly. But fear not. These recriminations and finger-pointing are necessary to move forward. In Turkey, Hungary and Poland, it was only after the opposition parties faced their strategic and ideological misalignment with society that they were able to begin to effectively fight back. Trump has tapped into the widespread belief that the economic order, labor-capital relations, housing and the immigration system are broken. You may think he is a hypocrite, but there is no doubt that he has convinced a large cross-section of American society that he is actually the agent of change a spokesman for their interests as opposed to Democratic elites. This is exactly what strongmen like Erdogan and Orban have achieved. For the Democratic Party to redefine itself as a force for change, and not just as the custodian of the status quo, it needs fundamental shifts in how it relates to working people in the U.S. There is time to do so before the midterms of 2026. 4. Charismatic Leadership Is a Non-Negotiable One lesson from Turkey and Hungary is clear: You will lose if you dont find a captivating leader, as was the case in 2023 general elections in Turkey and in 2022 in Hungary. Coalition-building or economic messaging is necessary and good. But it is not enough. You need charisma to mobilize social dissent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump was beatable in this election, but only with a more captivating candidate, as Nancy Pelosi has been hinting. For Democrats, the fundamental mistake after smartly pushing aside President Joe Biden was bypassing the primaries and handpicking a candidate. Future success for the party will hinge on identifying a candidate who can better connect with voters and channel their aspirations. It should not be too hard in a country of 350 million. Last years elections in Poland and Turkey showcased how populist incumbents can be defeated (or not defeated, as in general elections in Turkey in 2023) depending on the oppositions ability to unite around compelling candidates who resonate with voters. Voters seek authenticity and a connection give it to them. 5. Skip the Protests and Identity Politics Soon, Trump opponents will shake off the doldrums and start organizing an opposition campaign. But how they do it matters. For the longest time in Turkey, the opposition made the mistake of relying too much on holding street demonstrations and promoting secularism, Turkeys version of identity politics, which speaks to the urban professional and middle class but not beyond. When Erdogan finally lost his absolute predominance in Turkish politics in 2024, it was largely because of his mismanagement of the economy and the oppositions growing competence in that area. Trumps appeal transcends traditional divides of race, gender and class. He has formed a new Republican coalition and to counteract this, Democrats too, must broaden their tent, even if means trying to appeal to conservatives on some issues. Opposition over the next four years must be strategic and broad-based. Street protests and calls to defend democracy may be inspirational, but they repel conservatives and suburban America. Any grassroots action must be coupled with a clear, relatable economic message and showcase the leadership potential of Democratic mayors and governors. Identity politics alone wont do it. 6. Have Hope Nothing lasts forever and the U.S. is not the only part of the world that faces threats to democracy and Americans are no different than the French, the Turks or Hungarians when it comes to the appeal of the far right. But in a country with a strong, decentralized system of government and with a long-standing tradition of free speech, the rule of law should be far more resilient than anywhere in the world. Trumps return to power certainly poses challenges to U.S. democracy. But he will make mistakes and overplay his hand at home and abroad. America will survive the next four years if Democrats pick themselves up and start learning from the successes of opponents of autocracy across the globe. (Bloomberg) -- During a break in proceedings at Februarys European leaders summit, the Dutch premier approached his Portuguese counterpart with a can of beer and a smile. Most Read from Bloomberg Mark Rutte handed over a popular Belgian brew to Antonio Costa with an acknowledgment that the government in Lisbon had surprised him, according to a person with knowledge of the exchange. After Portugals public debt hit 134% of GDP during the pandemic, Costa had bet his fiscally conservative colleague that hed get it back below 100% and, to the Dutchmans amazement, hed managed it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the leaders gather in December, Costa will be in charge of proceedings as the newly installed president of the European Council, and hes going to need to keep exceeding expectations of skeptical colleagues to survive the storms that await him. The 63-year-old takes up his position as one of the blocs two most senior figures at a perilous time for the European Union, with the Russian army threatening its eastern borders, its companies trailing their American and Chinese rivals, and a hostile president-elect about to return to the White House. For years, attempts to shore up the EU have been hampered by internal dysfunction: Germanys three-party coalition collapsed in November after months of paralysis, Emmanuel Macrons government in France only survives thanks to support of the far right, and pro-Kremlin leaders in Hungary and Slovakia have been obstructing efforts to help Ukraine. Costa, who the Portuguese president has called irritatingly optimistic, is upbeat all the same. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everybody understands the challenges and that we need a common approach, he said in a November interview from his provisional office in Brussels. Five years ago everybody was entrenched in their own positions, now people are open minded. Read More About the Challenges Facing Europe:Europe Is Almost Out of Time to Defend Its Place in Brutal WorldCan Europe Defend Itself? It Has Three Years to Find a WayThe 650 Billion Exodus at the Heart of Germanys TurmoilFrench Premier Warns of Market Storm If Budget Voted Down His role too, has been a source of problems. His predecessor Charles Michels long-running feud with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was the worst kept secret in Brussels, adding a farcical subplot to every icy joint appearance. At global summits like the Group of 20, Michel and von der Leyen often ran competing schedules, baffling and irritating the leaders from whom they were each, separately, trying to win support for the EUs positions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So Costas first job is simply to restore some order. Von der Leyen begins her second five-year term at the commission just as Costa takes up his post at the Council and, privately, both are pledging to coordinate their foreign visits and summit agendas. They established regular meetings every two weeks before Costa had formally taken up his role. All the same, some officials say that Costa will have his work cut out to become an effective counterweight and partner to von der Leyen, who has a track record of stretching the limits of her official remit, on occasion keeping national leaders in the dark before springing key decisions on them in order to bounce them into accepting her plans. Costa has spoken to Michel, Donald Tusk and Herman von Rompuy, his three predecessors in a role that was created in 2010, about how they tried to manage the tensions that stem from the EUs split leadership structure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, von der Leyen and the commission consistently set the agenda. But that has damaged relations with national leaders. The EU works best when the council president is an effective partner who can mobilize support from member states, one senior official said. Von der Leyens team, too, know they have an issue that Costa can help to address. Simply organizing effective meetings would be a start, according to one senior official. Michel struggled to impose order on the leaders and allowed small groups to meet in private, keeping the others waiting, which created bad blood. Since his nomination was confirmed in June, Costa has been touring European capitals to find out first hand how far leaders are prepared to go to revive the blocs faltering competitiveness and its long-neglected defenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meetings with Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and almost all of their 25 colleagues have confirmed for Costa what anyone watching EU public policy discussions would have suspected, according to a senior official briefed on those conversations, its going to be very, very difficult. The EU needs to mobilize an extra 800 billion ($840 billion) of investment a year in order to revamp its militaries, develop new technology and meet its goals for the energy transition, according to Mario Draghi, the former president of the European Central Bank and Giorgia Melonis predecessor as Italian premier. The best way to do that is by issuing more joint European debt, Draghi says. But Germany is blocking any discussion of the issue, while Macron says the EU could collapse unless it can find a solution. Our Union must become more competitive and independent -- in areas ranging from energy, security or defense. To achieve this member states need to be bold. Tough decisions will require leadership, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said. I am confident President Costa with his vast experience will lead this effort in the European Council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Costa has a track record for managing such negotiations from his eight years governing Portugal, which included an unprecedented alliance with the communists. He quit, abruptly, last year when his name was linked to a corruption investigation, though hes never been charged and mistakes have been pointed out in the prosecutors case. In his initial conversations with leaders, Costa has avoided going into detail on the thorny issue of how to pay for it all, according to a senior official briefed on the discussions. He reckons that if leaders can agree on what they want to achieve, then it will become more possible to reach a deal on how to achieve it, the official said. Indeed, EU diplomats suggested there is appetite in the capitals for such a pragmatic approach. But hes also going to have plenty of problems coming at him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russias invasion of Ukraine will be at the front of his mind as he starts his new job, Costa said in his spartan office. He says his focus will be on how to find a just and lasting peace. On Sunday, he visited Kyiv along with Kaja Kallas, the EUs new top diplomat, and Marta Kos, the blocs enlargement commissioner. The three are due to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and other officials in the Ukrainian capital. From day one of our mandate, we are reaffirming our unwavering support to the Ukrainian people, Costa said in a post on X upon arrival in Kyiv. Speaking at a press conference alongside Zelenskiy, Costa said that the bloc will disburse throughout the year 1.5 billion ($1.59 billion) each month from the proceeds of Russian central bank immobilized assets. Both sides will work to open at least two negotiating clusters for the countrys accession to the EU during the first half of 2025, he said. But diplomats worry that hes also going to have a fight on his hands to hold the EU together if Donald Trump follows through on his threats to pull support from Kyiv. During closed discussions at last Novembers summit in Budapest, some leaders were already suggesting the bloc must be ready to cover the shortfall in financial aid, a proposal thats bound to strain EU finances, as well as political will. Nevertheless, EU envoys and seasoned officials say that Costa could be the person to restore a sense of unity and trust. They say that his easygoing character and repertoire of anecdotes has helped to build good relations with leaders across the political spectrum. Even the anti-liberal Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban backed him, and thats something neither von der Leyen nor Kaja Kallas, the new EU foreign policy chief, can say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Costa is planning to hold retreats for the leaders, where they can discuss the biggest issues without the pressure to agree on formal conclusions. The first one will be in February in Belgium, with Rutte, now the NATO secretary general, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer invited. Those who have talked to him stressed his talent for making leaders feel heard and finding compromises. Hes also described as careful ready to ask for help when he needs it, the people said. He can also be surprisingly direct. After 30 minutes of gentle warm up, hell suddenly tell you exactly what he wants and how you can help him to get it, according to one of the people. His efforts to win leaders support for new investment in competitiveness and defense, as well as the green transition, will almost certainly run into the negotiations over the EUs next seven-year, 1 trillion budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That process is always fraught, but this cycle looks the toughest yet, since the bloc will need to find 30 billion a year in repayments on the post-pandemic recovery fund that Costa helped to negotiate in 2020. Costa expects the budget talks to focus on finding a balance between increasing the overall size of the budget, adding new revenue sources and more joint borrowing for certain narrowly defined projects, most likely in defense. To secure an agreement, he anticipates compromises on the massive agriculture and infrastructure programs that swallow two thirds of the EU budget. The common thread running through all those discussions will be the threat from Russia. Thats the key to unlocking the serious new funds needed to boost the blocs defense capabilities and from that can flow changes in regulation, industrial strategy and financing, according to people familiar with the discussion. Several countries in eastern Europe, which have traditionally been opposed to increasing deficits, have softened their positions significantly since Russias invasion of Ukraine, Costa points out, and that could pave the way for an overall agreement. Some of the budget frugals are not so frugal when we are talking about defense, Costa said. --With assistance from Andra Timu, Joao Lima, Kevin Whitelaw and Olesia Safronova. (Updates with Costa comments from Kyiv in 28th paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. The News Taiwans President Lai Ching-te landed in Hawaii Saturday for a two-day visit hours after Washington announced the sale of $385 million in weapons to Taipei. The deal, which includes fighter jet parts, drew sharp protests from Beijing, with the foreign ministry describing the deal as a provocative act and vowing resolute countermeasures, including potential military drills near the island. Speaking to CNN, Lais former spokesperson Kolas Yotaka said that while Beijings response was routine, Chinas oppression of Taiwan has intensified. Theyre not just targeting Taiwan theyre targeting democratic institutions worldwide. Attacking Taiwan is part of Chinas broader political agenda, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile in Hawaii, Lai was reportedly greeted with a red carpet and flowers at Honolulu airport, where he was met by the states Governor Josh Green, although the US State Department stressed that the stopover was private and unofficial. Lais tour through the Pacific is widely seen as a bid to strengthen its remaining diplomatic ties in the region amid concern of waning US support under the incoming administration, and President-elect Donald Trump has suggested that Taiwan should pay for its defense in the future. Following the arrest of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Naresh Balyan, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Sanjay Kumar Sain said on Sunday that an investigation is underway to establish the connection between the AAP leader and gangster Kapil Sangwan. This development comes after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released an audio clip purportedly featuring the AAP legislator from Uttam Nagar instructing gangster Kapil Sangwan, also known as Nandu. "In this case, there is an audio recording of a conversation between Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu and AAP MLA Naresh Balyan available in the public domain. The ongoing action by Delhi Police against gangsters operating from abroad also aims to identify their local associates. The primary objective of organised crime conducted from abroad is financial gain," the DCP said. "The investigation is currently focused on confirming Nandu's voice and examining Naresh Balyan's relationship with him. Apart from the extortion money linked to this recording, the probe will determine if there are other connections and how they relate to the criminal activities in question," he added. Earlier, former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal defended Balyan, claiming he was a victim of gangsters demanding ransom from him. "Yesterday, one of our MLAs was arrested. That MLA was also a victim of gangsters. He had lodged a written complaint with Delhi Police, stating that he had received calls from Kapil Sangwan. He had complained to Dhaliwal Sahib, mentioning that on 23 May 2023, he and his family were threatened by the Nandu Gang," AAP National Convenor Kejriwal said. AAP legislator Naresh Balyan was arrested in Delhi on Saturday in connection with an extortion case. "Delhi Police's Crime Branch has arrested Sh. Naresh Balyan, MLA of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, in connection with an extortion case. The arrest followed the examination of an audio clip featuring a conversation between the MLA and notorious gangster Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu," Delhi Police posted on X on Saturday. On Saturday, BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia alleged that Naresh Balyan was involved in extortion with the assistance of a gangster, claiming that "gangsters are the biggest supporters of AAP." Addressing a press conference in the national capital, the BJP leader said, "AAP has become a party of goons. Gangsters are the biggest supporters of AAP. They openly extort money by threatening the common man under the instructions of AAP MLAs. With the consent of Arvind Kejriwal, AAP MLAs are running extortion rackets by intimidating innocent citizens. In an audio clip of AAP's 'extortionist' MLA Naresh Balyan, he is heard talking to a gangster about extorting money from a builder. Is it the job of an MLA, who has sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution, to threaten citizens and run an extortion racket with Kejriwal's approval?" Bhatia asked. In a post on X, the BJP shared an audio clip of the purported conversation between Naresh Balyan and the gangster. "These are AAP's so-called 'Kattar Imandaar' leaders. In the audio, AAP MLA Naresh Balyan is heard conversing with a gangster, who questions why the MLA lodged a complaint against him. Balyan claims he was being blackmailed by the gangster and his associates. The gangster responds by threatening to release recordings of Balyan, prompting the MLA to backtrack and comply," the BJP stated. "In another conversation, a close aide of AAP MLA Naresh Balyan is heard discussing a land deal with a gangster and blackmailing several businesspersons. Behind their facade of honesty, these AAP leaders are engaging in blatant thuggery," it added. (ANI) KEVIN KNODELL / KKNODELL @STARADVERTISER.COM Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te arrives at a banquet at the Kahala Hotel & Resort Saturday. 1 /5 KEVIN KNODELL / KKNODELL @STARADVERTISER.COM Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te arrives at a banquet at the Kahala Hotel & Resort Saturday. COURTESY GOVERNORS OFFICE Gov. Josh Green speaks with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te Saturday morning in Honolulu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2 /5 COURTESY GOVERNORS OFFICE Gov. Josh Green speaks with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te Saturday morning in Honolulu. COURTESY GOVERNORS OFFICE Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, back right, speaks with Taiwan president Lai Ching-te during a round table discussion on emergency management Saturday in Honolulu. 3 /5 COURTESY GOVERNORS OFFICE Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, back right, speaks with Taiwan president Lai Ching-te during a round table discussion on emergency management Saturday in Honolulu. COURTESY GOVERNORS OFFICE Gov. Josh Green greets Taiwan President Lai Ching-te with a maile lei Saturday morning at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. Lai arrived for a two-day stopover visit in Hawaii as part of his Pacific tour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 4 /5 COURTESY GOVERNORS OFFICE Gov. Josh Green greets Taiwan President Lai Ching-te with a maile lei Saturday morning at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. Lai arrived for a two-day stopover visit in Hawaii as part of his Pacific tour. COURTESY GOVERNORS OFFICE Gov. Josh Green greets Taiwan President Lai Ching-te Saturday morning at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. Lai arrived for a two-day stopover visit in Hawaii as part of his Pacific tour. 5 /5 COURTESY GOVERNORS OFFICE Gov. Josh Green greets Taiwan President Lai Ching-te Saturday morning at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. Lai arrived for a two-day stopover visit in Hawaii as part of his Pacific tour. KEVIN KNODELL / KKNODELL @STARADVERTISER.COM Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te arrives at a banquet at the Kahala Hotel & Resort Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement COURTESY GOVERNORS OFFICE Gov. Josh Green speaks with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te Saturday morning in Honolulu. COURTESY GOVERNORS OFFICE Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, back right, speaks with Taiwan president Lai Ching-te during a round table discussion on emergency management Saturday in Honolulu. COURTESY GOVERNORS OFFICE Gov. Josh Green greets Taiwan President Lai Ching-te with a maile lei Saturday morning at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. Lai arrived for a two-day stopover visit in Hawaii as part of his Pacific tour. COURTESY GOVERNORS OFFICE Gov. Josh Green greets Taiwan President Lai Ching-te Saturday morning at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. Lai arrived for a two-day stopover visit in Hawaii as part of his Pacific tour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te arrived in Hawaii Saturday to begin his first trip overseas since his inauguration, and is expected to spend two nights at the Kahala Hotel before continuing on to visit the three Pacific island nations with which his country still has direct diplomatic ties. Upon arrival at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, he was greeted on the tarmac by Gov. Josh Green, Mayor Rick Blangiardi, Honolulu Police Chief Arthur Joe Logan and Ingrid Larson, the D.C. office managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan, the organization that serves as the unofficial U.S. embassy in Taiwan. Green in a statement called the meeting a momentous occasion, highlighting Hawaiis shared values of resilience and collaboration with Taiwan. After checking into the hotel, Lai visited the Bishop Museum and met with Green at the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to discuss disaster response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This exchange underscored our mutual dedication to building stronger, more resilient systems to protect lives in the face of natural disasters, Green said. Taiwans commitment to learning from Hawai is emergency operations framework reflects the global importance of collaboration in addressing shared challenges. A Taiwanese official said Lai also visited the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor before returning to Kahala for a banquet with local elected officials and prominent members of the Taiwanese community in Hawaii. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. In an address to banquet attendees, Lai reflected on visiting the memorial. Peace is priceless, and war has no winner, he said. We have to fight, fight together to prevent war. The Chinese military has stepped up operations around Taiwan since Lais election. China regards the self-ruled island democracy as a rogue province, and Chinese leader Xi Jinping has vowed to bring it under controlby force if necessary. During the banquet, Hawaii officials thanked Lai for his countrys $500, 000 donation to Maui wildfire relief in the days after the Aug. 8, 2023, disaster that killed 102 people and displaced thousands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taiwan, our friends, were among the first not just to offer condolences and resources for support but to embrace all of our Maui ohana in each and every way possible, said U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda. At the same time you were doing this, China spread disinformation about the fires online to undermine our government and exploit our peoples fear and pain in their darkest moments. Taiwan on the other hand was there for us. The American relationship with Taiwan has been an ongoing sore spot for relations between the U.S. and China. After the Chinese Civil War ended in 1949 with the defeat of nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek, he and his supporters fled across the Taiwan Strait to set up a government-in-exile and imposed repressive martial law over the island. In 1987, martial law was lifted, and since then the island has democratized, developed a high-tech economy and become a key trade partner for the United States. Officially, the U.S. has not diplomatically recognized Taiwan since normalizing relations with the Peoples Republic of China in 1979. But the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 maintained de facto ties and requires the U.S. to provide Taiwan with weapons of a defensive nature and resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic system, of the people on Taiwan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hawaii plays a central role in the relationship. The islands have served as key transit points in arms transfers, with F-16 fighters stopping at the Honolulu airport on their way to Taiwan. In 2022, a Taiwanese F-16 fighter jet made international headlines when its landing gear failed as it landed and temporarily shut down the runway. But perhaps more importantly, Oahu is home to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, the nerve center for all U.S. military operations in the region. The Taiwanese government has maintained a detachment of military officers at the Taipei Economic &Cultural Office in Hono lulu, Taipeis de facto consulate in the islands, who hold regular meetings with American officials and military attaches from other countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recent iterations of Congress annual National Defense Appropriations Act have included calls for increased cooperation, including inviting Taiwanese forces to participate in the biennial Rim of the Pacific naval war games held around Hawaii. Tokuda has visited Taiwan twice as a member of a bipartisan congressional delegations, most recently in August. Let there be no ambiguity, Tokuda said at Saturdays banquet in Kahala. The United States must continue to stand by Taiwan, promote peace and stability and ensure that Taiwans future is decided only by its people. The administration of outgoing President Joe Biden has voiced strong support for Taiwan and sought to bolster relations, but has also been working to ease tensions with China and reopen dialogues. In September, Gen. Wu Yanan, the Chinese military commander responsible for operations in the South China Sea, attended a meeting in Hawaii of top military leaders from across the region and met with Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of all U.S. forces in the Pacific. Leaders across the world are still working out what the reelection of former President Donald Trump will mean for them, especially in Asia and the Pacific. Trump has been skeptical of the value of alliances, but has also been nominating several appointees to his incoming administration who have been sympathetic toward Taiwan. During his first presidency Trump was known for his confrontational approach to relations with China and has promised to impose new tariffs on Chinese goods when he returns to office Last month, U.S. officials announced a potential $2 billion arms sale package to Taiwan, including the delivery for the first time to the island of an advanced air defense missile system that has seen effective use on battlefields in Ukraine. Just before Lais departure from Taiwan for Hawaii, the U.S. announced a $385 million arms sale package for Taiwan of spare parts for F-16 jets and radars. Mao Ning, a spokesperson for Chinas foreign ministry, told reporters in Beijing on Friday that if the U.S. wants to maintain peace it should handle the Taiwan issue with utmost caution, unequivocally oppose independence of Taiwan, and support the peaceful reunification of China. After leaving Hawaii, Lai is scheduled to visit the the Pacific nations of the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau. They are three of the 12 countries that still maintain direct diplomatic recognition of Taiwan. China does not have diplomatic relations with any country that officially recognizes Taiwanese independence and has been investing heavily in countries that agree to sever ties. In 2019, two Pacific island countriesKiribati and the Solomon Islandscut ties with Taiwan and opened Chinese embassies. Just after Lai won the Taiwanese election in January, Beijing announced that Nauru had agreed to sever its ties with Taipei to align with China. But despite many Pacific countries officially cutting diplomatic ties with Taiwan, several still maintain robust trade relations, and Taiwan still maintains a presence at the Pacific Islands Forum, the regions main diplomatic gathering, as a development partner. China, which also participates in the forum, has called for the expulsion of Taiwanese officials. Lai is also due to stop in Guam, which is home to some of the U.S. forces closest to Taiwan and would likely become a front line if the U.S. were to intervene to stop a Chinese invasion. Taiwan President Lai Ching-tes brief stop in Hawaii may have appeared understated no formal US reception, no grand speeches but its implications extend far beyond floral wreaths and banquets. On his way to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau three of Taiwans remaining handful of diplomatic allies Lai was using the visit to underscore Taiwans diplomatic resilience amid intensifying pressure from Beijing. It also comes as Taiwan contends with the upcoming leadership change inside the White House. Lai will stop over for two nights in Hawaii and one night in the US territory of Guam his first transit across US soil since taking office in May, Taipeis presidential office told CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though billed as an unofficial transit, the trip drew scrutiny, particularly from China, which condemned Lais visit and is expected to respond with military drills near Taiwan. This was more than a layover; it reaffirmed Taiwans partnerships with the US and other democracies alliances Beijing is eager to undermine. Chinas reaction to Lais visit was predictably fierce. A spokesperson for Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office called it a provocative act and insisted that efforts to seek Taiwan independence are doomed to fail. On Sunday, Beijings Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it firmly opposes any form of US connivance or support for Taiwan independence separatists and their separatist activities. China strongly condemns the USs arranging for Lai Ching-tes stopover and has lodged serious protests with the US, it said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Kolas Yotaka, a former spokesperson for Lai and his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, such responses are routine. Chinas oppression of Taiwan has intensified, Yotaka told CNN. Theyre not just targeting Taiwan theyre targeting democratic institutions worldwide. Attacking Taiwan is part of Chinas broader political agenda. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te is presented with a gift from Hawaii Governor Josh Green at the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency in Honolulu, Hawaii, on November 30, 2024. - Ronen Zilberman/AFP/Getty Images Taiwanese security agencies anticipate that Beijing which claims the self-governing island as its own territory will use Lais trip as a pretext for military drills near Taiwan, potentially under the codename Joint Sword-2024C. Such exercises, often accompanied by propaganda campaigns, are a familiar tactic. Beijing has staged similar displays of force following high-profile interactions between Taiwan and the US, including former President Tsai Ing-wens visit to California last year. This kind of suppression will not stop, Yotaka warned. We have to assume the worst is yet to come. US-Taiwan ties Lais Hawaii visit comes at a critical juncture in US-Taiwan relations. As the US transitions to a second Donald Trump administration, Taiwans leaders face significant uncertainties. While Trumps first term saw increased arms sales to Taiwan, his recent comments suggesting Taiwan should pay for its defense hint at a more transactional approach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taiwan does largely pay for its defense, through billions of dollars spent on US-made weapons. And unlike Japan, South Korea and the Philippines, it is not shielded by a mutual defense treaty with the United States. Before departing Taiwan, Lai emphasized shared democratic values in global partnerships. I want to use the values of democracy, peace, and prosperity to expand our cooperation with allies and show the world that Taiwan is not just a model of democracy but a vital force for peace and stability, he said. Some critics question the value of Taiwans relationships with small Pacific nations, but Yotaka firmly disagrees. If a country is dismissed as small and unimportant, then Taiwan could be similarly dismissed, she said. These relationships are not just symbolic they are critical for Taiwans security. Alliances with nations such as the Marshall Islands and Palau may lack the weight of those with larger powers, but offer platforms for engagement and bolster Taiwans global presence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lais trip, including his quietly significant Hawaii stop, highlights Taiwans ongoing fight for recognition and sovereignty as a frontline democracy confronting authoritarian pressure. No single person can save Taiwan, Yotaka said. Only a strong alliance of democracies can make a difference. As Beijing ups the pressure and the global power balance shifts, Taiwans future depends on its ability to adapt, innovate, and rally allies. Lais journey across the Pacific is an attempt to do just that a calculated move in a long, high-stakes geopolitical game. CNNs Eric Cheung contributed to this report For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com HONOLULU On a two-day visit to Hawaii, Taiwans president Lai Ching-te met with the states governor and congressional representatives as part of a Pacific island tour that has already triggered criticism from Beijing. On Sunday, Chinas Foreign Ministry said it strongly condemned U.S. support for Lais visit and had lodged a complaint with the U.S. It also denounced a newly announced U.S. weapons sale to Taiwan, a self-governing island that China claims as its own territory. China will closely monitor the situations development, and take resolute and forceful measures to safeguard the countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity, said the statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hawaii was Lais first stop on a weeklong voyage that will later take him to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau. They account for three of the 12 countries Taipei has formal diplomatic relations with. Hawaiian Gov. Josh Green on Saturday hosted Lai at the states emergency management agency where they discussed disaster preparedness. Green, who was a longtime emergency room physician before becoming governor, posted on social media that he and Lai discussed how their experiences in health care informed their governance. Lai is also a physician by training and obtained a Master of Public Health degree from Harvard University. Together, we extended a warm aloha to Lai and his delegation, highlighting Hawaiis shared values of resilience and collaboration with Taiwan, Green said in an Instagram post. Lai also visited Bishop Museum, Hawaiis leading museum of natural history and Native Hawaiian culture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the evening, Lai posed for photos with Hawaii congressional representatives and state lawmakers at a dinner banquet with the Taiwanese American community. U.S. Rep. Ed Case, a Democrat who represents Honolulu in Congress, said on social media that he told the audience that our ties endured on shared values and interests to advance mutual goals and meet shared challenges. It is unclear whether Lai with meet with any senior officials from the Biden administration or anyone from the incoming Trump administration during his Hawaii stay. President-elect Donald Trump said in an interview with Bloomberg in July that Taiwan should pay for its defense. The island has purchased billions of dollars of defense weaponry from the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump evaded answering whether he would defend the island from Chinese military action. The new arms announced by the U.S. State Department Friday include $385 million in spare parts and equipment for a fleet of F-16s, as well as support for tactical communication system to Taiwan. The U.S. is obligated to help the island defend itself under the Taiwan Relations Act but maintains a position of strategic ambiguity over whether it would ever get involved if Taiwan were to be invaded by China. Former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen drew vocal opposition from China when she stopped in New York last year on her way to Latin America. Tsai met with former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Chinese military also launched drills around Taiwan last year as a stern warning over what it called collusion between separatists and foreign forces days after Lai, then Taiwans vice president, stopped over in the U.S. China also strongly objects to leading American politicians visiting the island as it views any official contact with foreign governments and Taiwan as an infringement on its claims of sovereignty over Taiwan. Washington switched its formal recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979. HONOLULU (KHON2) Taiwan President Lai Ching-te is scheduled to visit the East-West Center in Honolulu on Sunday, Dec. 1, during a transit stopover en route to several Pacific Islands. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You The event will center on an informal, private discussion with invited guests on the topic of A Future of Mutual Prosperity: Taiwan as a Partner for Peace and Prosperity in the Indo-Pacific Region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Both of President Lais immediate predecessors made similar visits to the East-West Center during their own transit stops in Hawaii. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. Nov. 30It's hard to compete with the addictiveness of smartphones especially for Santa Fe educators trying to keep a classroom engaged. Some say they're fed up, however, with acting as the enforcers of what they call an insufficient new policy and pilot phone pouch program that serves as a disciplinary measure for students who don't stop using their devices. Several local school districts have made attempts this school year to address cellphone concerns. The Taos Municipal School District has made all high schools phone-free spaces by mandating that all secondary students keep their electronic devices locked in a district-provided, signal-blocking pouch for the duration of the school day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Santa Fe Public Schools has flirted with the pouch policy, for now adopting it only as a pilot program in some elementary and secondary schools and reserving the pouches for students with repeated problems with phone use. "I think that this has to be a joint effort by parents and students they need to meet us halfway in order for this to be successful," said Superintendent Hilario "Larry" Chavez. The district's policy is partly to appease parents, who have concerns with their children's devices being revoked. But it has left some educators fed up in feeling personally responsible for dealing with an issue beyond their control. "Over my career, I've watched cell phones ruin the American classroom," Geron Spray, a history teacher at Capital High School, wrote in response to a survey conducted by The New Mexican in November. "It's laughable that district administration is trying to slay this dragon (rather, have teachers slay this dragon) with Yondr Pouches." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taos pleased with pouches Cellphone use has gone up dramatically over the last 10 years, with one 2023 study showing 97% of 11- to 17-year-olds reporting using their phone in school, up from 51% of high school students who said the same in 2013. That increase has come much at the chagrin of high school teachers, 72% of whom said phones have become a major problem, according to a survey from Pew Research Center conducted in 2023. "During COVID, we told our kids, 'Everybody's going to be full-on electronic.' So, how do you undo that? You really can't," said Taos Superintendent Antonio Layton. "You can't go from everybody completely online to nobody online. So when we thought about that process, we wanted it to be a holistic approach." Layton said the district initially discussed a policy like Santa Fe's, only geared toward repeat offenders, but "we did not want to see this as a punitive measure," Layton said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We wanted to use it as a tool to help increase student engagement," he said. "If our kids saw it as punitive in nature, it made [it] a little bit harder to implement. We're not trying to punish you. We're just trying to help you increase your academics." Layton said the district did hear some concern from parents, but "because of the level of communication we had, and the transition period that we did, we received minimal pushback from parents and community." That communication included polling community members on their thoughts. "I think about 80% [of respondents] were parents," Layton said. "What was interesting was the majority said, 'We know phones are a problem. We know there are distractions in the classroom. Just don't take them away from our kids.' " Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following community feedback, the Taos school district determined phones were a larger issue in high schools than elementary schools and moved to adopt the "CellLockED" pouches districtwide as a solution to increase engagement without physically revoking phones. The pouches close and open using a specialized magnetic lock, which students lock at the start of the school day and unlock at the end, with unlocking magnets placed on school buses, in school offices and in classrooms for educators who plan to use phones to aid in instruction. "For the most part, it has been working," Layton said. "What we were hoping to see and what we have seen is an increase in student engagement, both socially and academically." Mixed feedback on pouch in Santa Fe In a social media survey, conducted in November, The New Mexican asked parents, educators and students on their thoughts toward Santa Fe's phone pouches, the Yondr pouch, a different brand than the Taos pouches but with virtually the same function. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parents brought up familiar concerns about taking away students' property and preventing contact with their child. "Times have changed, and technology is everywhere in everything we do," said parent Angel Lopez. "... Us parents do fear for our kids safety at school and having that phone on them keeps a sense of security." Studies show an overwhelming majority of parents agree with Lopez. A 2024 National Parents Union survey reported 78% of parents want their kids to have phones in school because of the potential of an emergency. Many teachers see it differently, criticizing the pouch policy as one that leaves enforcement in their hands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "While we teachers are being pounded for not presenting 'engaging' lessons," wrote Capital High teacher Marty Carvlin, "we are competing with the world's best innovators in social media and technology for our students' attention. Students' ambition to advance their skill level and knowledge base is severely compromised by a crippling addiction." And even some students admit problems surrounding phones. "I believe the Yondr Pouches could be a good thing," Santa Fe High School ninth grader Emilie Bridges wrote in an email. "Students are always on their phones, even if teachers cannot see them. Students are so disrespectful to their teachers when they ask them to put them away or to give them to them. I think the Yondr Pouches are a good solution, even if you do get a lot of backlash for them." Sylvia Likens, 16, died in October 1965 after months of torture at the hands of her caregiver and multiple others Sylvia's Child Advocacy Center Sylvia Likens Sylvia Likens Content warning: The following article contains disturbing descriptions of abuse. In October 1965, police officers in Indianapolis, Ind., found Sylvia Likens, 16, dead on a mattress in her caretaker's home. The teenager's body, emaciated and weak from malnutrition, was covered in old and fresh bruises, burns and sores, according to The Indianapolis Star. One area of her skin was marked with the imprint of a hot metal brand, while the words "I am a prostitute" were cruelly etched into her abdomen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sylvias caregiver, Gertrude Baniszewski, claimed to police that Sylvia had been attacked by a group of boys, per the Indy Star. She even showed them a note, purportedly written by Sylvia, that seemed to back up her version of events. However, the dark truth soon came to light, revealing that Sylvia had been tortured and held captive in Baniszewski's home for several months prior to her death. Baniszewski spearheaded the abuse, and the participants included her children as well as others from the neighborhood. Baniszewski had agreed to look after Sylvia and her sister Jenny for $20 a week that summer while the girls parents left town for a lengthy-work trip, the Indy Star reported. Baniszewski, who was divorced, had already been caring for her six children, the oldest of whom was her 17-year-old daughter Paula, and the youngest of whom was an 18-month-old boy. 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. According to the website for Sylvia's Child Advocacy Center in Indiana, the girls "continued to live as teenagers do, singing, skating, earning modest incomes during the summer break, and doing housework." But as time went on, the payments to Baniszewski began to wane. Angry, Baniszewski began beating the sisters more than a dozen times a week, often for "benign issues like eating too much food," per the website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Indy Star, children from the neighborhood also took part in the abuse, after which Sylvia was made to take painfully hot baths as punishment, to "cleanse her of her sins." "By the end of the summer, Sylvia was being raped, verbally tormented, assaulted with objects physically and sexually, starved, beaten, burned, and forced to commit humiliating or heinous acts," the advocacy center said. Sylvia was eventually forced to remain in the house and was forbidden from attending school. Sylvia died on Oct. 26, 1965, from her extensive injuries and malnourishment, the Indy Star reported. At Baniszewski's trial the following year, she pleaded not guilty, though she was eventually convicted of first-degree murder. Her daughter, Paula, was found guilty of second-degree murder. Both were sentenced to life in prison, according to the outlet. Bettmann/Getty Gertrude Baniszewski Gertrude Baniszewski Baniszewski's son and two neighborhood children also stood trial but served little time behind bars, according to Indianapolis Monthly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In December 1985, Baniszewski was released on parole. She lived in Iowa under a new name until her death from cancer in 1990, the Indy Star reported. Sylvias case was instrumental in the Indiana law mandating that every person who knows of child abuse must report it to the Department of Child Services. "This law was enacted as a direct result of Syvlias case; lawmakers were horrified to know that the neighbors heard Sylvia screaming and did not call the police," says Kassie Frazier, Executive Director of Sylvia's Child Advocacy Center. "In 1965, it was common practice not to get involved in others business; however, we, as a state, said we would stand with our children," Frazier added in the statement shared with PEOPLE on Nov. 27. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The organization, one of eleven nationally accredited child advocacy centers in the state, says on its website that it is "dedicated to [Sylvia's] memory and the cause of protecting children from abuse in every corner of our community." According to Frazier, child advocacy centers offer therapy and medical exams, plus courtroom preparation, victim advocacy, case management and other services. 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. Atlanta police have arrested a teenager for carjacking and killing a 70-year-old man at a liquor store on Saturday evening. Investigators say Jaylen Mosley, 19, was arrested shortly after the deadly shooting on Metropolitan Pkwy. SW near the I-85/I-75 downtown connector. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Officers were called to the store just before 6:45 p.m. on Saturday where they found the man with a gunshot wound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say the man was shot while being carjacked. He was taken to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead. His identity has not been released. TRENDING STORIES: According to Fulton County jail records, Mosley is being charged with murder, armed robbery, hijacking a motor vehicle, and more. He also has a fugitive from justice charge out of Harris County, Texas. Channel 2 Action News has reached out to the Harris County, Texas Sheriffs Office to learn more about why Mosley was wanted there. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] CHAPEL HILL, Tenn. (WKRN) The Duck River has been treasured as a great place for recreation. It is also considered to be one of the most biodiverse rivers in North America. But with all the growth in Middle Tennessee along the river, its future is at stake. On Nov. 20, Governor Bill Lee signed an executive order to preserve the Duck River and ensure its long-term sustainability. The order charges the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) with much of the planning to manage the delicate balance of growth and conservation of the river. TV host, fisherman details great fishing on the Duck River Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement April Grippo, TDECs Director of Water Resources, said that the Duck River is important to Lee and many others, so the TDEC takes it task of conservation seriously. [Lee] has conveyed to us his own personal connection with the Duck River, Grippo said. And its important to Commissioner Salyers of TDEC that we ensure that the Duck River is around for generations to come. Members of the Duck River Conservancy, a group that has for years criticized the increasing water withdrawals by public utilities, praised Governor Lees decision. The conservancys president, Douglas Jones, told News 2 the organization is ready to get to work and help you. This was critical for you to step in for your administration to charge TDEC with this, Jones said. It was in the nick of time is the best way I can describe it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grippo explained that TDECs job is quite a balancing act. TDEC has one of the most complicated roles of everyone who is engaged with the Duck River, Grippo said. Not only do we need to know that we are protecting the river for wildlife, such as the sensitive mussel species that make their home in the Duck River, were also charged with ensuring that theres recreation for people at parks like this. Were also tasked by the legislature with ensuring safe, reliable, and plenty of drinking water for all Tennesseans, especially in the midst of the growth that were seeing in this area. There could be a pipeline from the Tennessee River to supply water for the area instead of taking it out of the smaller Duck River. WKRN Its hard for me to speculate on specifics of a pipeline, but I will say that TDEC is working together with all stakeholders, especially water systems on a long-term solution for water supply in the Duck River, Grippo said. Were considering all alternatives, including a pipeline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jones said a pipeline could be a viable solution for water resources within the valley. Weve got to have a water resource for the valley, Jones said. Suspected case of highly pathogenic avian influenza detected in West Tennessee Who might pay for a project such as a pipeline, though? News 2 asked. Grippo thinks there would be options for funding. If we were to consider a pipeline, I think there would be a suite of options or funding this through various partners, Grippo explained. TDEC has been involved in funding other water systems through the American Rescue Plan for the past couple of years to the tune of many millions of dollars. So weve convened many stakeholders to talk about long-term solutions there as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) hosted the prestigious INBIX-ADNAT 2024 Conference, an event that highlighted advanced research and applications of DNA science, bioinformatics, and multi-omics. Spanning three days from November 28 to 30, the conference brought together luminaries from diverse disciplines, including archaeogenetics, forensics, linguistics, and genomics, to discuss groundbreaking advancements in human health and beyond. Professor Gyaneshwer Chaubey, a gene scientist from BHU's Department of Zoology, explained about the history of the Association of DNA Fingerprinting and Associated Technologies (ADNAT). "The ADNAT was founded 25 years ago by the late Dr Lalji Singh, who is known as the "Father of DNA and Fingerprinting". Last year, 22 people from across 15 countries and 300 young scientists from India participated in this annual conference. This year, we have started with bio-informatics," Chaubey said. This year's conference expanded its scope, merging bioinformatics with genomics to address contemporary research challenges. "Today's gene analysis is impossible without bioinformatics," Prof Chaubey noted, emphasizing the integration of linguists, archaeologists, and genomics specialists in collaborative dialogues. One of the unique highlights of the conference was its focus on venomics -- the study of snake venom. "Snake bites cause a death every six minutes. Developing a universal anti-venom is crucial to identifying the specific snake species involved in bites, especially in rural areas," Prof Chaubey said. International experts shared presented research on ancient DNA and soil analysis reflecting on human relationships and diversity. Scientists from the United States demonstrated techniques to extract DNA from soil, to see the relationship between people, and why we are different. Australian researchers presented findings on Denisovans, an extinct human species linked to the Yeti, and their genetic ties to current populations. Linguists also contributed by tracing the origins and spread of languages from Southeast Asia, providing fresh insights into the evolution of human culture. Professor Bruce Whitelaw, Director of the Roslin Institute in United Kingdom, where the world's first cloned sheep, Dolly, was created, addressed the gathering. He introduced the concept of biological engineering through CRISPR genome-editing technology. He said that this theory is very special for India because there are so many diseases in India, and there is no cure for them. "We can make corrections by cutting the genome using CRISPR technology. This is a big theory that will develop with time and will prove to be very effective for India," said Prof Whitelaw, highlighting the potential of CRISPR to correct genetic disorders. The conference aimed to inspire the next generation of Indian scientists. "Our goal is to expose young researchers to the forefront of science, giving them a glimpse of what lies 5-10 years ahead," Prof Chaubey explained. By presenting unpublished research and emerging theories, the event offered participants a strategic advantage in their academic and professional pursuits. ADNAT is a professional society with over 600 members worldwide, including scientists, scholars, and practitioners in various sectors. The organization continues to promote DNA technologies and their application in healthcare, agriculture, forensics, and social welfare while addressing their ethical, social and legal implications. (ANI) LANDOVER, Md. The Tennessee Titans backfield should be at full strength for Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders. Running back Tyjae Spears cleared the concussion protocol and will be active when the Titans (3-8) visit the Commanders (7-5) at Northwest Stadium on Sunday (noon, CBS). Spears joins Tony Pollard as the two primary backs in the Titans running game, a duo that figures to be featured heavily against a Washington defense that allows 145.5 rushing yards per game. As previously announced, the only two Titans players who are out for Sunday's game with an injury are tackle Leroy Watson IV, missing his third straight game with a back injury, and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, who remains on injured reserve with a groin injury despite the Titans opening his return-to-practice window earlier in the week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unpacking Tennessee Titans' progress in Brian Callahan's first year The Titans signed veteran defensive back Daryl Worley to the active roster on Friday. Worley started at safety in the Titans' Week 12 win over Houston with regular starter Amani Hooker out with an illness, but Hooker was not limited in practice leading up to the trip to Washington. See the Titans' complete list of inactive players for Sunday below. Tennessee Titans vs Commanders inactive players RB Joshua Kelley CB Gabe Jeudy-Lally OT Leroy Watson IV TE David Martin-Robinson Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Titans vs Commanders inactives: Latest on Tyjae Spears status Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) threatened to pull funding from Texas Childrens Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine after a doctor said on TikTok that patients dont have to disclose their immigration status. Hey Texas Childrens Hospital & Baylor College of Medicine, this doctor is putting your Medicaid and Medicare funding at risk, Abbott wrote on X on Nov. 24. You better think twice & have crystal clear records. There will be consequences for failing to follow the law in the Executive Order. The post comes after Tony Pastor, a doctor at Texass Childrens Hospital and assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine, posted a TikTok, that has since been deleted, in which he encouraged patients to not answer whether they are a U.S. citizen on their intake form at the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has made all of us physicians and providers super uncomfortable, Pastor said in the TikTok. No one has told us what people are going to do with this information. On Nov. 1, Abbott issued an executive order that requires the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to collect information on illegal immigrants who use Texas public hospitals for inpatient and emergency care and to report incurred healthcare costs due to the Biden-Harris Administrations reckless open border policies. Due to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris open border policies, Texas has had to foot the bill for medical costs for individuals illegally in the state, Abbott said in a news release. Texans should not have to shoulder the burden of financially supporting medical care for illegal immigrants. That is why today I issued an Executive Order requiring the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to collect and report healthcare costs for illegal immigrants in our state. Texas will hold the Biden-Harris Administration accountable for the consequences of their open border policies, and we will fight to ensure that they pay back Texas for their costly and dangerous policies. Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) speaks during the Republican National Convention on July 17 in Milwaukee. Paul Sancya via Associated Press In a statement to HuffPost, Texas Childrens Hospital said it fully supports Abbotts executive order and is in full compliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have worked closely with the Texas Hospital Association and our industry partners across the state to ensure compliance in advance of the effective date, the statement reads. While we recognize that individuals working at Texas Childrens hold their own personal views on many topics, those opinions do not necessarily reflect the official position of Texas Childrens Hospital. We will continue to prioritize patient care while ensuring we are in full compliance with all laws and legal directives. Abbotts office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Baylor College of Medicine did not have a comment. In an Oct. 31 TikTok, Pastor spoke about how his grandfather immigrated to the United States to receive medical care. It just drives me crazy that weve come this far as a nation that we forget we are a nation of immigrants, Pastor said. And racism and bigotry has just taken over a small population. Related... MARION COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) A Texas woman died following a head-on crash that occurred on I-22 Friday afternoon, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Shelly Coleman, 69, was critically injured when the GMC Yukon she was operating collided head-on with a BMW X4. The crash happened around 2:30 p.m. Friday about one mile west of Hamilton. Man killed in Elmore County crash Coleman, of Laneville, Texas, was taken to UAB Hospital because of the injuries she sustained from the crash. Coleman died at the hospital Saturday. A 16-year-old juvenile, who was a passenger in the BMW, was transported to an area hospital for medical treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Troopers with the ALEAs Highway Patrol Division are investigating the crash. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand protested an incident involving Myanmar's navy firing on Thai fishing vessels, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said on Sunday, after one fisherman drowned, two were injured and dozens were detained from one of the boats. Shinawatra questioned claims that the fishing boats had intruded into Myanmar's territorial waters when Myanmar's navy opened fire on the vessels on Saturday. The Thai defense ministry earlier said two of 15 Thai fishing vessels were fired on when they were 4-5.7 nautical miles (7.4-10.6 km) inside Myanmar's territorial waters near the southern Thai province of Ranong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is inconclusive," Shinawatra said, when asked by reporters whether Thai fishing boats encroached on Myanmar's territorial waters. "We don't support violence whatever the circumstances," she said, adding that Thailand was seeking more details on the incident and a quick release of four Thai nationals who were among the 31 fishermen detained. Myanmar's ruling junta did not immediately respond to a telephone request for comment. Thai Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said a letter protesting the use of force was sent to Myanmar through a local border mechanism, demanding clear details about what happened and a quick return of the Thai boat and crew detained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa also issued a letter of concern over the incident to the Myanmar government and summoned the Myanmar ambassador for a meeting on Monday, seeking clarification about what happened and a quick release of the four Thai nationals. Myanmar has been in crisis since 2021 when the military seized power, toppling an elected government and sparking an armed rebellion by crushing protests with lethal force. (Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by Sonali Paul) WAIKIKI, Hawaii (KHON2) Thousands of residents and visitors on Oahu headed down to Waikiki Beach Walk on Saturday, Nov. 30 to partake in Small Business Saturday, the day after Black Friday that aims to support independently owned businesses. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You About 15 Hawaii-owned businesses participated in the event, each marked with a red bow to signal shoppers to come inside and find special deals, promotions, treats and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hawaii shoppers take advantage of Black Friday sales According to Jean Dickinson of PacRim Marketing Group, this year marks the second time Waikiki Beach Walk hosted its holiday open house. In Hawaii, its so important to shop small. Crazy Shirts, for example, has 20% off the whole store, Kolohe has 30% off the whole store, and EIMEO, which is a Tahitian brand, is doing 20% off all their merchandise, Dickinson said. For Kai Aloha, Small Business Saturday helps bring awareness to the Maui business, especially after recent struggles from the Aug. 8 Lahaina wildfires. We did lose two stores in Lahaina last August and ever since then, events such as this one have helped bring more awareness. Weve been able to do a Maui Strong fund where we sent money back to Lahaina residents. And so just having more recognition, having more people be aware of our company and our brand is really not only helping our company out but also helping out the people in Maui as well, explained Isa Jauregui, Kai Aloha sales associate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shopping experience was completed with live music and raffles to win a two-night stay at Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk. Guests also had the opportunity to hunt for hidden keys to win a breakout room experience at Breakout Waikiki. Check out more news from around Hawaii For more information on Waikiki Beach Walks holiday open house, visit their website. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. PIEDMONT, Cali. (KRON) Three recent high school graduates are dead after a Tesla Cybertruck crash just outside of Oakland, California, last week. Early Wednesday morning, the Cybertruck reportedly jumped a curb in Piedmont, crashed into a tree, and burst into flames. One person was pulled from the vehicle by a person in the vehicle behind them, according to Piedmont Police Chief Jeremy Bowers. Authorities were alerted to the crash by an iPhone within the Cybertruck automatically alerting dispatchers, as well as neighbors who saw the flames rising from the vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vigil held in Piedmont to honor Cybertruck crash victims Within minutes, emergency crews arrived on scene and used fire extinguishers to battle the flames. The fire was too intense for the extinguishers, according to Bowers. The Piedmont Fire Department was able to put out the flames a short time later. Three young individuals since identified as Soren Dixon, Jack Nelson, and Krysta Tsukahara by the City of Piedmont were pronounced dead at the scene. The person pulled from the Cybertruck suffered burns and was taken to an area hospital in critical condition but has not been identified. Their current condition is unknown. Hundreds gathered in Piedmont Friday night for a vigil honoring the victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im moved by the way our small community has come together to offer solace to these families, and to one another, during a time of unimaginable loss, said Piedmont Mayor Jen Cavenaugh. The outpouring of support on display at Thursdays Turkey Trot and Fridays evening vigil was tremendous. Now, we must respect the wishes of the victims families to grieve privately. The city shared the photos of the victims seen below. Image of Soren Dixon Image of Jack Nelson Image of Krysta Tsukahara In a statement provided by Dixons family, he was described as being known for his infectious smile and love for his love of family and friends. Nelsons family, in a statement, said he was full of life and made a lasting impact on people through his kindness and joy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mikaela Shiffrin suffers abdominal puncture wound in skiing crash The family of Tsukahara, a sophomore at the Savannah College of Art and Design, said in a statement that she would be remembered for her kind and sensitive heart. Neighbors and friends said the group had been home from college for the holidays to visit their families. Bowers previously said it was believed that all four people in the Cybertruck, as well as those in the car behind them, may have been at the same function before the crash. He did not elaborate on what may have happened at that function but said authorities had not ruled out whether drugs or alcohol were involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Piedmont Police and the California Highway Patrol are investigating the crash. Speed was a contributing factor, Bowers said last week. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. PIEDMONT, Cali. (KRON) Three recent high school graduates are dead after a Tesla Cybertruck crash just outside of Oakland, California, last week. Early Wednesday morning, the Cybertruck reportedly jumped a curb in Piedmont, crashed into a tree, and burst into flames. One person was pulled from the vehicle by a person in the vehicle behind them, according to Piedmont Police Chief Jeremy Bowers. Authorities were alerted to the crash by an iPhone within the Cybertruck automatically alerting dispatchers, as well as neighbors who saw the flames rising from the vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vigil held in Piedmont to honor Cybertruck crash victims Within minutes, emergency crews arrived on scene and used fire extinguishers to battle the flames. The fire was too intense for the extinguishers, according to Bowers. The Piedmont Fire Department was able to put out the flames a short time later. Three young individuals since identified as Soren Dixon, Jack Nelson, and Krysta Tsukahara by the City of Piedmont were pronounced dead at the scene. The person pulled from the Cybertruck suffered burns and was taken to an area hospital in critical condition but has not been identified. Their current condition is unknown. Hundreds gathered in Piedmont Friday night for a vigil honoring the victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im moved by the way our small community has come together to offer solace to these families, and to one another, during a time of unimaginable loss, said Piedmont Mayor Jen Cavenaugh. The outpouring of support on display at Thursdays Turkey Trot and Fridays evening vigil was tremendous. Now, we must respect the wishes of the victims families to grieve privately. The city shared the photos of the victims seen below. Image of Soren Dixon Image of Jack Nelson Image of Krysta Tsukahara In a statement provided by Dixons family, he was described as being known for his infectious smile and love for his love of family and friends. Nelsons family, in a statement, said he was full of life and made a lasting impact on people through his kindness and joy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mikaela Shiffrin suffers abdominal puncture wound in skiing crash The family of Tsukahara, a sophomore at the Savannah College of Art and Design, said in a statement that she would be remembered for her kind and sensitive heart. Neighbors and friends said the group had been home from college for the holidays to visit their families. Bowers previously said it was believed that all four people in the Cybertruck, as well as those in the car behind them, may have been at the same function before the crash. He did not elaborate on what may have happened at that function but said authorities had not ruled out whether drugs or alcohol were involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Piedmont Police and the California Highway Patrol are investigating the crash. Speed was a contributing factor, Bowers said last week. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. KYIV (Reuters) - At least three people were killed in a Russian drone attack on the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, the regional governor said on Sunday. Seven more people were wounded in the morning attack, which targeted public transportation, Oleksandr Prokudin wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Russian forces withdrew from Kherson city in late 2022 but have regularly attacked the regional capital with artillery and drones from the other side of the Dnipro river. (Reporting by Dan Peleschuk; Editing by Bernadette Baum) (KRON) The three young individuals who were killed in a Tesla Cybertruck crash in Piedmont on Wednesday have been identified by the City of Piedmont. The decedents were identified as Soren Dixon, Jack Nelson and Krysta Tsukahara. Hundreds gathered in Piedmont Friday night for a vigil honoring the victims. Im moved by the way our small community has come together to offer solace to these families, and to one another, during a time of unimaginable loss, said Piedmont Mayor Jen Cavenaugh. The outpouring of support on display at Thursdays Turkey Trot and Fridays evening vigil was tremendous. Now, we must respect the wishes of the victims families to grieve privately. Image of Soren Dixon Image of Jack Nelson Image of Krysta Tsukahara Vigil held in Piedmont to honor Cybertruck crash victims Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement provided by Dixons family, he was known for his infectious smile and love for his love of family and friends. Nelsons family described him, in a statement, as full of life and made a lasting impact on people through his kindness and joy. Tsukahara was a sophomore at the Savannah College of Art and Design. In a statement released by her family, she was known for her kind and sensitive heart. The fiery crash occurred around 3 a.m. on Wednesday on Hampton Road. The front end of the Cybertruck partially wrapped around the tree, and the vehicle fully burned. One person did survive the crash. He suffered severe burns and underwent surgery. His current condition is unknown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement to KRON4, the National Highway Traffic Safety Agency said it is aware of the crash and is gathering information from Tesla and law enforcement. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. The 1st edition of the joint tabletop exercise, CINBAX, between the Indian Army and the Cambodian Army commenced at the Foreign Training Node, Pune on Sunday, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. The exercise will be conducted from December 1 to 8. The Cambodian Army contingent will comprise 20 personnel and the Indian Army contingent will also comprise 20 personnel from an Infantry Brigade, the ministry added. Exercise CINBAX is a planning exercise aimed at the wargame conduct of joint Counter Terrorism (CT) operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The exercise will focus on discussions about the establishment of a joint training task force for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance besides planning operations in the CT environment. Various contingencies will be war-gamed and the employment of force multipliers in the sub-conventional operations will also be discussed. The exercise will also involve discussion on information operations, cyber warfare, hybrid warfare, logistics and casualty management, HADR operations etc, the ministry said. The exercise will be conducted in three phases. Phase I will focus on preparations and orientation of participants for CT operations during UN peacekeeping missions. Phase II will involve the conduct of the tabletop exercises and Phase III will involve the finalisation of plans and summing up. This will bring out practical aspects of the theme-based training and aims to enable the participants to comprehend the procedures through situation-based discussions and tactical exercises, it added. The exercise will also showcase weapons and equipment of the Indian origin promoting 'Atmanirbharta' and indigenous capabilities in defence production. The inaugural edition of exercise CINBAX will focus on enhancing trust, and camaraderie and achieving the desired level of interoperability between troops of both sides. It will also enhance the joint operational efficiency of both the Armies while undertaking peacekeeping operations, added the ministry. (ANI) President-elect Trump on Sunday said he would appoint Massad Boulos, a billionaire from Lebanon whose son Michael is married to Tiffany Trump, to serve as his senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs. Massad is an accomplished lawyer and a highly respected leader in the business world, with extensive experience on the International scene, Trump wrote in a message on Truth Social. He has been a longtime proponent of Republican and Conservative values, an asset to my Campaign, and was instrumental in building tremendous new coalitions with the Arab American Community, he continued. Massad is a dealmaker, and an unwavering supporter of PEACE in the Middle East. He will be a strong advocate for the United States, and its interests, and I am pleased to have him on our team! Tiffany Trump, the president-elects youngest daughter, married Michael Boulos in 2022, with President-elect Trump walking his daughter down the aisle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Massad Boulos is just the latest family figure in Trumps orbit to land a post with the administration. On Saturday, Trump said he would nominate Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, as ambassador to France. Jared Kushner and his wife, Ivanka Trump, had roles in Trumps first term but are not expected to work in Trumps second administration. The elder Boulos was a critical figure for Trump in the swing state of Michigan, campaigning for the president-elect among Arab American voters. Trump ended up winning the state again. He is also a billionaire and the leader of the family business SCOA Nigeria, an automotive company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boulos will likely play a role in any effort Trump makes to get a peace deal in the Middle East, which has been riven with war since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Israels government has since led a bloody war on Gaza, which has threatened at times to break out into a wider regional war as Iran and Israel have lobbed missile attacks at each other. Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group based in Lebanon, did reach a ceasefire deal this week. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. TikTok is facing scrutiny in Romania for election interference. Romania's defense council says TikTok's algorithm fueled the rise of a far-right candidate. TikTok denied the claim that it treated any political candidate's content differently from others. TikTok is facing accustions from regulators in Romania that content on the platform improperly influenced the country's presidential election. Romania's Supreme Council of National Defense said in a statement on Thursday that one candidate "benefited from massive exposure due to preferential treatment" from TikTok. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Calin Georgescu, a far-right populist and ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, defeated leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, the heavy favorite, in the first round of presidential voting on November 24. Georgescu, who was virtually unknown before the election, catapulted from obscurity thanks in part to his viral TikTok videos. The win secured Georgescu a place in a runoff vote scheduled for December 8. The Romanian Constitutional Court ordered a re-verification of the result following his surprise victory. Georgescu has courted controversy with his pro-Russian and anti-NATO rhetoric, calling Ukraine an "invented country," according to the Associated Press. Romania borders Ukraine and is a NATO member. In its statement, the Romanian defense council said there is growing interest inside Russia to "influence the public agenda in Romanian society" and disrupt social cohesion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Georgescu's sudden popularity on TikTok appears to have helped fuel his election victory. One Romanian think tank told the AP that his TikTok following and engagement his posts garnered over 100 million views in the weeks before the election appeared "sudden and artificial." The Supreme Council of National Defense said TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, failed to label the videos of one candidate presumed to be Georgescu as campaign content. The defense council said that not labeling the content as campaign-related drastically increased its visibility on TikTok. "Thus, the visibility of that candidate increased significantly in relation to the other candidates who were recognized by the TikTok algorithms as candidates for the presidential elections, and the content promoted by them was massively filtered, exponentially decreasing their visibility among platform users," the statement said. The accusation against TikTok in Romania mirrors similar claims against Facebook during the 2016 US presidential election when Russia used the social media platform to sow discord that favored Republicans and Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TikTok has also faced scrutiny in the United States for allowing political ads that included disinformation in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. TikTok did not immediately return a request for comment from Business Insider. A spokesperson for the company told Politico that it denies that Georgescu was treated differently by the platform than other candidates. "It is categorically false to claim his account was treated differently to any other candidate," spokesperson Paolo Ganino told the outlet. Ganino added that Georgescu was treated "in the same way as every other candidate on TikTok, and subject to exactly the same rules and restrictions." Read the original article on Business Insider New European Council President Antonio Costa and foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas visited Kiev on Sunday for a show of EU support for Ukraine on their first day in office. During their highly symbolic visit, the pair plan to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and assure him of the European Union's support in light of Russia's all-out war against Ukraine, which began in February 2022. "We came to give a clear message that we stand for Ukraine and we continue give full support for Ukraine," Costa said. That included humanitarian, financial, military and diplomatic support, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said one topic, besides the current conflict, would be their "common European future" and the planned integration of Ukraine into the EU. Costa and Kallas both formally took up office hours earlier, at midnight, along with the new team of commissioners under the second term of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. They replace former European Council president Charles Michel and the bloc's previous top diplomat Josep Borrell, following EU elections in June. Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanischyna (R) welcomes the new EU Council President Antonio Costa (2nd L), the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas (L), and the new EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos (2nd R) as they arrive in Kiev a few hours after taking office. Ansgar Haase/dpa New European Council President Antonio Costa and foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas visited Kiev on Sunday for a show of EU support for Ukraine on their first day in office. During their highly symbolic visit, the pair plan to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and assure him of the European Union's support in light of Russia's all-out war against Ukraine, which began in February 2022. "We came to give a clear message that we stand for Ukraine and we continue give full support for Ukraine," Costa said. That included humanitarian, financial, military and diplomatic support, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said one topic, besides the current conflict, would be their "common European future" and the planned integration of Ukraine into the EU. Costa and Kallas both formally took up office hours earlier, at midnight, along with the new team of commissioners under the second term of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. They replace former European Council president Charles Michel and the bloc's previous top diplomat Josep Borrell, following EU elections in June. Situation on the front is 'grave' The visit of the two EU officials comes at an epecially difficult time for Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the east of the country, Russian forces have made significant territorial gains. At the same time, it is unclear whether the United States will continue its current level of support after US President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. If this is not the case, European countries would have to significantly increase their military aid for Ukraine to continue its defensive struggle. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said it was crucial for Europe to show Ukraine that it stands by its side. The situation on the battlefield is "very, very grave," she told dpa and other international media on the sidelines of the visit. Appeal to Washington In view of a scenario in which reduced military aid forces Ukraine into ceasefire talks, Kallas warned sternly against the potential consequences, arguing that Russian President Vladimir Putin had not changed his objectives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the message were simply "Fine, you take the territories that you have conquered," that would not just strengthen Russia but also its allies China, North Korea and Iran, Kallas argued. "So if America is worried about China, it should be worried about Russia," Kallas said, alluding to the US perception that China is the greatest security threat. Kallas, a former Estonian prime minister, noted that Russia had not adhered to ceasefire agreements in the years before 2022. "Of course, everybody wants peace and quiet and do not want the bombs flying. But we really need to support to Ukraine so that they would have a strong hand. The stronger they are on the battlefield, the stronger they are behind the negotiation table. I think this is very, very important," Kallas said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cost of supporting Ukraine was significantly less than the cost a victory for Russia would entail, she added. NATO membership? Kallas named potential NATO membership as the strongest possible security guarantee for Ukraine after a ceasefire. "If Ukraine decides to draw the line somewhere then how can we secure peace so that Putin doesn't go any further," Kallas said. NATO membership certainly had to be discussed, as there were no other clear options. Zelensky had recently said in an interview that Ukraine could agree to a ceasefire with Russia if NATO extended its protection to cover those parts of the country controlled by Kiev. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a ceasefire, Ukraine would need guarantees "that Putin will not come back"," Zelensky told the British TV channel Sky News. Zelensky names conditions "If we want to stop the hot phase of the war, we need to take under the NATO umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control," he said, according to the English translation. "We need to do it fast. And then on the [occupied] territory of Ukraine, Ukraine can get them back in a diplomatic way." Kiev had not previously considered this approach because no one in NATO had officially suggested it, Zelensky said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moreover, he said that a NATO invitation would still have to extend to all of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. His country did not have the constitutional right to recognize occupied areas as Russian, Zelensky noted. Costa and Kallas were accompanied on their visit to Kiev by the new EU enlargement cmmissioner, Marta Kos. She will be responsible over the coming years for EU membership negotiations with Ukraine and other candidate countries. Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Yevhen Perebyinis (R) welcomes Kaja Kallas, the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, upon her arrival in Kyiv shortly after taking office. Ansgar Haase/dpa New European Council President Antonio Costa and foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas visited Kiev on Sunday for a show of EU support for Ukraine on their first day in office. During their highly symbolic visit, the pair met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and assured him of the European Union's support in light of Russia's all-out war against Ukraine, which began in February 2022. "We came to give a clear message that we stand for Ukraine and we continue give full support for Ukraine," Costa said. That included humanitarian, financial, military and diplomatic support, he added. European Council president pledges swift EU progress Costa pledged Ukraine swift progress in the EU accession process during discussions with Zelensky in Kiev. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Costa, a former Portuguese prime minister, said they would work together to open at least two areas of accession negotiations in the first half of next year. Costa and Kallas officially took up office earlier on Sunday along with the new team of commissioners under the second term of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Costa also assured Ukraine of further EU financial assistance in the fight against Russia's ongoing invasion, and committed to efforts on the 15th package of sanctions against Russia. Costa and Kallas replace former European Council president Charles Michel and the bloc's previous top diplomat Josep Borrell, following EU elections in June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The visit of the two EU officials comes at an epecially difficult time for Ukraine. Continued US support unclear Whether the United States will continue its current level of support for Ukraine after US President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January is unclear. If this is not the case, European countries would have to significantly increase their military aid for Ukraine to continue its defensive struggle. Kallas said it was crucial for Europe to show Ukraine that it stands by its side. The situation on the battlefield is "very, very grave," she told dpa and other international media on the sidelines of the visit. Appeal to Washington In view of a scenario in which reduced military aid forces Ukraine into ceasefire talks, Kallas warned sternly against the potential consequences, arguing that Russian President Vladimir Putin had not changed his objectives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the message were simply "Fine, you take the territories that you have conquered," that would not just strengthen Russia but also its allies China, North Korea and Iran, Kallas argued. "So if America is worried about China, it should be worried about Russia," Kallas said, alluding to the US perception that China is the greatest security threat. Kallas, a former Estonian prime minister, noted that Russia had not adhered to ceasefire agreements in the years before 2022. "Of course, everybody wants peace and quiet and do not want the bombs flying. But we really need to support to Ukraine so that they would have a strong hand. The stronger they are on the battlefield, the stronger they are behind the negotiation table. I think this is very, very important," Kallas said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cost of supporting Ukraine was significantly less than the cost a victory for Russia would entail, she added. NATO membership? Kallas named potential NATO membership as the strongest possible security guarantee for Ukraine after a ceasefire. "If Ukraine decides to draw the line somewhere then how can we secure peace so that Putin doesn't go any further," Kallas said. NATO membership certainly had to be discussed, as there were no other clear options. Zelensky had recently said in an interview that Ukraine could agree to a ceasefire with Russia if NATO extended its protection to cover those parts of the country controlled by Kiev. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a ceasefire, Ukraine would need guarantees "that Putin will not come back," Zelensky told the British TV channel Sky News. Zelensky names conditions "If we want to stop the hot phase of the war, we need to take under the NATO umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control," he said, according to the English translation. "We need to do it fast. And then on the [occupied] territory of Ukraine, Ukraine can get them back in a diplomatic way." Kiev had not previously considered this approach because no one in NATO had officially suggested it, Zelensky said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moreover, he said that a NATO invitation would still have to extend to all of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. His country did not have the constitutional right to recognize occupied areas as Russian, Zelensky noted. He stressed that such a move would effectively recognize the loss of territory controlled by Russia, something Ukraine will never accept. Costa and Kallas were accompanied on their visit to Kiev by the new EU enlargement commissioner, Marta Kos. She will be responsible over the coming years for EU membership negotiations with Ukraine and other candidate countries. Nov. 30Two residents of a mobile home in the Town of Niagara are being assisted by the Red Cross following a Saturday morning fire. Niagara Active and Niagara Falls A.R.S. firefighters responded to a reported working fire in Expressway Village around 11:35 a.m. Upon arrival, heavy smoke had filled the mobile home and flames were observed in the rear of the structure. Firefighters utilized multiple handlines and were able to extinguish much of the fire within the first 30 minutes. Two adults were transported to the hospital by Mercy EMS to be evaluated for smoke inhalation. A couple of pets are being cared for by a neighbor. (FOX40.COM) Traffic was at a standstill and all lanes were closed on Capital City Freeway (Business 80) because of an ongoing investigation Saturday evening, according to the California Highway Patrol. Around 4 p.m., CHP responded to a scene on Businesses 80 (SB-51) south of the America River Bridge. Police said a road-rage incident led to a person being shot in the arm and taken to the hospital. Armed man prompts shelter-in-place in Placer County, avoid area Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Video footage shows several vehicles attempting to make U-turns into oncoming traffic on the freeway. Some commuters said they had been stuck in the same spot for nearly an hour. Around 5 p.m., Caltrans announced the lanes were reopened but commuters should still expect some traffic delays. The incident remains under investigation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. The Sunday after Thanksgiving has historically been the busiest travel day of the year. Data from the Transportation Safety Administration for 2023 shows 2.9 million people traveled by air the Sunday after Thanksgiving. For folks returning at Jacksonville International Airport Sunday morning, the holiday rush was as real as ever. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< The line for regular TSA was wrapped all the way around and past the terminal when I got there, Olivia Barber told Action News Jax after landing in JIA from Providence, Rhode Island. Flying out of Providence, its not usually very busy at TSA, especially early in the morning, so its definitely a big change from what we normally see at the airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boston was very busy, even at TSA precheck, lots and lots of people, another traveler, Frank Barraca, told Action News Jax. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Barraca said Sunday morning that he almost missed his flight out of Boston because of the rush, though he and his wife caught a flight bright and early to try to get ahead of any possible travel disruptions. Thats the plan. Get out early, get it in early, because as the day goes on flights get delayed, Barraca explained. For those returning from the holiday rush on Monday, expect some longer waits at the rental car counters, as AAA says the Monday and Tuesday after the holiday are typically the busiest rental return dates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The best time to hit the road on Monday will be before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m., according to transportation data company INRIX [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] 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. Amid flooding and heavy downpours caused by Cyclonic Storm Fengal, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday visited the State Emergency Operation Centre to inspect ongoing relief efforts. He urged the Union government to dispatch a central team to assess the situation and evaluate crop damage caused by the cyclone. The Chief Minister also visited various locations in the Kolathur assembly constituency. Tamil Nadu Revenue and Disaster Management Minister KKSSR Ramachandran and other Disaster Management Department officials accompanied him. CM Stalin stated that nearly 27,000 people have received food packets prepared by Amma canteens since yesterday. He added that 21 of Chennai's 23 subways have been cleared of waterlogging. "Yesterday, we faced Cyclone Fengal. Twenty-one of the 23 subways in Chennai have been cleared. Since yesterday, Amma canteens have distributed food packets to 27,000 people. The concerned ministers are stationed in various districts to oversee relief activities. Precautionary measures have been taken across all districts. I urge the central government to send a team to assess the impact of the cyclone and the resulting crop damage," Tamil Nadu CM Stalin said. Many districts in Tamil Nadu have been experiencing incessant rainfall since Cyclone Fengal made landfall on November 30. Residential areas in Cuddalore district were submerged due to heavy rains, and disaster teams are using boats to rescue stranded residents. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), led by District Collector Balaraman, has been actively rescuing affected residents using boats. The Tamil Nadu Disaster Rescue team also cleared a tree that had fallen on the national highway in Chinna Gangankuppam, a border area between Cuddalore and Puducherry, using a JCB machine. Meanwhile, Indian Army troops from the Chennai Garrison Battalion, under the Dakshin Bharat Area command, were mobilised early on Sunday to assist with rescue operations in flood-affected areas of Puducherry. The team, led by Major Ajay Sangwan, focused on the critical situation in Krishna Nagar, where water levels rose to nearly five feet, stranding residents in approximately 500 houses. The Indian Army began rescue operations at 6:15 am, successfully evacuating over 100 people in the first two hours. Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy stated on Sunday that the Union Territory received 50 centimetres of rainfall overnight, resulting in severe flooding. Rescue teams are working tirelessly to evacuate stranded residents, he added. Cyclone Fengal brought record-breaking rainfall to Puducherry, with the Union Territory recording 48.4 centimetres of rain over 24 hours up to 8:30 am on December 1. This marks the highest 24-hour cumulative rainfall in the last 30 years, from 1995 to 2024. Meanwhile, Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) train services resumed normal operations across all suburban districts on December 1, according to railway officials. A Elumalai, Public Relations Officer from the Chennai Division, confirmed that train services in Chennai had resumed operations. EMU train services had been severely disrupted on Saturday due to heavy rainfall caused by Cyclonic Storm Fengal, which made landfall in Puducherry and the coastal districts of northern Tamil Nadu. (ANI) By David Ljunggren OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised President-elect Donald Trump that Canada would toughen controls over the long undefended joint border, a senior Canadian official said on Sunday. Trudeau flew to Florida on Friday to have dinner with Trump, who has promised to slap tariffs on Canadian imports unless Ottawa prevents migrants and drugs from crossing the frontier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canada sends 75% of all goods and services exports to the United States and tariffs would badly hurt the economy. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who sat at the head table with Trudeau and Trump, said the two men discussed additional security measures Canada would be introducing. "We're going to look to procure, for example, additional drones, additional police helicopters, we're going to redeploy personnel ... we believe that the border is secure," he told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. "It's important, I think, to show Canadians and the Americans that we're stepping up in a visible and muscular way, and that's exactly what we're going to do," he added, promising more details in the days and weeks to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canada, he said, would continue to make the case that tariffs would damage both nations, given how interconnected the two economies are. "I'm confident that the Americans will understand that it's not in their interest ... to proceed in this way," he said, describing the dinner meeting as very warm and cordial. Trump said on Saturday he discussed the border, trade and energy in a "very productive" meeting with Trudeau. The friendly nature of the dinner contrasts with previous exchanges between the two men. Trump called Trudeau "a far left lunatic" in 2022 for requiring truck drivers crossing the border to be vaccinated against COVID. In June 2018, Trump walked out of a G7 summit in Quebec and blasted Trudeau for being "very dishonest and weak." At the end of the dinner, LeBlanc said, Trump walked Trudeau to his car and said "Keep in touch. Call me anytime. Talk soon." (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Chris Reese) As President-elect Donald Trump assembles his White House staff and selects his Cabinet picks, an ideological divide has emerged around a hot-button topic: a ban on TikTok, the social media video app used by around half of the U.S. population. That divide and a lack of clarity around the administrations priorities and current positioning on a ban have thrown the fate of TikTok in the U.S. into question. TikTok is defending itself in federal court over legislation President Joe Biden signed in April that would ban TikTok if it doesnt sell itself to an American owner by the time Trump takes office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further complicating matters for TikTok is the fact that Trump has reversed his public stance on the app as he has announced Cabinet picks with a wide array of views about it. In 2020, he tried to ban it outright with an executive order that was struck down in the courts. At the time, teen TikTok users claimed to have coordinated lower turnout at one of Trumps rallies by reserving seats they had no intention to fill. This March, Trump acknowledged that he believes TikTok is a national security threat but said a ban would double business for Metas Facebook, which he calls the enemy of the people. In June, Trump started his own TikTok account, which now has over 14.6 million followers, the most of any U.S. politician, although he hasnt posted since Election Day. In a Truth Social post in September, he said he would save TikTok in America if he was elected. If Trump sticks to his word, he could be TikToks best chance to avoid a ban. But thats not a sure thing most of Trumps Cabinet and other administration picks who have spoken about the apps future have strongly encouraged a ban, with a few who have large TikTok and other social media followings opposing one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Project 2025, the conservative playbook outlining plans for the administration, refers to TikTok as a tool of Chinese espionage that should be outlawed. In his goals outlined for the Federal Communications Commission in Project 2025, Trumps choice for FCC chair, Brendan Carr, wrote that one of his main priorities is reining in big tech, including banning TikTok. During his campaign, Trump disavowed Project 2025, a project led by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, after it became a central subject of Democratic attacks. However, at least three of his staff picks contributed to or wrote sections of Project 2025, and his transition staffers are pulling from its personnel database, according to a person familiar with the situation. In the foreword to Project 2025, Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts writes that TikTok and other social media platforms are specifically designed to create the digital dependencies that fuel mental illness and anxiety, to fray childrens bonds with their parents and siblings. Federal policy cannot allow this industrial-scale child abuse to continue. Trumps pick for head of the CIA, John Ratcliffe, whose nomination requires Senate confirmation, is another author of Project 2025. He plans to devote even more resources to countering China. TikTok is a national security threat, Ratcliffe told Fox Business in 2022, agreeing with the host that the U.S. should kick out TikTok. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Trump allies who oppose TikTok have cited claims of Chinese government influence over American users, which TikTok denies. Politicians on both sides of the aisle have also referred to TikTok as a national security threat and a way for the Chinese government to get data on Americans, while its proponents have argued that such data is accessible with or without TikTok. Even as some members of Trumps incoming administration have advocated banning TikTok, other members have become rising TikTok stars, including Vice President-elect JD Vance, who has over 2 million followers, and press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who has posted only one video (following the popular day in the life format in October) and has 36,000 followers. But Leavitt has also spoken out against the platform. As a generation Z American, I can tell you all my friends, my colleagues, my former classmates are on TikTok. It is the main source of news for the majority of American youth, and it is truly the bane of our society right now, Leavitt said last December on Fox Business. Referring to the Chinese Communist Party, she said: It is owned by the CCP. They are pushing algorithms that are very damaging to the intellectual curiosity and to the ideology of young Americans today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sebastian Gorka, a Newsmax host and the incoming deputy assistant to the president, described TikTok as a CCP instrument, a way to collect data from Americans, including children, and then exploit it for the purposes of the worlds largest communist regime, on his show in April 2023. People want to ban it, especially on the right, he added. Awaiting Senate confirmation to join Trumps Cabinet are former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, his pick for director of national intelligence, who has over 1 million TikTok followers, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trumps choice for health and human services secretary, who has over 3 million followers. They have both publicly criticized the legislation that would force a sale of TikTok or lead to a U.S. ban. Dont be fooled the TikTok ban is not about China harvesting your data. Thats a smoke screen, Kennedy wrote on X in April, adding that he would file a lawsuit challenging the ban on constitutional grounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congress and the administration dont understand that TikTok is an entrepreneurial platform for thousands of American young people, Kennedy went on to write, adding that U.S. data is harvested outside TikTok and that the company isnt even majority Chinese-owned. They want to screw them over just so they can pretend to be tough on China, he wrote. Gabbard told podcast host Joe Rogan in May that she opposed the legislation to force a sale on the grounds of free speech and civil liberties, arguing that it would give the president unilateral power to declare a country a foreign adversary and ban any app the country owned a majority stake in. Maybe theyre just going after the ones they cant actually control and intimidate into doing their work for them, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kennedy also spoke to TikTok users about the legislation during a livestream on the platform in June, calling it perverse, twisted and unconstitutional and characterizing it as private property seizure and a violation of free speech. He said young people should be encouraged to pursue entrepreneurship through monetized content and marketing on TikTok, not have it taken away. I have an account on TikTok. Its important for me to be able to communicate with people on TikTok. Theres a lot of content on TikTok I disagree with, but thats what democracy is about, Kennedy said. In the same appearance, he said he disagreed with the governments decision to ban the Russian propaganda network RT. TV personality Mehmet Oz, Trumps pick to direct the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, has 1.1 million TikTok followers, and he uses the platforms TikTok Shop feature to earn commissions on health and wellness products he advertises from a company he advises. Vivek Ramaswamy, who Trump has said will work alongside X owner Elon Musk in newly created government efficiency advisory roles, has over 855,000 TikTok followers. Ramaswamy flip-flopped on TikTok when he ran his own presidential campaign in 2023. In between two Iowa campaign stops, Ramaswamy went from calling TikTok digital fentanyl to joining it at the advice of Jake Paul, the controversial boxer and YouTube star. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In retrospect, it was a little bit of an old-fashioned decision to say that theres an entire mode of communicating with young people that I was going to turn off, Ramaswamy said, although he has continued to say the app could have a worrying impact on young teens. Musk, who doesnt have a public-facing account, opposes a ban. In my opinion, TikTok should not be banned in the USA, even though such a ban may benefit the X platform, Musk posted in April. Doing so would be contrary to freedom of speech and expression. It is not what America stands for. The Wall Street Journal reported that TikTok CEO Shou Chew has reached out to Musk since the election, looking for insight into Trumps administration and tech policy. Musk and Ramaswamy dont need to be confirmed by the Senate, because their roles arent official government positions, although Trump said they will work to inform the Office of Management and Budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps incoming national security adviser, Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., voted in support of the bill to force a sale of TikTok and advocated for a ban. In February, after Bidens campaign joined TikTok, Waltz told Fox News the campaign should be ashamed. He suggested the Chinese Communist Party could stage election interference on TikTok. It is long overdue, Waltz said about a ban. We should not allow our greatest adversary to access 150 million Americans and their data. Why is it OK to ban TikTok on all government devices because its essentially a spyware tool ... but its OK to have it on our kids phones, monitoring everything they look at? Waltz asked on Fox Business in July 2023. We would have never allowed this in the Cold War with the Soviet Union, and we shouldnt be allowing it now. Trumps nominee for secretary of state, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has been advocating against TikTok since the company first merged with the app Musical.ly in 2019. He co-introduced legislation to ban TikTok from government devices in 2021 and in all of the U.S. in 2022, supported Trumps executive order to ban TikTok and called the legislation that would force a sale to an American owner a huge step toward confronting Beijings malign influence. After Trump was elected, Rubio said he would defer to him on TikTok, although he still had concerns about the vulnerability it poses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes the president, so if thats what he wants to do, he also has the power to do it, Rubio said. In late 2022, Trumps pick for homeland security secretary, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, and his choice for interior secretary, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, both banned TikTok from state-owned devices. In an interview with Fox News in March, Noem said TikTok is owned by the Chinese Community Party. Their No. 1 desire is to destroy America, so that is why we should be alarmed at the amount of influence they have in this country. She said TikTok was released at the same time as the Covid-19 pandemic was (it was actually released in the U.S. in August 2018) to influence our youth. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore., Trumps pick for labor secretary, and Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., his choice for ambassador to the United Nations, both voted in favor of the bill that would force a sale to an American owner. I have consistently said that Tik Tok is a national security threat, Stefanik said in a statement in March. We cannot allow our adversaries to build an arsenal of data on American citizens that can be used to exploit and weaponize them. Former Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., Trumps pick for veterans affairs secretary, told Newsmax in March 2023 that he opposed TikToks Chinese ownership but that the legislative path to ban it was a tough decision, creating a potential path to government overreach. We really dont need the government getting into that, and thats the problem, Collins said. Trumps choice for surgeon general, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a family and emergency medicine doctor and a former Fox News medical contributor, has personally advocated for a ban not just on TikTok but on all social media for children. In my opinion, social media should be banned to all teens and young children, because its done nothing but harm, she said on Fox News. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Donald Trumps controversial decision to have Kash Patel to head up the FBIwas not his first choice, according to a new report. The MAGA loyalist was being considered as deputy director of the bureau, an appointment that may have raised fewer eyebrows, with Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey a frontrunner for the top job. However, a source in the Trump transition team told Axios that Baileys interview at Mar-a-Lago did not go well and that he looked the part but just didnt have the presence in the room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is understood that chemistry with the President-elect is very important when appointments are being made. Patel is a long-standing and loyal Trump supporter. Patel has for years been a loyal ally to Trump, finding common cause over their shared skepticism of government surveillance and the deep state a pejorative catchall used by Trump to refer to government bureaucracy. Sources told Axios that Missouri AG Andrew Bailey was the frontrunner for the FBI director job, but flunked the interview with Trump (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) He was part of a small group of supporters during Trumps recent criminal trial in New York who accompanied him to the courthouse, where he told reporters that Trump was the victim of an unconstitutional circus. His appointment is somewhat of a departure from the modern-day precedent of FBI directors looking to keep presidents at arms length. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But a transition insider told Axios the choice of Patel was a "personal message to the left that was cheering on Jack Smith" the special counsel who was prosecuting Trump, who has since called off his cases. Patel has proven himself a long-time Trump supporter and MAGA loylalist (AFP via Getty Images) Patels loyalty was also demonstrated by his outspoken criticism of the FBIs investigation into potential ties between Russia and Trumps 2016 presidential campaign. He has also played a role in several of the legal investigations into Trump. He appeared in 2022 before the Washington grand jury investigating Trumps hoarding of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after receiving immunity for his testimony one of the cases dropped by Smith. He also testified at a Colorado court hearing related to Trumps efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the run-up to the violent January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly held multiple phone conversations with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban since Nov. 5, sources speaking to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's (RFE/RL) Hungarian Service acknowledged. Hungarian government insiders revealed that Trump sought Orbans opinion on strategies to end the Ukraine war. During his campaign, Trump criticized the billions of dollars the U.S. has allocated to Ukraine and claimed he could end the war within 24 hours of returning to the White House. Observers interpret his remarks as implying that Ukraine might need to cede territory currently under Russian control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Orban, known for his close ties with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump, has openly criticized EU aid for Ukraine and obstructed sanctions against Moscow. Reports indicate Orban is preparing for a second peace mission in December, which aims to conclude Hungarys rotating EU presidency. In July, he initiated his first mission with a trip to Kyiv carrying a cease-fire proposal for President Volodymyr Zelensky, followed by a controversial meeting with Putin in Moscow. Orban later traveled to China and then the U.S. to meet Trump while he was campaigning. Sources noted to RFE/RL that the December peace mission may involve Orban delivering messages from Trump to Zelensky, Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping. However, the specific details of the plan remain unclear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Orbans hold on Hungary weakens as opposition unites behind unlikely challenger Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. President-elect Trump announced that Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law, would serve as the U.S. Ambassador to France. I am pleased to nominate Charles Kushner, of New Jersey, to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to France. He is a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker, who will be a strong advocate representing our Country & its interests, Trump wrote in a Saturday post on Truth Social. Together, we will strengthen Americas partnership with France, our oldest Ally, & one of our greatest, Trump continued in his post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emmanuel Macron, Frances president, applauded Trump quickly after his win and said he was ready to work with the incoming administration. Congratulations, President @realDonaldTrump, Macron wrote on X. Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity. However, in the midst of Trumps widespread criticism, Macron lauded the Republicans ability to advocate for Americans during a second term in office. I think that our role here, in the European Union, is not to comment on Donald Trumps election to see if its good or not. He was elected by the American people, and he will defend the interests of the Americans. This is legitimate and a good thing, Macron said in a video on the social platform X earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kushner is well known for founding the real estate firm Kushner Companies and providing legal services as a former attorney. Kushner was also appointed to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council and serves on the Board of Trustees for New York University, where Trumps youngest son Barron Trump now goes to school. He previously served two years in prison before being released after pleading guilty in 2004 to charges of tax evasion, lying to the Federal Election Commission and retaliating against a federal witness. Trump pardoned Kushner during the last month of his presidency. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Cyberabad police arrested three drug peddlers near Gangaram in Telangana for transporting ganja from Odisha to Hyderabad for resale at higher rates, police officials said on Sunday. The accused have been identified as Chaman resident of Dhiwani district in Haryana, Shivampeta Umakanth from Hyderabad and Arjuna Sai Krishna from Bowenpalli Hyderabad. The fourth accused Rakesh native of Haryana state is absconding. According to the police official, "On credible information Sub-Inspector of Police (SIP), M Anjaneyulu of Chandanagar police station with his staff while checking the vehicles near Hanuman Temple Gangaram on November 29 at 11:40 pm stopped a vehicle as its driver was driving in a suspicious way. In the car three persons were present. On conducting a search in the car, 60 brown colour bundles like substance were found with a pungent smell of Ganja." Police officials said that they were immediately brought to Police Station for interrogation. "One of the accused admitted that he was the driver and transporting dry Ganja from Odissa state at low rates to sell in Hyderabad at higher rates. The fourth accused Rakesh native of Haryana state is absconding. On November 29 while coming from Odissa to Hyderabad via ORR Patancehru on the way two other accused joined him at Patancheru and followed him on the bike. The other two accused were delivering the transported Ganja in twin cities," Police officials said. The police seized 57 Kg dry ganja worth Rs 18 lakhs, along with a car, three smartphones, and a bike. The case is being investigated by A Ravi Kumar, Detective Inspector of Police, Chandanagar PS under section 8(c) read with section 20(b)(ii) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Madhapur Zone, emphasised that they are conducting regular awareness programs to curb drug abuse. "If anyone is caught selling or consuming drugs immediate action will be taken as per law. Under the supervision of DCP, Madhapur zone, Addl. DCP Madhapur zone, Special Operation Team (SOT) DCP Medchal and SOT Inspector Balanagar and team, and ACP Miyapur Divison, Cyberabad, SHO, Chandanagar PS, DI Chandanagar PS, SIP, M Anjaneyulu and the team made sincere efforts, to arrest the accused persons and they are being rewarded suitably," he said. (ANI) WASHINGTON - President-elect Donald Trump selected Charles Kushner, who Trump pardoned during his first term, to serve as U.S. Ambassador to France on Saturday. Charles Kushner is the father of Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who is married to Ivanka Trump. I am pleased to nominate Charles Kushner, of New Jersey, to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to France, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Saturday. He is a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker, who will be a strong advocate representing our Country & its interests." Charles Kushner attends the funeral for Ivana Trump, socialite and first wife of former U.S. President Donald Trump, at St. Vincent Ferrer Church, in New York City, U.S., July 20, 2022. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Charles Kushner is the founder of Kushner Companies, a New York based real estate company. He was convicted of preparing false tax returns, retaliating against a cooperating witness, and making false statements to the Federal Election Commission in 2005. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He served more than 16 months of a two-year sentence in federal prison and a halfway program before he was released in 2006, NorthJersey.com reported. Trump pardoned Charles Kushner in 2020, saying at the time that Kushner was devoted to philanthropic organizations and causes. "This record of reform and charity overshadows Mr. Kushners conviction and 2 year sentence for preparing false tax returns, witness retaliation, and making false statements to the FEC," Trump's office said at the time. Charles Kushner was prosecuted by former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a vocal Trump critic who ran in the 2024 Republican primaries and later dropped out. In a 2019 interview, Christie called Charles Kushner's actions one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes" he prosecuted as the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. The elder Kushner admitted to paying a prostitute to seduce a brother-in-law and have their sexual encounter videotaped. Kushner then sent the tape to his sister in an effort to intimidate her against becoming a witness in the federal investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement USA TODAY Network archives were used in this story. This breaking news story will be updated. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump nominates Kushner, who he pardoned, as US Ambassador to France WASHINGTON (AP) Donald Trump's drive to upend the FBI was welcomed by Republican senators although it was not clear on Sunday how strongly members of the incoming majority party would embrace his move to install ally Kash Patel as the next director of the Justice Department's top investigative arm. Patel, a onetime national security prosecutor who is aligned with the president-elect's rhetoric about a deep state, "must prove to Congress he will reform & restore public trust in FBI, said Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, in line to be the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman when Republicans take control in January, in a post on X. Patel lacks the high-level legal and management experience that FBI directors, including Robert Mueller, James Comey and Christopher Wray, who now holds that job, had before their nominations. It's a 10-year term, and Trump named Wray in 2017 after firing Comey. So Trump's announcement late Saturday means Wray must either resign or be fired after Trump takes office on Jan. 20, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every president wants people that are loyal to themselves, said Sen. Mike Round, R-S.D., on ABCs This Week. But he called Wray a very good man picked by Trump himself, and I dont have any complaints about the way that hes done his job right now. A president has the right to make nominations, Rounds said, before noting the job is normally for 10 years, a length meant to insulate the FBI from the political influence of changing administrations. Well see what his process is, and whether he actually makes that nomination. And then, if he does, just as with anybody who is nominated for one of these positions, once theyve been nominated by the president, then the president gets, you know, the benefit of the doubt on the nomination, but we still go through a process of providing advice and consent under the Constitution, Rounds said. He added: That can be sometimes advice, sometimes it is consent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other Republicans who appeared on the Sunday news shows at the end of the Thanksgiving holiday and before returning to work this week were in Patel's corner. Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., said Patel represents the type of change that we need to see in the FBI. ... The entire agency needs to be cleaned out. He told NBC's Meet the Press that there are serious problems at the FBI. The American public knows it. They expect to see sweeping change, and Kash Patels just the type of person to do it. He said Patel has relevant experience to head the FBI and he's the one that can see through the fix here. During Trump's first term, Patel was an aide to the then-Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee before taking roles at the White House National Security Council and later at the Defense Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patel played a pivotal role in uncovering the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, standing as an advocate for truth, accountability, and the Constitution, Trump wrote Saturday night in a social media post. Patel has called for a comprehensive housecleaning of government workers who are disloyal to Trump and has referred to journalists as traitors, promising to try to prosecute some reporters. The selection is in keeping with Trumps view that the governments law enforcement and intelligence agencies require a radical transformation and his stated desire for retribution against supposed adversaries. It also shows how Trump, still fuming over years of federal investigations that shadowed his first administration and later led to his indictment, is moving to place atop the FBI and Justice Department close allies he believes will protect rather than scrutinize him. Grassley said in his post that Wray has failed at fundamental duties and that it was time to chart a new course 4 TRANSPARENCY +ACCOUNTABILITY at FBI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said Patel was a very strong nominee and he thought Patel would be confirmed. All of the weeping and gnashing of teeth, all the people pulling their hair out, are exactly the people who are dismayed about having a real reformer come into the FBI, Cruz told CBS' Face the Nation. To Sen. Marsha Blackburn, a Judiciary Committee member like Cruz, Patel has more experience than just about anybody coming into this position, she said on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures. Democrats said they would oppose him. Trump wants to replace his own appointee with an unqualified loyalist, said Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, who is expected to the the ranking Democrat next year on the Judiciary Committee, in a statement. The Senate should reject this unprecedented effort to weaponize the FBI for the campaign of retribution that Donald Trump has promised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That sentiment was shared by Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who said on NBC: Patels only qualification is that he agrees with Donald Trump that the Department of Justice should punish, lockup and intimidate Donald Trumps political opponents." ___ Associated Press staff writers Fatima Hussein in West Palm Beach, Florida, Eric Tucker in Newtown, Pennsylvania, and Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report. For the second time in as many days, President-elect Donald Trump announced he is picking another family member for his administration, choosing his daughter Tiffany Trump's father-in-law as a senior Middle East adviser a day after picking son-in-law Jared Kushner's dad to serve as ambassador to France. Billionaire businessman Massad Boulos, father of Trump's son-in-law Michael Boulos, will serve as White House senior adviser on Arab and Middle East affairs, Trump announced on his Truth Social media platform. Born in Lebanon, Massad Boulos runs Nigeria-based Boulos Enterprises, which produces and distributes mechanical equipment and motorcycles. "Massad is an accomplished lawyer and a highly respected leader in the business world, with extensive experience on the International scene," Trump wrote. "He has been a longtime proponent of Republican and Conservative values, an asset to my Campaign, and was instrumental in building tremendous new coalitions with the Arab American Community." PHOTO: MANHATTAN, NY - SEP 4 : Dr. Massad Boulos, Tiffany Trump's fath (The Washington Post via Getty Im) Trump added, "Massad is a dealmaker, and an unwavering supporter of PEACE in the Middle East. He will be a strong advocate for the United States, and its interests, and I am pleased to have him on our team." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the final stretch of Trump's victorious presidential campaign, Boulos appeared with him at campaign stops in Dearborn, Michigan, an Arab American stronghold, and was praised by Trump for helping him flip Michigan from a blue to a red state. Obviously the No. 1 point that is of high priority within the Arab American community is the current war in the Middle East," Boulos told The Associated Press in June. "And the question is, who can bring peace and who is bringing war? And they know the answer to that." MORE: GOP senator praises current FBI Director Christopher Wray, calls Putin a 'tyrant' In September, Boulos met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, the New York Times reported. Palestinian officials told the Times the meeting was part of an outreach effort to Trump, but Boulos told the newspaper that it was "purely personal" and that he didn't inform Trump about it before or after. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boulos also has close contacts in the Lebanon political world and made an unsuccessful run in 2018 for a seat in Lebanon's Parliament. MORE: Biden team wants to finish strong on Ukraine, Gaza As a young man, Boulos moved to Texas, where he obtained a doctorate in jurisprudence at the University of Houston. After earning his law degree, he joined his familys business, rising to CEO. Michael Boulos and Tiffany Trump, the daughter of Trump and his second wife, Marla Maples, were married in November 2022 at Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida. While campaigning in Detroit in October, Donald Trump announced the couple was expecting their first child. PHOTO: In this file photo, Charles Kushner arrives for the funeral of Ivana Trump in New York, July 20, 2022. (John Minchillo/AP) The announcement of Boulos being picked as a White House senior adviser came a day after Trump picked billionaire real estate developer Charles Kushner to serve as ambassador to France. Kushner is the father of Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who served as a senior White House adviser during Trump's first term as president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jared Kushner is married to Trumps eldest daughter, Ivanka. Charles Kushner pleaded guilty in March 2005 to assisting in the filing of false tax returns, retaliating against a cooperating witness and making false statements to the Federal Election Commission. He was sentenced to two years in prison. Trump granted Kushner a pardon in December 2020. Trump picks daughter Tiffany's father-in-law Massad Boulos as senior Mideast adviser originally appeared on abcnews.go.com In what could prove to be another controversial cabinet pick for his second presidential term, Donald Trump has announced that he wants Kash Patel to run the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Patel, 44, is a long-time Trump loyalist. If approved, he will replace current director Christopher Wray, reports CBS News. In a social media post on Saturday, Trump described his nominee as a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and America First fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending justice, and protecting American people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patel is a former Justice Department prosecutor turned fierce critic of that agency. His 2023 book Government Gangsters covered plans to gut both the DOJ and the FBl. Patel wrote that the FBI has become so thoroughly compromised that it will remain a threat to the people unless drastic measures are taken. He has also said that he wants to remove security clearances from the officials who prosecuted Trump. President Donald J. Trump announces Kash Patel as the next Director of the FBI pic.twitter.com/x2t42K3tdd Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) November 30, 2024 The FBI director hire serves a 10-year term in office, across multiple presidential administrations, in order to protect the bureau from partisan political pressure. The role requires Senate confirmation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wray has signaled he wants to serve out the remainder of his term even though his relationship with Trump is tense. Toward the end of his first administration, Trump tried to appoint Patel to a senior role at the Central Intelligence Agency, but senior leaders at the agency vetoed the move. (This Nov. 30 story has been corrected to change the name of DEA to Administration, not Agency, in paragraph 20) By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican President-elect Donald Trump said on Saturday he wanted former National Security official and loyalist Kash Patel to lead the FBI, signaling an intent to drive out the bureau's current director, Christopher Wray. Patel, who during Trump's first term advised both the director of national intelligence and the secretary of defense, has previously called for stripping the FBI of its intelligence-gathering role and purging its ranks of any employee who refuses to support Trump's agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The biggest problem the FBI has had, has come out of its intel shops. I'd break that component out of it. I'd shut down the FBI Hoover building on day one and reopen it the next day as a museum of the deep state," Patel said in a September interview on the conservative Shawn Ryan Show. "And I'd take the 7,000 employees that work in that building and send them across America to chase down criminals. Go be cops. You're cops. Go be cops." With the nomination of Patel, Trump is signaling that he is preparing to carry out his threat to oust Wray, a Republican first appointed by Trump, whose 10-year term at the FBI does not expire until 2027. Asked about Patel's nomination, which will need Senate confirmation, an FBI spokesperson said on Saturday: "Every day, the men and women of the FBI continue to work to protect Americans from a growing array of threats. Director Wray's focus remains on the men and women of the FBI, the people we do the work with, and the people we do the work for." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FBI directors by law are appointed to 10-year terms as a means of insulating the bureau from politics. Wray, whom Trump tapped after firing James Comey in 2017 for investigating his 2016 campaign, has been a frequent target of Trump supporters' ire. During Wray's tenure, the FBI carried out a court-approved search at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate to look for classified documents and he has also faced criticism for his oversight role of a directive by Attorney General Merrick Garland aimed at working to protect local school boards from violent threats and harassment. Special Counsel Jack Smith, who led the two federal prosecutions against Trump for his role in subverting the 2020 election and retaining classified documents, asked on Nov. 25 the judges overseeing those cases to dismiss them before Trump takes office on Jan. 20, citing a Justice Department policy of not prosecuting a sitting president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wray had previously signaled no intention of stepping down early and was busy planning events well into his 2025 calendar, according to a person familiar with the matter. FORMER FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER, PROSECUTOR Patel, 44, previously worked as a federal public defender and a federal prosecutor. He was instrumental in working to lead House Republicans' probe into the FBI's 2016 investigation into contacts between Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia during his stint as an aide to former House Intelligence Committee Chair Devin Nunes. Later, during Trump's first impeachment trial, ex-National Security Council official Fiona Hill told House investigators she was concerned Patel was secretly serving as a back channel between Trump and Ukraine without authorization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patel denied those allegations. After Trump left office in January 2021, Patel was one of several people Trump designated as a representative for access to his presidential records. He was one of the few former Trump administration officials who claimed, without evidence, that Trump had declassified all of the records in question. He was later subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury in connection with the probe. As a private citizen, Patel wrote a book called "Government Gangsters" which Trump in 2023 declared would be used as a "roadmap to end the Deep State's Reign." Patel's nomination is likely to garner pushback from Senate Democrats and possibly even some Republicans, though Patel has received public support from some high-profile Republicans such as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump also named Chad Chronister, sheriff of Hillsborough County, Florida, as his pick as administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, where he would work closely with Trump's choice for attorney general, Pam Bondi. Bondi is also from the Tampa area that Chronister serves. "As DEA Administrator, Chad will work with our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to secure the Border, stop the flow of Fentanyl, and other Illegal Drugs, across the Southern Border, and SAVE LIVES," Trump wrote on his social-media platform Truth Social. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; additional reporting by Timothy Reid and Valerie Volcovici; Editing by Scott Malone, Lisa Shumaker and Rod Nickel) It appears marrying into the Trump family is a good way to get a political appointment. After the president-elect selected Charles Kushner, father of Ivanka Trumps husband Jared Kushner, as his nominee for ambassador to France, Donald Trump announced he will nominate Massad Boulos as his advisor on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs. Boulos is Tiffany Trumps father-in-law. Trump made the announcement on Truth Social. I am proud to announce that Massad Boulos will serve as Senior Advisor to the President on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs, Trump wrote. Massad is an accomplished lawyer and a highly respected leader in the business world, with extensive experience on the International scene. Boulos, a Lebanese American billionaire, played a role in Trumps campaign as an unofficial representative to Arab American and Muslim American communities, meeting with them in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere to shore up votes for Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump will be a strong president, Boulos told Saudi broadcaster Al-Arabiya in October, according to The Los Angeles Times. Hes the only president who can achieve peace [in Lebanon] and a permanent solution to the Palestinian problem. Boulos grew up in Lebanon during the countrys civil war but came to the U.S. where he received a degree in international law from the University of Houston. He married a Lebanese entrepreneurs daughter who got him a position running SCOA Motors in Nigeria, which manufactures and distributes trucks and busses. Boulos launched an unsuccessful run for parliament in Lebanon in 2018. His son, Michael Boulos, married Tiffany Trump in a 2022 ceremony at Mar-a-Lago. Tiffany is currently pregnant with their first child. According to The Times, many Lebanese believe Boulos can push Trump to end the war between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. Israel launched an offensive on Lebanon and Hezbollah in the fall of this year. Sources told Reuters that Boulos has been in recent contact with Hezbollah as well as other Lebanese leaders, including the Lebanese Forces Party, a Christian group that opposes Hezbollah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boulos Lebanese political past gives no real indication of a geostrategic or even national vision, but it demonstrates ambition and a set of political allies that will stand out in Trumps circle like a sore thumb, Century Foundation fellow Aron Lund told Reuters. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Sisodia's plea stated that the chargesheet was filed without the necessary sanction approval from the competent authorities. The plea filed stated that the allegations against the petitioner, Manish Sisodia, relate to official acts carried out by him in the course of his duties as a public servant. It further stated that the Enforcement Directorate, in this case, has filed the impugned supplementary prosecution complaint (chargesheet) without obtaining prior sanction from the competent authority. The plea contends that the Special Court's decision to take cognizance of the chargesheet, without this necessary sanction, contradicts established legal precedents. As such, the prosecution of the petitioner without the required sanction is unlawful. As a result, the plea seeks an order for the quashing and setting aside of all consequential proceedings, both preceding and subsequent to the order passed in the case, as stated by the petitioner, Manish Sisodia. The hearing in the matter is scheduled to be held on Monday by Delhi High Court bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri. In August, the Supreme Court granted bail to former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in two cases related to the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam. The court was hearing pleas filed by Sisodia seeking bail in both cases lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), involving allegations of money laundering and corruption. Sisodia, who was arrested in February 2023, had previously been denied bail by the Delhi High Court. (ANI) (Bloomberg) -- Donald Trump tapped Kash Patel to be FBI director, nominating a loyalist to lead the chief US law enforcement agency which the president-elect has long derided as corrupt. Most Read from Bloomberg Patel rose to prominence expressing outrage over the agencys investigation into whether Trumps campaign conspired with Russia to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. If confirmed, Patel would replace Christopher Wray, who was chosen by Trump in his first term as president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an announcement on his Truth Social network, Trump called Patel a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and America First fighter who played a pivotal role in uncovering the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax. As the leading US law enforcement agency, the bureau has been at the center of the highest-profile investigations related to the president-elect. Trump has pledged a drastic overhaul, claiming the Federal Bureau of Investigation carried out politically motivated probes against him and his allies. After he left the White House, FBI agents raided Trumps Florida resort to seize classified documents, probed his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and investigated people who stormed the US Capitol in support of him. The bureau is headquartered in Washington and has 56 field offices across the country that investigate cases from cyberattacks and white-collar crime, to murder and allegations of sexual misconduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This FBI will end the growing crime epidemic in America, dismantle the migrant criminal gangs, and stop the evil scourge of human and drug trafficking across the Border, Trump said Saturday. Patel is also a critic of government agencies for actions that he says unfairly target Republicans. In his book Government Gangsters which Trump has called a blueprint to take back the White House Patel endorsed calls to fire government employees who undermine the presidents agenda. We must identify the people in government that are crippling our constitutional republic, Patel told the Conservative Political Action Conference in July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Trumps first administration, Patel held a number of stopgap national security positions, including chief of staff to Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller in the final months of Trumps White House term. He also served as senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council and as a senior adviser to Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell. The FBI is part of the US Justice Department, which notified Trumps earlier pick to be attorney general, Matt Gaetz, last year that he wouldnt face charges following an investigation into whether he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl in exchange for money. The former Florida congressman has consistently denied the allegations. Gaetz faced an uphill battle for confirmation and he withdrew from consideration on Nov. 21, saying the process was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump then said he would nominate former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to run the Justice Department. Bondi is an experienced conservative lawyer without the political and legal baggage that Gaetz had. Speculation had been mounting that once inaugurated, Trump would move to fire Wray as FBI chief, if he doesnt resign beforehand. Trump originally chose Wray to lead the bureau in 2017, at the time calling him impeccably qualified. During his tenure, Wray has tried to steer the bureau away from political turbulence, including by gutting the leadership when he took over and implementing new restrictions on how analysts can search intelligence databases and obtain classified warrants. Trump first signaled he viewed FBI leadership as an enemy under former Director James Comey, who opened an investigation in 2016 into whether Trumps campaign conspired with Russia to interfere in that years presidential election. The investigation was closed without charges. Trump fired Comey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under his list of top of reforms to defeat the deep state outlined in his book, Patel calls for the FBI headquarters to be moved out of Washington to curb FBI leadership from engaging in political gamesmanship. He also suggested significantly shrinking the general counsels office within the FBI, which he says has taken on prosecutorial decision-making instead of operating only as an investigatory body. Patel also had close ties to former Republican Representative Devin Nunes, who was chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and helped lead opposition to the probe of Russias role in the 2016 election by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Patel may face some pushback from more traditional corners of the Republican Party. Gina Haspel, who led the CIA during Trumps first term and who had spent decades in the agency, reportedly threatened to resign in late 2020 when Trump sought to install Patel as her deputy, derailing his appointment, according to Axios. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBI has been a frequent target of Trump and his loyalists in recent years. Id shut down the FBI Hoover Building on day one and reopen it the next day as a museum of the deep state, Patel said on the Shawn Ryan Show podcast after Trumps reelection. DEA Leader Trump on Saturday also said he is nominating Chad Chronister, the sheriff of Hillsborough County, Florida, to run the Drug Enforcement Administration. As DEA Administrator, Chad will work with our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to secure the Border, stop the flow of Fentanyl, and other Illegal Drugs, across the Southern Border, and SAVE LIVES, Trump said in a post on Truth Social. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chronister has served at the sheriffs office for 32 years, according to his biography on the departments website. (Updates with details on Trump attorney general picks 14th and 15th paragraphs.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. President-elect Donald Trump announced Saturday that he plans on firing FBI director Christopher Wray and replacing him with longtime ally Kash Patel. The appointment must be approved by the Senate. PHOTO: Kash Patel, former chief of staff to the defense secretary speaks on the day Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally, in Prescott Valley, Arizona, Oct. 13, 2024. (Go Nakamura/Reuters, Files) Patel has been a staunch supporter of Trump for years and served in his first administration under a number of roles. He has vocally defended many Jan. 6 rioters who were charged for their actions that day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patel has said he would target journalists, former senior FBI and Department of Justice officials and turn the FBI into a museum for the "deep state" on Day 1. MORE: Trump loyalist Kash Patel's tax-exempt charity raises questions, experts say "This FBI will end the growing crime epidemic in America, dismantle the migrant criminal gangs, and stop the evil scourge of human and drug trafficking across the Border," Trump said in a Truth Social post, announcing his pick. Patel did not immediately comment about Trump's announcement. Trump can not make personnel changes to the FBI until he is sworn in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wray, the current agency director, was appointed in 2017 after Trump fired Director James Comey, less than four years into his 10-year term. Trump claimed Comey "wasn't doing a good job." In a statement to ABC News, the FBI said "Every day, the men and women of the FBI continue to work to protect Americans from a growing array of threats. Director Wray's focus remains on the men and women of the FBI, the people we do the work with, and the people we do the work for." PHOTO: Justice Department's Election Threats Task Force meeting in Washington D.C. (Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)) Former public defender with experience at DOJ Patel, 44, grew up in Long Island and earned a law degree from Pace University Law School. He first served as a public defender in Miami for nine years before moving to Washington, D.C., in 2013 to work at the Justice Departments National Security Division. Patel left the Justice Department in 2017 claiming frustration with the agency, especially with the handling of the 2012 terrorist attacks in Benghazi, Libya, that killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans. Role investigating the Russia probe He went on to lead the Russia Gate investigation for House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, with a promise from Nunes that after the investigation he would help Patel get a job at the National Security Council in the White House. PHOTO: Kash Patel, former chief of staff to the defense secretary speaks on the day Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally, in Prescott Valley, Arizona, Oct. 13, 2024. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images, Files) As the self-described lead investigator of the Russia Gate hoax, Patel authored the so-called Nunes memo alleging that the FBI improperly eavesdropped on former Trump adviser Carter Page. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Outspoken Trump ally Kash Patel goes mum as Mar-a-Lago probe progresses A major report by the Justice Department's inspector general released in late 2019 found that the FBI was not impacted by political bias when it opened the investigation -- though it outlined what it called "serious performance failures" on the part of agents as they vetted information from sources and sought surveillance warrants against Page. In February 2019, Patel became deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism on the White Houses National Security Council. In February 2020, Patel took on a temporary duty assignment as deputy to the newly installed acting director of national intelligence. That November, after Trump lost the election, Patel was named chief of staff for the Defense Department, despite some critics saying he was unqualified for the role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Trump left the White House, Patel held a number of jobs including hosting shows on far-right media outlets. MORE: Tracking Trump's picks to serve in his Cabinet, administration Called for 'housecleaning' of DOJ In Patel's book, "Government Gangsters," which Trump said would serve as a "blueprint" for his next administration, Patel called for a "comprehensive housecleaning" of the Justice Department. He also promoted an eradication of "government tyranny" within the FBI by firing "the top ranks" and prosecuting "to the fullest extent of the law" anyone who "in any way abused their authority for political ends." "[T]he FBI has become so thoroughly compromised that it will remain a threat to the people unless drastic measures are taken," Patel claimed in his book. Democrats "should be very afraid," Patel wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He alleged that there were "abuses of prosecutorial discretion" by the Justice Department in declining to charge Hillary Clinton for allegedly compromising classified information through her use of a private email server, and in declining to charge President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, for what Patel describes as influence-peddling. At the same time, he argued the department indicted Trump ally Steve Bannon over his refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House panel investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and also charging so many of the Trump supporters who were at the Capitol that day. On a podcast two months ago, Patel said anyone involved in "Russiagate" should be stripped of their security clearances. According to Patel, there is a "massive" list of such government officials, from the FBI and Justice Department to the CIA and U.S. military. "They all still have clearances," including those who left government for private sector jobs, so "everybody" should lose their clearances, Patel said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patel said he has personally "recommended" to Trump that the new administration also strip any security clearances still held by the 51 then-former intelligence officials. This includes former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and former CIA director John Brennan, who in October 2020, just weeks before the 2020 presidential election, signed onto a letter dismissing the public release of emails from Hunter Biden's laptop as part of a "Russian information operation." MORE: How fierce Trump ally Kash Patel could help reshape the FBI or Justice Department Defended Jan. 6 rioters, subpoenaed to testify Trump's classified docs case Patel has also come to the defense of Jan. 6 rioters who were charged for their actions. Hes raised money for Jan. 6 defendants and their families, including by promoting the J6 Prison Choir, featuring Jan. 6 defendants still in jail, and co-producing their fundraising song Justice for All, which Trump played at some of his campaign rallies. And Patel once suggested Jan. 6 was a free speech movement. PHOTO: Team Trump launches the Team Trump Bus Tour in North Carolina (Anadolu via Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patel also became a part of the investigation into Trumps handling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. After news surfaced that the National Archives found some classified documents in boxes previously stored at Mar-a-Lago, Patel called the news disinformation and insisted he was there when Trump declassified whole sets of materials in anticipation of leaving government that he thought the American public should have the right to read themselves. Four weeks later, Trump named Patel as one of his official representatives to the National Archives, and Patel promised to march down there" and identify every single document that they blocked being declassified at the National Archives, and we are going to start putting that information out. Two months later, Patels claimed Trump declassifying documents were included in the FBIs affidavit laying out why the FBI believed a broad search of Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate was warranted. And Patel was subpoenaed to testify to the grand jury investigating the matter, but at first he refused to answer key questions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He later returned to the grand jury and answered those questions only after being granted limited-use immunity. He has blasted the entire probe as unlawful overreach by a politically corrupted Justice Department. Trump says he'll fire FBI Director Christopher Wray, replace him with longtime ally Kash Patel originally appeared on abcnews.go.com This article was originally published in New York Focus. President-elect Donald Trump hasnt yet laid out a detailed plan for his administrations education policy. But a review of his first term and his campaign promises, as well as the details contained in the 2025 Presidential Transition Project, gives some indication of what might be coming in New York. Trump, who has falsely claimed that the US ranks last in education, has repeatedly vowed to eliminate the $79 billion US Department of Education. Im dying to get back to do this, he said in September. Whether he succeeds will depend on whether he has congressional support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Late Tuesday, Trump announced his pick for Secretary of Education: Linda McMahon, who oversaw the Small Business Administration during Trumps first term and co-founded the WWE wrestling empire. Education is at a Crossroads: Help Us Illuminate the Path Forward. Donate to The 74 McMahon is the chair of the America First Policy Institute, which has assisted Trumps transition team. The think tanks policy proposals for education center on school choice, allowing parents to evaluate curriculum materials, teaching life skills like financial and digital literacy, and prohibiting the teaching of Critical Race Theory Related McMahons Metamorphosis: Ed Nominees Journey Mirrors the GOPs Turn to Trump While education advocates wait for Trump to take office, they are bracing for changes in how public education is administered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont know yet what will happen, said Randi Levine, the policy director of Advocates for Children of New York, but many of the policy proposals raised would be devastating for the students we serve. Cuts to federal school funding Regardless of whether the Department of Education closes, Trump can seek to limit federal aid to schools something he repeatedly tried to do during his first term. His administration proposed a number of cuts to the education budget, including appropriations for Title II, which mainly aims to help states and districts pay for teacher development and reduce class size; Title IV, which administers postsecondary federal student aid; and funding for after-school and summer programs for low-income students. Congress rejected these cuts. This time, Trumps allies have had more time to lay the groundwork for their proposals. The nearly 900-page Project 2025 report, published by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, lays out ideas for downsizing and reshaping federal agencies including the elimination of the Education Department. While Trump has sought to distance himself from the playbook, at least 140 people who worked within his first administration were involved in the project, according to CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Heritage Foundation has argued that budget cuts would help transition control over education back to states and localities. The federal government also pays for about 10 percent of the US Special Olympics budget, which the first Trump administration tried to cut. Former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos defended that move to Congress, unsuccessfully. Michael Rebell, the executive director of the Center for Educational Equity, said he is skeptical that Congress will agree to shutter the Department of Education, since the agency is federally mandated to distribute funding to low-income schools and students with disabilities. Thats easier said than done on the campaign trail, and whether Congress is going to go along with that is another question, Rebell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposed federal cuts are coming just as New York begins to reevaluate Foundation Aid, the formula used to distribute most state funding to public schools. Federal budget cuts would increase pressure on the state and local school districts to make up for any shortfalls. Compared to the $36 billion the state spends on school aid, federal funds account for a much smaller amount $8.6 billion during the 2024 fiscal year, according to the Division of the Budget. For New York City, 5 percent of its budget, or $2 billion, comes from the federal government, according to the City Comptrollers Office. An additional $1.5 billion goes toward the CUNY system and early childhood programs. State education funding is a reliably heated battle during each budget cycle. Last year, Governor Kathy Hochuls proposed cuts to education were roundly rejected by the state legislature. But many observers expect that she may try again. Levines organization is calling for the new formula to create funding for homeless students, and increase it for students with disabilities and English Language Learners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We think this is a key moment for the state to commit to providing the resources necessary for all students to get the excellent education that they deserve, she said. David Little, the executive director of the Rural Schools Association, pointed to the state education departments current effort to overhaul graduation requirements as a program that will be harder for districts to implement if their budgets are cut. The only thing that can derail that is money, Little said. If the governor is in the process of trying to figure out how we alter state education aid with an eye toward trying to ratchet that back and the federal government is proposing to also diminish federal funding, then you immediately go into survival mode. Trump has also pledged to withhold funds to schools that recognize transgender students or teach critical race theory, an academic framework that seeks to understand history and society through the lens of historical and systemic racism. The deportation of newly arrived students Trump, who has called immigrants criminals, drug dealers and rapists, has made tightening US immigration policy a signature part of his platform. (There is no link between an increase in immigrant populations and a rise in crime.) He has promised the mass deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants living in the US, an effort that would be both logistically complicated and costly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States grew by about 800,000 to 11 million between 2019 and 2022, according to the Pew Research Center. That number peaked in 2007 at 12.2 million. More than 200,000 new immigrants and asylum seekers have entered New York State in the last two years, prompting school districts statewide to find ways to respond to the unexpected jump in student enrollment. During the last Trump presidency, the New York City Department of Education issued guidance to schools and families to protect students from federal immigration action. We certainly hope that the city will step up again and do all it can to protect immigrant students and families and keep their records confidential as well, Levine said. A rollback of civil rights protections Trumps return also poses a risk to the Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights, the arm of the agency responsible for investigating claims of discrimination at schools and universities across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That office handled more than 19,000 claims last year a record for the 44-year old department. In New York state alone, there are currently 423 pending cases at elementary and secondary schools and another 207 at colleges and universities. The office is also tasked with collecting data about access to education. Under DeVos, the agencys arm became more lenient, limiting the time and scope of investigations in an effort to clear a backlog of old cases, according to a ProPublica review. DeVos also rescinded protections for transgender students issued under former President Barack Obama while expanding rights afforded to individuals accused of campus sexual harassment and assault. Project 2025 recommends moving the Office for Civil Rights under the Department of Justice and would require its actions against violators to take place through litigation, rather than administrative enforcement. The plan also recommends the government rescind guidance issued during the Obama era that is meant to weed out racial discrimination toward students of color with disabilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Education advocates in blue states like New York can expect their state governments to take a more active role in civil rights enforcement, Rebell predicted. The more so-called progressive states will probably pick up at least some of the slack, Rebell said. The ones who are going to get clobbered are going to be the kids in states that are going to be happy to see civil rights enforcement go by the wayside. School meals Previously, Trump tried to tighten requirements around who qualified for free school lunches, which would have caused nearly half a million students to lose access to the program, according to an analysis by the US Department of Agriculture. He also sought to loosen Obama-era nutrition standards. Project 2025 refers to the federal free lunch program as an entitlement program that represents an example of the ever-expanding federal footprint in local school operations. The plan would do away with a provision that eases access to free meals in high-poverty areas and recommends cutting summer meals for students who are not enrolled in summer programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout New York, 57 percent of students were eligible for the federal free or reduced-price lunch program during the 202223 school year, slightly higher than the national average, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. A few cities New York City, Albany, Rochester and Yonkers have their own universal free school meal programs to help fill in gaps where the federal program does not cover all students. State legislators have successfully expanded access to free meals in other regions, but efforts to pass a statewide universal program have stalled. New York Citys program, which receives $545 million in federal funding, could face restrictions in the wake of budget cuts, according to the city comptroller. A push for school choice incentives Trump has championed charter and private schools, a win for school choice proponents in New York. His administration pushed for federal funding to go toward charter schools, voucher programs and tax credits for private school tuition, as a means to empower parents and give them educational options that better suit their children. For too long, countless American children have been trapped in failing government schools, he said in his 2020 State of the Union address. Related Jeb Bush: This Election, Families Made Their Voices Heard on School Choice A recent study from the Stanford University Center for Research on Educational Outcomes found that charter schools have begun to outperform public schools. Critics say school choice is an effort to privatize schools and that charter schools are a financial burden on public school districts. Though New York has 357 charter schools, there is a statewide cap on the number of schools that can open. New Yorks public education community is largely opposed to using public funding for private schools, noted Little of the Rural Schools Association. There might be proposals to make inroads, he said. But our governor and our legislative houses are so overwhelmingly Democratic that it would be really hard for them to try and advance a prospective agenda like that. Update 11/20: This story was updated to reflect the nomination of Linda McMahon to lead the Department of Education. This story originally appeared in New York Focus, a nonprofit news publication investigating power in New York. Sign up for their newsletter here. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) President-elect Donald Trump announced Saturday afternoon he plans to nominate Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister to be the next Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). As DEA Administrator, Chad will work with our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to secure the Border, stop the flow of Fentanyl, and other Illegal Drugs, across the Southern Border, and SAVE LIVES, Trump wrote on Truth Social. Congratulations to Chad, his wife Nikki, and two wonderful sons! Trump wants pardoned real estate developer Charles Kushner to become US ambassador to France Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chronister has served with the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office for the past 32 years. He became the top law enforcement officer in the county in September 2017. The sheriff was twice re-elected by voters following his initial appointment by then-Florida Gov. Rick Scott. In a social media post Saturday, Scott called Chronister an incredible pick to lead the DEA. When I appointed Chad as Hillsborough County Sheriff in 2017, he had already spent more than 20 years in law enforcement fighting every day to protect Florida families, Scott wrote. His work over the last 7 years shows Chads dedication to cracking down on crime, fighting the fentanyl crisis, and showing up every day to keep Floridians safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the sheriffs office website, Chronister has received several recognitions during his time in law enforcement, including commendations and awards for his efforts to reduce crime and focus on community policing. Chronister expressed his gratitude for the nomination in a statement provided to News Channel 8 Saturday afternoon. It is the honor of a lifetime to be nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and I am deeply humbled by this opportunity to serve our nation, he said. Floridas Attorney General Ashley Moody also chimed in on X following Trumps announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congratulations to my friend and my outstanding sheriff, @ChadChronister on being appointed DEA Administrator, she wrote. Chad has fought on the frontlines of the opioid crisis, and I know his leadership and decades of experience will be invaluable as we work to combat the flow of Mexican fentanyl into our county. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Donald Trump's surge among Latino voters is upending the American political map. Republicans and Democrats alike had largely assumed the battlefield was set, with a small number of competitive congressional districts drawn just a few years ago. But Trumps improvement with Hispanic communities one of the most dramatic shifts emerging from the 2024 election is blowing all of that up, leaving Republicans plotting how to capitalize on Trump's success and Democrats scrambling to keep a once-loyal demographic in the fold. Nowhere is this upheaval more evident than in emerging House battlegrounds. Among the heavily Hispanic areas that rapidly shifted to the right in their presidential votes this year: A district that Republicans drew to combine two Democratic seats together in Texas' Rio Grande Valley. A district in northern New Jersey that Joe Biden carried by 19 points in 2020. A Central Valley district that twice rejected Trump by double-digit margins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There's definitely a realignment going on in American politics, and these voters are increasingly winnable," said Dan Conston, the president of the Congressional Leadership Fund, the largest House GOP super PAC. "We would be foolish not to compete for them." The early data suggests hes right. A swath of districts with significant Latino populations swung hard to the right in 2024. And while the precise extent of that shift is unclear because votes are still being tallied, one thing has become apparent to both parties: Seats that used to moderately favor Democrats now look far more competitive, and seats that were once safely blue are now coming onto the map. Democrats are warning that they need to overhaul their strategy in those districts. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, who holds the South Texas district drawn to be safely Democratic, lamented the party's "very progressive messaging" that turned off voters in his "relatively conservative community." One crucial example: "We overplayed the abortion card and when youre doing that in an 80 percent Catholic community it's not very effective." "I hope we're learning our lessons and we're able to adjust and pivot and win next cycle," he said. "Do we want to be in the majority? If we do, we need to change our game plan because what we did didnt work." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The last redistricting created a tight number of competitive seats but a good chunk of the data used for those maps is already out of date thanks to Trump's growing popularity with communities of color. Republicans will have a wider path to grow their House majority if they can figure out how to take advantage of Trumps inroads in these Latino-heavy areas in Nevada, New Mexico, South Texas, Central California and Florida. Trumps victory shattered pre-existing notions about party coalitions and reshapes how we look at the House map for 2026, said Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), the head of House Republicans campaign arm. The good news for Democrats: Trump's rightward lurch in 2024 wasn't enough to topple their incumbents in those places. Though it likely helped some GOP members hang on, Republicans know that Trump's success doesn't always trickle down the ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If Republicans deliver on some of the things that we promised, then I think it could be long term," said GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales, who represents a sprawling West Texas border district that has shifted to the right in recent years. "But this isn't all of a sudden now they're Republicans for life, no matter what we do." The 2024 swings in Latino areas were shocking to Democrats because of their severity and geographic breadth. But warning signs had begun flashing in 2020. In South Florida, two Miami-area districts that Democrats flipped in the 2018 midterms swung back hard to the GOP as Cuban communities flocked toward Trump. Four years later, those districts shifted even farther toward Republicans, as did the district of neighboring Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz and the Orlando-based seat of Democratic Rep. Darren Soto enough so that both will likely land on future GOP target lists. In Texas Rio Grande Valley, three adjoining districts, including Gonzalez's, saw a similar swing in 2020. Neither party believed them to be competitive until Biden barely won them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas Republicans redrew those seats in 2021, packing Gonzalezs current district with Democratic voters to give them a better shot at flipping the other two. Both of them went for Trump in 2024 but so did Gonzalezs, which swung right by more than 15 points. He won reelection by less than 3 points. Republicans were gleeful at the rapid transformation and another Texas surprise: Democratic Rep. Veronica Escobars once-deep blue El Paso seat also leapt to the right. It swung 20 points, said Adam Kincaid, the executive director of the National Republican Redistricting Trust. The trend we're seeing in the Rio Grande Valley may be extending all the way up to El Paso. That seat could become competitive for the GOP by the end of the decade, he predicted. Giant swings also appeared in Hispanic communities in bluer states that had maps drawn by commissions or Democratic legislatures. In some of those places, Democratic mapmakers opted to spread their voters out to make several Democratic-leaning seats rather than one or two reliable ones a strategy that can leave them susceptible in wave election years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We said at the time, they were stretching themselves pretty thin, Kincaid said. In the first real test of those maps, Donald Trump broke all of them. He broke California, he broke New Mexico, he broke Nevada. Yet Democratic incumbents in those states held on even as their districts turned redder at the presidential level. Early results suggest Trump won the districts of Rep. Susie Lee (D-Nev.) and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) in 2024. Biden carried both in 2020. We have a lot of crossover voters, Trump-Vasquez voters, Vasquez said. I voted in the best interest of my district the two years that I was here, and sometimes those were tough votes to take and sometimes I voted against my party. Latino Democrats said in interviews that their party needs to rethink messaging and recruitment in Latino-heavy districts. The first step will be studying campaigns that worked, such as those run by Vasquez, Gonzalez or Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego, who won an open Senate seat in Arizona. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a playbook here that the Democrats have consistently and traditionally used to win over Hispanics that I think just was diluted this cycle, said Dan Sena, a former executive director of the House Democratic campaign arm who is himself Hispanic. Trump has the ability to dilute it. Trumps strong performance this year means Democrats are likely to have far more members in Trump-won districts than Republicans will in districts won by Kamala Harris. Some of the potential members in House Democrats program for vulnerable incumbents will not have seen a competitive race in years. In Californias Central Valley, Trump gained ground in the seats held by Democratic Reps. Josh Harder and Jim Costa, giving them closer-than-expected reelections. And GOP operatives believe that Trump carried the neighboring district of Rep. David Valadao, a Republican who voted to impeach him in 2021 though votes are still being counted. Valadaos voters had backed Democratic presidential candidates by at least 10 points for the last three elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet for Republicans to ride Trumps newfound strength, they will need his voters to turn out when he will not be on the ballot. GOP candidates may struggle to win over voters in these districts if their allegiance is to Trump alone. And some Democrats are banking on that. It was really all about Trump not necessarily the red wave, but the Trump wave, said Rep.-elect Nellie Pou, who won in a heavily-Hispanic district in northern New Jersey that Trump appears to have carried in 2024 after Biden won it by 19 points in 2020. And even she was stumped as to whether Trumps pull with Latino voters will persist. I honestly don't know the answer to that, she said. I think it was just something very different. I'm not sure I can explain what that was. President-elect Donald Trump has opted to keep it in the family again with some of his latest administrative picks-- this time, with the senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs. Trump has appointed Lebanon billionaire Massad Boulos to take on the role. His son, Michael, is married to Tiffany Trump, the presidents youngest daughter. Massad is an accomplished lawyer and a highly respected leader in the business world, with extensive experience on the International scene, Trump wrote on his Truth Social account. He has been a longtime proponent of Republican and Conservative values, an asset to my Campaign, and was instrumental in building tremendous new coalitions with the Arab American Community." MANHATTAN, NY - SEP 4 : Dr. Massad Boulos, Tiffany Trump's father-in-law, sits for a portrait at the Wall Street Hotel in New York on Sep 4, 2024. (Photo by Jeenah Moon for The Washington Post via Getty Images) He also called Boulos an unwavering supporter of PEACE in the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps youngest daughter married Boulos' son, Michael, in 2022, with the president-elect even walking her down the aisle. The couple is expecting their first child together. Trump has also named Charles Kushner as the U.S. ambassador to France. Charles Kushner is the father of Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law, who is married to Ivanka Trump. Trump had pardoned Charles Kushner in 2020 after he was convicted on federal charges. MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 16: Tiffany Trump, daughter of former U.S. President Donald Trump, walks with her husband Michael Boulos (L) on the second day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 16, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Delegates, politicians, and the Republican faithful are in Milwaukee for the annual convention, concluding with former President Donald Trump accepting his party's presidential nomination. The RNC takes place from July 15-18. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) In the role as senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs, Boulos may play a big part in the war Gaza, with the United States offering support to Israel under Bidens administration. Boulos leads SCOA Nigeria, an automotive company. Donald Trump continued to pack his administration with close allies on Sunday when he announced his plans to appoint billionaire attorney and in-law Massad Boulos as senior adviser to Arab and Middle Eastern affairs. The president-elect praised Boulos who is the father of Michael Boulos, husband to Trumps daughter, Tiffany Trump as an accomplished lawyer and a highly respected leader in the business world while sharing the news on Truth Social over the weekend. Calling the Lebanese American businessman someone with extensive experience on the International scene, Donald Trump went on to highlight Massad Boulos conservative bona fides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has been a longtime proponent of Republican and Conservative values, an asset to my Campaign, and was instrumental in building tremendous new coalitions with the Arab American Community, Trump said. Donald Trump named Massad Boulos, photographed here in September, as his pick for senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs on Sunday. The Washington Post via Getty Images Massad is a dealmaker, and an unwavering supporter of PEACE in the Middle East, he continued. He will be a strong advocate for the United States, and its interests, and I am pleased to have him on our team! Boulos was a key surrogate during Trumps campaign to win over Arab American voters in the swing state of Michigan. In the end, the Republican won the Wolverine State by around a 1.5% margin. Boulos currently heads his familys billion-dollar automotive conglomerate, SCOA Nigeria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Word of his potential appointment comes just a day after Trump tapped real estate developer and disbarred attorney Charles Kushner to be his ambassador to France. Kushner, the father of Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, was pardoned for a slate of felony convictions by Trump in late 2020. Related... President-elect Trump has picked Massad Boulos to be his advisor on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs. Boulos' son, Michael, is married to Donald Trump's youngest daughter, Tiffany Trump. The announcement comes as Trump aims to reshape Middle East diplomacy in his second term. As President-elect Donald Trump continues to craft his second-term agenda, he announced a key advisor on Sunday that could impact his handling of affairs in the Middle East. By tapping Lebanese American businessman Massad Boulos as his senior advisor on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs, Trump is bringing on board a key campaign surrogate whose son Michael is also married to his daughter Tiffany. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president-elect who was able to exploit Democratic divisions over the war in Gaza and pry away some Muslim and Arab American voters from Vice President Kamala Harris in the general election reaffirmed on Sunday that he wants to form "tremendous new coalitions" with Arab Americans. "Massad is a dealmaker, and an unwavering supporter of PEACE in the Middle East," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "He will be a strong advocate for the United States, and its interests, and I am pleased to have him on our team!" Trump's selection of Boulos is a signal that he'll seek his own diplomatic imprint in the Middle East, which for over a year has seen the war in Gaza become one of the most devastating and polarizing ongoing conflicts in the world, reverberating in Lebanon, Yemen, and now Syria. Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to The Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Joe Biden's handling of the conflict was a significant issue in the US presidential race, with Harris pledging that she and the president were working hard for a cease-fire agreement. But the conflict likely chipped away at Harris' Arab American support, as well as that of some progressive Democrats who had long opposed both the war and American military aid to Israel. During the 2024 campaign, Boulos traveled throughout Michigan to promote Trump's candidacy among Arab American and Muslim voters, The New York Times reported. "We don't have to win over everybody," Boulos told the newspaper shortly before the election. "There are some that strongly believe that they wouldn't vote for either of the major candidates. That's fine with us." Trump went on to flip Michigan, part of the Democratic Party's all-important "blue wall," by a narrow margin which cut off Harris' clearest path to the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boulos isn't the only family member who'll have a role in the administration beginning next year. Trump on Saturday announced that he had selected Charles Kushner, the real estate developer and father of son-in-law Jared Kushner, as his next US ambassador to France. Ivanka Trump, a senior advisor in Trump's first term, is not expected to be a part of the second administration. Read the original article on Business Insider Donald Trump and his incoming administration officials think Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are suckers. Theyre not shy about saying it. Within the past month, Biden, Harris, and the current administration have repeatedly vowed an orderly, peaceful, fully cooperative transfer of power between Biden and Trump a twice-impeached former president and convicted felon whom the president, vice president, and Democratic leaders regularly denounced as a fascist tyrant and clear threat to the constitutional order. It hasnt just been the legal transfer and procedures to which Democrats have committed themselves. Biden has promised to attend Trumps 2025 inauguration, even though Trump refused to grant him the same grace after the 2020 election. Of course, then-President Trump actively sought to overturn Bidens 2020 election victory and even helped foment a violent coup at the U.S. Capitol as part of his monthslong effort to cling to power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not long after the election this early November, Biden hosted Trump at the White House for a pleasant photo opportunity. The president and vice president congratulated Trump, and Biden told him welcome back to his face, as the two men sat down for the news cameras, as if they were old pals who had just resolved a mildly heated argument. These actions are all far, far above and beyond what Trump and his first administration were willing to do during the last U.S. presidential transition for Biden including in its commitment to basic decorum and photo ops that dont even technically affect the legal transfer of power. And in the same way that top Trump adviser Stephen Miller privately found it funny that Biden actually preserved some of his and Trumps preferred immigration crackdown methods members of Team Trump find this asymmetrical level of commitment to norms, well, funny. Some of us have been laughing about it, an incoming Trump administration official tells Rolling Stone. [Democrats] spend all this time calling Donald Trump a Nazi and Hitler, and now its just: Smile for the camera! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These sentiments of gleefully rejoicing and sneering at, as one close Trump ally puts it, the Democrats almost performative capitulation to Trump who campaigned on a grossly authoritarian platform that includes wielding the federal apparatus to exact revenge operations on prominent political enemies are widely shared in Trumpland, according to four sources close to the president-elect or working on the Trump transition. In recent weeks, according to a source familiar with the matter, Trump himself has privately mocked Biden for being so nice after Harris lost the election, with the president-elect sarcastically joking that he would have done the same thing for his Democratic opponents. Throughout his campaign, Trump regularly winked and nodded at the possibility that should he not win a decisive victory in the general election he would fall back on his 2020 playbook and reject the will of the voters this year, too. Fomenting an attempted coup against the certification of the Electoral College was already a clear enough signal of Trumps intentions, but in the aftermath of his 2020 defeat, Trump was also openly uncooperative with transition officials and the incoming Biden administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The now president-elect waited until almost two months after the election to officially concede that he would not be returning to the White House. He fled D.C. which was left in a state of outright militarization following the attack on the Capitol and refused to attend any events related to the transition of power, including the inauguration. Trumps campaign waited seven weeks before beginning the most rudimentary discussions about a transition. Biden was denied the standard books typically authorized for incoming presidents, including access to daily national security briefings, funds to run the transition, and office space to begin staging the new administration. Even as it became crystal clear that Trump had no legitimate claim to a second term, the White House continued to vet potential nominees and appointees as if they would remain in power. By contrast, the Biden administration has seemingly bent over backward to avoid giving the incoming Trump administration any opening to claim they are obstructing his return to power. Earlier this month the two met at the White House to discuss the logistics of the transfer. Special Counsel Jack Smith who headed the now defunct federal prosecutions against Trump has even begun shuttering his own criminal cases into Trump, saving Trump some time from following through on his campaign promise to fire Smith upon retaking the White House. If theres anything that will slow Trumps transition, its his own camps refusal to sign the standard financial and ethics agreements required for agencies involved in the transition to begin authorizing the release of resources for the incoming administration. His team finally relented to some extent last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year, Trump said it was ridiculous that he had to leave the White House. In November, days before the election, Trump said outright, I shouldnt have left. The difference here is that pleasant or not the outgoing administration has a democratic and legal and civic responsibility to not be like Trump and his loyalists. The peaceful transfer of power tradition is a central pillar of the democratic process, and messing with it poses a destabilizing blow to the American experiment. On the other hand, nobody is legally or morally obligated to attend Januarys celebratory inauguration in Washington, D.C., or cheese for a photo op, or act publicly chummy with someone who their political party had (correctly) diagnosed as a bloodthirsty, wannabe authoritarian and a threat to basic rights, vulnerable communities, and the democratic order and health of the nation. Should Biden refuse to grant Trump his physical participation in the performance of the inauguration pageantry, the outgoing president would be far more justified in his reasoning than his predecessor. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Sunday remanded Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Naresh Balyan to two days of police custody in connection with an extortion case. Balyan was arrested by the Delhi Police Crime Branch on Saturday. "Delhi Police's Crime Branch has arrested Naresh Balyan, MLA of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, in connection with an extortion case. The arrest followed the examination of an audio clip featuring a conversation between the MLA and notorious gangster Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu," the Delhi Police posted on X on Saturday. This development follows the release of an audio clip by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), purportedly featuring the AAP legislator from Uttam Nagar instructing gangster Kapil Sangwan, also known as Nandu. "In this case, there is an audio recording of a conversation between Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu and AAP MLA Naresh Balyan available in the public domain. The ongoing action by the Delhi Police against gangsters operating from abroad also aims to identify their local associates. The primary objective of organised crime conducted from abroad is financial gain," the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) said. On Saturday, BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia alleged that Naresh Balyan was involved in extortion with the assistance of a gangster, claiming that "gangsters are the biggest supporters of AAP." Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Bhatia stated, "AAP has become a party of goons. Gangsters are the biggest supporters of AAP. They openly extort money by threatening the common man under the instructions of AAP MLAs. With the consent of Arvind Kejriwal, AAP MLAs are running extortion rackets by intimidating innocent citizens." "In an audio clip of AAP's 'extortionist' MLA Naresh Balyan, he is heard talking to a gangster about extorting money from a builder. Is it the job of an MLA, who has sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution, to threaten citizens and run an extortion racket with Kejriwal's approval?" Bhatia added. (ANI) TULSA COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR) On Tuesday, a hearing was held for a defamation lawsuit filed by Bixby Public Schools Superintendent Rob Miller. The lawsuit comes after State Superintendent Ryan Walters called Supt. Miller a liar and clown. ORIGINAL STORY: Bixby Public Schools Superintendent files defamation suit against Ryan Walters Those statements were made by Supt. Walters at a meeting on July 31, in response to a reporters question about Supt. Millers request for an estimate in Title I funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the lawsuit, Supt. Miller asked Supt. Walters when Oklahoma school districts could expect to see estimates for how much theyd receive in Title I funding back in July. Court records detail Supt. Walters wanting immunity for his comments, under the Oklahoma Government Tort Claims Act (GTCA). In the document, it says Supt. Walters was Acting well within the scope of his employment when he responded to questions about a subordinates public accusations of mishandling federal funds for public schools. UPDATE: OSDE sends corrected Title I allocations to schools On Tuesday, a Tulsa County judge heard arguments from the attorneys of both Supt. Walters and Supt. Miller. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supt. Miller claims Supt. Walters defamed him and painted his character in a bad light. Supt. Walters defense agues, under state law, Walters cannot be sued for comments made while performing his duties as a State Superintendent. A judge has 30 days to decide if the lawsuit will move forward and potentially go to trial, or if it will be dismissed. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. HENRY COUNTY, Ill. (WMBD) Illinois State Police arrested two Canadian men for allegedly transporting 1,146 pounds of cocaine. An Illinois State Police Trooper was conducting a motor vehicle inspection of a semi-trailer at 2:10 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 29, on Interstate 80 in Henry County, said an Illinois State police spokesperson. Vanshpreet Singh, 27, and Manpreet Singh, 36, both of Ontario, Canada were arrested for possession of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine and cocaine trafficking, they said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While conducting the inspection, the trooper noticed several indications of criminal activity. After a search, the trooper found what appeared to be cocaine, which allegedly weighed 1,146 pounds and cost around $40 million, they said. Both were transported to the Henry County Jail, where they will be held until their pretrial hearing, they said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com. NORWALK, Conn. (WTNH) A house in Norwalk is now uninhabitable after an early morning fire. A two-story home went up in flames just before 1:30 a.m. at 57 North Bridge St. Upon arrival, the Norwalk Fire Department witnessed the second floor fully engulfed. Two residents and their pet parrot safely exited the house. The American Red Cross is assisting the now-displaced residents as fire officials deem the residence unfit for occupancy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cause of the fire is under investigation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. Two more Democrats on Sunday announced their intentions to run for Democratic National Committee chair. Ben Wikler, chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin since 2019, said in a video announcing his candidacy, Today, the country we love needs the Democratic Party to be stronger. To unite. To fight. And to win. And in a letter to DNC members, Robert Houton, a onetime U.S. Senate candidate from Maryland, launched his bid, saying he wanted to lead and grow our Democratic party to champion electoral and transformative, legacy victories in 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, and beyond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Democrats sift through 'unmitigated disaster' after Trump victory: ANALYSIS They join a growing field with New York state Sen. James Skoufis, who announced his candidacy on Saturday, Martin O'Malley, the former Maryland governor who has served as commissioner of the Social Security Administration since December 2023, and Ken Martin, a vice chairman of the DNC who also leads the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. PHOTO: Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, waves to the crowd at a campaign event in Little Chute, Wis., Nov. 1, 2024. (Andy Manis/AP) Jaime Harrison, the current chairman, is not seeking a second term. In an interview with CNN after announcing his candidacy, Wikler said hes running to stop Republicans from ripping this country apart and ripping off working people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked by CNN what he believes is the biggest problem Democrats currently face, Wikler suggested voters dont believe that Democrats have their backs. MORE: Deep Democratic bench gets opportunity in political wilderness "The central problem is that voters, many voters, have internalized this idea that Democrats are not on their side, he said. They're not fighting for working families every day. They have other agendas. That is the Republicans line of attack." Wikler and Martin are the front-runners. Elections are on Feb. 1 at the partys annual winter meeting at National Harbor, Maryland. Two more Democrats join race for Democratic National Committee chair originally appeared on abcnews.go.com NAGS HEAD, N.C. (WAVY) Two pedestrians were struck by a vehicle in Nags Head, North Carolina Friday evening. The Town of Nags Head police and fire departments responded to the serious incident. Officers were dispatched to a designated crosswalk at 7228 South Virginia Dare Trail at approximately 5:40 p.m. Both victims, identified as 71-year-old and 69-year-old residents of Sunbury, North Carolina, were airlifted to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both individuals are expected to survive. The driver, a 63-year-old woman from Columbia, North Carolina, was cited for failure to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk. Witness statements, officer analysis, and video evidence confirmed that the victims were using the designated crosswalk when the incident occurred. There is no indication that speed or impairment were factors in the incident, but it is still under investigation. Continue to check WAVY.com for updates. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has stated that it is not yet possible to open the country's airspace due to the security situation. He emphasised the need to focus on developing alternative routes for cargo and passenger traffic. Source: Shmyhal at the International Transport Forum, as reported by Ukrinform news agency Details: The prime minister explained that partial opening of the airspace requires a risk assessment and air defence equipment, though this is not yet possible due to the security situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He stressed the crucial importance of developing alternative ways of transporting goods and passengers, particularly land routes and road and rail transport. Shmyhal noted that Russian forces had damaged aviation infrastructure during one of the latest attacks. At least 15 civilian airports had been affected by the attack. Background: In October, Supernova Airlines was granted permission to operate Lviv-Prague and Kyiv-Prague flights with a frequency of seven flights per week for a regular international air service. The reopening of Lviv airport is "being discussed in expert circles," the city's mayor, Andrii Sadovyi, said. Support UP or become our patron! MOSCOW (Reuters) - One child died in Russia's western Bryansk region following a massive Ukrainian drone attack, the local governor Alexander Bogomaz said on Sunday in a post on the Telegram messaging app. Bogomaz said the attacks completely destroyed one house in the Starodubsky municipal district. According to a Telegram channel called Mash, an 11-year-old boy died after a drone hit a five-story residential apartment in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Russian defence ministry said its air defences destroyed 29 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 20 in the Bryansk region, seven in Kaluga region, and one each in Smolensk and Kursk regions. The strikes come after Russia launched a record number of drones targeting Ukraine on Tuesday, cutting power to much of the western region of Ternopil and damaging residential buildings in the Kyiv region. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Bernadette Baum) Dec. 1The University of Maine is using $3.5 million in federal community project funding to build a statewide automated weather station network to provide timely warnings of severe weather, improve weather forecasts, help farmers and foresters, and create a long-term climate record. "The more weather data we collect, the better our forecasts will be," said Sean Birkel, a UMaine assistant professor and state climatologist. "The main goal of the (network) is to improve forecasts and assist decision-making for agriculture and forestry, but there are many applications." The 26 stations will take an array of meteorological readings, from precipitation and soil moisture to air and soil temperature to solar radiation and barometric pressure. The first one will be built in the spring near Orono to allow the project team to tweak station design and learn to service them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stations will range between 10 and 30 feet tall and help farmers and foresters manage frost, drought and wildfire risks, among other challenges. The tall towers will be deployed in areas where pesticide spraying or biological control methods would be rendered ineffective by windy conditions. Over time, each Maine county will have at least one station. Project leaders are still deciding where to install the other 10 stations, but most will be placed in agricultural areas or forests, with perhaps an island or mountaintop station included to add geographic detail to the state climate record. The university hopes to find funding to expand the system in the future. It also welcomes groups that want to buy and operate their own weather station to join the network, as long as the equipment is research-grade and the group is willing to sign an agreement to share their data. The network will help fill in gaps in Maine's weather observation landscape. Maine has a handful of stations taking readings at local airports or monitoring road conditions, but that leaves parts of Maine without real-time weather readings to inform satellite and radar-based forecasts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maine is especially lacking in soil temperature and moisture data, Birkel said. There are only two stations collecting daily year-round soil readings now, one in Old Town and one in Presque Isle. A few stations collect soil data in blueberry growing areas, but only during the growing season. The UMaine network data will eventually be published online in real time. A farmer might use ground temperature data to decide whether to cover a crop to protect it from frost damage. A forester might use wind data to decide when to spray pesticide on a burgeoning spruce budworm hot spot. Other groups may find the data useful, too, Birkel said, including those who love to ski, hike, hunt or fish, and the growing outdoor recreation industry that serves them. A ski resort doesn't want to make snow if a fog is coming. A hiker doesn't want to summit Katahdin if a storm is brewing. And if that hiker gets hurt, authorities need precise weather information to map out a rescue plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other states, contractors have used the real-time data to decide which job site to work and which to protect from the elements. For example, concrete won't cure properly in extreme heat or cold. Wood will warp in high humidity. And heavy rains can flood construction sites and damage machinery. The public data will include all the information collected over time from each site. Eventually, that will build a detailed state climate record, which will be especially important if the future is as warm, wet and wild as predicted. By 2050, temperatures will rise up to 4 degrees and seas by 1.5 feet. Once it is up and running, the UMaine network will join a national system of weather station networks that supply the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with the real-time observational data needed to formulate National Weather Service forecasts, Birkel said. The project will be bankrolled by community project funding, or what used to be called an earmark, which is congressional funding for a specific local project. Maine Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King requested that the project be added to the 2024 federal budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project team is made up of Birkel and colleagues from the UMaine Extension Office and School of Biology and Ecology: Bee Chim, Lily Calderwood and Phillip Fanning. Calderwood is the one who came up with the idea to request the funding for the weather station, Birkel said. The $3.5 million will fund the stations as well as the hiring of a full-time network manager with a background in applied meteorology, a data scientist to create the public interface, and one or two field technicians, one of which might be a student, to manage the data and service the system. Copy the Story Link UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen stated that a lack of commitment to a peace solution in Syria has resulted in the renewed escalation of violence in the country's long-running civil war. "What we see in Syria today is a mark of a collective failure," said the Syria mediator. Pedersen said he has repeatedly warned of the risk of escalation and the danger of relying on conflict management instead of conflict resolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recent developments pose a threat not only to the Syrian civilian population, but also to regional and international security, he added. Pedersen, a Norwegian diplomat, also urged the Syrian conflict parties and involved states to engage in negotiations. The Border Security Force celebrated its 60th Raising Day on Sunday with a "significant operational achievement" as it neutralised the 250th Pakistani drone this year, the BSF said in a release. The BSF, largest border guarding force in the world with a strength of nearly 2.65 lakh personnel, celebrates its Raising Day every year on December 1 as it came into existence on December 1, 1965. "BSF_Punjab marked the 60th BSF Raising Day with a significant operational achievement--the neutralization of 250th drone this year. This achievement underscores BSF's unwavering dedication to national security, even under challenging conditions such as dense fog and zero visibility. Notably, the 200th drone was seized on 9th November 2024 and within next 21 days, an additional 50 drones were knocked down. This rapid success reflects the effectiveness of the advanced surveillance grid and cutting-edge counter-drone technology deployed along the Punjab border," the BSF said in a post on X. The BSF said that the 250th drone was brought down after a rapid and strategic response to rising threats along the Punjab border. "This remarkable operational achievement highlights the effectiveness of BSF's advanced surveillance grid and cutting-edge counter-drone technology, which play a crucial role in identifying and neutralizing aerial threats," BSF said in the release. By using the latest technology, the BSF has strengthened its ability to ensure that no aerial intrusion goes unnoticed. This achievement also highlights the force's agility and readiness to respond to new security threats, reflecting its constant innovation and adaptation in the face of evolving challenges. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings on the occasion of Border Security Force Raising Day and said that their vigilance and courage contribute to the safety and security of our nation. "Warm wishes to the Border Security Force on their Raising Day! The BSF stands as a critical line of defence, embodying courage, dedication and exceptional service. Their vigilance and courage contribute to the safety and security of our nation," PM Modi said in a post on X. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also greeted the BSF. "Raising day greetings to the personnel of the BSF and their families. The soldiers of the @BSF_India have safeguarded the honor and the ambitions of Bharat with the fiercest determination, never thinking twice to lay down their lives for it. Their valor and sacrifices are the undying wellspring of inspiration that has raised generations of patriots to ensure that our nation continues to flourish forever. My solemn homage to the bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty," Shah posted on X. Mandated to guard the India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders, the BSF is the only force of the nation with a distinctly defined wartime as well as peace-time role.The force has successfully proved its mettle in accomplishing every task assigned to it in times of war and peace situation while ensuring peace and tranquillity on the border. The BSF troops, deployed in the most challenging terrain and remote locations, have been serving as the guardians of India's borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. Till 1965, India's border with Pakistan was manned by the State Armed Police Battalion. On April 9, 1965, Pakistan attacked Sardar Post, Chhar Bet and Beria Bet in Kutch. This exposed the inadequacy of the State Armed Police to cope with armed aggression, due to which the Government of India felt the need for a specialised, centrally controlled Border Security Force that would be armed and trained to man the international border with Pakistan. As a result of the recommendations of the Committee of Secretaries, the Border Security Force came into existence on December 1, 1965. Initially, in 1965, BSF was raised with 25 battalions and, with the passage of time, was expanded as per the requirement of the nation to fight against militancy in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and the Northeast region. The BSF, with a sanctioned strength of over 2,65,000 personnel spread across 192 battalions, is responsible for securing India's borders stretching over 6,386.36 kilometres with Pakistan and Bangladesh. (ANI) PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) When Governor Kristi Noem steps to the speakers lectern for what may be her last budget request to the South Dakota Legislature on Tuesday, shell be telling a much different group of state lawmakers about an economy thats suddenly sputtering at a time when the cost for a new mens prison has unexpectedly surged. Shell be looking out at many new faces: 22 of the 70 House members and 10 of the 35 senators will be serving their first terms. SD farm income concerns lawmakers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just as significantly, the 18 members of the Joint Committee on Appropriations that works day and night to assemble a new budget for state government each year will have significant turnover. The new lineup includes six freshmen: Terri Jorgenson and Erik Muckey from the House and Mark Lapka, John Carley, Glen Vilhauer and Mykala Voita from the Senate. Three other appropriators John Sjaarda, Scott Moore and Paul Miskimins will be serving in their roles for the first time. Somewhat leavening the change are 10 legislators-elect who are returning to the Capitol after being away for at least one term. Two Taffy Howard and Miskimins will be appropriators. The others bringing experience are Tim Goodwin, former House speaker Spencer Gosch, Lana Greenfield, Leslie Heinemann, Sam Marty, Jamie Smith, Richard Vasgaard and Keri Weems. The Legislative Research Councils fiscal office, which many lawmakers rely on, isnt finding much revenue joy beneath the tree for the rest of this budget year. Consider excerpts from the groups latest report, covering revenue through October, comparing whats come in versus what the Legislature had estimated would happen when appropriators put together the forecast back in February: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sales and use tax: YTD growth is negative (3.5%). The adopted target is 3.4% growth. Sales tax needs to grow 7.3% each remaining month of the fiscal year compared to last year to reach the adopted target. This likely will not happen. The growth through 4 months of the fiscal year is concerning and a lower expectation of sales tax should be assumed for the remainder of FY25. Lottery: YTD growth is positive 0.4%. The adopted target is 2.1% growth. The growth in lottery has been slow and sluggish and likely is a result of consumers becoming more concerned about spending. Contractors excise tax: YTD growth is negative (3.1%). The adopted target is 2.1% growth.. The bottom line from LRCs fiscal analysts: The year-to-date growth in the top three revenue sources for the year is below normal. A slow to negative trend is developing in the three large revenue streams and this likely indicates a slowing economy and reduced spending by the South Dakota consumer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The silver lining amid the gloom is unclaimed property receipts, according to the LRC fiscal staff headed by Jeff Mehlhaff. Technically, state government is supposed to hold unclaimed property receipts in perpetuity so they are always available for the rightful owner to make a claim, but legislators and governors have come to increasingly rely on spending them in the state budget each year. Unclaimed property next month will show a large receipt of revenue of about $170 million. The adopted target was $60 million, creating increased revenues of about $90 million. This large receipt of unclaimed property for the current year will help to offset the negative growth seen in the other revenue sources. The overall adopted revenue target can still be (reached) because of the large receipt of unclaimed property, the LRC analysis said. The governors budget office, known as the state Bureau of Finance and Management headed by commissioner Jim Terwilliger, assembles revenue reports on a regular basis. Theyve pointed to a mixed picture during the past five years. Sales and use tax grew but then slumped, in part because of a temporary reduction of the 4.5% rate to 4.2% that the Legislature approved and Noem signed into law two years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2020 $1,072,830,649 2021 $1,209,342,342 2022 $1,356,844,793 2023 $1,480,572,850 2024 $1,441,678,770 Lottery revenue grew during the COVID years, as people spent their pandemic checks from the federal government, but then slowed and has now stagnated. 2020 $122,489,001 2021 $155,527,049 2022 $171,609,682 2023 $176,663,767 2024 $179,328,773. Contractors excise tax however grew and grew. 2020 $123,723,519 2021 $144,448,267 2022 $155,823,772 2023 $189,407,586 2024 $216,712,589. Insurance company tax receipts did, too. 2020 $93,271,112 2021 $97,010,439 2022 $103,995,420 2023 $112,141,293 2024 $128,189,481 Unclaimed property receipts rose sporadically but saw huge growth in 2024. 2020 $47,308,472 2021 $62,809,930 2022 $65,097,628 2023 $74,981,213 2024 $133,617,777 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then theres investment income and interest. Those receipts rose and fell and then skyrocketed as interest rose and fell and rose again. 2020 $11,150,037 2021 $18,592,297 2022 $19,648,565 2023 $14,000,549 2024 $49,318,506. With revenues uncertain, the Legislature will face pressure to cover the rising cost of the proposed mens prison in Lincoln County. The projects construction management team sat down with the outgoing Appropriations Committee a few weeks ago. Questions from legislators that day suggested that some lawmakers might favor reducing the projects size or finding cheaper ways. Maximum price for new mens prison set at $825 million Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The guaranteed maximum price for building the new prison is now $825 million. Thats up more than $120 million from the estimate that the governors budget office provided to the committee in January 2024. While the prison price is up, farm income in South Dakota has gone down, according to the state Bureau of Finance and Management. After a period of 20-year highs in the first part of this decade, farm income has been sliding, and likewise for personal income, and state sales and use tax revenues have tracked downward with them. The return of former President Donald Trump to the White House on January 20 brings further uncertainty about the economys direction. It also brings uncertainty to the Capitols second floor. Trump has announced that he will nominate Governor Noem to be his new administrations secretary of homeland security. Assuming she is confirmed, Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden would become governor. The Legislature would then have an additional task of confirming a new lieutenant governor. With six weeks between now and the January 14 start of the 2025 legislative session, its still unknown at this time when Noem might step down and when Rhoden would then step up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Noem would be the third South Dakota governor who didnt complete the final term. All have come since South Dakota voters amended the state constitution so that governors served four-year terms instead of two-year terms and that candidates for governor ran on a combined ticket with their candidates for lieutenant governor, rather than the lieutenant governor candidates running separately. Democrat Dick Kneip left office in July of his final year for a federal appointment as US ambassador to Singapore, turning the reins over to Harvey Wollman, who had already lost in the June 1978 primary to Roger McKellips. Republican George Speaker Mickelson and seven others died in a horrific April 19, 1993, plane crash that pushed Walter Dale Miller up to governor. Miller lost the June 1994 primary to former governor Bill Janklow, the first and only governor to return to the office. One other fail-safe at the Legislatures disposal is to repeal the Chris Karr-led sales tax cut passed two years ago. The law temporarily reduced the tax rate to 4.2% from 4.5% and expires June 30, 2027. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tax had been increased to 4.5% from 4% in 2016 to provide higher pay to K-12 teachers and provide property tax relief for owners of commercial property. Karr sought last year to make the reduction to 4.2% permanent, but the Senate Appropriations Committee blocked him. An option this year would be to temporarily reinstate the 4.5% rate to pay for the rest of the prison construction cost and then permanently return the rate to 4.2% after that. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. Workers sort peaches at a packing house after they were harvested from the trees of a Georgia farm in July 2023. Georgia has work requirements under its partial expansion of Medicaid, but its program has fallen far short of enrollment projections and has cost more than $26 million. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Trevor Hawkins, an attorney at Legal Aid of Arkansas, remembers how busy his job got when the state for a time imposed work requirements on Medicaid recipients: His office was swamped with frantic phone calls from people who said they couldnt comply with the new rule because they werent healthy enough to work or had to care for sick relatives. A whole heap of folks, after a month or two, started getting notices saying, Hey, youre out of compliance, and youre going to lose your coverage, Hawkins told Stateline. For many people, he said, keeping their coverage was absolutely vital to maintaining their health or getting better so they might work again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June 2018, Arkansas became the first state to require some Medicaid recipients to work, volunteer, go to school or participate in job training to receive benefits. By the time a federal judge halted the policy in April 2019, 18,000 adults had lost coverage. Arkansas was one of 13 states that received permission to impose work rules on at least some Medicaid recipients during the last Trump administration. Nine additional states requested permission to enact Medicaid work requirements during Trumps term but had not won approval by the time it ended. When the Biden administration came into office, it rescinded all the approvals. But now that Trump is coming back, many of those states will try again and theyll have a supportive U.S. Congress in their corner. Republicans on Capitol Hill are eager to find ways to pay for extending tax cuts enacted during Trumps first term in office, and Medicaid funded jointly by the federal government and the states is in their sights. Requiring states to establish Medicaid work rules, as many Republicans would like to do, would cut federal spending by an estimated $109 billion over a decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Thats because the cost for about 900,000 people would shift entirely to states, while another 600,000 people would become uninsured, CBO estimated. About 72.4 million people are enrolled in Medicaid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arkansas renewed its efforts even before Trumps victory. Last year, Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders requested federal approval from the Biden administration to apply work rules to able-bodied adults who are covered through the states expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, and who are enrolled in health plans that Arkansas Medicaid purchases for them on the states health insurance exchange. That application is pending. Georgia, after prevailing in a legal fight with the Biden administration, already has work requirements in place for people covered by its partial expansion of Medicaid. And Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Tennessee have pending requests to require at least some of their Medicaid recipients to work. Meeting requirements Supporters say requiring Medicaid recipients to work, study or train for a career gives them a boost toward self-sufficiency and financial stability. Kristi Putnam, the secretary of the Arkansas Department of Human Services, said in a statement announcing her states latest request that it would challenge people to embrace economic opportunities that can lead to true job advancement. Meaningful work connects people to purpose and through the pandemic we have seen negative mental health impacts from people feeling disconnected, Putnam said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics, however, say such rules end up hurting far more people than they help. In a 2020 study examining how the Arkansas work requirements played out, researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found no evidence that the policy succeeded in its stated goal of promoting work and instead found substantial evidence of harm to health care coverage and access. More than 95% of the Arkansas beneficiaries the researchers surveyed already met the work requirement or should have qualified for an exemption. The main reason people lost coverage, the researchers found, was because they had trouble verifying that they were complying with the rules. Many of those who lost their coverage stopped taking their medications, delayed care and fell into medical debt. Our results should provide a strong note of caution for federal and state policy makers considering work requirement policies in the future, the researchers concluded. Under the rules Arkansas put in place during the first Trump administration, Medicaid participants under age 50 had to report that they spent at least 80 hours each month working, attending school, in job training or volunteering. The rule only applied to people who became eligible after Arkansas expanded Medicaid under the ACA to cover adults making up to 138% of the federal poverty level. And people were exempt if they were pregnant, had a child under 18 at home, were disabled, had to care for a person unable to care for him or herself, were in alcohol or drug treatment, or were in school or job training full time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 70,000 of the roughly 270,000 Arkansans on Medicaid were subject to the new rules, and about 1 in 4 of those lost coverage. Unlike Arkansas, Georgia has not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. But its Pathways to Coverage program, launched in July 2023, allows people with household incomes up to 100% of the federal poverty level who arent already eligible for Medicaid to enroll in the program if they fulfill work requirements. Georgias qualifying activities and exemptions are similar to the ones Arkansas had. Fiona Roberts, a spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Community Health, told Stateline that as of Nov. 15, there were 5,548 people enrolled in the program and that a total of 7,518 people had been enrolled at some point evidence, she said, that the program is helping people move from Medicaid to private insurance. Even eligible people can't keep up with it. Leah Chan, director of health justice at the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute But in its first year, Pathways to Coverage only enrolled about 4,200 people many fewer than the 25,000 the state had predicted. The cost of the program as of the end of 2023 was $26.6 million, and more than 90% of that went toward administrative and consulting costs, according to KFF, a nonprofit health research group. If Georgia had opted for a full expansion under the ACA, the federal government would have picked up 90% of the tab and the state would have covered about 359,000 people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leah Chan, director of health justice at the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, said work requirements are particularly challenging for people living in rural areas. If you dont have broadband internet at your house, youre not going to be able to upload the documentation and your pay stubs, Chan told Stateline. Even eligible people cant keep up with it, particularly in rural areas where there are additional barriers to participation. Learning from mistakes Benjamin Sommers, a professor of health care economics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and one of the authors of the Arkansas study, said the experience with work requirements there and in Georgia should give other states pause. All that ended up happening was people lost coverage due to red tape, became uninsured, and in some cases, we saw that they had worse access to health care, Sommers said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Arkansas Republican state Rep. Aaron Pilkington, who serves on the health committee in his chamber, said Medicaid work rules are 100% on the table and something well look to ask for from the Trump administration. They can find work and get better health insurance through their employer, Pilkington said. He said the volunteering and education options make the rules even more attractive. Meanwhile, in some of the 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the ACA, the inclusion of work requirements might be the only way politically to get expansion over the finish line. Most of the Democrats Ive spoken to did not want the work requirements, but to get it passed through the Mississippi legislature its most likely going to have one, Mississippi Republican state Rep. Sam Creekmore told Stateline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve looked at Georgias plan. We recognize the pitfalls and are hopefully learning from mistakes. This story was originally published by Stateline, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and X. Job News USA, along with our sponsor Cox Media Group, and in partnership with CareerSource Northeast Florida, will be hosting a hiring event from 10 am to 2 pm on Tuesday, December 10. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Over 25 different companies will be in attendance looking to fill positions, ranging from part-time to full-time positions in various fields at the DoubleTree Riverfront Hotel located at 1201 Riverplace Blvd in Downtown Jacksonville. The following is a breakdown of the attendees of the event and the positions they are looking to fill: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cox Media Group (parent company of Action News Jax) Marketing News Producer Associate Producer Promotions, Technical Producer Studio Technician Media Consultant Activation Specialist 1915 South / Ashley HomeStore Delivery Drivers Sales Associates 84 Lumber Manager Trainees Field Operations Managers Sales Representatives Non-CDL Drivers Yard Warehouse Associates AJM Packaging Corp. General Labor Forklift Operators Plant Manager / Assistant Plant Manager Machine Technicians Allied Universal Armed Security Officers Unarmed Security Officers Shift Supervisors CareerSource Northeast Florida Career Services, Resume Assistance, Free Computer Lab at the Job Fair to Apply to jobs and research companies Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City of Jacksonville Program Aides (Driver) General Maintenance Workers Associate Medical Examiner Environmental Specialists Various Part-Time Positions Engineering Technicians Seasonal Positions CNS Healthcare Seeking participants for PAID clinical research studies. Earn up to $1,600 Dedicated Senior Medical Center a ChenMed Company Medical Assistants Front Desk Team Members Certified Pharm Techs Sales Representatives Dignity Memorial Sales Professionals Staff Associates Elo Restoration Project Managers Repair Technician Apprentice Lead Specialists Inside Sales Representatives Outside Sales Representatives Flightstar Aircraft Services Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A/C Mechanics Sheet Metal Mechanics Shipping Clerks Interior Techs Globe Life - Liberty National Division Benefits Coordinators Managers In Training Jacksonville NAPA AutoCare Centers Automotive Technicians Service Advisors Managers Parts / Inventory Specialists Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) Customer Service Rep- FT Customer Experience Coordinator Bus Operator Trainee (CDL) Bus Operator Trainee (Non-CDL) Utility Worker, Contract Administrator I Network Engineer III Safety & Emergency Preparedness Administrator Training Specialist - Fixed Route Kelly Services (Hiring for Johnson & Johnson) Engineering Manufacturing Technicians Repackaging Technicians Manufacturing Operators Tooling/Molding/CNC/Formulation Technicians Quality Control Technicians Instrumentation Technicians Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Logistic Services International Manager Mechanical Engineer SME Aviator II (AV-8B) and 15 Y SME II- Tech / Operator I/II P-3 Acoustic Air Warfare Operator Instructor P-3 Aviation Electricians Mate O-Level Maintenance Instructor P-3 Avionics Technician Organizational Level Maintenance Instructor P-3 Aviation Ordnanceman Organizational Level Maintenance Instructor P-3 Instructor Flight Engineer P-3 In-Flight Technician Instructor P-3 Naval Flight Officer Instructor P-3 Non-Acoustic Air Warfare Operator Instructor Massey Services Manager in Training (MIT) Pest Control Technicians Outside Sales Representatives Lawn Technicians Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Military Sealift Command Licensed Deck and Engineering Officers Unlicensed (Rated) Deck Able Seaman and Engineering QMED-Electricians Pumpman Refrigeration Engineers Junior Engineers Deck Engineer Machinist Supply/Logistics, Supply/Culinary Radio Communications/IT Electronics Technicians Entry Level Mariners for Ordinary Seaman Wipers and Supply Utilityman Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southeast (NAVFAC Southeast) Financial Management Specialists Contracting Specialists Engineers Architects Primerica Life Insurance Agents Broker-in-Training Trainees RadiFi Credit Union Member Success Supervisor (Park Street) Vice President - Retail Operations Mortgage Underwriter Member Success Advocate (Westside) Project Coordinator Member Success Advocate (Float) MEC Sales Representative Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Star V Learning Centers Technical Instructors Admissions Representatives Account Executives US Army Over 150 Opportunities Available at: www.goarmy.com [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] 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. An upstate New York man set to be released from jail on an unrelated charge was rearrested for raping a child just as he was about to walk free in Kingston, authorities announced Friday. Ronald L. Burris III, of Saugerties, is accused of having sexual intercourse with a child multiple times over the summer, the Ulster County Sheriffs Office said in a news release. The 21-year-old was scheduled to be freed from Ulster County Jail on Nov. 20, but was instead met by detectives upon his release and promptly arrested again. Burris has been charged with two felony counts of second-degree rape and one count of endangering the welfare of a child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the sheriffs office, Burris latest arrest stems from an investigation into communications he was exchanging while behind bars with a 14-year-old female who didnt appear to be related to him. Detectives soon determined the messages were sexual in nature. Upon further investigation, authorities learned that earlier this year, prior to Burris incarceration, hed engaged in sexual intercourse with the 14-year-old child on several occasions. On the day of his scheduled release, detectives were there to meet him, the sheriffs office said. Burris was arraigned in Saugerties Justice Court and remanded back to Ulster County Jail on $30,000 cash bail, $60,000 bond, or $90,000 partially secured bond. Details of his prior incarceration on the unrelated charge were not released. Getty Images Political chasms, wars, oppression its easy to feel hopeless and helpless watching these dark forces play out. Could any of us ever really make a meaningful difference in the face of so much devastation? Given the scale of the worlds problems, it might feel like the small acts of human connection and solidarity that you do have control over are like putting Band-Aids on bullet wounds. It can feel naive to imagine that small acts could make any global difference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a psychologist, human connection researcher and audience member, I was inspired to hear musician Hozier offer a counterpoint at a performance this year. The little acts of love and solidarity that we offer each other can have powerful impact he told the crowd. I believe the core of people on the whole is good I genuinely do. Ill die on that hill. Im happy to report that the science agrees with him. Research shows that individual acts of kindness and connection can have a real impact on global change when these acts are collective. This is true at multiple levels: between individuals, between people and institutions, and between cultures. This relational micro-activism is a powerful force for change and serves as an antidote to hopelessness because unlike global-scale issues, these small acts are within individuals control. Abstract becomes real through relationships Theoretically, the idea that small, interpersonal acts have large-scale impact is explained by what psychologists call cognitive dissonance: the discomfort you feel when your actions and beliefs dont line up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, imagine two people who like each other. One believes that fighting climate change is crucial, and the other believes that climate change is a political ruse. Cognitive dissonance occurs: They like each other, but they disagree. People crave cognitive balance, so the more these two like each other, the more motivated they will be to hear each other out. According to this model, then, the more you strengthen your relationships through acts of connection, the more likely youll be to empathize with those other individual perspectives. When these efforts are collective, they can increase understanding, compassion and community in society at large. Issues like war and oppression can feel overwhelming and abstract, but the abstract becomes real when you connect to someone you care about. So, does this theory hold up when it comes to real-world data? Small acts of connection shift attitudes Numerous studies support the power of individual acts of connection to drive larger-scale change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For instance, researchers studying the political divide in the U.S. found that participants self-identifying as Democrats or Republicans didnt like people in the other group largely due to negative assumptions about the other persons morals. People also said they valued morals like fairness, respect, loyalty and a desire to prevent harm to others. Im intentionally leaving out which political group preferred which traits they all sound like positive attributes, dont they? Even though participants thought they didnt like each other based on politics, they also all valued traits that benefit relationships. One interpretation of these findings is that the more people demonstrate to each other, act by act, that they are loyal friends and community members who want to prevent harm to others, the more they might soften large-scale social and political disagreements. Even more convincingly, another study found that Hungarian and Romanian students people from ethnic groups with a history of social tensions who said they had strong friendships with each other also reported improved attitudes toward the other group. Having a rocky friendship with someone from the other group actually damaged attitudes toward the other ethnic group as a whole. Again, nurturing the quality of relationships, even on an objectively small scale, had powerful implications for reducing large-scale tensions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In another study, researchers examined prejudice toward what psychologists call an out-group: a group that you dont belong to, whether based on ethnicity, political affiliation or just preference for dogs versus cats. They asked participants to reflect on the positive qualities of someone they knew, or on their own positive characteristics. When participants wrote about the positive qualities of someone else, rather than themselves, they later reported lower levels of prejudice toward an out-group even if the person they wrote about had no connection to that out-group. Here, moving toward appreciation of the other, rather than away from prejudice, was an effective way to transform preconceived beliefs. So, small acts of connection can shift personal attitudes. But can they really affect societies? From one-on-one to society-wide Every human being is embedded in their own network with the people and world around them, what psychologists call their social ecology. Compassionate change at any level of someones social ecology internally, interpersonally or structurally can affect all the other levels, in a kind of positive feedback loop, or upward spiral. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For instance, both system-level anti-discrimination programming in schools and interpersonal support between students act reciprocally to shape school environments for students from historically marginalized groups. Again, individual acts play a key role in these positive domino effects. Even as a human connection researcher, Ive been surprised by how much I and others have progressed toward mutual understanding by simply caring about each other. But what are small acts of connection, after all, but acts of strengthening relationships, which strengthen communities, which influence societies? In much of my clinical work, I use a model called social practice or intentional community-building as a form of therapy for people recovering from serious mental illnesses, like schizophrenia. And if intentional community-building can address some of the most debilitating states of the human psyche, I believe it follows that, writ large, it could help address the most debilitating states of human societies as well. Simply put, science supports the idea that moving toward each other in small ways can be transformational. Ill die on that hill too. Liza M. Hinchey, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Psychology, Wayne State University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The United States is not considering returning to Ukraine the nuclear weapons the country previously agreed to give up under the Budapest Memorandum, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in an interview on Dec. 1. When asked by ABC News whether the U.S. is considering retuning nuclear weapons to Ukraine, Sullivan denied that the escalatory move was in discussion. "That is not under consideration. No. What we are doing is surging various conventional capacities to Ukraine so that they can effectively defend themselves and take the fight to the Russians, not nuclear capability," Sullivan told ABC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New York Times reported on Nov. 22 that several U.S. officials have suggested that President Joe Biden was could allow Ukraine to possess nuclear weapons once again. Ukraine agreed to give up its nuclear arsenal in the 1994 Budapest Memorandum in exchange for receiving security guarantees from the U.S., the U.K., and Russia. Sullivan's comments on the issue comes as the Biden administration continues to make series of decisions aimed at giving Kyiv leverage in future negotiations, ahead of the January inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump who has criticized military support for Kyiv. These steps included approving the delivery of anti-personnel mines and granting permission for Ukraine to launch U.S.-made long-range ATACMS at targets within Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent months, Ukrainian officials reportedly floated the proposal of securing nuclear weapons if it is not provided accession into the NATO military alliance. On Oct. 17, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he told Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in September that Ukraine must either join NATO or pursue nuclear capabilities for protection. Zelensky later clarified the comments, saying that Ukraine is not pursuing nuclear weapons and the remarks were made to emphasize the failures of the Budapest Memorandum. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi further said in a statement on Oct. 17 that Ukraine is not planning to develop weapons of mass destruction and remains committed to nuclear non-proliferation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement came after the German media outlet Bild reported that Kyiv is preparing to develop nuclear weapons. The story cited an unnamed Ukrainian source. Russia continues to increase its nuclear sabre-rattling, as it has done throughout the full-scale invasion. Despite the Kremlin's threats, the risk of a nuclear attack is unlikely, Reuters reported, citing five unnamed sources familiar with U.S. intelligence data. As Russia continues to escalate its nuclear rhetoric domestically, 39% of Russians now believe that "the use of nuclear weapons could be justified" in Ukraine, Alexey Levinson, chief of the sociocultural research department at the Russian independent polling organization Levada Center, said at a conference on Nov. 29. Read also: Why Ukraine doesnt have nuclear weapons Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. (Reuters) - The United States is not considering returning to Ukraine the nuclear weapons it gave up after the Soviet Union collapsed, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday. Sullivan made his remarks when questioned about a New York Times article last month that said some unidentified Western officials had suggested U.S. President Joe Biden could give Ukraine the arms before he leaves office. "That is not under consideration, no. What we are doing is surging various conventional capacities to Ukraine so that they can effectively defend themselves and take the fight to the Russians, not (giving them) nuclear capability," he told ABC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, Russia said the idea was "absolute insanity" and that preventing such a scenario was one of the reasons why Moscow sent troops into Ukraine. Kyiv inherited nuclear weapons from the Soviet Union after its 1991 collapse but gave them up under a 1994 agreement, the Budapest Memorandum, in return for security assurances from Russia, the United States and Britain. (Reporting by Ted Hesson and David Ljunggren; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Lisa Shumaker) Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has warned students against raising slogans or organizing protests without prior permission from university authorities, saying "disciplinary" action would be taken against "erring" students. In an office memorandum dated November 29, the university reminded students that protests, especially those targeting constitutional dignitaries or law enforcement agencies, are not permitted without formal consent. This order came in response to the protest by students during which slogans were raised against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The university emphasized that any such activities are not aligned with its academic environment and must be avoided. "It is once again reiterated for the information of all students of the University that no protests, dharnas, raising slogans against any constitutional dignitaries shall be allowed in any part of the University Campus, otherwise disciplinary action against such erring students shall be initiated as per provision of the University rules," the memorandum said. In response, the All India Students' Association (AISA) has strongly condemned the move, accusing the university administration of succumbing to political pressure from the ruling regime. "This directive is not merely an attack on students--it is an attack on the very essence of a university," AISA said in a statement. The student body further alleged that the administration has become a "mouthpiece for the BJP-RSS agenda" and called on progressive forces to resist what it termed the "Sangh's authoritarian grip" on the institution. In the notice, the administration referenced a previous office order issued in August 2022, which outlined similar restrictions on student protests. "It is once again reiterated that no protests, dharnas, or slogans against any constitutional dignitaries shall be allowed in any part of the University Campus," the notice read. The university also warned of disciplinary action against students violating these guidelines, in accordance with, university rules. Faculty members and department heads have been instructed to communicate the directive to students under their purview. Meanwhile, AISA called on students and democratic forces to unite against the order, pledging to reclaim the university's autonomy and preserve its tradition of resistance. "This is part of the Sangh's larger agenda to strip universities of their autonomy and transform them into factories of conformity," AISA said. The group emphasized Jamia's legacy of standing up to oppression, from its founding during the anti-colonial struggle to its role in opposing the CAA-NRC. "We will not let this legacy be hijacked by the Sangh's foot soldiers in the administration," AISA added. (ANI) A nearly year-old U.S. Senate GOP inquiry into Chicagos housing of migrants at OHare and Midway airports may become more than a political annoyance for Mayor Brandon Johnson next year as Republicans take control of the federal government with an eye on tightening rules about public spending for noncitizens. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, the ranking Republican member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, months ago escalated an investigation Republicans on the committee had opened about Chicagos policy of having migrants sleep at the airports while they waited for shelter beds. In an August letter to the mayor obtained by the Tribune via a public records request, the senator said Johnsons staff had been unresponsive to questions he sent in January about the practice, and raised the prospect that continued noncompliance could endanger federal airport grants Chicago receives for projects at OHare International and Midway airports. Cruz also suggested Congress could compel Chicago officials to respond should the Johnson administration not provide answers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, the letter didnt get any notice and Cruzs demands were little more than Washington intimidation tactics as Democrats controlled the Senate and national Republicans were using the immigration issue to rag on big cities across the country, with Chicago consistently being a prime target. But with the GOP riding anti-immigration fervor that helped sweep Donald Trump back into the White House and Republicans gain control of the U.S. House and Senate, Cruz is set to chair the powerful committee beginning in January. While it remains to be seen how real Cruzs threats are, one of the committees options is moving to withhold federal infrastructure dollars to cities that continue sheltering immigrants at airports. Though the arrival of migrants to Chicago from the southern border often being bused here by the order of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas has significantly ebbed this year, the committees move would be one part of whats expected to be a multipronged approach by Republicans to take their immigration efforts directly to sanctuary cities like Chicago that have policies in place protecting immigrant rights. Tom Homan the incoming border czar for Trump, who campaigned on a repeated promise of mass deportations of immigrants said recently on Fox News that he will wield a very, very powerful weapon in potentially withholding federal funding for states and cities run by Democratic governors and mayors that fight deportation efforts. He also said he would jail the mayor of Denver, another sanctuary city, if the mayor blocks migrants from deportations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnsons press office did not respond to multiple inquiries about Cruzs letter and the Senate committee probe, which a committee spokesperson said remains open. Among the other Republicans on the committee who co-signed a letter supporting the probe was Vice President-elect JD Vance from Ohio. Over the last few months, Committee staff has reached out to your staff on 4 separate occasions seeking a response. Unfortunately, your staff has refused to provide a substantive response, Cruz wrote in the August letter. Such lack of transparency with Congress and the American public is unacceptable. Your response will help determine if legislative changes to the Airport Improvement Program grants are necessary. The grants in question are federal funds that largely go to construction projects at airports. In 2024, OHare and Midway received about $112 million in Airport Improvement Program dollars. In a statement to the Tribune, a representative for the Republican members of the Senate committee said, Incoming Commerce Committee Chairman Cruz is continuing his investigation of Mayor Johnsons decision to fund Chicagos sanctuary airports and its impact on taxpayers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With a Republican-led Congress, blue-state mayors who violate federal law or misuse taxpayer dollars to prioritize illegal aliens over Americans will be held accountable, the statement said. A commerce committee source said Johnsons office has begun to respond to the committees questions, among them the cost and impact on airport capacity. The source said Republican members are considering prohibiting cities from sheltering immigrants without legal authorization to live in the U.S. at the airports as a condition of accepting federal infrastructure funds. While Chicagos migrant crisis has abated, about a dozen migrants so far this month stayed at OHare awaiting shelter placement, per city census numbers, though it was unclear how long their stays were. Where Cruz and GOP commerce committee members hope to hit Johnson is by proving the past sheltering of migrants at the airports misused federal resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Repurposing airport facilities and infrastructure to house illegal aliens not only degrades taxpayers investment in the national airport system but violates the requirement that these federally funded facilities be available for public use as an airport, Cruz wrote in the initial January letter to Johnson. No rational person would define an airport as a facility that houses illegal aliens. The committee is seeking from the city the total number of migrants who have lived at OHare and Midway, where they were housed, costs and capacity reductions at the airport, whether the city consulted the Federal Aviation Administration or Transportation Security Administration and any incidents that prompted a law enforcement response. Cruz also asked whether federal Passenger Facility Charge funds were used for Terminal 1 at OHare or the bus and shuttle center at the airport, all of which were used to house migrants. The facility charge is revenue the airports receive from a fee tacked onto most airline tickets. Cruz also made a point of bringing up OHares $8.5 billion renovation project, which Johnson brokered a deal about with the major airlines in the spring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your decision to house illegal aliens at OHare is even more curious considering Chicago has been in a contentious months-long dispute with tenants United Airlines and American Airlines regarding the future of a new terminal, Cruz wrote in January. Chicagos migrant crisis began in August 2022 when Abbott sent a busload of asylum-seekers to the city and other northern municipalities. The Republican governor argued that southern border states were overwhelmed with the surge of migration that mostly stemmed from Venezuela and said so-called sanctuary cities like Chicago should walk the walk when it comes to welcoming immigrants. Abbotts move was decried as a cruel political stunt by Illinois leaders who accused him of sowing chaos and using poverty-stricken asylum-seekers as political pawns. While Chicago leadership has been unequivocal in protecting its sanctuary city status, that ordinance simply forbids local law enforcement from helping federal immigration authorities carry out deportations. It does not guarantee resources such as shelter and food. The situation worsened after Johnson took office in May 2023 when Texas officials escalated the pace of migrants from Texas to Chicago. At the same time, the federal government didnt come to Chicagos rescue with sufficient aid or border policy reforms as hordes of families camped at police stations soared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the scenes of makeshift tent cities on the sidewalks and lobbies of Chicago Police Department precincts captured national attention, hundreds of migrants also were housed at Terminal 1, where asylum-seekers who arrived to Chicago via plane waited for a coveted bed in the citys overcrowded shelters. At a peak in October 2023, about 850 migrants were sleeping at OHare, according to the citys daily census. Midway also temporarily housed migrants, though far less frequently as the migrant population never topped 30. The crisis diminished earlier this spring following a executive order from President Joe Biden that cracked down on border crossings. Johnson has responded to Trumps victory in November by vowing to Chicagos immigrant communities that the city will protect immigrants from deportation, saying Chicagos sanctuary city status will remain in place. The showdown between Cruz and Johnson isnt the first time a Chicago mayor has gone up against Republicans in Washington over Chicagos sanctuary city status. Then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel sued Trumps Justice Department in 2017 after it withheld federal grants to Chicago because of the policy. Emanuel prevailed, though that legal fight was largely symbolic because the amount of money at stake is a small fraction of the citys police budget. It was $1.5 million that he wanted to use for ShotSpotter. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided Ukraine with cogeneration units that have helped provide heat and water to thousands of people in three Ukrainian oblasts. Source: Bridget Brink, US Ambassador to Ukraine on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: Brink said that the 28 November Russian attacks left 1 million people in Ukraine without heat and electricity on the eve of winter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thus, she noted that cogeneration units provided by USAID helped provide heat and water to thousands of people in Volyn, Khmelnytskyi and Rivne oblasts. Background: On the night of 27-28 November, Russia launched a large-scale combined missile and drone attack on Ukraine's energy sector. Ukrainian air defence units destroyed 76 cruise missiles, three air-to-surface missiles and 35 drones out of 188 Russian aerial assets. In early October, the United States, through the USAID, provided Ukraine with a batch of supplies to protect its energy infrastructure. On 29 November, reports indicate that with the support of USAID, the UNICEF Children's Fund provided a boiler house to a rural hromada in Kharkiv Oblast. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories - ed.] Support UP or become our patron! OKLAHOMA CITY(KFOR)- OKCFD and Nicoma Park FD responded to a vehicle/house fire at NE 36th St and Texas Ave late Saturday night. Firefighters arrived to the scene to a car with heavy flames that spread to a nearby mobile home. Shortly after, firefighters switched to a defensive fire tactic to control the surrounding area. No injuries have been reported on the scene. The scene of the fire is under further investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KFOR will update as more information arrives. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. HONOLULU (KHON2) A civil jury has reached a verdict over a deadly deputy-involved shooting at the State Capitol in 2019. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You The family of Delmar Espejo sued the State of Hawaii and the sheriff who shot him on Feb. 18, 2019, for Espejos wrongful death and the use of excessive force. Fatal Capitol shooting classified a homicide according to the medical examiner Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident happened shortly before 8:30 p.m. when the officer involved in the shooting had called for backup [after seeing] a man with alcohol at the Capitol. In a complaint provided by Ralph Fukamoto, former Sheriffs Sergeant, he noted no one was available to provide backup to the officer when the struggle occurred. Court documents said the 28-year-old placed the sheriff in a headlock. The sheriff then shot him in the torso in fear of additional imminent danger. The Honolulu Medical Examiner ruled Espejos death a homicide on June 30, 2019. The trial began on Nov. 21 and after nearly four days of testimony, a Honolulu jury found that the sheriff was negligent and that the state did not train him properly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, the Department of the Attorney General said they thank the jurors for their service and that numerous errors were made that affected the fairness of the trial. [They] are considering [their] options. Check out more news from around Hawaii Espejos family was awarded $2.2 million. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has reaffirmed the European Union's openness to Georgia despite concerns over the country's leadership shifting away from pro-European values as the country enters its fourth night of protests. In a statement posted on Sunday to X, von der Leyen expressed regret over the Georgian governments decision to diverge from EU principles. The comments follow days of violent protests that have rocked the country's capital Tbilisi and other cities against the government's pro-Russian course and decision to suspend talks on joining the European Union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The door to the EU remains open," she wrote. "The return of Georgia on the EU path is in the hands of the Georgian leadership." She also emphasized the EUs solidarity with Georgian citizens seeking a European future. Meanwhile, thousands of protesters gathered again in central Tbilisi on Sunday to continue their anti-government demonstrations, according to Georgian media reports, as a heightened police presence was being mobilized in anticipation of more unrest. When you are planning a relaunch just five months into your new Government, you know things are not going as well as you had hoped. The resignation of the Transport Secretary over an issue the Prime Minister had known about for years but did not act on is just the latest in a litany of mis-steps and calamities. Keir Starmer will attempt to reassure his increasingly restless MPs this week that he is the man to lead them out of the morass. After 150 days of clown car, the Prime Ministers Plan for Change project will have to do some heavy lifting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Targets will be set on peoples incomes (not much to do with the state), NHS waiting times, house building, childcare, clean energy (controversial) and cutting crime. Quite what the targets should be on immigration and asylum, a priority for the public, are matters that are still undercooked. Ahead of the speech to announce the new broom, the Prime Minister will invite businesses, the unions and charities to a big were all in this together knees-up. Beer, sandwiches and 20 Benson will complete the 1970s vibe. Oddly, like the eerie calm in the centre of a hurricane, No 10 does not think it is doing as badly as everyone else does. Senior officials point to a slight upward bump in its polling figures immediately after the Budget. More money for the NHS still carries weight with the public. In focus groups, my Labour sources insist, the National Insurance tax hike on businesses is landing well with our voters. Few care that Tesco is going to make slightly less profit. It is not all about us, it is also about them, party grandees point out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Labours own focus-group work suggests a weakness in the Conservatives new leader that resonates with the public. The Opposition wants all the advantages the Budget will bring better-paid nurses and teachers, more funding for operations but with none of the costs. Everything Labour announces, the Tories oppose. This is the dividing line Starmer would like to make the political signature tune for 2025: Starmer hard work for a better future; and Kemi Badenoch the anti-change party. Whats your alternative? will be the accusatory question regularly thrown from the dispatch box. Labour wants houses, pylons and electric cars. The Tories dont but what do they want? Government backers argue that the public understands fixing the foundations however many groans it elicits from bored commentators. Labour believes Badenoch is not as good as she and her fanbase think she is. Untested and shallow are the words bandied about in No 10 circles. Starmer is ahead of Badenoch as the best person to be Prime Minister by 23 per cent to 18 per cent. On many of the major controversies, Labour is not for changing. There will be no U-turns on farmers inheritance tax, National Insurance increases or scrapping the pensioners winter allowance which have all gone down badly with the public. They are policies backed by the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, whose power is on a par with the politically naive PM. In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed Chancellor is queen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Net zero car targets and workers rights the responsibility of Cabinet members Ed Miliband and Angela Rayner are on shakier ground, like the politicians who are most associated with them. The Treasury is very good at throwing sand into the wheels of policies it does not like. Expect a major U-turn on fines for car companies not hitting electric vehicle targets. It has not escaped the notice of many that Louise Haighs resignation, though embarrassing, means there is one fewer paid-up member of Labours Lefties in the Cabinet. Heidi Alexander, the new Transport Secretary, backed Andy Burnham for the leadership of the Labour Party in 2015, not Jeremy Corbyn. Starmer is trying to smash together a centrist coalition with Blairite overtones as voter support leaches away. We get it, one senior official tells me. We need to communicate better about things that people actually care about. Two weeks ago, the Home Secretary announced that a Blairite favourite, antisocial-behaviour orders, would be making a return in next years Crime and Policing Bill. Health-service reform and benefit changes for those out of work will follow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those around Starmer know that all this could be delusional that the PM is not struggling because he does not know how to communicate (even he doesnt sound like he believes what he is saying), but because he lacks the deep political skills necessary to run the country. Announcements change nothing for an understandably sceptical public. If the economy does not grow at pace and the Budget has made that less likely everything crumbles. People have to feel better off at the end of the Parliament, one leading Labour figure tells me. Even if that means being unpopular now. On unpopularity, Labour is certainly succeeding. This week, the annual Ipsos end of year report will show the depth of public despair over the first five months of the government. The majority of people say they have an unfavourable opinion of Keir Starmer up 19 percentage points from one in three in the weeks after the General Election. More than 50 per cent say the country is heading in the wrong direction. Half say they are disappointed with the Labour Government including one in four who voted for it in July. When asked to give Labour a score out of 10, voters plump for a four. Among Labour voters, its a six. Those giving them a low score cite broken promises (specifically around the winter fuel decision and tax increases), economic concerns, lack of trust, freebies and immigration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yesterdays poll in the Observer gives Starmer a net approval of -32 per cent a figure that has dropped by 8 points in the past fortnight. Starmer is fighting his own inabilities and a tide of public disaffection. Thermostatic effects that the public naturally drift away from the party in power on issues and voting intentions are rocket-boosted by his political weaknesses. Enthusiasm for free markets and lower taxes is starting to bubble upwards, according to James Kanagasooriam, the chief research officer at Focaldata. It is going to take more than one speech to turn the tide. In a Telegraph interview for her new film, Rumours, Cate Blanchett described politicians as disconnected from anything resembling a human being, lost in a world of pre-digested and elliptical word salad. Someone should read it out to the Prime Minister. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The Berks County Sheriffs Office is seeking the following fugitives: Jason Rodriguez Jason Rodriguez, 38, whose last known address was in Philadelphia, is wanted on charges of theft from a motor vehicle, theft by deception, theft by unlawful taking and retail theft. Tilden Township police said that on multiple June dates Rodriguez stole merchandise from Lowes Home Improvement that had a combined value of nearly $1,000. On June 26, Muhlenberg Township police allege Rodriguez broke into a vehicle in the Lowes lot on North Fifth Street Highway and took an Apple MacBook valued at $193. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rodriguez is described as 5 feet 6 inches and 190 pounds. Julieta Pacheco Julieta Pacheco, 44, whose last known address in the 1000 block of Windsor Street in Reading, is wanted on retail theft charges. On Nov. 20 Berks County Judge Eleni Dimitriou issued a bench warrant for Pacheco after she failed to appear for a disposition hearing on a felony retail theft charge filed by Cumru Township police in December 2023. Pacheco is described as 5 feet 2 inches and 165 pounds. Anyone with information about either fugitive is urged to contact the warrants division of the sheriffs office at 610-478-6390. Find the complete list of Berks Countys most wanted at countyofberks.com/departments/sheriff/most-wanted. To mark World AIDS Day, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda inaugurated the World AIDS Day 2024 commemoration at the Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya Auditorium in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, on Sunday. The Minister highlighted that India's sustained efforts have maintained a low HIV epidemic level over the years, with new infections in 2023 almost 44% lower than in 2010, and AIDS-related deaths reduced by 79%. This year's theme, "Take the Rights Path," underscores the importance of ensuring equal rights, dignity, and access to healthcare for all, especially those living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Reflecting this, Nadda emphasised the government's commitment to safeguarding the rights of people with HIV/AIDS through legal protections, healthcare access, and societal reforms. He said, "World AIDS Day is a moment to reiterate that we are all united in the fight against AIDS and to remember and honour those who have battled this disease and lost loved ones." Nadda highlighted the ongoing Phase V of the National AIDS and STD Control Programme and the consistent efforts of NACO and State AIDS Control Societies in ensuring low epidemic levels. He reiterated that new HIV infections in 2023 were 44% lower than in 2010, while AIDS-related deaths had fallen by 79%. The Minister outlined three key directives in the fight against AIDS. First, he stressed caution in preventing HIV/AIDS infections, noting that the virus can be transmitted through various means beyond sexual contact. Second, he advocated a healthy lifestyle, encompassing proper nutrition, exercise, and sleep, to prevent illnesses. Third, he urged increased awareness and efforts to combat stereotypes through village meetings, school programmes, and educational campaigns. He called on authorities to evaluate the effectiveness of AIDS control initiatives and address any shortcomings. Nadda also emphasised the importance of treating HIV-positive individuals with empathy, stating that everyone has the right to a dignified life. He dispelled myths, asserting that HIV-positive individuals can live long and healthy lives and even have HIV-free children. He praised healthcare workers for their dedication and resilience despite constant exposure to infections, stressing the need to support them. The Minister acknowledged India's progress in the fight against AIDS, from an era without treatment to becoming a global supplier of affordable HIV medicines. He noted that the Union government provides free medication for AIDS patients and highlighted India's leadership in producing effective treatments. Nadda reaffirmed the government's commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. He stated that India has adopted the 90-90-90 target for combating AIDS--90% case detection, 90% antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage, and 90% viral load suppression. This target has been updated to 95-95-95, with 81% of cases identified, 88% on ART, and 97% achieving viral load suppression. On the occasion, Nadda congratulated the Madhya Pradesh government on advancements in healthcare. He also visited an exhibition organised by NACO and interacted with delegates and officials. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed pride in the government's AIDS control efforts, which are benefitting the most vulnerable sections of society. He remarked, "Under the leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has successfully managed the COVID-19 pandemic and is working towards eradicating epidemic diseases like AIDS by 2030." Yadav highlighted significant improvements in the state's medical infrastructure. While there were only five medical colleges earlier, the number has risen to 31, with a target of 50 colleges in the next two years. He announced that Madhya Pradesh aims to eliminate AIDS as a public health threat by 2028, two years ahead of the SDG target. The state is leading efforts in initiatives like the Ayushman Bharat Vay Vandana Yojana and achieving key health indicators, including reductions in IMR and improved healthcare access in remote areas. (ANI) At least 15 of Ukraine's 20 civilian airports have sustained damage since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Nov. 30. Ukraine, which has kept its airspace entirely closed since the all-out war began, has been exploring options to partially reopen it. Currently, Ukrainians traveling abroad must use road or rail to reach neighboring countries, most often Poland, to catch flights. For those in the eastern regions, the journey out of Ukraine alone can take up to a day. "We conducted a risk assessment and determined the needs of the air defense forces to partially open the airspace," Shmyhal said during a transportation conference, according to the local news agency Ukrinform. "Security issues and the military situation remain key to this decision," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shmyhal also noted that Russia had targeted Ukraine's port infrastructure nearly 60 times over the past three months, damaging or destroying close to 300 facilities and 22 civilian vessels. Earlier this month, Crispin Ellison, a senior partner at insurance broker Marsh McLennan, said that one of Ukraine's airports, Lviv or Boryspil International Airport, close to the capital, could potentially resume operations by the end of January 2025. Ellison noted during the Kyiv International Economic Forum that securing aviation insurance will be easier if planes use Lviv Airport, but President Volodymyr Zelensky insists that Boryspil be opened first. "Opening Lviv is the beginning of a journey to opening up Boryspil," Ellison told a Kyiv Independent reporter on Nov. 7. The Presidential Office will make the final decision on the flights, considering the security situation and the performance of Ukrainian air defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: From strangers to friends: How Ukrainians meet and bond during wartime train travel Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. By Ben Blanchard and Roger Tung TAIPEI (Reuters) - War has no winners and peace is priceless, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Saturday in Hawaii after visiting a memorial to the attack on Pearl Harbor on a trip to the United States that has angered Beijing. Lai is making a sensitive two-day trip to Hawaii that is officially only a stopover on the way to three Pacific island nations that maintain formal ties with Taiwan, which China claims as its territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to members of the overseas Taiwan community and Hawaii politicians, including members of Congress Ed Case and Jill Tokuda, Lai referred to his visit to the USS Arizona Memorial earlier in the day and laid a wreath in memory of those who died in the 1941 Japanese attack. "Our visit to the memorial today in particular reminds us of the importance of ensuring peace. Peace is priceless and war has no winner. We have to fight - fight together - to prevent war," Lai said in English, in a speech carried live on television in Taiwan. As Lai was attending the event, China said it had complained to Washington for arranging for his transit through U.S. territory, while vowing "resolute countermeasures" against a potential arms sale to Taiwan that the U.S. announced hours before Lai started his trip. China's foreign ministry lodged "stern representations" over the transit, China's Taiwan Affairs Office said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are firmly opposed to official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan, and we are firmly opposed to the 'transit' of leaders of the Taiwan region to the United States under any name and for any reason," it said. Security sources have told Reuters that China could launch a new round of war games around Taiwan in response to his visit, his first overseas trip since assuming office in May, having won election in January. China has staged two rounds of major war games around Taiwan so far this year. In his speech Lai switched to Taiwanese, also known as Hokkien, and said that by uniting together, all difficulties could be overcome. "Taiwan's democracy can become a model for the international community," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lai and his government reject Beijing's sovereignty claims and say they have a right to visit other countries. After Hawaii, Lai will go to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau, with another stopover in the U.S. territory of Guam. Hawaii and Guam are home to large U.S. military bases. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Roger Tung; Additional reporting by David Kirton in Shenzhen, China; Editing by William Mallard) MIAMI, Fla. (WFLA) Emergency crews spent several hours dousing a fire at the Port of Miami Friday night after a vehicle reportedly burst into flames. Firefighters were at the scene overnight on Friday, Nov. 29 into the early morning hours of Saturday, Nov. 30. 1 horse killed, 7 injured after Bradenton riding centers trailer is T-boned Unconfirmed reports indicated that the fire may have been the result of an electric vehicle exploding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An Instagram user captured the action on video, showing the burnt-out frame of a vehicle on the harbor as fire crews worked to extinguish the blaze. The Miami-Dade Fire Department told Storyful eight units responded to the large blaze at the cargo yard. The car was reportedly inside of a 20-foot shipping container when it blew up. Officials did not state what the brand of car was, but said there were no casualties. As of Saturday afternoon, the cause of the fire was still under investigation, according to the fire department. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. @igorsushko/X Protesters in Georgia used a makeshift fireworks gun against riot police on the third night of violent clashes with the pro-Russian government in the capital. Violence erupted outside Georgias parliament between police and demonstrators protesting the governments decision to delay European Union membership talks amid a post-election crisis. Thousands of people gathered in Georgias capital Tbilisi on Saturday in protests that saw dozens arrested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Black Sea nation has been in turmoil since the ruling Georgian Dream party claimed victory in the October 26 parliamentary election that the pro-European opposition has said was fraudulent. Chaotic scenes unfolded for hours as police chased defiant protesters through the streets of central Tbilisi, beating them and making arrests. Masked officers in riot gear fired rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons as they moved in to disperse protesters hurling fireworks, while flames were seen coming from a window of the parliament building. Demonstrators erected barricades on Tbilisis main avenue, and one group was seen aiming a cylinder discharging multiple quick-fire fireworks down the street. Georgian police make a barricade outside the parliament in Tbilisi - GIORGI ARJEVANIDZE/AFP Thousands of people gathered in the capital in protests that saw dozens arrested - GIORGI ARJEVANIDZE/AFP One protester described to The Telegraph how she had allegedly been beaten up by around a dozen police officers before being thrown in a cell for 12 hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was quite brutal, Nika Daniella, a 27-year-old tour guide, said. I was brutally beaten up, the way they act towards people is only meant to scare people so they dont come to the streets. But the more people they beat up and arrest, the more will come out and we see that already. I was filming my friend waving a flag- they grabbed us in seconds, it happened so quickly. Ms Daniella went on to describe how she had been fined 2500 Lari for throwing stones, which she denied. I got a fine because the water cannon truck warning people to go home, it was a legal order to leave the area. Staying in the same spot for not following orders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I went to protest because they stopped EU integration till 2028. Theres part of our constitution that says that the country should do everything possible for EU and NATO integration. They stopped doing this for another 4 years, which is the main reason we went out. Protesters launch fireworks towards the police - DAVID MDZINARISHVILI/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Demonstrators burn an effigy of former prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili - Daro Sulakauri Protests were also held in numerous cities across Georgia. The interior ministry said the actions of some individuals present at the protest became violent and that police would respond appropriately and in accordance with the law to every violation. More than 100 people have been arrested in the last two days. Irakli Kobakhidze, the prime minister, announced on Thursday that Georgia would not seek accession talks with the EU until 2028, igniting a furious reaction from the opposition. Critics accuse Georgian Dream in power for more than a decade of having steered the country away from the EU in recent years and of moving closer to Russia, an accusation it denies. More than 100 people have been arrested in the last two days - CreditGIORGI ARJEVANIDZE/AFP Hundreds of public servants, including from the ministries of foreign affairs, defence and education, as well as a number of judges, issued joint statements protesting Mr Kobakhidzes decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some 160 Georgian diplomats criticised the move as contradicting the constitution and leading the country into international isolation. A number of Georgias ambassadors have resigned in protest. On Friday, AFP reporters saw riot police fire water cannons and tear gas at pro-EU protesters gathered outside parliament who tossed eggs and fireworks. Clashes broke out later between protesters and police, who moved in to clear the area, beating demonstrators some of whom threw objects and journalists, deliberately targeting those clearly identified as members of the media. Georgias special investigation service said it had opened a probe into allegations of abuse of official authority through violence by law enforcement officers against protesters and media representatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 100 schools and universities suspended academic activities in protest. Protesters shoot fireworks gun into the streets - CreditDAVID MDZINARISHVILI/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The makeshift fireworks gun was used against riot police - GIORGI ARJEVANIDZE/AFP Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pro-Western opposition parties are boycotting the new parliament, while president Salome Zurabichvili - who is at loggerheads with Georgian Dream - has sought to annul the election results through the countrys constitutional court. In an exclusive interview with AFP on Saturday, Ms Zurabichvili said that she will not step down until last months contested parliamentary elections are re-run. The Paris-born former French diplomat said that on Saturday she had set up a national council consisting of opposition parties and civil society representatives, which will ensure stability in this country. I will be the representative of this legitimate, stable transition, she said. After the October vote, a group of Georgias leading election monitors said they had evidence of a complex scheme of large-scale electoral fraud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brussels has demanded an investigation into what it said were serious irregularities reported by election monitors. Georgian Dream MPs voted unanimously on Thursday for Mr Kobakhidze to continue as prime minister, even as the opposition boycotted parliament, deepening a serious legitimacy crisis at the legislature and the government. The clashes between protesters and police broke out in the wake of the governments decision to delay EU membership talks - CreditGIORGI ARJEVANIDZE/AFP The crackdown on protests has provoked international condemnation. US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said: We condemn excessive force used against Georgians exercising their freedom to protest and have suspended our strategic partnership with Georgia. Georgian Dreams decision to suspend EU accession is a betrayal of the Georgian constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement France, Britain, Ukraine, Poland, Sweden and Lithuania were among the countries to voice concern. The human rights office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe said: The action of law enforcement officials while policing peaceful protests in Georgia is of deep concern and a serious breach of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Syrian rebels forced out of their homes eight years ago are returning with their families after almost a decade of exile in the oppositions enclave of Idlib. The fighters, some of them jihadists, were driven out of the Aleppo region after a successful government offensive in 2016. But after last weeks lightning-fast offensive pushed government forces out of the area, many were seen making a tearful return to those left behind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One video that circulated on social media showed a fighter desperately running across a field to greet a relative. He dumped his assault rifle on the ground and threw his arms around another man as nearby residents could be heard sobbing. In another, a man dressed head-to-toe in desert camouflage is shown arriving at what appears to be his mothers house. After 14 years of being separated from his mother and family, a member of the Syrian opposition factions reunites with his mother following the liberation of Aleppo from Assad's regime and Iran-backed militias. This feeling can only be understood by those who have been pic.twitter.com/Vgi4pY6DDh Omar Abu Layla (@OALD24) December 1, 2024 The woman clings to him, sobbing, while the man eventually falls to his knees, overwhelmed by the occasion. In the city of Saraqib, which was captured by the rebels on Thursday, two men return to what is said to be their homes. They were evicted five years ago when the city fell to a government offensive in March 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The men cry and raise a finger to the sky before falling to the ground in prayer beside a pile of rubble. Another video showed a woman freezing at the door as a man appeared in front of her. Syrians forced out from their homes as children and teenagers are returning to their homes and families as men. Just imagine that. That's what Assad regime took from us. pic.twitter.com/WCLJB3Q5an Hassan (@hassanalrahmon) November 30, 2024 When the rebels were finally driven out of Aleppo in 2016 after four years of brutal house-to-house fighting, they made a promise to return. One viral image from that year summed up the dogged determination to continue the fight and see their families again one day. A young couple the man with a Kalashnikov slung on his back stand in front of a graffitied wall that reads simply: We will return. This week, they did return. They rushed out of Idlib, capturing in days swathes of territory that it took Assads forces years to conquer. Four civilians were killed and at least 20 injured in an airstrike on Idlib province on Sunday - ANADOLU Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the future of Aleppos returnees remains uncertain. On Sunday, President Bashar al-Assad vowed to crush the rebel offensive and eradicate supporters of terrorism. His government forces have stabilised their positions around the city of Hama, just over 100 miles south of Aleppo, and his air force controls the skies. Government and Russian jets pounded the city of Idlib and the surrounding countryside throughout the day, killing at least eight people according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Iran has also signalled that it intends to stand by the Assad government, with Tehran sending its foreign minister to Damascus on Sunday in a show of support for the regime. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. WATERFORD, Conn. (WTNH) Waterford police are asking the public for assistance in locating the woman who stole more than $500 worth of merchandise from a business. On Nov. 24 police say a woman exited the Ulta Beauty at 903 Hartford Turnpike with $538 worth of merchandise in her purse. Anyone who can identify the suspect is asked to contact Officer Charron at CCharron@WaterfordCT.org. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. Editor's note: This article is a shortened on-site version of KI Insights' The Week Ahead newsletter covering events from Dec. 2-Dec. 8. Sign up here to start your week with an agenda of Ukraine-related events, delivered directly to your inbox every Sunday. The NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs Meeting will take place in Brussels on Dec. 3-4. The NATO-Ukraine Council meets on Dec. 3, it will consider Ukraine's possible accession to the alliance (Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged colleagues for a formal decision as an outcome) and discuss expectations for the upcoming Trump administration. Foreign ministers will also meet with the King of Jordan. Romania's top court is set to announce on Dec. 2 whether it will annul the first round of a presidential election. Anti-Western candidate Calin Georgescu's unexpected victory in the first round (vs. earlier polls that mostly gave him 5-8% support) sparked concerns about election interference and prompted a vote recount. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Georgescu, a nationalist candidate, supports Russia and opposes aid for Ukraine while praising 1930s fascist leaders. Despite his claim of having spent no money on his campaign, investigations point to a well-produced and orchestrated effort (with suspicions of Russian involvement). Pro-Western candidate Elena Lasconi took second place, beating Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu by just 0.3%. If the court upholds the first-round results, Lasconi and Georgescu will compete in a Dec. 8 runoff. However, if the court annuls the results, a new first round could take place on Dec. 15. The plenary week of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is scheduled for Dec. 3-6. The previous plenary week ended with the cancellation of the Nov. 22 session due to the threat of a Russian strike on the government quarter. Two energy bills, legislation on simplifying economic activity, and regulations regarding debtors may appear on this week's agenda. Next week may also see the Rada consider a law criminalizing the unauthorized use, sale or distribution of data from public registers. While presented as a security measure, this law is likely directed at constraining press activity. In parallel, Western diplomats are delving into media freedom issues, particularly after Ukrayinska Pravdas public statements on pressure from the Office of the President. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you have an upcoming event that you would like featured in our newsletter, please get in touch via insights@kyivindependent.com. KI Insights Visit KI Insights to learn more and subscribe to the insider weekly newsletter visit ki insights Other events and milestones: Dec. 2-3: The "State of Local Self-Government: Challenges and Prospects" conference will be held in Kyiv, organized by the Association of Ukrainian Cities with the support of the U-LEAD with Europe program. Dec. 3: Rebuild Ukraine Business Conference in Toronto, organized by the Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce. Dec. 4: Energy Security Dialogue 2024, Kyiv and online. The discussion will be dedicated to the key energy challenges facing Ukraine and its European partners and will look for solutions to effectively address them. The event is organized by the DiXi Group think tank. Register here. Dec. 5: The European Investment Bank in Ukraine: support for business, online. The Committee on Banking and Financial Services of AHK Ukraine will host this event focusing on business cooperation opportunities and financial support mechanisms for Ukrainian companies. Register here. Dec. 6: The 8th annual Ukrainian Investment Roadshow will take place in London. This established platform brings together Ukraine's leading companies and officials with key international fund managers, bankers and advisors, along with potential strategic investors. Read also: Online briefing on demographic forecasting by KI Insights Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) On This Week in Louisiana Politics, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry called for the reprimand of an LSU law professor on Tuesday, Nov 26. According to Landry, an LSU law professor made political comments to a class the day after the national presidential election. Landry provided a transcript of the alleged statements. Landry named District Attorney Tony Clayton as the new chair of the Southern University Board of Supervisors. His new role goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also, Fred Childers sits down with Greg Hilburn, a reporter at USA Today Network, to talk about Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy and his re-election in 2026. This and more on Your Local Election Headquarters. Trumps picks for key positions in his second administration Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com. ST. CHARLES, Mo. Drivers are urged to be cautious as snow winds down in the St. Louis region with a strong possibility of wet and icy roadways likely through Sunday. The St. Louis region is in the middle of its first measurable snowfall, with winter weather advisories in effect through 8 p.m. Saturday. For much of the day, the main roadways around the St. Louis area have been wet, but not too overwhelming to navigate. Some bridges and overpasses, however, have become a bit icy on Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By early afternoon, snow increased and roads became slushy and partially snow-covered, while bridges became snow-covered, icy, and treacherous. For instance, drivers have dealt with various delays on the I-70 bridge over St. Charles throughout the day. The back edge of the accumulating snow has cleared the Columbia, Missouri, area as it continues to head east toward St. Louis after leaving behind 1-3 inches for most parts of the state. There may be some isolated spots with up to 4 inches in Missouri. It appears communities near or north of Interstate 70, including Troy, Missouri, have dealt with more snowfall and more challenging road conditions through Saturday afternoon. The concern as the snow tapers and exits is for falling temperatures into the teens overnight. This will likely create some icy spots due to refreezing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For a closer look at traffic conditions in the St. Louis area, click here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org. LOS ANGELES (KTLA) Maui resident Hannah Kobayashi flew from Hawaii to Los Angeles for a brief layover on the way to visit her aunt in New York City on Nov. 8. She hasnt been seen since. The time since has been anything but ordinary, with a massive search and the unexpected death of Hannahs father. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New developments in recent days have been scarce, so where do things stand with the case as of Saturday? Here is a look at a timeline of events: Friday, Nov. 8 Kobayashi, 30, boarded a flight from Maui to New York City, with a layover at Los Angeles International Airport. The tickets were purchased with her ex-boyfriend before they broke up, the Los Angeles Times reported, but they each decided to go on the trip anyway because the tickets were non-refundable. Hannah Kobayashi seen at LAX on Nov. 8, 2024, in a surveillance photo obtained by family members and shared with KTLA. They planned to part ways after landing in New York, the Times reported. Kobayashi never got on that connecting flight, scheduled to take off at 11 p.m., however. Saturday, Nov. 9 and Sunday, Nov. 10 Kobayashi, after missing her flight, was spotted at The Grove on Saturday and Sunday, according to family members. After attending a LeBron James event at the shopping centers Nike store on Sunday, her phone was tracked back to LAX. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She texted family members that day, saying she was scared and she was frustrated after missing her flight. Hannah Kobayashi seen in L.A. in a surveillance photo obtained by family members and shared with KTLA. She mentioned feeling scared, and that someone might be trying to steal her money and identity, her aunt, Larie Pidgeon said. Strange, cryptic messages things about the matrix, it was so unlike her. And then all of a sudden, no more communication. She was last seen at the Pico Metro Station near Crypto.com Arena around 10 p.m. on Nov. 11 with an unknown person. As the search for Kobayashi heated up, police described her as 510 tall and about 140 pounds with brown hair, brown eyes, and fair skin with freckles. Sunday, Nov. 24 The search for Kobayashi continued as family members traveled to L.A. to assist with the search and stated publicly that they believed she may have been harmed by another person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Nov. 24, the story took another tragic turn. Ryan Kobayashi, Hannahs father, was found dead in a parking lot near LAX, where the search was centered. Ryan Kobayashi is seen here at a rally on Nov. 21 held for his daughter, Hannah Kobayashi, a 30-year-old Maui woman who vanished in Los Angeles in early November. (KTLA) The LAPD said he died by suicide. Ryan spoke with Nexstars KTLA just days before his death in hopes of reaching his daughter. I miss her, he said. Just want her to know that, and just want her to reach out anything. Tuesday, Nov. 26 On Tuesday, according to reporting from USA Today, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said the department determined Hannah Kobayashi intentionally missed her flight to New York. Our hearts go out to the Kobayashi family during this unimaginable time of grief, McDonnell said in a Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners meeting. We remain fully committed to locating Hannah and supporting the family as they navigate their way through this tragedy. Saturday, Nov. 30 Hannahs sister, Sydni Kobayashi, and mother released a statement on Facebook Saturday night, claiming investigators have reported inaccurate information on the case while also alleging a lack of communication between the police department and the family on new developments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are doing everything in our power to locate Hannah. Based on information, surveillance footage reviewed and information shared with us, these are the facts known to my mother and I: It does not appear that Hannah intentionally missed her flight. My mother and I were unaware about the alleged findings presented at the Los Angeles Police Commission meeting until multiple videos of the meeting were sent to us by multiple citizens. These alleged findings have yet to be relayed to my mother and I directly from the Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department or any detective involved in Hannahs case. My mother and I would later learn that the police commission is a five-member committee made up of five civilians, not law enforcement, who are not directly involved in Hannahs missing persons case. Specific facts contained in that report were inaccurate, such as Hannahs age. Hannah is 30 years old, not 23. Also, Hannah was reported missing to Law Enforcement on November 11th, not November 13th, as stated by the chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. The lack of communication surrounding some important details has left us feeling excluded from potentially crucial developments. However, we do remain hopeful and optimistic that the Los Angeles Police Department is doing everything in their power to assist us in locating Hannah. We are devastated by Hannahs disappearance and now my father Ryans passing. It is completely out of character for Hannah to simply disappear without a trace. We remain deeply concerned about Hannahs safety, her well-being and her current state of mind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hannah, if you happen to see this, know that we are not going to give up or stop searching until we find you. We know that this is something you would never do on your own accord, unless you felt some type of threat or you were unwell. We know how much you love all of us, and we love you deeply. While we will continue our search for Hannah widely, we will be focusing on the Southern California area, specifically all regions of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and all regions of San Diego. We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who continues to hold our family in their prayers and to those positively contributing to our search efforts. KTLA reached out to LAPD for an update on Saturday but did not immediately hear back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Amid tensions between India and Bangladesh over the arrest of monks and protests regarding the alleged atrocities against minorities, Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir emphasised on Sunday that it is the constitutional duty of every country to prioritise the protection of minorities in their respective borders. "... (Congress) President Mallikarjun Kharge has already made it clear that our party will ensure that the majority provides protection to the minorities (anywhere in the world). It is the constitutional duty of the respective governments to prioritize the minorities in their country..." the Congress leader told ANI. "If someone fails in their duties, whether it is Bangladesh or any other country, then such a country is not fulfilling their constitutional responsibilities," he added. The situation in Bangladesh has been marked by increasing violence against minority communities, including the destruction of temples, following the arrest of a former priest, Chinmoy Krishna Das. Meanwhile, on Saturday, November 30, ISKCON Kolkata claimed that Bangladesh authorities had arrested two of its monks, Adipurush Shyam Das and Ranganath Das Brahmachari. Vice President of ISKCON Kolkata, Radha Raman, said that the monks were arrested on Friday by the police while on their way home after meeting with Chinmoy Krishna Das, who had been arrested on the charges of sedition on November 25. "On November 29, when Adipurush Shyam Das and Ranganath Das Brahmachari were returning after meeting Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu, they were arrested by the police. We are also getting information that the secretary of Chinmoy Krishna Das has also been arrested," Radha Raman said in a self-made video. He further claimed that rioters had also vandalised the ISKCON centre in Bangladesh. On Friday, India expressed concern over the rise of "extremist rhetoric, increasing incidents of violence and provocation" in Bangladesh. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that India has consistently and strongly raised the issue of targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities with the Bangladesh government. (ANI) EDITORS NOTE: This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org. Maui resident Hannah Kobayashi flew from Hawaii to Los Angeles for a brief layover on the way to visit her aunt in New York City on Nov. 8. More than three weeks later, she hasnt been seen since. The time since has been anything but ordinary, with a massive search and the unexpected death of Hannahs father happening in recent weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New developments in recent days have been scarce, so where do things stand with the case as of Saturday? Lets take a look at a timeline of events: Friday, Nov. 8 Kobayashi, 30, boarded a flight from Maui to a layover at Los Angeles International Airport on the way to New York City. The tickets were purchased with her ex-boyfriend before they broke up, the Los Angeles Times reported, but they each decided to go on the trip anyway because the tickets were non-refundable. Hannah Kobayashi seen at LAX on Nov. 8, 2024, in a surveillance photo obtained by family members. (viewer image) They planned to part ways after landing in New York, the Times reported. Kobayashi never got on that connecting flight, scheduled to take off at 11 p.m., however. Saturday, Nov. 9 and Sunday, Nov. 10 Kobayashi, after missing her flight, was spotted at The Grove on Saturday and Sunday, according to family members. After attending a LeBron James event at the shopping centers Nike store on Sunday, her phone was tracked back to LAX. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She texted family members that day, saying she was scared and she was frustrated after missing her flight. Hannah Kobayashi seen in L.A. in a surveillance photo obtained by family members. (viewer image) She mentioned feeling scared, and that someone might be trying to steal her money and identity, her aunt, Larie Pidgeon said. Strange, cryptic messages things about the matrix, it was so unlike her. And then all of a sudden, no more communication. She was last seen at the Pico Metro Station near Crypto.com Arena around 10 p.m. on Nov. 11 with an unknown person. As the search for Kobayashi heated up, police described her as 5-foot-10 inches tall and about 140 pounds with brown hair, brown eyes and fair skin with freckles. Sunday, Nov. 24 The search for Kobayashi continued as family members traveled to L.A. to assist with the search and stated publicly that they believed she may have been harmed by another person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Nov. 24, the story took another tragic turn. Ryan Kobayashi, Hannahs father, was found dead in a parking lot near LAX, where the search was centered. Ryan Kobayashi is seen here at a rally on Nov. 21 held for his daughter, Hannah Kobayashi, a 30-year-old Maui woman who vanished in Los Angeles in early November. (KTLA) The LAPD said he died by suicide. Ryan spoke with KTLA just days before his death, in hopes of reaching his daughter. I miss her, he said. Just want her to know that, and just want her to reach out anything. The stunning development added to the familys tragedy. Tuesday, Nov. 26 On Tuesday, according to reporting from USA Today, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said the department determined she intentionally missed her flight to New York. Our hearts go out to the Kobayashi family during this unimaginable time of grief, McDonnell said in a Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners meeting. We remain fully committed to locating Hannah and supporting the family as they navigate their way through this tragedy. Saturday, Nov. 30 Hannahs sister, Sydni Kobayashi, and mother released a statement on Facebook Saturday night, claiming investigators have reported inaccurate information on the case while also alleging a lack of communication between the police department and the family on new developments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are doing everything in our power to locate Hannah. Based on information, surveillance footage reviewed and information shared with us, these are the facts known to my mother and I: It does not appear that Hannah intentionally missed her flight. My mother and I were unaware about the alleged findings presented at the Los Angeles Police Commission meeting until multiple videos of the meeting were sent to us by multiple citizens. These alleged findings have yet to be relayed to my mother and I directly from the Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department or any detective involved in Hannahs case. My mother and I would later learn that the police commission is a five-member committee made up of five civilians, not law enforcement, who are not directly involved in Hannahs missing persons case. Specific facts contained in that report were inaccurate, such as Hannahs age. Hannah is 30 years old, not 23. Also, Hannah was reported missing to Law Enforcement on November 11th, not November 13th, as stated by the chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. The lack of communication surrounding some important details has left us feeling excluded from potentially crucial developments. However, we do remain hopeful and optimistic that the Los Angeles Police Department is doing everything in their power to assist us in locating Hannah. We are devastated by Hannahs disappearance and now my father Ryans passing. It is completely out of character for Hannah to simply disappear without a trace. We remain deeply concerned about Hannahs safety, her well-being and her current state of mind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hannah, if you happen to see this, know that we are not going to give up or stop searching until we find you. We know that this is something you would never do on your own accord, unless you felt some type of threat or you were unwell. We know how much you love all of us, and we love you deeply. While we will continue our search for Hannah widely, we will be focusing on the Southern California area, specifically all regions of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and all regions of San Diego. We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who continues to hold our family in their prayers and to those positively contributing to our search efforts. KTLA reached out to LAPD for an update on Saturday, but did not immediately hear back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Former independent Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at a rally for former President Donald Trump Warren on Nov. 1, 2024. | Kyle Davidson Originally published by The 19th President-elect Donald Trump intends to nominate anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to head the Department of Health and Human Services. The Safety and Health of all Americans is the most important role of any Administration, and HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country, Trump wrote in an email and on his platform, TruthSocial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ascent of Kennedy, who became a top Trump adviser during the 2024 campaign, has sparked widespread concern among the public health community, who fear his fringe views could undo decades of progress against the spread of infectious diseases. HHS will have vast power to influence policy areas including health insurance and availability, disease monitoring and prevention, abortion access, contraceptive care, disability rights and LGBTQ+ health. The department oversees agencies such as the Administration for Children and Families, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Food and Drug Administration. Kennedy, who touts a Make America Healthy Again agenda, has said as a presidential candidate and as an adviser to Trump that he wants to redirect the federal health apparatus to focus on areas such as regulating seed oils, which he has called toxic despite research showing their health benefits. He has inflated the risks of COVID-19 vaccines and pediatricians fear that his strident anti-vaccination views could particularly endanger kids. In 2007, Kennedy founded the Childrens Health Defense Fund, initially called the World Mercury Project. Misinformation spread by the organization and other anti-vaccine groups was linked to a 2018 measles outbreak in American Samoa, which led to 83 deaths. The Childrens Health Defense Fund has consistently targeted mothers and Black Americans in their messaging groups experts say are more likely to experience vaccine hesitancy due to negative historical and personal experiences with medical care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the campaign trail, Trump promised he would let Kennedy go wild on health singling out women in particular as people whose health care access could be affected. Ahead of the election, Kennedy said one of Trumps first acts in the White House would be to advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water. Kennedy has also described fluoride as poison. Fluoride has been added to American water systems for decades, a practice that the American Dental Association estimates has reduced tooth decay by about 25 percent. Though Republicans control the Senate, its not clear if Kennedy will be confirmed. Earlier this week, Republican senators would not answer questions about whether he had their support, the health publication STAT News reported. Trump has pushed for the Senate to use a process called recess appointments, in which he and Senate Majority Leader John Thune could pick Trumps Cabinet without Senate approval. It is unclear how much or how quickly Kennedy will be able to implement any of these changes without action from Congress. However, some federal workers are already planning to leave, according to NBC. While there wasnt much employee turnover between the Obama and first Trump administrations, there is concern about what Kennedy might mean for public health and their careers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What we dont really need at HHS is more medical expertise. What we need is an expertise on decoupling the agency from institutional corruption. Because its the corruption that has distorted the science, Kennedy said during a September 30 Town Hall in Philadelphia. Abortion opponents have argued that a Trump administration HHS should be used to institute national restrictions for instance, leveraging the FDA to restrict access to mifepristone, one of the medications used in most abortions, or to even undo its approval altogether. Other HHS subsidiaries could also influence access to the procedure. Under Trumps previous administration, the Office of Refugee Resettlement sought to deny abortions to immigrants in its custody. On abortion specifically, Kennedy has been inconsistent. When running for president as an independent candidate, Kennedy suggested he opposed banning abortion before fetal viability, the standard protected by the now-overturned Roe v. Wade. Earlier in his campaign, when still running as a Democrat, Kennedy had endorsed banning the procedure after the first trimester of pregnancy before walking back those remarks. Theres no question that we need a pro-life HHS secretary, and of course, we have concerns about him, Marjorie Dannenfelser, head of the anti-abortion group SBA Pro-Life America, told the news outlet Semafor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kennedy has also not publicly spoken about contraception. Under President Joe Biden, the health department has expanded access to birth control, approving the first-ever over-the-counter hormonal birth control pill and pushing to enforce Affordable Care Act regulations that require health insurance to cover approved methods. Kennedys opposition to gender-affirming care for transgender minors, as well as misinformation that he has spread about LGBTQ+ youth and HIV/AIDS, signals a sharp reversal from how the HHS has approached health care for LGBTQ+ people under Biden. Kennedy opposes gender-affirming care for minors, which largely refers to puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy. He has inaccurately portrayed puberty blockers, which temporarily delay the hormones that cause kids to go through puberty, as repurposed castration drugs. In May, he stated that people with gender dysphoria or who want to change their gender deserve compassion and respect while adding that these terribly consequential procedures should be deferred till adulthood. False claims and conspiracies shared by Kennedy involving LGBTQ+ people include theories that the use of poppers, a recreational drug frequently used in gay nightlife, was a significant factor in the disease progression for the first AIDS victims of the early 1980s. He also suggested that sexual identification and gender confusion among minors is caused by man-made chemicals in water or the environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Project 2025, the policy blueprint for a second Trump administration offered by the conservative Heritage Foundation, most of the proposed anti-LGBTQ+ policies would be executed through HHS. These policies proposed by Project 2025 which Trump has disavowed any part in, despite at least 60 percent of its contributors being linked to the president-elect include protecting adoption and foster care services that refuse to work with LGBTQ+ married couples and to redirect federal funds to support a biblically based definition of family. Although it remains to be seen whether the Trump administration will follow the suggestions in Project 2025s playbook, whoever leads the HHS will have an outsized role in shaping the next four years for LGBTQ+ Americans. Under the Biden administration, HHS advocated for trans youth to access gender-affirming care. As states across the country banned that care, the agency encouraged health care providers who were kept from providing it to file complaints with the agencys office for civil rights. The administration undid rulemaking put in place by the first Trump administration that excluded trans people from nondiscrimination protections in the Affordable Care Act. HOBBS, N.M. (KRQE) A whistleblower is taking legal action against New Mexicos Children, Youth & Families Department (CYFD) with claims the departments actions led to a childs death and that shes been subject to a hostile work environment in retaliation for speaking out. The lawsuit comes after the employee refused to obey directions from a CYFD supervisor, as the whistleblower tried to relocate a child to a better home, claiming the childs living situation was dangerous. They push you out, said Ben Gubernick, the attorney representing the whistleblower. They will make your life miserable until, hopefully, you quit. This is a concerted effort to get someone to quit for doing their job well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the lawsuit, in September 2023, the whistleblower oversaw a case involving five siblings following reports of abuse and neglect. A few months prior, CYFD had custody of the children, but decided to let them stay with their mother on a trial home visit. The oldest sibling was considered an at-risk youth and was involved with street gangs, leading to incidents involving a gun. The whistleblower claims the childrens mother told her, and other CYFD staff, she was not in a position to take care of the kids and needed help. She knew it, said Gubernick about the supervisors knowledge about the mothers need for assistance. Everyone knew it, and she was begging for help, and they just ignored her. The caseworker was able to confirm the reports, telling her supervisor it was only a matter of time before someone died if the children were not removed from the home. However, the lawsuit states the supervisor had other plans. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hey, we got too many cases, so were just going to put this kid, whos in our custody, in an extremely dangerous situation and hope for the best, Gubernick said. The employee said she was told by her supervisor not to report that data to the CYFD data base. She did so anyway, believing it was the right thing to do. This is just an example of how deep the rot goes within CYFD, Gubernick said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit said the case went before Childrens Court in January of this year, but the supervisor hid that information from the judge. As a result, the case was dismissed, and the mother was given permanent custody of the children. A month later, the oldest child was shot in the head in Hobbs, New Mexico. He died two days later. There are all sorts of jobs where you can be lazy, and no one will die, Gubernick added. Like, do one of those jobs. Why are you working at Child Protective Services? CYFD sent News 13 a statement: The New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) takes all claims and allegations seriously. It would be premature to comment at this time as this case is currently pending litigation. Once CYFD has had an opportunity to review the claims, we will respond appropriately through the legal process. As of November 30, the whistleblower is still employed by CYFD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. As he fills out his incoming administration, Donald Trumps nominees have ranged from absolutely unqualified to ideological nightmares. But he might have just made his scariest hire yet. On Saturday night, Trump announced hes selected Kash Patel to lead the FBI. Patel is one of Trumps most loyal enforcers and a conspiracy theorist a 2020 election denier who wants to purge the so-called Deep State. He recently publicly pledged to investigate and prosecute Trumps enemies in the media and government. For years, Trump had personally promised that he would appoint Patel to a very senior role in a new administration, should he win. Patel is a hyper-MAGA, vengeance-minded Trump loyalist to the point that even some Trump advisers recognize as an extreme liability even if those aides and confidants arent willing to do much to get in Patels way, mostly due to Trumps protection of the man. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For instance, during the 2024 campaign, Patel announced to Trumps enemies in the press and elsewhere: We will go out and find the conspirators not just in government, but in the media. Some Trump campaign officials, who quietly worried independent voters would chafe at some of Trumps more authoritarian-sounding outbursts, saw Patels public comments as, in the words of one Trump adviser, an undisciplined parody of what we were doing. Now, that supposed parody is just the law-enforcement reality of the country, if Trump gets his way. Heres what to know about Patel: He is devoutly loyal to Trump Patels reputation as a Trump loyalist stems not just from his overt devotion to the president-elect but his explicit willingness to do anything rule of law and consequences be damned to please his commander in chief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In August, one Trump adviser told The Atlantic that the president-elect understands that Kash is the one you say to, Hey, Im not telling you to go break into the DNC. But While Patel has yet to orchestrate a break-in at the Democratic National Committee on Trumps behalf, hes been involved in enough sketchy antics to raise the hackles of some of the incoming presidents loyal sycophants. Lowlights include allegedly misleading Pentagon officials about having secured approval for Seal Team 6 to enter Nigerian territory in order to conduct a hostage rescue, a deception that according to defense officials involved in the operation nearly resulted in an international debacle that could have endangered the lives of the extraction team. The hostage was rescued, but officials noted that the incident took place days before the 2020 election. Its that kind of unilateral gumption that makes Patels critics wary of just how far he will go to prove his value to Trump. He was a fierce critic of the Justice Departments investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election Virtually from the beginning of Trumps first term, Patel made a name for himself as a stalwart defender of the embattled president. Then an aide to former Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Patel was heavily involved in the committees counter-messaging efforts against Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation into alleged ties between Trump and Russian influence operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patel was reportedly the author of the controversial Nunes Memo, a 2018 document alleging that the FBI had improperly obtained a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant against former Trump foreign policy adviser Carter Page. This year Patel called for the security clearances of government officials involved in the Russia investigation to have their security clearances permanently suspended. Its not an act of vengeance. They have had the opportunity to recant, and all 51 of them have doubled down, and tripled down, he said of a group of 51 intelligence officials who opposed the public release of Hunter Bidens emails ahead of the 2020 election. So pull them. I think he will. He is hell-bent on dismantling the so-called deep state Its not just intelligence officials involved in the Russia investigation who Patel wants purged from the government its any so-called deep state operative who has in the past, or may in the future, pose an obstacle to Trumps agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his book Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth, and the Battle for Our Democracy, Patel included a list of Members of the Executive Branch Deep State whom he had marked for retribution. Id shut down the FBI Hoover building on Day 1 and reopen it the next day as a museum of the deep state, he said in an interview earlier this year. Patel recently told right wing commentator Steve Bannon that he has the bench prepared to carry out prosecutions against Trumps enemies. The prospective appointment exemplifies a larger throughline in Trumps second round of government appointments, in which he is prioritizing the elevation of individuals whove promised to exact retribution on his rivals, as well as help him purge the federal government of his critics and other undesirables replacing them in turn with hardline MAGA ideologues loyal to his agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The one thing we learned in the Trump administration the first go-around, is we got to put in all American patriots, top to bottom, and we got them for law enforcement. We got them for intel collection, we got them for offensive operations. We got them for [Department of Defense], CIA, everywhere, Patel told Steve Bannon in December of last year. He has promised to punish Trumps enemies including members of the press Patel has made clear that one of his priorities should he be granted any crumb of political power will be to act as an attack dog for Trumps retribution agenda. In December of last year, Patel told former Trump advisor Steve Bannon that he plans to go out and find the conspirators not just in government, but in the media, he said. Yes, were going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens, who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections. Were going to come after you. Whether its criminally or civilly, well figure that out. But yeah, were putting you all on notice, and Steve, this is why they hate us. This is why were tyrannical. This is why were dictators, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a source familiar with the matter and another person briefed on it, multiple members of Trumps senior staff were furious that Patel was publicly saying the quiet part out loud and being perceived as a spokesman for the campaign and Trump policy. Former CIA Director Gina Haspel threatened to resign when Trump considered installing him at the agency after the 2020 election Patels reputation in Trumps intelligence community was so toxic that in 2021, the president-elects former CIA Director Gina Haspel threatened to outright quit when reports reached her that Trump was considering Patel for a role within the intelligence agency. According to a contemporary report from Axios, former Vice President Mike Pence intervened directly with Trump to prevent the schism. Haspel was not the only top Trump official to oppose the elevation of Patel to a high position in federal law enforcement. When Trump last considered installing Patel in the FBI as deputy director former Attorney General Bill Barr reportedly confronted Trumps chief of staff and exclaimed that such an appointment would happen over my dead body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its been more than four years since Barrs exit from the Trump administration and the president-elects good graces. While Barrs very much alive, his ability to throw his political weight around in Trumpworld is long gone. Soon, Patel could lead the FBI. Hes praised QAnon adherents Patel has a long history courting Trumps sycophants in the QAnon movement, the conspiracy theory that believes the president-elect will someday purge the federal government of a secret cabal of satanic pedophiles who control the nation. In June of 2022, Patel (a member of Truth Socials board) said in an interview that the platform tried to incorporate QAnon into its overall messaging scheme to capture audiences because whoever that person is has certainly captured a widespread breadth of the MAGA and the America First movement. And so what I try to do is what I try to do with anything, Q or otherwise, is you cant ignore that group of people that has such a strong dominant following, he added, claiming that Q has been so right on so many things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That same year, Patel signed copies of his pro-Trump childrens book The Plot Against The King 2,000 Mules with the phrase WWG1WGA, a QAnon slogan meaning where we go one, we go all. The book was a cartoon-ified adaptation of Dinesh DSouzas debunked 2020 election conspiracy film 2,000 Mules. Patel also said in an interview that he was blown away at the amount of acumen some of these people, referring to QAnon adherents. He allegedly almost blew a Navy SEAL rescue operation When Patel was an intelligence official during the first Trump administration, he horned in on a mission to rescue an American being held hostage in Nigeria. Patel erroneously said that Mike Pompeo, then the Secretary of State, got the airspace over Nigeria cleared for the rescue. This wasnt the case, and the mission had to be reconfigured at the last minute. The rescue was ultimately made. By the time Mike [Pompeo] and I spoke an hour later, he still didnt have the okay from the remaining country. He also didnt know where Patel received his information. Pompeo never spoke with him, Mark Esper, then the Secretary of Defense, wrote in his memoir, adding that his team suspected Patel made the approval story up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pentagon was reportedly furious at Patel. This post was originally published on Nov. 30 More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The U.S. Department of Education awarded a $3 million grant to the William & Mary School of Education for its psychology program. The five-year grant supports Project TEAMS, which addresses the youth mental health crisis and school psychologist workforce shortage. The project Training Empowered Advocates for Mental Health in Schools includes recruiting diverse candidates to train as school psychologists in local divisions. The grant also funds mental health services for K-12 students and professional development to retain psychologists working in schools. It will run from 2025 to 2029. School psychologists offer more targeted mental health support than school counselors, including conducting assessments and evaluations that can help develop individualized education plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leandra Parris, associate professor of school psychology, heads the grant. Parris said a big part of the project is diversifying the workforce and recruiting from historically excluded communities. If were going to serve the mental health needs of underserved children, then we need school psychologists who represent them, she said. Janise Parker, also an associate professor of school psychology, is part of the leadership team. She said her experience, including an early childhood spent in a low-income household, is one of the things driving her work. Because of my identities, I did have some challenges in terms of accessing different resources growing up, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the social and emotional support from teachers and counselors made her understand the power of school-based services. It is my life experiences that have really fueled my passion to go back and do the same for K-12 kids who are from historically excluded and underserved backgrounds, Parker said. The university is partnering with Newport News, Norfolk and Chesapeake schools. Consultants from Hampton University are also on the grant team. In Virginia, the ratio of school psychologists to students is one for every 1,623 students, far exceeding the recommended one for every 500. Parris said that number is even higher for some of the partnering divisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project will reach out to undergraduate students at Old Dominion University, Norfolk State University, Hampton University and Virginia Peninsula Community College. It will also recruit educators from local divisions who are interested in the field, waive application fees and work with school divisions to help candidates stay at least partially employed while completing their degrees. Candidates interested in remaining in the community and serving local students will be given priority. The grant team will also offer professional development for existing staff, including crisis training, to increase retention. The initiative will also place interns in schools to provide social and emotional support and mentoring under the guidance of W&M faculty. This will also double as a recruitment tool to boost undergraduate interest through hands-on opportunities. Nour Habib, nour.habib@virginiamedia.com (Reuters) -Wisconsin Democrat Ben Wikler said on Sunday he is joining the race to lead the Democratic National Committee as the party looks to rebuild from its losses in the November election. Wikler said that Democrats failed to reach voters hit hardest by the high cost of living during last month's presidential election, which was won by Republican former President Donald Trump. "We've got to make sure that we are reaching people with the message that we are on their side and fighting for them," Wikler said in a telephone interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wikler, who serves as chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, is among several candidates looking to replace Jaime Harrison, the current chair who is not seeking re-election when the party votes early next year. Former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, Minnesota Democratic chief Ken Martin and New York state Senator James Skoufis also are vying to become the new Democratic chair. Democrats are trying to chart the way forward after losing the White House and control of the Senate, as well as failing to retake the House of Representatives. Wikler, 43, previously served as a producer on comedian-turned-politician Al Franken's radio show and as Washington director for the progressive action group MoveOn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the national party could learn from organizing efforts he has overseen in Wisconsin, even though Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris narrowly lost the state to Trump. Wikler said Democrats also need to focus on Trump's economic agenda, which he claimed will favor wealthy Americans rather than working families. "For Democrats, this is a critical time to unite and fight back against Trump's plans," Wikler said. (Reporting by David Ljunggren and Tim ReidEditing by Colleen Jenkins, Marguerita Choy and Lisa Shumaker) WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party in Wisconsin, said Sunday he has joined the race to lead the national party after an election that swept Donald Trump and Republicans to power in Washington. In Wisconsin, weve built a permanent campaign, Wikler said in his candidacy announcement. We organize and communicate year-round in every corner of the state rural, suburban, urban, red, blue and purple areas alike. Since losing control of the White House, the Senate and the House, Democrats are looking for new leadership to tackle the nation's problems with the additional challenge of confronting four more years of a Trump presidency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Top announced candidates to lead the Democratic National Committee include Ken Martin, chair of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and a vice chair of the national party, and Martin OMalley, a former Maryland governor and current Social Security administrator. The DNC will choose its successor in February, an election that will speak volumes about how the party wants to present itself during four more years of Trump in the White House. Wikler, who was elected state chair in 2019, cites his experience leading the party's efforts in a state that shifted less toward Trump than other battlegrounds in 2024 and where Democrats won key downballot races. He said that during his tenure, Democrats flipped the majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and reelected Tony Evers as governor. This year, the state returned Sen. Tammy Baldwin for a third term and retook 14 state legislative seats, which he says puts Democrats on track for majorities in both chambers in 2026. What has made a difference in Wisconsin can made a difference everywhere, Wikler said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wikler, 43, has served as a Washington director for MoveOn.org, a progressive advocacy group and as a campaign director for Avaaz, a group that mobilizes members to take on issues such as poverty, climate change and human rights. Wikler told CNN's Inside Politics Sunday that Democrats need to show Americans that "were on their side and show who Republicans are for. If we dont do that, then were going to lose." ___ Associated Press writer Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, contributed to this report. Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler speaks at a climate rally outside Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson's Madison office. On Sunday Wikler announced his bid to lead the Democratic National Committee.(Henry Redman | Wisconsin Examiner) Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler announced Sunday that he is running for chair of the Democratic National Committee. In a launch video, Wikler described the permanent campaign he has created in Wisconsin. After Democrats lost the White House in November and failed to gain a majority in either chamber of Congress, the national party is searching for new leadership and a new strategy. Wikler, in his video, said his record in Wisconsin, a closely divided swing state, can serve as a model. Under Wiklers leadership, Wisconsin Democrats reelected Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in 2022 by a wider margin than Evers won four years earlier. In the most recent election, Democrats reduced large Republican majorities in both houses of the state Legislature, flipping 14 formerly Republican-held state legislative seats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those legislative victories came after Wikler and state Democrats helped elect a new liberal majority on the state Supreme Court, setting in motion a process that ended gerrymandered voting maps that had heavily favored Republicans. Wikler, a prodigious fundraiser, helped the Wisconsin Democrats raise more than $53 million in the last election cycle, according to Open Secrets, more than any other state party in the country. He also opened new Democratic field offices throughout the state and has made it the partys mission to compete in rural, urban, red and blue areas alike. This past election, the nation shifted 6% towards Trump but Wisconsin only shifted by 1.5%, the least of any battleground state, Wikler said in announcing his campaign for national party chair. I have led the Democratic Party of Wisconsin for the last five years, helping to transform it into an organizing, fundraising and winning machine, he said, adding, Im now running for chair of the Democratic National Committee to supercharge our work in every state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Echoing former DNC Chair Howard Deans call for a 50-state strategy, Wikler said, For Democrats to move forward, we must build a big tent, organize and communicate in every place and on every platform, and find the resources, people, and focus to reach voters who currently get their news about Democrats from Republicans. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In preparation for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections in 2025, The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has initiated an auto campaign to consolidate its position and garner support from the people of the national capital. The auto campaign is part of BJP's broader electoral strategy, including forming committees, conducting tours and campaigning. According to sources, representatives from over 58 auto unions and organisations in Delhi will visit the BJP state office daily as part of the initiative. Each campaign will be flagged off by BJP State President Virendra Sachdeva or a senior leader. The source further mentioned that the next phase of the campaign will be held on December 5, with auto drivers pledging their support to the BJP. Thousands of auto drivers are supporting BJP under the leadership of Delhi State President Virendra Sachdeva in view of the Delhi Assembly Elections scheduled for next year. Speaking to ANI, BJP MP Harsh Malhotra said that there are thousands of auto drivers in Delhi. "Today more than a thousand auto drivers were present at the Delhi BJP office and addressed the public meeting with them. While addressing the public meeting, the auto drivers shared Arvind Kejriwal's false promises and their plights with the BJP," he said. Speaking further, Harsh Malhotra said that on Sunday more than a thousand auto drivers were present at the Delhi BJP office and launched the auto campaign. "This time auto drivers want change. Auto drivers have written slogans like "Badlenge Delhi ka halat Milkar BJP ke sath" on the back of their autos. In the last election, auto drivers had given their support to Arvind Kejriwal with many demands which Arvind Kejriwal's party has not fulfilled. Troubled by that, thousands of auto drivers are giving their support to BJP. Given the assembly elections in 2025, the BJP is going to put many demands from auto drivers in its manifesto. Auto drivers will also be given benefits in the BJP's manifesto. This time many benefits will also be given to auto drivers in the BJP's manifesto. We will also fulfil those promises as soon as the BJP government is formed," he added. Harsh Malhotra further mentioned that the auto yatra starting on Sunday will continue until the assembly elections, through which we will campaign and put the failures of the current government in front of the public. (ANI) Earlier this month, the annual Guide to Wisconsin Hospitals was released. We learned that 53 of Wisconsins non-profit hospitals operated in the red in 2023. At first blush, 53 may not sound like a lot but that is one out of every three Wisconsin hospitals. And even worse, this is the second year in a row with one-third of our states hospitals taking in less revenue than they spend to provide care. This new normal is troubling, as 82 Wisconsin hospitals experienced lower operating margins in 2023 than they did in 2022. But statistics tell only part of this story for the first time in nearly a decade, two hospitals closed their doors for good in the Eau Claire area. These closures impacted not just the care provided inside two inpatient hospital buildings, they also crippled access to critical elements of the health system that are dependent on hospital revenues to exist, including mental health and substance abuse care the kinds of services that often no one else will provide to those who need, or can least afford them, the most. What happened in the Chippewa Valley earlier this year is a stark reminder of how greatly our communities depend on Wisconsins non-profit hospitals and health systems to support a broad array of safety services that otherwise would not exist. Wisconsin hospitals needs meaningful support from lawmakers Without meaningful support from lawmakers, Wisconsin hospitals will continue to face significant financial strain that threatens not only the stability of our health care system but the availability of care for our states communities. Making sure our hospitals are on solid footing is the crucial step, and there are many reforms that can support this if state lawmakers are willing to take on this issue in the state budget. Those reforms include ensuring that Medicaid reimbursement rates are sufficient to cover the cost of care, relieving some of the financial burdens placed on hospitals by health care middlemen, and providing the support necessary to keep our hospitals open and operational. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kristin Brey: Wisconsin health care is bleeding. Tony Evers' vetoes only worsen trauma. Wisconsins non-profit hospitals, which are the main focus of the new report, are the largest element of the local health systems to which they belong. Simply put as they go, so goes the rest of the non-profit health system. Indeed, Wisconsins non-profit hospitals, which care for all who come through their doors, also support a wide array of critical community services often delivered outside those doors. Mental health, EMS, home health, hospice, long-term care for the elderly and delivering babies for young families are just a few examples of the care delivered in our states health systems. So perhaps more concerning is that in 2023, the average Wisconsin health system operating margin is a negative 0.8%. This is the second year in a row where Wisconsin health system operating margins were negative (it was -0.1% in 2022), and it is the result of including the many and often money-losing non-hospital services they alone create or sustain in their communities. Unlike other industries (and unlike most of the for-profit hospitals and surgery centers now springing up across Wisconsin), Wisconsins non-profit hospitals take all customers in other words, patients. Among other things, this means two-thirds of hospital revenues are dictated by the government through Medicare and Medicaid. In 2023, Medicaid reimbursed hospitals 37% below their cost to provide care, with Medicare 26% below cost. In 2023, that amounted to about $1.6 billion less than the actual cost to provide care for Medicaid alone. No other industry provides a service to Wisconsin state government where they lose money on every service provided except for non-profit hospitals and health care providers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The remainder of hospital payments are determined largely by insurance companies, and through increasingly take-it-or-leave-it contracts. Often today, this devolves into public relations campaigns that leverage disruption to patient care and foment hostility towards local community hospitals so they will take it. Insurance company red tape exploding, adding to costs This is all happening as insurance company red tape explodes. Physicians, nurses and other hospital staff now spend as much time on the phone fighting with insurance company middlemen for approval to provide care as they do actually delivering care. This burden of waste takes billions of dollars every year away from patients and their care. More: Milwaukee needs vision for transforming lakefront. History shows us it can work. The impact on patients and the already stretched thin health care workforce is now well-documented and undeniable. In fact, the numbers are staggering, with 45 cents of every healthcare dollar now going to these middlemen that increasingly occupy, and make money within, the space between patients and health care providers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But we can begin mitigating, if not reversing, some of these challenges by enacting public policies to improve reimbursement for care provided to Medicaid patients, doubling-down on investments in our healthcare workforce, and shedding much needed light on and reforming the middlemen in health care who take so much out of our health care system. Eric Borgerding is the President and CEO of the Wisconsin Hospital Association. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Middlemen and red tape are sapping more healthcare dollars | Opinion Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler launched his bid for chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) on Sunday, joining a growing field of candidates seeking to lead the party forward after widespread losses on Election Day last month. Wikler made the announcement on CNNs Inside Politics. Im running for chair of the Democratic National Committee because we need to unite, we need to fight, and we need to win to stop the GOP from ripping this country apart and ripping off working people to enrich megabillionaires who funded Trumps campaign, Wikler told anchor Manu Raju. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a time for Democrats to come together to learn about what we need to do and change and to start winning elections up and down the ballot for the next four years, he continued. When asked by Raju why DNC members should vote for Wikler after Vice President Harris lost Wisconsin last month, Wikler pointed to the states status as a purple state. The thing about the last four years is that weve seen a Republican Party that in Wisconsin came in and tried to dismantle our democracy, robbed working people, smashed unions, attacked public schools, restricted voting rights, and Democrats organized, united and fought back, he said. And over these last four years, weve won election after election, he continued, citing Sen. Tammy Baldwins (D) reelection and Democratic state Legislature wins, along with President Bidens win in the state in 2020, Gov. Tony Evers (D) winning election in 2022, and Democrats flipping the states Supreme Court majority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump flipped Wisconsin back last month, winning the state by less than a point. Bidens 2020 win was by a similarly narrow margin. Wikler is the fourth Democrat to jump into the race to replace Jaime Harrison as DNC chair. On Saturday, New York State Sen. James Skoufis (D) launched his bid, joining former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley (D) and Minnesota Democratic Party Chair Ken Martin. U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and Democratic strategist Chuck Rocha have also been floated for the position. The election for the new party chair and other leadership positions within the DNC is slated to be held Feb. 1, during the partys winter meeting at National Harbor, Md. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the party will host four forums, both in person and virtual, for the candidates to make their cases to the sitting committee members. The DNCs Rules and Bylaws Committee is set to meet Dec. 12 to come up with a process for selecting Democratic Party officers. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Ben Wikler, leader of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, announced Sunday that he is running to be the next chair of the Democratic National Committee. Speaking on CNN's "Inside Politics" with host Manu Raju, Wikler said, I'm running for chair of the Democratic National Committee because we need to unite, we need to fight, and we need to win to stop the GOP from ripping this country apart and ripping off working people to enrich mega billionaires." Other candidates in the DNC race so far include Martin O'Malley, former governor of Maryland, and Ken Martin, Minnesota's party chair. James Skoufis, a state senator from New York, is also in the mix. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wikler told Raju he felt confident in his ability to lead national Democrats even though Vice President Kamala Harris lost Wisconsin to Donald Trump last month. "This is a purple, intense state," he said. "And what it teaches you when you fight in a state like Wisconsin is how to organize everywhere in rural areas, cities, suburbs, small towns, across race, ethnicity, gender, geography, generation, ideology, it teaches you to communicate even to voters who may not be paying attention to what Democrats have to say. "We know that we lose when voters get their information about Democrats from Republicans. So, we need to level up the intensity, the omnipresence of our fight, and we need to communicate directly to working folks, no matter what they look like or where they live about how we're on their side and the Republicans are trying to rip them off," he told Raju. Wikler, who has led Wisconsin Democrats since June 2019, also spoke to the New York Times about his qualifications and his vision for the job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Democratic Party now," he said, "is best served by leadership thats been fighting on the front lines in one of the most contested states in the country and has demonstrated an ability to build an operation that has shattered expectations for what was possible." The DNC election is slated for Feb. 1. The current chair is South Carolina Democrat Jaime Harrison, who is not running again. Small cliffs and rock formations in Utahs west desert. (Getty Images) The federal governments response to Utahs lawsuit seeking to take over millions of acres of public land says the states legal challenge is without merit. In a brief filed last Thursday, attorneys with the U.S. Department of Justice asked the U.S. Supreme Court to deny Utahs motion, writing that the states argument doesnt hold water. Plus, the state fails to meet the criteria that would allow a petition directly to the nations high court rather than going through lower courts first, the filing claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Filed in August, Utahs lawsuit, which the state of Idaho signed on to, questions whether the Bureau of Land Management, or BLM, can indefinitely hold onto land without giving it a designation. The BLM controls about 18.5 million acres of what the state calls unappropriated land in Utah the land is still leased for grazing, recreation and mineral extraction, but lacks a formal designation. National parks, national monuments, national forests, Native American reservations or wilderness areas have a designation, and therefore are not considered unappropriated. But about 34% of the entire state meets the states definition of unappropriated, much of it found in remote western Utah. Public lands lawsuit claims federal government lacks power to hold land in perpetuity The lawsuit claims the federal government lacks the constitutional power to hold that land in perpetuity over the States objection. The Supreme Court should declare the practice of holding unappropriated land unconstitutional, Utah argues, and issue an injunction that would start the process of a massive, 18.5 million acre land transfer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the federal government says that argument lacks merit and faces significant jurisdictional and procedural barriers. Utah argues the federal government can only hold onto land if it has a designated purpose; the federal government asks why a formal reservation would make a legal difference under the constitution. Utah argues the federal government cant retain land over its express objection; the federal government says that runs afoul of the constitutions supremacy clause, which states federal law takes precedence over state law. Utah argues Congress has a duty to dispose of unappropriated public lands; the federal government says that while Congress has the power to dispose of land, it does not have a duty to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And, Utah raises several policy objections, including its inability to collect revenue on federal land; the federal government says that argument is better suited for Congress, not the countrys high court. The brief also takes issue with Utah invoking original jurisdiction, which allows states to petition directly to the Supreme Court rather than starting in a lower court and then going through the appeals process. To invoke original jurisdiction, the issue needs to be between a state and the federal government. Thats because the case does not involve a dispute over state boundaries, the brief reads, or Utahs ability to enforce criminal and civil laws on the land in question. Utah News Dispatch, like the Idaho Capital Sun, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Utah News Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor McKenzie Romero for questions: info@utahnewsdispatch.com. Follow Utah News Dispatch on Facebook and X. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX CHICAGO A 35-year-old woman was stabbed to death by a 16-year-old girl Sunday morning in the Woodlawn neighborhood on the citys South Side, according to Chicago police. High School secretary killed in apparent murder-suicide in Portage, Ind. Police say the incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. in the 1500 block of East 67th Street when the 16-year-old grabbed a knife and stabbed the 35-year-old in the upper chest. The woman was taken to an area hospital in critical condition and later pronounced dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Police say the offender is in custody, and Area One detectives are investigating the incident, which police are classifying as a homicide. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. A woman who snuck aboard a Delta flight from JFK Airport to Paris will remain there for who knows how long after causing a disturbance at the City of Lights main airport Saturday, a source told the Daily News. The 57-year-old woman, who possessed a Russian passport, will stay put in France and not return to the U.S. just yet after causing a ruckus at the Charles de Gaulle Airport. The airline refused to fly her and instead rescheduled her for another flight at a later date, the source, a Port Authority official, said. She was causing such a scene that the airline refused to fly her, the source said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rogue passenger was expected to be flown back to the U.S. Saturday evening after being taken into custody in Paris on Wednesday. According to authorities, she evaded multiple security checks at JFK and managed to board Delta Flight 264 to Paris Tuesday night. First she somehow evaded a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint, then slipped right through Deltas checkpoint at the airlines boarding gate. The individual bypassed two identity verification and boarding status stations and boarded the aircraft, a TSA spokesman said. Once she is back in the U.S., the woman is due to face both state and federal charges. The charges are expected to include theft of services for taking a flight without paying. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A woman in her 40s was transported with multiple injuries after she fell off Mt. Cristo Rey on Sunday, Dec. 1, according to the Sunland Park Fire Department. A woman in her 40s fell at Mt. Cristo Rey and suffered multiple injuries, Sunland Park Fire said. Video courtesy to the Sunland Park Fire Department According to the department, at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, the woman fell roughly 50 feet and sustained multiple injuries. The woman was found by Border Patrol and was flown to a local hospital by the El Paso Fire Department via its STAR 1 air-trauma service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. The first Yeti coolers arrived in America in the spring of 2008. They had spent weeks at sea, traveling from a factory in the Philippines to a leased warehouse in the hills south of Austin, Texas. Molded from a single piece of plastic, the coolers were porcelain white, with two black latches that gave them the rugged, field-ready look of an old Willys Jeep. The 65-quart model of the cooler, the Yeti Tundra, was three times sturdier than lesser brands, and retailed for around $300. If you put a block of ice in one on a Monday, the payload would still be cold that Friday. Stout enough to withstand the prying jaws of a grizzly bear, the Tundra also looked right at home in your backyard on game day, a couple dozen Lone Star beers up to their necks in slush. It was perhaps the greatest ice box in the history of humankind. Demand for the Tundra quickly exceeded expectations. Before long, a shipping container's worth of the coolers was arriving from the Philippines every week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two years had passed since Roy and Ryan Seiders (pronounced SEE-ders) launched Yeti out of their father's backyard, just a few miles down the road from the warehouse. Roy, 31 and fresh out of business school, was the company's pioneer with a passion for product development. Ryan, three years older, was the outdoorsman of the family. Scruffy and charming, he made the rounds at hunting and fishing shows, and lent Yeti its backwoods authenticity. But the Seiders brothers didn't create the Tundra alone. They borrowed design tricks and styling from the best coolers on the market. And they brought it all together with the help of a collaborator who seldom makes an appearance in the company's legend Ivan Royal Brown, a gifted Australian designer who produced the Yetis at his Outback Five Star factory in the Philippines. During those early months of 2008, Roy and Ivan spoke daily, working out the kinks in the new cooler and fine-tuning its manufacture on the fly. One day that September, Roy emailed Ivan a question. When he didn't receive an immediate response, he grew concerned. "It wasn't like him," Roy recalls. He eventually managed to get in touch with Ivan's new wife, Gloria, who broke the shocking news: Ivan had been murdered, she said, shot four times while driving home from the factory. Roy put down the phone and felt sick to his stomach. Not only had he lost his friend and mentor, but the future of his new company was now in jeopardy. "We didn't have a whole lot of confidence that we could move forward without him," he recalls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the brothers grappled with the fallout from the tragedy, things grew even more dire. Ivan had died without a will, and it wasn't clear who was in charge at the factory, putting the entire production line in jeopardy. Six months after Yeti's launch, it looked as though the cooler would vanish from store shelves just as suddenly as it had arrived. Today, Yeti is worth $3.5 billion. This is the untold chapter of one of the great success stories in American business, and how it was very nearly stopped in its tracks. Cold things don't stay cold for long in the Texas Hill Country. Summer here begins in April, when porch thermometers hit the 90s. For the next six months, you could fry a tortilla on your dashboard and dip it in the hot queso in your cup holder. If you're out working in that heat, all you can think about is your next ice-cold drink. At the Seiders' home in Driftwood, 20 miles southwest of Austin, Roger the family's 79-year-old patriarch keeps a refrigerator out back stocked with cold drinks for the UPS drivers when they stop by with a delivery. "They can have anything they want, except for beer," Roger tells me one afternoon as we rock in a swinging chair, watching a parched driver make his way to the fridge. That's Texas hospitality for you. It's something Roger always tried to instill in his four kids, including Ryan and Roy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Seiders were Texans before the state of Texas existed. Eight generations later, their name still means something to old-timers. "When they decide to build something, it's top shelf, the best you can get," says Jay McBride, who runs the fishing department at McBride's Guns, an Austin institution since 1960. Ryan and Roy Seiders were brought up with the idea that you could build what you couldn't buy. "I had this passion for wanting to do something on my own, like my dad," Roy recalls. Anuj Shrestha for BI Back in 1977, when Roger was working as a high school shop instructor, his search for a flexible epoxy finish that wouldn't crack on his fishing rods led him to start his own business. Today, Flex Coat sells up to $1 million of product each year. "I never dreamed it would be so big," he says. Just like their old man, Ryan and Roy loved to brainstorm ways to improve the products they depended upon. After Ryan graduated from Texas A&M in 1996 with a degree in wildlife management, he started a specialty fishing rod company, Waterloo Rods, in Roger's backyard shop. The 10-foot Launcher could fling a line over 100 yards, while the Scrape Rod was tough enough for fishing in thick grass. Fishing celebrities like Flip Pallot, host of "The Walker's Cay Chronicles" on ESPN, would phone Ryan up for gear advice and invite him out turkey hunting. After Roy completed his degree in management information systems at Texas Tech, he, too, returned to the Austin area determined to follow in his father's footsteps. "I had this passion for wanting to do something on my own like my dad," he tells me. "I knew I wanted to start my own business." He loved being out on his boat, and he became preoccupied with designing a cooler that could double as a casting platform one durable enough to withstand his adrenaline-charged style of fishing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The best coolers on the market came from Australia, where packing up the Land Rover and "going bush" was a national pastime. While American coolers were typically manufactured by injecting melted plastic into a static mold, high-end Australian coolers "eskies" in Aussi slang deployed a technique called rotational molding, which produced stronger coolers with more complex designs and fewer material flaws. The closest approximation to an eskie you could find in American stores was the Icey-Tek. Roy tracked down the man who was importing them from Thailand and suggested they team up. But he wound up being more impressed with the cooler than with his new business partner. So he decided to partner with Ryan and strike his own import deal with the producers of Icey-Tek. Ryan invested $130,000, and the brothers shared an email address and a single desk. To brand their cooler, they looked for a name that would evoke a harsh terrain and that would look good on a hat or a T-shirt. Yeti, they would call it as in the Himalayan ice monster. "We may not have found the Yeti," they wrote on their website, "but we make a really great ice-chest." And it was a great ice chest. But it was a far cry from perfect. The original Yeti, which the brothers called the Roughneck, was boxy and utilitarian. The sharp corners were no fun to bang a knee on. Some of the coolers had a puzzling red stain on the bottom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That's when Ivan Brown entered the picture. In 2006, the Seiders brothers traveled to Thailand to see the production of their coolers up close. The disappointing results suddenly made sense. Production was sloppy and haphazard. Workers at the factory were plopping fresh coolers onto the red dirt floor, which explained the stains. As the brothers tried to figure out how to fix the problem, the name they kept coming back to was Ivan, an Aussie designer whose work was a cut above everyone else they knew. From his factory in the Philippines, he could manufacture a cooler or a kayak or a truck camper shell at a fraction of what it would cost in America. So Roy and Ryan set up a meeting and hopped on a flight from Bangkok to Manila. Within hours they were in a car with Ivan, driving south toward his factory in Angeles City. Ivan "was a terrific designer, but hopeless in business," his brother Malcolm recalls. "Every dollar Ivan earned, he spent two." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the factory tour in Thailand, Ivan's production line was a welcome sight. Cement floors meant no more red stains. Like the Roughneck, Ivan's Downunder coolers were constructed from a single piece of plastic, for strength. But they also had rounded-off corners and other thoughtful features, such as rubber feet to prevent them from sliding on a boat deck and a removable basket to keep food from getting wet. What's more, Roy and Ryan recognized a kindred spirit. Ivan was the kind of guy who enjoyed being outdoors, and he wanted to make stuff that worked, stuff you could pass on to your kids. And, like Yeti, his was a family business. Ivan had been in his 50s when he decamped for the Philippines, seeking a new start. Back in Australia, he had launched a business manufacturing auto accessories, including fiberglass tops for trucks. "He was a risk-taker," recalls his first wife, Suzanne Handley. His self-confidence only grew when he obtained a patent for a flip-up sunroof he had created, which would go on to receive a prestigious Australian design award. The problem was, Ivan had a habit of living beyond his means. He had a thing for flashy watches and nice restaurants. "The more you earn, the more you need," he liked to tell his eldest daughter, Clare. He ran up so many debts that tax collectors and creditors spent years pursuing him in Queensland courts. "He was a terrific designer, but hopeless in business," says Malcolm, Ivan's younger brother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like Roy and Ryan, Ivan and Malcolm were tight. Malcolm, who made a small fortune in trucking, supported Ivan through the lean times. The two brothers bought homes facing each other at a marina on the outskirts of Brisbane. "I could look into his kitchen," Malcolm says. Amid his financial troubles, Ivan's marriage to Suzanne disintegrated, and the separation left a wedge between him and his daughters. The Philippines, which had a thriving Australian expat community and generous tax benefits for foreign entrepreneurs, offered a chance to start over. But it was also a dangerous place to do business. The murder rate was four times greater than in Australia, and it was said that a killer could be hired for as little as $500. Filipino police and prosecutors tended to favor the well-connected, and many expats opted to live in gated communities under 24-hour security. Ivan convinced Malcolm to join him. Divorced and bored with life in Queensland, Malcolm jumped at the chance for an adventure and, perhaps, to make another fortune. In 1999, the brothers signed the papers establishing Outback Five Star. The company's articles of incorporation listed Ivan as president and Malcolm as vice president. Each received an equal share in the venture, splitting 99.2% of the stock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Malcolm signed the lease on Outback's factory, a long metal building with a peaked roof. It was located at the Clark Freeport, a former US military base in Angeles City that had been transformed into a tax-free zone. Angeles City, the vice capital of the Philippines, was a dizzying wonderland where you always had to be looking over your shoulder. But the company struggled to survive. From 2004 to 2006, according to financial records, it lost nearly $150,000. "Every dollar Ivan earned, he spent two," Malcolm recalls. "It got so tight that we were making cello cases to survive." Since Ivan was essentially bankrupt, Malcolm had to tap his personal funds to cover payroll and buy equipment. By the time the two brothers from Texas showed up on Outback's factory floor, the two brothers from Australia were barely scraping by. On that initial visit, the straight-laced Seiders brothers weren't exactly taken with Angeles City. As much as Roy enjoyed Ivan's company, he was grateful Ryan was with him. "I was not about to go to the Philippines by myself," he recalls. Angeles City was the Wild East, the vice capital of the Philippines, a dizzying wonderland where you always had to be looking over your shoulder. Ivan's production line in the Philippines was a welcome sight for the Seiders brothers a far better option than the factory they'd been working with in Thailand. Anuj Shrestha for BI Malcolm could see how uncomfortable Roy and Ryan were one humid evening when Ivan took them out to the Tom Cat, a seedy nightclub Malcolm owned on a neon-lit street known as "Blow Row." Like many expat hangouts, the Tom Cat swarmed with bikini-clad girls and white-haired men. Foreigners looking for sex would pay $20 to escort girls to a more intimate setting, where further transactions might ensue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Malcolm isn't shy about admitting that profits from the sex trade helped keep Outback afloat. He insists that the girls at his bars were of age and there of their own free will, but stories of sex trafficking are common in the Philippines. "Everybody portrays it as a sleazy business," Malcolm says. "But I looked at it as the matchmaking business." According to Malcolm and other family members, it was under such circumstances that Ivan met his future wife, Gloria. In October 1998, Malcolm was celebrating his 48th birthday at the Firehouse, a bar in Manila's red-light district. Gloria, then a single mother, was there that night. Ivan bought Gloria a drink and, by Malcolm's telling, took her to Swagman's, an Australian-themed hotel nearby, where they spent the night. To those who witnessed their courtship, there was no doubt that Ivan was enamored of Gloria. "She was the only girl I ever saw him with," says Bryan Hammer, an American businessman who assisted Ivan and Malcolm in establishing Outback. But Hammer wondered if the feeling was mutual. "She was mean to him, even in public." As Ivan and Gloria's relationship developed, she became increasingly entwined in his business. Under Philippine law, the role of corporate secretary at a foreign company must be filled by a Filipino. By the time Roy and Ryan Seiders showed up, Gloria had taken on that role at Outback, giving her the power to review and sign off on the company's financial records. Her influence expanded further when Ivan decided to buy a home. Since foreigners couldn't buy property, it would need to be in Gloria's name. So Ivan asked Malcolm to temporarily transfer his half of the company to Gloria, effectively padding her assets so she could qualify for a mortgage. The details of what happened next are murky. Over the next six months, a confusing game of musical chairs ensued. In addition to Gloria's recently acquired shares, three members of her family her daughter, her future son-in-law, and her half-sister were awarded positions as dummy shareholders in the company. In the process, Gloria went from owning less than 1% of Outback's stock to controlling a majority of the company. In 2008, in the midst of all the stock reshuffling, Ivan and Gloria surprised their friends when an ordinary party was revealed to be their nuptials. After nine years together, they were at last husband and wife. But a few weeks after the wedding, Outback's fortunes took another turn. Ivan evidently hadn't known about the stock transfers until his accountant brought them to his attention and he wasn't happy about it. On May 2, 2008, he wrote the Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission: "This is to inform you that GLORIA F. BROWN has resigned as Corporate Secretary." Malcolm reclaimed his shares in the company and his title as vice president. The remaining dummy shares were transferred to three members of Malcolm's extended family. Gloria was left with nothing in her own name, apart from her joint assets through marriage. In late 2007, a few months before Ivan and Gloria's wedding, the Seiders brothers had returned to Angeles City, where they spent 10 days at Outback's headquarters. As monsoon rains pounded on the factory roof, Ivan and Roy hustled back and forth between the office and the production floor where the workers would fabricate prototypes out of Bondo putty and fiberglass. "These guys are artists," Roy says. "It was a ton of fun." Ivan showed them how he had improved the design of his Downunder cooler. He had bulked up the foam insulation, given it a leak-proof drain plug, integrated the hinge to make it more robust, and added a freezer-style gasket for a better seal. Roy and Ryan incorporated those same ideas into the Tundra. They also borrowed the contours from Ivan's line of fiberglass coolers and extended the hinge to stretch the full length of the back of the cooler. "For whatever reason, I just liked that look," Roy says. Some of the old Icey-Tek features, including the rope handles and tie-down slots on the base of the cooler, also made it into the new design. "That was a big deal," Roy says. "Being able to strap your cooler down and still open and close the lid." All the tinkering reminded him of the projects he had worked on in his father's workshop, but on a much larger scale. "After four years being in the cooler business, I had all these ideas built up in my head about what makes a perfect cooler," Roy recalls. "I saw this opportunity to build a cooler from the ground up." The collaboration also worked out well for Ivan. By the time the Tundras started popping out of their molds in April 2008, he was on the path to financial success. Outback, which employed some 150 workers, soon hit $1.5 million in sales, with another half million in assets. "He was turning a corner and starting to make money," Malcolm says. On the afternoon of September 23, 2008, Ivan left work and climbed into his forest green Toyota Land Cruiser. The sky was hazy and rain droplets flecked against the windshield as Ivan crossed the two-lane Friendship Bridge and neared his turn-off to his home. Suddenly, a Honda motorbike zipped up along his left side, as if to pass. There were two men on the bike, their faces hidden by helmets. The rider in back raised a 45-caliber handgun and fired at least four shots through the window of Ivan's Land Cruiser. The car veered off the road and rear-ended another motorcycle, sending its driver tumbling onto the ground, before slamming into the wall of the Serra Monte Lodge, an establishment that rents rooms by the hour. Ivan slumped in his seat. Blood pooled in his mouth and soaked into the fabric of his plaid shirt. Malcolm, who lived in the same gated community as Ivan and Gloria, was at home when a friend called to say that a green Land Cruiser had been in an accident on the main road. Malcolm rushed over to his brother's house, but no one answered the door. He was getting ready to drive to the scene of the accident when Gloria appeared. Ivan had already been taken to the mortuary, she told him. Together, they drove off to see Ivan's body. The next morning, Malcolm got to the factory at around seven. As vice president, he felt he had to assume the reins at Outback. He told the employees to go home until Ivan's affairs were sorted, and left. In the days after Ivan's murder, his widow, Gloria, declared that she was now in charge of Outback. When Malcolm visited the factory, he was ordered to leave by armed guards. Anuj Shrestha for BI But within the hour, Gloria arrived and announced that she was in charge. She countermanded Malcolm's decision: The factory, she said, would stay open. "I asked Gloria what gave her the right to say this," Malcolm said in a statement prepared for legal filings. Gloria responded that she was now the president and major shareholder. That afternoon, after meeting with his lawyer, Malcolm returned to the factory with his son and placed a padlock on the factory's gate. But the next time they came back, the lock had been cut. An armed guard pointed a gun at Malcolm and his son and ordered them to leave. As Gloria and Malcolm battled for control of the company, production ground to a halt. Outback's accounts were frozen, and employees could not be paid. Gloria appealed to the bank to grant her full access to the company's funds. "My husband, Ivan Brown, had long speculated on his fate (he was brutally murdered by still unknown assailants)," she wrote. "He indeed made sure that the corporation's papers are in order and that I can easily take charge of its operations. Unfortunately, greed and opportunity prevailed over the mind of Mr. Malcolm Brown and his cohorts." (Gloria and Outback did not respond to multiple requests for comment.) Eight thousand miles away in Texas, the Seiders brothers had begun a frantic search for alternative suppliers, hopping on planes and visiting other factories. Their business had just gotten off the ground, and suddenly its entire future was at risk. But given their relationship with Ivan, they were still hoping they could stick with Outback. "If the factory cannot supply soon, Yeti will lose US market share and it will be almost impossible to recover," they emailed Malcolm. "If this fight continues it will inevitably get tied up in Philippine courts for many more weeks if not months and therefore everybody loses. Could you help us by temporarily allowing the factory to resume production while resolving ownership?" Malcolm was incensed. "Ivan was murdered for greed," he replied. "I will continue to fight for what he would have wanted me to do You guys are more than welcome to find alternative suppliers for your market if you wish to do so." "We too have a strong feeling for finding justice for Ivan," the brothers wrote back. "But also, continuing the successful manufacturing business that he has started." "As tragic as Ivan's death was," Roy Seiders said, "all of a sudden we are a much stronger company." From the start, police considered Ivan's killing a textbook murder-for-hire. But without a murder weapon or any forensic evidence, they had little to go on. The most promising lead came after Malcolm offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. A cigarette vendor came forward, claiming to have seen the trigger man before he put his helmet on. According to police, when the vendor was shown a book of criminals known as the "Rogue's Gallery," he picked out a Maoist guerrilla named Alvin Salas, suspected to be a member of a "gun-for-hire" gang. That October, the Northern Philippine Times reported that police had filed murder charges against Salas and Gloria. "We have circumstantial evidence against somebody whom we suspect to be the mastermind," announced Pierre Bucsit, the local police chief. "The capture of the suspected gunman will complete our investigation toward arresting the author of the crime." But the case quickly fell apart. When a police investigator named Romeo Amarillo had first showed up at the factory, he found Gloria to be defensive and uncooperative. But any link to her was purely circumstantial. Prosecutors ultimately dismissed the charges against Gloria due to insufficient evidence. Until the police found Salas, whose connection to the crime was limited to the single eyewitness, they had nothing else to go on. That hope vanished in October 2014, when Salas was killed in a police shootout. Whoever murdered Ivan, it's clear who benefited the most from his death. Ivan didn't have a will, which under Philippine law meant his estate would likely be shared by Gloria and his two daughters from his first marriage. In a court filing, Gloria wrote that Ivan's shares were being "settled among his heirs." But Ivan's daughter Clare told me that neither she nor her sister received anything from their father's estate. "I got nothing," she says. Gloria also moved quickly to take control of Ivan's company. A week after he was killed, she submitted a document to the securities commission claiming that an unscheduled meeting of Outback's officers and shareholders had taken place in mid-August, a little over a month before Ivan's murder. Malcolm, who was still listed as a board member, was not notified of the meeting. According to the document, Ivan had given himself control of 80.8% of Outback's stock, and Gloria now owned 18%. That left Malcolm with just 2,000 shares a fraction of a percent of the company. The new board, composed largely of Gloria's relatives, unanimously named her as president, and her daughter as vice president. Malcolm filed a complaint against Gloria with the prosecutor's office, claiming she had forged the document. Nathaniel Colobong, Ivan's longtime accountant, is listed in the papers as the company's external auditor. But he tells me that he was unaware of Ivan making any of the stock transfers Gloria claims he made. In fact, he told investigators that Gloria had "started to get angry with her husband" after she had been stripped of her shares earlier that year. But Colobong was unwilling to testify. "I was also afraid for my life," he says. Regulators accepted Gloria's version of events, and the lead prosecutor in the forgery case ultimately declined to bring the charges against her. The relevant documents, he tells me, were destroyed during a typhoon. According to Outback's subsequent filings, Gloria now controls 99.6% of the company's stock. For the first year after Ivan's death, Malcolm remained in the Philippines, protected around the clock by armed guards. Eventually he gave up the fight and returned to Australia. His biggest mistake, he tells me, was putting his faith in the Philippine justice system. "You and I come from countries where you get justice," he says. "If I had to do it over again, I would have had her shot. I'd do the same thing to her that she did to my brother." After Ivan's murder, some of Outback's clients sided with Malcolm and refused to do business with the company. "We decided not to place any further orders due to the rumors and uncertainty of dealing with Gloria," recalls Terry Tate, a former buyer for Ray's Outdoors, who had visited both Ivan and Gloria in the Philippines. But the Seiders brothers continued to contract with Outback. Whatever they felt about Ivan's murder, they were focused on doing what it took to keep their company alive. To get the Outback's employees back to work, the brothers even prepaid Gloria for their orders. Soon, brand new Yeti Tundras were once again being unloaded in Texas. "Never for a second did we think Gloria was involved in Ivan's death," Roy tells me. Years after Ivan's murder, Yeti continues to contract with Outback and Gloria travels to Texas to periodically to meet with Yeti's management. Anuj Shrestha for BI Other business decisions they made may have been born of crisis, but proved equally shrewd. To make the most of their dwindling inventory, Roy and Ryan bumped up the price on their coolers. Remarkably, none of their buyers balked. Roy came up with a pricing strategy he called "10x" as in, charging 10 times what their competitors were asking. Like Balenciaga sneakers and Sub-Zero fridges, the eye-popping prices of Yeti's products wound up making them more not less desirable. The brothers also found a US-based supplier to ensure that their supply chain could never be held hostage again. "As tragic as Ivan's death was, all of a sudden we are a much stronger company," Roy explained on a hunting podcast. The success of the Tundra, along with Yeti's viral marketing, helped turn the company into a kind of redneck Patagonia. Yeti Coolers went public in October 2018, and Roy and Ryan earned hundreds of millions of dollars after selling most of their shares. Yeti's success has been good for Outback. The year that Ivan was murdered, according to the company's financial statement, it had $1.9 million in sales. Ten years later, thanks in large part to Yeti, its sales were $9 million. At Yeti's headquarters, a conference room is named for Ivan Brown, to honor his contribution to the company. Every few years, Gloria or her representatives from Outback travel to Texas to meet with Yeti's management. But, in the past, when Gloria has invited the Seiderses to return to the Philippines for a visit, they've politely declined. "They make their employees go," their father Roger tells me. "But they don't go." Brendan Borrell is a freelance journalist based in Los Angeles. Read the original article on Business Insider Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President and Union Minister JP Nadda, along with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, visited the Mahakaleshwar Temple and offered prayers on Sunday. After offering prayers, Union Minister JP Nadda shared that he prayed for the country's progress. "Today, I had the privilege of visiting Mahakaleshwar with everyone. Coming here gives me renewed vigour, energy, and strength to work for the welfare of society. We prayed for everyone's happiness and for the country's progress," Nadda told reporters. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav told reporters that he sought divine blessings for the progress of the party. "Today, BJP National President JP Nadda offered prayers at Baba Mahakal Temple. I welcome him to Ujjain. I pray to Baba Mahakal for the progress of our party under his leadership and for his blessings in governance," Yadav said. Earlier in the day, to mark World AIDS Day, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda inaugurated the World AIDS Day 2024 commemoration at Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya Auditorium in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The Minister highlighted India's sustained efforts in maintaining a low HIV epidemic level over the years, with new infections in 2023 almost 44% lower than in 2010 and AIDS-related deaths reduced by 79%. This year's theme, "Take the Rights Path," underscores the importance of ensuring equal rights, dignity, and access to healthcare for all, especially for those living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Reflecting on this, Nadda emphasised the government's commitment to safeguarding the rights of people with HIV/AIDS through legal protections, healthcare access, and societal reforms. "World AIDS Day is a moment to reiterate that we are united in the fight against AIDS and to remember and honour those who have battled this disease and lost loved ones," he said. Nadda also highlighted the ongoing Phase V of the National AIDS and STD Control Programme and the consistent efforts of NACO and State AIDS Control Societies in maintaining low epidemic levels. He reiterated that new HIV infections in 2023 were 44% lower than in 2010, while AIDS-related deaths had fallen by 79%. The Minister outlined three key directives in the fight against AIDS. First, he stressed the importance of caution in preventing HIV/AIDS infections, noting that the virus can be transmitted through various means beyond sexual contact. Second, he advocated a healthy lifestyle, encompassing proper nutrition, exercise, and sleep, to prevent illnesses. Third, he urged increased awareness and efforts to combat stereotypes through village meetings, school programmes, and educational campaigns. He called on authorities to evaluate the effectiveness of AIDS control initiatives and address any shortcomings. (ANI) President Volodymyr Zelensky met in Kyiv on Dec. 1 with Antonio Costa, the new President of the European Council, and top European Union diplomat Kaja Kallas. Kallas and Costa arrived in Kyiv on a surprise visit on the first day of the mandate of the new European Commission. Zelensky discussed with Costa "the vision of European and global affairs, current challenges and prospects." "Peace is the foundation, and we will continue to do everything possible to end this war, which Russia has unleashed not only against Ukraine but also against a united Europe, as soon as possible and to strengthen Europe both the EU institutions and the policies that support every European nation," Zelensky wrote on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a joint press conference with Zelensky, Costa said the European Union would open two accession negotiating clusters with Ukraine in the first half of 2025. According to Costa, the EU is hugely "impressed" that Ukraine has managed to carry out "most of the most important reforms" necessary to join the European community during the war. As accession negotiations continue, certain categories of goods could enter the EU single market as if Ukraine were already a member of the European community, he added. Costa also assured that the EU would continue to provide economic, humanitarian, and military assistance to Ukraine, including 4.2 billion euros ($4.4 billion) to support the Ukrainian budget by the end of the year. In 2025, the EU will transfer 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) to Ukraine monthly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We will receive these funds from the use of frozen Russian assets, and they can also be used for military purposes," Costa said. With the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kallas, Zelensky discussed the need for air defense systems "to protect lives in Ukraine," as he wrote on Telegram. The EU representatives, accompanied by Zelensky, also visited the Wall of Remembrance near Mykhailivska Square in Kyiv and paid tribute to the fallen Ukrainian soldiers. Read also: Trumps pick for Ukraine envoy backs peace through strength, security guarantees Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected the idea of NATO membership without its Russian-occupied territories at a press conference on Sunday in Kiev with the new European Council president, Antonio Costa. "An invitation for Ukraine to join NATO is a necessary thing for our survival," Zelensky said. But he added that there cannot be an invitation to NATO for only one part of the country. He stressed that such a move would effectively recognize the loss of territory controlled by Russia, something Ukraine will never accept. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, Zelensky emphasized that NATO membership can only be extended to Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. But in a recent interview, Zelensky had suggested NATO security guarantees could apply only to government-controlled areas of Ukraine. Ukraine has been defending itself from Russias full-scale invasion for over two and a half years. Moscow currently controls around a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014. Joining NATO is a key component of Zelensky's "victory plan," presented in October. Volodymyr Zelensky said that his country needed security guarantees from Nato and more weapons to defend itself before any talks with Russia. Ukraines president made the comments after meeting Kaja Kallas, the EUs new head of diplomacy, and Antonio Costa, freshly appointed president of the European Council, who were visiting Kyiv as a show of support on their first day in office. An invitation for Ukraine to join Nato is a necessary thing for our survival, Mr Zelensky said at a press conference with Mr Costa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It comes after Mr Zelenksy appeared to shift his position dramatically on Friday by accepting that Ukraine may have to give up some territory temporarily to end the war. He said the occupied land could be negotiated back in the future diplomatically. Ukraine faces a tough winter ahead, with Russia unleashing devastating barrages against its power grid and Kyivs fatigued forces losing ground on the front line. Ukraine faces a tough winter, with Kyivs fatigued forces losing ground on the frontline and Russia targeting its power grid - Shutterstock Questions are also swirling around the future of US support once Donald Trump assumes the presidency in January, with fears he could force Kyiv to make painful concessions in pursuit of a quick peace deal. Mr Zelensky said his country needed to be in a strong position before any talks with the Kremlin, calling for steps forward with Nato and a good number of long-distance weapons to defend itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only when we have all these items and we are strong, after that, we have to make the very important... agenda of meeting with one or another of the killers, the Ukrainian leader said, adding that the EU and Nato should be involved in any negotiations. Peace talks with Vladimir Putin would need steps forward from Nato, said President Zelensky - Getty Images Europe Mr Costa said the European Union would give Ukraine its unwavering support, telling Mr Zelensky: We have stood with you since the very first day of this war of aggression, and you can count on us to continue to stand with you. The European Unions new leadership team is keen to show it remains firm on backing Kyiv at a perilous moment for Ukraine nearly three years into its fight against Russias invasion. Vladimir Putin, Russias president, threatened this week to strike government buildings in Kyiv with his new Oreshnik missile, after the US gave Ukraine approval to fire long-range Atacms missiles into Russia for the first time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Russian drone dropped explosives on a bus in the southern Kherson region on Sunday, killing three people, authorities said, while the Russian army claimed to have captured two new front-line villages in the east. On Friday Mr Zelensky appeared to begin staking out his position ahead of any potential peace talks. He called on Nato to offer guaranteed protections to parts of Ukraine controlled by Kyiv in order to stop the hot stage of the war, and implied he would then be willing to wait to regain other territory seized by Russia. If we will have a frozen conflict without any strong position for Ukraine, Putin will come back in two, three or five years, Mr Zelensky said on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Kallas told journalists on the journey into Ukraine that for Kyiv the strongest security guarantee is Nato membership. We need to definitely discuss this if Ukraine decides to draw the line somewhere then how can we secure peace so that Putin doesnt go any further, she said. However, diplomats at Nato said there appeared little prospect of the alliance granting Ukraine membership soon given opposition from a raft of members cautious of getting dragged into war with Russia. Mr Zelensky insisted Kyiv was not delusional about its prospects with Nato and admitted there was deep reluctance from US president Joe Biden, along with leaders in countries such as Hungary. Kaja Kallas, new EU head of diplomacy, said Nato membership was Mr Zelenskys strongest security guarantee - Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Reuters Ms Kallas said the EU shouldnt really rule out anything in terms of the question of sending European troops to help enforce any ceasefire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We should have this strategic ambiguity around this, she said. Mr Trump has cast doubt on continuing Washingtons vast aid for Ukraine and called on EU countries to do more. Europe together has spent around $125 billion (98 billion) on supporting Ukraine since Russias 2022 invasion, while the US alone has coughed up over $90 billion (71 billion), according to a tracker from the Kiel Institute. Ms Kallas said the EU would use transactional language to try to convince Mr Trump that backing Kyiv was in Americas interest. Aid for Ukraine is not charity, she said. A victory for Russia definitely emboldens China, Iran, North Korea. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has agreed to appear on Lex Fridman's podcast. Fridman is a computer scientist and academic who has attracted high-profile guests, including Trump. Elon Musk touted X's role in arranging the deal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed on X to record an episode of Lex Fridman's podcast in Ukraine, much to Elon Musk's delight. Fridman, who hosts the popular "Lex Fridman Podcast," said on X earlier this week that he would "love to do a 3 hour podcast" with Zelenskyy, adding that he would even travel to Kyiv to do it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskyy responded on Saturday, writing: "Agreed. See you in Ukraine." One X user was quick to point out the role the platform played in arranging the deal, saying: "The power of X on full display," to which Musk replied, "True." "Where else can you just make a request and a leader of a country replies to you directly?" the user added. Musk has long touted his social media platform as a means of bypassing legacy media outlets and allowing world and company leaders to "speak directly to the people." President Joe Biden used X to announce his withdrawal from the US presidential race in July, while President-elect Donald Trump has used the site along with his own platform, Truth Social to announce his cabinet picks ahead of his inauguration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskyy himself is a big social media user, sharing updates on the Russia-Ukraine war and details of meetings with other world leaders on X and Telegram. Over the last few years, Fridman has gone from a little-known academic researcher to a social media celebrity, winning audiences with some of the world's leading figures, including Trump, Musk, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. His offer to Zelenskyy came after fellow podcaster Joe Rogan, who recorded a three-hour episode with Trump ahead of the US election, said the Ukrainian president had also offered to appear on his show. "Zelenskyy tried to come on," Rogan said, adding somewhat skeptically: "They tried to get Zelenskyy on, I was like, 'What are you talking about?'" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rogan recently criticized Zelenskyy and Biden over the latter's decision to allow Ukraine to use US-supplied long-range weapons in Russia, saying they were "about to start World War III." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President-elect Donald Trump. AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson In an interview with Sky News published on Friday, Zelenskyy suggested that the "hot phase" of the Russia-Ukraine war could end if unoccupied parts of Ukraine came "under the NATO umbrella." "That's what we need to do fast. And then Ukraine can get back the other part of its territory diplomatically," he said, stressing that NATO membership would need to be offered to Ukraine's internationally recognized borders. Zelenskyy has previously rejected the idea of ceding land to end the war. Read the original article on Business Insider President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is convinced that Russia will deploy a significant number of North Korean soldiers to the front line against Ukraine, where they will almost certainly be used as cannon fodder. Source: Zelenskyy in an interview with Japanese agency Kyodo News Details: The president predicted that many North Korean troops will be sent to the front lines in the future, and it is "indisputable" that Russian leader Vladimir Putin intends to use them "as cannon fodder". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskyy did not disclose how many North Korean soldiers deployed to Russias Kursk Oblast have been killed or wounded fighting against Ukrainian forces. He said there are reports of around 12,000 North Korean troops being stationed in the region, but stressed that Ukraine needs to obtain solid evidence before announcing exact casualty figures. The president also said the support Ukraine is receiving from its partners is "not enough" and urged NATO to invite Ukraine to join the Alliance as soon as possible. Background: On 7 November, Zelenskyy announced that there were already casualties among North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces in Kursk Oblast. The US has confirmed that North Korean troops have participated in combat operations in the region. According to The New York Times, a combined force of 50,000 Russian and North Korean troops is preparing to launch a major counteroffensive in Kursk Oblast. The US has information that North Korea is preparing additional weapons shipments to Russia, including ballistic missiles, long-range self-propelled artillery, and multiple-launch rocket systems. Support UP or become our patron! President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Oleksandr Karasevych, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Netherlands. Source: a decree posted on the president's website, as reported by European Pravda Details: On Friday, 29 November, Zelenskyy ordered Karasevych's dismissal from the post of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Netherlands. "Oleksandr Karasevych shall be dismissed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and as Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons," the decree says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The diplomat had held this position since 2023. Meanwhile, Oleksii Honcharenko, an MP from the European Solidarity party, claimed that Karasevych had been promoted to the position of state secretary of Ukraine's Foreign Ministry. Background: The Ukrainian parliament voted to appoint Andrii Sybiha as foreign minister, replacing Dmytro Kuleba on 5 September. Recent reports indicated that Russia had failed, for the second year in a row, to secure a seat in the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). This decision will remain in effect for the 2025-2027 term. Support UP or become our patron! President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that he does not ask Ukraines partners to deploy troops in the country because such a request would likely cause about half of them to withdraw their support entirely. Source: Zelenskyy at a press conference with European Council President Antonio Costa in Kyiv Quote: "We will never ask to have troops sent to our territory Do we want it? Yes, of course, we would be happy Because he [Putin ed.] is allied with North Korea and Iran, while we are fighting on our own. Yes, with the help of our partners and we are grateful for that but we are fighting on the ground on our own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And if I raise the issue of needing foreign troops, whether from NATO or elsewhere, half of our allies would immediately stop their support. Thats why I cannot take this risk. But if you ask me whether we want it yes, we cannot say no to any significant support or assistance to Ukraine from our partners." Details: Zelenskyy also reported that in November, the Russians launched 347 missiles of various types, including ballistic ones, against Ukraine, along with more than 2,500 Shahed drones. "No country could withstand such terror alone," he emphasised. Support UP or become our patron! President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the Biden administration could potentially influence European NATO members who are currently sceptical about welcoming Ukraine to the Alliance. Source: Zelenskyy at a joint press conference with Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, on Sunday 1 December, as reported by European Pravda Details: Commenting on the prospect of Ukraine being invited to join NATO, Zelenskyy said it depends on Ukraines partners, particularly the US, which is now among the sceptics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote from Zelenskyy: "But there is still the German side, there is still the Hungarian side, and therefore only a consolidated signal can be positively perceived by all leaders." The president noted that the present US administration has two months left in office, and the US "has influence on those few European states that are sceptical about our future" in the Alliance. "I, for one, see no risks in recommending Ukraine's potential future NATO membership, and neither do most NATO countries. Not even an invitation, but a recommendation to leaders regarding Ukraine's prospective NATO invitation", he remarked, referring to the Alliance's Foreign Ministerial Meeting on 3-4 December. Background: Ukraine has asked NATO to issue it an invitation to join the military alliance at next weeks meeting. It was previously reported that the US was willing to back Ukraine's NATO invitation, but when Donald Trump won the election, the Biden administration abandoned the idea. Support UP or become our patron! Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Sunday social media post that a week of "Russian aerial terror" saw Moscow launch around 500 bombs, 660 drones and 120 missiles into Ukraine. Russia's long-range bombardments of Ukraine have been intensifying in recent weeks, with a particular focus on the country's energy grid, coinciding with the onset of freezing winter temperatures. Ukraine's air force said 78 Russian drones were launched into the country overnight, of which 32 were shot down and 45 lost in flight. The air force cited electronic countermeasures for the failure of those lost in flight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military administration for the southern city of Kherson -- liberated from Russian control in the fall of 2022 -- reported at least seven civilians injured by a Russian drone strike on a taxi in the city on Sunday morning. That incident followed the deaths of at least three people in earlier drone attacks in the city. PHOTO: This handout photograph taken by the Ukrainian Emergency Service and released on Nov. 30, 2024, shows firefighters in action following a missile strike in Tsarychanka, north of the city of Dnipro, Ukraine. (Handout/UKRAINIAN EMERGENCY SERVICE/AFP ) MORE: Russia sets new drone attack record in overnight Ukraine barrage Responding to a recent missile strike on Dnipro and a drone attack in Kherson, Zelenskyy said Saturday that such attacks happen "almost every day." "Ukraine defends itself against this absolutely inhuman pressure," the president wrote on Telegram. "I am grateful to everyone who helps us go through all this, defend ourselves against terror and save people's lives." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said its forces downed at least 29 drones over four western regions overnight into Sunday. The latest cross-border exchanges came as the European Union's new leaders -- European Council President Antonio Costa and chief diplomat Kaja Kallas -- arrived in Kyiv Sunday to underscore the bloc's support for Ukraine. "In my first visit since taking up office, my message is clear: the European Union wants Ukraine to win this war," Kallas -- who previously served as Estonia's prime minister -- wrote on X. President-elect Donald Trump's November election victory has revived the prospect of peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow, as well as concerns that Trump may curtail American financial and military aid for Ukraine. PHOTO: A woman walks next to a damaged hospital following a Russian drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Nov. 29, 2024. (Tetiana Dzhafarova/AFP via Getty Images) MORE: Russia launches 'massive' drone and missile energy blitz across Ukraine Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Joe Biden is using his final months in office to shore up much-needed assistance for Kyiv. In September, Biden announced he would deliver by the end of 2024 more than $5.5 billion in remaining presidential drawdown authority funds previously authorized by Congress. The Pentagon announced the latest round of aid totaling around $275 million in late November. Biden described Russia's massed missile attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure last week as "outrageous" and a reminder "of the urgency and importance of supporting the Ukrainian people in their defense against Russian aggression." "My message to the Ukrainian people is clear: the United States stands with you," Biden said. PHOTO: People walk on a street with businesses powered by generators during a blackout in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Nov. 29, 2024. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) MORE: Ukraine drones attack Crimea, Moscow says, as Zelenskyy urges strikes inside Russia Zelenskyy says Ukraine facing Russian 'aerial terror' after night of drone strikes originally appeared on abcnews.go.com President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that representatives of the EU and NATO should participate in potential negotiations with Russia after Ukraine strengthens its position. Source: Zelenskyy at a press conference with European Council President Antonio Costa in Kyiv Quote: "When we have this list [of points that will strengthen Ukraines position ed.], then we can sit down and communicate. Who will be at this negotiating table? Yes, Russia, Ukraine, and as I said, the European Union and NATO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why? Because we see ourselves as part of the security system within these alliances. And in this format, I understand when we can sit down, what we will talk about. Because I will understand who surrounds us and what agreements can be reached." Details: Zelenskyy emphasised that the most challenging issue to address will be whether Russia is willing to recognise Ukraine as an independent country at all. Quote: "I think the hardest question we will have to resolve because the one sitting opposite, Russia, if they are unwilling to make peace, unwilling to see Ukraine as an independent country in the future, what can be agreed upon?" The president also underscored the danger of freezing the conflict without securing a strong position for Ukraine, warning that such an outcome would lead to renewed aggression from Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If the conflict is frozen without any strong position for Ukraine, then Putin will return in 235 years this does not depend on us he will return and will destroy us completely. He will try to destroy us," Zelenskyy stated. Support UP or become our patron! Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi attended the "Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi" programme organised by the Women and Child Development Department, Government of Assam, in Guwahati on Sunday. Annapurna Devi reaffirmed the government's commitment to improving the lives of women and children in Assam. She praised the collaborative efforts between the central government and the people of Assam to deliver quality healthcare, security and opportunities for all. The Minister distributed certificates to the State level master trainers during the programme. Addressing the event, the Union Minister highlighted the ministry's commitment for early childhood development through the "Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi" program, which focuses on quality education for children aged 3-6 years. She noted that 21,772 master trainers from 35 states and 42,308 Anganwadi workers from 20 states, including 1,600 master trainers from Assam, have been trained under this initiative. Reflecting on the region's progress, the Minister lauded the Northeast's multidimensional development over the past decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She emphasised significant achievements in areas such as peace restoration, infrastructure development and enhanced connectivity through railways, roads, and airways, as well as advancements in education and health. Highlighting women's empowerment Annpurna Devi shared that through the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) nearly 10 crore women, including 43 lakh from Assam, have achieved self-reliance. She also underlined the ministry's dedication to combating malnutrition through initiatives like Poshan Pakhwada and Poshan Maah, with Assam contributing to over 30 lakh campaign activities promoting healthy lifestyles for women and children. Talking about the development in Assam the Minister noted that 36 One-Stop Centres in the state have supported around 21,000 women. She also informed that under the 2024-25 budget, Anganwadi workers and assistants have been included in the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana providing an annual health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family. Over 60,000 Anganwadi workers and helpers in Assam now have Ayushman cards, ensuring better healthcare access. Ajanta Neog, Minister for Women and Child Development, Government of Assam in her address emphasized the importance of women's and children's development for the state's overall progress. She commended the WCD Department's dedication to implementing central government schemes effectively. Annapurna Devi also held a review meeting today to assess the progress of WCD schemes in Assam. (ANI) Companies in Germany are inadequately prepared for the use of artificial intelligence (AI), according to a study by US network equipment provider Cisco seen by dpa ahead of its release. The study, due to be published on Monday, indicates that Germany is falling behind compared to other countries in Europe. Just 6% of the companies surveyed are optimally positioned, one percentage point less than a year ago. Meanwhile, 29% are well prepared, the study found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This means that in Europe, Germany is only mediocre, according to Christian Korff, a member of Cisco Germany's management board. "The rest of the world is overtaking us. This is alarming," Korff said. Germany is now in sixth place in Europe behind Britain, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands, he said. A year ago, Germany came third in the ranking. "We can't be satisfied with this," the senior executive warned. For the annual study, launched last year, Cisco surveyed almost 8,000 IT managers from companies with more than 500 employees worldwide in August and September, including around 300 from Germany. Good strategy, poor implementation Korff highlighted a clear gap between aspiration and reality, stating, "Many have great AI strategies but simply do not implement them." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While 77% of the surveyed companies said they had an AI strategy, only 36% had the technical infrastructure to use AI. Furthermore, just 40% had the necessary specialists on board. "We get top marks for strategy but lag behind in implementation," Korff added. Time is pressing At the same time, companies have recognized the urgency, with 98% of respondents saying that the use of AI has become more pressing in the past six months. "Almost all companies have realized that without the use of AI, there significant disadvantages will arise for their business model," said Korff. "And everyone knows that this has to happen quickly." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He warned that Germany must be careful not to fall behind. "If others are getting faster, then it's simply not enough to just get a bit better." Despite companies increasing their AI investments, "we are still not where we really need to be." Technical infrastructure investments are especially pressing, he said. "If you don't set the course for a rapid expansion of IT infrastructure, then you lag behind by a decade or a decade and a half," said Korff. "We cannot afford that in this sector." When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Intel Folks, it is official! Intel has confirmed an upcoming event centered around its Arc GPUs - likely Team Blue's Battlemage desktop lineup - for December 3rd on X (formerly Twitter). On that note, a never-before-seen Arc B570 has been spotted in the wild at a French wholesale dealer, 1foTrade, thanks to user josefk972 on X. This GPU will likely be announced alongside the extensively leaked Arc B580 next week. AIBs such as Gunnir have already started to confirm Battlemage's arrival in early December, which aligns with previous rumors. From what we've managed to gather based on leaks, the Arc B580 packs 20 Xe Cores (2,560 ALUs), a large 12GB VRAM, and boost clocks hitting 2.85 GHz - with initial LE (Limited Edition) variant listings priced at $250. In addition, leaks allege that the Arc B580, the new Arc B570 - the topic of our story - and AMD's upcoming Navi 44-based budget cards can reportedly outpace Nvidia's RTX 4060 Ti in specific benchmarks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1foTrade - the wholesaler in question - is a major hardware distributor in France and is associated with many AIBs. It appears that listings for the ASRock Arc B570 Challenger have accidentally gone live before the embargo, giving us a closer look at the specifications. The Arc B570 should be based on the BMG-G21 die and features 10GB of GDDR6 memory running at 19 Gbps speeds. The maximum clock speeds are 2.6 GHz - a 250 MHz drop compared to the B580. Sadly, the Xe core count remains undisclosed, so we'll have to wait until the official reveal. ASRock Arc B570 Challenger We expect the pricing to be around $200slightly lower than the B580. With a few discounts, this might be the first 10GB GPU in the sub-$200 categorybut that's speculation. Based on the aforementioned performance rumor, the Arc B570 and Arc B580 might not be that far apart if both reportedly surpass the RTX 4060 Ti. But hold your horses as real-world performance heavily depends on drivers and can only be gauged by independent reviews once these GPUs hit shelves. Please mark your calendars for December 3 as Intel unveils its Battlemage lineup of desktop GPUs. However, we anticipate the initial supply being pushed back to accommodate the holiday season. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday participated in the '50th Khalanga Mela' organized by Balbhadra Khalanga Vikas Samiti at Sagartal Nalapani, Dehradun. To support the event, the Chief Minister announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh to the Khalanga Mela Organising Committee and unveiled the '50th Khalanga Mela Souvenir.' Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in his address at the event said that Khalanga Mela is an occasion to remember the bravery and indomitable courage of the ancestors. The CM also paid homage to Commander Kunwar Balbhadra Thapa and his companions, emphasising their bravery in defending the motherland against British forces. He said that in the Anglo-Gorkha War of 1814 in the Veerbhoomi of Khalanga, commander Kunwar Balbhadra Thapa and his brave soldiers sacrificed their lives to protect the motherland. "In this war, Kunwar Balbhadra Thapa and his brave soldiers faced a huge army of British soldiers and drove away the British army with their bravery and strategic skills," he said. The Chief Minister said that this war is a symbol of the indomitable courage of our brave Gorkha warriors and their immense love for the motherland, which will always inspire us to be patriotic. "The saga of Khalanga is a symbol of the unmatched courage of our brave ancestors and our glorious heritage," he said. He further said that this fair is also a medium to preserve our rich cultural traditions and pass them on to the next generation. "The historical heritage of our country is the identity of our glorious past and is also the strong root of the banyan tree of our culture," he added. The Chief Minister further stated that "under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the work of strengthening our culture is being done across the country. Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, along with development, heritage is also being taken forward. Keeping the Khalanga War Memorial under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is a big example of this." Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also mentioned that the state government is fully committed to the upliftment of the Gorkha society and is constantly striving for their development and welfare. "Certainly, such events will help the new generation in preserving the traditions of the Gorkha community and remembering the bravery and sacrifice of their ancestors," he further added. (ANI) State lawmakers are considering making it a traffic violation to operate a vehicle in Arizona with an animal on the drivers lap. The violation would come with a fine. Do you agree? You voted: Social media is one of the fastest ways to communicate even to the highest echelons of any company. Social media users often take to X, Linkedin or even Instagram to either praise or register their complaints with concerned companies. One such recent episode escalated into a social media war when comedian Kunal Kamra posted about the degrading service quality of Ola Scooters. Kamra's post did not go well with Ola founder Bhavish Aggarwal and the duo landed into a social media war of words. Now, an X user advised Mahindra & Mahindra CEO to improve quality and other issues related to the company's cars/SUVs offering and not only to focus on new launches. The user commented on an X post made by Anand Mahindra after M7M launched its new electric vehicle range of Be6e and XEV 9e. In his post, the user said, "You better fix your ground level issues of existing cars, service centres, spare parts issues, employees behaviours first. Before showing sky-high shallow aspirations. Every single product of yours is for those who don't study and research, the media is full of complaints, I won't talk about the looks of your products because that's subjective still your cars stand nowhere at all near Hyundai when it comes to aesthetics. You either overdo or do very very overdo and make gobar kinda designs. Be6e is no exception you made another ajooba looking car which will be an eyesore in a couple of months." The user further added, "I have no idea if your design team or you yourself have such bad taste. But seriously your cars are for those who want a mountain-size car in 2011 and have no idea about reliability and quality. I seriously hope and wish that Mahindra and Tata can be the new Maruti and Hyundai for the world but so far only disappointed." However, unlike Bhavis, Anand Mahindra took the feedback in a positive way and said that Mahindra has come a long way and is ready to go miles further. "We have a long way to go. But please consider how far we have come. When I joined the company in 1991, the economy had just been opened up. A global consulting firm strongly advised us to exit the car business since we had no chance, in their view, of competing with the foreign brands that would enter. Three decades later, we are still around and competing fiercely. We have used all the surrounding cynicism, scepticismand even rudeness, as in your postto fuel our hunger to succeed. Yes, we have miles to go before we sleep. There is no room for any complacency and continuous improvement will continue to be our mantra. But thank you for feeding the fire in our bellies." said Anand Mahindra. Youre right, Sushant. We have a long way to go. But please consider how far we have come. When I joined the company in 1991, the economy had just been opened up. A global consulting firm strongly advised us to exit the car business since we had no chance, in their view, of pic.twitter.com/xinxlBcGuV December 1, 2024 Netizens were impressed with Mahindra's demeanour and sober response. "It is heartening to see you take the criticism to fuel the hunger," said one X user. "What a heart-warming reply Anand ji. Way to go. India needs to support such level-headed proprietors and brands with grit and iron will," said another X user. New Delhi: Vikrant Massey starrer 'The Sabarmati Report' continues to captivate audiences nationwide, leaving a profound impact with its powerful storytelling. By addressing a pivotal and sensitive chapter in Indias history, the film has sparked widespread appreciation from both viewers and critics alike. The political thriller based on the tragic Godhra train burning incident of February 27, 2002, involving the Sabarmati Express. It offers a thought-provoking exploration of real-life events. Its bold narrative has even earned accolades from the Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Honorable Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who praised its courageous portrayal of truth. After being declared tax-free in states such as Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Odisha, the film's success reached another milestone. Have A Look At The Post: The team of The Sabarmati Report, including producers Ektaa R Kapoor and Amul Mohan, met Honorable Devendra Fadnavis following his historic win in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. While the team congratulated the honorable minister on his remarkable victory, he, in turn, applauded their film's success. It was a meeting of two achievers, both creating waves in their respective spheres, leaving a lasting impression on society with their impactful contributions. Directed by Dheeraj Sarna and produced by Shobha Kapoor, Ektaa R Kapoor, Amul V Mohan and Anshul Mohan, a worldwide wide release by Zee Studios. The film is now released in theatres. Balaji Motion Pictures, a division of Balaji Telefilms Ltd presents, A Vikir Films Production, The Sabarmati Report starring Vikrant Massey, Raashii Khanna, and Ridhi Dogra in key roles. New Delhi: Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani made his first public appearance on Saturday after facing recent allegations and being indicted in the US. During his statement, he reaffirmed the conglomerate's commitment to compliance, adding that "every attack makes us stronger." "Less than two weeks ago, we encountered a series of allegations from the US regarding our compliance practices. This isn't the first time we've faced such challenges. What I can tell you is that every attack makes us stronger," said Gautam Adani while addressing the 51st Gems and Jewellery Awards. The Adani Group had previously issued a statement rejecting the allegations as baseless and confirmed that it would pursue legal action to defend itself. Speaking at Saturdays event, Adani said that despite a lot of vested reporting, no one from Adanis side has been charged with any violation of the FCPA (Foreign Corrupt Practices Act) of the US or any conspiracy to obstruct justice. "The fact is that despite a lot of the vested reporting, no one from the Adani side has been charged with any violation of the FCPA or any conspiracy to obstruct justice. Yet, in todays world, negativity spreads faster than facts," he said, adding that the group was committed to regulatory compliances. "As we work through the legal process, I want to re-confirm our absolute commitment to world class regulatory compliance," he added. Adani Green Energy Ltd, the renewable energy arm of the port-to-energy conglomerate, on November 21 scrapped a USD 600-million bond issue. The 20-year green bond was over-subscribed three times, hours before the US prosecutors charged Gautam Adani and associates with participating in a scheme to pay over USD 250 million bribe to Indian officials in exchange for favourable terms for solar power contracts. Following the indictment, Adani group companies stocks also tanked in the Mumbai trade. Ten listed firms of the group lost about USD 26 billion (Rs 2.19 lakh crore) in market value more than double of what the conglomerate had lost when US short-seller Hindenburg brought out a damning report in January 2023. However, since Wednesday, stocks of all the group firms have recovered. Shares of nine of the 11 listed Adani Group firms ended higher on Friday, with Adani Green Energy surging almost 22 per cent and Adani Energy climbing nearly 16 per cent. "Over the years, I have come to accept that the roadblocks we face are the price of pioneering. The bolder your dreams, the more the world will scrutinise you. But it is precisely in that scrutiny that you must find the courage to rise, to challenge the status quo, and to build a path where none exists," he said. Adani said that the group had successes but the challenges have been bigger. "However, these challenges have not broken us. Instead, they have defined us. They have made us tougher and give us the unshakeable belief that after every fall, we will rise again, stronger and more resilient than before," he said. Last year, the conglomerate had scrapped a Rs 20,000 crore Follow-on Public Offer (FPO) at its flagship firm Adani Enterprises Ltd after US short-seller Hindenburg Researchs report in January, which alleged the group of stock manipulation and accounting fraud. Adani had rejected all allegations and threatened to sue Hindenburg for its "reckless" attempt to sabotage the mega share sale at Adani Enterprises. But the allegation led to a free-fall of the group firms stocks, which at the lowest point saw USD 150 billion in market value being eroded. Talking about the Hindernburg report, he said, "This was not a typical financial strike, it was a double hit, targeting our financial stability and pulling us into a political controversy. All of this was further amplified by certain media with vested interests. But even in the face of such adversity, our commitment to our principles remained strong." Adani said that after successfully raising Rs 20,000 crore from Indias largest-ever FPO, the company made the extraordinary decision to return the proceeds. "We then further demonstrated our resilience by raising capital from several international sources and proactively reducing our debt-to-EBITDA ratio to below 2.5 times, an unmatched metric in the global infrastructure space," he said. "Our all-time record financial results in the same year showcased our commitment to operational excellence. Not a single Indian or foreign credit rating agency downgraded us. Finally, the Supreme Court of Indias affirmation of our actions validated our approach," he said. He further said that in 2010, when the group was investing in a coal mine in Australia, its objective was to make India energy secure and replace every two tonnes of poor-quality Indian coal with one tonne of high-quality coal from Australia. However, he said, the resistance from NGOs was huge and lasted almost a decade. "It was so intense that we ended up funding the entire project of 10 billion dollars with our own equity. While we now have a world class operating mine in Australia and it could be seen as a great sign of our resilience," he said. Adani also shared his journey of becoming an entrepreneur and highlighted its dominance in various sectors. He also advised businessmen to embrace technology and sustainability for progress, empower and uplift the skilled workforce and nurture the younger generation and equip them to balance tradition with transformation, culture with innovation and legacy with sustainability. (With PTI Inputs) Bhopal: Nearly 21 months before the world's worst industrial disaster hit Bhopal, a lawyer had sent a notice to Union Carbide asking it to stop producing toxic gases at its pesticide plant here, citing grave public health risk. However, the US multinational company summarily rejected his allegations, an act which proved costly as the monumental disaster unfolded on the intervening chilly winter night of December 2 and 3, 1984. The highly toxic methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the plant, killing 5,479 persons and maiming more than five lakh others. The lawyer, Shahnawaz Khan, served a legal notice to the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) on March 4, 1983, asking it to stop producing toxic gases that risked the lives of 50,000 persons living in the vicinity. But, instead of putting its house in order by overhauling its safety apparatus, the UCIL on April 29, 1983, in a strongly-worded reply to Khan, dismissed his concerns and charges as "baseless". In the reply's last paragraph, UCIL's Bhopal unit works manager J Mukund then wrote, "We once again repudiate all the allegations made in your notice of 4th March, 1983, and should you take any legal action against us, the same shall be defended at your risk and cost." The Bhopal-based lawyer is the nephew of freedom fighter Khan Shakir Ali Khan, a four-time MLA from here who was popularly known as "Sher-e-Bhopal". Shahnawaz Khan told PTI that after getting the reply to his notice, he started collecting documents from police and other sources on the incidents of leak and consequent death to file a case against the UCIL. "Before I could collect documents, the gas leaked from the Carbide factory," the 73-year-old lawyer said. Asked about his notice, Khan said he was moved after a worker, Ashraf, of the now-defunct Union Carbide factory in Bhopal died following leak of phosgene gas from the plant on December 25, 1981. "On January 9 (1982), twenty-five workers were hospitalised following leak at the plant, after which the workers protested," he recalled. Another toxic gas leak incident occurred in March 1982. After yet another leak on October 5 the same year, hundreds of residents living near the plant were hospitalised, he said. "Moved by this, I served a legal notice to UCIL on March 4, 1983," Khan said, showing the document and the company's reply. Khan's notice pointed out that the factory was located within the Bhopal Municipal Corporation limits in the midst of a populated area and more than 50,000 persons are residing in residential colonies adjacent to it. "Earlier, one person lost his life in your factory. A few days ago, a serious accident took place in your factory," it stated. With the storage and usage of toxic gases and hazardous and poisonous chemicals, residents in the nearby colonies are living in constant danger. They are living in fear, there is lurking danger of anything untoward happening taking place, the notice said. The lives of 50,000 persons are in danger. Death looms over them all the time, it stated. "Therefore, you are hereby, through this notice, directed to stop usage of toxic gases and hazardous and poisonous chemicals in your factory within 15 days from the date of this notice, failing which I shall be constrained to take legal action against your factory in the competent court of law and the consequences thereof Union Carbide shall be fully responsible," it added. More than a month after Khan served the notice, UCIL's works manager Mukund in his reply said the allegations were baseless and made out of ignorance of the factory operations. "Our pesticide complex at Bhopal, like any such complex in the world, is equipped with sophisticated devices for handling various types of chemicals in our manufacturing process or any hazardous incident in the course of manufacturing operations and all precautions are taken for safety of persons working in the factory all also those living in the vicinity," the reply read. "In fact, we have taken appropriate precautions with a view to ensure that no pollution is caused by our pesticide complex and your allegation that the persons living in the various colonies near to the industrial area remain under constant threat and danger, is absolutely baseless," it stated. The reply further said the company had the requisite permission from the Centre and the state government to operate the plant which is situated in an industrial area. The US-based Union Carbide Corporation (UCC)-designed Union Carbide India Limited's plant was built in Bhopal in 1969, the lawyer said. It was a formulation factory for UCC's Sevin brand of pesticides, produced by reacting methyl isocyanate and alpha naphthol, he said. In 1975, the UCC decided to manufacture ingredients of Sevin at its Bhopal unit. Though the regulations then prohibited polluting activity in the two-km periphery from the railway station, the UCC got necessary clearance, he added. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday said that the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, has come into the spotlight recently due to certain remarks made by former Chief Justice of India D. Y. Chandrachud in 2022, which has since opened a "Pandora's box." Ramesh pointed to the observations made by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud during the hearing of the Gyanvapi mosque dispute in May 2022. The Supreme Court's remarks, which stated that the Places of Worship Act does not bar an examination of the religious character of a structure as it stood on August 15, 1947, have set off a wave of legal and political debate. He said, "On 20 May 2022, Chandrachud Sahab made a verbal comment, and it opened Pandora's box. The Places of Worship Special Provisions Act 1991 was passed in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in 1991; it is being violated." He further stated, "The comment made by retired CJI Chandrachud on 20 May 2022 opened Pandora's box in Sambhal, Ajmer, and the BJP is taking full political advantage of it. Communal tension is being spread everywhere. We want that the Places of Worship Special Provisions Act 1991 should be respected... The CWC meeting was held the day before yesterday. We have written in our resolution that it is necessary to implement the Places of Worship Special Provisions Act 1991... In Parliament also, we have raised the issue of Adani's case, Manipur, and the Places of Worship Special Provisions Act 1991, especially regarding what is happening in Ajmer and Sambhal. We have given them notice." Congress Resolution on Supporting the Act Rameshs remarks also come in the wake of a resolution passed by the Congress Working Committee (CWC), which reaffirmed the partys commitment to the Places of Worship Act. The resolution was adopted after the ongoing disputes over religious sites in Sambhal and Ajmer, where claims have been made regarding the conversion of religious sites. The Congress party has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of deliberately compromising the integrity of the law as part of a broader strategy to sustain communal polarization ahead of elections. The Places of Worship Act, which was initially designed to prevent such disputes, has been at the center of political debates, with the BJPs stance on religious issues often being criticized for seeking to stoke divisions within the country. Delhi-NCR's air quality again hit severe category this year with governments forced to close schools and ordering work from home. The GRAP stages were put into force to curb pollution sources. But all of these are temporary measures. Spiritual leader and environmental advocate Swami Sehajanand Saraswati who has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on various environmental issues, has now called upon the National Green Tribunal to consider assigning warning tag for cities with hazardous air quality. Expressing deep concern about the deteriorating air quality in cities like Delhi and its impact on life expectancy, Swami Sehajanand pointed out that a child born in cities like Delhi today is destined to live a shorter life. "Nearly 18% of their life expectancy is lost to air pollution. Compare this to children born in cleaner environments like Portugalthey live significantly longer. Shouldnt we be alarmed?" he said. He has urged the National Green Tribunal to take stronger measures. "Cities with hazardous air quality should carry warnings, just like cigarette packets display health risks. Imagine the impact of a sign saying, Warning: Living in this city will reduce your lifespan. Transparency can push governments to act decisively," he opined. Swami Sehajanand painted a grim picture of what inaction could lead to. He said, "The day is not far when children will carry oxygen cylinders instead of school bags. Clean air, like water, may soon be sold in bottles. Is this the legacy we want to leave for future generation?" The Hindu seer called for believes that the switch to cleaner fuels is not an option but a necessity. He suggested drastic measures, including banning petrol and diesel in urban areas where alternatives like CNG are available. "We cannot continue to poison our cities with vehicular emissions. If CNG or electric vehicles can replace polluting fuels, why hesitate? Every day we delay, we harm the next generation," he said. Highlighting the urgency of the environmental crisis, Swami Sehajanand has called for the declaration of a global environmental emergency. He warned, "We are running out of time. Look around: rivers are drying, forests are disappearing, and the air is turning toxic. If we dont act now, future generations will live in a world where even clean air and water are luxuries." He has written to global leaders, urging them to prioritize conservation efforts over economic expansion. NEW DELHI: After forging close partnership in the defence domain, India and France are now looking at ramping up economic and trade ties as it is crucial to rely on "trusted" partners in these "turbulent times", French foreign trade minister Sophie Primas has said. In an interview to PTI, Primas said French companies are looking at expanding engagement with India in sectors like aeronautics, transport, energy infrastructures, sustainable development and emerging technologies. "India and France have always maintained a relationship of deep trust over the years, which becomes even more significant in the context of geopolitical turmoil and disruptions in supply chains," she said. "In these turbulent times, it is crucial to rely on trusted partners to advance together and develop joint cooperation. The stability and strength of our bilateral ties ensure resilience and strategic advantage as we navigate these challenges together," the minister added. Her comments came amid rising concerns in Europe over the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, the conflict in Gaza and uncertainty on implications of the economic policy of the incoming Donald Trump administration. At the same time, Primas highlighted the upward trajectory of India-France bilateral partnership affirming that both sides are now focusing on boosting economic and trade relations. "Strategic alignment, especially in defence, has been a cornerstone of our relations over the years. Recently, there has been a significant boost in our economic and commercial exchanges," the minister said in her written response. The defence and strategic ties between the two countries have witnessed major upswing in the last few years with India procuring a number of mega military platforms including fighter jets and missiles from France. Primas said France is also looking forward to further negotiations between New Delhi and the European Union for finalisation of a "mutually beneficial" free trade deal that could expand two-way economic engagement. "The EU remains committed to negotiating a mutually beneficial deal that incorporates ambitious sustainable development goals. Continued dialogue at the EU level is anticipated to further this objective," she said. India and the EU relaunched negotiations for the ambitious trade deal in June 2022 after a gap of over eight years but the talks have dragged on for a variety of reasons including the 27-nation bloc's position on carbon tax. On bilateral trade, the French foreign trade minister, who visited India from November 27-29, said there is potential for more growth in the trade sector. "Despite France being the top European destination for foreign investments continuously since 2020, it ranks only sixth for Indian investments in Europe," she said. "I encourage Indian firms to seize the opportunities offered by the France-India 2047 partnership and leverage France's advanced technological and industrial ecosystem to significantly boost their growth and invest in a country that is a hub for foreign investment in Europe," she added. The 2047 'Horizon Partnership' was unveiled following wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris in July last year. Its aim was to shore up bilateral ties including in trade and investment. The French foreign trade minister noted that the volume of India-France trade increased by 20 per cent in 2022, 13 per cent in 2023, and early data for the first half of 2024 is highly encouraging as it showed a 26 per cent increase to Euro 9.4 billion. At the same time she said there is room to expand and enhance the trade ties further. "French companies are committed to supporting India's development in transport, digital, and energy infrastructures, recognising significant potential in sectors like aeronautics, sustainable development, and emerging technologies," she said. "France and India already have a strong partnership in aeronautics, where French firms hold a substantial market share." "There is also a focus on enhancing French presence in transport infrastructure, and clean energy sectors due to India's growing needs," Primas said. The minister also highlighted "significant opportunities" for deeper engagement between the two sides in digital technologies like Artificial Intelligence, and space. Asked about the fast-track mechanism mentioned in the 2047 Horizon document for addressing issues pertaining to investments, Primas said it has proven to be a valuable forum. "Yes, the Fast-Track mechanism, established in 2020, has proven to be a valuable bilateral forum for addressing investment issues faced by French and Indian investors," she said. "It convenes biannually at a high level and has been very effective in maintaining momentum and fostering open dialogue. Regular meetings are crucial as they help ensure continuous progress and keep the channels of communication open," she added. Asked about the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) project, Primas said it will strengthen strategic supply chains and that Paris views it as a source of regional integration, peace and stability. Billed as a pathbreaking initiative, the IMEEC envisages a vast road, railroad and shipping networks among Saudi Arabia, India, the United States and Europe with an aim to ensure integration among Asia, Middle East and West. The IMEEC also envisages to include an electricity cable network, a hydrogen pipeline, high-speed data cable network to facilitate overall economic growth in the partner countries. The project is also seen as an initiative by like-minded nations to gain strategic influence in the face of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that has faced increasing criticism over lack of transparency and disregard for sovereignty of the nations. The BRI is a mega connectivity project that connects China with Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Russia and Europe. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha attended the 60th BSF Foundation Day celebrations at Shalbagan in Agartala on Sunday. He highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are committed to equipping soldiers with advanced technologies and better facilities. CM Saha said, "Today is the 60th Raising Day of the BSF. Our BSF soldiers work tirelessly to protect the country day and night. This is a day to honour and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. New technology has been developed for our soldiers. Our Prime Minister and Home Minister are fully aware of advancements, from border fencing to other new technologies. The facilities to be provided to the soldiers are being thoughtfully considered. I extend my gratitude to the soldiers for ensuring our security and safeguarding our borders." The Chief Minister also emphasised the importance of remembering the sacrifices of soldiers on this occasion. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings on Border Security Force Raising Day, recognising the critical role of the BSF in national security. "Warm wishes to the Border Security Force on their Raising Day! The BSF stands as a critical line of defence, embodying courage, dedication, and exceptional service. Their vigilance and courage contribute to the safety and security of our nation," PM Modi said in a post on X. The BSF, the world's largest border guarding force with nearly 2.65 lakh personnel, observes its Raising Day annually on December 1. BSF troops, stationed in some of the most challenging terrains and remote locations, serve as the guardians of India's borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. Until 1965, India's border with Pakistan was managed by the State Armed Police Battalions. However, following Pakistan's attack on Sardar Post, Chhar Bet, and Beria Bet in Kutch on April 9, 1965, the inadequacy of the State Armed Police to handle armed aggression became evident. This prompted the Government of India to establish a specialised, centrally controlled Border Security Force, armed and trained to secure the international border with Pakistan. Based on the recommendations of the Committee of Secretaries, the BSF was established on December 1, 1965. Initially raised with 25 battalions in 1965, the BSF has since expanded to address the nation's security requirements, including countering militancy in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and the Northeast. Today, with a sanctioned strength of over 2,65,000 personnel across 192 battalions, the BSF is responsible for securing India's 6,386.36-kilometre-long borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. (ANI) Chennai: Three people died in rain-related incidents in Chennai after Cyclone Fengal crossed the coast near Puducherry, triggering heavy rainfall and strong winds across coastal districts in north Tamil Nadu. The cyclone crossed the coast on Saturday night. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has issued a red alert for Sunday, forecasting rainfall over Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, and Puducherry. Other districts, including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai, Dharmapuri, Salem, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, and the Karaikal region, are also expected to receive heavy showers. The rain caused flooding in low-lying areas of Chennai, disrupted flights, and affected EMU train services. The RMC stated that the cyclone's spiral bands would result in heavy rainfall continuing through Sunday (December 1). However, the rain intensity depends on cloud cover. Central Chennai areas, including Korattur, Koyambedu, Virugambakkam, Nungambakkam, T. Nagar, and Alwarpet, were inundated. The power supply was disrupted in several neighbourhoods during the Saturday evening. S. Balachandran, director of the RMC, described Cyclone Fengal as a dynamic storm with constantly changing speeds. Officials noted that the rainfall boosted water levels in key reservoirs, as intermittent spells prevented excessive flooding. Rainfall ranged from 10 cm to 13 cm across weather stations. In Chennai, the highest rainfall of 13.2 cm was recorded at Jaya Engineering College, followed by Meenambakkam with 11.4 cm and Nungambakkam with 10.4 cm. Puducherry, where the cyclone made landfall, recorded 10.4 cm, while Mailam station in Villupuram recorded 13.6 cm. Squally winds, with speeds of 55 km/h to 65 km/h and gusts up to 75 km/h, persisted over the north Tamil Nadu coast. Winds of 35 km/h to 45 km/h, gusting up to 55 km/h, were observed over the south Tamil Nadu coast, the Comorin area, and the Gulf of Mannar. Windy conditions are expected to continue until December 3, prompting authorities to advise fishermen against venturing into the sea. The Puducherry administration sent SMS alerts to nearly 12 lakh residents, urging vigilance. Chief Minister N. Rangasamy inspected rain-affected areas and reviewed disaster management measures, including the setup of relief centres for evacuees from low-lying regions. The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority (TNSDMA) deployed three disaster relief teams in Chennai and 13 teams across other impacted districts. The Tamil Nadu Revenue and Disaster Management Department established 2,229 relief centres. So far, 471 individuals from 164 families have been relocated to relief camps in the Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts. Authorities are prepared for further evacuations if necessary. In a public safety advisory, the government urged IT companies to permit employees to work from home. Residents were strongly advised to stay indoors unless necessary. Parks and beaches in Chennai and neighbouring districts have been closed, with warnings issued against visiting recreational spots. Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Mayor R. Priya assured residents that the civic body is fully prepared to handle heavy rains. Warnings were also issued against parking vehicles under trees during the rainfall. Subways, including the RBI Subway, Sundaram Point, Rangarajapuram, Palavanthangal, and Gengu Reddy subways, were closed due to waterlogging. SATARA: Amid the suspense over the Chief Ministerial face in Maharashtra, caretaker Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde on Sunday returned to Mumbai from his native village in Satara, where he had gone to recuperate after a brief illness. Shinde was bestowed a 'guard of honour' by the Satara police after which he took the flight back to the state capital. Addressing mediapersons in his native village, Shinde said that the Mahayuti alliance's chief minister candidate will be decided tomorrow and reiterated that he has already given his "unconditional support" to the decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda. He also told mediapersons that he was in good health. Shinde had arrived in his native village on Friday evening to take a break following a hectic election schedule as the ruling-BJP-led Mahayuti is yet to declare a CM for Maharashtra, one of the key states. Speaking to reporters in Satara, Shinde said, "I am feeling better now. I came here to rest after the busy election schedule. I didn't take any leave during my two and half years as Chief Minister. People are still visiting me here. This government will listen to the people. I have already given my unconditional support to the decision of the Prime Minister, Home Minister and BJP President and I will support whatever they decide for Maharashtra..." Shinde, also highlighted unity among Mahayuti leaders, stating, "Our government's work over the past two and a half years will be remembered in history. This is why the people gave us a historic mandate and denied the opposition even the chance to elect a Leader of the Opposition. All three allies of the Mahayuti have a good understanding. The Chief Minister candidate will be decided tomorrow," he said. Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis -- widely considered the frontrunner for Chief Minister-- NCP chief Ajit Pawar, and other Mahayuti leaders met Amit Shah and JP Nadda in Delhi on Thursday evening to discuss the deadlock over the Chief Ministerial position. The Maharashtra Assembly election results, declared on November 23, saw the Mahayuti alliance achieve a landslide victory. The BJP emerged as the largest party with 132 seats in the 280-member Assembly, while its allies--the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, and the NCP, led by Ajit Pawar--won 57 and 41 seats, respectively. Maharashtra CM Race: With each passing day, the Maharashtra CM race is getting clear with senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former CM Devendra Fadnavis continuing to have an upper hand. Amid the suspense, a senior BJP leader on Sunday gave further clarity on the top post, saying that Fadnaviss name has been finalized and he is set to be elected as the legislature party leader in a meeting. It will be held either on December 2 or 3, he further stated. Earlier, outgoing CM Eknath Shinde stated that he would support the saffron partys decision to pick the new chief minister. "The name of Devendra Fadnavis has been finalized as the new chief minister of Maharashtra. The meeting to elect the new BJP legislature party meeting will be held on either December 2 or 3," a senior BJP leader told PTI. Amid all the speculations that his son Shrikant Shinde might get the deputy CM's post and Shiv Sena is having its eyes on the Home portfolio, Shinde said the Mahayuti alliesthe BJP, NCP, and Shiv Senawill take the decision pertaining to the government formation through consensus after sitting together. More than a week after the Mahayuti clinched a massive victory in Maharashtra polls, the new government is yet to be sworn in. The Mahayuti won 230 of the 288 assembly seats. The BJP led with 132 seats, while the Shiv Sena got 57 and the NCP 41. The oath-taking ceremony of the new Mahayuti government is scheduled for December 5 evening at the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend. The BJP legislature party meeting to elect the leader, who will be the party's chief ministerial pick, is yet to be held even though Shiv Sena and NCP have elected Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar as their legislature party leaders, respectively. A senior Mahayuti leader said the allies will jointly decide whether only the chief minister and deputy CMs will take oath on December 5 or ministers will also be sworn in. Shinde had left for his native village in Satara district on Friday amid speculation that he was not happy with the way the new government was shaping up. He developed high fever in his village. Talking to reporters in his village on Sunday before leaving for Mumbai, Shinde said, "I have already said the decision on CM's post taken by the BJP leadership will be acceptable to me and Shiv Sena and will have my full backing." (With PTI Inputs) Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), recently called on Indian families to have at least three children to address the potential risks of population decline. Speaking at an event in Nagpur, Bhagwat emphasized the importance of maintaining population stability for the survival of society, citing demographic science to back his claim. Population Decline During his address, Bhagwat raised concerns about the consequences of a declining population. He referenced modern demographic studies, stating that when a community's fertility rate falls below 2.1, the society faces the risk of extinction. "It does not need external threats to vanish; it disappears on its own," he said, pointing to the historical examples of languages and societies that ceased to exist due to declining populations. To prevent such a scenario in India, Bhagwat argued that the country's population must not fall below a fertility rate of 2.1. This threshold is considered crucial to maintain population stability and ensure the continuity of society. Bhagwat referred to India's population policy, which was formulated in the late 1990s and early 2000s. According to him, the policy explicitly states that no community's population should drop below the critical 2.1 fertility rate. Since it is not possible to have fractional children, Bhagwat proposed that families should aim for at least three children in order to sustain the population and avoid long-term demographic issues. Notably, India has recently achieved a significant milestone by surpassing China to become the most populous country in the world. This shift in global population dynamics highlights the rapid growth of India's population. According to a report by World Population review, Hindus comprised 80% of the population in India according to the previous census, this percentage has now decreased to 78.9% as of this year. This decline in the growth rate of the Hindu population has resulted in a slight reduction in their proportion of the total population. In contrast, the growth rate of the Muslim population in India has seen an increase. Political Reactions and Criticisms Bhagwat's comments sparked political debates, particularly in Bihar, where discussions on caste-based census and population control policies have often been contentious. Opposition parties, including the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Janata Dal (United), voiced their concerns over Bhagwat's remarks. RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari criticized the contradictory stance, pointing out that while the RSS chief was advocating for larger families, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had long promoted awareness campaigns on population control. He called for a resolution of the contradictions between the government's official position on population control and Bhagwat's comments urging more children per family. Janata Dal (United) also criticized the RSS chief's remarks. Party spokesperson Arvind Nishad suggested that Bhagwat should consult with BJP leaders, who often advocate for population control. He pointed out that Bihar's Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had successfully worked on the issue through policies that focused on educating women as a key factor in population control. Caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has reiterated his unconditional support for the Chief Ministerial candidate from the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance. He said that the people of Maharashtra have given a historic mandate in favor of the alliance. Shinde mentioned that he had traveled to his native village in Satara district for a brief rest following the hectic election period. He also confirmed that he had recovered from a recent fever and was now in good health. Speaking to reporters, Shinde shared, "I am feeling better now. I came here to rest after the busy election schedule. I didn't take any leave during my 2.5 years as Chief Minister." Support for Government and Party Leadership Shinde highlighted that the government would remain responsive to the needs of the people. He reaffirmed his full, unconditional support for the party's leadership, stating, "I have already given my unconditional support to the party leadership, and I will stand by their decision." Despite his rest, Shinde noted that people continued to visit him, demonstrating his ongoing connection with the public. Unity Among Mahayuti Allies Shinde also emphasized the strong unity among the Mahayuti alliance members. He stressed that the governments work over the past 2.5 years would be remembered in history. "The people gave us a historic mandate, denying the opposition even the chance to elect a Leader of the Opposition. All three allies of the Mahayuti have a good understanding," he said. Shinde further clarified that the decision regarding the Chief Ministerial candidate would be made soon. "The Chief Minister candidate will be decided tomorrow," he added, signaling that the process was near conclusion. NCP Confirms BJP's Chief Ministerial Claim Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief Ajit Pawar stated that the Chief Minister would be from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with the other two coalition partners taking Deputy Chief Minister positions. "During the meeting in Delhi, it was decided that the Mahayuti would form the government with the Chief Minister from BJP, while the remaining two parties would have Deputy Chief Ministers," Pawar clarified. Mahayuti Leaders Meet in Delhi Eknath Shinde, along with other Mahayuti leaders, including Devendra Fadnaviswidely considered a frontrunner for the Chief Minister's postAjit Pawar, and others, met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President JP Nadda in Delhi on Thursday evening. The meeting aimed to resolve the ongoing deadlock over the Chief Ministerial position. BJP-Led Mahayuti's Landslide Victory In the Maharashtra Assembly elections, declared on November 23, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a landslide victory. The BJP emerged as the largest party with 132 seats in the 280-member Assembly, while its alliesthe Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, and the NCP, led by Ajit Pawarwon 57 and 41 seats, respectively. Despite the alliances victory, the final decision on the Chief Ministerial candidate remains pending. Throwing his weight behind senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi over his call for caste census, party president Mallikarjun Kharge said on Sunday that through caste census, Gandhi is seeking to unite the people of India and not break the country. Kharge also lashed out at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for "misleading the people" and "spreading hatred." While addressing a Maha Rally to defend the Constitution at Ramleela Maidan in the national capital, Kharge echoed Rahul Gandhis stance on the caste census, saying that it will reveal who has what participation and share in the country. Whenever Rahul Gandhi talks about the caste census, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah accuse him of breaking the country. On the contrary, whenever he speaks about the caste census, he (Rahul Gandhi) wants to bring the country and its people together," Kharge said. The Congress chief reiterated that Rahul Gandhi talks about uniting the country and not dividing. He further stated that the caste census will reveal who has what participation and share in the country. "Based on the caste census, Rahul Gandhi wants to do better work for the marginalized people of the country. The Constitution has given us the right to live with dignity and self-respect and has given us equal opportunity to progress. To get this right, caste census is very important in the country, which will ensure the right participation of the countrymen," the senior Congress leader said. He asserted that to safeguard the Constitution and democracy, unity among the people and political parties is a must, adding that different partners of the INDIA bloc are fighting to safeguard the Constitution as well as the democracy. "From Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Bengal to Gujarat, unity is a must. If we do not stand together, we will not achieve our desired result, which is to safeguard the Constitution and democracy," he said. Criticizing the PM Modi-led Central government, the Congress President said: Modi-Shah don't even listen to their leader (RSS chief) Mohan Bhagwat ji. Tomorrow they will demolish the Red Fort, Taj Mahal, and Charminar and look for something underneath them! Today, everywhere in the country, surveyors are finding out where earlier there were temples and where there were mosques. He stated that PM Modi is leaving no stone unturned in breaking the unity of the country. Our fight is against the hatred they spread, for which political power is extremely necessary, he said. (With IANS Inputs) AAP national convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal addressed the media on Sunday and said that there will be no alliance for the Delhi Assembly elections that are scheduled to be held in February 2025. Reacting to a sudden attack on him during a public rally in Delhi, Kejriwal targeted the BJP government for alleged inaction on law and order issues in the national capital. While addressing a press conference, Kejriwal said that the BJP is targeting MLAs instead of arresting criminals. Kejriwal informed that the liquid thrown at him was harmless and stated that this was the third attack on him in the last 35 days. "The liquid thrown on me was harmless, but it could have been dangerous. This is the third attack on me in the last 35 days," he said during a press conference. The former chief minister also alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah was sending the message that it is the complainants, not the offenders, who will be arrested. Kejriwal also condemned the arrest of AAP MLA Naresh Balyan, who had previously filed a complaint about extortion by gangsters. "Instead of arresting criminals, they are targeting our MLAs," he added. On Saturday, a man threw liquid at Kejriwal during his 'padyatra' in Malviya Nagar, South Delhi. Meanwhile, the saffron party has not responded to Delhi's former CM allegations. (With PTI Inputs) The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced in a statement the lifting of gathering restrictions in most of the country's northern regions. The decision was made following a situational assessment held by IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, Xinhua news agency reported. One of the gathering restrictions, which allowed a maximum of 10, 100, 350, or 2,000 people in the north depending on the distance from the Lebanese border in the past, has been changed to a maximum of 200 people on the confrontation line area along the Lebanese border and in the northern part of the annexed Golan Heights. The gathering restriction of up to 2,000 people in the communities close to the Gaza Strip in southern Israel remains in effect. On Thursday evening, the IDF announced the immediate lifting of gathering restrictions in central Israel, including Tel Aviv and its suburbs. The Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, which took effect on Wednesday, is largely holding, though occasional violations in border areas have been reported by both sides. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued weather warnings for Kerala on Monday, December 2, forecasting heavy rainfall across the state. Red alerts have been issued for four districts in the northern part of Kerala, with an emphasis on extremely heavy rains. The IMD also issued orange and yellow alerts for other districts, as the region prepares for a significant weather event. Red Alerts for Northern Kerala Districts The IMD has warned of extremely heavy rainfall in the northern districts of Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, and Kannur. These areas can expect isolated rainfall exceeding 20 cm within a 24-hour period, which classifies them under the red alert category. This level of rainfall is likely to cause major disruptions, including potential landslides, flooding, and other weather-related hazards. Orange and Yellow Alerts Issued for Other Districts In addition to the red alerts, an orange alert has been issued for Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, and Thrissur districts. These regions are expected to experience very heavy rainfall, with rainfall amounts ranging from 11 cm to 20 cm over the next 24 hours. The IMD has also placed a yellow alert for Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Palakkad, and other districts, where rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm is expected. These warnings indicate the possibility of moderate to heavy rainfall, which could still cause localized disruptions. The IMDs weather forecast for the next few days indicates a gradual increase in rainfall activity. Light to moderate rainfall is expected in most places on Sunday, December 1, with heavy to very heavy rainfall anticipated at several locations. Isolated areas may even experience extremely heavy rainfall. On December 2, the forecast predicts widespread light to moderate rain, with heavy to very heavy rainfall in some places and isolated extremely heavy rainfall. By December 3, heavy rainfall will continue in some regions. Precautionary Measures Due to the impending weather conditions, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has issued a series of advisories for residents. The KSDMA has advised people living in low-lying areas, landslide-prone zones, and mudslide-prone areas to stay alert and, if necessary, relocate to safer locations as directed by local authorities. Residents living near riverbanks or in dam catchment areas should also take precautions and evacuate if instructed. The KSDMA has also recommended that traffic be regulated and non-essential movement be minimized to prevent accidents and congestion. Heavy rains could lead to waterlogging on major roads, reducing visibility and hindering traffic flow. The KSDMA further warned of potential damage to infrastructure, including the uprooting of trees and flooding in low-lying areas. The heavy rainfall may also disrupt power supply, with possible damage to power lines and other utilities. The authorities have urged residents to stay indoors during severe weather conditions. Fishing Advisory The KSDMA has shared an advisory for fishermen, following the Central Meteorological Department's warning against fishing activities in certain coastal areas. Fishing is not advised off the Kerala coast from December 1 to December 4, off the Lakshadweep coast from December 1 to December 5, and off the Karnataka coast on December 3 and 4 due to rough seas and the risk of severe weather. Kerala Lottery Results Sunday 01-12-2024 LIVE: The Kerala Lottery Department, on behalf of the Keralan government, announces the "AKSHAYA AK-679" Lucky Draw Result today Akshaya AK-679, December 01, 2024. The draw will be held at Gorky Bhavan near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala Lottery Result 2024 for "Akshaya AK-679" will feature 12 series, with changes in series possible each week. A total of 108 lakh tickets are available for purchase weekly. The ticket prices may vary. Check the Akshaya AK-679 results right here to see if youre the first-place winner of 70 Lakhs. Stay tuned to this website for the live update of Kerala Lottery Akshaya AK-679 results today. Kerala Lottery Result 01-12-2024 December: FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR AKSHAYA AK-679 Draw LUCKY NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 70 LAKHS IS: AD 506035 LUCKY NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 5 LAKHS IS: AL 263557 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 1 Lakh ARE: AA 929448 AB 403501 AC 347057 AD 730487 AE 163554 AF 269244 AG 755854 AH 204511 AJ 790075 AK 223753 AL 637546 AM 303056 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE: AA 506035 AB 506035 AC 506035 AE 506035 AF 506035 AG 506035 AH 506035 AJ 506035 AK 506035 AL 506035 AM 506035 (For The Tickets Ending with The Following Numbers below) LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE: 0390 1301 1618 2563 2757 4102 4259 4847 5895 6282 6362 6879 7841 7892 9025 9416 9547 9763 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE OF RS 2,000 ARE: 0275 1737 3007 3502 5631 6966 7490 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE: 0870 2529 2570 2778 2820 3028 3289 3663 4110 4661 5146 5290 6103 6431 6464 6566 6853 6859 7249 7375 7772 8331 8737 8918 9703 9795 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE: 0014 0159 0198 0262 0345 0633 0661 1069 1375 1480 1628 1791 1797 1803 1804 1830 1974 2441 2647 2762 2875 3297 3303 3498 3566 3920 3935 4032 4088 4096 4443 4532 4596 4757 4842 4910 4947 5059 5292 5394 5409 5456 5617 5658 5692 5776 6184 6207 6371 6373 6570 6635 6833 7099 7429 7504 7581 7695 7779 7798 7869 8452 8532 8669 8724 8952 9095 9310 9452 9542 9688 9838 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 8TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE: To Be Announced KERALA LOTTERY RESULT 01-12-2024 December TODAY: AKSHAYA AK-679 LOTTERY PRIZE DETAILS 1st Prize: Rs 70 Lakhs 2nd Prize: Rs. 5 lakhs 3rd Prize: Rs. 1 Lakh 4th Prize: Rs. 5,000 5th Prize: Rs. 2,000 6th Prize: Rs. 1,000 7th Prize: Rs. 500 8th Prize: Rs. 100 Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000 (NOTE: Lottery can be addictive and should be played responsibly. The data provided on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as advice or encouragement. Zee News does not promote lottery in anyway.) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Haryana on December 9 to launch the Pradhan Mantri Bima Sakhi Yojana in the state. Speaking to reporters, Nayab Singh Saini outlined the preparations for the visit and emphasised the government's commitment to fulfilling its promises "Today, we had discussions with all the workers regarding our BJP membership campaign. We should achieve our target in 1-2 days and after that, PM Modi is coming to Haryana on 9th December to launch the Pradhan Mantri Bima Sakhi Yojana and all the workers have been assigned the duty to take women from here in large numbers to Panipat. Our government will continuously fulfil the promises we made in the state and take Haryana forward," Haryana CM said. Haryana CM Saini also took the opportunity to slam the opposition Congress, and termed their blames on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) as "unfortunate." Lashing out further, he said that Congress has no policies, intentions or leadership and the people of the country have rejected them, whether it is Maharashtra or Haryana. Saini said, "Congress is doing the work of blaming EVM after losing the elections. This is unfortunate. Congress is not looking at its activities. It wants to save itself by blaming someone or the other. Congress has no policies, no intentions, no leadership...Today the whole country has understood their lies. The people of the country have shown the way out to Congress, whether it is Maharashtra or Haryana..." "Congress does not have issues. They wanted to grab power by lying. They have been able to get their way by lying in some states...When Congress was getting wiped out, they took the help of lies, took the help of the Constitution and told lies...It is unfortunate and people have rejected Congress. Congress leaders should understand that in 2029, it will be completely wiped out because even lies will not sell at that time..." he added. On Sunday, Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also criticised the Congress party blaming EVMs for losing the election. He stated that those who have won the Jharkhand elections should also explain to the people of Jharkhand. "Congress has won Jharkhand; they should clarify the win. The situation resembles a frustrated cat scratching at a pillar. The Prime Minister, the Home Minister, and I had all predicted that following the election results in Maharashtra, we know that these people would start to criticise the EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines). Indeed, this is what is happening now. Whenever parties lose elections, they tend to blame the EVMs," he said. (ANI) Mumbai: BJP leader Raosaheb Danve announced on Sunday that the party has finalised its choice for Maharashtra's next chief minister, with confirmation pending from the central leadership. Speaking without naming anyone, the former Union minister stated that the people of Maharashtra are already aware of who will assume the role. The new Mahayuti government in Maharashtra will be sworn in on December 5 at Azad Maidan, south Mumbai. State BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule confirmed Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the ceremony. In an interview to a regional news channel, Danve said, "Even people know who is going to be the next chief minister of Maharashtra. We are waiting for finalisation of the same person's name by the senior leaders of our party," reported PTI. "We are waiting for official stamping (approval) on the name," the BJP leader added. The BJP has yet to announce its choice for Maharashtra's chief minister, but party sources indicate Devendra Fadnavis is the leading contender. Fadnavis, a two-time chief minister, previously served as deputy CM in the Eknath Shinde-led government. A day after Mahayuti's meeting with Amit Shah in Delhi, Maharashtra's caretaker CM Eknath Shinde visited his native village Dare in Satara on Friday. His move comes amid speculation about his dissatisfaction with the formation of the new state government. Commenting on the cabinet composition, BJP leader Raosaheb Danve stated, "It is the chief minister's prerogative on whom to include in the state cabinet." When asked about caretaker CM Eknath Shinde's visit to his village in Satara, Danve dismissed concerns about its impact on governance. "When a chief minister visits his native place, we see pride in it," he said. He went on to draw a parallel with former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying, "When Manmohan Singh was the country's prime minister during the previous UPA government, he underwent heart surgery. The administration continued to function." (With PTI inputs) Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, shared his wishes on the occasion of Border Security Force (BSF) Raising Day on Sunday, December 1. In a post on X, Gandhi praised the dedication, bravery, and sacrifices of the BSF, calling them a daily source of inspiration. "On BSF Raising Day, I send my heartfelt greetings and salute to all the courageous personnel of India's First Line of Defence who protect our nation's borders. Your dedication, bravery, service, and sacrifices inspire us every single day. Jai Hind," he wrote. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had also shared their greetings to mark the occasion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his warm wishes to the Border Security Force (BSF) on their Raising Day. He described the BSF as a vital part of Indias defence system, showcasing unmatched bravery, dedication, and commitment to service. In a post on X, PM Modi said, "The BSF is a crucial line of defence for our nation. Their courage and vigilance ensure the safety and security of our country. Warm wishes to the BSF on their Raising Day!" Union Home Minister Amit Shah also shared his greetings on X, praising the bravery and sacrifices of BSF personnel. He highlighted their selflessness and readiness to make the ultimate sacrifice as a true example of serving the nation. "Greetings to the BSF personnel and their families on this special day. The soldiers of @BSF_India have protected the honor and aspirations of Bharat with unwavering determination, never hesitating to lay down their lives for the country," Shah wrote. He further added, "Their sacrifices and courage inspire countless patriots and ensure that our nation continues to prosper. I pay my heartfelt tribute to the bravehearts who gave their lives in the line of duty." The Border Security Force (BSF), the largest border-guarding force in the world with nearly 2.65 lakh personnel, celebrates its Raising Day every year on December 1. The BSF was established as a paramilitary force under the Ministry of Home Affairs to protect Indias borders with Pakistan and, later, Bangladesh. Its primary roles include ensuring the nations security, preventing illegal activities, and assisting in counter-insurgency operations. Since its formation, the BSF has been a key force in safeguarding Indias borders, protecting the countrys territorial integrity, and maintaining peace along the border areas. BSF Jurisdiction in India The Border Security Force (BSF) is India's primary border guarding organization, tasked with maintaining the security of India's land borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. The BSF's jurisdiction extends 50 kilometers into Indian territory from the International Border in Punjab, West Bengal, and Assam, and throughout the entire states of Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh. Within this jurisdiction, BSF personnel have the authority to arrest, search, and seize under specific laws, including the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), the Passport (Entry into India) Act, and the Passports Act. This jurisdiction allows the BSF to effectively combat trans-border crimes such as smuggling, infiltration, and illegal migration. Guiding Principles of the BSF The Border Security Force (BSF) operates with a clear vision and motto that guide its actions and define its purpose. The BSF's vision is to be a premier border guarding force that is trusted and respected for its professionalism, dedication, and commitment to national security. This vision reflects the BSF's ambition to be a leading force in border management, constantly adapting to evolving challenges and threats. The BSF's motto, "Duty Unto Death" ( ), encapsulates its unwavering commitment to safeguarding India's borders, even in the face of extreme danger and adversity. This motto reflects the BSF's core values of courage, sacrifice, and selfless service to the nation. (Girish Linganna is a Defence and Aerospace Analyst based out of Bengaluru. He is also the Director of ADD Engineering Components, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. The views expressed in this article are of the author only.) Maharashtra CM Suspense: The Mahayuti alliance that claimed a whooping majority in the Maharashtra Assembly Election has hit roadblocks over the Chief Minister selection. Bharatiya Janata Partys Devendra Fadnavis still remains the frontrunner in the CM race, with two Deputy Chief Ministers expected each from Shiv Sena and NCP. Amit Shah convened with the big three of the coalition, Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde, and Ajit Pawar, in Delhi on Thursday; however, no official announcement over cabinet berths came thereafter. Another meeting in Mumbai was called off as outgoing Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde took off for his native village Dare in Satara district. On Saturday, the BJP announced the date of swearing-inDecember 5 at Azad Maidan, but the statement has not been able to shush the murmurs of discontent within Mahayuti camp. Shiv Sena Demands Home Portfolio State BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule's independent announcement regarding the oath-taking ceremony, the move triggered unease within the Shiv Sena faction. Eknath's Sena spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat publicly shared the party's reasoning for claiming the home ministry portfolio. He said that in the 2022 government, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis held the home department while Shinde served as the chief minister; there should naturally be a similar division this time, following the usual pattern. The Mahayuti must give the home department to Shiv Sena if the chief ministership goes to BJP, Shirsat added. Speaking to PTI, he further alleged that efforts were being made to sideline Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Eknath Shinde In Satara The tussle over portfolios continues as caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde remains in his village, Dare, in Satara. He retreated there on Friday, citing health issues. Shinde had earlier stated that decisions by Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah would be acceptable to him and his party. However, the BJP's offer of the deputy chief minister's post has reportedly faced resistance. Shiv Sena leader Shambhuraj Desai in Satara district, spoke about Shinde's health, saying he has been suffering from a cough and cold. "Exertion affected him, so we advised him to take rest," Desai told reporters. He was running a temperature of 105, another aide said. Eknath Shinde faces pressure from a section of Shiv Sena leaders who believe he should not accept the deputy CM post after serving as chief minister for over two years. Meanwhile, another faction within the party insists he must join the new government. In the 288-member Assembly, the majority mark is 145. The BJP secured 132 seats, Shiv Sena won 57, and the NCP managed 41. Union Textile Minister Giriraj Singh on Sunday made sacthing remarks against the Congress and its leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, saying that the opposition party indulges in votebank politics and only cares about "pro-Islam votes. " He said that Rahul Gandhi would remain silent on Bangladesh but would visit Sambhal for "political tourism." "Congress does the politics of vote bank. They see pro-Islam votes with Muslims. Hence they are going to Sambhal. But if something happens to Hindus, they keep quiet," Union Minister Giriraj Singh told ANI. The Union Minister further lashed out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for being silent on the Bangladesh issue. Taking a dig at Gandhi, Singh said that he was silent on Bangladesh but would go to Sambhal on December 2 for "political tourism." Reacting to the remarks made by Priyanka Gandhi against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in her rally on Saturday, Singh attacked her saying that Congress doesn't have the right to speak about Constitution. "The leader (Priyanka Gandhi) who you named, her grandmother imposed an Emergency and destroyed the Constitution. The person whose grandfather didn't care about the Constitution is speaking about the Constitution. Chot Chori ke khilaaf bol raha hai. Congress has no right to speak," the Union Minister said. Speaking on the ongoing tension in Bangladesh, Singh appealed to the Hindus of Bangladesh to stay united while holding Congress and Partition responsible for the current situation. "Partition of the country was an unfortunate incident which Congress has done in 1947. There are no Hindus left in Pakistan. If what BR Ambedkar had said had been heard, all the Muslims would have been sent to Pakistan (joint Pakistan) and Hindus to India. This situation would not have arisen. The Indian government has warned its counterpart in Bangladesh. I appeal to Hindus in Bangladesh to stay united and the Hindus of India are with you," Giriraj Singh said. Giriraj Singh's comments come after Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi on Saturday alleged that Parliament has witnessed disruptions over the past week because the BJP is afraid to discuss certain issues with opposition parties. Priyanka Gandhi asserted that the Congress is fighting to uphold the Constitution. Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai informed that his party's delegation was also visiting the violence-affected district in the state on December 2. Singh and Minister of State (MoS) for Textiles Pabitra Margherita on Sunday were in Guwahati, attending the International Conference on Sustainability and Climate Change. The Union Minister also visited the stalls of an exhibition organized on the occasion. In the smog-laden environment of Delhi, where the Air Quality Index (AQI) often breaches hazardous levels, a remarkable eco-friendly home in Sainik Farms stands as a testament to sustainable living. Peter Singh and Nino Kaur's residence consistently maintains an AQI of just 10-15, a feat achieved through ingenious design, eco-conscious construction methods, and a passion for self-sufficiency. A Home Like No Other This extraordinary home defies modern architectural norms. Instead of using traditional cement or paint, it employs bricks bound by lime mortar and is finished with lime-based coatings, which are more breathable and eco-friendly. The roof, instead of conventional concrete, is adorned with stone tiles, offering natural insulation and significantly cooler interiors during Delhi's scorching summers. A Green Oasis with Over 15,000 Plants The propertys lush greenery is its lifeline. With over 15,000 plants meticulously placed throughout the residence, the house serves as a natural air purifier. These plants ensure the indoor AQI remains pristine, even as outdoor pollution levels soar. Powered by the Sun and Water-Wise Beyond clean air, the home runs entirely on solar energy, making it fully off-grid. Water conservation is a core principle, with a 15,000-litre rainwater harvesting tank providing irrigation for the plants. Wastewater is carefully recycled, leaving no room for wastage. A Sustainable Food Haven Peter and Nino have embraced self-sufficiency by growing their own organic vegetables, ensuring they never need to buy produce from the market. Even Delhi's notorious stubble burning season, which worsens air pollution, has been turned into an opportunity. The couple uses stubble mixed with compost to fertilize their mushroom cultivation efforts, bringing sustainability full circle. A Journey Rooted in Health and Determination This unique home was born out of necessity and determination. When Nino was diagnosed with blood cancer, her recovery was hindered by Delhis toxic air. Doctors advised the couple to leave the city, but their commitment to their roots led them to seek alternatives. After a temporary stay in Goa, they returned to Delhi, inspired by Ayurvedic advice to adopt an organic lifestyle. Their transformation of their home into a sanctuary of health and sustainability began as a personal mission and now serves as an inspiring model for others. An Oasis Amid Pollution Peter and Ninos home is more than a dwellingits a living, breathing solution to urban pollution. By blending ancient building techniques with modern green innovations, their house stands as a beacon of hope for healthier, sustainable urban living in one of the world's most polluted cities. Their story demonstrates the power of ingenuity, resilience, and a commitment to sustainability, offering a blueprint for combating environmental challenges while thriving in harmony with nature. Maharashtra CM Race: The Maharashtra CM race is becoming clearer, a week after the election results were announced. The BJP, as the single largest party with 132 seats, was poised to secure the CM position but faced hurdles when caretaker CM Eknath Shinde reportedly refused to accept the Deputy CM post. Shinde played a calculated emotional mind game by deferring the decision to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, declaring that he would abide by the PMs choice and not become an obstacle to government formation. Meet With Amit Shah Modi tasked Amit Shah to intervene to resolve the deadlock. Shah's meeting with three Mahayuti leadersDevendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar, and Eknath Shinderevealed that the Shiv Sena leader was dissatisfied, despite publicly describing the outcome as positive. Realizing that his bargaining tactics had failed, Shinde retreated to his native village unannounced, delaying the crucial meeting to finalize the CM and cabinet ministers. It appears Shinde hoped this move would pressure the BJP to yield to his demands. BJP Checkmates Shiv Sena BJP leaders, meanwhile, waited for Shinde to clarify his position. When he failed to do so, the BJP and Pawar publicly announced the swearing-in ceremony. The BJP strategically scheduled it for Thursday, allowing Shinde ample time to reconsider. Shiv Sena leaders now claim that Eknath Shinde is being sidelined. With Ajit Pawar backing a CM candidate from BJP, Shiv Sena has no option to accept the deputy CM post and bargain for ministries of its choice. Since the party has seven Lok Sabha MPs, it can also bargain a deal for having additional ministerial post in the Modi cabinet. While these options remains on table for Shiv Sena, Eknath Shinde has been outmanoeuvred by the BJP in his own game. His earlier remark about being no 'obstacle' may now serve as a weapon for the BJP if the Shinde faction turns rebellious. The Number Game While the BJP holds an upper hand in the Maharashtra Assembly, it cannot afford to alienate either Eknath Shinde or the Shiv Sena, even with Ajit Pawar's support. The Sena's alliance is crucial not just in Maharashtra but also at the national level, where the BJP lacks a majority in the Lok Sabha. The Shiv Senas seven Lok Sabha MPs are vital for the ruling NDA to pass key bills. Backchannel negotiations are ongoing, with leaders making efforts to placate Eknath Shinde. Shinde's clarification statement on Sunday about his tour to Satara may be another positive development indicating that all is going to be well within the Mahayuti soon. The Mahayuti must act collectively, as voters have entrusted them with significant responsibilities. Political infighting over minor issues must not derail this mandate. A bus traveling from Agartala to Kolkata was allegedly attacked in Bangladesh, Tripura Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury claimed. The incident reportedly took place on Bishwa Road in the Brahmanbaria district of Bangladesh, according to the minister's statement. Chief Minister Manik Saha took cognisance of the matter and voiced concerns over the ongoing unrest in Neighbour Bangladesh. He said that the whole world is witnessing how they were facing oppression in Bangladesh. "Since our state is surrounded by Bangladesh on three sides, I have asked the BSF and the police to maintain strict vigil along the international border," Saha added. "A Sahyamoli Paribahan bus on the way from Tripura to Kolkata was attacked in Bangladesh's Brahmanbaria Bishwa Road. The incident terrified Indian passengers on the bus. The bus was maintaining its lane when a truck intentionally hit it. At this point, an autorickshaw came in front of the bus, and the bus and the auto-rickshaw collided," Chowdhury shared photos of the bus in a Facebook post on Saturday, detailing the incident. Following the incident, locals reportedly began threatening Indian passengers on the bus, Chowdhury stated. They allegedly raised anti-India slogans, used abusive language, and issued life threats to the passengers. Chowdhury condemned the act and urged the authorities in Bangladesh to ensure the safety of Indian travelers. Buses run between Kolkata and Agartala via Dhaka, offering a faster and cheaper alternative to other modes of travel. This route significantly shortens the distance compared to the train journey through Assam, which typically takes more than 30 hours, and is more affordable than flying. (With PTI inputs) Lahore: A Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) found Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), guilty in connection with the violent events of May 9, 2023, and revoked his bail in eight related cases, The Express Tribune reported on Saturday. The written judgement, delivered by ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gill, highlighted strong evidence from the prosecution, including audio and video recordings that implicated Khan in inciting violence. The court cited witness testimonies regarding a conspiracy at Zaman Park, where Khan allegedly directed his supporters to take action. According to the prosecution, Khan had planned to disrupt state operations in anticipation of his arrest, The Express Tribune reported. Khan's defence argued that he was in custody at the time of the incident, but the court rejected this argument, stating that the conspiracy had been devised before his detention. The court also underscored that the charges against Khan went beyond simple incitement, noting that he had directed attacks on military and government properties. It also added that Khan's instructions were followed by his supporters, leading to violence, including assaults on military sites, government buildings, and police officers, The Express Tribune reported. Also, according to the Pakistani daily's report, the court noted that on May 11, violent incidents occurred, including attacks on police officers, which were linked to Khan's directives. Evidence presented by the prosecution included recordings of undercover police officers overhearing discussions about the conspiracy, further confirming Khan's involvement. As a result, the ATC convicted Khan and revoked his bail in the cases related to the May 9 events. The Lahore High Court had also considered Khan's role in the conspiracy when addressing the bail of PTI leader Ejaz Chaudhry. The defence had contested the lack of specific details regarding the date, time, and place of the alleged conspiracy, but the prosecution maintained that the plot was planned between May 7 and May 9 at Zaman Park. In the wake of rising atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh, the ILS Super Speciality Hospital in Agartala has announced that it will no longer provide treatment to Bangladeshi nationals. This decision comes amid growing protests from various nationalist organizations in the state, which have been fueled by recent attacks against minority Hindus in Bangladesh. Sources confirmed that the hospital, which had previously been a key healthcare provider for patients from across the border, has suspended its services for Bangladeshi citizens following a meeting of its executive committee yesterday. ILS Hospital has been a popular destination for medical treatment, with around 100 patients from Bangladesh crossing the Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Agartala each month. This follows a decision by the JN Ray Hospital in Kolkata to stop treating patients from Bangladesh Tanuj Saha, the manager of the ILS Super Speciality hospital confirmed the decision in an exclusive conversation, stating that the hospital had faced increasing pressure from protesters demanding a halt to foreign patients' access, in light of the escalating violence against minorities in Bangladesh. Saha explained that the hospital's administration, in consultation with local authorities, took the step to ensure the safety and well-being of both patients and staff. The protests have seen participation from various nationalist groups, who argue that the influx of foreign nationals for medical treatment is inappropriate amidst the current political and social climate. The decision has been met with mixed reactions. While some local organizations have welcomed the move, others, including medical professionals, have expressed concerns over the impact on the hospital's reputation and the loss of revenue from international patients. The situation has raised questions about the future of cross-border healthcare collaborations between India and Bangladesh, as this development marks a notable shift in medical practices along the shared border. Further discussions are expected to take place between hospital authorities, local leaders, and government representatives in the coming days to address the situation and explore potential solutions. Tripura CM Manik Saha earlier today criticised the current government in Bangladesh and said that the situation there is not good as he stressed that "nothing should be forced on anyone." Speaking to ANI, CM Saha said, "The situation in Bangladesh is not good. How is the government functioning there? The news that we're receiving, seeing on social media these days regarding the violence against minorities is not right at all. Atrocities are being committed against minorities in Bangladesh. Nothing should be forced on anyone," Saha said. The Tripura CM also expressed concern as he pointed out that many terrorists who were jailed when Sheikh Hasina was Prime Minister in Bangladesh are free and Tripura shares its boundaries with the country. "Then the terrorists who were jailed during the Sheikh Hasina government are free now. Where are they now? We are concerned regarding their whereabouts. Especially when Tripura shares its borders with Bangladesh it's a concerning matter. They have to check where these terrorists are now and what their activity is. This is not how it should be, fundamentalists don't mean that you will do whatever you feel like. I want to say that the current government there has to take care of the minorities," he added. (ANI) Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Sunday inspected cyclone Fengal-affected areas in the Villupuram district of the state. He also distributed relief materials to the people. Cyclone Fengal, which made landfall on the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Saturday has caused widespread flooding in several areas in the state. As the storm moves westward, heavy rainfall is expected in parts of Andhra Pradesh, including coastal and Rayalaseema regions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday issued warnings for continued severe weather in these areas. KVS Srinivas, Managing Director of the Cyclone Warning Centre in Visakhapatnam, said that cyclone Fengal is likely to move westwards very slowly, as it has remained stationary at the same location for the past six hours. He further mentioned that moderate to heavy rainfall is expected in several regions of Andhra Pradesh, including the coastal and Rayalaseema regions, in the next 24 hours. "Cyclone Fengal crossed North Tamil Nadu between 10.30 pm and 11.30 pm last night. It is now moving westward. During the past six hours, it has been stationary at the same location. It is likely to move westwards very slowly. As we forecast for coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema, heavy to very heavy rainfall was recorded at some places in these regions. Many areas in Rayalaseema have recorded heavy rainfall. Today, moderate rainfall is likely to continue in many places of coastal Andhra Pradesh," said Srinivas. "Heavy rainfall is forecasted for Kakinada and other districts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh, as well as for Nellore in the south coastal region. Heavy rainfall is also expected in several areas of Rayalaseema in the next 24 hours," he added. The IMD has issued a yellow alert, predicting heavy rains for Kakinada, Konaseema, SPSR Nellore, Tirupati, Annamayya, Srisathyasai, and Chittoor on Monday. Meanwhile, several districts in Tamil Nadu continue to experience incessant rainfall after Cyclone Fengal made landfall on November 30. Residential areas in the Cuddalore district have been flooded, and disaster teams are using boats to rescue affected residents. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), along with the local administration, is actively involved in rescue operations, using boats to evacuate people from flood-hit areas. In Chinna Gangankuppam, a border area between Cuddalore and Puducherry, the Tamil Nadu Disaster Rescue team used a JCB machine to remove a fallen tree from the national highway. Additionally, Indian Army troops from the Chennai Garrison Battalion, operating under the Dakshin Bharat Area, were mobilized early on Sunday to assist in rescue operations in flood-affected areas of Puducherry. Earlier, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that Cyclone Fengal made landfall on the coasts of Puducherry and Tamil Nadu and remained stationary for six hours near the Union Territory, approximately 30 kilometres north of Cuddalore and 40 kilometres east of Viluppuram. According to the IMD, Cyclone Fengal crossed the North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts late on Saturday night, between 10:30 pm and 11:30 pm IST, with wind speeds of 70-80 km/h, gusting up to 90 km/h. (ANI) Union Minister Chirag Paswan emphasised the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliance in Bihar operated with the belief that there should be no distance between the people and their representatives. "When our Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is going to the public with his welfare schemes, not only keeping the legislative assembly elections in mind but also, public representatives should also spend time with people...," Chirag Paswan told reporters in Bhagalpur. Chirag Paswan, the Minister of Food Processing Industries, also hit out at the opposition INDIA bloc leaders for distancing themselves from the public. "But these (INDIA bloc) people, while being in power, distance themselves from the public. They don't deem it necessary to open the doors of their vehicles (to interact with the public)," he said "..Our government and our alliance work with the idea that there should be no distance between people and their representatives...," Chirag Paswan added. Meanwhile, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary attacked Lalu Prasad Yadav, the former chief minister of Bihar over the alleged land-for-jobs scam. "Lalu Yadav ji never did anything apart from looting the Bihar. He gave jobs in exchange for land. It does not make any difference to him," Choudhary told ANI here. "They do not want the development in Bihar," he added. Choudhary further stated that Aam Admi Party (AAP) leaders are playing new tricks to gain public sympathy ahead of the Delhi assembly elections. Commenting on the alleged attack on the AAP national convenor, Arvind Kejriwal a day earlier, Choudhary said, "Apprehending fear (in the Delhi assembly elections), they are playing new tricks to gain public sympathy." On Saturday, a person was apprehended by AAP National Convenor Kejriwal's security staff when he attempted to throw a liquid at Arvind Kejriwal during his padayatra in Delhi's Greater Kailash. (ANI) Produced water, a byproduct of oil and gas production, gushes out of the ground in a geyser this October in Toyah. State Rep. Brooks Landgraf, an Odessa Republican, has introduced a set of bills that would provide millions of dollars to the state to seal abandoned wells. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer ODESSA A West Texas lawmaker wants to provide a financial boost to clean up environmental damage caused by a century of oil and gas production that has made Texas one of the worlds leading energy producers. State Rep. Brooks Landgraf, an Odessa Republican, has introduced a set of bills that would provide millions of dollars to the state to seal abandoned wells, which, in some instances, are causing massive blowouts of toxic liquid and creating pools of wastewater. To become law, the package needs approval from both legislative chambers, the governor and voters in the fall of 2025. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Currently, taxes collected from oil and gas companies are divided among the states savings account, often known as the rainy day fund, schools and highways. If enacted, the legislative package would largely reallocate the money that goes to the states savings account which currently sits at $21 billion to new spending. It would set aside 1% of all taxes from oil and gas production to plug the wells, an effort overseen by the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates the oil and gas industry. Another 1% would go to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to bolster emission reduction efforts. The sweeping rewrite of the states severance tax laws, which Landgraf is calling Texas STRONG, also directs up to $500 million for repairing infrastructure and expanding emergency, health care and educational services and workforce development programs. That money would be distributed through grant programs to counties where oil and gas production is prolific. The rest of the money that would otherwise go to the savings account would be redirected to ease property taxes statewide. The taxes collected from oil and gas that already help pay for public schools and highways would largely go unchanged. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In the last fiscal year, between September 2023 and August 2024, Texas collected north of $8 billion in oil and gas taxes. State Rep. Brooks Landgraf, R-Odessa, wants to spend millions of tax dollars collected from oil and gas companies to help clean up West Texas after years of oil and gas production. Evan L'Roy/Texas Tribune The Texans who live and work in those counties pay a high price in the form of higher costs of living, over-utilized infrastructure, overcrowded schools and unique environmental concerns, Landgraf said in a statement. In practice, if enacted, Texas STRONG would address issues like teacher and nursing shortages, road repairs, and enhanced public safety, with additional resources for enforcing commercial vehicle laws. The proposal comes as the Railroad Commission told state lawmakers it could not afford to keep up with the expenses of plugging abandoned wells, some of which have unexpectedly burst with briny water in the Permian Basin. The region supplies 42% of the nations oil. In November, the agency asked for an additional $100 million almost half of its entire two-year budget. Danny Sorrells, the commissions executive director, said in a letter that the agency's $226 million budget was not enough to address the growing cost of plugging leaking and erupting wells in the states oil fields. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Sorrells, who asked Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan to consider their request, said it would use the money to address actively leaking wells and to prevent emergencies. The commission uses a priority system to determine which wells to plug first. Priority 1 wells pose environmental, economic and safety risks wells it typically would seal first. However, Sorrells said the commission was spending more money cleaning up uncontrolled flows of water erupting from abandoned wells, an event that constitutes an emergency. Sorrells said it has become unsustainable. These high-priority wells need to be taken care of before they themselves become emergency wells, he said. Congress set aside $4.7 billion to plug orphan wells in public and private lands in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in 2021. Texas received $25 million and an additional $80 million in January. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The commission spent the money on 737 wells, which account for 10% of the estimated orphaned wells in Texas. Through another state-funded initiative worth $63 million, the commission plugged 1,754 wells in 2023. In 2024, the commission plugged 1,012 more. Wells continue to erupt despite the commissions efforts. A staging area is set up to bring an oil well blowout under control this October near Toyah. Kinder Morgan, the company that plugged the well, did not say how much it cost to do so. Justin Hamel courtesy of DeSmog At least eight have erupted with briny water since October 2023, said Sarah Stogner, an oil and gas attorney and district attorney-elect of the 143rd judicial district, which includes Ward, Loving and Reeves counties.. In December 2023, an orphaned well blew out in Imperial, a community roughly 63 miles southwest of Odessa. That well alone took more than two months and $2.5 million to clean up. Another well in Toyah erupted in October this year, releasing a furious torrent of water that took an oil and gas company weeks to contain. Kinder Morgan, the company that plugged the well, did not say how much it cost. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Sorrells letter said that regulators need the money to staff a team of inspectors who can investigate the cause of the blowouts, which they associate with produced water injections. Sorrells said the agency's ability to assess, characterize and evaluate these events is limited by the currently available resources. Congress leader Rashid Alvi on Sunday condemned the attacks on Hindus and places of worship in Bangladesh and said that the situation is "much worse" in India. "It is obvious that Hindu brothers are being discriminated against in Bangladesh. Temples are being attacked. The same situation exists here in Bharat. Mosques were demolished in Gujarat, and cemeteries have disappeared," Alvi said. "Reports against mosques are emerging from Uttarakhand. You have also seen the Sambhal incident, where people were killed... Questions are being raised about the Ajmer Dargah Sharif," he said in response to comments made by PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti. "Such situations are much worse here in India than in Bangladesh," Alvi added. Mufti on Sunday described the November 24 Sambhal incident as "unfortunate" and compared the state of minorities in India with that in Bangladesh. She expressed concern over the recent claims on mosques and shrines, saying, "...Today, I am afraid that the situation which was during 1947, we are being taken towards that direction. When the youth talk of jobs, they don't get it. We don't have good hospitals, education...They are not improving the condition of roads but are trying to demolish the mosque in search of a temple. The Sambhal incident is very unfortunate. Some were working in shops and were shot." While commenting on the controversy surrounding the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, Mufti said, "Ajmer Sharif Dargah where people from all religions offer prayers is the biggest example of brotherhood. Now they are also trying to dig into it to search for a temple." Regarding the alleged atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh, Mufti said, "In Bangladesh, atrocities are being committed on Hindus. If atrocities will be committed on minorities in India also, then what is the difference between India and Bangladesh?... I don't find any difference between India and Bangladesh." The situation in Bangladesh has been marked by increasing violence against minority communities, with temples being destroyed following the arrest of a former priest, Chinmoy Krishna Das. The international community has expressed concern over the situation, with India's Ministry of External Affairs stating that it is "concerned" about the safety and security of Hindus and other minority groups in Bangladesh. As for the Sambhal incident in Uttar Pradesh, the violence erupted during a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque. Four people were killed, and dozens, including policemen and officials, were injured in the clashes. (ANI) Bihar police announced on Sunday that they are investigating the alleged death threats made against Independent MP Pappu Yadav and said they are yet to establish any connection with any group. Superintendent of Police Purnea, Kartikey Sharma told ANI, "It is our responsibility to provide him safety and we are ensuring it... We have not been able to establish any connection with any group... We are taking every threat seriously and investigating accordingly..." Pappu Yadav told ANI on Sunday," "I recently received a video message as a death threat... I have registered a complaint in Delhi now..." On Saturday, Pappu Yadav expressed concern over alleged death threats he has been receiving from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Yadav also criticised the central government for failing to provide him with adequate security and called for an investigation into the reasons behind the threats. The Purnea MP questioned the government's priorities, pointing out that while he is being threatened, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has been given a security cover. He said, "What is the reason behind this, why does he want to kill me, who is the one who wants to get me killed? There will be someone who will find him. The responsibility of this of IB, RAW. You (Govt) don't give security, give it to Kangana Ranaut and others but at least fulfil the responsibility of investigating, are we not citizens of this country, don't we stand up for the law and constitution of this country?" Earlier, Pappu Yadav had claimed that the threats were connected to his efforts to expose corruption in a hospital scam, which he plans to raise in Parliament. "There was a general secretary and a few officials who tried to stop me. I have their audio tapes. A few officials were involved in a hospital scam issue, which I will raise in Parliament. Some officials want to restrict me from telling the truth. There are a few other people who want to kill me for raising my voice," Yadav alleged. (ANI) Ahead of Delhi assembly polls due early next year, BJP Purvanchal Morcha President Santosh Ojha said that more than 1200 meetings will be held in Delhi under Purvanchal Samman Sammelan. "More than 1200 meetings will be held in Delhi under Purvanchal Samman Sammelan. A conference of two and a half to three thousand people will be held in each assembly. Mandal-level workers will participate in these conferences and will focus especially on their booths. Out of 70 assembly seats in Delhi, 40 are such that the number of Purvanchal voters is high," Ojha said. He further said that apart from the leadership of the state BJP, Union Ministers will also attend more than 1500 meetings in the constituency. During Sunday's meeting, national minister and Delhi state co-in-charge Alka Gurjar while addressing the workers said that Delhi is very unhappy with the Aam Aadmi Party government and the people of Delhi want freedom from this government. She said that the kind of enthusiasm and zeal among the workers of Purvanchal shows that this time BJP will definitely form the government in Delhi. Ojha said, "BJP has a clear policy that 'victory at the booth means victory in the assembly is certain', under which we will work further and this time Purvanchal Morcha is making efforts to ensure the victory of BJP in the Purvanchal dominated assembly in Delhi." An organizational meeting was held in the state office under the chairmanship of Delhi BJP Purvanchal Morcha President Santosh Ojha, in which national minister and co-in-charge of Delhi state Alka Gurjar, state organization general secretary Pawan Rana, Delhi state vice-president Dinesh Pratap Singh, Purvanchal Morcha in-charge Vipin Bihari Singh and co-in-charge Kaushal Mishra, including officials from divisional level to state level were present and various points were discussed regarding the upcoming elections. State social media head Rohit Upadhyay, office minister Brijesh Rai, Morcha general secretary Sanjay Tiwari and BJP leader Apoorva Singh were present in the meeting. Purvanchal Samman Sammelan is scheduled to begin in Delhi on December 7. (ANI) The Karnataka Raj Bhavan was a vibrant hub of cultural brilliance on Sunday as the Foundation Day celebrations of Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Nagaland, and Assam showcased the rich traditions, art, and heritage of these diverse states to the forefront. In his address, the Governor of Karnataka, Thaawarchand Gehlot, emphasised India's vast cultural tapestry, stating, "Each state in India is unique due to its distinct characteristics and religious and cultural heritage. This diversity showcases the richness of Indian culture and reinforces the ideals of equality and harmony that bind the nation together. Events like these, inspired by the 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' initiative, enhance cultural diversity while fostering national unity and mutual understanding." Governor Gehlot also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for their vision in celebrating the Foundation Days of all Indian states across Raj Bhavans nationwide. "With their inspiration, such celebrations are now held across different states, promoting social integration and cultural exchange," he noted. Highlighting the unique contributions of each state, the Governor remarked, "Uttarakhand is renowned for its natural beauty, pilgrimage sites, and tourism significance. Jharkhand, with its wealth of natural and mineral resources, holds a crucial place as the sole producer of uranium, coking coal, and pyrite in India. Meanwhile, Nagaland and Assam boast rare biodiversity, including aromatic and medicinal plants." The event featured captivating performances that celebrated the cultural essence of these states. Commending the artists, Governor Gehlot stated, "Congratulations to all the artists who presented colourful and engaging cultural programs, showcasing the rich heritage of Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Nagaland, and Assam." In his concluding remarks, Governor Gehlot stressed the importance of collective efforts for national progress: "All states contribute significantly to India's development. We must work together to achieve our vision of a developed India by 2047." (ANI) Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday said that our history books have done injustice to our heroes, as it been manipulated and doctored, creating a monopoly of few that they gained us independence, according to an official press release. These remarks came while he was addressing as Chief Guest at the function organized on the occasion of the 138th Birth Anniversary Celebration of Raja Mahendra Pratap at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi today. Dhankar said, "Our history books have done injustice to our heroes. Our history has been manipulated and doctored, created a monopoly of few that they gained our independence. It is unbearable pain on our conscience. It's a burden on our soul and heart. And I'm sure we have to bring about big change. No better occasion than formation of the first Bharat Sarkar at that point of time in 1915." Dhankhar underlined that Raja Mahendra Pratap was a born diplomat, a born statesman, a visionary, a nationalist. He said that Raja Mahendra Pratap exemplified nationalism, patriotism, farsightedness exhibited by conduct what can be done for the nation. Expressing his anguish at the non-recognition of unsung heroes of our freedom struggle, Dhankhar said, "What a travesty of justice, what a tragedy. We are in the 75th year of our independence. We have failed, miserably failed, to recognize such heroic feats of this great man. Our history has not given him the place which he deserves. If you look at the foundations of our independence, we have been taught very differently. Foundations of our independence are built upon supreme sacrifices of the people like Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh and other unsung heroes or not so well-sung heroes." "In the year 1932, this great soul of humanity, this great visionary, who rose above ordinary things, because freedom is something which humanity loves. He was nominated for Nobel Peace Prize by N.A. Nielsen. And what was the premise? His role in what Gandhi became famous for, the campaign of Gandhi in South Africa. When I go through the nomination, I will not take time. Please go through it, the personality of the man is reflected in every word", he added. Underlining concern over the way of history writing marked by the unfortunate tendency of overlooking certain national heroes, the Vice-President stated, "We cannot nurture our history by bestowing indulgent, sycophant, credit rating to those who played role, of course but not the role with others played. We cannot allow our heroes to be downsized. Today, we are discussing one of them, it is imperative to present unvarnished historical accounts to ignite patriotic fervor for this generation and future generations." Speaking at the event the Vice-President also stressed on the need for the welfare of the farmers to attain a developed country status, Dhankhar stated, "Every time a thought comes to my mind, what do we need to do in independent India so that the achievements of our people are given the proper respect and recognition? The current system is fine, economic progress is tremendous. We have exponential economic upsurge, phenomenal infrastructure growth. Our global image is very high, but as I said, to attain the status of a developed nation by 2047, the precondition is that our farmers have to be satisfied." Urging the farmer brothers for resolution of issues through dialogue and discussion, Dhankhar said, "We must remember that we do not fight with our own people, we do not deceive our own people, we deceive the enemy. Our own people are embraced. How can one sleep when the problems of farmers are not being solved swiftly? I call upon my farmer brothers that the resolution of problems in this country happens through dialogue and understanding. King Mahendra Pratap was known for this approach. Irretrievable confrontational stance is poor diplomacy. "We have to be open to solutions, open to discussion because this country is ours, and it is affected by rural backgrounds. I believe that my farmer brothers, wherever they are and whoever is active in any movement, my message will reach their ears, and they will pay attention to it. All of you are more knowledgeable and experienced than I am. I'm sure there will be a convergence of positive energy to bring about the fastest resolution to the problem of farmers", he added. Assuring farmers of every possible help while emphasising on the need to move ahead, the Vice-President said, "We need to reflect. What has happened is in the past, but the path ahead should be right. The creation of a developed India begins from the land of the farmers. The passage to a developed Bharat is through the farmland. The resolution of farmers' issues should happen at a swift pace. If the farmer is troubled, the honor and pride of the nation are severely affected, and this happens more because we keep the words of our hearts to ourselves. On this auspicious day, I make a vow that to resolve the farmers' problems, my doors will be open 24 hours. By doing so, I will contribute to giving a new dimension to freedom, and the soul of King Mahendra Pratap will find peace." Questioning inadequate attention given to some of the significant historical events, Dhnakhar said, "During my visit to Kotra, Udaipur recently commemorating Birsa Munda's 150th birthday anniversary. I gathered friends, a heart-wrenching 1913 Mangar Hill dastardly episode. In that year, 1913, much before Jallianwala Bagh, 1507 tribal people became victim of British bullets. What a carnage! What a dastardly Act! history did not give much recognition to it. I am trying to indicate that such kind of British barbarity, along with the patriotic saga of Maharaja Suraj Mal, Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh, why are they inadequately chronicled? Why they don't find space in history? this particular occasion will be a game changer and a milestone." Referring to the delay in due recognition and conferment of Bharat Ratna to some of the deserving sons of Bharat, he underscored, "But it was in 1990 that Dr. B.R. Ambedkar got. Why? Why was the delay? Imagine the mindset. I had the good fortune to be a member of parliament and a minister. There was a political shift. And then recently, Chaudhary Charan Singh, Karpoori Thakur. They live in our hearts. They dominate our minds. They believed in the farmer. They believed in rural India. Again, it was my great fortune to be associated with governance as Vice-President and Chairman, Rajya Sabha. These two great souls of Bharat were awarded Bharat Ratna." "We have long ignored those who have been our guides. In true sense, they made the highest sacrifice for the country. Tribal Day has now been started to be celebrated. How old was Birsa Munda? Well, better late than never. The Parakram Day was celebrated......King Mahendra Pratap was actually before him [Subhash Chandra Bose], in a way, he was the one who initiated Netaji's Indian National Army. I remember visiting the place in Andaman and Nicobar where Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose hoisted the flag in 1945, and I felt very happy to realize that thirty years earlier, this noble act had been done by King Mahendra Pratap", he added. Remembering the contributions of Raja Mahendra Pratap as a Parliamentarian, Dhankhar narrated, "He was a member of parliament. I went through his entire proceedings, and I noticed one very special thing, and I realized how visionary he was and how many things he kept in mind. On November 22, 1957, he brought a proposal in the Lok Sabha, and what was the issue of the proposal? It was that we should honour some individuals. And why should we do that? Because they had made a significant contribution to the country's affairs, in the freedom struggle and otherwise. So, he moved a motion and wanted three gentlemen to be honoured in particular - Veer Savarkar, Virendra Kumar Ghose, who was the brother of Aurobindo Ji, and Dr. Bhupendranath Datta, who was the brother of Vivekananda Ji. What a selection he made! "Again, what happens with us is the same, but we won't let it happen anymore. The then government opposed the proposal. Raja Mahendra Pratap was so hurt by this that he had to say, "In protest, I must leave against this decision. I hope every Bengali and every Maratha will walk out. He expressed his pain: "Distinguished audience, honourable members, this poignant moment exemplifies Raja Sahib's steadfast commitment to honour freedom fighters transcending regional and ideological boundaries. Can we do nothing for such a great man? We are not helpless. Let us get together and ensure this great son of Mother Bharat is given due recognition", he added. (ANI) After returning from abroad, Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai on Sunday expressed gratitude towards the party and its leadership for permitting him to take break of three months to complete his studies. Upon reaching Coimbatore, Annamalai received a roused welcome from the party cadres and leaders and expressed happiness. Tamil Nadu BJP President said, "I'm very happy that I was able to return today to Coimbatore. Our cadets and our leaders have come here to give me a great welcome. I am grateful to our party which permitted me to take a three-month break for my studies abroad. For the 3 months, our senior leaders did tremendous work here..." Earlier today, Annamalai called the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam a "dynastic oriented party," and said that 2026 assembly polls would probably be the end of DMK and its dynastic politics in the state. Annamalai also criticised Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin's fast track promotion from MLA to minister to now as Deputy Chief Minister of the state. "Mr Udhayanidhi Stalin wanted to come into politics. We are telling that this is an era of new family member coming in, probably the third generation to continue. They said no, no, he'll be an MLA, then he became a minister, then he fast track as Deputy Chief Minister. Now Tamil Nadu politics is losing its merit. New people are not willing to enter and DMK is a prime example because you want to revolve around the same set of people and now Udhayanidhi Stalin coming up, probably Raja coming up, all sets of sons and daughters racing up. It clearly shows that it's not a very democratic model and no model which is democratic and it will break eventually. And I'm very, very sure Udhayanidhi in entering would be a proof that DMK is a dynastic oriented party. It refuses to listen to other people and 2026 probably will be the end of DMK, will be the end of dynastic. We have to wait and watch," Annamalai told reporters. (ANI) The Delhi Police have arrested 10 people in connection with a Rs 90 lakh robbery reported from Karol Bagh. The police have also seized two vehicles which were used in the commission of the incident. "10 persons have been arrested and over 50 lakh rupees have been recovered. We have also seized 2 vehicles used in the commission of the crime - a motorcycle and a car," the Delhi police said. The robbery was reported at Karol Bagh Police Station on Saturday. It was reported that two employees of a firm were transporting cash from one office to another, carrying Rs 90 lakhs in cash in two bags. When they reached their destination, three individuals robbed them and fled away on a motorcycle. After registering a First Information Report (FIR), multiple teams were formed to apprehend the accused. Within hours of the incident, the police teams unravelled the conspiracy and 10 persons have been detained. It was revealed that one of the employees had passed on information regarding the cash movement to his associates, the police said. The cash transfer was a daily routine that occurred at the same fixed time every day. The employee shared this information with his friends and hatched the plan for robbery. They further roped in more individuals to help execute the plan. They divided into three groups - one to carry out the robbery and two to keep watch. The detained persons include the employees who leaked the information as well as the persons who executed the robbery and others who aided them in surveillance. Further interrogation and raids are ongoing in the case, the police said. (ANI) Spiritual leader Devkinandan Thakur on Sunday lashed out at the Bangladesh government, saying that if it cannot protect Sanatan Dharm and its followers, it should give them a Hindu Rashtra in Bangladesh. "I pray to the almighty to bless us so that we can get a Sanatan Board formed for the protection of Sanatan Dharm. Sanatanis across the world are opposing the atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh. If the government of Bangladesh cannot protect Sanatan Dharm and its followers, they should give them a Hindu Rashtra in Bangladesh," Thakur told reporters here. Meanwhile, ISKCON Bhubaneswar Vice President Tukaram Das on Sunday also expressed his concerns over the safety of minorities in Bangladesh. "Today, we organized a prayer meeting. ISKCON governing body Commission has instructed our centres all over the world to have prayer meetings... We will recite prayers for the peace and prosperity of the world. We are deeply concerned about the situation of our devotees and other minorities in Bangladesh," Tukaram Das told ANI. "We request the world governments to come up and discuss the matter with the Bangladeshi government so that things can be settled peacefully... ISKCON has centres in all the districts... We have more than 100 centres in Odisha and each centre is organizing this kind of prayer session today. We deeply believe that everybody should coexist peacefully and happily," he added. ISKCON Kolkata on Saturday alleged that Bangladesh authorities have arrested two monks, Adipurush Shyam Das and Ranganath Das Brahmachari, and the secretary of Chinmoy Krishna Das. On Sunday, ISKCON devotees also gathered at Hare Krishna Temple in Bhadaj, Gujarat to express solidarity with the Hindus in Bangladesh. "Against the incidents happening in Bangladesh against Hindus and ISKCON devotees, we all have gathered here today at Hare Krishna temple Bhadaj to express our solidarity with them. We request the Bangladesh government to give all Sanatan devotees a chance to practice their religion," Shyam Charan Das of Hare Krishna Temple told ANI. "ISKCON has always expressed peace, compassion and love through its teachings and the whole world has seen it... This entire incident is condemnable and we are all peacefully doing Harinam Sankirtan here at Hare Krishna temple Bhadaj, Ahmedabad and are appealing that the central government should pay attention to this and all Hindu brothers and minorities in Bangladesh should be protected," he added. On Saturday,Vice President of ISKCON Kolkata Radha Raman said that the monks were arrested on Friday by the police while on their way to home after meeting Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was arrested on the charges of sedition on November 25. Radha Raman said, "On November 29, when Adipurush Shyam Das and Ranganath Das Brahmachari were returning after meeting Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu, they were arrested by the police. We are also getting information that the secretary of Chinmoy Krishna Das has also been arrested," Radha Raman said in a self-made video. On Friday, India expressed concern over the rise of "extremist rhetoric, increasing incidents of violence and provocation" in Bangladesh. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that India has consistently and strongly raised the issue of targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities with the Bangladesh government. (ANI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court Vijay Bishnoi on Sunday inaugurated the court building of the Sub-divisional Judicial Magistrate at Lakhipur in Cachar district. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sarma said that the inauguration of the court building will not only "enhance the efficiency of the judiciary in Lakhipur and Cachar district but will also have a positive impact on fulfilling the aspirations of the people across Barak Valley," as per an official release. He also said that with Lakhipur now recognized as a co-district, this new judicial building is expected to play a significant role in shaping the future of judiciary in the region. Chief Minister Sarma said that before independence, the judicial administration of Cachar district, the heart of the Barak Valley, was under the Sylhet Sadar Court, with a circuit court operating in Silchar. However, after independence, the undivided Cachar district came under the jurisdiction of the Jorhat district and the Sadar Judge. To address the legal needs of the district and expand its judicial framework, a separate and independent post of District Judge for Cachar was created in 1955, CM Sarma added. Chief Minister Sarma further said that to strengthen the state's judicial system, the present State government has undertaken several significant initiatives. He said that as a result of these efforts, the judicial infrastructure in the state has seen remarkable progress in recent years. "Highlighting the proactive steps, Chief Minister Sarma said that the present State government has built and inaugurated new District Judicial Court buildings in Barpeta and Sivasagar districts. Similarly, on November 23, the Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate Court building in Bokakhat, under Golaghat district, was also inaugurated. He also said that these new court buildings, in addition to housing courtrooms and chambers for judges, are equipped with modern facilities such as libraries, video conferencing rooms, various office spaces, a Vulnerable Witness Deposition Centre, meditation rooms, and CCTV control rooms, among other advanced amenities," the release read. He also said that in addition, district judicial systems have been established in the newly formed districts of South Salmara-Mankachar, Bajali, Biswanath, Majuli, and West Karbi Anglong. Chief Minister Sarma said that the present State government is taking all steps in turning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Ease of Justice' into reality. In order to bring the judiciary closer to the common people, the State government has taken several steps to make justice more accessible. He stated that to protect children from sexual abuse and ensure swift resolution of cases related to child marriage, POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) courts have been established in 17 districts. "He also said that two such courts have been established in Nagaon district. With the state's economic development, the number of commercial disputes has increased. Therefore, a plan has been made to establish a dedicated Commercial Court in Guwahati. He said that similarly, a specialized NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) court is also being planned. Efforts are also underway to establish a Directorate of Prosecution in the state, which will function as the controlling authority of all administrative tasks related to prosecution," the release read. CM Sarma also said that to reduce the number of pending cases in courts and decrease the number of prisoners, the State government has implemented measures to withdraw petty cases. Under this initiative, nearly 81,000 petty cases were withdrawn by March of this year. Chief Minister Sarma further said that to ensure a safe environment for witnesses, safe deposition centres have been established, and several of these centres are already operational. Highlighting various initiatives taken by State Government, CM Sarma said that E-service centres and the mobile app "Borsha" have been launched to provide affordable legal information and emergency assistance to distressed women. He said that the legal fraternity has a responsibility to not weaponize loopholes in delaying trial in cases involving crimes against women and children. "Chief Minister Sarma said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, India has ushered in a revolutionary transformation in its legal framework by replacing the colonial-era Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and Indian Evidence Act with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA). This new legal framework has facilitated a more efficient and technology-driven judicial process, making justice delivery smoother and reducing the burden of excessive cases on the judicial system," the release read. He said that these changes highlight the transformation of the criminal justice system, taking the legal framework to new heights. CM Sarma also said that the Bharatiya Sakhya Adhiniyam has now placed special emphasis on the use of scientific methods for the collection of evidence. As a result, in the coming days, the role of forensic experts in the investigation process will significantly increase. To aid this, the construction of the National Forensic Science University campus in Guwahati has already begun. CM Sarma said the university will provide advanced training opportunities to investigating officers, enhancing the scientific approach to criminal investigations. "He also said that additionally, along with the training of police officers on the new criminal laws, special attention is given to the appropriate use of information technology in law enforcement and investigations," the release read. It may be noted that the new judicial magistrate court building has been constructed involving a financial outlay of Rs 37.8 crore. Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court Vijay Bishnoi, Justice Suman Shyam, Justice Kalyan Rai Surana, MLAs Kaushik Rai, Dipyan Chakraborty, Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, Bijoy Malakar, Krishnendu Paul, Nihar Rangjan Das, and host of other dignitaries was present on the occasion. (ANI) Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal lashed out at Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday, accusing him of failing to ensure security in Delhi. His remarks came after AAP MLA Naresh Balyan, who allegedly received repeated threats from a gangster, was arrested in an extortion case. Kejriwal also visited Tilak Nagar to meet victims of recent firing incidents, highlighting what he termed a collapse of law and order in the capital. Addressing a public gathering, he said, "Being the Union Home Minister, the law and order is the responsibility of Amit Shah. We want him to provide security to the people of Delhi. We don't want any politics. We only want you to do your work..." He also highlighted the threats faced by AAP MLA Naresh Balyan. "Our MLA Naresh Balyan received threats from a gangster 35-40 times last year. He filed written complaints with the police five times. Our MLA is the victim, yet yesterday he was arrested. What message does this send? That if you receive a threat and complain about it, you will be arrested? This is not the right message. We must be sympathetic toward victims who face such threats. We request Amit Shah to make every effort to establish peace in Delhi," the former Chief Minister added. Notably, Naresh Balyan was produced before Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi on Sunday and sent to two days' police custody. He was arrested by the Delhi Police's Crime Branch on Saturday in connection with an extortion case. Earlier, on Thursday, Kejriwal addressed the media, emphasizing that the responsibility for law and order in Delhi rests with the Union government. He also contrasted this with his responsibilities as Chief Minister, saying, "Ten years ago, I was given the responsibility of schools, electricity, health, and water. I fixed it all. The condition of the water has improved. But the responsibility of security in Delhi is of the Centre. Amit Shah's responsibility is to maintain law and order in Delhi. Amit Shah has failed to fix the law and order in ten years. Delhi is being called the rape capital, the gangster capital. Today, women and businessmen are the most scared." Kejriwal also stated that law and order in Delhi have deteriorated, with gang wars reminiscent of those in Mumbai. "Nearly 20 people have lost their lives in gang wars on the Yamuna side alone," he added. In a separate incident, a man threw liquid at Kejriwal during his padyatra in South Delhi's Malviya Nagar area. (ANI) Elizabeth L. T. Moore is a Hearst Fellow in San Antonio. She can be reached at Elizabeth.Moore@hearst.com Elizabeth did her first fellowship year as a reporter with the New Haven Register in Connecticut. Moore has published bylines with Bloomberg News, The Virginian-Pilot and The Daily Tar Heel, the student newspaper of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Moore placed nationally in the Hearst Collegiate Journalism Program, and she is fluent in Spanish. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, addressing a function organised on the occasion of the 138th birth anniversary celebration of Raja Mahendra Pratap at Bharat Mandapam on Sunday, said that our history has been manipulated and doctored, creating a monopoly of a few individuals 'who gained us independence'. "Our history books have done injustice to our heroes. Our history has been manipulated and doctored, creating a monopoly of a few who claimed they gained us independence. This is an unbearable pain on our conscience. It's a burden on our soul and heart. I am sure we need to bring about a big change. There is no better occasion than the formation of the first Bharat Sarkar in 1915," Dhankhar said. He underlined that Raja Mahendra Pratap was a born diplomat, a statesman, a visionary, and a nationalist. Dhankhar praised Raja Mahendra Pratap for exemplifying nationalism, patriotism, and farsightedness, demonstrated by his actions for the country. Expressing his anguish at the non-recognition of the unsung heroes of India's freedom struggle, Dhankhar said, "What a travesty of justice, what a tragedy. We are in the 75th year of our independence, yet we have failed, miserably failed, to recognize the heroic feats of this great man. Our history has not given him the place he deserves. If you look at the foundations of our independence, we have been taught very differently. The foundations of our independence were built on the supreme sacrifices of people like Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh and other unsung or not-so-well-sung heroes." "In 1932, this great soul of humanity, this visionary, rose above ordinary things because freedom is something humanity loves. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by N.A. Nielsen. And what was the premise? His role in the campaign of Gandhi in South Africa, for which Gandhi became famous. When I go through the nomination, I will not take much time. Please go through it, and you will see how the personality of the man is reflected in every word," he added. Dhankhar stressed the importance of presenting unvarnished historical accounts to ignite patriotic fervor in this generation and future generations. He stated, "We cannot nurture our history by bestowing indulgent, sycophantic credit to those who played a role, but not the role that others played. We cannot allow our heroes to be downsized. Today, we are discussing one of them, and it is imperative to present unvarnished historical accounts." The Vice President also highlighted the importance of farmers in India's development. He said, "Every time a thought comes to my mind, I ask, what do we need to do in independent India so that the achievements of our people are properly respected and recognized? The current system is fine; economic progress is tremendous, and we have witnessed exponential economic growth and phenomenal infrastructure development. Our global image is high, but as I said, to attain the status of a developed nation by 2047, the precondition is that our farmers must be satisfied." Urging farmers to resolve their issues through dialogue and discussion, Dhankhar said, "We must remember that we do not fight with our own people. We do not deceive our own people; we deceive the enemy. Our people are embraced. How can one sleep when the problems of farmers are not being solved swiftly? I call upon my farmer brothers that the resolution of problems in this country happens through dialogue and understanding. King Mahendra Pratap was known for this approach. An irretrievable confrontational stance is poor diplomacy." He further emphasized the need for openness to solutions and discussion, as the country is deeply affected by rural issues. He said, "This country is ours, and it is affected by rural backgrounds. I believe that my farmer brothers, wherever they are, and whoever is active in any movement, my message will reach them. They will pay attention to it. You are more knowledgeable and experienced than I am. I am sure there will be a convergence of positive energy to bring about the fastest resolution to the problem of farmers." Assuring farmers of every possible help, the Vice President emphasized the need to move ahead, saying, "We need to reflect. What has happened is in the past, but the path ahead must be right. The creation of a developed India begins from the land of farmers. The path to a developed Bharat is through the farmland. The resolution of farmers' issues should happen swiftly. If the farmer is troubled, the honor and pride of the nation are severely affected. This happens more because we keep our words to ourselves. On this auspicious day, I make a vow: To resolve the farmers' problems, my doors will be open 24 hours. By doing so, I will contribute to giving a new dimension to freedom, and the soul of King Mahendra Pratap will find peace." Dhankhar also questioned the inadequate attention given to some significant historical events, saying, "During my visit to Kotra, Udaipur, recently commemorating Birsa Munda's 150th birthday anniversary, I gathered friends and learned of the heart-wrenching 1913 Mangar Hill episode. In that year, 1913, much before Jallianwala Bagh, 1,507 tribal people fell victim to British bullets. What a carnage! What a dastardly act! Yet, history did not give much recognition to it. I am trying to indicate that such British barbarity, along with the patriotic saga of Maharaja Suraj Mal and Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh, has been inadequately chronicled. Why don't they find space in history? This occasion will be a game-changer and a milestone." Referring to the delay in recognizing deserving figures with the Bharat Ratna, Dhankhar highlighted, "It was in 1990 that Dr. B.R. Ambedkar received the Bharat Ratna. Why the delay? Imagine the mindset. I had the fortune to be a member of parliament and a minister, and there was a political shift. Recently, Chaudhary Charan Singh and Karpoori Thakur, who believed in farmers and rural India, were awarded the Bharat Ratna. These two great souls of Bharat live in our hearts. I had the privilege to be associated with governance as Vice-President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha." He added, "We have long ignored those who have been our guides. In true sense, they made the highest sacrifices for the country. Tribal Day has now been started to be celebrated. How old was Birsa Munda? Better late than never. Parakram Day was celebrated... King Mahendra Pratap was actually before him [Subhas Chandra Bose]. In a way, he was the one who initiated Netaji's Indian National Army. I remember visiting the place in Andaman and Nicobar where Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose hoisted the flag in 1945, and I was happy to realize that thirty years earlier, this noble act had been done by King Mahendra Pratap." Remembering Raja Mahendra Pratap's contributions as a parliamentarian, Dhankhar narrated, "He was a member of parliament. I went through his entire proceedings and noticed one special thing: how visionary he was and how many things he kept in mind. On November 22, 1957, he brought a proposal in the Lok Sabha to honor individuals who had made significant contributions to the country's affairs, in the freedom struggle and otherwise. He proposed honoring three gentlemen--Veer Savarkar, Virendra Kumar Ghose, and Dr. Bhupendranath Datta. What a selection he made!" He continued, "Again, what happens with us is the same, but we won't let it happen anymore. The then government opposed the proposal. Raja Mahendra Pratap was so hurt by this that he said, 'In protest, I must leave against this decision. I hope every Bengali and every Maratha will walk out.' He expressed his pain: 'Distinguished audience, honorable members, this poignant moment exemplifies Raja Sahib's steadfast commitment to honoring freedom fighters, transcending regional and ideological boundaries. Can we do nothing for such a great man? We are not helpless. Let us get together and ensure this great son of Mother Bharat is given the due recognition he deserves.'" (ANI) Indore police on Sunday arrested three members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, placing them under a three-day police remand for further investigation. Taresh Kumar Soni, Station House Officer (SHO) of Lasudia Police Station, said, "Yesterday, we received information about the movement of certain individuals in a Thar vehicle. Upon searching, we recovered pistols and six magazines. Three individuals were searched, and all of them are history-sheeters. They are also wanted in Bihar. We have connected with the Bihar Police. All three accused have been taken on a three-day police remand. Further investigation is underway." This follows a series of recent arrests involving members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang in different states. On Wednesday, Punjab Police apprehended two associates of the gang after a high-speed chase and a shootout in Jalandhar. According to police sources, the suspects fired at them, which made the police retaliate during the operation. Officials also recovered three firearms and a significant quantity of cartridges, highlighting the potential threat posed by the gang members. Earlier on Tuesday, Jaipur Police arrested four individuals linked to the Bishnoi gang after receiving information about their activities through social media. The arrested individuals were reportedly following social media accounts affiliated with Lawrence Bishnoi and Rohit Godara. Jaipur Police stated that the suspects had obtained multiple illegal weapons from Madhya Pradesh and were planning to execute orders from someone allegedly connected to the gang. Acting on a tip-off from the Jaipur Commissionerate Special Team (CST), the police detained them before they could proceed with further illegal activities. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Singh said, "The individuals were carrying out courier work for the gang and were arrested before they could receive further instructions. Multiple weapons were recovered from their possession." Further investigations into the Lawrence Bishnoi gang are underway, and more details are awaited. (ANI) The joint military exercise between India and Malaysia, Harimau Shakti 2024, is scheduled to take place from December 2 to December 15 at the Bentong Camp in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI) of the Indian Army stated on Saturday. The Army, via an official statement on X, stated that the exercise is expected to enhance interoperability between the Indian Army and the Malaysian Army in conducting sub-conventional operations under the United Nations mandate. This year, the bilateral military exercise is themed around the motto, *"Two nations, one mission: Ensuring global peace."* "The joint military Exercise Harimau Shakti between India and Malaysia, is scheduled to be held at the Bentong Camp, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 02 December - 15 December 2024. The objective of Exercise Harimau Shakti is to further strengthen interoperability between the Indian Army and the Malaysian Army in conducting sub-conventional operations under the UN mandate," the ADGPI's post read, In 2023, the joint bilateral training exercise took place in India at Meghalaya's Umroi Cantonment. The Malaysian Army contingent consisted of troops from the 5th Royal Battalion of the Malaysian Army, while the Indian contingent was represented by a battalion of the Rajput Regiment. "Exercise Harimau Shakti" aims to improve defence cooperation between the Indian Army and the Malaysian Army and foster stronger bilateral relations between the two nations. Meanwhile, the 13th edition of the bilateral joint military exercise Agni Warrior 2024, between the Indian Army and the Singapore Armed Forces, concluded at Field Firing Ranges, Devlali, in Maharashtra on Saturday. The three-day exercise involved participation from the Singapore Armed Forces contingent, which included 182 personnel from the Singapore Artillery, and the Indian Army contingent, with 114 personnel from the Regiment of Artillery. The exercise aimed to maximise mutual understanding of drills and procedures to achieve jointness as a multinational force under the United Nations Charter. The exercise showcased joint firepower planning, execution, and the use of new-generation equipment by the artillery of both armies. The event was by Lieutenant General Adosh Kumar, Director General of Artillery; Lieutenant General NS Sarna, Commandant, School of Artillery; and Colonel Ong Chiou Perng, Chief Artillery Officer, Singapore Armed Forces. (ANI) The United States approved a USD 385 million arms sale to Taiwan on Friday, continuing its efforts to strengthen military relations with the island nation, a move that has raised concerns in China, Al Jazeera reported. According to the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the sale, which includes spare parts for fighter jets and radar systems, is expected to be delivered starting in 2025. The US Department of State's approval is aimed at helping Taiwan maintain the operational readiness of its F-16 fleet, enabling the island to address both current and future threats, the DSCA said, as reported by Al Jazeera. Meanwhile, Taiwan's President William Lai Ching-te departed on a trip to the Pacific, with planned stops in Hawaii and Guam, which have angered China. The People's Republic of China (PRC) claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has previously opposed U.S. arms sales to the self-ruled democracy, Al Jazeera's report added. Lai's trip includes visits to Pacific nations such as the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau, marking his first foreign tour since assuming office. In his pre-departure speech, Lai expressed his gratitude to the US for "helping to make this trip a smooth one" and described the journey as "ushering in a new era of values-based democracy." China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Lai's travel to the US, urging the US to handle Taiwan-related matters with caution and support China's goal of peaceful reunification. The US should "handle the Taiwan issue with utmost caution, unequivocally oppose Taiwan independence, and support the peaceful reunification of China," said China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning. In response, the US State Department stated there was "no justification for a private, routine, and unofficial transit to be used as a pretext for provocation." Al Jazeera, in its report, also cited that this latest arms deal is the 18th announced during U.S. President Joe Biden's administration, according to Taiwan. Taiwan has been actively seeking to expand its military ties with the US amid growing pressure from China, which has increased military activity around the island. Last month, the US approved a USD 2 billion arms package for Taiwan, which included advanced missile systems and radar. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence expressed appreciation for the US support, stating that it would continue to strengthen its defences in response to China's increasing military pressure. Just hours before Lai's departure on Saturday, Taiwan's defence ministry reported the detection of 18 Chinese military aircraft, seven naval vessels, and two balloons near the island. (ANI) The Pakistani government is intensifying efforts to privatise Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) through government-to-government (G2G) agreements, with a deadline set for December 31, ARY News reported on Saturday, citing sources. According to the report, both Abu Dhabi and Qatar have expressed strong interest in PIA's privatisation, creating a potential opportunity for foreign investment. Active discussions are underway with both countries to finalise the terms of the deal. To attract investors, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) is reportedly offering substantial incentives to those looking to acquire stakes in PIA. These measures are designed to ensure a smooth transition during the privatization process, providing necessary support to potential investors, ARY's report added. Further, citing sources, ARY News stated that a key development in PIA's financial recovery is the reopening of its European routes, which has positively impacted the airline's revenue. This expansion into Europe has provided a significant boost to the airline's financial standing. PIA's operations to the UK are progressing without major issues, as the UK had previously conditioned approval for direct flights on clearance from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). With this approval now secured, PIA is set to begin direct flights to London and Manchester, greatly improving its connectivity to the UK. To improve its operations, PIA plans to deploy four Boeing 777 aircraft to strengthen its flights to Europe and the UK. This strategic move is expected to bolster the airline's position in the international market and accelerate its financial recovery. The introduction of additional aircraft and the expansion of UK and European routes are expected to reduce PIA's annual losses and improve its overall financial health, with longer-term benefits anticipated. As the government pushes forward with privatisation efforts, strategic expansions, and the introduction of new aircraft, PIA is working to improve its financial stability and operational efficiency. The government's emphasis on attracting foreign investment and expanding the airline's international network reflects its commitment to revitalising the national carrier. In October 2024, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb stated that the government plans to complete PIA's privatisation, along with that of three power distribution companies, by the end of the year. Initially set to conclude by October 1, the privatisation process was delayed to October 31 due to low bidder interest, ongoing legal challenges, issues with the ageing fleet, and civil aviation concerns. (ANI) US President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday (local time) nominated the name of Kashyap "Kash" Patel to serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump announced Patel's nomination, highlighting his distinguished career in various government roles. These include serving as Chief of Staff at the Department of Defense, Deputy Director of National Intelligence, and Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council during Trump's first term as President. Trump praised Patel for his work in investigating the so-called "Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax," calling him an "America First" fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending justice, and protecting the American people. "I am proud to announce that Kashyap 'Kash' Patel will serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and 'America First' fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending justice, and protecting the American people. He played a pivotal role in uncovering the 'Russia, Russia, Russia' hoax, standing as an advocate for truth, accountability, and the Constitution. Kash did an incredible job during my first term, where he served as Chief of Staff at the Department of Defense, Deputy Director of National Intelligence, and Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council. Kash has also tried over 60 jury trials," the US President-elect said. Trump further tasked Patel with addressing critical issues such as rising crime rates, criminal gangs, and human and drug trafficking across the US border. He also underlined that Patel would work under Attorney General Pam Bondi to restore the FBI's core motto: Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity. "This FBI will end the growing crime epidemic in America, dismantle migrant criminal gangs, and stop the evil scourge of human and drug trafficking across the border," Trump stated, adding that "Kash will work under our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to restore Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity to the FBI." Donald Trump secured a second term as President of the United States following his victory in the 2024 presidential election, winning 295 electoral votes, defeating Democratic rival Kamala Harris, who garnered 226 votes. Since his victory, Trump has moved quickly to finalise his foreign policy and national security team in preparation for his formal inauguration in January 2025. (ANI) A Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) found Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), guilty in connection with the violent events of May 9, 2023, and revoked his bail in eight related cases, The Express Tribune reported on Saturday. The written judgement, delivered by ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gill, highlighted strong evidence from the prosecution, including audio and video recordings that implicated Khan in inciting violence. The court cited witness testimonies regarding a conspiracy at Zaman Park, where Khan allegedly directed his supporters to take action. According to the prosecution, Khan had planned to disrupt state operations in anticipation of his arrest, The Express Tribune reported. Khan's defence argued that he was in custody at the time of the incident, but the court rejected this argument, stating that the conspiracy had been devised before his detention. The court also underscored that the charges against Khan went beyond simple incitement, noting that he had directed attacks on military and government properties. It also added that Khan's instructions were followed by his supporters, leading to violence, including assaults on military sites, government buildings, and police officers, The Express Tribune reported. Also, according to the Pakistani daily's report, the court noted that on May 11, violent incidents occurred, including attacks on police officers, which were linked to Khan's directives. Evidence presented by the prosecution included recordings of undercover police officers overhearing discussions about the conspiracy, further confirming Khan's involvement. As a result, the ATC convicted Khan and revoked his bail in the cases related to the May 9 events. The Lahore High Court had also considered Khan's role in the conspiracy when addressing the bail of PTI leader Ejaz Chaudhry. The defence had contested the lack of specific details regarding the date, time, and place of the alleged conspiracy, but the prosecution maintained that the plot was planned between May 7 and May 9 at Zaman Park. (ANI) Serpentine lines were seen outside polling station in Kathmandu before the polling opened at 7am (local Time) on Sunday. Turn by turn, people waited patiently to exercise their democratic rights as the Himalayan nation held the bypolls to elect 41 local representatives. As per the electoral body of Nepal, three representatives already have been elected unopposed while the polling is taking place to elect remaining 41 representatives for various posts. At least 376 people are in the fray for the remaining posts. The district coordination committee candidates in Kailali and Okhaldhunga won unopposed from the Nepali Congress. While Tek Raj Bhattarai and Tika Kumari Chaudhary of the Congress were unchallenged, CPN (Maoist Centre) candidate Jagat Gharti had no contenders for the Putha Uttarganga Rural Municipality ward 2 chairperson post, according to election officials. "The election should be held timely and people also should vote for those who would help people in getting the desired development and who work on to address the grievances of the public," Tuknath Dhakal, a voter in Kathmandu told ANI as he exercised his franchise. Sunday's by-polls will elect one Mayor, one Deputy-Mayor, two Rural Municipality Chair, four rural municipality vice-chairman and 33 ward chairs in various local bodies of the Himalayan Nation. According to the Local Level Election Act 2017, if the position of the district coordination committee chief, deputy chief, rural municipality chairperson, vice-chairperson, municipality mayor, deputy mayor and ward chair falls vacant for any reason before the end of their term and if more than one year of their term remains, the remaining term will be filled through a by-election. "Definitely this is a democratic practice. Through election, people can choose those whom they want to rule them or work for them. The party which they favour or the person whom they want to be in power and make them the people's representative, it's a big opportunity for the people. These periodical elections would help survive the democratic practice of the people," Shaligram Sharma Paudel, also the former election commission official told ANI after exercising his franchise. As per the Election Commission, a total of 20 parties are standing in the fray fielding their candidates for various posts. Among the 41 posts, Koshi and Karnali provinces are holding by-elections for eight posts each. Madhesh and Bagmati will witness by-elections for seven posts. Sudurpaschim will have the by-election for five posts and Lumbini six. A by-election will be held in Gandaki for one post only. According to the Election Commission, elections is also being held for the mayor of Kirtipur Municipality in Kathmandu and the deputy mayor of Nalgad Municipality in Jajarkot. Similarly, elections are being held for the posts of chairperson of Gramthan Rural Municipality of Morang and Mahabu Rural Municipality of Dailekh, Gaurishankar Rural Municipality of Dolakha, Sarkegad Rural Municipality of Humla, and vice chairperson of Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality of Bajura. Election is underway for the ward chairperson of Sirijanga Rural Municipality-3 of Taplejung, Kankai Municipality-6 of Jhapa, Laligurans Municipality-8 of Tehrathum, Gadhi Rural Municipality-6 of Sunsari, Molung Rural Municipality-5 of Okhaldhunga, and Triyuga Municipality-12 of Udayapur. Likewise, polls are being held for ward chairpersons in Belka Municipality-9 of Udayapur, Dakneshwari Municipality wards 1 and 4 of Saptari, Dhanushadham Municipality-1 of Dhanusha, Ramgopalpur Municipality-2 of Mahottari, Ishanath Municipality-7, Rajpur Municipality-6 and Gadhimai Municipality-8 of Rautahat. Kakani Rural Municipality-2 of Nuwakot, Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City-12 of Makawanpur, Gorkha Municipality-5 of Gorkha, Musikot Municipality-1 of Gulmi, Runtigadhi Rural Municipality-4 of Rolpa, Thakurbaba Municipality-4 of Bardiya, and Suddhodhan Rural Municipality-1 of Kapilvastu also have headed for by-election, according to the Election Commission. Similarly, elections are also being held for ward chairpersons in Dullu Municipality-13 of Dailekh, Tilagufa Municipality-4 of Kalikot, Kushe Rural Municipality-7 of Jajarkot, Tripurasundari Municipality-5 of Dolpa, Sanibheri Rural Municipality-5 of Rukum (West), Surma Rural Municipality-4 of Bajhang, Purbichauki Rural Municipality-6 of Doti, Duhun Rural Municipality-5 of Darchula and Bhimdatta Municipality-6 of Kanchanpur. (ANI) Protests continued Saturday at the Bolan Medical College. The agitating students are demanding the reopening of their institution and its hostels, along with the release of detained students, the Balochistan Post reported. The sit-in, held outside the main gate of BMC, has drawn significant participation. Protesters accused the BMC administration and law enforcement officials of facilitating what they called the "illegal occupation" of hostels by security forces, which they say has disrupted academic activities. "The closure of hostels and classes violates our fundamental right to education and jeopardizes our future," a protesting student said. Students also criticized recent police actions, alleging that raids on hostels resulted in arrests, injuries, and some students being rendered unconscious. They claimed these actions are part of a deliberate effort to marginalize Baloch youth and deprive them of educational opportunities. In a post on X, Sadia Kareem an MBBS student said, "Today marks our 4th day of protest outside Bolan Medical College, where we are demanding the immediate restoration of our college and hostels. Unfortunately, the administration has yet to take any concrete steps to address our concerns" The demonstrators further accused the authorities of attempting to create divisions between Baloch and Pashtun students and raised concerns about the use of educational institutions for military purposes. Authorities have not commented on the protests or addressed the allegations raised by the students. Meanwhile, the Baloch Yakhjeti Committee once again raised the issue of alleged illegal disappearance of Baloch people. "The enforced disappearances of Baloch individuals are escalating daily. The Baloch nation is facing the worst forms of oppression. With every passing day, disturbing reports of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances emerge. Hundreds of innocent individuals and their families are being subjected to the cruel practice of enforced disappearances, and in many cases, these victims are executed. The genocide of the Baloch people is intensifying, yet human rights organizations and the media have adopted a criminal silence, as lives of Baloch do not matter to anyone. It is evident that whether we live or die makes no difference to the world. State violence has reached its peak," the BYC said in its post on X. "The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) expresses grave concern that despite our peaceful efforts, the genocide we resist is intensifying rapidly. We will never, and cannot, remain indifferent while our people endure such brutality. BYC will continue to strengthen and expand the resistance movement against the ongoing Baloch genocide," it added, (ANI) Former Chief Minister of Balochistan and current Member of the Provincial Assembly, Nawab Aslam Raisani, has said that the majority of Baloch people support independence from Pakistan. In a statement, Raisani described the Baloch nation as being divided into three distinct factions. "A large majority of the Baloch people are pro-independence and are actively striving for national freedom," the Balochistan Post reported. Raisani said the second group comprises individuals aligned with the state establishment, motivated by personal interests and a desire for power. "This faction remains loyal to the existing system, prioritizing power over national aspirations," he added. The third faction, Raisani said, consists of nationalist parties advocating for autonomy and resource control within the federation. However, he described this group as weak and limited in influence. "Under the current circumstances, these nationalist parliamentary parties have lost their significance," he said. On November 30 the Baloch Yakhjeti Committee highlighted the issue of continues disappearances of Baloch Youth. "Enforced Disappearances of the Baloch are on the rise which is gravely affecting the victims and their families alike inflicting collective agony. Since the last few days, several individuals have been disappeared by security forces of which 11 have been recorded. Their details are: Balach, Bayan, Nasir and Gulab Baloch from Uthal Bazar, students of Lasbela University. Nisar Baloch and Saleem Baloch from Askani Bazar, Turbat, Kech. Faqeer Muhammad, Dad Muhammad and Durjan Baloch from Jewani, Gwadar. Parvez Samad, Siddiq Ahmed from Karachi. State and its authorities have accelerated enforced disappearances to further Baloch genocide and crush resistance. Baloch everywhere has become a target for the State," the BYC said in its statement on X. On November 27, the BYC organised a sit-in camp in Awaran along with the family of Dil Jan Baloch, who was forcibly disappeared on June 22, 2024. During the seminar, speakers, including Sammi Deen Baloch, the leader of BYC, and members of Dil Jan's family, and others highlighted the ongoing plight of the Baloch people. They condemned the state's failure to fulfil past assurances. Speakers condemned the state's continued war crimes against the Baloch people. They reminded the audience of the decades-long suffering, including mutilated bodies of loved ones being returned and the daily news of enforced disappearances. The seminar concluded with a resounding message: harassment, threats, and transportation blockades will not deter the Baloch people's struggle for justice. (ANI) Charles Graves has been helping deaf children share their Christmas wishes for the past five years. But this holiday season, he has his own wish. TNS Charles Graves has been helping deaf children share their Christmas wishes for the past five years. But this holiday season, he has his own wish. Graves, who is also deaf, is known as Deaf Santa Claus in New Braunfels. He has worked as a night residential educator at the Texas School for the Deaf for the last 25 years. And since 2019, he has been travelling the country, dressing up as Santa Claus for holiday events and asking children nonspeaking, deaf and abled what they want for Christmas through sign language. Deaf Santa Claus, an Austin-made documentary about his journeys, premiered at the Austin Film Festival this October. But Graves is out of commission this Christmas. In August, he was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis, and his health has rapidly declined. He is still in the hospital for an undetermined period of time as doctors work to figure out how to best help him. Once he is well enough to be discharged, he will need many weeks of physical therapy to get him back on his feet, and it will be a while before he is ready to get back in the jolly red suit. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Rachel Flores, a friend of Graves and his wife Kari, started a GoFundMe in September with a goal of $20,000 to aid the family. As of Friday afternoon, they had raised $6,795 from 68 donors. READ MORE: Federal officials warn San Antonio residents against storing guns in cars amid theft surge As you can imagine, this will be, and has been, a significant blow to Kari and Charles income, Flores wrote on the fundraiser. On top of any of the medical bills which are not covered by insurance, there are numerous other costs that come along with this situation, which include gas and food expenses for Kari, to travel to and from the hospital each day so she can be there for Charles, to advocate for him and make sure he receives the care he needs. Kari, who is also deaf, dresses up as Mrs. Claus with Graves at holiday events. She drives over 50 miles one way from New Braunfels to the hospital in Austin, according to the GoFundMe. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Indian-origin Republican leader Vivek Ramaswamy has expressed anger over the decision of the City of New York to pay USD 220 million in rent for a hotel owned by the Pakistan government, which meant that US taxpayers are "effectively paying a foreign government to house illegals". In a post on X, Ramaswamy stated, "A taxpayer-funded hotel for illegal migrants is owned by the Pakistani government which means NYC taxpayers are effectively paying a foreign government to house illegals in our own country. This is nuts." Ramaswamy's statement followed a posting by author John LeFevre who stated that the NYC renting out the entire Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan that is owned by Pakistan, was part of a USD 1.1 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout package to help Islamabad avoid defaulting on international debt. Sharing a post on X, LeFevre stated, "The city of New York pays $220 million to rent the entire Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan to house illegal migrants. The hotel is owned by the government of Pakistan, and the deal was part of a $1.1 billion IMF bailout package to help Pakistan avoid defaulting on their international debt. Prior to this sweetheart deal, the hotel had been closed since 2020, having long-struggled with occupancy and in dire need of renovation." https://x.com/vivekgramaswamy/status/1863022250498125866 In 2023, Pakistan government leased out Roosevelt Hotel, a property of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to the New York City Administration for three years against USD 220 million, as per a report in the Dawn. At the time, Pakistan's Federal Minister for Railways and Aviation Khawaja Saad Rafique said that a contract was signed between the government and the NYC administration/government. Recently, US President-elect Donald Trump had announced that Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and 'X' along with Indian-origin Vivek Ramaswamy will lead the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). "Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies - Essential to the "Save America" Movement. This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in Government waste, which is a lot of people!," Trump had said in his annoncement. The DOGE will partner with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to drive large-scale structural reform and create an entrepreneurial approach to government. (ANI) Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who is in jail along with other key leaders, on Saturday called for national reconciliation and national consensus to achieve political stability in Pakistan, Dawn reported. Speaking to reporters after appearing in an anti-terrorism court in Lahore, Qureshi expressed hope that politically astute people in all political parties would play a part for holding national dialogue as the ban on PTI will only complicate the situation. Qureshi also urged that he be given an opportunity to meet PTI founder Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated in Adiala Jail, so that he could express his views about national reconciliation and national consensus, according to Dawn report. Shah Mehmood Qureshi's remarks came amid reports that the federal government was considering imposing a ban on Imran Khan-founded party and a governor's rule in the PTI-run Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to repeated 'onslaughts' by the former ruling party on Islamabad. He warned that crushing PTI would not be interest of Pakistan and described the plan to impose ban on his party and governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa "sheer absurdity." PTI vice chairman said that political leadership was not aware about the consequences of taking such a decision, adding that Balochistan was facing insurgency, terrorism was rising in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh was against the federal government's stance regarding the water issue. Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the government's plan to impose the governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be tantamount to desecrating the will of the people that gave a "two-thirds majority" to Imran Khan-founded party. He said, "I do hope that the politically savvy people in the PML-N will oppose the idea of imposing the governor's rule and warn their leadership that it will be a political and historical blunder," Dawn reported. Expressing his views on tabling of a resolution in the Punjab Assembly seeking to ban the PTI, he thanked Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for opposing the resolution. He expressed gratitude to other political parties, including the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F), the Jamaat-i-Islami, and the Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal) for opposing a similar resolution in the Balochistan Assembly. He expressed surprise over Awami National Party president Aimal Wali Khan's support for proscribing PTI, Dawn reported. He asked, "Can the government attain economic stability without political stability or achieve IMF [funding]?" Qureshi said, "You can attain stability through authoritarian rule but it will not be sustainable. You can get desired results through election engineering but will fail to get legitimacy." He praised JUI-F president Maulana Fazlur Rehman for his statement, wherein called "illegitimate and fake" results of the general elections held on February 8 "basis problem." He urged saner people to think that the apex court's full court decision on the PTI reserved seats case was not put in place. He also prayed for the PTI workers, who died during protests at D-Chowk on November 26, and expressed condolences to the bereaved families. Meanwhile, PTI Punjab President Yasmin Rashid condemned the killing of innocent protesters. Speaking to reporters at the ATC, she said, "The government killed Pakistani kids," Dawn reported. She said, "Never such fascism was unleashed in Pakistan" and added that everyone involved would be held accountable here and hereafter." She said PTI during its government did not stop Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Maryam Nawaz and Maulana Fazlur Rehman from holding long marches. (ANI) The Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Toronto area got an injunction order from a Canadian superior court to prevent Khalistani protesters from gathering within 100 meters of the premises, as per a statement by the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir Hindu Cultural Society in Scarborough. The society also thanked Toronto police for their support in facilitating the Indian Consular Camp held at the temple. In a statement, the society said, "The Superior Court of Justice in Toronto, Ontario has issued an interlocutory injunction prohibiting all protest activities, including physically preventing, or interfering with access to within a 100-meter radius of the Lakshmi Narayan Temple in Scarborough from 8am to 6pm on Saturday, November 30th, 2024. This order aims to ensure the safety and sanctity of the temple premises and individuals during the specified hours." The society appreciated the police for their effort and cooperation. In a statement, the society said, "The Hindu Cultural Society Shree Lakshmi Narayan Mandir Scarborough extends its heartfelt gratitude to the Toronto Police Service and 42 Division for their outstanding support in facilitating the Indian Consular Camp held at our temple. Your commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our community during this important event was exemplary and greatly appreciated. By providing a secure and welcoming environment, you enabled countless community members to access vital consular services with peace of mind. We are truly thankful for your dedication and partnership, which contribute to fostering harmony and trust within our diverse community. Thank you for your service!" https://x.com/IndiainToronto/status/1862951483194454086 Indian consulate in Toronto said it issued 250 life certificates to the elderly. Ravi Andamuri, a part of the Hindu Forum in Canada, told ANI that earlier, the police was not cooperating with them, but after the court order, it is okay. "There is no room for glorification and terrorism in Canada and it's very important. Nobody can intimidate or incite violence and divide communities. Today we seek court protection because unfortunately the police were not protecting in the past. Now we are very happy that police are coordinating with us and they are helping us and there's Now the camp is going on very peacefully," he said, Abhishek Tanwar, a member of the Indian diaspora in Canada, in conversation with ANI, said that although the camp was mostly peaceful, the fact that it took a court's order for peaceful camp was saddening. "I am here today at Lakshmi Narayan temple because the Consulate Camp is going on and we are happy to see that how police and administration is helping us. The court has granted us a very nice order to help this program go smoothly and we are thankful to the legal system of the Canada and the administration of Ontario, the police and everybody. But this is also one sad thing that today if we are coming to our temple and we need to have a police protection to come to the temple. This is, things should not be happening in Canada. We love everybody. We want to be together. We want to stay connected to each other and make a beautiful community in Canada," he said. Avandeep Singh Chapa, another member of Indian origin, told ANI that he was thankful to Toronto police for the cooperation. "I'm right standing in front of Hindu temple. So everything is going smooth under the protection of Toronto Police and we are really thankful to them. And as the program is going smoothly, so everything is okay," he said. (ANI) Terming the US arms sale to Taiwan seriously violate the one-China principle as well as the three China-US joint communiques, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has vowed to take strong and resolute countermeasures to defend its national sovereignty, security and the terroritorial measures. Chinese Foreign Ministry's statement comes after the US Department of Defence announced that the Department of State has approved arm sales worth USD 385 million worth to Taiwan. Terming the US arms sales to Taiwan "severe breach of the international law," the Chinese Foreign Ministry in a statement said, "US arms sales to China's Taiwan region seriously violate the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, especially the August 17 Communique of 1982 and China's sovereignty and security interests." "The sales are a severe breach of the international law, send a gravely wrong signal to 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces, and are detrimental to China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The decision to sell arms to Taiwan is simply inconsistent with US leaders' commitment of not supporting "Taiwan independence." China deplores and firmly opposes it and has lodged serious protests to the US," it said. China has urged the US to stop arming Taiwan and supporting "Taiwan independence" separatist forces in seeking "Taiwan independence." In a statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, "We call on the US to immediately stop arming Taiwan and stop abetting and supporting "Taiwan independence" separatist forces in seeking "Taiwan independence" by building up its military. China will take strong and resolute countermeasures to firmly defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity." On Friday, the US approved a USD 385 million arms sale to Taiwan, continuing its efforts to strengthen military relations with the island nation, a move that has raised concerns in China, Al Jazeera reported. According to the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the sale, which includes spare parts for fighter jets and radar systems, is expected to be delivered starting in 2025, according to Al Jazeera report. The US Department of State's approval is aimed at helping Taiwan maintain the operational readiness of its F-16 fleet, enabling the island to address both current and future threats, the DSCA said. Taiwan has been actively seeking to expand its military ties with the US amid growing pressure from China, which has increased military activity around the island. (ANI) Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal met the Minister of Enterprises of Italy, Adolfo Urso, in an effort to deepen the maritime cooperation between the two countries here on Sunday, a statement by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the docking of Italian Navy School Ship, The Amerigo Vespucci, at the Indira docks in the Mumbai Port. Sonowal also joined Urso to visit the 'Villagio Italia,' a model village of Italy to showcase its culture, the statement said. https://x.com/sarbanandsonwal/status/1862851394065277068 Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal said, "It is a moment of great satisfaction that both the countries, India and Italy, are committed towards deepening the bilateral relationship. Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the economic cooperation between the two countries has surged as Italy remains among the top trading partners of India, with significant inroads in sectors like trade, infrastructure, automobile and renewable energy. Today, we enjoy the Strategic Partnership as we are working in sectors like cyber security, innovation, defence, outer space, green economy, energy security, and transition, as well as Blue Economy. Given the growing trading relationship, it is important that we must deepen our maritime cooperation to unlock economic wealth for both the nations. We know that Cochin Shipyard Limited is already working with Fincantieri in the field of shipbuilding. We remain committed to look for more possible collaborations and explore opportunities how the rich potential of Blue Economy can be explored to deepen our bilateral maritime relationship." Speaking at the inaugural session, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also requested for support and collaboration in National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC), which is being built by the MoPSW at Lothal in Gujarat. The Minister highlighted how the maritime expertise as well as the cultural prowess of Italy can add value to this maritime museum, as per the statement. An Italian Village was created on the wharf facility where the above vessel was berthed for showcasing the best of Italian creativity and craftsmanship. At the Villagi Italia, many exhibitions like 'We Are Sea' exhibition, Expo Leonardo, Giotto Experience, The Art of Jago, Sanremo Festival among others will be showcased. Apart from this, the visitors can also visit the Vespucci, dubbed as the 'world's most beautiful ship', which is travelling across the world. https://x.com/sarbanandsonwal/status/1862851394065277068 https://x.com/sarbanandsonwal/status/1862854006629969960 India and Italy share a healthy bonding in Maritime Trade and MbPA handles EXIM cargoes viz. steel, automobiles, project cargo, etc., from/to Italy. An Italian Flag cruise vessel m v COSTA SERENA was home ported and during FY 2023-24, there were 20 calls of this vessel at MbPA. Mumbai Port Authority is the second oldest Major Port in India. Mumbai Port Authority has completed 151 years of existence. AMERIGO VESPUCCI is a Tall Ship of the Italian Navy named after the explorer Amerigo Vespucci. The ship was commissioned during May 1931 with a length of 100.5 metres, beam of 15.56 metres and draft of 7 metres. The propulsion of the ship includes, 26 sails, 2 Diesel Generator engines and 1 Electrical Propulsion Engine. The ship can cruise at a speed of 15 knots (28 kmph) and has a complement of 15 Officers, 64 Non-Commissioned Officers, 185 Sailors and 130 Naval Academy Cadets and support staff. As part of the ship's Word Tour 2023-2025, the ship visited Los Angles in USA, Tokyo in Japan, Darwin in Australia, Singapore and is now at Mumbai after which it shall visit Doha, Abu Dhabi and Jeddah, as per the statement. The inaugural session on the Space and Blue Economy was also attended by Sushil Kumar Singh, IRSME, Chairperson, MbPA, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, IAS, Additional Secretary, MoPS&W, Government of India, Adesh Titarmare, IAS, Deputy Chairperson, MbPA, ADM Antonio Natale, Italian Navy, Ambassador Antonio Bartoli, Ambassador to India, Ambassador Mario Cospito, Diplomatic Advisor to the Minister of Enterprises, Ambassador Francesco Maria Talo, Senior Adviser to the Minister of Defence and Luca Andreoli, AD Didesa Servizi were present on the occasion, the statement added. (ANI) Taiwan expressed gratitude to the United Kingdom's House of Commons for clarifying that the United Nations Resolution 2758 does not pertain to Taiwan. On Thursday, the House of Commons debated Taiwan's international status and unanimously passed a motion supporting Taiwan, the Taipei Times reported. The motion stated that the House "recognizes that UN Resolution 2758 does not address Taiwan's political status, does not establish PRC (People's Republic of China) sovereignty over Taiwan, and remains silent on both Taiwan's status in the UN and its participation in UN agencies." Catherine West, the British Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office Parliamentary Undersecretary of State responsible for Indo-Pacific affairs, stated on behalf of the UK government that "the resolution determined that only the People's Republic of China should represent China at the UN." She added, "However, UN Resolution 2758 did not make any separate or additional decision regarding Taiwan's status and should not be used to prevent Taiwan's meaningful involvement in the UN or the broader international system. This is why the UK opposes any efforts to expand the interpretation of Resolution 2758 to alter historical facts. I believe such actions would not serve the interests of the people of Taiwan, nor would they be beneficial to the UK or the global community." According to the report in Taipei, Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo stated yesterday that the adoption of the motion further strengthened global support for Taiwan's democratic values and its efforts for international participation. She emphasized in a statement that Taiwan is committed to standing with democratic allies to collectively defend the shared principles of freedom, democracy, and human rights. In a statement, the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the move reflects British Parliament's support for Taiwan. It also underscored the unjust exclusion of Taiwan from key international discussions and cooperative frameworks, marking an important milestone in Taiwan's ongoing efforts to challenge China's misinterpretation of the resolution. The motion was introduced by Blair McDougall, the Labour lawmaker for East Renfrewshire and a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and was signed by 16 other lawmakers from various political parties, including the Labour Party, Conservative Party, Unionist Party, Liberal Democrats, and Scottish National Party. Notable signatories included Sarah Champion, co-chair of the British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group, and Iain Duncan Smith, co-chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) and former Conservative Party leader, according to the ministry. This demonstrated significant bipartisan support in the British Parliament for Taiwan's sovereignty and its participation in international affairs, the ministry added. The ministry stated that after the adoption of the IPAC model resolution on UN Resolution 2758 at the annual summit in Taipei in July, along with similar actions by Australia, the Netherlands, Guatemala, and Canada, the British House of Commons becomes the fifth foreign legislative body to pass a motion on the resolution in support of Taiwan. On October 25, 1971, the UN General Assembly passed United Nations Resolution 2758 (XXVI) which stated that the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government of China. The resolution replaced the ROC with the PRC as a permanent member of the Security Council in the United Nations. Meanwhile, the Dutch House of Representatives passed a motion on Tuesday proposed by Eric van der Burg, the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy's foreign affairs spokesman. The motion urges the Dutch government to follow Germany's example and sign an agreement with Taiwan on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. This marks the fifth pro-Taiwan motion passed by the Dutch House this year, following a motion clarifying that UN Resolution 2758 does not mention Taiwan, and another advocating for the Dutch government's support for investment agreement negotiations between Taiwan and key EU countries. (ANI) Strongly condemning the Pakistani government's announcement of a broad military offensive in Balochistan, the Baloch National Movement (BNM) chairman Naseem Baloch has called for a comprehensive national response, urging the public to carefully analyze the government's statements and actions. Naseem Baloch called for global solidarity with the Baloch resistance and condemned Pakistan and China for their roles in the continued exploitation and oppression of the Baloch people. He pointed out that the Pakistani government frequently threatens future military operations in Balochistan, using the "future tense" as a psychological tactic to conceal ongoing military actions. He argued that these statements aim to divert attention from the state's current atrocities in Balochistan, creating a false narrative that the Pakistani state is not yet actively involved in the region. This strategy, he said, also serves to intimidate the Baloch population and distract from the real issues affecting them. According to Baloch, the Pakistani state's exploitation of Balochistan's vast resources is a major factor behind the military operations. He emphasized that while the region is rich in minerals, its people continue to live in poverty, with little access to basic necessities. He argued that true peace and prosperity for the Baloch people can only be achieved if they gain control over their land and resources, and denounced the military operations as a means of sustaining the plunder of Baloch resources. Naseem Baloch also highlighted the resilience of Baloch resistance organizations, which, over the past two decades, have effectively challenged the Pakistani military through guerrilla warfare. He accused the Pakistani state of retaliating against this resistance by subjecting the Baloch people to collective punishment, including extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, and inhumane torture. He stressed that these atrocities demonstrate the state's failure to suppress the Baloch struggle, and instead, it intensifies its violence against ordinary civilians. Naseem Baloch called on the international community to recognize the Baloch people's right to self-determination and to take action against the ongoing human rights violations in Balochistan. He warned that the silence of international institutions on this issue amounts to complicity in what he described as a genocide. In his statement, he also addressed China's growing involvement in the military aggression against Balochistan. He accused China of supporting Pakistan's brutal actions in the region to advance its imperialist ambitions, particularly through projects like Gwadar Port and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Baloch argued that these projects are exploitative, forcing the Baloch people off their land and seizing their resources. He vowed that the Baloch people would continue to resist China's imperialist agenda, highlighting that the China-Pakistan alliance poses a direct threat to Baloch land, national identity, and survival. (ANI) Bangladesh High Court has acquitted all the accused including the Acting Chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Tareq Rahman in the August 21 grenade attacks case on former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, lawyers said on Sunday. The court also scrapped the lower court verdict, in which a total of 49 persons were convicted. Among them, the lower court sentenced 19 people including former State Minister Lutfuzzaman Babar to death and acquitted all the accused. The High Court observed that the trial court verdict in the cases is illegal as it was delivered in an illegal manner. The Dhaka grenade attack took place at an anti-terrorism rally organised by Awami League on Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, this year. The attack left 24 dead and more than 500 injured. The attack was carried out at 5:22 pm after Sheikh Hasina, the then-leader of opposition had finished addressing a crowd of 20,000 people from the back of a truck. Hasina also sustained some injuries in the attack. Meanwhile, on November 30, ISKCON Kolkata claimed that Bangladesh authorities have arrested two of its monks, Adipurush Shyam Das and Ranganath Das Brahmachari, and its secretary of Chinmoy Krishna Das. Vice President of ISKCON Kolkata Radha Raman said that the monks were arrested on Friday by the police while on their way home after meeting secretary of Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was arrested on the charges of sedition on November 25. Vice President of ISKCON Kolkata, Radha Raman said, "On November 29, when Adipurush Shyam Das and Ranganath Das Brahmachari were returning after meeting Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu, they were arrested by the police. We are also getting information that the secretary of Chinmoy Krishna Das has also been arrested," Radha Raman said in a self-made video. He further claimed that rioters had also vandalised the ISKCON centre in Bangladesh. On Friday, India expressed concern over the rise of "extremist rhetoric, increasing incidents of violence and provocation" in Bangladesh. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that India has consistently and strongly raised the issue of targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities with the Bangladesh government. (ANI) With several Indian-origin names figuring among the picks by Donald Trump's for his incoming administration, Johnnie Moore, the former Commissioner of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) noted that Indian-American/ Hindu-American community will be at the very heart of the Republican leader's second term as US President. Taking to social media platform X on Sunday, Trump's former spiritual advisor said, "Usha, Tulsi, Vivek, Jay and now Kash. The Indian-American / Hindu American community will be at the very heart of the second Trump administration. Quite a moment for one of America's most vibrant minority communities." https://x.com/JohnnieM/status/1863098910425972753 Usha Vance the Second First Lady, the wife of US Vice President-elect JD Vance traces her roots to Indian immigrants who trace their roots to Andhra Pradesh. Republican leader Vivek Ramaswamy was born in the US to Indian immigrant parents who hail from Kerala. Kolkata-born Jay Bhattacharya has been picked by Trump as his Director of the National Institutes of Health while the President-elect has nominated Kashyap "Kash" Patel to head the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Trump on Saturday (local time) nominated the name of Kashyap "Kash" Patel to serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump announced Patel's nomination, highlighting his distinguished career in various government roles. These include serving as Chief of Staff at the Department of Defense, Deputy Director of National Intelligence, and Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council during Trump's first term as President. Trump praised Patel for his work in investigating the so-called "Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax," calling him an "America First" fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending justice, and protecting the American people. "I am proud to announce that Kashyap 'Kash' Patel will serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and 'America First' fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending justice, and protecting the American people. He played a pivotal role in uncovering the 'Russia, Russia, Russia' hoax, standing as an advocate for truth, accountability, and the Constitution. Kash did an incredible job during my first term, where he served as Chief of Staff at the Department of Defense, Deputy Director of National Intelligence, and Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council. Kash has also tried over 60 jury trials," the US President-elect said. (ANI) Pakistan's Home Ministry on Sunday clarified that despite a Islamabad High Court (IHC) ruling declaring as unlawful, the Tehreek-e-Insaaf's November 24 protest, the party violated the Red Zone in Islamabad, forcing law enforcement agencies to respond. The Ministry stated that security forces deployed to manage the protest did so without using live ammunition, ensuring their actions did not escalate the violence further, Dawn reported. Imran Khan, leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), had issued a "final call" for nationwide protests on November 13, demanding the restoration of PTI's electoral mandate, the release of detained party members, and the reversal of the 26th Amendment, which he claimed fortified a "dictatorial regime." Despite the IHC's directive and offers of an alternate protest location at Sangjani, PTI marched toward the Red Zone, sparking a day-long confrontation with security forces. The protest ended in a hasty retreat from the Red Zone by PTI leadership, following pitched battles between the protesters and law enforcement personnel. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the security forces for their handling of the situation, stating they had "bravely repulsed the protesters." However, PTI criticised Naqvi for his statements, blaming him for the violence they claimed resulted in multiple deaths among their supporters. Amnesty International condemned the actions of the authorities, labelling it a "brutal and lethal crackdown" on peaceful protesters. Meanwhile, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, currently in jail along with other leaders, called for national reconciliation to stabilise Pakistan's political landscape. The Interior Ministry's notification outlined the legal context, explaining that despite the IHC's ruling, PTI had breached the Red Zone, violating court orders. It noted that the government had offered the party an alternative venue at Sangjani, but PTI still chose to march into the Red Zone, in direct contravention of the court's decision. The government criticised PTI for its "blatant" defiance of legal directives and claimed the protest was organised with resources from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's government. The notification also described how PTI protesters "aggressively engaged" law enforcement with weapons and accused the protest of being "orchestrated and financially sustained" by provincial government resources, reported Dawn. The Ministry further alleged that PTI's march included violent "miscreant elements" and illegal Afghan nationals, claiming that these individuals led the violent activities during the protest. Around 1,500 "hard-core fighters" were reportedly involved, operating under Murad Saeed, an absconder and proclaimed offender. The notification emphasised that the army, which was deployed under Article 245 of the Constitution to secure critical government facilities, did not engage directly with the protesters nor was it tasked with riot control. It reiterated that only police and rangers, without live ammunition, were responsible for dispersing the crowd. The government also rejected PTI's claims of widespread casualties. The notification accused PTI and its supporters of running a "coordinated massive fake propaganda" campaign, which it said was aimed at diverting attention from the protest's failure. The government pointed out that major hospitals in Islamabad had refuted reports of deaths caused by law enforcement actions, labelling the social media campaign as based on fabricated or AI-generated footage. PTI's social media was criticised for spreading exaggerated claims of deaths, ranging from tens to thousands, which the Ministry called false. Additionally, the notification condemned Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur for his inflammatory statements against state institutions. The Ministry revealed that 39 lethal weapons, including 18 automatic guns, had been seized from the protesters. It also stated that over three dozen foreign nationals had been arrested in connection with the violence, Dawn reported. Early estimates suggest that material losses from the protests amounted to hundreds of millions of rupees, with indirect economic losses, such as those related to security measures, estimated at PKR 192 billion per day. The statement underscored the financial burden of the unrest on the government and emphasised the role of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in sustaining the protests. In its final remarks, the Interior Ministry warned that those spreading false information would be held accountable under the law. It stressed that PTI's social media operatives, both within Pakistan and abroad, would be investigated for inciting violence and destabilising the nation's political environment. (ANI) UK's Member of Parliament for Strangford and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for International Freedom of Religion or Belief, Jim Shannon, has expressed grave concerns over the "widespread forced conversions and human rights abuses of minority religious groups" in Pakistan. Shannon also deplored the "lack of action by the Pakistani government". He lamented that "legislative and societal frameworks in Pakistan have created an environment where intolerance thrives." He made these remarks during a recent session of the UK Parliament, where the freedom of religion in Pakistan was discussed. Shannon, who has visited Pakistan twice, in 2018 and 2023, emphasised that conditions for religious minorities have worsened over the past five years. He described the situation as dire, with Christians, Hindus, Ahmadis, and Shia Muslims regularly facing discrimination, violence, and persecution. He said, "I visited Pakistan on two occasions in 2018 and 2023. I would love to say that things have changed in Pakistan in those intervening five years, but they have not. Indeed, they have got worse, and I will go into more detail on that as we move forward." He said that in Pakistan "Textbooks continue to perpetrate stereotypes, fostering intolerance among the next generation." "Minority students are forced to study Islamic content, isolating them further in a society already fraught with prejudice. Economic discrimination compounds those challenges. Non-Muslims are often relegated to low-status jobs with limited opportunity for social or professional mobility. That systematic marginalisation keeps them in a cycle of poverty and vulnerability," he elaborated. Shannon attributed the widespread intolerance to Pakistan's legal and societal frameworks, particularly the blasphemy laws introduced during General Zia ul-Haq's regime. These laws, he stated, are among the harshest in the world and are frequently weaponized against religious minorities. He said, "Let me put this in plain language that we can all understand: the reality of the situation in Pakistan is dire. It is critical. It is at crisis point. In fact, I can understand why some people feel utterly hopeless. Pakistan is a lovely nation, with a rich and diverse history, but it remains fraught with challenges for its religious minorities." "Christians, Hindus, Ahmadis and Shia Muslims face widespread discrimination, persecution and violence on a regular basis. The legislative and societal frameworks in Pakistan have created an environment where intolerance thrives. If we let something happen once, twice, three times, then 10 times, it becomes the norm. That is what has happened to religious minorities in Pakistan," he added. Shannon highlighted the disturbing trend of young girls, particularly from Christian and Hindu communities, being abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, and married to their captors. "In Sindh province alone, the practice has become alarmingly common, with inadequate legal protections allowing perpetrators to evade justice. There is something wrong with a society that can let a 14 or 12-year-old, or anyone who is still under the care of their parents, be taken away, abducted and married against their will," he said. He cited reports from the Dignity First 2024 report, which detailed over 70 violent incidents targeting Christians, including forced conversions and abductions. He also mentioned the case of Saima Bibi and Reeha Saleem, two young women who were recently rescued from forced marriages. However, he stressed that many others remain trapped in similar situations, with little recourse to justice. The UK MP also addressed the persecution of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Pakistan, which has faced systematic discrimination since being declared non-Muslims by the state in 1974. The desecration of Ahmadi mosques and graves, along with widespread hate speech and mob violence, has become a routine occurrence, Shannon explained. He also pointed to the plight of Shia Muslims in the Parachinar region, where they continue to suffer attacks from extremist groups, including the Taliban and ISIS-affiliated organizations. Shannon pointed out that despite Pakistan's constitution ostensibly guaranteeing religious freedom, religious minorities face significant obstacles. These include marginalization in education, economic discrimination, and being relegated to low-status jobs. He particularly highlighted the exploitation of Christian labourers in brick kilns, who often work in appalling conditions and are effectively bound to their employers indefinitely. Shannon called on the UK government to use its influence to advocate for meaningful change in Pakistan. He urged the Minister to press for reforms to the blasphemy laws, provide resources for NGOs working to rescue and rehabilitate victims of forced conversion and marriage, and demand stronger legal protections for vulnerable girls and women. He also stressed the need for an independent police force in Pakistan that would apply the rule of law impartially. The debate culminated in a resolution expressing the UK Parliament's concern over the deteriorating religious freedom in Pakistan. The motion called for an end to forced conversions, human rights abuses, and the arrest of opposition religious leaders by local authorities. It also emphasized that the Pakistani government's failure to address these issues constitutes a serious violation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Shannon's speech and the subsequent resolution underscore the UK's commitment to defending religious freedom worldwide, and the urgent need for international action to address the systemic persecution of religious minorities in Pakistan. (ANI) The council's statement on Friday highlighted Chinese military activity in the Taiwan Strait and joint military operations between China and Russia, which breached South Korea's air defence identification zone (KADIZ) earlier this week, Taipei Times reported. These actions have raised concerns about increasing instability in the region. On Thursday and Friday, Chinese warplanes made a significant incursion, crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entering Taiwan's northern and south-western airspace. A total of 30 Chinese aircraft, accompanied by 15 naval vessels and three high-altitude balloons, were involved in the operation, the MAC reported as per the report in the Taipei Times. The Chinese military also carried out a "joint combat readiness patrol" targeting Taiwan, further heightening tensions in an already volatile region, reported Taipei Times. In addition to activities near Taiwan, China and Russia had conducted joint military operations on Friday, sending 11 warplanes into the KADIZ. The move prompted the South Korean Air Force to scramble jets for interception. The Chinese and Russian aircraft, which included five Chinese and six Russian warplanes, entered the KADIZ between 9:35 am and 1:53 pm They flew over the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea in Korea, and the waters off South Korea's southern coast. According to South Korean military officials, Russian aircraft entered from the northeast, while Chinese planes approached near Ieodo Rock, also known as Suyan Reef in China, before flying northward between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, Taipei Times reported. The MAC strongly condemned these actions, stating, "This further proves that the Chinese Communist Party is not only the source of instability in the Taiwan Strait, but also a troublemaker in the Asia-Pacific region." The council also criticised China and Russia for undermining regional peace and stability, describing their behaviour as irresponsible. The Taiwanese government expressed its unwavering stance on defending regional security, denouncing these provocative actions by both countries. (ANI) The death toll in ongoing tribal clashes in Pakistan's Kurram district has risen to 130, with at least six more fatalities and eight more injuries reported on Sunday. The violence, which has been raging for the 11th consecutive day, has also left 186 people injured, as reported by Geo News. The intense clashes have led to the closure of the main Peshawar-Parachinar road, halting travel, and the suspension of movement at the Pak-Afghan Kharlachi border. The closure of these key routes has caused a shortage of oil, food supplies, and medicines in the region, while the Kurram area is facing a communication blackout with mobile and internet services cut off. Schools in the area have also been shut down due to the ongoing unrest. Deputy Commissioner Javed Ullah Mehsud confirmed that police and security forces have been deployed throughout Lower Kurram, and efforts to negotiate a ceasefire are ongoing. "We remain optimistic about progress toward a ceasefire and the reopening of transport routes," Mehsud said, reported Geo News. The violence has escalated since November 21, despite a recent ceasefire agreement, which was quickly violated. A 10-day truce was negotiated last week, but sporadic violence has undermined its effectiveness. The clashes began 11 days ago when two separate convoys under police escort were ambushed, leading to 52 deaths on the first day. Since then, the conflict between the tribal groups has intensified, with police struggling to regain control. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan reported 79 deaths in the region between July and October, highlighting the ongoing instability, Geo News reported. Previous peace efforts, including a seven-day truce brokered by provincial officials in November, have also failed to bring lasting peace. A high-level delegation consisting of KP Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry and IGP Akhtar Hayat Gandapur negotiated a ceasefire last weekend, but violence erupted again soon after. (ANI) Taiwan has officially introduced the position of "ambassador-at-large" as part of its efforts to strengthen its diplomatic initiatives and support non-governmental cooperation, Taiwan News reported. This newly created role will involve the selection of senior diplomats from those returning to Taiwan, at or above the rank of consul general or counsellor, who are well-equipped to manage specialised diplomatic tasks. The new ambassadors-at-large will be carefully chosen based on their unique qualifications, such as expertise in foreign languages or experience in international settings. These individuals will be tasked with important duties, including the establishment or reopening of diplomatic missions in strategic regions, promoting Taiwan's initiatives within global organisations, and facilitating relationships with non-governmental entities, reported Taiwan News. The duration of their assignments will be flexible, determined by the specific needs of each project they are involved in. According to Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, many senior diplomats possess invaluable professional experience and extensive global networks. However, once these diplomats return to Taiwan, there are often limitations that prevent them from fully contributing to the country's diplomatic efforts. "When they return to Taiwan, certain constraints often limit their potential contributions," Lin remarked. By establishing this new ambassadorial role, Taiwan aims to unlock the full potential of these diplomats, allowing them to continue advancing the country's foreign policy priorities in meaningful way, Taiwan News reported. This initiative is part of Taiwan's broader approach to enhancing international cooperation and exploring alternative forms of diplomacy. These include building stronger ties through exchanges with foreign parliaments and non-governmental organisations, which Taiwan sees as key to its continued global engagement. In related developments, Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te is on a diplomatic trip to the Pacific, which includes visits to Hawaii and Guam, drawing further ire from China, which sees Taiwan as part of its territory. This backdrop underscores the increasingly complex geopolitical dynamics in which Taiwan is navigating its diplomatic and security strategies. (ANI) Around 60 Indian passengers were left stranded at Kuwait International Airport for over 13 hours on Sunday after their Gulf Air flight was diverted there due to a technical snag. The passengers, travelling on Gulf Air flight GF 005 from Mumbai to Manchester, complained of facing discomfort as the airline failed to provide food, accommodation, or basic assistance during their extended wait. The situation escalated as passengers voiced their grievances on social media, which eventually prompted a response from the Indian Embassy in Kuwait. Arzoo Singh, one of the stranded passengers travelling from Mumbai to Manchester, shared her frustration with ANI, explaining the dire situation. "After we raised the issue on social media, senior officials from the Indian Embassy in Kuwait reached out to the Indian passengers stuck at the airport," she said. Singh explained that, after discussions with airport authorities, senior citizens and passengers travelling with infants would be accommodated at a facility inside the airport. However, she added, there was no clear information about how the rest of the passengers would be treated. Singh went on to explain that they were unable to leave the airport since they did not have a transit visa, whereas UK and US passport holders were allowed to exit due to the availability of a transit visa on arrival. "Indian embassy officials are in talks with the airline to arrange an alternate flight at the earliest," she noted, adding that the situation remained unresolved for many passengers. The flight had been diverted to Kuwait after a technical issue, causing significant delays and distress for the passengers on board. Another passenger, Shivansh, who was also on the flight, took to social media to express his frustration. "Reading Why Bharat Matters while getting stuck in Kuwait without any help. All British passport holders got their hotels sorted with on-arrival visas, while Indian passport holders have been left stranded without any info, food, or any kind of help. Please help and provide us a visa so that at least we can get a hotel and wait for the next flight," he said in a post on X. https://x.com/indembkwt/status/1863258309878267989 In response, the Indian Embassy in Kuwait shared on X, "Embassy has been informed by Gulf Air that the flight for stranded passengers from Kuwait to Manchester is tentatively scheduled at 3.30 am on 2 Dec. This is being conveyed to all passengers by the Embassy team at the airport." (ANI) Gaza [Palestine], December 1 (ANI/WAM): The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) announced that it is pausing the delivery of aid through Kerem Shalom, the main crossing point for humanitarian aid into Gaza. Philippe Lazzarini, the UNRWA Commissioner-General, said in a post on his official X account (previously known as Twitter), that, "We are pausing the delivery of aid through Kerem Shalom. The road out of this crossing has not been safe for months. On 16 November, a large convoy of aid trucks was stolen by armed gangs. Yesterday, we tried to bring in a few food trucks on the same route. They were all taken.'' This difficult decision he explained, comes at a time when hunger is rapidly deepening. "The delivery of humanitarian aid must never be dangerous or turn into an ordeal.'' In Gaza, he added, the humanitarian operation has become unnecessarily impossible due to the ongoing siege, hurdles from Israeli authorities, political decisions to restrict the amounts of aid, lack of safety on aid routes and targeting of local police. All of the above led to a breakdown in law and order. The responsibility of protection of aid workers and supplies is with the State of Israel as the occupying power. They must ensure aid flows into Gaza safely & must refrain from attacks on humanitarian workers, he concluded. (ANI)/WAM) Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te has expressed gratitude to the United States for facilitating his transit stop in Hawaii while reaffirming Taiwan's commitment to maintaining peace and averting war in the Taiwan Strait. Lai will spend two nights in Hawaii before continuing his journey to the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu, two of Taiwan's diplomatic allies in the South Pacific. During a banquet attended by overseas Taiwanese in Hawaii, Lai, who arrived on Saturday for a two-night stay before visiting Pacific allies, thanked the US government for enabling his transit stop. He remarked that he was especially pleased to begin his visit in Hawaii, Focus Taiwan (CNA) reported. Earlier in the day, Lai visited the USS Arizona Memorial, where he laid a wreath to honour those who perished during the 1941 Japanese attack. The wreath bore the inscription: "In honour of the Fallen Heroes: President Lai Ching-te, Republic of China (Taiwan)." Reflecting on the visit, he stated, "Our visit to the [USS Arizona] memorial today in particular reminds us of the importance of ensuring peace. Peace is priceless and war has no winner. We have to fight -- fight together -- to prevent war." Highlighting the significance of Hawaii, Lai emphasised the shared Austronesian heritage between Taiwan and the islands. "We are like family," he said. He also pointed out the similarities between the two regions as island territories vulnerable to natural disasters, expressing a desire to deepen exchanges in multiple areas. Lai addressed a gathering of over 350 attendees, including Hawaii Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke, US Representatives Ed Case and Jill Tokuda, and around a dozen state senators and representatives from Hawaii. His remarks underscored the importance of Taiwan's growing partnerships. Upon his arrival at Honolulu airport, Lai was welcomed by Ingrid Larson, managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which represents US interests in Taiwan in the absence of official diplomatic relations. Hawaii Governor Josh Green, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, and Honolulu Police Department Chief Arthur J Logan were also present to greet him. https://x.com/ChingteLai/status/1863019071521853878 Lai's itinerary included a visit to the Bishop Museum, Hawaii's cultural and natural history institution, where he was received by Museum Director Manu Kaiama and President Dee Jay Mailer. During a guided tour, Lai observed Pacific Ocean maps, artefacts related to Taiwan's indigenous peoples, and depictions of Austronesian migrations across Oceania. At the museum, Taiwan's Indigenous Affairs Minister Ljaucu Zingrur participated in a ceremonial exchange of gifts with Mailer, presenting a feather lei as a symbol of lasting friendship between Taiwan and Hawaii, reported CNA. Later, Lai visited the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, accompanied by Governor Green, where they discussed opportunities for cooperation in natural disaster prevention. https://x.com/ChingteLai/status/1863136612810678440 Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence and Hawaii's Department of Defence have held joint disaster prevention and relief drills since 2017, according to the Presidential Office. Lai's predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, had also visited the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency during a transit stop in March 2019. Governor Green, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), described meeting Lai as "a momentous occasion." He noted, "As leaders with medical backgrounds, Lai and I discussed how our experiences in healthcare inform our governance, prioritising the well-being of our communities." https://x.com/ChingteLai/status/1863019071521853878 Following his time in Tuvalu, Lai will transit through Guam for a one-day stopover before proceeding to Palau, another of Taiwan's diplomatic allies, on December 5. He is expected to return to Taiwan on December 6, CNA reported. The seven-day trip is Lai's first official overseas visit since taking office in May. (ANI) Iran on Sunday said that it will support Syria after thousands of insurgents took control of the country's second-largest city of Aleppo and seized nearby towns and villages in an offensive, state media reported. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was cited by IRNA as saying that Iran continues to support Syria against terrorists wreaking havoc in the Arab country. "We firmly support the Syrian army and government," he told reporters before leaving for Syrian capital city of Damascus. He further said Iran sees no difference between the Israeli regime and the Takfiri terrorists, and added, "We believe that after the Zionist regime's failure, the enemy is trying to implement its sinister plots of destabilizing the region through these terrorist groups." The Iranian minister's comments come in the wake of reports in which rebel groups in Syria claimed that they have taken control of villages in the northwest of the country in the first significant fighting with government forces for several years. Al Jazeera cited Syrian state news agency SANA to report that government forces under the control of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have been fortifying the northern province of Hama, and that the Syrian army overnight pushed back opposition fighters in its northern countryside. Forces there were being resupplied with heavy equipment and rocket launchers. The Syrian war began with pro-democracy uprisings across the country in 2011 against Assad's rule and according to Al Jazeera, since 2020, the front lines had largely been stagnant with an array of rebel groups largely contained to a small portion of Idlib province. Russian news agency TASS citing from the Syrian military's General Command's Facebook page said that the Syrian armed forces units operating in the north of Hama province prevented terrorists from breaking through and destroyed dozens of militants, holding back their offensive, the General Command said in a statement. "Our forces also managed to take control of a number of areas, the most important of which are Qalaat al-Madiq and Maardis, eliminating dozens of terrorists and causing the rest to flee," TASS said citing the Syrian military's posting. The Syrian military command said on November 28 that units of the Jabhat al-Nusra extremist group "launched a large-scale attack on a broad front" on the morning of November 27 in northern Syria. According to the statement, the terrorists attempted to attack "the villages and towns protected by the Syrian army, as well as military facilities." On November 30, the Syrian army said it was forced to regroup its forces while repelling a terrorist attack in Aleppo to save the lives of civilians and servicemen, and was preparing for a counterattack. Meanwhile, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on Sunday said UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a a phone conversation with Syrian President Bashar Assad and emphasised the UAE's solidarity with Syria and its support in combating terrorism and extremism. He also reaffirmed the UAE's stance supporting all efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution to the Syrian crisis, in a manner that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people for stability and development, while preserving Syria's unity and sovereignty over its entire territories, WAM reported. Also, UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir O Pedersen today said he is closely monitoring the situation on the ground in Syria, warning that the "latest developments pose severe risks to civilians and have serious implications for regional and international peace and security." "As an immediate priority, I strongly emphasise the urgent need for all to uphold their obligations under international law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure," said Pedersen in a statement issued today. Pedersen expressed grave concerns over the dramatic shift in frontlines, including advances by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a UN Security Council-designated terrorist group, and intensified government airstrikes. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the violence in Aleppo has forced thousands to flee, many seeking refuge in unsafe open areas. The key M-5 Damascus-Aleppo Highway is inaccessible between Saraqab City (Idleb) and Aleppo. Curfews were imposed in Aleppo City on Friday and Saturday, and all public facilities, including universities and schools, have been suspended. Hospitals are said to be overwhelmed with injured individuals, while banks and automated teller machines (ATMs) running out of cash. On November 30, Israel carried out airstrikes on facilities in Syria that were used by the Hezbollah movement, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said in a statement. Its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel is closely monitoring what happens in Syria, and will defend its interests, the Times of Israel reported today. Speaking after rebels captured the city of Aleppo from government forces, Netanyahu promised to enforce the ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon firmly, "and any violation will immediately meet a strong response from the IDF," according to the Times of Israel. (ANI) On the occasion of Sindh's National Culture Day, Shafi Burfat, chairman of the Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM), delivered a compelling message that emphasised the day's significance as more than just a cultural celebration. Living in exile in Germany, Burfat presented the event as a symbolic referendum for the liberation of Sindhudesh, urging Sindhis to reflect on their historical and political identity and to reaffirm their commitment to the cause of independence. In his speech, Burfat highlighted the profound connection between national culture and the desire for freedom, explaining that "Culture is not merely an expression of traditions, but the essence of identity, freedom, and dignity. The culture of an enslaved nation cannot flourish without liberty. Sindhudesh's independence is crucial to preserving our cultural heritage and identity." He emphasised that true cultural prosperity could only be achieved through the liberation of Sindhudesh and stressed the importance of freedom in safeguarding Sindhi culture. Burfat called on Sindhis to transform National Culture Day into a collective pledge for freedom. He underscored the need for unity as a cornerstone of liberation, urging everyone to unite in the face of "slavery, hunger, and destitution." Burfat further expressed his dedication with passionate slogans: "Na Khape, Na Khape, Pakistan Na Khape!", "Tuhnjo Desh, Muhnjo Desh - Sindhudesh, Sindhudesh!" and "Tuhnjo Rehbar, Muhnjo Rehbar - Sain G.M. Syed, Sain G.M. Syed!" Additionally, Burfat emphasised the urgency of reclaiming Sindh's resources and autonomy. He appealed to various segments of society - including farmers, laborers, intellectuals, students, and women - to unite for the liberation movement. In a significant appeal, Burfat reached out to Sindh's Urdu-speaking Sindhis, acknowledging their socio-economic and political influence, and urged them to join the struggle for Sindhudesh's independence. "Freedom is the natural and fundamental right of every nation. It demands unwavering struggle, resistance, and sacrifice," Burfat declared, stressing the need for continuous determination in both the celebrations of National Culture Day and in the ongoing pursuit of Sindhudesh's independence. He concluded his speech with a resolute promise: "The liberation of Sindhudesh is possible, and we will achieve it. This is our pledge to history." As Sindh celebrates its National Culture Day, Burfat's message resonates as a call for introspection and determination, inspiring Sindhudesh supporters to remain steadfast in their pursuit of independence. (ANI) The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has condemned a false and harassing case accusing 70 minority lawyers and two journalists from Chittagong of fabricated charges, including 'crude bomb' explosions and car vandalism. In an official statement on Sunday, the council said the case was filed with the ulterior motive of obstructing the sedition case brought against Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari and forcibly preventing the publication and dissemination of related news, which violates human rights and the rule of law. The council also demanded that the Bangladeshi government and law enforcement authorities immediately withdraw the false case and take urgent steps to release the lawyers and journalists. The case was filed on Saturday at the Kotwali police station in Bangladesh. Meanwhile, on Saturday, ISKCON Kolkata alleged that Bangladeshi authorities had arrested two monks, Adipurush Shyam Das and Ranganath Das Brahmachari, as well as the secretary of Chinmoy Krishna Das. Vice President of ISKCON Kolkata Radha Raman said that the monks were arrested on Friday by the police while on their way home after meeting Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was arrested on charges of sedition on November 25. "On November 29, when Adipurush Shyam Das and Ranganath Das Brahmachari were returning after meeting Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu, they were arrested by the police. We are also receiving information that the secretary of Chinmoy Krishna Das has also been arrested," Radha Raman said in a self-made video. He further claimed that rioters also vandalised the ISKCON centre in Bangladesh. The situation in Bangladesh has been tense since spiritual preacher Chinmoy Krishna Das was charged with sedition for allegedly hoisting a saffron flag above Bangladesh's national flag in Chittagong on October 25. Following Das's arrest, a lawyer was killed during clashes between police and alleged followers of the spiritual guru in the Chattogram Court Building area on November 27. On Friday, India expressed concern over the rise of "extremist rhetoric, increasing incidents of violence and provocation" in Bangladesh. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that India has consistently and strongly raised the issue of targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities with the Bangladeshi government. (ANI) Roger Lee Cervantes, 53, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after aiming a gun at an off-duty Bexar County Sheriff's deputy. Bexar County Sheriff's Office A 53-year-old man is accused of pointing a gun at an off-duty Bexar County sheriff's deputy during a road rage incident on the North Side. Roger Lee Cervantes was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. On Nov. 20, off-duty Deputy Che Lopez was driving home on Fredericksburg Road behind Cervantes, who was driving erratically, according to an arrest affidavit. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Lopez told investigators that Cervantes suddenly slammed on his brakes and then accelerated before they both turned onto Callaghan Road. ALSO READ: Federal officials warn San Antonio residents against storing guns in cars amid theft surge Cervantes changed lanes on Callaghan, and when Lopez passed him, Cervantes he rolled down his window and pointed a gun at him, the affidavit said. Investigators said Cervantes allegedly taunted the deputy, saying, "What are you going to do now?" Advertisement Article continues below this ad According to the affidavit, Lopez slowed down to take pictures of Cervantes's vehicle and license plate. Cervantes then turned onto a different street. By Stefano Bernabei and Gavin Jones ROME (Reuters) - Global warming, drought and plant disease pose a growing threat to agriculture in Italy's arid south, but a startup founded by a former telecoms manager believes it has found a solution: Opuntia Ficus, better known as the cactus pear. Andrea Ortenzi saw the plant's potential 20 years ago when working for Telecom Italia in Brazil, where it is widely used as animal feed. On returning to Italy he began looking at ways to turn his intuition into a business opportunity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He and four friends founded their company, called Wakonda, in 2021, and began buying land to plant the crop in the southern Puglia region where the traditionally dominant olive trees had been ravaged by an insect-borne disease called Xylella. The damage from the plant disease has been compounded by recurring droughts and extreme weather in the last few years all over Italy's southern mainland and islands, hitting crops from grapes to citrus fruits. Ortenzi is convinced the hardy and versatile cactus pear, otherwise called the prickly pear or, in Italy, the Indian fig, can be a highly profitable solution yielding a raft of products such as soft drinks, flour, animal feed and biofuel. The Italian businessman is far from alone in seeing the potential of the plant, whose cultivation is expanding in hot and dry regions around the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As an industry, cactus pear production is growing rather quickly, especially for fodder use and as a source of biofuel," said Makiko Taguchi, agricultural officer at the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation headquartered in Rome. MULTIPLE USES The cactus produces a tasty fruit eaten in much of Latin America and the Mediterranean, while in Mexico the flat green pads that form the arms of the cactus, are used in cooking. In Tunisia, where it covers around 12% of cultivated land, second only to olive trees, the cactus pear is a major source of income for thousands, particularly women who harvest and sell the fruit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Brazil, which has the world's largest production, it is mainly cultivated in the north-east for fodder, while Peru and Chile use it to extract a red dye known as Cochineal, used in food and cosmetic production. Sportswear group Adidas and carmaker Toyota have recently shown interest in using the cactus to produce plant-based leather sourced mainly from Mexico. The cactus pear is not yet included in the FAO's agricultural output statistics, but Taguchi cited the rapid expansion of CactusNet, a contact network of cactus researchers and businesses worldwide which she coordinates. The FAO launched the group online in 2015 with 69 members. It now has 933 members in 82 countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plant, native to desert areas of south and north America, thrives in the increasingly arid conditions of Italy's south, and needs ten times less water than maize, a comparable crop whose byproducts also include animal feed and methane. So far Wakonda, an American Indian word meaning nature's omnipresent creative force, has planted just 10 hectares of cactus with 40,000 plants per hectare, but Ortenzi plans to plant 300 hectares by the end of 2025, and he is thinking big. Of the roughly 100,000 hectares of olive trees destroyed by Xylella in southern Puglia, only 30,000 will be replanted in the same way, he told Reuters in an interview. "Potentially 70,000 could be planted with prickly pears," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the long run the possibilities could be even greater, Ortenzi said, considering more than a million hectares of arable land have been abandoned in Italy in recent decades as climate change has made it more difficult to produce traditional crops. WAKONDA'S MODEL Wakonda's business model discards the fruit and focuses instead on the prickly pads, which are pressed to yield a juice used for a highly nutritious, low-calorie energy drink. The dried out pads are then processed to produce a light flour for the food industry or a high-protein animal feed. Wakonda's circular, ecological production system also includes "biodigester" tanks in which the waste from the output cycle is transformed into methane gas used as a bio-fuel either on site or sold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company, which now has 37 shareholders, is in contact with mayors, firms and universities to develop its products. Under Ortenzi's business plan, rather than buying up land to plant the cactus, Wakonda aims to persuade farmers of its potential and then licence out to them, in return for royalties, all the equipment and know-how required to exploit it. "The land remains yours, you convert it to prickly pears and I guarantee to buy all your output for at least 15 years," Ortenzi said. (Editing by Alexandra Hudson) Bogus narratives California braces for climate conflict but aligns with Trump on forest management, (sacbee.com, 18) While it uses controlled burns to decrease undergrowth, Finland doesnt rake its forests to reduce wildfire risk. Its relatively small wildfire problem is because of its proximity to the Arctic Circle and its year-round precipitation. Comparing Finland and California on wildfire response is a typical Donald Trump fairytale. Overgrown forests are not responsible for our wildfire crisis, weather conditions are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Trumps wildfire fabrication resulted in flawed forest management policies that rely heavily on unregulated thinning with no environmental oversight, it is also responsible for the question of what to do with an excess of felled wood, the expansion of the wood pellet/biomass incineration industries and their potentially devastating environmental and environmental injustice impacts for the state. As president-elect, Trump now has an additional four years to promote his bogus narratives. God help us all. Jennifer Normoyle Hillsborough Opinion Trumps laughable plan California braces for climate conflict but aligns with Trump on forest management, (sacbee.com, 18) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Besides the ridiculousness of Donald Trumps rake your wildfire away statement, lets laugh at other assumptions about the biomass plants. Most laughable? The idea that these biomass pellet plants are going to operate by processing slash or waste products from forest thinning. The goal for these plants is to produce 1 million tons of pellets a year, which cannot happen processing waste products alone. Hence an excuse to log our forests under the guise of helpful thinning. Then there is the ridiculous idea that we arent increasing global carbon load by shipping wood pellets to Europe and releasing the carbon in dirty fires there (wood produces dirtier fires than even coal). Finally, there is the horrendous misuse of government funds on thinning when home hardening is scientifically more helpful in withstanding wildfires. Cant hardly stop the laughter, can you? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Janet Doherty Sacramento Turbulent transfer of power Chaos cabaret: Trumps cabinet picks are about distraction, (sacbee.com, Nov. 20) Democrats are extremely proud of themselves for modeling the proper peaceful transfer of power this election cycle. But the transfer of power this year has seen more violence against the U.S. Constitution than the previous dozen changes of bedsheets in the White House put together. Think about it: little-to-no vetting of cabinet-level nominees; threats of mass recess appointments without required Senate advice and consent; credible threats to weaponize the Department of Justice, torch the Department of Education and turn the Department of Health and Human Services upside down; a planned coup to overthrow the professional military; and a MAGA-controlled Supreme Court that uses a blank sheet of paper as the Constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law is dead in America, force likely rules forever more and Democrats are headed off to Sunday Mass to gloat about how special they are. Kimball Shinkoskey Woods Cross, Utah Real punitive measures DOJ indicts Phillips 66 for alleged industrial waste dumping, (sacbee.com, Nov. 21) This article states: If convicted on all counts, the company could face a maximum of five years of probation for each count. How, exactly, does a corporation serve probation? If you didnt know already, corporations are people in the eyes of the law, yet they cannot die, let alone serve probation or jail time. Corporate misdeeds such as this horrendous dumping of hundreds of gallons of industrial wastewater containing tens of thousands of pounds of oil and grease (more than 300 times what their permit allowed) will continue as long as lawmakers and the public allow it. Fines totalling $2.4 million dollars is nothing to Phillips 66. People such as Phillips 66 will certainly not stop this behavior on their own, especially when there is no real threat to stop. Tonja Edelman Sacramento Convicted real estate professional Charles Kushner has been nominated as the U.S. ambassador to France by President-elect Donald Trump. The selection comes four years after the businessman was pardoned in the Republican politicians final days in office. Trending Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donald described his daughters father-in-law as a tremendous business leader, philanthropist [and] dealmaker, who will be a strong advocate presenting our Country [and] its interests in his announcement posted to Truth Social on Saturday (Nov. 30). This marks the first relative to receive a role in the forthcoming administration. In 2020, the nominee pleaded guilty to 18 felonies, including tax evasion, witness tampering and making illegal campaign donations. He was sentenced to two years but only served 14 in an Alabama facility. The development magnate hired and instructed a prostitute to record herself seducing his brother-in-law William Schulder in a motel. The tapes were then revealed to Charles sister. Prosecutors said that he was motivated by revenge after learning Schulder, who is also a former business partner, was cooperating with a federal investigation into his alleged illegal political donations. Charles is well-connected to the soon-to-be first family via his son Jared Kushner, who is married to Ivanka Trump, Donalds eldest daughter. Jared and Ivanka served as senior advisors when the divisive political figure helmed the White House from 2016 to 2020. Both have reportedly expressed disinterest in assuming cabinet roles following the Jan. 20, 2025, inauguration, though Jared is thought to be an unofficial advisor on Middle East policy, according to Business Insider. Congratulations to Charlie, his wonderful wife Seryl, their 4 children, [and] 14 grandchildren. His son, Jared, worked closely with me in the White House, in particular on Operation Warp Speed, Criminal Justice Reform, [and] the Abraham Accords, the announcement continued. Together, we will strengthen Americas partnership with France, our oldest ally, [and] one of our greatest! penned Donald. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The embattled leader returned to the White House for the first time since leaving office to meet with President Joe Biden about ensuring a smooth transition of power earlier this month. With only weeks left before the nations highest office and Congress become GOP-lead, several of Donalds cabinet nominations have come under scrutiny amid reports his team is bypassing FBI background checks. Many of the picks require confirmation from the Senate; however, several news reports purport that he has yet to sign a memorandum with the Department of Justice that will ensure proper security clearances are handled. You Might Also Like France is heading for a showdown with Britain over the Channel migrant crisis unless the UK agrees to open legal admission channels for those seeking to reach its shores, its hardline interior minister has warned. Bruno Retailleau also called for a new comprehensive Europe-wide deal with Britain on migration in which the UK accepted legal routes for migrants in exchange for the return of illegal immigrants from Britain to the EU. He pledged to engage in an arm wrestle with the EU on the issue if necessary to obtain it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a visit to Calais, northern France, on Friday, he said: The relationship between France and the United Kingdom can no longer be reduced to sub-contracting out to France security on the Channel border. The UK last year pledged 478 million to help the French police its borders over a three-year period. Frances new Right-wing government has vowed to curb migrant numbers - SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP/Getty Images Mr Retailleau announced that some 175 police would be added to the current 800 on the northern coast. But he said: Not everything can be solved with additional funding. He added that there is a showdown to be had on border security between the two countries in the wake of Brexit. I hope it wont come to that, but we have to change this relationship, he insisted during his first trip to the Calais coast since taking up his post in the Right-wing government of Michel Barnier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brexit has destroyed all the migratory relationships we had with the other side of the Channel, including legal admissions channels from France to England by air, sea or rail. Mr Retailleau said he had intended to discuss these issues with his British counterpart Yvette Cooper, whom he has invited to the northern Pas-de-Calais area on Dec 9 before a meeting the following day in London in a format extended to Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Ireland. In an interview with La Voix du Nord on Friday, he said: We need a new relationship with the British. Brexit has changed the situation. Only a comprehensive deal between the UK and the EU can really turn things around. If I have to engage in an arm wrestle, I will. Frances new Right-wing government has vowed to curb migrant numbers and sources recently said it absolutely believes the lack of an EU-wide migration deal with the UK after Brexit is a pull factor for illegal immigrants travelling to French soil from countries such as Italy and Greece. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The border between France and the United Kingdom is Europes common external border. Why should France alone, since the UK is no longer an EU member state, bear the entire burden of defending this external border? That is no longer possible, said Mr Retailleau. If things do not progress, we will denounce the Le Touquet agreement, he said, referring to the 2004 deal whereby Britain is authorised to conduct border checks on French soil. However, Mr Retailleau appeared to rule out simply scrapping the Le Touquet deal as doing so would be the best way to rebuild the jungle and to clog up cross-Channel traffic, he warned. Its a tragedy Eventually, there will have to be a legal [immigration] route to Great Britain and a returns route not only to France but also to the border countries, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current framework had totally run out of steam, he said, pointing out that according to French authorities, 72 migrants have died this year trying to reach England by sea in makeshift boats. Its not tolerable, its a tragedy, he stressed. Brussels rejected British calls for a UK-EU migration deal, which would allow the return of Channel migrants to France, during the Brexit negotiations from 2017 to 2021. It told the UK it would have to negotiate bilateral migrant return deals with individual EU countries such as France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands instead. The Commission has rebuffed calls for such a deal ever since but is under pressure from the EUs two most influential members following the recent letters from France and Germany on the issue. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. BEIRUT Islamist rebels breached neighborhoods in Syrias second-largest city of Aleppo and clashed with government military forces after detonating two car bombs Friday. The incident, reported by a leading war monitoring group and The Associated Press, has renewed international attention on a country wracked by civil war and extremism for more than a decade. The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, the monitoring organization, said fierce clashes were underway between the attacking insurgents and regime troops. The fighting is a significant escalation since rebels launched a surprise offensive Wednesday, seizing towns and villages as they advanced toward Aleppo. The breach marked the first time opposition forces besieged the city since 2016, when they were driven out of Aleppos eastern neighborhoods during a military operation in which Syrian troops were supported by Russia and Iran. Four years ago, a ceasefire brought an end to the most intense violence, but the new push from rebels has upended a period of relative calm. Fighters enter the Rashidin district on the outskirts of Aleppo on their motorbikes with smoke billowing in the background during fighting on Nov. 29, 2024. The rebels appear to have gained momentum by the diminished strength of Iran-backed groups such as Hezbollah throughout the region, illustrating how the conflicts in the Middle East feed off one another.Witnesses who spoke to The Associated Press said Aleppo residents were fleeing from areas on the western edge amid missiles and exchanges of gunfire. The AP said an insurgent commander posted a recorded message on social media urging the citys residents to cooperate with the rebels. The rebels are led by the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syrian armed forces were repelling attacks, the Syrian Defense ministry said Friday, adding government forces involved in combat operations were able to regain control over some areas. "Our armed forces have inflicted heavy losses on the attacking organizations, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries among the terrorists," Syria's general command of the army and armed forces said in a statement translated by NBC News. "Dozens of vehicles and armored carriers have been destroyed, and we have successfully shot down and destroyed seventeen drones." The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of on-the-ground information sources, said at least 121 people have been killed since the start of HTS shock offensive, including at least 20 civilians. Syrian state media reports cited by the AP said insurgent-fired projectiles struck student accommodations at Aleppos university in the city center, killing four people, including two students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Syrian civil war started in early 2011 with a wave of protests against the authoritarian rule of President Bashar al-Assad. Assad's government, bolstered by arms shipments from Iran and Russia, cracked down forcefully on the popular uprisings, setting off a spiral of violence and fueling an aggressive insurgency. Matt Bradley reported from Beirut and Daniel Arkin from Atlanta. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Europe is bracing for another energy crisis this winter, teeing up a high-stakes early test of how a newly inaugurated Trump administration will attempt to balance efforts to reset relations with Russia against the needs of U.S. allies seeking fuel to stay warm during whats forecast to be an unusually cold season. On Jan. 1, 2025, the Russian state-owned gas giant Gazproms long-standing contract to ship fuel to Europe via Ukraines pipelines expires. With no renewal deal in sight as Moscow intensifies its assault on its neighbor and the U.S. ratchets up sanctions on Russias gas business, Gazprom is now planning for the total end of sales to Europe transiting through Ukraine next year. The breakup has already begun. This week, Gazprom completely cut off shipments of gas to Austria for the first time in 50 years over a payment dispute. Unless Kyiv brokers an eleventh-hour deal to keep Russian gas flowing through Ukraine, Slovakia is expected to face major shortages in January, drawing supplies away from fellow European Union countries right as winter drives up demand. With Germany already burning through gas supplies to make up for the lost power from the nuclear plants it shuttered two years ago, Europe is increasingly relying on costly imports of liquefied natural gas to make it through winter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Few places will feel the pinch as much as Moldova, one of Europes poorest nations and the one its own leaders have described as the most vulnerable country in Europe to Russian energy blackmail. Russias invasion in 2022 sent shockwaves through the tiny former Soviet republic landlocked between Romania and Ukraine. Like Ukraine, Moldovas government is attempting to embrace the West and ultimately join the EU. But as in Ukraine and Georgia, Moscow has maintained some control in Moldova by propping up pro-Russia separatist forces in a breakaway province. Russia has maintained a military base in the mountainous sliver of a region on Moldovas eastern border called Transnistria since the 1990s and provided the unrecognized government in the regional capital of Tiraspol with gas so cheap its practically free. Gazprom is also the co-owner of the gas utility that serves all of Moldova and has threatened repeatedly over the last three decades since independence to cut off supplies amid disputes. A woman walks past the Operational Group of Russian Forces headquarters in Tiraspol, the capital of the breakaway region of Transnistria, a disputed territory unrecognized by the international community, in Moldova, Nov. 1, 2021. via Associated Press Over the last three years, the country almost quit buying Russian gas for heating, instead purchasing fuel on the market and shipping it into Moldova via Romanian pipelines. Moldova approved new transmission lines to Romania, too, clearing the way to buy more surplus nuclear power from its EU neighbor. The government in Chisinau even built some solar panels, boosting the limited supply of renewable power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During an interview with HuffPost earlier this month on the sidelines of the WebSummit tech conference in Lisbon, Portugal, Dumitru Alaiba, the deputy prime minister in charge of economic development, said Moldova was no longer dependent on Russia for gas. Three years ago, we were the most vulnerable country on the continent in terms of energy blackmail from Russia, Alaiba claimed. In three years, we have succeeded to essentially decouple our gas supply from Russia. Over the next two weeks, however, members of Alaibas own administration ended up rushing to St. Petersburg for emergency meetings with Gazproms chief executive about how to increase the supply of gas from Russia, warning that looming shortages threatened a humanitarian catastrophe. Thats because Moldova still relies on Transnistrias biggest power station for roughly 70% of its electricity supplies and that plant depends on heavily subsidized Russian gas delivered through Ukraines pipelines. Chisinau has managed to pay for higher-priced gas shipped through Romania over the last three years, but now Moldova will be competing with Austria and other Central European powers for shipments via the EUs pipeline network. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barring an unlikely last-minute deal with Ukraine to keep gas flowing, there are few good options for avoiding a supply crunch. European proposals earlier this year for a deal to swap Russian gas shipped via Ukraine with gas from Azerbaijan ignored that the Central Asian nation does not have sufficient additional supplies in the short term to replace Russian gas volumes, a recent study from Columbia Universitys Center on Global Energy Policy found. Plus, virtually every pipeline route from Azerbaijan cuts through Russia or through war-torn territory Moscow controls in Ukraines east, raising doubts as to whether the damaged infrastructure could safely transit fuel even with the Kremlins reluctant blessing. Moldova's current pro-EU president, Maia Sandu, casts her vote for the presidential election at a polling station in Chisinau on Nov. 3, 2024. DANIEL MIHAILESCU via Getty Images Gas speculators could also buy shipments of gas at the Russian border and cut a separate deal to channel that supply through Ukraine. But those types of high-risk, short-term deals require a lot of upfront cash. Brokering those kinds of contracts could cost even more since the U.S. levied new sanctions on Gazproms in-house bank this month, forcing anyone looking to buy a shipment of fuel from the Russian gas giant to first obtain special permission from Washington. Its unclear how the incoming Trump administration will handle a crisis analysts expect to continue past the Republican president-elects Jan. 20 inauguration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Biden administration aggressively sanctioned Russias gas industry, successfully stymieing the Kremlins efforts to open a new facility to export liquefied natural gas the version of the methane-based fuel super-chilled to a liquid form for more efficient transportation in the Arctic. Despite a failed Democratic attempt to pause permitting on new U.S. LNG terminals that Republicans roundly criticized, Biden oversaw higher levels of oil and gas production than at any point during Trumps previous term, vaulting the U.S. to the top spot as the worlds top LNG exporter. Trumps promise to swiftly bring about a peace deal between Moscow and Kyiv, and his public praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin, have been widely interpreted as a sign the Republican will champion the more radical, antiwar faction in his party that wants to end American support for arming Ukraine. By picking Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) as his nominee for secretary of state, however, Trump selected a potential top diplomat who has consistently wanted to punish Russia for its aggression in Ukraine but has come to believe that a negotiated settlement between Moscow and Kyiv is the only realistic way to end the war, according to a recent analysis by Harvard Universitys Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies. One clear contrast in foreign policy may be the Trump administrations expected skepticism of foreign aid without what Republicans deem a clear U.S. interest. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the Biden administration has nearly doubled its aid to Moldova, giving close to $1 billion in funding for projects like the new transmission lines to Romanias electrical grid. The money, part of a cumulative $2.6 billion Washington granted Chisinau over the past three decades, served the Biden White Houses dual goals of weaning Moldova off Russian energy and slashing carbon emissions by redirecting the countrys electricity demand from a gas plant to a nuclear-powered system in Romania, a NATO ally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Analysts say that Trump is likely to end that support. If Moldova wants to save itself with a Trump administration coming on, its going to have to rethink its entire approach to many things and soon, said Suriya Jayanti, a lawyer and former U.S. diplomat who has worked on renewable and nuclear energy projects in Ukraine and Moldova. With Moldova, I dont see what the clear U.S. interest is from a Trump White House perspective, she added. The Russia-is-pure-evil logic doesnt seem to hold in his world, and that was the only real logic to supporting Moldova, especially to the extent we have been. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moldova is now preparing for difficult times, said Tatiana Mitrova, a research fellow at Columbias Center on Global Energy Policy who coauthored the report this summer on the barriers to replacing Russian pipeline gas with fuel from Azerbaijan. Moldovagaz the countrys monopoly gas utility, which is a joint venture between Gazprom, the Moldovan government and the Transnistrian administration asked regulators for permission this week to hike consumer natural gas prices by 40% to raise money for what are expected to be more expensive supply contracts. But those deals would likely only secure more gas for Moldovas pipeline network not for Transnistria or the Moldovan towns on the regional border that depend entirely on electricity produced in the breakaway province with Russian gas. Plans to buy more electricity from its EU border may not prove as solid as before, either, now that a far-right, pro-Russia candidate has won in the first round of Romanias presidential elections. Such a situation of interruption of the gas supplies would not be simply a crisis, said Oleg Serebrian, the deputy prime minister in charge of Moldovas relations with Transnistria, according to the countrys state news agency. I dare to say that it would actually be a humanitarian catastrophe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mitrova echoed that concern. There are lots of unknowns, but for Moldova, Im afraid, its going to be a very difficult winter, she said. Thats why there are claims its catastrophic. I share those fears. Its really going to be very difficult. Alaiba admitted that the last three years showed him you cannot really make a U-turn with an entire energy system. But he said the half of Europe that once saw Russia as a reliable gas supplier has now come to understand what Moldovans have experienced for three decades as the Kremlin routinely threatened to cut off gas during political disputes. The process of decoupling is neither cheap nor happens overnight, he said. While breaking free from Transnistrias grip on Moldovas electricity supply is not technically possible at the moment, he said theres no turning back from his countrys westward trajectory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the start of this century, Moldova sold 70% of its goods to Russia. Now, that same percentage of exports heads westward into Europe and North America. Record plum exports vaulted Moldova to the No. 3 spot worldwide last year making the country Europes undisputed top seller of the succulent stone fruit. Construction of the transmission lines to Romania, Alaiba said, is already underway. You have to have a necessary degree of resilience and independence in order to ensure the long-term stability of your economy, and being dependent on one country that is prone to using the relationship as your one supplier has caused us to waste three decades, Alaiba said. Let that be the lesson from Moldova. Related... BEIRUT Insurgents breached Syrias largest city Friday and clashed with government forces for the first time since 2016, according to a war monitor and fighters, in a surprise attack that sent residents fleeing and added fresh uncertainty to a region reeling from multiple wars. The advance on Aleppo followed a shock offensive launched by insurgents Wednesday, as thousands of fighters swept through villages and towns in Syrias northwestern countryside. Residents fled neighborhoods on the citys edge because of missiles and gunfire, according to witnesses in Aleppo. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the countrys unresolved civil war, said dozens of fighters from both sides were killed. The attack injected new violence into a region experiencing dual wars in Gaza and Lebanon involving Israel, and other conflicts, including the Syrian civil war that began in 2011. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aleppo has not been attacked by opposition forces since they were ousted from eastern neighborhoods in 2016 following a grueling military campaign in which Syrian government forces were backed by Russia, Iran and its allied groups. But this time, there was no sign of a significant pushback from government forces or their allies. Instead, reports emerged of government forces melting away in the face of advances, and insurgents posted messages on social media calling on troops to surrender. Robert Ford, who was the last U.S. ambassador to Syria, said the attack showed that Syrian government forces are extremely weak. In some cases, he said, they appear to have almost been routed. This weeks advances were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, and represent the most intense fighting in northwestern Syria since 2020, when government forces seized areas previously controlled by the opposition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The offensive came as Iran-linked groups, primarily Lebanons Hezbollah, which has backed Syrian government forces since 2015, have been preoccupied with their own battles at home. A cease-fire in Hezbollahs two-month war with Israel took effect Wednesday, the day the Syrian opposition factions announced their offensive. Israel has also escalated its attacks against Hezbollah and Iran-linked targetsin Syria during the last 70 days. Dareen Khalifa, a senior adviser with the International Crisis Group and an expert on Syrian groups, said the insurgents have signaled for a while that they were ready for an offensive. But no one expected the swift advance of the forces toward Aleppo. Its not only that the Russians are distracted and bogged down in Ukraine, but also the Iranians are distracted and bogged down elsewhere. Hezbollahs distracted and bogged down elsewhere, and the regime is absolutely cornered, she said. But the surprise element comes in with how quickly the regime crumbled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attack on Aleppo followed weeks of simmering low-level violence, including government attacks on opposition-held areas. Turkey, which has backed Syrian opposition groups, failed in its diplomatic efforts to prevent the government attacks, which were seen as a violation of a 2019 agreement sponsored by Russia, Turkey and Iran to freeze the line of the conflict. Turkish security officials said Thursday that Syrian opposition groups initially launched a long-planned limited offensive toward Aleppo, where attacks targeting civilians originated. However, the offensive expanded as Syrian government forces began retreating from their positions, the officials said. The aim of the offensive was to reestablish the boundaries of the deescalation zone, according to Turkish officials. The 2016 battle for Aleppo was a turning point in the war between Syrian government forces and rebel fighters after 2011 protests against Bashar Assads rule turned into an all-out war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia and Iran and its allied groups helped Syrian government forces reclaim control of the city that year after a grueling military campaign and a siege that lasted for weeks. Besides backing opposition forces, Turkey has also established a military presence in Syria, sending troops into parts of the northwest. Separately and largely in the east of Syria, the United States has supported Syrian Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State militants. The Syrian government did not comment on insurgents breaching Aleppo city limits. The Kremlin said Friday that it considered the attack an encroachment on Syrias sovereignty and that it supported the quickest possible establishment of constitutional order in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, this is a violation of Syrias sovereignty in this region, Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told a press briefing. Syrias armed forces said in a statement Friday that they clashed with insurgents in the countryside around Aleppo and Idlib, destroying drones and heavy weaponry. They vowed to repel the attack and accused the insurgents of spreading false information about their advances. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the insurgents detonated two car bombs Friday at the western edge of Aleppo. The war monitor said insurgents were also able to seize control of Saraqeb, south of Aleppo, a town at the strategic intersection of the highways linking Aleppo with Damascus and the coast. Syrian government authorities diverted traffic from that highway Thursday. An insurgent commander posted a recorded message on social media calling on Aleppo residents to cooperate with the advancing forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turkeys state-run Anadolu Agency reported that the insurgents entered the city center Friday and now control about 70 locations in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. Syrias state media reported that projectiles from insurgents landed in student accommodations at Aleppos university in the city center, killing four people, including two students. Syrian armed forces said the insurgents are violating a 2019 agreement that deescalated fighting in the area, the last remaining opposition stronghold for years. Hezbollah was the main force in the governments control of Aleppo, said Rami Abdurrahman, head of the Observatory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a phone call with his Syrian counterpart, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the insurgent attacks in Syria as a plot orchestrated by the U.S. and the Zionist regime following the regimes defeat in Lebanon and Palestine. Insurgents posted videos online showing they were using drones, a new weapon for them. It was not clear to what extent the drones were used on the battleground. Insurgents attacked a military airbase southeast of Aleppo with drones early Friday, destroying a helicopter, the Anadolu Agency reported. The opposition groups also seized heavy weapons and military vehicles belonging to the government forces, the agency said. With plummeting temperatures in the UK, many people are preparing to head south in the deep midwinter and Spain is by far the most popular country for British holidaymakers. But tourists now face added red tape when checking in to their accommodation or renting a car. A new Spanish law, aimed at improving security, stipulates that the providers must collect a lot of fresh information from holidaymakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some media reports warn of Big Brother demands, including guests revealing bank balances, but these appear unsubstantiated. These are the key questions and answers. Why the new rules? The Secretaria de Estado de Seguridad (State Secretariat for Security) is concerned about the safety of Spanish citizens. It says: The greatest attacks on public safety are carried out by both terrorist activity and organised crime, in both cases with a marked transnational character. The government says foreigners are involved in terrorist threats and other very serious crimes committed by criminal organisations. The authorities wants to keep tabs on who is staying where, and cross-check personal details against databases of persons of interest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hotels have long recorded some personal details. But the government is extending the list of data required and also wants information from people staying in apartments booked on platforms such as Airbnb. Ministers say the new rules are essential to ensure the safety of citizens. What does the Spanish government want to know about us? The new accommodation rules that took effect on Monday 2 December include a list of personal data required for everyone aged 14 or above: Full name Gender Nationality Passport number Date of birth Home address Landline phone number (if you have one) Mobile phone number Email address While under-14s will not need to provide the information, adults travelling with them must explain the relationship they have with the children. Not exactly the Spanish Inquisition, is it? There is heated discussion about how much additional inconvenience will this actually cause to UK travellers to Spain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new law increases the amount of information demanded, and extends the requirement to cover many other forms of accommodation. Last time I stayed in an Airbnb apartment in Spain, the owner knew nothing about me now, she or he must obtain all those personal details. All the data is passed on to central government in Madrid. In addition, people renting cars will find their personal data and those credit card details passed on to the Spanish authorities for the first time. Will guests actually need to fill out a form with a pen and paper? That will be the case in some places, I understand. Millions of British travellers each year take a package holiday to Spain. The hotel will know very little about any of these guests beyond their name. Check-in could become extremely slow, with staff taking some details straight from guests passport and typing them into their computer with varying degrees of accuracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For a place that you have booked online, some may collect information with your reservation. But if you are going through an intermediary such as Booking.com or Airbnb, privacy rules may not allow the sharing of personal data. You will also have to register when you rent a car, with the above details for each of the drivers. I heard I will have to give details of my bank account? Nothing I have seen from the Spanish government suggests that will be necessary. The business that you are paying must transmit the details of how you paid. For package holidaymakers, where the tour operator has paid the hotel direct, the answer will simply be a voucher. The same may apply for reservations made through intermediaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For most of the rest of us, it will be a credit or debit card, whose number and expiry date will be passed on. But if you happen to have paid the accommodation provider by bank transfer which some people do then your bank account location and number (but not the balance, nor any other information) will be passed on by the accommodation provider. Can I be fined for not giving my information correctly? No. The new law provides for the accommodation provider to be fined thousands of euros if they are negligent in collecting the data. But no sanctions are envisaged for guests. Of course, the accommodation provider might well make co-operation with the process of collecting the data a requirement to be able to check in What about privacy concerns? Many people are worried about sharing personal data, but increasingly it must be done if you are travelling around the world. When the EU entry-exit and Etias systems finally come into effect for Europe, you will need to share loads of personal data before youre even allowed on a plane to Spain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some travellers will be concerned about a possible data breach: the information must be kept for three years by the accommodation provider. But its likely that the vast majority of hotels will delegate management of sensitive information to a specialised company, rather than keeping your credit card details on a USB stick in the back office. Anything else to worry about for Spain? After Brexit, the UK negotiated for its citizens to be third-country nationals and therefore subject to many new rules, both EU-wide and nation-specific. British visitors to Spain are, in theory, required to show they have access to at least 850, which will cover a stay of up to nine days. For a fortnights holiday a family of four would need proof of over 5,000 in total. But in the almost-four years since the rules took effect, I have heard of no cases in which any UK traveller has been asked for proof of financial resources. Budget airlines are caught up in a Spanish row about charges for cabin baggage and seating? Yes, Spains consumer rights ministry has fined airlines many millions of pounds because they were provided misleading information and were not transparent with prices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ministry said that consumers were hindered when comparing offers and could not, therefore, make informed decisions when booking tickets. In particular, the authorities described as unfair the practice of charging extra for: larger pieces of cabin baggage children to be seated with parents getting a boarding pass at the airport The ministry also said airlines should accept cash payments on board and at airports rather than insisting on card payment. Ryanairs chief executive, Michael OLeary said the fines were based on an ancient 1960s law which predated Spain joining the EU and had been imposed for political reasons. Meanwhile easyJet says it will challenge the fines, which its boss describes as illegal. Additional research by Nick Brown ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) A LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING IS STILL UP FOR WYOMING COUNTY THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS HEAVY SNOW FALLS EAST OF LAKE ERIE. Snowfall rates 2-3 per hour within lake-effect snow bands will meander south of Buffalo and across the Tug Hill throughout the rest of Sunday. There will be areas that see over two feet of snow within the heaviest snow bands. This may include Orchard Park, where the Bills play tonight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BILLS BURIED? How much snow will fall in Orchard Park this weekend? As for Sunday in Rochester, you can expect mostly sunny and windy conditions as temperatures get into the low to mid 30s for highs. The snowband off Lake Erie wont persist indefinitely. Currently positioned slightly north of due east, it will gradually shift southward and lose intensity by Sunday afternoon. However, before dissipating, it is expected to deliver another foot or more of snow along the Lake Erie coastline. 8-Day Forecast As winds shift from west to northwest, lake-effect snow from Lake Ontario will begin to impact the lakeshore. For Rochester, this means the first measurable snowfall is anticipated late Sunday night, though the exact timing remains uncertain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rochesters snowfall remains uncertain, but current projections suggest about an inch by Monday morning. This will contribute to the snowfall totals in higher elevations as snow showers shift southward. The region is entering a pattern of cold air, strong winds, and persistent lake-effect snow. Monday afternoon will bring additional lake-effect snow showers, while Tuesdays snow will be more concentrated in the morning. By Wednesday, an Alberta Clippera fast-moving low-pressure system from Canadawill move into the Great Lakes, resulting in a more widespread snow event across Western New York, with higher elevations seeing the greatest impact. Given the unpredictable nature of lake-effect snow, exact snowfall totals remain difficult to forecast, so tune into News 8 throughout the rest of your weekend for the latest weather forecast. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Protesters at Chinmoy Krishna Das' court hearing were dispersed by police with tear gas. | Credit: Hindustan Times / Shutterstock India has expressed "deep concern" over the arrest of a Hindu monk in Bangladesh and asked its neighbour to "ensure the safety of Hindus and all minorities". In recent months, India has "repeatedly" raised fears about the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh, and now the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das has "triggered a fresh war of words" between the two nations, said BBC News. Why was Das arrested? Das was arrested on sedition charges and accused of "disrespecting Bangladeshs national flag" at a rally, held in October to protest against mistreatment of Hindus in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a court in Chittagong denied him bail this week, police "used batons and tear gas to disperse" the large crowd of supporters surrounding the van taking Das back to prison. Bangladeshi officials said one man was killed in the clash, according to the BBC. Das was previously a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (also known as the Hare Krishna movement), and a legal petition to ban the group's activities was filed in the Bangladesh High Court this week, said India Today. What's going on between India and Bangladesh? Bangladesh and India have "traditionally shared a warm relationship", said the BBC, but relations have been "frosty" since former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina was "ousted from power in August", after student protests "spiralled" into nationwide unrest. The new regime in Dhaka, headed by interim leader Muhammad Yunus, has an "implicit anti-India agenda", wrote Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit for India's The Sunday Guardian, and "unabated Hinduphobia" in Bangladesh is now at an "all-time high". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Hindu districts, over 200 attacks occurred within 10 days of the Hasina government's fall, including "attacks against individuals" and "incidents of vandalism of businesses, properties, Hindu houses and, especially, temples". Are Hindus really unsafe in Bangladesh? Animosity towards Hindus in Bangladesh seems to have been going on for some time. In 2021, mob attacks during and after the Hindu festival of Durga Puja prompted human rights group Amnesty International to say that the Bangladesh state has, over the years, "failed in its duty to protect minorities". The issue was raised in the House of Commons this week. Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East, said that "Hindus across Bangladesh" are being subject "to death by their houses being burnt, by their temples being burnt", said The Times of India. A cross-party group of MPs has also written to the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, warning him about the rise of "Islamist extremists" and "violence and turmoil" in Bangladesh, said The Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is an "urgent need", concluded the all-party parliamentary group for the Commonwealth, to "end the culture of using the law as a political weapon". Both human rights and the rule of law "need to be upheld". Hindus are the largest minority in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, accounting for about 8% of the population. The government continues to deny that Hindus are unsafe in the country. At least 17 Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD students have been arrested for making a terroristic threat since classes began in August, the district said in a news release. KIN MAN HUI/San Antonio Express-News The Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District has teamed up with local law enforcement to launch a campaign aimed at deterring social media threats following a surge in student arrests. The Think Regret: Think Before You Speak campaign was created with help from the Cibolo and Schertz police departments to inform students and parents of the legal consequences of making threats or posting threatening messages online. It is imperative that our youth fully understand the personal and community harm from making such threats, Schertz Police Chief James Lowery said in a news release. It is a serious crime with serious negative consequences that can not only be short term but lifelong. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Schertz Police Department said in a Facebook post earlier this month that it has responded to an increasing number of calls to schools for threats coming from social media or someone saying something out of frustration or anger. On November 12, the agency charged its 12th student of the 2024-2025 school year with making a terroristic threat. Since classes began in August, 17 students have been arrested for terroristic threats. School officials said this is a spike from the previous two years, which saw a combined 14 students detained for such crimes. The influx of social media threats is frustrating and concerning, SCUC ISD Superintendent Paige Meloni said in the release. While all of these threats have been deemed non-credible, it still strains the resources of school and law enforcement officials and instills fear and alarm in parents and students alike. The district is not alone in experiencing a recent wave of threats. In September, the Southwest Texas Fusion Center, an intelligence clearinghouse of multiple law enforcement agencies managed by the San Antonio Police Department, vetted roughly 60 threats in a 16-county area. All but 14 occurred in Bexar County. Advertisement Article continues below this ad SCUC ISDs campaign centers around a video featuring students, staff, school resource officers and local police emphasizing the seriousness of making a threat online. The message reminds students that they will go to jail if they say they are going to kill someone or shoot up a school. It also informs viewers that falsely reporting someone for making a threat is a crime. No one wants to see a young person charged with felony offenses, Meloni said. However, every school threat will be taken seriously. We cannot dismiss these incidents as mere kids being kids or jokes. The consequences could be dire, and we cannot afford to take that chance. Police and school officials are asking for families to watch the video at home to discuss the impact of social media threats with their children. The district said campaign materials for intermediate and secondary campuses will be posted in school hallways as part of the effort. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We need our parents to be engaged and have the courage to talk to their children about this issue or any other topic, Lowery said. It does not have to be a difficult conversation. More than 4 million people across five states were under winter storm alerts on Sunday as heavy lake-effect snow continued to bury the Great Lakes region, prompting emergency declarations and the deployment of National Guard troops to rescue stranded motorists. Another day of intense lake-effect snow bands was occurring Sunday, especially in western New York, which has already received more than 40 inches of snow since Thursday and is expecting up to 24 more inches on Sunday into Monday. Parts of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin were under winter alerts as of Sunday. Buffalo area expecting more snow A lake-effect snow warning remained in place on Sunday from Cleveland, Ohio, to Buffalo, New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Saturday that 11 counties, including the Buffalo area in Erie County, are in a state of emergency. PHOTO: Snow forecast through Monday. (ABC News) Hochul said on Sunday that more heavy snowfall is forecast for western and central New York through Sunday night and into Monday, adding that the snow could fall at rates of up to 4 inches per hour. Snowfall totals showed Barns Corner in New York's Lewis County had received 45 inches of snow from the Arctic outbreak by Sunday morning, while Cattaraugus County's Perrysburg recorded 37.6 inches and Lewis County's Copenhagen received 36.5 inches. Hochul said an additional 1 to 2 feet of snow is possible in western New York, with the greatest accumulation over northern Chautauqua and south-central Erie counties. She said an additional 2 to 3 feet of snow is possible in the North Country with the greatest accumulation from northern Tug Hill to near Watertown. PHOTO: Snow falls on Highmark Stadium and surrounding parking lots in Orchard Park, NY., Nov. 30, 2024. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) Lake-effect snow is common this time of year as colder air moves over the relatively warm water of the lakes, leading to extremely localized bands of heavy snowfall for an extended period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "An intense lake effect band across Watertown and Jefferson county will continue to produce 3-4 inches per hour rates today," the National Weather Service in Buffalo said Sunday in a social media post. Shovelers called to clear Highmark Stadium for Bills-49ers game At Highmark Stadium in the Buffalo suburb of Orchard Park, the Buffalo Bills are preparing to take on the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night, and the snow cleanup has been a grueling effort after more than 18 inches of snow has already fallen and more is forecast for the 8:20 p.m. kickoff. PHOTO: Winter alerts, today into tonight. (ABC News) There was so much snow that the Bills put out a call for shovelers to help remove the snow before game time, offering $20 an hour plus food and hot beverages. MORE: Cold blast brings major lake-effect snow to several states Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As New Yorkers face the ongoing impacts of lake-effect snow, first responders are working around the clock to ensure the safety of our communities," Hochul said. "With tonight's kickoff in our sights, we are doing everything we can to clear roads, assess damage, and provide state and local partners with the resources they need." Travel advisories were issued for Jefferson and Lewis counties, and portions of Erie County. PHOTO: A person clears the snow from the sidewalk in Lowville, N.Y., on Nov. 30, 2024. (Cara Anna/AP) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hochul said lake-effect snow will start to enter central New York and parts of the Mohawk Valley region on Sunday afternoon and into Monday. Between 4 to 10 inches of snow is forecast for central New York and 3 to 5 inches in the Mohawk Valley region. The state's Department of Transportation banned empty and tandem commercial vehicles on I-86 from the Pennsylvania state line to I-390 and on State Route 219 from the Pennsylvania state line to I-90. PHOTO: Winter alerts through Monday. (ABC News) In addition to the National Guard members, Hochul said extra personnel have been deployed to help with possible power and road emergencies. Pennsylvania National Guard deployed to rescue stranded drivers In Pennsylvania, Gov. Josh Shapiro also issued a disaster emergency proclamation and deployed National Guard troops to Erie County, Pennsylvania, to rescue stranded motorists. The Pennsylvania State Police responded to more than 200 traffic incidents between Friday and Saturday alone, Shapiro said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Buffalo's deadly blizzard by the numbers: What made the storm so historic "At the county's request, I've called in the Pennsylvania National Guard who are now on the ground to help any stranded drivers and make sure emergency responders can get to folks who need them," Shapiro said in a statement. Erie County, Pennsylvania, Executive Brenton Davis said the local disaster emergency will stay in effect until the middle of this week. Davis said county buildings, including courthouses, in Erie County will be closed on Monday and Tuesday and that officials are advising school districts to remain closed, as well. He said residents should minimize travel. PHOTO: In this image released by the New York Department of Transportation, a plow clears snow from a road in New York. (New York Department of Transportation) Counties in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania have recorded huge snowfall totals since Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaylord, Michigan, picked up 24.8 inches of snow Friday, marking its single snowiest calendar day on record and shattering its previous record of 17 inches on March 9, 1942. 4 million under winter storm alerts as snow buries Buffalo, rest of Great Lakes region originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he wants to work directly with US President-elect Donald Trump and is open to his ideas, highlighting Kyivs eagerness to keep its most important ally onside as Russia intensifies its attacks. Of course we will work with Trump. I want to work with him directly, Zelensky said in an interview with Sky News released Friday, adding that he did not want people around Trump to destroy their communication. I want to share with him ideas and I want to hear from him his ideas, he added. The United States is the single largest provider of military assistance to Ukraine and Kyiv is keenly aware that it needs to stay on Trumps good side to secure future support. According to the US Department of State, the government has contributed $64.1 billion to Ukraines war effort since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelensky characterized his conversations with Trump during a visit to New York in September as warm, good, constructive. He said the discussions were an important first step, but that more detailed talks would be needed until we will have a real plan where Ukraine is strong. Zelensky noted that his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, would travel to the US as soon as possible for meetings, including with Trumps pick to be special envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg. Kellogg favors a ceasefire and peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv, which would include security guarantees for Ukraine to protect against future Russian invasions. Zelensky told Sky News that Russian President Vladimir Putin was not ready to negotiate, however. He doesnt want to stop the war, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ukrainian leader added that he would like Trump to succeed and for the US to play one of the most crucial parts in ending the war. Prior to winning the election, Trump repeatedly claimed that the Russia-Ukraine war would not have started if he had been president. He also vowed to end the war, sometimes even claiming he would stop the years-long conflict before taking office. In July, he said he could settle the conflict in one day, without offering further details. NATO membership Zelenskys comments come as the scale and severity of the conflict escalates, as Moscow makes increasing use of non-nuclear ballistic missiles. More than one million Ukrainian households were left without power Thursday following a widespread attack on critical energy infrastructure. On Friday, Putin threatened to strike Ukraine again. He also praised Trump, describing him as an intelligent and experienced politician capable of finding solutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the interview with Sky News, Zelensky stressed that Ukraines US and European allies needed to better equip a greater number of its soldiers and provide more fighter jets. The countrys eastern front, where Moscow is fast advancing, depends on the number of equipped brigades and air defense, he added. He also addressed widely reported calls by US officials to drop Ukraines minimum conscription age from 25 to 18 to address a critical shortage of manpower. I want to ask our partners to do their part of the job and we will do our part of the job, he said. Asked by Sky News whether Ukraine would consider ceding some territory to Russia in exchange for NATO membership, Zelensky said that such a solution could in theory help to end the war but that it would run counter to Ukraines constitution. The invitation (to join NATO) must be given to Ukraine within its internationally recognized border. You cant give an invitation to just one part of the country You have no right to recognize the occupied territory as territory of Russia, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelensky has long called for Ukraines unconditional accession to NATO, but it is highly unlikely that the country will be admitted to the military alliance before the war ends. During the interview, Zelensky reiterated his position that NATO membership was currently the only path to victory. He admitted that he was afraid Ukraine might lose the war, and particularly the independence of its people. If we will be alone, we will lose, he said. Maria Kostenko contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com TOKYO, Dec 02 (News On Japan) - The site of the former Tsukiji Market was opened Sunday to the public for the first time, with about 100 participants, including elementary school students and their parents. They explored remnants such as the cobblestones that were part of the market's pathways, learning about the history of Tsukiji, which ceased operations in 2018. A parent remarked, "I was surprised by how spacious it was. It feels like such a waste. I wonder what will become of it in the future." The redevelopment of the Tsukiji site includes plans for a multifunctional stadium capable of hosting 50,000 people. The majority of the facilities are expected to be completed by fiscal year 2032. Source: ANN Dallas is more than just a bustling cityits a treasure trove for those seeking high-quality, custom jewelry. Whether youre shopping for engagement rings, wedding accessories, or the latest trends, finding the right jewelry store can make all the difference. In this article, well dive into the world of Dallas custom jewelry, explore the artistry behind bespoke designs, and uncover what makes the citys jewelry stores the go-to destination for every occasion. The Allure of Custom Jewelry in Dallas Custom jewelry is the perfect way to capture your unique style and story. Dallas boasts an array of skilled artisans and renowned jewelry stores dedicated to creating one-of-a-kind pieces. From heirloom redesigns to completely new creations, custom jewelry offers: Personalization: Express your individuality with designs tailored to your preferences. Exceptional Craftsmanship: Expert jewelers use top-quality materials to ensure longevity and beauty. Sentimental Value: Custom pieces often hold deeper meaning, making them irreplaceable keepsakes. Many Dallas jewelers provide a collaborative process where customers can bring their ideas to life, working closely with designers to ensure every detail is perfect. Choosing the Right Jewelry Store in Dallas The key to finding your dream piece lies in selecting a reputable jewelry store. Here are a few factors to consider when exploring Dallas vibrant jewelry scene: Reputation: Look for stores with positive reviews and a history of excellence. Word-of-mouth recommendations often lead to hidden gems. Expertise: Seek out jewelers with experience in custom designs and an extensive knowledge of gemstones and metals. Transparency: A good jeweler should provide clear details about pricing, sourcing, and the creation process. Services Offered: Many top jewelry stores in Dallas offer repair, resizing, and appraisal services, adding convenience for customers. Dallas Engagement Rings: Timeless Beauty For couples embarking on their journey to forever, Dallas is home to some of the finest engagement ring designers. Local jewelry stores specialize in everything from classic solitaires to intricate vintage-inspired designs. Diamond Cuts and Shapes Dallas jewelers offer an array of diamond cuts, including round, princess, cushion, and oval. Each cut reflects light differently, allowing you to choose a style that matches your personality. Metal Choices Whether you prefer yellow gold, rose gold, white gold, or platinum, Dallas jewelers offer versatile options. Some even incorporate mixed-metal designs for a modern twist. Customization Options Many couples opt for custom engagement rings to add personal touches, such as engraved initials or unique gemstone arrangements. Dallas jewelers excel at bringing these visions to life. Jewelry Trends Taking Over Dallas Fashion-forward residents of Dallas keep the city at the forefront of jewelry trends. Some current must-haves include: Stackable Rings Layered looks are in, with stackable rings allowing wearers to mix metals, textures, and gemstones. Bold Statement Pieces Oversized earrings, chunky chains, and colorful gemstones are dominating the jewelry scene. Nature-Inspired Designs Organic shapes and motifs, such as leaves, flowers, and branches, are gaining popularity for their timeless appeal. Sustainable and Ethical Jewelry Consumers are increasingly drawn to brands offering responsibly sourced gemstones and eco-friendly designs. Dallas jewelers stay ahead of these trends, offering a mix of modern and classic options to suit every style. Weddings in Dallas: Jewelry for the Big Day No wedding look is complete without the right jewelry. From engagement rings to bridal party accessories, Dallas jewelry stores cater to all your wedding needs: Bridal Sets: Coordinated engagement and wedding rings for a seamless look. Custom Accessories: Necklaces, bracelets, and earrings designed to match the brides gown and theme. Gifts for the Bridal Party: Personalized jewelry pieces make thoughtful thank-you gifts for bridesmaids and groomsmen. Dallas jewelers also offer jewelry cleaning and polishing services to ensure every piece shines brilliantly on the big day. Why Dallas is a Jewelry Destination Dallas reputation as a jewelry hub stems from its combination of skilled artisans, diverse offerings, and customer-centric service. The citys jewelry stores provide: Extensive Selections: From fine jewelry to everyday wear, theres something for every budget and occasion. Cutting-Edge Technology: Many jewelers utilize advanced tools like CAD software and 3D printing for precision and innovation. Commitment to Quality: Dallas jewelers pride themselves on sourcing the finest materials and adhering to strict quality standards. Whether youre a local or visiting from out of town, Dallas jewelry scene is worth exploring. Finding the Perfect Jewelry Store When searching for a jewelry store in Dallas, its essential to visit several locations to compare offerings and services. Here are a few tips to guide your search: Visit Showrooms: Seeing pieces in person helps you assess quality and craftsmanship. Ask Questions: Dont hesitate to inquire about certifications, warranties, and return policies. Read Reviews: Online feedback can provide insights into customer satisfaction and store reliability. Trust Your Instincts: Choose a store where you feel comfortable and valued as a customer. Conclusion Dallas is a shining star in the world of custom jewelry, offering endless opportunities to find or create the perfect piece. Whether youre shopping for engagement rings, exploring jewelry trends, or preparing for a wedding, the citys jewelry stores combine artistry and quality to meet every need. From custom designs that capture your story to timeless classics that elevate any outfit, Dallas jewelers ensure every customer leaves with a treasure theyll cherish forever. So, embark on your jewelry journey today and discover the unparalleled offerings of Dallas thriving jewelry scene. By Justina Otio President Bola Tinubu has stated that despite the hardship brought on by the removal of the oil subsidy, there is still light at the end of the tunnel. He insisted that the removal of the oil subsidy was not to torment Nigerians but to save the country from collapse. Tinubu stated this in his address at the 34th and 35th combined convocation ceremonies of the Federal University of Technology Akure Ondo State on Saturday. Represented by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof Wahab Egbewole, the president said he took over power when the economy was nose-diving. He said, As you are all aware, we took the baton of authority at a time when our economy was nose-diving as a result of heavy debts from fuel and dollar subsidies. The subsidies were meant to support the poor and make life better for all Nigerians. We are all aware of the fact that the poor and average Nigerians were the sufferers of what was supposed to give them succour and improved standard of living. Unfortunately, the good life we thought we were living was a fake one that was capable of leading the country to a total collapse unless drastic efforts were urgently taken. The need to salvage the future of our children and bring the country back from the brink of collapse necessitated the strategic decisions to remove the fuel subsidy and also unify the exchange rates. I am not unaware of the consequences of the tough decisions on our people. Stressing that the policy has been fruitful, Tinubu stated, The macro-economy of our dear country is improving by the day and beyond expectations. The micro-economy, which directly affects our citizens, is also taking shape gradually with positive results. We are now graduating from consumption to production economy in every facet of our human endeavours. By the grace of the Almighty God, every household will experience a better life and have brighter hope for the future. The present challenges call for a high degree of patriotism and I can assure all Nigerians that there is light at the end of the tunnel. After rain comes sunshine. The brighter days are almost here. The Renewed Hope Agenda is on track, and we shall not deviate on the path of better and greater Nigeria. It is in the light of the foregoing that I am glad to inform you that the results of the policies are already yielding the expected results. Moroccos central bank has prepared a draft law that would set up a secondary market in which non-performing loans, currently at 9.8 billion dollars, can be sold, in a move that will boost banks liquidity. The news was announced by director general of the central bank, Bank Al Maghrib, Abderrahim Bouazza, who said non-performing loans increased to represent 7% of GDP. Non-performing loans (NPLs), also known as bad loans, are loans on which the borrower is not making interest payments or repaying any principal. These loans are considered bad because they are unlikely to be repaid in full, leading to potential losses for the lender. By September, Moroccan banks had 98 billion dirhams ($9.8 billion) of bad loans, representing a ratio of 8.6% of total loans, one of the highest in the region. These loans needed to be covered by 67 billion dirhams, which weighs on banks liquidity. The volume of non-performing loans may worsen in the future due to the successive economic shocks of recent years, whose impacts have not yet appeared in bank balance sheets, and because of the increasing uncertainties in the international environment, Bouazza said. Non-performing loans have affected the liquidity of banks, with a deficit bridged by the central bank at 120 billion dirhams, he said. The proposed bill aims to remove legal barriers hindering the direct transferability of non-performing loans (NPLs). It eliminates the requirement for debtor consent and simplifies the procedures for notifying recovery notices for these loans, he said. This transfer would allow credit institutions to clean up their balance sheets, free up capital to strengthen their solvency, and provide new liquidity that can be reallocated to other financing activities, he added. The National Library of the Kingdom of Morocco hosted, on Friday in Rabat, a meeting to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, attended by diplomats, political stakeholders, and civil society representatives. Speaking at the event, Palestines Ambassador to Morocco, Jamal Choubaki, said that this International Day is an opportunity to recall the Palestinian peoples inalienable rights, and the difficult circumstances currently facing the Palestinian cause. Choubaki commended the role of Morocco, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, Chairman of The Al-Quds Committee, in support of the Palestinian cause, in order to end the occupation and establish an independent Palestinian State, with Al-Quds East as its capital. He also praised the efforts of Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency to support the Holy Citys inhabitants and the Palestinian people as a whole, through projects in housing, employment and the preservation of Al-Quds heritage. He also lauded the content of the Royal Message to the Chairman of the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Cheikh Niang, in which the Sovereign reiterated Moroccos firm positions on the Palestinian cause. Several politicians took the floor to recall Moroccos constant positions, towards the Palestinian cause, and stressed the importance of enabling the Palestinian people to fully enjoy their rights. In another development, Palestinian Presidents Special Envoy Riyad Al-Maliki who is in Morocco to take part in the MEDays Forum, held in Tangier, praised in a statement to the media King Mohammed VIs continued support for the Palestinian cause. He highlighted that the Sovereign, as Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, is deeply committed to supporting the resilience of the inhabitants of the holy city, particularly through the initiatives of Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency. Al-Maliki commended Moroccan solidarity with the Palestinian cause, noting that this solidarity is a source of strength and pride for the Palestinians. The Special Envoy of the Palestinian President also lauded the distinguished relations between Morocco and Palestine as a model of fraternal ties between two brotherly nations. Rebel forces opposing President Bashar al-Assad have launched their biggest offensive in years this week, controlling a majority of Syria's second city of Aleppo according to a monitor. Government forces offered little resistance, the war monitor said, and the army admitted that rebels had entered "large parts" of the city. Why have the Syrian rebels and their allies from Turkish-backed factions decided to attack after years of relative calm, and what is at stake? On Wednesday, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a jihadist alliance led by Al-Qaeda's former Syria branch, and allied factions attacked government-held areas of the northern province of Aleppo and the northwestern Idlib region. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said the rebels had seized dozens of towns and villages in the north and "took control of most of" Aleppo. The violence has killed at least 311 people, mostly combatants on both sides, but also including at least 28 civilians, said the Observatory, which relies on a network of sources inside Syria. Dareen Khalifa, a researcher at the International Crisis Group think tank, said the rebels had prepared months for this offensive. "They've framed it as a defensive move against regime escalation," Khalifa said, as Syrian government and Russian strikes on the area intensified leading up to the attack. But HTS and their allies are "also looking at the broader regional and geostrategic shift", she said. The rebels, working in a joint operations room, launched their attack the same day a Hezbollah-Israel truce came into effect in neighbouring Lebanon. During more than 13 months of hostilities, Israel also intensified attacks on Iran-backed groups in Syria including Hezbollah, which for years has fought on the side of Damascus in the country's civil conflict. Along with Iran, Russia is also a close ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, with Moscow intervening in Syria's civil war in 2015, turning the momentum of the conflict in favour of Damascus. "They're thinking this is a time when the Iranians are weakened, when the regime is cornered and when Turkey is emboldened vis-a-vis Russia," Khalifa said. Turkey has positioned itself as a possible mediator in the Ukraine war and is a key trade and finance centre for Western-sanctioned Moscow. The main powers backing each side of the conflict have so far refrained from making escalatory remarks. The Kremlin on Friday said it hoped Syria would quickly "restore order" in Aleppo, while Tehran has blamed the offensive on an American-Israeli plot to destabilise the region. Turkey has demanded an end to "attacks" on the rebel enclave of Idlib in Syria, where Syrian and Russian warplanes launched air strikes. "In the next few days, if (rebels) can sustain their gains it will be a test to whether or not Turkey will go all-in," Khalifa told AFP. The mass offensive comes as a potential rapprochement between Damascus and Ankara has stalled in recent years, though Moscow and Tehran have pushed for a detente. Turkish forces and Turkey-backed rebel factions control swathes of northern Syria. Ankara initially sought to topple Assad after the Syrian conflict erupted in 2011, but as government forces regained territory, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reversed course. In a post on X, Caroline Rose, of the Washington-based New Lines Institute, said the Aleppo offensive appears to be "a way to force the regime to negotiate with a weakened hand". The Syrian government has reeled from its biggest loss of territory in years this week. "Regime lines have crumbled at an incredible pace that has taken everyone by surprise," Khalifa said. The rebels also cut off the Damascus-Aleppo M5 highway, in addition to controlling the strategic M5-M4 junction that also connects Syria's second city to regime stronghold Latakia, on the Mediterranean coast. Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the rebels advanced into Aleppo "without any significant pushback from regime forces". "It is strange to see regime forces being dealt such big blows despite Russian air cover and early signs that HTS was going to launch this operation," Abdel Rahman said. Damascus has largely relied on Russian air power and Hezbollah fighters on the ground to regain swathes of Syria lost to rebels early in the war. But the Iran-backed Hezbollah has taken heavy losses in its war with Israel. Meanwhile, "Russia's presence has thinned out considerably and quick reaction air strikes have limited utility", said Aaron Stein, president of the US-based Foreign Policy Research Institute. Speedy rebel advances are "a reminder of how weak the regime is and, perhaps, how they have grown complacent in the last couple of years" as battles wound down, he said. Senior officials from the Moroccan and French Ministries of the Interior and Foreign Affairs, and the co-chairs of the Morocco-France Permanent Joint Migration Group (GMMP) held an unprecedented meeting at the Moroccan embassy in Paris on means of improving migration procedures. The meeting, held at the invitation of Morocco, mainly discussed cooperation on readmission and prevention of departures, as well as points for improvement to facilitate cooperation on the issue of consular laissez-passer (LPC), which are required to enforce Obligations to Leave French Territory (OQTF), a joint statement released following the meeting said. The Paris meeting followed on from the one held on October 3 in Marrakech by the GMMP, the statement said. As the meeting was held on the sidelines of the biannual conference of Moroccan Consuls General, the French side took part in an exchange with the 17 Moroccan Consuls General deployed in France (Paris, Orly, Pontoise, Villemomble, Mantes la Jolie, Colombes, Lille, Lyon, Montpellier, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Rennes, Orleans, Dijon, Strasbourg and Bastia). The 2-hour session enabled direct feedback and high-quality exchanges between the Moroccan diplomats and the representatives of the French side. This exchange between the two parties is designed to strengthen the whole system of migration cooperation between the Kingdom of Morocco and France, in which consular action is central. This innovative procedure, the statement notes, is intended to respond to the desire expressed by the two Heads of State, King Mohammed VI and President Emmanuel Macron, during the latters state visit to Rabat October 28-30. As set out in the Joint Declaration on the Reinforced Exceptional Partnership signed by the two Heads of State, the aim is to build a comprehensive agenda on migration, including facilitating legal mobility, fighting irregular immigration and promoting cooperation in readmission and prevention of departures, as well as strengthening coordination between the countries of origin, transit and destination, based on the shared responsibility principle. This meeting, the joint statement adds, also follows on from the exchanges between Minister of the Interior, Abdelouafi Laftit, and his French peer, Bruno Retailleau, who held a working session on the sidelines of the French Presidents visit to Rabat on October 29. At the end of this meeting, both parties expressed their satisfaction with the exemplary migration cooperation between Morocco and France, as demonstrated by the improvement in readmission indicators, and praised the role of both Prefects and Consuls General, who are at the heart of the strategy and vision put in place under the GMMP. The Moroccan side praised Frances efforts to bolster legal mobility, particularly for students. It also noted with satisfaction the positive trend in visa granting rates. The exchanges also focused on protecting the rights of the Moroccan diaspora living in France, a pillar of human, cultural and economic relations between the two countries. For its part, the French side praised Moroccos efforts in managing migratory flows, and noted that this cooperation was improving. The French side also thanked Morocco for hosting this meeting, which enabled the deployment of the migration cooperation strategy desired by France and Morocco. It will be evaluated at the next GMMP meeting, to be held in France in the first quarter of 2025, the statement said. According to the joint statement, the French side comprised Simon Fetet, Director of Immigration at the Ministry of the Interior and GMMP co-chairman, Mathilde Grammont, Diplomatic Advisor to the Minister of the Interior, Frederic Rimoux, Deputy Ambassador for Migration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Delphine Montuelle, Head of the Removal Unit at the Directorate of Immigration. The Moroccan side comprised Khalid Zerouali, Director of Migration and Border Surveillance at the Ministry of the Interior and GMMP co-chairman, Bouchta Fahli, Director of General Intelligence at the General Directorate for National Security, Fouad Kadmiri, Director of Consular and Social Affairs at the Foreign Ministry, and Samira Sitail, Moroccos Ambassador to France. Ya done good, kid. Photo: Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images Charles Kushner is living the dream. Four years ago, the real estate developer got a controversial pardon from his son Jareds father-in-law, Donald Trump. Four years later, his familys real estate company is worth more than Trumps, and his familys net worth, per a recent Forbes analysis, has grown to $7.1 billion nearly four times what it was when Trump was elected president. And now that Trump has been reelected, hes sending the elder Kushner to Paris and giving him a free place to stay. Trump on Saturday announced that he was nominating his daughters husbands father to be the next U.S. Ambassador to France. Its quite a turn of events for a guy who once served 14 months in a federal prison in Alabama after he pleaded guilty in 2004 to 16 felony counts of making illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion, and witness tampering. Kushner admitted to a revenge and intimidation scheme in which he hired a sex worker to seduce his brother-in-law who had turned states witness against him. Kushner had them filmed having sex in a New Jersey motel room, and then had the video sent to his sister, the mans wife, in order to pressure her not to testify. Former U.S. attorney Chris Christie famously called it one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes he ever prosecuted. Trump didnt mention any of that in his announcement. He instead emphasized how Kushner is a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker, who will be a strong advocate representing our Country & its interests. Trump also didnt mention that in 2023, Kushner donated $1 million to Trumps Make America Great Again Inc super PAC. Its not clear if Trump will nominate any of his other pardon recipients as ambassadors. Could Paul Manafort represent U.S. interests in Ukraine? Might Michael Flynn want to return to Moscow? Will Roger Stone get to show off his Nixon tattoo on the beaches of southern Italy? Well have to wait and see. This post has been updated. Hes not wrong, but Hollywood elitists cannot let go of the fact that the media and audiences have changed. Reply Thread Link He's also staring in an AppleTv series. Lmaooo Reply Parent Thread Link Lol this reminds me of when Steven Spielberg was criticizing Netflix and the concept but then he did work with Apple TV speaking well of it cause I think they gave him a bigger budget or better offer lol. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i feel like apple tv is the only good streaming service pachinko + silo are really incredible, the ux design is nice, they dont have much but its all great Reply Parent Thread Link I don't think he's criticising Netflix, but rather the quality of what's on there. Reply Parent Thread Link I don't think he's blasting streaming here, so much as the fact that execs no longer have the patience for sleeper hits. They pull things from theaters and promo, or cancel shows after a few eps, or delete the entire movie, if they're not going to be an instant overnight success. And the algorithms are frustrating on the audience too because it's tough to find stuff that's different/not what the service is pushing, and it's treated like it's for our benefit but it's definitely not. I *hate* that HBOs algorithm always pushes its own/biggest content, even when I exclusively go there to watch TCM. Stuff like "hidden gems" is nice but I miss just having real categories instead of *only* "top hits" and "because you liked _____". There is definitely something to be said about people in Hollywood shitting on modern audiences/lighthearted films for sure, but I'm cool with them calling out execs. Reply Parent Thread Link points were made but i'm enjoying a lovely sunday morning high to care. i love quality entertainment but also give the people what they want and most people are morons so we need shitty movies too and that's okay. everyone deserves entertainment their brains are able to follow. Reply Thread Link I mean Netflix is full of shit at this point. So they've given the people what they want to the point it's tanked their own reputation. Edited at 2024-12-01 03:23 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link You right about people being morons and having bad taste. Like, I love me some silly movie but the fact that Marvel adults exist proves that most people do not care about quality like that. Reply Parent Thread Link at least we got silo, tim. Reply Thread Link i usually watch most netflix movies through Trixie and Katya commentaries because they don't care about being blunt and spot on how much garbage Netflix produces just yesterday i watched their video on christmas movie with Chad Michael Murray and what a lot of crap that was Reply Thread Link I watch their takes more than Netflix. Reply Parent Thread Link Its hilarious how obvious it is when they love the content - Beef, I care a lot and Love is blind S3 are great examples of that lol Reply Parent Thread Link i was anxious clicking on their i care a lot reaction but it was fantastic i don't believe i watched their beef video, need to fix it asap Reply Parent Thread Link Omg that movie was SO bad, Chad Michael Murray's character made me legitimately angry. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Is this the movie with the fake skating scene? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Netflix keeps recommending the movie bc I watch a lot of Christmas movies but I'm like nope, not going there, the trailer was awful enough. Reply Parent Thread Link Philistines will never be my people. People love low brow media but they could really benefit from engaging with things that make them think more regularly. Reply Thread Link I agree people need a healthier mix. Sometimes your brain needs rest/comfort and sometimes it needs engagement/challenge (or sometimes it needs the social aspect of watching either with people you care about), and finding that balance is definitely part of maturing. I get that people are mentally exhausted by the world but the brain is another muscle that needs regular exercise, and it'll improve how you feel in the long term. Reply Parent Thread Link Im solidly middle-brow, basic and boring. I hate garbage like reality TV, whatever Ryan Murphy is doing this week, and terrible documentaries spewed out by streaming channels, but I no longer have the attention span, the patience or the smarts for anything I really have to think about. Reply Parent Thread Link i mean netflix is a curse to the medium in general there's no lie in that, but that's more in how they choose to run their business and what it's done to the industry and less of how their media actually shakes out in terms of quality. all studios are going to have hits and misses, and netflix is no different. netflix churns out more stuff overall and therefore the misses are naturally higher. add to that their love of low cost high reward approach and you get what is generally a pile of shit. anything good, specifically in terms of television, is almost always immediately canceled baring some shortlived miracle. this sets a precedence that is put toward movies as well and you get low cost/high reward algos. all that matters is something top 10ing for at least a few weeks and the low cost/high reward algo supports that at the end of the day, though, there's a ton of studios cranking out high quality hit after hit. netflix is just one in a mass of studios. the bigger critique would be the sheer quantity of things coming out, and the absolute inundation of content, and the ways in which people consume them. the medium itself is suffering bc the viewers themselves are stuck in a consumption loop. things come out too fast and fade too quickly. honestly the quality doesn't even matter bc the next big or small thing is on its way and shows/movies of a great quality get sidelined for that so yeah imho netflix is a villain and its practices are truly a pal on the industry, but it's just one piece of larger generational and technologically driven puzzle. you can't unring bells and the way folks engage with media today is the way folks engage with media. i just wish ppl would stop going on and on about netflix specifically in general. someone give some money to letterboxd and help it expand into tv and make its UI better so its a more holistic experience to the medium. the only way for lasting media to survive today is through found and built community that lives within the consumption loop. i think letterboxd has done a good job of that in ways that places like reddit can't. it mimics the old days of IMDB forums which was a good time for media discourse Reply Thread Link I think he has a good point about VHS and TV reruns providing a venue for mid releases and box office bombs to find their audience in a way that streaming doesn't. Plus without physical media sales, studios have zero incentives to take a chance on more unique movies which feeds into our current environment of mostly Marvel movies and live action remakes. They now bank on international releases to recoup costs, which is why I think the genre pool is shrinking. Culturally entrenched genres like comedy and romcoms - that may not translate well overseas - have dwindled significantly in big screen releases. Reply Thread Link Matt Damon mentioned that whole part about how valuable the DVD market was Reply Parent Thread Link I was at the Princess Bride viewing with Cary Elwes a week ago and he was talking about how it bombed at the theater and it wasn't until VHS and people sharing it with their families that it became the hit it is today. A lot of movies became/become classics after the initial release. It's sad that a lot of things aren't given that chance today. Reply Parent Thread Link The Shawshank Redemption part is true. Cause it reminds when people were talking about one of those state of the industry/marvel films etcetc type of conversations on twitter. And I remember James Gunn probably having the best take saying that true decider of whether a film is good or not was reruns on tv not so much box office or critics. He mentioned that so many films that didnt well at the box office, were never heard of, or maybe didnt get great reviews were vindicated on tv due to the reruns. Which I think is true cause yeah art is subjective but I remember watching a lot of films that I loved as a kid but was surprised to find out were either huge box office bombs or negatively reviewed. TV and time/place really do offer that leniency to some films to get better perspectives. Im think this now cause awards seasons is coming up and theres gonna great films and overhyped films/ performances that will not stand the test of time. I remember Matt Damon mentioning this a few years ago where he said awards really dont decide this because sometimes the magic or hype wears off pretty quickly to the point that you later look at certain films within a few weeks or even 5 years later like that film wasnt all that great . Btw I say this as someone who likes awards and sees their value lol. Reply Thread Link I find most Oscar films are the type you never want to see again. There aren't as many films these days that have real rewatch value imo. Reply Parent Thread Link Lol I feel the same. A lot of film twitter wanna act above it but some of these nominated films/indies dont have rewatch value. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I would also say that for me at least as a non-english speaking movie watcher, you'd have to wait for VHS/DVD releases that were dubbed or at least subbed when re-aired on tv because physical media and cable were way more accessible than movie theaters. We had a channel in Canada that would air european films that weren't in french or english but they were subbed and it exposed me to soooo many projects I wouldn't have known otherwise. Reply Parent Thread Link besides a few movies, Netflix feels like the Walmart bargain bin these days. Reply Thread Link Its worse than that. Its the clearance dvds at a grocery store that are there for some odd inexplicable reason. Reply Parent Thread Link I think I watched one movie all of last year. I've definitely struggled connecting or being interested in movies being released lately. Reply Thread Link Same. I used to go to the theater all the time (granted my work schedule used to be easier to do that) and I used to rent movies two at a time and get more when I returned them over and over and fly through movies when I had the original mail order netflix. I barely watch them now and I don't know if it's interest or there's just too much and I have option fatigue. Reply Parent Thread Link Okay but can we talk about how he brings absolutely nothing to Silo Reply Thread Link What really doesn't make sense is that studios are spending so much money to make shit-tier movies. It'd be one thing if the market was flooded with absolute garbage but it was cheap to make; that would at least provide some understandable logic. But studios are pumping out shit like Argylle and Borderlands and those two moves together cost almost half a billion dollars to make. The "safe" and "built-in audience" choices aren't even making ant sense any more! Reply Thread Link For some reason, Hollywood refuses to understand that a "built-in audience" only exists when the adaptation actually resembles the original media lol. You can get a few winners with doing whatever you want with and then slapping a famous name on it, but that's only if the result is either independently really fucking cool or builds on the original media in an organic way. Exactly why Steven King adaptations are always a mixed bag imo. Reply Parent Thread Link I still cant believe the kind of money they pumped into shit like the Grey Man and Secret Invasion. Reply Parent Thread Link i blame studios more for not giving a chance to smaller movies, original scripts and new writersrs and instead would rather remake the same movie 18 times with assaulters they cant let go of. Reply Thread Link This on the same weekend that Disney half-asses and screws over animation teams with the tv-revision Moana sequel slop. They needed a hit, they got a hit. Reply Thread Link Also the TCM in the story here is definitely supposed to be TNT. A TNT weekend dad movie was made by Shawshank, an American tradition. Reply Parent Thread Link Argentinas Vaca Muerta shale play reached a new oil production record of 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the third quarter and is on track to hit 1 million bpd by 2030, according to Rystad Energys latest analysis. The 35% year-on-year surge in third-quarter production was driven by improved productivity and expanded takeaway capacity, led by flagship operator Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales (YPF) and bolstered by local independent producers. YPF, which accounted for nearly 55% of Vaca Muertas oil production last quarter, saw its revenue rise 7% quarter-on-quarter and 18% year-on-year to exceed $5.3 billion. Independent producer Vista Energy also played a significant role, with its Bajada del Palo Oeste field contributing over 20% of the oil output growth, followed by YPF-operated Bandurria Sur and Loma Campana-Loma La Lata fields. This growth is also reflected in the increasing number of horizontal wells put on production, which averaged 40 wells per month in the third quarter, up from 33 in the first quarter and 34 in the second. A record 46 new wells were brought online in September alone, of which 39 were in the oil zone and the remainder in the gas zone, underscoring the continued operational efficiency and momentum of Argentinas flagship shale play. To sustain this growth, Argentina is investing heavily in energy infrastructure to address bottlenecks. The $2.5 billion Vaca Muerta Sur pipeline, developed under the Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI), is a cornerstone of these efforts, aiming to expand takeaway capacity and facilitate smoother oil transportation from Vaca Muerta to global markets. In parallel, Argentina has significantly enhanced its transportation network, boosting domestic supply and export potential. For example, the expansion of the Nestor Kirchner pipeline is designed to improve gas movement efficiency, supporting greater self-sufficiency and potential future LNG exports. It cant be overstated how crucial Vaca Muerta is to Argentinas energy independence and efforts to reduce imports. Alongside state-owned players, independent producers have a growing influence in the play, contributing 35% of oil production and 23% of gas production. There is every reason to view Vaca Muerta as a central pillar of Argentinas long-term energy strategy and economic resilience, with a real possibility of reaching the 1 million bpd mark by 2030, says Radhika Bansal, Vice President, Upstream Research, Rystad Energy These production gains align with the broader narrative shaping Argentinas energy sector, including a 23% year-on-year increase in natural gas output in the third quarter. With the end of the southern hemisphere winter and subsequent decline in domestic gas demand, the nation is looking to promising assets like Vaca Muerta as a solution to end reliance on gas imports, mainly from Bolivia, for its northern provinces. The country also aims to monetize its gas reserves in export markets, supported by investment incentives targeting infrastructure and storage projects. Independent producers like Pluspetrol also played a vital role in driving gas production growth last quarter. Alongside fields operated by Tecpetrol and YPF, the Pluspetrol-operated La Calera field jointly accounted for more than 45% of total gas output. YPFs Aguada de La Arena and TotalEnergies Aguada Pichana Este fields followed, contributing 17% and 13% of the total growth, respectively. This upward trend for independent producers is noted for both oil and gas, especially with the latter. As summer approaches in Argentina, local demand for natural gas typically declines, resulting in reduced gas well activity. This seasonal trend was reflected in the third quarter with only 15 gas wells brought online compared to 27 in the previous quarter. Among the key contributors, Pan American and Pluspetrol each commenced production from four wells, while Pampa and TotalEnergies each added three wells to the total. Meanwhile, the operator landscape is changing in the Vaca Muerta, following a flurry of merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in the region. Last month, independent operator Pluspetrol completed a landmark deal to acquire ExxonMobil's assets in the burgeoning shale play after more than a year of negotiations. The acquisition quadruples Pluspetrol's holdings in the basin to approximately 160,000 acres, with the potential to expand further to 215,000 acres if co-owner QatarEnergy chooses to divest. Regardless of QatarEnergys decision, the deal solidifies Pluspetrol's position as a leading player in the Vaca Muerta. By Rystad Energy More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Chinese scientists have uncovered a "supergiant" deposit of high-quality gold ore hidden near some of the country's existing gold mines. The vast reserve, which could be the largest single reservoir of the valuable metal left anywhere on Earth, could end up being the largest known deposit of the precious metal anywhere in the world, and is worth more than $80 billion. As LiveScience reports, the new deposit was uncovered at the Wangu gold field in the northeast of Hunan province, representatives from the Geological Bureau of Hunan Province (GBHP) told Chinese state media on Nov. 20. Workers detected more than 40 gold veins, which contained around 330 tons (300 metric tons) of gold down to a depth of 6,600 feet (2,000 meters). However, using 3D computer models, mining experts have predicted that there could be up to 1,100 tons (1,000 metric tons) of gold roughly eight times heavier than the Statute of Liberty hidden at depths of up to 9,800 feet (3,000 m). If true, the entire deposit is likely worth around 600 billion yuan ($83 billion), GBHP officials said. Researchers drilled down around 6,600 feet below the ground and identified more than 40 veins of gold ore. Officials revealed that the maximum quality of the new deposit was 138 grams of gold per metric ton of ore, which is relatively high compared with most other gold mines around the world. "Many drilled rock cores showed visible gold," Chen Rulin, an ore-prospecting expert with GBHP, told state media. More gold was also found during test drills around the new site's "peripheral areas," suggesting there are more large deposits waiting to be tapped in the future, experts said. It is hard to keep track of the amount of gold left in the various mines across the world due to fluctuations in the rate of extraction at each site and a lack of transparency in reporting results. However, as of 2022, the largest known remaining gold reserves on Earth are found in South Africa's South Deep gold mine, which has around 1,025 tons (930 metric tons) of gold, according to Mining Technology. This means the new deposit could be the largest known natural stockpile of gold on the planet. Mining experts believe that the new deposit contains up to 1,100 tons of gold News of the discovery sent ripples through the mining community and the wider global economy. As LiveScience notes, the price of gold jumped to around $2,700 per ounce - just below a record high set earlier this year - although it is unclear why a surge in gold supply would push the price of gold higher. China is already the biggest producer of gold in the world, accounting for around 10% of global output in 2023, according to Reuters. However, the country still uses more gold than it can produce, consuming around three times as much of the precious metal as it can dig up. As a result, China relies heavily on importing gold from countries like Australia and South Africa. China currently mines around 10% of the world's newly dug up gold every year. The new gold deposit could help alleviate this issue but will not solve the problem completely. Based on current consumption rates, the entire deposit would only supply the country's needs for around 1.4 years. By the end of 2023, an estimated total of 234,332 tons (212,582 metric tons) of gold have been dug up in human history, with more than two-thirds of this being extracted since 1950, according to the World Gold Council. This may seem like a lot. But if you were to melt down all the gold ever mined and put it into a single cube, it would only be around 72 feet (22 m) across, according to the World Gold Council, slightly shorter than the length of a blue whale. By Zerohedge.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Syrian and Russian jets launched airstrikes against opposition forces in northern Syria on Sunday. The move came in response to a sudden rebel offensive that has seized control of Aleppo, the country's second-largest city. The offensive, carried out by opposition fighters led by the Hay'et Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, also captured a strategic military base east of Aleppo and significant portions of Aleppo and Idlib provinces. The rebels' sweeping success marks the most significant challenge to President Bashar al-Assad in eight years, reminiscent of the period before Russian air power shifted the tide of the civil war in his favor. The Syrian government has lost control of Aleppo for the first time since the civil war began. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), four people were killed and 50 injured in airstrikes on the northwestern city of Idlib. Strikes also targeted rural areas of Idlib and Hama, recently seized by the group leading the rebel offensive, SOHR reported. The rebels have advanced south from Aleppo, capturing several towns in the countryside near Hama, Syria's fourth-largest city, SOHR said. The Syrian civil war began in 2011 when President al-Assad responded to pro-democracy protests with a harsh crackdown. Over time, rebel forces fractured into multiple groups, with HTS rising as a dominant faction. Al-Assad relied heavily on support from Russia and Iran to reclaim territory lost during the early stages of the war. The latest offensive has united various rebel factions, representing the remaining opposition groups in Syria, potentially shifting the balance of power in the war-torn nation. During calls with regional leaders on Saturday, Assad said that Syria will continue "to defend its stability and territorial integrity in the face of all terrorists and their supporters." He added that the country was capable "with the help of its allies and friends, of defeating and eliminating them, no matter how intense their terrorist attacks are." Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has denied dumping the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In a statement issued on Sunday by Okorochas Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, on Sunday, the governor said that the pictorial image being circulated on the social media, depicting his discussions with some Officials of the PDP, to join the party, is not true. Okorocha urged the public to disregard such picture, accusing his political detractors as being behind such postings, clarifying that the picture in question was taken long ago. He said: This photograph is as old as the APC government, in 2015. But those who were declared winner of the Governorship election in lmo, with votes from the three Local Councils of Mbaise, have been making fruitless efforts to blackmail Governor Rochas Okorocha, to see if that could help them go free with their Electoral fraud. They posted this picture on social media, with badly written statement and falsely claiming that the Governor was in a PDP meeting today. Okorocha added: I am optimistic that any stolen mandate will be retrieved at the appropriate time The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) yesterday said senators and members of the House of Representatives who failed to execute constituency projects will be prosecuted. Also, all companies engaged for the failed or abandoned projects will face trial. But the commission, however, opposed to plea bargain by corrupt elements because the nations laws allow it. Over N1trillion has been released by the Federal Government for constituency projects since 1999. The funds include the N200 billion by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2017. More than 2,345 senators and representatives have benefitted from constituency projects since 1999. About 37 per cent to 40 per cent of the projects have either been completed or ongoing in the last 20 years. Many senators and representatives were found to have diverted the funds, using their personal companies. Some abandoned the projects. Of the 2,516 projects tracked by BudgIT Nigeria between 2015 and 2017, 918 were not done, 395 are ongoing and 214 cannot be located. The Chairman of ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, yesterday said the anti-graft commission had demanded a list of all constituency projects and presented budgets to make senators and representatives account for the funds they got. Owasanoye, who spoke at the launch of Constituency Projects Tracking Group (CPTG), said ICPC will also publish the names of those behind the project failures. The tracking will cover outgoing senators and Representatives in the 8th National Assembly. He said ICPC was collaborating with the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) to evaluate whether or not the projects executed were commensurate with the budgetary allocations. The ICPC chairman said: We are mindful of the fact that this is a Herculean task as constituency projects dot the entire landscape but we will overcome the challenges one way or another. Where contractors and or politically-exposed persons have diverted funds for projects, we will pursue them to either complete the projects as initiated, return the funds or face prosecution. Affected companies and their directors will also be prosecuted. We also hope to publish the names of those behind the project failures for possible social sanctions in their communities. Owasanoye regretted that constituency projects had been turned into avenues of corruption. He added: Constituency projects are intended for developmental projects, such as provision of water, rural electrification, rural clinics, schools, community centres and bursary for indigent students. In the light of annual budgetary allocations to constituency projects and based on actual releases by the government, it is firmly believed that the impact of constituency projects on the lives of ordinary Nigerians ought to be more visible. Regrettably, available statistics from open sources paint a bleak picture of the level of performance or delivery of constituency projects. Over the years, constituency projects have become enmeshed in controversy among non-state actors, the promoters of the projects and the communities that are supposed to benefit from the projects. The concern is that in Nigeria, rather than address the needs of constituents; many constituency projects have become avenues of corruption. Owasanoye gave some three-year statistics which revealed how senators and Representatives have paid lip service to constituency projects. He said: The level of implementation of constituency projects in 16 focus states for 2015 is revealing. Out of 436 constituency projects for the year that were tracked, 145 were completed, 77 ongoing while 211 were not executed at all. For 2016, out of a total of 852 constituency projects in 20 states in the 2016 Budget that were tracked, 350 were completed, 118 were ongoing, 41 locations not specified in the budget and 343 not done or performed. In 2017, a total of 1,228 constituency projects in the budget were tracked for performance as at June 2018. Out of these, 478 were completed, 173 in unspecified location, 200 ongoing, 13 abandoned and 364 not started. The level of performance of constituency projects is therefore disputable. The ICPC chairman unfolded plans to collaborate with the media and Civil Society Organisations to fight corruption. But he warned against reckless whistleblowing and declared that the commission will deal with anyone who misleads it. He said: We hope to have a robust relationship with the media and civil society. Not just in Constituency Project Monitoring and role of CSOs and media as partners in giving credible intelligence and evidence of corruption rather than generalised accusations or allegations of wrongdoing but specifics that help to make investigation seamless. We also want to caution CSOs to avoid misleading ICPC with intelligence that have no foundation in the name of whistleblowing. We have had one or two experiences of reckless and irresponsible allegations of wrongdoing against prominent citizens provided by CSOs. But for the cautious approach of the commission, the outcomes would have been embarrassing. We want to say loud and clear that there will be dire consequences in accordance with the law for anyone that misleads the commission. The Federal High Court in Yenagoa, has issued a warrant mandating the arrest of four staff of United Bank for Africa PLC (UBA) charged with alleged cybercrime, fraud and diversion of N33.69 million. Justice Abimbola Awogboro made the order following failure of the suspects to appear in court on Thursday to respond to charges in a suit with file number: FHC/YNG/10c/2019. According to the charge sheet, the four suspects allegedly manipulated the account of the Federal High Court in Yenegoa by reversing a deposit ordered by the court without authorisation. The judge held that the warrant of arrest was an order that gave the Inspector-General of Police the legal impetus to arrest and present the suspects in court on March 30. Mr. N.A. Timothy-Hart, the Prosecuting Counsel, from the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP), Federal Ministry of Justice had filed the motion for the warrant of arrest order on the suspects. ALSO READ: FIRS tightens noose on deduction of stamp duty, CIT, others The four staff members are standing trial on a four-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, fraud and cybercrime. The suspects allegedly caused the fraudulent reversal of N33.69 million already credited to the bank account of the Registrar of the Federal High Court, Yenagoa. The court had ordered Nigerian Agip Oil Company to pay N33.69 million being compensation for an oil spill incident but the bankers to the oil firm UBA allegedly reversed the payment shortly after compliance. According to the charge, the suspects claimed to have relied on a non-existing Court of Appeal order to effect such reversal. President Buhari and Bagudu Despite attempts by the Muhammadu Buhari administration to deny the transfer of $110 million stolen from Nigerias treasury by late military tyrant, Sani Abacha, to Mr Abachas most profligate money launderer and current governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Bagudu, United States court papers obtained by PREMIUM TIMES show that the administration signed two agreements with Mr Bagudu that effectively sealed the transfer of the money to the governor. Mr Bagudu is a close friend of President Muhammadu Buhari as well as a top member of the ruling All Progressives Congress. The court documents also reveal that the Buhari administration is vigorously challenging a move by the United States government to further question Ibrahim Bagudu, the governors elder brother in relation to the laundered fund. The administration is also fighting to thwart Americas effort to remove the confidential classification of the agreements, which would make available for public scrutiny as well as being presented as evidence in court. The court papers further rubbish the claim by Mr Bagudu that he had done nothing wrong and that the United States government was merely trying to use him as an excuse to confiscate the recovery of the money by the Nigeria government. One of the agreements, signed on October 26, 2018, was an amendment of a 2003 agreement signed between the Bagudu family and the Nigerian government to settle all of Mr Bagudus civil claim against Nigeria and all of Nigerias civil claim, administrative, and criminal claims against Mr Bagudu for helping Mr Abacha to launder the funds. The other agreement, signed on September 6, 2019, was a Deed of Variation, which amended the 2018 agreement by extending its termination date from August 30, 2019 to February 28, 2020. The document counters the misleading explanations given by the Office of Nigerias Attorney General and supporters of Mr Bagudu and the Nigerian government. After Bloomberg broke the news that the U.S. government was resisting a plan by the Nigerian government to transfer over $110 million to Mr Bagudu from money stolen from Nigerian treasury by the late dictator, Abubakar Malami, Nigerias Attorney General, denied that there was any such agreement between the government and Mr Bagudu. Mr Malami on Friday released a statement that apparently sought to obfuscate the governments agreement to pay Mr Bagudu $110 million with a different portion of the Abacha loot recently repatriated to Nigeria from the Island of Jersey. It is pertinent to recall at this juncture that prior to the 2020 agreement with the United States and the Island of Jersey, the Federal Government has signed an agreement for the return of over $300m in 2017 which was effectively deployed for the purpose for which it was agreed to be applied without any issue of reputation, his office said. The FG is also negotiating the recovery of assets from several countries and the agreements for the recovery and the procedure for recovery are always presented to Federal Executive Council for approval and duly made public once the processes have been concluded. No third-party interest was captured in the memo that was approved by the council. What Mr Malami did not reveal was that the Buhari administration had actually agreed to transfer $110 million from another portion of the Abacha loot laundered by Mr Bagudu and kept in a trust held in the United Kingdom. The decision to pay Mr Bagudu $110 million was taken following an amendment of a 2003 settlement agreement between the Federal Government and the Kebbi State governor. That amendment took place in 2018. 2003 Settlement Agreement In 2003, the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo entered into an agreement with Mr Bagudu, which allowed the repatriation of $163 million to Nigeria. In exchange, Nigeria renounced any interest whatsoever in Mr Bagudus other assets which include funds domiciled in Blue Holding trusts held in the United Kingdom as well as any future plan to prosecute him for laundering the stolen funds on behalf of Mr Abacha. Funds held in Blue Holdings trusts are believed to be part of Nigerias commonwealth Mr Bagudu laundered for Mr Abacha. The contested funds are different from the $300 million Abacha loot recently repatriated to Nigeria after a tripartite agreement between Nigeria, Jersey and the United States, although it was repatriated from the accounts of one of Mr Bagudus money laundering vehicles, Doraville properties domiciled at Deutsche Bank in Jersey. In 2012, the Goodluck Jonathan administration requested the help of the U.S. in reclaiming governments assets part of which are believed to be held in Blue holding trusts. Mr Bagudu immediately responded to the request by filing a claim of a breach of agreement in a UK court. Immediately Mr Badugu filed the claim, Nigeria withdrew its request for the U.S. to help it retrieve government funds and subsequently declined repeated calls to assist the U.S. since then. However, the U.S. did not stop pursuing the forfeiture of the assets. Despite Nigerias withdrawal of its request for U.S. assistance to retrieve its funds held in Blue Holding companies and its refusal to subsequently assist the U.S. in the forfeiture of the funds, Mr Bagudu obtained a breach of agreement judgement against Nigeria from the UK court. Nigeria claimed that the judgement exposed Nigeria to the payment of an amount equivalent to any amount as may be forfeited to the United States. Buhari govts plan to transfer $110 million to Bagudu The Buhari administration did not appeal the judgement obtained by Mr Bagudu from the UK court. Instead, it quickly devised a plan, using the 2018 agreement, to transfer $110 million to Mr Bagudu and his brother, Ibrahim. According to the 2018 amendment, which is aimed at preventing the U.S. from assessing the funds held in Blue Holding, Nigeria is the legal owner of the relevant trust assets. This effectively transfers the ownership of the funds held in Blue Holding companies from Mr Bagudu to Nigeria. The 2018 Amended Agreement also stated that parties will use all reasonable endeavours to obtain a variation of the UK courts prohibition order in order for the assets which is worth 141 million ($157.5 million), to be transferred to Nigeria, which effectively clears Nigeria of any liability of the breach of the 2003 Settlement Agreement. The 2018 Amendment then stated that having received the money, Nigeria will then send 98.5 million ($110 million) to an account identified by the trustees of Blue Family Trust, owned by the Bagudu family, thus allowing Mr Bagudu and his affiliates to have peaceful enjoyment of the money. The parties (Nigeria and Mr Bagudu) to the 2018 Amended Agreement argued that the payment of the money would satisfy Mr Bagudus default judgement against Nigeria for breaching the 2003 Settlement Agreement. But the U.S. argued that the 2018 Agreement, which was reached just seven weeks after the court had forfeited another Abacha loot related fund held by the Bagudu in another trust, serves to conceal the forfeited and remaining assets out of the United Kingdom and away from the courts judgement and the arrest warrant placed on the assets. It further described the 2018 Agreement as scheme designed to wrest control of the proceeds of corruption away from the U.S and U.K courts, so that $110 million can be secreted into the hands of one of the primary architects (Mr Bagudu) of the kleptocracy scheme. The U.S. Court also ruled that by signing the 2018 agreement with the Nigerian government, Mr Bagudu cannot continue to lay claim to a breach of the 2003 settlement agreement as the ownership of the funds in the trust no longer belonged to him, but to Nigeria. Surely it is relevant that the settlement agreement has been amended to declare just the opposite that Nigeria owns the assets, the court said. The court papers thus revealed that Mr Malami was being economical with the truth when he claimed that Mr Bagudu was pursuing separate cases in court in the United State and the United Kingdom to assert his right in connection to the Abacha loot, without stating the active role played by the Buhari administration in assisting Mr Bagudu to reclaim the funds which are part of the money he laundered for Mr Abacha. The court papers also discredit Mr Bagudus denial of any wrongdoing and that the U.S. was merely using him as an excuse to confiscate recovery of the money by the Nigerian government as 70 per cent of the said fund would eventually be transferred to him for his peaceful enjoyment, as the agreement stated. Nigeria chose secrecy over transparency The court papers also exposed the Buhari administration double standards in its commitment to the repatriation of the Abacha loots. Mr Malami has repeatedly and publicly pledged Nigerias cooperation with the U.S. and other international partners as well as its commitment to transparency in the repatriation of Abacha loot. However, court documents in our possession revealed that Nigeria filed an interested party application on February 3, 2020, challenging a ruling of a U.S. District Court obtained by the U.S. government to unseal the confidential 2018 agreement. In the application which demanded the court to reconsider its decision to unseal the 2018 Agreement, Nigeria through its counsel, Anthony Egbase, argued that unsealing the agreement without reference to the 2003 agreement paints an incomplete and misleading picture and subjects Nigeria to unwarranted prejudice. The U.S., however, argued that if Nigeria was concerned that the unsealing of the document would paint a misleading picture, it should simply unseal additional documents to correct or supplement the record. Nigeria also argued that U.S. court had erred in its December 23, 2019 ruling in concluding that there is a need for public access to the documents because it deals with a case that has international significance as the funds were laundered internationally. Mr Egbase argued that the documents are sovereign acts of Nigeria predicated on its official policy on Voluntary Asset Recovery Scheme issued under Presidential Executive Order 008. But PREMIUM TIMES analysis of the Executive Order 008, which was signed by President Buhari on October 8, 2018, shows that it exclusively deals with tax-related issues. The order grants immunity to Nigerians in default in payment of tax on offshore assets as long as they voluntarily declare their offshore assets in exchange for a one-time levy of 35 per cent on the assets domiciled offshore. The contentious assets are proceeds of what the U.S. believes to criminal activity (money laundering) and not legitimate assets owned offshore. Curiously, the Buhari administration also challenged the ruling of the same court for Ibrahim Bagudu to be further deposed by a U.S. prosecutor in relation to the contested funds in Blue Holding. Nigeria argued that given that the instant civil asset forfeiture implicates the 2003 Agreement, Nigeria cannot provide further assistance to the United States without subjecting itself to renewed liability for breach of the 2003 Agreement. Accordingly, Nigeria has, through its Attorney General, repeatedly advised the United States of its inability to provide discovery assistance with respect to forfeiture of the Blue Holdings assets. Additionally, Nigeria has repeatedly notified the United States of the impropriety, under Nigerian law, of a foreign sovereign making unilateral contact with any agency of the Nigerian government or citizens of Nigeria on criminal matters or taking witness depositions without recourse to or approval of the Nigerian Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Egbase argued. But the U.S. argued that Nigeria has lost its right to challenge the ruling of the U.S. court because it was notified and given ample time to respond but chose not to until after the ruling was given. It also said that Nigerias argument that it could not respond to the application before a ruling was given because the document needed interagency review which took time, was nonsensical. Lawyers to the U.S. government said Nigeria could have applied to the court for an extension of the deadline to respond while waiting for the interagency reviewed to be done, but it did not. Multiple attempts by PREMIUM TIMES to get the presidency to formally comment has been fruitless. The best that has so far come from the presidency has been an unsigned comment by an official who refused to be named. The official also tried to shift the blame of the transfer of the $110 million to Obasanjo administration. Yes, there is a $100 million yet to be resolved which the Obasanjo administration ceded to Senator Abubakar Bagudu, an agreement that is being litigated because the US government itself does not recognize that Obasanjo-Bagudu settlement, the official claimed. Nigerias army has stopped the work of international NGO Action Against Hunger accusing it of supplying a militant Islamist group with food and drugs. The army said it had warned the NGO against aiding and abetting Boko Haram in north-east Nigeria. Action Against Hunger, which denies the accusations, says its life-saving assistance to vulnerable people has now been put into jeopardy. Boko Harams 10-year campaign of terror has left more than 30,000 people dead. More than two million people have also been displaced. A network of NGOs is assisting the government in helping those who have been forced from their homes. This is the first time the military has explicitly named an aid organisation it accuses of sabotaging the armys counter-terrorism operations in the region, reports the BBCs Chris Ewokor. In a statement, Action Against Hunger said it delivers neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian aid to millions of people in Borno state by providing basic services to the most vulnerable people, especially women and children. It said it had been told by soldiers without any notice to close its office in the capital of Borno state, Maiduguri. In July, the Paris-based charity said six of its aid workers had been kidnapped in Nigeria. The six abductees appeared on a video, with one of them calling on the Nigerian government and international community to intervene. Their whereabouts are still unknown. No group has said it was behind the kidnapping. In 2015, Boko Haram seized control of much of Borno state, and spread its activities to neighbouring countries. A counter-insurgency by the army led to much of that territory being recaptured. But the militants have come to rely more on suicide bombings and kidnappings in recent years. One of its most notorious attacks was on a school in Chibok, north-east Nigeria, when 276 schoolgirls were kidnapped. Many of them have been freed, but the whereabouts of more than 100 are still unknown. Since 2013, Boko Haram are thought to have kidnapped more than 1,000 people. President-elect Donald Trump announced he will appoint Massad Boulos, his daughter Tiffany's father-in-law, as Senior Advisor to the President for Arab and Middle Eastern Affairs. Trump shared the news Sunday on his Truth Social account. "Massad is an accomplished lawyer and a highly respected leader in the business world, with extensive experience on the International scene," the 78-year-old wrote. "He has been a longtime proponent of Republican and Conservative values, an asset to my Campaign, and was instrumental in building tremendous new coalitions with the Arab American Community," he went in to add. "Massad is a dealmaker, and an unwavering supporter of PEACE in the Middle East. He will be a strong advocate for the United States, and its interests, and I am pleased to have him on our team!" Boulos, a Lebanon-born businessman, heads Nigeria-based Boulos Enterprises, a company specializing in the production and distribution of mechanical equipment and motorcycles. His son, Michael Boulos, married Tiffany, Donald Trump's youngest daughter, in 2022. Massad Boulos' Net Worth and Political Influence According to some reports, Massad Boulos has an estimated net worth of $10 billion. Born in Lebanon, Massad Boulos moved to Texas as a teenager, where he attended the University of Houston and later earned a law degree. After completing his education, he returned to his family's business, eventually becoming the CEO of SCOA Nigeria, a billion-dollar conglomerate specializing in the distribution of motor vehicles and equipment throughout West Africa. Massad Boulos is well-acquainted with the political landscape, having run for a parliamentary seat in Lebanon in 2009. He is reported to maintain ties with prominent Lebanese figures, including Christian politician Sleiman Frangieh, a known ally of Hezbollah. Boulos has concentrated his political efforts on engaging Arab American voters, particularly those critical of the Biden-Harris administration's stance on Israel's actions in Gaza and the conflict in Lebanon. Protests and vocal opposition in key states like Michigan highlighted this discontent, which analysts suggest played a significant role in Kamala Harris losing Michigan, a crucial swing state. 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 If you visit a commercial mining operation anywhere in the world today, some sights and soundsworkers descending in elevators to underground shafts, the roar of truck engineswill be much the same as they have been for decades. But, like many other industries, mining is changing. Digital mining involves the use of digital technologies to make mining operations more efficient, safer, and sustainable. This industry emerged about a decade ago and has developed quickly over the past few years. This uptick is the result of recent advances in sensor technology, data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI), including machine learning. However, while technology improves, old problems persist. Large-scale mining causes massive deforestation in regions like the Amazon. It also threatens and displaces communities, as in the case of Brazil's Xikrin and Kayapo people. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the mining of cobalt, copper and coltan (all crucial for modern technology) contaminates local water supplies and puts workersincluding childrenin danger. Is it time to make mining obsolete? This is not a realistic solution, at least not in the near future. Many modern technologies, like smartphones, electric vehicles, solar panels and wind turbines, depend on minerals extracted through mining. The global move towards renewable energy and low-carbon technologies means demand for minerals like lithium and cobalt is rising. So, while mining has environmental costs, it's also critical in the shift to a greener economy. And mining is economically important in many parts of the world. In African countries it supports millions of jobs and contributes significantly to GDP. This is why sustainable mining is crucial. I am a professor of information systems. I investigate the complex interactions between technology, people and organizations in achieving sustainability goals. In a recent paper with a co-author, I examined how digital technologies could help mining operations to balance economic objectives with environmental and social sustainability. The findings make it clear that digital technologies can transform mining practices and achieve sustainability goals at the same time. Economic outcomes Our paper took the form of a case study. We interviewed professionals from a leading digital mining solutions company. It has operations in South Africa, Australia, Brazil, Chile and the United States. The interviewees were engineers, senior managers and executives. They offered a glimpse into how their large-scale mining clients were using digital technologies like automated haul trucks and collision avoidance systems. We wanted to know how their clients saw the role of digital technology in balancing business and other goals. They outlined some successful cases and others where companies were struggling to align all their aims. It was clear that the company and its clients recognized the importance of safety and environmental issues in their work. But they saw these issues through the lens of business sustainability. For instance, while some mining companies pursued safety improvements, they did it primarily to boost productivity and bring down costs. One interviewee gave the example of collision avoidance systems. Companies valued these because they reduced downtime and improved productivity. They focused on immediate business needs. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. A balancing act It's time for mining companies that are serious about sustainability to shift their focus. Rather than simply looking to make immediate profits, they need to consider environmental and social impactsand the role digital technology can play. As a simple example, AI can predict when machinery is likely to fail. This allows companies to carry out timely maintenance. Equipment lifespan is extended. Downtime and repair costs are reduced. And worker safety is improved because there are fewer unexpected breakdowns. This is the kind of sustainable approach, underpinned by digital technology, that can help mining companies tick all the right boxes. Mining leaders must not exclude employees and stakeholders when considering these issues. Environmental advocates have a role to play, too: companies must work with these groups and with local communities. A shared understanding of how digital technologies can meet both financial and sustainability targets is key. Mining companies are more likely to change if there are clear financial benefits or penalties tied to sustainability. Governments can help by introducing stricter environmental regulations and offering incentives to adopt sustainable digital technologies. In South Africa, for instance, there are tax incentives and subsidies to encourage the use of renewable energy in mining. These measures, expanded recently in response to the country's energy crisis, have sparked significant investment in solar power. When paired with digital monitoring systems, renewable energy solutions can enhance efficiency by optimizing energy consumption and reducing carbon emissions. Technologies like AI-driven energy management systems can help mines integrate renewable sources with less energy wastage. Thus, tax breaks or subsidies for digital solutions that support green energy adoption could motivate companies to embrace greener and more tech-driven mining practices. Consumers and investors, meanwhile, should invest in those mining companies that demonstrate responsible practices. Ethical investment funds need to support companies with strong environmental, social, and governance credentials. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay from Pexels The government has announced a new plan to help improve schools: Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE) teams. Rather than directly intervening in schools, RISE teamsmade up of civil servants and experienced advisorswill act as matchmakers, connecting schools that require help with local successful schools and other sources of support. The plan splits England into nine regions, with a team with its own priorities for each. The teams will operate with a new framework of support and intervention, using a red, amber and green rating system based on the results of Ofsted inspections to determine which schools need help. However, this won't exist until September 2025. The new RISE teams will form part of England's longstanding model of a self-improving system. Schools primarily take responsibility for their own development and that of others. They could help to create a more coordinated approach to making schools better. But they may also complicate an already complex system devoted to school improvement. Existing support A number of mechanisms to raise school standards already exist. Chief among them are multi-academy trusts (MATs). These are groups of academiesstate schools that receive funding direct from the government rather than their local authoritythat work together under a single leadership that is intended to drive improvement through shared expertise. Alongside MATs are standalone academies that can choose to buy in school-improvement services. And there are still local authority schools, traditionally supported by council improvement teams. Since 2010, government policy has positioned multi-academy trusts as the primary driver of school improvement. The Conservative government's 2022 Schools White Paper set out an ambition for all schools to be part of strong trusts by 2030. Multi-academy trusts have become central to England's self-improving school system, creating "families" of schools that collaborate and support each other's development. However, evidence on their effectiveness remains mixed, with variation in outcomes between trusts. Meanwhile, the ability of local authorities to help schools improve has been severely diminished by budget constraints and the transfer of schools out of their control and into academy trusts. Kent County Council, England's largest local authority, recently announced it can no longer afford to provide school improvement services, requiring schools to pay for themselves. This pattern is repeated across the country, with many councils having reduced or eliminated their in-house improvement teams as funding has been cut and schools have converted to academies. The introduction of RISE teams marks a significant shift from the Conservative government's MAT-focused approach to school improvement. RISE teams will need to broker improvement support by identifying and matching effective partners with struggling schools. Historically, local authorities possessed both the expertise and local knowledge to facilitate such partnerships. Without this infrastructure, RISE teams may struggle to identify suitable support providers. Nevertheless, the creation of RISE teams could be especially helpful for headteachers looking for targeted supportparticularly for local authority schools, or standalone academies operating without a trust's backing. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Possible tensions Currently, struggling schools are encouraged or required to join MATs for support. Introducing RISE teams will potentially create tension between the established MAT-led improvement model and this new layer of regional support. A centralized mechanism of support and intervention seem to be a continued pattern: a significant level of centralization might contradict the academization policy intention. This also raises important questions about school autonomy. RISE teams are presented as facilitators rather than enforcers. But school leaders may view their involvement as another form of monitoring rather than genuine supportparticularly if improvements aren't deemed swift enough. The plan also seems to assume an adequate supply of experienced system leaders who can be seconded, but with the sector already struggling to recruit and retain staff, finding sufficient expertise could prove challenging. The thorny question of money is also critical. The government has promised funding for targeted support, but details remain fuzzy. The RISE teams' gradual rollout provides time to address these issues. The focus on commissioning rather than providing support directly should allow them to tap into existing expertise across the system. The regional structure allows for locally sensitive solutions. However, their success will depend on clear processes for identifying and quality assuring support providers. They will also need sustainable funding, and effective integration with existing improvement networksparticularly MATs. With careful implementation, RISE teams could help create a more coordinated approach to school improvement, but only if they enhance rather than complicate the already complex system. Avoiding the creation of another layer of bureaucracy while ensuring sustained funding and expert support will be crucial to their success. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. For nearly three years, hundreds of Harris County jail inmates have been sent to out-of-state facilities, as part of an effort to keep the local jail population down and in compliance with state rules. The program helped Harris County reduce its staff-to-prisoner ratios. In September, the jail was declared in compliance with state guidelines by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. Being in compliance, however, has not ended the county's use of facilities in Louisiana and Mississippi. The county's contracts with the private companies that own the out-of-state facilities end in 2025, and are able to be extended As of Nov. 28, there were 831 people outsourced to out-of-county facilities, according to the sheriff's office. The number of outsourced prisoners has decreased in recent months. The trend follows a decrease in the overall jail population, which peaked in 2022. Here's what to know about the facilities where local people are currently being kept: Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility in northwest Mississippi. The facility is one of three out-of-state facilities being use to Hold Harris County inmates Courtesy/Google Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility The Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility in northwest Mississippi is the most distant of the three out-of-state facilities being used to house Harris County inmates. The facility is about 500 miles northeast of Harris County. The Tallachatchie facility is run by CoreCivic. a private prison company that runs about 65 facilities around the country. The Tallahatchie facility can house as many as 2,672 inmates. Along with Harris County prisoners, the facility also holds inmates from Montana, Wyoming and Hinds County, Mississippi. The Harris County Commissioners Court in June renewed its contract with CoreCivic through November 2025 at a cost of $11.4 million. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Lasalle Correctional Center in Olla, Louisiana. The center is one of three out of state facilities being used to hold Harris County inmates Courtesy/Google LaSalle Correctional Center The LaSalle Correctional Center in Olla, Louisiana, is about 290 miles northeast of Harris County. The facility holds up to 755 inmates. The Olla facility is one of 18 private prisons in three states operated by LaSalle Corrections. The LaSalle facility in particular has drawn scrutiny from prisoners rights advocates and agencies tasked with overseeing Texas jail operations. In April, Jaleen Anderson, a Harris County prisoner, died after being transported to the Louisiana. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Anderson's death has prompted some advocates, including his mother, to call for the county to stop sending prisoners out of state, where rules about prisoner care are less strict than in Texas. One member of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards has questioned has raised concerns about Texas jailers' ability to oversee the outsource facilities. Another Harris County inmate, Billie Davis, died in the facility in 2002. The county first entered into its current contract in 2023, and has amended it three times, according to commissioners court records. Since 2022, the county has approved more than $69 million in contracts with LaSalle. The entrance to the Natchitoches Parish Correctional Center in Natchitoches, Louisiana. The center is one of three out of state facilities being used to hold Harris County inmates Courtesy/Google Natchitoches Parish Detention Center Harris County began sending to prisoners to northwest Louisiana's Natchitoches Parish Detention Center this month after another jail used for outsourcing, the Dalby Correctional Facility in Garza County, closed its doors. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Natchitoches center holds up to 569 inmates and is about 230 miles northeast of Harris County. In September, management of the jail was taken over by LaSalle. In a news release, officials said hiring the private company would allow for upgrades to the jail, including 24-hour medical care. The contract would also fill unused space. When the contract was signed in September, the Natchitoches facility was using one-third of its capacity, officials said. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: An aerial view shows a research team standing alongside the fossil footprint trackway at the excavation site on the eastern side of Lake Turkana in northern Kenya, 2022. Credit: Louise Leakey via AP Muddy footprints left on a Kenyan lakeside suggest two of our early human ancestors were nearby neighbors some 1.5 million years ago. The footprints were left in the mud by two different species "within a matter of hours, or at most days," said paleontologist Louise Leakey, co-author of the research published Thursday in the journal Science. Scientists previously knew from fossil remains that these two extinct branches of the human evolutionary treecalled Homo erectus and Paranthropus boiseilived about the same time in the Turkana Basin. But dating fossils is not exact. "It's plus or minus a few thousand years," said paleontologist William Harcourt-Smith of Lehman College and the American Museum of Natural History in New York, who was not involved in the study. Yet with fossil footprints, "there's an actual moment in time preserved," he said. "It's an amazing discovery." The tracks of fossil footprints were uncovered in 2021 in what is today Koobi Fora, Kenya, said Leaky, who is based at New York's Stony Brook University. Whether the two individuals passed by the eastern side of Lake Turkana at the same timeor a day or two apartthey likely knew of each other's existence, said study co-author Kevin Hatala, a paleoanthropologist at Chatham University in Pittsburgh. Scientists study fossil footprints for clues about co-existing species of early human ancestors at the excavation site on the eastern side of Lake Turkana in northern Kenya, in 2022. Credit: Neil Thomas Roach via AP "They probably saw each other, probably knew each other was there and probably influenced each other in some way," he said. Scientists were able to distinguish between the two species because of the shape of the footprints, which holds clues to the anatomy of the foot and how it's being used. H. erectus appeared to be walking similar to how modern humans walkstriking the ground heel first, then rolling weight over the ball of the foot and toes and pushing off again. The other species, which was also walking upright, was moving "in a different way from anything else we've seen before, anywhere else," said co-author Erin Marie Williams-Hatala, a human evolutionary anatomist at Chatham. Among other details, the footprints suggest more mobility in their big toe, compared to H. erectus or modern humans, said Hatala. Our common primate ancestors probably had hands and feet adapted for grasping branches, but over time the feet of human ancestors evolved to enable walking upright, researchers say. Scientists study fossil footprints for clues about co-existing species of early human ancestors at the excavation site on the eastern side of Lake Turkana in northern Kenya, in 2022. Credit: Neil Thomas Roach via AP The new study adds to a growing body of research that implies this transformation to bipedalismwalking on two feetdidn't happen at a single moment, in a single way. Rather, there may have been a variety of ways that early humans learned to walk, run, stumble and slide on prehistoric muddy slopes. "It turns out, there are different gait mechanicsdifferent ways of being bipedal," said Harcourt-Smith. More information: Kevin G. Hatala, Footprint evidence for locomotor diversity and shared habitats among early Pleistocene hominins, Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.ado5275. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ado5275 William E. H. Harcourt-Smith, Contemporary hominin locomotor diversity, Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.adt8033 , doi.org/10.1126/science.adt8033 Journal information: Science 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. 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: Dozens of countries say they want an ambitious treaty that would set targets to limit plastic production. Delegates seeking the world's first deal to curb plastic pollution began openly advocating for an extension of talks on Sunday, accusing a handful of nations of obstructing an ambitious agreement. Nearly 200 nations are in South Korea's Busan for negotiations that are supposed to result in a landmark accord after two years of discussions. But a week of talks has failed to resolve deep divisions between "high-ambition" countries seeking a globally binding agreement to limit production and phase out harmful chemicals, and "like-minded" nations who want to focus on waste. A new draft text, released Sunday afternoon after multiple delays, still includes a wide range of options, making clear the ongoing level of disagreement. German delegate Sebastian Unger told AFP he was "disappointed about lack of progress." The "text should be preserved to continue negotiations and bring (the) process forward at (a) future meeting." The prospect of an "INC 5.2" meeting to follow the INC5 talks in Busan was also raised by Senegal's Cheikh Sylla. "If you ask me... we stop, we adapt the paper as it is and we try to do another session," he told AFP. That would offer time "to bring the positions closer together, and at this session 5.2, we can reach an agreement that is balanced". The calls reflect a sense that there is simply too little time left to overcome the opposition from mainly oil-producing nations such as Saudi Arabia and Russia, who have repeatedly refused to comment when approached by AFP. 'Break free' A French minister at the talks accused the like-minded group of "continuing obstruction," while Rwandan delegate Juliet Kabera said a "small number" of countries "remain unsupportive of the measures necessary to drive real change." "We still have a few hours left in these negotiations, there is time to find common ground, but Rwanda cannot accept a toothless treaty," said Kabera. Portuguese delegate Maria Joao Teixeira also said another round of talks might be the best option for a meaningful deal. "We are really trying to not have a weak treaty," she told AFP. Environmental groups have pushed ambitious countries to call a vote if progress stalls, and said another round of negotiations was unnecessary. "We know what we need to do to end plastic pollution... simply adding more meetings is not the solution," said Eirik Lindebjerg, global plastics policy lead at WWF. "For a strong enough agreement to ever happen, countries must break free from arbitrary habits and be ready to vote or adopt a treaty among the willing," he told AFP. But observers caution that calling a vote risks alienating even some countries in favor of a strong treaty. Another option would be for the diplomat chairing the talks to simply gavel through an agreement over the objections of a handful of holdouts, they said. That too holds risks, potentially embittering the remaining diplomatic process and jeopardizing an adoption of a treaty down the road. 'Step up or get out' Mexico's head of delegation Camila Zepeda said she did not favor calling a vote. "We have hope in consensus. The multilateral process is slow, but there is a possibility of having critical mass to move forward," she told AFP. Over 100 countries now support setting a target for production cuts, and dozens also back phasing out some chemicals and unnecessary plastic products. Left unclear is the position of the world's top two plastics producers, China and the United States. Both were notably absent from the stage at a Sunday press conference by countries urging a strong treaty. "They are still considering and we are hopeful that there will be some interest on their part," said Mexico's Zepeda. "This coalition of the willing is an open invitation. And so it's not like it's them against us." Panama's Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez meanwhile told colleagues that "history will not forgive us" for leaving Busan without an ambitious treaty. "This is the time to step up or get out." 2024 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Burning straw stubble, a common but illegal practice in India, sends acrid smoke drifting over the country's densely populated north. Blazing flames light the sky as Indian farmer Ali Sher burns his fields to clear them for new crops, a common but illegal practice that is fueling deadly pollution killing millions. Burning strips the fertility of fields, has a ruinous impact on India's economy and sends plumes of acrid smoke packed with dangerous cancer-causing particles drifting over a densely-populated belt of northern India, including capital New Delhi's 30 million people. But it is cheapfor farmers at leastto carry out. Small-scale growers like Sher with less than two hectares (five acres) of landwho make up 86 percent of Indian farms, according to the World Economic Forumsay alternatives to burning simply do not allow them to make the profit they need to survive. The 55-year-old farmer is just one of the many thousands who torch the stubble left after their rice harvest to prepare the fields to plant a winter crop of wheat. "I am scared of the authorities finding out, but I can't help it," said Sher, from Haryana's Jind district, as black plumes rose from his fields some 115 kilometers (70 miles) from the capital. He faces a hefty fine and loss of critical government farming subsidies if caught. But he said that burning provided the only way to clear the land in time to ensure wheat seeds are planted in the narrow weather window. One study has shown air pollution drives annual losses of $95 billion, about three percent of India's GDP. "If I don't plant the wheat now, it will be too late," he said. Several studies indicate that farm fires turn the air in Delhia city already choked by too many polluting vehicles and regularly ranked as the worst capital city in the world for air quality - even more lethal. Toxic smog Those fires form a key part of the toxic smog impacting the health of millions, which, along with vehicle and factory emissions, create choking air that surges to more than 50 times the World Health Organization recommended limit of hazardous PM2.5 pollutants. A study in The Lancet medical journal attributed 1.67 million premature deaths in India to air pollution in 2019. India's federal government has pumped in millions of dollars of subsidies to encourage modern machinery to stop the burning. That includes baling machines that gather the straw into blocks, as well as combined plowing and planting tools, which return the stubble back into the soil while sowing the next crop. A worker loads a tractor with paddy straw bales as smoke rises from smoldering leftover stubble. It makes economic sense on paper for the longterm, but the wider cost of burning is vast. One study by global consultancy firm Dalberg estimates air pollution overall drives losses to the tune of $95 billion annually, or roughly three percent of the country's GDP. Burning fields also "reduces water retention and soil fertility by 25 to 30 percent", according to the UN Environment Program, thus requiring farmers to pay more in expensive fertilizers and irrigation systems. But small-scale farmers say the numbers do not add up for them. They cannot afford to buy the tractors needed, so they must rely on costly contractors to clear their fields. Rice and wheat farmer Ajay Saini said that slices into his already limited profits. "We spend money from our pockets in paying the contractor," he said, adding that the straw bales collected had tumbled in value too. A farmer worker uses a harvester in India's Haryana state, which surrounds the capital New Delhi. In a farming economy shifting from animal husbandry to tractors, straw bales once used for animal bedding and winter fodder are needed far less. "A small farmer burns his field out of necessity," he said. Saini said he waited for two weeks for a contractor to clear his land, but they focused on big farms, and he could not afford to delay planting. "I called several times, but he just would not come to a small farm like mine," he said. "If the moisture in the field is all gone, how will the wheat grow?" Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. 'Land will become barren' Some farmers are slowly shifting to better practices. Farm fires have reduced by as much as half since 2017, according to some government estimates. Naresh, a farmer in his 60s who uses only one name, said he had stopped burning his fields. "It will only hurt us," he said. "The microorganisms in the soil die, and our land will become barren." A farmer sets straw stubble ablaze after a harvest Haryana state. Farmer Balkar Singh told AFP he knows burning stubble is bad for his fields but feels like he has 'no other choice' The switch was aided by the Spanish rice exporting company Ebro, which buys his rice. In a bid to reduce its carbon footprint, Ebro supported several farmers in Naresh's village to form a cooperative, providing them with a free seeder machine. Farmers had to promise not to set fire to their fields, and instead spray stubble with a natural fungal spray speeding up decomposition, developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute. That also reduces the need for fertilizers as it "recycles nutrients back into the soil", said Ebro official Surendra Pal, working to ensure the company's rice meets tougher European standards. But for now, many farmers say burning is the only real option. "We know that it is bad for our fields," said farmer Balkar Singh, from Haryana's Panipat district. "We only do it because we have no other choice." 2024 AFP MARGATE Sometimes it gets pretty quiet for businesses on the island. That wasnt the case Saturday as small businesses were given the spotlight down beach, when the Margate Business Association (MBA) hosted its annual Shop Small Extravaganza on Ventnor Avenue. An American Sign Language (ASL) Santa made his way down Ventnor Avenue in a lifeguard boat as shoppers went in an out of stores on the main strip, stopping to watch as the parade went by. There are a lot of small businesses in Margate, so its especially beneficial to bring people on the island, especially because its usually pretty slow this time of year, said Lauryn Freedman, 31, manager at Bocca Coal Fired Bistro on Essex Avenue. Getting people here and having an event like this helps everybody. Bocca, which opened in 2012, has been doing a Small Business Saturday event in which kids could meet Santa for about 10 years. The MBA took notice and wanted to partner with Bocca, adding a parade and making the event bigger. Every person we bring outdoors today that is not sitting on the sofa buying online or running offshore for retail shopping is a win for our retail stores in Margate, MBA president Ed Berger said. Add in the wonderful family atmosphere of having something great to do with the kids, and you have another reason why Margate really does have more. American Express founded Small Business Saturday in 2010 to motivate shoppers to not forget about local shops that cant afford to offer the same big Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. LendingTree surveyed nearly 2,050 consumers about their intentions to patronize shops and restaurants in their local communities. More than half of Americans (53%) expected to participate in Small Business Saturday this weekend. Seventy-six percent said they would shop at small businesses for holiday gifts this year, with 28% saying theyll do most of their shopping at small businesses. In the past month, 60% of Americans chose small businesses over chain stores or large retailers at least half the time when shopping or ordering food online. Forty-seven percent say they try to go out of their way to shop at small businesses. Bocca is running a special until the end of the year that adds a $25 bonus gift card to anyone buying a $100 card. Other businesses are running specials all week to bring out the shoppers. Heritage Surf Shop, which originated in 1962 in Sea Isle City before moving to Margate in the late 1980s, is a staple in the city. Owner Randy Young was offering a storewide 25% off sale that began Friday. October and February are two of the slower months for Heritage, despite surfing being a year-round hobby here. Saturday provided a boost during a compressed holiday season due to the lateness of Thanksgiving this year, Young said. It gets the community out and involved with the business, said Young, 58, of Ocean City. I think small specialty and boutique businesses and specialty retailers are definitely trending now much better than malls and whatnot. Weve been lucky there. North Jersey residents Shelly and Brian Suchoff, who also have a home in Margate, said visiting Heritage on Saturday was a must. Were going away so were looking for some warm gear, Shelly, 61, said while holding up a knit cap. We love supporting the small businesses in Margate, we really do. Philadelphia residents Lisa Quici and Alyssa Valentino, who have a place in Margate, were going through the 30% off rack outside JLor Fashions. Not only is JLor a favorite store of theirs, but both said they do most of their holiday shopping with small businesses. We hit all the shops on the avenue, Quici said. Were big on local and shopping small. The parade started at Coolidge Avenue and made the 1.5-mile journey north to Bocca on Essex Avenue, highlighting Margates business and restaurant district along the way. Miss New Jersey 2024 Elizabeth Mendel led the parade, which featured Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, Snoopy and Darth Vader. The Atlantic County Utilities Authority and Lucy the Elephant also had floats. Leslies Dance Studio dazzled the crowd in front of Bocca. Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania, residents Matt and Jess LaTour, who have a condo in Margate, brought their children, Hudson, 3, and Hadley, 1, to see the parade. The family planned to stop into Heritage as well as a few food shops while out and about, Matt said. The MBA does a real good job (supporting local businesses), Matt said. We loved the parade last year. (Hadley) was only two months old last year, but (Hudson) was all excited about coming back down again. Santa and many of the characters made their way into Bocca for meet-and-greets and pictures. Freedman said it was definitely busier than it normally is on a Saturday this time of year. The Marjorie & Lewis Katz Jewish Community Center funded crafts inside the restaurant, and there were plenty of games and music outside. Every kid that visited Santa at Bocca received a coupon for a drink and a free slice of pizza. Its great to get families in here and have some events going on outside and get a bigger crowd, Freedman said. Nava Thakuria The recently concluded by-polls for 48 legislative assembly constituencies in 14 States (along with two Parliamentary constituencies in Kerala and Maharashtra) divulged an important fact that no less than 41 assembly seats needed the special elections as those were vacated by the respective legislators after they were elected to the lower house of Indian Parliament. The representatives of different political parties (irrespective of their ideologies or position in the governments) participated in the last general elections and succeeded to be lawmakers in the 18th Lok Sabha. One may wonder how all these members of State legislative assemblies turned Parliamentarians became so essential for the concerned political parties to achieve electoral successes in the 2024 nationwide elections that embraced over 968 million electorates. Was it not possible for the party leaderships to pick up fresh candidates with a higher percentage of winnability (and allowing the legislators to complete their terms) for the LS polls? Should it have been a wise practice for them to help the government (read millions of direct & indirect taxpayers) in saving a huge volume of electoral expenditure to fill the space created by those newly elected Parliamentarians ! The statistics presented by the Election Commission of India (ECI) confirm that except seven assembly constituencies (two each in Rajasthan and Sikkim, one each in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh) all other seats became vacant as their representatives shifted their working space to New Delhi after electoral successes. Rajasthan reported the death of two MLAs in Salumber and Ramgarh seats, where another legislator passed away in Uttarakhand's Kedarnath constituency. Disqualification of a legislator necessitated the by-polls in Sishamau (Uttar Pradesh). In Sikkim, by-polls became necessary as its government chief Prem Singh Tamang vacated one seat to continue with Rhenock constituency. Amazingly, Namchi-Singhithang seat was deserted by CM's wife Krishna Kumari Rai (reasons best known to her only) soon after taking the oath. Finally Vijaypur (Madhya Pradesh) legislator changed his party affiliation ensuring an obligatory resignation. Out of nine assembly constituencies of Uttar Pradesh, which went to by-polls recently, eight seats were vacated by the legislators to become MPs. Samajwadi Party (SP) chief, Akhilesh Yadav marched to Lok Sabha leaving Karhal seat vacant. Another SP leader Ziaur Rehman left the Kundarki seat after successful LS elections. Katehari seat was deserted by SP leader Lalji Verma and Chandan Chauhan (RLD) left Meerapur seat. Similarly, Ghaziabad seat was abandoned by Atul Garg (Bharatiya Janata Party) whereas Vinod Kumar Bind left Majhawan seat. BJP legislator Anoop Pradhan Balmiki vacated Khair and Praveen Patel (BJP) left the Phulpur seat. In Rajasthan, five assembly seats were abandoned by sitting legislators to fight LS elections successfully and thus compelled the ECI to conduct by-polls. Jhunjhunu assembly seat was vacated by Brijendra Singh Ola (Indian National Congress) after LS polls. Another Congress legislator Harish Chandra Meena vacated the Deoli-Uniara seat and Murari Lal Meena left the Dausa seat. RLP chief Hanuman Beniwal left Khinwsar seat and Raj Kumar Roat (BAP) vacated Chorasi. By-polls in all six constituencies of West Bengal, where the assembly elections are due within two years, became necessary as the respective legislators successfully participated in the 2024 national elections. Trinamool Congress representative Jagdish Chandra Basunia vacated Sitai seat and Manoj Tigga (BJP) left Madarihat seat. Partha Bhowmick (TMC) vacated the Naihati seat and another TMC legislator Sk Nurul Islam abandoned Haroa seat. June Maliah (TMC) left Medinipur seat and another party man Arup Chakraborty vacated the Taldangra seat. Punjab also witnessed four sitting MLAs joining the Lok Sabha. Gidderbaha seat was vacated by Congress legislator Raja Warring and another Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa abandoned the Dera Baba Nanak seat. Raj Kumar Chabbewal (AAP) left Chabbewal and another AAP leader Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer vacated the Barnala seat. Similarly, Bihar that is awaiting assembly elections by next year embraced by-polls to fill up four assembly seats as the legislators shifted their working space to New Delhi. Sudama Prasad (CPI-ML-L) vacated Tarari seat and Sudhakar Singh (Rashtriya Janata Dal) left Ramgarh seat. Similarly, Imamganj seat was abandoned by Jitan Ram Manjhi (HAM-Secular) and Belganj seat was vacated by RJD's Surendra Prasad Yadav. Three assembly seats in Karnataka were also vacated by sitting MLAs inviting the by-polls. Basavaraj Bommai (BJP) left Shiggaon seat, whereas E Tukaram (INC) vacated Sandur seat. Channapatna seat was relinquished by HD Kumaraswamy (JD-S). Two seats in Kerala fell vacant as both the legislators participated fruitfully in LS polls. Congress leader Shafi Parambil vacated Palakkad seat and K Radhakrishnan (CPM) left Chelakkara seat. In Madhya Pradesh, former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan (BJP) vacated Budhni seat. Raipur City South assembly constituency of Chhattisgarh was vacated by Brijmohan Agrawal (BJP). Vav assembly seat of Gujarat was left by Geniben Nagaji Thakor (INC). Five seats of Assam, where assembly elections are due in 2026, along with one assembly constituency of Meghalaya also went for by-polls as all the legislators were elected to Lok Sabha. Samaguri seat was vacated by Congress legislator Rakibul Hussain, whereas BJP's Parimal Suklabaidya left Dholai seat. Another BJP legislator Ranjit Dutta abandoned the Behali seat and Sidli seat was vacated by Jayanta Basumatary (United Peoples' Party-Liberal). Asom Gana Parishad legislator Phani Bhusan Choudhury vacated the Bongaigaon seat. Meghalaya's Gambegre assembly constituency was deserted by Congress leader Saleng A Sangma. The question that arises, should not these statistics indicate clearly that the recent by-polls could have been limited to less than seven assembly constituencies if the politicians had behaved responsively? Not sure if the pertinent issue will be addressed by the proposed 'one nation, one election' initiative of the central government for simultaneous elections in Lok Sabha, State legislative assemblies and local government bodies across the country. Is it the time for the electorates to come above their loyalty, affiliation or inclination to any political party and stand unitedly asking for a colossal electoral reform in the largest democracy of the globe? Sagarmatha Network Pvt. Ltd. is the organization dedicated in the field of printing, publishing service since 2001. As part of media, we've been publishing Review Nepal, an English medium weekly registered at District Administration Office (DAO) Kathmandu with registration number 130-162-163 and reviewnepal.com as an online digital newspaper, with registration number 849-075-076 at Department of Informational and Broadcasting (DIB) from Kathmandu, Nepal since 2003. A 45-foot Response BoatMedium crew from Coast Guard Station South Padre Island surveys approximately 440 pounds of red snapper found aboard a Mexican lancha approximately 10 miles offshore the southern Texas coast, Dec. 9, 2023. The RBM crew interdicted the lancha, detained four Mexican fishermen aboard, and transferred the detainees to U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel for further processing. (U.S. Coast Guard photo, courtesy Station South Padre Island) U.S. Coast Guard District 8 The U.S. Coast Guard recently detained 19 Mexican fishermen who were found with 2,200 pounds of red snapper that authorities allege was illegally caught in American waters near the Texas coast. But the whopping yield isnt an outlier occurrence. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department says illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing has been on the rise in recent years and it's a major threat to Texas fish ecosystems and the economy. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Its led the department to form a partnership with the U.S Coast Guard and the Harte Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies to figure out exactly how many fish are being taken to Mexico out of U.S waters by fishermen not from the U.S., according to a video announcement between the agencies made on Facebook. Until recently, all counts have been estimated. We dont have an exact number. Our job is to get exact counts of fish per boat that the Coast Guard has interdicted ... so we can get that direct comparison to how it would be impacting recreational and commercial fisheries, said Kesley Banks, an associate research scientist for the Harte Institute. The issue has become so prominent that by late March, the Coast Guard had already seized more than 6,500 pounds of illegally caught fish. The fishermen from Mexico often use lanchas, typically slender boats about 20 to 30 feet long, to catch sharks and red snapper fish in U.S. Sovereign waters. In Texas, it is illegal to have any aquatic life illegally taken from federal waters, according to the wildlife department. That's partly because when trying to catch red snapper and sharks, fishermen often haul in all types of fish, as well as wildlife such as turtles and dolphins, Banks said. And to the detriment of the ecosystem, gear used in illegal fishing, including gill nets that wash up on shore, can end up back in the water, where sea turtles and other aquatic wildlife can get tangled in them, said Jace Tunnell of the Harte Institute. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This is real bad news to see this on the beach, Tunnell said. Captain Ben Baker from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department called it an "all hands on deck practice." Getting an exact count of the problem is key to setting standards for sustainable fishing now and in the future, Baker said. Illegal fishing throws off the accuracy of studies state agencies do to get an understanding of the health of fisheries, Baker said. The big picture is to make people aware that illegal fishing is happening on the South Texas coast, and of the impact its having on our ecosystem and our fishing communities, said Commander Michelle Foster of the U.S. Coast Guard. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Police arrest heavily armed Colombian teen from PDC streets Playa del Carmen, Q.R. Police from Solidaridad SSC have arrested a heavily armed Colombian teen. The 19 year old male was taken into police custody Saturday in the Nueva Creacion neighborhood of Playa del Carmen. Elements of the Seguridad Ciudadana Solidaridad (SSC) did not say how they came about to arrest the teen, only that he was taken into custody from his vehicle during a police patrol in the citys west. During an inspection, police reported finding 50 doses of possible narcotics, two handguns, two magazines, cartridge holders and 64 useful 9 millimeter cartridges. They also found him in possession of a Quintana Roo voters card. After the arrest of Juan N, police seized his narcotics, guns and ammo, voters card, cell phone and truck. The Municipal Citizen Security Secretariat (SSC) detained Juan N, 19 years old, originally from Colombia, with 50 doses of possible narcotics, two handguns, two magazines, cartridge holders and 64 useful 9 millimeter cartridges. He was placed at the disposal of the Specialized Prosecutors Office for drug dealing for the corresponding legal purposes, the SSC said. Leaves have been falling, and so too has the concert stage, into a state of decay at old Roanoke Mountain Campground. This 104-site campground along the Blue Ridge Parkway closed more than a decade ago, in 2013. The land is still open for daytime recreation a few walkers and trail runners but the forest is gradually reclaiming shuttered bathroom buildings and crumbling concrete picnic tables. A political action committee is lobbying to change the trajectory at Roanoke Mountain Campground by growing community support. Shannon Dominguez is an administrator for Valley Outdoor Infrastructure Committee, shortened as VOICe, which began forming last October. We felt like we needed something that was more in the political realm, where the decision-makers are. Dominguez said. We are not politically driven, except for who is going to advocate for the outdoors? While VOICe plans to lobby for more outdoor investment from local governments across the Roanoke Valley, theyve initially set their sights on the old Roanoke Mountain campsite, which sits on land controlled by the National Park Service. VOICe is also focusing on the city government in Roanoke for one of its early aims. With the outdoors, we live on this gold mine of natural beauty, Dominguez said. If we invest in it, what could that do? Who would that attract? How can that increase our quality of life, and put us on the map? The local government in Roanoke contributes no more than 2% of its total budget to operating parks and recreation, compared to similar cities elsewhere spending 6% to 8% of their budgets on parks, she said. Were now pushing everyone to advocate for Roanoke City to increase to 4%, and then an end goal of 6%, Dominguez said. Now is the time to write in to city council and say, as you consider the budget, lets up our parks and rec budget to 4%. VOICe is already in the ears of Roanokes newly elected city council members, Terry McGuire, Phazhon Nash and Nick Hagen. The group issued candidate endorsements for each of them ahead of this years elections. Vice Mayor-elect McGuire, who previously served on parks advisory boards for the city, did not require much convincing. A big part of his campaign was about increasing the parks budget. My hope is to significantly increase the amount of funding that were allocating to the parks and recreation department, McGuire said. I believe the support is there for deeper investments. McGuire said one of his goals for this term is to increase the citys parks budget to 5% of the overall budget. Thatd be a boost of about $10 million additionally for parks, based on this years city budget of about $379 million. What we have done for a long time is not adequately invest in our parks and recreation department, McGuire said. Now we have a huge backlog of maintenance needs We need to do a better job with it. Roanoke Parks and Recreation Director Cindy McFall said her department employs 60 full-time and as many as 150 part-time seasonal staff, on an operating budget this year of $7.8 million. With 20 years of department experience, McFall assumed the directors job earlier this year. She said the department is seeing more investment now than any other time during her tenure. We are having approximately $40 million invested in either capital projects or deferred maintenance in our park system. That is a huge amount of investment, McFall said. Well have a new pool, a renovated rec center, a new in-river kayak park. These are all going to require operational funding, and staffing. Another ongoing project is an update to the parks departments master plan. With help from a consulting group, the updated planning document will be ready sometime next year, she said. We use that as our guide to let us know where we need to go, McFall said. Thats how we hear from the residents, and from folks who use our facilities. Because Roanoke Mountain Campground is on federally operated land, it likely wont be mentioned in next years updated city parks plan. Whatever future role the city might play in bringing campers back to that spot, its also going to require collaboration with federal agencies. As it stands, the National Park Service has a 99-year lease for the Roanoke Mountain Campground, McFall said. The lease runs through June 2072, and provides the federal government with exclusive use for public recreation and scenic areas in the 400-acre tract. NPS has intended to further convert the campground for daytime uses since at least 2013, according to documents. To restore the Roanoke Mountain campsite, people with VOICe believe theres an opportunity to possibly initiate a land swap between the city and NPS using a different city-owned 400-acre plot, located on the opposite side of the parkway. People should come check it out, and imagine what it would be like if it was open, Dominguez said. And more broadly, she added, Imagine what Roanoke could be like with a little bit more investment by the local government. The natural beauty surrounding this region isnt going anywhere, so localities might as well invest in it, she said. In the wider area of Virginias Blue Ridge last year, tourists spent more than $880 million, according to the regional marketing organization. Thats a dollar figure more than twice as large as the city budget in Roanoke. With these new players emerging in leadership positions, time will tell where they guide the parks system, and what dividends future investments might pay. Our green spaces, our greenway system, our trails, Carvins Cove, Mill Mountain. Those all play a very large role in improving the quality of life for those of us that live here, McFall said. But also attracting visitors, and maybe even people trying to decide where to move. Constable Jimmy Fullen introduces himself to a voter at Hometown Heroes Park in League City as he campaigns for Galveston County Sheriff in the Republican Party primary Tuesday, March 5, 2024. JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News/Jennifer Reynolds/The Galveston Daily News Employees in the Galveston County Sheriff's Office mental health division say they learned they will be reassigned, with at least one losing her job altogether, starting Jan. 1, in an office-wide shakeup as Jimmy Fullen takes office as the county's top officer. Brenda Harris, an office manager at the division, said she learned about the elimination of her job via email, and that she feared the negative consequences of not having dedicated resources for mental health calls moving forward. The notification came after 17 years spent in the office and just three years away from qualifying for retirement, she said. MORE ON FULLEN: Tilman Fertitta, Tony Buzbee bankroll Galveston County sheriff candidate who could soon lose his badge Advertisement Article continues below this ad Fullen said Harris was making false statements and he didnt plan to do away with the division. Rather, he wanted all the offices patrol and school liaison deputies to be certified as mental health officers. He called Harris a disgruntled employee and declined to answer further questions about his plans. Fullen in a speech after his election night victory said he planned to add 13 additional deputies to the streets without spending more taxpayer money and wanted to add a street crime unit to the office. Harris said more people should have questioned how he was going to accomplish his campaign promise of adding boots on the ground without spending more money. The answer, she said, is by disbanding important units like the mental health division. Harris said Fullen claiming he's not getting rid of the division was a matter of semantics. When youve told those deputies theyre being assigned to patrol, thats disbanding, she said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad HOUSTON CRIME: New Houston police assistant chief named who was previously suspended 20 days But more than the loss of her job, Harris said she was concerned about the tradeoffs Fullen is making to beef up the office's patrol division. I dont think the people in the community are aware of the effect this is going to have, she said. Sitting Sheriff Henry Trochesset said around 30 people totaling almost 1,000 combined years of service to the office had submitted resignations in the weeks since the election. That knowledge and years of experience is not easy to replace, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Even before Fullens arrival, all law enforcement officers are required to take some class hours on mental health, Harris said. But theres a big difference between that and someone who functions full-time as a mental health deputy, she said. Harris said some calls they take can last multiple hours, between time on scene and transporting people to inpatient facilities all of which are in Harris County. Jay Coons, a criminal justice professor at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville and a retired member of the Harris County Sheriffs Office, said a sheriffs top priority is making sure deputies are responding to top-priority 911 calls quickly. But other functions of a sheriffs office, such as a mental health division, are also important to overall effectiveness, Coons said. If youre talking about dismantling that, that concerns me, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Theres a political element about reducing response times because thats what most people see from the outside, Coons said. But how much good does reducing lower-priority calls response times by a minute do if uses of force increase for mental health calls? The 97% consensus on global warming What the science says... Select a level... Basic Intermediate Advanced 97% of climate experts agree humans are causing global warming. At a glance What is consensus? In science, it's when the vast majority of specialists agree about a basic principle. Thus, astronomers agree that the Earth orbits around the Sun. Biologists accept that tadpoles hatch out from frog-spawn and grow into adult frogs. Almost all geologists agree that plate tectonics is real and you'd be hard-placed to find a doctor who thinks smoking is harmless. In each above case, something has been so thoroughly looked into that those who specialise in its study have stopped arguing about its basic explanation. Nevertheless, the above examples were all once argued about, often passionately. That's how progress works. The reaching of scientific consensus is the product of an often lengthy time-line. It starts with something being observed and ends with it being fully explained. Let's look at a classic and highly relevant example. In the late 1700s, the Earth-Sun distance was calculated. The value obtained was 149 million kilometres. That's incredibly close to modern measurements. It got French physicist Joseph Fourier thinking. He innocently asked, in the 1820s, something along these lines: "Why is Planet Earth such a warm place? It should be an ice-ball at this distance from the Sun." Such fundamental questions about our home planet are as attractive to inquisitive scientists as ripened fruit is to wasps. Fourier's initial query set in motion a process of research. Within a few decades, that research had experimentally shown that carbon dioxide has heat-trapping properties. Through the twentieth century the effort intensified, particularly during the Cold War. At that time there was great interest in the behaviour of infra-red (IR) radiation in the atmosphere. Why? Because heat-seeking missiles home in on jet exhausts which are IR hotspots. Their invention involved understanding what makes IR tick. That research led to the publication of a landmark 1956 paper by Gilbert Plass. The paper's title was, The Carbon Dioxide Theory of Climatic Change. It explained in detail how CO 2 traps heat in our atmosphere. Note in passing that Plass used the term "Climatic Change" all the way back then. That's contrary to the deniers' frequent claim that it is used nowadays because of a recent and motivated change in terminology. From observation to explanation, this is a classic illustration of the scientific method at work. Fourier gets people thinking, experiments are designed and performed. In time, a hypothesis emerges. That is a proposed explanation. It is made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation. Once a hypothesis is proposed, it becomes subject to rigorous testing within the relevant specialist science groups. Testing ensures that incorrect hypotheses fall by the wayside, because they don't stand up to scrutiny. But some survive such interrogation. As their supporting evidence mounts up over time, they eventually graduate to become theories. Theories are valid explanations for things that are supported by an expert consensus of specialists. Gravity, jet aviation, electronics, you name it, all are based on solid theories. They are known to work because they have stood the test of time and prolonged scientific inquiry. In climate science today, there is overwhelming (greater than 97%) expert consensus that CO 2 traps heat and adding it to the atmosphere warms the planet. Whatever claims are made to the contrary, that principle has been established for almost seventy years, since the publication of that 1956 landmark paper. Expert consensus is a powerful thing. None of us have the time or ability to learn about everything/ That's why we frequently defer to experts, such as consulting doctors when were ill. The public often underestimate the degree of expert consensus that our vast greenhouse gas emissions trap heat and warm the planet. That is because alongside information, we have misinformation. Certain sections of the mass-media are as happy to trot out the latter as the former. We saw a very similar problem during the COVID-19 pandemic and it cost many lives. For those who want to learn more, a much longer detailed account of the history of climate science is available on this website. Please use this form to provide feedback about this new "At a glance" section. Read a more technical version below or dig deeper via the tabs above! Further details We know full well that we dont have the time or capacity to learn about everything, so we frequently defer to the conclusions of experts. Without experienced people using their expertise to perform many vital tasks and without new people constantly entering such occupations society would quickly disintegrate. The same is true of climate change: we defer to the expert consensus of climate scientists. Indeed, public perception of the scientific consensus with regard to global warming has been found to be an important gateway into other enlightened climate-related attitudes - including policy support. Let's take a look at summaries of the key studies, featured in the graphic above, into the degree of consensus. These have been based on analyses of large samples of peer-reviewed climate science literature or surveys of climate and Earth scientists. These studies are available online through e.g. Google Scholar. That slightly different methodologies reached very similar conclusions is a strong indicator that those conclusions are robust. Oreskes 2004 In this pioneering paper, a survey was conducted into all peer-reviewed abstracts on the subject 'global climate change', published between 1993 and 2003. The work showed that not a single paper, out of the 928 examined, rejected the consensus position that global warming is man-made. 75% of the papers agreed with the consensus position while 25% made no comment either way. Doran & Zimmerman 2009 A survey of 3,146 Earth scientists asked the question, "Do you think human activity is a significant contributing factor in changing mean global temperatures?" Overall, 82% of the scientists answered yes. However, what was most interesting was the type of response compared to the level of expertise in climate science. Of scientists who were non-climatologists and didn't publish research, 77% answered yes. In contrast, 97.5% of actively-publishing climatologists responded yes. As the level of active research and specialization in climate science increases, so does agreement that humans are significantly changing global temperatures. The paper concludes: "It seems that the debate on the authenticity of global warming and the role played by human activity is largely non-existent among those who understand the nuances and scientific basis of long-term climate processes. The challenge, rather, appears to be how to effectively communicate this fact to policy makers and to a public that continues to mistakenly perceive debate among scientists." Anderegg et al. 2010 This study of 1,372 climate science researchers found that (i) 9798% of the researchers most actively publishing in the field support the tenets of anthropogenic climate change (ACC) as outlined by the IPCC and (ii) the relative climate expertise and scientific prominence of the researchers unconvinced of ACC are substantially below that of the convinced researchers. Cook et al. 2013 A Skeptical Science-based analysis of over 12,000 peer-reviewed abstracts on the subject 'global climate change' and 'global warming', published between 1991 and 2011, found that over 97% of the papers taking a position on the subject agreed with the consensus position that humans are causing global warming. In a second phase of the project, the scientist authors were emailed and rated over 2,000 of their own papers. Once again, over 97% of the papers taking a position on the cause of global warming agreed that humans are causing it. Verheggen et al. 2014 Results were presented from a survey held among 1868 scientists studying various aspects of climate change, including physical climate, climate impacts, and mitigation. The survey was at the time unique in its size, broadness and level of detail. Consistent with other research, it was found that as the level of expertise in climate science grew, so too did the level of agreement on anthropogenic causation. 90% of respondents with more than 10 climate-related peer-reviewed publications (about half of all respondents), explicitly agreed with anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHGs) being the dominant driver of recent global warming. The respondents quantitative estimate of the GHG contribution appeared to strongly depend on their judgement or knowledge of the cooling effect of aerosols. Stenhouse et al. 2014 In a survey of all 1,854 American Meteorological Society members with known e-mail addresses, achieving a 26.3% response rate, perceived scientific consensus was the strongest predictor of views on global warming, followed by political ideology, climate science expertise, and perceived organisational conflict. Carlton et al 2015 Commenting that the extent to which non-climate scientists are skeptical of climate science had not so far been studied via direct survey, the authors did just that. They undertook a survey of biophysical scientists across disciplines at universities in the Big 10 Conference. Most respondents (93.6%) stated that mean temperatures have risen. Of the subset that agreed temperatures had risen, the following question was then asked of them: "do you think human activity is a significant contributing factor in changing mean global temperatures?" The affirmative response to that query was 96.66%. Cook et al. 2016 In 2015, authors of the above studies joined forces to co-author a paper, Consensus on consensus: a synthesis of consensus estimates on human-caused global warming. Two key conclusions from the paper are as follows: (i) Depending on exactly how you measure the expert consensus, somewhere between 90% and 100% of climate scientists agree humans are responsible for climate change, with most of our studies finding 97% consensus among publishing climate scientists. (ii) The greater the climate expertise among those surveyed, the higher the consensus on human-caused global warming. Lynas et al. 2021 In this paper, from a dataset of 88,125 climate-related peer-reviewed papers published since 2012, these authors examined a randomly-selected subset of 3000 such publications. They also used a second sample-weighted approach that was specifically biased with keywords to help identify any sceptical papers in the whole dataset. Twenty-eight sceptical papers were identified within the original dataset using that approach, as evidenced by abstracts that were rated as implicitly or explicitly sceptical of human-caused global warming. It was concluded that the scientific consensus on human-caused climate change, expressed as a proportion of the total publications, exceeds 99% in the peer reviewed scientific literature. Myers et al. 2021 This study revisited the 2009 consensus among geoscientists, while exploring different ways to define expertise and the level of agreement among them. The authors sent 10,929 invitations to participate in the survey, receiving 2,780 responses. In addition, the number of scientific publications by these self-identified experts in the field of climate change research was quantified and compared to their survey response on questions about climate change. Perhaps not surprisingly, the study found that agreement on anthropogenic global warming was high at 91% to 100% and generally increases with expertise. Out of a group of 153 independently confirmed climate experts, 98.7% of those scientists agreed that the Earth is warming mostly because of human activities such as burning fossil fuels. Among the subset with the highest level of expertise, these being independently-confirmed climate experts who each published 20+ peer-reviewed papers on climate change between 2015 and 2019, there was 100% agreement. Public Polls and Consensus Opinion polls are not absolute in the same way as uncontestable scientific evidence but they nevertheless usefully indicate in which way public thinking is heading. So let's look at a couple taken 13 years apart. A 15-nation World Public Opinion Poll in 2009 PDF), with 13,518 respondents, asked, among other questions, Is it your impression that among scientists, most think the problem is urgent and enough is known to take action? Out of all responses, just 51% agreed with that. Worse, in six countries only a minority agreed: United States (38%), Russia (23%), Indonesia (33%), Japan (43%), India (48%), and Mexico (48%). Conversely, the two highest agree scores were among Vietnamese (69%) and Bangladeshis (70%) - perhaps unsurprisingly. The two other options people had to choose from were that views are pretty evenly divided (24% of total respondents), or most think the problem is not urgent, and not enough is known to take action (15%). American and Japanese respondents scored most highly on views are pretty evenly divided (43 and 44% respectively). How such a pervasive misperception arose, regarding the expert consensus on climate change, is no accident. Regular readers of this website's resources will know that instead, it was another product of deliberate misinformation campaigning by individuals and organizations in the United States and other nations around the world. These are people who campaign against action to reduce carbon emissions because it suits their paymasters if we continue to burn as much as possible. Step forward to 2022 and the situation has perhaps improved, but there's still some way to go. A recent poll, Public Perceptions on Climate change (PDF), was conducted by the Policy Institute, based at King's College London, UK. It quizzed samples of just over 2,000 people from each of six countries (UK, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Italy and Germany). The survey asked the question: To the best of your knowledge, what percentage of climate scientists have concluded that human-caused climate change is happening? The following averages were returned: the UK sample thought 65%, the average of the whole survey was 68% and the highest was Ireland at 71%. Clearly, although public perception of expert consensus is growing, there's still plenty of room for strategies to communicate the reality and to shield people from the constant drip-feed of misinformation. Expert and Public Consensus Finally, let's consider the differences between expert and public consensus. Expert consensus is reached among those who have studied complex problems and know how to collect and work with data, to identify what constitutes evidence and evaluate it. This is demanding work requiring specific skill-sets and areas of expertise, preparation for which requires years of study and training. Public consensus, in contrast, tends to occur only when something is blindingly obvious. For example, a serial misinformer would struggle if they tried running a campaign denying the existence of owls. Everyone already knows that of course there are owls. There is public consensus because we see and hear owls, for real or on the TV or radio. But complex issues are more prone to the antics of misinformers. We saw examples of misinformation during the COVID pandemic, in some cases with lethal outcomes when misinformed people failed to take the risks seriously. There's a strong parallel with climate change: it is imperative we accept the expert consensus and not kick the can down the road until the realisation it is real becomes universal but utterly inescapable. Update May 1, 2024: Corrected a typo in the publication year for Plass (1956) in the at-a-glance section. Last updated on 26 May 2023 by John Mason. View Archives https://sputnikglobe.com/20241201/bidens-lame-duck-push-to-poach-angola-symptomatic-of-us-persistent-misreading-of-africa-1121062883.html Bidens Lame-Duck Push to Poach Angola Symptomatic of US Persistent Misreading of Africa Bidens Lame-Duck Push to Poach Angola Symptomatic of US Persistent Misreading of Africa Sputnik International With less than two months to go before he's out office, Joe Biden is embarking on his inaugural trip to Africa as president, traveling to Angola December 2-4. The White House says the visit is about reaffirming "our commitment to strengthening our partnerships across Africa." But Africans are not so gullible, a leading local observer says. 2024-12-01T18:13+0000 2024-12-01T18:13+0000 2024-12-01T18:13+0000 analysis joe biden us donald trump angola china cia https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0c/01/1121063492_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_46bceffbfdc67f3106c1feddd7b7714b.jpg "This is a historic trip. We are excited about it," a White House official said in a press call with journalists on Sunday on the eve of Joe Biden's Angola trip."Together, the US and Angola are working closely to expand impactful, high-standard economic opportunities and improve regional peace and security," the official said, highlighting Angola's place in the US Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa, the 2022 policy document outlining Washington's efforts to preserve the West's hegemony in the region by stopping China from "challeng[ing] the rules-based international order," and preventing Russia from using "its security and economic ties" in regional countries to challenge the US narrative on Ukraine.Biden's Angola trip, which will also include a brief stopover in Cabo Verde off the West African coast, is the second chapter of his administration's last-minute appreciation for Africa's existence of the outgoing year. In May, the president invited Kenyan President William Ruto to Washington for the first-ever state visit to the US by an African leader in over a decade-and-a-half to sign a controversial security pact.Too Little, Too Late?Bidens visit is admittedly intended to counter the growing influence of China on the continent, but it does not take a rocket scientist to understand that its too late for anyone to weaken, let alone break the bond between China and Africa, Professor Alexis Habiyaremye, Research Chair in Industrial Development at the University of Johannesburg, told Sputnik, commenting on the true purpose of Biden's trip to the region in the twilight of his presidency.In the case of Angola, the US may be looking to sway the country away from China on energy (China accounts for nearly 3/4 of Angolas oil exports), according to Habiyaremye.Russia is the main competitor in terms of security, and Angola still suffers from the trauma of past US support to its destabilization by UNITA rebels, the academic recalled, referencing the 70s-80s CIA proxy war against Angola, which left up to 800,000 dead and much of the country in ruins.Ultimately, the same sort of neocolonialist approach to Africa can be expected from Bidens successor, Habiyaremye believes, recalling the disdain Donald Trump showed toward Sub-Saharan Africa in his first term, including his vile remarks in 2018 labeling regional nations as "s***hole countries." https://sputnikglobe.com/20240523/kiss-of-death-security-pact-with-us-threatens-kenya-with-vassal-status-1118601330.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240905/brics-bloc-has-taken-up-the-mantle-of-20th-centurys-anti-imperialist-struggle-mandelas-grandson-1120046573.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20241111/global-south-quantified-russia-africa-trade-in-figures--1120854568.html angola china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov why is biden really going to angola, what does biden want from angola, what does us want from africa https://sputnikglobe.com/20241201/gulf-countries-express-support-for-efforts-to-establish-palestinian-state-1121063886.html Gulf Countries Express Support for Efforts to Establish Palestinian State Gulf Countries Express Support for Efforts to Establish Palestinian State Sputnik International Countries of the Persian Gulf, as members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), have expressed their support for efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, according to a joint declaration adopted at the GCC Summit in Kuwait on Sunday. 2024-12-01T17:46+0000 2024-12-01T17:46+0000 2024-12-01T17:46+0000 world gaza strip palestine palestinians gulf cooperation council israel middle east hamas https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101865/11/1018651191_0:173:4422:2660_1920x0_80_0_0_490ceb41a0c6c3e7cd2797e07cb71b6f.jpg "The leaders of GCC countries reiterate their firm position on the Palestinian issue, the end of the occupation and their support for the sovereignty of the Palestinian people over all Palestinian territories occupied since June 1967, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital, as well as guarantees for the return of Palestinian refugees to their areas," GCC Secretary General Jasem Albudaiwi read the document on Kuwaiti television. On October 7, 2023, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. In addition, Hamas fighters infiltrated the border areas, opened fire on the military and civilians and took hostages. Israeli authorities say that about 1,200 people were killed during the raid. In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords in the Gaza Strip. The death toll from the Israeli attacks has surpassed 44,200 in the Gaza Strip, according to local health authorities. The UN General Assembly voted in 1947 to divide UK-governed Palestine into Arab and Jewish states, with Jerusalem placed under a special international regime. The partitioning was planned to take place in May 1948, when the British mandate was due to end, but only the State of Israel was established. Palestinians seek diplomatic recognition of their independent state in the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which is partially occupied by Israel, and the Gaza Strip. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241013/palestinian-authorities-working-on-state-recognition---ambassador-in-russia-1120531304.html gaza strip palestine israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International gulf cooperation council (gcc), palestine, palestinian national authority, israel, hamas, gaza strip, gaza war, palestine-israel conflict https://sputnikglobe.com/20241201/hunter-bidens-lawyers-believe-his-future-under-threat-from-trumps-victory---reports-1121055432.html Hunter Biden's Lawyers Believe His Future Under Threat From Trump's Victory - Reports Hunter Biden's Lawyers Believe His Future Under Threat From Trump's Victory - Reports Sputnik International Lawyers for Hunter Biden, the son of incumbent US President Joe Biden, believe that a victory by Donald Trump in the election threatens their client's future, the Washington Post reported citing a 52-page report by his defense in light of his criminal sentencing in December. 2024-12-01T04:41+0000 2024-12-01T04:41+0000 2024-12-01T04:41+0000 americas donald trump us hunter biden joe biden california https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/12/1116258160_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_bad744ee0b3f91ebd907bd940fde50f5.jpg "There is no disputing that Trump has said his enemies list includes Hunter," the lawyers' report, cited by the newspaper, says. "The prospect that Trump will turn his vengeance on the Special Counsel prosecutors if they fail to take a harder line against Hunter no doubt exerts considerable pressure on them not to let up on Hunter." At the same time, the newspaper notes that the lawyers' report is more reminiscent of an appeal to his father, who has the opportunity to pardon his son before the end of his presidential term, but has already publicly stated that he did not intend to do so. At the same time, Trump stated before the election that he did not rule out pardoning Hunter if he won. As the politician said, Biden's son "was a bad boy," but believes that such criminal cases are bad for the country. Hunter emphasized that he did not expect criminal cases against himself. Trump has noted in the past that he did not pedal the criminal prosecution of Hillary Clinton, although there were grounds for this. Hunter Biden is the first child of a sitting US president in history to face criminal charges. He is charged with two counts of willful tax evasion. According to official data, he did not pay more than $100,000 in 2017 and 2018. Biden Jr. was also charged separately with possessing a Colt pistol in 2018 while knowing he was using illegal drugs, which also violates the law and carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A jury found Hunter guilty and he will be sentenced in both cases in mid-December. Hunter's sentencing for the gun violation is scheduled for December 12 in Delaware and for the tax evasion case, December 16 in California. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240921/trumps-ex-lawyer-says-president-biden-did-not-interfere-in-hunters-criminal-cases-1120233094.html americas california Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International hunter biden, donald trump, trump's victory, us president joe biden https://sputnikglobe.com/20241201/israeli-drones-conduct-reconnaissance-over-beirut-violating-ceasefire-agreement-1121054947.html Israeli Drones Conduct Reconnaissance Over Beirut, Violating Ceasefire Agreement Israeli Drones Conduct Reconnaissance Over Beirut, Violating Ceasefire Agreement Sputnik International Israeli Air Force reconnaissance drones are conducting raids over Beirut, a Sputnik correspondent reported. 2024-12-01T04:21+0000 2024-12-01T04:21+0000 2024-12-01T04:21+0000 military israel-lebanon tensions middle east benjamin netanyahu israel beirut lebanon hezbollah https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/0a/1116091675_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_4572da7c22e8d6a90b6a3f53a09366ed.jpg Israeli drones have been flying at medium and low altitudes for almost the entire day; they are visible in the central neighborhoods and in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital. The Israeli army continues to violate the ceasefire agreement, which came into effect at 4:00 a.m. on November 27. On Thursday, Israeli drones attacked a car in the border settlement of Markaba. At the same time, Israeli combat aircraft systematically breach Lebanese airspace, and reconnaissance drones do not leave southern Lebanon. On the night of November 27, after nearly 14 months of continuous escalation, a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon agreed upon in accordance with the US settlement plan came into effect. Before the agreement was approved, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation, during which he explained the need for a ceasefire on the northern front, emphasizing that in the event of any violation of the ceasefire by Hezbollah, Israel would respond and resume hostilities. According to the settlement plan proposed by the United States, over the next 60 days, the Lebanese army must occupy territories in the south of the country, and Hezbollah forces and infrastructure must be withdrawn north of the Litani River, which in various places flows 20-30 kilometers from the border with Israel. During this time, Israel must completely withdraw its armed forces from the territory of the neighboring country. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241112/israeli-air-force-strikes-beiruts-southern-haret-hreik-suburb---reports-1120863967.html israel beirut lebanon Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International israeli drones, reconnaissance over beirut, israeli air force https://sputnikglobe.com/20241201/israeli-military-intercepts-projectile-launched-from-yemen---idf-1121056890.html Israeli Military Intercepts Projectile Launched From Yemen - IDF Israeli Military Intercepts Projectile Launched From Yemen - IDF Sputnik International The Israeli Air Force (IAF) has intercepted a projectile launched from Yemen prior to its crossing into Israeli territory, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Sunday. 2024-12-01T06:05+0000 2024-12-01T06:05+0000 2024-12-01T06:05+0000 military middle east israel yemen gaza strip israeli air force (iaf) israel defense forces (idf) https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/08/07/1119665454_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_9162ae7591909998c532f4f905d06cf7.jpg "Following the sirens that sounded between 06:21-06:22 [04:21-04:22 GMT] in the areas of the Shfela, Lakhish and the Yarkon, one projectile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the IAF prior to its crossing into Israeli territory," the IDF said on Telegram. The Houthis, who control northern Yemen, have vowed to continue shelling Israel until a ceasefire is in place in the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire talks have been stalled since August after negotiators came up with an updated version of the peace deal announced by US President Joe Biden in late May that contained a detailed schedule and locations for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. On October 7, 2023, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. In addition, Hamas fighters infiltrated the border areas, opened fire on the military and civilians and took hostages. Israeli authorities say that about 1,200 people were killed during the raid. In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords in the Gaza Strip and announced a complete blockade of the enclave. The death toll from the Israeli attacks has reached over 44,000, according to local health authorities. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/us-uk-aircraft-strike-houthi-targets-near-red-sea---source-1121041174.html israel yemen gaza strip Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International israeli military, israeli air force, israel defense forces https://sputnikglobe.com/20241201/russian-forces-liberate-two-more-strategic-settlements-strengthen-positions-in-donetsk-1121058724.html Russian Forces Liberate Two More Strategic Settlements, Strengthen Positions in Donetsk Russian Forces Liberate Two More Strategic Settlements, Strengthen Positions in Donetsk Sputnik International Russia's Battlegroups Yug and Tsentr have liberated the settlements of Ilyinka and Petrovka in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday. 2024-12-01T10:10+0000 2024-12-01T10:10+0000 2024-12-01T10:12+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia donetsk kharkov russian defense ministry https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0c/01/1121059182_0:320:3072:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_d1170fcc6c3b2038f66a58b8dcf49218.jpg "As a result of active offensive actions, forces of Battlegroup Yug liberated the settlement of Ilyinka in the Donetsk People's Republic," the ministry said in a statement.At the same time, forces of Battlegroup Tsentr liberated the village of Petrovka.Meanwhile, Battlegroup Yug inflicted losses on units from four UAF brigades in the areas of Orekhovo-Vasilievka, Grigorovka, Chasov Yar, Predtechino, Kurakhovo, and Dyleevka.UAF losses in the area of responsibility of the group over the past 24 hours include:Battlegroup Tsentr, in turn, struck three Ukrainian units and the 49th Assault Battalion in the areas of Dzerzhinsk, Shcherbinovka, Pushkino, Novoaleksyevka, and Zari, while also repelling 11 counterattacks.In these battles, the Ukrainian Army lost:Other DevelopmentsBattlegroup Zapad: The Zapad group inflicted heavy losses on four Ukrainian brigades across Kharkov and the DPR, repelling 11 counterattacks. Ukrainian losses included up to 500 soldiers, two pick-up trucks, an Anklav-N electronic warfare station, and four ammunition depots. Russian units improved their tactical position and struck forces from the 53rd Mechanized Brigade, the 109th and 241st Territorial Defense Brigades, and the 1st National Guard Brigade in various areas, including Novomlynsk, Kovsharovka, Dvurechnaya, and Kupyansk.Battlegroup Vostok: The Vostok group advanced further into enemy defense lines, striking units from the 32nd Mechanized Brigade and 241st Territorial Defense Brigade in areas such as Velikaya Novoselka and Razliv in the DPR. Ukrainian losses amounted to up to 100 soldiers, a US-made HMMWV armored vehicle, a 152 mm Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, five cars, and a D-20 howitzer.Battlegroup Sever: The Sever group struck Ukrainian forces from the 92nd Airborne Assault Brigade in the Kharkov region's Liptsy area. Two counterattacks from the 57th and 58th Mechanized Brigades were repelled. The UAF lost up to 30 soldiers, a BTR armored vehicle, two cars, and two D-30 122 mm howitzers.Battlegroup Dnepr: The Dnepr group targeted Ukrainian forces in Tokarevka, Antonovka, and Belozerka in Kherson, and Malaya Tokmachka in Zaporozhye. The group inflicted losses on the 65th and 110th Mechanized Brigades as well as the 124th and 126th Territorial Defense Brigades. UAF losses were up to 85 soldiers, along with three vehicles, an electronic warfare station, and two ammunition depots. Russian airstrikes, drones, and artillery also hit Ukrainian military airfields and UAV production facilities. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241120/how-russian-forces-use-wolf-hunt-tactics-to-break-ukrainian-defenses-in-kurakhovo-1120942614.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/russian-forces-liberate-two-key-settlements-in-donetsk-region-and-advance-westward-1121041337.html russia donetsk kharkov Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian special military operation, ukraine, ukrainian crisis, ukrainian conflict, war in ukraine, russian armed forces, donetsk, donbass Katy ISD Board of Trustees President Victor Perez and Superintendent Ken Gregorski listen to comments during a board of trustees meeting on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023 in Katy. The Katy ISD board of trustees took public comments on how to address gender fluidity among students. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Open-mindedness in our classrooms Regarding Katy ISD debate over Native American novel reveals discord (Nov. 24): In 1949 when I was president of our second grade class in Reno, Nevada, a foreign exchange student from France joined our class. One day on the playground, I hollered at her, Why dont you talk like the rest of us? That got back to our teacher, Ms. Elcano. She held a class meeting in which she suggested to the class that we might not want a president who treated visitors this way. The class voted to impeach me, and I was sent to an empty classroom to consider my behavior. All these years later, I still remember that event. It did not occur to me to be ashamed of my nationality, but to be ashamed of my own rude and thoughtless behavior toward someone who was different from me. I believe that one event has made me a better, kinder person, and I am grateful to that teacher for helping me become who I am. Adults are supposed to help children learn how to behave toward others through example, through reading assignments, through experience and some of those lessons may be neither comfortable nor pleasant. How about we use a little open-mindedness and common sense when it comes to teaching our children? Joanna Friesen, Houston Trumps place in history Regarding 2 federal cases against Trump dropped (Nov. 26): I wonder what the history books will say. Here is a man who clearly tried to overthrow the legitimately elected government of the U.S.A. On January 6, 2021, he was behind a mob that attacked our nations capitol, and he asked his vice president to violate the Constitution by not certifying the election. Moreover, he recklessly kept highly classified documents in his house and refused to turn them over to the authorities. Yet after almost four years of our inept justice system fooling around with the cases, the perpetrator will escape any accountability for his actions. Not only that, but he will also become Americas president. How will the historians explain that? John T. James, Houston Advertisement Article continues below this ad Mass deportations Regarding Texas land commissioner looking to offer 'several' more tracts for Trumps mass deportations (Nov. 27): What is missing about the discussions on mass deportation is the need for a new immigration bill. Thus we have the executive branch calling for deportation sites to be build and the use of the military and immigration to carry out an executive order without any funding. I hear nothing about hiring agents or the expansion of the border wall which would require Congress to appropriate funds. As far as I am concerned, all of these folks must have skipped high school civics. How is what has been proposed different from Germany in the 1930s? What example are we setting as a world leader? Deborah Zygmunt, Missouri City Free tuition Regarding University of Texas System to expand free tuition to students with family incomes below $100K (Nov. 20): It was with sheer delight that I read the University of Texas will be offering free tuition to Texas students whose families earn less than $100,000 in annual income. More education is the best thing that can happen to any society. It brings better and higher-paying employment and helps the college grads make smarter decisions that benefit everybody. Advertisement Article continues below this ad https://sputnikglobe.com/20241201/syria-capable-of-destroying-terrorists-with-help-of-friends-allies---assad-1121053747.html Syria Capable of Destroying Terrorists With Help of Friends, Allies - Assad Syria Capable of Destroying Terrorists With Help of Friends, Allies - Assad Sputnik International Syrian President Bashar Assad said that the country continues to defend its territorial integrity and is capable of destroying terrorists with the help of friends and allies, the Syrian leader's office said on Saturday. 2024-12-01T01:15+0000 2024-12-01T01:15+0000 2024-12-01T01:15+0000 world syria bashar assad syrian defense ministry aleppo military operation in syria syria conflict russian weapons russian army syrian army https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0c/01/1121053849_0:50:3392:1958_1920x0_80_0_0_971c375a8c3e5eddff000d59620d05d7.jpg Assad held a phone conversation with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss the latest developments in Syria and a number of regional issues. Later in the day, the country's armed forces said that the army is successfully repelling the terrorist attack, adding that a counteroffensive is soon to follow. Syrian army reinforcements arrived in Hama, government agencies are operating as usual, the governor of the province, Kamal Barmo, said.He also denounced reports of terrorist vehicles entering Hama as false. Earlier, the Syrian Defense Ministry dismissed claims about the entry of terrorist groups into cities in northern Hama province as untrue.The Syrian Defense Ministry said earlier in the day that government forces engaged in combat with terrorist groups in the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib. At the same time, the Syrian armed forces said that dozens of their soldiers were killed in clashes with these terrorist groups. The army, in turn, relocated troops in order to protect civilians and prepare for a counterattack. The terrorists infiltrated several areas of Aleppo, and the armed forces continue to target their positions, awaiting reinforcements. The armed conflict in Syria has been ongoing since 2011, with various insurgent groups, including terrorist organizations, fighting each other and the Syrian armed forces. In 2017, Russia, Turkey and Iran launched a mediation group on the Syrian settlement in the Kazakh capital of Astana. The format also includes representatives from the Syrian government and opposition, the UN and observer countries, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241130/aleppo-crisis-whats-really-going-on-in-syria-1121050853.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20241130/terrorist-infiltration-in-aleppo-syrian-military-readies-reinforcements-1121049583.html syria aleppo hama Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us-sponsored terrorism, us terrorism, syrian opposition, american terrorists, syrian war, war on terror, international coalition, terrorist threat, terrorist group, russian ally, russia-syria cooperation, russian army, syrian army, syrian aleppo, terrorists attack aleppo, militants attack aleppo, terrorists in idlib, terrorists in aleppo, operation in syria, counter-terrorist operation, fight against terrorism, radical islamism, islamic jihad, islamic state, isis, is, tahrir al-sham, syrian national army, syrian sovereignty, bashar assad, syrian president assad regime, bashar al-assad https://sputnikglobe.com/20241201/syrian-army-reinforcements-arrive-in-hama-government-operating-as-usual-1121054784.html Syrian Army Reinforcements Arrive in Hama, Government Operating as Usual Syrian Army Reinforcements Arrive in Hama, Government Operating as Usual Sputnik International Syrian army reinforcements have arrived in Hama, government agencies are operating as usual, the governor of the province, Kamal Barmo, said. 2024-12-01T04:19+0000 2024-12-01T04:19+0000 2024-12-01T04:19+0000 world bashar assad middle east syria russia hama syrian defense ministry https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107816/33/1078163395_0:145:2785:1711_1920x0_80_0_0_1ba072de0365d98d62fb199a55dab401.jpg "Government agencies and services in the province are operating as usual," Barmo told Syrian broadcaster Sham FM. According to the government, Syrian army reinforcements have arrived in Hama. Earlier, the Syrian Defense Ministry said that information about the entry of terrorist groups into cities in the north of the Hama province in Syria was not true. The United States denies any involvement in the terrorists' offensive in northern Syria, White House National Security Council Spokesperson Sean Savett said in a statement.Washington is closely monitoring the situation in Syria and is in contact with authorities in the Middle East, being ready to protect its personnel and bases in the region, the White House said.On Saturday, the Syrian Armed Forces Command said that dozens of Syrian soldiers had been killed in combat operations against terrorist groups in the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib, and that the army had redeployed to save the lives of civilians and soldiers and prepare for a counteroffensive. The Syrian army said that terrorists had penetrated many areas of the Syrian city of Aleppo, and that the Syrian armed forces were continuing to strike their positions and were awaiting the arrival of reinforcements. Earlier, the Syrian Defense Ministry said that the government army had engaged in combat with terrorists who had attacked the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib. In violation of the de-escalation agreement, groups belonging to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, a terrorist organization banned in Russia) struck villages, settlements, and military positions along a wide front in the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib. According to the ministry, the army responded to the attack, resulting in terrorists suffering losses in manpower and equipment. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241130/aleppo-crisis-whats-really-going-on-in-syria-1121050853.html syria russia hama Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International syrian army reinforcements, syrian army, arrive in hama, government agencies are operating as usual https://sputnikglobe.com/20241201/ukraines-nato-aspirations-grow-dim-as-russia-steadily-advances---reports-1121057026.html Ukraines NATO Aspirations Grow Dim as Russia Steadily Advances - Reports Ukraines NATO Aspirations Grow Dim as Russia Steadily Advances - Reports Sputnik International Ukraines prospects of joining NATO seem even dimmer with President-elect Donald Trump about to take office, speculated The New York Times. 2024-12-01T07:40+0000 2024-12-01T07:40+0000 2024-12-01T07:40+0000 world russia ukraine volodymyr zelensky donald trump nato nato membership kiev ukraine crisis https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0c/01/1121055769_0:215:2875:1832_1920x0_80_0_0_8c4eb58ee4be19963d882531af7287c1.jpg The Kiev regimes prospects of joining NATO seem even dimmer with President-elect Donald Trump about to take office, The New York Times speculated.Trump and his team have reportedly signaled reluctance to support Ukraines membership in the bloc. Throughout his campaign, the Republican repeatedly vowed to settle the Ukraine conflict if reelected and threatened to cut aid to the Volodymyr Zelensky regime. NATO members have been wary of extending an invitation to Kiev amid concerns that the bloc would become an active participant in the fighting, the publication noted. Zelensky recently floated the idea that the hot phase of the conflict could end if Ukraine were taken under the NATO umbrella. His remarks, made in an interview with British media, are seen as an indication that Kiev is warming up to the possibility of peace talks with Moscow, the outlet said. As Zelensky continues his unrequited pining for NATO membership, Russias Armed Forces are pressing ahead with steady advances, inflicting catastrophic losses on the enemy. The situation is precarious for the Ukrainian troops in Donetsk and on the approaches to the strategic city of Kurakhovo in the Donetsk Peoples Republic, the article also said. Ukraines military, plagued by severe lack of personnel, ammunition, and plummeting morale, has been retreating from Kurakhovo, which served as a critical logistical hub for Ukrainian defenses in the region. Russias liberation of Kurakhovo would open the way towards the Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk) rail hub and facilitate further gains. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241115/ukraine-abandons-positions-in-kurakhovo-amid-lack-of-personnel-ammunition-low-morale-1120892531.html russia ukraine kiev Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko what are the prospects of ukraine joining nato, will nato invite ukraine to join alliance, russia's steady advance in ukraine, russian military tactics, russian military operation ukraine, russian offensive https://sputnikglobe.com/20241201/white-house-insists-no-nukes-for-ukraine-but-more-conventional-arms-1121063213.html White House Insists No Nukes for Ukraine But More Conventional Arms White House Insists No Nukes for Ukraine But More Conventional Arms Sputnik International The United States is focused on providing Ukraine with conventional weapons and does not consider the possibility of returning nuclear weapons to the country, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Sunday. 2024-12-01T17:22+0000 2024-12-01T17:22+0000 2024-12-01T17:22+0000 americas ukraine jake sullivan white house us nuclear weapons https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0c/01/1121063023_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_d244df58e91b4b26331e5833843bb616.jpg "That is not under consideration. No. What we are doing is surging various conventional capacities to Ukraine, so that they can effectively defend themselves, not nuclear capability," Sullivan told ABC's This Week program. Last week, The New York Times reported that some US and European officials were allegedly proposing the return of nuclear weapons to Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that discussions about the possibility of deploying nuclear weapons in Ukraine were irresponsible and promoted by those with a poor understanding of reality.Speaking the decision on territorial concessions to end the ongoing conflict, Sullivan emphasized that it should ultimately be made by Ukraine itself, free from external influence, including that of the United States."The key thing from my perspective is that Ukraine determine its destiny and its destiny not be imposed by outside powers, including the United States ... And the key thing for this year was to try to give Ukraine as many tools as possible so that they could go into that negotiation and feel they could achieve the outcome that they would like to see," Sullivan told ABC's This Week program.The official noted that issues related to territorial integrity, security, and other matters should remain within the competence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, since "ultimately, it is his country." https://sputnikglobe.com/20241126/discussions-on-possible-deployment-of-nuclear-arms-in-ukraine-irresponsible---kremlin-1121005411.html americas ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukraine, ukrainian crisis, ukrainian conflict, war in ukraine, jake sullivan, nuclear weapon for ukraine Jonathan Drury celebrated his 2,000th career driving win as he guided Self Made to victory in the sixth race at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday night, Nov. 30. Drury was first to the front with the Tony Montini-trained pacer Self Made out of post seven but was shuffled to third when the parked out HF Pans Shadow (Ed Hensley) cleared then 4-5 bettors' choice Trion De Vie (Tyler Borth) swept around that pair to the top. Rounding the final turn, Drury made his move and Self Made went by the favourite at the top of the lane, opening up two lengths while longshot Beyond Better (J.R. Plante) came flying late from the backfield but had too much ground to make up. Self Made scored in 1:53.4 by 1-1/4 lengths, giving Drury his milestone moment. Sent postward as the 7-1 fourth choice in the full field of 10, Self Made paid $16.90 for the win in the $12,000 conditioned pace. The five-year-old Fear The Dragon gelding, who has banked more than $250,000 lifetime, earned his first win in eight starts since arriving in Canada at the end of September for his current connections, Albina Montini, Christine Michele, Kwong Sum Low and William Rogers. Drury earned his first career victory in 2008 and has driven winners of more than $31.6 million since. The 35-year-old Guelph Eramosa, Ont. reinsman, who posted a career-high 206 victories in 2012, has won 64 races in 2024. This year marks the 13th straight season his mounts have earned more than a million dollars. To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park. (Standardbred Canada) A back-to-back winner in the Preferred Trot at Flamboro Downs in late October, R Royal Port was back in the spotlight on Saturday night, Nov. 30 as he delivered a front-end victory once again in the $12,000 feature. Insanity and Colin Kelly were first to fire off the gate and crossed to command around the opening turn with R Royal Port leaving to his inside and quickly looping to the lead by the quarter pole in :28.2 for Travis Henry. R Royal Port then got a second-quarter breather to the half in :58.3 where Boomandbust and Todd Ratchford moved first-over from third. But that trotter only posed a threat to Insanity for the runner-up honours as R Royal Port remained clear on top past three-quarters in 1:27.1 and kept his foes at bay through the lane, easily winning in 1:57.2. Insanity closed inside down the stretch to reclaim second-place, three-quarters of a length back of the winner at the wire, with Boomandbust settling for third on the outside. R Royal Port, the 4-5 favourite who was beat less than a length in last week's Preferred, paid $3.80 to win. Gerard Demers trains the five-year-old Archangel-World Class Izzy gelding, who has put together the first six-figure season of his career with 13 wins from 35 starts in 2024, for owner La Ferme Tag Inc. of Papineauville, Que. R Royal Port is one of just eight trotters with 13 or more wins this year in North America. Demers doubled up on the nine-race card with six-year-old pacer Odds On Carmel, a recent newcomer to his stable, pulling off a 14-1 upset as he led a field of $8,000 claimers, winning in a season's best 1:56.3 in rein to Austin Sorrie. With that victory, Demers went over the million-dollar mark in seasonal earnings, marking the first time he's achieved that feat since he began training in 2002. To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Flamboro Downs. (Standardbred Canada; photo of R Royal Port from a previous win at Woodbine Mohawk Park) 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: India is building what it boasts will be the world's largest renewable power plant. Vast lines of solar panels reflect the blazing sun in India's western deserts, a dazzling ocean broken only by bristling wind turbines. India, along its desolate border with Pakistan, is building what it boasts will be the world's largest renewable power plant, an emblem of a determined push to boost solar energy. The Khavda plant in Gujarat state consists of some 60 million solar panels and 770 wind turbines spread over 538 square kilometers (208 square miles)almost the size of the sprawling megacity Mumbai. In front of a wall of screens, a handful of operators monitor the machines under the slogan: "Adani Group: Growth with Goodness". "Today, we can produce up to 11 gigawatts of electricity," said Maninder Singh Pental, vice-president of Adani Green Energy, the subsidiary of Indian conglomerate Adani Group, and in which France's TotalEnergies holds a 20 percent stake. "In 2029, we will be able to produce up to 30 GW," he added proudly. At that point, India will break another record, with Khavda overtaking China's 18 GW Three Gorges hydroelectric dam to become the most powerful electricity production site in the world. The power is sorely needed in the world's most populous nation, where demand has doubled since 2000, driven by demographic expansion, economic growth and rapid urbanization. India vows to be carbon neutral by 2070 and as part of that, New Delhi wants its renewable energy capacity to rise from 200 GWhalf of its current energy mixto 500 GW by 2030. It hopes 300 GW will come from solar power alone. The International Energy Agency, in a report this year, said India is "expected to almost triple its 2022 renewable capacity by 2030", maintaining its third place position among the largest renewable energy producers. Government financial incentives are encouraging people to make the switch to solar power. Adani bombshell As Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks of a "solar revolution" panels are popping up across India, from power plants to rooftops. But Adani Green Energy CEO Sagar Adani said what matters is the scale of production as it is easier and quicker to ramp up the country's baseload with bigger units than smaller ones. "The country needs a large amount of large concentrated big locations," he said. "You can have 200 projects of 50 megawatts each, nothing is going to happen to India with that." Adani has vowed to commit $35 billion to renewables by 2030. However, a bombshell US indictment last week has caused complications, with TotalEnergies freezing all new investments in the conglomerate after tycoon founder Gautam Adani and multiple subordinates were accused of fraudcharges fiercely denied. But observers suggest the solar power push will continue. "It will not impact honest players," a market analyst said, but warned it will "affect Adani's ability to raise funds". Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance group has also promised to invest $10 billion in green energy, including a 10GW solar farm in Andhra Pradesh state. India's power demands are rising fast and expected to surge a further 50 percent by 2030. Critically, the cost of solar energy has dropped to become competitive to coal-fired plants, which produce 70 percent of India's electricity. "It's a good thing," said Ajay Mathur, director of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). He noted that while "the initial investment is double", power prices per kilowatt hour for solar are now the same or less than from coal plants. Tejpreet Chopra, from major renewable energy generation giant Bharat Light and Power, said it was "super exciting" to be part of the transition, while accepting there were major hurdles. "When the cost of energy has come down, the financial return is more and more difficult," he said. "How do you attract capital, investments and technology?" Rising power demands Government financial incentives are encouraging people to make the switchincluding a factory in the suburbs of New Delhi. Jubilant Food Works factory employs 500 employees, producing pizzas and pastries for US brands. On its 4,400-square-meter roof, nearly 800 solar panels provide 14 percent of its electricity far cheaper than the grid. Praveen Kumay from SunSource Energy said his teams installed and maintain the infrastructure. Solar power is sorely needed India, where demand has doubled since 2000. "For each unit... we are billing them 4.3 rupees, whereas the grid cost is seven rupees," Kumay said. Factory manager Anil Chandel said it was a "good deal" they aimed to expand to supply 50 percent of power needs. "We don't have any headache of maintaining it," he said. The government has also promised to support panels for 10 million homes. But power demands are rising fast and expected to surge a further 50 percent by 2030. The existing carbon-hungry system will remain key. "We need power, and for India, it means coal," said Tejpreet Chopra. "That's the reality of the grid." Chetan Solanki, of the Energy Swaraj Foundationmeaning "self-restraint"said solar panels come with their own cost of production, in terms of power and chemicals. "Solar energy is better than coal, but you can't use it blindly," he said, adding that people must also rein in power demand. "We also have to minimize energy consumption." 2024 AFP Australia is progressing towards implementing a groundbreaking ban on social media access for individuals aged 16 and below. The legislation, titled the "Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024," has already passed the Senate and awaits further refinement in the House of Representatives before becoming law. However, the proposed age verification mechanisms and the absence of a requirement for identification have sparked significant debate. Legislative Progress The Australian Senate recently approved the social media ban bill through a decisive vote of 34 in favor and 19 against. This follows a strong endorsement from the House of Representatives earlier, with a 102-13 vote. While the bill moves closer to becoming law, it must return to the lower house for final deliberations and amendments. The bill focuses on regulating access to social media platforms for minors under 17, excluding platforms related to gaming, health, education, or messaging services. However, officials have yet to confirm which social media platforms will be impacted by the ban, as the bill does not specify them. Verification System and Concerns The legislation mandates that social media platforms implement age verification systems to ensure users are at least 17 years old. Despite this, Australia's communication commissioner, Michelle Rowland, has clarified that platforms will not be required to collect official identification from users. This approach has drawn criticism, with many questioning its effectiveness in preventing underage access. Non-compliance with the law could lead to hefty fines, amounting to $32.1 million (49.5 million AUD) for violating platforms. Rationale Behind the Ban The proposed ban reflects growing concerns over the adverse effects of social media on young users, including increased risks of depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. Studies and expert testimonies have highlighted these issues, prompting global discussions on improving online safety for minors. Notably, several social media platforms, including Snapchat and Instagram, have introduced features designed specifically for teenagers. These versions prioritize enhanced safety measures and curated algorithms to mitigate harm while maintaining access. International Comparisons Australia's efforts align with broader global trends to address the impact of social media on youth. The United Kingdom and European Union, under the European Commission, have implemented or proposed similar regulations. In the United States, certain states have sought to introduce restrictions, though enforcement remains a challenge due to false age declarations by users. Despite such initiatives, Australia's proposed outright ban for under-17s is among the most stringent globally, drawing both support and skepticism, particularly regarding its execution and long-term viability. Potential Implications Australia's move to ban social media for teenagers under 17 signals a significant shift in online safety regulations. While the initiative addresses critical concerns regarding youth mental health, the absence of stringent identification requirements may undermine its objectives. As the bill progresses through legislative processes, its final form and impact remain to be seen. United Nations, November 27, 2024 Gender disparities and strained resources The report found that only 17 per cent of the 82 operational facilities cater exclusively to women, and services for female patients are accessible in just over a third of provinces, leaving many women without adequate care. The survey also highlights acute shortages of qualified medical personnel, essential supplies, and infrastructure funding. Over 72 per cent of centres operate at or near full capacity, yet many lack basic resources such as naloxone, a life-saving medication for opioid overdoses. Additionally, community-based care, a more accessible alternative to residential treatment, remains underdeveloped. Most facilities rely on resource-intensive residential models, disproportionately affecting rural populations who are underserved. A changing drug landscape Afghanistan is also experiencing a troubling shift in drug trends. While opiates such as heroin and opium remain the leading substances driving treatment admissions, the use of synthetic drugs like methamphetamine is rising rapidly. Methamphetamine-related admissions now account for a growing portion of cases, complicating treatment needs and straining already limited resources. This shift is occurring alongside a decline in opium production, which in 2024 totalled 433 tonnes a 30 per cent increase from 2023, but still 93 per cent below 2022 levels, when the de facto authorities began enforcing a nationwide drug ban. The report warns that without targeted interventions, the proliferation of synthetic drugs could deepen Afghanistans public health crisis. Coordinated action needed The findings call for urgent collaboration between Afghanistans de facto authorities and the international community to address these challenges. International efforts must be coordinated to ensure that this decline is not replaced with production of dangerous synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine within Afghanistan or the wider region, said Ghada Waly, Executive Director of UNODC. Expanding gender-sensitive services, increasing community-based care options, and addressing critical resource gaps are among the top priorities. Investment in infrastructure, medical supplies, and workforce training is also essential to improve the quality and accessibility of treatment services across the country. The Diplomat, November 28, 2024 By Mohammad Qadam Shah More than three years since the Taliban took over Afghanistan for the second time, the situation is more dire for Afghan ordinary citizens than ever. Amid the barren landscape of rural Afghanistan, families struggle to survive on the edge of famine. Afghans, with no employment and no business opportunities, have no prospect of economic stability. The humanitarian aid intended to reach these vulnerable communities is intercepted, redirected to the black market, or siphoned into the coffers of powerful individuals. Such stories are emblematic of the entrenched systemic corruption in Afghanistan, a rot that has persisted across regimes. The only difference is that, this time around, the Taliban are enforcing it with a side of Islamic extremism and brutal violation of human rights and womens rights. Afghanistans centralized governance structure, designed to concentrate power in the hands of a select few, has consistently facilitated corruption. The unchecked discretion of powerholders and the lack of meaningful accountability mechanisms have allowed embezzlement, nepotism, and the diversion of resources to thrive. Under the Islamic Republic, corrupt practices became institutionalized, plundering billions in aid and public funds. Today, under the Taliban regime, the same system remains intact albeit transformed into an even more insidious kleptocracy where state resources and humanitarian aid are exploited to enrich the ruling group, leaving ordinary Afghans with little to nothing. While breaking this vicious cycle of corruption seem impossible, the international community and donors can still play an effective role toward that end. They can impose more restrictions on the use of humanitarian aid and rely on neutral, locally embedded organizations. Likewise, the international community must impose more sanctions on known corrupt officials to disrupt the financial network that sustain the Talibans kleptocracy without imposing collective punishment on ordinary Afghans. The Structural Flaws of Centralized Governance At the core of Afghanistans corruption crisis is its excessively centralized governance model. Designed to concentrate power within the capital, this structure effectively sidelines provinces and local communities, creating a vast gap between the rulers and the ruled. Such a model inherently lacks accountability, as decisionmakers in Kabul face little pressure to address the concerns of ordinary citizens. Unchecked discretion is a hallmark of this governance system. Officials have sweeping authority over resource allocation, government appointments, and law enforcement, with few institutional checks or public oversight. This centralization has fostered an environment where personal loyalties and political connections override merit, paving the way for nepotism and graft. For decades, this system has been fertile ground for corruption. Local leaders have often relied on bribery to gain favor with Kabul, while national elites exploit their positions to secure lucrative contracts, manipulate aid flows, and enrich themselves. By marginalizing local governance, the centralized model has not only institutionalized corruption but also deepened the disconnect between the state and its people. Systemic Corruption Under the Islamic Republic The fall of the Taliban in 2001 brought hope for a new era in Afghanistan, but the structural flaws in governance remained untouched. Afghanistan relied on the same centralized governance structure that was first imposed on the country in the 1880s and evolved through the Soviet Unions rule in Afghanistan. When Afghanistan adopted its 2004 Constitution, the same core features of the previous regimes persisted: a monopoly of power in the hands of a few with excessive discretion over state resources and without any downward accountability to Afghans. Under the Islamic Republic, corruption became a defining feature of the state. Billions of dollars in foreign aid flowed into Afghanistan, ostensibly to rebuild infrastructure and strengthen institutions. Instead, much of this aid was squandered through a web of systemic graft. One of the most egregious examples was the phenomenon of ghost soldiers. The Afghan militarys payroll included tens of thousands of non-existent personnel, allowing officials to siphon off millions of dollars in salaries. Similarly, reconstruction contracts were often inflated, with kickbacks paid to powerful figures in Kabul. Western aid agencies contributed inadvertently to this corruption by channeling vast sums through weak state institutions, failing to account for the local realities of power dynamics and governance. The result was a vicious cycle: aid money bolstered the very systems that enabled corruption, further alienating the Afghan population from their government. By the time the Islamic Republic fell in 2021, corruption was deeply entrenched, eroding trust in state institutions and leaving ordinary Afghans to fend for themselves in the face of failing services and widespread inequality. Kleptocracy Under the Taliban The Talibans return to power has not dismantled Afghanistans corrupt governance structure. Unsurprisingly, the Taliban adapted the same centralized governance structure as it so well fits their own ideological ambitions: dominating the Afghan society, imposing their own extreme version of Islam, and extracting state resources for their own interests. These are the main features of a kleptocratic regime where corruption is not merely a byproduct of weak governance but a deliberate strategy of rule. The Taliban have seized control of key revenue sources, including illegal mining and the narcotics trade. These activities generate billions of dollars annually, enriching the Taliban elite while leaving little for the countrys development. Furthermore, the Taliban exploit international humanitarian aid, redirecting supplies to their loyalists or selling them on the black market. Reports have emerged of aid being withheld from marginalized communities, particularly women and ethnic minorities, as the Taliban use humanitarian assistance as a tool of coercion and control. This form of exploitation deepens existing inequalities, perpetuating cycles of poverty and despair. Unlike the corruption under the Islamic Republic, which was often opportunistic, the Talibans kleptocracy is more systematic. It aligns with their broader strategy of consolidating power, ensuring that resources are concentrated in the hands of their leadership while ordinary Afghans are left to suffer. As such, one may not see significant differences in the level of petty or grand corruption. The courts are used as a primary tool to punish those who disobey the Talibans rule. Otherwise, court sentences are basically up for sale: whoever pays more wins the case. More importantly, the courts do not abide by any human right standards. The Taliban, just like every other new regime in Afghanistan through the ages, are distributing lands. As they do so, they punish some by usurping their lands and reward others by granting them land. Public services are not available for all, and the public have to in most cases compete by bribes for accessing services. While the Taliban are collecting taxes better than the previous government, they share the same issue as no one knows how the Taliban spend the publics money. Procurement is a major area of grand corruption. Government projects lack transparency, and corruption flourishes in that darkness. Afghanistans natural and mineral resources are a major area where no Afghan citizen really knows what the Taliban are doing. China is apparently the main partner with the Taliban in this regard, but there are very few public details about their dealings. The Human Toll of Corruption The consequences of systemic corruption in Afghanistan are devastating and far-reaching. At the most basic level, corruption deprives citizens of essential services. Hospitals lack supplies, schools remain underfunded, and infrastructure projects are abandoned incomplete. Corruption also exacerbates poverty, pushing vulnerable populations further into desperation. For many Afghans, bribes are a necessary cost of accessing basic rights, such as obtaining identity documents or securing a place in school. Those who cannot afford to pay are excluded, perpetuating cycles of inequality. Corruption kills by denying people access to healthcare, by exacerbating food insecurity, and by fueling the very conflicts that keep Afghanistan mired in chaos. No other outcome is perceivable under the Talibans rule. The human toll of corruption is not merely an abstract statistic, it is the lived reality of millions of Afghans who struggle daily to survive in a system that prioritizes power and profit over their welfare. Under the Taliban, Afghans may not experience suicide attacks, but they are dying silently through extreme poverty and lack of prospects for their future. Breaking the Cycle: The Role of International Donors In the face of such entrenched corruption, breaking the cycle may seem like an impossible task. However, international donors have a critical role to play in mitigating its effects. First, donors must impose strict conditions on humanitarian aid to ensure it reaches the intended recipients. This can be achieved through increased oversight and transparency mechanisms, such as digital tracking systems that monitor the flow of aid from distribution centers to local communities. Second, aid should be channeled through neutral, locally embedded organizations rather than centralized state structures. By partnering with grassroots NGOs and community leaders, donors can reduce the risk of diversion and ensure that assistance is targeted toward those most in need. Finally, the international community must apply targeted sanctions against known corrupt officials within the Taliban regime. Such measures can disrupt the financial networks that sustain kleptocracy without imposing collective punishment on the Afghan population. Conclusion Afghanistans corruption crisis is a symptom of its flawed governance structure, a system designed to concentrate power rather than distribute it equitably. This structure has allowed corruption to thrive across regimes, from the opportunistic graft of the Islamic Republic to the systemic kleptocracy of the Taliban. The human toll of this corruption is immense, depriving millions of Afghans of basic services, deepening inequality, and perpetuating cycles of poverty and despair. Breaking this cycle will require a concerted effort by the international community. By imposing strict conditions on aid, empowering local actors, and supporting governance reform, donors can help ensure that resources reach those who need them most. While the challenges are daunting, the stakes could not be higher. For the Afghan people, the fight against corruption is not just a matter of governance it is a matter of survival. 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Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani said on Saturday that the set of allegations being levelled against the conglomerate in the US was another attack on the group from which it would emerge stronger and more resilient. Addressing the 51st Indian Gems and Jewellery Award function, the Adani Group Chairman referred to the "set of allegations from the US about compliance practices at Adani Green Energy" as one of the three attacks that had taken place against the Adani Group recently. "This is not the first time we have faced such challenges. What I can tell you is that every attack makes us stronger and every obstacle becomes a stepping stone for a more resilient Adani Group," he said. "The fact is that despite a lot of the vested reporting, no one from the Adani side has been charged with any violation of the FCPA or any conspiracy to obstruct justice. Yet, in todays world, negativity spreads faster than facts - and as we work through the legal process, I want to re-confirm our absolute commitment to world-class regulatory compliance," Gautam Adani contended. Listing the other two attacks, he said: "First - in 2010, when we were investing in a coal mine in Australia, our objective was clear: How to make India energy secure and replace every two tons of poor-quality Indian coal with one ton of high-quality coal from Australia? However, the resistance from NGOs was huge and lasted almost a decade." He said the opposition was so intense that the group ended up funding the entire project of $10 billion with its own equity. "While we now have a world-class operating mine in Australia and it could be seen as a great sign of our resilience, the fact is that 100 per cent equity funding took away over $30 billion of debt financing from our green energy projects," Gautam Adani said. "The next example is from January last year, just as we were getting ready to launch our Follow-on Public Offering. We faced a short-selling attack initiated from abroad. This was not a typical financial strike; it was a double hit - targeting our financial stability and pulling us into a political controversy. All of this was further amplified by certain media with vested interests. But even in the face of such adversity, our commitment to our principles remained strong," the Adani Group chief pointed out. He said that after successfully raising Rs 20,000 crore from Indias largest-ever FPO, the group made the extraordinary decision to return the proceeds. "We then further demonstrated our resilience by raising capital from several international sources and proactively reducing our Debt to EBITDA ratio to below 2.5 times, an unmatched metric in the global infrastructure space," he said. Gautam Adani further stated that the all-time record financial results of the group in the same year showcased its commitment to operational excellence. Not a single Indian or foreign credit rating agency downgraded the Adani Group and finally, the Supreme Courts "affirmation of our actions validated our approach", he added. He also said that over the years, he had come to accept that the roadblocks have to be faced as the price of pioneering. "The more bold your dreams, the more the world will scrutinize you. But it is precisely in that scrutiny that you must find the courage to rise, to challenge the status quo, and to build a path where none exists. To pioneer is to embrace the unknown, to break limits, and to believe in your vision even when the world cannot yet see it," Gautam Adani asserted. Saudi Arabia's National Water Company (NWC) has announced plans to implement water and sanitation projects worth SAR11.6 billion ($3.2 billion) across the kingdom covering key regions such as Aseer, Qassim and Al Baha as part of the government's utility infrastructure development plan. The foundation stones for all these projects were laid in the presence of Engineer Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al Fadhli, the Saudi Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture. In the Aseer region, NWC will be developing a total of 87 water and sanitation projects at an investment of over SAR5 billion, stated Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Emir of the Aseer Region. He was speaking after laying the foundation stones for 73 environmental, water and agricultural projects in the Aseer region that cost more than SAR3.5 billion. These efforts are aimed at achieving environmental and water sustainability in line with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, he added. NWC has already implemented six projects to improve the drinking water supply system and increase operational efficiency. These projects included the extension of water transmission lines and networks of different diameters with a total length of more than 302 km, the development and replacement of existing pumps, and the implementation of pressure and flow control valve rooms in daily distribution reservoirs in several districts of Abha City, governorates and villages in the region, at a cost of more than SAR134 million. Al Fadhli said National Water Company had strengthened its water transmission and distribution system in the region by implementing a major project - linking the 19-km-long line from Tarjis Dam treatment plant to Namas Governorate. The scope of work includes construction of two reservoirs with a total capacity of 11,000 cu m, a pumping station with a total capacity of 25,000 cu m per day, and a distribution station at a total cost of more than SAR79.3 million. In addition, water sources in Khamis Mushait and Uhud Rafidah governorates were developed through the implementation of a project to complete the water treatment plant at Wadi Tandaha Dam with a production capacity of (16,800) cu m per day. In Qassim region, NWC will be implementing 66 water and environment projects worth more than SAR4.2 billion. Emir of Qassim Region Prince Dr Faisal bin Mishaal bin Saud bin Abdulaziz inaugurated 21 water and sanitation projects at a cost of more than SAR2.2 billion in the presence of Minister Al Fadhli. "We are proud of the development projects launched today in the Qassim region in the fields of water, environment, and agriculture, which will contribute to improving the quality of life, enhancing food security, and providing sustainable water solutions that serve the region and meet the goals of Vision 2030," he added. Al Fadhli said National Water Company has implemented 10 water projects at a cost of more than SAR933.5 million to boost the drinking water distribution system and manage demand in the Qassim region. These projects included the construction of water transmission lines, main lines and networks of various diameters with a total length of over 579km, the construction of 7 operational reservoirs with various storage capacities totaling 109,000 cu m and several pumping stations with a total capacity of more than 294,000 cu m per day. Minister Al Fadhli pointed out that in order to support environmental sustainability, eliminate environmental damage and increase the coverage of environmental services, the National Water Company has implemented 10 environmental projects, including the construction of transmission lines and sewerage networks of various diameters and lengths of more than 355.2 kilometers in various locations in the Qassim region. "The company also constructed two wastewater treatment plants with a total capacity of more than 11,200 cubic meters per day and lift stations with a total capacity of 128,700 cubic meters per day at a total cost of more than SAR1.2 billion," he added. In the Al Baha Region, NWC is developing 17 key projects at a total cost of more than SAR1.7 billion including 10 projects in the water sector at more than SAR1.6 billion in addition to 6 projects in the agriculture sector at a cost of more than SAR100 million and one project in the environment sector at more than SAR509,000. Emir of Al Baha Region Prince Dr. Hussam bin Saud bin Abdulaziz laid the foundation stone for 17 projects of the environmental, water, and agricultural system in the region, at a cost of more than SAR1.7 billion. Of these 10 are linked to the water sector, including 7 projects for the NWC to implement water and sewage networks in the region, at a cost of more than SAR294 million in addition to two projects for the Saudi Water Authority (SWA), at a cost of more than SAR1.3 billion to enhance water security and meet the growing demand for desalinated water in the region. Speaking at the launch, Al Fadhli said: "These projects included 17 for the supply of water and sewage services in the region, implemented by NWC at a cost of more than SAR674 million. Also an environmental project for the National Center for Vegetation Development and Desertification Control (NCVC) is being set up at a cost of more than SAR7.3 million." The scope of work for NWC includes setting up of two drinking water purification plants in Makhwah and Qalwa governorates, and the construction of two reservoirs with a capacity of 75,000 cu m for each reservoir in Baljarshi and Qalwa governorates, he added.-TradeArabia News Service The World Green Economy Organization (WGEO) successfully took part in the COP29 event held in Baku, Azerbaijan, with landmark achievements in global green economy efforts. Its engagement at the recent summit yielded significant outcomes, key announcements, and impactful contributions through high-level meetings and specialized sessions. The WGEO pavilion in the Blue Zone, inaugurated by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of WGEO, hosted 54 sessions featuring 206 global experts and speakers. These addressed critical topics, innovative solutions, and the latest advancements in the fields of the green economy, climate action, and sustainable development. "COP29 served as a crucial platform to advance sustainable development and drive the global green transition, reinforcing collective efforts in climate action. Building on the outcomes of previous conferences, it underscored the significance of international collaboration in accelerating equitable and comprehensive climate solutions while advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Agreement, and the UAE Consensus," said Abdulrahim Sultan, the Director General of WGEO. "At WGEO, we prioritized creating a dynamic platform for dialogue, fostering collaboration, and enabling progress in various aspects of the green economy. By hosting leading international experts and organizing a series of events, workshops, and discussions, we aimed to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experiences while supporting the development of practical solutions and strategies for a global green economy," stated Sultan. "We are proud of the significant outcomes achieved during this landmark event and remain committed to sustaining the momentum generated at COP29 as we work toward a green, sustainable, and inclusive future," he added. At COP29, WGEO hosted a High-Level Ministerial Panel that underscored the pivotal role of green transformation in advancing climate action. The panel brought together a distinguished group of ministers and high-ranking officials from various nations, including Tawfiq Al Sharjbe, Minister of Water and Environment of the Republic of Yemen; Carolina Novac, Minister of State for Energy of the Republic of Moldova; Gustav Aitaro, Minister of State of the Republic of Palau; Dr. Abdullah bin Ali Al-Omari, Chairman of the Environment Agency in of Oman; and Diann Black-Liayne, Director of the Department of Environment in Antigua and Barbuda. The session emphasized collaborative efforts to integrate sustainable practices into climate strategies and highlighted the diverse regional perspectives driving global green initiatives. WGEOs pavilion also hosted the Second Quarterly Focal Points Meeting of the Global Alliance on Green Economy (GAGE). During the meeting, Al Tayer highlighted the expansion of GAGEs membership to 89 countries, welcoming the Sultanate of Oman, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Republic of Moldova as its newest members. He also announced WGEOs upcoming participation as a Knowledge Partner in Oman Climate Week 2025 and at the Global Water, Energy, and Climate Change Congress 2025, being hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain. Both events, scheduled for February 2025, will serve as key platforms to advance global green economy initiatives. WGEO emphasized the critical role of these events in fostering sustainable development and detailed its planned contributions through specialized sessions at its pavilion.-TradeArabia News Service Leading players from the manufacturing and industrial sectors along with other government leaders and academia will be in Abu Dhabi this week for a major summit where they will discuss ways to integrate digital technologies and create a safe and resilient industrial future. The Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS) kicks off on December 5 alongside the inaugural Abu Dhabi Business Week (ADBW) which is being held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. It is being hosted by Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO). Held under the theme Resilient by Design: The Next Frontier in Industrial Safety, #GMIS2024 will unite government officials and industry leaders to advance global safety frameworks for a safer and more resilient industrial ecosystem. With the agenda guided by the GIFIS Manifesto for Global Industrial Safety, the summit will explore predictive maintenance, real-time risk detection, and the role of public-private partnerships in developing and standardising global safety procedures, said the event organisers. Topics include safety in industry, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital transformation, it added. #GMIS2024 will continue to drive GMIS position as an international platform convening leaders from multi-national organisations, governments, academia, international organisations and civil society to advance inclusive and sustainable industrial development. In partnership with the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority (ADCDA) and the Global Initiative for Industrial Safety (GIFIS), #GMIS2024 will lead industry-wide discussions on integrating digital technologies that drive safety-first principles across the industrial sector, solidifying Abu Dhabis positioning as a hub for international collaboration, innovation, and industrial excellence. Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, said: "In line with the vision and directives of the leadership to support the growth of the industrial sector, ensure the sustainability of supply chains, and enhance the sectors contribution to economic diversification and sustainable development. The UAE is creating high added value by focusing on adopting advanced technology in industrial sector." Dr Al Jaber said: "Organising GMIS in Abu Dhabi embodies MoIATs strategic vision aimed at enhancing the UAEs position as a global hub for industry and innovation. Hosting this summit also represents an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to developing a safe and sustainable industrial environment." He called upon investors and manufacturers to benefit from the investment opportunities, enablers and incentives that support growth and competitiveness, by participating in the fourth edition of the Make it in the Emirates Forum next year. Taking place at Adnec from May 19 to 22, the forum will offer a key opportunity for manufacturers in the UAE to showcase their innovative products. UNIDO Director General Gerd Muller said: "Sustainable industrial development means social and ecological standards - and far too many people are affected daily by unsafe working conditions, particularly in developing countries. This is unacceptable. Innovative technologies are transforming industries, and we must match this with a strong commitment to safety on all fronts." "It is essential to prioritise the safety of workers, and here the UAE is leading new efforts to shape a safer and also more resilient industry of the future. I am very glad to see the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit return to Abu Dhabi - it is a truly global platform for bridging knowledge gaps and driving innovation," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Sun Siyam Resorts has announced the promotion of Abdulla Thamheed to the position of Vice President Operations, effective immediately. Thamheed will lead operational excellence across all Sun Siyam properties, applying his deep expertise and leadership to streamline processes, elevate guest experiences, and support the brands growth strategy. Thamheeds remarkable career spans over 27 years. Born and raised in the Maldives, he began his journey in hospitality as a young waiter at the age of 15 in 1996. He joined Sun Siyam Resorts in 2003 as a Food and Beverage Coordinator, steadily advancing through the ranks over the past two decades. His career is a testament to his dedication to the brands values and vision; after overseeing operations as General Manager of Siyam World and Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, he was appointed Group General Manager in 2013, overseeing all six Sun Siyam resorts in the Maldives and Sri Lanka. Notably, he played a key role in the opening of Siyam World in 2021. Now, as he steps into the role of Vice President, he brings the same passion and commitment that have defined his tenure. Deepak Booneady, Chief Executive Officer of Sun Siyam Resorts, praised Thamheeds long-standing commitment, stating, Thamheed has been an integral part of our family at Sun Siyam for many years, and his unwavering dedication to excellence has been a cornerstone of our success. His leadership, passion, and deep understanding of our brand's ethos make him the ideal fit for this expanded role. I am confident he will continue to inspire our teams and raise the standards of hospitality across our resorts. This promotion is well-deserved, and we look forward to the achievements his vision and expertise will bring to Sun Siyam Resorts. -TradeArabia News Service Ethiopian Airlines, one of the largest network operating carrier in Africa, has resumed passenger flights to Liberias capital, Monrovia, effective from November 30. This milestone was celebrated during an inaugural flight event in Monrovia attended by the President of Liberia, Ministers, Ambassadors, high[1]ranking officials, and Ethiopian Airlines executives. The event highlighted the airlines commitment to enhancing connectivity and fostering collaboration across the African continent. The resumption of services to Monrovia brings significant benefits, as it not only expands travel options for passengers but also plays a vital role in promoting economic integration between Ethiopia and Liberia. This new route aims to facilitate trade, tourism, and cultural exchange, ultimately contributing to the socio - economic development of both nations. Ethiopian Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer, Mesfin Tasew, stated, We are pleased to resume our flights to Monrovia, reinforcing our dedication to connecting Africa and promoting intra-African trade. In line with our vision of providing the best travel experience, we believe that our presence in Liberia will enhance opportunities for business and tourism, thus driving mutual growth. This resumption of services represents the strengthening of ties and the bridging of cultures between our two great nations. Flights to Monrovia will operate three times a week, providing seamless access to Liberias rich cultural and natural attractions. Monrovia, known for its vibrant culture, rich history, and natural beauty, is now more accessible to visitors from around the world through the hub in Addis Ababa. Travelers can explore Liberia's stunning beaches, lush jungles, and historical sites, benefiting from the restored air connection that supports the region's economic development. Ethiopian Airlines invites travelers to experience the convenience and comfort of its flights, continuing to serve as a stimulus for development and unity within Africa. -TradeArabia News Service Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) kicked off a promotional tour covering Denmark, Sweden and Norway. The tour, which will run until December 7, 2025, is part of the ongoing efforts to promote Ajman internationally and showcase its numerous tourism sites, events and offerings, while highlighting key factors that make the emirate a unique travel destination. The promotional tour, which also includes visits to the cities of Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo, aims to explore various possibilities for future collaborations with representatives of their tourism sector. Through these visits, ATDD seeks to forge constructive agreements and partnerships that will improve cooperation with Scandinavian nations and encourage their citizens to travel to Ajman and explore its tourist destinations and new tourism initiatives, as well as experience the richness of its natural attractions and cultural and historical sites. Mahmood Alhashmi, Director General of the Department, said: The promotional tour aligns with our objective to boost Ajmans tourism sector by highlighting the emirates resources and unique experiences it provides to visitors from all over the world. Through this visit, we aim to strengthen our partnership with Scandinavian tourism companies, improve the flow of tourists from European markets to the emirate and solidify Ajmans position on the regional and global tourism map. Furthermore, the tour supports ATDDs efforts to improve Ajmans appeal in the tourism sector. It provides vast possibilities for developing tourism services, enhancing tourist experiences and hosting collaborative promotional events with target countries. Raising the number of tourists and visitors from Scandinavia is crucial for Ajman, as it can boost the tourism industrys revenue and visitor numbers, both of which contribute to the sectors long-term growth. The Department constantly makes efforts to reinforce Ajmans position in the tourism sector by conducting promotional tours in several international markets to raise awareness on tourism features and sites in the emirate. The emirate further aims to attract more tourists and visitors, ultimately achieving the ambitious vision of becoming a leading tourist hub across the globe. -TradeArabia News Service Dan Company, a PIF company, specialising in agri, eco, and adventure tourism, has launched Tuaja Luxury Resorts, its new pioneering resorts brand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia aimed to further elevate the countrys tourism offering. Designed to provide experiences that connect guests with the stunning landscapes, rich culture, and authentic hospitality of the Kingdom, Tuaja offers a blend of luxury, heritage, nature, and sustainability. Tuaja Luxury Resorts offer three distinct experiences to suit all guests, varying from luxury and exploration at Tuaja Premium Farm Resort, tranquility and contemplation at the eco-friendly Tuaja Resort, and adventure and excitement at the Tuaja Adventure Resort. At the heart of all lies sustainability, reflected in innovative practices designed to preserve nature, cultivating a greener future, and fostering a strong culture of environmental responsibility. TUAJA PREMIUM FARM RESORT offers experience for guests to enjoy the beauty of nature amidst opulence and comfort. The resort will provide hands-on agricultural experiences and direct exploration of the land's bounty, ranging from tasting fresh local produce to engaging in farm-to-table cooking experiences and much more. TUAJA ECO RESORT is an eco-conscious retreat for those seeking tranquility and relaxation away from lifes hustle, offering expansive relaxation spaces. It features experiences of meditative practices amidst water channels and stunning nature. Carefully designed health and beauty services are available, where treatments are carried out by a team of skilled specialists using natural products and innovative techniques for the best results. Moreover, the resort stands as a testament to the importance of sustainability and environmental preservation, striving to foster a robust culture of conserving the kingdom's resources and the diversity of its nature for future generations. TUAJA ADVENTURE RESORT is designed for those seeking adventures and outdoor activities suitable for all community members. The variety of activities is tailored to the unique nature of each targeted city, offering opportunities to explore the enchanting landscapes around Saudi Arabia in a fun, thrilling, and exciting way against a backdrop of stunning natural beauty. Abdulrahman Abaalkhail, CEO of Dan Company, said With a vision to create rich and unforgettable experiences that connect guests to the Kingdoms stunning natural landscapes, culture, and hospitality, Tuaja Luxury Resorts will introduce brand-new one-of-a-kind hospitality experiences, rooted in sustainability and setting a remarkable precedent in the regions hospitality industry. Each resort is meticulously designed to offer unique and immersive experiential activities, promising a harmonious blend of luxury, nature, and unforgettable moments for our guests. Through a business model focused cultural authenticity, sustainability, and community empowerment, we are creating an ecosystem that contribute to the Kingdom's broader economic and tourism objectives. Tuajas first three resorts, operated by Hilton, will be in Al-Ahsa, a significant agricultural region in Saudi Arabias Eastern Province and UNESCO World Heritage site, which is home to Al-Ahsa Oasis - the largest date palm oasis in the world. With lush surroundings and homegrown farms at its doorstep, the 1.8 million square meter master development aims to create a premium farm-based tourism destination in the heart of Al-Ahsa, attracting visitors looking to connect with nature and enjoy a diverse range of experiences. Combining Hiltons world-class hospitality with the picturesque landscapes of Al-Ahsa that offer unique experiences rich in cultural and natural beauty, each resort will have a distinct offering, from luxury at the Tuaja Premium Farm Resort, wellness and wellbeing at the Tuaja Eco Resort, and outdoor adventure at the Tuaja Adventure Resort. Tuaja plans to open multiple resorts across different cities in Saudi Arabia by 2030, with each resort being inspired by the culture and heritage of the host city. -TradeArabia News Service Bedsonline, a part of Spains HBX Group, has launched its new loyalty programme, Bedsonline Rewards, that is aimed at recognising and rewarding the dedication of travel agents globally. It integrates seamlessly with Bedsonline's existing booking engine. The programme, which will replace the previous Star Rewards scheme in certain markets, allows agents to earn points on every purchase, whether booking accommodation, experiences, or other products. Bedsonline Rewards is structured in tiers, starting at Bronze level. New agents joining the programme will receive a welcome bonus of 2,000 points. As agents continue to make bookings, they can progress to higher tiers, each offering more valuable rewards. The more points an agent earns, the greater the benefits they will receive. The programme is designed for ease of use, allowing agents to sign up quickly through the booking engine. Once enrolled, agents can access a personal dashboard to track their points, view their tier status, and explore available rewards. Regular updates will also keep agents informed about their progress and new opportunities to earn more points. Rewards offered through Bedsonline Rewards include Amazon vouchers, gift vouchers tailored to different markets, and Bedsonline vouchers for future bookings. This gives agents the flexibility to use their rewards either for personal use or reinvest them back into their business. Bertrand Sava, Managing Director of Bedsonline, said: We are delighted to launch Bedsonline Rewards as a way of thanking our agents for their dedication and support. This programme has been created to be flexible and accessible, providing agents with a range of valuable incentives they can enjoy both personally and professionally. The programme will be rolled out in phases, starting with markets in the US, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Bedsonlines phased approach will ensure a smooth transition across regions, allowing agents worldwide to take full advantage of the rewards and benefits it offers. - TradeArabia News Service Swearing-in of new Maha CM to be held on Dec 5 at Azad Maidan Suspense is now over as the swearing-in of the 31st Maharashtra Chief Minister will be held on December 5 at 5 p.m. at the historic Azad Maidan near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in south Mumbai, BJP MLA from Colaba constituency and Speaker of the 14th state Assembly Rahul Narwekar said on Saturday. The swearing-in ceremony is expected to be a major event as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, several central ministers, Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states as well as its allies, are expected to attend it. Although BJP has yet to elect Devendra Fadnavis as the legislature party group leader formally, the party sources hinted that Fadnavis will take oath as the chief minister for the third time. Fadnavis had headed the BJP-led government between 2014 and 2019 and he later became chief minister with Ajit Pawar as deputy chief minister for 80 hours as the government was not formed after Ajit Pawar resigned. BJP sources have ruled out the names of Union Minister Muralidhar Mohol, Chandrakant Patil, and Vinod Tawde as the chief ministers candidates reiterating that Fadnavis will be the partys natural choice. Narvekars disclosure is important when BJP has yet to hold its legislators meeting to elect the legislature party group leader. BJP sources said that the meeting may take place on Monday in the presence of central party observers. After the legislators formally elect Fadnavis as their leader, he along with Shiv Sena and NCP will stake claim to the government formation with the state Governor CP Radhakrishnan. State Assembly elections were held on November 20 and results were announced on November 23 in which the MahaYuti got a landslide victory while the Maha Vikas Aghadi faced complete rout. BJP emerged as the single largest party winning a record 132 seats, Shiv Sena 57 and NCP 41. Although MahaYuti contested the recently held Assembly election under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the BJP has already indicated that it is not ready to leave the CMs post to Shinde but it is a natural claimant. BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP have yet to complete talks with regard to the allocation of cabinet berths, and ministerial posts. However, the MahaYuti sources said that it will be done on Monday or Tuesday. Meanwhile, state BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Saturday held an online meeting with newly elected MLAs in which he asked them about dos and donts to be followed after the formation of the government. He has asked the legislators that BJP office-bearers from all 36 districts will attend the oath-taking ceremony. In a related development, a core committee of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh took place at Nagpur on Saturday against the backdrop of a swearing-in ceremony slated for December 5. RSS and its affiliated organisations played a major role in mobilising voters in support of the BJP in the state Assembly elections. Erth Abu Dhabi Hotel has announced its participation in the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) in Cannes, France, taking place from December 2 to 5. This global platform for luxury travel provides Erth Abu Dhabi, represented within the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism stand (1-H161), the opportunity to showcase its offerings and connect with global partners seeking extraordinary travel experiences. On this occasion, Alina Abramovich, Director of Marketing at Erth Abu Dhabi Hotel, said: The ILTM Cannes is a key event that brings together leading brands in the luxury travel sector and esteemed travel advisors from around the world to build new partnerships with industry leaders. "We are delighted to have Erth Hotel represented within the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism stand, reaffirming our commitment to promoting the UAE as a premier destination for travelers seeking exceptional experiences and sharing the essence of authentic Emirati hospitality with the world, she explained. Abramovich added, Erth Hotels presence at ILTM Cannes will offer a platform to showcase the charm and uniqueness of the property as an exceptional gateway to discovering world-class Emirati culture and hospitality. We will highlight our luxurious accommodations, bespoke services, and unique cultural experiences that position the hotel as a standout in the luxury travel market. Ahmed Alsharabasy, Head of Sales at Erth Abu Dhabi Hotel, expressed his enthusiasm for the event: We are excited to connect with industry professionals and promote Abu Dhabi as a destination that combines culture, luxury, and extraordinary experiences. "This event is an excellent opportunity to strengthen our relationships within the global luxury travel community and invite more travelers to discover the unique story of Erth Abu Dhabia story that seamlessly blends rich Emirati traditions with modern luxury, he concluded. -TradeArabia News Service If youre planning to start seeds indoors this season, you likely know youll need a growing medium (packaged, sterile seed-starting mix is ideal), a sunny windowsill or grow lights and, of course, seeds. But have you given thought to what containers youll use? You might be planning to buy rimmed trays, peat pots or compartmentalised plastic flats, but theyre not your only options. With a bit of imagination, you can easily upcycle items you already have while keeping trash out of the landfill and your money in your wallet. WHITE candles were yesterday placed on the side of the road in Sennon Village Number Three, Siparia, where the severed head of 59-year-old Joanne Estick was found in a bag on Thursday. Estick, a mother of one and grandmother of three, was last seen in the village earlier this week. A senior police officer of the South Western Police Division said they are yet to officially confirm that the head is that of Estick without the rest of the human remains. Trinidad and Tobago Red Force backed up skipper Joshua Da Silvas pre-game declaration that his pacers would lead the charge against Barbados Pride in the fifth round of the West Indies Four-Day Championship. Fast bowling would have been very much on the minds of the Kensington Oval curators as they prepared the pitch for the Barbados home match against T&T. Indian-American Kash Patel US President-elect Donald Trump has announced Kash Patel's name as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director. I am proud to announce that Kashyap Kash Patel will serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and America First fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending Justice, and protecting the American People, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, his social media platform. He played a pivotal role in uncovering the Russia, Russia Hoax, standing as an advocate for truth, accountability, and the Constitution. Kash did an incredible job during my First Term, where he served as Chief of Staff at the Department of Defense, Deputy Director of National Intelligence, and Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council. Kash has also tried over 60 jury trials. This FBI will end the growing crime epidemic in America, dismantle the migrant criminal gangs, and stop the evil scourge of human and drug trafficking across the Border. Kash will work under our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to bring back Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity to the FBI, Trump said. If confirmed by the US Senate, which is mandatory, Patel will be the first Indian-American to lead Americas top investigative agency and also the first South Asian. Patels nomination marks a new high for the Indian-American community that has quietly and steadily expanded its clout in the political sphere in the United States commensurate with its financial clout. Patels nomination is Trumps new milestone for the community. Trump had appointed Nikki Haley, the Indian American Republican politician, as his first administrations ambassador to the United Nations. It was a federal cabinet-level position that made Haley the highest serving Indian American in the US political system till the election of Kamala Harris as the vice president in 2020, as President Joe Bidens running made. Canadas export credit agency Export Development Canada (EDC) launched its representative office in Vietnam at a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City this week. Trade and investment have boomed between Canada and Vietnam under the CPTPP, Ambassador of Canada to Vietnam Shawn Steil remarked at the event on Thursday, referring to the Comperehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. We're proud that Canada has become one of the top ten purchasers of Vietnamese products globally, but we still need to do more, and we need to do more for Canadian exports. According to Steil, EDC brings tools, resources, and acumen that will give companies on both sides the increased confidence to do business with one another. This is another groundbreaking move for Canada and our commitment to Vietnam, and it will pay dividends for years to come, he said. Ambassador of Canada to Vietnam Shawn Steil makes remarks at the ceremony to launch EDCs representative office in Ho Chi Minh City, November 28, 2024. Photo: Dong Nguyen / Tuoi Tre News In his remarks, the ambassador mentioned that Canada launched its Indo-Pacific Strategy two years ago. We set a five-year plan with a ten-year vision to do more and engage more across the board, in the Indo-Pacific, with ASEAN, and above all, with Vietnam, he stated. Vietnam has attracted the attention of the world. Record rates of investment are coming into the country with steady growth and enormous opportunity. Canada's here in a comprehensive way and we're here for the long term." EDC president and CEO Mairead Lavery said in her remarks, When the team was talking about where we wanted to expand in the Indo-Pacific region, this was one of the countries that were really at the top of our list. Vietnam is now Canada's largest trading partner within the ASEAN region, and there's a really strong foundation for bilateral trade and investment." A dragon and lion dance performance at the launch of EDCs representative office in Ho Chi Minh City, November 28, 2024. Photo: Dong Nguyen / Tuoi Tre News The Vietnam office, co-located at the Consulate General of Canada in Ho Chi Minh City, is the 10th in the region and followed by a representation in the Philippines next week, Lavery said. We are really committed to this region and we want to see more Canadian exporters understand the opportunities that this region represents, she said. Vietnam a highly potential market Lavery told Tuoi Tre News at the event that Vietnam is a promising market. So first off, the potential is in Vietnam itself with the growing number of middle-income earners, with the population, with the talent, and the importance and resilience of Vietnam in the global supply chain, Lavery said. The second factor is the geographic proximity. I think where Vietnam is geographically located is also really important because Vietnam is a lot closer than other countries in Asia, and it can be a hub to go to other parts of Asia, she said. The third thing is stability, Lavery continued. When you find a country that's stable and has a very clear policy agenda, that's something exporters are really interested in. Mairead Lavery, president and CEO of EDC, delivers a speech at the ceremony to launch its representative office in Ho Chi Minh City, November 28, 2024. Photo: Dong Nguyen / Tuoi Tre News She revealed that it took EDC about two years, from assessing potential to assembling a team, before officially establishing their representation in Vietnam. EDC focuses on identifying the biggest growth opportunities in the Indo-Pacific, as the agency cannot have representation in every market, Lavery added. She went on to explain that part of EDC's work is providing Canadian companies and exporters with knowledge and insights into different markets. The next step with having a presence on the ground, which allows them to educate businesses about the local culture and identify specific opportunities. This approach helps determine their needs and explore how those needs can align with opportunities in Vietnam. A large part of our job will be promoting Vietnam back in Canada and saying this is a great place to invest, she said. Lavery expressed her hope that with EDC's support, Canadian products such as clean technology, agri-food, and those in information technology, renewable energy, power generation, and infrastructure would find a market in Vietnam. Generally, our exporters are interested in manufacturing in Vietnam, and that could be in any sector, she said. I think there's also a great opportunity between Canada and Vietnam in critical minerals and rare earth metals. Those are areas that are really important for our new economy to support electric vehicles, to support AI, to support data centers, semiconductors. So there's just a great opportunity set. According to EDC, bilateral trade between Canada and Vietnam has grown to CA$14 billion in 2023 from CA$8 billion in 2018, when the CPTPP was signed between Canada, Vietnam, and nine other countries in the Indo-Pacific region. In 2023, Canadas imports from Vietnam reached CA$13.3 billion, while Canadian exports to Vietnam totaled CA$776.7 million. This disparity highlights significant potential for expanding Canadas export trade with Vietnam, EDC said. (US$1 = CA$1.4) Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! Jess Lander joined the food and wine team at the San Francisco Chronicle as wine reporter in 2022. Her writing encompasses the California wine industry from Santa Barbara to Mendocino with a focus on Napa Valley and Sonoma County. Jess reports on winery and vineyard acquisitions; controversial Napa land use debates; wildfires; a growing farmworker rights movement; and Wine Countrys most exciting restaurant and tasting room openings. Occasionally, Jess also writes about her favorite food: cheese. Originally from Boston, Jess moved to Napa Valley in 2010 and has extensively covered California wine country for numerous national and international publications. In 2021, Jess published The Essential Napa Valley Cookbook, a project that raised more than $100,000 for Napa Valley restaurant workers impacted by the pandemic. As the year-end shopping season heats up, foreign apparel brands continue to thrive in Vietnam, leaving domestic fashion labels grappling with fierce competition, financial constraints, and the influx of affordable, trend-driven imports. Experts have cited a combination of factors, including product variety, pricing, and the financial power of international brands, as key drivers behind this shift. Iconic shopping streets in Ho Chi Minh City, such as Nguyen Trai in District 1, Quang Trung in Go Vap District, and Le Van Sy in District 3, once bustling with Vietnamese fashion stores, now showcase empty storefronts or shuttered signs. Similarly, major wholesale markets like Hanh Thong Tay and Tan Binh, previously hubs for affordable local clothing, are increasingly dominated by Chinese imports. Ngo Thi Dat, who has retailed at Hanh Thong Tay Market in Go Vap District for over a decade, explained that while some consumers hesitate to purchase Chinese products, their affordability and variety make them irresistible. As a result, 70-90 percent of the market's offerings, including shoes, clothing, and accessories, are from China. "Chinese accessories like hair clips cost only VND1,000-2,000 [US$0.04-0.08], and clothing or shoes can be priced as low as tens of thousands of dong, so its no surprise theyre so widespread," said Dat. Even established Vietnamese brands are scaling back their operations. Lep, once known for its iconic floral dresses, was closed permanently last month after eight years in service. Another notable name, CATSA, has shut down all 22 of its stores after 13 years of operation. Popular Vietnamese brands like IVY Moda and Giian have also reduced their presence, with the former discontinuing its IVY Men line after just five years. In 2010, Vietnamese fashion boomed with brands like The Blues, Canifa, PT2000, Nem, Elise, and IVY Moda dominating major streets in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Over a decade later, many of these have faded into obscurity. The struggle extends beyond traditional retail outlets, as Vietnamese fashion brands are also losing ground on e-commerce platforms. According to Metrics third-quarter 2024 report, Chinese budget fashion brand Lovito has emerged as a leader in Vietnam's online fashion market, boasting a 517 percent year-on-year growth rate. Lovito taps into seasonal trends to attract young consumers, while offering incredibly affordable items such as shirts starting at VND50,000 ($2) and dresses priced between VND100,000 ($3.95) and VND200,000 ($7.89), with flash sales that feature items as low as VND16,000 ($0.63). Meanwhile, foreign brands like H&M, Zara, and Uniqlo are claiming prime spaces in Vietnam's leading shopping malls such as Vincom Dong Khoi, Takashimaya, and Saigon Centre in downtown Ho Chi Minh City. These global giants leverage financial strength, flexible pricing, and diverse designs to expand their presence. They also run aggressive promotional campaigns, offering steep discounts during major sales events like Black Friday and Singles Day (November 11), with some brands slashing prices by up to 90 percent. Several Vietnamese fashion brands are struggling and exiting the market during the peak year-end season. Photo: Nhat Xuan / Tuoi Tre A representative from an international fashion brand shared that they often provide discounts with minimal or no profit initially to aggressively market the brand and foster customer loyalty. While the fashion industry is challenging, a solid strategy can lead to substantial profits, said the representative. Uniqlo, a subsidiary of Japans Fast Retailing known for its high-quality, affordable casual wear, exemplifies this strategy. The brand has opened 26 stores across Vietnam, all in prime locations. Its latest store, Uniqlo Parc Mall, opened earlier this month in one of Ho Chi Minh Citys largest malls, which houses over 130 global fashion brands. The brand consistently rolls out promotions and engages in sophisticated marketing to strengthen its presence in the Vietnamese market. Similarly, TokyoLife, a retailer that sells a wide range of products including fashion, cosmetics, and home goods, has expanded rapidly across Vietnam with 39 stores in Hanoi and nine each in Hai Phong City and Quang Ninh Province in northern Vietnam. According to staff members, while it markets itself as a Vietnamese brand, it strategically mixes domestically produced and imported goods, including Japanese-sourced cosmetics and beauty products, and household items and plastics from other countries, including China. To win over customers, TokyoLife frequently runs discount programs. For instance, during Black Friday, it offers up to 50 percent off on a wide range of products across most categories and free shipping for orders over VND279,000 ($11). Despite concerns over quality, many Vietnamese consumers are drawn to Chinese products for their affordability and variety. Linh Chi, a 24-year-old in Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City, shared that she often shops for Chinese fashion online, attracted by the low prices and diverse designs, even though the quality can be inconsistent. "The low prices and trendy designs make it hard to resist," she said, explaining that although some items are poorly made, the fashionable styles bring her back for more. Pham Thi Duong, another shopper from District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, echoed this sentiment, expressing her admiration for Lovito's trendy blouses and unbeatable prices. Discussing the matter, Pham Van Viet, vice-president of the Ho Chi Minh City Textile Association, highlighted Chinas competitive advantage as the global factory, capable of mass-producing goods using advanced technology and offering deep discounts that help capture the market. In contrast, Vietnamese brands often rely on longer production of two to three months and lack flexibility. Daniel Chan, founder of Intereras, a company facilitating international trade in the textile and garment industry, noted that Chinese brands use AI and big data to optimize production and retail, allowing them to quickly adapt to trends and maintain low inventory. Nguyen Van Khanh, vice-president of the Ho Chi Minh City Leather and Footwear Association, cited the financial challenges Vietnamese brands face, pointing out that limited resources often lead to early losses and potential bankruptcy. Vietnamese brands, with weaker financial backing, face challenges and may eventually close down, Khanh said, noting that the fashion industry requires significant capital to scale. Experts agree the market has not seen significant growth due to ongoing economic challenges, while competition has intensified as the numbers of sellers and products increase. Foreign companies are capturing a larger share of the market, leading to the shrinking presence of local brands. Experts suggest that Vietnamese brands should focus on niche markets, seek investment from larger investors, or become distributors for established brands. "Niche markets can specialize in a particular type of clothing or footwear that other producers have not heavily invested in, said Ngo Van Dong, owner of Van Dong Garment Factory in Thu Duc City under Ho Chi Minh City. While the customer base may not be large, the advantage is less competition," he added. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A drive to overcome personal obstacles has propelled Le Dinh Luc, 32, to revolutionize English language education in Vietnam with a method he calls Linearthinking. Lucs journey began with a challenging move from Gia Lai Province in the Central Highlands to Ho Chi Minh City to attend a specialized math program at the High School for Gifted Students, part of the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City. Struggling with English in comparison to peers who already excelled with high IELTS scores, Luc recognized that mastering the language was a crucial life equation he needed to solve. Applying the logical mindset he developed through mathematics, Luc dedicated himself to learning English, often studying through the night with outdated headphones and painstakingly analyzing vocabulary. His efforts culminated in the development of Linearthinking, a method combining linguistic research, advanced memory techniques, and mathematical logic to simplify English learning. I wanted to make it easier for learners to express their ideas fluently and understand complex texts without needing an extensive vocabulary, Luc explained. The method centers on mapping out concepts and simplifying grammar rules rather than relying on rote memorization or shortcuts. CEO Le Dinh Luc (front row, right) presents certificates and awards to Vietnamese talents who won medals at the 2023 International Olympiads at the Ministry of Education and Training headquarters in Hanoi. Photo: V.S. Building on Vietnamese ingenuity As the CEO of DOL English, a nationwide English education chain with 18 branches nationwide, Luc has remained steadfast in his belief in Vietnamese talent and innovation. The chain's coursebooks are entirely original, with 100 percent of their content and visuals self-designed and following the Linearthinking approach. DOL English does not employ foreign instructors but instead leverages its proprietary DOL Super LMS system to enhance listening and speaking skills. The chain's coursebooks are entirely original and follow the Linearthinking approach. With the Internet and technology evolving rapidly, learners can now rely on advanced systems rather than foreign instructors, Luc said. We firmly believe in Vietnamese intelligence and are proud to introduce this Vietnamese-made product internationally. Lucs commitment to education extends beyond business. DOL English's coursebooks are all self-designed by the chain. Under his leadership, DOL English has funded scholarships worth over VND3 billion (US$118,360) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Training. He and his colleagues at the English chain have donated VND200 million ($7,890) to disaster relief efforts. Luc personally contributed VND80 million ($3,156) to support his alma mater. Ha Dang Nhu Quynh, academic director at DOL English, speaks as a guest trainer at a workshop for secondary school English teachers in Hanoi, August 2024. Photo: D. An Recognition and impact Linearthinking, officially recognized by Vietnams National Office of Intellectual Property in 2019, has been shared with over 120 major schools and universities across the country, including Hanoi-Amsterdam High School and Ho Chi Minh City University of Education. The method has attracted widespread acclaim, with DOL English now valued in the tens of millions of dollars. Lucs efforts earned him the prestigious Tuoi Tre Startup Award in 2022, an honor he used to give back by donating the prize money to the newspapers scholarship fund. The journey of entrepreneurship is full of challenges, Luc said, expressing gratitude for the support and opportunities provided by local initiatives. DOL English also offers free resources at dol.vn, along with an online dictionary and grammar tools to help students with limited financial means pursue their passion for language learning. With a clear vision and unwavering mission, Luc continues to inspire a new generation of learners, demonstrating how Vietnamese ingenuity can lead in education both at home and abroad. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies (HIDS) and the Australia-Vietnam Policy Institute (AVPI) on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding on digital transformation, energy transition, green economy, and super city governance using technology. This is a milestone in the two institutes cooperation, a follow-up to a Ho Chi Minh City delegations visit to Australia in May this year. The two institutes will jointly conduct projects to study, exchange experience, and transfer technology in the aforementioned sectors. HIDS and AVPI will collaborate closely to study and provide consulting on economic, cultural, social, and urban management policies; as well as research and offer advice about economic models, investment, digital economy, cybersecurity, and hi-tech agriculture with the support RMIT University in Ho Chi Minh City. On the same day, they held a seminar on digital transformation, super city management, digital economy models, and a state apparatus scale-down. Speaking at the seminar, Dr. Truong Minh Huy Vu, head of the HIDS, shared that Ho Chi Minh City had drastically studied solutions for slimming down its apparatus. To successfully do the job, the city needs to improve the quality of public services in which digital technology is vital. With over 10 million people, Ho Chi Minh City is forced to boost digital transformation. The city has prioritized building a digital administration, economy, and society. Implementing solutions to promote these areas will streamline operations and enhance the efficiency of public services, Vu stated. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The development of Mang Den Airport in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum requires an estimated investment of VND4.9 trillion (US$193.3 million), with most of the funding expected to come from investors through a public-private partnership, said a local transport official on Saturday. Phan Muoi, director of the provincial Department of Transport, said that the Ministry of Transport had sent a dispatch on a consideration of building an airport in Mang Den Town, Kon Plong District to the prime minister. Of the total investment, VND327 billion ($12.9 million) will come from the state budget to cover site clearance costs, while the remainder will be raised from private investors. The project's investors are expected to recoup their capital within 48 years. The airport will be situated approximately 60 kilometers from Kon Tum City and just four kilometers from the town center. The location of the airport was carefully considered in order not to affect the operations of other nearby airports such as Pleiku in Gia Lai Province and Chu Lai in Quang Nam Province. The airport is planned to be built on a mountainous area covering around 350 hectares and is expected to handle nearly one million passengers annually by 2030. However, studies indicate that the province's air travel demand remains low, attributed to its sparse population and limited economic capacity. However, the prime minister has recently passed a general plan to build a Mang Den tourist area, with a view to turning it into a national tourist site that will act as a driver of the provinces socio-economic growth. The Mang Den tourist area, which is expected to push up air travel demand in the province, might welcome an estimated two million tourists in 2030 and five million visitors in 2045. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnams legislative National Assembly (NA) has agreed to resume a nuclear power project after an eight-year hiatus, in a bid to ensure national energy security and support the countrys goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. In a resolution passed unanimously at a Saturday meeting, the legislature approved restarting the project at the governments request. The NA also directed the government to allocate resources for resuming operations in Ninh Thuan Province, located in south-central Vietnam, based on assessments from relevant agencies. The resolution also requires relevant ministries and agencies to amend related laws, including the Law on Atomic Energy, to facilitate the revival of the project, which was suspended in 2016. On November 27, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh, authorized by PM Pham Minh Chinh, presented a proposal to the NA, emphasizing that nuclear power is crucial in improving national energy security as the country's electricity demand is forecast to soar from the current 80 GM to some 150 GW in 2030 and to 480-580 GW by 2050, according to Voice of Vietnam. The proposal also highlighted the need to develop nuclear power to gradually replace emission-producing power sources, helping fulfill Vietnams international commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Developing nuclear power in Vietnam brings along many benefits as it helps diversify power supply sources while ensuring energy security, VOV quoted Binh as saying. It performs the dual task of generating electricity and protecting the environment. Underlining the worlds trend to increasingly use nuclear power, Binh said 32 countries currently own and operate nuclear power plants while about 20 others are mulling over nuclear power development to meet their energy needs and realize their climate commitments. As of late August, 415 nuclear power reactors were operating globally with a total installed capacity of about 373,730 MW and 62 reactors capable of around 64,970 MW were under construction, Binh added. Nuclear power plants currently account for about 10 percent of the total electricity produced worldwide and play an important role in the power grids of many countries, according to the Vietnamese government. In 2009, the government assigned state utility Vietnam Electricity (EVN) to be the investor of the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project, pursuant to an NA resolution. EVN later cooperated with Russia and Japan on building the Ninh Thuan 1 and Ninh Thuan 2 plants, respectively, VOV reported. At that time, the two plants were designed to have a total capacity of over 4,000 MW and needed an estimated investment of about VND200 trillion (US$7.9 billion). However, the project was suspended in November 2016 over many concerns about safety, high investment costs, technological issues, and developments in the global energy situation then, according to Pham Van Hoa, a member of the NAs Law Committee. The government stated that the sites for both plants, thoroughly surveyed and assessed by domestic and international consultants, remain the most suitable locations for continuing the construction of power plants under the resumed project. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnams law-making National Assembly (NA) on Saturday afternoon approved a ban on the production, trade, import, storage, transportation, and use of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and addictive or harmful substances affecting human health starting in 2025. The ban is aimed at protecting public health and ensuring social order and safety. It is factored in a resolution on grillings at the eighth session that was passed by the NA on the same day. At its eighth session, which concluded on Saturday after 29.5 days of deliberation, the NA tasked the government with enforcing the ban and to raise public awareness, particularly among young people, about the harmful effects of these products. Many NA deputies expressed concern over the growing popularity of e-cigarettes among young people, citing the serious health risks they pose. Local media also reported worries about how easily these harmful products can be purchased. A general view of the 15th National Assembly's eighth session on November 30, 2024. Photo: Gia Han / Tuoi Tre Also, the NA ordered enhanced efforts in warning the public, particularly the youth, about the risks of alcohol, beer, tobacco, e-cigarettes, and addictive substances to protect their health. As for gold management, the NA charged the government, the prime minister, ministries, and relevant agencies with mulling over a policy to eliminate potential gold speculation and hoarding. It is crucial to implement effective measures to stabilize the local gold market and enhance the state's role in gold management and regulation, to prevent price fluctuations from undermining the nation's macroeconomic stability, according to the National Assembly. Relevant agencies have been assigned to apply technology to manage gold firms and tighten control over gold smuggling. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! By 2034, Vietnam is projected to have 1.5 million more men than women, an imbalance driven by cultural preferences for sons and the belief that a 'complete' family must include both boys and girls, which has led to gender selection practices. If the current gender imbalance at birth remains unchanged, the gap is expected to grow to 2.5 million by 2059, said Hoang Thi Thom, deputy director of the Vietnam Population Authority under the Ministry of Health. Thom passed the remark during the Training for Media Professionals on Gender-Biased Sex Selection in Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam on Friday, citing a forecast by the General Statistics Office of Vietnam. Vietnam has experienced a gender imbalance since 2006, with a sex ratio at birth of 109.8 boys for every 100 girls. "We have been able to slow down the increasing sex ratio at birth, but it remains high, with the ratio consistently above 112 boys for every 100 girls since 2012," said Thom. If this trend continues unchecked, the gender imbalance at birth could have serious and unpredictable consequences for society, the economy, and even political stability. It could affect individuals, families, and communities, degrading social norms and the status of women. Women may increasingly be seen as commodities, vulnerable to human trafficking and exploitation. To address the issue, Vietnam has implemented various interventions, including efforts to elevate the role and status of women and girls, promoting gender equality and discouraging sex selection at any stage. Ha Thi Quynh Anh, senior expert on gender and human rights at the United Nations Population Fund, said that while many families once had large numbers of children -- sometimes seven to eight -- hoping to have a son, this practice has evolved with the advent of modern medicine. With a limited family size, many now opt for sex selection to ensure at least one son. Hoang Thi Thom, deputy director of the Vietnam Population Authority under the Ministry of Health, speaks at the Training for Media Professionals on Gender-Biased Sex Selection in Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam, November 29, 2024. Photo: D.L. This is a form of gender selection based on bias, Anh said, emphasizing that the natural ratio is around 102-106 boys for every 100 girls. A deviation from this ratio leads to gender imbalance. We can prevent services offering fetal sex selection, but that is only a superficial solution, Anh noted. The real change will come when gender prejudice, the belief that families must have sons, and the idea that having both a son and a daughter makes a family complete, are no longer ingrained in society." Nguyen Van Anh, director of the Center for Studies and Applied Sciences in Gender, Family, Women, and Adolescents, attributes the issue to a deeply rooted cultural preference for sons. She explains that this belief drives many families to actively seek to have sons rather than allowing the natural birth process to determine the child's gender. Gender stereotypes have been ingrained over hundreds of years, shaping the mindset of many generations, Van Anh said. Changing these stereotypes will require significant time and effort. However, we can see that women today occupy a higher status in society and have more opportunities to develop their talents. The idea that men must be the familys pillars is becoming outdated. As boys and girls are treated equally, with equal opportunities for growth and work, gender stereotypes will gradually change. Gender equality will replace the belief that having a son is essential. Ultimately, the true happiness of parents is not defined by the gender of their children, but by the ability to have children and build a family." Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! Although Christmas is still over three weeks away, the festive buzz has already taken over Ho Chi Minh City, where shopping malls, churches, and cafes are decked out with festive decorations, becoming favorite spots for locals and tourists to snap holiday photos. This years celebrations are particularly lively as several locations offer their patrons a snowy Christmas, using artificial snow spraying systems. The southern hubs cool and pleasant weather has enhanced the festive experience, drawing families and their children to take photos and revel in the fun of playing in the faux snow. Family members pose for a Christmas group photo in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hai Quynh One highlight is a zone called Gau Tuyet (Snowy Bear) in District 6, which has become a hit with young visitors. Aside from featuring snow effects, the venue boasts a grand photo zone, exuding a vibrant Christmas vibe. The upcoming Christmas holiday also keeps Ho Chi Minh City vendors busy as they stock up on ornaments, lights, and other festive essentials to meet the growing demand. Photo: Hai Quynh Khanh Nhi, a resident of District 4, shared her excitement of experiencing the early festive cheer at the Snowy Bear area with her younger siblings after she learned about this location on social media. Khanh Nhi, a resident of District 4, Ho Chi Minh City, shares her excitement of experiencing the early festive cheer at the Snowy Bear area in District 6 with her younger siblings. Photo: Khanh Giang Kids play in a snowy setting in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hai Quynh A local woman and her grandchildren enjoy the joyful Christmas atmosphere together in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hai Quynh Nguyen Minh Tuan, dressed as Santa Claus and selling holiday souvenirs at Diamond Plaza in District 1, shared that the mall had put up its decorations earlier this year. In response, he decided to come every evening to sell toys and photo props for children. A group of friends take a wefie amid sparkling Christmas decorations in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Khanh Giang Mac Ty Nho (Saint Martin) Parish Church, located in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, embraces the holiday spirit, unveiling a stunning new Christmas display. Photo: Be Hieu The Christmas spirit has also swept through other major business streets in the city, particularly Hai Thuong Lan Ong in District 5, which has transformed into a Christmas wonderland. This vibrant street is lined with shops offering a dazzling array of decorations, like sparkling Christmas baubles, cheerful Santa Claus, playful snowmen, and glittering Christmas trees of all sizes. A variety of eye-catching Christmas decorations are on display along Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Be Hieu Shopkeepers created captivating displays with carefully arranged ornaments, drawing the attention of passers-by. Visitors of all ages stop to browse the offerings, take photos, and purchase their favorite decorations to prepare their homes for Christmas. A storefront is adorned with vibrant red bows to attract customers along Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Be Hieu Another shop along Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City showcases a wide range of Christmas decorations for the festive season. Photo: Be Hieu Customers shop for Christmas decorations in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Be Hieu A man walks past a Ho Chi Minh City store offering festive items like Christmas trees, glittering ornaments, and shimmering tinsel. Photo: Be Hieu Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! Sandipan Talukdar, TwoCircles.net Amidst the highly-discussed elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, the by-elections in Assam have quietly raised alarms that if interpreted correctly will likely be troubling for the Opposition bloc, particularly the INDIA alliance. Support TwoCircles While critical analyses continue to pour in after the defeat of the Maha Vikas Aghadi or MVA (a coalition of the Uddhav Thackerays faction of the Shiv Sena, the Sharad Pawars Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress) in Maharashtra, especially regarding its poll strategy, candidate selection and seat-sharing, Assam also deserves attention if any meaningful overhaul of the Opposition bloc is to materialise. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies swept the by-elections in five assembly seats, with the most concerning loss being Congress defeat in Samaguri. Located in the Nagaon district of central Assam, Samaguri had long been a stronghold of the grand old party, with Rakibul Husain winning the seat for over two decades. As a Muslim-majority constituency, it was unthinkable for anyone to win here without considerable support from the community. Adding to the Oppositions woes, the unity of the Assam Opposition alliance, the ASOM (Asom Sonmilito Morcha), which aligned with the national INDIA bloc, crumbled due to internal rifts over candidate selection in Behali, a seat BJP ultimately won. The opposition remains entangled in conflict with leaders trading accusations. The ASOM now finds itself without Congress, the largest Opposition party in the state. Violence, Polarisation and BJPs Success in Samaguri Looking back at Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarmas controversial rhetoric around Bangladeshi infiltrators and his promotion of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), it is clear that his political narrative has often targeted the Muslim community. His statements regarding East-Bengal-origin Muslims in Assam, made during the Autumn Session of the Assam Assembly, also drew criticism. However, in Samaguri, BJP candidate Diplu Ranian Sharma secured a notable win with a margin of about 25,000 votes, largely with the backing of Muslims, particularly those of East-Bengal origin. In a recent statement to the media in Guwahati, Sarma asserted that the BJP would increase its support in Muslim-dominated constituencies in the upcoming 2026 Assam assembly elections. He claimed that the BJP does not indulge in politics of appeasement and that all communities receive equal benefits from government schemes. Sarma confidently predicted that the BJP would win more Muslim-majority seats in the next election. This raises the question: why did the BJP receive Muslim support in Samaguri, and could this trend be replicated elsewhere? The primary reason lies in Congress internal struggles and disenchantment with party leadership. Rakibul Husain had been a stalwart in Samaguri, but his son, Tanzil Husain, failed to resonate with the local community. When Rakibul won the Hubri Lok Sabha seat by a record margin of around 10 lakh votes, his son was fielded as the Congress candidate in the Samaguri by-election. This decision created dissatisfaction among local Congress leaders, particularly those from the Muslim community. Expressing frustration over the partys decision, one former leader, who recently joined the BJP, said, We addressed Rakibuls father as sir and then Rakibul. Are we now supposed to call his son sir as well? Rakibuls father, Nurul Husain, was a two-time Congress MLA from Samaguri (1981 and 1991). In addition, local dissatisfaction with Rakibul grew. It led to the defection of prominent Muslim leaders from Samaguri Congress. These leaders joined the BJP and its ally, the AGP (Asom Gana Parishad) and actively campaigned for Sharma in Muslim-majority areas. Former allies of Rakibul, such as Farid Ahmed and Fakaruddin, also switched loyalties to the BJP and the AGP. Moreover, AGPs established organisational presence in Samaguri played a significant role. AGPs Atul Sharma had won the seat in 1996, and the party mobilised its grassroots strength and strengthened BJPs position. Polarisation also contributed to BJPs success in Samaguri. Muslim votes alone would not have been enough for Sharma to secure such a large margin. The consolidation of Hindu votes, including Assamese caste Hindus, tribals like Rabha, Bodo and Karbi, as well as tea tribes, was crucial. Historically, Assamese caste Hindus had supported Rakibul, but not this time. During the campaign, it was evident that many voters were disillusioned with the Congress. The recent delimitation of constituencies also played a role as villages with a large Assamese Hindu and tribal population were moved to the Barhampur constituency. They voted in Samaguri for the by-election, yet they were disappointed with Congress failure to address their concerns. This fuelled anti-dynasty sentiments and further eroded support for Rakibul Husain. Samaguris by-election was also marred by unprecedented violence. One person was killed in the clashes, a rare occurrence in Assams elections. Both the Congress and the BJP blamed each other for the violence, though an impartial investigation is necessary to determine the full extent of responsibility. However, it is clear that both parties were involved in the turmoil. Disarray in Opposition The candidate selection process for the Behali seat highlighted the Oppositions internal discord. The Congress and the CPI(ML), both part of the INDIA bloc, fielded their candidates. This left the Opposition divided, and with both parties fought for second place while the BJP advanced toward victory. The conflict over candidate selection created chaos. CPI(ML) had been expecting the Congress state president Bhupen Borahs approval, but Gaurav Gogoi instead backed Jayanta Borah as the candidate. Ahead of the declaration, a five-member committee was formed with representatives from all ASOM parties, excluding the Congress and the CPI(ML). The committee unanimously chose CPI(ML)s Bibek Das as the joint candidate. However, the agreement quickly unraveled when the Congress unexpectedly proposed that they would support the CPI(ML) if the candidate was changed. The CPI(ML) hesitated but eventually agreed to support Lakhikanta Kurmi as the candidate. Despite this, the Congress declared its own candidate at the last moment. It further fragmented the alliance. ASOMs unity collapsed. Bhupen Borah resigned as president, and Rajya Sabha MP Ajit Bhuyan was elected as the new president. It left the Congress out of the Opposition bloc. Despite these internal issues, Congress candidate Jayanta Borah put up a strong fight and reduced the BJPs victory margin to just 9,000 votes. In previous elections, the BJP had won the seat by over 23,000 votes. Even the CPI(ML)s joint candidate in 2021 had managed only about 21,000 votes. While the Congress succeeded in reducing the margin in Behali, it could not prevent the BJP from claiming victory. More importantly, the fragmentation of the Opposition was glaringly evident. Had the Congress addressed its leadership conflict earlier, the Opposition could have presented a more united front. Instead, internal discord became public and it further weakened their position. Even after the election, the Opposition remains mired in infighting. The Congress bore the brunt of the blame. The Oppositions Long Road Ahead The Assam by-elections have exposed the Oppositions vulnerability, particularly in terms of internal cohesion and grassroots support. The breakdown of the ASOM and the Congress internal leadership struggles suggest that the Opposition has a long way to go before it can effectively challenge the BJP in Assam. With the BJP broadening its appeal across communities, the Opposition must urgently address its organisational failures and internal divisions if it hopes to mount a serious challenge in future elections. Ed Wong looks out over his property in rural Sonoma County. The homeowner spent several thousand dollars doing upgrades that his insurance company requested, but still will lose his coverage come January. Rachel Bujalski/Special to the Chronicle Sonoma County homeowner Ed Wong found himself in a rare situation: He knew exactly what he needed to do to avoid getting dropped by his insurer. The company had even given him a list. Advertisement Article continues below this ad On it were three mandatory upgrades, for gas, plumbing and security systems. Two more upgrades were recommended. Wong completed all five of those improvements over the course of several months and took one further step to reduce the risk of his home igniting in a wildfire. The final bill came out to more than $5,800 about $1,700 in mandatory measures, more than $2,000 for suggested water system upgrades and more than $2,100 on the wildfire mitigation he did on his own. But just when the work was finally finished, Wong got an unwelcome surprise: his insurer, Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange, or PURE, informed him it would not renew his policy in 2025. They made me jump through all these hoops. They even kept asking me when I was going to get it done, Wong said. I finally got it done, and then they dropped me. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The insurance industry and the state have been advising homeowners to invest in measures that promise to reduce their level of risk to make insurance both easier to find and more affordable. But many, like Wong, spend thousands of dollars on upgrades only to be told they still arent enough. Wongs road to nonrenewal started in April, when he received word that PURE Insurance would be sending an inspector to his home in anticipation of his policys renewal date in January 2025. PURE Insurance is one of Californias smaller home insurers; it represented just 0.7% of the market in 2023. The company, which is domiciled in Florida, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Wong points to an automatic shutoff valve he installed as one of the upgrades sought by his insurer. Rachel Bujalski/Special to the Chronicle Wong was aware that his home in rural west Sonoma County could be considered a high wildfire risk property. It was the reason he had signed up with PURE: In the past, when fires would creep close to his property, the high-end insurer would send in a team to assess the fire and build a perimeter if needed to protect the home. In 2021, Wong spent more than $2,000 installing ember-resistant vents to reduce his homes chances of catching fire from airborne sparks a common cause of fire. Advertisement Article continues below this ad So when the inspector visited his property in April, Wong asked: Should he be concerned about his fire risk? The inspector said, Surprisingly, this area is not considered a high fire risk. So he had no requirements or recommendations for the property in terms of addressing the fire risk, Wong said. Instead, the inspector emailed him a list of measures he would be required to take before his policy renewal date, along with other suggestions for lowering his propertys risk. Wong did them all, even installing a burglar alarm system despite the low rate of local crime. After the inspection, it took some time for Wong to comply with all of PUREs requirements. The burglar alarm system, for example, could not be installed until he was done replacing some windows, and others required work by professionals. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But by Oct. 17, three months before his scheduled renewal date, he sent proof to PURE Insurance that all tasks had been completed. In a letter dated that same day, PURE let Wong know his property would not be renewed due to wildfire risk. A sign is posted in the front of Wongs yard for the burglary alert system he installed at the behest of his insurer, which is still dropping him. Rachel Bujalski/Special to the Chronicle According to the notice, Wongs property was singled out due to its distance to brush, fuel type, expanse size, access to the home, community size and topography. PURE appears to have recently tightened its wildfire risk standards, something it noted in a filing with the California Department of Insurance, making homes with higher risk scores or certain factors such as wood shake roofs (which Wong does not have) ineligible. Though the filing was approved in July, it is unclear when the companys tighter standards actually took effect. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In its filing, PURE wrote it would not be nonrenewing any policies specifically due to the new guidelines but acknowledged that it does drop policies if they dont meet the companys underwriting guidelines, including those on wildfire risk. Wong said PURE never informed him of the new stricter standards or whether they triggered his nonrenewal. Wong said he understands that insurance companies need to consider wildfire risk when determining whether to offer insurance. But hes also extremely frustrated. If they knew they were going to drop me, they shouldnt have had me jump through all those hoops. Thats what Im most disappointed at, he said. One upgrade Wong made to his rural Sonoma County home was replacing all of the vents on his house to deflect flying fire embers. Rachel Bujalski/Special to the Chronicle Janet Ruiz, a spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute industry group, said it has been common practice for decades for insurance companies to offer to renew a customers only if they meet certain conditions. Some insurers offer guaranteed renewals to homeowners who comply with certain strict wildfire mitigation standards. PURE never explicitly promised to renew Wong. But they did tell him he would not be renewed if he didnt abide by its requests. To me, a reasonable consumer would read that as, and we will, if you do, said Amy Bach, founder of the consumer advocacy group United Policyholders. A reasonable interpretation of that notice is that they would renew him. In some cases, homeowners who find themselves in a situation similar to Wong may be able to get their insurer to reverse its decision, according to Michael Soller, a spokesperson for the Department of Insurance. Soller said in a statement that state regulations require insurance companies renewal criteria to be specific, have objective factors, and have a substantial relationship to an insureds loss exposure. If the policyholder mitigated the issues raised by the company prior to the nonrenewal, the Department of Insurance expects the carrier to reverse the nonrenewal, he added. Soller encouraged homeowners who find themselves in this situation to call the departments consumer hotline or submit a complaint online and see if they might be able to get their insurance company to reverse its decision. Wong cleared brush around his Sonoma County property to create a defensible space. Rachel Bujalski/Special to the Chronicle Its never a bad idea to invest in mitigation, according to Ruiz. Installing devices that reduce the risk of a water leak or an electrical fire help achieve a homeowners ultimate goal: to prevent a claim in the first place. And it should make it easier to find insurance in the future, she said. Wong is shopping around for another insurer. He hopes that reforms by the Department of Insurance slated to be enacted by the end of the year may entice some insurers to write more policies in his area. If Wong had been able to renew his policy for just one more year to wait for those reforms to take effect, he would feel better, he said. But with his coverage up in January, Wong is on a tight deadline. It just blatantly seems unfair, Wong said. He hasnt submitted a complaint with the department, he said. He already feels resigned to his situation. A bull named Raja is master of the roads in Sri Lanka David Attenborough's Asia returned for its fifth episode this weekend (BBC Studios/Justine Evans) What did you miss? David Attenborough's wildlife docuseries Asia introduced viewers to a savvy and lovable elephant named Raja on Sunday, 1 December. In this fifth episode, the continent's crowdedness was under the spotlight, showing us how creatures big and small have learned to intermingle with their human neighbours. One of the many tusked giants recorded by the cameras, Raja, had developed a unique approach to passing motorists as they zoomed through his treelined territory in Sri Lanka; simply standing in the middle of the road and charging them a "toll" as Attenborough put it. What, how and why? Raja shops for treats off local drivers (BBC screenshot) The legendary documentarian narrated: "To find enough food, [elephants] roam for hundreds of miles, but people are never far away. That means new dangers but also new opportunities. Fruit is tastier than leaves and grass, and on this road you can often pick up a full meal. ADVERTISEMENT "But there is one bull who takes things a stage further; he doesn't wait patiently by the roadside, instead he uses his four-tonne body to create a roadblock and demand a toll. When he receives a payment, he lets them past. "His persuasive charm has earned him a reputation, he's even been given a name: Raja. He knows which vehicles aren't worth bothering with and which have the potential to deliver a feast." Read more: Drivers seemed more than happy to hand over loaves of bread and bunches of bananas to Raja, whose "gentle nature" has apparently "won many hearts". ADVERTISEMENT Attenborough then informed fans that elephant numbers are on the up in Sri-Lanka and that these specific powers of persuasion will be a valuable skill for future generations. What were fans writing on social media? The elephant's patient yet commanding presence has won over Sri Lankan motorists (BBC screenshot) On the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Asia viewers were enamoured by Raja's manipulation of the roads and its food-transporting users. "Dumbo turned to a [life] of crime after that terrible Live action remake!" joked one Asia viewer, before a second person wrote: "Love this elephant charging a toll fee." Sri Lanka elephants are bossing it#Asia Teena Massam (@teenamassam) December 1, 2024 Elephants doing a bit of highway robbery. #Asia poolieboy1 (@Poolieboy1Les1) December 1, 2024 #asia now that's what I call meals on wheels. Lisa (@AwesomeBlossomz) December 1, 2024 Asia airs Sundays on BBC One, while the entire series is now streamable on BBC iPlayer. Gordon Brown, John Swinney and Anas Sarwar have gathered to pay tribute to Alex Salmond at a public memorial service in Edinburgh. The former first minister died last month in North Macedonia at the age of 69. First Minister Mr Swinney, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and Scottish Labour leader Mr Sarwar are all attending the service at St Giles Cathedral in the Scottish capital. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and former prime minister Gordon Brown attend the public memorial service at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh (Jane Barlow/PA) (PA Wire) Former Labour PM Mr Brown is also believed to be attending. The service will be conducted by the Reverend George Whyte, with readings and tributes from Mr Salmonds lifelong friend and Alba Party acting leader Kenny MacAskill, long-time political ally Fergus Ewing, and close friend and Conservative MP Sir David Davis. Former prime minister Gordon Brown and First Minister John Swinney at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh during the public memorial service for the former first minister of Scotland Alex Salmond (Jeff Mitchell/PA) (PA Wire) His niece Christina Hendry will also pay tribute to the late former first minister. ADVERTISEMENT Musician Dougie MacLean will sing the Scottish anthem Caledonia, while the Proclaimers will also perform. A statement from Mr Salmonds family said: As we prepare to pay tribute to Alex, we wish to thank everyone who has contacted us over the last few weeks to express their condolences. It has meant the world to the entire family. (PA Wire) Please be aware that the memorial is at capacity. Only guests who are registered can be permitted entry, and for security purposes photo ID must be presented. For those many who cant join us in person, the BBC, Sky News and STV News have an agreement to share resources to cover the memorial. The BBC will stream live coverage of the service from 10.30am on both the BBC News website within a live page, and as a separate stream on the BBC iPlayer. Mr Salmond took office in 2007, before going on to win a majority in 2011 and securing the independence referendum three years later. ADVERTISEMENT Despite losing the vote and subsequently quitting as first minister, Mr Salmond continued in politics, sitting as an SNP MSP between 2015 and 2017, then standing for the upstart Alba Party at the 2021 Holyrood election after a rift between himself and successor Nicola Sturgeon saw him leave the party for good. Mr Salmond was at a conference in North Macedonia when he suffered a heart attack, with his body repatriated with the help of businessman Sir Tom Hunter. He was buried in a private family ceremony near his home in Strichen, Aberdeenshire, on October 29. Return to the Magical Oz with Jon M. Chu's 'Wicked' on 4K UHD, SteelBook, Giftset, and Blu-ray on February 4 HA NOI Central Retail Vietnam on Saturday launched the 'Vietnamese Specialties for Vietnamese Tet' programme at GO! Thang Long supermarket in Ha Noi, to celebrate traditional values and regional delicacies. Following the success of the 'Proud of Vietnamese Specialties' festival on National Day, this programme offers consumers a nostalgic Tet (Lunar New Year) experience while promoting cultural connections through food. The event, which runs from November 30 to December 11, is hosted at GO!, Big C and Tops Market stores nationwide. Highlights include promotions of up to 49 per cent on nearly 100 specialty products, such as dried buffalo meat, Tay Bac noodles, Ben Tre coconut candies, and Ca Mau shrimp crackers. Jose Mestre, Food Commercial Director at Central Retail Viet Nam, highlighted the companys extensive network, which allows it to bring regional specialties from across the country. This is not just a commercial event but a cultural one. We aim to connect communities, preserve traditions, and offer customers a unique shopping experience, Mestre said. The event also features a variety of cultural activities, such as calligraphy, to he crafting, fruit tray displays, and banh chung wrapping competitions, creating a festive atmosphere for visitors at GO! Thang Long in Ha Noi. Nguyen Kieu Oanh, Deputy Director of the Ha Noi Department of Industry and Trade, praised the initiative, noting its contribution to diversifying the market and promoting regional products. Tet is not just about food but about family and tradition. This programme helps showcase Viet Nams cultural richness and supports local producers, she said. This event is part of Central Retails efforts to realise its commitment of contributing to the prosperity of Viet Nam through enhanced shopping experiences. VNS HA NOI Vietnam Report JSC has announced the list of top 10 most reputable logistics companies for 2024. A ceremony to honour the winners is scheduled for January 2025 in Ha Noi. Vietnam Report named top ten reputable logistics businesses in various categories: international logistics services for third and fourth parties, warehousing, and freight forwarding; freight transport and port exploitation, express delivery, and last-mile delivery. The selections are based on three main criteria: financial capacity as reflected in the most recent financial statements; media reputation, assessed through the Media Coding method, which involves analysing articles about the company across influential media channels; and results from surveys of research subjects and stakeholders conducted in November 2024. Vu ang Vinh, General Director of Vietnam Report, said that in 2024, Viet Nam's logistics industry witnessed a strong recovery thanks to export growth, the Governments supporting measures, and improvements in global supply chains. Viet Nam's exports grew by 14.9 per cent in the first ten months of 2024, reaching US$335.6 billion, marking a strong recovery from a decline in 2023. Key export sectors such as electronics, textiles, and agricultural products continue to make significant contributions to the overall export turnover. Notably, exports to the US, Viet Nam's largest market, approached $100 billion, with a trade surplus exceeding $86 billion, an increase of 26.9 per cent compared to the same period last year. He added that this positive outcome is partly due to the shift of production from China to Viet Nam in the context of diversifying global supply chains. The recovery in exports has driven growth in the logistics sector. The total volume of goods transported through seaports increased by about 14 per cent in the first ten months of 2024, reaching over 570 million tonnes. Of that, dry cargo and containers made up a significant proportion, with handling volumes exceeding 321 million tonnes and 191 million tonnes, respectively. Additionally, the expansion of industrial zones, which play a central role in the export supply chain, has contributed to the growing demand for logistics, Vinh said. VNS HA NOI Companies committed to sustainable business practices could significantly enhance their resilience, capitalising on opportunities emerging from the global green transformation and digital revolution. The information was shared at the award ceremony of Top 100 Sustainable Businesses in Viet Nam (CSI 2024), themed "Enterprises Rising in the Green Era held in Ha Noi on Friday evening. In an era marked by rapid, unpredictable changes, unprecedented challenges are emerging. The undeniable reality facing the business community is the imperative to embrace sustainable development and digital transformation. The event, organised by the Viet Nam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD) under the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), marked the successful culmination of the ninth consecutive year of the programme, a continuous effort to recognise, promote, evaluate and encourage businesses to embrace sustainability. Innovation and sustainable development are no longer optional - they are essential for the future. Pham Tan Cong, Chairman of VCCI and Head of the Steering Committee for the 2024 Sustainable Enterprise Programme, emphasised the vital role of businesses in driving national sustainable development as Viet Nam enters a new era. After nearly four decades of innovation, Viet Nam has accumulated sufficient strength to seize the opportunity to become a high-income, developed nation by 2045. To capitalise on this potential, both the Government and the business community must transform," Cong said. "This requires breaking through institutional bottlenecks and adopting new business strategies. Businesses must focus on innovation, fostering sustainable, humane and creative models that contribute to social progress and the prosperity of the people. He said companies that consistently adopt sustainable business models will be better equipped to adapt, tackle these challenges, and seize opportunities from green and digital transformations. In light of the rapidly changing global landscape, Viet Nam must embrace sustainable development, a green economy, the circular economy, and digital transformation to remain competitive. Geopolitical shifts, economic changes and technological advances, particularly the Fourth Industrial Revolution, are creating new challenges that must be met with constant innovation. Vietnamese businesses must leverage these opportunities to drive the nation's growth and competitiveness. Strengthening competitiveness In 2024, nearly 500 enterprises from across the nation, representing various sectors and sizes, participated in the Sustainable Enterprise Programme. This year, 142 businesses were selected for official evaluation. Notably, the number of first-time participants grew significantly, with domestic enterprises making up 62 per cent of applicants and new entrants accounting for 35 per cent. This indicates a shift in both awareness and action within the Vietnamese business community, reflecting a growing commitment to sustainable practices. The CSI 2024 Index has been updated to align with international commitments and recent changes in Viet Nam's legal framework. With 153 indicators, 62 per cent are compliance-based and 38 per cent are advanced indicators, covering a comprehensive evaluation of businesses on economic performance, corporate governance, social impact and environmental sustainability. The emphasis on compliance indicators demonstrates that sustainable business practices are not out of reach for companies - by adhering to legal requirements, businesses can lay a strong foundation for sustainability. Nguyen Quang Vinh, Vice President of VCCI and Chairman of VBCSD reiterated the importance of strengthening corporate governance to enhance businesses "internal strength." This, in turn, helps companies integrate sustainable strategies into their operations, improving their competitiveness and resilience in todays volatile environment. Vinh reflected on the nine-year journey of the CSI programme. The programme has not only helped businesses recognise their sustainable values but also driven innovation in their business models. This progress is a vital step toward Viet Nams goal of becoming a high-income, developed nation by 2045. The continued application of the CSI Index will support businesses in refining their governance practices, and VCCI will intensify efforts to promote this initiative within the domestic business community. "Innovation is the key to unlocking new value in every business activity. The recognition and support from the business community will continue to motivate us to drive sustainable business practices and enhance the CSI programmes impact in the years to come, he added. VNS A NANG Sharing experiences and the best practices on crime scene investigation will improve effectiveness and help track crimes across ASEAN countries, boosting peace and enhancing security of the region. Lieutenant General, ang Xuan Hong, Director General of the Department of Foreign Relations, Ministry of Public Security of Viet Nam, made the statement at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN-Republic of Korea (ROK) Training Course: Building Capacities for Regional Investigators through Best Practices and Experience Sharing. He said trainees at the event would be hearing from experts from Korea, INTERPOL, UNDOC, as well as holding discussions among ASEAN members. The training course will help create a legal framework and scientific basics in supporting legal enforcement and justice implementation as well as improving accurateness, transparency and publicity in crime investigation, Hong said. It also aims to build up a code of conduct in crime scene investigation and boost cooperation among ASEAN member states, he added. Hong expressed thanks to the Mission of the Republic of Korea to ASEAN and the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund for their active support and collaboration in organising the training course. The Lieutenant General emphasised the significance of the event, held in a Nang City, not only in terms of strengthening ASEAN-ROK relations but also in affirming the pioneering role of the Ministry of Public Security of Viet Nam in connecting and advancing ASEAN cooperative programs in crime prevention. He added that this marked the first collaboration between Korea and ASEAN within the framework of the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC). The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to ASEAN, Lee Jang-keun, noted that this event held particular importance as it coincides with the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-ROK Dialogue Relations and the recent elevation of the partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which occurred in October 2024. Lee also acknowledged Viet Nams outstanding tenure as the ASEAN-ROK Coordinator from 2021 to 2024. He highlighted the training course as a pioneering initiative that enhances ASEAN-ROK collaboration within SOMTC and expressed optimism for continued close cooperation and impactful initiatives in combating transnational crime. The Republic of Korea and ASEAN share a long-lasting and ever-expanding partnership, which dates back to 1989 when the ROK was accorded Sectoral Dialogue Partner status of ASEAN. Since then, ASEAN and Korea have developed and enjoyed a very close partnership making us an indispensable partner to each other in every aspect, Lee remarked at the opening ceremony. This year, as we commemorate the 35th anniversary of Dialogue Relations, ASEAN and Korea have elevated our partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnershipthe highest level of ASEANs external partnershipson the occasion of the ASEAN-ROK Summit last month in Vientiane, Lao PDR, he said. Alongside these expanding relations, transnational crime has become an increasingly important area of cooperation between Korea and ASEAN. We recognise that transnational crime poses an increasingly complex and evolving threat. From drug trafficking and trafficking in persons(TIP) to cybercrime and terrorism, these illicit activities undermine our societies, disrupt our economies, and endanger our citizens, he continued. He warned that transnational crime, with its multifaceted nature and far-reaching consequences, remained a pressing issue that demands collective efforts and innovative solutions. The Republic of Korea had steadfastly enhanced its engagement with ASEAN through mechanisms such as the ASEAN Plus Republic of Korea Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime and the ASEAN Plus Three Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime. This CSI training course, born out of the enduring partnership between ASEAN and the Republic of Korea, also embodies our shared commitment to address the threat of transnational crimes and to ensure regional security and justice. I believe that today marks a significant step forward in our collective efforts to combat transnational crime. By focusing on capacity building in crime scene investigation, this initiative seeks to enhance the technical expertise and operational readiness of ASEAN law enforcement agencies in collaboration with the Korea National Police Academy (KNPA). The event, which involved the participation of 40 officers from all ten ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste, along with experts in crime scene investigation and digital forensics from the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), INTERPOL and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), not only strengthens institutional capabilities, but also fosters trust and collaboration among regional police agencies. The workshop is supported by the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF), which will increase to US$32 million annually by 2027. Senior Colonel Nguyen Van Tang, Deputy Director of a Nang Citys Public Security Department, said police forces of a Nang and Daegu City, Korea, often hosted annual exchanges in both countries. He said the event would mark a memorable milestone in ASEAN-ROK cooperation.VNS A truck carrying chickpeas caught fire on Nov. 21 in Death Valley National Park. Brian Aillaud/National Park Service A tractor-trailer full of chickpeas caught fire in Death Valley National Park the latest vehicle fire linked to overheating brakes in the hottest place on Earth. The truck was hauling 44,000 pounds of dried chickpeas, the National Park Service said. A towing service cleaned up stray chickpeas that remained after the fire and took away the wreckage in the Nov. 21 incident. The truck had been descending Daylight Pass and Mud Canyon Road, which is closed to commercial truck traffic, when its brakes overheated, the park service said. The truck driver pulled over soon after reaching flat terrain on CA-190. At least a handful of truck fires have occurred this year in Death Valley. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Torey Michener, a public information officer with the California Highway Patrol in Bishop, told the Chronicle over the summer that one notorious road has a 9% grade for 17 miles and is hard on trucks hauling big loads. Truck fires, as a general rule, are usually driver error, riding the brakes instead of using the engine to downshift to reduce speed that causes the fire, he said. Abby Wines, a spokesperson for Death Valley National Park who also spoke to the Chronicle in July on this topic, recommended that drivers stay on paved roads that are heavily traveled and not leave their air-conditioned vehicle for more than 10 minutes of walking. Cellphone reception in Death Valley is spotty, she noted. On steep grades, Most people dont know that you can downshift even on an automatic transmission to save the brakes, Wines said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad HA NOI With 458 votes of approval from 460 deputies, the 15th National Assembly (NA) on November 30 adopted a resolution on the question-and-answer (Q&A) activities of the eighth session. Delivering the draft resolution, Le Quang Tung, Secretary-General and head of the NA Office emphasised the positive outcomes of the (Q&A) sessions. Conducted over two days in a spirit of renovation and cooperation with the Government, these sessions were deemed a resounding success, drawing significant attention from voters and citizens nationwide. The NA acknowledged the efforts of the Government, the Prime Minister, ministries, and related agencies in fulfilling their responsibilities, achieving notable progress in various sectors, and contributing significantly to the nation's socio-economic development. However, the sessions also showed several shortcomings and challenges in State management, particularly in banking, healthcare, and information and communication sectors. A number of recommendations were given to these sectors to improve their performances. Also on November 30, the NA also approved a resolution of its eighth session, with all 464 deputies voting in favour. According to Tung, during the session, the NA passed 18 laws and 21 resolutions, while providing initial opinions on 10 draft laws. VNS HA NOI Party General Secretary To Lam has called for more breakthroughs and the removal of obstacles to strongly reform the administration, creating a favourable environment for development. He made the statement during a national conference in Ha Noi on Sunday, which reviewed the implementation of Resolution No 18-NQ/TW issued on October 25, 2017, by the 12th Party Central Committee. The conference addressed issues related to further innovating and reorganising the political system to make it streamlined, effective and efficient. Discussions also included socio-economic targets for this year, and solutions for further development in 2025. In his speech, Party General Secretary Lam stressed that since the 10th central conference on September 20, the entire political system has been operating more strongly with a new spirit and new speed, fostering new momentum and efficiency to promote socio-economic development and enhance peoples material and spiritual well-being. To achieve the goals set in the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, he underscored the necessity to renew thinking and be decisive. The Party Central Committee, the Government and the National Assembly have been creating fundamental factors for the country to "take off", especially in transportation infrastructure, energy systems, human resources, and administrative reform. Innovation, he emphasised, is not solely the task of law-making agencies but a shared responsibility of the entire political system, involving each worker and Party member engaged in law making and enforcement. The Party General Secretary urged localities to promote the spirit of initiative and creativity for development. Each agency, province and city must set specific targets to contribute to achieving national goals. He also called on workers and Party members to uphold their sense of responsibility and set an example in performing their tasks in the spirit of putting the common interests above all, boldly innovating, and bravely sacrificing for the country's growth. The Party leader reiterated that, along with the efforts of the Party, Government and State, the people's response and participation are crucial. Economic development, he noted, must be associated with addressing social issues, protecting the environment, effectively implementing social security policies, reducing poverty, and eliminating temporary and dilapidated houses. Political system Regarding the streamlining of the political system, the Party leader called for the highest determination of all sectors, from central to grassroots level. He stressed that this is not only about reducing in size or numbers, but more profoundly, about achieving qualitative improvements in the systems operations. Leaders of Party committees need to be exemplary and proactive in performing their assigned tasks following the spirit: "The central level does not wait for the provincial level, the provincial level does not wait for the district level, and the district level does not wait for the grassroots level". He added: "The central sets an example, and localities respond". Each level and each sector should closely follow the plan, propose models, and ensure progress, aiming to arrange and perfect the political systems organisation in the first quarter of next year. He noted that the implementation must be urgent yet cautious and steady. Opinions must be taken from practical review, experts, scientists, and international experience, to ensure optimal results of the streamlining process. Agencies and organisations that have undergone initial restructuring must be reviewed and suggestions for internal rearrangements provided. Organisational reform must be associated with effectively implementing the Party's policies on innovating leadership methods, promoting administrative reform, combating waste, and advancing national digital transformation. The general requirement is that the new apparatus must be better than the old one and function effectively from the outset, avoiding disruptions, delays, or lapses in operations that could affect normal activities of society and the people. The Party General Secretary also emphasised that each agency must carry out policies for public employees affected by the restructuring, ensuring fairness and transparency. VNS HA NOI National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man and his spouse Nguyen Thi Thanh Nga arrived in Singapore on Sunday afternoon, officially beginning their visit to the city-state. Wan Rizal, member of the Singapore-ASEAN Parliamentary Friendship Group, Loy Hui Chen, Director General, Southeast Asia II Directorate under the Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Mai Phuoc Dung, alongside officials from both countries were present at Changi Airport to welcome the Vietnamese delegation. Singapore remains a key partner of Viet Nam in the region. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1973 and the strategic partnership in 2013, their bilateral relations have grown robustly across all channels - Party, government, parliament, and people-to-people exchange. The cooperation between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Singapore Parliament has been maintained, with continuous progress both bilaterally and multilaterally seen in recent years. During the Viet Nam visit by former Speaker of the Singaporean Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin in May 2022, the two sides signed a cooperation agreement which laid a solid foundation for strengthening ties between the two legislative bodies. Recently, during the 45th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-45) in Laos last October, NA Chairman Man held a bilateral meeting with Singaporean Parliament Speaker Seah Kian Peng. They discussed bilateral cooperation across all channels and aspects, as well as between the two legislative bodies. Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation, increase exchanges at all levels, and coordinate to support each others stances in multilateral forums in the region and the world. Additionally, exchange activities between legislators, especially young and female parliamentarians of Viet Nam and Singapore have greatly contributed to promoting relations between the two legislative bodies. This has acted as a momentum to further deepen and strengthen the Viet Nam-Singapore Strategic Partnership in a practical and effective manner. During this visit, NA Chairman Man is scheduled to hold talks and meetings with top leaders of Singapore, receive representatives from leading Singaporean corporations investing and operating in Viet Nam, visit the Vietnamese Embassy and meet with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Singapore. The trip holds great significance as it aims to implement Viet Nams foreign policy and enhance cooperative ties between the Vietnamese NA and Singapores Parliament, strengthening the two countries Strategic Partnership, as well as their friendship and effective, substantive cooperation in all aspects. VNS HA NOI General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam talked over the phone with General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith on Sunday, during which they agreed on specific orientations to implement high-level agreements between the two countries. The Vietnamese Party chief extended his best wishes to the Lao Party, State, and people on the occasion of the 49th National Day of the country (December 2, 19752024) and his regards to high-ranking leaders of Laos. Lam spoke highly of the great, comprehensive and historically significant achievements that Laos has accomplished over nearly 40 years of renewal, especially its successful chairmanship of ASEAN and the 45th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-45) in 2024. The leader noted his belief that under the leadership of the LPRP, the Lao people will reap even greater accomplishments, driving Laos to further prosperity and strength. The Vietnamese Party chief also expressed his joy at the fruitful development of the bilateral relationship across areas, with political ties being strengthened, defence-security cooperation effectively promoted, and cooperation in economy, culture, education, and science-technology progressing. The relationship between Viet Nam and Laos always holds special importance and remains a top priority in Viet Nam's foreign policy, Lam stated, stressing that fostering the relationship is considered a strategic task, essential to the revolutionary cause as well as national construction and defence of Viet Nam. Viet Nam always supports Laos in its nation-building and development efforts, including in successfully implementing the Resolution of the 11th National Party Congress and preparing for the organisation of the 12th congress, Lam said. For his part, the Lao leader asked Party General Secretary Lam to convey his regards to high-ranking leaders of the CPV while highlighting the importance of the talks, which, he said, demonstrates the special solidarity between the two Parties, States, and peoples. He thanked the Party, State, and people of Viet Nam for their consistent support and special assistance for Laos, and also briefed Lam on the achievements his country has gained over the recent past. Thongloun emphasised the strategic importance of the Viet Nam-Laos relationship and its decisive role in the security and development of each country. Laos will further support and do its best to preserve and foster this special relationship, ensuring it continues to flourish, he pledged. The leader commended Viet Nam's accomplishments in politics, external affairs, national defence, security, and socio-economic development, describing them as lessons and a source of encouragement for Laos during national construction and development. Thongloun noted his confidence that under the leadership of the CPV, headed by Lam, Viet Nam will successfully achieve its goals and embark on the era of the nations rise. During the talks, the two leaders discussed and agreed on specific directions for implementing high-level agreements between their countries. They also consented to carry forward the existing mechanisms, work to improve cooperation effectiveness across various fields, and strengthen the special solidarity between the two nations for tangible benefits of both peoples as well as for peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world. VNA/VNS SINGAPORE National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man and his spouse Nguyen Thi Thanh Nga, along with a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese legislature, met with the staff members of Vietnamese representative agencies and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Singapore on Sunday evening, as part of their official visit to the country. According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Mai Phuoc Dung, the 25,000-strong Vietnamese community always adheres to local laws and serves as a bridge between the two countries. At the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Dr Vu Minh Khuong from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy of Singapore expressed his delight at Viet Nam's strong transformation in the new era. He strongly agreed on the need to urgently streamline the political system's organisational structure to ensure its operational effectiveness. The expert also praised the NA leaders speech on addressing institutional bottlenecks and barriers, laying the groundwork, and making comprehensive preparations for the country to enter the new era. He also valued the innovations of the legislature during its recent 8th session, particularly in law-making. Representatives from Vietnamese associations and the community expressed their confidence and hope that under the sound leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV), the country's development policies and orientations in the new era will soon be realised, creating groundbreaking advancements, propelling the nation toward rapid, strong progress in the near future. NA Chairman Man said that his visit aims to accelerate the process of upgrading Viet Nam-Singapore relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2025. He noted that the cooperation between Viet Nam and Singapore has maintained its stable development momentum in recent years, saying economic and trade cooperation stands out as a highlight of the bilateral ties. According to the NA leader, Singapore remains Viet Nam's fourth-largest trading partner within ASEAN. Singapore currently ranks second among the 145 countries and territories that invest in Viet Nam. Notably, the 18 Viet Nam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) across 13 cities and provinces in Viet Nam are seen as a symbol of successful economic cooperation between the two countries. Briefing the overseas Vietnamese on their homeland's socio-economic situation, the top legislator said the diplomatic work has been strengthened, and Viet Nam's position and reputation on the international stage have been elevated. The NA Chairman lauded the role of the Vietnamese community in Singapore, which always stays united and looks towards the homeland, while promoting friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. He affirmed the Party's and State's consistent policy towards overseas Vietnamese, an inseparable part of the nation. The leader noted that by implementing Conclusion No 12-KL/TW dated August 12, 2021 of the Politburo regarding overseas Vietnamese affairs in the new context, the NA and the Government are perfecting the legal framework, creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese abroad, including their second and third generations, to return home to live, work, and do business. Commending the efforts of the ambassador and the embassy staff in overcoming difficulties to fulfil their assigned tasks, the chief legislator emphasised that the Party, State, and NA always support and create favourable conditions for Vietnamese representative offices abroad to operate effectively, contributing to national protection, construction, and development. He urged them to make more contributions to consolidating and deepening the Viet Nam-Singapore Strategic Partnership, including cooperation between the two legislative bodies, towards upgrading the relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in the future. VNA/VNS The opinion was shared by Nguyen Ho Nam, founder of private Vietnamese conglomerate Bamboo Capital Group, at the two-day Vietnam Innovation Summit that closed on November 15 in Ho Chi Minh City. Nam, who is also vice chairman of the Vietnam-Switzerland Economic Forum (SVEF), said that in a volatile world of fierce competition, building partnerships is essential to overcome challenges and achieve success. "No single entity can do everything on its own. Therefore, finding the right partners is key to optimise strengths and fix limitations," he added. Bamboo Capital Group chairman Nguyen Ho Nam speaks at the Vietnam Innovation Summit 2024 in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Bamboo Capital Elaborating on his cooperation philosophy, he said, "For successful collaboration, we must create conditions for our partners to succeed first, and then they will help us achieve success. In the past, many businesses followed a win-lose philosophy, but today, to progress and create sustainable value, this must be replaced with a win-win philosophy, where both sides benefit and support each others growth." Cooperation is not only about sharing profits but also an opportunity to learn and grow with partners, he said. Nam also emphasised the governments crucial role in supporting businesses through transparent policies, a favourable business environment, and fostering international connectivity. Government initiatives like promoting digital transformation and green economic development have become important drivers for Vietnamese businesses to thrive internationally, he noted. Other speakers in a panel discussion on "Building Success Collaboration" were Alex Smith, British consul general in Ho Chi Minh City, and Gaku Echizenya, CEO of Talented Co., Ltd. The discussion was moderated by Teresa Lien Freiburghaus, executive director of the SVEF. A panel discussion on "Building Success Collaboration" at the Vietnam Innovation Summit in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Bamboo Capital Nam has been actively promoting cooperation opportunities with Vietnam at several international forums. At the 25th World Knowledge Forum (WKF) 2024 held from September 9-11 in Incheon, South Korea, he presented a 40-minute keynote speech titled Vietnam A Trusted Friend in a Turbulent World. Addressing hundreds of delegates from around the world, he emphasised Vietnam's strategic position in the region, its stable and open business environment, and strong potential for cooperation across various sectors. He presented Vietnam as a dynamic and innovative country ready to collaborate with the international community. Philosophy of cooperation Nam stressed that the insights he shared at the summit were not just theoretical, but intrinsic to Bamboo Capital Group's development strategy. Over the past 13 years, Bamboo Capital has continuously innovated, expanded collaboration, and pursued a win-win strategy in all its activities. The group has collaborated with major partners in renewable energy, real estate, and construction-infrastructure. Its international partners have not only supported the company with technology and financial resources, but also shared valuable experience in developing sustainable projects that meet the rigorous demands of the international market. This has helped Bamboo Capital expand its markets, enhance its reputation, and create value for shareholders, thereby contributing to national socioeconomic growth. Exemplifying the groups philosophy and strategy is energy subsidiary BCG Energy, which formed partnerships with large international corporations like Sembcorp Industries, Singapore Power, Hanwha Energy, Leader Energy Group, SK Ecoplant, and Sudokwon Landfill Site Management Corp. to carry out renewable energy projects in Vietnam. BCG Energy has also raised significant international funding from major banks for projects that not only create economic value for all parties but also contribute to reducing environmental pollution and promote sustainable development in the region. BCG Energy, a subsidiary of Bamboo Capital Group, has partnered with South Koreas SK Ecoplant and Sudokwon Landfill Site Management Corp (SLC) to develop waste-to-energy and waste treatment solutions. Photo: Bamboo Capital Through its real estate arm, BCG Land, Bamboo Capital has collaborated with international interior design companies to deliver modern, luxurious, and environmentally friendly projects that meet the demanding requirements of modern customers. It has also formed strategic partnerships with top-tier real estate management and operation groups to directly manage key projects like King Crown Infinity in Ho Chi Minh City. Tracodi, a construction and infrastructure subsidiary, has been expanding its network of partnerships with major companies and corporations. Strategic cooperation agreements with companies like China National Railway Group and DECOFI, a unit under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, demonstrate the companys commitment to the win-win philosophy that Bamboo Capital subscribes to. These partnerships not only strengthen Tracodis capabilities in infrastructure development and industrial park construction but also contribute to the overarching goals of sustainable development and optimising benefits for all parties. Bamboo Capital has also invested heavily in technology to enhance governance and operation efficiency. Notably, the establishment of BCG Eco to tap the carbon credit market demonstrates the groups long-term strategic vision of a green economy that will help fight climate change. Nam noted that in a highly competitive world, the groups win-win philosophy has helped it create sustainable value that delivers economic benefits and makes due contributions to society at large, including the crucial task of protecting the environment. Bamboo Capital afforestation arm joins global partners to tap carbon credit market BCG Eco, the afforestation arm of Vietnams Bamboo Capital Group, has signed an agreement with Singapores Capital Quantum and Corects, two leading entities in carbon credits and climate finance. Gelex and Bamboo Capital hold significant stakes in Eximbank Gelex Group and Bamboo Capital Group have been revealed to hold the largest stakes in Eximbank, following the release of a list of the bank's major shareholders on July 24. Pham Minh Tuan, executive vice chairman, Bamboo Capital Group Speaking at the Vietnam M&A Forum 2024 organised by Vietnam Investment Review on November 27 in Ho Chi Minh City, Tuan said that mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have been deployed by BCG for years. In 2018, when Vietnam issued policies to encourage the development of renewable energy, this field has attracted many investors, including both international and domestic. Decisions issued in 2020 by of the Ministry of Industry and Trade related to the feed-in-tariff (FIT) price mechanisms have promoted the strong development of solar and wind power projects. From 2018 to early 2021, Vietnam added 26 GW of renewable energy capacity to the national power system, contributing about 15 per cent of the country's total electricity output, making renewable energy an important pillar in the power industry. According to Tuan, many international investors were initially apprehensive about the regulations on power purchase agreements (PPA) and the role of the Vietnam Electricity (EVN). However, the process of working and supporting international investors to better understand the legal environment in Vietnam has helped create trust and attract capital from countries such as Thailand, Japan, and Western Europe. After better understanding the mechanisms and role of EVN, foreign investors have become more confident. Some international financial institutions have started to participate, despite knowing that issues continue to surround PPA contracts. Taking advantage of these opportunities, BCG has become one of the pioneers in renewable energy. The group currently owns 700 MW of capacity from projects already in operation and is deploying an additional 550 MW. In particular, BCG also invests heavily in waste electricity, with a factory in Ho Chi Minh City that boasts a processing capacity of 2,600 tons of waste per day and is expected to expand to 8,000 tons per day, making the project one of the world's largest waste power plants. With the goal of reaching 2GW of capacity by 2027, BCG has invested more than VND20 trillion ($833 million) in renewable energy, cooperating with international investors and carrying out M&A deals. Our M&A strategy is part of BCGs development DNA, helping the group expand, enhance its position, and contribute to the sustainable development of the economy, Tuan said. A typical example of Bamboo Capital's successful M&A strategy is the acquisition of 80 per cent of AAA Insurance from IAG Group (Australia) in December 2022. At that time, AAA faced many difficulties in the compensation process and customer service, with revenue of only VND196 billion ($8.1 million). After the deal, BCG quickly restructured, repositioned the brand, and invested heavily in human resources and operations. In 2024, AAA Insurance is expected to reach a total revenue of VND1.5 trillion ($62.5 million) and be in the top 15 best non-life insurance companies in Vietnam. This success demonstrates BCGs management capacity and affirms that M&As are not simply a foreign enterprise acquiring Vietnamese enterprises, but also a good lesson for domestic enterprises to acquire and revive companies previously managed by foreign investors. Tuan also shared his in-depth perspective on M&A deals, especially the factors that create the true success of a transaction. According to him, the success of a deal is not limited to the time of completing the deal, but also on the next steps, such as restructuring and operating the business after the merger. "For deals in which the buyer only owns a portion of the shares or builds a co-ownership model, the signing moment is only the beginning of a long-term cooperative relationship. On the contrary, with transactions where the buyer has the control or complete ownership of the business, completing the deal can be considered successful, he said. Sharing more about practical experience, he said that BCG has grown thanks to M&As. We have taken on many roles as both the buyer and the seller. Thereby, we see a clear difference when working with international and domestic partners, he said. International partners' understanding of the Vietnamese market is very different. There are foreign investors who do not know much about the Vietnamese market. At that time, to have a successful transaction, we needed to accompany and guide them to understand the legal regulations, and coordinate with their consulting units to build a suitable transaction model. This is an important step for both sides to reach an understanding," Tuan said. He also noted that one of the key factors to getting a deal done is consensus on goals and financial model. Reasonable business valuations will help both sides narrow the gap, creating a basis for an effective negotiation process. Negotiation skills play a decisive role because each side has its interests to protect. It is important to find ways to break the ice and reach consensus without affecting the prerequisites of both two sides," Tuan added. Tuan also mentioned collaborating with professional advisors to resolve questions related to valuation or transaction structure. In many cases, the parties should invite an independent valuation unit to ensure transparency and objectivity. He noted that businesses need to be careful in calculating the time frame for legal procedures. When compared to domestic transactions, Tuan commented that Vietnamese businesses are often simpler in terms of legality because both parties clearly understand the domestic business environment. However, one of the common challenges comes from the issue of prejudice and ego. "Sometimes, competing egos among domestic businesses make reaching an agreement difficult," he commented. In addition, the domestic transaction process is often less strict than deals with foreign businesses, rarely uses consultants, and does not go through the processes of a standard M&A deal. The seller and buyer clearly understanding their roles and each party's process to be able to come up with appropriate solutions, he added. At the end of the talk, Tuan said that the success of an M&A deal does not just stop at signing the deal, but also lies in the ability to execute effectively afterwards. Only when the business develops sustainably and both parties achieve their goals can the deal truly be considered successful, he said. BCG Energy teams up with South Korea's SK Ecoplant and SLC for waste-to-energy projects BCG Energy has signed an agreement with South Korea's SK Ecoplant and Sudokwon Landfill Site Management Corp. (SLC) to develop waste-to-energy projects and waste treatment solutions in Long An and Kien Giang provinces. Construction begins at BCG's waste-to-energy plant A groundbreaking ceremony was held on July 20 for a new waste-to-energy plant in Cu Chi district, Ho Chi Minh City. Nestle Vietnam, with a strong commitment to reducing emissions, is ready to accompany the business community on this journey. As the co-chair of the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD), Nestle Vietnam held a workshop with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) themed "Carbon Credit Exchange Mechanism in Vietnam and Roadmap Towards Net Zero 2050 Goal" on November 29. At the event, businesses were updated on the APEC 2024 Summit, COP29 Conference, and the latest policies in Vietnam aimed at guiding and businesses to develop and implement appropriate plans to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The event was part of the CSI-100 Awards Ceremony, an annual event to honour the top 100 sustainable businesses. 2024 marks the ninth year of CSI-100 and the seventh year that Nestle Vietnam has been a partner of the programme. Participating in and applying the CSI index set helps businesses measure their achievements and shape sustainable development strategies. "With a vision to become a global company, bridging local communities and leading in sustainable development, Nestle not only sets ambitious goals and innovative solutions for itself, but also aims to inspire and support the business community in moving towards a green future, contributing to Vietnam's common commitments," Binu Jacob, CEO of Nestle Vietnam and co-chair of the VBCSD, said. "This year, we are delighted to see an increase in the number of businesses participating in the CSI-100 programme, with many taking specific actions to reduce emissions. The selected businesses this year are all companies with commendable and exemplary practices, he added. Since the beginning of 2024, Nestle Vietnam has collaborated with partners to organise numerous training and sharing programmes for businesses, especially those in the company's supply chain, to assess, measure, and reduce GHG emissions. These activities demonstrate Nestle's commitment to supporting the business community in practising sustainable development, enhancing competitiveness, and expanding into global markets. At the CSI 2024 ceremony, Nestle introduced sustainable development initiatives such as transitioning to sustainable agriculture, regenerative agriculture, and circular economy practices in production to reduce GHG emissions throughout the supply chain. Additionally, the company presented an initiative using VR360 virtual reality technology to enhance the experience for attendees. These activities aimed to raise awareness and inspire action within the business community and among consumers. Homes in San Jose, Calif. Loren Elliott/Special to the Chronicle When we first began reporting on the wave of nonrenewals hitting California homeowners, we launched a reader survey to collect peoples stories and help inform our reporting. Every day, more stories have come through that survey form, and if theres one overriding theme, its the frustration: many Californians have said they live nowhere near a fire zone, yet were dropped; they have never filed a claim, yet they were dropped; it took ages to find an insurer and the cost tripled. If youve lost your home insurance or fear you will here are some tips on what you should do right now. This article is part of our Guide to Navigating the Insurance Crisis. Read the full guide here. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Ensure your insurer knows how to reach you Is your contact information up to date with your broker and/or insurer? Does your insurer have your mailing address, your email and your phone number? We have heard stories of folks missing the mailed notice of nonrenewal and getting shocked later on. Read more: The best way to protect yourself from the home insurance crisis is also the easiest Keep your home in good condition As insurers get pickier about who to cover, brokers say more frequent inspections are becoming the norm including aerial flyovers you may not get told about. Dont shy away from an inspection, but do make sure that your home is in good shape before they get there. Clean the dead leaves off your lawn, remove any moss from your roof and have documentation ready of any recent upgrades youve done to your pipes or wiring. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Dont switch insurers unless you are non-renewed One broker we talked to said he spends half his day telling clients not to switch their insurance. He said people may find a company with a lower rate or premium, but switching is not a guarantee that it will work out. The new company will likely require a property inspection, after which it can cancel the policy making the move risky. And remember that rates are going up for everyone, so even if you have a policy and your rates go up 15-20% you may still be in the right place (painful as it may be). How long will this take? Under state regulation, insurance companies must give you notice at least 75 days before you lose your policy. But brokers have told the Chronicle that insurance quotes are generally only good about 60 days out from the day you lose coverage any earlier, and the prices might change. Well remind you when you get to that point so you can use that time wisely to come up with another option to avoid any gaps in coverage. Read our guide to navigating the insurance crisis Our guide to navigating the insurance crisis likely wont be able to help you with every aspect of your situation each home, policy and case is going to be different. But we have fielded hundreds of questions from readers and talked to dozens of insurance brokers, officials and experts, and our reporters have dived deep into regulatory filings to understand whats really going on and what insurers may not be saying publicly. Calls for reform after backbench mental health bill withdrawn This article is old - Published: Sunday, Dec 1st, 2024 A Senedd member called for reform of the way the Welsh Parliament handles backbench legislation after pulling a mental health bill that received cross-party support. James Evans announced the withdrawal of his standards of care bill, which aimed to replace outdated mental health legislation, in a statement to the Senedd on November 27. The Conservative called for change to processes for backbench bills, which are proposed by Senedd members who are not part of the Welsh Government. Mr Evans, who represents Brecon and Radnorshire, won a ballot to introduce the legislation and Senedd members unanimously backed the bill at the first stage in December 2023. But, withdrawing the bill, he warned backbenchers face extremely difficult challenges in introducing legislation that is fit for purpose and serves people across Wales. Defective He said: A guiding principle for me, since Ive come here, is that we shouldnt introduce legislation that is defective and that I dont think meets the needs of the people we serve. So, for that reason, Ive decided to withdraw my bill. The Senedd has not passed a backbench bill since legislation on safe nurse staffing levels, which was introduced by the Liberal Democrats Kirsty Williams in 2013. Warning the bill would take two years or more to develop, Mr Evans said: Not many of us come into the Senedd with fully fledged law written, done, and all the regulation-making done around it it simply doesnt happen . Were not the government, we dont have all the civil servants and the expertise but I do think it is something we really do need to look at how we improve this process. Mr Evans also pointed to the new UK Government bringing forward a mental health bill, saying it is important that parts of the legislation work on a Wales-and-England basis. Deficiencies He urged the new future Senedd committee, which is examining reforms for the next term from 2026, to look into greater opportunities for backbench legislation. Sarah Murphy, Wales mental health minister, was disappointed by the withdrawal of the bill but hopeful many of its aims will be achieved through the UK legislation. Plaid Cymrus Mabon ap Gwynfor similarly regretted withdrawal of the Welsh bill, saying it was a significant step forward in addressing serious deficiencies in mental health law. Warning the Senedd too often falls short in living up to the promises of devolution, he added: It shouldnt be the height of our ambition here to simply wait for Westminster. Elin Jones, the speaker or Llywydd, said the Senedds business committee will be beginning a review of legislative processes at its meeting on December 3. By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter Peaky Blinders filming at Pontcysyllte Aqueduct this morning with waterways and towpath closed to public This article is old - Published: Sunday, Dec 1st, 2024 A filming helicopter is in the skies above the Trevor Basin this morning, as the area is closed off for what is locally rumoured to be a Peaky Blinders crew. Nearby Rebel Dragon Designs have captured some of the action this morning with images above and below, and have kindly shared them. Peaky Blinders is a critically acclaimed mainly UK based crime drama series that originally aired on the BBC and gained global recognition. Set in Birmingham, the show follows the rise of the Shelby crime family, led by the enigmatic and ambitious Tommy Shelby, portrayed by superstar Cillian Murphy. Spanning six seasons, the series blends gritty storytelling with historical events, exploring themes of family, power, and the impact of post-World War I societal changes. A feature-length film rumoured to be called The Immortal Man is currently in production and will serve as a continuation of the series. Set during World War II, it promises to delve deeper into the Shelby saga with new and returning characters. Additionally, Netflix is developing two spin-off series: one focused on the mid-20th century events in Boston, and another exploring the backstory of Polly Gray, the Shelby familys matriarch. The filming was recently in Bradford a couple of weeks, and others areas of the UK including Birmingham. The Visitor Centre staff said, The Trevor Basin Visitor Centre and is closed today due the filming taking place on site. The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct Waterways and towpath will be closed from 10am 4pm. Rebel Dragon Designs also reminded people, Whilst youre out spotting stars, dont forget to pop in to the Pontcysyllte Chapel Tearoom Christmas Fayre! There are loads of amazing stalls, and Sion Corns promised to visit, too! Senedd hears claim entrepreneurs bullied after seeking support from Development Bank of Wales This article is old - Published: Sunday, Dec 1st, 2024 Entrepreneurs have been bullied and forced to hand over control of their businesses after approaching the Development Bank of Wales for financial support, the Senedd heard. Paul Davies, who chairs the economy committee, raised extremely worrying evidence from Dylan Jones-Evans, an economist and academic, about the Development Bank. Mr Davies said the committee also received emails from people who had dealings with the bank and felt they had been bullied out or had their businesses essentially stolen. Prof Jones-Evans told the committee: Unfortunately, I have been approached by businesses prior to this review who feel they have not been treated fairly with valuations being too low, where decisions have taken far too long, and where terms are unacceptable. Worst still, there have been instances where some have been bullied by the directors imposed on them, where they have been forced out by dubious means and where founders feel they have not been supported by the bank. Extinguished Prof Jones-Evans warned that young, inexperienced founders found themselves in this position and should have received far greater support. Mr Davies said: If these reports are accurate, those actions may well have extinguished that entrepreneurial spirit, which would be an absolute tragedy and exactly the opposite of what the bank was established to do. The former Tory group leader added that much of the testimony was supplied anonymously, which limited the committees ability to scrutinise the evidence. But he cautioned: It only takes a brief look on a news website to find situations where allegations such as bullying have been made against other public institutions where, in some cases, they have been ignored and, as we know, sometimes these cases do not end well. Mr Davies stressed: I just want to be clear: I have discussed these accusations with the bank via correspondence and in a private meeting and they absolutely refute them. Double counting Leading a debate on November 27, he said most of the evidence received by the committee, which made 13 recommendations, was supportive of the bank and its operations. Mr Davies also raised concerns about the Development Bank being reclassified by the Office for National Statistics as central government in 2021. He explained this leads to double counting, with the Welsh Government having to keep money in reserve to cover any uninvested funds given to the bank. Plaid Cymrus Luke Fletcher said the transition from Finance Wales to the Development Bank marked a step change in 2017, with investment doubling to 124m by 2022/23 Mr Fletcher advocated merging the bank with Business Wales to create a one-stop shop. Labours Hefin David pointed out the bank is not covered by Wales Future Generations Act, raising suggestions a social value clause could be inserted into grant and loan agreements. Fragmented Samuel Kurtz, the Conservatives shadow economy secretary, raised warnings from the Federation of Small Businesses of massively fragmented business support. He expressed concerns about troubling evidence from Prof Jones-Evans that the Development Bank did nothing to stop imposed directors bullying out founders. The economy committee scrutinised bank executives on November 20, questioning a 3.2% cost-of-living pay rise awarded to all staff including those earning six-figure salaries. Dr David pointed out that annual remuneration for the highest-paid director increased by 20% from 217,000 to 260,000 between 2023 and 2024. Giles Thorley, chief executive of the bank, which wrote off 27m in 2022/23, said 3.2% was lower than the Welsh Governments rise, attributing the 20% to performance-related pay. Misunderstandings Rebecca Evans, Wales economy secretary, said the Development Bank has invested 778m in more than 3,900 businesses since 2017, supporting 41,700 jobs. She said: Thats a total impact of 1.66bn on the Welsh economy real investment, real businesses, real growth, supporting businesses in every part of Wales. Turning to concerns received by the committee, Ms Evans said: Finance can be complex and I am aware there are times when customers dont understand the role of the bank or the obligations of the bank and this can, regrettably, lead to misunderstandings and complaints. She added: Ive had the opportunity to address concerns with officials. It is the case, though, that founder members of companies are sometimes removed by their boards. Ms Evans told the Senedd she has confidence in the leadership of the bank and its board, with an external review set to take place next year. By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter K tc x vung bin tai x Tam Quang, huyen Tuong Duong (Nghe An). Anh: TTXVN phat Chap cnh nhung uoc mo Tai Nghe An hien c 2 m hnh K tc x vng bin do cc on Bin phng trien khai, o au at tai x Tam Quang (Tuong Duong) v Truong Trung hoc co......[Nhieu Hon...] 2025-02-25 Maliya Ellis, originally from New Haven, Conn., is a recent graduate of Harvard University, where she studied Social Studies and edited the Harvard Crimsons weekly news magazine. Her summer newsroom internships on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazettes features desk and the Boston Globes metro team have confirmed her passion for deeply reported local news. In her free time, Ellis enjoys long runs and word games. She is excited to explore a new coast and a new city. San Francisco police are investigating a stabbing near Salesforce Tower on Thanksgiving night. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle San Francisco police said they are searching for a suspect in a stabbing near Salesforce Tower on Thanksgiving. Around 8:52 p.m., officers responded to reports of a stabbing on the 100 block of First Street, according to the San Francisco Police Department. Officers found a person with apparent stab wounds and transported the victim to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Police said they located a man who matched the description of the suspect and detained Dennis Palmer, 37, near Market and Battery streets. Investigators later determined that Palmer was not involved in the stabbing, but police booked him into county jail on two unrelated outstanding arrest warrants and for possession of drug paraphernalia, the SFPD said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The victims condition was not immediately available Saturday. President-elect Donald Trump earned roughly the same number of votes as he did in 2020 but Kamala Harris earned more than 1.8 million fewer votes than Joe Biden did four years ago. Kyle Grillot/Special to the Chronicle Like the rest of the nation, California swung right in 2024. But unlike some other places, there was little contribution from voters changing their votes from Democratic to Republican. Instead, its mainly because Democratic voters seem to have stayed home. In the 49 California counties where the estimated vote count was nearly complete by Thanksgiving Day a list that accounted for 97% of the states voting-age population turnout fell by more than 10% compared to the 2020 election. Thats based on figures from the Secretary of States office, which publishes both vote totals as well as the estimated number of eligible voters in each county. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The declines werent proportional by party. Donald Trump earned roughly the same number of votes as he did in 2020 but Kamala Harris earned more than 1.8 million fewer votes than Joe Biden did four years ago. That Democratic decline was enough to meaningfully shift the margins in the state. While Joe Biden earned 64% of the vote in these 49 counties in 2020, Harris earned just 59%. Trump earned 34% of the vote in 2020 and 38% in 2024. The data provide something of a counterpoint to trends in the rest of the country: While Democratic turnout dropped nationwide, at least some of the shift to Trump came from voters actively changing their minds from 2020 and switching their votes from Democratic to Republican. In California, turnout or lack thereof, on the Democratic side seems to have mattered far more. Overall, the turnout decline was broad-based statewide and defied demographic patterns, spanning from north to south, rich to poor, urban to rural, and heavily white to heavily minority. Rural Hispanic San Benito County, home to Hollister, and metropolitan Los Angeles County both saw turnout declines approaching 14 percentage points the largest in the state. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Only in a few mostly-rural counties in the eastern Central Valley, Sierra Nevada, and far north Madera, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Calaveras, Amador, El Dorado and Modoc did overall turnout hold up relatively well compared to 2020. While Democratic votes fell in basically every county, the pattern of change in votes for Trump was more uneven. In swingy San Joaquin County, which flipped from blue to red this year, Trump earned 5,000 more votes than last time not a big enough gain to carry the county, assuming Harris numbers had held steady from 2020. But in addition to Trumps gains, Harris lost more than 30,000 votes compared to Biden. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In Fresno County, which also flipped, Trump actually earned fewer votes than he did in 2020. Its just that Harris earned far fewer. A 3-year-old boy is recovering after he was shot Sunday morning inside his bedroom at a Birmingham apartment complex. Just before 8 a.m., West Precinct officers responded to Forest Hills Village apartments on Tempest Drive on a report of a shooting. Once inside the apartment, they found the child with gunshot wounds to his leg. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service rushed him to Childrens of Alabama. His injuries are not life-threatening, said Officer Truman Fitzgerald. Family members told police they were inside the apartment when someone fired shots into the unit from outside. They heard shots and noticed that their 3-year-old child was screaming,' he said. It was then they realized he had been shot. There were bullet holes in the walls of the apartment, Fitzgerald said. Officers arriving at the complex saw a man running away and they gave chase. That man was detained trying to climb over a fence. A second man was then taken into custody. Fitzgerald said officers found a gun near a vehicle. The investigation is ongoing by felony assault detectives. Its heartbreaking and we have to realize as adults that our decisions affect the most innocent in our community,' Fitzgerald said. Any time you have criminal activity that takes place in apartment complexes, as weve seen, often our youngest, most innocent community members are the ones that end up hit. The family of an Ohio mother and avid hiker who went missing in an Alabama state park say they are thankful to have received some closure. Vendula Wendy Rose was reported missing Oct. 4 after leaving her Ohio home in September for a camping trip. Law enforcement Nov. 30 reported that they believed they had found her remains near Cheaha State Park. It is with great sadness that we report that Wendy was found deceased today. Although this was not the outcome we were hoping for we realize that having closure is a blessing. I want to thank the hunter that found her and immediately reported it so that she could be recovered, Sarah Rose, who said she was Wendys sister-in-law, wrote in a Saturday Facebook post dedicated to the search. Friends and family created the Facebook group Missing Wendy Rose to aid in the search and share cherished memories. The group currently has 1,500 members. This is my mom. Shes stubborn, frustrating, innovative, smart, silly, and, in true motherly fashion, one of the most important people in my life, Dana Rose wrote on Oct. 7. Dana took to the social media site to mourn the loss of her mother, i miss you more than words describe. the pain in my heart only grows with every minute without you. mam te rada maminka. Mam te rada maminka translates to I love you Mom in Czech, her Wendys native language. Wendy Roses vehicle was discovered in October at the Pinhoti Trailhead outside Cheaha State Park. Her remains were discovered near Highway 281 about 5 miles south of Cheaha State Park, according to a news release from the Cleburne County Sheriffs Department. Law enforcement officials have not publicly released a cause of death or any other information. Authorities in Cleburne County say a hunter has likely found the body of an Ohio woman missing in the area since October. Sheriffs deputies have evidence to believe the remains of Vendula Wendy Rose were located near Highway 281 about 5 miles south of Cheaha State Park, according to a news release from the Cleburne County Sheriffs Department. Deputies made the determination after consulting with Roses family and the county coroner following the discovery, the release states. Rose, of Marysville, Ohio, was last seen Sept. 24, AL.com reported. She was set to return home from a camping trip to Alabama on Oct. 2 but never returned, according to Marysville police. The car she had been driving was found at a trailhead near the park in early October, and Cleburne County deputies had asked park visitors to be on the alert for Rose. No other information was available Saturday. Criminal law should be clear so that those covered by it can understand what is permitted and what is prohibited. Its not the place for creative interpretations by the judiciary or partisan prosecutors. Jack Smith has now dropped his cases against president-elect Donald Trump on the grounds that a president cannot be criminally prosecuted, but there is much more that made these prosecutions untenable: They were never grounded in any fair reading of the law that Smith relied upon. The two cases involved Trumps handling of classified material and his purported efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Trump was first indicted in June 2023 in a federal court in Miami on 37 felony counts related to mishandling classified documents that he took from the White House to his Florida home. They included willful retention of national defense information, making false statements, and conspiracy to obstruct justice. A Florida judge dismissed the case, but Smith's office had sought an appeal. Trump was separately indicted on four felonies in August 2023 for his attempt to reverse the 2020 election results: conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy against rights. Months before Smith moved to dismiss the cases, his prosecutions were on the rocks. In July, the Court ruled that a president has absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority. Moreover, he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for his official acts. Since then, we learned how factually weak the case was. For example, we learned what had previously been hidden -- that he had, in fact, asked for the National Guard to be present on January 6 to prevent any possible rioting (as he had claimed) and that Pentagon leaders had deliberately delayed their deployment to the Capitol. (Something they concealed for over three years.) WASHINGTON -- Today, the Committee on House Administration's Subcommittee on Oversight Chairman Barry Loudermilk (GA-11) released transcripts of interviews conducted by the Department of Defense (DoD) Inspector General (IG) that contradict the findings published in their January 6 report , Review of the DoDs Role, Responsibilities, and Actions to Prepare for and Respond to the Protest and its Aftermath at the U.S. Capitol Campus on January 6, 2021. In their report, the DoD IG claims that the actions at the Pentagon were reasonable in light of the circumstances at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. The IG also determined that DoD officials did not delay or obstruct the DoDs response to the [U.S. Capitol Polices] [Request for Assistance] on January 6, 2021. The Subcommittees investigation into the delayed National Guard response on January 6 , including these newly obtained witness transcripts, suggest the exact opposite. Previously concealed by the Biden-Harris Administration for over three years, these transcripts indicate that senior Pentagon officials unnecessarily delayed the DC National Guard response to the Capitol on January 6 due to optics concerns, and reveal that President Trump urged his senior military leaders to prioritize safety. Following the release of these transcripts, Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Barry Loudermilk, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (AL-03), and former Major General William Walker of the D.C. National Guard, released the following statements: Chairman Loudermilk: The fact that an IG report can be used to manipulate a historical narrative to protect the very Department its tasked with overseeing is deeply concerning. The men and women of the National Guard who put their lives on the line to protect our nation deserve the truth. "Through our investigation, we know that the National Guard was capable and ready to deploy to the U.S. Capitol at 3 pm on January 6 , but their response was delayed by senior Pentagon leaders. These new transcripts prove that not only were political concerns of optics at play on January 6, 2021, but that DoD officials continued to delay as the riot at the Capitol worsened. DoD officials also misled Congress, telling then-Speaker Pelosi at 3:19 pm that the National Guard was 'on the way.' "It is abundantly clear that the DoD IGs report protects a preconceived narrative to safeguard their own interests, instead of being based on facts. As we continue the critical work of our investigation, we will not waver from our goal of ensuring the American people get the full truth. So, not only did Trump ask that the demonstration be peaceful, he did everything in his power to keep it that way. That case should never have been brought, but in any fair adjudication should have been dismissed, unless you think that being a Republican deprives a president of a right to free speech. The fate of the J6 defendants is still being considered by the District of Columbia courts, but the Supreme Courts ruling in June of this year (Fischer v U.S.) makes clear the prosecutors erred in an overly expansive reading of the relevant criminal law. The Court simply read the statute in its clear meaning -- not the creative reading that the prosecution acted under: Roberts explained that the general principles used to construe statutes instruct courts that a general phrase can be given a more focused meaning by the terms linked to it. Here, he continued, subsection (c)(1) provides several specific examples of evidence tampering that the law prohibits such as altering a record and concealing a document. When subsection (c)(2) immediately follows those examples, he reasoned, the most sensible inference is that the scope of (c)(2) is limited by the examples in (c)(1). Indeed, he noted, if subsection (c)(2) sweeps as broadly as the government posits, there would have been scant reason for Congress to provide any specific examples at all in subsection (c)(1). Roberts also pointed to the provisions history as additional support for the majoritys interpretation. Until the Enron scandal, the statute only made it a crime to use intimidation or physical force, or corruptly persuade, someone else to shred documents. The statute did not, Roberts noted, create liability for the person who actually shredded the documents -- leading Congress to enact Section 1512(c) to plug this loophole. It would be peculiar to conclude that in closing the Enron gap, Congress actually hid away in the second part of the third subsection of Section 1512 a catchall provision that reaches far beyond the document shredding and similar scenarios that prompted the legislation in the first place. The governments expansive construction of subsection (c)(2) would have other effects as well, he suggested. It would criminalize a broad swath of prosaic conduct, exposing activists and lobbyists alike to decades in prison. As to the document case, U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed it on the basis that Smith had never been legally appointed. Had the case proceeded, any jury would have had to consider the fact that the documents probably were declassified by the president upon leaving office, were kept in a secure place in a facility guarded by the Secret Service, that the raid on Mar-a-Lago turned up few documents that had ever been classified, and both the means by which the raid was accomplished and its efforts to prejudice a jury by photos in which pages marked classified were scattered about, containing nothing at all, would have made the case a hard one to sustain. Theres nothing particularly unique about these observations on criminal law, but I was reminded of them by the creative efforts of some to manufacture genocide out of a justified defensive war in Gaza. Aside from the international organizations antisemites, the European press comes to mind. The latest being Der Speigel. Eli Rosenbaum, retired head of the Department of Justices Office of Special Investigations, details how the International Criminal Court (ICC) judges, desperate to find Israel guilty of genocide, have tripped up the International Court of Justice (ICJ ) case. It is easy to see why the ICCs November 21 statement almost certainly fatally wounds South Africas genocide case at the ICJ. Buried in that statement is this important sentence: On the basis of material presented by the Prosecution covering the period until 20 May 2024, the [Courts Pre-Trial] Chamber could not determine that all elements of the crime against humanity of extermination were met. [snip] it is virtually impossible that sufficient evidence exists to prove genocide at the ICJ, much less at the substantially higher standard of proof applicable to final ICJ determinations that genocide has been committed. The offense of extermination is defined in the ICCs 1998 governing treaty -- the so-called Rome Statute -- which lists prosecutable crimes against humanity as including extermination. It provides that the crime includes the intentional infliction of conditions of life, inter alia the deprivation of access to food and medicine, calculated to bring about the destruction of part of a population The ICCs November 21 public statement doesnt specify which element(s) of extermination could not be established by ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan to the judges satisfaction [snip] But it can be readily deduced from the description of the Israeli officials alleged actions [snip] that what the ICC Prosecutor failed to establish regarding the crime of extermination was the Israeli officials supposed intention to bring about the destruction of part of a population. [snip] The crime of extermination obviously has much in common with the crime of genocide. Centrally, both crimes involve mass killings or other acts that target at least a part of a population for destruction. But to establish genocide, an additional element must be proved: the killings or other acts must have been committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such. [snip] Thus, the essential difference between extermination and lethal genocide is that only genocide requires prosecutors to prove that the intention to achieve the destruction of a part or all of a civilian population was based on the victims nationality, ethnicity, race, or religion, as such. Extermination, by way of comparison, requires only a showing of acts intended to bring about the destruction of a part of a population for any reason [snip] Let us return, then, to the pending ICC and ICJ cases involving Gaza: As noted above, the ICC judges have signaled that they deem the evidence amassed for the alleged Israeli crime of extermination to be insufficient, for the obvious reason that the ICC Prosecutor has been unable to establish, even under the weak reasonable-basis-to-believe ICC arrest warrant standard, that Israeli leaders intended to destroy a part of a population. Barring the extremely remote possibility -- bordering on the inconceivable -- that South Africa and its co-litigants have discovered evidence that has somehow eluded the very experienced and far better-resourced staff of the ICCs Office of the Prosecutor, genocide cant be proved at the ICJ either, because the crime of genocide requires proof not only of an intent to destroy a part of a population (as in the crime of extermination) but also that the evidence is fully conclusive and that such evidence establishes that the alleged destructive intention was based on the nationality, ethnicity, race, or religion of that targeted population. Der Spiegel highlights Canadian William Schabas, who says that Palestine was always etched in his heart, and equally impermissibly expands his interpretation of the law of genocide. He would erase the intent from the clear words of the law respecting genocide, which would, of course, make it meaningless -- simply a vehicle for partisan prosecutions in the same way that Jack Smith and his team played with our criminal system. Image: Michael Ramirez It was the summer of 2019 and President Trump was about to embark on a state visit to the tiny Nordic country of Denmark. Both parties were readying themselves for bilateral talks, but that was before President Trump floated one of his famous spontaneous trial balloons. Trump said that he had had a conversation with the Danish prime minister, stating that the U.S. might be interested in purchasing the island of Greenland. He said that the concept came up and he said that he would be interested in the purchase from a strategic point of view. This did not sit well with the Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, who has been described by some as being a bit too assertive with her comments from time to time. She reportedly told the president in a news broadcast that: "Greenland is not for sale. It is not Danish. Greenland belongs to Greenland. I strongly hope that this is not meant seriously." Then, she capped off her remarks with a trigger word. She called Trump's suggestion "absurd." And anyone who knows Trump knows that he doesn't take kindly to public criticism of this kind, especially with words like "absurd." Trump promptly canceled the visit and called the PM's remark "nasty." Everybody jumped on Trump. This included the Danish media, the American media, the former U.S. ambassador to Denmark, and others who were super critical of his decision. But though no opinion polling was done in Denmark, it seemed clear that the Danish prime minister had "stepped in it." (The Danish phrase is: stepped in the spinach). The Danish foreign ministry was quickly called to a cleanup on aisle three, as were the spin doctors in the Danish government, which led to a subsequent softened statement by the Danish PM, who said she didn't want to get into a "war of words" with the president. The New York Times reported in August 2019 that: "In Denmark, a small country with powerful neighbors, commitment to international alliances is bedrock policy, and polite, measured political debate is the norm. Ms. Frederiksen usually reflects that orthodoxy, but she has occasionally demonstrated a sharp tongue by Danish standards and skepticism about the United States; she made a splash early in her career by comparing American policy on womens reproductive rights to Saudi Arabias." The mouse that roared had antagonized the cat and needed to seek shelter in the form of a few well-placed public statements designed to deflect any criticism of the PM's assertiveness and perhaps her instinct to shoot from the hip in addressing the leader of the free world with a trigger word like 'absurd.' To her credit, and probably with the urging of her foreign minister, she did walk back her statement. There are many ways to diplomatically answer a question of this nature, but we do not live in a hypothetical world. Leaders like Trump and the Danish PM did not get where they are by being nice. In Danish, the word "absurd" is only a nice way of saying "crazy," and while Trump's suggestion to buy Greenland might have sounded absurd (to them), they didn't do themselves any favors with Trump by saying so publicly. Now to the facts According to the Nordic Council of Ministers, "Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark but has wide-ranging autonomy, which was extended in 2009. However, this does not include foreign and security policy or currency policy. It has self-government within the kingdom of Denmark." The island has a population of 60,000 and is six times the size of Germany. Denmark supports Greenland with a block grant to the tune of $600 million annually. While Greenland is technically owned by Denmark, it has been autonomously ruled since 1979. Since 2009, it can, in fact, declare full independence if the Greenlanders wish to pursue it, but a referendum would need to be held before any such action could take place. Recent polling indicates that as many as two-thirds of the Greenlandic people support an independent state. Should a referendum be held and total autonomy becomes the Greenlanders' choice, then they would be free to accept President Trump's (or any other country's) offer. The history of how this came to be is instructive: At the end of the first part of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe in 1814, the Treaty of Kiel gave full sovereignty of Greenland to the Danes. The island was a territory and not independent but directly controlled by the Danish government. They held this control until 1953, when Denmark redrafted its Constitution and Greenland was incorporated under Danish rule. In 1979, the country was granted what they called home rule, but the Danes continued to be in charge of foreign relations, defense, currency matters, and the legal system. In 1941, the Roosevelt administration signed an agreement with the Danes to build airstrips and establish a base of operations on the island as a strategic bulwark against the growing Nazi conquest of Europe (at the time, Denmark was under Nazi occupation, but the government was represented in Washington by an independent "free Denmark" embassy which was able to negotiate and sign the agreement for the Danes). This agreement is still in effect today. Greenland is in a prime geostrategic location. Any country having a port there could shortcut the transportation of goods to the U.S. from Asia and operate a strategic military base of operations. Both the Russians and the Chinese are very interested in pursuing this ambition. For a geopolitical timeline for Greenland, please see the Clingendael Report from June 2020. The U.S. interest in Greenland is not only geopolitical but economic and defense-related. The island has vast reserves of natural resources like iron ore, lead, zinc, rare earth elements, uranium, and oil. The U.S. already maintains a radar station there that is part of the U.S. ballistic missile early warning system. The base at Thule (pronounced 'too lee') is also used by the U.S. Air Force Space Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command. From that same Clingendael Report: In 2008, Greenlanders voted in favour of the Self-Government Act. This Act provided the Greenlandic authorities with increased autonomy, including the possibility to negotiate and conclude international agreements with foreign states and international organisations, which exclusively concern Greenland and entirely relate to the fields of responsibility taken over by Greenland. Matters that directly affect defence and security policy are not covered by the Self-Government Act. Nevertheless, this Act leaves room for Greenland to conclude agreements with foreign states, including China. Countries do buy one another from time to time, so why not Greenland? In the U.S., much of our land was purchased from foreign powers. In 1803, there was the Louisiana Purchase from France. In 1819, there was the Florida Treaty with Spain, and in 1867, the U.S. purchased Alaska ($7.2 million) from Russia. We even bought the Danish West Indies Islands (now the U.S. Virgin Islands) from Denmark in 1917 for a cool $25 million. For a list of territories purchased by countries over time, see Wikipedia's list. The bottom line is that Greenland is important and not some imaginary property on the Monopoly game board. If Trump is really interested in what could be the largest real estate purchase of his lifetime, I expect he will pursue it in much the same way that he has approached many other real estate deals by stressing the mutually beneficial aspects of such a purchase. In the case of Greenland, the island would benefit from having a friendly owner country with the power and funds to "Make Greenland Great," while the U.S. would secure a very critical geopolitical region of the world from either Russian or Chinese hegemonic pursuits. Now that Trump will become president again, the issue could come up again a second time. Stephen Helgesen is a retired career U.S. diplomat who lived and worked in 30 countries for 25 years during the Reagan, G.H.W. Bush, Clinton, and G.W. Bush Administrations. He is the author of fourteen books, seven of which are on American politics and has written over 1,400 articles on politics, economics and social trends. He can be reached at: stephenhelgesen@gmail.com Image: Pexels / Pexels License Last month, the Los Angeles Times caused news when its proprietor, Patrick Soon-Shiong, prevented the papers editorial board from endorsing Kamala Harris for president. L.A. Times editorial board member Mariel Garza resigned in protest, claiming that in these dangerous times, staying silent isnt just indifference, it is complicity. The implication was that Soon-Shiong was capitulating before the future dictator Trump. But if that were true, Soon-Shiong would have compelled the editorial board to endorse Trump. He would have also prevented the paper from writing a syllable against Trump. But that didnt happen. The L.A. Times, like the WaPo and the NYT, is still a fervent Democrat mouthpiece. Soon-Shiong was merely urging some semblance of objectivity, fairness, balance, and a departure from blind partisanship. The L.A. Times board implicitly rejected the request with their silence. So many comments about the @latimes Editorial Board not providing a Presidential endorsement this year. Let me clarify how this decision came about. The Editorial Board was provided the opportunity to draft a factual analysis of all the POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE policies by EACH Dr. Pat Soon-Shiong (@DrPatSoonShiong) October 23, 2024 When propaganda becomes the norm, fairness appears like oppression. The news of Soon-Shiongs request caused turmoil among the L.A. Times personnel and subscriber desertion. The paper had to plead with its subscribers not to abandon them and express concern about the proprietors fair request. The reason behind Soon-Shiongs fair request was that, unlike the papers propagandist, Soon-Shiong cared for his papers reputation. He didnt want his paper humiliated for endorsing the bumbling world salad chef. The Democrat propagandists have a kamikaze mentality. They dont mind killing their and their papers credibility on the partisanship hill because the cause matters more than the fact. They know that if their endorsement is proven wrong, they just have to turn around and call voters racists and sexists. Soon-Shiongs judgment was proven right. He saved his paper from the ignominy of being on the wrong side of the presidential elections. The Washington Posts owner, Jeff Bezos, also prevented his paper from endorsing Kamala Harris, much to the chagrin of the WaPo staff. Following Trumps victory, the L.A. Times blamed caucasian women, but this time, another piece denounced that divisive stand. This proves that dissenters now have a voice at the L.A. Times, and Soon-Shiongs ideas are having an impact. Soon-Shiong recently took another step to attempt fairness in his paper by hiring conservative commentator Scott Jennings to the papers editorial board. Its true - Ive accepted @DrPatSoonShiong invitation to join the editorial board of the @latimes. Ive written columns for the paper over the last few years and was honored to do so under such a storied and important masthead. I love newspapers and believe in strong journalism https://t.co/GrMa44T6en Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) November 29, 2024 This may be the first step to ensure diversity in the paper. Alas, the kind of diversity currently practiced in new outlets is superficial. It focuses on race, sex, sexuality, etc., but the most crucial type of diversity variety of perspectives, ideologies, and political proclivities is strictly forbidden. Hence, all personnel at any news outlet, from the cub reporter to the senior-most editor, sound alike. They all dont think alike, but dissenters realize they will lose employment for attempting to sow heresy. The outlets have even cultivated a subscriber base that prefers propaganda over inconvenient facts. Consequently, the organizations have devolved into complete echo chambers. On Election Night, following Trumps landslide victory, the echo chambers suffered a rude shock: their truths werent the universal truth, and their propaganda couldnt sway the nation. The media suffered ridicule for being out of touch with the public, and it seems to have had an impact. The WaPo, which is a Democrat mouthpiece, carried a critical op-ed about another Democrat mouthpiece, MSNBC. The NYT carried a piece by the Trump-supporting brother of columnist Maureen Dowd. Both CNN and MSNBC have lost almost half of their audience since Trumps election. This compelled the Morning Joe couple to visit Mar-a-Lago. It also caused MSNBC star Rachel Maddow to accept a pay cut. There are reports of possible layoffs including the sacking of stars at CNN. Chris Wallace has already departed the network. A propagandist on The View has been forced to issue retractions or clarifications after engaging in baseless attacks on Trumps Cabinet picks. These were unprecedented occurrences. In times of universal deceit, standing for the truth is a revolutionary act. This is what Soon-Shiong seems to be doing. But merely hiring Scott Jennings is not enough. Jennings must be empowered to bring about change. There must be a diversity of perspectives. The papers editorial board and other key staff must be evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans. How will this help? Assume that an allegation reaches their newspapers desk that President Trump intends to make Mein Kampf mandatory reading in schools. The Democrats group is eager to publish but wont be able to because they lack a majority or monopoly on the board. The Republican group fact-checks the story and will learn that it emanated from a news satire site. The story is killed. The op-ed page must contain a balance. The Democrat editors highlight the shortcomings of the Trump administration, whereas Republican editors highlight what is working. Both op-eds will be fact-checked by the opposite group i.e., Republicans will fact-check Democrats and vice versa. Someday, the echo chamber of fear and hesitation evolves into an environment of free speech. Someday, the deep polarization will end, and every syllable in the paper will be factual. The move by the LA Times and remedial actions by others also prove the importance of Trumps re-election, winning both the Electoral College and the popular vote. Most politicians lose votes from the day they get elected because it is impossible to win everybody. President Trump won 62.9 million in 2016, 74.2 million in 2020, and 76.9 million in 2024. He expanded his voter base with each election, which is an outstanding achievement. Trump is popular not only in his own country; in Britain, Trump is more popular than Prime Minister Keir Starmer. It proved to many, particularly members of the establishment, that Trumps re-election was no fluke. It wasnt due to collusion with Russia or fake news peddlers in Macedonia or any other flimsy reason that Hillary Clinton claimed. It was a resounding approval from the public of Trump and his policies. It was also an emphatic rejection of the self-serving, self-protecting, and corrupt establishment that views regular people with scorn. Trump isnt an aberration, but a norm. His re-election has empowered or perhaps compelled the leadership across news outlets to think about change. Now, it would be naive to pop the champagne and expect to see instant change in the media. The Democrat establishment and its propaganda networks i.e., the likes of MSNBC, the NYT, the L.A. Times, etc. were cultivated over decades. Their roots run deep and wide. They will retaliate. For instance, liberals have slammed Scott Jennings joining the L.A. Times. In the future, it wont just be mere criticism. Matters will get ugly. It will take time and determination to dismantle this corrupt system. But matters will improve. The evolution of Twitter following Elon Musks takeover proves how the change in ownership makes a difference in an organization. The remedial move by the L.A. Times is a step in the right direction. Hopefully, this is the first step of a journey of a thousand miles, whose destination is balance and fairness. Hopefully, someday, there wont be right-leaning or left-leaning news outlets. There will be just outlets that report facts and carry insightful perspectives. Image via Pxhere. It is quite possible China sent the Wuhan flu, i.e., COVID-1984, a.k.a. the latest coronavirus, to America (and the rest of the world) as a kind of test. If so, America (and the rest of the world) failed that test. Then China sent a giant weather/spy balloon across America, surveilling its most sensitive nuclear and other military sites, as another test, to see how we would respond to that preposterous provocation. We failed that test, as well. More recently, military-aged Chinese men have been pouring across the U.S. Southern border, taking up positions in various parts of the country, to do no one knows what. The best guess, however, is that they are forming sleeper cells and preparing to wreak havoc on the fruited plain. The CCP made us sick, and the U.S. government responded, not by punishing China, but by locking down and stealing the freedoms from its own citizens, ironically in classic Chinese fashion. Then the CCP surveilled us with the weather/spy balloon, many stories tall. This was, literally, a trial balloon. Said balloon slowly, yet meticulously, traversed the length and breadth of the (formerly) United States while the Biden administration fiddled and worried about pronouns before finally shooting the balloon down over the Atlantic Ocean after a public outcry. Once again, it did not hold the Chinese government responsible. That crisis, like the Wuhan flu -- and indeed the Chinese balloon itself-- eventually blew over, but not before causing grievous harm to the erstwhile Land of the Free and Home of the Brave and leading China to believe the U.S. had lost its mojo. In the 2024 election just past (or possibly still going on if youre talking about certain House races), voters in California and nine other states could choose to vote for a presidential candidate from the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL). The PSLs candidate, Claudia De La Cruz, is a founding member and co-executive director of The Peoples Forum, which is funded by a Maoist millionaire living in communist China, and whose Shanghai office faces a red banner that reads Always Follow the Party. That is a motto that, ironically, leftists follow religiously, though most, like the CCP, disdain religion. Whether at universities or at the ballot box, China hopes to make inroads into the United States and everywhere else. Speaking of roads, China, via its One Belt, One Road initiative, is building infrastructure in countries around the globe, currying favor (and indebtedness), and paving the way for global hegemony. China has invested in countless highways, railroads, bridges, dams, and ports, all with an eye to making China the pre-eminent economic and military power on Earth. Progressives, whether in the U.S., Canada, or elsewhere, are quick to excuse any alleged Chinese threats to their nations. Indeed, some, like Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have outright praised China and its communist government led by Xi Jinping. Trudeau said he admired its basic dictatorship. Canada cant rid itself of this clown fast enough. (I suggest sending him on a slow boat to you know where.) Many of us still have not come to terms with the origination of COVID-19. Many more of us have forgotten about the surveillance balloon and the indignity it inflicted. But the Chinese Communist Party does not forget, does not lose focus, does not waver. (Coincidentally, flocks of drones have been flying over some of Americas most sensitive military sites of late. The Pentagon says theres just not much it can do about it. Really?) When the Trump administration takes office, there will be a new sheriff in town. Hopefully, those in it will not have forgotten either. As Sun-Tzu said, The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. Lets hope the Trump administration can do just that. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License The transition of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. from Democrat to independent to (gasp!) Republican was a popcorn-grabbing sideshow of the 2024 election season until it became the main event. The defection of Bobby Kennedy to Team Trump was a seismic shift in an already bizarre presidential election, but it also formed a more perfect union between MAGA and MAHA (Make America Healthy Again). And if President-Elect Donald Trump fails to deliver on his MAHA commitments, MAGA will collapse in the broken bargain. MAHA was not merely a clever pivot of campaign messaging; it was a melding of policy platforms necessary to reclaim Americans creed of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. MAGA is not about returning the nation to the 1950s; it is about restoring the Rule of Law, fiscal integrity, regulated borders, citizen security, and trust in the government. It is about reclaiming free speech and worship; equality of all, regardless of race or identity alphabet; and accountability for government agencies that lied about the Steele Dossier, Hunter Bidens laptop, and the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 interventions. MAGA is about re-establishing basic constitutional liberties for all Americans. No MAGA, no MAHA. What good is liberty without health? The merging of the Kennedy platform with Trumps offered Americans a dual vision not just for economic growth and safer streets, but safer meals and a shift toward reducing illness, especially for children. Kennedy is correct about the health crisis unfolding in America. Who could possibly oppose MAHA? Democrats, for one. If Donald Trump advised taking daily vitamins, Democrats would likely dump their Geritol and Flintstones chewables into their toilets. However, another group is even more opposed to the MAHA plan: industrial agriculture and food processing interests. Politico reported on the battle over Trumps choice for USDA that some in the agriculture industry and on Capitol Hill ... [are] relieved the president-elect did not tap someone more openly aligned with Kennedy and his critiques of the current agriculture system. The battle for USDA chief represents the battle for the soul of the nations future: [Kennedy has] openly promised to go to war with large agriculture interests he argues are at the root of Americans twin obesity and chronic health crises. But those fights lie within USDA, which oversees a $430 billionplus yearly budget and 100,000 employees, touching nearly every part of the countrys $1.5 trillion food and agriculture industry. Not HHS. Farm state lawmakers on Capitol Hill have also been skeptical that Trump would actually allow Kennedy to follow through on his promises to upend the food system and go to war against big corporate agriculture interests, including those that are protected by rural Republicans. Several candidates for Cabinet posts even tried to lean on the strong ties to the corporate agriculture sector within Trumps inner circle. A war on conventional agriculture is not in the cards even for Kennedy the nation cannot transition away from its industrial food dependency as easily as Bobby did from toxic Democrats. However, if the industrial stranglehold on Americans food production and processing is not broken, the nations children, along with its water, soils, and food supplies, will continue to decline. There are trillions of dollars of federal subsidies involved in food production. The industrial stakeholders (not consumer steakholders or local farmers) are ultimately the beneficiaries of all those tax dollars. They will not allow Bobby to take away their cash cow without a fight. If Donald Trump does not deliver on promises to improve Americans health and food supplies, he will do more than merely break a political pledge he will fall on the battlefield with banner in hand before even being sworn in. There is no life, liberty, or pursuit of happiness without healthy, local food supplies. Control the food, control the people and their guns, worship times, political views, and ability to live. It is a tactic older than siege warfare. Stalin and Mao were mere dabblers compared to what the globalist cabal of the U.N., WHO, and WEF have in store for the global human population. Syngenta, Bayer, and BlackRock all sit as partners at the WEF table, crafting totalitarian plans to subjugate all food production under an industrial system that creates absolute dependency. Humans must eat plants and eliminate cows but is that to save the world or to solidify corporate profits and globalist domination? These same companies, and many others, sit also in the corridors of the federal government, determined to retain their regulatory capture not just of the EPA and FDA, but of the pivotal USDA. Democrats claim they oppose corporate profiteers, but they have flung open the nations bureaucratic doors to corporate control how about those PFAS being generated by renewables manufacturing? Forever chemicals for the little children, anyone? There is no persuasiveness for conservatives targeting renewables polluters if Big Ag is left in charge of food supplies. Control the food, control the people. Make the food healthier and more secure, and win We the People over for 2026 and 2028. Abandon food production to globalist profiteers, and all is lost. No MAHA, no MAGA. MAHA and MAGA go together. Free speech for cancer patients and obese children is not a life of liberty and pursuing happiness, but an irreversible dystopian doom. Kennedy has committed his entire being to thwart industrial domination of food. If Donald Trump does not heed Bobbys warnings, the promises of MAGA will ring hollow as Americans health and life expectancies continue to plummet. Conservatives will lose all credibility with the electorate they promised to rescue from food enslavement, and they will sicken themselves and their children in the political process. Attorney-farmer John Klar hosts the Small Farm Republic Substack and podcast from his Vermont farm. His recent book is Small Farm Republic: Why Conservatives Must Embrace Local Agriculture, Reject Climate Alarmism, and Lead an Environmental Revival. Image: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. COVID hysteria brought out the worst in bureaucrats already prone to overbearing abuse of authority. People were arrested for paddleboarding alone on the ocean, for taking walks, for taking their children to parks, even for trying to practice their religions. Businesses were bankrupted, and educrats got out their totalitarian freak too, punishing kids for refusing to wear masks and denying them education. That kind of abuse spread even to red states like Wyoming, where at Laramie High School, 16-year-old honors student Grace Smith felt the full force of educrats wrath. Graphic: Grace Smith and her father Andy. YouTube Screenshot, via Fox For refusing to wear a mask, and for daring to attend school, Smith was suspended three times, and on at least one occasion, the entire school was locked down and Smith was arrested. She was cuffed, stuffed and taken to the police station. Why the polite refusal of an unarmed honor student quietly waiting in the school office for police to arrive would require a complete school lockdown has never been explained, but sheer panic, arrogance and stupidity seems sufficient explanation. All this after ensuring Smith was issued a previous $500 dollar citation. Smith eventually withdrew from the school and sued in federal court, but the case was dismissed when her lawyer missed a filing deadline. With new lawyers, Smith filed a new suit in state court. The school district tried to get the Governor and state Attorney General to intervene, but they said no thanks. In the meantime, the school superintendent got caught claiming legal authority he did not have. The school district did not cover itself in glory, and much of Wyoming was not amused. Three years later, Smiths case has taken a happy turn: U.S. District Court Senior Judge Nancy Freudenthal dismissed the case in September 2023, saying Smith lacked standing or a genuine controversy, because shed failed to show an actual harm that wasnt of her own making. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, like much of Wyoming, was not amused: We are not persuaded, reads a Tuesday order by 10th Circuit Judges Harris Hartz, Gregory Phillips and Allison Eid, which sends Smiths case back down to the U.S. District Court for Wyoming for further proceeding. When a government regulation forbids or requires some action by the plaintiff, she almost invariably can show shes been harmed, says the order. Grace has easily met the requirements for standing, the order says. She alleges that the defendants repeatedly punished her for opposing the mask mandate. They suspended her three times and requested that local law enforcement issue her two trespassing citations, arrest her and take her to jail. Amazingly, the school district claims that Smiths harms were self-inflicted. In other words, by calmly and politely asserting her right to an education, she brought the unreasonable, panicky actions of school officials on herself. Apparently highly educated adults have no ability to exercise reasonable discretion, or even to behave like sane adults, and the presence of a non-violent girl waiting quietly to be arrested is grounds for multiple arrests and the 90-minute lockdown of a high school, disrupting the educations of every student in the building. Claiming Smith wasnt harmed is likewise ludicrous. She was serially suspended and arrested, suffered a great deal of public ridicule and was denied an education. The police arent blameless either. They too have wide discretion. They arent required to make arrestscitations are actually arrestsat the demand of school authorities. Rather than citing and physically arresting Smith, they could easily have declined such unnecessary treatment. They could have simply waited until Graces father arrived to take her home, or driven her there themselves. As weve since learned, masks are ineffective. Social distancing was equally useless. The Covid vaccines arent. They neither prevent contraction of COVID nor prevent transmission to others. In fact, theyre responsible for killing people and harming far more. Arguing no one knew that until much later so every outrage perpetrated against the innocent in the past is blameless is also a lie. Fauci and the rest at the NIH and CDC, and doctors across the country, knew all of this then, but motivated by money, empire building, and personal power, they brought disaster down on us all, including Grace Smith, a girl in Laramie, Wyoming. It's impossible to know the outcome of Smiths litigation, but if shes successful, perhaps that might be one more step toward making it sufficiently painful to keep thoughtless, panicky bureaucrats from depriving Americans of their businesses, educations and liberty. Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor. Among Democrats, the house of cards is collapsing, the cheap suits are folding, the rats are scurrying for the exits, and were loving every second of it. In 2019 Obama reportedly told Joe Biden that he didn't have to run. Had Biden taken that advice we might not now be facing WWIII, but here we are. The cataclysmic failures of the Biden administration are a matter of record. After propping him up for four years, is anyone touting his successes? Bidens selection of Kamala Harris for vice president mirrors Obama's selection of Biden. She's like the copy of a copy -- so flawed she's impossible to listen to. The Hindenburg at least managed a successful Atlantic crossing before it burst into flames, Kamala's campaign didn't do even that well. Joe endorsed her minutes after dropping out of the race, likely as retribution for being the first American president to undergo a coup from his own party. Perhaps the Democrats intended to nominate California's governor, Gavin Newsom, or Pennsylvania's governor, Josh Shapiro, but Biden forced their hand. Now that the dust is starting to settle they're all turning on each other and it's glorious. When President-elect Trump began releasing his deportation plans, various celebrities, legacy news personalities, Democrat mayors and governors and foreign leaders vowed to resist and fight back. Like schoolyard bullies, they made a lot of noise until President Trump and Tom Homan stood up to them. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston vowed to mobilize police and citizens to stage a "Tiananmen Square" moment in the face of the mass deportations. He said he'd be willing to go to jail if that's what it took. Homan took him up on it, saying he'd be happy to send him to jail and Johnston meekly caved. New York City's Mayor Eric Adams and New York state's governor, Kathy Hochul, were once loud sanctuary proponents, now they're both pledging to work with President Trump on removing illegal aliens who commit crimes (other than the crime of entering the country illegally, of course). They must've heard Mr. Homan. We see the same in foreign affairs. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resisted any suggestions for increased border security until Mr. Trump threatened to impose massive tariffs. Now they're both re-thinking their country's policies with Trudeau releasing a video as well as making an unannounced trip to Mar-a-Lago. It's the same with the mainstream media: Speaking of unscheduled trips, Mark Zuckerburg, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski all suddenly went to see him in order to ... what? Apologize? Mend fences? Zuckerberg could conceivably escape to his pricey Hawaiian compound, but Joe and Mika are watching their networks ratings crash along with their prospects. Theyve been calling him 'Hitler' for years and now theyre saying its time to do something different. Like what? Report the news objectively? Even Whoopi Goldberg lashed out, this time against co-host Sunny Hostin after she launched another tiresome tirade replying, What are you going to do? And we see a lot of this Democrats turning on one another. George Clooney is purportedly furious at Obama for convincing him to be his mouthpiece in forcing Biden out. Since their plan crumbled to dust, Obama has been MIA, perhaps trying to reassemble the shattered fragments of his legacy. Imagine my concern. Other Democrat backbiting is over money. After reports surfaced that the Harris campaign blew through $1.5 billion in 100 days, James Carville is calling for an audit in order to restore credibility and account for the funds. Hows that working out for the Pentagon? Their dishonesty and inability to admit that their policies have never and will never work leaves them no recourse than to look elsewhere for their failures, so theyre blaming each other. Dan Bongino is right when says that the Left is cannibalistic, they inevitably begin feeding on themselves. Theyre discovering what happens after youve cried wolf for so long. Not only is the wolf youve been warning us about not a threat, hes not even a wolf. As it turns out, hes another shepherd, and hes taken better care of the flock than ones youve given us. The prophet Ezekiel spoke of this thousands of years ago, Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not shepherds feed the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. They have, and now theyre paying the price. Image: Photo illustration by Monica Showalter with use of logo, public domain source. Last night, Donald Trump announced that he was nominating Kash Patel to serve as FBI director. Every person in America who believes in liberty and honest government should be celebrating that announcement. The Obama and Biden administrations were responsible for so many pernicious policies that its a bit hard to keep track. However, one can easily argue that the worst thing that happened during their two presidencies was that they transformed the FBI from a law enforcement agency into the police arm of the Democrat party, which they then weaponized against ordinary Americans who hadnt broken the law but who had opposed Democrats. To this end, the FBI spied on Donald Trumps first campaign, undermined his presidency, and, once his first term ended, persecuted everyone with whom they disagreed, ranging from Trump to abortion opponents to parents upset by so-called transgender madness in schools to hunting down the thousands who showed up on January 6 to exercise their First Amendment rights to protest and assembly. Regarding January 6, Ill note, quickly, that there were clearly operatives on the ground crowding people into the Capitol building and that the Capitol police opened the hermetically-sealed magnetic doors and welcomed people in. (Heres a long list of all the things Democrats in the government, especially those in the FBI, did to terrorize Americans following January 6.) It was always a trap, and the FBI was involved from beginning to end. Public domain image. Now, though, the FBI may finally be brought to heel, and thats because Trump has nominated Kash Patel to serve as the new director of the FBI. Trump views the FBI as a law enforcement agency for federal crimes, not as his KGB: I am proud to announce that Kashyap Kash Patel will serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and America First fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending Justice, and protecting the Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) November 30, 2024 I am proud to announce that Kashyap Kash Patel will serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and America First fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending Justice, and protecting the American People. He played a pivotal role in uncovering the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, standing as an advocate for truth, accountability, and the Constitution. Kash did an incredible job during my First Term, where he served as Chief of Staff at the Department of Defense, Deputy Director of National Intelligence, and Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council. Kash has also tried over 60 jury trials. This FBI will end the growing crime epidemic in America, dismantle the migrant criminal gangs, and stop the evil scourge of human and drug trafficking across the Border. Kash will work under our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to bring back Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity to the FBI. Kash has made clear that his goal is to shut down the FBI, which has no constitutional mandate, so the executive and his most trusted agents have wide latitude to manage it. Then, Kash will return the good agents to work on actual federal crimes rather than persecuting the Democrat partys ideological enemies. Kash Patel: "I'd shut down the FBI Hoover Building on day one and reopen it the next day as a museum of the Deep State. Then, Id take the 7,000 employees that work in that building and send them across America to chase down criminals. Go be cops. You're copsgo be cops." "Every pic.twitter.com/lBexXKSpBf Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyan762) December 1, 2024 Currently, the usual suspects are saying that Kash is unqualified because he didnt rise up within the ranks of the FBI. Bill Barr exemplifies this attitude, although he was speaking of Kash as a potential Deputy FBI director, and acknowledges that directors neednt be insiders: Heres Bill Barr on Kash Patel pic.twitter.com/oSbQZGoQeg Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) December 1, 2024 I categorically opposed making Patel deputy FBI director. I told Mark Meadows it would happen over my dead body. In the first place, all leadership positions in the bureau, except the director, have always been FBI agents. Theyve all gone through the same agent training and have had broad experience in the field and at headquarters. Someone with no background as an agent would never be able to command the respect necessary to run the day-to-day operations of the bureau. Furthermore, Patel had virtually no experience that would qualify him to serve at the highest level of the worlds preeminent law enforcement agency. (Emphasis mine.) Unwittingly, Barr has perfectly stated why Kash should be head of the FBI. Hes not a company man, so he lacks the instincts to protect the organization. What Patel is, instead, is an honest man who believes in the Constitution and who completely understands how the government works and where the bodies are buried: When someone claims that Kash Patel is unqualified to lead the FBI, make sure to show them his resume. pic.twitter.com/kZWwyMwVkO CJC (@cj_chep) December 1, 2024 Its those buried bodies, of course, that terrify all the people who should be terrified: Holy projection fedman. Former dep dir Andy McCabe says Kash Patel will terrorize average citizens. He says this as a thousand+ J6ers face prison, the Whitmer hoax + Trump faced 700+ years not to mention Russian collusion. Every accusation is a confession. pic.twitter.com/uSNtGJwxCV Clint Russell (@LibertyLockPod) December 1, 2024 While Kash is not the hammer of God, hes most certainly an instrument of justice. One of the things that must be most terrifying to congresscritters and other Deep Staters is Kashs promise to release the Epstein and Diddy files: Trumps new FBI Director Kash Patel details comprehensive declassification operation under second Trump term: "He's going to come in there and maybe give them the Epstein list, maybe give them the P Diddy list and they are terrified." pic.twitter.com/Et1yLZmTTu Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) December 1, 2024 Id advise all 100 senators to confirm Kashs appointment. Otherwise, rightly or wrongly, people are going to assume that their refusal to confirm him is because their names show up in those lists. In other words, Kash isnt just an awesome practical choice; hes also a litmus test of our senators moral courage and clear consciences. The sad saga of P'nut the Squirrel is far from over. P'nuts owner, Mark Longo is threatening legalor other--action: An Upstate New York man who took in an orphaned squirrel and made it a social media star vowed Saturday that the states decision to seize and euthanize the animal wont go unheard. We will make a stance on how this government and New York state utilizes their resources, Mark Longo said in a phone interview. Graphic: X Screenshot In the meantime, merely seizing and killing P'nut and Fred the Raccoon apparently isnt enough for the brave bureaucrats of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). During their five-hour search for the hapless animals, they reportedly found a short barreled AR-15 and are considering felony charges against Longo. Fortunately, Americans around the country have expressed their opinion of the DEC and its thuggish operatives, giving them pause: A Chemung County man who had his pet squirrel and raccoon seized and euthanized by the state Department of Environmental Conservation last month triggering an outpouring of anger and a wave of threats against the agency has not been charged with felony weapons possession despite investigators having allegedly recovered an unregistered short-barreled assault rifle when they searched his residence. The agencys decision on whether to file any criminal charges against Mark Longo has been delayed by top officials with the Department of Environmental Conservation, according to sources briefed on the matter. In the wake of the search of Longos residence, the agency also has begun requiring sign-off by its acting commissioner and general counsel before its law enforcement officers can execute search warrants or make seizures. The DEC Commissioner, Sean Maher is going further: Mahars email also had noted he was directing a full investigation of the details surrounding the search and seizure of the raccoon and squirrel in Chemung County. Ruh-roh Shaggy! Sounds like the DEC has figured out they stepped on their secondary sexual characteristics. Keep in mind I have no access to any of the paperwork involved, nor do I know DEC procedures--if they have them or adhere to them at all--but heres whats likely happening. Graphic: X Screenshot Few law enforcement officers other than detectives ever apply for or execute search warrants. Its just not a daily part of their jobs. They dont have the training or access to the forms. Its unlikely DEC personnel have that kind of access, knowledge or training either. That likely means the warrant was deficient on probable cause, which means everything they did under that warrant was unlawful. And yes, judges sign unlawful warrants every day out of laziness, malice, or because they trust officials they shouldnt trust. The Fourth Amendment is very specific: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. From all media accounts, the only things the DEC sought were P'nut and Fred, and once they were foundhow hard could that be? How long could that take?--the search should have ended. My guess is out of arrogance, lack of knowledge of the law, or sheer malice, they turned the place inside out for five hours looking for anything else they could use against Longo who they saw as defying their awesome authority. Coming across the gun, they seized it. If so, they exceeded the scope of the warrant and the gun, and anything else they found and seized, cant be used against Longo, which is probably why they havent already filed charges. There are exceptions. If while conducting a lawful search officers see what they can identify as contraband, they can take and use it in court, but once the items specified on the warrant are found, the search is over. And searching places where the items sought couldnt be foundsearching a kitchen drawer for truck tiresis also prohibited. The short barreled AR-15 is likely an AR-15 pistol with a stabilizing brace. Anti-liberty/gun cracktivistsand NY State has plenty of themwant to ban them and call any gun to which theyre attached illegal short-barreled rifles. Fortunately, they remain legal, which doesnt stop the anti-liberty/gun bureaucrats of blue states. The DEC has been under incredible pressure over their execution of P'nutthe most popular squirrel in historyand Fred, as well they should be. Everything about the DECs actions stinks, and the head of the agency seems to know that and is trying to limit present and future damage. It appears P'nut might have a bit of revenge after all, and so might Longo. Potentially happy news for the coming new year. Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor. Two days ago, several of Trumps cabinet candidates were targeted with violent threats. Unfortunately, those actions were mostly perceived by federal law enforcement and the legacy media as a no never mind." The threats ranged from bomb threats to what's known as 'swatting,' which is a hoax call that claims the target is in a life-threatening situation. These calls intend to draw out heavily armed SWAT teams to the locations which is inherently dangerous to all involved. Initial reactions from three senior law enforcement officials claimed that the threats were not credible: No devices or physical threats were found and some of the threats may have come in over social media, the officials said. The threats did not involve U.S. Secret Service protectees such as Trump or Vice President-elect JD Vance. The FBI decided to put a more concerned face on these incidents and treated them a bit more seriously: The FBI said in a statement it is aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees, and we are working with our law enforcement partners. We take all potential threats seriously, and as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement. The FBI apparently thinks that local law enforcement should handle these threats. In trying to discern who was threatened, many of the media outlets werent able to put together a complete list; apparently identifying everyone involved was not a priority. Fox News reported that nearly a dozen people were targeted, but were only able to identify Elise Stefanik, nominee to ambassador to the United Nations; Lee Zeldin, nominated to head the Environmental Protection Agency; Matt Gaetz, who withdrew his name from consideration for Attorney General; John Ratcliffe, nominee for CIA director; Pete Hegseth, nominee to Secretary of Defense. Other publications reported the targeting of Brooke Rollins, nominated to head the Department of Agriculture; Lori Chavez-DeRemer, nominee for Secretary of Labor; and Howard Lutnick, nominee for Secretary of Commerce. Tom Homan, selected as border czar, had this to say: Incoming Trump border czar Tom Homan spoke with Fox News on The Story Wednesday and said that up until today he had not been taking threats against himself and his family seriously but after the recent developments with other officials being threatened, he now does. The good news was that (surprisingly) local law enforcement was very responsive to these incidents, checking out homes and mailboxes for pipe bombs. Still, two factors caused me some concern. The first was statements by some people that suggested the hoaxes were not a big deal: Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe responded to reports that President-elect Trumps Cabinet picks received threats, saying the news isnt surprising. It doesnt surprise me at all, McCabe told CNNs Erica Hill in an interview on The Lead Wednesday evening. This has become a very, very common aspect of life for really anyone who is in a high-profile or even remotely controversial position. Its been going on for years. It presents the same challenge to law enforcement each time someone engages in it, he added. They probably know, 90 percent sure, that these threats, as they come in, are worthless. So its no big deal, right, Andrew? His tone suggests that people are making a big deal out of nothing. Thats not a good look for the former FBI Deputy Director. The other factor that I could not help noticing is the number of Jews that were targeted in the series of threats: Elise Stefanik, Lee Zeldin, and Howard Lutnick. Since the religions of the other victims were not identified, nor was there certainty that all the targets had been identified, its difficult to know if there was any anti-Semitism involved with these attacks. Maybe being a Jew isnt what so many of them have in common: His first national security picks are die-hard supporters, some of whom have denied the existence of the Palestinian people and back the annexation of the occupied West Bank. These loyalists are set to advance his America First and hardline populist agenda in a second term. They could signal some shifts in longstanding U.S. policy, especially regarding a possible conflict with Iran and resolving conflicts in the Middle East. So maybe theyre only pro-Zionists. After all, the perpetrators sent a clear message to Lee Zeldin: A pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family at my home today was sent in with a pro-Palestinian themed message the Zeldin statement read. My family and I were not home at the time and are safe. We are working with law enforcement to learn more as this situation develops. We are thankful for the swift actions taken by local officers to keep our family, neighbors, and local community secure. Meanwhile, the story has pretty much fallen off the radar; the Wall Street Journal news section buried it in the middle of the paper. Maybe its anti-Zionism. Maybe its anti-Semitism. Maybe it's Trump Derangement Syndrome. Or maybe we should thank Andrew McCabe for his wisdom and simply assume these threats go with the territory. Image: Georgfotoart, derivative work, via Wikipedia // CC BY 2.0 Deed Recently, a proposed law in Australia surprised the tech industry. Lawmakers filed a bill to ban under-16s from accessing social media platforms. Shortly after, the law banning teens from social media platforms was passed, making Australia the first country to do so. The Australian Senate approved the new law by a margin of 34 to 19. It contemplates fines of up to 50 million Australian dollarsabout 33 million US dollarsfor companies that do not implement the necessary measures to comply with it. Companies like Meta must ensure that minors under 16 cannot create accounts. Australia is the first country to ban teens access to social media platforms by law Representatives claim that the new law is a product of the inability of social media companies to prevent minors from accessing their services. Apparently, the Australian government never looked favorably on teens using these platforms. However, they had not yet legislated on it. They expected the companies to do so autonomously. This is a responsibility these companies should have been fulfilling long ago, but for too long they have shirked these responsibilities in favor of profit, said Senator Maria Kovacic. The core focus of this legislation is simple: It demands that social media companies take reasonable steps to identify and remove underage users from their platforms, Kovacic added. The Australian prime minister says the law addresses parents concerns about the effects of social media on their children. Australian authorities will give social media companies a year to catch up on changes they can implement to comply with the law. However, it wont be an easy task due to current Australian laws (ironically). For example, data privacy legislation prevents social media companies from requesting government-issued IDs for age verification. This includes drivers licenses, passports, and others. Meta says the new legislation is rushed; it was approved in a week Of course, companies affected by the new law, such as Meta, have spoken out against it. The company believes that the approval process was rushed. The brand could be right, as only a week passed between the proposal and the passage of the law. A representative from Meta said that Australian representatives did not take the time to analyze what companies are doing to ensure age-appropriate experiences, and the voices of young people. The legislation includes exceptions for platforms that offer health and education content. The list includes YouTube, Messenger Kids, WhatsApp, Kids Helpline, and Google Classroom. Voices against the new law The law also has critics among tech groups and even Australian political figures. Digital Industries Group (DIGI), the representative of the digital industry in Australia, says that everything around the legislation is very confusing. The social media ban legislation has been released and passed within a week and, as a result, no one can confidently explain how it will work in practice, said Sunita Bose, DIGI managing director. Senator David Shoebridge also expressed concerns about the legislation. He believes that the legislation could potentially affect certain groups, such as young people in the LGBTQ+ community. Shoebridge says that banning them from social media could increase isolation for them. Other critics fear that teens will end up turning to platforms that are even less suitableand more dangerousfor them. There are also people who see the move as a measure to seek parental approval. Critics believe the law aims to garner votes ahead of the May 2025 national election. OpenAI is on-track to revolutionize the AI industry, but not without facing some opposition. The ChatGPT maker is fending off several copyright lawsuits at the moment. These include lawsuits from companies like The New York Times. Well, according to a new report, news sites in Canada are also suing OpenAI. Its the same old argument; publications do NOT like knowing that AI companies are stealing their content to train AI models. This goes double for publications that offer their content to the public at a price. Thanks to some recent reports, we found out that companies like OpenAI used much more data from premium sites (sites that paywall their content) than we thought. In fact, thanks to the report, we know that they preferred to use premium data, which only makes the situation worse. Several new sites in Canada are suing OpenAI It looks like OpenAI has another lawsuit to throw on the fire. According to the report, Canadian news outlets like Toronto Star, National Post, The Canadian press, The Globe and Mail, and CBC/Radio-Canada are suing OpenAI. Theyre suing it for much the same reason as the other companies. OpenAI scraped data from their websites without permission. Postmedia, the company that owns National Post, stated that OpenAI is capitalizing and profiting from the use of [our] content, without getting permission or compensating content owners. This is something that other companies accuse OpenAI of doing. Well, this goes for the publications that havent struck deals with OpenAI. Several other companies, like Vox Media, Dotdash Meredith, Axel Springer, News Corp, and several others have sold out and struck deals with OpenAI. This means that they hand their data over to the company to use. The Canadian companies want a massive sum of money According to the lawsuit, the group of Canadian publications demand $20,000 Canadian for each article scraped. We dont know exactly how many articles OpenAI scraped, but $20K per article can add up. All in all, that stacks up to a couple billion dollars. Were sure that OpenAI can take a financial hit like that, but its not exactly Google or Microsoft. Losing a few billion dollars might affect its future plans and subsequent releases. Fair use? Postmedias statement talked about how OpenAI claims that its practices fall under fair use. However, were all still figuring out what that means when it comes to AI. AI companies argue that scraping a companys website is legal, as their chatbots dont reproduce their content verbatim. However, some researchers have found that certain chatbots reproduce entire sections of scraped articles. What makes this worse is the fact that many of the companies having their data scraped offer their articles for a price. These are publications that paywall their articles and use that as a revenue source. If a chatbot could scrape content from one of those sites and reproduce its content for free, then that could warrant a lawsuit. Right now, this lawsuit is just getting underway, so it could be months before we see any sort of results. Were still waiting for some word about the New York Times vs. OpenAI lawsuit, and that started at the beginning of the year. Brydon Carse bowled England to a commanding victory in the first Test against New Zealand, underlining his status as a rising star in Christchurch. Carse caught the eye on unhelpful pitches in Pakistan in his debut series, but showcased the full extent of his match-winning abilities with a 10-wicket haul in Christchurch. The Durham seamer followed up figures of four for 62 in the first innings with a destructive six for 42 to kill off Kiwi resistance on day four at the Hagley Oval. He took three of New Zealands last four wickets to leave the tourists with a gentle chase of 104. ENGLAND WIN! Brydon Carse takes 10 in the match and Harry Brook hits 171 in a brilliant victory in Christchurch pic.twitter.com/Zil5SWyW7Z England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 1, 2024 That was just enough for Jacob Bethell to get in on the act, the 21-year-old scripting the perfect finish to his debut by reaching 50 not out and hitting the winning run as England romped home by eight wickets. His 37-ball cameo, including three fours and a six, offered a tantalising glimpse of his quality, but the heavy lifting had already been done with the ball. When record wicket-taker James Anderson was ushered into retirement last summer it was to make room for bowlers like Carse, whose mix of pace, bounce and outright hostility mark him out as a potentially devastating prospect and an Ashes threat next winter. Anderson himself took 10 in a match only three times in a career that brought him 704 Test scalps, while the last English seamer to do so overseas was Ryan Sidebottom in 2008. The scale of Carses achievement in just his third appearance is even more remarkable given he last took a first-class five-for more than three years ago. There was one worrying moment when Ben Stokes withdrew himself from the attack midway through his fifth over with concerns over a stiff back, but the skipper deemed himself fit enough to stay on the field and direct operations. England players celebrate the wicket of New Zealands Nathan Smith during play on the fourth day (John Davidson/Photosport/AP) Stokes has missed four of Englands last seven Tests with a hamstring injury, only just resuming full bowling duties following a long-standing knee complaint. England will want to monitor his condition ahead of the second Test in Wellington but at this stage there are no major concerns. England held all the cards at the start of play, New Zealand starting six down with a wafer-thin lead of four. Carse took it on himself to get things moving, kicking off with a barrage of bouncers early on before zeroing in on the stumps to claim his rewards. He struck twice in his fourth over, umpire Ahsan Raza raising his finger for a pair of lbws. Nathan Smith was first to go, Carse coming wide on the crease and jagging one back off the pitch, and Matt Henry was beaten by a full-length delivery that exploded into his front pad at shin height. That sealed a maiden five-wicket haul but Carse was not finished yet, returning late in an extended opening session to finish off a stubborn last-wicket stand of 45 between Daryl Mitchell and Will ORourke. Mitchell tried to collar him down the ground but failed to find the middle and picked out the catcher at long-off. Englands Jacob Bethell bats on his way to an unbeaten half century (John Davidson/Photosport via AP) Mitchells knock of 84 ensured Englands chase would have some substance and they proceeded to peel the runs off with abandon. Zak Crawley was caught and bowled by Henry for a single as he followed up his first-innings duck in disappointing fashion, but Duckett and Bethell launched 54 off the next 33 balls. Tim Southee was rinsed for 27 in three overs, looking every inch a man heading into retirement at the end of the series. Duckett was caught for 27 off ORourkes first ball but Bethell took charge. He looked entirely at home in his surroundings and will look back with particular fondness on a huge pull that landed 20 yards back on the grass banks. Englands win flipped the form book on its head. Stokes side arrived fresh from a 2-1 defeat to Pakistan and with three losses in their last four games, while New Zealand celebrated a sensational 3-0 whitewash in India only weeks ago. Now, though, it is the hosts who have questions to answer with the dropping of Will Young looking an error following his heroics in that series. England will have wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson available after he joined the squad as injury cover, but could be tempted to leave the gloves with Ollie Pope and retain a winning formula with Bethell at three. Comedian Mark Steel has joined Lauren Laverne on the first episode of BBC Radio 4s Desert Island Discs since August, when its presenter revealed her cancer diagnosis. On the Sunday morning show, which was pre-recorded before the 46-year-old went on leave to recover from the disease, Steel, who was adopted as a child, told the story of meeting his genetic family, describing it as like a thing on Netflix. Steel, who presents Mark Steel In Town on the station, picked The Clashs Janie Jones, Into My Arms by Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, and San Quentin by Johnny Cash, a favourite artist of his late genetic mother. The episode was the first since August, when Laverne announced she would be going on leave (Ian West/PA) It comes after Laverne revealed she had been given the all clear and would soon be back to work on the One Show last weekend. On the show, Steel explained that in 1995 he decided to start looking for his birth parents after becoming a father himself, with his aunt telling him his mother had come to her crying and telling her she was pregnant and did not know what to do with the baby. She told her that her brother Ernie would look after him, and that was how Steel came to be adopted with the radio presenter remarking: It was probably more administrative work to hand over a washing machine. He eventually found out that his mother was living in Rimini, Italy, and wrote her a letter but heard nothing back. Steel said: A few months went by and this lady (who he had asked to search for his parents) said, Ive got her phone number, I think the time has come when I should ring her. I said ok, the drama of it was amazing, it was like watching a thing on Netflix, but Im living it. She said, so I spoke to Francis (his birth mother), and she was rather cross, she was rather angry then she said, who on earth they gave you my number?, and I had to try and calm her down and explain that you meant no harm whatsoever. And then all of a sudden, she said, out of nowhere, Francis, she said, I would like to ask three questions, she said, the first question is, does he have any children of his own? and I said well he has a son and he has a daughter. Then the second question she said, what does he do? and I said, well, hes a comedian. And then the third question, she said, and what are his politics?, what a question, she said, I believe hes on the left. Then she said to me, Mark, Im going to put the phone down, but before I do, let me tell you the name of the father, and she blurted out this name with such vigour, I thought, oh well, that is like a drama youve now left. Steel then went on to explain he had met his father Joe Dwek, a multi-millionaire backgammon player, and said he was still in touch with him. He added: He was great, I found an email address for him, he didnt reply to that, and I thought, do I not get a reply from any of them then? And then a few months later, I wrote another message, and he did reply to that with a really sweet email saying that he remembered Francis. He said in his message to me that shed contacted him some weeks after theyd had this little weekend fling, and said that she was pregnant, and he said, I told my Dad and I met up with her and arranged for an abortion, which wasnt an easy thing to do back in those days. It was a few years before the 1967 legalisation, so he said, I gave her the money and arranged for it. But I met Joe, he was very nice, we met in a sort of coffee shop, and he came over to me and said his first words, he said, Ive got a lot of meetings today, this is the most awkward. And I said to him, oh, thats okay, incidentally, Im in touch with the family, so if you want the money back, that they clearly owe you for the abortion, I can ask if theyve got it? And I went, it was bad joke wasnt it, then he went yeah, that was that, we got an alright, he was really sweet. An image of Edan Alexander, held hostage in the Gaza Strip by Hamas militants, on a supporters shirt. Photograph: Maya Alleruzzo/AP The White House has condemned a Hamas-issued propaganda video of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander urging president-elect Donald Trump and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to make a deal to free remaining hostages in Gaza, calling it a cruel reminder of Hamass terror against citizens of multiple countries, including our own. In the video, titled Soon Time is running out and posted on Saturday on the Telegram channel of Hamass military wing, the Qassam Brigades, Alexander calls on Trump to use his influence and the full power of the United States to negotiate for our freedom. Alexander, who has been held by Hamas since 7 October 2023, appears to be under duress as he states that he has been held captive for more than 420 days. Related: Israel kills charity worker in Gaza saying he was Hamas militant Please do not make the mistake Biden has been doing, he says, adding that he does not want to end up dead like my fellow USA citizen, Hersh, a reference to American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg Polin, who was killed while being held by Hamas in August. Alexanders family authorized the release of the video, which includes footage of the young captive covering his face with his hands and crying. In a statement, national security council spokesperson Sean Savett said the war in Gaza would stop tomorrow and the suffering of Gazans would end immediately and would have ended months ago if Hamas agreed to release the hostages. The White House statement continued that a hostage deal was currently on the table and that President Joe Biden and the US would continue to work around the clock to secure the release of our citizens, including through diplomatic efforts and by increasing pressure on Hamas terrorists through sanctions, law enforcement actions, and other measures. Last week, Biden said there existed a critical opportunity to conclude the deal to release the hostages, stop the war, and surge humanitarian assistance into Gaza. But the video is directed squarely at the president-elect, who held a picture of Alexander while meeting with his parents, Adi and Yael, in New York on the one year anniversary of the Hamas attack. At an event in Florida later that day, Trump called the attack one of the darkest days in all of history before pivoting to blame then presidential rival and vice-president Kamala Harris and Biden for the weakness he said gave Hamas confidence to launch the attack. Yael Alexander told rallygoers at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv on Saturday that she was shaken by the video and had spoken with Netanyahu. She said the Israeli leader had strengthened me and assured me that now, after the deal in Lebanon, the conditions are ripe to release you and bring you home, referring to a 60-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon that went into effect on Wednesday. Related: We will fix our homes: clean-up begins as Lebanon faces uncertain future In the video, Alexander, who grew up in New Jersey and joined the Israeli army after high school, addresses prime minister Netanyahu in Hebrew. I heard you speaking to the people of Israel on the news, and I am very disappointed. I heard that you will give $5m to whoever brings us back alive. The prime minister is supposed to protect his citizens and soldiers, and you neglected us. Alexander continues: The fear is at its peak, and we are dying a thousand times every day that passes, and no one feels for us. The people of Israel: Do not neglect us. We want to return home with a full mind. In a statement released on Saturday, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum called the video shocking and it had provided definite proof that despite all the rumors there are living hostages, and they are suffering greatly. One year after the first and only deal, its clear to everyone: returning the hostages is only possible through a deal. After more than 420 days of continuous abuse, starvation, and darkness, the urgency of bringing home all 101 hostages cannot be overstated, the statement reads. Netanyahus office said the Israeli prime minister had spoken with Alexanders family and really feels the anguish that Edan, the hostages, and their families are going through. It added that the prime minister reassured the family that Israel is working resolutely and in every way possible to bring about the release of the hostages who are in the hands of the enemy. Separately, the New Jersey governor, Phil Murphy, said on X that he joined with the Alexander family in urging both the Biden administration and incoming Trump administration to do everything possible to quickly facilitate an agreement that brings him home safe. Kamala Harris equivocated rather than rejected controversial statements that were catnip to Trump. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters While Nesrine Malik is right in stating that woke talking points werent a key part of Kamala Harriss campaign, she is incorrect in concluding that progressive stances on social issues were in no way responsible for Donald Trumps election victory (Woke didnt lose the US election: the patrician class who hijacked identity politics did, 25 November). Like Malik, I see structural issues as the primary determining factor, my focus as a Democratic activist being on an economy touted as thriving but in fact failing to benefit a populace struggling with obscenely high grocery prices. But having heard Harris equivocate rather than reject controversial statements that were catnip to Trump, I can assure you that there was palpable cultural antagonism too. Those ads of Trump packed a punch, not least Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you, which capitalised on Harriss failure to clarify her 2019 support (based on a reading of constitutional law) for taxpayer-funded gender-affirming surgeries for prisoners. But just as Harris failed in this regard in 2024, the Democratic leadership has mangled election messaging over many years opening itself to charges of cultural (certainly not economic) extremism. I find it interesting that Malik has to define defund the police after claiming that even a cursory glance shows it is not to abolish policing. No, a cursory glance at this ludicrous slogan implies, however unintentionally, just that. And to refuse to believe that anti-woke propaganda, sometimes false but often made possible by Democrats own missteps, played a part in the disastrous 2024 election results is to refuse the obvious. Karen Thatcher-Smith Sonoma, California, US Nesrine Malik argues that a cursory glance would show that defunding the police was never about abolishing the police but rather a call to invest in preventive measures. This rather begs the question: why on earth did progressives campaign with such a slogan? It is hard to imagine populist agent provocateurs coming up with a more effective means of separating wellmeaning progressives from the public at large. Alex Campbell Brighton, East Sussex Nesrine Malik is right that the common enemy is the way in which society itself is designed. The economic moguls ruling the patrician class successfully sold to many a self-fulfilling investment in a fearful characterisation of wokeness as an absurd and impertinent intrusion in our lives. It is a compelling, too-easy answer when an underlying fear of loss of privilege or selfchallenging the pain of false beliefs around our rightful place in the social order is at stake. Inertia rules for the moment. Genuine, universal change is hard. Its hard for the privileged to give up their luxuries and for the oppressed to imagine deserving and enjoying a better life in a truly egalitarian society. Wokeness itself is not the problem. There is no such thing as woke, there is only waking. It is a never-ending process. It is a journey that we must all undertake towards a society that fully values and expresses the spirituality, democracy, caring, sharing, learning and joy inherent in a naturally evolving life, and no one must be left behind. Daniel OSullivan McLeans Ridges, New South Wales, Australia Do you have a photograph youd like to share with Guardian readers? If so, please click here to upload it. A selection will be published in our Readers best photographs galleries and in the print edition on Saturdays. Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Gov. Gavin Newsom and Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire must unite against Donald Trump. Thien-An Truong/Special to the Chronicle, Eric Thayer/AP, Rich Pedroncelli/AP Since California leaders are behaving like children, Im going to address them the way I talk to my three sons on long car trips: Knock off the stupid fighting, kids. This is going to be a very hard journey, so we must stick together. Dont you get that Donald Trump is a lawless fascist who has vowed vengeance on California and its people? Havent you heard him threaten to throw politicians who oppose him which could mean your mayors, police chiefs, top legislators and certainly your governor in prison? Advertisement Article continues below this ad So why, at a time when Californians should be coming together to battle the new president, are so many of you, and your institutions, divided? As long as our top officials are fighting with each other, Trump is not Californians biggest enemy. You are. The problem starts at the Capitol with top Democrats: Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas of Hollister, Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire of Healdsburg and Gov. Gavin Newsom. This election year, with California in the spotlight as Kamala Harris struggled to surmount our states reputation for dysfunction during her campaign for president, you three wasted time battling with your caucuses and each other. Things got so bad that Pulitzer-winning Sacramento Bee columnist Tom Philp called the three of you independent autocrats as opposed to a functioning team of Democrats. You couldnt get on the same page on crises, from home insurance denials to soaring electricity costs. You failed to compromise meaningfully with cities and law enforcement on retail crime, allowing a retrograde ballot initiative, Proposition 36, to sail to victory. You played stupid political games that delayed the governors special session on gas price spikes. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This cant go on. Mike, I understand that you are new to your role and that you can score points with your diverse caucus by taking shots at the governor. But, as the state defends itself against Washington, your new rule should be that you wont speak ill of anyone who does not work for Donald Trump. Robert, everyone knows that your caucus is still divided from your long campaign to become speaker. You need to befriend more of your critics and send your brother-adviser Rick, a bully who hurts your relationships, on a four-year vacation. As for you, Gavin, while I really appreciate the work youve done since the election calling a special session to boost the anti-Trump fight, traveling to D.C., reaching out to other states to build a coalition to protect vulnerable policies its not enough. Because right now, lawmakers (and even some of your own staff) see you as this guy who runs around talking to VIPs before swooping in with some grand plan at the last second. You need to work constantly with legislators, building the real relationships necessary to turn the Capitol into one cohesive team. If Capitol Democrats can get along fabulously, itd set an example for Democratic interest groups, who are engaged in their own circular firing squad. Advertisement Article continues below this ad And since California will need tight collaboration between state and local governments to protect vulnerable people, especially migrants, state officials should dial down attacks on locals over homelessness and housing. Governor, you might start with a statewide local peace summit in San Jose and end your feuds with former Mayor Sam Liccardo and new Mayor Matt Mahan. Let me be clear: Peacemaking doesnt mean staying silent when you disagree or see wrongdoing. Quite the opposite. Californias state and local leaders should be meeting constantly Id suggest a daily war Zoom and weekly in-person barbecues at one of the governors big houses to discuss every concern and grievance in this terrible moment. But please keep those disagreements private, and leave the conflict-stoking to media provocateurs like this columnist. One last suggestion. As you come together, please remember that youre going to have to do more than parry federal attacks or fight a common enemy in Trump. Youre almost certainly going to have to remake our state and build new structures. Why? Because, as Trumps cabinet of conspiracists and Fox News personalities suggests, the new federal administration is going to dismantle agencies that do vital governance. California, as the richest state, is going to have to replace that governance to save lives. And that may require extraordinary actions. Like using local police to stop rights-violating federal law enforcement. Or hiring the thousands of scientists and doctors Robert F. Kennedy Jr. chases out of the National Institutes of Health or Food and Drug Administration. Or building a United States Within the United States with friendly state governments, from Oregon to New Jersey, to stand up shadow federal agencies. Advertisement Article continues below this ad About Opinion Guest opinions in Open Forum and Insight are produced by writers with expertise, personal experience or original insights on a subject of interest to our readers. Their views do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Chronicle editorial board, which is committed to providing a diversity of ideas to our readership. Read more about our transparency and ethics policies Who knows? If things get super-ugly, you may find yourselves having to form an independent nation. Anti-government fighters ride military vehicles as they drive along a road in the eastern part of Aleppo province on Dec 1 - AREF TAMMAWI/AFP Syrian president Bashar al-Assad vowed to crush a rebel uprising that swept the north east of his country and took control of the second city of Aleppo. Assad, who faces a renewed threat to his regime after years of frozen conflict, called the rebels terrorists who he said understand only the language of force. He sent fighter jets, joined by allied Russian bombers, to strike the rebel stronghold of Idlib, killing at least eight people, including two children. Syrian government forces also launched a counter-attack to prevent rebels taking another major city on a main highway to the capital of Damascus. A patchwork of rebel groups largely led by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham took the city of Aleppo in a lightning offensive that began on Wednesday. The offensive reopened a dormant conflict at a time when Assads Russian backers are engaged in Ukraine and Iranian partners have been weakened by Israel. Irans top diplomat arrived in Damascus on Sunday. Abbas Araqchi said the situation in Syria is difficult but the government of Assad will successfully confront rebels like it did in the past. There was no pledge of military support. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office blamed Assad for the uprising, in a statement on Sunday night. The Assad regime has created the conditions for the current escalation through its ongoing refusal to engage in a political process and its reliance on Russia and Iran, it said. Russian and Syrian fighter jets bombed residential Idlib on Sunday morning, evoking memories of the original sieges of Homs and Aleppo in the early part of the war. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Russian strikes had killed eight civilians in Idlib on Sunday. Syria and Russia denied targeting civilians and said they had hit rebel hideouts. The United Nations special envoy for Syria said the fighting poses a risk to regional security and called for diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. As well as clashes with government forces, some rebels also seized territory in the north from rival groups. Pro-Turkey fighters took a strategic northern town from Kurdish forces on Sunday, as a whole new front threatened to open up. Turkey wants to clear Kurdish separatists from along its border. In Aleppo, rebel commander Col Hassan Abdulghani said that his fighters were continuing to make gains against Assads forces, despite the government counteroffensive. Col Abdulghani said 65 Syrian troops had been taken prisoner in eastern Aleppo, and that the insurgents had advanced in the Idlib countryside. The rebels have said they will push all the way into Damascus, but life in the Syrian capital remained normal with no signs of panic. In south-eastern Aleppo, however, the main road out of the city was gridlocked as people fled the fighting, and gas stations in the area were short on fuel. 06:41 PM GMT Todays live coverage has ended Todays live coverage has ended. Heres a roundup of the days events: The Iranian foreign minister visited Damascus as a show of support for the Assad regime. The Foreign Office said that the situation unfolding in Syria was the fault of the Assad regime for its reliance on Russia and Iran. Russian and Syrian warplanes bombed the rebel-held city of Idlib on Sunday, killing a reported eight people. A general mobilisation order was declared in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (Aanes), also known as Rojava, in the wake of an offensive launched by Turkish-backed militant groups. Assad forces stabilised their lines north of Hama as the president vowed to crush the rebel offensive. 05:20 PM GMT Pictured: Rebel fighter poses outside captured city of Saraqib Rebel fighter poses with a weapon outside the captured city of Saraqib, Dec 1 - Mahmoud Hassano/REUTERS 05:18 PM GMT Russian general in Syria sacked after troops forced to flee Russia has replaced the general in charge of its forces in Syria as rebel forces continue their lightning offensive in the countrys north west, Harriet Barber writes. The news came as Moscows forces were forced to rapidly withdraw from their Al-Suqaylabiyah base in the northern Hama countryside, and the Hama air base, leaving behind a large amount of equipment and munitions. You can read the full story here. 05:04 PM GMT Pictured: Rebels capture government warplane Rebels wave a Syrian opposition flag over a jet captured when fighters stormed the Kuweires military airfield east of Aleppo on Sunday. The aircraft is a Czech Aero L-39 Albatros, a 1970s-designed jet trainer that the Syrian air force uses to attack targets on the ground. Anti-government fighters celebrate around a Syrian regime military aircraft at the Kuweires military airfield in the eastern part of Aleppo province on Dec 1 - AREF TAMMAWI/AFP 04:56 PM GMT UK: This is Assads fault for relying on Russia and Iran The Foreign Office has said that the situation unfolding in Syria was the fault of the Assad regime for its reliance on Russia and Iran. In a statement, it also urged all parties to protect civilian lives and infrastructure to prevent further suffering, the displacement of vulnerable people, and disruption to essential humanitarian aid. We reiterate our call for a Syrian-led political solution to the conflict, the Foreign Office said. The statement went on to call for all parties in the conflict to support and engage with UN Security Council Resolution 2254. The resolution, which calls for a ceasefire and a political settlement in Syria, was adopted in late 2015 but has not been implemented. 04:50 PM GMT Pictured: White Helmets respond to air strikes on Idlib White Helmets respond to Russian and Assad strikes on Idlib province, Syria on Dec 01 - Anadolu/Anadolu 04:31 PM GMT Iranian foreign minister to visit Syria in show of support for regime The Iranian foreign minister visited Damascus on Sunday in a show of support to the Syrian regime as the Assad government attempts to quash a major rebel offensive. Abbas Araghchi said he would travel to Syria on Sunday to convey the strength of Tehrans backing for Bashar al-Assad. We firmly support the Syrian army and government, he said, according to the official news agency IRNA. According to Iranian media, Mr Araghchi told Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday that the rebel offensive in northern Syria was part of an American-Israeli project that aims to spread disorder across the region. Bashar al-Assad (R) talks to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (L), in Damascus, Syria, 01 Dec - IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICE/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/Shutterstock 03:27 PM GMT Russian jets pound rebel stronghold of Idlib Russian and Syrian warplanes bombed the rebel-held city of Idlib on Sunday in an attempt to push back fighters who have swept across northern Syria. The Syrian defence ministry said its forces were preparing to conduct a major counterattack and that rebel attacks on the city of Hama had been repelled. Residents said one air strike hit a crowded residential area in the centre of Idlib, which has been the major Syrian opposition stronghold since it was wrestled from government control in 2015. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that at least eight people were killed in Sundays strikes. It added that Russian jets had also hit rural parts of Hama, a city that rebels attacked on Saturday night after capturing Aleppo following a lightning offensive that began on Wednesday. Syria and Russia denied that they were targeting civilians and said they hit terrorist hideouts. 02:38 PM GMT General mobilisation announced in Rojava A general mobilisation order has been declared in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (Aanes), also known as Rojava, in the wake of an offensive launched by Turkish-backed militant groups. In a statement, the regions authorities said that Turkish-backed groups had launched an assault with aim of conquering territory for Ankara. Aanes is a collection of self-governing regions in northern Syria that gained de facto autonomy in 2012 as a result of the Rojava Revolution and the wider Syrian civil war. Initially a largely Kurdish territory, it has expanded and is now home to sizeable populations of Arabs, Assyrians, Armenians Turkmen and Yazidis. 01:59 PM GMT Aleppo Christian leader says churches will remain open A Christian leader in Aleppo has vowed to remain in the city and keep churches open in all circumstances. We are fine, and we will remain in Aleppo alongside our parishioners in all circumstances, Greek Orthodox bishop Afram Maluli said on Sunday. We assure you that prayers will continue in the churches, he added. Aleppo was captured by rebel groups, including jihadists, on Saturday following a lightning offensive that began on Wednesday. The assault has led to fears for the safety of Christians who come under rebel control as they have suffered persecution from opposition groups in the past. 01:23 PM GMT Assads army fights back Syrian government forces launched overnight counter attacks on rebel troops in and around the city of Hama, according to reports. A convoy of pro-Assad troops, armoured vehicles and tanks was filmed at the northern edge of the city hours after rebel troops were seen swarming into the area. Rebels moved on Hama after taking Aleppo in a lightning offensive. Hama sits on the main road between Aleppo and Damascus. Observers said that government forces had also driven rebel troops out of the towns of Morek and Qalaat Al-Madiq, both north of Hama. It comes after Syrian president Bashar al-Assad on Saturday vowed to defend Syria against terrorists and their supporters. He added that government troops would be able to defeat the rebels no matter how much their attacks intensified. 01:16 PM GMT Watch: Syrian government troops on the northern edge of Hama The Syrian defence ministry said its troops had overnight pushed back rebel forces from the northern edge of Hama, and from towns in the surrounding area. #Syria: regime forces are back at the northern entrance to the city of #Hama, having recaptured the Jabal Zine al-Abidine just outside of the city. Next 24 hours will show whether the rebels will try to mount another assault on the city. pic.twitter.com/c5Mb5wVliy Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) November 30, 2024 12:38 PM GMT More than 370 people killed in fighting, monitor says At least 372 people have been killed - including at least 20 civilians - since Syrian rebels launched a lightening offensive against government forces on Wednesday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The rebels, who are a coalition of Islamist and secular Turkish-backed groups, captured the city of Aleppo on Saturday and before moving 100 miles south to the city of Hama. Government forces have claimed to have repelled rebel assaults in and around Hama. 11:58 AM GMT Pictured: Syrian rebel prays in Aleppo after capturing city Fighter kneels in prayer inside the Umayyad Mosque in Aleppo on Nov 30, after Jihadists and their Turkish-backed allies captured the city - AAREF WATAD/AFP 11:28 AM GMT Russian strikes hit rebel stronghold of Idlib Russian air strikes near the rebel stronghold city of Idlib on Sunday killed at least four people and wounded 50 others, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. On Saturday, Moscow carried out strikes against rebel fighters in Aleppo, hitting the second largest city for the first time since 2016. Russia has long been a key supporter of the Syrian government. The Kremlin launched an air campaign in support of the Assad regime in 2015 that crucially turned the war in its favour. An injured girl and a woman are transported to a hospital following a strike on a neighbourhood in Syrias rebel-held northern city of Idlib, Dec 1 - AFP/AFP 11:13 AM GMT Watch: Syrian rebels seize huge stockpile of weapons near Aleppo 11:03 AM GMT US: Assads reliance on Iran and Russia caused this The events unfolding in Syria are due to the Assad regimes reliance on Iran and Russia and its refusal to engage with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, the US has said. Its [Syrian government] reliance on Russia and Iran created the conditions now unfolding, including the collapse of Assad regime lines in northwest Syria, US national security council spokesman Sean Savett said. He added that the United States had nothing to do with the rebel offensive, which is led by Hayat Tahir al-Sham, a designated terrorist organisation. Mr Savett went on to say that the US urges de-escalation, protection of civilians and minority groups as well as a political process that can end this civil war once and for all. UN Security Council Resolution 2254 was adopted in 2015 as a means of bringing the Syrian Civil War to an end, although little has been done to implement it. 10:43 AM GMT Pictured: Syrian Islamist rebels patrol the streets of Aleppo Anti-government fighters patrol in central Aleppo on No 30, 2024 - MUHAMMAD HAJ KADOUR/AFP 10:37 AM GMT Hama: Syrias rebel city Hama is Syrias fourth-largest city and sits around 115 miles south of Aleppo on the highway to Damascus. Rebel forces were seen pushing into the citys northern suburbs on Saturday but were reportedly driven back by government troops overnight. It is a majority Sunni Muslim city and a historic anti-Government stronghold. It was the scene of a massacre in 1982 when Hafez al-Assad, father of the current president Bashar al-Assad, unleashed a bloody 27-day assault on that city that killed thousands of people. The killings led New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman to coin the term Hama Rules, which meant that the way to rule the Arab world was to strike fear in the heart of your own people so that they would never think about rebelling. 10:17 AM GMT Welcome to our live coverage Welcome to our live coverage of events in Syria after a lightening rebel offensive pushed government forces out of Aleppo. Well be keeping you up to date with events as they happen. Office No 12: Lawyers office, New York, 1997. Photograph: Lars Tunbjork The Swedish photographer Lars Tunbjork spent five years in the late 1990s touring city offices in New York, Tokyo and Stockholm and documenting what he found there. This picture was taken in a Manhattan legal office in 1997; it would be safe to say it was not paper-free. Though Tunbjork might not quite have known it at the time, he captured in those pictures enclosed, climate-controlled worlds in mortal jeopardy. New Yorks 2002 Smoke Free Air Act, for example, confined to history small men wandering the office with cigars between their teeth; women in pearls surrounded by legal proofs under office tables also became a rarer sight in the new millennium. Related: Pointless jobs: the unbearable ennui of office life in pictures Tunbjork, who died in 2015, did not stage his pictures. He became a modern master of the padded cubicle and the strip light and the ergonomic swivel chair. When his book of office pictures was first published in 2001 in a limited edition, it quickly sold out. A new version, with a second related volume of LA offices from later years is now being published. They might have come with quotes from anthropologist David Graebers book Bullshit Jobs, or perhaps better from Joshua Ferriss pitch-perfect novel of cubicle life Then We Came to the End: We liked wasting time, but almost nothing was more annoying than having our wasted time wasted on something not worth wasting it on. The technology helps to date each of the pictures precisely. Computer monitors were about the size and weight of microwave ovens and they are stacked on cheap desks while their human users wrestle with interfaces and listen to the barks and whistles of dial-up internet connections. Wires proliferate and refuse to be tamed. No one is looking at a phone screen. Office furniture did not yet encompass the modular sofa, cleverly designed to fill gaps left by redundant colleagues. A poll found 66 per cent of officers think use of cannabis is practically permissible on Britains streets - SOPA Images/LightRocket Cannabis has been effectively decriminalised, police believe. A poll found 66 per cent of officers think use of the class B drug is practically permissible on Britains streets as offenders are regularly being let off with a slap on the wrist. It comes amid warnings that cracking down on use of the Class B drug is just not a priority for the police with the other constraints on their time and resources. A poll found 66 per cent of officers think use of cannabis is practically permissible on Britains streets - Matthew Chattle/Future Publishing The survey of 250 officers was conducted by Opinium for the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) think tank, which has produced a wider report about the drug problems blighting the country. Sophia Worringer, deputy policy director at the CSJ, told The Telegraph: Police officers say that with the resources and time allocated to them, they dont have the capacity to fight or enforce the cannabis regulation because it is so widespread. Its one of those things where if you went after one person, youd have to go after all of them, and its so blatantly smoked in public places. As people will be aware, the police just dont have the resources to tackle it. From the top, its not one of those issues where there is the political leadership from the top to tackle it. There are huge constraints on police time and capability, and this is unfortunately just not a priority within the bounds of the resource that they have. The CSJ report, titled Still Ambitious for Recovery, noted drug poisonings hit a record high last year and is now behind three times as many deaths in the UK as fatal car crashes. It warns that cannabis legalisation would lead almost a quarter (24 per cent) of people aged 18 to 34 to try the drug for the first time. The report goes on to warn that this would likely more than double the number of addicts at an estimated 1 billion cost to the taxpayer. The CSJ also suggested figures from the statistics watchdog showing that just over three million people had used drugs in the past 12 months were likely to be an underestimate of the problem. Government funding for addiction services and rehabilitation is now 60 per cent lower than it was in 2012, something the think tank called on Sir Keir Starmer to urgently address. Ms Worringer said legalising cannabis would be simply wrong, adding: Only by investing in the treatment of addiction can we begin to end the scourge of illegal drug use in the United Kingdom. The reports calls for more investment in drug recovery services were backed by Jonathan Ashworth, the chief executive of Labour Together and a former MP. Crisis affects every corner of society In the foreword of the report, Mr Ashworth said: Addiction is a crisis that affects every corner of our society. It destroys lives, devastates families, and creates ripple effects that are felt in our communities, workplaces, and public services. We need action, and we need it now. We need properly funded addiction recovery services, better mental health support, and a stronger focus on prevention. These arent just policy recommendations they are lifelines for people at their most vulnerable. To those in my party who say the answer is for law enforcement to wash their hands of the problem by removing legal frameworks altogether, I say that is not the solution. While cannabis has been legalised in cities including New York and Vancouver, these cities have seen stronger unregulated products continue to thrive. Portugal is also seen as a potential way forward among those who are campaigning to legalise cannabis but it has also seen its drug deaths rise in recent years. Children play in the town of Save in Rwanda, where many of the stolen metis were taken after the Belgian state deemed them a threat to the colonial order. Photograph: Metis-Be Monique was three years old when a white man from the government came to her village and changed everything. Everyone came out to see him, including Monique, who, as always, was with her little auntie, a girl of nine who was also her best friend. Monique cannot recall what the man looked like, but she remembers how sad everyone was after he had gone. Her mother had tears in her eyes that night. Monique would not see her for a long time. The next day, Monique set off early with her uncle, aunt and grandmother on a three-day journey. Travelling on foot and by boat, with Monique in their arms, they went more than 100 miles from her birth village, Babadi, in the southern central Kasai province in the Belgian Congo, to her new lodgings, the Catholic mission of the sisters of Saint-Vincent-de Paul in Katende. It was 1953 the year Joseph Stalin died and Queen Elizabeth II was crowned and Belgium still ruled the Congo, a vast African territory 75 times its size. Decades later, Monique remembers herself on the first day at the mission: a tiny girl lost in a crowd, looking everywhere for her family, who had to leave her there. I cried, I cried, I cried, there was no one. An older girl gave her a slice of mango and took her in her arms. From that day it was the end of my life with my family, she recalls. Monique Bitu Bingi was one of many mixed-race children forcibly separated from their parents and sequestered in religious institutions by the Belgian state that ruled Congo, Burundi and Rwanda. Her Congolese mother was 15 when she was born; her father was 32, a colonial official from a well-to-do family in Liege. Moniques existence and thousands of other mixed-race children known as metis (mixed race) deeply alarmed the Belgian state, which viewed these babies as a threat to the white supremacist colonial order. Now more than 70 years after being taken away from her mother, Bitu Bingi and four other women have accused Belgium of crimes against humanity for their forced removal and placement in religious institutions. Bitu Bingi brings the case with Lea Tavares Mujinga, Noelle Verbeken, Simone Ngalula and Marie-Jose Loshi, whom she describes as sisters. All five arrived in the Katende mission between 1948 and 1953, aged three and four; the last left in 1961. The five women, four of whom live in Belgium and one in France, await a ruling from Belgiums court of appeal this week, in what is likely to be a charged moment in the countrys reckoning with its colonial past. The case has thrown a spotlight on the state-sponsored seizure and segregation of children that is little known. It was a system where breastfeeding toddlers were taken from their mothers; family names and even birth dates were changed; and children were lodged hundreds of miles from their homes, only to be abandoned by the state in the violent chaos of Congos independence in 1960. It was a system underpinned by menace. Bitu Bingi discovered years later that her uncle, the familys main breadwinner, was threatened with military service at a distant outpost if he did not give her up. Desperate mothers used wax or other substances to blacken their childrens skin to try to hide them. But the colonial state was determined to find these infants as it grappled with what officials in the late 1940s called the mulatto problem, an offensive term to describe mixed-race people. Joseph Pholien, a lawyer who went on to become a Belgian prime minister after the second world war, described Congos mixed-race children in 1913 as an element that could very quickly become dangerous and imperil the colonial enterprise: No remedy is radical enough to avoid the creation of metis. Arriving at the mission in 1953, Moniques life was put on a different track. She was told that her father now was Papa letat (daddy the state), she said in an interview with the Observer from her home in the east Belgian town of Tongres, near the Dutch border. This new father was neglectful at best. Monique was hungry nearly all the time. The childrens main meal of the day was fufu (a polenta-like dish), served with vegetables or sweet potato leaves. There was no breakfast. The girls never saw milk, meat or eggs. Moniques bed in the shared dormitory was against a door that opened into the morgue the mission was also a hospital. The girls, shoeless most days, went to school in the village, but knew they were not like the other children. They were children of sin, the nuns said. When they fell sick, there was little medicine and less care the nuns resented their role as state guardians. In dispatches to headquarters, officials complained about the difficulties of finding institutions to house children snatched from their parents. Life could have continued this way until Monique became an adult. But when she was 11, Belgiums rule of the Congo came to an abrupt end that no one in Brussels had imagined a few years earlier. After stalling on independence and struggling to contain deadly riots, Belgium bowed to pressure and agreed to cede power. The date was set: on 30 June 1960, the charismatic founder of the first nationwide Congolese political party, Patrice Lumumba, became prime minister of the newly independent nation aged 34. At the handover ceremony, Lumumba denounced the outgoing colonial regime which had been responsible for the death of millions for the humiliating slavery imposed upon us by force. The Belgians, represented by King Baudouin, were stunned. Some argued that the African leader signed his own death warrant with the speech, but Lumumba also had enemies at home. Days after independence, the army mutinied and Lumumbas government lost control. Rebels in the mineral-rich province of Katanga declared independence, and Lumumba struggled to get international help from a UN riven by cold war rivalries. In January 1961, the young prime minister was assassinated by firing squad in Katanga by Congolese rebels, with Belgian officers present. A Belgian parliamentary inquiry in 2001 found that Belgian government ministers bore moral responsibility for events leading to his murder. The Belgian king knew of the plans to kill Lumumba but did nothing to save him, MPs concluded. As the country fell into chaos, Belgians scrambled to leave. The Katende girls were told they were going to be evacuated to Belgium. Monique and her friends were excited. We were going to take the plane to go and live with Papa letat and our godmother, then reigning Queen Fabiola, she recalled. But the nuns flew off without them. And so began a time of peril for Monique and the other girls, having been entirely abandoned by Papa letat. Shunted back to Katende, their normal life collapsed. The older children were left to care for babies. There was not enough food, and many of the infants died. Fighting raged outside the walls. Monique recalls UN and Ghanaian soldiers driving up to evacuate the priests and remaining nuns. The children were left behind: They abandoned us again. Then the local militias arrived. The girls became the toy of local soldiers. At night, they came for the girls, stripped them naked and raped them. In the day, they brought severed hands of killed enemy fighters into the mission as trophies. More than 60 years later, the horror of these days is so seared into her memory that a backfiring car or siren blaring in her sleepy local street pitches her back into the deadly chaos of Katende. There are times when you ask yourself, was this really true? Did I experience this? But it was like this and, yes, I lived through this. During these terrifying days, she had no way of tracing her family. Her mother thought she had been rescued with the nuns. Years later, Monique reconnected with her mother, but the bond was never the same: I loved her very much and I know that she loved me also. But we never had [close] ties, the ties had been broken. Monique Bitu-Bingi married in 1966 and lived in the Congo, eventually moving to Belgium in 1981, seeking a better quality of life for her family. Arriving in Tongres, she had no right to Belgian citizenship, which she eventually acquired in 1999 after a long legal battle, despite having been brought up as a ward of the state. Papa letat did nothing, she recalls. At times you ask yourself: did I experience this? Was this true? But, yes, I lived through this Monique Bitu Bingi Many of the wards of the former colonial state would struggle to obtain Belgian nationality. One of the women, Loshi, according to her lawyers, filed an application for Belgian citizenship as early as 1994 from Kinshasa, but was told by the Belgian authorities she would never be successful as such applications didnt work for the metis. She eventually settled in France. Michele Hirsch, a lawyer, heard Bitu Bingis story for the first time in 2018. She and the four other women came to her office on the upmarket Avenue Louise in Brussels. Seated around a glass table on minimalist black chairs, they recounted a childhood of forced removal, hunger, rape and abandonment. Hirsch, who had previously represented victims of the genocide in Rwanda, was not sure at first what to do. The people in charge of the policy had long since died, she thought. But she saw the courage they had to put this story in our hands and turned to the archives. What she found, she told the Observer, was a systematic policy to identify, track and pursue mixed-race children, taking them from the arms of their mothers and forcing them under the guardianship of the state. This policy was made possible by two late-19th century decrees from when King Leopold II ran the Congo as his own private fiefdom. After the second world war, it was strengthened by a 1952 law that said children could be removed from their parents for any reason whatsoever. The legislator in 1952, after the judgments of Nuremberg, after the war, adopted a racial law that allowed children to be placed under the power of the state uniquely because they were metis, Hirsch said. She told the court there were troubling similarities with the Nazi policy of seizing children of German-Polish parents, which was also condemned at Nuremberg. The Belgian government argued that while the policy did not reflect modern values, it was not a crime at the time. A lower court agreed. In a judgment in 2021, the Tribunal of First Instance also said: The fact [these acts] are unacceptable is not sufficient to also allow them to be qualified, in law, as crimes against humanity. It ordered the women to pay 6,000 (5,000) to the state. Under Belgian law, plaintiffs are required to pay a proportion of their opponents costs, although the judgement will only be enforced if they lose on appeal. The Belgian foreign ministry declined to give an interview or to provide information on the states arguments, saying: We never comment on ongoing legal cases. The law firm Xirius, which represented Belgium at the tribunal, did not respond to requests for an interview. Some legal scholars have offered support to Belgium. The late professor of international law, Eric David, told Belgiums Le Vif in 2020 that: The crimes against humanity judged at Nuremberg in 1945-46 had nothing comparable to the forced placement of mixed-race children in religious institutions. Hirsch is hopeful the appeal will succeed, saying that her team has brought thousands of unseen documents out of the dust of the archives that demonstrate how the policy worked. Lawyers have drawn on the work of Assumani Budagwa, an independent researcher, who came to Belgium as a refugee in 1979 from DR Congo (then known as Zaire), and has spent nearly three decades uncovering the unknown history of these stolen children. It is a shameful page, it is a painful page, and to bring it into the open is not easy, like all the pages of history concerning violence and atrocities when the colonial propaganda spoke of civilisation, he said. Belgium has made hesitant progress in confronting the past. In a landmark resolution in 2018, its parliament recognised that the metis had been victims of targeted segregation and forced removals. A year later, then prime minister Charles Michel made an official apology, focusing on children removed from their African mothers between 1959-1962 and sent to Belgium. The Belgian state, he said, had committed acts contrary to the respect of fundamental human rights. But a two-year special commission on the colonial past set up by the Belgian parliament after the Black Lives Matter protests has gone nowhere. A 729-page report with dozens of recommendations finalised nearly two years ago has been gathering dust because of political deadlock over the question of an official apology for the entire colonial period. This week, the five women will hear the decision of the appeal court, housed at the monumental Palais de Justice in Brussels. If they lose their case, they can appeal to Belgiums highest court of the judiciary, the court of cassation, but only on a point of law. The five women are seeking 50,000 in compensation each. It is a very small amount, Hirsch said, because if they lose, they must pay the state compensation, calculated as a proportion of their claim. Budagwa, the researcher, thinks that the state fears paying reparations if it loses. When Michel made his apology, it was reported that 20,000 children were affected by the policy, but Budagwa believes this is an inflated figure not based on historical evidence. Researchers for Resolution-Metis, an official body, are investigating how many children were removed from their parents, but said sources were deficient and fragmentary. For Monique Bitu Bingi, an apology is too little. For a human life, saying sorry isnt enough. I want the state to assume its responsibility, to recognise [what happened] and make reparation. Because we were destroyed, mentally and physically. The car is pulled from the water in Gurnard Bay - DARREN TOOGOOD A driver has died after his car plunged into the sea on the Isle of Wight. The man who was in his 40s was driving a Ford Mondeo before it went into the water at the village of Gurnard, near Cowes. Police were alerted to the incident late on Saturday evening, and arrived to find the green vehicle submerged. Lifeboat crews and the coastguard helicopter were involved in the search, which continued into the early hours of Sunday morning, with emergency services unsure if anyone else had been involved. Emergency services on the scene in Gurnard Bay - SOLENT Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service also attended to help recover the car. Police confirmed the man, who is from Ryde, died at the scene and was the only person in the vehicle. Officers are now appealing for anyone with information to come forward. A spokesman from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary said: We are appealing for witnesses following a fatal incident on the Isle of Wight last night [Nov 30]. The Ford Mondeo was completely submerged in the bay - DARREN TOOGOOD Police were called at 11.28pm on Saturday Nov 30 to a report that a car had entered the water near Shore Road, Gurnard. The driver of a Ford Mondeo a man in his 40s from Ryde was the only person inside the vehicle and was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin has been informed by our officers. Officers are carrying out enquiries to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident and would like to speak to anyone with information. Tim Nanninga, a snake catcher, says the woman was extremely lucky to avoid being bitten by the deadly tiger snake - AFP A driver cruising down a highway in eastern Australia felt something on her foot and discovered a deadly tiger snake slithering up her leg, police said on Sunday. Officers found her barefoot and in a state of shock on the side of the Monash Freeway, near Melbourne, after her encounter with the reptile, Victoria state police said. The woman explained that she had been travelling at 80kph (50 mph) on the freeway when she felt something on [her] foot and looked down to find a deadly tiger snake slithering up her leg, police said in a statement. Remarkably, she was able to fend the snake off her and weave through traffic before pulling over and leaping out of her car to safety. Tiger snakes, named after their coloured stripes, are among the most venomous snakes in the world, according to the states wildlife department. Thick-bodied and about a metre (three feet) long, they respond to threats by raising themselves off the ground and flattening their head and neck, the department said. Police said the woman was assessed by paramedics to ensure she had not been bitten, and a snake catcher removed the massive snake from the vehicle. Tim Nanninga, a snake catcher, said the woman was extremely lucky to avoid being bitten by one of the worlds most deadly snakes. Poison within 15 minutes It had crawled out from the dashboard underneath and onto her legs, Mr Nanninga told The Telegraph. She has gone straight to the side of the road, jumped out of her car and started running around hysterically. Seeing a barefoot woman frantically waving down cars in the rain, other motorists called police who arrived to what they admitted was one of the most bizarre welfare checks they had ever performed. Officers were called to reports of a barefoot woman on the side of the Monash Freeway, near the Toorak Road exit, attempting to flag down passing vehicles about 10.40am, a Victoria Police spokesperson said. When police arrived at the scene, they were prepared for anything, except what came next. When officers peered through the window and saw a snake with distinctive yellow and brown markings, it became clear the woman needed urgent medical help. Tiger snake fangs are long and thin, and as small as 3 mm, so the bite marks arent always noticeable. But the venom can poison a human within 15 minutes and, on average, one Australian dies every year. Not taking any chances The woman, who is in her 40s, was rushed to hospital where she was later cleared of any injuries. The thing with tiger snakes is they have small fangs its very hard to find puncture wounds if youve been bitten, Mr Nanninga said. This is definitely not something you want to muck around with. They didnt want to take any chances. While the woman was treated for shock, back at the scene police officers blocked traffic and Mr Nanninga, from Melbourne Snake Control, worked to wrangle the creature from the SUV. I hopped into the car ... the snake came out from the dash and we coaxed it toward the back of the car, the wildlife rescuer said. We were able to move the back seat and tail it, grab it out of the car and get it out. It was a very calm snake. It wasnt a warm day so it wasnt super energised whereas when you get a warm snake they can move a lot faster. Extremely lucky While it was unclear how the snake got into the vehicle, Mr Nanninga said it was possible it had crawled inside while the door was open as it sought refuge from the heavy rain. It may have been sleeping in the car for days and likely hitched a ride into the city with the woman as she drove from her home in the Victoria region at the weekend. Mr Nanninga said he received between six to 12 requests each year to remove snakes from vehicles in Melbournes south-east but this was the first time he had been called to a case of a motorist being confronted by a snake while driving on a freeway. Driving around in a lot of traffic, in shocking weather, to have a snake come out on your leg oh my god and add to that it is a tiger snake, she is extremely lucky, Mr Nanninga said. Students - EU students to be allowed into Britain under free movement-reset plans More EU students could be allowed into Britain under plans being considered for a freedom of movement reset. Young people from European Union member states would benefit from a cultural enrichment programme believed to be under discussion with Brussels. While such a scheme would only apply to certain courses, it would give more European students the option to travel to the UK for their studies for a fixed period of time. It comes after net migration hit a record high of 906,000 last year and stood at 728,000 for the year ending this June, the fourth-highest total on record. Sir Keir Starmer left the door open to a freedom of movement-style deal for young Europeans after the general election as part of his push to repair relations with the EU. It would come in return for changes to the standards regime that would allow British lawyers to practice across European countries, the Sunday Times reported. A Whitehall source told the newspaper: There is a growing realisation that one of the few levers the Government actually has to pull that will have any significant impact on growth is securing closer ties to our biggest trading bloc the EU. Sir Keir previously insisted he did not plan to pursue an EU-wide mobility scheme but said exchanges with the continent could form part of his pursuit of closer ties. He has tasked Nick Thomas-Symonds, a Cabinet Office minister and the paymaster general, with finding ways to pursue closer ties with the EU and turn a corner on Brexit. Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Cabinet Office minister, has been tasked with with finding ways to build closer ties with the EU - Eddie Mulholland for The Telegraph A more general youth mobility scheme would allow British and European young adults to live abroad for a few years on the condition they were able to support themselves. Other priorities of the Government are a new veterinary agreement with Brussels and mutual recognition of professional qualifications. Mr Thomas-Symonds is also thought to want a new sanitary and phytosanitary agreement, which would remove the need for border checks on animal products and food. The European Commission has previously opposed a new veterinary agreement because it would prefer for Britain to follow existing EU rules instead. The idea also surfaced in UK-EU talks on the Northern Ireland Protocol two years ago but it was rejected by Brussels bureaucrats. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, has highlighted the chemical and veterinary sectors as two areas where Labour is particularly keen to build on the UK-EU trade deal that was agreed by the previous Conservative government. Sir Keir has repeatedly ruled out a return to freedom of movement in recent years despite promising to push for it during his Labour leadership campaign in 2020. Rachel Reeves has highlighted the chemical and veterinary sectors as two areas where Labour is keen to build on the UK-EU trade deal - PA/Stefan Rousseau In an interview with the BBC, Pat McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said he could not confirm the reporting in the Sunday Times. This question gets raised all the time. What we want to see with the European Union is more of a normal relationship. Were not going to re-run the Brexit argument. We think we can do better than the Boris Johnson deal in terms of economic and trade links. I dont think that this question of a youth mobility scheme in the way that the EU has talked about it is going to be part of that. But we are in discussions about making sure that our trading relationships with our closest and biggest partner, even after Brexit, are better than theyve been in the past. Mr McFadden said he wanted a normal working relationship with like-minded democracies and said the success of talks with the EU would lead to greater prosperity in Britain. The Prime Minister has been criticised for the Governments tax raid on farms - PA/Stefan Rousseau Sir Keir Starmer is expected to face pressure from rural MPs this week as Parliament prepares to vote on Labours farming tax raid. The Conservatives will use their opposition day on Wednesday to put forward a motion that would cancel controversial changes to agricultural property relief announced at the Budget. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, announced at her first fiscal event that farmers will have to pay 20 per cent inheritance tax on the value of their farm above 1 million. More than 10,000 farmers attended a protest march in London last month amid warnings about the survival of the family farm and risks to British food security. Opposition day votes are not binding and it would be highly unusual for any of Sir Keirs MPs to defy the Government by backing a Tory motion. But some rural Labour backbenchers have already raised their concerns over the effect of the tax raid and could do so again during the debate that will take place before the division. Victoria Atkins, the shadow environment secretary, said: Labours vindictive family farm tax threatens to destroy British farming as we know it. Labour MPs have a choice to make. Will they vote to axe the tax, and save the family farm? Or will they turn their backs on rural communities and back the Budget of broken promises? Thousands of farmers descended on Westminster to try and make the Government listen. So far, theyve refused. Labour MPs now have a chance to back British farming. More than 10,000 farmers attended a protest march in London last month over the Governments tax plan - Getty Images/Carl Court It came as Tom Bradshaw, the president of the National Farmers Union (NFU), said in a video message to members that it is time to build the pressure again ahead of the vote. Mr Bradshaw indicated he was disappointed by the Government sticking by the policy despite finding Sir Keir in listening mode when they held a meeting last week. We have purposefully taken the lid off the pressure cooker this week to try and give them space and time to make a decision which could get to the point that were all comfortable with, he said. Unfortunately, no solution has been forthcoming so its absolutely critical now that we begin to build the pressure again. David Exwood, Mr Bradshaws deputy, called on members to keep the political pressure up ahead of the Commons vote, saying the issue was fundamentally a political argument. Rachel Hallos, the vice-president of the NFU, added: We know the MPs need to hear your stories. This is your life, this is your family, this is your future. So please write to your MPs, your constituency MP, tell them what that means to you. Farmers have been told to tell their stories to their local MPs ahead of Wednesdays opposition day - Getty Images/Dan Kitwood Labour MPs who have suggested the Government should consider changes to its farming policy include Tonia Antoniazzi, a former shadow minister who represents the Welsh seat of Gower. Terry Jermy, the MP for South West Norfolk who has a majority of just 630, has called for a Government hotline for concerned farmers and subsidies to be distributed more quickly. Experts have warned Ms Reevess inheritance tax raid could have a catastrophic impact on Britains most beautiful landscapes by leading farmers to fall back on damaging practices. They fear large inheritance tax bills will practically cancel out the extra subsidies farmers receive in protected areas in order to incentivise sustainable farming techniques. Pat McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, denied in an interview with The Camilla Tominey Show that the Government had suffered a disastrous start. Defending unpopular policies including the 20 per cent inheritance tax facing farmers and the winter fuel allowance raid, Mr McFadden said Labour had had a lot to sort out. Opposition fighters drive past an abandoned Syrian army armoured vehicle on the outskirts of Khan Sheikhoun, southwest of Aleppo, on Sunday. Photograph: Ghaith Alsayed/AP It was 2am on Saturday when Nasmas husband told her there were uniformed fighters in their neighbourhood of western Aleppo but they were not from the Syrian army. He stood on their balcony to get a better view, before the men told him to go back indoors. News of the militias advance in the countryside around Aleppo had spread fast, although Nasma who requested a pseudonym for her safety didnt believe that change was coming until she saw displaced people arriving in the city from surrounding villages. We had lost hope of something like this ever happening, so we refused to believe it at first, and the main reason for our disbelief was fear, she said. It felt like a distant dream. Related: Syrian rebels enter Aleppo three days into surprise offensive Then the militants crossed into Aleppo city. At that moment we realised this time was different, Nasma said. A new kind of fear took over, that of the unknown. We felt completely lost, she said. In the darkness of the early hours on Saturday, the streets of Syrias second city were empty apart from uniformed fighters largely from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), who roamed Aleppos sweeping plazas and gathered under its ancient citadel. They rapidly seized control of much of the city with little resistance from government forces. Within hours, the second largest city in Syria was suddenly under the control of militant Islamists, as shocked residents reeled from the rapid withdrawal of government troops loyal to Damascus. They remained unsure what life would be like under the militants newfound rule. Fearing reprisals by Damascus, Nasma and her family frantically packed their bags and readied themselves to flee. She was proud of never having left Aleppo, not after the popular uprising against President Bashar al-Assad in 2011 spilled into a bloody civil war; not after her home town was gripped by fierce street battles in which rebel fighters pushed for control of every inch of territory while Russian airstrikes pummelled the city. They had opted to stay after Assad regained control of Aleppo in 2016. This moment threatened to be different. Getting out of the city, however, was looking difficult. The road south to Homs, which remains under Syrian regime control, appeared too dangerous for them as the fighting moved south. Instead, Nasma passed the time at the weekend frantically searching for information on social media and reading messages from some of her family elsewhere in Aleppo. Uniformed and armed fighters knocked on residents doors and used loudspeakers normally used for broadcasting the call to prayer from the citys stone minarets to tell people to stay at home, trying to reassure them their families and property would be safe, she said. People said these soldiers were behaving well, and even reassuring them that they came to protect them and wouldnt harm anyone, Nasma said. Fears of reprisal airstrikes by Damascus and allied forces continued to grip the residents as the weekend wore on, worsened by a strike in the centre of the city close to the entrance of Aleppo university hospital. Humanitarian groups on the ground said they believed the strike was carried out by Russian forces, recalling those that destroyed swaths of the eastern part of the city a decade ago. Yemn Sayed Issa, working with the humanitarian organisation Violet whose ambulances sustained damage in the airstrike, said: The airstrike targeted the middle of Aleppo We believe 12 were killed and more injured. The hospital there is not working and there are no medics working there. Most people there are afraid and are staying at home. Aleppo lacks so many things to be honest, theres a need for bread, food and water. I think in 24 hours theres probably going to be a curfew enforced, to keep people off the streets, he said in a voice message sent to the organisation ActionAid. What life could be like under HTS remained unclear. The group, designated as a terrorist organisation by Washington in 2013, has ruled neighbouring Idlib province for years under the leadership of Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, who has a $10m (7.6m) bounty on his head. While Jolani has attempted to demonstrate the groups ability to govern Idlib, setting up institutions and encouraging a flow of international aid that sustains millions of people sheltering there, the group has also been accused of repressing challenges to its rule. Karam Shaar, an analyst at the New Lines Institute, long exiled from his home town, said many Aleppans, millions of whom have been displaced within Syria and overseas, were cautiously optimistic about the change of rule. Those who are happy, and I think they are the majority, are happy as they can now go back to their homes. People who are abroad can go back to Syria and visit Aleppo again I am in that camp, he said. But I also think many are scared because of whats going to come next, he added, fearing more airstrikes by the regime in Damascus and their allies in Moscow. He was also concerned about how HTS would run a major city. They have proven to be much more competent than other de-facto authorities in the country, meaning providing public services, but they are radical Islamists, he said, pointing to the groups efforts to distance itself from its past affiliation with al-Qaida. Related: Irans top diplomat to visit Damascus as Syrias allies rally after fall of Aleppo I still think they should be considered too extreme to the average Aleppan, he said. They had never expressed any desire to rule territory through democratic means, he added. Late on Saturday night, Jolani released a message to his foot soldiers intended to show that things could be different with his newly expanded rule of Aleppo. Islam has taught us kindness and mercy, he said. Your bravery in battle does not mean cruelty and injustice towards civilians. He told fighters they should be role models of tolerance and forgiveness Beware of excessive killing. Despite Jolanis recent overtures to Christian and Druze leaders around Idlib in a display of potential tolerance, Aleppos Christian communities were fearful. Archbishop Afram Maalouli, of the Greek Orthodox archdiocese in the city, told those who wished to remain in the city to avoid wandering, but he reassured his flock that prayers in their churches would remain ongoing subject to circumstance. Nasma, who works in civil society, said she and her family were yet to see signs of intolerance towards minority groups, confident about life under new rulers and fearful about the response from Damascus. I believe that it is the people of Aleppo who force the system of governance to adapt to this citys way of life, and not the other way around, she said defiantly. This city is a diverse commercial one with many different sects, and its identity will dictate the future situation, not the other way around. Ranim Ahmed contributed reporting. Syrian and Russian airstrikes have pummelled areas of northern Syria as Irans top diplomat arrived in Damascus in a show of support for Bashar al-Assads regime after Islamist insurgents made a sudden advance and seized control of Aleppo. As the regime attempted to repel the strongest challenge to its authority in years, state media in Damascus shared images of airstrikes across opposition-controlled areas, claiming they were targeting enemy command centres and positions. Syrias military said they struck close to a stadium in Aleppo in a joint operation with Russia. An earlier airstrike killed 12 people when it hit a site close to a hospital in central Aleppo, Syrias second city and a former industrial powerhouse that was the scene of some of the fiercest fighting in the countrys bloody civil war. Civil defence forces in Idlib, known as the White Helmets, said an airstrike on Idlib city had killed four people and injured 54 others. The Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, told reporters in Iran the purpose of his visit was to convey the strength of Tehrans backing for Assad and his rule. Araghchi met Assad for talks in Damascus on Sunday evening, with the Syrian president pictured grinning next to the Iranian diplomat. Assad told Araghchi that confronting the sudden insurgency does not serve Syria alone as much as it serves the stability of the entire region, according to a statement from the Syrian presidency. Araghchi later said Assad remained in admirable spirits, despite difficult circumstances according to Tehrans ISNA news agency. Insurgents believed they were on the rise, but they will be dealt with, he said. Araghchi is expected in the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Monday, as Damascuss allies and opponents scramble to adapt to Assads sudden losses in northern Syria. We firmly support the Syrian army and government, Araghchi said, according to the official news agency IRNA. Assad had remained conspicuously absent from public view for several days during the offensive spearheaded by Islamist militants from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), who swept through towns and villages across north-west Syria in less than a week before taking control of Aleppo. The embattled Syrian leader re-emerged late on Saturday night to conduct a flurry of calls to regional allies in Baghdad and Abu Dhabi, as forces loyal to Damascus appeared to mount a counterattack. Assad told the Emirati president, Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, that the Syrian government was capable, with the help of its allies and friends, of repelling the sudden insurgency. Related: We felt completely lost: fears over reprisals from Damascus and Islamist rule in Aleppo As insurgents pushed south from Aleppo towards the city of Hama, a concerted counterattack by the Syrian army appeared to be taking shape. Damascuss state news agency and pro-government channels shared images purporting to show business as usual inside Hama itself, with civilians crossing streets of traffic and visiting local markets with piles of vegetables on display, as well as a tour by local police forces. The Syrian defence ministry said it had reinforced defensive lines and sent heavy weaponry to the northern countryside of Hama province to repel a militant advance, after previously promising a counterattack to recover all regions, while insurgent forces described fierce battles in the area north of Hama city. The regime in Damascus has long relied on foreign support, notably during the 2016 battle to retake control of Aleppo, in which Russian air power proved decisive. The Syrian government has also relied heavily on Iranian forces on the ground including members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Israel has rapidly scaled up airstrikes against Iranian targets in Syria over the past year amid increasing regional confrontations with Tehran and its proxies. Assad crushed a popular uprising that rose up against him in 2011, before the conflict spilled over into a bloody civil war that has fractured his control of the country and left him heavily dependent on backing from Tehran and Moscow. The Syrian leader also employed airstrikes, siege tactics and chemical weapons against his own people during fierce battles to regain control of territory. The sudden loss of Aleppo to Islamist militants appeared to rattle Assads backers overseas. In a telephone call on Saturday between the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, and Araghchi, both expressed utmost concern over the dangerous escalation in Syria. The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, told the Iraqi prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, that Iran is ready for any cooperation to quash the insurgency in Syria, while Sudani reportedly expressed concern about instability, according to Irans Mehr news agency. Araghchi, in a call with his Syrian counterpart on Friday, blamed the sudden territorial gains by Islamist militants in north-west Syria on the US and Israel, claiming they were behind the advance. The militants sweeping territorial gains prompted questions about the Syrian armys capacity to mount a response while its backers have deployed resources elsewhere, with Russian forces more focused on the fight in Ukraine. The advance also sparked a flurry of regional diplomacy, with the Jordanian foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, speaking to his Syrian counterpart to express Jordans concern over the unfolding events while advocating for a political resolution in Syria. The UNs special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, said: I have repeatedly warned of the risks of escalation in Syria, of the dangers of mere conflict management rather than conflict resolution, and the reality that no Syrian party or existing grouping of actors can resolve the Syrian conflict via military means. The Turkish foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, discussed events in Syria with his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Hussein, according to Turkish media. Fidan also told the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, that Ankara opposes developments that would increase instability in the region. Officials in Ankara, which backs select elements of Syrias armed opposition, had recently offered to normalise relations with Damascus, after regional leaders who once shunned Assad had begun welcoming him back into the fold. The US national security council spokesperson Sean Savett said on Saturday night that Washington was closely monitoring the situation in Syria and had been in contact over the last 48 hours with regional capitals. Related: Rebels behind Aleppos surprise fall took advantage of Russian and Iranian distraction The Assad regimes reliance on Russian and Iranian backing created the current instability, he said, including the collapse of Assad regime lines in north-west Syria. He added that the United States has nothing to do with this offensive, pointing out that HTS was previously designated a terrorist organisation. Across northern Syria, Turkish-backed Syrian rebel groups and Kurdish militias moved to claim territory rapidly evacuated by forces loyal to Damascus, as Syrian government forces retreated from areas they had held for almost a decade. At the Kuweires airbase, east of Aleppo, video showed Turkish-backed Syrian rebel forces taking control of the base and weaponry there, including an Iranian-made drone. The same group said it had seized control of the town of Tel Rifaat, north of Aleppo, in an attempt to oust Kurdish militants from the area. Neko Wilson spent more than nine years in Fresno County Jail awaiting a trial on murder charges that were dropped under a new state law. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Neko Wilson spent more than nine years in jail, held without bail on death-penalty charges in Fresno County for helping to plan a robbery that proved to be fatal. Then a state law in 2018 eliminated his murder charge and Wilson was set free after pleading guilty to robbery the first of about 1,000 inmates released so far under the law. It was unreal. It was tears, he recalled. At dinner with family members that night, I wanted something cold to drink I hadnt had anything cold in nine years and I had a soda and it hurt my teeth. But prosecutors and the courts werent through with Wilson, shuttling him in and out of jail for another 15 months, without a trial, before finally letting him go. His case is an example of the crackdown climate that is spreading even in Democratic-controlled states like California, whose voters this month overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure increasing sentences for drug crimes and multiple small thefts. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Fear, unfortunately, is very powerful, said state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, author of the 2018 law that freed Wilson. Shortly after his release in October 2018, Wilson was ordered back into custody when District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp claimed the state law was unconstitutional. Wilson got the news in a phone call from his older brother, Jacque Wilson, a public defender in San Francisco who had also become his attorney. Jacque Wilson represented his brother, Neko Wilson, as Neko awaited trial in a murder case. Charges against Neko, who had been deemed an accomplice, were dropped after the law was changed. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle I was on the front lawn of the house and I just fell to the ground. I couldnt believe it, Neko Wilson recalled. He got up, went back to jail, and then to Superior Court where my friends packed the courthouse and won a ruling ordering his release, followed by a California Supreme Court ruling upholding the law in a separate case. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But after his release, Wilson was immediately transported to Arizona to face 17-year-old charges of possessing two pounds of marijuana. He was again held without bail, and jailhouse conditions were even worse, he said There was flooding in the cells. They were treating me like a terrorist, and prosecutors were seeking a sentence of almost 10 years. But state courts sided with Wilson and he was released in 2020 after 15 months, pleading guilty with a fine of about $8,000 that friends and family raised for him. Skinner, author of SB1437, the 2018 law that led to Wilsons release, is leaving the Legislature in January because of term limits after eight years in the Assembly and eight in the Senate. It is one of the bills Im most proud of, and it was not easy to get it passed, she said in an interview, citing a 42-36 vote in the Assembly, one more than the majority needed for passage. While prosecutors and police groups said SB1437 would set dangerous criminals free, Skinner said she has seen no evidence of serious crimes by any of the inmates freed so far, while each release has saved the state about $160,000 per year. Of the 602 inmates whose sentences were reduced in the first four years of the law, according to the State Public Defenders office, about 88% were people of color and 40% were Black, including Wilson. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Neko Wilson sits outside his employer, Best for Less Auto Sales in Modesto. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle The law narrowed Californias felony-murder rule, which formerly allowed murder charges against any participant in a crime such as burglary, robbery or kidnapping in which someone is killed. SB1437 allows murder charges only against those who committed or planned the killing or took part in the crime and acted with reckless indifference to human life. Wilson was 27 in 2009 when he helped to plan the robbery of a home in western Fresno County where marijuana was being grown. He did not go to the home or take part in the robbery, but the residents, Gary and Sandra De Bartolo, were killed when one of the robbers Leroy Johnson, according to the jury slashed their throats. Six people, including Wilson, were charged with felony murder, with potential death sentences. Their cases were still pending when SB1437 took effect. Johnson was then convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole after jurors rejected a death sentence. Another participant was sentenced to more than 30 years, and the other four have been freed. Wilson, the first to be released, lives in Modesto and runs his familys used-car dealership. But his nightmares of the years behind bars may not end soon, if ever. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The first four-plus years I didnt see sunlight. No sun comes in that jail, he said. Then he was transferred to another county jail where inmates were allowed onto the roof for exercise once a week, and after years of darkness, your eyes couldnt adjust to the sun. You only get one hot meal, noodles, beef jerky and chips each day, Wilson said. Its almost like a different country. And, because I didnt murder anybody, he said, he could never understand why he was being held on murder charges, in the jails maximum-security unit, under tight surveillance and with little access to people or programs. I knew this crime was not me and that I would get out one day, Wilson said. When I came in (while facing felony-murder charges) I told a couple of the officers, Im gonna walk out of this place one day. Neko Wilson works in his office at Best for Less Auto Sales in Modesto. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle They thought I was crazy, he said. Im just blessed that they changed the law. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Wilson, who had attended a Christian high school, said he spent his time in jail reading the Bible, praying and exercising. He also took courses online and said he obtained a certificate as a paralegal, though he hasnt used it once he started managing his familys auto business after his release. He said he has had emotional support from his fiancee, Cassandra Sabatino, whom he met decades ago when they were both students at Fresno State. She drove 3 hours each way from her home to visit him in jail, collected signatures in support of SB1437 and was present when the bill won final passage, Wilson said. He said he also has rekindled his relationship with Anjali Wilson, his 19-year-old daughter from a marriage that ended in divorce. Jacque Wilson, who became his brothers lawyer in the final years of his case, said Neko is a prime example of someone who came out and has been successful. Hes paying taxes, rejoined with his daughter, his 89-year-old father, his fiancee. Roderic OGorman said his party was entering a period of rebuild. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA The Green party in Ireland has been virtually wiped out in the general election, and its leader admitted it was entering a period of rebuild after the electorate removed any prospect of the party re-entering government. The Greens lost all but one of their 12 seats, with its leader, Roderic OGorman, scraping through on the 13th count. It means the party is unlikely to team up again with the two centre-right parties, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, which are on track to come within a few seats of the 88-seat majority needed to form the new government. Counting from Fridays election could continue into Monday. The proportional representation system involves multiple counts and too-close-to-call scraps for the final seats in many constituencies. The partys losses are the worst since 2011 when it was left with no seats in the election, triggered by the financial crash and IMF bailout. Eamon Ryan, the recently retired leader succeeded by OGorman, said even one seat would make a huge difference because it would not repeat his experience post-2011 when the Greens had no voice at all in parliament and no funding. Among several high-profile losers in the Irish election was the gangland figure Gerry Hutch, who lost out to Labour in the Dublin Central constituency, where the four seats were filled by others including the Sinn Fein leader, Mary Lou McDonald. Hutch caused pandemonium when he arrived at the Dublin count centre, posing gnomically for a media scrum for 15 minutes. He clashed with RTEs reporter but took a question from the BBC, who asked if he would run again. Ive been running all my life, he said. Named in a court case last year as the head of a well-known crime family in Ireland, Hutch, known as the Monk, was released on bail in Lanzarote to run for parliament after his arrest in Spain last month as part of an international investigation into money laundering. Hutch said in a recent podcast interview that he had had several convictions for robbery as a young man. He has not been convicted of any other crime more recently and, in a rare 2008 interview with RTE, he denied being the leader of a crime gang. Related: Fianna Fail and Fine Gael in pole position to form new Irish government As the results appeared to point to the return of some form of coalition between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, the centre-right parties hailed Irelands reversal of global trends and pointed in particular to the voters broad spurning of far-right candidates. Jack Chambers, the Fianna Fail deputy leader, said: I think, in the main, centrist politics in Ireland has strengthened here. We havent seen the level of fragmentation in other countries, the level of polarisation in politics. In fact, if you look at the far-right candidates which presented themselves for election, theres clear rejection of their politics in Ireland. Chambers said that although the election was cataclysmic for the Greens, it had strengthened two other parties on the left, with the Social Democrats expected to get more than 10 seats and Labour on course for eight or more. Sinn Fein, which got 19% of first-preference votes, behind Fianna Fails 21.9% and Fine Gaels 20.8%, is expected to get more than 30 seats but not enough to lead government formation talks. Among the issues that created problems for the Greens was a carbon tax on petrol, aimed at discouraging people from consuming carbon-emitting fuel, which was introduced by the previous government but blamed on the Greens. There were also rows about Irelands derogation from an EU directive on nitrates, commonly used in fertiliser seeping into rivers: Fianna Fail committed to retaining it while the Greens wanted to phase it out and prioritise river quality. Ciaran Cuffe, a member of the party for 40 years and a former MEP, said the Greens had been the fall guys and had paid the price for being incumbents. I think small-party incumbency is at the heart of this. In the Irish political context, it is always tough for the junior partner in government to argue about what it has achieved in government, and it seems to be held responsible for every other department, including the ones it doesnt control. Thats what happened to Labour in 2016, it happened to us in 2011 and it seems to have happened to us again now, he said. We were seen as the fall guys. We were being attacked from two sides, from some of our core supporters who felt we werent doing enough, and then quite a few loud voices within Fianna Fail and Fine Gael who were saying that the Greens were destroying the country, so we were stuck between a rock and a hard place, he said. He added: It is a lonely place when youve been wiped or almost wiped out in national elections. But I think the green issues are much bigger than one election, and having been in the Greens since the get-go for 40 years, I believe the Greens will certainly rise again, and the issues are more important than ever. Joyce Crick was awarded the 2000 Schlegel-Tieck prize for her translation of Freuds The Interpretation of Dreams Photograph: none My mother, Joyce Crick, who has died aged 95, was a lecturer, scholar and translator of German literature. She lived a life of determination, erudition and grit. In 1958, Joyce began her academic career as a lecturer at University College London, where she taught German literature. She promoted a feminist and egalitarian ethos and conducted a vast number of language classes for those students who preferred her innovative approach. In 1990, she retired as a senior lecturer. During this time she was a significant contributor to the field of scholarship on Samuel Taylor Coleridges translations of Schiller into English, driving to archives all over Germany. Having grown up during the second world war, she became a committed European and one of her greatest joys in later life was being invited to the award ceremony of an honorary doctorate to an ex-student, Alan Smith. He was part of the team that founded the Erasmus student exchange programme. After she retired, her scholarship and translation took off. The Oxford University Press approached her for a new translation of Freuds The Interpretation of Dreams (1999), for which she was awarded the Schlegel-Tieck prize in 2000. This was followed up by a translation of Freuds The Joke and Its Relation to the Unconscious (2002), a new edition of the Brothers Grimm fairy stories (2005), and, in 2009, a group of stories by Franz Kafka and a new translation of Metamorphosis. Born in Neath, Glamorgan, she was the daughter of Maud (nee Vanstone), a teacher, and Ivor Morgan, a grocer, subpostmaster and hotelier. Music and poetry were a fixture of Joyces upbringing. She attended Neath grammar school and, in 1947, went to the University of London, where she studied German language and literature. She spent a year, in 1949, in postwar Germany, in Erlangen, where she taught literature to an interesting group: German students mixed in with former members of the Wehrmacht. She then travelled widely in Canada and the US, where, in 1953, she married Bernard Crick, who later became a distinguished political scientist, and was studying at Harvard at the time; she had initially met him while at the University of London. They stayed for a while in Boston while he was teaching at Harvard, and at university summer schools, before returning to live in London. The marriage ended in divorce in 1976. A lover of literature, theatre and music, particularly Mozart and Wagner, Joyce made regular pilgrimages to Glyndebourne and Bayreuth. She enjoyed travelling and loved visiting the Gower peninsula, where she used to spend childhood holidays. Joyce is survived by her two sons, Tom and me, five grandchildren, Holly, Daisy, Rose, Lily and Joe, and her sister, Mary. A granddaughter, Georgia, predeceased her. A speech from the Prime Minister on Thursday will coincide with the publication of the Plan For Change document - Geoff Pugh for the Telegraph Sir Keir Starmer on Thursday will unveil new targets to show how Labour will deliver on the five missions set before the general election for his time in office. A speech from the Prime Minister will coincide with the publication of a document dubbed the Plan For Change, spelling out the approach in more detail. Here is what Labour promised to do in its five missions - plus immigration, which is not one of them - and what changes are expected to be announced on Thursday. The economy Sir Keir promised during the election campaign to bring about the highest sustained growth in the G7, referring to the group of seven leading advanced economies. That means the UK economy has to grow faster than America, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, though how this would be measured and over what time period was not specified. Labour insiders have acknowledged challenges with the target. For one, the UK has little control over the rate of economic growth in six independent countries. US economic growth for 2024 is estimated to be around 2.8 per cent, more than double the UK estimate of 1.1 per cent. The rate of growth does also not necessarily translate into improvements in living standards. Sir Keir is expected to reveal a new target linked to living standards on Thursday. The Telegraph understands a specific target to increase either real household disposable income (RHDI) or GDP per capita will be unveiled, though final decisions are still being locked in. The environment Labour promised to make Britain a clean energy superpower and to have a zero-carbon electricity system by 2030. Within that promise, there are further pledges - to double onshore wind, triple solar power, and quadruple offshore wind by 2030, all as part of the push to tackle climate change. There is widespread industry scepticism that the nations electricity can be completely free of fossil fuel input by 2030. Even government insiders liken it to a moon shot ambition. A recent report by the National Energy System Operator (NESO), commissioned by Ed Miliband, the Net Zero Secretary, suggested it was possible if actions are taken at speed. However, it has been claimed that the reports conclusion - that Mr Milibands plans will not raise bills - relies on gas and carbon prices remaining unrealistically high until the end of the decade. Critics argue the drive will not decrease energy bills, as Labour claims, and predict that the party will come to regret promising to end all new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea - especially with the next general election due by 2029 at the latest. Sir Keir is expected to commit to ensuring 92 per cent of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to routine treatments - Cameron Smith The NHS Labours healthcare mission was a broad one - build an NHS fit for the future - but it also came with a specific pre-election promise to cut NHS waiting times. Rishi Sunak made a similar promise when he became prime minister in October 2022. When he was kicked from office in July 2024 overall waiting lists were still on the rise. There has been little progress in waiting time numbers in the early months of Sir Keirs premiership, though there has been more money for the health service - 22bn over two years. On Thursday, the Prime Minister is expected to commit to ensuring 92 per cent of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to routine treatments. That target has not been hit since 2015 and the Institute for Fiscal Studies, a think tank, said in February it looks unlikely to be met any time soon. Publicly committing to the target brings the risk of a voter backlash if it is not achieved come the next election. Crime Labour promised to make Britains streets safe, pledging reform of the police and justice services and stopping criminals getting away without punishment. The manifesto also promised to halve levels of violence against women and girls within a decade as well as a looser ambition to tackle anti-social behaviour. The Government is in the process of recruiting 13,000 extra police officers and community support officers to help deliver its tough on crime approach. Any new promises on the levels of crime would leave Sir Keirs government hostage to fortune, given wider economic and social factors often are the driving force behind such changes. The crackdown on anti-social behaviour, the focus of the partys crime pitch during the election campaign, had clear echoes of Sir Tony Blairs New Labour approach to the issue. Pat McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, is overseeing delivery on the five missions - Temilade Adelaja Barriers to opportunity Labours promise to break down the barriers to opportunity at every stage was both close to what the party has traditionally seen as its drive but also the vaguest of the five missions. In the election, the policy to recruit 6,500 new teachers was held up as proof of that ambition. This weekend it was confirmed that the government will on Thursday pledge to raise the number of children aged four and five ready for school both socially and educationally from 60 per cent - where it currently stands - to 75 per cent. Pat McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster who is overseeing delivery on the five missions, said: There is evidence that even by the age of five or six years old if someone is starting school with that development gap, it will affect their earnings later in life. Plus: Immigration Reducing immigration was not among the five missions that Labour named in the long run-up to the election, but it did get a mention right before the campaign began. Sir Keir, somewhat confusingly, turned his five missions into a list of six first steps for change, which included efforts to thwart the surge of small boats crossing the English Channel. The political reason seemed clear enough: Reform, Nigel Farages party, was surging in the polls and Labour did not want to open itself up to attacks that it was ignoring immigration. But that means quite how much focus will be put on reducing migration in the Plan for Change published on Thursday remains to be seen. Mr McFadden said immigration would be mentioned but Labour insiders indicated new targets will not be unveiled. Mr McFadden on Sunday ruled out an overall net migration cap. Kim Johnson calls Israel an apartheid state again at a march to keep the pressure up - Ian Forsyth/Getty Images Europe A Labour MP has once again called Israel an apartheid regime despite having to previously apologise for using the term. Kim Johnson, the MP for Liverpool Riverside, made the remarks as she addressed a pro-Palestinian rally on Saturday. She apologised in the Commons in February 2023 after calling the Israeli government fascist and referring to it as an apartheid state during Prime Ministers Questions. But Ms Johnson once again used the term apartheid about Benjamin Netanyahus government at a march demanding a ceasefire in Israels ongoing war with Hamas. Urging Sir Keir Starmer to take more decisive action including arms and trade embargoes, Ms Johnson said: The UK backed [the] apartheid regime in South Africa but that regime was brought down to its knees because of international solidarity. Direct action and protest do work. We did it once, we can do it again, but we have to keep going, comrades. We need to keep the pressure up. We need to stand shoulder to shoulder with our Palestinian comrades until we see a free Palestine. Ms Johnson ended her speech by chanting free, free Palestine and shouting: Solidarity, comrades! Kim Johnson makes the controversial comments at a pro-Palestine rally calling for arms and trade embargoes against Israel - James Manning/PA Last year, she was summoned by Labours chief whip before returning to Parliament later in the day to apologise for her remarks in the Commons. Ms Johnson referred to Amnesty, the human rights group, having accused Israel of apartheid before, asking Rishi Sunak how he would challenge a fascist Israeli government. This led Sir Keir Starmers spokesman to condemn Ms Johnsons February 2023 remarks, saying he would want her to withdraw them as a first step. Ms Johnson apologised unreservedly, telling MPs: I was wrong to use the term fascist in relation to the Israeli government and understand why this was particularly insensitive given the history of the state of Israel. While there are far-Right elements in the government, I recognise the use of the term in this context was wrong I would also like to apologise for the use of the term apartheid state. Ms Johnson is among dozens of backbench Labour MPs who do not believe Sir Keir has gone far enough in his support of Palestine. Ten Labour frontbenchers resigned or were sacked in November 2023 after they defied the then-opposition leader to call for a ceasefire just over a month after the Oct 7 terror attacks. Sir Keir Starmer has said he would never ban all arms sales to Israel despite current partial embargo - House of Commons/AFP Sir Keir eventually demanded an immediate cessation in hostilities earlier this year but it was not enough to stop his party from losing four seats to pro-Gaza independent candidates at the general election. Despite the demands made by MPs including Ms Johnson, the Prime Minister has said he would never ban all arms sales to Israel despite announcing a partial embargo. The Government confirmed in September it had suspended 30 out of 350 arms export licences to the country after finding a clear risk the equipment could be used to commit serious violations of international law. Labour was contacted for comment. Louise Haigh quit the cabinet on Friday telling Keir Starmer this issue will inevitably be a distraction from delivering the work of this government. Photograph: James Veysey/Rex/Shutterstock Decisions over Louise Haighs future were dealt with very quickly and marked a big contrast to how issues were handled under Conservative governments, a cabinet minister has said. Pat McFadden, the chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, refused to accept suggestions that Haighs resignation as transport secretary and controversy over freebies made the Labour government look chaotic because he said it was not something that dragged on for weeks. His comments come after Sky News reported claims that officers investigating Haighs phone believed a photo she gave them of the handset was taken after the alleged theft. McFadden described Haigh as a good colleague and said he was sorry to see that shes gone. When asked if Keir Starmer had known the full story of her criminal conviction when Haigh was appointed to the cabinet, he said he did not know who knew what when. Speaking to Sky News, McFadden said: If you take this Louise Haigh situation, the story came to light, was dealt with very quickly. Louise has decided to resign by the end of the day. This isnt something that dragged on for weeks. It isnt something where endless stories about it before action was taken, and within 24 hours we have a new transport secretary. Haigh quit the cabinet on Friday morning with a letter to Starmer saying: Whatever the facts of the matter, this issue will inevitably be a distraction from delivering the work of this government. She was replaced with the MP Heidi Alexander. In a separate statement, Haigh said that while she was working for the insurance company Aviva in her mid-20s, she was mugged while on a night out. She gave police a list of items missing from her handbag, including her work mobile phone which she thought had been stolen. Haigh was issued with a new phone and when she subsequently found her old work phone and turned it on, the police called her in for questioning. On Sunday, the senior Labour MP Diane Abbott told the BBC that Starmer does not seem to understand that allowing Haigh to resign made him look bad, claiming he [Starmer] knew it [of her convictions] from the beginning. The prime ministers official spokesperson refused to confirm on Friday whether Starmer knew about the conviction at any point. A number of sources have told the Guardian that Haigh told Starmer about the conviction when she became shadow Northern Ireland secretary in 2020. The sources also said Haigh did not declare the 2014 conviction for wrongly reporting a mobile phone as stolen because she was asked only about unspent offences. She had pleaded guilty to fraud by misrepresentation and received a conditional discharge. When asked if the main issue was how quickly the issue was dealt with, McFadden said: I think it partly is, because you know people will do things wrong and these things will come to light and how you deal with them and how you respond is part of how this works theres a big contrast there. He rejected suggestions that Starmer was a hypocrite, when it was put to him that in opposition Starmer had said MPs cannot be a lawmaker and a lawbreaker yet he had still appointed Haigh to his frontbench. I think hes appointed a good cabinet, McFadden said. Its a more united cabinet than Ive seen in many years, and were working together on this plan for change that were going to publish this week which will set out our priorities. Paul Watson in Anstalten prison near Greenlands capital, Nuuk, on Friday. Photograph: Inesa Matuliauskaite/The Observer The humpback whales watched by Paul Watson from his prison cell this summer have long since migrated from the iceberg-flecked Nuup Kangerlua fjord to warmer seas. It is over four months since Watson an eco-terrorist to some and a brave environmentalist to others was brought here to Anstalten, a high-security jail perched on the frozen coast of south-east Greenland after being arrested while refuelling his ship, MV John Paul DeJoria, in nearby Nuuk, the capital of the autonomous Danish territory. He had been on his way with a 32-strong crew to practise his decades-long policy of non-violent aggression by intercepting a new Japanese whaling mothership, the 7.5bn ($47.4m) Kangei Maru. But shortly after tying up his vessel in the harbour a nice police car turned up and 12 armed officers boarded. It was to prove the opening of just the latest, but perhaps the most dramatic, chapter yet in the story of Watsons running battles on the high seas with the whalers of Japan. The Japanese government initially used a research loophole to circumvent a 1986 International Whaling Commission moratorium on hunts in international waters, and then withdrew from the IWC entirely in order to continue commercial hunting within its own exclusive economic zone. Now, it is said to retain a desire to expand again. I was sitting in the captains chair at the time, and one of them just walked up, grabbed me by the shirt, pulled me off the chair and turned me around and handcuffed me, Watson says of his arrest in Nuuk harbour. And I said: Whats this for? And they said: Youll find out and took me down to the police station. They werent a very friendly bunch. The arrest on 21 July had been prompted by an Interpol red notice issued by Japan whose government accuses Watson of conspiracy to trespass, interrupt a business and cause damage to the Shonan Maru 2 whaling ship in 2010 in the Antarctic but also, crucially, to lightly injure a Japanese crew member via the mild acid from a stink bomb. He was not at the scene of the alleged crime and denies playing any commanding role in it, but on Monday Watson is expecting to mark his 74th birthday by being told by a judge that his detention in Greenland will be extended by at least another month as the Ministry of Justice in Copenhagen continues to weigh up a Japanese demand for his extradition on charges that could see him jailed for up to 15 years. And so Watson, a grandfather, and father of two young children, finds himself here, long after the whales have left, talking from a spare cell that is acting as a visitors room. Anstalten was opened in 2021 by the Greenland government as a humane alternative to sending the territorys most serious criminals 1,800 miles south-east to Denmark. He has the benefit of a 12-square-metre room, an en suite bathroom and a spectacular view of the fjords. The inmates are given 1,350 Danish kroner (150) every Wednesday to buy food in the prison shop, which they cook in a communal kitchen. He has eggs in the morning, skips lunch, and eats noodles and vegetables in the evening. On one occasion, the prison guards knocked on his door to offer him some freshly caught cod. They do sell whale and seal in the store, he says. At one point, [an inmate] said: You want to eat some whale with us? I said: What do you think? It is, he admits, an interesting prison. Convicts here have a right to go hunting with loaded weapons. Watson would also like to give the impression that he is sanguine about his predicament; that this is a burden that he knew he might have to bear as the price for his activism. He talks quickly and lucidly. He has a series of stock answers and anecdotes that help convey his message: his campaign continues from here. But it is when talking about his youngest children, aged three and eight, that he gives more away. He admits that his 44-year-old daughter from the first of his four marriages did not see him much during her childhood. But she is doing well and he made different choices about his life with his sons, Tiger and Murtagh. On their birth he had elected not to take long trips away, but today he has just 10 minutes a week on a Sunday evening for a video call home. I dont feel upset, so they dont feel upset, he says. I mean, I know what its like. My mother died when I was 13. My father was extremely abusive. So I didnt really have that kind of, you know, happy childhood in that way. But that made me committed to making sure that my children are taken care of in every sense. His wife, Yana, 43, worries. She tends to be a little more emotional than most, he says with a dry laugh. Shes OK. She does get a little dramatic sometimes. Watson, a joint US-Canadian citizen, was born in Toronto but grew up in St Andrews, New Brunswick. His response to physical abuse from his father was to throw himself into the Kindness Club, an animal welfare organisation founded by Aida Flemming, the wife of New Brunswick premier Hugh John Flemming. It was a temporary fix. I ran away from home when I was 14, 15, 16, and finally, permanently, I ran off to sea. I joined the Norwegian Merchant Marine, he says. Watson does not describe himself as a protester. He regards himself as an enforcer of international treaties on whaling and animal welfare. He proudly states that his work has never hurt anyone but it has involved him putting his body in the way of harm. His crews would be asked whether they were willing to lose their life to save that of a whale. And if they said no, then I said: Well, then we dont need you. It has also involved the scuttling of whaling boats in the past. This robust approach saw him leave Greenpeace, where he was one of the pioneers, and later to clash again with colleagues at the Sea Shepherd organisation he founded when others wanted to take a less controversial path. It also earned him the admiration of a plethora of celebrities and in 2009 the ultimate tribute for the notorious: a South Park parody that played on his Father Christmas-like appearance. Famous names who have called for Watsons release in recent weeks include the actors Brigitte Bardot and Pierce Brosnan, the film-maker James Cameron and businessman Richard Branson. Brazils president Lula da Silva has written to him in jail. Watson lives in Paris and Marseille, and the Elysee Palace has said publicly that Emmanuel Macron wants him home. Yet Watson, dressed entirely in white, emphasising the pallor of a man unexposed to sunlight, remains incarcerated. His left hand, his writing hand, gives him some discomfort after he was handcuffed and put in a police car without a seat belt. It is healing well enough for him to be writing a childrens book entitled Spaceship Earth, about its passengers killing off the key engineers, but he is trapped. He says he regards Japans extradition efforts as revenge for his often successful attempts to thwart the whalers, a battle that was chronicled in Whale Wars, a hit show on the Animal Planet channel in the late 2000s. He does not believe that he would survive a spell in a Japanese prison. I know that if I get sent to Japan, Im not coming home, he says. And so Watson waits, and hopes and keeps calm for his family. You cant be frustrated over something you cant control, he says. You know, whats the point? And Ive never been angry at anything. Whats the point of being angry? But, in his eighth decade, there would be no shame in Captain Paul Watson being just a little scared. A man and a woman were found dead at a shop on Oxford St in Cambridge Park in Sydney on Saturday. Photograph: Steven Saphore/AAP A 31-year-old man has been charged with allegedly murdering his parents at their shop in western Sydney. Allan Chiem appeared in Parramatta local court on Sunday morning after he was arrested just after midnight at a home in Canley Heights in the citys west and charged with two counts of domestic violence murder. Chiem did not apply for bail and will remain in custody. He is due to appear in court again on 31 January, when police plan to serve their brief of evidence against him. The bodies of a 69-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman were discovered by another family member on Saturday morning, who then called New South Wales police, Det Acting Supt Michael Cantrell told reporters. Cantrell said the deceased had significant injuries and described the scene at the shop on Oxford St in Cambridge Park as confronting. The family are obviously devastated and they are assisting police, he said. Cantrell said he was aware of footage that had been circulating on social media that shows a male in the vicinity and this was certainly a line of inquiry. Chiem was arrested about 12.30am on Sunday after police appealed to the public for information and CCTV footage. The Home Office is switching to a digital immigration system at the end of this month. Photograph: Guy Corbishley/Alamy The Home Office has admitted that many people who have the right to live and work in the UK cannot access their eVisas and provide proof that they are allowed to be in the country. Human rights campaigners have said problems with accessing eVisas could lead to a scandal involving hundreds of thousands of people. Those affected are allowed to be in the UK but cannot show their right to work or rent a home. At the end of this month the Home Office is transferring to a digital immigration system, and most physical documentation proving the right to remain in the UK, such as biometric residence permits, will expire. The Guardian has learned that some of a particularly large group of migrants have not been able to obtain eVisas even though they have applied for them and have a right to receive them. Hundreds of thousands of people are on a particularly harsh Home Office visa known as the 10-year route, where they have to pay large sums of money to renew. Many people on that route are people of colour who are on low incomes. There are delays of about a year for those in that group each time they renew their visas, and they are granted 3C leave while they wait, allowing them to work or rent properties. But many who have applied for eVisas while waiting for their visas to be renewed have hit a wall when they make the application online. Although one screen states that a person has their eVisa, an error message appears when trying to open it. It states: We cannot show you proof of your status. This might be because your status is not ready to view in this service yet. The Home Office said in response there were alternative ways to provide proof when peoples eVisas failed to work. But the Guardian was told by some people struggling to access their eVisas that some employers and estate agents were reluctant to accept any other evidence, and this hampered their ability to find work or a place to live. Nick Beales, the head of campaigning at Refugee and Migrant Forum of Essex and London, said the problems with eVisas could lead to a Windrush-style scandal. He said: In June, the high court ruled that the governments failure to provide people on 3C leave digital proof of status was unlawful. The new government though has refused to implement this ruling, suggesting that like their predecessors they have learned nothing from the Windrush scandal and remain committed to preserving the hostile environment. With the visa system going digital in one month, it is critical that everyone with immigration status can immediately access eVisas. Otherwise, it is certain that in 2025 tens of thousands of people on 3C leave will be wrongly suspended from work, deprived of disability benefits and denied other basic services. Home Office sources told the Guardian that because the digital visa system had been developed incrementally, some people who made their applications before their digital record status was created did not have digital 3C leave. The department insists that having a digital-only immigration status will make things more secure, but many people claim they have been unable to access the eVisas. Others who have obtained them may not be able to access their digital account online because of a lack of internet access or technical glitches in the system. The eVisa updates online and there is no QR code to download. A Home Office spokesperson said: The rights of all individuals can still be proven for those who are unable to view their immigration status online, through a range of channels by which a persons entitlement to employment, study and other benefits can be confirmed. As we transition to a digital system, increasing numbers of people with 3C leave will be able to view and prove their immigration status online. Deepfake images of public figures including Anthony Albanese have been used to promote investment scams Photograph: Supplied Fake celebrity investment scams may soon be harder to push on Facebook and Instagram, with Meta introducing a requirement that financial advertisers are verified. Beginning in early February, Meta will require advertisers seeking to run ads about financial services to verify information about who are the beneficiary and payer. Businesses will be required to provide their Australian financial services licence number or declare an exemption. Individuals will need to provide a government-issued ID. The licence number will be authenticated by the Australian Securities Investment Commission. It will apply to advertisers worldwide targeting Australian users on Metas platforms. The advertisers will also need to verify the business by uploading business documents. The person doing this will need to verify they work for the business, such as by supplying a work email address. Similar to political ads on Facebook, financial ads will require a disclaimer that allows users to see information about who is behind them. Enforcement will begin for all advertisers in early February and is expected to take about six weeks to complete. Related: I have done nothing wrong: Juanita quit her job at a Melbourne brothel to work from home. Now shes being evicted Meta has faced pressure from politicians and regulators in the past few years to tackle the plague of scams featuring deepfake images of public figures, including Martin Lewis, David Koch, Gina Rinehart, Anthony Albanese, Larry Emdur, Guy Sebastian and others, used to promote investments. To the end of September, there were $135m in reported losses from investment scams in 2024 in Australia, according to the National Anti-Scam Centre, with $35m coming from social media scams. Meta is being sued by the mining magnate Andrew Forrest over its alleged failure to tackle scams using his image. It is also facing a lawsuit from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. The move to verify financial service advertising has been implemented in Taiwan and the UK but the timing for the launch in Australia comes before the federal government passing the scams prevention framework legislation now before the parliament that will require digital platforms to verify advertisers. David Agranovich, director of global threat disruption at Meta, told Guardian Australia the company expected scammers to try to evade the automatic and manual detection methods Meta had in place but the new restrictions should help. Scammers are highly adversarial and highly motivated, not just on Facebook but across the internet, and so the more friction we can inject into their operations, the less effective they can be, the more costly their operations become, and ideally, the less attractive our platforms become for scammers to use, he said. And so what this does is adds, I think, a meaningful layer of friction to ads that are impersonating financial services providers. Last month Meta began trialling facial recognition technology in advertisements to detect potential use of fake celebrity endorsements. A parliamentary committee reviewing the federal governments scams prevention framework legislation, is due to report back at the end of January. Border Force UK More than 20,000 migrants have now crossed the Channel under Sir Keir Starmer as the Prime Minister came under fire for not appearing to make the issue a priority. The number of small boat arrivals since Labour won the election on July 4 now stands at 20,110 after two boats carrying 122 people made it to Britain overnight. The leaked analysis, obtained by Sky News, shows this years total has reached 33,684. French authorities said that a further 151 people were rescued in the Channel and taken back to France overnight. Both legal and illegal immigration are to feature in the Governments Plan for Change, which is to be published this week, but the issue is not one of Sir Keirs five missions. The missions, which make no mention of migration, include growing the economy, an NHS fit for the future, safer streets, secure power through clean energy and opportunity for all. Simple cap idea rejected It comes ahead of Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, making a statement to the House of Commons on Monday about the UKs new one-of-a-kind border security pact with Iraq. Pat McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, insisted that Sir Keir Starmer wanted to see net migration fall after it was revealed that net migration hit a record high of 906,000 last year. But Mr McFadden rejected the idea of a simple cap, saying this failed when tried by several Conservative administrations in the past. The number of migrants who have crossed the Channel since Sir Keir took office was reported to have reached 20,000 on Sunday after two small boats were picked up. Both legal and illegal immigration will feature in the Governments Plan for Change, which is to be published this week. But no targets will be set despite clear numerical pledges on other issues, such as the promise to build 1.5 million homes across the course of this parliament. No numerical target Mr McFadden told the BBCs Victoria Derbyshire: Were not going to attach a numerical target. People are concerned about illegal as well as legal migration, so we are doing more on this. But a simple numerical target in any given year migration has to be that number that hasnt worked well in the past, thats not the approach. But we do want to bring migration down. Sir Keir last week accused the Tories of using Brexit to turn Britain into an open borders experiment and said the most recent statistics should shock all of us. When asked why migration was not one of the five missions, Mr McFadden told Skys Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that net migration targets did not have a happy history after a number of unmet Tory promises. The party promised, under then prime minister David Cameron in 2010, to reduce net migration to the tens of thousands, a pledge that was repeated in the 2015 and 2017 manifestos. But net migration exceeded 100,000 in every year between 2010 and 2024, with the sole exception of 2020 because of the Covid pandemic. Targets havent worked very well. Weve got things we were saying about this in terms of getting net migration down, Mr McFadden said. I dont say targets dont work in any circumstance but numerical targets on migration have not had a happy history in recent years. You might remember David Cameron saying he wanted to reduce it to the tens of thousands and look where we are now. Mr McFadden added that immigration levels would always ebb and flow depending on the economy, saying: I think just setting a number and saying this is the magic number Lets say it was 100,000 or 200,000 or whatever it was. What happens when we need a skilled worker for the 200,001st job? Do we say no were not having that? That would be a good contribution to our country [so] that is not the way to do it. But we do want legal migration to come down, we do want to train more of our own workers, we do want to get more people off welfare and into work. Tories strict numerical cap Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, confirmed last week her party would introduce a strict numerical cap on migrants but declined to say at this stage what it would be. Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary who lost the leadership contest to Mrs Badenoch, had said he would cap net migration to the tens of thousands or lower as leader. Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, Victoria Atkins, the shadow environment secretary, said: Theyre not setting out any firm plan for change. We know for example that the Government is opening up more hotels across the country. We know that theyre focusing on the process, which whilst thats important, of course it is, nonetheless its about how we deter people who are coming here in the first place if theyre not coming through lawful measures. So these I think are some of the issues the Government is going to have to face up to in the coming weeks. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: Starmer cancelled the Rwanda deterrent before it even started and thats why small boat numbers are up 20% since the election, compared to the same time last year. Even the EU Commission President is now calling for offshore processing of illegal migrants. Keir Starmer doesnt care above stopping illegal immigration, which is why Labour voted against toughening up the law 134 times in the last Parliament - including voting against longer prison sentences for the criminal gangs they claim to want to smash. Labour added over 6,000 extra illegal immigrants to hotels in their first 3 months - despite promising to end hotel use. Its not surprising Starmer has presided over this fiasco - this is the man who once said immigration laws are racist. Rishi Sunak vowed during the general election to impose an annual cap on immigration visas but declined to put a figure on the target. Reform UK promised in its election manifesto to freeze all non-essential immigration, creating a one in, one out system in order to relieve pressure on public services. Last week, a poll by Ipsos found immigration was second only to the economy as the most important issue to the public. Seventy-seven per cent of Reform voters are concerned about migration, as well as 51 per cent of Tory supporters and 47 per cent of those aged 55 and over. A Home Office deportation aircraft in 2022: the government has never removed any one nationality in such large numbers as with those sent to Brazil. Photograph: Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images More than 600 Brazilians, including 109 children, have been secretly removed from the UK on the three largest Home Office deportation charter flights in history since the Labour government came to power, the Observer has learned. The Home Office has never before removed any nationality in such large numbers on individual deportation charter flights. It is thought that children have never before been removed on these flights. According to freedom of information data seen by the Observer, the three flights were on 9 August, when 205 people including 43 children were removed; 23 August, when 206 people were removed, including 30 children; and 27 September, when 218 people were removed, including 36 children. All the deported children were part of family units, and many of them would have been settled at school and are likely to have spent most if not all of their lives in the UK. The returns were classed as voluntary and were likely to include people who had overstayed their visas. The Home Office offers incentives for voluntary returnees of up to 3,000 including for babies and children. The sweeteners are provided in the form of pre-loaded cards that can be activated once people touch down in their home country. The government is keen to trumpet its deportation credentials with figures published on Thursday revealing 8,308 enforced and voluntary returns between July and September 2024, a 16% increase on the same period last year. The majority 6,247 were voluntary returns, an increase of 12% on this category of returns during the same period in 2023. While the government is keen to promote the numbers returned they have failed to mention publicly that the destination of these historic deportation flights was Brazil. Latin American rights organisations have raised concerns about how the Home Office was able to get such large numbers of a single nationality including unprecedented numbers of children likely to be settled at school out of the country completely under the radar. The organisation Coalition of Latin Americans in the UK expressed alarm about the hundreds of secret deportations: We are concerned by the sharp increase in voluntary returns of Brazilians in the last year. As the largest Latin American community in the UK, Brazilians face significant barriers to accessing high-quality information and accredited legal advice, particularly in their own language. Many arrived through onward migration from EU countries. However, post-Brexit immigration rule changes have left hundreds of them and their non-EU family members at risk of having their rights denied due to misinformation and harsh eligibility requirements. The coalition warned that Brazilian women are particularly at risk for the Home Office initiative to remove Brazilians from the UK en masse, particularly those experiencing gender-based violence. These women are often trapped by abusive partners who use their British or EU passports as tools of control, leaving them with no viable path to safety or settlement, they say. In one case a woman was being supported by Latin American Womens Aid. She was fleeing violence with her two sons including a disabled child with special education needs. They were forced to move between three hotels. The woman was refused what is called the Migrant Victim of Domestic Abuse Concession, which allows migrant domestic violence victims to stay in the UK and had no choice but to return to Brazil. It is not known how many people on the three flights did not want to return to Brazil due to fears about their safety but felt they had no choice but to board the planes. The government must respond to our requests for fair, affordable and safe routes toward citizenship and settlement for the many communities who have laid down roots in this country, coalition members said. A Home Office spokesperson said: We are already delivering on our plan to ramp up removal of those with no right to be in the UK, with removals of foreign offenders and failed asylum seekers at their highest level in half a decade This will reduce our reliance on hotels and costs of accommodation, saving an estimated 4bn over the next two years. A spokesperson for Brazils foreign ministry said: The UK has proposed organising voluntary return flights to Brazil, operated by commercial airlines, for Brazilians registered in the Voluntary Returns Service (VRS), a programme managed by the Home Office. It is important to clarify that this is not a case of deportation, but rather a voluntary decision by participants to join the British initiative. Besides, the flights were not secret. This article was amended on 3 December 2024 to add a statement from Brazils foreign ministry that was received after publication. The federal government will remove predatory rent-to-buy lenders from the Centrepay debit service as part of wider reforms. Composite: Universal Image Group/Getty Images/Centrepay The federal government will boot predatory rent-to-buy operators off its Centrepay debit system as part of sweeping reforms designed to stop the financial abuse of vulnerable Australians. The reforms, set to be announced Monday, follow a Guardian Australian investigation that revealed shocking failures in the Centrepay system and helped trigger an urgent government review. The Centrepay system was designed as a budgeting tool for welfare recipients, allowing government-approved providers of essential services like rent and electricity to take money from a persons welfare payment before it is deposited in their bank account. But weak oversight of the system opened it up to error and exploitation, which caused profound harm to vulnerable people. Guardian Australia revealed this year how multiple energy retailers, including AGL, Origin and Ergon, allegedly used the system to continue deducting million of dollars from the welfare payments of former customers long after they had left or switched energy providers. The Australian Energy Regulator successfully took AGL to court over its use of Centrepay and has said it is now considering action against three other firms. Guardian Australia also revealed how an extreme Christian rehabilitation centre used the system to prop itself up financially while subjecting its residents to gay conversion practices and exorcisms, and showed how rent-to-buy companies used Centrepay to lock Indigenous Australians in remote communities into paying exorbitant amounts for household appliances. Related: Claws are out as Jaguar heads down EV rebrand road The government services minister, Bill Shorten, said Centrepay, when working as intended, was a convenient service helping welfare recipients meet the costs of basic needs, including housing, school fees and medication. But its clear from the extensive feedback weve received that changes were needed to ensure Centrepay wasnt undermined by predatory behaviour, he said. Predatory behaviour is unacceptable. The improvements weve announced today will ensure there are safeguards in place to reduce the risk of financial harm and well continue to work with regulators and across government to stamp out this behaviour. Centrepay was established in 1998 under the Howard government as a voluntary bill-paying service for people receiving Centrelink payments to make automatic deductions for essentials like rent and utilities. It currently has more than 620,000 users. A large percentage of them are receiving disability support payments. Almost a third are Aboriginal people, predominantly women, from remote areas, receiving jobseeker or parenting payments. Over time Centrepay has expanded to include a range of businesses and services. There are now more than 15,000 companies approved to access Centrepay, which facilitated 23.7 million transactions last year worth $2.7bn. Each transaction incurs a 99c fee, paid to the government by businesses using the system. Over the past decade, consumer advocates have raised concerns that several of the businesses registered to access Centrepay may be causing financial harm to vulnerable customers. The corporate regulator is investigating dozens of companies. At least four that it has already penalised remain on the system. In May 2024, the government announced a full review of the system to increase compliance, transparency and strengthen auditing processes. Services Australia, which operates the system, says it is working towards improving delivery. In 2022-23, contracts ended for 12 Centrepay businesses due to non-compliance. The government will remove what it describes as high-risk services from the Centrepay system. That will include companies providing consumer leases and those offering rent-to-buy arrangements for household goods, otherwise known as rent-to-buy operators. The Australian Securities and Investment Commission and financial advocates have for years been warning that the ability of rent-to-buy operators to access Centrepay was causing severe financial harm, particularly to Indigenous Australians. The government will also impose mandatory target amounts and end dates for Centrepay deductions, a measure in part aimed at stopping energy retailers from wrongly receiving money from the welfare payments of former customers. The reforms will include stronger oversight and compliance, including a new application and approval process for businesses wanting to gain access to the system, and formalised complaint-handling processes. The government will also employ complaints and compliance specialists within Services Australia to make sure businesses are accountable for how they use Centrepay. The announcement has been met with broad support from financial rights groups and the Australian Council of Social Service, the peak group for community services. The chief executive of Acoss, Cassandra Goldie, said the government efforts to protect people from exploitation has been genuine. The financial counselling and strategy lead for Mob Strong Debt Help, Bettina Cooper, said the engagement with First Nations and other consumer advocates has been a true consultation. All government departments can learn from their open and collaborative approach to achieve fair outcomes, Cooper said. The announcement comes after Asic announced on Friday it had suspended another retailer from the Centrepay system. Asic has made a final stop order preventing Indy-C-Fashion Accessories from offering Centrepay credit arrangements to consumers in its store in Katherine. The deputy chair of Asic, Sarah Court, said Indy-C provided credit arrangements to First Nations people to buy clothing and household goods without considering whether the credit arrangement would be consistent with the consumers objectives, financial situation, and needs We will continue to use our full range of powers, including stop orders, to disrupt entities in these circumstances. The government expects its Centrepay reforms to be phased in from mid-2025 and says it will consult with impacted businesses before the changes are finalised. The Skripal house being decontaminated in Salisbury in February 2019. Photograph: Ben Birchall/PA Vladimir Putin may have ordered the assassination attempt on Sergei Skripal because the former Russian spy harboured secret information about the Russian presidents criminal embezzlement of profits from metals production, the UK government believes. A leading intelligence official on Russia has said he took at face value Skripals assertions that secrets he knew about how Putin may have made money led to the nerve agent attack on him in Salisbury. An inquiry into the poisonings has heard that Foreign Office experts concluded Putin personally ordered the attack as it was inconceivable that such an audacious action would have been carried out without his say-so. A central remaining question has been why Russian agents were sent to Salisbury to kill Skripal. In his witness statement, Skripal said that when he worked for the GRU, the Russian military intelligence agency, he had access to secret information and was aware of allegations that Putin had been involved in illegal activity to do with the disposal of rare metals. When Skripal was interviewed by British police after the nerve agent attack in March 2018, he talked about Putin embezzling the proceeds of aluminium sales. Asked by counsel to the inquiry, Andrew OConnor, whether knowledge of Putins criminal embezzlement could have been the motive for the attack at the inquiry, Jonathan Allen, the director general of defence and intelligence at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, said he took Skripals claim at face value. He said: It makes sense that if he [Skripal] was working as a senior member of the GRU he would have access to secret information. On the allegations regarding President Putin, it is very difficult to know exactly what happens in Russia. The civil society is pretty nonexistent, the independent media has been shut down, the judicial system operates to protect the government and President Putin. There have been numerous open-source works which link senior figures in the government including the president to control of natural resources, to control of the sources of Russian wealth and suggestions they profited from those. Certainly President Putin is at the top of a state that is highly corrupt and which ensures loyalty through patronage and fear. I would say they could be motives. Since October, an inquiry in the UK has been looking at the circumstances surrounding the death of Dawn Sturgess, who was poisoned with novichok in June 2018, three months after the attack on Skripal. On the final day of evidence last week, Allen was asked about an email chain produced at the inquiry involving Foreign Office and UK Cabinet officials in which they reported remarks Putin had made about Skripal and Sturgess, who died after spraying herself with nerve agent from a fake perfume bottle found by her partner Charlie Rowley. The officials said Putin had described Skripal as a traitor and suggested he may have worked with the UK after he came to England after a spy swap. Putin is reported to have said: He left and continued cooperating and he consulted some special services. Allen said he could not comment on this claim. Of Sturgess and Rowley, Putin reportedly said: Do you want to say we have also poisoned some homeless person? Some guys come and begin poisoning homeless people there. Nonsense. What, do they work for some kind of cleansing department? Allen said the comments were rather callous. He said: They are offensive in the extreme, and again rather indicative perhaps of his rather dismissive attitude to whats happened. On the final day of the inquiry on Monday, Sturgesss legal team will argue that more could have been done to protect the British people from the Russian threat. Angela Merkel (left) with Beate Baumann at the start of a German cabinet meeting in 2018. Photograph: Clemens Bilan/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock In the opening of her autobiography, Freedom, Angela Merkel is clear: she couldnt have written it without one key person. Neither her sister, Irene Kasner, warmly acknowledged at the close of her book for having helped bring memories of my childhood and youth back to life, nor her husband, Joachim Sauer, whom she thanks for his constant support. The individual without whom one of the most highly anticipated political memoirs in years might not have happened is Beate Baumann. The 61-year-old has worked at Merkels side for over 30 years, having first been recruited by her as an office manager. When Merkel retired in 2021, Baumann, it was understood, would continue by her side, but from now on under the revised title of political adviser of the out-of-service German chancellor. Once she had decided to write about her life, Merkel acknowledges in the foreword, she recognised: If I was going to do it at all, I had to do it properly, I said to myself, and if I was, then I would do it with Beate Baumann. She has been advising me since 1992, and is an eyewitness. The secrets of the womens working partnership, unusual in particular for its longevity, remain largely unknown to the public. Intriguingly, it is reported that despite their decades-long collaboration they still use the polite Sie form to address each other, rather than du. Baumann has declined to participate in interviews to coincide with the publication of the 720-page tome, just as she avoided sharing any of the limelight while Merkel, 70, was in power. Although sometimes recognised on the street, she has acknowledged avoiding small talk. On Tuesday night, when Merkel introduced her book to a German audience for the first time at the Deutsches Theater in Berlin, Baumann chose to remain backstage. Anyone who sees Merkel and Baumann together feels their familiarity, which is not only expressed in the frequent eye contact between the two. Baumann often nods when Merkel has barely begun her sentence, wrote the journalist Melanie Amann in the latest edition of Der Spiegel. For their joint writing project they founded the company teaMBook GbR (M for Merkel, B for Baumann) and rented a small working apartment in Berlin-Mitte. The company structure was to help with tax duties as a civil servant, Baumanns role as author has to be separated from her job as political adviser to the former chancellor. Insiders say that by day the duo typed the manuscript in the apartment on computers that were not connected to the internet, and in the evening saved the contents on a USB stick and locked it in a safe. Nothing was left to chance. They wrote the volume together, choosing which events and people to include or omit, shaping the contents of each chapter, with one of them writing the first draft, which the other then typically revised. They did not turn to ghost writers or rely on historians or journalists. Neither did they recruit an agent, but instead negotiated the publishing deal an undisclosed sum, but thought to run to several million euros themselves. Merkel was even spotted some mornings picking up pastries in the local bakery near their working flat, in what became part of their daily routine over the more than two years it took them to complete the book. Sometimes, for a change of scene, they retreated to Merkels modest rural retreat in Templin, in the Uckermark region of Brandenburg, at others they escaped to the Baltic coast. Two beachside hotels in the dunes of the picturesque Dar peninsula are acknowledged in the book. When Merkel was in power, they had separate offices overlooking the Tiergarten park and the River Spree on the same floor of the chancellery, but on opposite sides of the building. Baumann is quoted as having said: I need my peace. The key to their working together, she told Amann in 2021, was to be in constant conversation. Their rules: never cover anything up, never shoot from the hip. A graduate of English and German, from the north-west city of Osnabruck, Baumann was 29 when she was first recommended as an aide to Merkel. She said she hadnt needed the job and had been toying with becoming a school teacher, so was particularly relaxed when it came to meet Merkel, who was laid up at the time, having broken her leg. She found her open-minded and approachable. The rest is history. She has followed Merkel more or less from her political beginnings, when she became environment minister, then general secretary of the Christian Democrats, party leader, parliamentary head, and then chancellor, four times. The whole of this time Baumann was referred to simply as the office manager, even if it has long since been acknowledged that her role was far greater. Described as funny, charming and quick-witted, she is said to have been annoyed over the years by various fictional versions of Merkel. One particularly pernicious rumour was that the office manager poured the coffee, when in fact, she said, thats what Merkel has always done herself. This article was amended on 2 December 2024. Templin is in the Uckermark region of Brandenburg, not of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as an earlier version said. More than one in five working age people are now economically inactive - STEVE PARSONS Sickness benefits are worth 3,000 a year more than a minimum wage job, according to a new analysis of Britains worklessness crisis. An investigation found low-paid workers are now trying to get themselves signed off with ill health in order to boost their income. Analysis by the Centre for Social Justice think tank found people on the top level of sickness benefits now earn an average of 23,900 a year while those on the minimum wage take home just 20,650 after tax. It comes after the Government was accused of dodging tough decisions that could stem the huge rise in the number of Britons claiming incapacitys handouts when ministers set out plans to tackle the crisis last week. The findings will add to fears the welfare system has become too generous and is encouraging people to choose a life on handouts over work. A Government spokesman said ministers had inherited a spiralling benefits bill from the previous Tory administration and pledged to bring it down. The number of Britons who are signed off with long-term ill health has ballooned by 650,000 since the pandemic and now stands at 2.8 million. Theres been a dramatic increase in numbers of people signed off work since the pandemic - TOLGA AKMEN A sharp rise in claims for mental health problems including anxiety and depression, particularly amongst the young, is behind the surge. More than one in five working age people are now classified as economically inactive, meaning they are neither in work nor looking for a job. Ed Davies, Policy Director at the CSJ, said the Governments efforts to stem the tide so far were underwhelming and more robust action is needed. Thousands of people with health conditions are desperate for the financial, social and health benefits of work, but the system is broken, he warned. Britain is sick but being sick pays. Radical change is needed right now. A new documentary, Britains Benefit Scandal, has found evidence that some low paid workers are now trying to get themselves signed off sick. The show, to be broadcast on Channel 4 on Monday night, centres on an investigation into the welfare system by Telegraph columnist Fraser Nelson. Channel 4s analysis also includes central Blackpool, where 51 per cent are on benefits - GETTY One window cleaner told him that moving onto sickness benefits would double their income. Id be able to see my mates, socialise more, think about even getting through my driving licence because I dont drive, the man told Mr Nelson. And taking the kids out more. Im only doing things by what would improve my situation. The documentary also uncovered evidence that many people who are on benefits but could work are scared to do so for fear of losing out financially. One claimant said they wanted to train as a plasterer, but could not take the risk of losing their sickness payments in case the move did not work out. They told Mr Nelson: I want to get a job and be independent like other people. I would rather be successful like other people. Going to work, getting up in the morning and coming back home with friends and family. Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, said: Immigration is sky high while, as the CSJ show, Britains benefit system is pushing people out of work onto long-term sick. Nigel Farage says the Government needs a fundamental change in attitude towards worklessness - GETTY Work is good. Putting your shoulder to the wheel gives you a sense of purpose and leads to success. The government needs a fundamental change of attitude on this. The CSJs figures compare the earnings of somebody on sickness benefits with those of a fit person in a minimum wage job who is receiving no handouts. People signed off with long-term ill health can claim more than double the usual rate of basic Universal Credit as well as housing allowance. Those whose condition means they have difficulty doing everyday tasks can also claim Personal Independent Payments worth up to 9,600 a year. That can include people in employment, who are better off working and receiving PIP as a top up to their wages rather than moving onto full sickness benefits. There has been a sharp rise in PIP handouts being awarded since 2019, with the number of monthly claims more than doubling from 2,200 to 5,300. Since 2010 the overall approval rate for sickness benefits has more than doubled to 80 per cent. Seven in 10 claimants are put into the top bracket of limited capability for work-related activity meaning they are not required to look for a job. The CSJ warned that the surge in long-term sickness is set to add 25 billion to the health and disability benefits bill by the end of this Parliament. Separate figures produced by the Office for Budget Responsibility have forecast that the cost will rise from 65 billion last year to over 100 billion by 2030. Liz Kendall, the Work and Pensions Secretary, last week published her long-awaited Get Britain Working plans to tackle economic inactivity. It included an overhaul of how job centres work and surging health staff into the areas with the highest sickness rates to cut through NHS backlogs. Liz Kendall, the Work and Pensions Secretary, has promised plans for addressing the welfare crisis next year - HOUSE OF COMMONS But the blueprint was heavily criticised for failing to address benefits, with proposals on how to bring down sickness handouts delayed until the Spring. Any measures that ministers decide to implement will then have to be consulted on and so are unlikely to come into force until 2026 at the earliest. Helen Whately, the shadow work and pensions secretary, said the Government had dodged the difficult decisions on sickness benefits. The CSJ said Ms Kendall should respond to the urgency of the situation by bringing forward the publication of her plans to early in the New Year. A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: Weve inherited a spiralling benefits bill with millions of people with a long-term illness or disability out of work and not getting the support they need. Were determined to fix this and, building on our Get Britain Working White Paper, well publish a consultation in Spring on measures to ensure the system is better supporting people them to get into and stay in work and crucially, bring down the benefits bill. Bryson case contributed to downfall of Nicola Sturgeon - ANDREW MILLIGAN/PA The mother of trangender rapist Isla Bryson has said wearing wigs, dresses and make-up do not make a person a woman, insisting only biology can. Bryson, previously known as Adam Graham, transitioned to live as a woman while awaiting trial for rape, and was initially sent to a female jail after being convicted of the crime in January last year. The 33-year-old was quickly moved to a male prison after an outcry that contributed to the end of Nicola Sturgeons tenure as first minister. Brysons mother Janet, who referred to her child as my son, told the Sunday Mail: I believe you have to be born female to be female. No wigs, dresses or amount of make-up makes [sic] you female. You can say youre a woman, but to be female, that is down to biology and how you are born. Mrs Bryson was speaking out in support of Scottish feminist campaigners who are attempting to win a landmark legal case at the Supreme Court. Isla Bryson, formerly known as Adam Graham - POLICE SCOTLAND/PA The For Women Scotland campaign group last week urged Britains top judges to confirm that sex was immutable and could not be changed by gender recognition certificates (GRC). Brysons case was crucial in undermining Ms Sturgeons plan for a gender self-ID law in Scotland, which would have allowed anyone aged 16 or over to obtain a GRC by signing a declaration. At the time, the Scottish Prison Service operated a self-ID policy which followed the same principles as the legislation. While the law, which was passed by MSPs but was later blocked by the UK Government, was being debated in Holyrood the SNP government presented it as a simple administrative change that would have no impact on womens rights. However, Scottish Government lawyers argued in court last week that GRCs bestowed significant new rights on those who acquire them. They admitted that lesbian-only groups of 25 people or more would be powerless to exclude biological males who are attracted to women if they held GRCs, as in the eyes of the law they would be considered lesbians. Former Scotland first minister Nicola Sturgeon - JANE BARLOW/PA Mrs Bryson also refuted the claim that Bryson, of Clydebank, had wanted to become a female from the age of four: My son never expressed any wish that he wanted to be a girl, dressed in any other way or ever asked to be called by any other name than Adam growing up, she said. Never once, at the age of four or at any other age. Last week, lawyer Ruth Crawford KC acting for the Scottish Government told the Supreme Court that a person with a GRC is recognised in law as having changed sex. She told judges that it was therefore possible for men biological females with a GRC to become pregnant and that they would be entitled to legal protections designed for women. However, John Swinney, the First Minister, undermined his own Governments legal case by claiming he did not believe it was possible for men to become pregnant. The Supreme Court is expected to issue its judgment in the new year. Kash Patel Donald Trump has nominated Kash Patel to serve as FBI director, turning to a fierce ally to upend Americas premier law enforcement agency and rid the government of perceived conspirators. Announcing his pick on Saturday night, Mr Trump described Mr Kash as a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and America First fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending Justice, and protecting the American People. He played a pivotal role in uncovering the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, standing as an advocate for truth, accountability, and the Constitution, he continued. This FBI will end the growing crime epidemic in America, dismantle the migrant criminal gangs, and stop the evil scourge of human and drug trafficking across the Border. Kash will work under our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to bring back Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity to the FBI. Its the latest bombshell the president-elect has thrown at the Washington establishment and a test for how far Senate Republicans will go in confirming his nominees. The selection is in keeping with Mr Trumps view that the governments law enforcement and intelligence agencies require a radical transformation and his stated desire for retribution against supposed adversaries. It shows how Mr Trump, still fuming over years of federal investigations that shadowed his first administration and later led to his indictment, is moving to place atop the FBI and Justice Department close allies he believes will protect rather than scrutinise him. Kash Patel is known for his deep loyalty to Donald Trump The nomination sets up whats likely to be an explosive confirmation battle in the Senate not long after Mr Trumps first pick to lead the Justice Department, Matt Gaetz, withdrew his nomination amid intense scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations. Mr Patel is a lesser-known figure, but his nomination was still expected to cause shock-waves. Hes embraced Mr Trumps rhetoric about a deep state, called for a comprehensive housecleaning of government workers who are disloyal to the Trump team and has referred to journalists as traitors, promising to try to prosecute some reporters. Mr Trumps nominees will have allies in what will be a Republican-controlled Senate next year, but his picks are not certain of confirmation. With a slim majority, Republicans can only lose a few defectors in the face of expected unified Democratic opposition though as vice president, JD Vance would be able to break any tie votes. But the president-elect had also raised the prospect of pushing his selections through without Senate approval using a congressional loophole that allows him to make appointments when the Senate is not in session. Mr Patel would replace Christopher Wray, who was appointed by Mr Trump in 2017 but quickly fell out of favour with the president and his allies. FBI directors have 10-year terms that are meant to inoculate them from political influence. Mr Patel has penned a series of childrens fantasy books about deep state enemies who try to steal King Trumps crown. His removal isnt unexpected given Mr Trumps long-running public criticism of him and the FBI, particularly in the aftermath of federal investigations and an FBI search of his Mar-a-Lago estate for classified documents two years ago that resulted in indictments that are now poised to evaporate. In his final months in office, Mr Trump unsuccessfully pushed the idea of installing Mr Patel as the deputy director at either the FBI or CIA in an effort to strengthen the presidents control of the intelligence community. William Barr, Mr Trumps attorney general, wrote in his memoir that he told then-chief of staff Mark Meadows that an appointment to Mr Patel as deputy FBI director would happen over my dead body. Patel had virtually no experience that would qualify him to serve at the highest level of the worlds preeminent law enforcement agency, Mr Barr wrote. Mr Patels past proposals, if carried out, would lead to convulsive change for an agency tasked not only with investigating violations of federal law but also protecting the country from terrorist attacks, foreign espionage and other threats. Hes called for dramatically reducing the agencys footprint, a perspective that sets him apart from earlier directors who have sought additional resources for the bureau, and has suggested closing down the bureaus headquarters in Washington and reopen it the next day as a museum of the deep state Mr Trumps pejorative catch-all for the federal bureaucracy. And though the Justice Department in 2021 halted the practice of secretly seizing reporters phone records during leak investigations, Mr Patel has said he intends to aggressively hunt down government officials who leak information to reporters and change the law to make it easier to sue journalists. During an interview with Steve Bannon last December, Mr Patel said he and others will go out and find the conspirators not just in government but in the media. Were going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections, he said, referring to the 2020 presidential election in which Joe Biden defeated Mr Trump. Were going to come after you, whether its criminally or civilly. Well figure that out. But yeah, were putting you all on notice. Mr Trump also announced Saturday that he would nominate Sheriff Chad Chronister, the top law enforcement officer in Hillsborough County, Florida, to serve as the administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency. Mr Chronister has worked closely with Mr Trumps choice for attorney general, Pam Bondi. A man and woman are dead after what Victoria police believe was a targeted early morning shooting, with detectives now searching for a man who left the scene. Police said a man and a woman had gone to an address on Parson Street in Rye, where an altercation took place with a man at the property on Monday morning. Officers were called shortly after 4am and found a 29-year-old man, who lived at the property, and a woman, who both had gunshot wounds. Both died at the scene. The woman has yet to be formally identified. Det Supt Janet Stevenson said police were now searching for the man who had gone to the property with the woman. We believe that they were [all] known to each other and that it was targeted, Stevenson said. I understand this will cause fear in the community but we are actively investigating at this time and I think well have some good avenues to follow. She said it was too early to say whether any weapons were found at the scene, but added: We dont know if there is a firearm still outstanding. So were giving a lot of urgency around the apprehension of that male. Homicide squad detectives were investigating but have not established a motive. Police have urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Victoria police have carried out one of the more bizarre welfare checks after a deadly tiger snake slithered up a drivers leg as she was travelling at 80km/h on a major freeway. Related: Youre only 18 once: Australias coming of age rite schoolies is itself maturing somewhat Police said they were called to Monash Freeway near the Toorak Rd exit in Melbournes eastern suburbs on Saturday morning after receiving reports of a barefoot woman trying to flag down passing traffic. The woman told police she had been driving on the freeway when she felt something on her foot and looked down to find a snake slithering up her leg. It was later identified as a tiger snake, one of the worlds most venomous snakes, that had curled up under the steering wheel of the car. Police said that remarkably the woman was able to fend off the snake and weave through traffic before pulling over in the slip lane and leaping out of her car to safety. Paramedics were called to make sure the woman who police said was in a state of shock had not been bitten. A spokesperson for Ambulance Victoria said they couldnt find any puncture marks or other signs the woman, aged in her 40s, had been bitten. She was taken to the Alfred hospital in a stable condition for further observation at about 11.30am, the ambulance spokesperson said. Police said they called snake catcher Tim Nanninga from Melbourne Snake Control to wrangle the snake safely and get it out of the car. Related: Millions of Australians charged $4.3bn may be part of debt miscalculation controversy Passing motorists were left in bewilderment as the massive snake was safely removed from the vehicle, a police spokesperson said. And so ended one of the more bizarre welfare checks youll ever hear about. Nanninga said he didnt know how the woman managed to pull over safely. I do feel sorry for the lady that was driving it would have been absolutely terrifying, he said. He said he received six to 12 requests a year to remove snakes from cars but this was the first time he had been called to a freeway. There were about a million people filming, he said. Im just not used to doing it in front of such a big audience, to be honest. Nanninga said the woman had travelled from south-west Victoria, which is where the snake is believed to have got into her car and then under the dashboard. He said the snake was taken to a reptile vet and checked for parasites. He was given the all clear to release it in a local catchment area, which he said was a safe place right away from people and pets. Tiger snakes can be found across much of Victoria, including in highly populated areas. The Victorian environment department has identified them as one of the most venomous snakes in the world, and says all tiger snakes should be regarded as highly dangerous to humans. People returning to the town of Saraqib in the eastern part of the Idlib province in northwestern Syria - AAREF WATAD/GETTY Syrian rebels forced out of their homes eight years ago are returning with their families after almost a decade of exile in the oppositions enclave of Idlib. The fighters, some of them jihadists, were driven out of the Aleppo region after a successful government offensive in 2016. But after last weeks lightning-fast offensive pushed government forces out of the area, many were seen making a tearful return to those left behind. One video that circulated on social media showed a fighter desperately running across a field to greet a relative. He dumped his assault rifle on the ground and threw his arms around another man as nearby residents could be heard sobbing. In another, a man dressed head-to-toe in desert camouflage is shown arriving at what appears to be his mothers house. After 14 years of being separated from his mother and family, a member of the Syrian opposition factions reunites with his mother following the liberation of Aleppo from Assad's regime and Iran-backed militias. This feeling can only be understood by those who have been pic.twitter.com/Vgi4pY6DDh Omar Abu Layla (@OALD24) December 1, 2024 The woman clings to him, sobbing, while the man eventually falls to his knees, overwhelmed by the occasion. In the city of Saraqib, which was captured by the rebels on Thursday, two men return to what is said to be their homes. They were evicted five years ago when the city fell to a government offensive in March 2020. The men cry and raise a finger to the sky before falling to the ground in prayer beside a pile of rubble. Another video showed a woman freezing at the door as a man appeared in front of her. Syrians forced out from their homes as children and teenagers are returning to their homes and families as men. Just imagine that. That's what Assad regime took from us. pic.twitter.com/WCLJB3Q5an Hassan (@hassanalrahmon) November 30, 2024 When the rebels were finally driven out of Aleppo in 2016 after four years of brutal house-to-house fighting, they made a promise to return. One viral image from that year summed up the dogged determination to continue the fight and see their families again one day. A young couple the man with a Kalashnikov slung on his back stand in front of a graffitied wall that reads simply: We will return. This week, they did return. They rushed out of Idlib, capturing in days swathes of territory that it took Assads forces years to conquer. Four civilians were killed and at least 20 injured in an airstrike on Idlib province on Sunday - ANADOLU But the future of Aleppos returnees remains uncertain. On Sunday, President Bashar al-Assad vowed to crush the rebel offensive and eradicate supporters of terrorism. His government forces have stabilised their positions around the city of Hama, just over 100 miles south of Aleppo, and his air force controls the skies. Government and Russian jets pounded the city of Idlib and the surrounding countryside throughout the day, killing at least eight people according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Iran has also signalled that it intends to stand by the Assad government, with Tehran sending its foreign minister to Damascus on Sunday in a show of support for the regime. November 30, 2024: NATO analysts believe that Russia will continue to be a threat even after the Ukraine War is over. The invasion of Ukraine proved that the post-World War II creators of NATO were correct. While Russia was threatening from 1947 to 2021, that 74 year Cold War turned hot in 2022 when Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine. Vladimir Putin, a former secret police officer, gained control of Russia in 1999 and made no secret of his desire to reassemble the Soviet Union. This would involve persuading or conquering the other fourteen nations that came to life in 1991 when the Soviet Union was disbanded. The largest of the fifteen states was the Russian Federation. The next largest was Ukraine and that made Ukraine the first nation Russia needed to subjugate and absorb. The 1991 Soviet Union had 300 million people. 2022 Russia had 142 million and Ukraine 46 million. None of the other post-Soviet states wanted to rejoin the Soviet Union. While NATO didnt want to fight Russia, it was willing to supply Ukraine with weapons, munitions and economic aid to defeat the Russian invaders. NATO also backed international sanctions on Russia which crippled the Russian economy and made it difficult for Russian to continue its war against Ukraine. Russia, frustrated that its conventional forces could not conquer Ukraine, threatened to use its nuclear weapons. That was not a real threat because three NATO nations had nuclear weapons. In addition to the United States, France and Britain had nuclear weapons that could be delivered by aircraft or missiles fired from submarines. The nuclear threat was a phantom and Russia insisted its conventional forces would keep fighting in Ukraine until NATO got tired of the expense of supporting Ukraine. NATO nations believed Russia would give up first because the war was making life difficult for the Russian people, who were increasingly hostile to the war. Some NATO members are suggesting that NATO members be allowed to send troops to assist the Ukrainians in expelling the Russian forces. It is pointed out that the NATO coalition has a population of nearly a billion people. Adding Ukraine would make it a billion. Russia does not want Ukraine in NATO but Ukraine sees NATO membership as its only long term protection from Russia. A 1994 treaty had Ukraine give up its nuclear weapons in return for Russian promises to forever respect Ukrainian independence. Britain and the U.S. pledged to assist Ukraine if Russia violated the treaty. This is why the NATO threat to send troops to aid Ukraine is frightening. Russia reneged on the 1994 promises and the Americans and British agreed to support Ukraine if that happened. It happened and Russia faces war with the largest economic coalition on the planet. Other NATO members may join the U.S. and Britain, if only to ensure that the NATO ability to retaliate involves more than two of the 32 NATO members. By providing massive support for Ukraine, and NATO membership after the war, NATO serves a warning to China that threatening NATO members is risky. China needs trade with NATO nations more than a military stalemate or war. China disagreed with the Russian decision to invade Ukraine and has been circumspect and stingy in providing economic aid for its neighbor and economic partner. Volodymyr Zelensky told EU leaders that an invitation for Ukraine to join Nato is a necessary thing for our survival - Sergei Supinsky/AFP Volodymyr Zelensky said that his country needed security guarantees from Nato and more weapons to defend itself before any talks with Russia. Ukraines president made the comments after meeting Kaja Kallas, the EUs new head of diplomacy, and Antonio Costa, freshly appointed president of the European Council, who were visiting Kyiv as a show of support on their first day in office. An invitation for Ukraine to join Nato is a necessary thing for our survival, Mr Zelensky said at a press conference with Mr Costa. It comes after Mr Zelenksy appeared to shift his position dramatically on Friday by accepting that Ukraine may have to give up some territory temporarily to end the war. He said the occupied land could be negotiated back in the future diplomatically. Ukraine faces a tough winter ahead, with Russia unleashing devastating barrages against its power grid and Kyivs fatigued forces losing ground on the front line. Ukraine faces a tough winter, with Kyivs fatigued forces losing ground on the frontline and Russia targeting its power grid - Shutterstock Questions are also swirling around the future of US support once Donald Trump assumes the presidency in January, with fears he could force Kyiv to make painful concessions in pursuit of a quick peace deal. Mr Zelensky said his country needed to be in a strong position before any talks with the Kremlin, calling for steps forward with Nato and a good number of long-distance weapons to defend itself. Only when we have all these items and we are strong, after that, we have to make the very important... agenda of meeting with one or another of the killers, the Ukrainian leader said, adding that the EU and Nato should be involved in any negotiations. Peace talks with Vladimir Putin would need steps forward from Nato, said President Zelensky - Getty Images Europe Mr Costa said the European Union would give Ukraine its unwavering support, telling Mr Zelensky: We have stood with you since the very first day of this war of aggression, and you can count on us to continue to stand with you. The European Unions new leadership team is keen to show it remains firm on backing Kyiv at a perilous moment for Ukraine nearly three years into its fight against Russias invasion. Vladimir Putin, Russias president, threatened this week to strike government buildings in Kyiv with his new Oreshnik missile, after the US gave Ukraine approval to fire long-range Atacms missiles into Russia for the first time. A Russian drone dropped explosives on a bus in the southern Kherson region on Sunday, killing three people, authorities said, while the Russian army claimed to have captured two new front-line villages in the east. On Friday Mr Zelensky appeared to begin staking out his position ahead of any potential peace talks. He called on Nato to offer guaranteed protections to parts of Ukraine controlled by Kyiv in order to stop the hot stage of the war, and implied he would then be willing to wait to regain other territory seized by Russia. If we will have a frozen conflict without any strong position for Ukraine, Putin will come back in two, three or five years, Mr Zelensky said on Sunday. Ms Kallas told journalists on the journey into Ukraine that for Kyiv the strongest security guarantee is Nato membership. We need to definitely discuss this if Ukraine decides to draw the line somewhere then how can we secure peace so that Putin doesnt go any further, she said. However, diplomats at Nato said there appeared little prospect of the alliance granting Ukraine membership soon given opposition from a raft of members cautious of getting dragged into war with Russia. Mr Zelensky insisted Kyiv was not delusional about its prospects with Nato and admitted there was deep reluctance from US president Joe Biden, along with leaders in countries such as Hungary. Kaja Kallas, new EU head of diplomacy, said Nato membership was Mr Zelenskys strongest security guarantee - Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Reuters Ms Kallas said the EU shouldnt really rule out anything in terms of the question of sending European troops to help enforce any ceasefire. We should have this strategic ambiguity around this, she said. Mr Trump has cast doubt on continuing Washingtons vast aid for Ukraine and called on EU countries to do more. Europe together has spent around $125 billion (98 billion) on supporting Ukraine since Russias 2022 invasion, while the US alone has coughed up over $90 billion (71 billion), according to a tracker from the Kiel Institute. Ms Kallas said the EU would use transactional language to try to convince Mr Trump that backing Kyiv was in Americas interest. Aid for Ukraine is not charity, she said. A victory for Russia definitely emboldens China, Iran, North Korea. Lithuanian rower Aurimus Mockus, one month into journey to Brisbane across the Pacific Ocean Photograph: Aurimus Mockus In his first three days at sea, Aurimas Mockus says, he got only five hours of sleep. His body ached and his hands were covered with wounds and blisters. But alone in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, facing up to eight months of rowing, pain quickly turned to nothing, the Lithuanian said in a media release. Related: I have done nothing wrong: Juanita quit her job at a Melbourne brothel to work from home. Now shes being evicted When youre in survival mode in a stressful situation, when you realise that you must paddle with all your might and that theres no other way to do it, you just paddle, forgetting everything else. Just a few months ago, Mockus, 44, had never rowed. Now he has been at sea for more than a month, having set off on 15 October to undertake a 12,000km journey from San Diego to Brisbane in a single-seater ocean rowing boat. This week Mockus is about a quarter of the way into the journey 4,000km in, still well to the south-east of Hawaii. He has five to seven months of rowing to go, depending on how well I manage to keep up the pace as I paddle across the ocean and how many storms, cyclones, adverse winds and other adversities I must overcome, he said in an email last this month using limited satellite internet. If Mockus arrives in Australia, he will become the first person in the world to row across the Pacific on this route, he says. He will join a small group who have crossed the Pacific single-handed, including the Britons Peter Bird in 1983 and John Beeden in 2015, and the Australian Michelle Lee in 2023. Last year 24-year-old Tom Robinson attempted the feat but was rescued by a P&O Cruise after his boat capsized. In 2020 the Paralympic rowing star Angela Madsen died while attempting a solo journey from California to Hawaii. Unfavourable winds and very little sleep Mockus said he had to row continuously for 22 hours to avoid being blown back to shore in his first three days at sea. I had a hell of a week, he said in an email. [I] felt like a zombie. Wary that it would only take one strong wind to carry his boat off course, there wasnt much time to rest, he said. The effort continued in the two weeks that followed. Unfavourable winds can cause surprises and sleepless nights and require a lot of strength to get out of them, Mockus said. He has been living off porridge, soup, dried fruit, nuts, vacuum-sealed meats, preserves and bars. Related: Outrage as Gregg Wallace calls accusers middle-class women of a certain age The boats hold is carrying enough food to last eight months, plus vitamin drinks and mineral water. If his water supply runs out, he plans to use a seawater desalination unit. Mockus says he has encountered few health problems so far. Maybe my hands are a bit numb at night from the exertion, my shoulder joints are sore, but there are no major health problems, no inflammations, he said in a media release. He rows naked most of the time so I dont have any problems with my buttocks, and the good news is that Ill be back with a nice tan. And, in case of emergencies, Mockus has a beacon, a life raft and a survival pack all of which he hopes he wont need. But feeling homesick has not evaded him. I have noticed that this strong homesickness and loneliness comes at sunset when I finish paddling and start to tidy up, which is when it is the hardest, the release said. I cant afford to be without the life-giving batteries that keep the equipment running Of course, I knew before the trip that one of my biggest challenges would be enduring that loneliness, which is depressing. When I have an hour of internet, I try to listen to the voice messages of my family and friends through it. Mockus noticed small signs of potential equipment failure even in the first few weeks. I already had a problem with one of the lithium-ion batteries, which was almost completely dead, but suddenly recovered, he said in a media release. Im limiting the use of satellite internet and autopilot to save them because its a long way to go. I cant afford to be without the life-giving batteries that keep the equipment running. But the most significant loss has been an oar, which broke on Mockuss 35th day of rowing from the impact of a wave. You cant joke with the ocean when the wind blows over 27 knots overboard, and the waves are more than six meters tall, he said in a media release. The weather conditions were not very kind, but I dared to paddle because sitting and waiting is difficult. This had consequences, he said, One unexpected side wave caught me off guard and broke my paddle. Now, there are five paddles left. Mockus describes the worlds largest ocean as unpredictable and mighty. You must respect this element and try to survive it and not make mistakes that could cost you dearly, he said in an email. One careless step in a swell could break an arm, a leg, or twist your neck, he says. Reefs, where underwater islands have formed, are hazardous because of breaking waves and other dangers. Mockus tries to stay a safe distance from islands and islets, but you never know how it will end if the wind blows harder for a longer period. Despite the ever present danger, there have also been pleasant surprises. I was accompanied by large groups of dolphins and seals all week off the coast of San Diego, he said in a media release earlier this month. I heard whales diving nearby, but you cant see much more than a few tens of meters from the boat at night, so I didnt see them with my own eyes. I hope there will be another chance. I wanted to dedicate my rowing to Ukrainians Mockus set up his boat almost from scratch buying only the hull and instruments. He also had to learn proper rowing techniques. Part of his motivation was to draw attention to the conflict in Ukraine, having previously raised funds to support Ukrainian soldiers and civilians, and transported humanitarian aid to the war zone, according to his website. I know it wont be easy, but its not easy for the people who defend their country either, so I wanted to dedicate my rowing to Ukrainians, he said in an email. I decided to remind the world that the war is not over We must remember the first day of the war, how we felt, and how afraid we were. We cannot get tired because people in Ukraine fight every day and die defending their Motherland. He says: I had nothing to do with rowing before I aim to show that a simple, determined person can cross the ocean. The most important thing is the desire to overcome and to force yourself to do what you want. An American Airlines Boeing jet headed from Chicago to Las Vegas was forced to divert back to OHare after a mid-air emergency. The Boeing 737-800 had to return to its origin airport after receiving multiple door warning light indications, according to data tracked by FlightRadar24. American Airlines said Flight AA1047s short flight was the result of a possible maintenance issue. An American Airlines flight was forced to turn around. Christopher Sadowski The flight, which initially departed just after 8 a.m. local time, was divered back to Chicago by 10 a.m., according to Flightaware. It took off a second time for Harry Reid International Airport just after noon, and was expected to land around 2 p.m. local time, according to the flight tracking website. It was not immediately clear what caused the flight to be redirected. Flight 1047 returned to ORD for a possible maintenance issue, an American spokesperson told Fox Business. The flight landed safely and taxied to the gate. We may earn money from links on this page, but commission does not influence what we write or the products we recommend. AOL upholds a rigorous editorial process to ensure what we publish is fair, accurate and trustworthy. Get AncestryDNA for just $39. (Uwe Krejci via Getty Images) I'm going to clue you in on a fact I discovered a few years ago: My great-grandparents were first cousins. Oh, and my mother has two secret brothers. Uncovering the secrets of your past is downright fun, especially when you discover two uncles no one in the family has ever heard of. But aside from lost family members, there is so much you can learn from genealogy sites like Ancestry, and if you've been holding off on getting your own DNA test, now's the time to pick one up the brand is offering a whopping 67% off AncestryDNA kits for Cyber Monday. During Black Friday, the kits actually went up $10 to $49, but they're finally back down to $39. Here's why you need one. AncestryDNA AncestryDNA Genetic Test Kit $119 Normally priced at $99, you can get an AncestryDNA kit for the lowest price we've ever seen ahead of Black Friday. For just $39, you can send in your DNA and learn a bevy of secrets, including hidden relatives and the exact regions your family hails from. $119 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $119 at Walmart Aside from connecting you with people in the Ancestry network that you're related to, the AncestryDNA kit breaks down your genetic makeup and shows you exactly where your relatives were originally from. I grew up thinking my grandfather was a quarter Cherokee but turns out that's just family lore, according to Ancestry. My genes are 100% European. You can see exactly where my ancestors are from on the AncestryDNA map. (Ancestry / Kate Ellsworth) Once your DNA gets analyzed (which only takes a few short weeks), you can view a map that highlights each area that comprises your genetic makeup. My map says I'm 47% English & Northwestern European, and once I click into the UK, it breaks down what that means for me, and which of my relatives are most closely related to my English heritage. After I tested my own DNA, I sent a kit to my brother and made him complete it as well, curious how similar our DNA would be. Turns out, pretty similar the site knew immediately that he was my brother and noted that we have about 45% - 52% shared DNA. But while we we were so similar, his breakdown is actually pretty different from mine. If you've got a sibling, parent, or child, and you're curious about how similar you are genetically, it's a fun exercise I highly recommend. Turns out me and my brother are pretty similar who knew? (Ancestry / Kate Ellsworth) I took my AncestryDNA test in 2019, and in the five years since, the site has continued to deepen. Every year or so, the site adds even more regions to its database, meaning your results are often changing, or becoming just a little more sharp. In 2020, the database said I was 70% Northern European in 2024, I'm 47% England, 37% Scotland, 9% Ireland... etc. If you're looking to dig deep into your own family tree, you'll want to subscribe to an Ancestry membership, which costs a bit more $50 a month which I don't recommend. I built a family tree and had an incredible time digging into my family's roots, but I did so with a free 30-day membership trial and managed to fit my entire research journey into that window. But $39 for an AncestryDNA kit? That matches the lowest price I've ever seen. If you need a great gift for a parent or grandparent, or you're just curious about your own genetic makeup, this deal is definitely worth it. AncestryDNA AncestryDNA Genetic Test Kit $119 Normally priced at $99, you can get an AncestryDNA kit for the lowest price we've ever seen ahead of Black Friday. For just $39, you can send in your DNA and learn a bevy of secrets, including hidden relatives and the exact regions your family hails from. $119 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $119 at Walmart If you're looking for any shopping advice, drop us a line at shopping.editors@aol.com and our Shopping Editors will be in touch! The LOreal Paris spokeswoman discusses cosmetics and Hollywoods beauty standards Stephane Cardinale/Corbis via Getty Andie MacDowell walks the L'Oreal Paris runway on Sep. 23 during Paris Fashion Week. Andie MacDowell is sharing some of the go-to products in her makeup lineup and explaining why "simple" is her preference when crafting her own glam. I love an eyebrow pencil. LOreal Paris makes a wonderful eyebrow pencil, MacDowell tells PEOPLE at L'Oreal Paris' Women of Worth celebration on Nov. 21. They have a new blush thats a cream blush. I prefer a cream blush. Their mascara is fantastic. The Four Weddings and a Funeral star, 66, also provided a look into her makeup routine. "When I do my own makeup, its very, very simple though I do like a smokey eye," MacDowell says. "I quite often do it with a little bit of purple because it brings out the green in my eyes. Jon Kopaloff/Getty Andie MacDowell attends the 19th Annual L'Oreal Paris Women of Worth Celebration in Los Angeles on Nov. 21. MacDowell, in general, finds getting to experiment with color and product exhilirating. I enjoy wearing makeup, the LOreal Paris spokeswoman says. So much fun. And that is one of the perks. We get to play with colors and lipstick and all of that. While chatting with PEOPLE, MacDowell also opened up about dealing with Hollywood body standards, saying that she finds the turmoil many women put themselves through exhausting. Related: Andie MacDowell Is 66 and Still Has the Best Hair in Hollywood! 15 Photos to Celebrate Her Birthday "I did a fitting and the dress was really tight around my waist. It looks so good, but I woke up and I just knew it was not the right thing for me to do, she recounts. I wanted to wear something that was comfortable. And, of course, immediately I shamed myself for not being able to fit into this dress." Related: Andie MacDowell's 3 Children: All About Justin, Rainey and Margaret Qualley But that's Hollywood, she says. It's this expectation, like you see in [daughter Margaret Qualley's movie The Substance], to be something that you can no longer be and that was easier at a certain time in your life, but I can't. I'm too old to starve myself for five pounds, nonstop. I just can't do it anymore. Marc Piasecki/FilmMagic Andie MacDowell attends the Cannes Film Festival in May 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. Instead, MacDowell has other things to focus on. She says: I want to learn about birds and I want to walk on the beach and I want to be smart and I want to read books. I want to work out, but I don't want that to be the only thing." We met former German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a fitting place for her: the museum in Berlin dedicated to the Wall, that great symbol of the Cold War division between East and West. Parts of the wall have been preserved as a reminder of those hard times, especially for someone who lived through them. She said images of the wall still conjure up highly emotional memories for her. I asked, "When you look at the wall, what comes to mind to you immediately?" "Between the ages of seven and 35, I had to live with this wall," she replied. "I was, so to speak, behind the wall, and couldn't come to this side. And of course, that's still very moving." Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, with correspondent Mark Phillips, in Berlin. / Credit: CBS News Merkel's new book, "Freedom: Memoirs 1954-2021" (published by St. Martin's Press), is filled with moving memories of what it was like growing up in the Communist-controlled police state that was East Germany. Her family had moved there when she was an infant because her father, a Protestant pastor, was assigned to a church there. But it was the fall of the wall that spurred her political awakening, and jump-started a career nobody would have bet on: A woman, from the East, who would not only become Chancellor of Germany, but who would hold the job for 16 years; who would be called the most powerful woman in the world, and who would deal with its most powerful men. It turns out, life in the East actually had given her one advantage for dealing with all those men in dark suits: Those bright pant suits of hers weren't an accident. "In my book I write that maybe my love for colorful clothes is due to the fact that in the East, everything was very gray," she said. Merkel's uniform became part of her identity, and helped her break through the American pop-cultural barrier, on "Saturday Night Live," the way few European leaders could. Merkel left power three years ago this week, and has gone into a kind of self-imposed political radio silence since then, keeping her recollections and opinions to herself. Not anymore. Among the more awkward memories: that first shocking, even embarrassing, meeting with President Donald Trump in 2017. I said, "I think it's fair to say your most difficult relationship with an American president was with President Trump in his first term. You talk about your first encounter in the Oval Office where he refused to shake your hand, and you say that it occurred to you that he was fascinated with Putin and with politicians with authoritarian and dictatorial traits. Why did you say that?" "Why he didn't want to shake my hand, that, you'd have to ask him," Merkel replied. "I think he often conveyed a message with a handshake. With some men he shook hands for a long time." "What were you thinking? Should I reach over? Will we shake hands? Won't we shake hands? What's he trying to do?" "I describe it in my book because it was so interesting. I whispered to him, 'I think they want us to shake hands.' And at that moment when I said it, I noticed that he wanted to convey a message. And I was quite naive, telling him that they want us to shake hands." "But did you get what he was trying to do?" I asked. "Did you think, Oh, he's going to play it that way, that's how we're going to do it?" "Yeah, that's the way it was. I left being convinced that multilateral cooperation would be difficult with Donald Trump," Merkel replied. "You can make deals with Donald Trump because he always thinks in terms of advantage and disadvantage. But in my experience, win-win situations are not only good for one side, but for both sides. That's not really his way of thinking." German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Donald Trump meeting at the White House, March 17, 2017. / Credit: CBS News Merkel's book, which is being released around the world, went to press before last month's election. In it, she wrote that she wishes "with all my heart that Kamala Harris defeats her competitor and becomes president." Of the election results, she said, "I was sad. First of all, I wanted a woman to win. I was also in favor of Hillary Clinton. And secondly, I'm closer to Kamala Harris' political conviction. But the American voters have decided, and it was a democratic election." / Credit: St. Martin's Press Merkel has come in for her own share of criticism since she left office. Her decision to allow more than a million refugees and migrants fleeing Syria into Germany is now often cited as a reason for the rise of anti-immigrant, right-wing political parties in Europe. She says those forces were on the rise anyway. Her decision to allow the German economy to become too dependent on Russian natural gas is seen as another reason for Germany's economic decline since the flow was stopped. She says staying engaged with Vladimir Putin seemed like the right idea at the time, difficult though it was. And it didn't stop him from invading Ukraine. I asked, "You dealt a lot with Vladimir Putin. I take it, reading between the lines of your book, that you found him a very difficult and manipulative character as well, even an intimidating character at times. Famously, you don't like dogs; he'd bring his dog to the meeting. Do you think he did that in an intimidating kind of way? And how would you suggest people deal with him, especially as things are heating up again?" "Without fear," she replied. "Of course, there are attempts to see how people react under a certain amount of pressure. And Putin can do that, too. And with the dog he expressed exactly that. But it all depends on how I manage the situation. I'm used to political pressure since childhood, so that did not shock me." Despite all her experience, Merkel says she now refrains from giving advice. But she does give hints. She says that, in general, she is worried about developments in the world: "I've always said that fear is not a good advisor. Times have become rougher. We are now sitting in a place where the world was divided in the Cold War, and then there was 1990. We had great hopes that things would become easier after the end of the Cold War. Things have not become easier." READ AN EXCERPT: "Freedom: Memoirs 1954-2021" by Angela Merkel Watch an extended interview with Angela Merkel about growing up in East Germany: For more info: "Freedom: Memoirs 1954-2021" by Angela Merkel (St. Martin's Press), in Hardcover, eBook and Audio formats, available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.orgAngela Merkel, Council of Women World LeadersBerlin Wall Memorial, Berlin Story produced by Erin Lyall and Anna Noryskiewicz. Editor: Jack Howell. "The Barn": A murder in Mississippi, and the evil hiding in plain sight Missing hiker found after nearly six weeks in the Canadian wilderness Ted Turner's nature preserves: A carefully curated "Heaven on Earth" President Joe Biden will fulfill a two-year promise to visit Africa as he departs Sunday night for Angola, a trip aimed at highlighting US investment in the continent under his watch in the face of Chinas deepening inroads in the region. Bidens three-day visit to oil-rich Angola comes at the tail end of his presidency, as hell hand over power to President-elect Donald Trump in January. The trip provides Biden with another chance to cement relations with a key US partner in Africa even as the continent prepares for the return of Trump, who made disparaging comments about African countries in his first term. When Biden lands in the capital of Luanda on Monday, it will mark the first time a sitting president has visited sub-Saharan Africa since 2015, when then-President Barack Obama visited Kenya and Ethiopia. It will also be the first time a US president has visited Angola, with which Biden has sought to shore up relations in recent years. As he hosted African leaders in Washington for a 2022 summit, Biden vowed to visit the continent the following year but ultimately missed that deadline. He scheduled a trip to Angola for this October, which was postponed due to a pair of devastating hurricanes hitting the US. Bidens trip will highlight investments in the Lobito Corridor, an 800-mile railway project backed by the United States and Europe aiming to facilitate the transport of critical minerals from interior Africa to Angolas western port for exporting. The initiative is at the center of the Biden administrations efforts to boost investment in Africa to blunt Chinas growing influence in the region, which has outpaced that of the US. Beijing has poured billions of dollars into infrastructure projects across the continent over the last decade through its Belt and Road Initiative. In September, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged $50 billion in financial support for the continent as well as military aid. At the same time, Russia has tried to expand its influence in Africa. The head of US Africa Command warned Congress in March that Russia is aggressively working to expand its footing among African countries, leaving several at the tipping point of falling under its influence. While China and Russia have made inroads in the continent, a senior administration official previewing the trip argued Biden put us back on the field by offering this alternative to China through US-backed investments. That is the choice that is now available to countries throughout the region, not looking at, Do I have to accept Chinese investment with low standards and child labor and corruption but do I have another offering to compare it to? the senior official said. This is what President Bidens wanted: to transform our relationship in the region, to offer a different more investment, but with higher standards. The Biden administration has sought to shift its strategy in Africa from one of development assistance and charity toward investment in specific countries, the senior official said. Officials suggested Bidens team believes the policy will endure throughout future administrations. While, of course, I cant speak for the next administration, I think theres a lot of reason to assume that some of these initiatives will continue on, a second senior administration official previewing the trip said, adding that the Lobito Corridor is paying dividends for all of us. The US views Angola as a key partner, cooperating on economic, technological and scientific initiatives in the region, and Angola has played a key mediating role in the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. As he looked to highlight his commitment to Africa, Biden hosted Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco for an Oval Office meeting in 2023, touting American investments in the Lobito Corridor and solar energy projects. Simply put, a partnership between Angola and America is more important and more impactful, Biden said. Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco waits ahead of a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Luanda on January 25, 2024. - Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Pool/AFP/Getty Images Biden departs for Africa on Sunday evening and makes a refueling stop in Sal, Cape Verde, where he will meet with the countrys prime minister, Ulisses Correia e Silva. Biden arrives in Luanda, Angola, on Monday and will meet with US embassy staff and their families. On Tuesday, Biden will hold a bilateral meeting with Lourenco and deliver remarks at the National Slavery Museum, which is located near the site where slaves were once shipped to the US. The president will lay out both our shared history and highlight the growth and enduring strength of our relationships in Angola and across the continent, the second senior administration official said. The president will travel to Lobito on Wednesday, touring the Lobito Port Terminal and visiting the Carrinho Food Processing Factory. He is also set to meet with regional leaders during a Lobito Corrridor Trans-Africa Summit before departing for the US on Wednesday evening. The president will make new announcements, the official said, regarding a global health security partnership on infectious disease, agribusiness, security cooperation, and the preservation of Angolas cultural heritage, including US support for Angolas nomination of the Kwanza Corridor as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Officials declined to say whether this would be Bidens last trip abroad as president. His travel to Africa comes on the heels of attending key summits in Brazil and Peru, where Trumps influence was already felt among world leaders. In an interview with The New York Times ahead of Bidens visit to Angola, Lourenco said he is ready to work with Trump in the White House. We arent concerned with a change that has happened in the U.S. administration. This is not something dramatic, Lourenco said. Its something normal in democracy. Powers come and go. He added, Hes the one whom Angola and all the countries of the world will have to work with if they are to maintain relations with the United States. This story has been updated with additional developments. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A $3 million mansion in a high-end Connecticut neighborhood met a fiery demise on Thanksgiving when the home was inundated in flames from a turkey frying inside a garage. Heart-pounding images captured the raging inferno surrounding the Weston home just after 3:40 p.m. on Thursday as firefighters rushed to contain the fire. Firefighters were alerted to the blaze by an automatic fire alarm on Weston Road before several 911 calls were made about a garage fire. When we arrived, the whole garage end of the house was on fire like a third of the house, Weston Volunteer Fire Department Chief John Pokorny told CT Insider. Immense heat prohibited firefighters from getting too close to fight the blaze. The fast-spreading flames ignited in the garage before accelerating into the rest of the home. It accelerated really rapidly, Pokorny said. First responders set up water supplies running to the home. A water supply hose was damaged when a car drove over it, stopping the water flow for several minutes. Photos of the fire show the home fully engulfed as firefighters raced to put out the blaze. Weston Volunteer Fire Department We had great water supply, Pokorny added. Really, the issue was the fire had progressed so much by the time we arrived on scene. The 10,000-square-foot abode worth approximately $2.8 million had been hosting close to 25 people for the holiday when the blaze occurred, the outlet reported. No injuries were reported as everyone inside had escaped, but the house was ruled uninhabitable, officials said Friday. The luxury home was left in ruins as piles of burnt wood and furniture piled together leaving just a few barely standing walls. The remaining identifiable portion of the home was the exterior deck which was only partially burnt, according to photos obtained by Weston Today. The 11-bedroom, 9-and-a-half-bath home was built in 1998 on a 2.07-acre lot overlooking Held Pond in Fairfield County, 17 miles west of Bridgeport, according to a property listing. Firefighters battled the fire for 16 hours with assistance from several departments that were called in throughout the day. Fire crews attempted an aggressive fire attack as the garage fire began to quickly spread to the residence, but were thwarted by dangerous fire conditions and structural collapse. Weston Volunteer Fire Department Several obstacles including dangerous fire conditions and structural collapse thwarted the departments attempts at an aggressive attack on the fire. Officials believe the blaze stemmed from the residents frying a turkey inside the homes garage, but have not revealed an official cause. While the fire had been put out, firefighters were at the decimated home Friday putting out hotspots. You get pieces of debris and its burning underneath and the water from the top just doesnt get to it, Pokorny explained of the hotspots. The fire was finally put out after 16 hours and the home has been deemed uninhabitable. Weston Volunteer Fire Department One local business employee said she was saddened to learn about the fire, but optimistic it happened after rain soaked the area. The whole area would have been a tinderbox, Chandler Vinton told CT Insider. States along the eastern seaboard saw hundreds of wildfires break out in November because of an unprecedented drought. New Jersey faced several fires including the Big Rusty Wildfire in Hainesport and the Jennings Creek Fire on the New York border. Brooklyns Prospect Park also caught on fire destroying two acres of land. Donald Trump, Kash Patel President-elect Donald Trumps announcement that he will tap longtime ally Kash Patel to helm the FBI has electrified the MAGA faithful as critics panic over the prospect that he will take a wrecking ball to the bureau. Patel, 44, has garnered widespread fanfare from Trumps core base over his push to dramatically overhaul the bureau, which he has accused of targeting conservatives. But MAGA enthusiasm hasnt always translated into Senate approval and within hours critics had already begun mobilizing to oppose efforts to give him FBI Director Christopher Wrays job. I gotta say, all of the weeping and gnashing of teeth, people pulling their hair out, are the people dismayed about having a real reformer come into the FBI and clean out the corrupted partisans who sadly have burrowed into senior career positions at the FBI, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told CBS News Face The Nation on Sunday. One of the most tragic consequences of four years of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris is, both DOJ and the FBI have been politicized and weaponized, and I think Kash Patel is a very strong nominee to take on the partisan corruption in the FBI. Kash Patel has called for dramatically increased transparency within the FBI. REUTERS Later, Patel served as a US National Security Council official, senior advisor to the acting Director of National Intelligence and chief of staff to the acting secretary of defense during Trumps first administration. Trump supporters lauded the selection of Patel, who has dangled the idea of shuttering the FBIs headquarters in the Hoover Building on day one and opening up a Deep State Museum in its stead. Kash Patel was my deputy Director of National Intelligence when I was Acting. I cant tell you how many people said to me wow. Hes nothing like the media portrays him. I love him, former acting Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell posted on X. Wray has three years left in his term, but Trump, 78, will have the power to fire him and attempt to replace him with Patel, 44, whom he has floated for other roles in the past. Patel came on the national radar during Trumps first administration when he worked as an aide to former Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) and probed the governments actions surrounding the Russian collusion narrative against the 45th and soon-to-be 47th president. Later, Patel served as a US National Security Council official, senior advisor to the acting Director of National Intelligence and chief of staff to the acting secretary of defense during Trumps first administration. During the interim period between Trumps first and second administration, Patel publicly dangled the idea of shuttering the FBIs headquarters in the Hoover Building on day one and opening up a Deep State Museum in its stead. Donald Trump has made several picks for his next administration which will likely face a tough confirmation process. Getty Images Kash Patel was my deputy Director of National Intelligence when I was Acting. I cant tell you how many people said to me wow. Hes nothing like the media portrays him. I love him, former acting Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell posted on X. Kash Patel in his own words Why we need deep reforms from the top This is the BEST choice for FBI Director, pundit Tim Pool contended showing a clip of Patel railing against the two-tiered system of justice based on ones politics. Andrew McCabe, the former deputy director of the FBI, reacted with alarm to Trumps choice of Patel, calling him unqualified on CNN. Some MAGA faithful were cheered by McCabes strong reaction. Andrew McCabe was part of the deep state plot to take down President Trump. If hes freaking out like this on CNN about Kash Patel being FBI Director, then Trump made the perfect pick, conservative influencer Robby Starbuck posted on X with the clip McCabe. Kash Patel served a Snr. Director for counterterrorism when I was National Security Advisor. I was able to count on him to get any job done no matter how complex or difficult the task. He handled some of the nations most sensitive issues with care and discretion, former National Security Adviser Robert OBrien said. Many Republicans, particularly on the House Oversight and Judiciary committees, have been fiercely critical of Wrays stewardship of the FBI. Despite that criticism, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SC) defended the current FBI director. Chris Wray, you know, who the president nominated the first time around, I think the president picked a very good man to be the director of the FBI when he did that in his first term, Rounds told ABCs This Week on Sunday. I dont have any complaints about the way that hes done his job right now. Well see what his process is, and whether [Trump] actually makes that nomination, he added, keeping his options open on Patel. We still go through a process, and that process includes advice and consent, which, for the Senate, means advice or consent sometimes. Kash Patel had been floated for other roles in the second Trump administration as well. AFP via Getty Images Several GOP senators heralded Patel, though he seems likely to face a bruising Senate confirmation process if it comes to that. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) excited Trumps base when he was announced as the intended pick for US attorney general. However, he later dropped out, citing concerns that hed face an uphill battle in the Senate. So far, Republican senators openly backing Patel have largely been on board with Trumps picks, while the potential swing votes are keeping quiet. I look forward to working with Kash Patel as FBI Director to release Epsteins flight logs and black book. Under the Trump administration, the American people are going to get answers, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) posted on X. Chris Wray has failed at fundamental duties of FBI Dir Hes [shown] disdain for [Congressional] oversight & hasnt lived up to his promises. Its time 2 chart a new course 4 TRANSPARENCY +ACCOUNTABILITY at FBI, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said. However, Grassley added a hint of skepticism: Kash Patel must prove to Congress he will reform & restore public trust in the FBI. Critics lambasted Patel for his unfailing loyalty to Trump and argued that the FBI director should be more of an apolitical figure than how Patel has conducted himself over recent years. Trumps former National Security Adviser John Bolton likened his nomination to that of Joseph Stalins notorious head of the secret police. Trump has nominated Kash Patel to be his Lavrenty Beria. Fortunately, the FBI is not the NKVD. The Senate should reject this nomination 100-0, Bolton said in a statement. Former 2016 GOP presidential hopeful Jeb Bushs former communications director-turned-staunch Trump adversary Tim Miller blasted Patel as the most dangerous nominee weve seen yet to our democracy. Jeff Blehar, co-host of Political Beats knocked Patels track record but also slammed his detractors for engaging in hyperbole. Patel is a bad choice for FBI due to competence issues IMO (a real problem with many of Trumps picks). But good Christ the hyperventilating, you people cant modulate your tone even the slightest bit, can you? Its always an impending Police State with you, Blehar wrote on X. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) argued that the upper chamber should reject the planned effort by Trump to sack Wray. We already have a FBI Director, Christopher Wray, and his term does not expire until 2027. President-elect Trump knows this, because he nominated Director Wray in 2017 after he fired the previous Director, James Comey, another lifelong Republican who failed Trumps loyalty test, Durbin said in a statement. President Biden kept Director Wray in office because the FBI is supposed to be insulated from partisanship. Now, the President-elect wants to replace his own appointee with an unqualified loyalist. The Senate should reject this unprecedented effort to weaponize the FBI for the campaign of retribution that Donald Trump has promised. Detractors also pointed to former US Attorney General Bill Barrs past critique of Patel in his 2022 book, One Damn Thing After Another. I categorically opposed making Patel deputy FBI director. I told Mark Meadows it would happen over my dead body,' he wrote. Someone with no background as an agent would never be able to command the respect necessary to run the day-to-day operations of the bureau. Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI) ripped Patel, saying he also consistently voices dangerous and misguided views, including a desire to prosecute journalists for reporting that Joe Biden won the 2020 election. We cannot risk having such a person leading one of the nations most important law enforcement agencies. I urge President-elect Trump to reconsider and nominate a more appropriate individual to this crucial role, Magaziner said in a statement. During Trumps first term, the president-elects allies had mused about Patel for various roles, including FBI director and even as a deputy to the CIA director. To get confirmed as the full-fledged director of the FBI, Patel will need to clear the Senate. Republicans are set to have a 53-seat majority, meaning he could only afford to lose four votes (the vice president is the tiebreaker). Trump has suggested he could seek to bypass the Senate confirmation process, but Republican defectors could potentially scuttle that. It is the honor of a lifetime to be nominated by President Trump to serve as Director of the FBI. Together, we will restore integrity, accountability, and equal justice to our justice system and return the FBI to its rightful mission: protecting the American people, Patel wrote on Truth Social in response to the announcement. Police in have revealed tragic new details behind the mysterious death of a 26-year-old Polish newlywed two years after she was found on the streets of Miami. Aleksandra Leczycka had traveled to Florida from Siedlce, Poland, with her new husband on their honeymoon in August 2022, and after apparently enjoying a dream vacation, the pair were found unconscious on the street with their jewelry and cash gone, according to the Sun. The groom, Dawid Leczycka, was still alive, but his new bride had passed away in what cops initially thought was a combination drugging and robbery. Aleksandra Leczycka, 26, who was found dead in Miami with her jewelry and cash gone. NX But two years later, a new investigation by a Polish court has revealed the truth: The couple overdosed on psychoactive drugs they had voluntarily taken, the Sun reported. Leczycka may have also had an allergic reaction to whatever she took, in addition to the overdose, the court determined. Aleksandra Leczycka and her new husband Dawid, who was also found unconscious, but survived. NX Leczycka had been enjoying her oceanside honeymoon before her tragic death. NX The results of the investigation, released in October, did not rule out the possibility that the newlyweds were also drugged after taking drugs of their own, but the evidence doesnt directly support that conclusion, the Sun continued. The death put a tragic end to what had been a perfect honeymoon for the new bride and groom just three weeks after they tied to knot. Before Leczyckas death, she had posted photos of herself enjoying cocktails at oceanside bars and enjoying romantic walks on the beach plus selfies with her new husband. November 30, 2024: Faced with certain defeat in Ukraine, Russia turned to Asymmetric Warfare. This involved using a number of less visible weapons including Electronic Warfare, sabotage and hacking NATO electronic networks to steal information and disrupt NATO operations. Asymmetric warfare has been all the rage for the last two decades. The prime example given is the Islamic terrorist use of roadside bombs and suicide bombers in Iraq between 2003 and 2010. These tactics terrorized Iraqis working for the Americans, and generated propaganda on the Internet to spin the mass media against the much more powerful U.S. forces. To the surprise of those following this via the mass media, the U.S. defeated al Qaeda, and the pro-Saddam Hussein terrorists in Iraq. Russia dismissed this victory because the Americans were fighting Arabs. Despite that, Russia sought to use the same techniques in Ukraine. What the media missed was that the military, at least the Ukrainian forces, were trained to deal with asymmetric situations as a matter of course. To a soldier, asymmetric means the unknown. All warfare is asymmetric, as you always seek to utilize deception and surprise against your opponent. Those two elements are seen as the most effective methods for surviving and winning in combat. In the opening stages of any war, there will be many asymmetric elements in play. Although armies try to figure out their opponents beforehand, the planners rarely get it completely right. So the opening stages of any war are full of unpleasant surprises. In 2022 Vladimir Putin thought he could defeat the Ukrainians quickly before NATO could intervene with large quantities of weapons for the outnumbered Ukrainians. Putin was shocked that the Ukrainians fought back with unexpected vigor and destroyed the initial attack force and most of Russias modern tanks. Putin had a Plan B, to back off and wage a terror campaign against the Ukrainians using thousands of high explosive-armed missiles fired at civilian and military targets. This was supposed to wear the Ukrainians out and intimidate the NATO nations supporting Ukraine. This didnt work. It never has. NATO and the Americans had been preparing for a Russian attack on Europe since 1949. Until 2022 the only Russian activity was threats and misinformation. This use of Asymmetric Warfare didnt work either and the Russians accused NATO and the Americans of using it to bring down the Soviet Union in 1991. Russia came out of that collapse with a half its Soviet era population and a thirst for revenge. The 2022 Russian attack on Ukraine saw Russia repeating its World War II mistake of expending soldiers at a tremendous rate. While the United States lost .3 percent of their population fighting World War II, Russia lost 18 percent, a third of them civilians. After World War II quantity became even less effective. At that point, atomic bombs and a lot of other high tech weapons and equipment made large armies less useful. Just sacrificing people was no longer as great an advantage. By the end of the 20th century it was obvious to all that an army of professional soldiers was far more effective than one that contained a lot of conscripts, even if armed with lots of tanks and other weapons. Russia agreed with this in theory, but when they invaded Ukraine in 2022, it was clear that Russia had not changed. Despite the heavy personnel and tank losses in Ukraine, Russia decided to reform and rebuild after the war. Russian forces are still in Ukraine but are much diminished. Russia has a comeback plan but no one, including most Russians, know what it is. Other nations have found that just trying to catch up with the American military tech was too expensive and surpassing the U.S. was extremely difficult. China is the latest major power to give it a go and they too have fallen back on a strategy of searching for new ways of fighting to compensate for the American real or apparent tech advantage. Asymmetric warfare is why the Chinese have been so aggressive in the use of Internet based espionage and the concept of Cyber War in general. This is a new technology area and the Chinese were able to steal a lot of the American tech and even leap ahead. This is a big gamble but the Chinese are not getting ready for World War 3, they are just trying to even the odds in case things do go sideways and they find themselves at war with those clever and lavishly equipped Americans. Meanwhile, the United States is being forced to reconsider how it equips and operates its armed forces. The money is not there, it is not going to be there, and prices for new warships and aircraft will only come down if cheaper models are bought or the development process adopts some wartime practices. That is unlikely as long as politicians see the defense budget as a source of campaign funds. This is why the Americans have turned to Asymmetric Warfare and new developments in Ukraine. Drone warfare quickly came to dominate the war and that was unexpected. In wartime the combatants are forced to do all manner of unconventional and unexpected things to survive. Ukraine did drones and redefined the shape of modern warfare. Ukraine also used Asymmetric Warfare, which was less visible than thousands of drones. The drones were part of Asymmetric Warfare tactics Ukraine used against Russia to turn Putins sure thing invasion into a quagmire where Putins hopes and dreams of victory went to die. Donald Trump is pledging to be a pro-crypto president, and the new administrations affinity for digital assets likely wont stop with the commander in chief. Vice President-elect JD Vance and several of Trump's presidential nominees have in the past disclosed or discussed their exposure to cryptocurrencies through asset ownership or business interests, according to federal filings and public statements. They include Robert Kennedy Jr., Howard Lutnick, Pete Hegseth, and Tulsi Gabbard Trumps picks to be Health and Human Services secretary, Commerce secretary, Defense secretary, and director of national intelligence, respectively. Even Trump himself has acknowledged in past filings being an investor in digital assets. He owned between $1 million and $5 million of ethereum (ETH-USD), the worlds second-largest cryptocurrency, according to an August Federal Election Commission disclosure. Last July, while campaigning, Donald Trump appeared onstage at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville, Tenn. REUTERS/Kevin Wurm (REUTERS / Reuters) He and his sons are also backers of World Liberty Financial, a crypto project they have been promoting on social media. In exchange for that promotion, a Trump family-owned limited liability corporation receives 22.5% of the projects crypto token (WLFI-USD) along with 75% of any net revenues after World Liberty earns $30 million. The president and the vice president wont be required under law to divest any of their holdings once in office, even if any potential conflicts of interest surface, although a law passed in 1977 does require them to file an annual disclosure listing their income, assets, and debt. In August, Vance disclosed owning $250,000 to $500,000 worth of bitcoin (BTC-USD); its not known if he still has those holdings. Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance, surrounded by his wife Usha and members of the Trump family, at the Republican National Convention in July. REUTERS/Brian Snyder (REUTERS / Reuters) Things could get more complicated for some of Trumps Cabinet nominees. They will have to divest any of their assets if those assets present potential conflicts of interest central to their duties. A 2022 letter from the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) clarified that this rule also applies to digital assets. "Certainly, you have a lot of people in this administration that are coming in that have interests in crypto," Ian Katz, managing director with Capital Alpha Partners, told Yahoo Finance. "They have an interest in crypto doing well and thriving, even if they have to divest holdings." Kennedy disclosed in June 2023 that he owned between $100,001 and $250,000 worth of bitcoin. As of July 2024, he had $500,000 to $1 million worth of bitcoin and $50,000-$100,000 of Marathon Digital (MARA) stock, according to a OGE disclosure. Last July, while attending a bitcoin conference in Nashville, he told Yahoo Finance, "I put a lot of my personal wealth into it, and not particularly to make money but just because it's so well aligned with my values." Another Trump nominee, Lutnick, has already said that he would divest his interests in Wall Street firm Cantor Fitzgerald, where he is CEO. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., while campaigning as an independent U.S. presidential candidate, spoke at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville, Tenn. REUTERS/Kevin Wurm (REUTERS / Reuters) Cantor has played a crucial role for Tether, the worlds largest stablecoin issuer, by managing the US Treasurys that back its stablecoin (USDT-USD). The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Cantor's relationship with the stablecoin issuer runs even deeper. Earlier this year, according to the Journal, the two companies struck an agreement giving Cantor a 5% ownership in Tether. And after meeting with Lutnick in May, according to the Journal, Tether founder and CFO Giancarlo Devasini told associates Lutnick would seek to stop bills that could harm Tether. If confirmed for his position, Lutnick said he would sell his interests in Cantor and related companies "to comply with US government ethics rules," according to a statement. Howard Lutnick, Trump's nominee to become US Commerce secretary. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (REUTERS / Reuters) Trumps pick for Defense secretary, Hegseth, is another nominee who has acknowledged owning bitcoin. The day after Trump won the election, the 44-year-old Fox News political commentator and former Army National Guard officer admitted during a television broadcast of selling "some pretty high." "But I'm holding a bunch as well, so I feel good," Hegseth added in the segment. It is not known if he still owns any bitcoin, nor is it known whether he would have any involvement in crypto policy decisions if confirmed. It is also not known if Gabbard, Trumps choice to lead the US intelligence services, would have any hand in crypto policymaking. Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth as he departed a meeting on Capitol Hill on Nov. 21. REUTERS/Nathan Howard (REUTERS / Reuters) When she was a member of Congress in Hawaiis 2nd congressional district, she disclosed that she owned between $1,000 and $15,000 of ether and litecoin (LTC-USD) as of December 2017, according to a public filing. Its not known whether she still has any holdings. She spoke at a Miami bitcoin conference in 2023. David Hollerith is a senior reporter for Yahoo Finance covering banking, crypto, and other areas in finance. Click here for in-depth analysis of the latest stock market news and events moving stock prices Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance I thought all bacon is cured, so what gives? Simply Recipes / Adobe Stock Have you ever looked through the bacon selection at the grocery store and noticed that while most of the packages are labeled "cured," there are some that are labeled "uncured?" This has always confused me because Ive been told that all bacon is cured. So what gives? To get to the bottom of this, I spoke with Matthew Moskowitz, butcher at Foster Sundry, one of my favorite butcher shops in Brooklyn, New York. He confirmed that all bacon is cured, and helped me understand why some are labeled as uncured. Here's what I learned. What Is Curing? Curing is the addition of salt to a product to change the chemical properties in a way that preserves it, says Moskowitz. The salt in the brine prevents the growth of certain kinds of bacteria that cause meat to spoil. Curing also imparts flavor to the meat. In addition to salt, often sugar, herbs, or spices are added to the brine for flavor. Both cured and uncured bacon start as slabs of pork belly that are either injected with a wet brinea saltwater solutionor placed into a wet brine. Some bacon is still made using a dry brinea dry salt and seasoning mixturebut wet brines are more common. Smoking meat is also a way of preserving it, and most bacon is smoked over a low temperature after being cured to help further dehydrate the meat, and to impart a nice smoky flavor. Read More: I Asked 6 Chefs the Best Way To Cook BaconThey All Said the Same Thing What Is Cured Bacon? Bacon is most often cured using artificial nitrites, a chemical additive that preserves the meat and gives bacon its pink color. The bacon at Foster Sundry is cured in-house using pink curing salt (it's not the same thing as Himalayan pink salt), a mixture of sodium chloride (table salt) and sodium nitrite. Pink salt is also known as Prague powder, Insta Cure #1, or pink curing salt #1, and it is commonly used to cure meats, like corned beef. Theres a more attractive color on a cured product, says Moskowitz, especially when its been cured with pink salt. Thats a large part of the reason butchers prefer cured bacon. When exposed to air, cured bacon maintains its pink color much longer than uncured bacon, which can quickly turn gray. Read More: The Only Way You Should Store Bacon, According to Hormel Simply Recipes / Getty Images What Is Uncured Bacon? There isnt such a thing as uncured when it comes to bacon. Its misleading, says Moskowitz. Most things that are labeled as uncured have had celery salt added to it. Celery salt, which contains naturally occurring nitrites, cures the bacon. Bacon labeled as uncured was cured without artificial nitrites like pink salt. The USDA rules require uncured bacon to be labeled as no nitrites or nitrates added. Nitrites are naturally occurring both in our bodies as well as in many foods like celery, lettuce, spinach, and beets. Celery salt and sea salt are two natural nitrates often used to cure meat. Do Cured Bacon and Uncured Bacon Taste Different? While cured and uncured bacon use different curing agents, there is hardly a difference in taste between the two. Cured bacon may taste a bit saltier in some instances, says Moskowitz, but it depends on how long the bacon cured. Because uncured bacon has to sit in its brine for longer, in other instances it can taste saltier than some cured bacon, but the difference is negligible. It is more likely that you'll taste the difference in flavor based on what seasonings were added and how it was smoked. In his speech marking his election win, President-elect Donald Trump hailed a new golden age of America and claimed to have pulled off the greatest political movement of all time. The president-elect and his camp celebrated the Republicans political comeback as a triumph against wokeism, liberal immigration and other Biden-era policies. Europes far-right is taking notes. Many of Europes populists are hoping that the return of Trump a transatlantic ally who promotes the same conservative Christian values and shares the same disdain for progressive politics will help to serve their interests back home and further normalize their anti-immigrant, nation-first rhetoric. Congratulations President Trump Never stop, always keep fighting and win elections, Geert Wilders, the populist leader of the Dutch Freedom Party (PVV), wrote on X on November 6. Alternative for Germany (AfD) co-leader Alice Weidel also offered her congratulations and declared that it was not woke Hollywood but rather the working American people that decided the election. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban attends a debate on the presentation of the programme for Hungary's six-month Council Presidency on October 9. - Frederick Florin/AFP/Getty Images For Hungarys Viktor Orban, of the Fidesz party, it was a much needed victory for the world. However, Armida van Rij, a senior research fellow at Chatham House, stresses the importance of not viewing far-right parties in Europe as one homogenous group. Yet, there are common overlapping themes among Europes populists that are also present in Trumps playbook. Van Rij points to the anti-woke, traditional values, anti-green transition and the anti-migration agenda. Europes Green Deal has faced backlash from far-right groups who want to weaken climate legislation or ignore climate action entirely. Similarly, Trump has promised to take a wrecking ball to virtually all of President Joe Bidens efforts to reduce carbon emissions and accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels. Normalizing and amplifying ideas Another common theme between Trumps agenda and his European allies, Van Rij told CNN, is the strong notions of what an American is and looks like, and what a European or a Hungarian or an Italian or a French person is or looks like. This sentiment is clear when looking at the language employed by the far-right; In Austria, provocative anti-migration slogans such as homeland love instead of Moroccan thieves are the norm for the Freedom Party (FPO). In Germany, anti-Islam sentiment has been palpable in AfD posters with the tagline Burkas? We prefer bikinis. Such rhetoric seems shocking to many who read it. But, according to analysis from the Center for European Reform, a London-based thinktank focused on European integration, Trump will strengthen Europes far-right by normalizing and amplifying their ideas. Trump himself has employed controversial rhetoric while vocalizing his hardline views on immigration, calling the US a garbage can for the world. One far-right leader who on the surface looks set to benefit from a Trump presidency is Hungarys long-standing leader, Viktor Orban. He has been among the most prominent of Europes populists voicing his support for Trump and even said he toasted to his election victory with vodka, according to the Agence France-Presse. Russian President Vladimir Putins closest ally in Europe, Orban has been ostracized by the bloc for his introduction of anti-LQBTQ laws, his increasingly authoritarian rule in his home country and his soft approach to Russia. While provoking the ire of his European peers, Orbans relationship with Trump appears positive, with Orban endorsing his presidency, and Trump touting the prime ministers backing. Van Rij believes that with Trump in power in the US, Orban could feel further emboldened to put aside any rule of law concerns, whether thats domestically or within an EU context, reasoning that if Trump can do that, why should anyone follow rule of law. Trump earlier this week had his last remaining federal criminal case, relating to illegally retained classified documents as well as charges related to election subversion, dismissed by a US court. With Trump in the White House, Orban and other populist European leaders who have a softer approach to Russia could feel emboldened in their calls to end the war in Ukraine. In Romania, far-right populist Calin Georgescu who has risen to prominence and is set to face a center-right opposition leader in a presidential election runoff, in 2022 described Putin as a man who loved his country. Trump has been vocal in his goal to end the war in Ukraine as soon as possible, even claiming in July that he could settle the conflict in one day. He has also been accused of cozying up to dictators, including Putin. As we know, any kind of peace agreement on Putins terms would be terrible for Ukraine and terrible for European security, Van Rij stresses. Trumps reelection purely underscores all of that. Warm air of historical righteousness Overall, Van Rij sees a lot of convergence in thinking between Trump and some of Europes populist parties. But, despite the fanfare with which Trumps reelection was met with, surface-level similarities may soon reveal underlying key conflicts of interest. Theres a bit of a contradiction between (populists) feeling like theyve got their man in the White House, versus the actual implications for their countries of his policies, Van Rij believes. She points to economic policy as a prominent example. The president-elects promise of an America First trade policy has the EU bloc on a knife edge. And the fallout could hit populist leaders hoping to gain power in Europe. Frances Marine Le Pen, who leads the populist National Rally (RN) party, offered a more muted response to Trumps election win perhaps an indication of a populist leader showing early signs of concern. Data from Eurostat shows that France was the fourth-largest EU exporter of goods to the United States in 2023. Van Rij says France would therefore be disproportionately hard-hit by Trumps America First trade policy. Further, Le Pen, whose party holds a large number of seats in parliament, might be concerned that any trade tariffs on Europe could impact her campaign for the French presidency. Liana Fix, a fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations, also sees why Le Pen could be concerned about her chances of gaining power. Shipping containers stacked on a dock at the Marseille-Fos Port in Marseille, France, on January 6, 2023. - Jeremy Suykur/Bloomberg via Getty Images Le Pen hopes to get elected if she gets out of her current embezzlement scandal earlier than 2027. That means she would have to deal with Trump - who is not necessarily good at dealing with women leaders in addition to the (economic) aspects, Fix told CNN. Earlier this month, French prosecutors asked for prison time and a five-year ban from politics for Le Pen, potentially derailing her bid to become president in 2027. There is also reason to believe that Orbans celebrations are premature. The Hungarian leaders strong business ties with Chinas Xi Jinping could prove to be a major sticking point. Hungary has successfully attracted Chinese foreign investment to the country, and the close relationship is already causing concern among some Republicans. China is seen as arch enemy number one by some in the Republican party, and Trump shares that view, Van Rij says. Thats an interesting contradiction and something Orban will have to face and reckon with at some point. I think the US will try to force Orban in one direction or the other. Orban wont like that because he likes being able to place different bets. Similarly, Fix sees Orban running into difficulties with trying to court Trump and Xi at the same time. Fix says that while a Trump win definitely emboldens European populists and inoculates them against criticism from Brussels, we must not forget that European populists are divided amongst each other - Le Pen does not get along with (Italian Prime Minister Giorgia) Meloni, for example, and no one gets along with the AfD. The diversity of Europes populists will be the greatest challenge to benefiting from the warm air of historical righteousness coming from DC, Fix believes. Of course, all populists parties share the migration topic, and the anti-left rhetoric. But on economic policy? Big divergences between Trump and Le Pen. Foreign policy? Meloni has been a Ukraine supporter. Trump not. The closer you zoom in, the more nuanced it becomes. CNNs Ronald Brownstein contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com After recent U.S. presidential elections, a predictable spike of disgruntled Americans vow they will move to Canada, going so far as googling what it takes to move north or even hiring an immigration attorney to take the initial steps towards securing a visa. Andrew Henderson advises them to reconsider. Henderson, known online as the Nomad Capitalist, says these Americans are lacking creativity. Sure, as another primarily English-speaking country that abuts the U.S., Canada seems like a comfortable backup planbut it doesn't exactly have open borders. Though many Americans may like to think immigration laws and procedures don't apply to them, moving to Canada is not as simple as finding an apartment on Craigslist and jumping on the next planeor trainto points north. Henderson would like people sincerely interested in moving abroad to look at some other options. "Why go from one frying pan to the other?" Henderson tells Fortune. "Why are we going from one place to exactly the same place, when there's 252 different places we can choose?" Henderson, who runs a popular YouTube channel and is a controversial figure in the Digital Nomad community, has for more than a decade helped high-net worth clients primarily from the U.S. gain dual citizenship or residencies in countries around the world. He advises them on international tax laws, visa-free travel, and more. He works with his own network of experts across the globe to provide the most up-to-date information on golden visa and passport opportunities, much of which, he says, can't be easily found elsewhere. Americans, he says, often come to him interested in Australia, Canada, and Englandfamiliar places for America's wealthiest, but not Henderson's favorite destinations. For one, taxes are often higher, while salaries are lower. Housing costs in London and Vancouverthe wealthy, used to their creature comforts, aren't likely to be interested in moving to smaller, less expensive townscan top the already astronomical ones in the U.S.'s biggest cities. And without a job, a spouse who is a citizen, or a hefty sum to invest, Americans can't just up and move to these countries. "Americans have this idea that they're kind of uniquely special. And in reality, it's the other way around," he says. "The American somehow thinks, 'Why don't they want my American money?' Yeah, they don't. There's a lot of people with money these days." Henderson's country evaluations focus heavily on their tax regimes and cost of livingthe lower, the better. Lately, for example, he has been enthusiastic about Oman, the Middle Eastern country at the base of the Arabian Peninsula. Sure, you give up living in a democracy and your freedom of speech is curtailed, but Henderson says it has other perks. "Not everyone's going to go there," he says. But "for a family that wants safety and security and more conservative values, but very open minded, good weather, good taxesthat's a place that could be on the radar for half the price of Dubai." If Oman feels a little too foreign, a more practical pick for many Americans, he says, could be Mexico. It's less expensive than Canada and it's typically easier to move to. (Americans have taken notice: They've been flocking to Mexico City over the past few years.) Henderson, who renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2017, has helped clients move to around 33 countries, and he has collected data on around 100. He charges an initial planning fee of $28,000; clients will also pay all of the fees and make the investments necessary to secure the visas or citizenship in a new country. That can cost hundreds of thousands to even millions of dollars, depending on the country. For most of his clients, moving somewhere new and renouncing their U.S. citizenship isn't the goal; instead, he primarily helps with residency and investor visas. And most of the people who swear they are going to move away from the U.S. because of politicswhether it be the election of Joe Biden or Donald Trumpdon't follow through on it. It takes more than a new president to uproot one's entire life. In most cases, Henderson's clients are instead self-made business people who want a Plan B or better ease of movement. Gaining a passport in a country that is part of the European Union, for example, means visa-free travel to any other member state. But instead of sticking to well-known entities like France or Switzerland, Henderson encourages people growing tired of the U.S. and committed to the expat life to think outside the box. Where would life actually be different? "I think the idea that every country is going to function like the U.S. is really stupid," he says. "The fundamental issue is people are looking at the wrong places to go because they somehow don't want to change." Hiring a firm or immigration attorney to suss out different options can help; fees vary across the board. Henderson suggests those interested in living abroad pick a few places and commit to living between them for a year, at least initially. Test out the waters, have an adventure. "My point of view, there's a geographical solution to every problem," he says. "I think it's a better life that we're selling people." This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Newly released 911 audio revealed the horrifying moment a 7-year-old Ohio girl begged her armed father not to kill her during a standoff with cops, telling him, I dont want to go to heaven today. Oaklynn Alexander was kidnapped by her non-custodial father, Charles Ryan Alexander, 43, from her grandmothers house in Jefferson County in eastern Ohio on Nov. 11. An Amber Alert was issued, leading to a police pursuit as he fled with his young daughter, the Medina County Sheriffs Office said. 911 audio revealed the horrifying moment Oaklynn Alexander, 7, begged her father not to shoot her during a standoff with cops. Instagram / Ashley Matthews Police eventually deflated Alexanders tires and forced him into a combative standoff with cops in a parking lot. Chilling audio of Alexander on 911 reveals the father, who was armed, threatening to kill his daughter and himself, screaming I will shoot us both, stand back! Little Oaklynn can be heard begging in the background, repeatedly telling her father, Please dont. With a gun in his hand, Alexander also threatened the girls mother, telling her, I wanna talk to her mother. If youre listening, Ashley, you shouldve called. The audio then muffles before Oaklynn asks her father if they are both going to heaven. Oaklynn Alexander, 7, can be heard in the 911 audio telling her dad she doesnt want to go to heaven. gofundme How do you know were going to heaven? she asks and her father replies, Well both go? Oaklynn presses her father further, asking, I am going to heaven? As she realizes what that means she quickly yells, No! I dont want to go to heaven today, Oaklynn can be heard pleading. Her father then tells her, I didnt want it to happen either, I just wanted to talk to your mother. Charles Alexander, 43, did not have custody of his daughter. Medina County Sheriff's Office One of the 911 dispatchers interrupts, telling Alexander, I know you didnt want to hurt [your daughter] and you didnt want it to be like this. Lets not do anything we cant undo, the 911 dispatcher tells Alexander. Oaklynn can be heard asking again and again if shes going to heaven today in the background, at one point crying out I dont want to! The girls father told 911 operators he just wanted to talk to her mother, Ashley. Instagram / Ashley Matthews Oaklynn Alexander was kidnapped by her non-custodial father on Nov. 11. Instagram / Ashley Matthews Another dispatcher tries to talk Alexander down, telling him, Just keep talking to her if you dont want her to be scared. Lets not do anything that is going to make it even more unfair to her, cause you love her, I know you do, the operator says. At some point during the call, police opened fire and killed Charles Alexander. Police fired multiple shots at Alexander and pronounced him dead at the scene. Instagram / Ashley Matthews Oaklynn was safely returned to her family after watching officers kill her father. A family friend set up a GoFundMe to go toward caring for Oaklynn during her mothers time off from work, mental health expenses and any additional costs for her future. Nearly $8,000 had been raised for the girls family as of Sunday. Hunter Biden Lawyers for scandal-scarred first son Hunter Biden have issued a new public diatribe whining he is the alleged victim of political prosecutions an apparent last-ditch push for his dad to pardon him. Abbe Lowell, one of Hunters top lawyers, dusted off his well-worn claims that the two criminal cases against the 54-year-old disgraced son faced significant outside pressure as Republicans sought to harm his father, President Biden, politically. This is a seven-year saga propelled by an unrelenting political desire to use a son to hurt his father, Lowell said in a statement about the public missive, which was first obtained by the Washington Post. Top Hunter Biden lawyer Abbe Lowell has previously suggested that the prosecution of the first son was clouded by politics and just made the claim again. David Buchan/New York Post It is a wild and terrifying story that serves as a stark warning of what is to come as some of the same Republicans who targeted Hunter prepare to resume power and have stated their intention to use the governments vast power to pursue their perceived enemies, Lowell claimed. First son Hunter Bidens legal team released a 52-page public diatribe alleging that he is the victim of a political prosecution in an apparent thinly veiled attempt to land an 11th-hour pardon from his dad. Rod Lamkey CNP for NY Post Hunter pleaded guilty in September to nine counts pertaining to bilking Americans of $1.4 million in taxes. despite his defense teams adamance that he was politically prosecuted. At the time, the presiding judge noted Hunter could face up to 17 years behind bars as well as up to $1.3 million in fines. Additionally, a jury found Hunter guilty of three counts in June related to possession of a firearm while addicted to illegal drugs. Hunter is slated to face sentencing for the gun case Dec. 12 and for the tax case Dec. 16. President Biden and the White House have repeatedly ruled out both a pardon and clemency for his troubled son, whom he spent time with in Nantucket for Thanksgiving. Weve been asked that question multiple times and our answer stands which is no, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters after President-elect Donald Trumps victory. President Biden has repeatedly ruled out the possibility of pardoning his wayward son. REUTERS Hunters defense teams new public memo, titled The political prosecutions of Hunter Biden, is 52 pages long and was billed by Lowell as the complete and reprehensible history of the political persecution of Hunter Biden. A system that is supposed to protect against abuses failed to do so and was corrupted by political leaders in this country, the memo argues. As a result, Hunter faces significant sentences for felonies and misdemeanors far beyond precedents of others committing less serious offenses or where civil resolutions or consent judgments are normally sought all on the basis of his mistakes, made while in the throes of serious drug addiction. Hunter (left) chats with another one of his lawyers, Mark Geragos, during one of his many court hearings. AP It includes a timeline of how Trumps confidants hunted for dirt on Hunter and rehashed the plea deal that imploded in court during the summer of 2023 when a judge exposed daylight between prosecutors and the defense over whether the first soon would get broad immunity. At the time, a cacophony of Republicans had initially panned that agreement as a sweetheart plea deal and publicly accused prosecutors of letting him off the hook. Regarding Hunters gun case, his defense claimed one of the charges was typically only used against individuals who had a felony conviction or had multiple guns. Prosecutors had an extraordinary array of evidence against the troubled first son thanks to his laptop and his book, Beautiful Things, which laid out the granular details of his crack addiction at the time. Prosecutors played clips from Hunters audiobook in the courtroom during proceedings on the gun case against him. Hunters defense team also stressed that he fully paid his past-due taxes with interest and penalties in 2021 over two years before any charges were brought. He did so with help from his so-called sugar brother pal Kevin Morris. The first son has claimed he pleaded guilty to those charges for the sake of not subjecting my family to more pain, more invasions of privacy and needless embarrassment. The impact that the extraordinary and improper events described have had on Hunter and his family is obvious, his lawyers added in the new memo. How The Post covered the story of Hunter pleading guilty to charges in his tax case. csuarez However, the effect that partisan politics can have on what is supposed to be an independent prosecutorial decision-making process extends beyond Hunters case, the missive says. Politics outsize role reveals a new page in the playbook of politicizing investigations and prosecutions. Ironically, many of President Bidens allies had brushed aside Trumps similar accusations that he was the victim of political prosecutions by the justice system. Despite Hunter suggesting Trumps supporters are a fascist minority and likening the president-elect to a dictator, the incoming Republican commander in chief has kept the door open to pardoning him. I wouldnt take it off the books, Trump previously told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt. Theres no question about it, hes been a bad boy, he said of Hunter. All you had to do is see the laptop from hell. But I happen to think its very bad for our country. They dont call it the Great White North for nothing. Two Canadian men were busted after smuggling over 1,100 pounds of cocaine worth over $40 million across the border into Illinois last week. Vanshpreet Singh, 27, and Manpreet Singh, 36, were found with 1,146 pounds of cocaine inside their Volvo semi-truck when police stopped them for an inspection on Interstate 80 in Geneseo, about 150 miles west of Chicago, Illinois State Police said. Illinois state police found two Canadian men were smuggling over 1,100 pounds of cocaine over the border. Illinois State Police The arrests come days after President-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose new 25% tariffs on Canada unless the country cracked down on illegal immigration and drug smuggling. On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders, Trump declared. The president-elect noted that the tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular, Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country! Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met Trump on Friday in Mar-a-Lago and had what he described as an excellent conversation. Police found numerous indicators of criminal activity leading to the inspection Friday, which yielded a massive amount of cocaine, worth well over $40 million, police said. The men, both from Ontario, were each charged with Class X felony counts of cocaine trafficking, possession of cocaine with the intent to deliver and possession of cocaine. The bust comes days after President-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose new 25% tariffs on Canada. Illinois state police A photo of the seizure shared by police shows a gigantic stack of individually packaged bricks of the illicit substance. Both men were booked at the Henry County Jail and are awaiting their first court appearance. US customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border, according to the Associated Press. Additionally, Border Patrol officers made 56,530 arrests at the Mexican border in October alone, but only 23,721 at the Canadian border between October 2023 and September 2024. Even still, Canadian officials say they are willing to make investments in border security. With Post wires. A picture taken during a tour organised by the Israeli Army shows an Israeli truck transporting aid destined for the Gaza Strip at a drop-off area near the Kerem Shalom crossing, on November 28, 2024. (Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images) At least 200 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on northern Gaza Saturday, according to local health officials, as the United Nations said it would pause aid deliveries through the enclaves main crossing after more of its trucks were stolen. The developments underscore the worsening humanitarian situation in the enclave, where tens of thousands of people have been killed by the Israeli military, and chronic hunger threatens the remaining civilian population. On Friday, two children and a woman were crushed to death while attempting to buy food from a bakery in central Gaza. The deadly strikes also come with an uneasy truce underway between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said would allow his forces to focus on Gaza. Speaking to CNN on Sunday, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital, said that five buildings housing more than 200 people were struck in the Tal Al Zaatar and Beit Lahiya areas of northern Gaza. They were calling for help, and anyone who tried to assist was bombed. Unfortunately, the cries for help have disappeared; they were killed, Dr. Abu Safiya said. The strike in Tel Al Zaatar left more than 100 people under the rubble, with only one person pulled out. This scene has become a daily occurrence, and no one is held accountable; no one can stop the killing of innocent people. The spokesperson for Gazas Civil Defense said that more than 40 people belonging to the Al-Araj family were killed in a single strike on a building in the Tel Al Zaatar neighborhood. CNN has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces for further comment on the target of the strikes and the measures taken to mitigate civilian casualties. According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, at least 44,429 people have been killed and more than 105,000 injured in the enclave since the war began last year. The figure is thought to be an underestimate, as much of northern Gaza is inaccessible and many casualties never arrive at a hospital to be counted. UN pauses aid deliveries The deadly strikes coincided with the theft of trucks carrying food and other supplies into the besieged strip, prompting the UN agency for Palestinian refugees to halt aid deliveries through the main crossing point between Israel and Gaza. The difficult decision to stop deliveries through Kerem Shalom comes at a time when hunger is rapidly deepening, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini warned Sunday. The decision was made after a few food trucks were taken on the route Saturday, he wrote on X. A source involved in transferring aid inside Gaza told CNN that a further five trucks loaded with flour were stolen near the crossing Sunday. The road out of this crossing has not been safe for months, Lazzarini noted in his post, referring to an incident on November 16 when almost 100 aid trucks were stolen by armed gangs in what UNRWA described as one of the worst incidents of its kind. The humanitarian operation in Gaza had become unnecessarily impossible, he added, citing hurdles from Israeli authorities and political decisions to restrict the amounts of aid as compounding factors in the breakdown of law and order in the enclave. Lazzarini stressed that Israel, as the occupying power, was responsible for the protection of aid workers and supplies. Israeli authorities must ensure aid flows into Gaza safely and must refrain from attacks on humanitarian workers, he said. COGAT, the Israeli agency responsible for approving aid into Gaza, said that dozens of other humanitarian organizations continued delivering supplies to people in the enclave. Last week, over 1,000 trucks carrying humanitarian aid were collected from the various crossings and distributed throughout the Gaza Strip, the agency added in a statement shared with CNN. We will continue to work with the international community to increase the amount of aid making its way into Gaza, through the Kerem Shalom Crossing as well as the other four crossings between Israel and Gaza. CNNs Abeer Salman contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Great Living Cincinnatians are recognized for their business and civic attainment on a local, state, national or international level; leadership; awareness of the needs of others, and distinctive accomplishments that have brought favorable attention to their community, institution or organization. The 2025 honorees are: Jim Anderson, Dolores Lindsay, Chuck Scheper and Geraldine "Ginger" B. Warner. Jim Anderson was named a 2025 Great Living Cincinnatian by Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. One hundred and three. That is how many messages are compiled in a black binder. All sent on the occasion of Jim Andersons retirement announcement on April 6, 2009, all preserved in individual plastic covers. A sample: "It will be difficult, if not impossible, to imagine a leader with more commitment to our entrepreneurial endeavor." "I have passed you several times on my way to my floor and you have always had a smile and a hello for me. I really appreciate that." "Congratulations and welcome to the Perspectives Club. You should be quite proud." "I just wanted you to know that you have made a difference in my life and I appreciate it." When Anderson returned from service in Vietnam in 1968, a captain and decorated member of the 1st Infantry Division with three bronze stars, nothing directly foretold his future as an attorney or his celebrated tenure as CEO of Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center. But the experience was foundational. As Ive reflected on (my service) over the years, Ive really learned a lot, Anderson said. Being occasionally under fire and always under the threat of indiscriminate violence settles you down. You go through a period like that and what Ive found, in later life, in the practice of law and being in adversarial, high intensity, high pressure situations, Im pretty much always calm. I attribute that in part to having experienced a years exposure to random violence and survived it. Born in Chicago in 1941, Anderson moved to Cincinnati with his family when he was 5. Dedicated attention from his sixth grade teacher, Miss Niesch, was a turning point in his life. When I took the Childrens job and it was broadly announced, she wrote me a note and said nice things, Anderson said. I wrote her a note back, thanking her for the turnaround that she orchestrated. He found a career role model in his high school girlfriends attorney father, eschewing the engineer pipeline many classmates were taking. I applied on a lark to Yale, and got in, Anderson said. The culture of the Yale environment was extraordinary and just dramatically different from anything Id lived in. After graduating in 1963, he decided to broaden his horizons to the south, attending Vanderbilt Law School in Tennessee. That was a time when civil rights activism was prominent, and I wanted to get to know the South better, so I thought Id go to a southern law school, said Anderson. Good thing he did. He met his future wife, Marge, at a party in March 1965, and then asked her out to the law school dance. We spent the whole time talking outside about all of lifes fundamental realities, what our aspirations were, Anderson said. I remember coming back from that evening and I told my buddy who was driving that I was going to marry her. They married the following January. Anderson graduated in 1966 and began Army active duty in the fall and then was sent to Vietnam from 1967 to 1968. After his return, their first of four children was born, he joined Taft. Law firm life opened an unlimited number of doors and you could choose which ones you wanted to pursue, which ones quickened your pulse, Anderson said. He joined the board of the Cincinnati Stock Exchange (later National Stock Exchange) in the 1970s. He helped develop an electronic trading system, simultaneously sparking an interest in technology and entrepreneurship. Anderson became Chairman of the National Stock Exchange in 2007. He has held many board positions and served as the 2006 campaign chair for United Way of Greater Cincinnati. Jobs after Taft included president of U.S. operations at Xomox Corporation and a role with Emerson. But it was a board position with Cincinnati Childrens that would lead to his most prominent chapter. On the board since 1979, Anderson became chair in 1992. He led the development of a strategic vision for the hospitals success and led a search committee to replace outgoing CEO Dr. Bill Schubert. With no standout candidate in sight, and Andersons vision lying in wait, the answer was clear to everyone but him. They met without me and decided I should take the job, Anderson said. I did not expect that. After consulting with Marge, and encouragement from friend, mentor and fellow committee member Geoff Place, Anderson accepted. One of the themes that was important to me was to raise the level of excellence at Childrens of all the infrastructure equal to where the doctors were and raise the level of performance substantially, Anderson said. Drawing on his layperson experience, he focused on systems and improvements. The Every Child Succeeds program debuted in 1999. While the Ohio Childrens Hospital Association chair, he got buy-in for a collective improvement of safety in childrens hospitals statewide which became national Solutions for Patient Safety. Childrens was No. 10 among U. S. News and World Report Best Childrens Hospitals in 1997 and rose to No. 1 in 2023. The James M. Anderson Center for Health Systems Excellence was created in 2010, a catalyst for continued improvement of childrens health. He is the director and former chair of CincyTech USA and many other boards. Im uneasy with the status quo, Anderson said. I believe everything is improvable and so I want to enable people to be their best and do their best with the resources they have available and I want to supply them with resources to do even better. 3 questions with Jim Anderson What advice do you have for the next generation of Cincinnatians/Covingtonians? "Be bold, pursue excellence, start before you are ready but above all start. Cincinnati is a great place to build a worlds-best enterprise, whether its family, industry or service." Do you have a motto or creed by which you live your life? "From my father 'A job worth doing is worth doing well.' Who has been an inspirational figure in your life? "Many, but Geoff Place, a retired P&G Executive, stands out." This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Jim Anderson named 2025 Great Living Cincinnatian At least 13 people died and tens of thousands evacuated in one of the worst floods in decades to batter southern Thailand and northern Malaysia. The floods have impacted nearly 534,000 households in Thailand, with the death toll climbing to nine from four reported on Friday and leaving thousands in 200 temporary shelters that have been set up in affected areas. The Chana district of Songkhla province suffered the worst floods in 50 years, with video showing people being carried out to trucks from their homes inundated by a torrent of flood water. Another video footage showed rescuers in Sateng Nok District of Yala province carrying a baby out from the roof of a home hit by the floods on Saturday. A woman walks in a submerged restaurant during flooding in Tumpat, state of Kelantan, Malaysia (EPA) In Malaysia, at least 122,000 people have been forced out of their homes as floods in several northern states worsened over the weekend. The death toll climbed to four in the most affected parts of Kelantan, Terengganu and Sarawak. The Kelantan state accounted for 63 per cent of all the evacuaions, according to the National Disaster Management Agency. "My area has been flooded since Wednesday. The water has already reached my house corridor and is just two inches away from coming inside," Pasir Puteh resident and school janitor Zamrah Majid, 59, told AFP. "Luckily, I moved my two cars to a higher ground before the water level rose." Volunteers distribute food supplies to flood-affected residents at Mueang district in Thailands southern province of Narathiwat (AFP via Getty Images) Thailand's Metereological Department warned several areas in the south can expect more heavy rain and more flash floods in affected areas. Malaysias deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said last week that floods this year were expected to the worse than 2014, when more than 250,000 people were displaced and 21 killed. Nearly 83,000 personnel and thousands of rescue boats, four-wheel vehicles and life jackets as well as 31 helicopters are ready, he said. Floods are common in parts of Malaysia during the annual monsoon season, which starts in November and could last until March. The Met Department said the country can expect between five and seven episodes of heavy rainfall during this period. December 1, 2024: The September 17, 2024, Israeli exploding pager attack on Hezbollah was one of several Israeli schemes to disable, debilitate and destroy their enemies. Israeli officials revealed some of the details of how the pager operation was planned. The use of custom designed and manufactured pagers with explosives in their batteries was one of many Israeli efforts secretly developed over the last decade. The pager tactic was developed to take down Iran-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Leader Hassan Nasrallah was critical to the success of Hezbollah. It was believed that if he was killed, the whole organization would fall apart. Although on paper Hezbollah had clear lines of authority, and a defined order-of-succession, if you take a close look at Nasrallah's henchmen, you realize that most of them are pretty much the ordinary run of uninspiring Arab thugs. As none of them came near Nasrallah in either brains or charisma, they would most likely begin squabbling among themselves if Nasrallah got killed. Iran sent lots of advisers and technical experts to Lebanon, but none of these could expect to lead Hezbollah, largely because all Lebanese are touchy about foreign influence. Although decades of Syrian occupation favored Hezbollah, and thus Shias in general, it was still foreign occupation. And it's no secret that Syria considers large parts of eastern Lebanon as territory that should be part of Syria. Iran doesn't like depending so much on one person, but they didn't have much choice. Nasrallah, like most Arab strongmen, saw the elimination of any likely successors as an excellent method for avoiding getting deposed. In 2024 the importance of Nasrallah and Hezbollah ceased to be a problem. He was killed along with other key Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. Israel used exploding pagers and portable radios, plus airstrikes, to accomplish this. The most important non-Hezbollah target was the elusive Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas supreme leader and one of its founders. Sinwar was moving about in Gaza when he and some aides were confronted by some Israeli soldiers. There was a brief gunbattle and the Israelis discovered that one of the dead men was Sinwar. Within a day, DNA tests confirmed that Sinwar was dead. His death was a catastrophe for Hamas ,which had recently suffered the loss of several leaders. Sinwar had spent two years planning and organizing the October 2023 Hamas offensive in Gaza that left over a thousand Israeli dead. This was the largest number of Israelis ever killed in one day, let alone one action. With Sinwar gone, several lesser Hamas leaders are feuding with each other to determine who will replace their departed leader. You cant replace someone like Sinwar and his aides who are finding that out as their succession disputes leave Hamas paralyzed and starting to fall apart. Now virtually leaderless, Palestinians are unsure of what the future will bring. Most Palestinians live in or immediately adjacent to Israel. Two million of Israels 9.8 million citizens are Palestinians. Adjacent to Israel are 6.2 million Palestinians who are not Israeli citizens. While Israel contains 21,000 square kilometers of territory, the Gaza Strip contains 365 square kilometers of territory and 2.1 million Palestinians. The West Bank contains 5,655 square kilometers and 4.1 million Palestinians. Gaza has had many rulers over the last century. A century ago Gaza was administered by British officials and occupied by British troops. After 1945 Gaza was ruled by Egyptian officials. In 1956 a war between several Arab states and Israel was won by the Israelis, who also captured Gaza but then withdrew. The 1967 Arab Israeli war saw Gaza once more captured by the Israelis from the Egyptians and administered by them until 2005 when, after an 11 year process, Israeli forces withdrew and a local Palestinian government, initially Al Fatah, which also ruled the West Bank, took over Gaza. In 2006 Hamas, a radical Palestinian group that had taken refuge in Egypt, won Palestinian elections for a united Palestinian government. The West Bank Palestinian leaders refused to accept Hamas rule and there was fighting between Fatah and Hamas factions. Israel did not want this violence to spread into Israel and blockaded Gaza, only letting people in or out who were unarmed and had a good reason, like medical care or visiting relatives the Israeli knew about. Hamas continued to recruit Palestinian men to join their force. Hamas armed these new recruits with weapons from Iran, via Egyptian smugglers who could get the guns into Gaza. Hamas completely took over in Gaza in 2007 while Fatah remained in control of the West Bank. By 2023 Hamas forces in Gaza had grown to about 30,000 men, though there were also other rival armed Palestinian and non-Palestinian terrorist groups, and there had been several mini wars between Hamas and Israel since 2007. In October 2023, 3,000 of the armed Hamas fighters, and an equal number of Gaza civilians and non-Hamas terrorists, attacked Israel. About half of the 3,000 attacking Hamas fighters were killed during this offensive. The IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) lost 376 troops while 767 civilians died as well. As of November, 97 hostages remain in Hamas captivity, or are dead. Israel has to take Hamass word for it that any of these hostages are still alive. Surviving Hamas gunmen stayed in Gaza because they failed to advance. In Gaza Hamas waged a guerilla war against the IDF. Hamas also took 251 Israeli civilians and soldiers captive and has for the last year tried to bargain with Israel to get thousands of imprisoned Palestinians freed in return for their Israeli captives. So far Israel is not willing to release thousands of convicted Hamas and other Palestinian killers to get 251 soldiers and civilians back. Instead IDF forces have been searching for the hostages and killing Hamas gunmen who are guarding them. Hamas has been much less of a problem in the West Bank where Fatah security forces, with some assistance from the IDF, have kept most Hamas fighters out. Hamas leaders, especially Ismail Haniyeh, have lived in the Persian Gulf state of Qatar for several years and control $11 billion dollars donated to Hamas by various western and charitable groups and Arab governments as well several hundred million dollars a year from Iran. In theory this money should be used to make life easier, or at least bearable, for Palestinians living in Gaza. That does not happen because Hamas steals the money as well as foreign aid from Western countries. Israel sends food aid, accompanied by a military escort that fights armed Hamas members seeking to steal the aid. As of late-2024, this remains the situation in Gaza and the West Bank. JERUSALEM The mother of Israeli American hostage Edan Alexander told NBC News she was both shaken and relieved to see her son in a Hamas-issued propaganda video. To get this video its a huge relief for me to see that hes still strong. It was amazing, Yael Alexander said in a video call Saturday, hours after the video, captioned time is running out, was posted on the Telegram channel of Hamas military wing, the Qassam Brigades. Edan grew up in New Jersey and had volunteered to serve with Israels military. He was stationed outside Gaza when he was among around 250 people taken hostage during Hamas terror attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, that also saw 1,200 people killed, according to Israeli tallies. Around 100 people remain in captivity, although a third are believed to be dead. The 20-year-old, who appears under duress in the Hamas video, calls on President-elect Donald Trump to use his power to negotiate for the freedom of those who remain in captivity in Gaza. Edan, who at points can be seen covering his face with his hands and crying, adds that he does not want to end up like fellow American Israeli Hersh Goldberg Polin, who was killed while being held by Hamas in August. To see him speaking, crying, just to see him like, Im still shaking, Yael Alexander said. He cried a lot in this video. It was very tough to see Edan like this. It was real. It was tough, she added. Yael Alexander said she spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shortly after the video was released. He told me that hes with us, hes embracing us, she said, adding that he told her that he was going to do whatever he can to secure a deal to free the remaining hostages. Yael Alexander. Netanyahus office said in a statement after the call that he feels very much the anguish of what Edan Alexander and the hostages were going through and assured them that Israel was working with determination and in every way to return them home, along with all the hostages who are in the hands of the enemy. But while a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah militant group appeared to be holding, there have been few signs of progress in talks to secure a release of the remaining hostages or a cessation of fighting with Hamas in Gaza, where more than 44,000 have been killed in 14 months of war, according to local health officials. Hamas leaders held talks with Egyptian security officials to explore ways to reach a deal with Israel that could secure the release of hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners. The visit was the first since the United States announced on Wednesday it would revive efforts in collaboration with Qatar, Egypt and Turkey to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza. Hamas is seeking an agreement that would end the war, while Netanyahu has said the war will only end when Hamas is eradicated. Calling the video a cruel reminder of Hamass terror against citizens of multiple countries, Sean Savett, a spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, said in a statement that it had been in touch with the family. Echoing what her son said, Yael Alexander urged Trump to act now and work with President Joe Biden to secure the release of the hostages. This is not an issue for Democrats or Republicans, she said. This is an issue for everyone to act. This is human life. Its seven Americans. They need to come back home. Hala Gorani reported from Jerusalem and Freddie Clayton from London. BUSAN, South Korea Countries negotiating a global treaty to curb plastic pollution failed to reach an agreement late Sunday, with more than 100 nations seeking to cap production while a handful of oil producers are willing to target plastic waste. The fifth meeting of the U.N. Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) intended to yield a legally binding global accord was meant to be the final one. However, countries remained far apart on the basic scope of a treaty and could agree only to postpone key decisions and resume talks, dubbed INC 5.2, to a later date. "It is clear that there is still persisting divergence," said Inger Andersen, executive director of the U.N. Environment Program. The most divisive issues included capping plastic production, managing plastic products and chemicals of concern, and financing to help developing countries implement the deal. An option proposed by Panama, backed by more than 100 countries, would have created a path for a global plastic production reduction target, while another proposal did not include production caps. Protests from climate activists failed to prompt a pact to curb plastic production at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) in Busan, South Korea. The fault lines were apparent in a revised document released Sunday by the meeting's chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso of Ecuador, a report that may form the basis of an accord but remained riddled with options on the most sensitive issues. "A treaty that ... only relies on voluntary measures would not be acceptable," said Juliet Kabera, director general of Rwanda's Environment Management Authority. "It is time we take it seriously and negotiate a treaty that is fit for purpose and not built to fail." Oil producers gum up negotiations A small number of oil-pumping nations, such as Saudi Arabia, have strongly opposed efforts to reduce plastic production and have tried to use procedural tactics to delay negotiations. "There was never any consensus," said Saudi Arabian delegate Abdulrahman Al Gwaiz. "There are a couple of articles that somehow seem to make it (into the document) despite our continued insistence that they are not within the scope." China, the United States, India, South Korea and Saudi Arabia were the top five primary polymer-producing nations in 2023, according to data provider Eunomia. Had such divisions been overcome, the treaty would have been one of the most significant deals relating to environmental protection since the 2015 Paris Agreement. Climate summit not much more successful The postponement comes just days after the turbulent conclusion of the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. At Baku, countries set a new global target for mobilizing $300 billion annually in climate finance, a deal deemed woefully insufficient by small island states and many developing countries. The climate talks were also slowed by procedural maneuvers by Saudi Arabia who objected to the inclusion of language that reaffirmed a previous commitment to transition away from fossil fuels. Some negotiators said a few countries held the proceedings hostage, avoiding compromises needed by using the U.N.'s consensus process. Senegal's National Delegate Cheikh Ndiaye Sylla called it "a big mistake" to exclude voting during the entire negotiations, an agreement made last year during the second round of talks in Paris. "This outcome underscores the complexity of addressing plastic pollution on a global scale and the need for further deliberations to achieve an effective, inclusive and workable treaty," said Chris Jahn, council secretary of the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA), representing plastic makers. Microplastics are popping up all over, including our bodies. More specifically, in mothers' breast milk. Microplastics everywhere, with no curtailment in sight "There is little assurance that the next INC will succeed where INC-5 did not," environmental group GAIA said. Plastic production is on track to triple by 2050, and microplastics have been found in the air, fresh produce and even human breast milk. More than 3,200 chemicals of concern have been found in plastics, according to a 2023 U.N. Environment Program report, which said women and children were particularly susceptible to their toxicity. Despite the postponement, several negotiators expressed urgency to get back into talks. "Every day of delay is a day against humanity. Postponing negotiations does not postpone the crisis," Panama's delegation head, Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, said Sunday. "When we reconvene, the stakes will be higher." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UN plastics conference fails to yield treaty to cut production By Nidal al-Mughrabi, Adam Makary and Menna AlaaElDin CAIRO (Reuters) - Two aid workers were killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on Saturday, with Israel saying it had killed a militant who took part in the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel and who it said was employed by a U.S.-based charity. The first was a World Central Kitchen member, who was hit in a vehicle in Khan Younis in Southern Gaza. The Israeli military said that he had taken part in the attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel and was under surveillance but did not offer any evidence. Reuters could not independently verify whether he took part in the attack last year. The family of the man, Ahed Azmi Qdeih, said the Israeli allegations were false and meant to justify his unlawful killing. They said he was an engineer who dedicated his life to charitable work. World Central Kitchen confirmed the airstrike and said it had no knowledge about an employee involved in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack. "We are heartbroken to share that a vehicle carrying World Central Kitchen colleagues was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza," it said in a statement posted on X. "World Central Kitchen had no knowledge that any individual in the vehicle had alleged ties to the October 7th Hamas attack." The charity group said it was pausing operations in Gaza, adding that it was working with incomplete information and was urgently seeking more details. The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that three employees of the charity were killed in the strike, with medics saying a total of five people were killed. Hamas did not immediately comment. Later in the day, international aid agency Save the Children also said in a statement that a 39-year-old staffer, who it identified as Ahmad Faisal Isleem Al-Qadi, was killed in an airstrike in Khan Younis. It was unclear if the two men were killed in the same strike. Israel has not immediately commented on Save the Children's statement. "There are not strong enough words to express the grief and outrage we feel at the loss of Ahmad in an Israeli airstrike. He was a valued member of our team and loved by all who met him," Inger Ashing, the Save the Children chief executive, said in the statement. In another attack in Khan Younis, medics said at least nine Palestinians were killed when an Israeli airstrike hit a car near a crowd receiving flour, a vehicle that was used by security personnel tasked with overseeing aid deliveries into Gaza. The Israeli military says that it does not target civilians and accuses Hamas of operating from civilian facilities and using Gaza's population as human shields, which the group denies. At least 32 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes across the enclave overnight and into Saturday, Gaza medics said, including seven killed in a strike on a house in central Gaza City, according to Gaza officials. NEW CEASEFIRE EFFORTS Meanwhile leaders of Hamas were expected to arrive in Cairo on Saturday for ceasefire talks with Egyptian officials, days after Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon, two officials of the group told Reuters. The visit is the first since the United States announced earlier this week it would revive efforts in collaboration with Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza. The Hamas delegation is expected to meet with Egyptian security officials to explore ways to reach a ceasefire deal with Israel that could secure the release of hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners. Progress before now has been limited in a series of on-off talks over months. Hamas is seeking an agreement that would end the war while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the war will end only when Hamas is eradicated. Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 44,382 people and displaced nearly all of the enclave's population at least once, Gaza officials say. Vast swathes of Gaza lie in ruins. The conflict was triggered more than 13 months ago when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israeli communities, killing about 1,200 people and abducting over 250 hostages, according to Israeli officials. (Reporting by Nidal Al Mughrabi, Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, Adam Makary, Menna Alaa and Hatem Maher in Cairo and Emily Rose and Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem; Additional reporting by Lucia Mutikani in Washington; Editing by Toby Chopra, Frances Kerry and Diane Craft) By Nidal al-Mughrabi CAIRO (Reuters) -Hamas leaders held talks with Egyptian security officials on Sunday in a fresh push for a ceasefire in the Gaza war, two Hamas sources said, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set to hold security talks on the matter, two Israeli officials said. The Hamas visit to Cairo was the first since the United States announced on Wednesday it would revive efforts in collaboration with Qatar, Egypt and Turkey to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza, that would include a hostage deal. White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan said he thought the chances of a ceasefire and hostage deal in the Palestinian territory were now more likely. "(Hamas) are isolated. Hezbollah is no longer fighting with them, and their backers in Iran and elsewhere are preoccupied with other conflicts," he told CNN on Sunday. "So I think we may have a chance to make progress, but I'm not going to predict exactly when it will happen ... we've come so close so many times and not gotten across the finish line." Through several rounds of negotiations over the past year, Hamas has insisted that any deal should conclude with Israel ending the war, while Israel says the war will end when Hamas no longer rules Gaza or poses a threat to Israelis. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Sunday that there was some indication of progress toward a hostage deal but that Israel's conditions for ending the war have not changed. "We will know in the coming days. From our perspective, the government of Israel, there is a desire to advance in this direction," he said at a Israel Hayom newspaper conference. Fighting raged on meanwhile in the enclave and the head of the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) said it had to halt aid deliveries through one crossing a day after armed gangs inside Gaza seized food from a truck convoy. "This difficult decision comes at a time hunger is rapidly deepening," UNRWA's Philippe Lazzarini said in a post on X. The halting of aid deliveries through the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing came almost two weeks after a large shipment was hijacked on the same route. UNRWA's Lazzarini said it was Israel's responsibility "as occupying power" to protect aid workers and supplies, and that the humanitarian operation had become "unnecessarily impossible" due to what he said were Israeli restrictions. COGAT, the Israeli military department responsible for aid transfers, denies it is hindering humanitarian relief into Gaza, saying there is no limit on supplies for civilians and blaming delays on the United Nations, which it says is inefficient. FIGHTING The conflict started when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israeli communities on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and abducting more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli officials. Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 44,400 people and displaced nearly all of the enclave's population, Gaza officials say. Vast swathes of the enclave lie in ruins. On Sunday, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 20 people, medics said, as Israeli forces kept up bombardments across the enclave and blew up houses on its northern edge. In the central Gaza camp of Nuseirat, an Israeli airstrike killed six people in a house, and another attack killed three in a home in Gaza City, medics said. Two children were killed when a missile hit a tent encampment in Khan Younis in the south, while four other people were killed in an airstrike in Rafah, near the border with Egypt, medics told Reuters. Residents said the military blew up clusters of houses in the northern Gaza areas of Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun, where Israeli forces have operated since October. Palestinians say Israel's operations on the northern edge of the enclave are part of a plan to clear people out through forced evacuations and bombardments to create a buffer zone. The Israeli military denies this and says it is fighting Hamas. The military says it has killed hundreds of Hamas militants in that part of Gaza as it fights to stop the faction regrouping. It has also lost around 30 soldiers there in combat over the past two months, a relatively high death toll. Hamas does not provide details on its own fatalities. Two Palestinian detainees from Gaza have died in Israeli custody, prisoner advocacy groups said on Sunday. There was no immediate comment by Israeli authorities. (Reporting and writing by Nidal al-MughrabiAdditional reporting by Maayan Lubell and David LjunggrenEditing by Andrew Heavens and Frances Kerry) Image of video footage of Texas Department of Public Safety trooper interviews with unaccompanied minors arriving in Texas. The children, between ages 2-17, claim to arrive without their parents. Texas Department of Public Safety (The Center Square) Texas Department of Public Safety officers working through Gov. Greg Abbotts border security mission, Operation Lone Star, continue to apprehend Special Interest Aliens and unaccompanied minors illegally entering Texas from Mexico between ports of entry. In one recently apprehended group, a two-year-old girl from El Salvador tells a trooper her age and that she arrived alone. He asks her in Spanish, Are you by yourself? She nods. When asked how old she was, she held up two fingers. When asked, Did you come with your parents? she shook her head. When asked where she was going, she replied, With my mom and dad. When asked, Where are they? she replied, In the United States. She was holding a small piece of paper with a phone number and name on it. She was one of 60 unaccompanied minors among a group of 211 foreign nationals who illegally crossed the border in Maverick County. The childrens ages ranged between 2 and 17. In several videos posted by DPS Lt. Chris Olivarez, dozens of children interviewed claim to be between the ages of 4 and 17. They said they are from Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. They also said they were going to California, Carolina, Florida, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Orlando, New York, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and to the states. This is a stark example of the precarious journey these children make from their home country and how criminal organizations traffic these children across the southern border and further into the interior, Olivarez said. Regardless of political views, it is unacceptable for any child to be exposed to dangerous criminal trafficking networks. With a record number of unaccompanied children and hundreds of thousands missing, there is no one ensuring the safety and security of these children except for the men and women who are on the frontlines daily. Despite the criticism over the years, the reality is that many children are exploited and trafficked, never to be heard from again. Abbott lauded OLS officers at recent Thanksgiving events at the border, saying they are saving lives. DPS officers have rescued more than 900 unaccompanied children since OLS began in early 2021. DPS officers also apprehended six SIAs from Mali and Angola who were in the group in Maverick County. SIAs are noncitizens who, based on an analysis of travel patterns, are known or evaluated to possibly have a nexus to terrorism who potentially poses a national security risk to the United States, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security explains. Having an SIA designation does not necessarily mean the individual is a terrorist, but their travel pattern indicates a possible nexus to nefarious activity (including terrorism) and, at a minimum, provides indicators that necessitate heightened screening and further investigation, DHS says. Texas DPS has been sounding the alarm about an increased number of arrests of SIAs, The Center Square has reported. Recent arrests are primarily of men from countries of foreign concern, including Iran, a U.S. State Department designated State Sponsor of Terrorism. Other SIAs DPS has apprehended are from Egypt, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Mali, and Turkey, The Center Square has reported. President Joe Biden recently extended executive orders declaring multiple national emergencies, citing national security threats related to Iran, ISIS, Syria, Afghanistan, the DRC, among others, The Center Square reported. Meanwhile, under Biden, Border Patrol agents identified an exponential increase in SIAs with significant ties to terrorism a retired sector chief told Congress, saying he was instructed not to publicize their arrests. No administration has ever published the number of SIA arrests. In September, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green, R-Georgia, introduced a bill requiring the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to publish every month the number of arrested SIAs and their country of origin, The Center Square reported. Protesters rallied in Georgias capital for a fourth straight night on Sunday and there were signs that opposition was spreading across the country to the governments decision to suspend talks on joining the European Union. The country of 3.7 million people has seen months of rising tension between the ruling Georgian Dream party and opponents who accuse it of pursuing increasingly authoritarian, anti-Western and pro-Russian policies. The crisis has deepened since Thursdays announcement that the government would freeze EU talks for four years, with thousands of pro-EU demonstrators facing off against police armed with tear gas and water cannon. Protesters gathered again in Tbilisi on Sunday night on the central Rustaveli Avenue. Beyond the capital, Georgian news agency Interpress said demonstrators had blocked an access road into the countrys main commercial port in the Black Sea city of Poti. Georgian media reported protests in at least eight cities and towns. Opposition TV channel Formula showed footage of people in Khashuri, a town of 20,000 in central Georgia, throwing eggs at the local Georgian Dream office and tearing down the partys flag. The EU and the United States are alarmed by what they see as Georgias shift away from a pro-Western path and back towards Russias orbit. Georgian Dream says it is acting to defend the countrys sovereignty against outside interference. Dark abyss Russia is following developments closely. Security official Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president, said an attempted revolution was taking place and wrote on Telegram that Georgia was moving rapidly along the Ukrainian path, into the dark abyss. Usually this sort of thing ends very badly. The Kremlin itself has yet to comment on the latest events in Georgia, but it has long accused the West of fomenting revolutions in post-Soviet countries that Moscow still regards as part of its sphere of influence. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze dismissed criticism by the United States, which has condemned the use of excessive force against demonstrators. Despite the heaviest systematic violence applied yesterday by the violent groups and their foreign instructors, the police acted at a higher standard than the American and European ones and successfully protected the state from another attempt to violate the constitutional order, he told a press conference, without providing evidence of foreign involvement. Kobakhidze also shrugged off Washingtons announcement on Saturday that it was suspending a strategic partnership with Georgia. He said this was a temporary event, and Georgia would talk to the new administration of President-elect Donald Trump when it takes office in January. Demonstrators react as law enforcement officers use a water cannon during a protest against the new government's decision to suspend the European Union accession talks and refuse budgetary grants until 2028, in Tbilisi, Georgia, on December 1, 2024. - Irakli Gedenidze/Reuters Deepening the constitutional crisis in the country, outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili a critic of the government and a strong advocate of Georgian membership of the EU said on Saturday that she would refuse to step down when her term ends later this month. Zourabichvili said she would stay in office because the new parliament chosen in October in elections that the opposition says were rigged was illegitimate and had no authority to name her successor. Kobakhidze said he understood Zourabichvilis emotional state. But of course on December 29 she will have to leave her residence and surrender this building to a legitimately elected president, he said. Foreign agents Hundreds of diplomats and civil servants have signed open letters protesting that the suspension of EU talks is unlawful because the goal of joining the bloc is enshrined in Georgias constitution. Kobakhidze confirmed that the ambassador to Washington was among a number of senior diplomats who had resigned. Georgias foreign ministry said in a statement that foreign states were trying to interfere in the functioning of the institutions of a sovereign state, and that this was unacceptable. For much of the period since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, Georgia has leaned strongly towards the West and tried to loosen the influence of Russia, to which it lost a brief war in 2008. It has been promised eventual NATO membership, and became an official candidate for EU entry last year. But domestic opponents and Western governments have become increasingly concerned that Georgian Dream is intent despite its denials on abandoning that course. In June, it enacted a law obliging NGOs to register as foreign agents if they received more than 20% of their funding from abroad. In September, parliament approved a law curbing LGBT rights. Protesters light a fire at the base of a makeshift barricade erected in a street in Tbilisi during demonstrations early on December 1, 2024. - Giorgi Arjevanidze/AFP/Getty Images The government says it is defending the countrys sovereignty and trying to prevent it from suffering the fate of Ukraine by being dragged into a new war with Russia. The EUs foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who took office on Sunday, voiced solidarity with the demonstrators. We stand with the Georgian people and their choice for a European future, she posted on X. We condemn the violence against protesters & regret signals from ruling party not to pursue Georgias path to EU and democratic backsliding of the country. This will have direct consequences from EU side. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com It was totally nuts! A rabies expert called New York authorities insane for killing PNut the Squirrel saying the state could have figured out if the animal was dangerous without chopping his head off. Infectious disease specialist Dr. Edward R. Rensimer told The Post the odds were virtually zero that PNut and his pal Fred the Raccoon had rabies despite state agents seizing the animals in October and then putting them down to test for the disease. PNut was put euthanized by New York state, supposedly to test for rabies, in October AP There have been no squirrel to human rabies transmission ever documented in this country, said Rensimer, a Texas infectious disease specialist who has been studying rabies for decades. I cant imagine, frankly, what their thinking was, if they knew anything about this area, he added. The social-media famous pet squirrel and Fred a young raccoon kit being nursed back to strength were euthanized by the Department of Environmental Conservation in October just hours after they were seized from the upstate home of caretaker Mark Longo, who runs an animal sanctuary on his property. DEC officials claimed the animals were taken because Longo was housing them without a permit, and that a rabies test became necessary after PNut allegedly bit an agent on the thumb through two pairs of protective gloves but the states own rabies information supports Rensimers assessment that the risk of infection was nearly non-existent. Some animals almost never get rabies, the New York Department of Health states on its rabies fact sheet specifically naming small rodents such as squirrels as only ever catching it under rare circumstances. And while raccoons are generally agreed to be more prevalent carriers, the actual number of confirmed cases appears to be extremely low, according to data collected by New York state. There were just 35 lab-confirmed cases of rabies in raccoons in the 17 years since records were first kept in 2007, the data show. Rabies tests released by the state showed that PNut never had rabies something his owners knew X / @Squirrel_Dad12 In Chemung County, where PNut and Fred were killed, there was just one confirmed rabies case in a raccoon during all that time. And the state has no available records of rabies ever being found in a squirrel. The [Center for Disease Control] doesnt even consider squirrel bites reportable, Rensimer said. Even if officials were afraid Fred who was left on Longos doorstep months ago in dire need of care might have had rabies and transferred it to PNut, Rensimer said the way rabies symptoms show made killing the animals as a first resort a ridiculous response. Fred, the baby raccoon, was also killed by the state peanut_the_squirrel12/Instagram While the exact timeline for rabies infections in raccoons and squirrels is not entirely known, Rensimer said similarly sized animals like cats, dogs, and ferrets will almost always show symptoms within 10 days. As Fred had been in Longos care for well more than 10 days, and PNut had been living with him for seven years facts readily available due to Longos widely viewed social media there was ample evidence to suggest the animals were rabies-free. If a raccoon came to them as a frail little animal months ago, the chances it would still be alive with rabies is pretty slim, Rensimer said, adding that quarantining the animals for 10 days to see if symptoms arose would have been a much more rational and common approach than decapitating them to perform a rabies test on their brains. PNuts death prompted his caretaker, Mark Longo, to begin a lawsuit against New York state X / Squirrel_Dad12 And even if the DEC agent was especially worried about rabies which is typically fatal in humans once it reaches the brain Rensimer said a bite to the hand from an infected animal would take about 45 days or longer to transmit to the brain. Its not like he gets bitten on a Friday and hes going to be dead on Sunday, Rensimer said. They had time to think this over. They could say, You know what, theres no emergency here. Lets think this through. A reasonable thing would have been to say to the guy, How would you like to get rabies immunizations? Why would you kill the animal to study it to make sure it doesnt have rabies?The odds it has rabies is virtually zero. PNut commanded internet fame before his killing Instagram / peanut_the_squirrel12 Such a shot of rabies immunization after the bite would have completely neutralized any risk of infection, Rensimer said adding that it seems extremely odd DEC agents tasked with handling animals wouldnt be up to date on their vaccinations in the first place. Its insane. Its common sense. You dont need to be a rabies expert to know that, he said. The whole thing smells badly. They had options, and they had time, and they didnt exercise either one of them. Test results later showed that neither PNut nor Fred had rabies. The DEC did not respond to request for comment on the agencys employee immunization practices, and have still not provided any documentation that PNut bit anyone during the raid. But all of the DECs explanations about squirrel bites and rabies fears were cast into doubt after The Post reported officials were plotting to euthanize PNut and Fred at least seven days before the supposed bite and PNuts caretaker has now filed claim to sue the state to find some answers. The alleged threat of rabies generally involves unjustified fear mongering overall, and it provides an unwarranted excuse to kill raccoons and other animals, that is really not based in reality, Longos attorney, Nora Constance Marino, told The Post. Its horrible and is outrageous, frankly. Trained DEC agents, department of health officials, or animal control officers, however, should know better. The fact that they didnt, and went forward with executing these animals in a matter of hours, speaks volumes. Dr. Rensimer said something seemed amiss about the DECs behavior. They obviously didnt break a sweat and trying to gather information to preserve these animals, he said. It sounds more to me like they had an agenda, and so they just created a fact basis around their agenda rather than doing the right thing. Starbucks has opened a new coffee shop in South Korea, where customers can sip their lattes and view a quiet North Korean mountain village in the distance. On Friday (November 28), the American chain opened its newest location in an observatory at Aegibong Peace Ecopark near the city of Gimpo about 31 miles northwest of Seoul, South Korea, and less than a mile from North Korean territory. However, customers must pass a military checkpoint before entering the observatory, which overlooks North Koreas Songaksan mountain, according to The Associated Press. Officials from the South Korean city of Gimpo explained that opening the Starbucks was part of efforts to develop its border facilities as a tourist destination, saying the coffee shop symbolizes robust security on the Korean Peninsula through the presence of this iconic capitalist brand. The observatory is one of the main attractions at Aegibong park, which was built on a hill that was a fierce battle site during the Korean War. The website describes the park as a symbolic place representing peace and harmony. Visitors at the Starbucks can not only catch a glimpse of North Korea, but also the Jogang River that runs between the observatory and the border town of Kaepung in the North. Starbucks opens new location at Aegibong Peace Ecopark near the city of Gimpo, less than a mile from North Korean territory (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) I wish I could share this tasty coffee with the people in North Korea, Baek Hea-soon, a 48-year-old Gimpo resident, told Reuters at the Starbucks opening. As of 2024, there are nearly 2,000 Starbucks coffee shops across South Korea, according to SCK Company, which operates Starbucks in the country through a licensing deal. Gimpo and other South Korean border cities like Paju have been trying to develop their border sites as tourist assets, even as tensions grow between the war-divided Koreas. Customers must pass a military checkpoint before entering the observatory (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been trying to raise pressure on South Korea and threatening to attack his rival with nuclear weapons if provoked. North Korea has also engaged in psychological and electronic warfare against South Korea, such as flying trash-laden balloons into the South and disrupting GPS signals from border areas near the Souths biggest airport. Kaephung county is believed to be one of the possible sites from where North Korea has launched the thousands of balloons over several months. South Koreas military said Friday that the North flew dozens more balloons overnight and that some trash and leaflets landed around the capital Seoul and nearby Gyeonggi province. Additional reporting from AP A woman who snuck onto a Delta Air Lines flight from New York City to Paris without a boarding pass last week was removed from a return flight Saturday after creating a disturbance prior to takeoff. CBS News has confirmed that the stowaway created a disruption Saturday on Delta Flight No. 265, bound from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport. She was removed by French law enforcement, causing a delay of more than two hours before the flight's eventual departure. She remained in French custody, CBS News learned, and was still in Paris as of Tuesday. A person familiar with the matter told CBS News Tuesday that the woman was basically "in limbo" at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. French authorities had escorted her to the plane but were not traveling with her. She became disruptive while on board and police were called to remove her. Although her name has not been released by authorities, two people familiar with the matter identified the woman to CBS News Saturday as 57-year-old Svetlana Dali. The woman has a driver's license showing she is a Philadelphia resident. She is in the U.S. on a green card, according to a person familiar who did not immediately know what her native country was. The French Ministry of the Interior identified her as a Russian national. The situation initially unfolded on Nov. 26, when the woman boarded Delta Flight No. 265 from JFK Airport to Paris without a boarding pass. The flight was not sold out, and she was discovered when a flight attendant became concerned that the woman was making frequent and lengthy visits to various lavatories aboard the Boeing 767-400ER, according to a source familiar with the incident. French police came aboard the plane after it landed and took her into custody. At this time, U.S. federal authorities do not plan to charge her with a federal crime, one person familiar with the matter told CBS News. She may, however, face state criminal charges in New York, possibly a state count of criminal trespassing. Passenger Rob Jackson, who shot video of French authorities coming onto the plane after it landed in Paris, told CBS News he noticed the flight attendants behaving oddly as the flight was descending. "I heard them saying, like, we have a passenger who we think was hiding in the lavatory during takeoff," Jackson said. "She does not have a seat. She did not have a boarding pass. And basically, she's a stowaway." A Transportation Security Administration source told CBS News that the woman went through an advanced imaging technology body scanner at a checkpoint in JFK Airport after somehow appearing to evade the document and ID check portion of the TSA process. Her bags were also scanned for prohibited items before she went to the gate and snuck onto the flight, the source said. On Tuesday, the TSA confirmed to CBS News that airport security video showed the woman using a group of passengers to bypass the ID check in JFK Airport and enter the TSA checkpoint. The video showed her using the group to slip past a TSA officer while they were getting their own IDs checked, the TSA said. She then went through a body scanner, the TSA said, but her bag was flagged during screening because it contained two bottles of water. She discarded the water and continued to the gate. The video has been reviewed by law enforcement and the TSA. A TSA spokesperson previously confirmed in a statement that the woman "without a boarding pass was physically screened without any prohibited items" and then "bypassed two identity verification and boarding status stations and boarded the aircraft." After getting through TSA security, it's unclear how exactly the woman boarded the plane without showing a boarding pass or passport to Delta staff. French law enforcement and the TSA are separately investigating. The woman could be subject to a civil penalty or fine for bypassing the document check process. Senate Republicans hedge on Pete Hegseth support after latest controversy Extended interview: Selena Gomez Inside France's impending no-confidence vote December 1, 2024: Anti-satellite technology, or ASAT, has been the goal of the United States, Russia and China for decades. No one has ever been able to get ASAT to work, but efforts continued anyway. Meanwhile Maxar Technologies remains the largest supplier of satellite photos and other imagery to commercial and government customers. Maxar prospered because it got its data from OSINT or open source suppliers whose costs are declining as technology advances. Maxar wants to hold onto its dominant and profitable position in the industry. There is growing competition in this business sector. At the same time SpaceX announced a new subsidiary called Starshield that used enhanced versions of Starlink technology plus larger earth-imaging satellites with sensors to provide whatever sensing capabilities defense customers want. This includes photos, real-time video and all manner of data which satellite sensors can collect. Potential users include the NSA/National Security Agency, CIA and American allies. While Starlink has achieved market dominance in space-based communications for personal and commercial users, that largely consists of high-speed Internet data links and inexpensive ground links that can be stationary or moving in a vehicle or ship. Starshield plans to do that same with classified data. Starshield satellites are designed to accept many types of capabilities provided by user-supplied modules, including those loaded with secret government equipment that are designed to use the Starshield interface. Starshield data and control links use much more robust encryption. Starshield will use larger SpaceX SLVs/satellite launch vehicles to put new Starshield satellites in orbit. Starshield is organized to take business away from commercial firms like Blacksky and Maxtar that already have billions of dollars in government contracts to provide persistent imaging, including real-time video, of specific areas on earth. The United States provides these specialized imaging services to Ukraine and that provides far superior satellite data on Russian forces than what the Russians can provide to their own troops. Starlink has developed a generation 2 (gen2) of its current Starlink satellite ahead of schedule. Because gen2 is larger and five times heavier than the current satellite, it requires a larger SLV. That is also being developed and is on schedule. The gen2 satellites are described as nearly ten times more capable than the gen1 Starlink satellites. Gen2 are designed to work with gen1 satellites and gradually replace them. Gen1 birds are designed to last for about seven years. At that point the satellite gradually loses altitude until it burns up reentering the atmosphere. The true capabilities of gen2 wont be known until some of them are in orbit. Gen1 satellites proved more effective than expected but the list of suggested improvements indicated that a larger gen2 satellite would be the way to go. Eventually this will mean fewer Starlink satellites in orbit but there will still be thousands of them. The main function of Starlink is to provide cheaper, more powerful and globally available access to the Internet by those who can pay to use the Starlink network, including armed forces and governments which are friendly to Starlink. The threat nations include China, Russia and several smaller countries like Iran, North Korea and Cuba that are hostile to Internet access they cannot control. China estimates that Starlink can increase the speed and throughput of military communications over a hundred times what it is now. China is simultaneously envious of and hostile to Starlink. China is not a Starlink customer but would like to be one day. The values of commercial space imagery became obvious to a lot of people because of what happened in Ukraine during 2022. Ukraine, more than Google Earth in 2005, demonstrated the usefulness of commercial satellite photos. Google Earth was made possible by a U.S. government decision to rely more on commercial communications satellites because it was too expensive to put up enough government satellites to deal with the demand during conflicts, especially once UAVs like Predator entered service using high-resolution digital cameras that streamed their video back to the U.S. and later to local American military users. Commercial communications satellites led the military in terms of technology because they served so many commercial users and did not have to comply with government secrecy regulations. That led to allowing commercial photo satellites and sharing some of the older government tech and giving a lot of business to DigitalGlobe in the late 1990s. In 2005 Google used DigitalGlobe services to run Google Earth. Other American and European firms followed and in 2017 DigitalGlobe merged with SSL to create Maxar, the largest and best equipped commercial satellite photo provider in the world. Maxar is so profitable that in 2023 a $6.4 billion deal created two divisions. One is for imagery sales while the other develops new hardware. Sales of billions of dollars a year comes from clients like Google, news organizations and governments needing a steady and reliable supply of satellite photos. Over half that revenue comes from government contracts, Commercial photo satellite firms continue to have an impact on government users. In 2021 the U.S. NRO/National Reconnaissance Office, which supervises the design, construction and operation of photo and other satellite imagery space satellites needed by the U.S., decided to embrace their commercial competitors. NRO wanted to take advantage of growing competition and technical advances in the commercial imagery satellite industry. This became particularly important since 2017, when the NRO took over the NGAs/National Geospatial Intelligence Agency job of finding and purchasing commercial satellite imagery that the NRO satellites were unable to obtain because of a shortage of satellites, or because some commercial satellites were able to obtain forms of imagery that NRO satellites were not yet capable of. This new commercial satellite imagery procurement program was open to all major operators of commercial satellites who want to supply the Department of Defense with their products on a timely basis. Until 2017 NRO depended on two of the largest commercial satellite operators for this, but those two firms recently merged to form Maxar, eliminating the competition that kept prices low and quality high. That merger was not a problem, because there were also many new commercial satellite operators eagerly seeking to get a share of the market with new, innovative, and less expensive imagery. To take advantage of this, the NRO had to go about procurement more effectively in order to get the most for their imagery budget. The new NRO system is largely automated to allow many vendors to list what they can do and at what cost. Commercial imagery providers will provide special services to large customers and the NRO has become one of the largest. The only problem with NRO procurement was that there was a lot of bureaucracy involved that slowed down the process. Military users often found out about new satellite imagery developments from the trade publications and websites that report on new types of imagery or services available. NRO was criticized for delays in obtaining these new capabilities. NRO has long been criticized for this chronic failure to get military users what they could obtain as private users and do it in a timely manner. Government regulations and the NGAs protection of its imagery providing services require the military to obtain expensive and specialized commercial imagery services via the NGA, a government agency with the money and authority to procure these new, and often expensive, commercial imagery products. The military wanted this cumbersome and expensive procedure to improve once all imagery purchasing authority was concentrated in the NRO. Changes like the automated selection process should have speeded things up but so far it was hard to tell. Once the vendor for a new imagery product the military wants is selected, the bureaucrats still must sign off on purchase orders and ensure prompt delivery to the military users. What got all these reforms going was the NGA admitted in 2016 something everyone already suspected that it obtained most of its satellite photos from commercial satellites. This was no secret inside the military. Thats because since the late 1990s, when commercial photo satellites began to show up, military users were quick to buy and use this unclassified data. The commercial photo satellites gradually caught up with their military counterparts in most capabilities. Military photo satellites first appeared in the 1960s and their images were meant for intelligence agencies, not combat commanders in the field. These military photo satellites were long the leader in the tech that delivered higher resolution photos and other forms of imagery. The military got most of the imagery but more and more went to other government agencies, like the NGA and government departments that supplied unclassified imagery to businesses. There was an unmet demand from commercial firms and military units who could use this imagery if they received it in time. Commercial firms created a demand for unclassified satellite photos and these eventually appeared, but you had to pay for them. The U.S. military then had no cash or authority to buy commercial satellite imagery. What changed all this was the 2005 appearance of Google Earth. This easy-to-use web-based app revolutionized military intelligence. The military didn't like to admit it at first. Google Earth was putting so much satellite photography at the disposal of so many people, in such an easy-to-use fashion that anyone could take advantage of new opportunities. In addition to the target audience of travelers, one could explore the world from anywhere. This revolutionized operations for the military professionals as well as terrorists, other criminals and academics. Military users quickly appreciated what a splendid new tool they had with freely available unclassified commercial satellite imagery. To the U.S. Department of Defense, Google Earth's major problem was not its low cost and ease-of-use, but the way it showcased the shortcomings of the NGA/NRO, which was responsible for taking the satellite photos, spiffing them up as needed, and getting them to the troops. Trouble was, the government images still weren't getting to the troops that needed it, when they needed it. This was made obvious when Google Earth showed up, and demonstrated how you can get satellite images to anyone, when they need them and do it with minimal hassle. The NRO, NGA and other government agencies liked to keep all their satellite and aerial imagery in classified archives, just in case they contained some secrets a potential enemy could use. Google Earth did great damage to this attitude. Changing minds in the military intelligence community isnt easy. Restricted access to satellite photos is an old problem. Since the 1980s, when lots more satellite images became available, often on very short notice, generals, and other officers with access to satellite imagery have been complaining about the difficulty they had in getting their hands on this material or permission to pass it on to the officers and troops in combat zones that need it most. Hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent on photo satellites since the 1960s, and the troops always seem to get leftovers, if anything, and usually too late to be of any use. At the same time the NRO regularly conned Congress out of more money so they could build more satellites, and neat systems that would get the satellite imagery to the troops. The goods never arrived, or never arrived in time. Generals gave angry testimony before Congress about this non-performance after the 1991 Kuwait War. The satellite people seemed contrite and said they would make it right, if given the money to do it. They got the money and the troops still got nothing. Then the troops got access to Google Earth in 2005 and saw firsthand what they have been missing. To make matters worse, the software Google Earth used to get the job done was first developed for the NGA. But the way the NGA operated, you had to worry about security considerations and all manner of bureaucratic details before you could deploy a useful tool so they really couldnt use the Google interface on a wide scale. Mention that the troops are fighting a war and the NGA will point out that you still must deal with security and keeping the paperwork straight. Soon after 2005 the troops pointed out that Google Earth provided what was needed and Congress took notice. However, NGA bureaucrats were close at hand and the angry troops were far away. Progress was still slow. But at least the troops had Google Earth. Unfortunately, so did the enemy. Nevertheless, over the next decade the army was able to go directly to commercial satellite photo providers who, every year, were putting up more capable photo satellites. Many of the photos from these new satellites were higher resolution and not available on Google Earth. But the army could afford to buy them, as could other commercial customers and give the troops instant access because all these commercial satellite photos were unclassified. It has long been suggested that the government just rely on commercial photo satellites for their low resolution that is able to detect vehicles and buildings photo satellite needs. But the military and intelligence agencies often need more photo satellite time than the commercial companies can provide. The government also wants to ensure secrets are kept by having complete control over a pair of commercial grade satellites. The troops and military planners continue to be enthusiastic users of Google Earth, which annoys the people running the military satellite program. But for many military satellite needs, Google Earth does the job. The two military commercial-grade photo satellites eliminated the potential for information leaks about what the military is buying images of, and provide much more capacity to do low resolution jobs. Another bonus of Google Earth was the appearance of crowdsourcing. This is what happens when a large number of people scrutinize open-source satellite photos and find useful military information before the professionals do. The people who run the military satellite system are increasingly concerned with wartime needs, and that is what brought out the request for spare GPS and communications satellites. These are relatively cheap, compared to the spy satellites, and most needed if a future war spreads to the orbital zone and puts some American birds out of action. There is also growing concern about the debris in orbit and the increasing risk of satellites being damaged, or destroyed, by these small fragments of older satellites and the rockets that put them there. The smaller, cheaper and lighter, but very capable commercial satellites became the model for a military program to have some ballistic missiles, including those in submarines, equipped with one or more of these smaller satellites for use in wartime when most of the military and commercial satellites have been disabled. This is something the NRO could get behind because they knew that the commercial satellites had taken the lead in satellite design innovation. There were few special military applications left that commercial satellites had not usurped. In late 2022 Russia declared that commercial space satellite-based services might be considered a legitimate target because Starlink provides Ukrainian forces with superior communications than what Russian troops have, while Maxar commercial photo satellites have documented Russian failures in Ukraine in embarrassing detail. What the Russians dont discuss openly is the fact that Russian EW/Electronic Warfare equipment and ASAT systems have both proved incapable of shutting down Starlink and Maxar electronically with EW or physically with ASATs. Empty threats is all Russia has left in its efforts to eliminate the threat Starlink and Maxar have been to the Russian military effort in Ukraine. Until the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian EW capabilities were considered formidable. This was because Russian Cold War EW capabilities were superior to many Western systems and, after the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, a smaller Russia continued developing new EW gear. After encountering some of this in Syria and Eastern Ukraine after 2015, it appeared that the post-cold war Russian EW equipment was not as effective as previously suspected. That was because in Syria both Israel and Turkey found the new Russian EW dangerous, but vulnerable to countermeasure. The Ukrainians came to the same conclusion. Ukraine was, even when part of the Soviet Union before 1991, a source of impressive new military tech. That did not change after 1991, when Ukrainian was more successful than Russian in converting technical talents from military to commercial applications. All this meant that Russian efforts to disrupt communication with and control of Starlink and Maxar satellites, while theoretically possible, did not work for long because those two American firms had ample technical resources and capabilities for countering EW attacks. Physical attacks on satellites turned out to be a more theoretical than practical threat. This was especially the case with Starlink, which used thousands of small satellites to provide its services. Maxar uses hundreds rather than thousands of satellites but is also testing use of smaller satellites and more of them. This is a trend in satellite tech and Starlink was the first large network to deploy and enter service. Russian and Chinese ASAT tech has not yet caught up. Jake Sullivan Outgoing National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan denied reports that the Biden administration is considering returning nuclear weapons to Ukraine, after the country relinquished its stockpile three decades ago after the fall of the Soviet Union. Last month, the New York Times reported that several anonymous officials floated the idea of Ukraine becoming a nuclear power again as a deterrent against its Russian invaders. That is not under consideration. No, Sullivan told ABC News This Week on Sunday when asked about the report. What we are doing is surging various conventional capacities to Ukraine so that they can effectively defend themselves and take the fight to the Russians, not nuclear capability. In 1994, shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union, Ukraine signed the Budapest Memorandum agreeing to cede its nuclear weapons which were part of the Soviets broader arsenal in exchange for security guarantees from Russia, the US and the United Kingdom. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan claimed that the administration is not considering arming Ukraine with nukes. AFP via Getty Images Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants Crimea and the Donbas back. AFP via Getty Images Notably, Ukraine was not believed to have had the codes needed to operate the nuclear weapons. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has groused over how his country has fared since the Budapest Memorandum, now that the Kremlin has invaded. Which of these major nuclear powers suffered? All of them? No. Ukraine [did], Zelensky bemoaned in October at a European Council summit. Who gave up nuclear weapons? All of them? No. Ukraine. Who is fighting today? Ukraine, he went on. Either Ukraine will have nuclear weapons and that will be our protection or we should have some sort of alliance. Apart from NATO, today we do not know any effective alliances. Sullivan stressed that President Biden is racing to do what he can for Ukraine before departing the White House and President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Trump, 78, has made clear his intention of ending the bloody war unfolding in Ukraine, though hes been short on specifics about how he plans to achieve that objective. Trump has named retired Army Gen. Keith Kellogg as his special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg has been supportive of Ukraine in the past and recently defended President Bidens decision to authorize Kyiv to fire Army Tactical Missile System (ATCMS) deep into Russian territory, a move that rattled some of Trumps allies. When asked about speculation that a second Trump administration would broker a deal in which Ukraine cedes territory to Russia, Sullivan was coy. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently hailed Donald Trump as intelligent and experienced and capable of coming up with a way to end the war. POOL/AFP via Getty Images The key thing, from my perspective, is that Ukraine determine[s] its destiny, and its destiny not be imposed by outside powers, including the United States, Sullivan said. The key thing for this year was to try to give Ukraine as many tools as possible so that they could go into that negotiation and feel they could achieve the outcome that they would like to see, he added. As far as territory or security or other elements, Im not going to speak to that publicly. Zelensky had previously demanded a return to Ukraines 1991 borders, meaning that it would regain control of Crimea and the Donbas region. However, recently, he seemingly softened his tune. If we want to stop the hot stage of the war, we should take under [the] NATO umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control, Zelensky told Sky News Friday, per a translation. Thats what we need to do fast, and then Ukraine can get back the other part of its territory diplomatically. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Donald Trump before the Nov. 5 election. ZUMAPRESS.com Vice President-elect JD Vance previously dangled a peace plan involving a special demilitarized zone between the two warring nations and Ukraine committing that it wont join NATO. Sullivan, whose wife is Rep.-elect Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), also briefly touched on the Israel-Hamas war and surmised that if Israel reaches a ceasefire, they can push for a broader diplomatic initiative in the region. We are determined to try to move rapidly, to get those hostages home, get a ceasefire in place, and then move on to this larger deal that we would like to see consummated as soon as possible, including, if possible, while President Biden is still president, he said. President-elect Donald Trump announced he will nominate Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration. In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump said that Chronister -- who has served the Tampa, Florida, area for over 32 years -- will work with his attorney general selection, Pam Bondi, to help secure the U.S.-Mexico Border. The DEA administrator is a Senate-confirmed position. "As DEA Administrator, Chad will work with our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to secure the Border, stop the flow of Fentanyl, and other Illegal Drugs, across the Southern Border, and SAVE LIVES," Trump wrote. Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister (Hillsborough County Sheriff) MORE: Trump says he'll fire FBI Director Christopher Wray, replace him with longtime ally Kash Patel Chronister was appointed to lead the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office by then-Florida Gov. Rick Scott in 2017 and has been twice reelected by voters. He holds a bachelor's and master's degree in science in criminal justice from St. Leo University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy's 260th session. Chronister is married to Nikki DeBartolo and has two sons. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody took to X on Saturday to congratulate Chronister on the nomination and praise his experience in fighting on the "frontlines" of the opioid crisis. "Chad has fought on the frontlines of the opioid crisis, and I know his leadership and decades of experience will be invaluable as we work to combat the flow of Mexican fentanyl into our county," Moody wrote. Trump picks Florida sheriff Chad Chronister for DEA administrator originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The Supreme Court will consider Wednesday whether a Tennessee law that restricts gender affirming care for trans youths discriminates on the basis of sex. The Supreme Court will consider a law restricting transition-related health care for minors for the first time Wednesday, and legal experts say the courts decision could affect access to transition-related care nationwide for both minors and adults for decades to come. The key legal question the court will consider is whether a Tennessee law that bars puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgery for trans minors discriminates on the basis of sex. The American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal argue that it does, because it prohibits such care only as treatment for gender dysphoria. The law makes exceptions for minors who need the treatments for other reasons. Puberty blockers, for example, can be used to treat children who experience precocious, or early, puberty, and physicians can still perform surgery on infants who are born with sex characteristics that fall outside the standard male or female binary. Just days after the ACLU filed suit against Tennessees law in April 2023, the Justice Department intervened and filed its own complaint against the law, arguing that it discriminates against trans youths on the basis of sex and transgender status in violation of the 14th Amendments Equal Protection Clause. The Supreme Court granted the Biden administrations appeal of a 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision upholding Tennessees law. The court wont consider the part of the law that bans surgery, which wasnt covered by the lower courts injunction. In his reply brief to the Supreme Court, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti argued that the law doesnt discriminate based on sex but rather draws a line between minors seeking drugs for gender transition and minors seeking drugs for other medical purposes and that boys and girls fall on both sides of that line. The attorney generals office also argues that there is uncertainty around the risks and benefits of transition care for minors and that the state is allowed to pass legislation in an effort to protect minors. Harleigh Walker, 17, a trans girl in Auburn, Alabama, said shes worried about how the courts decision could affect her future. Since Alabamas ban on transition-related care for minors took effect in January, Walker and her father, Jeff, have had to travel 200 miles to another state, where Walker will sometimes sit in the car or in a hotel room to do a telehealth visit so she can continue receiving estrogen. Harleigh Walker and her father. Walker plans to attend college out of state, because Alabamas law applies to anyone under 19, the states age of majority, so Walker wouldnt be able to receive care in the state until her sophomore year. Whenever this legislation was introduced in Alabama and state legislatures across the country, it was obviously a huge shock, and it had a lot of unsafety and uncertainty, but I knew that I was still safe under the general umbrella of the United States of America, and I could go to another state that has more of an open mind about trans people and access to health care, but with Trump being elected and this Supreme Court decision its horrifying that theres a possibility that this could affect health care access for transgender adults, Walker said. Its scary to think that I wont be safe for the rest of my life in this country, and I hope that thats not the case. Trans youths, their families and providers of transition-related care have told NBC News that state restrictions on such care have created a confusing patchwork of laws across the country that has led many families to have to travel out of their home states for care. As a result, legal experts say, the courts decision could determine what access to such care looks like for years to come not only for minors but also for adults because of some of President-elect Donald Trumps proposed policies. The reason that transgender peoples health care is now protected under the Affordable Care Act is because there is a broad recognition that denying it would be unlawful sex discrimination under the Affordable Care Act, said Shannon Minter, the legal director at the National Center for Lesbian Rights, an LGBTQ legal advocacy group. So if the court says no, excluding this care is not discriminatory, then that would really gravely endanger our coverage under the Affordable Care Act. The legal landscape leading up to the case Last year, three trans youths, their parents and a doctor asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block Tennessees law, which took effect in July 2023 but includes a provision that allows doctors to wean youths off of medication for nine months until March 31, 2024. One of the plaintiffs, a 15-year-old trans girl referred to as L.W. in the lawsuit, said last year that shes fighting the law because I know how important this care is for tens of thousands of transgender youth like me. It scares me to think about losing the medication that I need, and if this law continues, my family may have to leave Tennessee the place I have lived and loved my entire life, she said, adding that she doesnt know where her family could go given how many states have passed similar legislation. The ACLU and Lambda Legal noted in their petition to the Supreme Court that circuit courts have become split on the restrictions. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked a law in Arkansas, while the 6th and 11th circuits have allowed laws in Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama and Florida to take effect. Twenty-three states restrict puberty blockers, hormone therapy or surgery for trans minors; 18 of those measures have been challenged in court, according to the Movement Advancement Project, an LGBTQ think tank. As of April, an estimated 113,900 trans youths lived in states that have restricted transition-related care for minors, according to the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law. Many families with trans kids have had to work around care restrictions to continue care for their children. Some families have left their home states entirely. Others, like the Walkers, travel hundreds of miles to access care. Dr. Izzy Lowell, founder and director of the telehealth clinic QueerMed, serves trans teens and adults nationwide. She said her clinic has seen an increase in minor patients since the restrictions on transition care began taking effect, particularly across the South. She estimates that the clinic serves 800 to 1,000 minor patients and that 80% to 90% of them live in states that restrict care for minors. Patients in states with restrictions who have the resources to travel can go to states without such laws for telehealth appointments with the clinic, which is governed by the laws of the states patients are physically in during the appointments, Lowell said. A lot of my job right now is travel agent, Lowell said. She talks with nearly every patient about where they live, what states they can and cant travel to or when they might be on vacation or even on layovers at airports in other states. For example, she said, the clinic saw a patient who was on a layover at Boston Logan International Airport. She said the effects of the care restrictions have been really difficult for patients. I think in medicine in general, we underestimate the really significant health risks of stress, and this is stress times 10, she said. Its being openly hated, discriminated against. People are fearful, truly fearful for themselves and for losing treatment, which is devastating, life-threatening for people. The election and Trumps promises to bar trans health care for minors nationwide and prohibit Medicaid from covering trans care have increased that fear, she said. The clinics new patient registrations increased from an average of 10 to 15 per week to 250 on Nov. 6, the day after the election, and 150 on Nov. 7, she said. In the following week, it averaged 50 new registrations per day. Regardless of the outcome of the Supreme Court case, Lowell said, her plan is to never stop providing transition-related care to the full extent that its legal, even in the face of increasing backlash. An arsonist destroyed Lowells practice based in Georgia last year, and she said the FBI is investigating the incident as a hate crime. Theres no way to plan ahead for this, other than to keep going and do everything we can for people for as long as we can, she said. We wont stop until we absolutely have to. The weather outside will soon be frightful. Upstate New York could be facing up to 6 feet of extreme snow as the city braces for the coldest temperatures yet this season. Parts of Upstate New York could see up to 6 feet of snow in a five-day period. FOX Weather Sundays Buffalo Bills game will be hit with heavy lake effect snow, something Bills fans are closely accustomed to. AP Every morning is going to be essentially below freezing for the next, at least 10 days, maybe two weeks, Fox Weather meteorologist Cody Braud told The Post Saturday. And our afternoon highs are going to be in the low to mid-40s every day as well for this entire week. Looking long term to the start of next weekend, we may not even get out of the 30s, he added. Theres also a chance the Big Apple could see some snow on Wednesday, although as of Saturday, it is not in the official forecast. Thats the million-dollar question everyone wants to know and I would not rule that out, Braud said. The weather pattern is not common, the meteorologist continued. Its called a clipper and we havent had one in quite a while, he said. The storm features an atomic burst of rain and snow that kind of clips the Northeast and portions of the Great Lakes theres a chance we may see some flakes fly in the city sometime Wednesday. The extreme lake-effect snow is also affecting Erie County, Pennsylvania, above, along with northeast Ohio and Michigan. A.J. RAO/ERIE TIMES-NEWS / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Parts of Upstate are already dealing with Day 2 of what could be five days of disastrous amounts of snowfall. Snowfall totals in Harrisburg, New York, about 20 miles southeast of Watertown, already neared 3 feet, and its only going to go up, Braud said. Its about a five-day event. This is only going to get worse, he warned. Heavy snow is expected to impact New York. AP The extreme lake-effect snow is also affecting parts of Pennsylvania, northeast Ohio and Michigan. Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency late Friday because of potentially dangerous and life-threatening blizzard-like conditions along Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Gov. Josh Shapiro deployed the Pennsylvania National Guard to Erie County to help any stranded drivers and make sure emergency responders can get to folks who need them, he announced on X Saturday. Women sterilize over Trump These women are getting elective surgical procedures to render themselves infertile all because Donald Trump won the election. The women, who are speaking proudly about their decision, say its because they fear a reproductive rights crackdown under a second Trump administration. Newsweek recently spoke to multiple women, including an OnlyFans model, who said they were turning to invasive, irreversible medical procedures to ensure their reproductive freedom remains untrodden upon. A number of women have decided to get elective surgeries to make themselves infertile in the wake of President-elect Donald Trumps victory. Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images Several women told Newsday that they fear a reproductive rights crackdown in Trumps second administration. Mariakray stock.adobe.com Eden Ixora, 25, of Florida, who creates content for the adult-oriented site, told the outlet, for me, the idea of getting pregnant is worse than death. She said she was making plans to have a bilateral salpingectomy a procedure in which her fallopian tubes will be removed. For me it was a call to action. A need to get this locked in so I dont have to live in fear that at any moment some random guy can completely destroy my life, Ixora said. Eden Ixora, an OnlyFans model, said for me, the idea of getting pregnant is worse than death. Instagram/Eden Ixora For me the idea of getting pregnant is worse than death. Im doing what I can to protect my right to choose. I am choosing me. Ixora didnt respond to a request for comment by The Post, but she wasnt the only woman considering the procedure with politics in mind. If I am to be denied any rights in the next four (or more) years, I will not give them up without a fight, said Lydia Echols, 28, of Texas. One women used language from the novel and TV series The Handmaids Tale to describe her decision to become sterilized. Sophie Giraud/Hulu) Ixora said she was planning on a procedure to have her fallopian tubes removed. Instagram/Eden Ixora Echols told Newsweek she also plans to have her fallopian tubes removed. An unidentified 39-year-old who said she had just gotten the procedure told the outlet that she felt she had no choice after the election results. I am not happy that I felt forced into a surgery I did not want to alter my body, I feel like the election tied my hands and forced me to be sterilized that is horrible. Another woman who said she and her husband both never wanted children described her decision using language straight out of a dystopian novel and TV series The Handmaids Tale, in which women are second-class citizens. I paid way too much attention to the vitriol Trump repeatedly spit during his previous term and am keenly aware of the people he keeps around him and in his ear, who all seem to see women as incubators and possessions to subjugate, she told the outlet. She had preemptively scheduled her appointment to be sterilized in October, claiming she was fully planning to cancel the surgery the day after the election, assuming Kamala won. One women said she would have canceled her surgery if Vice President Kamala Harris won the election. rh2010 stock.adobe.com In describing her choice, to Newsweek, the woman used language that suggested the elective surgery was forced upon her. With Trumps victory, we quickly learned that my choice to cancel the surgery had been taken from me, she said. This isnt a wanted procedure, but one of necessity due to the politics and subjugation coming our way. On a post on the childfree subreddit about the Newsweek article, women were lauding their decision to get sterilized as young as 21 years old some throwing around extreme claims now rooted in reality. Well when you pass laws that murder women on a regular basis, what are you going to do? one Reddit user wrote without elaboration. I want to get sterilized so bad but I dont have the money and I dont want this procedure to come up in my parents insurance, lamented another. Other women are coping with Trumps dominant election win with a good old-fashioned sex strike. Across TikTok and X theres been a surge of videos of women aligning themselves with a South Korean feminist protest movement known as 4B, in which participants eschew the four nos having sex with men, giving birth, dating men or getting married to men. Others have even taken to shaving their heads in an attempt at signaling some sort of vague anti-patriarchal sentiment, or encouraging their viewers to dump their Trump-supporting husbands or boyfriends. One of the women said the voluntary surgery is necessary because of the politics and subjugation coming our way. megaflopp stock.adobe.com The movement has been widely mocked online, with some including women questioning participants sincerity, their sanity or calling their behavior attention-seeking cringe. Perfect. Evolutionary dead ends cutting their own branches off, one X user snidely remarked. Sounds like they need lobotomies instead, quipped another. Nothing says defeat like eliminating yourself from the gene pool, another poster wrote. Trump has sent mixed signals about his support for abortion rights at times boasting about his role in getting Roe v. Wade overturned but hes also repeatedly vowed he would not support a federal abortion ban, even threatening to veto one should it come across his desk. I would not support a federal abortion ban, under any circumstances, and would, in fact, veto it, because it is up to the states to decide based on the will of their voters (the will of the people!) Trump wrote on Truth Social in October. Soon-to-be first lady Melania Trump also famously made her staunch support of abortion rights known in a clip posted on social media to promote her memoir, Melania. Individual freedom is a fundamental principle that I safeguard, said Melania, 54. Without a doubt there is no room for compromise when it comes to this essential right that all women possess from birth, she continued. Meanwhile, the number of abortions since Roe v. Wade was overturned has actually ticked up slightly, which experts say is thanks to the wider availability of abortion pills by mail. by Nirmala Carvalho A native of the same Indian metropolis, 57 year-old Msgr. John Rodrigues has led the diocese of Pune since last year after serving for ten years as auxiliary bishop to Card. Oswald Gracias, who will turn eighty on 20 December next. As of 25 January, he will be at his side with right of succession. He comes from a family in which the widowed mother accompanied all three of her sons to the priesthood. Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Pope Francis has chosen the new coadjutor archbishop of Mumbai, the great metropolis of India: he will be 57 year old Mgr John Rodrigues, a prelate originally from this same city of which he was auxiliary bishop for ten years and who since March 2023 has led the diocese of Pune, also in the State of Maharashtra. The pontiff has appointed him coadjutor archbishop: he will therefore flank with right of succession Card. Oswald Gracias, Metropolitan of Mumbai since 2006 and representative of Asia in the Council of Cardinals, who will be eighty years old next 20 December, thus leaving the list of possible participants in a future conclave. At the same time as the announcement made today by the Vatican Press Office, the Archdiocese of Mumbai also issued a note in which the bishops, priests, religious and lay faithful extend a warm welcome to the Reverend John Rodrigues on his return to the archdiocese. The announcement is also made that he will assume office on 25 January 2025 and will reside in the archdiocesan house. Bishop John Rodrigues was born in Mumbai on 21 August 1967, where he was also ordained a priest in 1998 by the then Archbishop Ivan Dias, whose particular secretary he also served for a time. He then furthered his studies in Rome at the Pontifical Lateran University, obtaining a licence in dogmatic theology, a subject he taught in Indian seminaries. Appointed auxiliary bishop, he was ordained in 2013 by Card. Gracias. During his tenure as auxiliary bishop, he was also rector of the Mount Mary Basilica in Bandra district. On 25 March 2023, Francis then entrusted him with the leadership of the diocese of Pune, which he has led until today. A few years ago, Msgr. Rodrigues had shared with AsiaNews the particular story of his family: the new coadjutor archbishop of Mumbai is in fact the son of a widowed woman with three sons, all three of whom later became priests. Besides Bishop John, his elder brother Fr Luke is a Jesuit while Fr Savio is also a priest in the archdiocese of Mumbai. It was through the example of our mother Corinne Rodrigues, who always reminded us of God's presence, creating an atmosphere of prayer in our home and weaving bonds with other priests, that we felt our call to religious life, Msgr John Rodrigues told AsiaNews in 2017. The woman - who died in 2000 - was a former teacher heavily involved in charitable initiatives in the archdiocese of Mumbai, promoting various charitable works. One of these is Hope and Life Movement, a support group specifically for widowed women. Corinne was also a widow, but the pain of losing her beloved husband did not prevent her from passing on the values of the Gospel and the love of the Lord to her children. Joy at the news of his brother's appointment as coadjutor archbishop of Mumbai was expressed to AsiaNews by his elder brother, Fr Luke Rodrigues. John has always been a brilliant person, he says, but above all a person focused on service to God and his people. His episcopal motto Building up the Body of Christ (Eph. 4:12) looks precisely at this. We are proud and pray for him that he may fulfil God's will in Mumbai'. MBABANE The European Union (EU), the International Trade Centre (ITC), and the Government of Eswatini have made significant strides in fostering sustainable economic development in Eswatini, with the creation of about 2 200 jobs through the Eswatini: Promoting growth through competitive alliances programme. The project aims to support local businesses, farmers and artisans while contributing to the Kingdoms economic transformation. Last Thursday, the EU Ambassador-designate to Eswatini, Kastern Mecklenburg and the Minister for Commerce, Industry and Trade, Manqoba Khumalo, visited various project sites benefitting from this EU-supported initiative. They were joined by senior officials from the EU delegation, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade, and local Business Support Organisations (BSOs). The tour began at Sigcaweni. The delegation then visited Eswatini Coffees nursery at Ngculwini, Guba Permaculture Education Centre in Malkerns, Black Mamba Foods in Matsapha, and ended at Far East Textiles also in Matsapha, where several micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) under the EU-supported programme were exhibiting. Speaking at the final event for the tour at Far East Textiles, ITC Head, Inclusive Agribusiness Systems Hernan Manson praised the programmes success in improving livelihoods across Eswatini. Full-time jobs After four years of working under the EU-supported programme, we can already see the positive impact. To date, 2 200 full-time jobs have been created, and 6 000 entrepreneurs, farmers, and artisans are earning better incomes. This programme has reached over 18 000 people indirectly, feeding into the value chain, said Manson. The numbers are good, but we are only halfway through. We are not done yet. We believe that we can achieve even more by leveraging the current partnerships. EU Ambassador-designate Kastern Mecklenburg shared his excitement about the EUs role in the programme and reiterated that the EUs support is about long-term investment rather than donations. He stressed the importance of creating opportunities for all, including those who are often marginalised, such as people with disabilities. We are not only looking at people who are capable of running their businesses we are also looking at people who are not capable of running their businesses. We do not want to leave behind people with disabilities. What we are doing with government is investment in opportunities, said Ambassador Mecklenburg. We need people who produce wealth. We need people who grow food like the coffee farmers we saw today. We need people who create links and networks of like-minded entrepreneurs, feeding into a supply chain. Minister Khumalo echoed the EU ambassadors sentiments, highlighting the tangible impact of the partnership and the importance of practical, action-oriented policies. When I came into office, I assessed that many partnerships focused too much on theoretical aspects. Im happy that the EU has listened and shifted to a model that focuses on making a real, sustainable difference, said Minister Khumalo. The entrepreneurs we saw today from the lady growing coffee at Sigcaweni to the people roasting coffee and providing seedlings show that Eswatinis fortunes will change because of this partnership. Far East Textiles Managing Director Tokky Hou, also Chairperson of the Vukani BoMake Project, praised the EU and ITC for believing in their mission. Under the Eswatini: Promoting growth through competitive alliances, Vukani BoMake has trained over 150 women, many of whom now have stable income and skills for life. Collaboration These are not just numbers. Young people who have been trained now have skills they can rely on. Women who struggled to make ends meet are now providers, and people with disabilities have found a purpose, said Hou. Through collaboration, the EU and ITC have helped us build not just factory cottages, but skills, capacitation and real opportunities for change. Business Eswatini Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nathi Dlamini, urged for more investments that focus on long-term social transformation rather than short-term donations. We need investments that are looking for a social dividend. The EU and ITC were among the first to invest in Vukani BoMake, and today, were about to open the 14th cottage factory in this country, said Dlamini. No donations involved, just investments. Were worthy of investments. Invest with us. The Eswatini: Promoting growth through competitive alliances programme continues to make significant strides in driving economic growth, creating jobs and improving livelihoods across the country. With further expansion planned, the project stands as a model of how effective partnerships between governments, international organisations, and local businesses can drive sustainable development. 1 December 2024 12:46 (UTC+04:00) In addition, the buses are equipped with the latest technologies to increase the comfort level of passengers. Electric buses are equipped with zero-emission technology, which makes an important contribution to environmental protection. "Yutong" electric motor buses have started operating on route number 133 operated by "Chinar Trans" LLC, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 1 December 2024 10:47 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more A concert and exhibition celebrating the first anniversary of Garabagh University's establishment were held in the city of Khankendi. Azernews reports, citing Azertag that the event brought together Emin Amrullayev, Azerbaijans Minister of Science and Education, officials from Khankendi and Shusha, as well as teachers and students of Garabagh University. Addressing the event, Sahin Bayramov, Rector of Garabagh University, highlighted the institution's achievements and activities over the past year. He noted that Garabagh University plays a pivotal role not only in the region but also in Azerbaijan's education system. Minister Emin Amrullayev emphasized the significance of Garabagh University, noting its remarkable progress in a short period and its contributions to education, science, and innovation. Garabagh University was established by an order of President Ilham Aliyev dated November 28, 2023. 1 December 2024 10:00 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Ombudsman) Sabina Aliyeva participated in the first meeting of the International Council of the Turkic World Mediators Union (TDAB) in Ankara, Turkiye. Azernews reports that, during her speech at the event, the Ombudsman emphasized the importance of the mediation process in creating an environment of mutual respect and compromise between the parties in human rights disputes. The Commissioner noted that the mediation process, in addition to creating conditions for reaching an agreement based on direct dialogue and understanding between the parties, also plays an important role in establishing peace and justice in society. Sabina Aliyeva stated that the mediation process is actively used in appeals addressed to the Ombudsman's Office, noting that this process places importance on ensuring direct dialogue between the parties and promoting reconciliation. The Commissioner emphasized the importance of the state bodies, in addition to the work carried out within the legal framework to restore violated human rights, promote moral values, provide continuous and coordinated services against problems that may arise in society, and systematically implement preventive measures. Sabina Aliyeva, noting the existence of close cooperation between the Ombudsman Institution and the Mediation Council, drew attention to the fact that joint and effective activities were carried out to investigate complaints related to the mediation process, improve legislation in this area, and organize educational work. The Commissioner noted that a series of events were held within the framework of legal educational activities to further improve the quality of public services, and promote good governance, as well as alternative dispute resolution methods, taking into account modern challenges. Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva also participated in the event called "Karabakh Night" within the framework of the first meeting of the International Council of the Turkic World Mediators Union (TDAB). During his speech, the Commissioner expressed the importance of the Victory achieved during the Patriotic War for the Turkic world, the importance of peace and security in the world, and the formation of new relations in the region. The Ombudsman recalled with satisfaction the active participation of the Chief Ombudsman of Turkey and the Chairman of the Turkish Human Rights and Equality Institution in the fact-finding missions conducted in the occupied territories, and that this country has always supported the just position of Azerbaijan. The Commissioner noted that the return of our former internally displaced persons to their native lands is currently ensured, and reconstruction and reconstruction work is being carried out in the occupied territories. 1 December 2024 12:54 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to the President of Romania, Klaus Werner Iohannis. According to Azernews, the letter reads: To His Excellency Mr. Klaus Werner Iohannis, President of Romania, On behalf of myself and the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to you and your entire nation on the occasion of the national holiday of Romania. Azerbaijan and Romania are bound by traditional relations of friendship and cooperation. Our mutually beneficial collaboration in political, economic, and cultural spheres is among the key factors driving the dynamic development of our interstate relations. Currently, there are favorable opportunities to further advance our partnership in several areas. I believe that cooperation between Azerbaijan and Romania, both bilaterally and within multilateral frameworks, will continue to contribute to the well-being of our peoples and countries. On this joyous occasion, I wish you robust health, happiness, success in your endeavors, and the friendly people of Romania everlasting peace and prosperity. Sincerely, Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku, 28 November 2024 1 December 2024 13:58 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more From December 2 to 6, the 35th session of the working group of experts on the rights of people of African descent will be held at the UN headquarters in New York. This event is recognized as one of the important international platforms in the field of protecting the rights of people of African origin and eliminating the consequences of historical injustices. Azernews reports via the BIG that within the framework of the session, the Bonaire Human Rights Organization, the Permanent Mission of the Bahamas to the UN, and the UN expert working group on the rights of peoples of African descent will discuss "Restoration of justice and elimination of colonialism: African descent in colonized territories". a side event will be held on the theme of "protection of people's rights". Abbas Abbasov, executive director of Baku Initiative Group (BIG), will take part in this prestigious international event. BIG will present its projects in the field of colonialism and the elimination of its consequences, and discuss initiatives aimed at restoring the rights of the peoples under colonization. The session and side event will focus on the injustices, socio-economic inequalities, and human rights challenges historically faced by people of African descent. The main goal of the event is to achieve the restoration of the rights of these peoples, to remove obstacles within the framework of international law, and to put forward recommendations for long-term solutions. In addition to participating in the session, BIG will present its activities, achievements, and future priorities. The organization continues its activities in order to support the international recognition of the rights of the peoples who suffered from colonialism, the elimination of historical injustices, and the freedom struggle of these peoples. The Baku Initiative Group made important contributions to the struggle of the people of Bonaire for their freedom from colonialism. The organization cooperates in the direction of the protection of cultural heritage, the protection of human rights, and the development of specific solutions within the framework of international law. As the culmination of these activities, an international conference was held in Baku on August 22, 2024, under the organization of BIG, on the topic "Bonaire island's path to self-determination in the UN General Assembly passing through Baku". The event was attended by high-level government officials, human rights defenders, heads of non-governmental organizations, decolonization experts, and scientists from Belize, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Saint Lucia, Great Britain, Mexico, and the Netherlands, along with representatives of the Bonaire people's freedom struggle. At the conference, the international legal mechanisms to achieve the independence of the people of Bonaire and the work done to re-enter the UN List of Territories to be Decolonized in this direction were discussed. The participation of BIG in such initiatives demonstrates the leadership role of Azerbaijan in decolonization processes at the international level. This is also an indicator of our country's contribution to the restoration of the rights of people who suffered from colonialism. The activities of the Baku Initiative Group in this area, highly appreciated by the international community, are at the center of global efforts to support the struggle for freedom and the rights of people suffering from colonialism. 1 December 2024 19:54 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. Trumps approach to international alliances and trade agreements is poised to reshape global partnerships. His administrations skepticism towards multilateral institutions and agreements, such as the BRICS, the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the Paris Climate Accord, suggests a pivot towards unilateralism. This shift could undermine global cooperation on critical issues like climate change, economic inequality, and international security, leading to a more fragmented and competitive global landscape. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 1 December 2024 15:58 (UTC+04:00) By News Centre It has been rare not to come across crimes and murders left as a legacy by the notorious French colonialism. Whether in Africa, New Caledonia, or the North Pacific islands, we can read through a range of materials, articles, and much more depicting French brutality. Perhaps in our ancient world history, the Barbarian Roman culture will not be as memorable as the colonialist policy of France, therefore the French barbarism will be omitted as a shameful historical event, unable to find its place among civilizations for a long time. Because history encompasses a certain period of time, but French colonialism has continued from the past to the present day. The mass slaying of West African soldiers by colonial forces at the end of World War II in Senegal remains shrouded in secrecy. But Senegals new government wont abide the mystery. The middle school students in Senegal listened quietly one afternoon this past week as their history teacher told a story most of them knew already. Here is an article about the recent French colonialism in Western Africa published in the New York Times that leaves mouths agape. The article states: In 1944, French colonial forces massacred West African soldiers who had returned from France after fighting in World War II, said the teacher, Aminata Diedhiou. Their school, in the town of Thiaroye, stands near the site of the killings. Why did the French massacre them, one student asked. How were they killed, wondered another. I want to know more, said Amy Sall, 16. So does Senegal. Ahead of the 80th anniversary of what is known as the Thiaroye Massacre, Senegals government has pressured France to fully explain one of the most sinister episodes of its colonial rule in Africa. The middle school students in Senegal listened quietly one afternoon this past week as their history teacher told a story most of them knew already. In 1944, French colonial forces massacred West African soldiers who had returned from France after fighting in World War II, said the teacher, Aminata Diedhiou. Their school, in the town of Thiaroye, stands near the site of the killings. Why did the French massacre them, one student asked. How were they killed, wondered another. I want to know more, said Amy Sall, 16. So does Senegal. Ahead of the 80th anniversary of what is known as the Thiaroye Massacre, Senegals government has pressured France to fully explain one of the most sinister episodes of its colonial rule in Africa. The calls for reparations echo campaigns demanding truth and justice for colonial-era crimes committed across the continent. In the former French colonies of West and Central Africa, where several governments have curtailed ties with France in recent years, few incidents resonate as much as the memory of Thiaroye. Thiaroye could be the foundation for a Pan-African consciousness shared by all African countries who have lost citizens in the tragedy, said Mamadou Diouf, a Senegalese historian and director of Columbia Universitys Institute for African Studies. Mr. Diouf, who was appointed by the Senegalese government this summer to lead a research committee on Thiaroye, called Senegals new attitude indicative of a breakaway, a strong assertion of sovereignty. A 15-Second Blood Bath On the morning of Dec. 1, 1944, French colonial forces gathered hundreds of West African men temporarily stationed at a garrison in Thiaroye, on the outskirts of Dakar, the then-capital of French West Africa. It was supposed to be their last stop before home: Hailing from a dozen African colonies, the men had fought for France in the war, been detained in Nazi-run camps for years, and were now awaiting financial compensation for years of service. The money wasnt coming. As tensions escalated between French and West African soldiers who had once been brothers in arms, French officers vowed to bring back order, according to a French military report written a day before the killings. They brought machine guns to Thiaroye, two battalions, a tank and other military vehicles to show so much superiority that the mutineers dont think about resisting, the report read. Around 9:30 a.m., they fired more than 500 rounds of ammunition within 15 seconds, according to archives consulted by Martin Mourre, a French historian. The first official death toll mentioned 35 West African deaths an indispensable surgical operation, an act of self-defense against armed and aggressive men, claimed the French officer in charge, in a report written days later. But historians from France and Senegal say the real death toll is likely closer to 400, and that the West African soldiers were not armed. They argue that discrepancies in military reports and the preparedness of French troops pointed to a premeditated massacre. The lack of information around the identities of the victims and the whereabouts of their remains are other signs that France tried to cover up a crime, they say. Hiding documents was a part of the imperial policy, Mr. Diouf said. We have the French version. We need to write our own narrative. Keeping Thiaroye Alive While much remains undisclosed about the events of 1944, Thiaroye has permeated Senegals public psyche in plays, poems and hip-hop songs. Camp de Thiaroye, released in 1988 by the filmmaker Ousmane Sembene, is a classic of Senegalese cinema. Now, Senegals new pro-sovereignty government is making it a political issue. Dozens of billboards commemorating the 80th anniversary of the massacre have been displayed along Dakars main avenues. In Thiaroye this past week, construction workers were renovating a military cemetery, which will be the site of the official commemoration ceremony. At the middle school where Ms. Diedhiou gathered students, commemorations are held every year: Senegalese soldiers raise the countrys flag in the middle of the playground, surrounded by students donning uniforms similar to those worn in 1944. We are happy to pay tribute, Awa Samateh, 17, said as she sat with half a dozen schoolmates under an orange tree between two lessons. But it pains us because the white men killed them for no good reason. The school was built on the site of the military camp where the West African soldiers were slain. Ms. Diedhiou said she was haunted by the possibility of teaching close to where the victims may have been buried. The nearby military cemetery contains 35 graves, the official death toll. But many in Senegal suspect that they are empty. These graves are a joke, said Biram Senghor, whose father, Mbap, was killed in 1944. At 86, Mr. Senghor said he had little hope that he would ever learn the whereabouts of his fathers remains. A Taboo No More The economic, cultural and political ties between Senegal and France have run deep since Senegals independence in 1960. For the sake of preserving those ties, Senegalese presidents never confronted France about the atrocities committed in Thiaroye, according to historians and intellectuals from both countries. Previous governments thought they had to beg France to commemorate, said Boubacar Boris Diop, a writer and intellectual who has written a play on Thiaroye. It is changing now. France has long maintained that it had given access to all its archives on the killings, but cracks in that assertion have begun to appear. For the 70th anniversary of the killings in 2014, then-President Francois Hollande said the death toll was more likely 70 double the toll France had previously acknowledged, but still far below historians estimates. France isnt itself when it looks away from events that may have tarnished its image, Mr. Hollande said. Last month, Senegalese archivists working for Mr. Dioufs research group traveled to France to examine all of the archives that could contain information about the killings. We will be able to come up with some information that will allow people to ask for reparations, Mr. Diouf said. Only truth, President Faye said in his interview with Le Monde, will help Senegal and France move toward a partnership ridden of painful remnants. He also called on hundreds of French troops still present in Senegal to leave. In another blow to Frances already-waning military influence in Africa, the government of Chad ended a longstanding defense partnership between the two countries last month. Mr. Senghor, who was 6 years old in 1944, is still waiting for the financial compensation that France owes his deceased father for his service in France. Mr. Macron said he wouldnt travel to Senegal for the commemorations. Whether France will heed Senegals requests is also unclear. While France has under Mr. Macrons leadership returned looted artworks and acknowledged crimes committed in Algeria and Rwanda, acknowledging responsibility for the Thiaroye killings could fuel calls for reparations in other former colonies. But, Mr. Senghor said, If the French want to get well with Africans, they must apologize and pay. - This article has been written by Elian Peltier and Saikou Jammeh for the New York Times 1 December 2024 13:21 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more The protest in Tbilisi has continued overnight, with local media reporting at around 07:00 that the riot police pushed the last groups of protesters off of Rustaveli. As of 11:30, around 200 protesters were present at the intersection connecting Melikishvili Street and Chavchavadze Avenue. Key events from yesterday Around 100,000 people gathered on Rustaveli Avenue to protest the governments decision to halt Georgias EU accession process. Protests have also intensified in other Georgian cities, including Batumi, Kutaisi, Gori, Rustavi, Khashuri, Poti, and Zugdidi. The US has suspended its strategic partnership with Georgia, citing Georgian Dreams "various anti-democratic actions". At least four Georgian ambassadors have resigned in protest against the governments handling of the protests. Zourabichvili says she remains in office despite elections President Salome Zourabichvili has vowed to remain in office after her term expires in December, stating that an "illegitimate parliament" cannot appoint her successor. Recall that protests in Georgia have erupted after the victory of Georgian Dream, the ruling party, following the recent parliamentary elections on 26 October. Previously, pro-Western opposition forces that did not want the ruling party accused it of adopting the law on Foreign Agents. It should be noted that the Georgian government has been subjected to a number of sanctions by the West since it adopted laws that contradict the interests of the West. Until Georgia's decision on Foreign Agents in May, its accession to the European Union was being discussed in the European Parliament. Today, the West accuses Georgia of not obeying its laws and is trying to make Georgia pay for this with the chaotic situation it has created. 1 December 2024 14:23 (UTC+04:00) Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated on Sunday Tehran's unwavering support for Syria, according to the Iranian official news agency IRNA. Today, I am leaving for Damascus to convey the message of the Islamic Republic to the Syrian government, Araghchi told reporters at the Navy Day ceremony held on the Kish Island in southern Iran. We firmly support the Syrian army and government, he added. We believe that after the (Israeli) Zionist regime's failure, the enemy is trying to implement its sinister plots of destabilizing the region through these terrorist groups, the minister noted, referring to anti-regime groups in Syria. Araghchi asserted that the Syrian army will once again be victorious over these terrorist groups as in the past. The fighting erupted on Nov. 27 between Assad regime forces and anti-regime armed groups in the western countryside of the Aleppo province in northern Syria. Since last week, the anti-regime armed groups have made rapid progress from the western countryside toward the city center, capturing much of it by Saturday. The armed groups took control of the town of Khan Shaykhun later Saturday, establishing control of all of Idlib. 1 December 2024 18:15 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more The head of the European Council, Antonio Costa, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Kaja Callas, and the new EU enlargement commissioner, Marta Kos, visited Ukraine for the first time in their new position. Azernews informs via Report that this was announced in a post shared on Kaja Callas' "X" social account. It is a privilege to be in Kyiv alongside @eucopresident Costa and Commissioner Kos. In my first visit since taking up office, my message is clear: the European Union wants Ukraine to win this war. We will do whatever it takes for that. pic.twitter.com/swv1ZVAlyL Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) December 1, 2024 According to "Deutsche Welle", they plan to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. "This is what I said on my first visit after taking office: EU wants Ukraine to win this war," Kallas wrote. It should be noted that on November 27, the European Parliament approved the new composition of the European Commission, which officially started its work today. MBABANE The Board of Directors of Eswatini National Petroleum Company (ENPC) has initiated a preliminary enquiry into grave accusations made against the public enterprise. The construction of the Strategic Oil Reserve Facility at Phuzumoya, located in the Lubombo Region, is currently subject to investigation. There are allegations of corruption and fraudulent activities linked to this project, with transactions estimated to exceed E100 million. The Times SUNDAY has established that the probe has also been set up to determine if there was any corruption and collusion involving management and suppliers. The investigation will focus on key areas, including consulting, policy formulation and project management in connection with the multi-million Emalangeni Strategic Oil Reserve facility. It is understood that this facility is a critical national asset designed to ensure fuel supply security and play a significant role in advancing the countrys socio-economic development. The Boards Audit and Risk Committee has been assigned to prepare a report within four to six weeks, to help determine whether a comprehensive forensic investigation is warranted. The sub-committee will identify areas of concern and gathering evidence to support further action. Extraordinary The decision to initiate the preliminary investigation was taken during an extraordinary Board meeting held on November 22, 2024. Investigations by this publication unearthed that the scope of the investigation includes a detailed review of the operational practices such as analysing procurement processes and documentation for irregularities and ensuring compliance with policies and regulations. ENPC is a State-owned enterprise established in October 2012, to enhance local supply and access of quality petroleum products through optimal storage and trading. According to a communique signed by Board Chairperson Velaphi Dlamini, the key areas of focus will include reviewing the selection criteria, justifications for engaging specific consultants and contractors and verifying the authenticity of suppliers, service providers and related invoices. Legality The Board sub-committee will also assess the legality, consistency and validity of agreements with external suppliers. Particular attention will be to establish if there were any inflated charges or overpayments. The probe will also seek to identify frequently used suppliers. In the examination of contracts, the investigators are expected to identify any signs of inflated pricing, overcharging or unjustified payments. The investigation will further focus on tracing financial flows between ENPC and suppliers to identify anomalies or unauthorised transactions. This includes analysing bank statements, payroll records and other financial documents for signs of suspicious activities. Confidentiality Additionally, the Board sub-committee will interview current and former employees involved in processing payments, while ensuring that confidentiality and employee rights are upheld. A forensic review of electronic records, including emails and other digital evidence will also form part of the enquiry. The committee will assess the roles and responsibilities of implicated management personnel, focusing on potential breaches of fiduciary duties and ethical standards. External legal and audit experts may be consulted for technical guidance on procurement and compliance matters.All levels of ENPC management, as well as external suppliers, are expected to fully cooperate with the investigation. The investigating team has been granted unrestricted access to relevant records, systems and personnel. Velaphi, the Chairman of the Board, confirmed the internal probe, adding that it was nothing more than just a Board assessment which forms part of its oversight function. He said as the new Board, this assessment will help guide their duties going forward as it seeks to commit itself to transparency, accountability and the ethical management of ENPCs operations. Irregularities Documents seen by this newspaper indicates that the scope of the investigations include analysing procurement processes and documentation for irregularities or compliance with policies and regulations. The Times SUNDAY reported on August 1, 2024, that should His Majesty the Kings desires will to be fulfilled, the contract for the establishment of the strategic oil reserve facility would have been signed in the first week of the eight month of the year. Upon his arrival at the ENPC stand during this years international trade fair, the King, first greeted by Minister for Natural Resources and Energy, Prince Lonkhonkhela, met Nhlanhla Dlamini, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the public enterprise. Nhlanhla elaborated on the Confidence The CEO further indicated that negotiations were already in progress to secure adequate funding for the project. He expressed confidence that these discussions would reach a conclusion soon, allowing the project to commence. Specifically, he mentioned that they were awaiting finalisation of engagements with the Ministry of Finance and the Republic of China (Taiwan) regarding the project. His Majesty enquired about the exact timeline for the contracts finalisation. In a light-hearted manner, he elicited laughter from those present by noting the presence of Ambassador Jeremy Liang and requesting that he be summoned to confirm the news regarding the imminent conclusion of the contract negotiations. The ambassador, who was positioned a short distance from His Majesty, approached and stood beside the CEO. Please share the good news that I have been hearing. The good news that the contract for the construction of the strategic oil reserve will be finalised next week, the King stated at that time to a round of applause. Updates The ambassador responded with a smile, and the King then urged all parties involved in the project to confer and provide him with updates the following week.It is essential to recognise that during the presentation of the Speech from the Throne in February 2024, the King emphasised the necessity of prioritising certain outstanding capital projects, including the strategic oil reserve. The King explicitly expressed his desire for the project to commence within six months. For context, in September of the previous year, Taiwan committed to assisting Eswatini, its sole African ally, in the construction of a new oil tank, as outlined in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by both nations and their respective enterprises. The Overseas Investment and Development Corporation (OIDC), a Taiwanese firm dedicated to executing government overseas aid initiatives, was appointed to develop the strategic oil facility. It was reported that the Kingdom of Eswatini aimed to establish an oil tank capable of storing a minimum of 30 days worth of oil reserves. Former President Tsai Ing-wen, during her four-day visit to Eswatini, praised the agreement as a significant advancement in the bilateral relations between the two nations. She noted that discussions regarding the construction project had been ongoing for some time, emphasising that the proposed facility will play a crucial role in securing the nations energy supply. According to governments website, Eswatini relies heavily on oil imports from South Africa, making it vulnerable to fluctuations in international crude oil prices. Responsibility Consequently, government has tasked its national oil company, ENPC, with the responsibility of constructing and managing the oil reserve facilities to enhance energy security. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Jeff Chung, General Manager of OIDC, and Nhlanhla in his capacity as the CEO of ENPC.The signing ceremony was attended by His Majesty King Mswati III and former President Tsai. Established in 1995, OIDC is a collaboration of various State-run and private enterprises in Taiwan, aimed at executing aid and infrastructure initiatives in allied nations of the Republic of China (Taiwan). It remains unclear whether OIDC has previously engaged in the development of fuel storage facilities. The new oil reserve facility is anticipated to bolster fuel supply security and significantly aid the socio-economic development of Eswatini through infrastructure enhancement and job creation. On its website, the ENPC states that it is the countrys national oil company established by the Petroleum Act No.18 of 2020 and has been mandated by government to build and operate a Strategic Oil Reserve Facility at Phuzumoya. The company says the facility will enable security of fuel supply and significantly contribute towards the socio-economic development of the country through infrastructural development and job creation. In November 2023, ENPC invited companies for pre-qualification of contractors for the proposed construction of the Strategic Fuel Reserve Facility at Phuzumoya. This was referred to as Tender No.10 of 2023/2024.According to the project background as relayed by the ENPC, the public entity is planning to construct a Strategic Oil Reserve Facility at Phuzumoya which will be central to the countrys goal of having security in energy supply and mitigate fuel supply disruptions. Storage Currently, Eswatini sources petroleum products from the international markets through the Republic of South Africa and Mozambique. Most of the products are distributed from the commercial storage facilities in Matsapha. The company said the stock was, however, generally limited to approximately two to three days storage, despite the Petroleum Act of 2020 mandating the Oil Companies to hold 14-days commercial stock. As a result, the Government of Eswatini, through ENPC, intends to develop a Strategic Oil Storage Facility. The facility will hold up to 80 million litres of fuel stock, which is equivalent to 60 days consumption for the country. It will also offer blending for all its 95-ULP. Proof that Eswatini is determined to see the project start was evident when Prime Minister (PM), Russell Mmiso Dlamini visited Taiwan in March this year to pitch for investment in the African kingdom and discuss details of the fuel storage facility. During his visit, the PM gave feedback to the effect that he had an engagement with former President Tsai Ing-wen and that they then proceeded to tour Taiwans leading engineering company, CECI Engineering Consultants. Also, the PM shared that ambassadors from both countries presented a progress report of the project at Phuzumoya and its designs. The PM emphasised that the establishment of the facility will enhance the nations ability to secure its fuel supply, thereby mitigating the economic repercussions of potential fuel supply disruptions in the market. He noted that Eswatini currently lacks fuel stock reserves and that the existing bulk fuel storage infrastructure is severely limited. This situation renders us economically vulnerable to any disruptions in the supply chain, whether from external or internal sources. Therefore, the creation of this facility is of paramount importance, the PM said. During his visit, he encouraged CECI to establish operations in Eswatini, as it is a reputable company that employs approximately 2 300 individuals in Taiwan and other countries. Their expertise lies in the construction sector, and they are well-known for their work on railway lines, bridges and hospitals, among other projects, he explained. Custodian It remains to be seen how much the facility will now cost. Nine years ago, the cost for the construction of the facility was E900 million. In the financial year 2022/2023 and 2023/2024, the custodian of the facility, ENPC had fixed the costs at E2.1 billion. From January 2024 to the present, the ENPC had not changed the budget for the facility until companies from Taiwan got involved in the project. A proposal was tabled by a certain company fixed the construction of the Strategic Oil Reserve Facility at US$380 million, the equivalent of E7 billion in the current foreign exchange rate. The Burgan Cape Terminals (Pty) Ltd, South Africa, built the 118 million-litre fuel storage capacity in Cape Town at a cost of E1.2 billion. It was built because of the shortage of oil refinery facilities in Cape Town, long haul distances and congested loading at existing facilities. It was launched on August 30, 2017. The facility was built by VTTI. VTTI, at some point, showed an interest in constructing the Phuzumoya fuel storage facility at a cost of E900 million. 1 December 2024 22:25 (UTC+04:00) Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Azernews reports, citing Turkiye's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was reported that the state officials of the two countries exchanged views on the recent situation in Ukraine and the South Caucasus. The latest situation in Syria was mainly discussed in the telephone conversation. Minister Fidan said that his country is against any event that will increase instability in the region, and in this context, supports the reduction of tension in Syria. Noting the importance of the conclusion of the political process between the authorities and the opposition in order to establish peace and tranquility in Syria, Fidan stressed that they will never allow any terrorist activity against civilians. The minister also stressed the need for the continuity of the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, the immediate restoration of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the region. UPDATE: Mexico gets it. They have just broken up two migrant caravans that were heading for the US, bussing many of the migrants back to southern Mexico. Trump is not even back in the oval office yet, and he is already achieving policy results. Meanwhile, on the northern border, Trudeau has come hat in hand to Mar-a-Lago. https://redstate.com/wardclark/2024/12/01/the-times-they-are-achanging-and-mexico-gets-it-breaking-up-two-illegal-immigrant-caravans-n2182659 ORIGINAL POST: After President Trump told Mexico's president that he would impose a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico if they did not block the illegal alien migrants pouring throuth their country to get to the US, Mexico's new president has agreed to block the migrants. This is a key policy win for Trump even before he resumes the presidency. Trump made the same demand on Canada, and they are likely to fall in line as well. https://redstate.com/nick-arama/2024/11/28/trump-announces-astonishing-border-results-with-mexico-because-of-his-efforts-even-before-he-takes-over-n2182565 https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2024/11/27/trump-conversation-mexico-president-agreed-stop-migration/ Of course, the fly in the ointment will be Mexico's crime cartels, for whom human smuggling of migrants has become their top money maker, even more than drugs. They are likely to resist, but then that could open the door for Trump to offer US drones and special forces to wipe out the cartels, which would benefit both countries. All of this points out what a sad embarassment the Biden regime has been, kowtowing to the illegal aliens. Biden even spent millions of US taxpayers dollars to improve the pathways through the Darien Gap to make it easier for illegal alien migrants to reach the US. Instead of Trump building walls to keep them out, Biden built roads to make it easier for them to get in. Illegal immigration in both America and Europe has led to rising crime including murder, robbery, rape, and burglary. https://www.beaufortcountynow.com/post/78910/illegal-alien-migrants-behaving-badly-migrants-and-crime-newly-updated.html Meanwhile the US Court of Appeals has ruled that Texas had the right to put razor wire on its border and to occupy land to stop illegals crossing, and the Biden regime was in the wrong in cutting Texas border wire to let illegal aliens into the US. https://redstate.com/beccalower/2024/11/27/winning-fed-court-of-appeals-rules-against-biden-cps-cutting-razor-wire-allowing-illegals-to-enter-us-n2182562 Germany will hold a snap election in February to elect a new Bundestag (parliament) after the current "traffic light coalition" collapsed. Polls put the traditional conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) with its more conservative sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) that runs only in Bavaria, in first place, with the populist nationalist anti-immigration Alternativ fur Deutschland (AfD) a close second. The lead party of the current coalition, the Social Democrats (SPD) are a distant third. The CDU and AfD have released their platforms and both want major crackdowns on immigration, which has become a key issue in the election. Crime by migrants is soaring and migrants now consume 63% of Germany's welfare budget. The CSU, which has always been to the right of the CDU on immigration, has not yet released its platform. The CDU is now led by Friedrich Merz, a longtime rival of former chancellor Merkel, who is to Merkel's right politically. Under Merz, a central principle of the party's manifesto / platform is "Leitkultur" (guiding culture). This concept rejects "multiculturalism" and insists that to enter or remain in Germany, it will be necessary to adopt German cultural norms including respect for equality of women, acceptance of Israel's right to exist, and respect for democracy. "It concerns not only our language and customs, but our historical and cultural foundations," explains the CDU spokesman on Interior Ministry matters, "It ultimately means that people, no matter why they come to Germany,orient themselves to this cultural basis, not the other way around." https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1983013/european-country-germany-start-turning-away-non-eu-migrants AfD calls for closing the borders to Third World migrants and embarking on a course of "remigration", the favored European term for deportation. Under its eloquent party leader Alice Weidel, the AfD also takes a strong sovereigntist position including leaving the EU and reintroducing Germany's own national currency to replace the euro. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/panic-brussels-alternative-germany-afd-defends-germanys-exit/ The Prince of Wales has described former rugby league star Kevin Sinfields latest fundraising challenge for MND as a fitting tribute to his ex-Leeds teammate Rob Burrow. William posted a selfie-style video on social media to wish Sinfield the very best of luck for his gruelling feat called Running Home for Christmas, which begins on Sunday jogging more than 50 kilometres (31 miles) a day for a week. Burrow died in June after a long battle against motor neurone disease (MND) but continues to inspire Sinfield, who has completed four annual challenges to raise awareness and millions in support of the MND community, since his friend was first diagnosed. Kevin Sinfield and Rob Burrow campaigned to raise millions of pounds and raise awareness of MND (Danny Lawson/PA) William said in his video message recorded at Windsor: Kevin Catherine and I just wanted to wish you the very best of luck for whats going to be a very gruelling week, raising money and awareness around MND. What you and Rob have achieved has been incredible and its a very fitting tribute to his legacy, what youre achieving again this week. Im sure youll be running with him in your mind the whole way round. The prince, who surprised Burrow and Sinfield by presenting them with their CBEs for services to MND awareness in January, added: So the very best of luck from Catherine and I. Well be thinking of you all week. Sinfield, 44, has helped raise in excess of 16 million in aid of MND since Burrow was diagnosed in December 2019. Burrow was diagnosed with MND barely two years after ending his stellar playing career, but refused to give up the fight and threw himself into a campaign to raise awareness of the condition and help raise funds to find a cure. His friend will run more than 50km per day, split into seven kilometre blocks that he must complete within the hour before starting the next block. Each day will also include an Extra Mile event when Sinfield will join members of the MND community in completing four laps of a running track. The week-long challenge will take him from Liverpool to Manchester via Wrexham, Gloucester, Belfast, Glasgow, Hull and Northampton. Speaking ahead of the challenge a few days ago, Sinfield said: I dont want this to be sad. Weve lost a great man, but hell want us to rip into this and have a smile on our face and do it justice, do him justice. Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved budget plans which raise 2025 military spending to record levels as Moscow seeks to prevail in the war in Ukraine (Ramil Sitdikov/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool/AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved budget plans which raise 2025 military spending to record levels as Moscow seeks to prevail in the war in Ukraine. Around 32.5% of the budget posted on a government website on Sunday has been allocated for national defence, amounting to 13.5 trillion rubles (99.5 billion), up from a reported 28.3% this year. Politicians in both houses of the Russian parliament, the State Duma and Federation Council, had already approved the plans in the past 10 days. Russias war on Ukraine, which started in February 2022, is Europes biggest conflict since the Second World War and has drained the resources of both sides. A Ukrainian serviceman demonstrates a Gnom 2 ground drone in the Zaporizhzhia region (Andriy Andriyenko/Ukraines 65th Mechanised Brigade/AP) Kyiv has been getting billions of dollars in help from its Western allies, but Russias forces are bigger and better equipped, and in recent months the Russian army has gradually been pushing Ukrainian troops back in eastern areas. New European Council president Antonio Costa and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas arrived in Kyiv on Sunday, marking their first day in office with a strong message of support for Ukraine. Their visit comes as doubts are deepening over what Kyiv can expect from a new US administration led by Donald Trump. From day one of the war, the EU has stood by the side of Ukraine, Mr Costa posted on X, together with a photo of himself, Ms Kallas and EU enlargement chief Marta Kos. From day one of our mandate, we are reaffirming our unwavering support to the Ukrainian people. Speaking at a news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Mr Costa reiterated the EUs recent commitment to help Ukraine continue through the war, including 4.2 billion euros (3.4 billion) to support Ukraines budget and 1.5 billion euros (1.25 billion) of assistance every month from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets. Asked whether the EU would step up funding if Mr Trump withdrew support, Mr Costa said the bloc would stand for Ukraine as long as necessary. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine would never legally recognise any occupation of its lands by Russia (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) Mr Zelensky said that any future ceasefire negotiations with Russia would need to include representatives from the EU and Nato, because Ukraine see its future security in both alliances. However, he said he failed to see what any such negotiations would focus on, adding that Ukraine would never legally recognise any occupation of our lands by the Russian Federation. He urged the outgoing Biden administration to use the remaining two months in office to exert influence over those few European sceptics about our future. He said: I see nothing, I personally see no risks, and most Nato countries see no risks from the recommendation regarding the positive future of Ukraines membership in Nato. Mr Zelensky said that an offer of Nato membership to territory under Kyivs control would end the hot stage of the war. On the ground in Ukraine, three people died in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson when a Russian drone struck a minibus on Sunday morning, regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. Seven others were injured in the attack. Meanwhile, the number of people injured in a missile strike in Dnipro in central Ukraine on Saturday rose to 24, with seven in a serious condition, Dnipropetrovsk regional governor Serhiy Lysak said. Four people were killed in the attack. New European Council president Antonio Costa marked his first day in office with a visit to Kyiv and a strong message of support for Ukraine (Omar Havana/AP) Moscow sent 78 drones into Ukraine overnight into Sunday, Ukrainian officials said. According to Ukraines air force, 32 drones were destroyed during the overnight attacks. A further 45 were lost over various areas, probably due to being electronically jammed. In Russia, a child was killed in a Ukrainian drone attack in the Bryansk region bordering Ukraine, according to regional governor Alexander Bogomaz. Russias Defence Ministry said 29 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight into Sunday in four regions of western Russia 20 over the Bryansk region, seven over the Kaluga region, and one each over the Smolensk and Kursk regions. This is the former deputy manager of a boys home accused of sexual abuse against a male dating back more than 40 years. George Hendry appeared in court last week for the first time on six separate charges of indecent assault and buggery with a boy aged under 16. Trauma and tears in Bandit Country as ex-BBC man recounts tragedies of Troubles in south Armagh Gordon Adairs first book tells stories of those caught up in violence and mayhem along the border Journalist Gordon Adair pictured at home with his new book The Map. PICTURE:-Stephen Hamilton Ivan Little Sun 1 Dec 2024 at 09:29 Former BBC journalist Gordon Adair has published his first book, four months after Parkinsons Disease forced him to take early retirement after over 20 years with the broadcaster. Adobe Stock Monotheism, the belief that there is only one God Monotheism is a foundational belief of Christianity. But if Jesus is God, the Father is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, then how can there be only one God? The Christian belief in the Trinity in no way denies that God is one. The doctrine of the Trinity affirms that three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) eternally exist as one God. That is what tri-unity is all about: three persons and one God. What is interesting to note is that despite the significant differences among Christians around the world on many issues, there is unity among all Christians on the belief that God is a Trinity. The doctrine of the Trinity is affirmed by all Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants, and the church has also affirmed it for the last 2,000 years. The Biblical Affirmation of God's Oneness The biblical understanding that there is only one God is unmistakable. Deuteronomy 6:4, the first verse of the Shema, which is perhaps the most famous verse in the Hebrew Bible, says: "Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God; the Lord is one." The prophet Isaiah repeatedly affirms that God is one. Thus, Isaiah 44:6: "Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: 'I am the first, and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me.'" Isaiah 45:5 similarly affirms: "I am the Lord, and there is no other; besides Me, there is no God" (see Isaiah 43:10; 45:21-22; 46:9). The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Are God At the same time, the Bible affirms that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are each individually God. Throughout the Scriptures, the Father is called God (1 Cor 8:6). Jesus, however, is also called God. This is affirmed in the confession that Jesus is "Lord" (Rom 10:9, 13). "Lord," of course, is God's divine name. Jesus also has the attributes of God: He is "eternal" (John 8:58), "unchanging" (Heb 13:8), and "all-knowing" (Col 2:3). Furthermore, Jesus performs the acts of God: He forgives sins (Mark 2:1-9) and creates (John 1:1-3; Col 1:16). The same is true of the Spirit (see Acts 5:3-4). For example, the Holy Spirit is also eternal (Heb 9:14). Jesus' Claims to Be God Jesus' claims to be God almost landed Him in trouble on several occasions. For example, in Mark 12, three different questions are brought to Jesus "in order to trap Him in a statement" (Mark 12:13). Each question appears to be unanswerable. The first question relates to paying taxes to Rome (Mark 12:13-17). Of course, if Jesus were to say "Yes" to paying taxes to Rome, no Jewish person would believe that He is the Messiah. After all, the Messiah is the king of Israel, and affirming Rome's right to collect taxes is tantamount to affirming Rome's right to rule. If, however, Jesus says "No," then the religious leaders could accuse Him of treason against the Romans. Either way, Jesus is in trouble. The third question, however, is puzzling. Jesus is asked, "What commandment is the foremost of all?" (Mark 12:28). The question is baffling because there is perhaps not an easier question one could ask a Jewish person in the first century. Indeed, every Jewish person knows the Shema. It was recited twice daily by all Jews. Any Jewish child who could speak had learned the Shema. In other words, there was virtually no possibility that Jesus would not know how to answer this question. Sure enough, Jesus answers them by citing the Shema (Mark 12:29-30). Was Jesus Claiming to Be the Lord of the Shema? How were they attempting to "trap Him in a statement" with this question? Were they expecting Jesus to say, "Do not murder" or "Honor the sabbath day," which, while important, would hardly have been mistaken as the greatest commandment? What, then, was the reason for this question when the question was as rudimentary as "What commandment is the foremost of all?" The answer is likely, though space will not allow us to explore this here, that Jesus had been affirming that He was the Lord God whom they were to love. The question, then, was designed to see not if Jesus knew the foremost commandment but if He would affirm that He was the Lord they were to love. The Mystery of the Trinity and God's Oneness The Christian affirmation that Jesus is God in the flesh in no way undermines God's oneness. As noted above, the Christian doctrine of the Trinity affirms that three persons eternally exist as one God. That is what tri-unity is all about: three persons and one God. One might say, "But this cannot be. Something cannot be three distinct persons and still be one in substance." To an extent, this is correct. The problem here is that we are approaching the question from this side of creation. That is, we are looking at it from the perspective of the universe (or creation) and all that is in it. Indeed, as we know, there is nothing that can be three and still one. God Transcends Our Comprehension But God is not a part of the creation. He is the uncreated Creator. This raises the question of whether God could be three distinct persons and still be one God. To rule this as "impossible" is to assume that what we know from observing the creation applies to God also. Isaiah, however, makes it clear that God transcends our comprehension: "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' declares the Lord. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9). If God were completely understandable in all His ways, would that not make Him finite? The Nature of God Does not the very nature of God as the one who exists eternally demand that there is a sense in which we are not able to comprehend Him fully? After all, as created beings, we are not able to fully comprehend only that which transcends creation. Everything we have known and experienced is createdit has a beginning and an end. How can we fathom God, who has neither beginning nor end? The nature of God, as revealed in the Scriptures, is that He is one and yet, mysteriously, three. In some sense, the Father, Jesus (the Son), and the Holy Spirit are three and yet one. It is getting to be a regular occurrence. The U.S. Treasury runs out of money and warns Congress that they need more. Politicians on both sides strut and crow but delay until the 11th hour only to pass another "continuing resolution" for a few months. Will it ever end? BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. Whats dampening the Global AMR Battle? December 01, 2024 | Sunday | Features | By Mansi Jamsudkar Although significant national and worldwide efforts have been undertaken to provide financial incentives for antibiotic research and development, it is still unclear how best to fortify the existing programmes to spur antibiotic innovation further. The incentive programmes in place now are a crucial first step in enhancing the economic viability of antibiotic development. However, it seems like there isn't enough global coordination among all the programmes, which could lead to duplication of effort, funding gaps in the value chain, and the failure to include crucial AMR objectives. Lets dig deeper. image credit- shutterstock Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global concern, with the situation worsening year by year. The speed of developing resistance is at par or, in fact, more than the speed of novel antibiotic development. Most of the big pharmaceutical companies have left antibiotic research due to the high risk of failure and poor return on investment. Antibiotic research is mostly carried out by academic institutes and small- and medium-sized enterprises. However, they lack sufficient funds to take the compounds from early and mid-stage to clinical trials and market. Insufficient funding remains a major challenge in advancing research on AMR, both in India and globally. The funding landscape for AMR research is characterised by a lack of sustained investment and inadequate financial support from both the public and private sectors. This lack of resources significantly hampers the development of new antibiotics, diagnostic tools, and treatment approaches. In a scenario where countries fail to contain drug resistance, we could face a staggering $1.7 trillion annual reduction in global economic output by 2050, amounting to a 0.88 per cent decrease in GDP. This would not only escalate hospital treatment costs but also adversely affect tourism and domestic hospitality. An annual investment of $63 billion spent improving access to, and developing new antimicrobials, could generate more than $1.7 trillion in benefits a year by 2050. While $63 billion may sound like a lot of moneyin reality, its less than the world spends on cosmetic surgery, less than video gamers spend on in-game purchases, each yearand its about an eighth of what the world spends on takeout coffee. These findings are from the recent report from Center for Global Development, based at Washington DC and London, a think tank that uses economic research to reduce global poverty and inequality. Scenario that promotes increased access to high-quality treatment for bacterial infections, coupled with funding that spurs the development of new gram-negative antibiotics, presents a more hopeful future. Such initiatives could boost the global economy by an estimated $960 billion by 2050, while simultaneously reducing health care costs by $100 billion. This is in addition to the benefits of simply improving peoples lives and the insurance value of reducing the risk of an AMR outbreak. Inaction on AMR carries a significant economic burden. However, the potential economic gains from measures that stem the rise of AMR are substantial, said Mark Plant, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Policy Fellow, the Center for Global Development, USA. In India, funding for AMR research and initiatives has been relatively limited compared to the need. Public and private sector investments in AMR research have been insufficient, with most resources directed towards modifying existing antimicrobial compounds rather than discovering new therapeutic agents. Misalignment of incentives Only a handful of countries have addressed the AMR issue by implementing or proposing financial incentive models to promote antibiotic innovation. In India, many initiatives towards financial incentives have been made which include the UK-India Fleming Fund (a partnership between the Fleming Fund and India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The fund's goal is to accelerate collaboration on AMR surveillance across One Health sectors), a partnership between C-CAMP and CARB-X that provides funding opportunities for Indian medical innovators working on AMR, Grand Challenges India, etc. However, the misalignment of these incentives is not allowing the achievement of desirable AMR goals in India. One important hurdle is misalignment of incentives. While governments and health services are incentivised to promote prudent use of this common good, pharmaceutical companies are incentivised to increase the volume of sales to maximise profits. This problem must be addressed or else the major efforts going into developing new antibiotics will be in vain, opined Olof Lindahl, Project Coordinator at Uppsala Antibiotic Center, Uppsala University, Sweden. The disconnect between costly antibiotic development and low net present value (NPV, a value calculated based on ultimate costs and revenue) stresses the need for financial incentives that can either decrease the cost of R&D or increase the market revenues. Therefore, several global organisations have put forward funding strategies to lower the cost of developing an antibiotic, directly or indirectly, by cutting down the risk of failures, as they cover both successful and unsuccessful projects. Of the major financial incentives in the field of antibiotic R&D, 71 per cent are strictly push incentives funding the development of novel antibiotics. For instance, the flourishing preclinical antibiotic pipeline in Europe (52 per cent) and America (35 per cent) can be attributed to the proactive approach of government and non-government philanthropic organisations in these continents. Although these strategies showed a positive impact on NPV, they are insufficient as they do not cover the revenue generation after antibiotic approval and are inadequate alone to recuperate the dried antibiotic arena. Dr Reeta KH, Professor at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi said, Equal attention to market sustainability through pull incentives is needed after antibiotic approval to mitigate the market failure challenges, as evidenced by the bankruptcy of Achaogen, an SME that developed plazomicin. Achaogen was unable to sustain the market of plazomicin despite being push-funded from initial stages to clinical trials by Wellcome Trust, the National Institute of Health (NIH), and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). Revitalising the antibiotic pipeline through financial assistance in the form of push funding and uniting the scientific community can bring back the lost art of discovery. Various push funding mechanisms in the last decade have tried to narrow the discovery void that occurred after the lucrative 1980s era of antibiotic development. However, despite numerous funding mechanisms, the pace of development is still slow, and the antibiotic market is unattractive for the big pharmaceuticals. Along with push funding, there is a need to incentivise antibiotic developers through pull funding after regulatory approval to sustain the market. Pharmas apathy towards AMR R&D Indian pharmaceutical companies have significantly reduced investments in AMR research due to several interconnected factors. Developing new antibiotics is less profitable compared to other therapeutic areas like chronic diseases or lifestyle drugs. Antibiotics are usually prescribed for short durations, making their market potential smaller than drugs for chronic conditions, which have long-term usage and higher sales volumes. Moreover, the Indian pharmaceutical industry is highly competitive, with a focus on producing generic drugs at lower costs. Investing in new antibiotic research is seen as less lucrative because generic drugs dominate the antibiotic market, making it difficult for new, more expensive antibiotics to gain traction. Even if a new antibiotic is successfully developed, it is often reserved for severe cases to prevent the development of resistance, leading to limited usage. This controlled application reduces sales potential, discouraging companies from investing in AMR research. Furthermore, Global efforts to limit the overuse of antibiotics further decrease the potential returns on investment for pharmaceutical companies. Policies that encourage the prudent use of antibiotics make it difficult to recoup the significant costs associated with research and development. While commenting on the need for action from pharmaceutical companies, Marijn Verhoef, Director of Operations and Research, Access to Medicine Foundation, Netherlands said, Tackling the sheer scale and pace of drug resistance is a complex global health issue that will require action from pharmaceutical companies across several areas. This includes providing appropriate access and implementing stewardship measures to safeguard the effectiveness of innovative antimicrobials. Failure to do this will limit efforts to tackle drug resistance. The hesitance in investments by Indian pharmaceutical companies in AMR research is largely driven by economic considerations, scientific challenges, lack of robust incentive structures, and a focus on more profitable therapeutic areas with few approval processes and no need for extensive clinical trials. To reverse this trend, there needs to be stronger government support, global collaboration, and innovative funding models that can make AMR research a financially viable venture for these companies. Why the urgency? According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), up to 10 million deaths per year could occur by 2050 due to AMR. "The threat of AMR is not just theoretical; it's something we're seeing every day in our ICUs. Patients who would have had a fighting chance just a few years ago are now facing infections we struggle to treat. We need new weapons in our arsenal, and we need them now. While the development of new antibiotics is crucial, we cannot neglect the importance of antibiotic stewardship. By using these life-saving drugs responsibly and implementing effective infection control measures, we can help slow the spread of resistance." shared Prof. Dr Rahul Pandit, Chair Critical Care, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai. Although major international and national initiatives are aimed at financially incentivising the research and development of antibiotics, it remains unclear how to effectively strengthen the current set of incentive programmes to further accelerate antibiotic innovation. The current set of incentive programmes is an important initial step to improving the economic feasibility of antibiotic development. However, there appears to be a lack of global coordination across all initiatives, which risks duplicating efforts, leaving funding gaps in the value chain and overlooking important AMR goals. In conclusion, we can say that there are significant holes in the global incentive scheme that will impede progress towards bringing novel antibiotics to the market. Firstly, the majority of R&D funding focuses on early-stage push incentives aimed at basic research and preclinical trials, while late-stage push incentives for clinical development remain limited. Secondly, there is a significant lack of large-scale pull incentives that effectively stimulate private investment in clinical trials and the commercialisation of antibiotic products. Thirdly, key public health policies, which outline target product profiles, sustainability goals, and patient access considerations, are not well-integrated into existing R&D incentive frameworks. Lastly, there is a lack of comprehensive guidance and coordination among the various initiatives currently in place. This fragmented approach could be a major factor contributing to gaps in the incentive structure and unmet public health needs. Establishing an international coordination and governing body to support national implementation could be a crucial step toward addressing these policy issues. At the national level, countries must reassess their funding strategies to better drive antibiotic innovation in response to the urgent global threat of AMR. High-level commitments need to be transformed into concrete actions across all sectors. Recent developments in Indian AMR space Innominds, a US-based digital transformation and product engineering company, partnered with Hyderabad-based startup SCIINV Biosciences to introduce AMRx, an advanced AI/ML-driven digital diagnostic tool designed to combat the growing threat of AMR (June 2024). The Indian Medical Association (IMA) formed the National Alliance of Medical Professionals on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAMP-AMR) (July 2024). Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech collaborated with US-based Alopexx, Inc., for the co-development and commercialisation of Alopexxs proprietary broad-spectrum anti-microbial vaccine, AV0328, in India and other low-income and lower-middle-income countries (September 2024). Orchid Pharma, a Chennai-based company, formed Orchid AMS (Antimicrobial Solutions), a dedicated division focused on helping address the critical challenge of AMR in India (September 2024). Telangana launched the AMR Action Plan (October 2024). The International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS) signed a partnership with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), under the aegis of the India AMR Innovation Hub (IAIH), to tackle the growing threat of AMR across the One Health domain (October 2024) Can the academic sector provide robust solutions to counter AMR by driving innovative research? Dr Aakanksha Kalra, Assistant Professor, Shoolini University Resistance to existing drugs has been observed even before the discovery of antibiotics, particularly against natural agents such as plant extracts. After the discovery of penicillin in 1928, the first instances of antibiotic resistance were documented during World War II in the 1940s. However, it wasnt until 2016 that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) garnered significant political attention, leading to the establishment of National Action Plans and stewardship programmes in over 170 countries. Despite this, by the end of 2024, less than 20 per cent of these programmes have been adequately funded or implemented. Meanwhile, the emergence and rapid spread of AMR has continued, driven by factors such as the misuse and improper disposal of antibiotics, environmental conditions, and the role of various agents like soil, water, and animals in spreading resistant genes. This has created a significant gap between the rising threat of AMR and the mechanisms in place either to prevent or to combat it. Addressing AMR effectively requires a multifaceted approach focusing on three key areas: assessment of AMRs current status and spread, accurate diagnosis of resistance mechanisms, and development of both improved treatments and novel technologies. Although AMR remained underappreciated for many years, the post-COVID era has brought renewed attention to the issue. The foremost priority understands the current spread of AMR, which is being actively studied by researchers worldwide. This includes tracking the spread of pathogenic infections, identifying resistance genes, and understanding resistance mechanisms across different regions at regular intervals. Recent academic research has highlighted new pathways for AMR transmission, such as ocular infections, the gut microbiome, disinfectants and antiseptics, and plastics, which represent critical areas of concern. Additionally, understanding microbiome dynamics as predictors of disease resolution during antibiotic treatment of chronic infections has emerged as a promising avenue in combating resistance. Novel contributors to resistance, such as extracellular vesicles (EVs), along with established agents like plasmids and integrons, have also been identified. While improving existing antibiotic therapies remains essential, the development of innovative technologies is crucial to address the growing challenge of AMR. Cutting-edge approaches such as bacteriophage therapy, antimicrobial peptides, and antibody-antimicrobial conjugates are being explored and advanced through academic research. These novel strategies represent a vital part of the global effort to curb the threat of AMR and ensure effective treatment options for future generations. Thus, the academic sector can provide robust solutions to counter AMR by driving innovative research, such as exploring microbiome dynamics as predictors of treatment success, identifying novel contributors like extracellular vesicles, and advancing cutting-edge technologies like bacteriophage therapy and antimicrobial peptides. These efforts complement the pharmaceutical industry by uncovering foundational knowledge and pioneering alternative approaches that can be scaled for practical applications. Mansi Jamsudkar mansi.jamsudkar@mmactiv.com How strategic angel investment is driving global expansion in medtech and diagnostics December 01, 2024 | Sunday | Interviews | By Karna D Shinde, Founder KDS Global and Strategic Angel Investor India has firmly established itself as a key player in the global medtech and diagnostics sectors. With a burgeoning healthcare ecosystem and a growing focus on innovation, the country offers a fertile ground for startups looking to scale their solutions both domestically and internationally. Central to this growth is the role of strategic angel investment, which not only provides financial backing but also offers critical mentorship and strategic direction to help these companies expand their reach. The medtech and diagnostics sectors are among the fastest-growing industries worldwide. Factors such as an ageing global population, increasing rates of chronic diseases, and a greater focus on preventive healthcare have all fuelled the demand for advanced medical technologies and diagnostic tools. As a result, many companies are racing to develop innovative solutions that meet the needs of patients and healthcare providers. India, with its extensive and diverse healthcare system, is poised to take advantage of these trends. The country is already home to a rapidly expanding medtech ecosystem, driven by advancements in areas like artificial intelligence, wearable medical devices, and diagnostic imaging technologies. These innovations have the potential to not only improve healthcare delivery in India but also to create scalable solutions that can be adopted worldwide. This is where strategic angel investment comes in, enabling startups to navigate the complexities of both domestic and global markets. Vital Role of Strategic Angel Investors Strategic angel investors play a crucial role in the development of medtech and diagnostics companies. While they provide essential early-stage capital, their value goes far beyond financial support. These investors bring decades of experience in scaling businesses and offer mentorship that helps startups refine their strategies, products, and market positioning. Strategic angel investors are particularly important for startups looking to expand internationally. Their extensive networks and global market knowledge allow them to provide startups with access to international markets, regulatory pathways, and distribution channels. This is invaluable for MedTech companies aiming to scale their products and reach healthcare providers across different regions. For instance, Promaxo, a company that develops innovative imaging technology for prostate cancer diagnosis, has benefited from strategic angel investors who have helped them enhance their product offerings and expand into global markets like the US and Europe. Such companies leverage the expertise of their investors to refine their technology, meet international standards, and find strategic partnerships that accelerate growth in new markets. Advantage of Indias Healthcare Market Indias healthcare market offers significant advantages for medtech startups. With its vast population and diverse healthcare needs, the country provides a unique testing ground for medical technologies and devices. Startups can develop and fine-tune their products by addressing the distinct challenges of delivering healthcare in both urban and rural areas. Indian strategic angel investors often possess a deep understanding of the domestic market, which enables them to guide startups through the intricacies of local regulations, distribution, and market adoption. This expertise allows MedTech companies to gain a competitive edge within India before looking to expand globally. Moreover, the Indian government has also been supportive of the medtech sector, with initiatives aimed at fostering innovation, improving infrastructure, and encouraging research and development. Strategic angel investors leverage these opportunities to help startups scale efficiently within the country and position themselves for global success. Strategic Mentorship Beyond Funding Beyond capital, strategic angel investors are invaluable for the tactical and prudent guidance they offer. Their experience in scaling businesses internationally helps startups navigate the complex regulatory, financial, and operational challenges that come with global expansion. Strategic angel investors with a background in both healthcare and business management understand the nuances of global market entry, including regulatory hurdles, clinical trials, and reimbursement models. Take Neuro42, a company focused on advanced diagnostic technology for neurological diseases. This startup, like many others, has been able to refine its product and clinical processes with the guidance of strategic angel investors who offer invaluable support in navigating regulatory approval processes in major markets like the US and Europe. Their mentorship extends to identifying potential partners, securing strategic collaborations, and tapping into new revenue streams. For startups in the medtech and diagnostics sectors, having access to experienced strategic investors who understand the nuances of both technology and business operations is a key differentiator. These strategic investors provide more than just capital; they enable the companies they back to evolve into global players. India as Medtech Innovation Hub Indias role as an emerging hub for medtech innovation is crucial. The countrys ability to develop affordable, high-quality medical devices that cater to both local and international markets sets it apart. Strategic angel investors are recognising the countrys potential and investing in startups that focus on cutting-edge technologies such as minimally invasive surgery, diagnostic imaging, and artificial intelligence in healthcare. Companies like Otomagnetics, which is developing non-invasive MRI technology, are benefiting from strategic angel investors who help them refine their technologies and scale their operations. Indias cost-effective manufacturing capabilities, combined with its rapidly expanding digital infrastructure, make it an ideal location for startups to develop innovative medical devices. With strategic angel investors playing a pivotal role in helping these companies scale, India is increasingly being recognised as a centre for high-impact medtech solutions. This strategic positioning enables startups to develop solutions that address both the unique healthcare challenges of the Indian market and the broader global needs. Scaling Global Impact Looking ahead, the future of the medtech and diagnostics industries is promising, with tremendous opportunities for innovation and expansion. As these industries continue to grow, strategic angel investors will remain key players in driving the global success of startups. The next wave of medtech companies will focus on areas such as precision medicine, digital health solutions, and AI-driven diagnosticsfields where India is poised to lead the way. Medtech startups, backed by strategic angel investors, will continue to play a crucial role in addressing global healthcare challenges. By leveraging Indias vast talent pool, manufacturing capabilities, and healthcare infrastructure, these startups are well-positioned to develop products that meet the needs of patients worldwide. As these companies continue to innovate, strategic angel investors will play an integral role in enabling them to scale, refine their products, and tap into international markets. By providing both financial support and calculated advice, investors ensure that Indian medtech startups can successfully navigate global challenges, break into new markets, and revolutionise healthcare delivery worldwide. In conclusion, the symbiotic relationship between medtech startups and strategic angel investors is driving the global expansion of innovative healthcare solutions. As more companies refine their products and scale internationally, India will remain a critical hub for healthcare innovation, with strategic angel investors continuing to empower startups to make a meaningful impact on global healthcare. Karna D Shinde, Founder KDS Global and Strategic Angel Investor Anabio Technologies acquires Microbe Investigations Switzerland, ushering in new era of Indo-Swiss collaboration November 29, 2024 | Friday | News The company takes a significant step toward expanding its footprint and expertise in microbial diagnostics Anabio, a Bengaluru-based femtech startup innovating in the menstrual hygiene space, has announced its acquisition of Microbe Investigations Switzerland (MIS), a Zurich-based company in microbial research and diagnostics. The announcement was made recently at a special event hosted at Swissnex, marking a new era of collaboration between India and Switzerland in advancing biotechnology innovation. Founded in 2017 in a garage in Hartford, Connecticut, USA, and relocated to Bengaluru, in 2018, Anabio has grown into a global innovator. With this acquisition, the company takes a significant step toward expanding its footprint and expertise in microbial diagnostics, microbiome research, and sustainable applications across multiple sectors. MIS, a spinoff from ETH Zurich, is a boutique Contract Research Organization (CRO) specialising in microbiology, virology, and entomology services. It caters to a wide range of industries, including textiles, disinfectants, plastics, paints, biopharma, insecticides, and pesticides, serving clients from over 75 countries. The acquisition positions MIS to scale its operations and align with Anabio's vision for global growth. The event witnessed participation from prominent dignitaries, including Priyank Kharge, Minister for Electronics, IT, Biotechnology, and Rural Development, Government of Karnataka; Ruchi Bindal, Department of Electronics, Information Technology and Science and Technology, Govt. of Karnataka; Jonas Brunschwig, CEO and Consul General of Swissnex; Mithun Shah, CEO of Anabio Technologies; and Prof. Dr. Hendrik Tevaearai, Chairman of the Board, MIS. The event also saw the unveiling of MISs new logo and website, symbolizing a fresh brand identity as the company embarks on this transformative journey under Anabios leadership. Speaking on the occasion, Mithun Shah, CEO of Anabio Technologies, said, "This acquisition is a defining moment for Anabio as it aligns with our mission to harness microbial technologies for a better future. The expertise of MIS will enable us to accelerate innovation and bring cutting-edge solutions to global markets." The Government of Karnataka has been instrumental in Anabios success. The company has received unwavering support through programmes such as Elevate funding, incubation at the Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre, and empanelment under the Preferential Procurement and Market Access Program. Speaking at the event, Priyank Kharge, Minister for Electronics, IT, Biotechnology, and Rural Development, Government of Karnataka, said, "This acquisition is a testament to Karnatakas thriving biotech ecosystem. With initiatives like Elevate, Unnati, world-class infrastructure, and a supportive policy framework, we are proud to enable startups like Anabio to thrive and lead globally." Speaking at the event, Jonas Brunschwig, CEO and Consul General of Swissnex remarked, The acquisition of Microbe Investigation Switzerland by Anabio marks a milestone in Indo-Swiss collaboration, blending Indian ingenuity with Swiss precision to drive groundbreaking advancements in biotechnology. This partnership not only strengthens the global biotech ecosystem but also sets a powerful example of how cross-border innovation can address critical challenges in health and sustainability." BEND Central Oregon school districts, like school districts across the state, are facing millions of dollars in increases in employer contributions to the Public Employees Retirement System, or PERS, for the 2025-27 biennium. The state systems investment accounts have not made as much in returns as was expected, on top of rising PERS costs due to increases in payroll and staffing, and costs associated with a pre-2003 plan under which employers were responsible for massive PERS contributions. Bend-La Pine Schools will see an increase of more than $11 million in PERS costs alone for the two-year budget cycle starting in July, on the heels of other bad budgetary news. The district implemented a 10% cut in overall discretionary spending for schools this year. It also cut 58 staff positions this year and anticipates cutting 120 employees for the 2025-26 school year. The districts May local option levy failed, so the district didnt receive funding that would have helped maintain programming and staff after the recent end of pandemic relief funds. District administrators are unsure how they will handle these mounting costs and budget constraints. The PERS cost increases could effectively erase the increase in education funding proposed by Gov. Tina Kotek, but school districts will begin budget-making processes for the next year without knowing how much of Koteks proposed $515 million in funding, if any, will be passed by the Legislature. Bend-La Pine Schools Bend-La Pine Schools will see its PERS costs rise by $5.8 million per year going forward. The PERS rate will now represent 21% of salaries, up from 17%. The district was expecting an increase in costs, but anticipated it would be $3.7 million less than it was. Its still too early to say how that additional expense will affect our overall operations in 2025-26. Before we develop and bring a budget to the School Board for adoption next June, we need to know what our State School Fund allocation will be for the next biennium, once the 2025 Legislature and governor take final action on education funding, said Scott Maben, district communications director, in an email. The district is also required to have a reserve fund of 5% of the general budget. The reserve fund is $23.5 million and is in place to protect against financial instability. The districts two employee unions, for educators and support staff, will return to the bargaining table with the district to negotiate the third and fourth years of their current contracts in the spring. These sessions include salary and benefits, which will be factored into the districts operating budget as it takes shape. Redmond and Crook County schools The Redmond School District anticipates that PERS increases will grow costs by over $7 million over the 2025-27 biennium. Due to issuing pension obligation bonds in 2004 and 2021, PERS rates are lower than they could be for the district, which estimates the bonds saved the district $18.2 million. Of course, due to the timing of our budget development process, we will have to make assumptions about the likely level of state funding we will receive, wrote Fiscal Services Director Kathy Steinert in an email. However, we do not even have Gov. Koteks proposed budget yet, so we do not know the starting point. The district has not yet begun to decide what changes to make to the 2025-26 budget in light of the PERS rate increases. It does have $2.5 million in reserve, which it plans to use to help mitigate the impact of PERS increases on student-focused programs. Decision-making will not begin in earnest until the February/March timeframe, wrote Steinert. We are preparing for those decision-making conversations with District leaders, the school board, the Budget Committee and other partners such as our employee associations. Crook County Schools PERS rate increases could result in reductions to other areas of the operating budget if there isnt enough revenue to offset it, said Chief Financial Officer Anna Logan. The district does expect to increase its revenue, but the budget could require changes. Even if there were no salary or wage increases between now and 2025-2026, the increased cost to the district is over $3.2 million per year in costs, she wrote. In fact, we will need to reduce costs somehow. The district has not yet begun its budget process or had any discussions about what could be reduced or exactly this is will affect the budget, students, staff or programming. We do have a PERS reserve, but the balance is only $2.1 million. The projected annual increase in PERS costs is over $3 million, so the PERS reserve wont cover that increase, Logan wrote. Chronic absenteeism declined in Central Oregon last year A protest is underway at Dublin Airport after locals claimed the opening of the new north runway has had a negative impact on the area. The residents say their children are suffering from sleep deprivation, which is affecting their educational potential and overall wellbeing. Advertisement There have been many complaints about noise levels and flight paths since the opening of the new North Runway in 2022. The Airport operator is under pressure from Ryanair boss, Michael O'Leary, to expand the airport's passenger cap from 32 million to 40 million. In response, the DAA says the North Runway is closed between 11pm and 7am each night. According to the DAA, the organisation has met more than 10 times with representatives of local communities over the last 12 months. The DAA also said that Dublin Airport's Community Engagement team has made weekly visits to the homes of residents impacted by airport operations to listen to their concerns and discuss available solutions. Israeli jets launched an airstrike over a southern Lebanese border village on Sunday, while troops shelled other border towns and villages still under Israeli control, according to Lebanons state-run National News Agency. The attacks come days after a US-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Advertisement The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strike in the village of Yaroun, nor did the Hezbollah militant group. Destroyed buildings in an area of the village of Odaisseh in southern Lebanon (Leo Correa/AP) Israel continues to call on displaced Lebanese people not to return to dozens of southern villages in this current stage of the ceasefire. It also continues to impose a daily curfew for people moving across the Litani River between 5pm and 7am. Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and the Lebanese military have been critical of Israeli strikes and overflights since the ceasefire went into effect, accusing Israel of violating the agreement. Advertisement The military said it had filed complaints, but no clear military action has been taken by Hezbollah in response, meaning that the tense cessation of hostilities has not yet broken down. When Israel has issued statements about these strikes, it says they were done to thwart possible Hezbollah attacks. The United States military announced on Friday that Major General Jasper Jeffers alongside senior US envoy Amos Hochstein will co-chair a new US-led monitoring committee that includes France, the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon known as Unifil (UN interim force in Lebanon), Lebanon and Israel. Backdropped by a Lebanese village an Israeli army position sits near the Israeli-Lebanese border, during the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah (Leo Correa/AP) Mr Hochstein led over a year of shuttle diplomacy to broker the ceasefire deal, and his role will be temporary until a permanent civilian co-chair is appointed. Advertisement Lebanon, meanwhile, is trying to pick up the pieces and return to some level of normal life after the war that decimated large swathes of its south and east, displacing an estimated 1.2 million people. The Lebanese military said it detonated unexploded munitions left over from Israeli strikes in southern and eastern Lebanon. Elsewhere, the Lebanese Civil Defence said it removed five bodies from under the rubble in two southern Lebanese towns over the past 24 hours. The first phase of the ceasefire is a 60-day cessation of hostilities where Hezbollah militants are supposed to withdraw from southern Lebanon north of the Litani River and Israeli troops withdraw from southern Lebanon into northern Israel. Advertisement Lebanese troops are to deploy in large numbers in the south, effectively being the only armed force in control of the south alongside Unifil peacekeepers. UNIFIL peacekeepers are among those to be deployed to southern Lebanon as part of the ceasefire (Mohammed Zaatari/AP) But challenges still remain at this current stage. Many families who want to bury their dead deep in southern Lebanon are unable to do so. The Lebanese Health Ministry and military allocated a plot of land in the coastal city of Tyre for those people to be temporarily laid to rest. Dr Wissam Ghazal of the Health Ministry in Tyre said almost 200 bodies have been temporarily buried in that plot of land until the situation near the border calms down. Advertisement In the meantime, cash-strapped Lebanon is trying to fundraise as much money as it can to help rebuild the country. The war cost some 8.5 billion dollars (6.6 billion) in damages and losses according to the World Bank. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri also called for parliament to convene to elect a president next month to break a gridlock of over two years and reactivate the countrys crippled state institutions. The Oscar-winning screenwriter Marshall Brickman, whose wide-ranging career spanned some of Woody Allens best films and the Broadway musical Jersey Boys, has died aged 85. Brickman died on Friday in Manhattan, his daughter Sophie Brickman told The New York Times. No cause of death was cited. Advertisement Brickman was best known for his extensive collaboration with Allen, beginning with the 1973 film Sleeper. Together, they co-wrote Annie Hall (1977), Manhattan (1979) and Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993). The loosely structured script for Annie Hall, in particular, has been hailed as one of the wittiest comedies. It won Brickman and Allen an Oscar for best original screenplay. In his acceptance speech, Brickman referenced one of the films many oft-quoted lines, saying: Ive been out here a week, and I still have guilt when I make a right turn on a red light. If the film is worth anything, Brickman told Vanity Fair in 2017, it gives a very particular specific image of what it was like to be alive in New York at that time in that particular social-economic stratum. Advertisement Brickman and Allen had met in the early 1960s when Allen was breaking through as a stand-up comedian. Brickman, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was the son of Jewish socialists Abram, who fled Poland during the Second World War, and Pauline (Wolin) Brickman, who was from New York. They later moved to the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, where Brickman grew up. His start in show business, after graduating from the University of Wisconsin with degrees in science and music, came with the folk group the Tarriers, replacing Alan Arkin in the group. One of the reasons I was asked to join was because they needed somebody to front the group and talk while everybody was tuning up, Brickman told the Writers Guild in 2011. And so I started to develop little jokes and routines and stuff like that. Advertisement By the late 60s, Brickman was head writer for Johnny Carsons The Tonight Show. There, one of his most enduring contributions was the Carnac the Magnificent sketches, during which Carson played a mystic from the East who could divine answers to unseen questions. Brickmans other TV stints included Candid Camera, The Dick Cavett Show and The Muppet Show. When Brickman and Allen began writing together, they found a natural chemistry, with Brickman playing a supporting role to Allens semi-autobiographical material. Advertisement We didnt write scenes together. I think thats the death for any collaboration, Brickman told the Writers Guild. I dont think theres any such thing really as an equal collaboration. I think that in any collaboration, one person, one personality, one point of view has to dominate. Brickman wrote The Addams Family alongside Rick Elice (Alamy/PA) Brickman wrote and directed the 1980 film Simon, starring Arkin as a psychology professor brainwashed into believing hes from outer space. He also directed 1983s Lovesick, with Alec Guinness as the ghost of Sigmund Freud, and 1986s The Manhattan Project, about a high schooler who builds a nuclear weapon for a school project. With Rick Elice penning the music, Brickman wrote the Broadway musical Jersey Boys, about the 1960s rock group The Four Seasons. It ran on Broadway for 12 years beginning in 2005. He and Elice also wrote the 2010 musical The Addams Family. Brickman is survived by his wife, Nina, daughters Sophie and Jessica, and five grandchildren. A third night of protests in the Georgian capital against the governments decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union left 44 people in hospital after police deployed water cannons and tear gas, officials said on Sunday. Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered outside parliament in Tbilisi on Saturday night, throwing stones and setting off fireworks. Advertisement An effigy of the founder of the governing Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili a shadowy billionaire who made his fortune in Russia was burned in front of the legislature. Georgias Interior Ministry said on Sunday that 27 protesters, 16 police and one media worker were admitted to hospital. Demonstrators use firecrackers against police during a rally against the Georgian governments decision to suspend negotiations on joining the EU for four years (Zurab Tsertsvadze/AP) Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze warned that any violation of the law will be met with the full rigor of the law. Neither will those politicians who hide in their offices and sacrifice members of their violent groups to severe punishment escape responsibility, he said at a briefing on Sunday. Advertisement He said it is not true that Georgias European integration has been halted. The only thing we have rejected is the shameful and offensive blackmail, which was, in fact, a significant obstacle to our countrys European integration, he said. On Saturday, he said unspecified foreign entities wished to see the Ukrainisation of Georgia with a Maidan-style scenario a reference to Ukraines 2014 Maidan revolution which ousted the countrys Moscow-friendly president and unleashed a decade of momentous change for Ukraine, eventually leading to its current war with Russia. Mr Kobakhidze also dismissed the US State Departments statement on Saturday that it was suspending its strategic partnership with Georgia. The statement condemned Georgias decision to halt its efforts towards EU accession. Advertisement You can see that the outgoing administration is trying to leave the new administration with as difficult a legacy as possible. They are doing this regarding Ukraine, and now also concerning Georgia, Mr Kobakhidze said of the US. This will not have any fundamental significance. We will wait for the new administration and discuss everything with them. A demonstrator gestures as police block a street in Tbilisi, Georgia (Zurab Tsertsvadze/AP) The ruling Georgian Dream partys disputed victory in the October 26 parliamentary election, which was widely seen as a referendum on Georgias aspirations to join the EU, has sparked major demonstrations and led to an opposition boycott of parliament. The opposition has said the vote was rigged with the help of Russia, Georgias former imperial master, with Moscow hoping to keep Tbilisi in its orbit. Advertisement Speaking to the Associated Press on Saturday, Georgias pro-Western president, Salome Zourabichvili, said her country is becoming a quasi-Russian state and that Georgian Dream controls the major institutions. We are not demanding a revolution. We are asking for new elections, but in conditions that will ensure that the will of the people will not be misrepresented or stolen again, she said. Georgia has been always resisting Russian influence and will not accept having its vote stolen and its destiny stolen. The governments announcement that it was suspending negotiations to join the EU came hours after the European Parliament adopted a resolution criticising last months vote as neither free nor fair. Advertisement It said the election represented another manifestation of Georgias continued democratic backsliding for which the ruling Georgian Dream party is fully responsible. The EU granted Georgia candidate status in December 2023 on condition that it meets the blocs recommendations, but put its accession on hold and cut financial support earlier this year after the passage of a foreign influence law widely seen as a blow to democratic freedoms. Police block a street in Tbilisi to prevent protesters rallying against the governments decision to suspend negotiations on joining the EU (Zurab Tsertsvadze/AP) EU politicians urged a rerun of the parliamentary vote within a year under thorough international supervision and by an independent election administration. They also called on the EU to impose sanctions and limit formal contacts with the Georgian government. Georgias prime minister denounced what he described as a cascade of insults from EU politicians and said the ill-wishers of our country have turned the European Parliament into a blunt weapon of blackmail against Georgia, which is a great disgrace for the European Union. Mr Kobakhidze also said Georgia will reject any budgetary grants from the EU until the end of 2028. Critics have accused Georgian Dream of becoming increasingly authoritarian and tilted towards Moscow. The party recently pushed through laws similar to those used by the Kremlin to crack down on freedom of speech and LGBTQ+ rights. The Syrian military rushed in reinforcements and struck Idlib city on Sunday in an attempt to stop insurgents from advancing further after they seized Aleppo and surrounding strategic locations in an adjacent province in a surprise offensive. The insurgents, led by Salafi jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, took over most of Aleppo on Saturday and claimed to have entered the city of Hama. There was no independent confirmation of their claim. Advertisement The swift and surprise offensive is a huge embarrassment for Syrian President Bashar Assad and raises questions about his troops preparedness. It also comes at a time when Mr Assads allies Iran and groups it backs and Russia are preoccupied with their own conflicts. Syrian opposition fighters get on a motorcycle as others stand on top of a captured armoured vehicle in the town of Maarat al-Numan, south-west of Aleppo (Omar Albam/AP) Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will travel to the Syrian capital, Damascus, later on Sunday. He told reporters that Tehran will back the Syrian government and army. Arab leaders, including Jordans King Abdullah II and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, expressed their solidarity with Damascus in calls with Mr Assad. Advertisement Turkey, a main backer of Syrian opposition groups, said its diplomatic efforts had failed to stop Syrian government attacks on opposition-held areas in recent weeks. Turkish security officials said a limited offensive by the rebels was planned to stop government attacks and allow civilians to return, but the offensive expanded as Syrian government forces began to retreat from their positions. The insurgents, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which includes Turkey-backed fighters, launched their offensive on Wednesday with a two-pronged attack on Aleppo and the Idlib countryside, before moving towards Hama province. In Aleppo province, they captured a strategic town that lies on the highway linking Aleppo with Damascus and the coast. Advertisement Rebel commander Colonel Hassan Abdulghani said that despite the government counter-offensive, his fighters are making gains in Aleppo. He said they took control of Sheikh Najjar, also known as the Aleppo Industrial City, Aleppos military academy and the field artillery college. He added that 65 Syrian troops were taken prisoner in eastern Aleppo. Opposition fighters stand on top of a captured Syrian army armoured vehicle in the town of Maarat al-Numan, south-west of Aleppo (Omar Albam/AP) Elsewhere, he said the insurgents advanced in the Idlib countryside, putting all of the province under their control. The United Nations special envoy for Syria said the shock push by the rebels poses a risk to regional security and called for resumed diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. Advertisement I have repeatedly warned of the risks of escalation in Syria, of the dangers of mere conflict management rather than conflict resolution, Geir Pedersen said in a statement. He added that the reality is that no Syrian party or grouping of actors can resolve the conflict via military means. According to Syrian state news agency Sana and a war monitor, the army pushed back insurgents in the northern countryside of Hama province overnight. Syrian state media said government resupply included heavy equipment and rocket launchers, while Syrian and Russian air strikes targeted weapons depots and insurgent strongholds. Advertisement Britain-based opposition war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said government reinforcements created a strong defensive line in the northern Hama countryside. Syrian state television claimed government forces have killed nearly 1,000 insurgents over the past three days, without providing evidence or details. Government air strikes in Idlib on Sunday killed at least three civilians, including two children, and injured 11 other people, said the Syrian Civil Defence, known as the White Helmets, which operates in opposition-held areas. Among the targets were the Aleppo Hospital University in the city centre, though there was no word on casualties. A defaced portrait of Syrian President Bashar Assad lies on the ground in the town of Maarat al-Numan, south-west of Aleppo (Omar Albam/AP) The insurgents vowed to push all the way into Damascus, but life in the Syrian capital remained normal with no signs of panic. In his first public comments since the start of the offensive, released by the state news agency on Saturday evening, Mr Assad said Syria will continue to defend its stability and territorial integrity against terrorists and their supporters. He added that Syria is able to defeat them no matter how much their attacks intensify. The 2016 battle for Aleppo was a turning point in the war between Syrian government forces and rebel fighters after 2011 protests against Mr Assads rule turned into an all-out war. After appearing to be losing control of the country to the rebels, the Aleppo battle secured his hold on strategic areas of Syria, with opposition factions and their foreign backers controlling areas on the periphery. Embattled WiseTech founder Richard White will own even more of the company after agreeing to buy 10.2 million shares in the business from the groups co-founder as the tech firm deals with the aftermath of Whites resignation following allegations of inappropriate behaviour. Late on Friday, WiseTech said Maree Isaac, who remains an executive director of the group, had sold most of her shares in WiseTech to White for an upfront payment of $285 million and quarterly instalment payments over the next seven years based on the companys share price at the time. The 10.2 million shares being sold to White are worth more than $1 billion based on Fridays share price. Maree Isaacs remains an executive director at WiseTech despite the share sale. Isaacs indicated the deal allowed her to access the wealth she had built up since co-founding the company 30 years ago. She said she remained committed to the company. Brisbane residents endured muggy, stifling conditions on Monday after slow-moving thunderstorms pummelled the city at the weekend, with heavy rainfall, flash flooding and a dam overspill. Any cool reprieve from the weekends wet weather was shortlived, as the temperature peaked at 31 degrees in Brisbanes CBD about 1.30pm on Monday, while the relative humidity was an oppressive 81 per cent. The conditions were on par with those experienced in the wet tropics. The dew point a more accurate measure of the humidity in Brisbane was about 22 to 23 degrees, similar to Darwin. Its pretty uncomfortable, forecaster Shane Kennedy from the Bureau of Meteorology said. Since Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he would pursue a world-leading social media ban for under-16s, one question has dogged his government: how will it work? Tony Allen, who leads the company that will trial technologies for the Australian government, says there are three key options to assess users age that his company will be probing as it comes up with a toolkit for social media platforms. The first tool Tony Allen and his team will test is age verification. Credit: Getty Images Testing begins in the first half of next year on a sample group of about 1100 Australians, and a cultural adviser will ensure the specific needs of Australias Indigenous and immigrant communities are considered. But no single tool would prevail, Allen said in an interview with this masthead. Nor will the government force social media companies to adopt any specific option, although Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has ruled out requiring people to upload proof of identity directly to social media platforms. Three more staff members from a Laos hostel believed to be the source of a mass methanol poisoning have been arrested, after six tourists, including two Australian teenagers, died. In total, 11 staff from Nana Backpackers in Vang Vieng have been taken into custody, and the owners of the factory thought to have produced the alcohol in question known as Tiger vodka and Tiger whiskey have also been arrested. A foreign tourist couple rest near a swimming pool at Nana Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos. Credit: AP The development comes as the mother of British tourist Simone White, one of the six tourists killed, spoke to The Sunday Times, reported by Londons The Telegraph. Sue White detailed the devastating moment she received a call to inform her that Simone was in a critical condition. I knew when I had that phone call I dont know what it was, call it a mothers intuition but I knew that she was going to die, White said. Tomas Doherty Ireland has a new political map with first-preference votes now counted in every constituency. The national vote share in the general election comes close to what was predicted in opinion polls in the final days of the campaign, with Fianna Fail slightly ahead of Fine Gael. Sinn Fein has seen the biggest drop in vote share, down 5.5 percentage points since 2020. The Green Party will probably lose the most seats in this election, with even leader Roderic O'Gorman at risk of elimination. The party, which has been part of the coalition government over the last four years, has also seen a significant drop in vote share, down 4.1 percentage points. Other smaller parties have had a more successful election Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and Aontu have all increased their vote share. The result reveals a further fragmentation in Irish politics, with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael on a combined share of 43 per cent of the vote about the same as what Fianna Fail secured on its own in 2007. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said her party had "broken the political mould". "Two party politics is now gone," she said. "Its consigned to the dustbin of history and that, in itself, is very significant." Despite Ms McDonalds confidence around shaping a coalition without Fine Gael and Fianna Fail the two parties that have dominated the landscape of politics for a century the pathway to government for Sinn Fein still appears challenging. Fianna Fail is likely to increase its seat lead over Fine Gael compared with the 2020 election, which saw the parties enter a coalition on the basis that the holder of the taoiseach position would be exchanged midway through the term. Attention has now turned to whether Labour, the Social Democrats or a group of Independent politicians could become a junior partner in a coalition. BNP chairman Tarique Rahman, all others acquitted in 2004 grenade attack case Dhaka, Dec 1 (UNI) The Bangladesh High Court on Sunday acquitted BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman and all other suspects in the case related to the August 21, 2004, grenade attack on an Awami League rally that killed 24 people. The bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain delivered the verdict on the appeal and the death references in the case on Sunday. Accordingly, the trial court's death sentences for 19 people, life terms for 19 others, including Tarique, and different jail terms for 11 police and army personnel are quashed, bdnews24 reported. Cartoon Brew is putting the spotlight on animated short films that have qualified for the 2025 Oscars. Todays film is A Wind and the Shadow from Irish filmmaker Kris Kelly. The short earned its Oscars qualification through theatrical exhibition. As the line between reality and memory blurs, a mother confronts her fears and uncertainty, revealing a narrative of resilience and love. This journey leads to a profound moment when her daughter bravely discusses her illness in this short inspired by real events and created by BAFTA-nominated writer/director Kris Kelly. The film is co-produced by Belfast-based Out of Orbit and Enter Yes. Cartoon Brew: Youve mentioned in previous interviews that throughout the production process, you had long streams of teamwork mixed with your own solo sessions to keep costs down. How did you feel going between those different work settings and techniques on the way to achieving this short? Kris Kelly: Moving between solo sessions and collaborative teamwork was always a refreshing change for me. After extended periods of solo work, I would often feel ready to collaborate, leaning on the incredible skills, professionalism, and unique approaches that others brought to the project. Those collaborations often sparked new ideas, shapes, emotions, or styles that I could then explore further in my solo sessions, allowing me to refine the film in a way that felt more personal and deeply connected to the subject. I find it incredibly fulfilling to move between these two modes of working. Its important to me that the collaborative nature of filmmaking is evident on screen its not just the vision of one person but the combined talent of a team. Im always vocal about promoting and celebrating the contributions of everyone involved. What was it about this story or concept that connected with you and compelled you to direct the film? The subject felt incredibly profound to me, and I was deeply inspired by the strength and resilience I witnessed in others. I wanted to share that sense of inspiration the kind of strength that often goes unnoticed but deserves to be highlighted. It felt like a story that needed to be told, one that could resonate with people and offer a glimpse into the beauty of human perseverance and the support we give each other during challenging times. What did you learn through the experience of making this film, either production-wise, filmmaking-wise, creatively, or about the subject matter? As a filmmaker Ive always been fascinated by the challenge of using animation to explore real and profound subjects. On this project I learned to be more agnostic in my approach to mediums, focusing on finding the right way to communicate an idea rather than adhering to conventional definitions of animation or live-action. I greatly admire filmmakers who move seamlessly between these mediums or blend them to create something entirely new, and this film pushed me to think about how I could confidently do the same in my own work. The profound nature of the subject, combined with the constrained budget and production challenges, forced me to truly consider what I wanted to explore as creative. It taught me the importance of trusting my instincts, being confident in my creative language, and using animation as a tool to enhance storytelling rather than being limited by traditional rules or industry expectations. This experience ultimately gave me greater clarity about my voice as a filmmaker and reinforced my belief that the medium should always serve the story, not the other way around. Can you describe how you developed your visual approach to the film, why you settled on this style/technique, and how this shaped the final work? My visual style has been developed over years of exploring the balance between tangible, real-world techniques textured, layered imagery and the use of computer technology to produce films within budget constraints. Striking this balance has been a long journey, driven by the need to adapt the approach to fit the emotional tone and subject matter of each project. A key focus of my style is the human face, particularly expressions and the details around the eyes. I noticed that in peripheral areas of the frame places less likely to draw the viewers attention I could use more automated or cg techniques without losing the emotional impact. However, for key features like faces or motions that need to register deeply, I invest time in hand-crafting these elements. This interplay between automation and manual work allows the imagery to feel alive in a unique way. My process involves reviewing the film, letting it settle, and then revisiting areas that lack organic, real moments. I return to these areas with techniques that are looser, more expressive, and more painterly. This approach is tied to my belief that animation can offer a certain honesty and openness, especially when telling stories about real subjects. By avoiding overly rigid or concrete shapes and forms, I invite the audience to bring their own interpretations to the work. This balance between techniques amplifies the emotion in the work, allowing me to create something that feels both authentic and achievable within the realities of production constraints. My father taught in the Ceramics Engineering Department at Georgia Tech for 24 years. A number of those graduates in Ceramics Engineering worked in Chattanooga. Most of them at American Lava Company which was located at the intersection of Manufacturers Road and Cherokee Boulevard where the INCubator is now located. Daddy joined the Navy in WW II and invented the computer for 6-inch naval guns. It improved a crews performance by 2000 percent. Across Manufacturers Road from American Lava was Samuel Stamping and Enameling Co. Mr. Samuel got into a difference with the supplier of the ceramic radiants that his gas heaters required. He tried to make them himself, but could not. I remember coming to Chattanooga with Daddy when the two of them made a business deal. I was 10 or 11 years of age. I watched while Daddy and Mr. Samuel sat in lawn chairs in Mr. Samuels driveway. They came to some business arrangement that put Daddy into the manufacturing business. So now, he was a teacher and a manufacturer. He was great at both. Really, great at both. He was principled and knowledgeable and a great salesman. Daddy moved all the manufacturing equipment to right outside Atlanta in Marietta. As a teenager, Daddy posed a question to me. Daddy was from Greensboro, N.C. where his father had been a manufacturer also. My grandfather was also an inventor and held 20 U.S. patents. Among his patents were the first automatic dovetailing machine, the hollow mortise chisel which drilled square holes in wood and the stroke sander. All of them are still used today. Daddy told me this story: There was a fine principled man who had served for years in the North Carolina legislature. He was a man of great integrity: a statesman! Some people wanted to honor him with a formal banquet, however he was from the backwoods and knew little about formal manners. During the banquet, finger bowls were put out, and the guest of honor reached down, picked up his bowl and drank the hot water. The other guest were horrified, not because he didnt understand how to use his finger bowl, but because they were going to embarrass the guest of honor when they used theirs the right way. The guests looked down the table to the host who picked up his bowl and drank the hot water. My father asked me, Was that proper etiquette? I was 18 or 19 years of age and I am thankful that I gave the wrong answer because I got to hear my father explanation. I said, No, sir. Daddy said, Oh yes it was. Proper etiquette and good manners are nothing more than having consideration for other people. Charles F. Wysong, Jr. Home News Sudanese Christians among hardest hit by ongoing war As the war in Sudan enters its second year with no clear resolution in sight, there are real fears that an escalation of hostilities between the Sudan Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces will further aggravate the humanitarian situation in Sudan. Speaking to Christian Daily International, the General Secretary of the Sudan Evangelical Alliance, Rafat Samir, notes that Sudanese Christians have long been ignored and neglected in humanitarian relief increasing their vulnerability. Members of the Evangelical churches are not among the groups accepted by the two warring parties due to their political and ethnic differences, said Samir, who suggested that Christianity is seen as a Western import with spy charges often used against Christians. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The Sudan Evangelical Alliance and local church leaders revealed critical shortages in food, clean water, medical supplies, and educational materials where most Christians were located in the IDP camps and inside the war zones. The Alliance has highlighted that the worlds attention has been focused on the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East while the crisis in Sudan has often been underreported. Conflict, violence and displacement in Sudan has been a mainstay since the Darfur crisis in 2003. The country hosted 1 million refugees the second highest refugee population in Africa mostly coming from various conflicts in South Sudan and Tigray in Northern Ethiopia. After long-time Sudan ruler Omar al Bashir was ousted in 2019, there was some hope of a return to civilian rule, but the situation worsened instead. Amid the conflict, the country over the years has been impacted by severe weather conditions contributing to droughts and food insecurity. Tom Perriello, the U.S. special envoy to Sudan, traveled to the African country for the first time on Nov. 18 to push for an increase in the flow of aid to millions of people in need and bring an end to the devastating war. The visit was seen by many as a possible catalyst to at least ensure access to aid. According to a U.S. State Department statement, Perriello discussed "the need to cease fighting, enable unhindered humanitarian access, including through localized pauses in the fighting to allow for the delivery of emergency relief supplies, and commit to a civilian government." On Nov. 22, the U.N.'s World Food Programme announced it had scaled-up its food aid operations across Sudan, reaching millions of people in the countrys most needy and isolated conflict areas. Over 700 trucks carrying about 17,500 tons of food were dispatched from the port of Sudan, enough to feed 1.5 million for a month. WFP Regional Director for East Africa, Laurent Bukera, said the organization has been pushing to reach isolated conflict regions to turn the tide of famine in one of the worlds worst hunger crises. Despite the inroads in the distribution of food, the U.N. says more than 25 million people are in dire need of aid in the country. The numbers are even more staggering when taking into account that the estimated population of Sudan is 50 million people. Sudan is, once again, becoming a nightmare of mass ethnic violence. The suffering is growing by the day, with almost 25 million people now requiring humanitarian assistance. They are enduring a nightmare of violence, hunger, collapsed infrastructure, displacement and extreme weather, said Antonio Guterres, U.N. secretary-general, in remarks to the U.N. Security Council in October. The U.N. secretary-general further points out that Sudan is also the site of the largest displacement crisis in the world, with more than 11 million people fleeing since April last year. Noting that nearly 3 million have crossed into neighboring countries with thousands battling extreme weather and climate change impacts. Reports suggest that Western actors, like mercenaries from the Sahel region often holding anti-Christian sentiment and others have joined the war, further worsening the situation the minority Christian community is likely to face. However, in a move strongly condemned by the U.K. and U.S., Russia vetoed a draft U.K.-backed U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Sudan on Nov. 11. Russia says the U.K. was interfering in Sudanese affairs without involving Sudan itself, while the British Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, termed the veto a "disgrace." All other 14 Security Council member states voted in favor of the draft, but the veto meant the resolution did not pass. According to the World Watch list, an annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution, Sudan was a "good news story." Apostasy was no longer illegal, and more leniency around freedom of religion was brought in by the transitional government. However, this year, Sudan has moved up several places on the World Watch List to No. 8, which is evidence that believers are now more vulnerable after the breakout of a civil war in April 2023. This article was originally published at Christian Daily International Home News Syrian Christians in grave danger as Islamist militias take over Aleppo Syrian Christians in Aleppo face grave danger after Islamist militias took over the city, local church leaders say. The militias, including jihadist groups, have seized control following the withdrawal of government forces and are removing all Christmas decorations, according to a report. Maronite Archbishop of Aleppo, Joseph Tobji, described the situation as being in limbo, noting that armed groups took over after a surprise offensive, as per Agenzia Fides. Life here started up again. The situation was calm, but now everything is closed, Archbishop Tobji was quoted as saying. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Shops and bakeries have ceased operations, and citizens have not stocked supplies due to the lack of warning before the attacks. Nobody warned us, Tobji said, adding that despite the lack of current attacks on Christian targets, uncertainty looms over what might happen next. The militias have reportedly documented their takeover of Aleppo through social media. According to Fr. Hugo Alaniz of the Institute of the Incarnate Word, almost all of Aleppo is now under militia control, with religious leaders visiting parishes to provide support. Fr. Hugo told Fides that while their church remains open, many residents, including students and elderly, have moved to other parts of the city for safety. The Iraqi Christian Foundation reported on social media that militants had begun removing Christmas decorations and had beheaded captured soldiers. The group also called for prayers for Christians and other minorities in Aleppo. The Switzerland-based human rights group Christian Solidarity International said in a statement that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, previously known as Jabhat al-Nusra, had seized control of Aleppo, mirroring the Islamic State's capture of Mosul in 2014. This jihadist group's takeover has instilled fear among Aleppo's diverse religious communities, including Christians, Alawites, Shiites and non-observant Sunnis, due to HTS' history of enforcing a strict Sunni supremacist ideology with violent persecution, it noted. The United Nations' Commission of Inquiry on Syria has documented the brutal governance of HTS, marked by executions, torture, sexual violence, and arbitrary detentions, alongside the desecration of religious sites. These actions are reminiscent of the harsh rule experienced during their previous control from 2012 to 2016. "President Trumps special representative for Syria, Ambassador James Jeffrey, acknowledged in 2021 that HTS had been functioning covertly as an 'asset' of Washingtons Middle East policy, despite its designation as a terrorist organization," said John Eibner, CSI's international president. Shortly before election day, President-Elect Donald Trump pledged to protect persecuted Christians. "The incoming president now has a golden opportunity to fulfill his pledge," Eibner said. "Christians and others who value religious freedom and other fundamental human rights should insist that this pre-election pledge is honored. The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that more than 300 people, including at least 20 civilians, have been killed since the offensive began Wednesday. The rebels, led by Islamist militant group HTS and allied factions, have taken control of Aleppos airport and dozens of towns nearby, reported the BBC. HTS is a significant militant presence in Syria, and its leadership of the offensive has marked this as the most notable conflict in Syrias ongoing civil war since a ceasefire was agreed in 2020. According to the Syrian army, the attack on Aleppo involved multiple axes, covering over 100 kilometers (62 miles) of frontlines. The army reported numerous casualties among its soldiers and acknowledged that rebels now control significant portions of the city. Government forces have vowed a counterattack but provided no specific timeline. The Russian air force conducted air strikes in Aleppo on Saturday, marking the first military intervention by Russia in the city since 2016, when it helped Syrian government forces recapture Aleppo, according to the BBC. The strikes aimed at rebel positions come as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has pledged to defend [Syrias] stability and territorial integrity, according to a statement from his office. Home News This week in Christian history: English Jesuit martyred, pope deposed, missionary travels to South Africa Throughout the extensive history of the Church, there have been numerous events of lasting significance. Each week marks anniversaries of impressive milestones, unforgettable tragedies, amazing triumphs, memorable births and notable deaths. Some of the events, drawn from over 2,000 years of history, might be familiar, while others might be unknown to many. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The following pages highlight anniversaries of memorable events that occurred this week in Christian history. They include the execution of Edmund Campion, the deposing of Pope John XII, and Daniel Lindley leaving for South Africa. Home News 3 Christians subjected to physical, psychological torture in Iran Three Christians in Iran were tortured before their release on bail on Nov. 17 amid charges of propagating religion contrary to Islam, a religious rights group reported. Jahangir Alikhani, Hamed Malamiri and Gholam Eshaghi were arrested by agents from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in September and detained for nearly two months before their release, according to rights group Article 18. Jahangir, Hamed and Gholam were reportedly subjected to physical as well as psychological torture during prolonged interrogations and asked to write letters renouncing their Christian faith and expressing remorse for their actions in order to secure their release, Article 18 reported. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The three Christians originally had been arrested last Christmas, along with 17 others, by Ministry of Intelligence agents in Noshahr and nearby Chalus, the group stated. Later released, the three Christians were re-arrested in September and in October were summoned to the prosecutors office along with nine others to face charges of propagating a religion contrary to Islam and collaborating with foreign governments, according to Article 18. They were then summoned to appear at the 1st Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Nowshahr on Nov. 10, but the hearing was adjourned as not every defendant including the three detained was present, the group reported. The indictment stated that the Christians were charged under amended Article 500 of the penal code that already has resulted in long prison sentences for several Christians; the law has been labelled a full-on attack on religious freedom, according to Article 18. They have identified themselves as Christian during their defense, Prosecutor Mohammad Reza-Ebrahimi wrote in the indictment, according to Article 18. And this is supported by the messages exchanged in their phones, as well as through the Gospels and other Christian literature found in their possession. The prosecutor stated that the 12 were criminally liable for having set up groups to teach the Christian religion, the group reported. The Islamic Republic of Iran claims to protect the rights of Christians as one of three recognized religious minorities, but converts are not treated as Christians and continue to be arrested on account of their religious identity, as clearly shown in this latest indictment, Article 18 stated. One of the 12 Christians charged in October with propagating a religion contrary to Islam and collaborating with foreign governments, 40-year-old Javad Amini, was arrested by IRGC agents on the same day that the three others won bail on Nov. 17, the rights group stated. Amini was arrested along with his uncle, who is not believed to be connected to the case. Sources told Article18 that IRGC vehicles surrounded Aminis car and eventually took him and his uncle to a detention center in Sari. The agents confiscated Javads keys from him and let themselves into his home, without knocking, terrifying his wife and 10-year-old daughter, Article 18 reported. His wife was also later interrogated. The U.N. last week passed a resolution calling on Iran to stop monitoring people based on their religion and to release all religious practitioners imprisoned for their membership in or activities on behalf of a minority religious group and to ensure that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief, including the freedom to have, to change or to adopt a religion or belief of their choice, in accordance with its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 18 reported. The widespread and rampant persecution of Christians and other religious minorities was noted this month by the son of the former Shah of Iran, deposed in 1979. Saying his country was once a bastion of religious liberty before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Reza Pahlavi said in a Nov. 19 post on X that Iranian Christians, along with Jews and the Bahai, have seen their leaders detained, forced to flee the country and sometimes killed. Today the persecution continues, and Iranian Christians, especially Christian converts, are deprived of even the most basic rights, including access to churches, Pahlavi wrote. Christians are routinely imprisoned for their beliefs, facing absurd charges of acts against national security and collaboration and espionage for enemy states. Despite such daunting challenges, Pahlavi said Christians remain resilient in faith and courage, though their struggle is far from over, and they need the support of the global Christian community more than ever. Pahlavi, who founded the Iranian exile umbrella group National Council of Iran and is now based in Great Falls, Virginia, stated that he had hope that an end to the regime in Iran would result in a new era of religious freedom in Iran. A free and democratic Iran will once again embrace the diversity of faiths and beliefs that have been a part of our nations rich history for millennia, he stated. Christians, Jews, Bahais, Zoroastrians and Muslims can once again live together in harmony, free to practice their religions without fear of persecution. Pahlavi was writing following his interview with EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) Global Catholic Network, where he commented on religious minorities lack of opportunities and discrimination in Iran. He called for establishment of a secular democracy that would embrace separation of religion and state. Iran ranked ninth on Christian support organization Open Doors 2024 World Watch List (WWL) of the 50 countries where it's most difficult to be a Christian. The WWL report noted the growing involvement of the IRGC in conducting raids on house churches, and a higher incidence of acts of violence committed during arrests and interrogations. Home News Special needs mom on how to redefine caregiving as holy work, issues call to action to Church Jessica Ronnes journey as a caregiver began on a day that could have shattered her world. In 2004, during a routine ultrasound appointment for her second child, doctors informed her that her unborn son had experienced a stroke in utero. They offered no hope, suggesting she terminate the pregnancy and try again. But Ronne and her husband refused. We put our baby in the Lords hands and just had faith that God's will would be done, she recalled. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe When Lucas was born on Aug. 12, 2004, screaming with life, Ronne became what she termed a forever caregiver. Lucas profound disabilities would require lifelong care. But at the time, she was simply grateful for her miracle baby. It wasn't even something I really focused on, she said. A few years later, her world shifted again when her husband was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor. For three years, they fought the cancer while raising four young children, including Lucas. By 2010, Jess, then 33, was a widow raising four children younger than 7. Yet, it was in this crucible of grief and responsibility that Ronne discovered an unshakable resilience. My kids got me out of bed every day. I had to keep living for them, she said. Even as I buried my husband, I promised him that our children wouldnt lose two parents one to death and one to depressive grief. Anchored by faith, she found the strength to take each step forward. I just leaned into the Lord, and he provided what I needed, which was just enough manna for the moment, and I was just able to continue to put one foot in front of the other and continue to live for my children, she said. Today, Ronne is a powerful advocate for parent caregivers, a demographic she said remains largely invisible to society. Years after her husbands passing, Ronne met Ryan, a father of three whod also lost his spouse to cancer. The two married in 2015, and they later welcomed a daughter, bringing their blended family to 10. As the founder and executive director of The Lucas Project, she works to provide recognition, resources and respite for families like hers. I do believe there are a lot of good people in the world who are willing to help if they know what the needs are. But with these profound disabilities comes nonverbal, comes screaming, comes behavioral issues, comes incontinence, all things my 20-year-old son has. And so, the world just isn't made for families like ours, she said. We isolate ourselves in our homes with these behaviors, with the aggression, with the incontinence. I often even speak with pastors at churches, and they're like, We don't have these families in our community. And I'll say, Yes, you do, you just don't see them. The church is not created for these families. Environments aren't created for these families. Through The Lucas Project, the Michigan native has developed care packages, resource databases, and support groups. She also speaks nationally about the realities of caregiving and produces films like Unseen: How Were Failing Parent Caregivers, a documentary that sheds light on the isolation and mental health struggles these families face. We have a tsunami of children with special needs aging into adulthood, she said. If we dont step in with resources, it will be detrimental to society. According to Ronne, the Church has a pivotal role in addressing these needs, but many congregations shy away due to fear of the unknown. Each child is so different, and the Church doesnt know its place, she said. But helping doesnt have to mean direct care for the child. It can be mowing a familys lawn, bringing over a meal, or picking up groceries. Small groups within a church could adopt a family, learning together how to meet their needs. She urged congregations to step out of their comfort zones: This is exactly the kind of work Jesus did stepping into messy, uncomfortable spaces, she said. Ronne encouraged other caregivers to see their work as holy, though acknowledging it can be overwhelming. She recounted a moment of frustration, overwhelmed by her sons needs while managing the production of the documentary. I felt like Jesus said to me, This is holy work. I would be right here with you doing this. It reframed everything. Caring for another individual is the holiest work we can do this side of eternity, she said. That perspective is central to her latest book,Caregiving with Grit and Grace.Its about viewing caregiving in light of eternity, she says. We might not see our reward this side of Heaven, but were living for that Well done, good and faithful servant. In February, Luke moved into a group home, a decision Ronne once thought shed never make. When Lucas was little, I couldnt imagine him living anywhere but with me, she said. But as he grew, his needs became more complex. Its been a transition for all of us, but hes thriving. Hes gained so many skills and is living his best life. The move has also brought newfound peace to Ronne and her family. For years, weekends were overwhelming. Now theyre relaxing. My husband and I can take a nap if we want to, she said. My work had revolved around being Lucas caregiver for 20 years. Its a period of transition, but also one of rest. As National Caregivers Month brings attention to the 16.3 million caregivers in the U.S., Ronne urged society to take stock of how they can support families with special needs children. I think a lot of caregivers kind of have the smarter mentality, like, Nobody can do it like me. I'll be fine, she said. We're not fine. We're exhausted. Let people bless you by stepping into your circumstances and providing a meal or providing some respite so that you can go take a nap, you can go for a walk, or just do something to rejuvenate yourself. Jesus wants that for us too. He wants us to be our best versions for the ones that we care for. In a world where caregivers are often unseen, Ronne said she wants to make sure their stories and their struggles are finally recognized. For caregivers themselves, she offered encouragement: I hope that caregivers feel permission to feel anger, joy, pain, she said. Its such a juxtaposition when you're a caregiver, because there can be such joyful moments, but there are such painful moments too. Its learning to live in that tension of the joy and the pain. The holiness of the acts that we do day by day by day is the glue that binds all of that together. (CP) A day after suffering "a slight health incident" while preaching on Sunday, Bishop T.D. Jakes of The Potter's House megachurch in Dallas, Texas, filed a defamation lawsuit against former-pastor-turned-registered sex offender Duane Youngblood, who alleged he was sexually assaulted by Jakes when he was a teenager some 40 years ago. "The underlying story in this case depicts a carefully planned effort by a convicted criminal, and those acting in concert with him, to rewrite history in order to deflect blame and accountability for his own reprehensible and criminal conduct and to publicly smear a renowned and eminently respected religious leader in a blatant and explicit attempt to extort him for millions of dollars," lawyers for Jakes wrote in the 20-page lawsuit filed in the Western District Court in Pennsylvania in which they detailed Youngblood's history of abusing minors since at least 2002. Jake's lawyers noted that Youngblood was first arrested on charges of sexual assault and corruption of minors and other charges while he served as a pastor of a church in Homestead. In that case, Youngblood was accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old in 2002 while counseling the boy. The teen sought counselling from Youngblood because a cousin had molested him, according to a police affidavit. Youngblood, who is on parole under the supervision of Pennsylvania's Department of Parole, was also charged with inappropriately touching two teenage victims while he was counselling them between 2009 and 2011. In one instance, he reportedly engaged the victim on about 25 occasions. "On all occasions, Youngblood has pleaded guilty and admitted to his heinous crimes," the lawsuit notes. Jakes' lawyers noted that despite his background, Youngblood has conspired with others to extort Jakes, and the aim of the renowned pastor's lawsuit is to stop the conspiracy and the pain it is causing Jakes. "This lawsuit is intended to bring that scheme to a halt, to end the extreme emotional, physical, and spiritual toll Defendants' conduct has caused Bishop Jakes, to set the record straight so the world understands the patent falsity of the accusations, and to restore Bishop Jakes's reputation," they note. Jakes, 67, filed the lawsuit against the 58-year-old Youngblood, who claimed in interviews with internet personality Larry Reid on his "Larry Reid Live" show on Oct. 28 and Nov. 3 that Jakes assaulted him when he was about 18 or 19 years old. Youngblood claimed to Reid that he had been talking with Jakes for about two hours at the home of an older adult clergywoman, where he was staying during a local church revival approximately 40 years ago when Jakes tried to kiss him. "After sitting there and having this long discourse with him, I finally looked at my watch, and I'm like, 'Oh my goodness, I got to go. I got to get this car back to my mother. She's gonna kill me.' So I said to bishop, 'I got to get up,'" Youngblood recalled. "And I got up from the table, he got up from the table, he walked around toward the way I had to exit quicker than I got over there, and when I started to walk past him, he pulled me to himself, wrapped his arms around me, and tried to kiss me. And in that moment, I literally died." The morning after the encounter, Youngblood alleges Jakes called his home and intimated that he wanted him to become a local sex partner. "My mother answers the phone, and she says to me, 'Duane, it's Elder Jakes.' Jakes and I get on that phone and when I get on that telephone, I can hear water. He is sitting in a bathtub, and in that thing, he says to me, without any hesitation, 'there's three things I need you to do. The first one is, when I come to Pittsburgh, you're going to be the only person I sleep with. The second one is you can't sleep with anybody else because I don't want to give my wife anything. And thirdly, I will take care of you the rest of your life," Youngblood, who is now a registered sex offender due to his past abuse of minors, claimed during his interview with Reid. Days after making those allegations public, Jakes' attorneys said an attorney representing Youngblood sent a demand letter to Jakes on Nov. 24 demanding $6 million "to 'resolve this matter quickly and privately;' otherwise, Youngblood would bring a lawsuit against Bishop Jakes for sexual assault and harassment." Jakes' lawyers, who noted that the interviews went viral, said Youngblood's allegation caused the megachurch pastor millions of dollars in reputational harm and hurt his physical health. "Youngblood's lies have put in jeopardy the critical philanthropic missions Bishop Jakes spearheads and has likely impaired significantly the benefits that the recipients of such efforts receive. And Youngblood's intentional and malicious lies have taken a substantial emotional and physical toll on Bishop Jakes," the lawsuit alleges. "On November 24 the day before he filed this action Bishop Jakes suffered a medical crisis on stage in the middle of his Sunday service in front of his entire church." The legal filing further said that, despite his claims, Youngblood is not a victim. "Bishop Jakes believes with all his heart that actual victims of sexual abuse should be treated with the utmost respect, kindness, empathy, and sympathy and that true perpetrators of such abuse should be held accountable for their actions. But that is not the case here," the lawsuit reads. "Youngblood has used and abused the might of social media and the legal process to revictimize those he preyed on and harmed and to make knowingly false accusations for his own personal and financial gain. Men like Youngblood must be held accountable for their abuse of the system and for setting back those with legitimate and real allegations of sexual abuse." Asked about Jakes' lawsuit Wednesday, Youngblood's attorney, Tyrone A. Blackburn, quoted Matthew 7:15-16. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves," he wrote in a statement to The Christian Post. "You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? T.D. Jakes chickens have finally come home to roost. Stay tuned." The Christian Post CLEVELAND, Ohio State liquor agents say a criminal enterprise illegally operated a network of seven bars spread across four Cleveland suburbs. The group is accused of generating nearly $4 million in illegal proceeds from bars its members bought in Euclid, Garfield Heights, Cleveland Heights and South Euclid, according to a news release. Nine people were charged in a 45-count indictment that was filed Monday by Cuyahoga County prosecutors. The charges include money laundering, conspiracy and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. The Ohio Investigate Unit, officers responsible for enforcing the states alcohol, tobacco and food stamp laws, said the group started buying bars as early as 2019. Investigators said the group used straw purchases to obtain the establishments. That takes place when one person who can legally own something buys it on behalf of another person who cant. A straw buyer would buy a bar and then transfer ownership to other individuals with significant criminal histories, who would have been prohibited from being bar owners themselves, authorities said. According to the indictment filed in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, the group would also submit fraudulent applications for its liquor licenses, leaving off names of people who would garner more scrutiny. State agents say the group did this and established illegal operations at Boozerz and The Bench Lounge in Euclid; Aura-Iconic and Aries Restaurant & Lounge in Garfield Heights; Night Capz and The Score in Cleveland Heights; and Bar Mayfield in South Euclid. The Ohio Investigate Unit said these bars generated illegal proceeds that were distributed to members of the criminal enterprise, with part of the money used to buy more property. These bars also became significant public nuisances, according to the state agents. The agents and local officers conducted search warrants at the bars in October and seized cash and firearms, along with computers and business records, according to the indictment. The bars are also accused of 76 administrative violations, according to state officials. The bars have not been shut down amid the criminal investigation, but they could be closed when the allegations are presented to the Ohio Liquor Control Commission. The indictment accuses seven people of being part of the scheme, and they are charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a first-degree felony, and conspiracy, a second-degree felony. The seven charged are: Sharita Roberts, 42, of Newburgh Heights; Randy Pittman, 53, of Macedonia; Donald King Jr. 42; Rayshawn Duncan, 35; Daryel Jones, 43; DaishaVu ONeal, 38; and Dewayne Stewart, 37. King, Duncan, Jones, ONeal and Stewart are from Cleveland. Members are of the group are also charged with tampering with records, money laundering and grand theft among other charges. Tremaine Golston, 35, of Cleveland and Jazmyn Barrow-Stover, 40, of Solon are both charged with one count of tampering with records. Through a statement from her attorney, Barrow-Stover denied the accusations. Attorney Paul Flannery said she lawfully purchased a bar and hired a manager to assist in its operations. She was not a participant in any conspiracy or criminal enterprise, Flannery said. We look forward to communicating with the state to address any misunderstandings regarding her ownership of the bar. A cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer reporter reached out to several attorneys who were representing those indicted. Some of people charged do not have attorneys listed in court records. Sean McDonnell is a reporter for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. You can reach him at smcdonnell@cleveland.com. by David Greer My friend R is a man who takes his simple pleasures seriously, so I asked him to name one for me. Boathouses, he said, without hesitation. To the best of my knowledge, R has never owned a boat. No canoe or coracle, not a dinghy or dory, nor even a yacht. His abiding passion has always been small planes, especially the four-seat Beech Bonanza he likes to fly to tiny airstrips scattered about the continent, which serve in turn as starting points for terrestrial excursions (folding bicycle) to the back of beyond with his lady love, B. So why boathouses? Well, said R, I love the light of the water reflecting on the walls and ceiling of the boathouse. And its hard to imagine a more relaxing sound than the gentle lapping of waves against a boathouse slip. Its a sound that accentuates the pleasure of writing or reading or simple conversation. If youre inclined to nap, as one does on holiday, theres nothing more conducive to drifting off to sleep, and then you have the pleasure of a gentle awakening to a charming view of lake or ocean. All nicely framed by the boathouse doors. All of which explains why R and B, on their forthcoming trip to Austria to ride motorcycles on winding mountain roads, plan to rent a lake boathouse (mod cons included) as their base. It will be a peaceful counterpoint to the frenetic ecstasy of navigating the twisties, as they call the alpine hairpin turns. Once upon a time, boathouses were simple affairs, erected for the sole purpose of providing safe haven to boats, the kind operated by sweep of arm and sweat of brow. As with all things simple, times changed. Complexities ensued. The two-stroke engine was invented, so boathouses expanded to accommodate motorboats. Motorboats got bigger, and boathouses got larger still. That gave someone the notion to take advantage of the swelling footprint and add a second storey with a bedroom or two, maybe throw in a bathroom, above the boat slips, to the point that many lakeshore boathouses today are more guesthouse than boathouse. One result of that evolution is that boathouses have become an unlikely flashpoint for conflict in once peaceable lakeshore communities between two increasingly vocal groups. One consists of people who may have bought cottages years or decades ago as a retreat from the city, a place where they could enjoy natural views, listen to the loons calling in the morning mist, and enjoy peace and quiet. The smaller but more visible group has money to burn and little appreciation of nature other than as an impressive backdrop for an architect-designed cottage-mansion. The vessel of choice of the former group might be an Old Town canoe, silently paddled so as not to disturb the kingfisher swooping to skewer trout minnows hovering in the shade of cedar branches overhanging the lake water. The cottage-mansion crowd tends to favour 300 hp Mercs and personal watercraft such as jet skis that generate a buzz. Their response to members of the first group who question the size of new boathouses and speed and noise of boats and ask for a little neighbourly consideration might best be characterized as a collective shrug. Respect for community character? Protection of fragile marine ecosystems? Not our problem. Besides, its a free country, isnt it? The fact that environmental impacts of the new breed of boats are out of sight and out of mind doesnt make them any less real. One summer day this year on a small island on a southern Ontario lake, I was following the path of loon parents and their fledgling swimming close to shore when their calls were suddenly and completely obliterated by the roar of a flotilla of jet skis close enough for their wakes to swamp a shoreline loon nest in an instant and destroy its eggs. Also, because loons are diving birds and not easily seen, theyre vulnerable to strikes by quickly moving boats. While loon populations are generally stable in Canada, a marked decline in their ability to raise chicks to adulthood has been noted in recent years. Loons are an obvious example to cite because theyre such an iconic species across northern North America. More generally, boat wakes can erode shorelines and disrupt habitat, while riprap and piers installed in conjunction with boathouses can disrupt natural flows, increase sedimentation and turbidity, and degrade the riparian areas that form the critical foundation for the food web on which all of a lakes species depend. The conflict over boathouses and speeding boats feels like a microcosm of the growing polarization sweeping the land these days. Fifty years ago, responding to demands for environmental protection triggered in large part by Rachel Carsons Silent Spring, Richard Nixon signed into law the first Endangered Species Act and Clean Air Act in the U.S. before his humiliating resignation. Fast forward a half century and we appear to be entering a new age of entitlement in which narrow self-interest trumps community well-being and environmental protection regulations are perceived more as nuisance than as necessity. Political priorities are an ever-swinging pendulum, of course, and fifty years hence we might find ourselves in an era when nations have acted decisively to mitigate climate change, conserve biodiversity, and address global poverty, even if a little too late. In the meantime, its small comfort to know that nature bats last. The polarization of views about boathouses and boats has led to widely varying approaches to regulation. Some lakes take a laissez-faire approach to boating traffic while others prohibit all motorized vessels. On one southern Ontario lake, one local government placed no restriction on style or size of new boathouses while its neighbor banned them altogether. Meanwhile, libertarian scofflaws have been experimenting with creative approaches to skirt local regulations, like the claim by an Ontario man that his gigantic boathouse on Lake Rosseau was in fact an aerodrome intended to house a plane and therefore beyond the jurisdiction of local authorities. The court to which he appealed didnt buy it, noting that he neither owned a plane nor possessed a pilots licence, and ordered him to remove his boathouse cum aerodrome forthwith. Im as fond of boathouses as my friend R, though my taste leans more towards the simple old-fashioned kind, such as one that sits on the bank above a beach a few minutes walk from my cabin on an island on the Salish Sea on the Pacific coast. This tiny boathouse dates from a time long before motorboats became common in these waters, when settlers on the Gulf Islands would routinely row several miles to a much larger island (Vancouver Island) for supplies. On their return, the wooden, clinker-built rowboat would be dragged up the beach from tideline along a pair of planks, then winched into the tidy boathouse for storage until the next trip. Many boat owners of that era laid down a pair of steel rails from railroads to guide their rowboats up the beach, and their rusted remains can still be seen along many west coast beaches. Today the rowboat is long gone but the boathouse abides, a beloved neighborhood gathering place. Passersby on the beach below note the permanent presence of the chess board at the open entrance, ever ready for a friendly match. When the knights arent jousting with the bishops, the locals convene here for pre-dinner appies and wine and solve the problems of the world while keeping a watchful eye for the orcas and humpback whales that periodically pass close to shore. Humpbacks are the gentle giants of the cetacean community, breeding in Mexican and Hawaiian waters in the winter and then moving north up the Pacific coast with their calves to feed on tiny krill through the summer months. Hundreds gather in the relatively calm waters of the Salish Sea every year. Humpbacks are pipsqueaks compared to the blue whale, merely 40 or 50 feet long, but nevertheless mighty impressive when they breach and spout near the shore or surface beside ones kayak, revealing a curious eye the size of a grapefruit before subsiding back into the depths like some black volcanic island. This being an oceanic rather than a lake boathouse, the ethereal calls of loons are replaced by the shrieks of seagulls and barking of seals and occasional bursts of whale breath. Farther out to sea, along the horizon across the international border, lie the nearest of the American San Juan Islands. If you were to sit in the boathouse on the evening of July 4th, you might watch the southern sky bloom with fireworks bursts over Orcas and San Juan and Lopez, silent but eerily beautiful from your vantage point miles away. I have no boathouse on my own nearby property. My little plot of land lies a couple of hundred yards inland. I can still feel the vibration in the ground of the giant freighters fighting the tides through Haro Strait, but I cant see them. What I have instead is an outhouse, far less glamorous than a boathouse but with its own humble merits deserving of fond recognition when nature calls or even when its mute. Like the boathouse, my outhouse rises to the occasion when needed and requires little maintenance. It needs no tools for its employment other than a few bits of paper and a metal scoop to scatter woodstove ashes down the hole after each use. Every now and then its floor rots out (this being a rainforest) and has to be replaced to avoid the unexpected and rapid descent of an unwary occupant into the slough of despond, but it bravely carries on once repairs are made. Its door looks out not onto the ocean but instead onto a sea of ferns and firs and cedars. The presence of my outhouse might seem superfluous since I had an actual bathroom installed years ago, complete with reglazed clawfoot bathtub, faux marble vanity and Toto flush toilet. Why would anyone want to stumble out to an outhouse in the woods with such mod cons so close to hand? Well, for starters, one might want to do so during one of the islands predictable winter power outages that knock out the well, which relies on an electric pump to deliver water to the cabin. When I saved the outhouse during cabin renos, I did so for that specific eventuality, but was later surprised at how many of my visitors would make a beeline, insofar as beelines are feasible across a forest floor overgrown with salal and salmonberry, for the distant outhouse, there to perch like Rodins Thinker, gazing wistfully and at length upon the forest primeval beyond the open door. If the outhouse was the only option, guests might not find it so attractive, but when theres a choice between outhouse and flush toilet, the outhouse appears to wield a certain magical pull on anyone not prone to arachnophobia. Theres a psychological explanation for that, I assume. Maybe something to do with walking in the shoes of our great-grandparents, so to speak. Maybe theres also a psychological explanation for the perverse virtue I feel, when the power is well and truly out, of lowering myself onto an ice-flecked toilet seat in the dark of night. In truth, that pleasure cant hold a candle to the elation I once experienced in a northern Alberta outhouse at thirty below when, expecting to descend onto something akin to a block of ice, I instead came to rest on, of all things, a Styrofoam toilet seat that so defied expectations in the comforting warmth afforded (or so it seemed) that I lingered far longer than strictly required. Yet another example of necessity being the mother of invention. If theres an outhouse equivalent of the five-star boathouses that are becoming increasingly prevalent, I cant think what it might be. A five-hole outhouse with a bunk above? Its pretty hard to improve on perfection, outhousewise, from a traditional one-seater with no attached apartment or built-in stone fireplace. But then, its all relative, isnt it? What seems primitive to westerners may be luxury in the eyes of others. According to the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), roughly 60 percent of the worlds population, or around 4.5 billion people, either have no toilet at home or one that doesnt safely manage human waste. Nearly 900 million people still practice open defecationin fields, forests, open bodies of water or other open space. When I was travelling in India, there were several occasions on which I found myself obliged to squat over a hole in the floor with no supports and with my creaking knees protesting all the while, but at least it was a nominal toilet with four walls around it. Passing through Delhi, I lunched with Bindeshwar Pathak, who then took me on a tour of his toilet museum, in which the displays portray the evolution of sanitation practices throughout human history. Dr. Pathak devoted his life to promoting and implementing improved sanitation and hygiene in rural India, designing a two-pit pour-flush composting toilet, using barely more than a litre of water, that served the dual purpose of improving sanitation and generating fertilizer for crops, and then founding Sulabh International Social Service Organisation to, among other purposes, make the toilet available to millions of households. The toilet museum was intended to raise the awareness of visitors to the dire state of sanitation in much of the country and to generate support for the efforts of Sulabh International. One of the more bizarre exhibits at the toilet museum is a replica of the throne within a throne employed by Louis XIV to enable him to hold court without the inconvenience of relocating elsewhere to relieve himselfa throne with a built-in port-a-potty. (Throne as a modern euphemism for toilet derives from the time when only royalty had access to portable toilets in palaces, though the Sun King may have been the first crowned head to so efficiently combine the two types of throne in one.) Heads of state these days are generally not inclined to embrace the levels of excess displayed by Louis XIV, though a modern American presidents fondness for extravagances such as a golden escalator once inspired the Guggenheim Museum to offer to install artist Maurizio Cattelans fully functional 18-karat gold toilet in the White House. Its tempting to picture either of the above worthies enjoying the view of the rainforest from my outhouse. Frankly, I doubt it would be their cup of tea. Certainly Louis never had to deal with the consequences of a power outage, and if the president did, well, there were minions standing by to leap into action. Id rather picture them together in the boathouse down the beach, perhaps on opposite sides of the chess board lamenting the unfairness of queens being assigned more power than kings. Better still, I imagine them hunched over their separate appie trays, one perhaps featuring escargots a la Bourguignonne and the other Big Mac mini-sliders, exchanging tall tales and finding common ground in ridiculing the English. Since I control the fantasy, it concludes with a giant humpback whale breaching close to shore, dumbfounding and humbling king and president alike as they gaze in openmouthed awe at the real McCoy, a being truly majestic in nature and form. by Nils Peterson A pen between God-fingers, a walking stick dragon, my blind mind taps along its cane of thought. Rumi (trans. Barks) Saturday morning. Not quite ready for coffee from the espresso machine. Eyes closed. Brooding over the thises and thats. Remembering the start of a thread of thought that wove forward and backwards over the last couple of days. Now trying to remember and writing some of it down. Heres the poem which started it. Map of the New World Archipelagoes At the end of this sentence, rain will begin. At the rains edge, a sail. Slowly the sail will lose sight of the islands; into a mist will go the belief in harbors of an entire race. The ten-years war is finished. Helens hair, a grey cloud. Troy a white ashpit by the drizzling sea. The drizzle tightens like the strings of a harp. A man with clouded eyes picks up the rain and plucks the first line of the Odyssey. Derek Walcott Reading it touched something thats been on my mind. I found myself wondering how long it would be before the Homer in the last lines would go unrecognized by everyone except scholars. I fear the loss of the mythologies of Greece and Rome that provided a binding field of imagery and felt-meaning to centuries of poets of the West. Yes, it is part of the general down grading of the humanities but also an understanding that one can no longer be well-educated and eurocentric. And we are finite. We do not have world enough and time, memory enough and time. So much must be lost, replaced, Forgotten. A couple of days before my brooding, I had added as a kind of footnote in a letter to a friend Elizabeth Bishops wonderful poem, The Art of Losing. Heres the opening stanza: The art of losing isnt hard to master; so many things seem filled with the intent to be lost that their loss is no disaster. I had looked at it again because a friend sent it to a friend as kind of a consolation for having broken up with a woman, but I was fiddling and this is what I wrote and sent back to the friend who originally had sent the Bishop. Weve lost Rome and Athens too It isnt very hard to do and really not a great disaster when weve our twitter feed to master. Id been reading a remarkable book by Lewis Hyde called A Primer for Forgetting, Getting Past the Past. Another friend had sent me a poem hed written about the horrific end of the Odyssey. I sent him this note: I too, the last time I read the book, was horrified at the end which I had somehow forgotten. But your note reminds me that Ive been wanting to write to you and others about an extraordinary book by Lewis Hyde. Im trying to get anyone I know of good sense to read it. Its in short bits running from half a page to 6 or 7 pages and basically covers the history of the world in terms of remembering and forgetting. He deals with the Greeks towards the beginning and comes back to them at the end. Im going to quote all of this half page essay from almost the end: CLOSURE. When Odysseus slays the suitors at the end of the Odyssey, there is a risk that those killings will trigger yet another round of grief, anger, and revenge. In fact, Eupithes, father of the first man slain, unsheathes his sword and calls for vengeance, saying in words liable to invoke the Furies [Hyde had dealt with the Furies earlier] that a grief that cannot be forgotten has seized him. At this point. Zeus intervenes: Odysseus has done enough his honor has been restored, he will be king again and now we, for our part, will blot out the memory/ of sons and brothers slain. As in the old time/ let men of Ithaca henceforth be friends. The needed forgetting is authored by the gods, not by mortals, as if in Homeric times the forgetting of discord were an art as yet foreign to humankind. Note that when Zeus blots out the memory of strife, the story comes to an end. Plots are fueled by memory-as- action; forgetting as nonaction brings the epic to a close. Hydes book begins after a couple of opening sentences with Oral societies, I read, keep themselves in equilibriumby sloughing off memories which no longer have relevance. My interest at the time was in memory itself, in the valuable ways that persons and cultures keep the past in mind, but here was a contrary note, one that clearly stirred my own contrary spirit. The book ends with a quotation from the Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa: Remembering betrays Nature, Because yesterdays Nature is not Nature. Whats past is nothing and remembering is not seeing. Fly, bird, fly away; teach me to disappear. Well, much to brood on here. I like remembering. Im not sure my present and past are separable. We seem to coexist in what ever moment is now. (The future must be there too.) Yet I can see how unless one can forget the past, one is captive to it. How much forgetting I and my generation have had to do, WWI, gone, WWII on its way out, The Korean hanging on by a thread. France, Germany, Italy have forgotten enough to be friends. Japans our friend, Pearl Harbor forgotten on our side, the atomic bomb on theirs. The Israeli and the Palestinians cant forget. Theyve been remembering for 2000 years. The Russians and Ukrainians will have to forget, the sooner the better for both. How hard that is to say. The fact of written language makes it harder to forget. Maybe the internet and iCloud will make it impossible. In the face of great offense, we say We will never forget, yet we must and Zeus is not here to help us. But Jesus tells us in Mark But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. This isnt exactly forgetting, more a putting aside, a way of not letting the past dictate your present. But I end with the sense of the dance that goes on between memory and forgetting, knowing and not knowing, the now and the not-now and seemingly the need for divine intervention to make things right. Maybe Time is the only god that will do, but He/She takes their time. Elon Musk is asking a federal court to stop OpenAI from converting into a fully for-profit business. Attorneys representing Musk, his AI startup xAI, and former OpenAI board member Shivon Zilis filed for a preliminary injunction against OpenAI on Friday. The injunction would also stop OpenAI from allegedly requiring its investors to refrain from funding competitors, including xAI and others. The latest court filings represent an escalation in the legal feud between Musk, OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, as well as other long-involved parties and backers including tech investor Reid Hoffman and Microsoft . Musk had originally sued OpenAI in March 2024 in a San Francisco state court, before withdrawing that complaint and refiling several months later in federal court. Attorneys for Musk in the federal suit, led by Marc Toberoff in Los Angeles, argued in their complaint that OpenAI has violated federal racketeering, or RICO, laws. In mid-November, they expanded their complaint to include allegations that Microsoft and OpenAI had violated antitrust laws when the Chat GPT-maker allegedly asked investors to agree to not invest in rival companies, including Musk's newest startup, xAI. Microsoft declined to comment. In their motion for preliminary injunction, attorneys for Musk argue that OpenAI should be prohibited from "benefitting from wrongfully obtained competitively sensitive information or coordination via the Microsoft-OpenAI board interlocks." "Elon's fourth attempt, which again recycles the same baseless complaints, continues to be utterly without merit," an OpenAI spokesperson said in a statement. OpenAI has emerged as one of the biggest startups in recent years, with ChatGPT becoming a major hit that has helped usher massive corporate enthusiasm over AI and related large language models. Since Musk announced xAI's debut in July 2023, his newer AI business has released its Grok chatbot and is raising up to $6 billion at a $50 billion valuation, in part to buy 100,000 Nvidia chips, CNBC reported earlier this month. "Microsoft and OpenAI now seek to cement this dominance by cutting off competitors' access to investment capital (a group boycott), while continuing to benefit from years' worth of shared competitively sensitive information during generative AI's formative years," the lawyers wrote in the filing. The attorneys wrote that the terms OpenAI asked investors to agree to amounted to a "group boycott" that "blocks xAI's access to essential investment capital." The lawyers later added that OpenAI "cannot lumber about the marketplace as a Frankenstein, stitched together from whichever corporate forms serve the pecuniary interests of Microsoft." In July, Microsoft gave up its observer seat on OpenAI's board, although CNBC reported that the Federal Trade Commission would continue to monitor the influence of two companies over the AI industry. FTC Chair Linda Khan announced at the beginning of the year that the federal agency would initiate a "market inquiry into the investments and partnerships being formed between AI developers and major cloud service providers." Some of the companies that the FTC mentioned as part of the study included OpenAI, Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft and Anthropic. In the filing, attorneys for Musk also argue that OpenAI should be prohibited from "benefitting from wrongfully obtained competitively sensitive information or coordination via the Microsoft-OpenAI board interlocks." OpenAI originally debuted in 2015 as a non-profit and then in 2019, converted into a so-called capped-profit model, in which the OpenAI non-profit was the governing entity for its for-profit subsidiary. It's in the process of being converted into a fully for-profit public benefit corporation that could make it more attractive to investors. The restructuring plan would also allow OpenAI to retain its non-profit status as a separate entity, CNBC previously reported. Microsoft has invested nearly $14 billion in OpenAI but revealed in October as part of its fiscal first-quarter earnings report that it would record a $1.5 billion loss in the current period largely due to an expected loss from OpenAI. In October, OpenAI closed a major funding round that valued the startup at $157 billion. Thrive Capital led the financing while investors, including Microsoft and Nvidia, also participated. OpenAI has faced increasing competition from startups such as xAI, Anthropic and tech giants such as Google . The generative AI market is predicted to top $1 trillion in revenue within a decade, and business spending on generative AI surged 500% this year, according to recent data from Menlo Ventures. CNBC reached out to attorneys for Musk on Saturday. They did not respond to requests for comment. CNBC's Hayden Field contributed reporting Watch: Elon Musk emerges as a key voice in Trump's tech policy. Supporters of Georgia's opposition parties hold a rally to protest against the new government's decision to suspend the European Union accession talks and refuse budgetary grants until 2028, in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Nov. 30, 2024. Protesters gathered across Georgia on Saturday night in a third straight night of demonstrations against the government's decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union. More than 100 demonstrators were arrested as crowds clashed with police Friday night, the country's Interior Ministry said. The Associated Press saw protesters in Tbilisi being chased and beaten by police as demonstrators rallied in front of the country's parliament building. On the same night, police also used heavy force against members of the media and deployed water cannons to push protesters back along the capital's central boulevard, Rustaveli Avenue. The ruling Georgian Dream party's disputed victory in the country's Oct. 26 parliamentary election, which was widely seen as a referendum on Georgia's aspirations to join the European Union, has sparked major demonstrations and led to an opposition boycott of the parliament. The opposition has said that the vote was rigged with the help of Russia, Georgia's former imperial master, with Moscow hoping to keep Tbilisi in its orbit. Speaking to the AP on Saturday, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili said that Georgia was becoming a "quasi-Russian" state and that Georgian Dream controlled the country's major institutions. "We have seen happening in the country which is a country where we do not have any longer independent institutions, not the courts, not the Central Bank, and not, of course, the parliament," she said. "We have been moving more and more rapidly into a quasi-Russian model." Zourabichvili also rejected statements made by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who characterized the protests as "violent demonstrations." In a statement on Saturday, he said Tbilisi remained committed to European integration. However, he said that unspecified "foreign entities" wished to see the "Ukrainization" of Georgia with a "Maidan-style scenario" a reference to Ukraine's 2014 Maidan revolution. "We are not demanding a revolution. We are asking for new elections, but in conditions that will ensure that the will of the people will not be misrepresented or stolen again," Zourabichvili said. "Georgia has been always resisting Russian influence and will not accept having its vote stolen and its destiny stolen." The government's announcement that it was suspending negotiations to join the EU came hours after the European Parliament adopted a resolution that condemned last month's vote as neither free nor fair. It said the election represented another manifestation of Georgia's continued democratic backsliding "for which the ruling Georgian Dream party is fully responsible." European election observers said October's vote took place in a divisive atmosphere marked by instances of bribery, double voting and physical violence. The EU granted Georgia candidate status in December 2023 on condition that it meet the bloc's recommendations, but put its accession on hold and cut financial support earlier this year after the passage of a "foreign influence" law widely seen as a blow to democratic freedoms. EU lawmakers urged a rerun of the parliamentary vote within a year under thorough international supervision and by an independent election administration. They also called on the EU to impose sanctions and limit formal contacts with the Georgian government. The Georgian prime minister fired back, denouncing what he described as a "cascade of insults" from the EU politicians and declaring that "the ill-wishers of our country have turned the European Parliament into a blunt weapon of blackmail against Georgia, which is a great disgrace for the European Union." Kobakhidze also said Georgia would reject any budgetary grants from the EU until the end of 2028. Critics have accused Georgian Dream established by Bidzina Ivanishvili, a shadowy billionaire who made his fortune in Russia of becoming increasingly authoritarian and tilted toward Moscow. The party recently pushed through laws similar to those used by the Kremlin to crack down on freedom of speech and LGBTQ+ rights. Kash Patel, a former chief of staff to then-acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller, speaks during a campaign event for Republican election candidates at the Whiskey Roads Restaurant & Bar on July 31, 2022 in Tucson, Arizona. President-elect Donald Trump announced Saturday he would pick Kash Patel, a 44-year-old loyalist with little significant experience in federal law enforcement, to serve as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. "Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and "America First" fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending Justice, and protecting the American People," Trump wrote in a post to Truth Social, arguing Patel would "bring back Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity to the FBI." Patel, who will have to earn Senate confirmation to become FBI director, has earned a reputation as the ultimate Trump loyalist who has spread baseless "deep state" conspiracy theories and called for a purge of perceived Trump enemies in the FBI. His nomination is likely to again put pressure on Senate Republicans who rejected Trump's nomination of Matt Gaetz, a firebrand Trump loyalist who was criminally investigated for sex trafficking, to serve as Attorney General. "It's ridiculous. He's arguably the least qualified person ever nominated for a senior position in federal law enforcement," said a former senior law enforcement official who interacted with Patel. "I don't know anything significant that he achieved at the DOJ. He was not well regarded as a prosecutor." Patel has promoted the falsehood that the 2020 election was "stolen" from Trump as well as the baseless conspiracy theory that federal bureaucrats in the "deep state" tried to overthrow the former president. Patel, without citing any specific evidence, has called for replacing "anti-democratic" civil servants in law enforcement and intelligence with "patriots" who he says will work for the American people. In his memoir, "Government Gangsters," he described the current political moment as "a battle between the people and a corrupt ruling class." "The Deep State is an unelected cabal of tyrants who think they should determine who Americans can and cannot elect as president," Patel wrote. "Who think they get to decide what the president can and cannot do, and who believe they have the right to choose what the American people can and cannot know." Former FBI and DOJ officials and Democratic lawmakers worry that a hard-line Trump firebrand like Patel could reshape the makeup and mission of the nation's most powerful federal law enforcement agency. Trump's nomination of Patel also flouts a post-Watergate norm that FBI Directors should serve ten-year terms. The goal of the practice is to ensure that the FBI is seen as apolitical and not serving the political interests of the president. The current FBI director, Christopher Wray, was scheduled to complete his ten-year term in 2027. "Every day, the men and women of the FBI continue to work to protect Americans from a growing array of threats," the organization said in a statement. "Director Wray's focus remains on the men and women of the FBI, the people we do the work with, and the people we do the work for." A former public defender who rose to increasingly senior national security posts in the final year of Trump's first term, Patel gained favor with Trump as a congressional staffer during the investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election. He drafted a memo that accused the FBI of making mistakes in how it obtained a warrant to conduct surveillance of a former Trump campaign volunteer. Many of the memo's assertions were later disproven. An inspector general report found fault with the FBI's surveillance during the Russia investigation, but also found no evidence that federal authorities had acted in a politically partisan way. Patel went on to serve in Trump's White House National Security Council, briefly as an adviser to the acting director of national intelligence and as chief of staff to Defense Secretary Chris Miller at the end of Trump's first term. During the closing months of Trump's tenure, the former president proposed Patel to serve as the deputy CIA director or to take over the FBI. Then-CIA Director Gina Haspel, a career intelligence officer, threatened to resign if Patel was installed and the attorney general at the time, William Barr, vehemently objected. Trump ended up dropping his plans. "Patel had virtually no experience that would qualify him to serve at the highest level of the world's preeminent law enforcement agency," Barr later wrote in his memoir. Patel and some other Trump loyalists suspected there was information hidden away in the intelligence community that could shed more light on bureaucratic plotting against Trump and in favor of Joe Biden, former officials said. "It was a fairly conspiratorial environment at that point," said Marc Short, who served as chief of staff to then-Vice President Mike Pence. DETROIT Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares has unexpectedly resigned from the automaker amid increasingly "different views" between the executive and the board of directors, the company said Sunday. The world's fourth-largest carmaker said its board accepted Tavares' resignation on Sunday. His departure is effective immediately. Jeep-maker Stellantis said that its process to appoint a new CEO is "well under way" and that it expects to conclude the search during the first half of next year. Until then, the company said it will establish a new interim executive committee led by Chairman John Elkann. "Stellantis' success since its creation has been rooted in a perfect alignment between the reference shareholders, the Board and the CEO. However, in recent weeks different views have emerged which have resulted in the Board and the CEO coming to today's decision," Henri de Castries, Stellantis' senior independent director, said in a release. A Stellantis spokesman declined to disclose any additional information regarding the resignation. U.S.-traded shares of the automaker were off roughly 7% during premarket trading Monday. Ahead of the resignation, the stock was down about 43% in 2024. "The market will inevitably ask why the Stellantis board considered that not having a permanent CEO for some months was preferable to keeping the current CEO in situ," Bernstein analyst Daniel Roeska said in an investor note Sunday night. "We struggle to identify any scenario under which these events can be positively spun as far as the stock price is concerned." Stellantis on Sunday reconfirmed its previously lowered guidance for the year that included an adjusted operating income margin of 5.5% and 7% and industrial free cash flow between minus 5 billion euros ($5.3 billion) to minus 10 billion euros. Tavares' resignation comes less than two months after the company announced he would retire at the end of his contract in early 2026. At the time, Stellantis said it planned to name a successor by the fourth quarter of next year. Anti-government fighters brandish their guns as they ride a vehicle in Syria's northern city of Aleppo on November 30, 2024. Jihadists and their Turkish-backed allies breached Syria's second city of Aleppo on November 29, as they pressed a lightning offensive against forces of the Iranian- and Russian-backed government. Russian and Syrian jets struck the rebel-held city of Idlib on Sunday in the second day of intensive bombing in northern Syria aimed at pushing back insurgents who had swept through to the city of Aleppo, Syrian army sources said. Residents said one of the raids hit a crowded residential area in the center of Idlib, which is the largest city in a rebel enclave near the Turkish border where around four million people live in makeshift tents and dwellings. At least four people were killed and dozens injured, according to rescuers at the scene. The Syrian army and its ally Russia say they target the hideouts of insurgent groups and deny attacking civilians. On Saturday, Russian and Syrian jets bombed other towns in Idlib province, which had fallen completely under rebel control in the boldest rebel assault for years in a civil war where front lines had largely been frozen since 2020. Insurgents swept into the city of Aleppo, east of Idlib province, on Friday night, forcing the army to redeploy in the biggest challenge to President Bashar al-Assad in years. The Syrian army said dozens of its soldiers had been killed in the attack. On Sunday, the army said it had recaptured several towns that had been overrun in recent days by rebels. The insurgents are a coalition of Turkey-backed mainstream secular armed groups along with Hyat Tahrir al Sham, an Islamist group that is the opposition's most formidable military force. Hyat Tahrir al Sham is designated a terrorist group by the U.S., Russia, Turkey and other states. Assad is a close ally of Moscow. Mahindra & Mahindra , one of India's largest automakers, last week unveiled two new electric vehicles priced around $25,000, challenging both domestic and international rivals in the growing Indian EV market. The news has led some analysts to turn even more bullish on the stock, with almost 90% of those covering it giving the company a buy or overweight rating, according to FactSet data. The company on Tuesday unveiled the BE 6e and XEV 9e models, costing around $24,100 and $27,800 respectively, at a launch event in Chennai. Both vehicles are built on Mahindra's new electric-only platform called Inglo. The pricing strategy appears particularly aggressive in a market where EV adoption remains low. Electric vehicles currently account for only 2% of the 4.1 million cars sold annually in India , according to Bank of America data, compared to nearly one-third of sales in China. "The pricing is competitive, at least for the base variants," noted Citi's analyst Arvind Sharma in a note to clients on Nov. 27. The Wall Street bank has a buy rating on Mahindra's stock, with a price target of 3,520.00 Indian rupees ($41), which points to 18% upside potential. Citi's Sharma added that future EV sales aren't accounted for in the current target price, giving it scope to increase in the future. The stock, listed on India's National Stock Exchange, is also traded in the U.S. and Germany over the counter. MAHM-IN 1Y line Mahindra & Mahindra said the vehicles will have a range of up to 682 kilometers (424 miles) with the larger battery option. Tesla 's Model 3 is marketed as providing an 800-kilometer (436-mile) range, although the two companies measure their vehicles to different standards. Indian stockbroker Motilal Oswal also expressed optimism about Mahindra's newly launched vehicles while noting some challenges. "These features, combined with the introductory pricing, make them a truly strong value proposition for customers," said Motilal's equity analyst Aniket Mhatre in a note to clients. "Though the pricing is certainly competitive, it remains to be seen how customer interest plays out given the lack of adequate charging infrastructure in the country." "We, hence, remain cautious on the incremental volumes from this segment, at least in the near term," Mhatre added. He has a price target of 3,420 rupees on the stock, which represents 15% upside and is also the median price target of all analysts covering the stock. Motilal Oswal expects Mahindra to achieve compound annual growth rates of approximately 13% in revenue and 16% in adjusted earnings over the next three years, not including EV sales. Investment bank Nomura's Kapil Singh also retired his buy rating on the stock, with a 3,664 Indian rupee price target (23% upside) after the company unveiled the two vehicles. Tata Motors , another large automaker, currently dominates India's small EV market, with about 70% market share. It markets its vehicles in the price range of $10,000 to $20,000. South Korea's Hyundai Motors , meanwhile, which is the second-largest automaker by sales in India, recently listed its Indian subsidiary . Australia has approved a social media ban for children under 16 after an emotive debate that gripped the nation, setting a benchmark for jurisdictions worldwide with one of the toughest regulations targeting Big Tech.According to the new law, tech giants like Instagram and Facebook owner Meta Platforms, as well as TikTok, must prevent minors in Australia from logging into social media sites and apps, or face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million). A trial of enforcement methods will begin in January, with the ban set to take effect in a year.Citizens have reacted to the development in various ways, with a mix of anger and relief. Some called the world-leading ban a "great idea," while others considered it an imposition. An 11-year-old, Emma Wakefield, quoted by Reuters, said, "I feel like I still will use it, just secretly get in."On the other hand, tech giants argue that the ban could push young people to "darker corners of the internet." A spokesperson for TikTok, which is hugely popular with teens, told Reuters that the process had been rushed and could potentially put children at greater risk.As the 11-year-old indicated, users could always lie about their age, log in via older people's devices, or find other ways around the restrictions. This raises the question of whether the ban is practically enforceable. CNBC-TV18 reached out to global experts to explore this concern.Before experts weighed in, Australian PM Anthony Albanese addressed parents, acknowledging the challenges in implementation: "We dont argue that its implementation will be perfect, just like the alcohol ban for under-18s doesnt mean that someone under 18 never has access, but we know that its the right thing to do."Lizzie O'Shea, co-founder and chair of the Australian digital rights advocacy group Digital Rights Watch, told CNBC-TV18 that it remains unclear how effective the ban will be, as many practical implementation questions remain unanswered.There will be workarounds, and the type of age assurance that can be used is not mandated. It will depend on the quality of technology and the position taken by platforms, among other factors, she said.O'Shea, who is also a principal lawyer and human rights advocate, noted that VPNs could facilitate workarounds, which the government likely anticipated but chose not to alter its course.Kalindhi Bhatia, Partner at Delhi-based BTG Advaya, explained that many children are incredibly tech-savvy and can bypass restrictions by using VPNs, lying about their age, or logging into another person's account (who is over 16).She suggested that for the ban to be effective, social media platforms would need to implement sophisticated age verification systems. This could include requiring users to upload government-issued IDs during account creation, verifying those IDs, or using advanced AI tools to analyze user behavior and detect activity resembling that of a minor under 16.Even then, no system is completely foolproof. It would require a coordinated effort between platforms, parents, and policymakers for any chance of success.Globally, there is a growing trend to hold major social media companies accountable for regulating access to their platforms. Aasish Somasi, Associate Partner at SNG & Partners, noted that in Australia's case, the new legislation will require platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, and YouTube to take "reasonable steps" to prevent underage users from creating accounts. This shifts the responsibility to these platforms, compelling them to develop and implement effective age verification technologies.Historically, these platforms have enjoyed immunity regarding user-generated content, as long as they comply with takedown requests. However, the new law threatens this immunity if they fail to enforce age restrictions. "This legal pressure is intended to motivate companies to invest their substantial resources into creating viable solutions for age verification and compliance," Somasi said.In practice, while the ban presents enforcement challengesparticularly due to the tech-savvy nature of todays youthleveraging the capabilities and resources of large social media platforms could enhance its effectiveness. The success of the initiative will largely depend on how companies implement and enforce age verification measures.When asked whether government-issued IDs for age verification would violate privacy, O'Shea from Digital Rights Watch explained that while government IDs could be used, they should not be the only method."This raises privacy concerns because it would involve social media platforms collecting government ID data. This could lead to the use of more privacy-invasive tools, like biometrics."Bhatia also noted that while age verification might involve biometrics or government-issued IDs, any such system must comply with strict privacy and data protection laws. Another approach could involve setting daily usage limits for minors to reduce screen time, or requiring platforms to implement parental consent mechanisms, where adults actively approve and monitor their child's account activity.Somasi listed five measures that could aid in the practical enforcement of the ban:Advanced Age Verification: Platforms may require ID verification, biometric authentication, or integration with national databases to confirm users ages.Device-Level Controls: Manufacturers could be encouraged to pre-install age-restricted access controls to block minors from accessing banned platforms.Monitoring Algorithms: Social media companies could use AI to analyze user behavior and flag accounts that appear to be operated by minors, triggering further verification checks.Parental Responsibility: Parents could be incentivized through education campaigns and tools to prevent their devices from being used to circumvent the ban.Cross-Platform Collaboration: Platforms could work together to share flagged accounts and enforce age restrictions across apps. O presidente da Ucrania, Volodymyr Zelensky, propos pela primeira vez, na ultima sexta-feira (29/11), a cessao de parte do territorio ucraniano a Russia, em troca de cessar-fogo e de protecao da Organizacao do Tratado do Atlantico Norte (Otan). O pronunciamento foi feito em entrevista exclusiva ao portal de noticias britanico Sky News. Siga o canal do Correio no WhatsApp e receba as principais noticias do dia no seu celular Segundo a midia internacional, um dos planos do presidente eleito dos Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, para acabar com a guerra entre Russia e Ucrania seria a cessao, por parte de Kiev, de territorios tomados por Moscou cerca de 1/5 do territorio ucraniano. Com a cessao, a Ucrania poderia, em troca, ingressar na Otan. Leia tambem: Ucranianos convivem com a escuridao e a ameaca nuclear Perguntado sobre esse plano, Zelensky afirmou que, caso o territorio controlado pela Ucrania ficasse sob o guarda-chuva da Otan, a cessao dos territorios ocupados pela Russia poderia ocorrer, a fim de gerar acordo de cessar-fogo. Dessa forma, diz o presidente ucraniano, seria possivel negociar o controle ao restante do territorio depois, de forma diplomatica. Se quisermos acabar com a fase quente da guerra, precisamos tomar sob o guarda-chuva da Otan o territorio da Ucrania que temos sob nosso controle, disse. Precisamos fazer isso rapido. E entao, sobre o territorio [ocupado] da Ucrania, a Ucrania pode recupera-lo de forma diplomatica. Leia tambem: O alto custo de fugir da guerra da Ucrania para os soldados que desertam do Exercito russo Por hora, entao, Zelensky pareceu aceitar noticia o Sky News que as regioes do leste do pais ocupadas pela Russia fiquem fora do acordo. Para ele, e necessario que haja um cessar-fogo para garantir que Vladimir Putin nao volte a tomar mais do territorio ucraniano. Assim, continua, a Ucrania precisa muito que a Otan cubra imediatamente a parte do pais que ainda esta sob o controle de Kiev, senao ele (Putin) vai voltar. Neste domingo (1/12), a AFP noticiou que Zelensky disse, apos uma serie de conversas com lideres da Uniao Europeia, que um convite para a Ucrania ingressar na Otan e necessario para a sobrevivencia do pais. Leia tambem: Russia faz alerta a Biden sobre risco em ajudar a Ucrania Esta e a primeira vez que Volodymyr Zelensky sugere um acordo de cessar-fogo que envolveria o controle russo sobre o territorio ucraniano. Antes, ele era firme em afirmar que nao cederia nenhuma parte do pais. Zelensky deixou claro na entrevista, porem, que, para que a cessao aconteca, e preciso que a Otan reconheca, ao convidar a Ucrania para a organizacao, as fronteiras internacionais do pais. O lider ucraniano disse, tambem, que precisa trabalhar com Donald Trump, a quem chamou de o maior apoiador. Quero trabalhar com ele diretamente porque ha vozes diferentes de pessoas ao redor dele. E e por isso que nao precisamos que ninguem por perto destrua nossa comunicacao. Leia tambem: Putin se diz disposto a "retomar o contato" com Trump Who do you think can take a joke better: Macaulay Culkin or The Rock? Celebrities, for all their money and power, are like little pets who belong to the public. If they dont do something interesting, well kind of prod them a little bit until they do. One way people will goad a famous person into action is by lying about their gruesome, untimely death. Here are a few times celebrities had to clarify that they werent flattened at the bottom of a remote canyon Advertisement 14 The Rock Cause of Death: Fell off a cliff in New Zealand Proof of Life: The future presidential nominee tweeted, threateningly, I would love to meet the person who is starting rumors of my death to show them how a dead foot feels up their ass. Advertisement 13 Wayne Knight Cause of Death: Nebulous Twitter rumors Proof of Life: Sarcastic indignant tweets. He posted Does someone have to DIE to trend? Geez! Thanks for all the love everybody. I didnt know you cared. Glad to be breathing! And: Some of you will be glad to hear this, others strangely disappointed, but.I am alive and well! 12 Russell Crowe Cause of Death: Fell off a cliff Proof of Life: A very Australian tweet: Unable to answer. Fell off a mountain in Austria, all over red rover. Dont know how I got there, but the media are never wrong. GBye 11 Morgan Freeman Cause of Death: A hoax Facebook tribute page titled RIP Morgan Freeman Proof of Life: When asked about it, Freeman said, I keep reading that I have died. I hope those stories are not true. Advertisement Advertisement 10 Zach Braff Cause of Death: ODd on some pills Proof of Life: A video from the set of Scrubs. He said, I would never off myself with pills. If I had to do it, I would do it the way that everyone else would do it: by hitting myself with pots and pans. 9 Jackie Chan Cause of Death: Heart attack, car crash, fall from a 12-story building Proof of Life: Official statement: Today, everybody called to congratulate me on my rumored engagement. Afterward, everybody called me to see if I was alive. Advertisement 8 Tom Cruise Cause of Death: Apparently died on the toilet, as a freak plumming accident occurred while he was on vacation Proof of Life: He gave an interview to prove he wasnt a pre-recorded hologram, saying, Im really alive. Did the internet get it wrong again? Advertisement 7 Usher Cause of Death: Car crash Proof of Life: Shirtless selfie. He tweeted, I mustve died and went to heaven Alive and cold kickin ass! Advertisement 6 Abe Vigoda Cause of Death: Typo. A 1982 People article referred to him as the late Abe Vigoda. Proof of Life: Snarky photo. He published a picture of himself reading People in a coffin. Murdered by Words: A contemporary said, Ive seen Abe in person. He only looks dead. 5 Jon Bon Jovi Cause of Death: Found dead in a hotel Proof of Life: State pride. He posted a picture of himself holding a sign with the date and the message: Heaven looks a lot like New Jersey Advertisement 4 Billy Crystal Cause of Death: Heartfelt tweet from a fan: BillyCrystal you were a gift my fav When Harry Met Sallykeep them Laughing in the Heavens Proof of Life: Bewildered RT. Crystal responded with a simple ? Advertisement 3 Paul McCartney Cause of Death: Outlandish conspiracy theory. He wrote the title song to a 1985 film that, when played backward, made paranoid stoners hear Paul is dead. Then, of course, the Abbey Road album cover was packed with tiny hints that hed been killed off and replaced. Proof of Life: McCartney told the BBC, If the conclusion you reach is that Im dead, then youre wrong, because Im alive and living in Scotland. Advertisement 2 Reba McEntire Cause of Death: Falling off a mountain in Austria Proof of Life: Career goals. She posted, There is a rumor going around that I died after falling off a mountain in Austria yesterday while shooting a movie. While I would love to be shooting a movie in Austria, I definitely did not fall off a mountain! Nor am I dead! I am alive and kicking!!! Blame it on sexism, Hollywood or simply modern expectations, but we like to believe all historical figures spoke in roughly the same grand, booming voice. After all, wed never accept a president who sounds like Mickey Mouse today, so why should we expect one back when Mickey Mouse was invented? But the people who populate the history books spoke with a wide range of voices, some more hilarious than others. 5 George Washington Americas daddy was far from the imposing presence of Lin-Manuel Mirandas vision. He suffered from a number of respiratory illnesses in his youth, leaving him with a voice thats been described as high, weak and breathy. Think Michael Jackson, not Christopher Jackson, maybe after six months in London. 4 Joseph Stalin Most peoples conception of Stalins voice probably ends at scary and Russian, but theyd be wrong on both parts. Stalin actually spoke with a strong Georgian accent (in public, at least), and he was much more soft spoken than youd probably guess, meaning a whole lot of people were out there being oppressed by a guy who sounded like Andy Kaufmans Foreign Man. 3 Teddy Roosevelt Roosevelt was the ultimate mans man if anyone was going to sound like Sam Elliott Annihilation-ed into a bear, it was him. But he spoke with an accent common to the East Coast elite in the late 19th century and popularized by early Hollywood, so it was less Elliott, more Jimmy Stewart. Think Frasier Crane being strangled. 2 John Keats Advertisement As an English Romantic poet, the voice in most peoples heads when they read a Keats poem sounds something like Idris Elba, but Keats had a heavy Cockney accent, to the point that many of his lines only rhyme if spoken with one. To be safe, youd better read them all in the voice of Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins from now on. STORY LINK Pound US Dollar GBP/USD Exchange Rate Dips Amid Market Caution Advertisement GBP/USD Exchange Rate Forecast: Risk Aversion to Support the US Dollar? Like this piece? Please share with your friends and colleagues: The Pound to US Dollar (GBP/USD) exchange rate weakened on Thursday as global market sentiment turned cautious.The US Dollar (USD) found support on Thursday as investors favoured the safe-haven currency amid ongoing market uncertainty.Concerns over President-elect Donald Trumps aggressive trade policies weighed on risk appetite.Trump recently reignited fears of a global trade war by announcing his intention to impose tariffs on imports from China, Mexico, and Canada immediately after taking office.These plans have heightened fears of a global economic slowdown, driving demand for the US Dollar.Additionally, fading expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts in early 2025 provided further support for the Greenback.However, the Thanksgiving holiday in the US limited trading activity, ultimately capping the US Dollars gains.The Pound (GBP) remained under pressure on Thursday, with a lack of notable UK economic data leaving Sterling vulnerable.Investors continue to worry about the UKs economic outlook, as recent data points to a sharp slowdown in activity during the second half of 2024.Particularly troubling were the UKs latest PMI figures, which revealed that private sector activity contracted for the first time in a year.Heading into the end of the week, the Pound to US Dollar (GBP/USD) exchange rate is likely to remain influenced by overall market sentiment.If risk aversion persists, it could bolster demand for the safe-haven US Dollar, potentially extending the US Dollars recovery.Meanwhile, Sterling may be impacted by the Bank of Englands latest Financial Stability Report, due on Friday. Any indications of further economic vulnerabilities in the UK could weigh on the Pound. International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements. TAGS: Pound Dollar Forecasts A man who was once branded as the 'king of copying' has revealed how he built a $50 million business by duplicating couture designs and selling them cheaper - before he was forced to shut down amid sexual harassment claims. Victor Costa, now 88, from Houston, Texas, realized from a young age that he had an impressive and unusual skill: he was able to look at an item of clothing and recreate it with ease. He explained to DailyMail.com exclusively that he became 'enthralled' by the dresses that he saw in the movies as a kid, and would sketch them to sell the designs for a nickel to dressmakers in his town. He bought his own sewing machine at age 14, and soon began using his sketches to create and sell prom dresses to his classmates. As an adult, he used that ability to launch a booming business called Victor Costa, Inc., which helped provide high fashion pieces to millions across the globe at accessible prices. He would sit in the audience at fashion shows of high-end designers and sketch the dresses that he saw on the models, only to then remake them and sell them to department stores in New York City. 'I went to Paris, I paid to get into the Dior show, and for that money I was allowed to take two dresses and copy them,' he explained to DailyMail.com. 'You could do it with Balenciaga, Chanel, anything, as long as you paid for the [ticket to the fashion show] you were allowed to do line-for-line copying. A man who was once branded as the 'king of copying' has revealed how he built a $50 million business by duplicating couture designs and selling them cheaper 'I would copy things overnight using the original fabric. I had many all-night sessions. I became known as the best in the business. It was fun.' His creations were so similar to the originals that even top fashion gurus couldn't tell the differences sometimes. He recalled one time when the head of Bonwit Teller, Mildred Custin, came to his showroom and was examining two dresses, one was an original Dior and the other was one of Victor's copies. 'She looked at both of them and started yapping at me, criticizing my copying,' he shared. 'Finally I said to her, "Go look at the label of the one you're criticizing." She was criticizing the original Christian Dior and she liked mine better.' In his first year, Victor sold $1 million in product, and by 1988, he was grossing $50 million a year. He was eventually dubbed as the 'King of Copycats' - but Victor's fashion empire came crashing down in the early 1990s after the company became embroiled in scandal. In 1993, a woman named Lorna Pilgrim claimed that Victor 'harassed her with humiliating, debasing and degrading verbal attacks, some of them sexual in nature,' UPI reported. Victor Costa, now 88, from Houston, Texas , realized from a young age that he had an impressive and unusual skill: he was able to look at an item of clothing and recreate it with ease Victor (seen as a kid) explained to DailyMail.com exclusively that he became 'enthralled' by the dresses that he saw in the movies as a kid, and would sketch them and sell the designs Victor told DailyMail.com that he had hired Lorna as a model, but started to notice during fittings that her figure had changed. 'She was carrying a child but I didn't know she was pregnant. I kept saying to her, "Last week this fit you but now it doesn't," and then I found out she was pregnant,' he said. 'With that [information] I couldn't keep her on the payroll. But she ended up suing me for sexual harassment, it was a mess.' Victor claimed Lorna enjoyed the 'publicity' that came from her lawsuit. It's unclear what the outcome of the case was, but he insisted to DailyMail.com that she ultimately 'never got a penny' from him. Victor faced another blow in 1995 when he discovered that one of his employees had been secretly 'stealing' a lot of the company's earnings. He explained that he had hired a 'young man' to keep track of the business' finances. But after receiving a call from a credit card company, who told him he had fallen behind on his bills, he discovered that the staff member had been using company money to fund his own personal endeavors. 'He ended up being a thief... He was stealing, building his own house with company money, buying cars for his wife, all kinds of things,' shared the fashion guru. He used that ability to launch a booming business called Victor Costa, Inc., which helped provide high fashion pieces to millions at accessible prices. He's seen with his mom He would sit in the audience at fashion shows of high-end designers and sketch the dresses that he saw on the models, only to then remake them and sell them to department stores 'He was remodeling his house and paying for it with company money. It was a big, big blow to my head to know I was being stolen from. It was a horrible thing to realize.' Between the sexual harassment lawsuit and the money he had lost from the employee, he was forced to file for bankruptcy and shut down his company. But Victor didn't give up. He decided to 'start again,' and he launched Victor Costa Occasion Collection through QVC in 2000. And he certainly came back strong, earning an extensive list of celebrity clients in his later years, including Brook Shields, Ivana Trump, First Ladies Lady Bird Johnson, Rosalynn Carter, and Richard Nixon's daughters. Now, looking back, Victor - who recently released his own memoir, entitled Copycat - told DailyMail.com that he couldn't be happier with his 'fairytale' career. He also found love later in life, marrying a woman named Jerry Ann Woodfin in 2012. 'She loves me and we're very happy. We've been married 12 years now,' he gushed. 'We have a beautiful apartment in New York City and a gorgeous country home in upstate New York. We're pretty happy.' Japan's royal family, the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy, is facing a succession crisis - because women still aren't allowed to take to the throne. Emperor Naruhito, 64, has just one daughter by his wife Empress Masako, Princess Aiko, who was born in 2001 after the royal couple underwent fertility treatment. Female births have far outweighed male births in recent generations of the Japanese royal family and the dynasty currently has just three male heirs, one of whom is already in his 80s. There's Fumihito, Crown Prince Akishino, 58, who is the Emperor's brother, Prince Hisahito - Fumihito's 19-year-old son, and third-in-line Prince Hitachi, who is 88 and the brother of former Emperor Emeritus. As well as a shortage of heirs, the monarchy is also ageing - with seven of them being over 60 - and rapidly dwindling, with members making up the imperial family reduced to 16 following the death of Princess Yuriko on November 15. Yuriko, who outlived her husband and three sons, was the wife of wartime Emperor Hirohito's brother and the oldest member of the royal family. She died at a Tokyo hospital, the Imperial Household Agency said, and her funeral was held on Tuesday. Being a woman born into the country's Imperial House isn't an entirely enviable role; a Japanese princess can currently never be Empress and must lose her royal title if she chooses to wed a commoner. Her children with said commoner would also never form part of the Imperial House. Japan 's royal family , the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy, is facing a succession crisis - because women still aren't allowed to take to the throne Emperor Naruhito's daughter Aiko, now 22, already lives a life moulded by the dynasty she's part of - surrounded by intense levels of security and unable to have political views or vote. The young royal lives with her parents at The Imperial Palace in Edo Castle in Tokyo and works as a newsletter editor for the Japanese Red Cross Society, a role she combines with her royal engagements. For now wedded to a life of public duty, Aiko, might yet look to the path her first cousin, Mako Komuro, formerly Princess Mako of Akishino, has taken; the former royal enjoys an upper-class quiet life in New York. In 2017, Crown Prince Fumihito's eldest daughter, 33, sent shockwaves through the country when she announced she was giving up her royal title to marry Kei Komuro, her long-term boyfriend. Mako and Komuro met at Tokyo's International Christian University in 2013 and became engaged in secret, before announcing their intention to marry in September 2017, which sparked huge scrutiny. Their wedding in October 2021 was distinctly low-key. It was met with protests, held behind closed doors without any of the pomp and pageantry of other Japanese royal weddings, which traditionally include a reception, banquet, and a parade through the streets of Tokyo. Reading out a prepared statement, Mako defended her decision to marry, describing Kei as 'irreplaceable' and saying 'our marriage is a necessary step for us to be able to protect our hearts.' Mako also surrendered a 1million payment she was entitled to according to Japanese tradition, becoming the first imperial family member since World War II to not receive the payment. Emperor Naruhito, 64, has just one daughter by his wife Empress Masako (pictured together), Princess Aiko, who was born in 2001 after the royal couple underwent fertility treatment The dynasty currently has just three male heirs, one of whom is already in his 80s. There's Fumihito, Crown Prince Akishino , 58, who is the Emperor's brother, Prince Hisahito - Fumihito's 19-year-old son, and third-in-line Prince Hitachi, who is 88 and the brother of former Emperor Emeritus (pictured with former Empress Emerita Michiko) Emperor Naruhito's daughter Aiko, now 22, already lives a life moulded by the dynasty she's part of - surrounded by intense levels of security and unable to have political views or vote Now living simply as Mako Komuro, the former Princess lives in a luxurious but modest - at least according to the proportions of the Imperial Palace - apartment in the Big Apple, with the pair regularly pictured on shopping trips together in the city. Current Imperial Household Law, established in 1947, states that only a male descendant of a male emperor can succeed to the throne. Japan has had eight female monarchs between the sixth and 18th centuries, however none came through a female line of descent, and most were temporary rulers, holding the throne until a male successor was ready. One option for reform would be allowing women to keep their imperial status after marrying, regardless of their husbands' status, so that any future sons could join the line of succession. This is opposed by traditionalists who argue that legitimate succession can only pass through the male line. Another possibility relates to former aristocratic families, whose imperial status was abolished during the U.S. Occupation of Japan following the empire's defeat in the Second World War. The proposal suggests that scions of these families could be adopted into the emperor's family. Yet another option, which also concerns these formerly imperial families, would see an effective restoration of the aristocracy with the male members being reinstated. Mako Komuro, formerly Princess Mako of Akishino, (pictured left) enjoys an upper-class quiet life in New York Crown Prince Akishino, center left, and Crown Princess Kiko, center right, pose with their son and daughter, Prince Hisahito, left, and Princess Kako, right, at the Akasaka imperial property residence in Tokyo in 2022 Traditionalists worry that any reform to the rules of succession threatens the legitimacy, and therefore the stability, of the Imperial Household.Reformists, on the other hand, argue that the Imperial House must adapt to survive. The Japanese imperial family is considered to be the world's oldest monarchy, with an unbroken line of male succession that can be traced back two millennia. Mythology, recognised by the Imperial House, has the legendary Emperor Jimmu, said to be a descendant of a sun goddess and a storm god, as the first of 126 Japanese emperors leading up to the current Emperor Naruhito. Speaking ahead of a state visit to Britain in June 2024 with his wife Empress Masako, Emperor Naruhito made a rare comment about the crisis facing the imperial household. He said: 'The number of male members of the imperial family is decreasing, they are ageing, and female members of the imperial family leave the imperial family upon marriage.' If the marriage was to a prince, they could stay within the family - the trouble is that there are no fellow male royals for them to wed. 'Due to these factors, the number of members of the imperial family who can take on public duties is decreasing compared to before,' he continued. 'This is a problem that relates to the future of the imperial family, but I would like to refrain from commenting on matters related to the [legal] system.' Mako, the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito and niece of reigning Emperor Naruhito, tied the knot with university sweetheart Kei Komuro, a commoner, in Tokyo after an eight-year engagement. They had been engaged since 2013 What a Japanese royal wedding normally looks like: Then-Crown Prince Naruhito and his wife Crown Princess Masako with former Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko after their wedding at the Imperial Palace on June 9th 1993 in Tokyo His comments make for a rare insight into the royal dynasty, as emperors have avoided discussing items of political importance since Japan's defeat in the Second World War. The slimmed down state of the Japanese monarchy is partly due to male primogeniture rules, meaning only male members of the royal family can succeed the throne. Only four out of 16 members of Naruhito's family are male, following Emperor Emeritus Akihito's abdication in 2019. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako share only one child, Princess Aiko, who was born in 2001 after fertility treatment. However, she cannot take the country's throne. This means the heir to the throne is Naruhito's younger brother, Crown Prince Fumihito, 58. His son, 17-year-old Prince Hisahito and Naruhito's uncle Prince Hitachi, 88, are the only other male figures of the dynasty. The country's strict laws of succession forbid women from ascending to the Chrysanthemum Throne and force them to give up their titles if they marry commoners. However, 90 per cent of the public support a change to the law to allow women to ascend the throne, according to a recent poll. European monarchies meanwhile have largely accepted female rulers, but a small, powerful group of traditionalists, many of whom are members of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic party, say that thousands of years of tradition would be broken should women be allowed to rule. They believe that current emperor Naruhito is the direct descendant of one of the world's oldest royal lines which can be tracked all the way back to the first emperor Jimmu (711-585BC). It is believed that Jimmu was a direct descendant of the sun goddess, Amaterasu, and that since then the line has been maintained by male heirs. If the lineage is broken, traditionalists fear the public will no longer see the need for an emperor. Earlier this year, Japanese politicians debated solutions to resolve the crisis, which did not include allowing women to rule. Instead, options included allowing princesses to remain in the royal family after marriage and bringing back descendants of former cadet branches into the fold, who lost their royal status after World War Two. This still would not increase the number of heirs, as the LDP insists princess' children should not be allowed to rule. In November last year, Emperor Naruhito called for a review of official duties because members are either leaving due to age or marrying a commoner, according to the Japan Times. 'It would be difficult to pass on (official duties) if the number (of imperial family members) decreases,' the crown prince told journalists in Tokyo. Actress Keira Knightley is taking sweet revenge on critics who thought her stupid for not going to university in her 20s by secretly studying an English literature degree. A source tells me Keira, left, is happily beavering away at her online course. My revelation is timely as the Love Actually star, 39, recently faced a backlash after it was announced she had written and illustrated a childrens book, I Love You Just The Same, due out next year. Authors bemoaned yet another celebrity author with little experience, with writer Joshua Seigal saying: These celebrities do not need any more money or exposure, but plenty of genuine writers do. Perhaps her new-found expertise on the works of Keats and Hardy will silence the naysayers? Actress Keira Knightley at the Chanel Haute Couture show at Paris Fashion Week in June Knightly during filming for the Graham Norton Show in London on November 27 The Love Actually star is secretly studying for an English Literature degree in a sweet revenge at critics who thought her 'stupid' for not going to university in her 60s Noel: Just shoot me Noel Gallaghers daughter Anais poses playfully by her fathers photograph at Zoe Laws Legends exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. And if the picture does nothing to dispel the image of the Oasis star being a grump, theres good reason, as he was irritated by the photographers constant chatter. The picture you see is of me looking at Zoe and thinking, Is this girl gonna shut the f*** up? he tells me. Noel Gallagher daughter Anais poses playfully by her fathers photograph at Zoe Laws Legends exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery Harmony may soon be toast! Succession star Matthew Macfadyen has been happily married to actress Keeley Hawes for 20 years but theres one thing he cannot abide about her. Her favourite sandwich is cheap white toasted bread with roast chicken, cream cheese, lettuce, Branston, mayo and salt, he says. I want to throw that out there because its worrying me. Matthew Macfadyen with his wife Keeley Hawes at the Marvel Studios' "Deadpool & Wolverine" World Premiere in New York in July His Formula 1 car emits tons of carbon dioxide each season, but Lewis Hamilton is turning into an eco-warrior... by turning down bottled water. Lewis was offered a plastic bottle recently, but told a flunky he only drinks water out of a glass. Did Pippa Middleton never learn to check her work at school? She is advertising a new lodge for hire at her farm, Bucklebury, in West Berkshire. But on its website, a page headinghas the typo: What is the lodge at Buckelbury? My lips are sealed, but... Which royal claims to be Cali sober? The term comes from California and means they dont drink alcohol but take hallucinogens instead. The scandal! Queen Maxima of the Netherlands looked typically stylish as she sported a chic monochrome look yesterday, while delivering the keynote speech at a finance event in the Dutch province of Utrecht. Maxima, who is the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Financial Health (UNSGSA), opened Rabobank's 'Cooperative Impact Event, Our Day' in Nieuwegein with a message on the subject of financial health. The royal, 53, wore an entirely dark green ensemble with a turtle neck jumper, wool jacket and a waist belt. Her cropped trench paired perfectly with a shimmering skirt, which fell just below the knee. Maxima's ensemble appeared to be from Belgian couture and ready-to-wear label Natan - one of the Dutch queen's favourite brands. The beaming mother-of-three carried a woven leather clutch bag in a similar shade and wore a pair of pointed toe, suede stilettos. With her shoulder-length blonde hair brushed to one side, subtle smoky eye make-up on and glossy lips, Maxima looked both glamourous and natural. She completed her look with statement earrings, a diamond bracelet and a gold watch. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands (pictured) looked typically stylish as she attended a finance event in Utrecht yesterday The beaming royal, 53, looked radiant with subtle smoky eye make-up and glossy lips at the event on Saturday Her dark green outfit included an A-line skirt, turtle neck jumper and a wool jacket with a waist belt Last Tuesday, Maxima cut a sophisticated figure as she attended a charity event in Utrecht with King Willem-Alexander. She opted for a timeless camel ensemble to present certificates on behalf of the Oranje Fonds Growth Program at Centraal Museum. Maxima looked stylish in a camel jacket, with a wide belt that accentuated her waist, and a shimmering gold brooch attached to the lapel. She paired her jacket with matching wide-leg trousers and patent camel high heels embellished with bows. As she arrived at the museum, the European Queen was pictured with a double breasted knee-length coat - in a slighter darker shade of camel - draped over her shoulders. The style-conscious royal complemented her camel outfit with a champagne-coloured leather bag by the Greek designer Marina Raphael, which retails for $469 (371). The monarch completed her outfit with some statement hoop earrings, which perfectly matched her brooch. Having swept her blonde hair into an elegant updo, Maxima opted for her signature smokey brown eye look and was also pictured with a burgundy manicure. The mother-of-three wore her shoulder-length, blond hair brushed to one side, revealing a pair of statement earrings She completed her look with a diamond bracelet and a gold watch, as well as her diamond and jewel engagement ring Maxima opened Rabobank's 'Cooperative Impact Event, Our Day' in Nieuwegein, Utrecht, with a speech on the subject of financial health She carried a woven leather clutch bag in a similar shade to her outfit and wore a pair of pointed toe, suede stilettos Maxima, who is the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Financial Health (UNSGSA), appeared thrilled to be taking part in the event The Oranje Fonds (Orange Fund) was created in 2002 as a wedding gift to Maxima and Willem-Alexander, who was the Prince of Orange at the time, from the people of the Netherlands. The social welfare charity supports thousands of programmes across the Netherlands and the Caribbean. Today, the royal couple presented a certificate to Carlijn van den Berge, who has been running a new intergenerational socialising programme, which began in the city of Eindhoven. The 'Boefjes and Baristas' initiative has brought together young children, parents and the elderly for regular coffee mornings and now travels around care homes around the country. As well as drinking coffee, the events also encourage guests - who may be struggling with loneliness - to take part in crafts, exercise and socialise. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima are patrons of the Oranje Fonds, which celebrated the Boefjes and Baristas volunteer scheme. This is the second time in recent days that Maxima has opted for a tailored look while on royal duty. Last week, Maxima travelled to the northern Dutch city of Assen to attend the 50th anniversary of the Northern Development Company. For the occasion, the Queen opted for a red checked suit with matching red leather gloves and boots. Maxima wore a set of chic gold earrings and a blood red broach in the shape of a coneflower. The Queen wore her typical glam makeup look with a full glowing base and dark lined eyes. She sealed the deal with a smattering of illuminating highlighter and rose pink lipstick. She wore her sleek blonde tresses in an up do beneath her stylish wide brimmed hat. Ariel Taylor loved being pregnant, but knew that after having her daughter, she was done having children for herself. Wanting to help others, the Ontario, Canada-native decided to become a surrogate, carrying not one other baby, but five. Surrogacy is a process in which a woman carries and gives birth to a baby on behalf of another woman, often because she cannot get pregnant or carry a fetus herself. It is often the way LGBTQ couples are able to expand their families. The practice is highly controversial, with some conservative groups like the Heritage Foundation calling it exploitation that turns the female body into a commodity for hire,' and reduces women to rent-a-womb service providers. Ms Taylor, 33, is used to hearing these criticisms and questions about her motives. Many people, she said, fear she is being exploited for her womb. She said: The truth is, we are just regular women who want to help someone else by carrying their baby. After giving birth to her daughter in 2015, Ms Taylor birthed four more babies from 2017 to 2024. She said: I think many people assume that surrogates feel sadness or disappointment after the birth but for many of us, its quite the opposite. I look back so fondly on my surrogacy journeys. Ariel Taylor, 33, has been a surrogate five times and an egg donor six times, motivated by her desire to help others experience parenthood Ariel began her surrogacy journey in 2015 after giving birth to her daughter and realizing she wanted to help others experience parenthood. Over eight years, she carried five surrogate pregnancies, including two for the same family A small proportion of babies born every year arrive via surrogacy roughly 750 to 1,000. A woman who decides be a surrogate for another undergoes in vitro fertilization. During this process, she is impregnated when doctors create an embryo by fertilizing the intended mothers egg (or an egg from a donor) with sperm from the father (or a donor). While Ms Taylor did not share genetic material with the babies she birthed, she remained a fixture in their lives. She said: Theres a misconception that surrogates never see the children again but in my experience, weve become family friends. These children know who I am and its wonderful to be a part of their lives in some way. Her surrogacy journey began in 2016. After giving birth to her daughter Scarlet a year prior, she knew she did not want another child of her own, but also knew she liked being pregnant and could use that to help others. In January 2016, she matched with a family and their embryo was implanted in her uterus. Unfortunately, she miscarried four months later. She tried again in the fall of 2016, and gave birth to her first surrogate baby in August 2017. She birthed another in December 2018, one in April 2021, and the last in July 2023. Ariel said the most rewarding part of the process is handing babies to their parents. She maintains relationships with the families Ms Taylor is pictured with her daughter Scarlet (right) and a baby she carried Ariel, a fertility therapist and founder of the surrogacy support network Carried with Love, said: Handing over the baby to their parents was always the most rewarding part of the process. I was really lucky that pregnancy seemed to agree with me most of the time. It made me feel happier and I didnt gain a lot of weight or have complications. She carried as many babies as she could, undergoing the maximum number of c-sections allowed for surrogate mothers four. After her fifth birth in the summer of 2023, she had a more difficult post-partum period. She was puffy, swollen, and sore all over. She said: It was my bodys way of saying, Thats enough, and I had to accept that it was the end of my pregnancy journey. Ill always cherish the experiences I had. I think I was made for surrogacy. And what a really nice way to use my body for good. In addition to being a surrogate five times, she has also donated her eggs to six different families hoping to have babies. Ms Taylor is pictured with her partner Brandon (right) and a baby she gave birth to. She said Brandon is highly supportive of her journey and agrees that surrogacy is a great act of service Pictured is a couple Ms Taylor helped by acting as a surrogate, and their child who she carried People tend to believe that once they give birth, surrogate mothers lose contact with the families they helped. Ms Taylor, though, is close family friends with all of the couples she helped and is present in the children's lives Your browser does not support iframes. Women hoping to be surrogate mothers have to fulfil a long list of criteria: live in a surrogacy-friendly state, be between 21 and 43, be in good health with a history of healthy pregnancy and delivery, a BMI of about 32 or below, and a recent history free of major surgeries and pregnancy complications. Potential surrogates also have to be non-smokers, non-drinkers, and drug-free. They cannot have a history of mental health disorders and must undergo a psychological evaluation. They also have to be financially stable with a clean criminal record. Surrogates in Canada do not profit off their decision to carry another woman's baby. It is illegal to pay or offer to pay a woman to be a surrogate mother. However, surrogates can be reimbursed for expenses related to the process ranging from doctor visits, medications, and travel to maternity clothes, groceries, and lost wages. Ms Taylor told DailyMail.com: 'On my first journey I was reimbursed $20,000 and on my last journey, I was reimbursed $35,000 which included all of my lost wages. The other ones were all in between those amounts.' For each pregnancy, she kept thorough receipts for every purchase. Some of the other expenses she was reimbursed for included prenatal classes, vitamins, childcare, visits to the chiropracter, and more holistic care like accupuncture and massage. She said: 'So the simple answer is that I made no money. 'In fact on my last journey, my expenses were much higher than my expenses cap and I only took two weeks off after the birth.' In the US, meanwhile, surrogates can be paid $100,000 or more to carry a person or couple's baby and the intended parent or parents also take on all of her healthcare costs during the pregnancy. One of the factors that complicates surrogacy in the US is that it's not legal in every state. Nebraska and Louisiana currently prohibit paid surrogacy. Paid surrogacy was brought to the spotlight in the 1980's by a controversial legal case wherein a surrogate who was paid to carry the pregnancy of a couple in New Jersey had a change of heart after giving birth, and decided she wanted to keep the baby. The couple who paid the woman to carry the child sued, and were eventually granted custody. In response, New Jersey, New York and other states instated a ban on paid surrogacy that lasted years. The case - known popularly as 'baby M' - made surrogacy a national controversial topic, with people questioning the ethics of wealthy couples paying surrogates - who are sometimes substantially poorer - for the temporary use of their womb. Following the breakdown of his 40-year marriage and the loss of a lifelong friend, Stuart Arfield did not know where to turn. The musician felt he had 'lost himself', and even quit his job. The 68-year-old says: 'I was very much a person who would think, 'Depressed? Come on, there are worse things.' He was prescribed antidepressants by his GP which, he says, had 'little effect'. But later, at the doctor's surgery, he saw a poster for counselling services with the charity Mind that made him take the first step towards therapy. Stuart says the weekly talking therapy he had over six months 'had a massive impact'. 'Right from the off, I felt I was in the right place,' he says. 'At the first session I just felt it natural to start talking, and I found the process really powerful. 'You start to self-reflect, and you walk away and think, 'I am here now with my life' and you start to see chinks of light. Before, it felt like my world was collapsing around me, but I am so much better now. It has completely changed my relationships with friends and family and I can live life again.' Stuart is far from alone. A growing number of people in his age group are experiencing mental health challenges. New data shows more than half of people aged over 65 have had mental health issues in the past five years but only a quarter have sought therapy or counselling. Stuart Arfield, 68, turned to therapy after his marriage broke down and he lost a lifelong friend The research, carried out for the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) by polling company YouGov, has been shared exclusively with The Mail on Sunday to provide an insight into the mental health challenges for over-65s. The survey, which quizzed more than 5,000 adults, found that stress was the most common issue for the age group. One in five also said that they experienced depression and nearly a third said they suffered from anxiety. Last month The Mail on Sunday columnist Dr Ellie Cannon detailed her experience with an elderly patient who had turned to psychotherapy. She recalled seeing the patient who had recently recovered from a stint in intensive care. 'Not only did it alleviate the mental trauma of his illness, it helped him come to terms with the depression he'd been dealing with for decades,' wrote Dr Ellie. 'It made me wonder whether many GPs wrongly believe there is no point suggesting therapy for older people.' In response we received dozens of heart-warming letters and emails from people who'd had 'life-changing' experiences with the treatment. Andrew Stevens, 62, a retired mechanic from Birmingham, said: 'I had always suffered from mild depression and anxiety but I had never taken the step because I was stubborn.' After receiving treatment for bowel cancer, which is now in remission, he sought support from a counsellor. 'It brought out all the feelings that I had about the treatment, it helped me understand how I could deal with the feelings,' he said. 'Having had therapy, now I really regret not taking it before.' Professionals warn that among their clients, older people in particular wait until they reach crisis point before seeking help. 'We often underestimate the period of change you go through at retirement,' says Jackie Rogers, a therapist from Burton-on-Trent. 'It is a big life transition where support networks change, and I often find that people no longer know who to talk to. However, retirement is also a time when the issues people have put on the back burner come to the fore. So going to therapy really helps to process that transition. 'It is never too late to change, and sessions can be hugely beneficial to those later in life.' So what is therapy and how can you access it? Therapy is a broad term usually used to describe talking therapy a treatment for mental and emotional issues which involves discussing personal problems with a trained therapist. It may be carried out one-to-one, in a group, online, over the phone, with family members or a partner. The aim is for the therapist to help patients understand and cope with their problems. There are several forms of talking therapy, the most common and available on the NHS being cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The aim of CBT is to help patients recognise unhelpful patterns of behaviour in their lives and move away from them. Studies show it is effective at treating depression, anxiety, phobias, some eating disorders as well as many other mental health conditions. On the NHS, you can self-refer to talking therapies or seek a referral from your GP. More than 1.7 million people contacted the service last year. Average wait times are about six weeks for a first appointment, but nearly three months in some areas. With the growing backlog of people waiting for treatment, research suggests many are turning to private therapists. The cost can vary depending on where you live, but is about 35 a session. A traditional therapy scene from the 1944 film Lady In The Dark When choosing a therapist, experts say it is important to check they are registered with a professional body, such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. This is because it is not a regulated industry, and anyone can describe themselves as a 'therapist'. Another important factor is finding a therapist who matches your personality. 'It is really important you find the right person,' says Ms Rogers. 'Often that's about finding someone who is a good fit for you and can understand the challenges you are facing. 'For example, I have more female clients than men because they feel that I can understand their experience.' Another reader who says that therapy changed her life is Amanda Moss, 74, from Lancashire, who lives with the incurable condition chronic fatigue syndrome, or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). The condition left her depressed, unable to leave the house and isolated from friends. After giving up on the NHS waiting list, she chose a private therapist of a similar age. 'When you are getting older it is hard to get support you feel lost and isolated,' she says. 'It was powerful to feel accepted and listened to. Therapy gave me strength to cope with my ill health. It has helped me restore friendships and relationships with my family.' No matter how much you hate inheritance tax or believe it to be unfair, there is little you can do to protect your loved ones from paying it on significant assets you pass down to them. But a new tax loophole is opening up from April that could wipe out your obligations to the UK taxman altogether. The one condition you must abide by? You have to live outside the UK for at least ten years. Yes, for most this would be a dramatic step to take simply to avoid tax. But there are already over five million Britons living abroad who could benefit, and many are tempted to retire elsewhere to enjoy warmer climes and often a better quality of life. Hundreds of thousands of Britons already abroad may now find themselves exempt from paying UK inheritance tax without realising it as this little-known loophole has largely gone under the radar. Of course, such a big decision would take a great deal of planning and anyone considering it would need expert advice and to consider their own personal circumstances. Here, Wealth investigates why the rules are changing, how they will work and what inheritance tax your loved ones may pay if you die abroad. How are the rules changing, and how could I benefit? Until now, British expats could spend all their time abroad, own property abroad, die abroad and still their estate could be liable for inheritance tax in the UK. Hundreds of thousands of Britons already abroad may now find themselves exempt from paying UK inheritance tax without realising it That is because Britons living abroad could be considered resident outside of the UK but still domiciled in the UK. An individual's domicile is where their permanent home is considered to be and is much more nuanced than their residency. The rules to determine your domicile are complex and based on many factors, including where you were born and where you have your permanent home. Many British expats working overseas but expecting to return to the UK in due course would be considered domiciled in the UK. If you live permanently overseas but don't have a fixed base in any one jurisdiction, you would remain UK domiciled. This can catch out many British expats who have lived overseas for years or even decades. It is possible to change a UK-domiciled status by acquiring a 'domicile of choice' in another country, but this is a complicated process. You can live abroad for many years and still be considered UK domiciled and so liable for UK inheritance tax. However, from April the new system will replace 'domicile' with 'residency' and your liability to UK taxes will be assessed on your specific tax residency status. That means that if you live abroad and have no assets in the UK, your estate will not attract inheritance tax on any foreign assets that you held so long as you had been living outside the UK for at least ten years. The change is part of the fallout from the abolition of so-called non-domiciled status that was confirmed in the Autumn Budget by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Non-domiciled status or non-dom for short relates to someone who lives in Britain but whose permanent tax residence is registered abroad. Those with the status do not have to pay UK taxes on their foreign earnings and assets. The unexpected beneficiaries of the scrapping of non-dom status are British people planning to retire overseas or already living abroad. How much inheritance tax will I pay in the UK? The rate of tax payable on your death is 40 per cent of the value of your estate property, money and valuables above 325,000 individually or 650,000 as a couple who are married or in a civil partnership. On top of this, if you leave a property to a direct descendant such as a child or grandchild, you and your spouse can also each benefit from a 175,000 'main residence nil-rate band'. This means that a couple can give away a property up to the value of 1million free of inheritance tax. If there's a loophole, how will it work? You can avoid paying IHT in Britain if you have claimed residency abroad and been non-resident in the UK for ten consecutive years. You will no longer be bound by where you are considered domiciled as this term will be scrapped and replaced with the universal term of 'residency'. However, any assets you have in the UK may still attract inheritance tax. The change to inheritance tax is part of the fallout from the abolition of so-called non-domiciled status that was confirmed in the Autumn Budget by Chancellor Rachel Reeves Wealth management group Evelyn's partner and tax expert Ian Dyall says that unless people sell up completely and dispose of all their British property and investments before retiring abroad, they will still have to pay IHT, even if they do not return to the UK. If you are already living abroad this time is simply included as part of the ten-year rule. If you move abroad in the current tax year before April you will only be liable for IHT on your overseas assets and possessions for three years. Does this mean I don't pay if I retire abroad? You will still be charged tax in the country where you reside. Chris Etherington, a partner at accountancy firm RSM International, says: 'Remember, just because you won't be paying UK inheritance tax does not mean you avoid paying death taxes in the country where you live.' He adds that people may need to pay for costly specialist local advice, to ensure their financial affairs are in order. Ian Dyall adds: 'You may end up with the complexity and costs of having to comply with two different regimes. If people try to be too clever, they could end up having to pay for two sets of advisers.' But what if I want to spend time in the UK? You must not be resident in the UK for ten consecutive years. That doesn't mean you can never visit, but you need to take care that you don't spend so long that it appears you are resident here. UK residency is assessed on how many days you spend in the UK and the 'connecting factors' to the UK that you retain. Connecting factors include the availability of UK housing, if you have a spouse remaining in the UK and whether you have been a UK resident in the past three years. You can typically spend up to 90 days a year in the UK and remain non-resident here, if you have, say, only two connecting factors. However, if you break the relevant days' threshold by even one day, the ten years start all over again. Experts say that those considering moving abroad and claiming non-residence in the UK should keep back at least three weeks of the 90 days for family emergencies and other unexpected events. Chris Etherington, a partner at accountancy firm RSM International, says: 'Just because you won't be paying UK inheritance tax does not mean you avoid paying death taxes in the country where you live' Robert Salter, a tax director at accountancy and business adviser Blick Rothenberg, says: 'Remember, if you live in Britain at any point and become UK tax resident in that tax year per our domestic law you will break the rule and the clock starts again.' Of course there are myriad considerations beyond the tax implications. Robert Salter points out that many will find the rule too restrictive if it curbs their ability to see grandchildren on a regular basis. Will I pay death tax in a foreign country? If you escape UK inheritance tax by leaving the country, you may still be liable for tax within the country where you have moved. Alex Ruffel, partner at law firm Irwin Mitchell, says: 'Every country has its own tax regime which you have to consider, so think very carefully about where you want to go. 'Otherwise, you may have jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire. You could end up being exposed to various local taxes, like an annual wealth tax, not just on death like IHT, that will leave you worse off.' Will tax be due if I die within ten years? The rules are clear as a default, if you die within the ten-year period the UK taxman can be expected to come after your estate for the full IHT owed. However, tax expert Robert Salter admits the tax situation could get 'messy' depending on where you live. He says: 'It is unlikely you will be doubly taxed paying death tax twice, both in the country in which you live overseas as well as in the UK, as the UK would typically allow 'tax credit relief' on the IHT you have paid overseas. But expect the UK taxman to chase you for the extra tax due in the UK. This means if you pay the equivalent of 30 per cent death tax abroad, the UK taxman can chase you for the other ten per cent. What other taxes should I consider? You will have to think about all of the local taxes, from income tax to what you pay for any healthcare you need. Furthermore, remember that while you may pay lower inheritance tax as a resident of another country, you may be liable to other taxes that erode the amount of wealth you can pass on, such as wealth taxes. Some countries also have 'gift taxes', which means that if you gift a certain amount during your lifetime you may incur a tax bill. In contrast, all gifts made in the UK are free from inheritance tax so long as you survive for a further seven years after making them. Chris Etherington, a partner at accountancy firm RSM International, also warns that you will need to consider what impact moving abroad will have on any trusts that you have already put in place. There are some countries that do not recognise them, which could spark legal complications. Trusts are a popular method of reducing inheritance tax in the UK. They are a legal arrangement that allows cash, investments or property to exist outside of your estate so that legally they no longer belong to you. That means that when you die their value normally won't count towards your inheritance tax liability. Chris Etherington says: 'You may think that because you have set up a trust, you have taken care of everything. Not so, as countries like Spain do not recognise trusts.' Also, remember that while you'll retain any UK state pension entitlement you've accrued, in some countries such as Dubai and Australia, the value of your payments is frozen at the point at which you move. How do the rules over death taxes work in other countries? Dan Harris of UK firm Stone King LLP says: 'In almost every other jurisdiction apart from the UK it is the inheritor who pays the tax and the allowances and rates vary, depending on how close the beneficiary is to the deceased in terms of bloodline. 'Stepchildren can sometimes be charged as much as 60 per cent tax, whereas gifts to children can pass tax-free, which can be tough on blended families. Likewise, gifts to charities can pay 60 per cent, and foreign assets placed in trust can be taxed up to 60 per cent.' Harris adds that most countries don't allow you the freedom to give your property to whomever you wish. Instead 'forced heirship' rules mean that most of your estate has to pass to pre-determined parties. In Spain, inheritance tax rates vary depending on the value of the inheritance that the beneficiaries will receive and your relationship to them. The basic rates are set by central government, but each of the autonomous regions can reduce the rates and some are set as low as zero per cent. There is no automatic spousal exemption. In France, there is a 100 per cent exemption for any assets passing between spouses. Otherwise, inheritance tax rates range between five and 60 per cent, depending on the value of the estate. In Australia, though there is no inheritance tax on death, capital gains tax is payable instead. A TikTok star has faced a furious backlash from fans after she sent back a new puppy just seven days after collecting him from the airport and parading him to her 128,000 followers. Sydney influencer Whitney Hanslow was blitzed by savage criticism after she returned Murphy the Cocker Spaniel when she decided she should couldn't cope with him. She told her 120,000 followers she didn't expect the 'mental load' that came with having the puppy - and said she now wanted to focus instead on 'prioritising' herself. Hanslow later deleted all her posts about 10-month-old Murphy after the brutal online feedback, and told followers that she would now be dealing with the matter privately. But followers of the content creator say this is not the first time Hanslow has disposed of a dog shortly after introducing them on her social media. Late last year, Hanslow began posting regular videos of another Cocker Spaniel called Winston which appeared in clips of Hanslow's new apartment tour in May. But by June he was dead. Shocked fans learned of his fate when Hanslow posted a tearful video of her collecting his ashes after she had him euthanised. 'After the whole dog thing she officially disgusts me,' posted one viewer. Whitney Hanslow with her first dog Winston before he was euthanised Hanslow admitted to sending the dog back to the breeder so she could prioritise herself Hanslow posted daily to her Instagram chat named 'Whits internal dialogue' 'Putting her last dog to sleep due to separation anxiety is insane and now getting rid of her dog after [seven] days. 'Honestly get off the internet and stop posting your life if you don't want to get hate. I'm so disgusted and upset. 'She's adopted puppies, used them for content, receives free items and sponsored videos for it and then re-homes them.' Hanslow revealed she was welcoming her new puppy on October 2, six months after Winston's death, 'Exciting News! Get ready for cuteness overload! Join me as I share the journey of prepping for and welcoming my new 10-month-old Cocker Spaniel puppy,' she posted. Two weeks later on October 18, she collected him from Sydney Airport, sharing two videos about the happy occasion and introducing him as 'my son Murphy Rae Hanslow,' But just seven days later, after the pooch knocked over some red cordial and chewed an 'expensive cushion,' she'd had enough and sent him back to the breeder. 'She had the puppy flown interstate to be with her and a week later she wants to send it back,' said another outraged follower on social media. 'The irresponsibility, the arrogance - I'm astounded.'' 'She said the new puppy is frightened of everything and anxious,' added another. 'Cocker Spaniels are known for their anxiety and and attachment issues.' Hanslow gave a tearful explanation of her need to 'prioritise herself' and said she never expected how much time she would have to take off work as a content creator. Hanslow has moved on from puppy content and is back to posting about Matcha Tea, new clothes and baking Hanslow provided a statement to Daily Mail stating that she will not apologise for putting her dogs first 'I know I work from home but I just didn't expect the mental load,' she said at the time. When furious fans started to question Hanslow's motives, she deleted the video about her rehoming the pup, saying she wanted to 'focus on the positives'. Daily Mail Australia reached out to Cocker Spaniel Rescue Australia who confirmed they hadn't placed either Murphy or Winston with Hanslow. They said they were devastated by Winston's passing and were never contacted about rehoming him prior to him being euthanised - something that they specialise in. Hanslow defended putting Winston to sleep, saying it was taken on her vet's advice. 'Making the decision to put my beloved Winston to sleep, on the advice of our vet, was one of the most difficult decision I have had to make,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'But I did it knowing it was the best decision for him. 'Both decisions were heartbreaking but like any dog-lover, I have to put my dogs first and make no apologies for that.' A Massachusetts lawyer has revealed how he has dedicated his career to fighting to save 'dangerous' dogs from the death penalty. Speaking to DailyMail.com, Jeremy Cohen said his mission began when his own German Shepherd, Jesse, was sentenced to be euthanized after he bit a woman's leg and nipped at a couple of smaller dogs in Marblehead. Distraught, Cohen called animal rights attorney Steven Wise for advice and was able to successfully argue at an appeal hearing that he and his dog had been deprived of due process. Jesse was ordered to get training, be kept on a leash and banned from the area of the attack - but crucially, he was allowed to live. Word of Cohen's win traveled fast and he was soon receiving phone calls from other distressed pet owners begging for help. Jeremy Cohen said he began his business after his own dog, Jesse, was sentenced to be euthanized after he bit a woman's leg and nipped at a couple of smaller dogs Cohen opened his new business Boston Dog Lawyers in 2016 Cohen was so successful he ended up selling his business and opening Boston Dog Lawyers in 2016, where he has represented all kinds of animals from cats and horses to pigs and chickens. Since he began, Cohen said he has received more than 5,000 calls, with cases ranging from capital punishment to grievances against kennels for negligence and messy custody battles. Cohen said: 'I always wanted to make a difference, but I never saw a pathway to do that.' It was Jesse's case that finally stoked a fire within him and he knew there must be thousands of other cases just like his out there. His practice, however, hasn't been praised from everyone. Many critics mock the lawyer for taking on animal law, while others see Cohen as a villain for defending 'dangerous animals'. 'Sometimes people say, I can't wait for this to happen to you or your family,' he said. Cohen said: 'I always wanted to make a difference, but I never saw a pathway to do that' Since he opened his business, Cohen has received more than 5,000 calls from potential clients He recalled one recent case where he had represented the owners of a big dog who had killed a smaller dog and said 110 people had turned up for the hearing. Cohen claimed they all hated him except for his clients. 'By the end, the people who were the victims, they were shaking my hand because I've learned how to try to not make it a circus atmosphere,' he said. Cohen explained that he doesn't assume all owners and animals have been wrongfully victimized. 'I usually start off by saying, my client's a horrible dog owner. If this dog was in my neighborhood, I would want it out as well,' he said. 'But we're much smarter as a society now than to just say a dog bit, so kill it. There are doctorates and PhD degrees in dog behavior. So, let's take advantage of this knowledge and try to educate the pet owner better.' He added that he ensures owners implement ways to keep everyone safe such as extensive training, muzzle use, a leash and medication. Cohen said there are many reasons a dog may bite. 'It's usually out of fear. They're afraid of something. And if the owner hasn't properly addressed what those triggers are, then you have to look to the owner before you look to the dog,' he explained. He added that a major factor in these cases is a need for revenge. 'People see another dog's killed and there's this revenge factor,' he added. 'And I understand it, but, before a judge, I think we can explain how this happened and how we can minimize it from happening again.' Cohen represents all kinds of animals, and recently had a case involving a pig who was being kept as a support animal Cohen's practice has become a major driving force in change for animals' rights. 'We're starting to see the law change in Massachusetts at least and open up to that these pets are irreplaceable,' he said. 'And there's got to be other ways to correct people's behavior or to get your dog back if it's still alive and being held away from you.' In most states animal abuse has changed from a misdemeanor to a criminal offense. In 22 states, veterinarians are required to report suspected animal abuse to the authorities and now the FBI recognizes animal abuse cases in the same categories as other major crimes. This not only applies to pets, but also livestock. Laws have sprung up in several states protecting farm animals from inhumane confinement. 'Poll after poll after poll has shown that Americans care very deeply about animal protection issues and animal welfare,' Chris Green, executive director of the Animal Legal Defense Fund and former director of the animal law program at Harvard Law School, told the Boston Globe. According to the outlet, fewer than a dozen attorneys practice pet law full time in America and Cohen is among the most skilled and prominent. Cohen's practice has become a major driving force in change for animals' rights Cohen said he often has to 'go through a justification process', but also won't represent anyone with the 'wrong mindset'. He added: 'I'm not taking the case if you don't understand this was your fault, but here's how we can fix it.' Cohen explained that pet ownership is 'so much responsibility' and you need to provide the care and guidance to your pet for its whole life. 'And that's that obligation that we took on when dogs were domesticated, and cats were domesticated. And it's a shame to see people just don't keep up with that obligation,' he said. He revealed details about one case where a dog belonging to a couple in their seventies had been taken away and they did not know why. Cohen said the couple had not been taking their dog to the groomers during the Covid-19 pandemic, and it had stopped going to the bathroom. 'And so, they went to the vet and vets around here are obligated to report animal neglect or cruelty. And the vet said, I'll tell you why your dog isn't pooping is because its fur has grown over its butt,' he explained. Cohen questioned whether the neglect was worth the felony charge they were facing. 'So, we worked out this grooming arrangement. Once a month, someone would come in and groom the dog under supervision. But it just seems too many people don't even know some of the basics and it's really sad for that pet,' he added. Cohen explained that pet ownership is 'so much responsibility' and you need to provide the care and guidance to your pet for its whole life 'I try to remember like on holidays that there's people sitting with their pet who wouldn't have been, and people are thinking of us and they're appreciative,' Cohen said In Cohen's office he displays a large picture frame on the wall with a collection of photos of past canine clients. Underneath a caption reads: 'He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.' On a shelf in his office Cohen keeps a small box with a brass plaque which reads: 'Jesse's ashes.' 'I try to remember like on holidays that there's people sitting with their pet who wouldn't have been, and people are thinking of us and they're appreciative,' he said. 'It's a good feeling because it's so easy to not have good feelings, you know, and to not feel good about yourself and what you do,' he added. 'So, this identity as a dog lawyer has been something really special for me.' Heartbroken loved ones of a blind man have slammed a 'callous' and 'inhumane' council for booting him out of his home whilst he was suffering in hospital with stage six kidney failure. James Montague, 58, spent his final moments in misery after the North Lanarkshire Council moved him to an upstairs flat unsuited to his needs, his brother Patrick says. The unwell tenant was evicted from his family home in Motherwell by sheriff officers who 'snuck' into his home as he lay in hospital with failing kidneys. The council evicted him, despite pleas from a consultant psychiatrist who said was 'practically impossible' for Mr Montague, who had chronic mental health issues, to be safely moved with his deteriorating physical health. His heartbroken family have hit out at the council following Mr Montague's death at the St Andrew's Hospice in Airdrie on November 15 of this year. The grieving relatives have been left reeling after the way their beloved family member had been evicted from the home where he had spent most of his life. His 62-year-old brother blasted sheriff officers for 'sneaking' into the property to change the locks whilst his brother's health deteriorated, dubbing it 'a dreadful blow'. Patrick, 62, said: 'We are devastated to lose Jimmy but we know about the misery he had to endure in his final months and how it could have been avoided. James Montague spent the final months of his life in misery after being evicted from his family home whilst he suffered in hospital with stage six kidney failure His grieving brother Patrick (Pictured) has since slammed North Lanarkshire Council as 'callous' and 'inhumane' 'North Lanarkshire Council have been callous and inhumane and they sneaked in to evict Jimmy when he was in hospital, sending round Sheriff Officers and changing out the locks. 'That in itself was a dreadful blow to his morale at a time when he knew he was dying. 'But the flat that he had to move into was up a flight of stairs and it was away from family members on the same street who gave him great support. 'It just seems that they could have allowed him to die with dignity, instead of spending every day in misery while he was dying in great pain.' In February Mr Montague, who was blind, had been given six months to live after being diagnosed with stage six kidney failure. A letter addressed to the council and seen by the Daily Record from consultant psychiatrist Dr Laisinghani read: 'Mr Montague has a chronic and enduring mental health illness. 'Currently, his physical health is deteriorating. It is practically impossible for him to be moved due to him being bed bound.' James also appealed to the council, begging to be 'allowed to die' in the family home where his family had lived for over six decades. His 62-year-old brother blasted sheriff officers for 'sneaking' into the property to change the locks whilst his brother's health deteriorated, dubbing it 'a dreadful blow 'I'm basically asking for some compassion from North Lanarkshire Council so I can see out my last months,' he pleaded. But he was evicted when sheriff officers took possession of the home on the day James was rushed to hospital for a blood transfusion. James was brought up in the house in Millfield Avenue before moving to a housing association flat nearby. In 2017 he moved in with his parents Margaret and Patrick, who was an Alzheimer's sufferer, to help care for them. His mother and father passed away in 2021 and 2022 respectively, with James soon being hit with his own health woes. James began to lose his sight and suffered with chronic problems including neuropathy, diabetes and ulcerative colitis as well as chronic kidney failure. He has also been diagnosed with severe mental health issues. James said he kept the tenancy for the housing association flat because it was his intention to move back in. His health issues overtook him and he was unable to. A spokesman for North Lanarkshire Council declined to comment. They earlier told the Daily Record: 'While we sympathise deeply with Mr Montague's circumstances, we have a legal obligation to follow existing tenancy arrangements and laws, including the eviction process ruled by the court. 'Mr Montague also holds a tenancy with another social housing provider and they may be able to provide him with the assistance he needs at this time.' A consultant psychiatrist as well as James also pleaded to the council for him to be able to stay in his family home of 60 years in the run up to his death A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council previously said: 'While we sympathise deeply with Mr Montagues circumstances, we have a legal obligation to follow existing tenancy arrangements and laws, including the eviction process ruled by the court. 'In Mr. Montague's case, the property has been subject to legal proceedings following his father's passing in 2022, and subsequent failure to secure succession of tenancy, and we must uphold the decisions of the court. 'Mr Montague also holds a tenancy with another social housing provider, and they may be able to provide him with the assistance he needs at this time.' They have declined to comment on the matter further. Aussies have taken aim at universities for accepting international students who don't speak a word of English, claiming it is negatively affecting their grades. Peter James Cruz is in the second year of his engineering degree at the University of Sydney and claims he has had to 'carry' multiple group assignments and 'do damage control on most' because his peers don't speak the same language. 'It is a big problem, especially with groups that you can't allocate yourself,' he said. 'I know that translators are more advanced now, but they are only a crutch to an ever-growing problem in my eyes, and cannot replace knowing the language.' Universities have long been accused of having an addiction to Chinese students, who pay billions of dollars each year to earn prestigious degrees in Australia. Mr Cruz, 19, is an Australian citizen and forks out $10,000 a year for his degree, however an international student can be charged as much as $60,000. The high numbers of Chinese students has influenced how some classes are delivered with the University of Melbourne called out in August for teaching tutorials in Mandarin and alienating Australian students as a result. In one instance, Mr Cruz said he was placed in a group with a student who didn't speak English and who used ChatGPT to write their part of the assignment. Peter James Cruz is in the second year of his engineering degree at the University of Sydney Mr Cruz had to rewrite their contribution himself because the university doesn't allow students to use AI to complete assignments, although that is set to change next year. 'It did create more work for me as I had to check through the ChatGPT responses. This did force some drastic fixes which did limit the grade,' he said. The government raised the English language requirements for international students in March. The minimum test score for a student visa was increased from International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score 5.5, to a 6 out of 9. A level 6 English speaker is considered 'competent,' while level 7 is 'good,' and level 8 is 'very good.' But students say the changes are trivial and there must be a better way to ensure that international students with a poor grasp of English don't become a drag on their classmates. Mr Cruz emphasised that it wasn't a matter of racial discrimination, but of a 'minority' of international students who didn't have the English skills to do the work properly. Another student at the university, who is in his third year of studying mechatronic engineering, said poor English among his peers was 'still a major issue.' Australian universities have long been accused of having an 'addiction' to Chinese international students 'I've had group work projects where the rest of the group were speaking Mandarin the entire time and didn't switch to English when I asked them to,' he said. 'The IELTS requirement is still really low in my opinion. A change from 5.5 to 6 is basically trivial. I certainly can't see any evidence that the change did anything.' An international student who was doing a Bachelor of IT described his group assignments as 'absolute hell'. 'The majority of my group members can barely construct a coherent written message and use ChatGPT to basically copy and paste whatever it says for their part,' he said. 'Even though I am an international student myself, I feel like many of the students are just accepted for the money they will pay through fees with absolutely zero regard for their language English skills. 'It not only creates this barrier between them and what they need to learn during their courses, but completely ruins your education as well since you have to do the majority of the work.' In response to questions, a University of Sydney spokesperson said its English requirements were in fact higher than those set by the government in March. 'Our English language standards are among the highest in the sector and well above the minimum set by government, with our courses typically requiring an IELTS of between 6.5 and 7.5 which we believe is appropriate.' University of Sydney said its English requirements were in fact higher than those set by the government in March The university was also committed to 'supporting our international students as they adapt to life in Sydney,' with language and learning support available to any students who might need it, the spokesperson said. 'We encourage our students to use generative AI productively and responsibly for the purpose of boosting learning, with guardrails in place to protect academic integrity, so our students are prepared for a world where this technology is part of everyday life and work.' The university announced on Wednesday that, from the first semester of 2025, students will be allowed to use AI for assessments, except in tests and exams. A spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs said it was not considering further changes to English language requirements. 'The requirement for students to have a minimum English language test score of IELTS 6.0, or equivalent, provides the level of English language skills required to succeed in tertiary academic studies,' the spokesperson said. 'Students with strong English proficiency are better placed to live independently and engage with the broader community.' International students accounted for more than a quarter of all enrolments in Australia in 2022 with 450,000 foreigners paying fees directly. The fees of these international students contributed a fifth of all university funding and made up Australia's fourth largest 'export' - education - after iron ore, coal and natural gas. In August, the Albanese Government announced it would trim the country's intake of international students by nearly 20,000 - or around seven per cent - as the their influx was blamed for the explosion in house prices and rents. Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said the government would set international student commencements at 270,000 for the 2025 calendar year. China is Australia's biggest source of international students, but a report released by Mr Clare earlier this year hinted that Australia could diversify away from China and towards India, which last year overtook China to be the world's most populous nation. 'Its going to hit me, too. We can't get out of here.' These are the harrowing final words uttered by Navy vet Gerry Martin as he realized he was about to be engulfed by the most destructive volcanic eruption in US history. Martin, 64, was among those monitoring increased activity at Mt St Helens when lava blasted from the ridge in Washington State on May 18 1980, killing 57 people. His words have been unearthed as the volcano started rumbling again recently - more than four decades on from this jaw-dropping natural disaster. Martin had driven in his motor home to the foot of St Helens the day before the eruption to help study the burgeoning mountain as a radio operator. Nobody knew at that point how serious the situation was. Martin was at the scene with several others, including volcanologist David A Johnston. Martin's final words were recorded in the moments before he saw Johnston get consumed by the blast. 'The whole northwest section, north section is blowing up. Coming up over the ridge towards me,' he told his colleagues. I'm gonna back outta here.' 'Its going to hit me, too. We can't get out of here.' These were some of the final words uttered by Navy veteran Gerry Martin (pictured), 64, as he realized he was about to be engulfed by the most destructive volcanic eruption in US history Martin, 64, was among those monitoring increased activity at Mount St Helens when lava blasted from the ridge on May 18, 1980, killing 57 people. (Pictured: the 1980 eruption) He realized that he was about to die with just a moment to spare - and he used his last minutes to warn other radio operators what they were about to face. 'Gentlemen, the camper and car thats sitting over to the south of me is covered,' he said. 'Its going to hit me, too. We can't get out of here.' Martin was a Navy veteran who had been trained up as a short-wave radio operator for the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service when scientists were tracking St Helens' activity. A small earthquake in March 1980, during the weeks before Martin's arrival on the ridge, seemed to trigger the blast. The first sign was steam rising from the rim while the ground appeared to swirl on the north face of the mountain. Volunteers like Martin were drafted in to chart the volcano's activity - but nobody predicted the sheer scale of the destruction which was about to break out. A 5.1-magnitude quake caused lava to blast sideways from Mt St Helens, reducing its summit by a whopping 1,000 feet and leaving a mile-wide crater in the top. Lava streamed down the sides of the volcano while hot gases blasted across the surrounding area at speeds of more than 300 miles-per-hour. Pictured: Ash covers a pickup truck May 23, 1980 in Washington State. On May 18, 1980, an earthquake caused a landslide on Mount St. Helens' north face, taking off the top of the mountain and triggering an eruption that killed 57 people Pictured: Police officers examine the ash covered landscape on May 23, 1980 Pictured: A man looking through the window of a vehicle covered in volcanic ash as searches for missing people continued following the eruption, on May 29, 1980 It laid waste to hundreds of square miles of surrounding scenery, while killing 57 people, 200 homes, 47 bridges, and 185 miles of motorways. The blast is believed to have been more than 500 times stronger than that of the atomic bomb the US dropped on Hiroshima in August 1945. Martin's body and his motorhome were never recovered, and scientists believe he was buried alive by the boiling lava which solidified over the land. The 57 victims choked to death on hot fumes and burned alive after being trapped under the colossal debris. Mt St Helens is still the most active volcano in the Cascade Range - and it has recently showed signs of a resurgence. Between February and June this year, approximately 350 earthquakes were recorded at the 8,300-foot volcano by the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network. Most of these - more than 95 percent - have been less than magnitude 1.0 and are too small to be felt at the surface. In early June, the number of earthquakes recorded per week reached a peak of 38 events per week, mostly happening around 4.6 miles below the crater floor. Pictured: Rescuers about to remove a body from campsite near Mt St Helens following the eruption More than 400 earthquakes have been detected beneath the surface of the volcano in recent months. There have been more than 2,000 earthquakes recorded at the site since 2010 Specialized equipment has detected that magma has been flowing through chambers deep underground, causing the volcano to recharge. It comes after a surge in quakes was also recorded in 2023. 'Short-term increases in earthquake rates are common at Mount St. Helens and are considered part of background seismicity,' experts at the Cascades Volcano Observatory said earlier this year. 'The last two periods of elevated seismicity (in 2023 and 2024) represent the largest short-term increase in earthquake rates since the last eruption ended in 2008.' However, similar sequences involving even more quakes broke out in 1988 to 1992, 1995 to 1996, and 1997 to 1999. None of these directly triggered an eruption. The quakes are thought to be caused by pressurization of the magma transport system, which in turn is triggered by the arrival of additional magma, a process called recharge. Magma gradually bubbles through the lower crust and builds up in a reservoir around 2.5 to six miles below sea level. 'Recharge' events break out when magma enters this reservoir, causing quakes. 'There have been no significant changes in other monitoring parameters (ground deformation, volcanic gas or thermal emissions) and no change in hazards at Mount St. Helens as a result of this activity,' the Observatory concluded. The sadistic nanny who shocked the world this week when video emerged of her throwing, slapping, and smothering a two-day old baby, only got the job through a reference written by her daughter, DailyMail.com has learned. The cruel caretaker has since been identified as Guitan Liu, who has now fled to her native China amid calls to have her brought back to California to face justice. Her daughter Christina Liu has also been fired from her job at TikTok for her alleged part in the sickening scheme, sources told DailyMail.com. The maternity nanny was hired by a couple who do not wish to be named in the town of Hillsborough, 15 miles south of San Francisco, to help care for their infant daughter born in late September. But within weeks the new parents would discover the horrific footage of their baby girl being abused by their trusted caretaker on their baby monitor. The anguished mom and dad have come forward to publicly raise awareness to other parents, and local police are now enlisting the help of federal authorities to find Liu. The mom, identifying herself only as 'Bay Area Mom D' on social media, released several horrific nanny cam videos showing Liu, who is in her mid-50s, inflicting pain on her screaming child. In a series of Instagram posts detailing the disturbing discovery, the mom claims she and her husband were duped into hiring Liu who she has branded the world's 'most malicious maternity nanny' by Liu's daughter. The cruel caretaker was caught slapping, smothering, and throwing the newborn around like a rag doll in shocking nanny cam footage The anguished mother of the newborn baby girl, born in late September, has now shared footage and calls for justice on social media Liu, who is yet to be charged, initially came 'highly recommended' when she landed the position with the Chinese American family in their $8million luxury home, nestled on a posh cul de sac. Liu's reference had presented herself as the nanny's former employer and a mother of two on a Chinese social media post and praised the woman as trustworthy. But the newborn's mom said she didn't discover until afterwards that the reference was actually the nanny's own daughter Christina who worked at TikTok in Fresno, California. An internal source at TikTok told DailyMail.com that the company confronted Christina Liu about her involvement in the case and has since terminated her employment. Christina Liu did not respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. 'In late September, I welcomed my sweet baby girl into the world,' the mom wrote on Instagram. 'Sadly, we soon faced a devastating experience. We need public attention and professional support to hold this family accountable.' Hillsborough police said the evidence 'depicts multiple instances of suspected child abuse,' and that 'inspectors have confirmed the suspect's identity and are collaborating with federal law enforcement agencies to locate and interview the individual.' The child was born in mid-September. The nanny came to stay with them upon their return from the hospital later that month. 'On the morning of October 2, we just happen to see on the live baby monitor that the nanny was being a little rough with our baby,' the mom recalled. The mom, who has identified herself only as 'Bay Area Mom D' branded the woman the world's 'most malicious maternity nanny' on social media The anguished mom and dad have come forward to publicly raise awareness to other parents, and local police are now enlisting the help of federal authorities to find Liu The nanny, who has not been identified because she hasn't been charged, initially came 'highly recommended for the job She and her husband immediately confronted the caretaker, telling her to be more careful. The new nanny, a middle-aged woman, started crying, saying 'she would never do such (a) thing to a baby,' the mom said. Later that night, the newborn's father reviewed more footage from the monitor to discover that this wasn't an isolated incident. They fired her the next morning, and the mom noted 'she act aggressively to the termination.' The dad then downloaded all the videos to see the horrifying magnitude of the abuse. The nanny, standing over the crib, could be seen repeatedly shaking the infant, smothering her with a blanket, slapping her on the face and body, hitting her with a milk bottle, and violently throwing her across a bed. The child lets out ear-splitting screams as the nanny metes out more abuse with no apparent hesitation. 'I can't convey in words how traumatized we are and can't watched all the videos where she was aggressively abused,' the mom recalled on Instagram earlier this month. The parents took the child to doctors for x-rays and a brain MRI, fortunately discovering that there was no apparent serious damage, though more tests are being conducted. They also notified police. The nanny, however, was already apparently on the run. 'By the time we downloaded all the video evidence and handed over to the police, (the nanny) had already left the country and, with the help of her daughter, managed to flee back to China,' the mom wrote. In a series of postings, she explained her decision to go public with her family's horrifying experience. In footage that is too graphic and disturbing to be made public, the nanny, standing over the crib, could be seen repeatedly shaking the infant, smothering her with a blanket, slapping her on the face and body The nanny is now believed to have fled to her native China. The infant's mother however, has claimed the woman used her own daughter who she identified as Christina Lu as a reference The parents said that the nanny seemed 'legit' from their phone call before hiring her 'I'm writing this post as a deeply concerned mother who endured an unimaginable difficulty with a nanny we hired,' she wrote. 'We are seeking public attention and support,' she added. 'We will not give upwe want justice! More than 34,000 people have signed an online petition on change.org urging federal authorities to investigate. The parents, incognito, sat down with a local ABC affiliate Monday. 'We all thought we could trust her,' the father told ABC7 News. 'Never imagined something like this could happen.' 'Just a few days of this kind of abuse could have lifelong consequences for a baby,' he worried. San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe told DailyMail.com that he's particularly concerned about any neurological damage to the baby. 'Sometimes you can't tell what the neurological damage is for years,' he said. He said the nanny could face multiple felony charges of cruelty to a child, each carrying up six years in prison. 'Clearly, she'll face double digit years in prison if she's found and convicted,' Wagstaffe said. 'I've seen dozens of child abuse cases over the course of decades,' he continued. 'What struck me as different here is the age of the child, just a few days old. How can you be more vulnerable? I don't know any other word to describe this other than evil.' For nearly 150 years, the University of Southern Maine's Academy Building held a secret: a trove of forgotten love notes, sketches and personal mementos hidden within its walls. To ensure the preservation of the historic building in 2022, a skilled preservation contractor Lee Hoagland was brought in to meticulously match renovations to the original design. While repairing the grand, pillared portico over the course of a year, Hoagland uncovered a long-closed gap between the first and second floors of the building built in 1806. In that space, beneath the landing at the top of the stairs, Hoagland found a hidden cache of papers and pulled dozens, perhaps hundreds, of notes and drawings from the walls. It emerged that the building, which originally served as a private college preparatory school for children aged 10 to 17 for upper-class families, was full of long lost notes between friends, train tickets, stamps and pay stubs. This discovery provided university scholars a unique window into the personal lives of the high school students who once walked its halls. Among the discoveries are fragments of love letters - which are a rarity today - such as one that begins, 'My darling, why did...' Another note reads, 'Ada, would'nt you like to swing after school? I will stop if you will. Will you? Write and say!' For nearly 150 years, the University of Southern Maine's Academy Building held a secret: a trove of forgotten notes and sketches hidden within its walls. One love note found in the trove reads, 'Ada, would'nt you like to swing after school? I will stop if you will. Will you? Write and say!' References to a student named Belle Worcester appear frequently, with one love note declaring, 'Bell Worcester is a [prissy or pretty] girl.' 'We had a splendid time to (meeting?) last night, for Belle and I passed notes. We didn't pass many though, for Mr. Lord was right behind us,' another wrote. Beyond romantic pursuits, the notes also reveal insights into the academic life of the time, including math equations, English conjugations and penmanship exercises. Hoagland saved every last piece of parchment and handed them off to associate professor Hannah Barnes, who chairs the Department of Art currently housed in the Academic Building, until they can find a more permanent space to reside. USM historian Libby Bischof noted that the discovery of a four-letter expletive and a less-than-flattering caricature of a teacher underscore that teenage behavior, while evolving, remains remarkably consistent across generations. 'The past is not as distant as we think it is,' Bischof told the Bangor Daily News. 'I remember writing personal notes back and forth in my friend's notebook when the teacher thought we were studying.' The unfortunate teacher - Ms. Stevens - was drawn with a long, cartoonish nose, something that stuck out to Bischof. To ensure the preservation of this historic landmark, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, skilled preservation contractor Lee Hoagland was brought in to meticulously match the original design PIctured: One former student's unflattering sketch of their teacher, Ms. Stevens From casual notes to formal assignments, the collection offers a glimpse into the daily lives of the Academy Building's students 'What really struck me was the Miss Stevens cartoon because it was so crude. Not in crude in a lewd way, but crude like a really bad sketch,' Bischof said. 'And I could tell Miss Stevens had really large eyes because that's the defining feature.' She also noted to the Daily News that these notes will serve as an important artifact as correspondence between peers becomes more and more digital. 'These days it's all text and Snapchat,' Bischof said. 'We're not going to have this for future generations.' The restoration of the building constitutes the 'most ambitious building I've ever worked on,' Hoagland admitted. 'They really wanted to show, in 1803, that they were just as good as Europe. 'We're gonna make a school. And we're not just gonna make any school, we're gonna make a grand school on the top of the hill. With all this architecture, it's gonna prove our sophistication.' Pictured: A short essay about apple blossoms that was only 70 words 'We had a splendid time to (meeting?) last night, for Belle and I passed notes. We didn't pass many though, for Mr. Lord was right behind us,' this secretive note reads Pictured; Pictured: One of the many notes that referenced the 'pretty' Belle Worcester The final phase of renovations were wrapped up in spring 2024, restoring the Academy Building to its former glory. Today, it houses USM's Department of Art, where the rescued papers await their next chapter. Plans are underway to archive them in the University's Special Collections, ensuring future generations can connect with these snapshots of student life from a century and a half ago. Before becoming a part of USM's campus, the Academy Building closed in 1877 due to declining enrollment. In the decades that followed, the building was absorbed into the growing University of Southern Maine campus. Schoolmates of the teenager allegedly stabbed to death while camping have been traumatised after stumbling over their friend's body the morning after he vanished. Daily Mail Australia can now reveal 15-year-old Isaac's body was so badly injured even his friends didn't recognise him, and thought they'd found a murdered homeless man. The teenager's blood-soaked body was discovered face down in scrubland near Wilton, south-west of Sydney, about 7.25am on November 9 after he left his friends the night before. But they only recognised Isaac from his shoes and confirmed the horrifying discovery when they rolled his body over. 'He was covered in blood, his grey T-shirt was black, saturated in it and they only recognised him because of his shoes,' one of the teenager's mothers told Daily Mail Australia. 'Can you imagine that? Can you imagine what that's done to them? They are kids.' Isaac had left the teenager's campground the night before, telling his friends he was heading home because he was cold and hungry. Police allege the boy later came across a car in a dark and lonely country road, containing chef Jacob Greig and a female companion. Isaac, 15, was camping with friends at Wilton, just past the outskirts of south-west Sydney, on Friday night when he was allegedly stabbed by Jacob Greig, 32 Police allege the boy tried to open the car door, before Greig allegedly slashed the teen with a knife before the car then drove off (pictured: police take statements the day after the incident) Jacob Greig has been arrested and charged over the alleged murder Greig, 32, had been driven to the secluded area near Maldon Weir by local duck breeder, Johanna Martin, after finishing his shift at the nearby Bargo Hotel about 10pm. But when Isaac tried to get into the car, father-of-one Greig allegedly confronted the teen and is accused of slashing him with a knife. After allegedly jumping back into Martin's red Hyundai i30, the pair drove off as Issac tried to jump onto the moving car. Greig and Martin made the short trip back to his nearby home where his heavily-pregnant fiancee and their young child slept. Police, who have since seized the car, allege that video and audio of the incident from nearby CCTV captured the altercation. Isaac's body was discovered a short distance away the following morning by the same friends he was setting up tents with just hours earlier. Greig was later arrested and charged with Isaac's murder after he handed himself in at Narella Police station, accompanied by Martin and her parents. But the mother of one of the children Isaac was with - one just 13 years old - says they will be scarred by the crime scene they discovered, and may never recover. 'They were kept there for hours being interviewed,' she said. 'Right next to the dead body of their best mate. They won't ever move on from this. 'I can see it now. They are walking around completely emotionless like part of them has died too, absolutely lost.' Isaac's body was found on Saturday by his friends in bushland off Wilton Park Road at Wilton (pictured), south-west of Sydney It's alleged that the teenager, Isaac, stumbled across the red Hyundai i30 belonging to fowl enthusiast Johanna Martin, 21, (pictured) in a backroad near Wilton, south-west of Sydney She said her family, and the families she is close to, have not received any counselling or psychological support for their children following the alleged murder. 'We don't know what to do for them, they are hurt and lost and confused,' she added. Isaac's father, Paul, who gave his permission for his son's name and picture to be used, said that he wanted Isaac to be remembered as a beloved son, brother and mate, whose life was taken far too soon Greig faced Parramatta Local Court via a video livestream on November 10, with three of his family members attending. He was refused bail and will remain behind bars until he next fronts court on January 8 next year. Ms Martin has not been charged with any offence and there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on her behalf. Every day, millions of people commemorate important moments in their lives with pictures. Whether it is a trip to the zoo or a hike with loved ones, photos can help us to preserve beautiful memories. But sometimes, these photographs can tragically capture someone's final moments. For one man, who climbed into a zoo enclosure to take a selfie with a walrus, the outing ended in his death - as did another man's encounter with his favourite animal, a tiger. Others lives ended in tragedy when they found themselves in natural disasters and plane crashes, when their parachutes or when they simply were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Here, MailOnline takes a look at what happened just after these harrowing photographs were taken. Walrus rampage Jia Lijun was killed after a walrus dragged him into the water at a wildlife park in China Jia Lijun visited Xixiakou Wildlife Park in Rongcheng city in northeastern China in May 2016. He documented his visit with videos and pictures for social media - including selfies with a walrus. Immediately after snapping the pictures, the 1.5-tonne walrus grabbed Jia from behind and dragged him into a pool in the enclosure, where it swung him around under water. 'His back was to the walrus, and as he took a selfie, the walrus came from behind and pulled him into the pool to play,' one of Jia's friends told Chinese media. 'He was killed by the walrus, he didn't accidentally fall into the water.' A zookeeper, only identified by his surname Duan, reportedly used some bamboo sticks to try and rescue Jia before wading into the water himself. The walrus released Jia and rushed towards Duan, who - despite being a strong swimmer - couldn't escape the animal. The walrus, reportedly weighing some 1.5 tonnes, had been at the wildlife park for over 10 years The walrus was kept in this enclosure, which many people later criticised for allowing visitors to get too close By the time others came to Jia and Duan's aid, both had already died. Zoo staff believe that the walrus dragging its keeper around the pool was 'playful' and not malicious, as the keeper had been looking after the animal since it arrived at the zoo as a baby more than ten years before the incident. After the men's deaths, the wildlife park was heavily criticised for not having a barrier between the public and the animals, which enabled Jia to get into the walrus enclosure and take a selfie with it. Jia's friend, surnamed Wu, said the man was very excited about meeting the walrus and had sent many pictures and videos to friends. 'Who would have thought that at three o'clock he would send me a video, talking and laughing and just a few minutes [later] he was drowning in the water,' Wu said. Parachute test Franz Reichelt's parachute malfunctioned and failed to open, causing him to drop 187 feet to his death On an icy February day in 1912, Austrian-born inventor Franz Reichelt was famously pictured atop the Eiffel Tower in Paris in his homemade parachute suit. Although he was a tailor by trade, Reichelt's real passion lay in inventing. At the time, in the early 20th century, aeroplanes were in their infancy and Reichelt was keen to develop a wearable parachute for when they went wrong. He set about tailoring a special suit made from silk and rubber. He theorised that a falling person could open their arms to create wings that would slow their descent. His first attempts, using dummies, were successful. However, when he refined the previously bulky design, the dummies crashed to earth. When Reichelt tested the suit himself by dropping more than 30 feet, he needed piles of straw to break his fall and save his life. However, the inventor believed that if the drop was higher the suit would work. In 1912, he was given permission to test the suit from Paris's Eiffel Tower. Although friends tried to convince him not to carry out the feat, Reichelt pressed on. Cameras were there to ensure that Reichelt's feat would be recorded forever. On an icy February day in 1912, Austrian-born inventor Franz Reichelt was famously pictured atop the Eiffel Tower in Paris in his homemade parachute suit Shocking footage shows Reichelt perching on a chair for several moments before he stepped over the fence on the first level of the tower. He was seen leaping off the landmark in the misguided belief that his parachute would work Reichelt theorised that a falling person could open their arms to create wings that would slow their descent Shocking footage shows Reichelt perching on a chair for several moments before he stepped over the fence on the first level of the tower. He was seen leaping off the landmark in the misguided belief that his parachute would work. Instead, hundreds watched on as his parachute malfunctioned and failed to open, causing Reichelt to drop 187 feet to his death in a flurry of fabric. Members of the crowd invited to witness the inventor's ill-fated test jump rushed to his aid, but found Reichelt to have died on impact. The video from Pathe also captured startling scenes as onlookers measured the hole in the ground created by the impact of Reichelt's body. Hiking misstep Andrea Mazzetto went on a fateful hike with his girlfriend Sara Bragante on the Altar Knotto trail in the town of Rotzo, in the northeast Italian province of Vicenza, in August 2022. Pictured above is the last photo of Mazzetto Andrea Mazzetto went on a fateful hike with his girlfriend Sara Bragante on the Altar Knotto trail in the town of Rotzo, in the northeast Italian province of Vicenza, in August 2022. The couple had been taking pictures throughout their day and decided to commemorate the moment they reached the top with a selfie. Mazzetto took the photo on and swiftly posted it on social media, but he ended up dropping his phone just seconds later. When he tried to retrieve it, he lost his footing and plummeted 330ft down the cliffside, according to Italian media reports. His shocked girlfriend called emergency services, who sent firefighters and an alpine rescue team to the site. They managed to reach the 30-year-old via helicopter, but pronounced him dead at the scene. Mazzetto is pictured above climbing a rock. He had shared the photo with his Instagram followers The couple regularly posted pictures of themselves for their nearly 2,500 followers, many of which were romantic snaps during outings together Initially police believed that the dropped phone had belonged to Bragante, but later found out that it was actually Mazzetto's. Bragante later posted the final picture of Mazzetto on Instagram with a heartbreaking statement. 'Our cursed last photo together. You will always be with me, my little bear,' she said. The couple regularly posted pictures of themselves for their nearly 2,500 followers, many of which were romantic snaps during outings together. Mazetto,an entrepreneur and fitness enthusiast, was 'warm, generous and [had] a big desire to live,' a friend told local media. Shark attack Haunting picture captured last seconds of Duncan Craw's life as he was snorkelling in the distance while his toddler son Levi was playing on the sand A picture of a toddler playing by the water's edge as his father snorkels behind was hauntingly snapped moments before he died before being eaten by a great white shark. Taylia Craw had no idea that this would be the last happy photo of her two-year-old son Levi together with his father, Duncan, 32, of Warrnambool in western Victoria, in January 2021. The young family had been camping at Port MacDonnell on South Australia's Limestone Coast when Mr Craw disappeared in the water as his wife and son enjoyed the beach, unaware something was wrong. As Levi played with his yellow spade on the sand in the foreground, Mr Craw can be seen snorkelling in the distance, to the top left of the little boy. Minutes later he was gone, his last moments of life captured in a haunting picture. Mrs Craw was on the sand when she lost sight of her husband. 'He was the best father to Levi and a beautiful husband and best friend to Tay, his high-school sweetheart,' the family said in a statement. Mr Craw, an operations manager, had been looking forward to his hard earned break of a few days on the beach with his wife and son. It is believed Mr Craw died suddenly from an unknown natural cause before his body was eaten by a great white shark that was seen in the area. This picture shows an enhanced frame of the tiny figure of Mr Craw, 32, in the background Mr Craw had been on trip to the beach with his wife Taylia and their two-year-old son Levi (pictured together). The father's remains were later found in the water Mr Craw, an operations manager, had been looking forward to his hard earned break of a few days on the beach with his wife and son His remains were found in the water after search teams earlier recovered a torn wetsuit and flippers from the scene. 'While we may never know for sure, based on the evidence we do have, we now believe it is most likely Duncan suffered a medical episode long before the arrival of the shark,' the family said in a statement. 'It brings us comfort to know that he would have passed away peacefully in the water.' The family have vowed to keep pursuing a healthy outdoors lifestyle in Mr Craw's memory. 'We want everyone to know the ocean is still a place of peace and beauty for us,' they said. 'We will keep enjoying the outdoors, remembering Duncan as we do so.' Plane crash Pictures developed from cameras at the crash site show passengers during their final moments before the plane crashed On November 28, 1979, Air New Zealand flight 901 crashed into the side of the Antarctic mountain, killing all 257 on board. The crash was the worst peacetime disaster New Zealand's history and caused a ripple around the country as victims and authorities looked for someone to blame. The accident came just two years after Air New Zealand began operating scenic flights over Antarctica. Pilot, Capt Jim Collins, brought the plane down to 2,000ft in thick clouds so passengers on the DC 10 could get a better view of the Arctic. The flight was the height of luxury with the entire cabin first class with a menu to match that included a Champagne breakfast. Pictures developed from cameras at the crash site show passengers during their final moments before the plane crashed. The weather was poor with thick cloud coverage meaning it was hard to tell what they were looking at as they as they orbited across the ice and snow. Capt Collins must have assumed he was on the same flight path which he had used before for the 11-hour non-stop round trip from Auckland, New Zealand. The flight was the height of luxury with the entire cabin first class with a menu to match that included a Champagne breakfast The final image of what is believed to be the plane at the moment of impact - the fluid on the window is speculated to have been fuel Passengers were pictured enjoying beverages and looking out of the windows The wreckage of an Air New Zealand DC-10 lies on the side of Mount Erebus in the Antarctic, Nov. 30, 1979 An iceberg lies in the Ross Sea with Mount Erebus in the background near McMurdo Station Fuselage of the DC-10 that crashed in 1979 into Mount Erebus, Antarctica He unknowingly circled volcano Mount Erebus twice on descent, narrowly missing hitting the mountain as he attempted to avoid gathering clouds. Capt Collins could be heard on the black box recording doubting what he was seeing from the cockpit as the plane dropped to 2,000 feet and then 1,500 feet as impact neared. 'Actually, those conditions don't look very good at all - do they?' he told his crew, before realising that they were on the wrong course. 'We're 26 miles north, we'll have to climb out of this,' he told them. But as he attempted to turn the plane away from Erebus the DC10 crashed. Authorities later struggled to determine if the crash was Air New Zealand's fault or pilot error. Theories included that the pilots were briefed of a flight path which was different to the one which was being followed by the plane's computer. Investigators also considered if a 'whiteout' - which is when light between the snow and clouds overhead give an illusion of clear visibility - caused the crash. Tiger encounter Tiger-fanatic Maqsood went to New Delhi Zoo in September 2014 to admire his favourite animals. But the 22-year-old, who is said to have been under the influence of alcohol, climbed into the white tiger enclosure Tiger-fanatic Maqsood went to New Delhi Zoo in September 2014 to admire his favourite animal. But the 22-year-old, who is said to have been under the influence of alcohol, climbed into the white tiger enclosure - despite several attempts by zoo security to keep him away from the endangered animals. Once he had jumped into the enclosure, the tiger grabbed Maqsood by the neck as terrified onlookers began throwing sticks and stones at the animal to try to save him. Shocking photos show the tiger standing over Maqsood, who can be seen curled into a ball, trying to protect his head with his hands. A witness said he raced to the enclosure after hearing screams, to see him locked in the tiger's jaws, 'writhing badly in pain'. 'Around 1.30pm, when we were in the reptiles area, we heard very loud screams,' the witness told local media. 'We saw that a white tiger had caught a boy by his neck and he was writhing badly in pain. He kept suffering for the next 10-15 minutes but nobody helped him.' Another witness said the tiger kept 'roaming around' the enclosure, holding Maqsood by the neck. Once he had jumped into the enclosure, the tiger grabbed Maqsood by the neck as terrified onlookers began throwing sticks and stones at the animal to try to save him The tiger is pictured above standing on top of Maqsood Officials are pictured at the edge of the enclosure after Maqsood was killed Zoo officials said that security had tried to keep the man away from the tiger enclosure. 'Despite repeated warnings that he shouldn't get too close to the outdoor enclosure, the man eventually climbed over a knee-high fence and small hedges, then jumped down 18 feet into a protective moat,' National Zoological Park spokesman Riyaz Ahmed Khan said. Authorities eventually frightened the tiger into a small cage inside the enclosure. Maqsood, whose body remained in the outdoor enclosure two hours after the attack, was dead by the time help reached him, Khan said. It was later revealed by one of his classmates that Maqsood was obsessed with tigers and had various pictures of the animals on his phone. Maqsood even had a tattoo of 'Goddess Durga sitting on a tiger' on his right hand, according to the autopsy results. Avalanche death Filippo Bari snapped a grinning selfie of himself in front of a glacier in the Dolomites in Italy minutes before he was killed in an avalanche in July 2022 A 27-year-old Italian mountaineer snapped a grinning selfie of himself in front of a glacier in the Dolomites in Italy minutes before he was killed in an avalanche in July 2022. Filippo Bari, who has a four-year-old son, sent the picture to his family with the message 'look where I am' just 20 minutes before a huge chunk of the Marmolada glacier broke off, sending an avalanche of ice, snow and rocks down the slope. Italy has blamed the collapse on climate change and had feared more of the glacier could come crashing down, which prevented access to much of the area where the hikers, some roped together, were buried. Bari, who had been hiking with five friends at the time of the tragedy, was identified by his family as one of the victims of the tragedy. Although Bari was an expert mountain hiker, his brother, Andrea, told Italian state TV that his family always told him to be careful in the mountains, 'above all in these temperatures'. Andrea said his brother, who lived in Malo, Vicenza province, with his partner Jelena and four-year-old son Filippo sent the selfie of himself smiling whilst wearing a helmet and sunglasses in front of the glacier only 20 minutes before the avalanche came down. 'He passed away doing what he loved,' Andrea said. A helicopter flies over the avalanche area in the aftermath of an avalanche on the Marmolada Mountain in Canazei, Italy, on July 4, 2022 The avalanche killed 11 people - six men and three women from Italy as well as two men from the Czech Republic - and injured eight This aerial view taken near Canazei on July 5, 2022 from a rescue helicopter shows the Punta Rocca glacier that collapsed on the mountain of Marmolada Bari, who worked in a hardware store in Isola Vicentina, had been planning on conquering Monte Rosa, which straddles Italy and Switzerland, later that month. Andrea said of his brother: 'Filippo was a great lover of the mountains and nature in general. 'He had already done several high-altitude outings, always accompanied by experienced people and with all the necessary equipment.' The avalanche killed 11 people - six men and three women from Italy as well as two men from the Czech Republic - and injured eight. The owner of a takeaway food truck has hit back at a customer who blasted their fare as being 'heart attack food'. Customer Jackie Moore took to Facebook to complain about the quality of her meal after ordering a roast dinner from Not Just Baps, which is owned by Lisa Hope and based in Yateley, Hampshire. The comment came in response to another diner who praised the outlet for its 'yummy' roast dinners - a verdict Ms Moore did not appear to share herself. She dismissed it as 'heart attack food' but the business then retorted with a response of its own/ It asked: 'How can a roast dinner give you a heart attack? Unless it's the excitement of waiting to eat it.' In response, others leapt to Lisa's defence, with one user commenting: 'Most ridiculous comment ever! Your food is amazing and probably the healthiest Ive eaten in a long time'. Another added: 'It was beautiful home cooked dinner,' pointing out it was also a great option for 'people on their own'. A third wrote: 'Why would anyone be so nasty. I had my first roast dinner from here yesterday. It was all freshly cooked in front of me. Lots of fresh veg. It was delicious. I would just block her from seeing any of your posts.' The owner of a takeaway food truck has hit back at a customer who blasted their fare as being 'heart attack food' Customer Jackie Moore took to Facebook to complain about the quality of her meal after ordering a roast dinner from Not Just Baps, which is owned by Lisa Hope and based in Yateley, Hampshire Ms Moore labelled the fare as being 'heart attack food' A fourth said: 'Nothing bad in this roast dinner, all cooked fresh and great quality food. Meat, Veg and potatoes a good old fashioned meal that everyone enjoys Speaking to Bracknell News, Not Just Baps owner Ms Hope said that she found it difficult to see why Ms Moor took issue with her roast dinners. 'I could understand if someone was commenting on a full English breakfast, that would be fair enough,' she said. 'But the fresh vegetables are from Hardwickes in Sandhurst which is a little family run greengrocer, and that was just hidden under the meat.' It comes after a woman caused debate over whether or not it's rude to send emails late at night after she was scolded for contacting a cake company out of normal working hours. Taking to British parenting platform Mumsnet, the shocked customer explained that the people behind the business had scolded her for emailing them at 2am. However, the woman claimed she didn't expect the person to reply at that hour, and she only emailed at that time so she wouldn't forget. Many were on the woman's side, saying the business owner was being unreasonable and should turn off her notifications if she doesn't want to be disturbed. Yet others in the comment section said it would annoy them to get an email at that hour as they can easily be scheduled for the next morning. The post read: 'Is it rude to send a late night email to a business? Just to clarify I don't mean WhatsApp or text or anything. An actual email. 'I was up at 2am, I remembered something and sent an email. Something along the lines of "just to confirm the Birthday Cake we ordered has chocolate frosting but is a vanilla flavour cake". A woman has sparked a discussion over whether it's rude to send emails late at night after she was told off for contacting a cake company out of normal working hours (File image) 'I just wanted to be clear because in the past, with a different bakery, we had verbally said "chocolate frosting, vanilla cake" but ended up getting just a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. 'When picking up the cake, my sister was told ''and by the way, I don't appreciate getting emails at all hours of the night". 'Surely you turn off email notifications for your phone if you don't want to be disturbed... AIBU to send emails late at night?' One person said: 'Not at all, isn't that the advantage of email? Text/WhatsApp at that time would be rude, but I'd expect people to only check email when they're working or able to respond.' From the battlefields of Ukraine to the volatile waters of the Indo-Pacific, the fabric of global stability as we hurtle towards 2025 appears frayed, stitched together with little more than fragile diplomacy and the threat of a nuclear winter. Some analysts now argue that World War III is no longer a distant possibility - it has already begun, just in ways more subtle than Western societies experienced at the start of the 20th century's global conflicts. The early stages of World War III may not be fought not through the conventional means of tanks and trenches beyond the frontlines of Ukraine, but through hybrid threats, covert battles and ideological jockeying in the digital arena. National security expert Mark Toth and former US intelligence officer Col. Jonathan Sweet are among those arguing that World War III is already upon us. 'This third global conflagration doesn't look or feel like what Hollywood envisioned,' they claim. 'No mushroom clouds or apocalyptic wastelands. Rather, it is war by a thousand cuts, conducted across multi-regional and multi-domain battlefields. Here, MailOnline speaks to Sweet and Toth along with military chiefs, former presidents and geopolitical experts to assess whether we are really entering a new period of global attrition. Unfortunately, the signs are ominous. Ukrainian soldiers work with 'pion' artillery in the northern direction of the Donbas frontline as Russia-Ukraine war continues ' Putin 's invasion of Ukraine was the opening stage (of World War Three),' experts said Hybrid warfare and covert ops The concept of hybrid warfare lies at the heart of arguments that World War III is already underway. Unlike traditional wars, today's conflicts are fought not just with guns and bombs but through all manner of tactics including cyberattacks, disinformation, sabotage and economic manipulation. Toth and Sweet point the finger at Vladimir Putin as the main driver of the march toward disaster and say Russia's strategy spans multiple arenas - not just in Ukraine, but from Africa to beyond Earth's atmosphere and the digital theatre. In Africa, Russian paramilitary groups, such as the Wagner Group, have fuelled coups, destabilising democracies and consolidating Moscow's influence. And in Europe, espionage and damaging covert operations have resurfaced with Cold War intensity. Arson attacks targeting logistical hubs across the West to disrupt critical supply chains while daring assassinations cut down Russian dissidents and political opponents in the streets According to Sweet and Toth, this unconventional 'grey zone' warfare is Vladimir Putin's area of expertise. 'Putin's ability to conduct hybrid warfare is arguably his greatest strength,' they emphasise, pointing to Russia's continent-spanning efforts to spread disinformation, construct pro-Kremlin narratives and influence governments and citizens alike to turn against the West. Russia's President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un attend a state reception in Pyongyang, North Korea June 19, 2024 A serviceman of 24th Mechanized brigade named after King Danylo of the Ukrainian Armed Forces fires a 2s5 'Hyacinth-s' self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops at a front line North Korean troops seen in Russia ahead of deployment to Ukraine 'To fully understand the scope of Russia's vast disinformation campaign, just look at the US, UK, and Africa. 'Russian troll and bot farms use memes and fake fact-check accounts to demonise the West and distract from Russian paramilitaries overthrowing democracies,' Sweet and Toth told MailOnline. 'Russian troll and bot farms have infiltrated online spaces with cartoons, memes, and fake fact-check accounts to disseminate discord and erode confidence in Western governments.' This includes sophisticated AI tools that generate deepfakes and fabricated narratives, such as the fake documentary 'Olympics Have Fallen,' designed to incite fear ahead of the Paris Olympics. Even space has become a battlefield, with Putin threatening anti-satellite weapons aimed at crippling Western communications and intelligence networks. 'Kinetic' conflicts and physical warfare Though citizens of Western nations may have to be wary of disinformation, there are several hotspots where so-called kinetic warfare is very much underway. Nowhere in the world is this more obvious than Ukraine where hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians have been slain in the war closing in on the three-year mark. Recent Ukrainian strikes using US-provided ATACMS missiles and UK-provided Storm Shadow missiles prompted Putin to unleash the never-before-seen 'Oreshnik' - a new hypersonic ballistic missile - on Ukraine. Days prior, the Kremlin chief signed into effect an amended nuclear doctrine which officially lowered the threshold under which Moscow can deploy their devastating weapons. Although their ranks are suffering heavy casualties, the Russian army is advancing westward in Ukraine at a rate faster than any other time after the initial days of the 2022 invasion, taking an area half the size of London over the past month. Russian servicemen jump off a T-90M Proryv tank during a combat training for assault units in an undisclosed location Ukrainian servicemen of the 43 Artillery Brigade fire a 2S7 Pion self-propelled cannon towards Russian positions at a front line in the Donetsk region The Russian President also declared this week that Moscow could soon begin to strike 'decision-making centres' in Kyiv if Ukraine continues to hit targets in Russia with US and UK missiles as more than a million Ukrainians without electricity in freezing cold temperatures following mass drone and rocket attacks. Elsewhere, the Middle East is reeling amid the aftermath of Hamas' October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel - a dastardly scheme that triggered an inferno of violence and has left tens of thousands dead in Gaza and Lebanon with no clear end in sight. Hamas and Hezbollah's chief backer Iran has further escalated the situation with missile and drone strikes against Israel, while analysts suspect Tehran is drawing dangerously close to developing nuclear weapons. And in the Indo-Pacific, China's escalating aggression against Taiwan and the Philippines has stoked fears of an explosive clash in this strategically critical region. Recent months have seen Beijing adopt an increasingly threatening posture with top US defence officials warning China could attempt an invasion of Taiwan well before the end of the decade. All the while, Kim Jong Un stands by, his fist clenching the keys to North Korea's burgeoning nuclear arsenal having completely severed ties with South Korea and sent troops to aid Putin in his war on Ukraine. 'Putin's invasion of Ukraine was the opening stage (of World War Three). It was his marker to the global community that the world order as it had existed since the end of the Second World War was no longer,' argued Sweet and Toth. 'Russia continues to play the victim while escalating against Ukrainian civilians,' they said, underscoring the Kremlin's intent to destabilise its adversaries. An aerial view of Chasiv Yar shows the frontline city in ruins after heavy fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces for over a year, Donetsk Region, Ukraine, Nov. 11, 2024 A Swedish artillery team fires a projectile from an Archer self-propelled Howitzer during the NATO 'Exercise Lightning Strike' on November 20, 2024 Great power competition and ideological battles Chief Air Marshal - Head of the RAF Sir Richard Knighton - feels the current state of geopolitics highlights the erosion of the West's strategic advantage in such an interconnected world where major powers like Russia and China are strengthening mutual ties and building relations with the likes of North Korea and Iran. 'We are witnessing a return to great power competition,' he told attendees at a Q&A at the Freeman Air and Space Institute earlier this month, pointing to a complex web of military and economic rivalries that span the globe. For a man of his background, one critical area of concern is the loss of Western air supremacy and the need to rapidly improve decision-making processes to ensure militaries can fight effectively if a kinetic conflict is triggered. 'With the rapid advancement of technology and the economic, technical, and warfighting capabilities of other major powers, we no longer have total air supremacy,' Knighton noted, adding that this shift has profound implications, especially as emerging powers like China continue to modernise their militaries at unprecedented rates. Knighton also underscored the importance of investing in deterrence and resilience to prevent war rather than being forced into fighting one for which Britain and many European nations are ill-prepared. 'In 1936, Britain was spending 2.9% of its GDP on defence. By 1945, that figure was 52%. War is incredibly costly,' he said, urging proactive measures to strengthen defences in air, space, and cyber domains to counter hybrid threats effectively. Sir Richard's remarks about the return of great power competition support those who argue that while the physical phase of a Third World War may not have begun in earnest, the ideological battle certainly has. Workers fix a thermal power plant damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, at an undisclosed location in Ukraine November 28, 2024. In this handout photograph taken and released by the Ukrainian Emergency Service on November 28, 2024, Ukrainian rescuers prepare to move the remains of a Russian X-55 cruise missil A diagram released by China's Eastern Theatre Command showed four fleets encircling Taiwan and moving in an anticlockwise direction around the island For former French President Francois Hollande, today's geopolitical climate represents an existential battle over differing approaches to governance and building societies which, though not as black and white as the Cold War clash between capitalism and communism, could prove to be just as deadly if allowed to continue unchecked. 'We are in a world war between democracy and authoritarianism,' Hollande said in a lecture at King's College London earlier this month. 'Putin only considered us for our strength. What counts is our strength and resolution. We all need to be in it together.' Hollande sees Europe's divisions and the rise of far-right parties as a critical challenge. He argues for unity and resolve, asking: 'Do we want to keep defending democracy? Are we ready to give part of our lives to uphold it?' His warnings are underscored by the presence of North Korean troops fighting for Russia in Ukraine, a chilling sign of global alliances coalescing into conflict. 'It's the first time since the end of the Cold War that there are troops from another continent present in Europe behind the Russian forces,' he said in reference to more than 10,000 North Korean soldiers supporting Moscow's forces in Kursk. 'We need to do a lot more - including massively ramping up aid to Ukraine,' he said. A Ukrainian wounded serviceman who was brought back from positions is being treated by Ukrainian military doctors is prepared to be transported to a hospital, at a stabilisation point of the 33rd Mechanised Brigade, near the Kurakhove town's frontline, in the eastern Donetsk region, early on October 14, 2024 This undated picture released this month by North Korea shows the test launch of a Hwasongpho-18 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at an undisclosed location Can crisis be averted before it's too late? Despite the pervasive tensions, Adeline Van Houtte, Senior Europe Analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit offers a more measured perspective. She argues that while the risk of escalation has undoubtedly grown, we are not quite witnessing the onset of World War III. 'The revised nuclear use threshold and the Oreshnik [missile] are most likely intended to send a message to the West, but a nuclear escalation remains highly unlikely,' Van Houtte explains. She believes Russia's hybrid attacks through cyber sabotage, disinformation and infrastructure sabotage are tools of intimidation rather than precursors to outright war. Van Houtte also notes that the West's deterrence measures remain effective. 'Action to widen the scale of the war to bring in new players or expand the current battlefield within Ukraine remains highly unlikely,' she asserts, tempering fears of imminent global war. Sweet and Toth, however, remain resolute in their assertion. 'It's already a World War, only largely contained to the borders of Ukraine - until August when Ukraine invaded Kursk.' RAF chief Sir Richard's warnings reinforce the need for preparation. 'The ability of a nation and its armed forces to adapt during a conflict is a key determinant of success,' he insists, calling for investments in deterrence and resilience. The question is not whether World War III has begun but whether we can prevent it before it is too late. As Hollande emphasises: 'We are in a place of freedom. What counts is our strength and resolution.' Boorish Gregg Wallace launched into a series of sexual jokes 'like something out of a Carry On Film' towards a female volunteer at a food festival - and even commented 'I bet your husband likes your rack', she has claimed. The under-fire BBC star stepped down from MasterChef yesterday amid allegations he made sexual comments to numerous female colleagues and even once walked into a TV studio wearing nothing but a sock covering his penis. The grocer-turned-broadcaster has strongly denied all allegations of sexual harassment - but his protestations have done little to stem the flow of fresh claims. And now foodie Donna Ball has come forward to publicly reveal what she says happened when she booked Gregg to make a personal appearance at a food festival in Bolton she had organised five years ago. Ms Ball told MailOnline that she was astonished by Gregg's banter which she described as 'crude humour from the days of Carry On films' and says she found him 'undermining, mean and degrading' towards women. 'I found his odd behavior nothing short of Neanderthal,' Donna said. 'Throughout the day he made lewd, inappropriate, and slimy comments such as 'I bet your husband likes your rack ' and 'I bet your husband has no problems in that department'.' It's thought that the 'rack' comment was a double entendre when discussing the cooking of a rack of lamb - while also making a reference to a body part. Food festival volunteer Donna Ball claims Gregg Wallace launched into a series of sexual jokes 'like something out of a Carry On Film' in 2019 Foodie Donna Ball has revealed what she says happened when she booked Gregg to make a personal appearance at a food festival in Bolton she organised five years ago Ms Ball claims that throughout the day, Gregg made 'lewd, inappropriate, and slimy comments such as 'I bet your husband likes your rack'. Greggs has faced claims about his inappropriate behaviour on MasterChef from celebrities this week and face 13 complaints in total And the mention of the husband came after they had been talking about getting bread dough to rise and she took this as Gregg was also alluding to a woman's powers of arousal. Ms Ball continued: 'On and on it went in a boorish, blokey wink-wink fashion all day.' 'In a professional setting, where he was being paid to attend, he was simply uncomfortable to be around as he made a barrage of tactless, women focused, innuendo laden, poor taste jokes,' she added. Throughout the festival, Donna said that Gregg would continuously speak about how his wife was a 'proper wife' who 'was only focused on his needs and wants' and how she would be waiting for him at home to provide 'whatever service he wanted' after the event. He also allegedly told Donna that he had moved in with his Italian mother-in-law 'because Italian women know how to look after their men unlike British women'. Aside from his 'crude' comments and 'uncomfortable' jokes, she claims Gregg also caused upset during his book signing - writing in one elderly woman's copy to 'get a life' after she had queued in a long line to meet him. 'I think the worst thing he did was at the book signing event, where mainly women had bought his book and got in the queue for the book signing,' Donna added. 'There was a lovely older lady who put her book down in front of him to sign after waiting patiently in line for a long time and he daubed 'Get a life, Love Gregg' on the inside cover. Mr Wallace, pictured at home in Kent, is being investigated over his conduct Gregg, 60, (pictured) stepped away from MasterChef after 13 people including Newsnight host Kirsty Wark accused him of 'wrong' and inappropriate 'sexualised' behaviour during filming 'Both myself and the lady were taken aback and I thought he ruined her 15 book she had just bought. As she was leaving I took another book from the back and gave it to her unsigned as he had spoiled hers.' And she claimed that another celebrity - who she declined to name - had been so upset by Gregg's behaviour that they had apologised on his behalf. Following the event, Donna, who was in charge of looking after celebrities at festivals, decided not to invite Gregg to any future events with his choice to serve 'deep fried olives' as the main dish being the final nail in the coffin of her decision. Despite Donna's account a contemporaneous local paper report of his appearance suggested his jokes had gone down well with the public who had attended. The Bolton News quoted Suraj and Reena Patel, from Bury, who said: 'Gregg is really funny. He tells old dad jokes. 'We have seen all his programmes and it was great to see him live.' And an Alison Hitchen, from Egerton, said: 'I think his banter was really good. There were a lot of laughs. I really enjoyed it.' But he has had less positive responses to his humour this week. Ulrika Johnson, who appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2017, claimed a Gregg had made a 'rape joke' during filming, causing a female contestant to storm off set and complain to bosses. Gregg was said to break down in tears after he was reprimanded for the awful joke. Kirsty Wark, pictured with Gregg Wallace on Celebrity MasterChef 2011, claims that on two occasions Wallace told stories and jokes of a 'sexualised nature' in front of contestants and crew while filming Celebrity MasterChef in 2011 Kirsty, who made the final of the sixth series of Celebrity MasterChef, said his gags and comments were 'really, really in the wrong place' In October, Gregg denied claims he boasted about his sex life to a younger female BBC employee and took his top off in front of her while filming a game show, saying he would never 'flirt with' or 'hit on' another woman 'They then went off to speak to Gregg. After a while he came upand he apologised. He could hardly get his words out. He was apologising, and he had tears in his eyes', she said. But she added: 'The apology should have been to everyone. It felt like, you know, 'don't make the joke in the first place' and said she 'definitely' felt uncomfortable on set following his joke.' Meanwhile, Sir Rod Stewart branded him a 'tubby bully', accusing him of 'humilating' his wife Penny Lancaster while on the show. And Charlotte Crosby, who was on Celebrity MasterChef this year, said he had been 'extremely unpleasant' to be around. Gregg stepped down on Thursday after a probe was launched by the show's production company Banijay UK. It said that 13 people had made claims about Gregg, including BBC broadcaster Kirsty Wark. Wallace quit BBC show Inside The Factory in March last year after allegations that he had been 'rude towards staff' and spoke to them in a 'derogatory manner, especially to women' Gregg Wallace (left) and John Torode (right) have co-presented MasterChef since 2005 The complaints surrounded the star's conduct over a 17-year period across five shows from 2005 to 2022. The new historical claims emerged over the summer. Ms Wark claims that on two occasions Wallace told stories and jokes of a 'sexualised nature' in front of contestants and crew while filming Celebrity MasterChef in 2011. She said his gags and comments were 'really, really in the wrong place'. Gregg is 'committed to fully cooperating throughout the process', the show's production company Banijay UK said. In a video post on social media last night, Gregg said: 'I would like to thank all the people getting in touch, reach out and showing their support. That's good of you, thank you very much.' A spokesperson for Banijay UK said: 'This week the BBC received complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one of our shows. 'Whilst these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate. 'While this review is under way, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully cooperating throughout the process. 'Banijay UK's duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set. Following Penny's eviction from the kitchen in 2021, she shared a cryptic post on Instagram hinting at 'a person's behaviour' Following Gregg's departure, Rod Stewart released a statement to Instagram branding him a 'tubby bully' 'Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met, are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.' A BBC spokesperson said: 'We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them. 'We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated. 'Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them.' The mother of a vet who killed himself with a drug used to put down pets has told how his mental health was impacted by the heartbreak of being unable to save some animals he was treating. Grief-stricken Tina Ellis told how her son John Ellis, 35, was so dedicated to his profession that he would take it personally if an animal died while he was caring for it. The mother-of-three spoke out after an inquest heard how her son had struggled to cope with wealthy clients having pets put down rather than pay for them to be treated, despite arriving at his surgery in 'brand new cars'. Dr Ellis told his mother that other owners who could not afford treatment brought their pets in when it was too late to save them. Winchester Coroner's Court heard how he tricked a veterinary nurse into giving him a deadly does of euthanasia drug by falsely claiming that he needed to put down a friend's 'large dog' at their home He died after he administered the drug to himself via an intravenous drip at the home of a friend who was on holiday in Tenerife in November 2022. His father likened the way he was handed the drug to him being 'given a loaded gun'. Mrs Ellis, 63, told MailOnline that her son's issues were compounded by others being 'naive' about the cost of keeping animals and failing to bring them in early enough for necessary treatment. In an exclusive interview, she said: 'You knew when he came in after a bad day that he hadn't been able to save something he felt he should have been able to.' Tina Ellis' son John was a talented vet. John took his life in November 2022 using drugs to euthanise dogs. Tina says a contributing factor in her son's death were aspects of his job Dr Ellis (pictured) complained that some clients were leaving it too late to bring their pets in for treatment Tory councillor Mrs Ellis said her son - like most vets - was able to hide the depth of his troubles because he had taught himself to remain calm in distressing circumstances. She added: 'We were really proud of him and that's the tragedy of it.' Mrs Ellis also told how her son had to deal with people facing high veterinary bills who believed vets were paid too much, and were only in their jobs for the money. She said: 'People get the wrong idea of vets. The higher-earning ones have been in the profession longer but started on low wages. 'John wanted to earn a good wage, but he'd worked 17 years to get where he was. Vets come in for a lot of bashing. They try really hard to save whatever pets get brought in. Mrs Ellis paid a moving tribute to her son, recalling how he had studied hard and set his sights on being a vet from the age of three. She said: 'It's an absolute travesty that he's been lost not only for us but for the veterinary world. He was so good at what he did. 'He was fun, he was funny, he was generous, he was kind. He was so clever, and we were so proud of him. 'What has come out is how supportive John was to so many different people. 'He was really encouraging to his younger brother and sister in their careers. He was an amazing brother to them. 'John would try to spend his own time with nurses in the practice and other young colleagues, trying to give them the confidence to succeed.' Mrs Ellis pictured with her husband Bob paid tribute to their son: 'It's an absolute travesty that he's been lost not only for us but for the veterinary world. He was so good at what he did.' Dr Ellis (pictured) worked for Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists in Winchester, Hampshire, where he was loved and admired by family, friends, colleagues and clients for his dedication Colleague at his former workplace paid tribute to Dr Ellis following his death in a post online Mrs Ellis said her son who worked for Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists in Winchester was loved and admired by family, friends, colleagues and clients for sacrificing his spare time to help others. He would constantly work late, help colleagues with difficult cases if he was away, and once came home from holiday to check on the family dog, she said. Mrs Ellis said she and her family had received condolence messages and tributes to her son from around the word since his tragic death. She added: 'We've had messages from Canada and Australia from people who knew John. People who he was at school with got in touch as well.' Mrs Ellis said that people she knew would encounter her son's devotion when they took pets to his surgery. She said: 'They would say, 'If your son is John Ellis, he's an amazing vet.' I lost count of the number of times people said that to me.' Mrs Ellis described how her son had built up a home menagerie which included dogs, rabbits, snakes, hamsters, fish, a lobster and tree frogs while growing up as he dreamed of being a vet when he grew up. She said: 'It began in nursery school. He drew a picture of what he wanted to be when he grew up, and it was a vet. 'He got patted on the head and told, 'You've got to be very clever'. But he was very clever. We just gave up arguing with him.' Her son was able to get into veterinary college after excelling at GCSE level, with 13 As and A*s and worked his way up. Dr Ellis' mother said he felt 'destroyed' when he was unable to save an animal in his care. He said that some animal owners were 'naive' about the true cost of keeping a pet Mrs Ellis, a Tory councillor based in Fareham, Hampshire, paid a moving tribute to her son, recalling how he had studied hard and set his sights on being a vet from the age of three Mrs Ellis of Fareham, Hampshire, now wants to draw attention to what she described as a 'hidden epidemic' of suicide in the UK. She is urging anyone struggling with mental health challenges to seek support. She told of the stress suffered by her son due to his job at the inquest into his death, saying: 'Owners are leaving it too late to come in, they weren't seeking help early enough for things that could have been quite simple.' Her son reportedly said: 'When I've got somebody saying they won't pay to help their animal, and they're sitting there with a brand-new car outside, and other people who were really struggling [financially] would do anything to save their animals, but there was nothing they could do because it was already too late.' The heartbroken mother added at the hearing: 'He was finding that destroying.' Mrs Ellis said her son was also under financial pressure and having trouble sleeping, and would sometimes doze in his car rather than go home while on call. She said: 'All of those things completely built up, and he was finding it difficult.' The inquest heard that on the evening of November 6, 2022, the vet told his partner of 12 years Ashley James that he was going to get some food and to pick up a package from the Animed practice where he previously worked. Once at Animed, he told a nurse that he had been given permission to pick up some medication to put down a friend's dog. Mr James told the inquest that Dr Ellis later called him and said that 'he had done something stupid - he told me he loved me'. After police were called, Dr Ellis was found in a back bathroom, having administered the drugs to himself. He was taken to the Royal Hampshire County hospital in Winchester, but was pronounced dead in the early hours of November 7. Hampshire assistant coroner Simon Burge recorded a suicide conclusion after describing the death of Dr Ellis as 'a huge waste of a talented life'. Mr Burge added: 'It's a matter of great regret to the family and all his friends that he should have rashly, unnecessarily made the decision that he did. 'He did it in the context of relationship issues in more than one relationship. 'He was confused by his long-term love and perhaps an infatuation for this younger man Ryan, coupled with the considerable stress involved at the residency, from the financial pressures that caused.' In a Prevention of Future Deaths report addressed to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, the coroner warned about how easy it was for Dr Ellis to get hold of the drug which killed him. Mrs Ellis said that she could always tell when her dedicated son Dr Ellis had a bad day when he came home and hadn't been able to save an animal he felt he should have been able to He said he was concerned that he was able to access the drug 'by falsely representing' he was going to put down a large dog 'without being challenged as to its purpose'. The coroner said: 'Veterinary surgeons, such as the deceased, are able to easily access potentially lethal drugs...without any adequate controls being put in place to prevent their misuse.' The family of Dr Ellis said he would be remembered 'not only for his professional expertise but also for his warmth, generosity and genuine love for animals'. They added in a statement: 'He poured his heart into his work, and his absence leaves a deep void in the lives of all who had the privilege of working with him and knowing him personally. 'As a family, we are devastated by the loss of John, and we continue to grapple with the heartbreak and shock that come with the death of someone so young and full of potential.' The statement continued: 'We want to take this opportunity to encourage anyone who may be struggling with mental health challenges to seek support and not suffer in silence. 'No one should feel that they are alone, and we urge everyone to reach out for help if they are in need.' Ellis's colleagues at Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists said: 'John was a wonderful person and an incredibly talented vet; time with John never failed to make your day a brighter one. He will be terribly missed by all who knew him.' For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org Everyone said Dad's was the best barbecue chicken they'd ever tasted. The adults would sit around drinking beer and pop, and the kids and Scottie Dad's little terrier dog would tear around the farm, playing hide-and-seek and chasing chickens. And Dad was always in the centre, holding court at the grill in his Bermuda shorts this was 1970s America, after all. He was happy and funny when he had an audience, in his element as a real family man. Sometimes he liked to show off in front of the assembled friends and neighbours. The first time he held his 20ft ladder straight up in the air in front of the crowd, I wondered what he was doing. 'April,' he called to me. 'Come here.' I approached cautiously. 'Climb up to the top rung.' I wasn't sure I'd heard him right. The ladder wasn't leaning against anything. He was just holding it straight up. 'Go on,' he encouraged me. I knew that the reason his tone wasn't forceful was because he had an audience. I obeyed him anyway and climbed the ladder as he held it almost steady, bracing it against his own weight. 'David!' he called next to one of my brothers. 'Climb up to the middle.' I couldn't look down. My limbs felt tingly, and my heart was pounding. The ladder quivered as David climbed. Dad called out to another of my brothers John-John and again, I felt the ladder shake slightly as he took his position somewhere below David. April Balascio describes her serial killer father as 'happy and funny when he had an audience, in his element as a real family man' April as a baby with her mum Kay and dad Edward Edwards 'Hold on tight!' Dad demanded, and then the ladder began to shake violently. My brothers and I screamed as I held on with all my might. I felt the edge of the metal ladder cutting into my palms. I pressed my feet into the rung as the ladder swayed, spun, shimmied and shook. Finally, we came to a stop and Dad let us climb down one by one. He did not just perform this stunt once as an experiment it became a regular trick at backyard parties. Mum shot a home movie of it that he liked to show guests. He was the main attraction in the centre ring of his own circus. We were just props. One day, when I was about 11, Dad came home with three kittens I'm not sure why. I claimed a gorgeous white fluffy kitten, which I named Snowball. She slept in my bed each night. But one day Dad found Snowball on the kitchen top. 'What's she doing on the counter?' Dad screamed, and picked up Snowball in one hand. Time slowed down as I watched with horror. I knew that he was not simply going to lift her off the counter to put her down. With the kitten in his hand, he pulled back as if to hurl a stick. I clapped my hand over my mouth to stifle my scream as I watched Snowball fly across the room. She hit the wall with a sickening thud. A sound left my throat, a strangled roar of sorrow and rage. Without looking at Dad, I carried Snowball up to my room and put her in my bed. At school the next day I prayed for Snowball. When I got home, Dad was in the living room, watching TV. 'How is Snowball?' I asked. 'Snowball died,' he said. He told me he'd given her some medicine to put her out of her pain. 'It was the right thing to do, not to let her suffer,' he said. He made it sound like he'd done her a favour. He didn't admit that he was the cause of her suffering. I ran to my room and threw myself on my bed and wept. At that moment I hated Dad. And I hated myself for hating him, but I had started to feel that nothing was safe in his hands. I liked to think I could always tell what kind of mood he was in, like I had special powers to see inside his head, but I would sometimes get it wrong. Like the time we were all sitting in the living room. Mum was on the sofa knitting baby booties. Dad was in his recliner with a stack of white typing paper in his lap. 'Look,' he said, holding up a sheet of paper for his children to admire, 'I can draw a perfect Santa.' David and John-John were impressed. Edward Edwards in 2010 after his murder convictions. He was found guilty of killing 19-year-old sweethearts named Timothy Hack and Kelly Drew Young couple Timothy and Kelly were only 19 years old when they were murdered by Edwards But I noticed faint lines on the other sheet and said he must have traced it. 'No. I just drew that,' he insisted. 'But there are lines on the paper already,' I challenged him. 'No there aren't.' 'Yes there are. You're a liar!' I just knew that I had said the wrong thing. Like a cobra striking, he grabbed me by my hair and arm. I felt my body yanked back and then lifted in the air. I went flying across the room and struck the wall hard. I came to on the sofa, with Dad sitting beside me, holding a cold compress to my head. I kept my eyes closed for as long as I could. I was afraid to open them. I didn't want him to know I was awake. My head ached. When I finally opened my eyes, he stared at me with a worried expression. He asked: 'April, honey, you OK?' I wondered if he looked so worried because he thought he might have killed me. But I knew what I had said was true: he was a liar. We all knew it. He could look you in the eye and tell you something you knew was not true, and he would do it with complete sincerity. His truth was the only truth that existed. As A family, we watched the news every night in the living room. Dad watched it the way some people watch sports, yelling at crime reporters as if he knew better. 'No, no, it didn't happen that way,' he would say. Or he'd scoff: 'Don't be an idiot. He wouldn't have done it like that.' Or speculate: 'I bet they find the gun in...' He was particularly obsessed with murders and stabbings. One day he took us on a trip. We drove to Silver Creek Metro Park, four miles from our house. It was a spot where we'd had picnics before with Dad grilling up a chicken while us children played tag. But upon getting out of the car, this time Dad insisted we walk, not on the clear trail, but through weeds as high as my chest. Dad zig-zagged through the tall grass as we stumbled in his wake seemingly looking for something. Suddenly he stopped. Holding up his hand, he exclaimed: 'I was right, it's here.' Then he told us to turn around and go back to the car. I didn't know it then, but Dad had taken us to a crime scene. A few days later, we were watching the news. 'Hey,' Dad said to Mum, 'you know those kids who went missing in the park? Their bodies were found.' We moved in the summer of 1978, leaving Doylestown, Ohio, for Florida. When one of my brothers asked why, Dad said that he turned over information to the police about some bad men, and now they were after him. The people were different in Florida. In Doylestown, everyone was white and pretty much talked the same way. In Florida, people came in all colours and accents. Here we had friends for the first time who didn't look or sound like us. Two boys around seven or eight rode the school bus with us. I'll call them Curtis and Chris. They lived near a peanut farm in a small white cottage that sat back off the road and walked to our house through an overgrown field nearly every day to play. They sometimes went to the drive-in theatre with us. Dad snuck them in by hiding them under blankets in the van so he wouldn't have to pay extra. April says she has 'pieced together the jigsaw' of her childhood and realised the horrifying truth about her father Dad was always friendly to the Cub Scouts who came over with their parents, but he was different with Curtis and Chris. I didn't know why for sure, but they were black and I often wondered if that was the reason. He made jokes in their presence that I later realised were racist. It was toward the end of the school year that I noticed Curtis and Chris weren't on the bus. They stopped coming over to play. Dad would never let us go to their house. Days passed and I began to worry that something bad might have happened to them. I asked Lucy, a neighbour's daughter who sometimes babysat for us, if she knew anything, but she didn't. I wondered if they had moved without telling us, which would have surprised me. Of course they would have told us, right? I suspected that we were about to move ourselves. Dad hadn't said anything about moving, but I could tell that he was getting restless. There had been a couple of odd things that happened in a row, one being a visit from the police. Not long after that, Dad told us he had sold the house and we would be leaving as soon as the school year was over. When we had arrived in Florida, I believed we were on the run from the bogeyman. It did not occur to me for several more years that perhaps the bogeyman was my father. On my first day at my new school, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, it was obvious that my classmates had known each other all their lives. They had formed their cliques and friendships, and, once again, I was an outsider. In gym class, I noticed nearly all the girls shaved their legs, and they looked at the black hairs on mine with raised plucked eyebrows. I pulled up my socks over my knees. I had other reasons to cover myself. Once, Dad made Mum write me a note to excuse me from gym for a week so no one could see the black and blue marks across the back of my legs from one of his beatings. One night I was in the dining room setting the table for dinner. I could see Mum pulling the tuna casserole out of the oven and it smelled good. Dad walked in through the kitchen's back door and began to yell at her. 'Get over here!' he said. I paused, a fork suspended in the air. My siblings' heads swung away from the TV and their wide eyes sought mine. We braced ourselves, knowing that the sound of his fist hitting her body or her crashing into the wall would surely follow. But nothing came because Mum refused to go to him. Instead, in a move unheard of in our family, she bolted fast out the kitchen door. 'Kay! Get back in this house or I'm going to kill you!' Dad yelled as he followed after her. That's when I noticed the handgun in his right hand. I looked over to my siblings. We had all frozen. Then we heard a shot. My sister Jeannine burst out crying. I considered calling the police. But before I could make up my mind, Mum came back in, slinking like a punished dog, shaking from head to toe. Dad was no longer holding the gun. And it seemed the rage had left him. I was disgusted, but hadn't believed that, despite beating her in the past, he would shoot her. He needed her too badly. How Dad picked Watertown, Wisconsin, as our new home in the early summer of 1980 I'll never know. Maybe he just drove through the night and ended up there. He found a dilapidated but beautiful old farmhouse for us to rent, surrounded by fields. It was the best bedroom I'd ever had. He also landed a part-time job at Concord House, a large events venue. Sometimes he worked late. I noticed one morning, when Dad showed up at breakfast, his nose was swollen, cut and bruised. I asked what happened. He told me he hurt it with the rifle scope while hunting elk. It was August. I didn't think it was hunting season but I held my tongue. He was in the kind of mood that didn't invite questions. I had also seen his boots by the front door, covered in mud. The next day, the Concord House was the centre of police activity. Two Jefferson County kids 19-year-old sweethearts named Timothy Hack and Kelly Drew had gone missing after attending a wedding reception there. As the days went by, Dad kept turning on the evening news, hoping for coverage of the missing kids. He couldn't seem to stop talking out loud about the case. A few weeks later, he told us to pack our belongings. He'd rented another removal van, and told us we were hitting the road the same day. None of us asked my father why we were leaving this time. Each time we left a town, it was because we were fleeing someone bad. This time, I had a flash of insight. We weren't fleeing the bad people. But we might be fleeing the good ones. In the spring of 1982 my father was jailed for arson after setting fire to one of the rental houses we'd lived in. While he was in prison, I began to relax, as had the rest of the family. We all laughed more and fought less. But Dad was released early from his two-year sentence, because he had snitched to police about some of his fellow prisoners. My heart filled with dread. When Dad returned, it all changed again. Behaviours of his that I hadn't questioned before now seemed like assaults on my privacy. He wouldn't let me wear make-up, although I was 16 years old. In the time he had been gone, I had perfected my make-up routine, meticulously applying foundation and mascara, eyeshadow and lipstick each morning. But now Dad said: 'You can't leave this house looking like a whore.' He made me scrub it off before I left. He objected to the clothes I wore and how I styled my hair, ordering me to stop cutting it. He didn't like that I went out with friends, or that I had any to begin with. And he especially disapproving of my boyfriend, Mark. I was now not allowed to call him, and we were never able to go out alone together. Instead, Mark would come over and Dad would put him to work. One Saturday, Dad and I were alone at the house, grouting the tiles in the downstairs bathroom. He started asking me questions about what Mark and I did sexually. I was a devout Christian and, to me, sex was off limits. But Dad didn't believe me. He asked if Mark gave me hickeys, or love bites. 'What's a hickey?' I said. 'You don't know what a hickey is?' Dad asked, as if I was lying. I shook my head. 'I'll show you,' he said, and he grabbed me and started sucking on my neck. I froze. What was happening? I'd rather he hit me, punch me, kick me anything but what he was doing. Finally he stopped and threw me down on the cold tiles. 'You can show that to Mark,' he spat, and left me curled in on myself in shame on the bathroom floor. I felt like throwing up. I didn't know if I could look at Dad again. That night, I wrote to Mark, ending our relationship. I didn't trust myself to break up with him in person. If I'd had to look into his kind eyes, I would have broken down sobbing. I advised him that he would be better off dating someone else. Someone who had more freedom. I wrote that trying to talk me out of the break-up was a waste of breath. I could not tell him the truth that my father was too powerful and frightening, and, if he stayed with me, Mark would be risking his life. He wrote two letters and I didn't respond to either. Finally he got the message. I now felt such revulsion for Dad that I couldn't bear to be in the same room as him. A year or so later I moved out. I would never live with my father again. It would be several more years before I pieced together the jigsaw of my childhood and realise the horrifying truth about Dad. April Balascio, 2024. Adapted from Raised By A Serial Killer by April Balascio (HarperElement, 20), to be published December 5. To order a copy for 18 (offer valid to 14/12/24; UK p&p free on orders over 25) go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937. Were it not for his infamous sibling, he might today be viewed as a depraved and unpleasant playboy who squandered his wasteful life and the fortune at his disposal on drugs and prostitutes. But Salah Fayed bears a name that has brought a chill to public life. He is the younger brother of Mohamed Al Fayed, the odious former owner of Harrods who has been unmasked as one of Britain's most notorious sex offenders. Now, like a corrupted version of Russian Matryoshka dolls, the secrets and lies of the Fayed family are being opened up layer after vile layer. Like his brother, Salah stands accused of sexual assault and trafficking. Three women have come forward to say they were abused by him. One believes he raped her after her drink was drugged. The women's testimony reveals a terrifying pattern of being passed around by the brothers for their gratification. All three say they were also sexually assaulted or raped by Mohamed. And last week we also sensationally learned that the system that enabled Mohamed to evade justice played an equal part in the predatory life of feckless Salah, two years his junior. It has emerged that a former Metropolitan Police Commissioner 'intervened' at the behest of one of Mohamed's henchmen to prevent his brother from becoming embroiled in a drugs scandal. Salah, who died from pancreatic cancer in 2010, had a prodigious cocaine habit and was described by an acquaintance as a 'lost soul'. Scant consolation for those women who said their frightening experience at his hands had changed the course of their lives. Mohamed Al Fayed, left, with his younger brother Salah. Both brothers stand accused of sexual assault and trafficking Helen was 23 and had been working at her dream job in Harrods' Knightsbridge store when she was raped first by Mohamed and then Salah One woman, Helen, who waived her right to anonymity, said she was 23 and had been working at her dream job in Harrods' Knightsbridge store when Mohamed, who died at 94 last summer, raped her in a Dubai hotel room. When months later he offered her some work with Salah, she saw it as an escape route. Instead she was drugged and, while unconscious, raped by the younger Fayed brother. 'He (Mohamed) shared me with his brother,' she said. The Fayeds have 'stolen a part of me'. What drove two brothers into the same sordid and chilling pattern of behaviour will now never be known. Lawyers for the victims believe the full scale of Mohamed's offending alone could be on a level with that of Jimmy Savile, Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein. And like Savile, public affection at the time of Mohamed's death generated by his status as an outsider has turned to revulsion. Police believe he may have raped and abused at least 111 women and girls over four decades, with his youngest victim said to have been just 13. No criminal action was ever brought against Mohamed, whose son Dodi was killed in a car crash alongside Princess Diana in Paris 27 years ago. Yet there seems no end to the shame and scandal his tainted name has brought. How times change. Once, the three Fayed brothers the surviving sibling Ali has also been the subject of a legal deposition in the US, where he lives, over what he knew of his brothers' activities were seen as indispensable to British retail. Their relationship was summed up as: 'Mohamed makes the money, Ali counts it, Salah spends it.' They were joint purchasers of Harrods when they won a bitter takeover battle in the 1980s. But an investigation by government inspectors subsequently revealed that the brothers had 'dishonestly misrepresented their origins, their wealth, their business interests and their resources'. Helen says she was drugged and, while unconscious, raped by the younger Fayed brother Mohamed's security chief John Macnamara, who was also an ex-Scotland Yard officer Claims that they were the wealthy progeny of an established family of Egyptian ship owners, cotton traders and industrialists were exposed as lies. And when a former school contemporary of Mohamed talked to a British TV crew about their true origins as sons of a dirt-poor schoolteacher, he was beaten up. Three eyewitnesses identified Salah as the attacker. Yet that damning report from the Department of Trade and Industry barely dented the Fayeds' popularity outside the business world. Both brothers ruthlessly exploited the suggestion that they were gallantly fighting a cold and snobbish Establishment even as they carried out their repugnant attacks on women who were intimidated, paid off and usually too terrified to complain. As the two oldest brothers, Salah and Mohamed were particularly close. When Mohamed Al Fayed he added the prefix himself moved abroad to hustle and charm his way to riches, it was to Salah that he entrusted the welfare of his oldest son Dodi. It was a reckless decision. The serially unfaithful Salah was a bad role model. Brooding, short-tempered and complex, Salah was nicknamed 'fruitbat' by security staff at the Park Lane apartment where the three brothers were based because, like the flying mammal, 'he only comes out at night'. Thanks to the torrents of money that gushed in from Harrods, Salah divided his time between London and the picture postcard Chalet Ursa in Gstaad, Switzerland, where he installed his wife Adriana Funaro, an Italian shipping heiress, and son Moodi. They also owned a house not far from the original family home in Alexandria. In Egypt he spent his days sunbathing, paragliding (until he broke his back) and visiting prostitutes. But while his behaviour abroad could be ignored, Mohamed feared his brother's excessive misuse of drugs could harm his reputation. There were complaints of Salah propositioning girls in the bar of the Harvey Nichols store, near Harrods, and bodyguards reported on a stream of escorts who arrived at Park Lane to entertain him, sometimes three simultaneously. Eccentrically, Salah bought two miniature ponies which he kept tethered on the seventh floor balcony of his flat, exercising them each day in Hyde Park and taking them up and down in the lift. But it was another folly in 1993 that tested the fraternal bonds when Salah came under suspicion from Scottish police for possession of drugs. Salah and his secretary had been visiting Balnagown, the Fayed family's castle in Easter Ross in the Highlands, when they accidentally left a bag in the back of a taxi that had driven them from Aberdeen airport. Balnagown, the Fayed family's castle in Easter Ross in the Scottish Highlands Former Harrod's owner Mohamed (pictured) died aged 94 last summer. His brother Salah died from pancreatic cancer in 2010 The driver discovered that the bag contained a large sum of cash in sterling, dollars and Swiss francs, a passport, pills, white powder that appeared to be crack cocaine and a 'well-used homemade pipe'. He took this evidence to police at Elgin and it triggered a flurry of phone calls involving Mohamed and later Sir David McNee, a former Metropolitan Police Commissioner. In a statement some time afterwards, Bob Loftus, a former member of the Harrods security team and an ex-officer in the Military Police, claimed that secretary Rachel Crowe was made to take the blame for the drugs paraphernalia to protect Salah. Under questioning from police, she gave the clear impression that she did not know how to use the pipe. No further action was taken. According to Mr Loftus, Sir David, Met Police chief from 1977 to 1982, had become involved at the behest of Mohamed's security chief John Macnamara, who was also an ex-Scotland Yard officer. In his statement, Mr Loftus wrote: 'Mr Macnamara told me Sir David McNee had intervened. I can only say what he told me.' He went on: 'I have no doubt that Salah was in possession of these drugs and that they were for his use and that Mohamed Fayed knew this and orchestrated a cover-up which involved (a) persuading [the secretary] to take the rap, (b) paying her a substantial sum for doing so and (c) using the connection of Sir David McNee to persuade the procurator fiscal [the Scottish prosecutor] to drop the case.' When Mr Loftus's allegations were put to Sir David, who died in 2019, he denied pulling any strings, insisting he had merely been asked by Mr Macnamara 'about Scottish law and who would take decisions in the matter'. One figure close to Mohamed told me: 'I always got the impression that Mohamed tolerated Salah only because he was family.' Exasperated by the episode, and concerned at the threat of reputational damage, Mohamed bought out his brother's Harrods share. But it is in the devastating testimony of the women who say they were trafficked, tricked and abused by the men that the true tragedy lies. Helen recalled how, after two days working for Salah, he offered her a glass of champagne. 'Within a few sips, I was starting to feel a bit groggy but I can't describe it as drunk. It was a really dizzy and weird feeling. I wasn't feeling right,' she told the BBC. Salah began playing music and Helen felt 'it was definitely time to go, he was getting too cosy'. Helen says Salah pressured her to 'just have one puff' of a bong containing crack cocaine. 'This will make you feel better,' she remembers him telling her. 'That's the last thing I knew of that whole evening.' She recalls waking up lying on a sofa in a different room, with double vision and her whole body shaking. Salah was sitting at her feet holding a glass of water and a tablet, looking 'nervous and panicky', she says. As she got up, she noticed her jeans were undone and her belt missing. Helen recalls feeling a sensation between her legs. She adds: 'I knew then what had happened. I knew.' Salah then made a call to his brother Mohamed in front of her to let him know she would not be going to work at Harrods that day. Their conversation was in Arabic and Helen says all she could hear 'was them laughing to each other'. Two other women employed by Harrods have come forward to say they were lured with deceptive offers of work to Monaco and the South of France where they were sexually abused by Salah. One described waking up petrified to find Salah in her bed. He also encouraged her to smoke a hookah pipe, which she discovered contained crack cocaine. She said she felt it was his goal to get her addicted to make it easier to abuse her. A third woman, who says she was 19 when Mohamed sexually assaulted her, has told how she was pressured into sharing a hot tub with Salah in an apartment in Monaco where he assaulted her and encouraged her to smoke from a home-made bong. As more and more shocking details of their unsavoury and criminal activity emerge, the tragedy is that the only possible recognition of the Fayeds' evil deeds will come after their deaths. Additional reporting: Simon Trump Christina Schmid won the nation's admiration when, standing among a solemn crowd, she determinedly smiled and applauded her husband's coffin as it returned from Afghanistan. At his funeral, Mrs Schmid, with her husband's medals pinned proudly to her chest, urged politicians to 'fight with his spirit, dedication and integrity day in, day out, for peace'. Commentators fell over themselves to praise her dignity and remarkable strength. Her powerful oratory, it was said, gave voice to a grieving nation. It was November 2009 and the death of her 30-year-old husband, Staff Sergeant Olaf 'Oz' Schmid, stood out among the relentless roll call of casualties from Helmand Province. For one thing, he was singularly brave. One of the country's leading bomb-disposal experts, he was blown up as he attempted to defuse an improvised explosive device on what should have been the last day of his tour. Nobody was surprised when his eloquent wife became a campaigner for bereaved widows and widowers, speaking publicly about the need for troops to be better equipped and less overworked. Over time our troops withdrew from Afghanistan and Iraq and Mrs Schmid slipped from public consciousness and began rebuilding her life. How sad and dismaying that this celebrated war widow should then re-emerge 15 years later, shorn of her trademark dignity, to stand before magistrates at Newton Abbot, Devon. She was there to answer allegations that she attacked her second husband 'like a dog'. Christina Schmid in 2009, wearing her first husband's war medal as she arrives at his funeral in Cornwall Now 49, she left scratches and a bite mark on property developer Adam Plumb, 43, during a late-night row in September last year at the couple's 1.6 million seven-bedroom Georgian manor house. Last week, she was found guilty of two counts of assault by beating and will be sentenced later this month. All things considered, it was quite a fall from grace. Like many people familiar with her campaigning, Mr Plumb, a vicar's son, had thought her work impressive and humbling. Concerns over her behaviour which surfaced early in their relationship were cast aside because as he tells The Mail on Sunday 'I knew she had done all this good for people and thought she had a big heart'. Still, others might have found it less easy to overlook the innumerable red flags. For instance, she thought nothing of driving to his workplace and, once outside, holding her hand on the car horn to summon him. 'Once she did this and then started screaming that I had disappeared from the house without saying goodbye,' he says. 'This was a typical performance and it was in front of all these people I worked with. I am a quiet guy and I don't like people knowing my business. It was embarrassing.' He says the court hearing provided a mere snapshot of their toxic three-year marriage. 'She was manipulative and controlling and I suffered physical and verbal abuse on countless occasions,' he says. 'When she came at me it was relentless, she was like an Alsatian, ferociously biting and scratching at my chest. I couldn't get her off. 'There was never reason to it, it always came from nowhere. I don't hit women but it felt like that was what she was trying to get me to do. I never did. 'I've always considered myself a good judge of character but looking back I don't know why I ever got involved with her . If I'm honest, I feel sickened that I married her.' Staff Sergeant Olaf 'Oz' Schmid, who was killed in 2009 as he tried to defuse an explosive in Afghanistan At his funeral, Mrs Schmid, with her husband's medals pinned proudly to her chest, urged politicians to 'fight with his spirit, dedication and integrity day in, day out, for peace' Inevitably, Mr Plumb has been forced to face the simple question: Why didn't he leave her before? What he describes after all seems unbearable. Love, he says, sometimes exerts a 'twisted hold over you'. And he repeats that he always clung to the expectation that things would improve because 'she had proved through her work to be a good person'. Ultimately, though, he concedes that he always struggles to deliver an adequate explanation. Epithets applied to Mr Plumb by his friends include 'mild mannered' and 'easy going'. It is in his nature, he says, to avoid confrontation. In court, it was stated that the assault for which she was convicted was gin-fuelled, but he claims she could just as easily 'go for me' sober, and frequently did. If he sensed an imminent offensive, he would turn onto his side in bed and tuck his clenched hands under his chin. 'In this way I managed to perfect a technique for getting to sleep in minutes. It was a way of shutting her out.' Police were called five times to their house in Ugborough, Devon, but Mr Plumb was reluctant to press charges because 'the officers told me that, inexplicably, my teenage daughter [from a previous relationship] and myself not Christina would have to move out'. Recalling the early days of their relationship, Mr Plumb says they first met when he took his springer spaniels to her dog-grooming salon in Dorset. During one such visit 'after telling me about problems with an ex' she suggested going out for a drink and he agreed. He takes a jaundiced view of even this. 'Perhaps, looking back and knowing what I know about her now, she was impressed that I was doing OK for myself,' he says. 'My spaniels were gun dogs and often when I visited the salon I was dressed smartly for shooting. She also knew that I drove a Range Rover Sport and a Ford Ranger. 'But she was attractive with a curvaceous figure and I enjoyed her company. We had a laugh. We went to country pubs and on walks with our dogs.' Soon, however, he was left unsettled and confused. 'She would make you feel as though you were someone you weren't and you would spend all your time trying to prove that you weren't that person,' he says. 'Frequently, without the slightest justification, she accused me of using her or of being with other women. 'She would say that I'd end up leaving her 'just like the rest of them' and I'd bend over backwards to demonstrate I wasn't like that. I don't think this was born out of insecurity as much as a desire to manipulate me.' Despite his misgivings, he moved in with her 'I know it sounds odd but I had fallen in love' but soon fell foul of her uncompromising house rules. 'I'd come home from being away and she'd have locked all the doors from the inside so I couldn't get in. She said I couldn't just come and go as I pleased but I said that I'd finished my work and needed to get in. It was crazy. I'd given up my own house. And it wasn't even late. She wouldn't even come to the door, she just texted me.' Mrs Schmid holds the George Cross given to her husband from the late Queen Elizabeth during a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace in 2010 Astonishingly, this meant that two or three times a month, he had to sleep in his car. 'At the same time, I was being told that I wasn't a man and that I wasn't going to stick around,' Mr Plumb says. 'She said that if you're serious about me we should get married, you're on the mortgage. Marriage hadn't crossed my mind but I wanted to show I was serious. 'Also, it had been getting better. It was such a rollercoaster, so bad then so good. I normalised it by reasoning that everyone has ups and downs.' When looking at engagement rings, she picked out one worth 18,000, which he then secretly bought. But, he says: 'When I proposed and produced the ring she was a bit dismissive, saying that she remembered it as bigger in the shop. I said we could take it back, but she quickly decided to keep it.' No friends or family were invited to their wedding at five-star Bovey Castle Hotel on Dartmoor. 'It was rubbish really,' recalls Mr Plumb. She declined to sleep with him on the wedding night but was 'as nice as pie the next morning' a turn of mood he describes as 'weird'. 'We didn't have a honeymoon, it was business as usual.' They bought the Devon mansion in May 2021 and Mr Plumb thought it would herald a bright new future. But Christina refused to move in until it was refurbished by her husband to her precise instructions. In the meantime, they lived apart he in the new home, she in a house he was working on near Salisbury. 'She came every weekend to check on progress but she was never happy with what I'd done,' he says. 'She wanted more, more, more. And would go off on one about the slightest things, the wrong shade of paint, anything. 'It was horrible, though I didn't realise then how bad things had got. 'I accepted I'd married someone I shouldn't have, but when we bought the house I thought that it was everything she'd told me she ever wanted.' But far from being the answer to his problems, the mansion purchase coincided with what Mr Plumb says was the 'crazy time, the start of the violence'. He says: 'It started with scratching. She had these long nails and she would scratch me deeply in the back and chest when I was trying to sleep. 'It could be anything. Once a friend sent me a joke involving a woman in a bikini and she saw it and asked if I was having an affair with the woman. I told her it was a joke. I couldn't win. 'She would push me out of bed and grab me and pull me and sometimes punch me in the face.' Worse than the punching and scratching, he says, was 'the biting'. Once he went to work with livid bite marks down his arm. He told colleagues: 'Don't ask.' When it all got too much he stayed in hotels or slept in his car. 'I've slept in every lay-by near my home.' At other times he sought refuge on his 32ft motor cruiser, Amadeus, moored on the River Yealm. 'I enjoyed the peace of just sitting on the boat with a cup of tea,' he says. 'I'd sleep on it for a few nights until things calmed down.' This sanctuary was shattered one evening last year. 'After one nasty row to which the police were called I went to the boat, which was moored in the middle of the river. I was with a friend, Shaun, and my daughter and we took the rowing boat to a nearby pub.' On their return, Christina had commandeered an inflatable dinghy that she used, pirate-fashion, to board Amadeus. 'She was screaming in front of all the other boat owners enjoying a quiet evening that I was abusive to her, had beaten her, was a fraud, a money launderer, all these crazy untrue things,' says Mr Plumb. He says that she had a predilection for hiding his things, including his phone and car keys 'so I couldn't go out'. 'She hid my computers, too. And much later, after she was arrested, I found that she had hidden all my white shirts. For some reason she must not have liked me wearing them.' Last week, magistrates were shown footage, recorded by Mr Plumb on his phone, of Christina cornering him in a 4ft-wide walk-in wardrobe as he tried to leave. He said: 'She was just attacking me, I couldn't have got out of there. She was scratching me and hitting me in the b****, just going at me. When I went to leave, she just beat me. She scratched me and ripped my T-shirt off.' In a video shown in court, Mr Plumb is seen saying: 'Get off me you are a disgusting woman,' before adding: 'You f****** bit me. You f****** bitch. You horrible woman.' In court she claimed her husband attacked her but, humiliatingly, District Judge Stuart Smith told her: 'I did not find your evidence credible. I found the manner [in which] you gave your evidence evasive,' he told her. 'I find you have falsely made out Mr Plumb to be the aggressor whilst all the time it was you who was the aggressor. 'When police did not fall for it, you became hysterical.' Afterwards, she did herself no favours by ranting about the case, in now-deleted posts, on social media. 'That's Christina, she never gives up, has to have the last word,' says Mr Plumb. Owing in part to complex criss-crossing court claims and counter claims, Christina remains at the Devon property and her husband rents a property. 'It's a situation I hope to rectify soon,' he says. He is now rebuilding his life with a new partner and is doing his best to bury the past. He says: 'There are always reminders. The other day my daughter was playfully scratching my hand with her nails and it made me recoil because of what Christina did. Some things will never leave me.' The Mail on Sunday invited Christina to comment. A famous crocodile hunter has died aged 94 just weeks after his greatly-loved saltwater crocodile passed away aged 110. George Craig had a special relationship with a three-legged, man-eating beast called Cassius, which he kept in his wildlife park Marineland Melanesia Crocodile Habitat on Green Island, off the coast of Cairns, Queensland. Cassius, a crocodile notorious for causing trouble, was captured in 1984 near a cattle station on the Finniss River, southwest of Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory. At the time of his capture, Cassius was estimated to be between 30 and 80 years old and set the record as the largest crocodile ever captured alive in Australia. Three years after he was captured, Cassius was moved to Green Island. There, Cassius lived a life in luxury with Craig and celebrated his birthdays with chicken 'cake'. Cassius, who weighed more than one ton and measured 18 feet long, had been in declining health since October his caretakers said, when Craig himself was forced to leave Green Island due to ill health. Cassius died aged 110 at the beginning of November and Craig passed away just two weeks later on November 17. The crocodile and the former hunter developed a bond that was, according to one crocodile expert, 'absolutely odd'. Cassius could often be seen 'bolting out of the water' to greet his keeper Craig. Famous crocodile hunter George Craig (pictured) has died aged 94 just weeks after his greatly-loved saltwater crocodile passed away aged 110 George Craig had a special relationship with a three-legged, man-eating beast called Cassius, which he kept in his wildlife park called Marineland Melanesia Crocodile Habitat on Green Island, off the coast of Cairns, Queensland Cassius (pictured), who weighed more than one ton and measured 18 feet long, had been in declining health since October his caretakers said, when Craig himself was forced to leave Green Island due to ill health Professor Graeme Webb, from Crocodylus Park in Darwin, told ABC News Australia that Craig and Cassius were 'very close'. 'When Cassius died, that wouldn't have heralded well for George. The relationship between the two was absolutely odd. George would have to stay back from the window because Cassius would come bolting out of the water.' 'They were equals - they were mates,' crocodile catcher Roger Matthews said. Craig was born to English parents in Peru on July 10, 1930, and was in London during WW2. A 500lb bomb even landed on hisn street, but luckily it failed to explode. He later had a stint blowing up ordnance for the Royal Australian Air Force, before he decided to be a crocodile hunter on the Adelaide and Daly Rivers in Australia's North Territory in 1951. He later worked on the Fly River in Papua New Guinea from 1956 until 1971. But he later developed a deeper understanding for the beasts and opened a trading post with his wife to trap and keep live crocodiles instead of killing them, the Telegraph reports. Craig moved with his family, three monster crocodiles and 30 smaller juvenile beasts he capture to Green Island on the Great Barrier Reef, north of Queensland, in 1971 to set up Marineland Melanesia. Green Island Marineland Melanesia's George Craig (pictured) feeding Cassius who has died at the age of 110 Cassius was captured in 1984 near a cattle station on the Finniss River, southwest of Darwin Before his life a captivity Cassius was known to prowl the waterways of Australia before being taken to Marineland Marineland Melanesia Crocodile Habitat The park was a major success, which was boosted by box-office hit Crocodile Dundee. One of its biggest stars since 1987 has been Cassius, who held the Guinness World Record as the world's largest a saltwater crocodile in captivity. He took the title after the 2013 death of Philippines crocodile Lolong, who measured 6.17 m (20 ft 3 in) long, according to Guinness. 'He had these big eyes that you'd look into and you could look into his soul,' one of his former keepers, Toody Scott, told AAP. 'He always had this spark about him, which is very different to working with other crocs.' Scott said the croc had an especially close bond with his caretaker Craig and the pair would sit quietly together for 'hours on end'. Scott said: 'In the last couple of years, George has been getting around on a mobility scooter and every time he came near the enclosure, Cassius would come over to him.' In a post on Facebook, his caretakers said: 'He was very old and believed to be living beyond the years of a wild Croc. 'Cassius will be deeply missed, but our love and memories of him will remain in our hearts forever.' The group's website said he had lived at the sanctuary since 1987 after being transported from the neighbouring Northern Territory. Crocodiles are a key part of the region's tourist industry and Cassius became the star attraction. An NHS Trust that spread 'misinformation' by claiming transgender women could breastfeed as effectively as new mothers has performed a U-turn after outrage from campaigners. A leaked letter this year from the medical director of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust had suggested that milk produced by trans women - who are born male - with the help of powerful drugs was 'comparable to that produced [by women] following the birth of a baby'. The letter was a response to complaints about guidelines drawn up by the Trust, which advised that trans women 'may be able to induce lactation'. But amid mounting pressure to review the controversial policies, the Trust now insists its guidance was never intended to encourage trans women to 'chestfeed'. Officials at the Trust say the guidelines were aimed at helping a 'small number' of lesbian women who may want to breastfeed to support their female partners who give birth. It said: 'The Trust is not aware of any instances where trans women/biological men have expressed a wish to be helped to feed their partner's child.' But last night Helen Joyce, of the campaign group Sex Matters, said it was 'disturbing' that it had taken the Trust so long 'to reveal that staff at UH Sussex do, in fact, know that men can't breastfeed'. Milli Hill, a campaigner for women's rights, said: 'The false information puts babies at risk.' A leaked letter appeared to claim transgender women might be able to induce lactation and breastfeed (Stock Image) A leaked letter this year from the medical director of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust had suggested that milk produced by trans women with the help of powerful drugs was 'comparable to that produced [by women] following the birth of a baby' The letter was a response to complaints about guidelines drawn up by the Trust, which advised that trans women 'may be able to induce lactation' The row began last year after guidance created by the Trust, and since deleted, said some parents 'may wish to participate in feeding their infants using their own bodies' even if they did not give birth. It said that 'trans womenmay also be able to induce lactation to some extent'. But critics say there is very little robust evidence about the quality or safety of such milk. The Trust also referenced a study which found milk produced from 'induced lactation' had 'no observable side effects' in babies. But now, it appears, it no longer stands by the claims. Emma Thomas, founder of Children of Transitioners, which supports people whose parents change gender and which initially complained about the guidance, said: 'We have no idea how many CoT babies worldwide have been harmed as a result [of this].' Drugs now kill three times as many people each year as die in road accidents. Last year, 5,448 people in England and Wales lost their lives after taking illegal substances such as cocaine and heroin. A further 1,172 died for similar reasons in Scotland. And these numbers are rising. They also do not include criminal violence which may have been caused by drug abuse, but has not been recorded as such, or the growing problem of drug driving. Drug abuse is not a 'victimless crime'. A new report from the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) says that over 300,000 people in England are addicted to heroin and crack cocaine. Collectively, they account for nearly half of all burglaries, robberies and other acquisitive crimes. This is a significant change for the worse in our national life, yet it receives surprisingly little high-level attention. Governments seem clueless as to what to do about it. Ministers of both major parties appear tough by insisting that they have no plans to formally legalise or decriminalise drugs. But what does this mean in practice? Drugs now kill three times as many people each year as die in road accidents. Last year, 5,448 people in England and Wales died after taking illegal substances such as cocaine and heroin Campaigners for legalisation have long claimed that the best response to the problem would be abolishing criminal penalties and treating drug abuse as a medical rather than a criminal matter. They tend to give the impression that the users of illegal drugs face a ferocious regime of arrest, prosecution and punishment. But if this is true, it's hard to find any statistics to substantiate it. As it happens, the authorities have informally responded to such calls, and few people now go to prison for simple possession of illegal drugs. Police energy tends to concentrate almost wholly on trying to interdict supply by pursuing dealers. The laws we have in place against drug possession appear to be tough, but they are paper tigers, rarely, if ever, imposed. Much energy and public money is already devoted to drug substitution programmes, such as the prescription of methadone, and to various forms of rehabilitation. Possession of cannabis is frequently disposed of through unrecorded warnings, where it is dealt with at all. Could this, in fact, be a large part of the problem? Treatment for drug addiction has its place but is it also time for us to consider a radical old idea deterring people from using drugs in the first place? In its report, the CSJ reveals that two-thirds of police officers believe cannabis is, to all intents and purposes, fully or partially decriminalised. If this is what the police think, how confused are the public? Middle-class users of cocaine could also be excused for thinking the law against that drug has been partly repealed, as its abuse continues unchecked in many quarters. Meanwhile evidence pours in from abroad that full legalisation of cannabis long touted by fashionable figures as the answer has flopped. In Canada, despite cannabis legalisation, up to 52 per cent of the market is still thought to be in the hands of illegal gangs. The commercial and tax bonanza which its supporters predicted has not come about. The same is true in those states of the USA which have also gone down this path and American voters are beginning to turn against it, recently voting against legalisation in Florida. Portugal's much-touted drug depenalisation experiment has also gone sour. The CSJ's Sophia Worringer says: 'Pretending liberalisation is the answer is plainly wrong. 'Everywhere you look, it has not stamped out the illegal drug market or acted as a silver bullet to reduce drug deaths or drug use.' She calls for treatment, and no doubt it has its place. But is it also time for us to consider a radical old idea deterring people from using drugs in the first place? Younger MPs were overwhelmingly more likely to vote in favour of legalising assisted dying, analysis of Friday's vote shows. Around 72 per cent of MPs born in the 1990s were in favour - compared to 40 per cent of those born in the 1970s and 38 per cent of those born in the 1950s, according to the think tank More in Common. Of the five MPs born in the 1940s, only one - the Tories' David Davis - voted in favour and four against. The average age of the 'Aye' voter was five years younger than that of the median 'no' voter. Ed Hodgson, of More in Common, said: 'What's interesting is the age gradient does not match the general public. Across Britain, support for assisted dying increases as people get older, but it was the oldest MPs who were more likely to vote against the Bill. There could be many reasons - perhaps because older MPs are more likely to be religious or from the Conservative Party, where opposition was concentrated. It's possible the Bill's success could have been partially helped by the younger cohort of MPs elected this July.' Keir Mather became the youngest serving MP in Parliament last year when he overturned the Conservative majority in the Selby and Ainsty by-election Samuel Carling MP for North West Cambridgeshire since 202 is the first British parliamentarian to be born in the 21st century and has the title of 'Baby of the House' MPs voted in favour of assisted dying on Friday as the historic legislation cleared its first hurdle in the House of Commons following five hours of emotionally-charged debate (Stock Image) The House of Commons approved the second reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill by 330 votes to 275, majority 55, to continue its progress through Parliame The research analysed the votes of 480 MPs whose dates of birth are known. MPs voted in favour of assisted dying on Friday as the historic legislation cleared its first hurdle in the House of Commons following five hours of emotionally-charged debate. The Commons approved the second reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill by 330 votes to 275, majority 55, to continue its progress through Parliament. If it completes its passage into law, the Bill will allow terminally ill, mentally competent adults - with less than six months to live - to seek an assisted death in England and Wales with the approval of two doctors and a High Court judge. In total, 235 Labour MPs supported the Bill alongside 23 Tories, 61 Liberal Democrats, and three Reform UK MPs. This compared to 147 Labour MPs who opposed the Bill alongside 93 Tories, 11 Lib Dems, and two Reform UK MPs - including party leader Nigel Farage. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer voted for the Bill but - in a sign of Cabinet divisions over the issue - Deputy PM Angela Rayner, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood all opposed the legislation. The Tories were also split with party leader Kemi Badenoch voting against the Bill but her predecessor, former PM Rishi Sunak, voting in favour of it. The Bill will now go to committee stage where MPs can table amendments, before facing further scrutiny and votes in both the Commons and the House of Lords, meaning any change in the law would not be agreed until next year at the earliest. This video is no longer available This video is no longer available Masterchef bosses were allegedly warned at least 16 years ago about Gregg Wallace's sexual misconduct but no action was taken, it has been claimed. Former contestant Dr Kate Tomas, 42, said she complained about Wallace's treatment of her on the BBC show in 2008, claiming he 'sexually harassed' and 'bullied' her, but 'nothing was done'. Dr Tomas, a spiritual mentor to the stars, said she was asked to return to MasterChef as one of the best losers that year, but refused because of Wallace's behaviour. 'Nothing was said, nothing was done, but he was disgusting and repulsive and anybody who knows me knows my deep, deep f****** hatred for this man,' she said. Four-times married Wallace, 60, has stepped back as a judge while show chiefs investigate claims from 13 people including Newsnight host Kirsty Wark, 69. Dr Tomas revealed on TikTok that Wallace allegedly 'commented inappropriately' after she 'got a flush of red' across her chest during judging of dishes. She said: 'He was like 'what's that?' motioning to my chest, and I look down and I can see I've got a flush of red across my chest. 'I feel so self-conscious and want to cover myself up because he's staring at my f****** t*** all of which is being filmed.' Former contestant Dr Kate Tomas, 42, said she complained about Wallace's treatment of her on the BBC show in 2008, claiming he 'sexually harassed' and 'bullied' her, but 'nothing was done' Dr Tomas, a spiritual mentor to the stars, said she was asked to return to MasterChef as one of the best losers that year, but refused because of Wallace's behaviour Wallace on MasterChef with co-host John Torode. Dr Tomas claims that the presenter was looking at her chest during filming and said: 'I feel so self-conscious and want to cover myself up because he's staring at my f****** t*** all of which is being filmed' She accused Wallace of being a 'racist piece of s***' after he allegedly imitated an Asian accent in front of an Indian cameraman. Dr Tomas, who was married to an Indian at the time, said Wallace also 'bullied' her for wearing sindoor, a red dye on the hair parting signifying her married status. She added Wallace 'violently swiped' potatoes off a counter after she decided not to use them in her recipe. She said: 'They went rolling on the floor. [He said] 'Oh, you don't need those then do you?' and swiped them off the table.' Dr Tomas, who has dated Spider-Man star Andrew Garfield, said she complained about Wallace's behaviour at the time. She did not make it clear on TikTok to whom she had complained. She added she had been 'traumatised and re-triggered' when she learned he was being investigated over historic misconduct claims. MasterChef's producer Banijay UK drafted in top City law firm Lewis Silkin last night to investigate allegations against Wallace. Gregg Wallace will step away from presenting MasterChef while complaints made to the BBC from individuals about historical allegations of misconduct are investigated. Former Newsnight host Kirsty Wark is among 13 people who have accused MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace of making inappropriate sexual comments she heard filming Celebrity MasterChef in 2011 (right) Gregg looked stressed as Ms Wark struggled with her gravy in 2011 Thirteen people have told the BBC about inappropriate sexual comments they claim were made by Wallace across a range of shows over a 17-year period One is from Kirsty Wark who competed in Celebrity MasterChef 2011. She said that on two occasions during morning filming, Wallace told stories and jokes of a 'sexualised nature' in front of contestants and the show's crew. What has Gregg Wallace been accused of? 13 people who have told the BBC of what they consider inappropriate sexual comments made by Wallace across a range of shows over a 17-year period. These include: Kirsty Wark says that on two occasions Wallace relayed stories and jokes of a 'sexualised nature' in front of contestants on Celebrity MasterChef and crew and that she felt they were 'really, really in the wrong place'. Gregg would allegedly openly talk about his sex life on set Taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to 'give her a fashion show' Telling a junior female colleague he was not wearing any boxer shorts under his jeans' Allegedly entering the studio naked with his genitals covered with a sock and doing a 'silly dance' Mimicking a sex act close to a member of production staff He told 'disgusting sex-related jokes', including one while tasting a contestant's unusual dish; Advertisement A former crew member told the BBC that Wallace showed her topless pictures of himself and begged her for massages, while a lesbian ex-worker on Channel 5 show Gregg Wallace's Big Weekends said he pressed her on the logistics of dating women. Other ex-colleagues complained Wallace would talk openly about his sex life, with one male worker on Big Weekends alleging boasts about having threesomes with sex workers and alleging he 'loves spanking' several times a day. A junior female staffer on the BBC's Eat Well for Less? claimed Wallace told her in 2019 that he wasn't wearing any boxer shorts. Channel 5 has asked producer Rumpus Media to investigate the claims made by Big Weekends staff. This weekend, Wallace was accused of groping two women in allegations reported by The Sun. One contestant alleged he groped her while she was cooking on the show, with the incident said to be caught on camera. The unnamed woman said: 'At the start of filming he came up behind me as I stood at my counter, and looked over my shoulder. 'He put his hands on my hips, moved to the back of me, and pressed into me. I made an 'Eeew' sound and stepped forward. Moments later I scalded myself I couldn't help shrieking. It really hurt. He heard me and shouted, "You stupid f****** cow".' Another woman alleged Wallace told her in a busy pub that she aroused him, made lewd comments and squeezed her bottom. The disclosures come as an anonymous whistleblower claimed they wrote to the BBC to protest about Wallace two years ago after receiving 'half a dozen' complaints about him from TV staff. The whistleblower runs the Instagram page 'S***meninTVhavesaidtome', which collects stories from workers who have allegedly suffered sexual harassment. The letter read: 'I have noticed a pattern of behaviour from one person whose name has been mentioned half a dozen times in connection with lude [sic] comments being made to female production members, female production being made to feel uncomfortable about being asked for their personal numbers, being made to talk to the talent while the talent is topless and general unease in their company. Gregg Wallace is the name attached to these experiences.' The letter also accused Wallace of making comments about a woman's 'a***' which was followed by 'a light groping'. In a video on Friday, Wallace thanked people for 'showing their support'. His representatives did not respond to a request for comment yesterday but his lawyers have previously said: 'It is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature'. Banijay said it would not comment while the investigation is ongoing. Previously, it said complaints made to the BBC about Wallace had not been 'raised directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK'. It added Wallace 'is committed to fully cooperating in the review'. The BBC said: 'Any behaviour which falls below standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated. 'Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints with that company and support them in addressing them.' Wild footage captured the moment an out-of-control Tesla hit vehicles in a busy shopping centre carpark, before plummeting off the side and injuring its two occupants. A driver's dash cam showed a black Tesla T-bone an SUV, causing it to spin on the rooftop carpark at DFO Homebush, in Sydney's west, at about 9.55am on Saturday. The vehicle kept driving and struck the car with the dash cam. A loud crash was heard from the Tesla as it went over the edge of the carpark to the level below. The Tesla is understood to have been on autopilot, however NSW Police could not confirm when contacted by Daily Mail Australia. Fortunately, the out-of-control vehicle landed on its wheels in the loading dock after it crashed through the barrier above. The occupants of the Tesla, which had struck three cars in total, were a 59-year-old male driver and his passenger, a 68-year-old female. Shoppers ran to help the trapped pair, with people scrambling to open the door of the Tesla. The Tesla kept travelling ahead (pictured) and hit the vehicle that had the dashcam in it, before plummeting off the side of the carpark After driving through the barrier of the rooftop, the car miraculously landed upright in the docking bay - just one level below (pictured). The driver and his passenger were treated for chest pains and there were no other injuries from the collisions Phone footage showed the chaos that followed the crash with people yelling out 'help them out' and 'pull the door open'. The pair were treated at the scene at Homebush Bay Drive for chest pain. The driver and his passenger were then transported to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for tests. No shoppers were injured during the incident. NSW Police said investigations are ongoing and the Tesla would undergo an electronics check. The mayor of a small South Carolina town was being pursued by a deputy moments before a fatal collision with another vehicle. Mayor George Garner II, 49, of McColl, was driving on Highway 34 in Mechanicsville when he veered left of the center line and crashed into an 18-wheeler on November 26, just days after the town's entire police force quit Emergency responders took Garner and the driver of the truck to McLeod Regional Medical Center where the mayor succumbed to his injuries. 'When the incident occurred Mr. Garner was being pursued by a Marlboro County Deputy. 'The pursuit was not related to any laws being broken. The pursuit was taking place in an effort to protect the wellbeing of Mr. Garner,' coroner Todd Hardee said. South Carolina Law Enforcement Division spokeswoman Renee Wunderlich later told WNCT that an investigation into the mayor's death 'is 'active and ongoing'. She did not provide any other details about the case. Coroner Hardee is yet to make a ruling on the manner of death. DailyMail.com has requested the Darlington County Coroners Office for more information. An investigation has also been launched by South Carolina Highway Patrols multi-disciplinary accident team or MAIT unit, as confirmed by Darlington County Sheriff James Hudson Jr. Mayor George Garner II, 49, of McColl, was being pursued by a deputy moments before he died in a head-on vehicle crash Emergency responders took Garner and the driver of the truck to a nearby hospital where the mayor succumbed to his injuries Officials have not yet clarified why the mayor was being pursued by a deputy. Garner's death comes within a week of Police Chief Bob Hale and the town's four officers' resignation from their respective roles. In a lengthy statement, Hale revealed that he stepped back from being Chief due to alleged repeated harassment, personal attacks and 'the overall creation of a toxic work environment' by a town councilman. He also claimed that the department was facing a depleted budget and said appeals for funding as well as training were also being ignored after the certain councilman was elected. Hale included allegations that for months, he had 'endured unwarranted and malicious behavior' aimed at undermining his integrity and leadership. He claimed that the 'toxic atmosphere' at the department 'hindered its ability to function effectively' - despite multiple efforts to improve the situation and address the problem through 'professional channels'. The councilman has not been named by any of the officers in their respective statements. The police team's last working day was on November 22. When alive, Garner confirmed that the town no longer had any officers and said the community is in a 'difficult situation'. A funeral service for the mayor will be held at 3pm on December 3 at McColl Church of God. Burial will follow at Rogers cemetery Emergency responders took Garner and the driver of the truck to McLeod Regional Medical Center where the mayor succumbed to his injuries The town then announced that 'the Marlboro County Sheriff's Department will be in McColl to answer any call the citizens may have'. Locals have now been left demanding answers over Garner's death, who have since described him as a 'real nice guy'. One of his neighbors Bill Young told WMBF: 'It shocked me. It shocked me because it was like "Are you telling me the truth?' According to Young he went to school with Garner, and remembers him as being someone who would gladly reach out to those in need. He added: 'The person that I knew was a real good guy, you know. He was a real nice guy. I saw him two days ago on his porch doing Christmas lights.' Young added: 'We need leaders, we need somebody to take charge.' Garner's untimely death comes within a week of Police Chief Bob Hale and the town's four officers' resignation from their respective roles When alive, Garner confirmed that the town no longer had any officers and said the community is in a 'difficult situation'. Pictured: The McColl Police Department Locals like Bill Young, seen here, have now been left demanding answers over Garner's death His death came just days after Police Chief Bob Hale and the town's four officers' resignation from their respective roles Witness Dave Price and his wife had been near the crash when the horrific events unfolded, telling the outlet of the aftermath. Price said: 'It was just a large crunch. You could tell the person wasnt surviving. We didnt know anything at the time, but it didnt look good.' Temporary Mayor Brain Blue said in a statement: 'I want everyone to know the mayor loved his family and the people in the Town of McColl. 'He always told us whether he was in or out of office, he always wanted us to move the town in the right direction. 'And at this time, I would like for everybody to keep his family and the Town of McColl in your prayers as we deal with the loss of the mayor of McColl.' A funeral service for the mayor will be held at 3pm on December 3 at McColl Church of God. Burial will follow at Rogers cemetery. Aussie homebuyers not relying on the Bank of Mum and Dad are being pushed further out from the inner suburbs in Sydney and Melbourne, new data shows. A couple earning $125,021 each who had saved a 20 per cent deposit would have to look far from Sydney CBD, to areas like the Central Coast, Penrith, Liverpool and Campbelltown, according to figures from CoreLogic and Canstar. If they worked in the CBD their average commute from their new home would be 41km. But they could get closer to the CBD if they compromised with a unit, in areas such as Edgecliff, Parramatta and Sutherland. A couple with one low-income earner and one average-income earner could afford a house in Penrith, Jamisontown, Liverpool and Campbelltown. For high-income singles, only one suburb made the affordability cut: San Remo on the northern Central Coast. But units were affordable in areas like the Central Coast, Mount Druitt, St Marys, Penrith, Fairfield West. A low-income single could afford a unit far from the CBD, in places like Mount Colah, Woy Woy and Umina Beach. Demographer Simon Kuestenmacher said the affordability problem was an 'absolute catastrophe for social cohesion'. Buyers without access to intergenerational wealth are being pushed ever further from the city centres (stock image) 'Those with low incomes live on the outskirts of town, have a longer commute to work and spend less time with family,' Mr Kuestenmacher said. MortgageWorks director Anthony Roddy said up to 30 per cent of his clients didn't have cash gifts, but they were 'willing to make bigger sacrifices to get on the ladder'. 'They may purchase a one-bedroom unit with the view to move on in three to five years' time,' Mr Roddy said. It was a similar story in Melbourne, although buyers there were not quite so locked out of the inner city. A high-income couple could afford a house in Windsor, Collingwood or Brunswick. Many of the desirable suburbs near the CBD, however, were too expensive - unless the couple opted for a unit, in which case all suburbs were affordable. Kensington, Flemington and Footscray were the closest house options for a couple where one member earned an average income of about $100,000 and the other a lower income of about $75,000. A high-earning couple with no cash gifts from mum and dad would have to look far from Sydney's CBD to buy a house CoreLogics head of Australian research Eliza Owen said she was worried that unaffordable housing was pushing people into relationships. 'Obviously, you dont want to be pressured to be in a relationship to access housing,' she said. 'I think in an ideal world people would live with others as a choice rather than a necessity.' Homelessness has surged across NSW as the state's housing crisis pushes an increasing number of people onto the streets. The annual street count, released in May, revealed a 25 per cent spike in the tally of people sleeping rough statewide. In recent months the housing market has cooled off in Sydney - at the same time that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was trying to sell his Sydney investment townhouse. Mr Albanese sold his Dulwich Hill investment property for $1.75 million on Friday. He had dropped the price by $150,000 after it spent months on the market without a buyer. The three-bedroom property was last sold for $1,175,000 in 2015 and property values in the area have skyrocketed by 92.8 per cent since then. The prime minister earlier this year revealed he had purchased a new clifftop home in the Central Coast's Copacabana for $4.3 million in preparation for his new life with fiancee Jodie Haydon. Call Her Daddy podcast host Alex Cooper admitted she wasn't surprised when she received backlash for her softball interview with Kamala Harris, but said she 'didn't care.' The podcaster sat down with the vice president in the last weeks of the election, and conceded that her audience was 'split' by her decision to host the episode. While conservatives slammed her for the interview's lack of hard-hitting questioning and layup answers, a faction of Call Her Daddy's young audience also hit back over the Biden - Harris administration's support for Israel. Speaking of the controversy, Cooper told Forbes: 'Listen, I knew it was going to come. I am very aware that my audience is very split, and I again take that with responsibility. 'I dont want to alienate people but I did feel like I had a sense of responsibility, so I kind of, like, didnt care.' It was revealed shortly after Harris' thumping election loss that the Harris campaign spent a staggering six figures to build the set of a hotel room to match the original Call Her Daddy set. Cooper said that the Harris campaign reached out to her to set up the interview, which came weeks before Donald Trump appeared on Joe Rogan's podcast - with the Republican receiving over 50 times the viewers that Harris had. The host said she previously made it a point to avoid politics on her show, but came to the decision to sit down with Harris because it felt like a 'no brainer.' Call Her Daddy podcast host Alex Cooper admitted she wasn't surprised when she received backlash for her softball interview with Kamala Harris (pictured) in the weeks before the election The Harris campaign spent a staggering six figures to build the set of a hotel room to match the original Call Her Daddy set Cooper revealed that she hesitated when first asked to interview Harris, but agreed after asking herself: 'How as a woman am I not going to do this? Cooper continued: 'They reached out to me and I recognized that maybe in a different election it wouldnt be the case and who knows in future elections what Ill do. 'But in this specific election the entire focus is on womens bodies and were losing rights by the day, and so, to have the most popular female podcast, where most women listen to the show in the country, it felt like a no-brainer.' She said she hesitated at first, but agreed after asking herself: 'How as a woman am I not going to do this? 'How am I going to look back at myself one day if I ever have children, and look back at this decision? I'm really proud I did it.' Although Harris' interview with Call Her Daddy was intended to be a dueling episode with Trump's sit down with Rogan, which came two weeks later, the Republican's conversation drew far more listeners. Counting only views on YouTube, at the time of writing Trump's interview with Rogan was listened or watched a staggering 52 million times. In comparison, Harris' Call Her Daddy episode has still not yet reached one million listens, and has only recently cracked 900,000 views. The episode came three weeks before Donald Trump did a podcast with Joe Rogan, with the Republican's episode receiving over 50 times more viewers than Harris' Alex Cooper spoke to Forbes about her decision to have Vice President Kamala Harris on her podcast "Call Her Daddy" after pledging to not have politicians on. https://t.co/fYCnhYH9Cw pic.twitter.com/3LoY8i9j7U ForbesWomen (@ForbesWomen) November 26, 2024 The ludicrous six-figure sum that the Harris campaign shelled out for the Call Her Daddy interview was just one of a number of extravagant purchases the campaign made. It blew through over $1.2 billion during the race, a staggering sum considering the short amount of time Harris had on the campaign trail after President Biden dropped out in July. According to the Washington Examiner, these costs included bills to Village Marketing Agency, which was paid over $3.9 million to recruit social media influencers to boost Harris' online appeal. The Trump campaign spent a total of around $750 million in comparison, reports the Financial Times. Some indications, thought, show that the race was much more expensive than that. The Harris campaign, affiliated PACs and the Democratic National Committee amassed over $2.3 billion in political contributions. Donald Trump's team, affiliated PACs and the Republican National Committee raised $1.8 billion. After raising nearly $4.2 billion, they spent a combined $3.5 billion on the presidential race, making it the most expensive contest ever held according to the FT analysis. Despite spending less, Trump ended up trouncing Harris in the electoral and popular vote - which hasn't been done by the GOP in decades. A retired firefighter's life has been saved through a chain of extraordinary events involving the generosity and support of a fellow first responder. Retired FDNY Lieutenant Kevin Williams received a life-saving kidney transplant earlier this year thanks to another of New York's bravest, Thomas Hoey. 'I was just stage 5 and I was figuring that I wasn't going to be around much longer. So this changed everything,' Williams, who served at Ladder 112 in Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York told ABC7. While Hoey did try to donate his kidney to Williams initially, it was discovered he wasn't a match - but the attempt was not for nothing. Williams was boosted up the top of the transplant list and was able to be saved with by donor. In the lead up, Williams' prognosis was grim and his condition had reached a critical point, leaving him in dire need of a transplant. Around the same time, retired firefighter Hoey was facing his own health decline. He tragically died in May, but was determined to ensure his passing would help others and designated his organs to be donated to a firefighter in need. His decision came to light through Kristina Moon, founder of the Billy Moon Foundation, which supports organ donation in honor of her late husband, who was also a firefighter and saved five lives through his own organ transplants. The life of retired firefighter Lieutenant Kevin Williams, who was in Stage 5 kidney failure, has been saved through a chain of extraordinary events involving the FDNY community Retired firefighter Thomas Hoey was facing his own mortality and was determined to ensure his passing would help others. He designated his organs to be donated to a firefighter in need FDNY Lieutenant Williams is seen in action while on active duty Initially, Hoey's kidney was offered to Williams after he was made his 'designated recipient', before they discovered he wasn't a match. While the news was shattering, it also had the effect of unexpectedly propelling Williams to the top of the transplant list. 'I was devastated,' Williams admitted. Yet, what seemed like a crushing setback had a miraculous turnaround. Just two days later, he received a call from the hospital informing him that another compatible kidney had become available. Williams underwent the life-saving surgery and the transplant was successful, giving him a new lease of life. 'My phone rings. It's the hospital,' Williams explained, recounting the call. '"Get in here, we have a kidney for you." And I was like, "I was just told it's not a match." They said, "No, we have another kidney. Get in here."' On Friday, Williams publicly expressed his gratitude to his FDNY brothers, embracing the family the firefighter whose actions played a crucial role in his survival. 'I had a lot to be thankful for this year. More than usual,' he said in a deeply emotional moment at Ladder 112. Initially, Hoey's kidney was offered to Williams, but testing revealed it not to be a match Williams met with Hoey's family after the successful transplant and met with Kristina who supports organ donation in honor of her late husband 'There was no pain... just joy. Knowing I have a lot more living to do, it's all thanks to them,' he said. And while Hoey's kidney was not a match for Williams, his organs still went on to save three other lives. His daughter, Lauren, paid tribute to her father and his legacy. 'Him being able to save somebody even in his death is just exactly what he did during the time he was alive,' she said to ABC. 'It's amazing to see it continue. Even though he's not here, he's still touching so many lives.' Kristina Moon emphasized the impact of organ donation, saying: 'We call Billy our forever hero because he was our hero, and now he's a hero to other people as well.' ITV is warning viewers that Sir David Leans celebrated 1948 film adaption of Charles Dickenss Oliver Twist contains language from a bygone era. Critics are furious that the ITV X streaming service has chosen to issue an objectionable and highly misleading warning for the acclaimed masterpiece. They point out a film released more than 75 years ago based on a novel now 176 years old would be bound to contain expressions from another time. The warning for Oliver Twist on the ITV X streaming service states: with some violence and language from a bygone era. But a forensic re-watching of the black-and-white classic throws up only tough sentiments, and no language even Generation Z would find offensive. The young Oliver, for instance, is repeatedly verbally abused by his tormentors who refer to him as orphan, workhouse, little bag of bones and the worst disposed boy I ever did see. But this bullying which reflect the language of the original novel, is crucial to Olivers story of triumph against all the odds. The film also highlights attitudes to crime and poverty which were prevalent in Victorian England. ITV is warning viewers that Sir David Leans celebrated 1948 film adaption of Charles Dickenss Oliver Twist contains language from a bygone era Critics point out that the film attracted controversy when it was released in 1948 because some critics thought Sir Alec Guinesss portrayal of Fagin was anti-Semitic - so much so that the American release was delayed for three years Critics are furious that the ITV X streaming service has chosen to issue an objectionable and highly misleading warning for the acclaimed masterpiece So in one scene the bullying Noah Claypole, played by Michael Dear, taunts Oliver about the fate of his late mother. He tells the young boy: Your mother must have been a regular right down bad unIts a great deal better workhouse that she died when she did, else she would be doing hard labour in Bridewell or transported or hung which is more likely than either isnt it. But this again reflects the language in the original novel. Critics have accused ITV of producing a warning which manages to be both woke and meaningless. Professor Jeremy Black, the author of England in the Age of Dickens said: The language employed in the warning is pejorative, misleading, and dangerous. 'This is doubly ironic, for Dickens both as a great novelist and as a major journalist wrote with commitment and clarity about problems not only of his age but of all ages. Oliver Twist deals with the vulnerability of youth. This is captured brilliantly in the power of the novel and the vision of the film. They should not be touched. Others claim ITV are being disingenuous. The film was based on the original novel, Oliver Twist, by renowned author Charles Dickens They point out that the film did attract controversy when it was released in 1948 because some critics thought Sir Alec Guinesss portrayal of Fagin was anti-Semitic - so much so that the American release was delayed for three years. John Sutherland, the author of Triggered Literature and an emeritus professor of English Literature said if ITV had any concerns about Sir Alecs portrayal it should say so directly. He said: I saw the film, aged ten, in 1948 and had nightmares for a week. Its the mealy mouth of current triggering practice which irritates. Theres often a subtext they dont dare come out with. The offensiveness in David Leans 1948 film of Oliver Twist is Fagin being played by gentile Alec Guinness with a prosthetic nose as long as Pinocchios, his Yiddish lisp, and his implied paedophile interest in little boys. The David Lean film which starred John Howard Davies as Oliver, Robert Newton as Bill Sykes, and Kay Walsh as Nancy is frequently hailed as one of the greatest ever Dickens adaptations and one of the finest films ever made. Lean was praised for the way he restructured the story at the heart of the novel and most subsequent TV and film adaptations including the musical Oliver! are in large part an adaptation of this film rather than the book. In 1999 the British Film Institute (BFI) ranked the film number 46 on a list of the one hundred best British films ever made. Six years later the same organisation included it on a list of fifty films everyone should see by the age of fourteen. The British Board of Film Classification has rated the film U for universal, meaning anyone can see it. Its content guidance - which does not mention the films language highlights - mild scary scenes and violence. A spokesperson for ITV declined to comment. An Aussie property manager who invented a day to celebrate and recognise her colleagues has been forced to defend the holiday after public backlash. Real Estate Excellence CEO Stacey Holt began the annual Thank A Property Manager Day in 2012 so tenants and landlords could praise their property managers every November 29. Many have decided to take the day off and one tenant recently shared on Reddit an email they received from their property manager, Yahoo reported. 'We will be celebrating Thank A Property Manager Day on Friday 29th November 2024,' the email read. 'On a day-to-day basis our Property Managers, manage the difficult conversations, they deal with the Issues, they provide support to both parties at different times. 'And continue to educate themselves to ensure an understanding of legislation, maintenance, finances and social work. 'Our Property Managers will not be available and will act on any urgent matters only. Have a lovely day.' Aussies couldn't believe the holiday existed, given how extremely tough the economic climate has been for tenants. Real Estate Excellence CEO Stacey Holt started the annual Thank A Property Manager Day in 2012 A tenant shared the email she received from her property manager (pictured) about the annual day, outraging Aussies 'As a social worker, that is utterly insulting,' one wrote. 'They've gotta be taking the p**s, right?' asked said. A third added: 'When is 'Thank the tenants for paying my mortgage' day?'. But Ms Holt defended the day, arguing people don't realise the amount of work that the role requires. The CEO wants Aussies to 'stop, think, and celebrate the wonderful role property managers play'. 'Take a moment to remember that property managers are human beings, like all of us, who are doing the best they can with what they got, and they do a wonderful job,' she said. 'It's a very challenging and thankless role. 'The majority of property managers are just great people like you and I, and they deserve a day of people just saying, "Hey, thank you. You're bloody amazing".' Aussies were outraged there was a day to recognise property managers when renters have had a tough rental climate since the pandemic, with sharp rent increases and low vacancies (pictured prospective tenants queuing to inspect a rental property) Ms Holt believes workers in the real estate industry have gotten a bad name because of a few bad ones. The real estate expert said the average property manager will be responsible for managing 100 to 150 properties and that most people wouldn't know what the role entails on a daily basis. Tasks such as organising maintenance, getting quotes, dealing with tenant requests, negotiations with the owner about repair work, dealing with disputes, as well as 'managing the tenant and owner expectations and requests' can all add up throughout the day. Even the humble 15-30 minute property inspection can end up taking up hours of a day because property managers have to field inquiries and requests. But the blackash to the property manager day comes after high rents and low vacancies have made it nearly impossible for the around 30 per cent of Aussies who rent to be able to afford other necessities, let alone save for their own property. The median rent for a house across Australian capital cities is $650 and the median for a unit is $630, according to Domain's latest data. Regional Australia is not much better, with the median rent for a house $550 and a unit $480. The regime of Syrian dictator Bashar Al Assad was last night teetering on the brink of collapse after jihadi forces seized control of the country's second city. Fighters belonging to a group that has strong links to Al Qaeda stormed into Aleppo yesterday and were last night attempting to capture the strategically important city of Hama. There were reports of fighting in the Syrian capital Damascus amid swirling rumours of a coup. In a dramatic move, Assad, who has ruled Syria with an iron fist for 24 years, flew back to Damascus after visiting Moscow in a bid to shore up his faltering regime. He was last night said to be frantically phoning allies in the Middle East for support. Mark Urban, BBC Newsnight's former diplomatic editor, said the future of Assad's regime was 'in the balance' amid a 'possible coup attempt'. Writing on X last night, Charles Lister, a Syrian expert at the Middle East Institute, a think-tank based in America, said: 'Assad has just returned to Damascus where he's spent hours calling the Middle East governments that normalised their ties with him in 2023 calling for their support in 'countering terrorism'. A desperate move.' The crisis began when thousands of insurgents advanced on Aleppo and captured vast swathes of the surrounding countryside. Russia, which backs Assad, launched air strikes in response but most of Aleppo, including its airport and medieval citadel, were last night in rebel hands. Anti-government fighters celebrate in a street in Maaret al-Numan in Syria's northwestern Idlib province on November 30 The regime of Syrian dictator Bashar Al Assad (pictured) is now night teetering on the brink of collapse The scene at Edgware Road tube station after a bomb exploded on the tube in 2005 Rebel forces have been advancing in Aleppo amid reports that they have taken control over most of the city The rebel fighters belong to Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS), which is designated as a terrorist organisation by the US and UN. HTS was previously known as Jabhat Al Nusra, which was Al Qaeda's affiliate branch in Syria. Its leader Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, who was born in Saudi Arabia, was labelled a 'specialist designated global terrorist' by the US in May 2013. He broke ties with Al Qaeda three years later but he still has a $10 million (7.9 million) bounty on his head because of his past as a jihadist. The shock advance has raised fears that swathes of territory could, once again, be controlled by ruthless Islamists. There are also concerns that the attack will prompt a new wave of British extremists to travel to Syria to join the fight. Anthony Glees, professor emeritus in security studies at Buckingham University, last night warned that HTS's success in northern Syria could lead to British jihadis travelling to the Middle East to join the jihad and increases the risk of attacks in the UK. 'The problem for us is that Syria could become a territory that British fighters, and those from elsewhere, head to,' he said. 'The HTS is linked to Al Qaeda. Having such an entity in Syria does increase the risk of attacks in the UK, as we have seen in the past with the so-called Islamic State. 'You could have people go there and train and come back and launch attacks. Pictured: A London Underground tube damaged in the 7/7 bombings in 2005 A general view of the destruction following an unidentified airstrike on Aleppo on November 30 An anti-government fighter tears down a portrait of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in Aleppo, after jihadists and their allies entered the northern Syrian city, on November 30 Syrian opposition fighters get on a motorcycle as opposition supporters stand on top of a captured army armoured vehicle in the town of Maarat al-Numan, southwest of Aleppo The video shows how insurgents manage to yank at the statue by tying it to rope that is attached to a moving truck The bodies of Syrian army soldiers and allied fighters lie next to an Syrian army vehicle after being allegedly killed in combat by opposition fighters in Aleppo, Syria 'But also remember, as we have seen in the past, some jihadis can come over using the cover of migrants and cross the Channel. This is a real risk.' HTS launched its shock offensive from its stronghold of Idlib on Wednesday, capturing a string of towns and villages from government forces during a 40-mile-advance to Aleppo, a city of two million. In a bid to stem the advance, Russian warplanes hit rebel supply lines on Friday night on the edge of the city, killing 20 fighters, it is claimed. But the air strikes, the first by Russia in Syria since 2016, were not enough to halt the offensive. The detonation of two car bombs on the western edge of Aleppo coincided with an assault on the city by HTS and Turkish-backed rebel fighters. Syrian government soldiers and police officers were seen fleeing the city on Friday and Saturday and were quickly replaced by the insurgents, who swept into the city on motorbikes and trucks mounted with machine guns. Jubilant fighters were filmed outside the police headquarters and Aleppo citadel in the ancient city centre. They tore down posters of Assad, setting some of them on fire, and pulled down a statue of his brother Bassel. Syrian opposition supporters stand atop a captured Syrian army tank in the town of Maarat al-Numan, southwest from Aleppo, Syria Syrian opposition fighters gather at Saadallah al-Jabiri Square, after rebels opposed to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad said they had reached the heart of Aleppo, Syria on November 30 Smoke rises from the area following an airstrike on Aleppo, Syria on November 30 Members of the armed group opposing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime perform Islamic prayer at Aleppo Castle after they seized control of much of Aleppo's city center in Syria Schools and government offices were closed yesterday as most people stayed indoors, while roads leading out of the city were jammed as an estimated 20,000 civilians fled. The rebels announced a 24-hour curfew, starting at 5pm, which they said was for residents' safety. Government military vehicles were parked near the city's western entrance, apparently abandoned during the chaotic retreat. Insurgents have also reportedly seized Saraqeb, south of Aleppo, at the strategic intersection of highways linking to Damascus. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based group that monitors casualties, said about 400 people have been killed in Aleppo since Wednesday, including 40 civilians. Rami Abdel-Rahman, who heads the observatory, said HTS forces have taken control of the airport in Aleppo, along with most of the rest of the city, except two areas which are under Kurdish control. The offensive is the latest twist in the Syrian civil war, which started in 2011 and has led to the displacement of around half the country's population. Some 6.8 million Syrians fled the country sparking a refugee crisis in Europe. Russia and Iran helped Syrian government forces reclaim Aleppo in 2016 after a gruelling military campaign. But in recent years the conflict had been largely dormant. Until last week, Assad's forces controlled around 70 per cent of the country, while Al Qaeda-linked groups were mainly confined in their last stronghold of Idlib. Warning signs that the war could reignite have been mounting. In recent months Assad's regime has been weakened after two of its key allies, Iran and the Hezbollah terror group, were targeted by Israel. Experts last night said HTS fighters are now poised to take the city of Hama. Meanwhile, Russian forces have reportedly withdrawn from the Al Suqaylabiyah area, north of Hama, to a military base in the coastal city of Latakia. The dramatic fall of Aleppo comes just days after Sir Richard Moore, the head of MI6, warned that after a 37-year career in intelligence he has 'never seen the world in a more dangerous state'. The bodies of Syrian army soldiers and allied fighters are collected by opposition fighters in body bags after being allegedly killed earlier in combat by opposition fighters in Aleppo, Syria Image shows the destruction caused following an airstrike on Aleppo A Syrian opposition fighter takes a picture of a comrade stepping on a portrait of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Aleppo, early Saturday The spymaster raised the alarm about the potential for terrorism in the UK and across the continent inspired by the loss of lives in Gaza and Lebanon. 'We have yet to have a full reckoning with the radicalising impact of the fighting and terrible loss of innocent life in the Middle East after the horrors of October 7,' he said. Last night Lord West, a retired admiral and former security minister, said Britain's intelligence agencies will once again have to closely monitor developments in Syria. 'This is a situation that is hard to predict,' he said. 'What happened in Aleppo is concerning as this group has some strange bedfellows. 'Now, in the past we launched airstrikes in Syria, but that was against Isis. With this group, we are not there yet, but we will have to watch it very carefully.' Aymenn Al-Tamimi, a Syria expert, said the capture of Aleppo was a 'hugely significant' blow to the Assad regime and its allies. The regime's survival depends on whether Iran, Hezbollah and Russia continue to support it, he added. 'If they continue to support, then the Assad regime may carry on, but if they don't, he may have to resign and it could be the end of the Assad dynasty,' he said. Britain's intelligence services estimate that about 1,000 British fighters went to Syria after the outbreak of the civil war. Some of the first wave joined the Nusra Front in late 2012 and 2013, while many others, including ruthless executioner Mohammed Emwazi, dubbed Jihadi John, joined Isis. Among those who joined the Nusra Front were three brothers from Brighton. Abdullah Deghayes, 18, and his brother Jaffar, 17,were both killed within months of joining the terror group. The fate of their elder brother Amer is unknown. HTS has sought to remake itself in recent years, focusing on promoting civilian government in their territory as well as military action, said Aaron Zelin, an expert in Syrian jihadism. HTS has a foreign fighters' brigade, which may attract British jihadis. Al-Jawlani cracked down on some extremist groups in his territory and increasingly portrays himself as a protector of other religions. HTS has, however, allowed some wanted armed groups to operate on its territory and its fighters shot at US Special Forces at least as recently as 2022, Mr Zelin said. It comes as Islamic insurgents were filmed toppling a statue of President Bashar Al-Assad's brother after they stormed Aleppo. In footage posted to X, rebels can be seen tearing down the statue of the man who died in a car crash in 1994. The video shows how insurgents manage to yank at the statue by tying it to rope that is attached to a moving truck. Other videos documenting the rebellion have been shared online too. A general view of the destruction following an airstrike on Aleppo, which the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says was launched by Russia An anti-government fighter raises an opposition flag in front of the landmark citadel of Aleppo Anti-government fighters brandish their guns as they ride a vehicle in Syria's northern city of Aleppo One clip shows how men dressed in camouflage uniforms holding weapons pulled down the Syrian flag from a monument in Aleppo. As the figure topples over and smashes onto the hard floor, rebels can be heard cheering and chanting as they fire gunshots into the air. Cars driving by join in on the celebration as they honk their horns. The whereabouts of President Assad are currently unknown and he has so far failed to speak to his people following the shock rebel offensive. His strange silence since he flew to Moscow to visit his staunch ally, Vladimir Putin, has many of his enemies excited that he might have sought sanctuary there rather than return to Syria. It would be a meek ending for a dictator who has spilled so much blood trying to wrestle his country from Syrian rebel groups, Kurdish fighters and Islamic fundamentalists like Isis and Al-Qaeda. He and his Russian patrons who have naval and air bases on the Syrian coast all but levelled Aleppo in 2017. And now Sukhoi jets are terrorising the people of that city yet again, as Russia will not baulk at high civilian casualties to protect its assets. But it prizes stability, and Assad represents that, so if the president has thrown in the towel it would not be at Moscows behest. More likely, Assad is planning a counter-attack. He has been on the back foot before and has weathered many a crisis, so will feel confident that this insurrection can be crushed as those before have. Rumours of his demise, no doubt promoted by his enemies, will be demoralising to the Syrian regime, but he has always managed to pull himself back from the brink. Another option would be for Assad to consolidate his powerbase on the north-west coast of Syria where Russian bases are located. Whether he stays and fights or flees, leaving a power vacuum in Damascus, civil war is something that will affect us all. During the last one, in which Islamist fundamentalists overran large swathes of Syria, the UK suffered some of the worst terrorist outrages in recent history. In 2013, soldier Lee Rigby was murdered by two extremists. Four pedestrians were killed when Khalid Masood mowed them down with his car on Westminster Bridge before he stabbed to death police officer Keith Palmer in 2017. Three months later, three Islamists drove a van into crowds on London Bridge before stabbing shoppers in Borough Market. Donald Trump is on course to assemble the richest cabinet in American history, with a number of billionaires sending its total net worth soaring over $9 billion - not even including Elon Musk. While Musk will serve in an unofficial capacity focused on slashing government waste and therefore will not need Senate approval, those that will are set to break records. The previous mark was unsurprisingly set by Trump in 2016 when his first cabinet boasted a combined net worth of $6 billion. In comparison, the total net worth of Joe Biden's cabinet amounted to a paltry $120 million, according to Forbes. This meant a number of Biden cabinet members had net worth's that paled in comparison to their predecessors, including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen with a net worth 20 times smaller than Steven Mnuchin. If Trump's new cabinet's net worth is to include figures like Musk, who are in the president-elect's orbit but will not need senate confirmation, the value skyrockets past the $340 billion mark. The crack team of incoming billionaires includes Howard Lutnick, nominated for Secretary of Commerce who made his fortune in the aftermath of 9/11, and Energy Secretary-nominee Chris Wright, an oil fracking magnate. Here, DailyMail.com takes a look at how Trump's incoming cabinet made their staggering fortunes. Donald Trump is on course to assemble the richest cabinet in American history, with a number of billionaires sending its total net worth soaring over $9 billion - not even including Elon Musk Howard Lutnick - Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Trump's nominee for Secretary of Commerce, has a net worth estimated between $2.2 billion and $4 billion as the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald LP Lutnick has been a prominent figure in Trump's orbit in the weeks since he won the election as he served as the co-chair of his administration's transition team. Before wading into politics, Lutnick was friends with Trump for decades as both were heavyweights in the New York financial scene. The 63-year-old has a net worth estimated at $2.2 billion, with some estimates going as high as $4 billion, built up over his decades on Wall Street as the longtime CEO of financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald LP. He is also the chairman of two public companies, brokerage firm BGC Group Inc. and commercial real-estate firm Newmark Group, reports NY Mag. Lutnick shot to national attention in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks as his company lost 658 employees, including his own brother, the largest loss for a company in the tragedy. He became known for his charitable acts for the families of the victims at his firm, including donating $180 million to relatives in 2006. As Secretary of Commerce, Lutnick will oversee 13 agencies including the Census Bureau and the Patent and Trademark Office, and Trump said he would also serve a leading role in foreign trade policy. Linda McMahon - Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, whose net worth stands at an estimated $1.5 billion, raised eyebrows as Education Secretary as the wrestling executive has no previous experience in the education field Linda McMahon's nomination as Secretary of Education raised eyebrows as the wrestling executive has no previous experience in the education field. She previously served as Trump's Administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019, but is best known as the founder of wrestling giant WWE. McMahon built a wrestling empire with her husband Vince McMahon, whose net worth currently stands at $3 billion. Although it is unclear what Linda McMahon's net worth exactly is, she divorced Vince in September amid a slew of allegations of sexual harassment and trafficking, and is certain to have taken a significant slice of their billion-dollar empire. McMahon's intentions as Education Secretary are also a grey area, as Trump ran on a pledge to dismantle the federal agency entirely during his second term. Scott Bessent - Secretary of the Treasury Former George Soros-protege Scott Bessent is one of several billionaire hedge fund managers Trump has tapped for cabinet positions, and is in line to lead the Treasury Bessent is one of several billionaire hedge fund managers Trump has tapped for cabinet positions, however his true net worth is not clear. Known as a Wall Street veteran who pulled off several high risk bets in the stock market, Bessent made his name in the 1990s as part of George Soros' team that made over $1 billion in a day by crashing the British pound. The financier worked again for Soros as the left-wing billionaire's chief investment officer from 2011 to 2015, and his ties to Soros has drawn scrutiny from right wing figures in the MAGA movement. If approved by the Senate, Bessent will also become the first openly gay cabinet secretary in a Republican administration. Doug Burgum - Secretary of Interior North Dakota Gov. and incoming Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum owns a net worth of over $100 million, and oversaw the sale of a software company to Microsoft for $1.1 billion in 2001 The Governor of North Dakota was a relative political unknown heading into the 2024 election season, but successfully leveraged a run for the presidency into a Trump cabinet nomination. Burgum made his fortune in the tech software industry, and sold his company Great Plains Software to Microsoft for $1.1 billion in 2001. He reportedly received over 1.7 million Microsoft shares in the deal, valued at roughly $100 million, and this month Forbes estimated his net worth is at least $100 million - noting that it is 'likely that he's worth even more.' As Secretary of the Interior, Burgum will oversee the management and conservation of most federal land across the nation, and will lead several agencies including the Bureau of Land Management and the National Parks Service. Dr. Mehmet Oz - Medicare and Medicaid Administrator Trump's pick to lead the nation's Medicare and Medicaid services Dr. Mehmet Oz owns a net worth of $315 million Dr. Mehmet Oz boasts a huge net worth upwards of $315 million, built up over years as one of America's leading TV doctors. First appearing on screens across the country in 2003 as a regular guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Oz went on to host his own show for 13 seasons. His finances were revealed to the public in 2022 when he filed federal financial disclosure forms in his unsuccessful run for the Senate in Pennsylvania. The filings showed his net worth stood between $100 million and $315 million, while Forbes reported this months that he holds millions in healthcare investments - potentially causing a conflict of interest in his new role. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. - Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary of Health and Human Services nominee RFK Jr. boasts a net worth of roughly $15 million, which is tied up with his Hollywood actress wife Cheryl Hines (pictured together) The man Dr. Oz will be reporting to, if confirmed by the Senate, is among Trump's most controversial cabinet picks - Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the nephew of JFK. Kennedy's net worth is tied up with his Hollywood actress wife Cheryl Hines, star of Curb Your Enthusiasm, which was estimated by Forbes in August 2023 to be roughly $15 million. Around $4 million of these assets were inherited from his Kennedy family forefathers, including a large stake in a development in downtown Chicago that Joe Kennedy acquired in the 1940s. Steve Wright - Secretary of Energy Trump faced backlash from environmental groups for nominating oil fracking executive Steve Wright to be the next Secretary of Energy Trump faced backlash from environmental groups for nominating oil fracking executive Steve Wright to be the next Secretary of Energy, sparking fears the administration will follow through on promises to gut regulations. Wright is the CEO and co-founder of Liberty Energy, and has a stake in the company worth $50 million, reports NY Mag. He earned a reported $5.6 million salary in 2023, and also rakes in millions by sitting on the board of directors for a number of companies, including mining company EMX Royalty Corp and nuclear energy firm Oklo. But while Wright would have been among the richest members of Biden's cabinet, his net worth pales in comparison to that of his colleagues - especially the next two on the list. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy - Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Elon Musk stands as the richest person in the world with a staggering net worth of $330 billion, and has seen his net worth skyrocket over $70 billion since Trump's election victory Vivek Ramaswamy made a fortune in the biotech industry. Before his run for the presidency his net worth was estimated at $840 million, and Forbes now lists his value at $1.1 billion Although Musk and Ramaswamy are not technically joining Trump's official cabinet and will not require Senate confirmation, their huge net worths are worthy of inclusion on the list. Musk stands as the richest man in the world, with a net worth at a staggering $330 billion, over $100 billion above the second placed billionaire, Oracle's Larry Ellison. He became one of Trump's biggest backers in the election and poured over $100 million into the campaign - which turned out to be a lucrative investment. Since Trump's victory, his net worth has skyrocketed by over $70 billion, reports Business Insider. Ramaswamy made a similarly successful political bet to that of Burgum, catapulting himself from relative obscurity to Trump's orbit through his own run for the White House. While he never gained significant traction in the primaries, Ramaswamy gained a reputation as a no-nonsense operator built off his past as a biotech business mogul. Ramaswamy founded pharmaceutical firm Riovant Sciences in 2014, and was behind some of the largest IPOs in US biotech history. Before his run for the presidency his net worth was estimated at $840 million, and Forbes now lists his value at $1.1 billion. Thousands of heated protesters have poured into the streets of Valencia, marking a month since floods ravaged towns and killed 222 in the region alone. The catastrophic rainfall saw homes and businesses demolished as well as thousands of cars piled up in the muddy streets of the eastern region of Spain on October 29. The floods, which were the worst in a generation, killed 230 in total in the country, with telephone alerts reaching residents when water was already raging through towns. Several municipalities went days without state help and relied on volunteers for food, water and cleaning equipment. Outrage has since swept throughout Spain with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets yesterday to call out the government's handling of the disaster. Many have been demanding that Valencia's President, Carlos Mazon, step down with Spaniards furious that the government hadn't alerted citizens until it was too late. Several people died after being caught out in the flash flooding while driving, or while trying to move their vehicles from car parks as well as those living in ground-floor flats. On the day of the floods, Mazon was said to have taken a long lunch and came to the emergency meeting two hours late, local Spanish media reports. Demonstrators march during a protest a month after devastating floods demading the resignation Valencia's President, Carlos Mazon Heated protesters chanted, calling for his resignation after he arrived two hours late to an emergency meeting the day of the floods A woman cradling her face while she cries during the demonstrations yesterday in the city of Valencia Thousands chanted slogans calling for Mazon to face jail or resign as they made their way through the city centre of Valencia. 'What went wrong? Incompetence. That's why we are here, because there are a lot of incompetent people who are still being paid,' Raquel Ferrandis said. The teacher, 55, from Paiporta -one of the hardest hit towns - carried a banner in memory of her friend and mother who both died in the tragedy. Maribel Peralta, 62, said she was 'very indignant', as she held a banner hitting out at the regional president. 'The people who have lost everything, look at how they live now,' the Valencia local said. 'The people who have lost their businesses, look at how they live now. The aid is not coming.' Anna Oliver - a spokesperson for the march - told local media: 'One month later, and our towns and cities are still destroyed. 'The regional government is morally and ethically incapable of handling the reconstruction.' A protester holds a placard reading 'Valencian government immediate resignation' during the demonstration A protester holds a placard which read: 'The flood hits us, your management sinks us' Firefighters light flares during a protest over what they say is a lack of coordination during tragedies such as the latest devastating flooding in the region Church bells rang out at dusk in Paiporta on Friday, the epicentre of the disaster, at around the time the floods began. Several hundred locals, some wearing face masks, gathered near a ravine which was ravaged by the torrential rain two days ago. They left a line of candles on both sides of the ravine in memory of 45 people who died in Paiporta in the floods. 'This tribute is for them, we put a candle for them so they are not forgotten,' said Bea Garcia, a 43-year-old teacher. 'The people continue to feel alone, the anger remains and there is also fatigue and frustration. We are all exhausted.' she said. Similar rallies were held in towns and cities across Valencia, organised by trade unions, associations and local organisations. A previous in Valencia on November 9 drew 130,000 furious citizens demanding Mazon step down. Thousands chanted slogans calling for Mazon to face jail or resign as they made their way through the city centre of Valencia Protesters confront police officers during tonight march in Valencia as they call for action from the regional and national government Firefighters carried a large flag through the streets of Madrid today in protest over the lack of preparation in relation to the floods 'We have to be extraordinarily understanding with the protests. There are still lots of people who have received nothing, so we cannot rest,' Mazon said on Friday whilst announcing the reopening of Valencia's metro on December 3. Popular outrage boiled over in Paiporta on November 3 when residents hurled mud at King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Mazon. Sanchez and Mazon were escorted away and their fleeting unity has since collapsed, with the left-wing central government and the conservative regional administration trading blame for the handling of the floods. Thousands of troops, police, firefighters, and volunteers have continued to clear debris, repair damage and extract mud from garages, basements and car parks in the traumatised region. The responsibility of disaster management in Spain lies with regional administrators, however the central government can provide regions with resources and is able to take the lead in more extreme cases. 'We are literally swimming in mud. The children are still out of school, things are going very slowly in the village, and we can't find solutions,' Sabrina Bermejo, a 41-year-old laboratory analyst said. Your browser does not support iframes. Spain's Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo on Thursday reeled off a dizzying list of damaged property according to insurance data, including 69,000 homes, 125,000 vehicles and 12,500 businesses. The government has scrambled to put together aid packages collectively worth 16.6 billion euros ($17.5 billion) in grants and loans to help stricken citizens. But Amparo Peris expressed the despair of many in the flood epicentre who feel 'abandoned' by politicians. 'We thank the volunteers, but we are very tired because this is not moving forward,' the 35-year-old domestic assistant said in Catarroja, where garages are still caked with mud and two piles of rusting cars greet visitors to the hard-hit town. 'This is horrific... I feel powerless because they (the authorities) do nothing,' added Fina Solaz, 69, as she queued to collect essential goods. Two aid workers have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza today after the car they were travelling in was hit. World Central Kitchen (WCK) said it was 'urgently seeking more details' after Israel's military said it targeted an employee who was part of the Hamas October 7 attacks. The charity said it was 'heartbroken' and added it had 'no knowledge' that anyone in the car had alleged ties to the terrorist group. It said it was pausing operations in Gaza following the strike, adding that it was working with incomplete information and was urgently seeking more details. The Israeli military in a statement said the alleged October 7 attacker took part in the assault on the kibbutz of Nir Oz, and it asked 'senior officials from the international community' and the WCK to clarify how he had come to work for the charity. The family of the man, Ahed Azmi Qdeih, rejected the allegations as 'false', and confirmed in a statement he had worked with the charity. 'We are heartbroken to share that a vehicle carrying World Central Kitchen colleagues was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza,' it said in a statement posted on X. 'World Central Kitchen had no knowledge that any individual in the vehicle had alleged ties to the October 7th Hamas attack.' Palestinians stand next to a destroyed vehicle in which employees of the World Central Kitchen (WCK) were killed in an Israeli strike A Palestinian inspects a vehicle in which employees of the World Central Kitchen (WCK) were killed in an Israeli strike Pictured: The destroyed vehicle that was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on November 30 The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that three employees of the charity were killed in the strike, with medics saying a total of five people were killed. The strike highlights the dangerous work of delivering aid in Gaza, where the war has displaced much of the 2.3 million population and caused widespread hunger. In April, a strike on a WCK aid convoy killed seven workers - three British citizens, Polish and Australian nationals, a Canadian-American dual national and a Palestinian. The Israeli military called it a mistake with the strike prompting an international outcry. Another Palestinian WCK worker was killed in August by shrapnel from an Israeli airstrike, the group said. A different Israeli airstrike on Saturday hit a car near a food distribution point in Khan Younis, killing 13 people, including children. Nasser hospital in Khan Younis received the bodies. 'They were distributing aid, vegetables, and we saw the missile landing,' witness Rami Al-Sori said. A woman sat on the ground and wept. Save the Children said a local employee was killed in one of the Khan Younis airstrikes while returning from a mosque. And the director of Kamal Adwan hospital reported a strike in Tal al Zaatar in Beit Lahiya in the north where Israeli forces are operating, and estimated based on witness accounts that well over 100 dead were under the rubble. He said the area remained inaccessible. Palestinians carry drums and bottles on war-torn streets to fill with drinkable water on November 30 People check a car hit by an Israeli strike in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on November 30 People check a car hit by an Israeli strike in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on November 30 Palestinians carry drums and bottles on war-torn streets to fill with drinkable water It comes as Hamas released a new hostage video on Saturday of Israeli-American citizen Edan Alexander. Speaking under duress, Alexander referred to being held for 420 days and mentioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent $5 million offer for the hostages' return. 'The prime minister is supposed to protect his soldiers and citizens, and you abandoned us,' Alexander said. Netanyahu's office said that he spoke with Alexander's family after the release of the 'brutal psychological warfare video' that held 'an important and exciting sign of life.' '(Netanyahu) reassured me and promised that now, after reaching an arrangement in Lebanon, conditions are right to free you all and bring you home,' Alexander's mother, Yael, told demonstrators in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening. A statement from US National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett called the hostage video 'a cruel reminder of Hamas's terror against citizens of multiple countries, including our own.' 'The war in Gaza would stop tomorrow and the suffering of Gazans would end immediately - and would have ended months ago - if Hamas agreed to release the hostages,' it said. Israel's retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed more than 44,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who don't distinguish between civilians and combatants in their count but say over half the dead were women and children. While efforts for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have faltered, the US- and France-brokered deal for Lebanon appears to be holding since Wednesday. Palestinians carry out search and rescue work in the rubble of the destroyed building after Israeli army attacked on a building in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood in Gaza City on November 29 Palestinians inspect a destroyed vehicle on Salah al-Din Road following Israeli military strikes Palestinian residents carry out search and rescue work in the rubble of a destroyed building On Saturday, Israel's military said that it struck sites used to smuggle weapons from Syria to Lebanon after the ceasefire took effect. There was no immediate comment from Syrian authorities or Hezbollah. Israeli aircraft have struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon several times, citing truce violations. Israel's strike in Syria came as insurgents breached its largest city, Aleppo, bringing fresh uncertainty to the region. The truce between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah calls for an initial two-month ceasefire in which the militants should withdraw north of Lebanon's Litani River and Israeli forces should return to their side of the border. Many Lebanese, some of the 1.2 million displaced, streamed home despite warnings by the Israeli and Lebanese militaries to avoid certain areas. 'Day by day, we will return to our normal lives,' said Mustafa Badawi, a cafe owner in Tyre. A seven-year-old autistic non-verbal Florida boy's body was found in a lake a day after he ran off from his home - resulting in officials making a sinister discovery. Charles 'Charlie' Newton had just arrived home in the 1400 block of Stillwater Avenue with his parents from buying pizza on November 25 when he suddenly took off from the car. His mom made a frantic 911 call and police arrived at the property minutes later. But once inside, they were horrified to find the family had been living in squalor in a cockroach-infested home. Emergency services swarmed on the property just after 8.12pm after his mom reported that he managed to slip out of her grasp as she was coming home. 'My son, he just took off, he is autistic, he is non-verbal. I was coming home with the pizzas, I just grabbed on to him and he just took off running,' the distraught mother told News Journal Online a 911 dispatcher. At 8.09pm, surveillance cameras captured images of the child running across Firefighters Memorial Park on Lombardy Drive, passing a a fire station next to the park and then running near a hill on Waterfall Circle towards a lake. An all-night manhunt was launched with two helicopters, three police dogs, drones from three police agencies, and 140 law enforcement officers in tow. Charles 'Charlie' Newton, 7, an autistic non-verbal Florida was found dead in a pond a day after he ran off from his home Charlie was discovered by a neighbor in Lake Lapanocia in the 730 block of Waterfall Circle at around 10am At 8.09pm, surveillance cameras captured images of the child running across Firefighters Memorial Park on Lombardy Drive (pictured), passing a a fire station next to the park and then running near a hill on Waterfall Circle towards a lake However, the search came to an end after a neighbor called 911 to report possibly seeing a body in Lake Lapanocia in the 730 block of Waterfall Circle at around 10am, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood confirmed. 'A little while ago this morning, a neighbor called and said he thinks what he sees is a body inside of the lake. 'Our deputies commandeered a kayak and went out there and our victim was found,' Sheriff Chitwood said in a press conference. Officials had previously shared on Facebook that Charlie was 'attracted to Christmas lights as well as bodies of water and was known to climb up trees'. During a subsequent search of the boy's house as a part of the investigation, officers noted that the property was 'in a state of disarray'. Deputies found cockroaches, minimal food and no clean clothes inside the home, according to the incident report. All three of the couple's children were reportedly sleeping on 'dirty' mattresses in one bedroom. Furthermore, police noticed the fridge was chained shut and the bathroom was guarded by a biometric lock. 'It was revealed the home to have a large roach infestation, minimal food for all 3 children in the home, no apparent clean clothes, all of the children shared a small bedroom with dirty mattresses on the floor, the refrigerator was chained closed and the only bathroom in the residents was locked via a biometric lock only accessible to (the parents),' the report Fox 35 Orlando. Officials had previously revealed that Charlie was 'attracted to Christmas lights as well as bodies of water and was known to climb up trees' During a subsequent search of the boy's house in the 1400 block of Stillwater Avenue as a part of the investigation, officers noted that the property was 'in a state of disarray' When asked why the accident happened, the Sheriff said during the conference: 'Here we are, again, a week later, and a little boy has drowned. An autistic child has drowned. And I don't have the answers or any of us have the answers on how we prevent this from happening to another family' Officials then notified Florida's Department of Child and Families - who after careful evaluation deemed the home as unsafe for the other two children, believed to also be on the autism spectrum. When asked why the accident happened, the Sheriff said during the conference: 'Here we are, again, a week later, and a little boy has drowned. An autistic child has drowned. And I don't have the answers or any of us have the answers on how we prevent this from happening to another family.' He also revealed that his agency is working with Halifax Health Medical Center, Easter Seals and the DCF to identify families with autistic children and offer them help. '(We have to) figure out a way to get them technology and try to introduce these kids to water because it's a well-known fact that autistic kids love water and they are going to head to water,' Chitwood said. No charges have yet been pressed in connection to Charlie's disappearance, death, or connected to the alleged conditions of the home. It remains unclear if the other two children of the couple are still living in the 'unsafe' house. Optimism about the UK economy has plummeted to levels last seen during start of the Covid pandemic following Labour's tax hiking Budget and a summer of talking down the nation's finances. In a fresh blow to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, a new survey has revealed that business confidence in November was at its lowest level since April 2020 - just weeks after the first lockdown was announced. More than 600 top bosses responded to the survey by the Institute of Directors (IOD), with many blaming the Chancellor's tax hiking Budget for their pessimism. The gloomy picture means the UK economy is now at risk of grinding to a halt, the IOD warned, as businesses plan to cut back investment. Anna Leach, chief economist at the IOD, said: 'As businesses absorb the Budget confidence has continued to plummet and is approaching the lows reached at the onset of the Covid pandemic. Optimism about the UK economy has plummeted to levels last seen at the start of the Covid pandemic following Labour 's tax-hiking Budget , according to a survey Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith said: 'The survey shows a catastrophic loss of business confidence under this government' 'Far from fixing the foundations, the Budget has undermined them, damaging the private sector's ability to invest in their businesses and their workforces.' The survey is yet another blow to Reeves who has come under heavy fire after she unveiled 40 billion of tax rises in October. Business support has ebbed as a result of concerns over Labour's workers' rights package, as well as an increase in the national minimum wage and higher employers' National Insurance payments. Reeves has countered that the Government needed to raise money to restore stability to public finances and repair public services. She has tried to ease business fears by saying she will not have to raise taxes on that scale again. But the IOD said that her rhetoric has damaged confidence, adding that the tax measures were unlikely to re-fill the public coffers. 'We are concerned that the combination of how inheritance tax and business property relief reforms will serve to undermine growth and ultimately the public finances too,' Leach added. The stinging verdict from the IOD follows that from the Confederation of British Industry last week - which warned that businesses could not afford to expand and take on new people. Andrew Griffith, shadow business secretary, said: 'The survey shows a catastrophic loss of business confidence under this government. 'Business leaders tend to have a natural optimism but the summer of trash-talking the economy, Labour's jobs tax and the trade-union inspired Employment Bill are knocking the stuffing out of their confidence. It is jobs and investment that will pay the price.' The IOD called on Reeves to strike a more upbeat tone and inject some positivity back into the economy. 'We urge the government to look for opportunities to ameliorate the negative impacts of the Budget and reposition the growth narrative more positively.' Results of the survey showed that confidence was recorded at minus 65 in November, down from minus 52 in October. The record low was minus 69 in April 2020. Billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart has issued a direct message to critics of president-elect Donald Trump during an outing in London. Mrs Rinehart was spotted carrying a silver clutch emblazoned with the words 'Trump, Truth' while heading into her hotel on Sunday. The bright purse was in contrast with the rest of the 70-year-old's black outfit, which she completed with a pair of red Valentino Soul sunglasses, worth over $1,000, and pearl accessories. Mrs Rinehart, who is Australia's richest person with an estimated net worth of more than $30billion, is a known supporter of Mr Trump. The Australian billionaire made headlines last month when she was spotted rubbing shoulders with Mr Trump's daughter as she mingled with friends and supporters of the US Republican presidential nominee at his election party at Mar-A-Lago. A beaming Mrs Rinehart posed with Tiffany Trump, Donald Trump's fourth child, at the purple-lit soiree held at his sprawling family home in Florida. Mrs Rinehart sported a wide-brimmed stockman's hat and proudly held a sign hanging from her shoulders quoting Mr Trump's pro-mining mantra, 'drill, baby drill'. The billionaire mining magnate was seated with the socialite founder of pro-Trump women's supporter group the Trumpettes, Toni Holt Kramer. Billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart has issued a direct message to critics of president-elect Donald Trump during an outing in London Mrs Rinehart has been a vocal supporter of the president-elect and last month attended his election party at Mar-A-Lago Ms Kramer boasted that she was sitting with 'Australia's biggest celebrity'. 'Gina Rinehart is here and she looks phenomenal in her Western Australian hat,' she told 7News. 'And Teena McQueen is here so we've got all of Australia's very very important people who love your country. 'We're sitting together, we're all been friends for seven or eight years. I would say Gina is to Australia what President Trump is to America, she wants to see nothing but good for your country. 'She wants to see everything that would make your country better and better and better. 'And she's the most devoted woman I know and always has been from the day that I met her.' Mrs Rinehart's bold fashion and political statement comes just shy of two weeks after the Albanese government rejected her push for a Trump-inspired unit to cut government waste in Australia. Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk will head the new Department of Government Efficiency for the incoming Trump administration, which Mrs Rinehart said 'was much needed in Australia too'. However, appearing on the Sunrise program, federal minister for Housing Clare O'Neil said ordinary Aussies should get a 'chill up their spine when we see a couple of billionaires getting to talk about efficiencies in government services'. 'What that really translates to for your viewers is drastic cuts to essential services like health, education, and other services that we ordinary Australians rely on,' Ms O'Neil told Nat Barr on her Sunrise show. Mrs Rinehart completed her outfit with a pair of red Valentino Soul sunglasses, worth over $1,000, and pearl accessories Mrs Rinehart is richest person with an estimated net worth of over $30billion and is a vocal supporter of Trump 'This has no relevance to Australia. 'The government does some incredibly important things. It looks after our sick children in hospital, it educates our children, it pays for aged care for Australians,' Ms O'Neil replied. 'These are abstract things to billionaires who can pay their own way, but for ordinary people, these are meaningful and important things in their lives.' Her statement followed a report released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics which stated 26,000 public servants had been added to the bureaucracy since the Albanese Government took power in 2022. With more than half that increase being new positions in Canberra the wage bill had spiked by 23 per cent in the national capital. Overall public sector wages were $37billion a year, which was up from $32.5billion in June 2022, with a total workforce of 365,400. The report said 15,100 commonwealth public service jobs were added in 2023-24 after 11,000 job were created in the first year of the Albanese government. Ukraine's offer to sacrifice land to Russia is 'a major concession' to satisfy Donald Trump, a top UK diplomat said yesterday. Sir Tony Brenton, former UK ambassador to Russia, said president Volodymyr Zelensky was 'playing a very sophisticated game' in calling for Ukrainian-controlled territories to come under the Nato umbrella. 'He knows that Donald Trump is about to descend on him and on Russia,' Sir Tony said. 'He is already arranging to have something to offer Trump on Trump's mission to bring the war to an end. 'What he is suggesting in many ways is bringing us much closer to the obvious target area, which is a freeze in the fighting where the lines actually currently are and then an eventual negotiation about who retains which bit of territory, and then security guarantees for Ukraine in the course of that ceasefire.' The ex-ambassador told Sky News that Zelensky had made 'quite a major concession' in stating he is prepared to see a ceasefire and then negotiate the return of Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine over the long term. But he said Moscow may regard his offer in a different light to the incoming US president. 'Putin will see this as a concession by Zelensky,' said Sir Tony, who served in Moscow for four years to 2008. He will say to himself, 'Ah, they are feeling weak, I can press for more'. That is a danger as we go into this.' Zelensky's remarks on Friday signalled a possible way forward for Ukraine to join Nato. At a summit in Washington in July, the 32 members of the alliance declared Ukraine to be on an 'irreversible path' to membership. Zelensky's offer to sacrifice land to Russia is a 'major concession', a top diplomat has said Sir Tony Benton said president Zelensky was 'playing a very sophisticated game' in calling for Ukrainian-controlled territories to come under the Nato umbrella Volodymyr Zelensky with US President-elect Donald Trump in New Y September But one obstacle has been the view that Ukraine's borders would need to be clearly demarcated before it could join, so that there could be no mistaking where Nato's pact of mutual defence would come into effect. 'If we want to stop the hot stage of the war, we should take under the Nato umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control,' president Zelensky said. 'That's what we need to do, fast. 'And then Ukraine can get back the other part of its territory diplomatically.' Any decision for Ukraine to join the military alliance would require the agreement of all member states. After helping to bankroll Donald Trump's crushing 2024 election victory, rumours are now flying that Elon Musk could donate $100m as a 'f*** you Starmer payment' to help make Nigel Farage the next UK Prime Minister. Musk has already vocally expressed his distaste for the Labour leader, branding him 'two-tier Kier' over claims that UK police treat some groups more harshly than others, and even suggesting that Sir Keir was setting up detainment camps in the Falkland Islands for rioters, which he was later forced to retract. His political action committee America Pac spent more than $200m to help ensure a Trump win, including a $1m-a-day giveaway lottery in the marginal state of Pennsylvania. Now The Times has reported that senior Conservative figures and business leaders beliee there is a real possibilty of Musk making a huge donation to Farage. And writing on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), he appeared to endorse his friend Nigel Farage's Reform Party. After an account called Inevitable West posted 'BREAKING: Former Tory minister Andrea Jenkins has joined Reform UK. Reform will win the next election,' the billionaire tycoon reposted it, simply adding Yes'. Dame Andrea Jenkyns became the MP for Morley and Outwood in West Yorkshire at the 2015 general election and served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Skills before losing her seat in Labour's 2024 landslide victory. Musk's reposted the tweet to his 206 million followers and it was subsequently liked 159,000 times. On Saturday evening, Farage said he was unsure if Musk was planning to donate any money to Reform but the pair were in frequent contact and were good friends. Elon Musk appeared to endorse Nigel Farage's Reform Party with this post on his X platform - the two are known to be friends Elon Musk's America PAC donated $200m towards Trump's reelection and the pair have been joined at the hip in recent months - and the Tesla CEO is known to be friends with the Reform leader Nigel Farage speaking in Parliament after getting elected as an MP on his eighth attempt Farage claps jubilantly while in attendance at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania on the night of the 2024 US election Why was the worlds richest man @elonmusk not invited to Labours UK investment summit? pic.twitter.com/yJvW4RerJn Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) October 15, 2024 All I can say is that Im in touch with him and he is very supportive of my policy positions, Farage told The Times. We both share a friendship with Donald Trump and Trump has said good things about me in front of Musk. Weve got a good relationship with him. Given the depths of the Tesla CEO's pockets, Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch must be dearly hoping that reports are simply 'fake news,' as US President Donald Trump might say. But leading business officials and Conservative Party bigwigs believe there is a genuine possibility that the the worlds richest man could be about to make a mega $100m donation to Reform which would transform British politics. Such a move could turn Reform into the second party of British politics before new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has had time to establish her party's new identity. Donations from foreign individuals are illegal under UK election law, so if Musk to donate it would likely need to be through the British arm of his social media giant X. President Donald Trump's former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon has also thrown his support behind Mr Farage. A close supporter of Farage said: Elon admires Farage and wants him to succeed. A heartbroken mother has shared the 'nightmare' 16-hour journey she took to be by the bedside of her daughter, who had been poisoned by methanol at a hostel in Laos, before having to switch off her life support. Sue White took two flights to be with her daughter Simone White, one of the six foreign tourists who died of methanol poisoning while staying at Nana Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos. The body of the 28-year-old solicitor, who lived in southeast London, will be repatriated to the UK this weekend ahead of a funeral. Just nine days after Simone and her friends drank vodka shots served in the hostel, Mrs White turned off her ventilator at a private hospital in Laos on November 21. Speaking to the Sunday Times, Mrs White has said she wants to warn people planning to travel about being cautious around what they drink. 'Please be careful when it comes to drinks', she said. 'Simone was a university-educated, highly intelligent person. If it can happen to her, it can happen to anybody'. The 61-year-old told the newspaper of the 'horrendous' flight she had to endure from the UK to Bangkok, Thailand, before which she had been told her daughter needed 'urgent brain surgery' for which she had to give consent. 'I had to go through the whole flight thinking she was going through brain surgery', she said. 'It was a terrible, terrible journey'. And when she finally arrived at the hospital, Simone was being wheeled from the intensive care unit into theatre, which Mrs White said was 'horrendous'. 'It was the worst experience of my life', she said. 'There are no words, really'. The body of the 28-year-old solicitor, who lived in southeast London , will be repatriated to the UK this weekend ahead of a funeral Sue White took two flights to be with her daughter Simone, one of the six foreign tourists who died of methanol poisoning while staying at Nana Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos. Early testing indicated methanol was present in beer and spirits served at the Nana Backpacker Hostel (pictured) Simone had checked into the Nana Backpackers Hostel on November 11, where she was staying with friends. Mrs White said the group booked the hostel as it had five-star reviews. She said the group went out on their second night of their trip, during which time they drank six shots. 'They all felt fine', Mrs White said. 'They didn't taste or smell anything out of the ordinary with the drinks'. But when they checked out of the hostel the next day, all three had a headache, which they attributed to drinking the previous night, but they all began getting increasingly unwell as the day went on. They headed to a public hospital where they were diagnosed with food poisoning. Later that day, the group hired a chauffeur-driven minibus to take them from the local hospital, where staff wanted to know if their treatment would be covered under health insurance, to the private Kasemrad International Hospital. Mrs White received a message from one of Simone's friends the following day informing her they were in hospital and had suspected acidosis, a condition where there is a build up of acid in the body's fluids. The message read that Simone was 'the worst affected' out of the group. Mrs White said she was not 'unduly' worried at first but then the methanol poisoning began to impact Simone's brain. 'She was getting quite distressed, refusing treatment and pulling out the cannula', Mrs White said. The town is a popular spot for young backpackers, especially those on a gap year or in their early 20s It comes after multiple staff from the hostel have been arrested by police The following day, Simone's friend contacted Mrs White and advised her to get to the hospital. She arrived on Sunday morning, just as Simone was taken in for an operation, delayed until then as she needed blood transfusions. Simone died on November 21. 'It was so unfortunate', Mrs White said. 'It just affected Simone so much more than the other two. The doctor was saying it was how people's metabolisms can break down methanol differently and unfortunately it has just gone straight to Simone's brain'. 'She had everything going for her', she added. 'She had crammed so much into her life. She wasn't a novice going to a new country. 'That's our only consolation, really: that at least she died doing something she loved'. It comes after multiple staff from the hostel have been arrested by police. Eight men aged 23-47, are in custody following arrests by police on Monday, a local news site reported. All of those detained by Vang Vieng police are believed to be Vietnamese nationals. Melbourne teenagers Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both aged 19, were among six foreign tourists who died last week after falling ill while staying at the hostel. The best friends were evacuated to separate hospitals in Thailand on November 13. Melbourne teenager Bianca Jones (pictured) died after a suspected mass methanol poisoning in Laos Eight staff from the Nana Backpacker Hostel, where Melbourne teenager Holly Bowles (above) died after drinking a contaminated beverage, were arrested on Monday Ms Jones died surrounded by loved ones in Udon Thani hospital last Thursday before Ms Bowles died in nearby Bangkok Hospital the next day. Their bodies were onboard a repatriation flight home to Australia on Tuesday night, with their parents also on the same flight. Two Danish women Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Frela Vennervald Sorensen, 21, and US man James Louis Hutson, 57, also died from after drinking contaminated drinks. Local reports suggest another 12 foreign tourists were hospitalised after drinking at the Nana Backpacker Hostel. Early testing indicated methanol was present in beer and spirits at the venue. It's understood some guests staying there were given free shots at the hostel bar on November 11, before a number of backpackers, including Bowles and Jones, continued onto other bars before falling ill the following day. Nana Backpackers has since been shut down while the investigation into the deaths continues. Those arrested included a 'Mr Yeungvanhoun, 34, Mr Hongieng Manhoung, 38, Mr Bouyvandat 35, Mr Jikkauk, 23, Mr Yeungduktoun 47, Mr Hngiengsuieng, 28, Guang Chung 44, along with an eighth man, 42, Lao Phatthana News reported. Those arrested included general staff and managers. There is no suggestion that those detained are responsible for the tourists' deaths. Despite six deaths being linked to methanol poisoning, police only referred to three deaths in their official statement. The report did not include the Australian teenagers or the British victim Ms White. 'The initial cause of the death of the number of tourists is expected because of drinking poisonous drinks and other problems caused three deaths,' the report said. 'Investigation Unit is still in the process of co-ordinating with ministries, departments, agencies and relevant stakeholders to collect data and collect samples to find out unidentified information on deaths of foreign tourists this time to be clarified quickly on the basis of inspection, verifying the results of scientific research.' A Syrian rebel leader may have been killed in a Russian airstrike on a terrorist hideout after his forces seized Aleppo in a shock offensive, local media has reported. Abu Mohammad al-Julani, the current commander-in-chief of the Hay'at Tahrir al-Shamgroup, is understood to have been inside the building at the time of the attack. Syrian newspaper Al-Watan reported that a tight security cordon has reportedly been place around the organisation's headquarters - but whether Al-Julani's has been killed or not is yet to be confirmed. The terrorist is one of the most prominent leaders of the armed factions that have been engaged in battles with the Syrian army and he has a 7.9m bounty on his head. It comes after President Assad's forces warned in a statement on Saturday that they had redeployed and were planning a counterattack. Meanwhile, Israel is said to be preparing for a scenario where it would need to act if the situation deteriorates. Intelligence chiefs have reportedly told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 'the collapse of the Assad regime would likely create chaos in which military threats against Israel would develop.' Al Qaeda-linked rebels advanced south towards Damascus on Saturday, a day after they captured Aleppo with little resistance from government troops. Abu Mohammad al-Julani (pictured), the current commander-in-chief of the Hay'at Tahrir al-Shamgroup, may have been killed in an airstrike The death of Al-Julani (centre) is yet to be confirmed but the strike has been reported in local media An anti-government fighter tears down a portrait of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in Aleppo, after jihadists and their allies entered the northern Syrian city, on November 30 Syrian opposition fighters get on a motorcycle as opposition supporters stand on top of a captured army armoured vehicle in the town of Maarat al-Numan The insurgents seized Aleppo airport and dozens of nearby towns on Saturday after overrunning most of the city, a war monitor said. Damascus-ally Moscow responded with its first air strikes on Aleppo since 2016 as the jihadists and their Turkish-backed allies pressed a lightning offensive they launched on Wednesday as a ceasefire took effect in neighbouring Lebanon. The rebels are understood to be moving towards Damascus, with unconfirmed reports of shootings in the outskirts of the city, as rumours of a coup on al-Assad's regime swirling. The swift and surprise offensive is a huge embarrassment for Syria's President Bashar Assad and raised questions about his armed forces' preparedness. The insurgent offensive launched from their stronghold in the country's northwest appeared to have been planned for years. Lieutenant General Sergey Kisel, who commands the Russian forces in Syria, has allegedly been removed from his post following the rebel storm on Aleppo. 'What you find is that whenever things start to go wrong, they will start to round on the leaders and start the blame game,' Colonel Philip Ingram, a former British Army intelligence officer, told MailOnline. 'One of the indications of it going very badly wrong is whenever you get reports coming out of generals being sacked. If this shows how concerned Putin is with everything, it's quite clear that the Syrians and Russians that are backing them have been caught off guard.' He added: 'It is a typical response from dictatorships to deny that there's any problem that's going on when the complete opposite is out in the public domain. Again, it suggests that things for the Assad regime are in a very bad position.' The fighting has killed at least 327 people, most of them combatants but also including 44 civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 'Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied factions... took control of most of the city and government centres and prisons without meeting great resistance,' the UK-based war monitor said. They also overran Aleppo airport after government forces withdrew, and took control of 'dozens of strategic towns without any resistance', it added. Syrian opposition fighters gather at Saadallah al-Jabiri Square, after rebels opposed to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad said they had reached the heart of Aleppo, Syria, November 30 Opposition fighters patrol the streets after they took control of the city of Maarat al-Numan where the international road M5 passes through it, in Maarat al-Numan, Syria The video shows how insurgents manage to yank at the statue by tying it to rope that is attached to a moving truck Opposition fighters patrol the streets after they took control of the city of Maarat al-Numan The bodies of Syrian army soldiers and allied fighters lie next to an Syrian army vehicle after being allegedly killed in combat by opposition fighters in Aleppo, Syria Who was Bassel al-Assad? Bassel al-Assad was the first-born son of former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad and the older brother of current president Bashar. He was expected to succeed his father as Syrian leader but he died in a January 1994 car crash in Damascus. Due to his sudden death, his lesser-known brother Bashar, who was training as an ophthalmologist in London, assumed the mantle of president-in-waiting. He then officially became president in 2000 following the death of his father. Advertisement Putin-ally Bashar al-Assad is said to have fled to Russia with his wife and children earlier this week, according to unconfirmed rumours. 'What we will definitely see [in the next couple of days] is an increase in attacks against Aleppo and other areas where the Russians and Assad's forces believe that the rebels are holed up, but they'll be indiscriminate attacks, so there'll be a large number of civilians caught up in this,' Colonel Ingram said. 'The next couple days will tell us where the momentum lies, whether there is a coup. 'Certainly the speed with which everything is happening and the fact that the Russians and Assad forces have been caught effectively [off guard] suggests that this is not going to be a good outcome for Assad, who is in Moscow with his family. Maybe he thought he knew that this was coming so kind of tried to take himself and leave everyone else.' He added: 'This is almost the perfect moment for the rebel forces to attack into Assad. Russia is suffering. Hezbollah, in many cases, are suffering after what Israel has done. 'Therefore they're pretending, their ability to conjure the attack by the rebels is have been hugely diminished.' Colonel Ingram called the rebel attack on Aleppo a 'significant move', especially considering that 'there's been very, very little moving on the front line for the last eight years', but said it was 'too early to tell' whether it meant the end for Assad's regime. 'What we're seeing at the moment is an impact caused by Hezbollah not being as strong as they were beforehand, and Russia being distracted, but the indications are that Assad's regime is under significant pressure, and there's been reports that they are advancing on Damascus now as well. Their advance is rapid,' he said. It comes after the Islamist insurgents in Syria were seen toppling a statue of Bashar al-Assad's brother after they stormed Aleppo. Insurgents were filmed outside police headquarters, in the city center, and outside the Aleppo Citadel. They tore down posters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, stepping on some and burning others. In footage posted to X, rebels can be seen tearing down the statue of the president's brother Bassel al-Assad, who died in a car crash in 1994. The video shows how insurgents manage to yank at the statue by tying it to rope that is attached to a moving truck. As the figure topples over and smashes onto the hard floor, rebels can be heard cheering and chanting as they fire gunshots into the air. Cars driving by join in on the celebration as they honk their horns. Other videos documenting the rebellion have been shared online too. One clip shows how men dressed in camouflage uniforms holding weapons pull down the Syrian flag from a monument in Aleppo. The surprise takeover is a huge embarrassment for al-Assad, who managed to regain total control of the city in 2016, after expelling rebels and thousands of civilians from its eastern neighborhoods following a grueling military campaign in which his forces were backed by Russia, Iran and its allied groups. Aleppo has not been attacked by opposition forces since then. The 2016 battle for Aleppo was a turning point in the war between Syrian government forces and rebel fighters after 2011 protests against al-Assad's rule turned into an all-out war. Edmund Fitton-Brown, former British ambassador to Yemen, said that A number of armed opposition groups are involved in the attack on Aleppo but Abu Muhammad Al-Jawlani and HTS/the Al-Nusrah Front are the key players'. 'They have consolidated their power in other areas of NW Syria and have the resources and strategic awareness to take advantage of Assad's depleted support,' Fitton-Brown added. 'Jawlani is trying to sound statesmanlike and magnanimous towards the defenders of Aleppo. 'He will have half an eye on not alienating Turkey, which has its own interests in the region and helped broker the uneasy status quo that existed from 2020 until the current offensive.' Fitton-Brown said that his former colleagues at the UN monitoring team for the Taliban 'have consistently argued that Assad would never be able to get the genie back in the bottle and that the majority who oppose him would eventually resurge.' 'This is why ISIS and AQ affiliated groups have stayed, regardless of how many have been arrested or killed.' Syrian opposition supporters stand atop a captured Syrian army tank in the town of Maarat al-Numan, southwest from Aleppo, Syria Footage captured the dramatic moment Islamist rebels in Syria toppled a statue of President Bashar al-Assad's brother as they stormed Aleppo Rebel forces have been advancing in Aleppo amid reports that they have taken control over most of the city Anti-government fighters prepare to topple the equestrian statue of Bassel-al-Assad, the eldest son of late Syrian president Hafez al-Assad, who was killed in a car crash in 1994 Anti-government fighters celebrate in a street in Maaret al-Numan in Syria's northwestern Idlib province on November 30 Anti-government fighters celebrate in Aleppo, after jihadists and their allies entered the northern Syrian city An anti-government fighter raises an opposition flag in front of the landmark citadel of Aleppo Smoke rises from the area following an airstrike on Aleppo, Syria on November 30 A general view of the destruction following an airstrike on Aleppo, which the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says was launched by Russia Members of the armed group opposing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime perform Islamic prayer at Aleppo Castle after they seized control of much of Aleppo's city center in Syria Anti-government fighters kneel to pray in a street in Aleppo, after jihadists and their allies entered the northern Syrian city The bodies of Syrian army soldiers and allied fighters are collected by opposition fighters in body bags after being allegedly killed earlier in combat by opposition fighters in Aleppo, Syria It alleged coup comes at a time when Assad's allies were preoccupied with their own conflicts. Turkey, a main backer of Syrian opposition groups, said its diplomatic efforts had failed to stop government attacks on opposition-held areas in recent weeks, which were in violation of a de-escalation agreement sponsored by Russia, Iran and Ankara. Turkish security officials said a limited offensive by the rebels was planned to stop government attacks and allow civilians to return, but the offensive expanded as Syrian government forces began to retreat from their positions. The insurgents, led by the Salafi jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and including Turkey-backed fighters, launched their shock offensive on Wednesday. They first staged a two-pronged attack in Aleppo and the Idlib countryside, entering Aleppo two days later and securing a strategic town that lies on the highway that links Syria's largest city to the capital and the coast. By Saturday evening, they seized at least four towns in the central Hama province and claimed to have entered the provincial capital. The insurgents staged an attempt to reclaim areas they controlled in Hama in 2017 but failed. The push into Aleppo followed weeks of simmering low-level violence, including government attacks on opposition-held areas. Turkey, which has backed Syrian opposition groups, failed in its diplomatic efforts to prevent the Syrian government attacks, which were seen as a violation of a 2019 agreement sponsored by Russia, Turkey and Iran to freeze the line of the conflict. Mustafa Abdul Jaber, a commander in the Jaish al-Izza rebel brigade, said their speedy advance had been helped by a lack of Iran-backed manpower to support the government in the broader Aleppo province. Anti-government fighters brandish their guns as they ride a vehicle in Syria's northern city of Aleppo Image shows the destruction caused following an airstrike on Aleppo A Syrian opposition fighter takes a picture of a comrade stepping on a portrait of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Aleppo, early Saturday Who are the rebels seizing control of Aleppo? On Saturday, Syrian rebels had taken control of large parts of the city of Aleppo. The offensive is being led by Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which has long been involved in the ongoing Syrian conflict. The group was set up in 2011 under a different name, Jabhat al-Nusra, as a direct affiliate of Al Qaeda. In 2016 it broke its linke with the jihadist groups and became HTS. The rebel group is considered one of the deadliest organisations going against President al-Assad. Advertisement Iran's allies in the region have suffered a series of blows at the hands of Israel as the Gaza war has expanded through the Middle East. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, in a phone call with his Syrian counterpart on Friday, accused the United States and Israel of being behind the insurgent attack. The opposition fighters have said the campaign was in response to stepped-up strikes in recent weeks against civilians by the Russian and Syrian air forces on areas of Idlib province, and to preempt any attacks by the Syrian army. Opposition sources in touch with Turkish intelligence said Turkey, which supports the rebels, had given a green light to the offensive. Turkey's foreign ministry said on Friday that the clashes between rebels and government forces had resulted in an undesirable escalation of tensions. Meanwhile, a Syrian war monitor said today that rebels had seized Aleppo's civilian airport - the first time they have taken such a facility - along with key towns in Idlib and Hama provinces as they waged a dayslong offensive. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and allied factions 'took control of the Aleppo international airport' on the city's southeastern outskirts after government forces withdrew, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, adding that rebels also advanced in Hama and Idlib provinces, taking control of 'dozens of strategic towns without any resistance'. The offensive came as Iran-linked groups, primarily Lebanon's Hezbollah, which has backed Syrian government forces since 2015, have been preoccupied with their own battles at home. A ceasefire in Hezbollah's two-month war with Israel took effect Wednesday, the day the Syrian opposition factions announced their offensive. Israel has also escalated its attacks against Hezbollah and Iran-linked targets in Syria during the last 70 days. Witnesses said two airstrikes on the city's edge late Friday targeted insurgent reinforcements and hit near residential areas. A war monitor said 20 fighters were killed. More than 300 people have been killed since fighting broke out on Wednesday, according to a war monitor. It comes as the Syrian army said today said that dozens of its soldiers had been killed in a major attack by rebels. Russia has launched air strikes on part of Aleppo in response - the first since 2016 - according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The surprise rebel offensive has put the 13-year-long Syrian war back into the spotlight. The conflict has killed an estimated half-million people, while some 6.8 million Syrians have fled the country, a refugee flow that helped change the political map in Europe by fueling anti-immigrant far-right movements. The roughly 30% of the country not under al-Assad is controlled by a range of opposition forces and foreign troops. The U.S. has about 900 troops in northeast Syria, far from Aleppo, to guard against a resurgence by the Islamic State. Both the U.S. and Israel conduct occasional strikes in Syria against government forces and Iran-allied militias. Turkey has forces in Syria as well, and has influence with the broad alliance of opposition forces storming Aleppo. Coming after years with few sizeable changes in territory between Syria's warring parties, the fighting 'has the potential to be really quite, quite consequential and potentially game-changing,' if Syrian government forces prove unable to hold their ground, said Charles Lister, a longtime Syria analyst with the U.S.-based Middle East Institute. A group of Sydney school-leavers have been left nursing more than sore heads after a wild party at their beachfront rental ended when a balcony came crashing down in a horror incident shortly before midnight. Neighbours said about 40 teens had been crammed onto a small balcony of the groups getaway overlooking the ocean, in the seaside resort of Vincentia, on the NSW south coast, when it suddenly collapsed about 11.30pm on Saturday. Emergency services were dispatched to the scene with four of the young teen partygoers - three girls and a boy treated by paramedics at the scene after suffering injuries in the fall before being taken to hospital. Shocked locals said they were relieved no one had been killed or seriously maimed in the horror collapse that upended the party and left the teens tumbling into a chaotic mass on the rental's backyard. The group had initially been booked in to stay at the sprawling three-bedroom property for an end-of-year blowout as part of their Schoolies celebrations, but many were leaving early on Sunday as their parents descended on the scene. We could hear the music pumping and then all of a sudden all hell broke loose,' one neighbour told Daily Mail Australia. 'It was like "boom! you could hear it crashing down and the screaming - next thing you know there are sirens blaring and the whole scene it lit up. Its just lucky no one was seriously hurt. I dont know who will have to pay for the damage. A group of teens survey the damage after their wild house party ended in disaster at the weekend About 40 teams were partying on their rental's balcony when it gave way about 11.30pm Saturday The teens were still cleaning up the scene about at lunchtime on Sunday as their parents began to arrive to inspect the damage 'I imagine they have liability insurance given its a rental, but who knows how that will play out.' A trio of teens staying at the property, about a two-and-a-half hour drive south of Sydney, greeted Daily Mail Australia with sheepish grins as they went about cleaning up the house following the bash. Were from western Sydney and have been down here unwinding after the end of school, one said. I wouldnt call last night a wild party but it had been a good one - right until the balcony broke. They were soon shuffled back inside by their parents, who were helping them handle the fallout from the shocking incident. Outside, the propertys beachfront lawn was littered with beer bottles from the night before, as a group of teens were still surveying the extensive damage and sharing stories about the collapse at lunch time, even as others packed their bags and headed off. Neighbours said the collection of recently graduated schoolkids had been polite and respectful throughout their stay and had even invited the entire street to their party. Known as Seaside Reflections, the home is located on Elizabeth Drive in Vincentia, along a stretch of road filled with vacation rentals, just south of Huskisson. Teens at the house told Daily Mail Australia they were staying in the seaside resort of Vincentia, on the NSW south coast, after graduating from school in western Sydney As some kids began to leave on Sunday, others stayed and shared stories about the collapse An online listing notes the split-level beachfront home overlooking Collingwood Beach offers sun, surf and water views and comfortably sleeps eight people for $280 a night. It boasts that the property offers 'spectacular views of Jervis Bay' and the master bedroom has a 'private balcony with stair access to the backyard/beach'. Many of the properties directly adjacent to the home were still sitting vacant on the weekend, with locals noting the busy tourist season does not usually kick into gear until closer to Christmas. Longtime resident Ben McKenzie, who lives just across the road, said he had helped the teens inspect the damage on Sunday morning, and described the group as a great bunch of kids. Most of the homes in the street are still empty at this time of year, but they still went door to door and let everyone know that they would be having a party, he said. They didnt kick off until later in the night because I think they had all gone out to dinner at the pub. They let everyone know they would be playing some music and invited everyone to come have a drink if they wanted to its certainly not like they were carrying on or partying from six oclock or anything. They said theyd have the music off by midnight but they didnt even get the chance to keep going that long because by about 11.30pm, when they were all out on the balcony, the bloody thing collapsed.' Dozens of teenagers were partying at a three-bedroom rental property in Vincentia, 200km south of Sydney, on Saturday night when a small balcony off the upstairs master bedroom gave way Emergency services raced to the property, where they discovered 40 people had been on the balcony (pictured) when it collapsed Mr McKenzie said he felt 'sorry for them' and they appeared to be a 'great group of kids' celebrating the end of their school years. 'It must have been a shock. I especially feel for the young ones who got injured,' he said. 'They told me one of them had broken their ankle, another had dislocated their shoulder and a couple of others were left with abrasions. Another neighbour, three doors up, was not aware of the incident when approached by Daily Mail Australia as they had brunch on their deck on Sunday, saying the music had not been loud enough to rouse them from their sleep. They said they were glad no one was seriously harmed, but questioned whether the propertys owners were aware their place would be hosting an end-of-year bash for more than 40 teens. One of the partygoers was spotted limping around the home as parents travelled to and from the rental on Sunday morning and helped their children pack. Police confirmed a number of teens had suffered leg and back injuries and were rushed to hospital. 'About 11.30pm on Saturday 30 November 2024, emergency services were called to a house on Elizabeth Drive at Vincentia, following reports of a balcony collapse,' a spokesperson for NSW Police said. 'Officers from South Coast Police District were told approximately 40 people all aged in their teens - were on the balcony when it collapsed. 'Four people three females and one male - were injured and were treated at the scene by Ambulance Paramedics for minor injuries and taken to hospital for further treatment.' Anthony Albanese has set aside criticism from Elon Musk who opposed the Australian government's social media ban for under 16s. The prime minister told ABC's Insiders he was willing to talk to anyone about the ban and how it will be implemented, but added that parliament had strongly supported it. 'Well talk to anyone,' he said on Sunday. 'But with regard to Elon Musk, he has an agenda, hes entitled to push that as the owner of X, formerly known as Twitter. 'But we are determined to get this done. The parliament has overwhelmingly passed this legislation and its the right thing to do.' Musk, whose social media platform X will be affected by the ban, had previously described the move as a 'backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians'. The ban will apply to children under the age of 16 and prevent them from using social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Facebook in a world first. Social media companies will have to comply by managing and implementing the ban - and can face whopping fines up to $50 million if they don't. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) hit back at Elon Musk, saying his criticisms of Australia's new social media ban for under 16s was because 'he has an agenda' Mr Albanese said he wants Australian children to 'have a childhood' where they can 'engage with each other'. It's not the first time Mr Albanese and Musk have spoken out about their differing views. In September, Musk doubled down on calling the Australian government 'facists' as he put down Labor's proposed misinformation crackdown. The misinformation bill has since been scrapped after it failed to gain support with communications minister Michelle Rowland making the announcement last Sunday. The Prime Minister hit back at the tech billionaire's 'fascist' dig by saying social media companies had a social responsibility. 'If Mr Musk doesn't understand that, that says more about him than it does about my government,' he said. The new legislation that bans under 16s from social media, was passed on Thursday night and will commence by the end of 2025. The bill passed the Senate by 34 votes to 19 on the final parliament sitting day for 2024. It will return to the House of Representatives - where Mr Albanese's government has a majority. The new laws are regarded as the strictest in the world. Communications minister Michelle Rowland said the age limit would keep children and teenagers safe online. 'We know parents are concerned about the harms to children and we have taken a decision to support them,' she told parliament. 'Keeping Australians safe online requires decisive action and the Albanese government is delivering exactly that.' A young woman has posted a major update on her battle with brain cancer after she came down with the disease on the trip of a lifetime in Europe. Sydney woman Jenaya Shaw, 21, started feeling nauseous and wobbly while she was travelling around Italy and Greece. Suffering from headaches and losing sight in her left eye, Ms Shaw's case baffled doctors in Europe, but when she cut her trip short and flew home to Australia in August, medical staff discovered a grade three brain tumor. She went into intensive care and has since undergone three brain surgeries. Ms Shaw took to social media on Sunday to describe what she had been through. 'I dont know really where to start but I thought I would update everyone with whats happening,' she wrote. 'I just finished my 14th round of chemotherapy, I do this for 5 days every 28 days. 'The last two MRIs have shown shrinkage which is really good and it means the treatment is working. Jenaya was travelling through Europe when she started experiencing headaches, nausea and vision loss Ms Shaw posted an update on Sunday after spending months in hospital 'Because where the tumor is it effects my walking and balance, so Ive been doing intensive rehabilitation which is working. 'As I had a breathing tube down my throat for 5 weeks in ICU its effected my talking and swallowing. Ive been seeing a speech pathologist to help with that as well.' Ms Shaw added: 'This journey has been really tough, I lost my Aunty who was one of my biggest supporters, this has also shown me who my true friends are. 'Thank you for the support, I know I can beat this.' A friend created a GoFundMe to help Ms Shaw pay for treatment. It has since raised more than $50,000, surpassing an original goal of $35,000. 'Having already endured three invasive brain surgeries, Jenaya has been robbed of her youth and all the dreams and aspirations that accompany it,' campaign organiser Chelsea Ashe wrote. 'The weight of grief and confusion settles heavily upon her, for how could such a cruel fate befall such a vibrant and healthy young woman?' Her best friend, Christina Argi described Ms Shaw as the 'kindest (and) most amazing person I know,' and urged people to donate to the campaign. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston insisted he is 'not afraid' of being jailed over his staunch opposition to Donald Trump's mass deportation plans. The Democrat has been outspoken in his criticism of Trump and his new 'Border Czar' Tom Homan, who has directly threatened Johnston with jail time if he stands in their way. In an appearance on Monday with Fox News' Hannity, Homan said: 'Me and the Denver mayor, we agree on one thing; he's willing to go to jail. I'm willing to put him in jail.' Johnston has argued that the deportation plan is an inhumane solution to the migrant crisis, and described it to CNN this week as '10-year-old kids being taken out of class in handcuffs.' It was revealed last week in a new study that Denver has spent a staggering $356 million of taxpayer money on migrants in the city, amid growing resentment from residents who say the migrant crisis has crippled the city. The figure was revealed by the Common Sense Institute (CSI), finding that Johnston has spent the equivalent of $7,900 per migrant in his city. Denver's sanctuary city status has come under scrutiny amid the huge influx of migrants, which the CSI estimates has seen around 45,000 migrants arrive in the Colorado city since December 2022. Despite Johnston's insistence that he will stand in the way of deportations, he has already been forced to take drastic measures this year to grapple with the issue, including slashing $30 million in public services and contingency funds from taxpayer coffers. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston insisted he is 'not afraid' of being jailed over his staunch opposition to Donald Trump's mass deportation plans Denver has seen a staggering influx of over 45,000 migrants since December 2022 According to the new CSI study, first reported by Fox News, a significant fraction of the $356 million migrant bill comes from education. There are over 16,000 migrant children who have been enrolled in Denver's public school system in the past year alone. 'The total cost to Denver metro schools related to new migrant students is $228 million annually, which would equate to 1-2% of the total state K-12 education budget for the 2024-25 academic year,' the study found. 'Previous CSI reporting estimated the per-student cost of instruction and support in the Denver metro to be $14,100 per year. Assuming this cost across all recent migrant students totals $228 million.' Johnston has said he anticipates needing to make even more cuts to the city's budget, with the migrant bill accounting for eight percent of its $4.4 billion budget in 2025. The CSI study also found the huge migrant bill accounts for healthcare, childcare, transportation and hotel rooms for undocumented immigrants - with healthcare amounting to $49 million in uncompensated care. This comprised of 16,760 visits to emergency departments since December 2022, all of which was paid for by the taxpayers. The report also found 34.5% of the total has been spent on facilities including hotels, 29.4% on personnel, 14% on services, and 11% on food. Trump's incoming 'Border Czar' said last week that he and Johnston 'agree on one thing - he's willing to go to jail. I'm willing to put him in jail' A new study found that the migrant crisis will account for eight percent of Denver's $4.4 billion budget in 2025, with many residents saying it is crippling their city The crisis has created a public spat between Johnston and Homan, who delivered a three-word message to the Democrat and others like him that try and stand in the way of his deportation plan: 'Don't test us.' Speaking to Texas National Guard and Texas Department of Public Safety agents in Eagle Pass, Texas last week, Homan ensured them that Trump's plan will be moving forward. 'Let me be clear, there is going to be a mass deportation because we just finished a mass illegal immigration crisis on the border.' 'It's a felony to knowingly harbor concealed illegal anti-immigration authorities. The nation wants a safe country,' Homan added. In their ongoing war of words, Johnston said he is 'not afraid' of going to jail, and has compared his efforts the infamous 1989 Tiananmen Square protest in China. 'It's like the Tiananmen Square moment with the rose and the gun, right? You'd have every one of those Highland moms who came out for the migrants. And you do not want to mess with them,' Johnston said. A 12-year-old boy traveled almost 160 miles on a daring road trip in his grandfather's stolen car before cops tracked him down. The 12-year-old is alleged to have stolen a car the day before Thanksgiving. Police in Issaquah, near Seattle, alerted the Grant County Sheriff's Office about the missing Volkswagen hatchback which was only stopped hours later when the boy was finally apprehended in Grant County, Washington. 'For a 12-year-old to take a vehicle, and take it that far, we're happy we were able to stop him before he hurt himself or hurt somebody else,' said Kyle Foreman, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office said to USA Today. The boy is believed to have ties to Moses Lake, was thought to be heading there. To make the journey, he had to navigate Interstate 90, cross Snoqualmie Pass at an elevation of 3,000 feet, and deal with near-freezing temperatures, not to mention busy pre-Thanksgiving traffic. The National Weather Service had been reporting snow accumulation in the area, only adding to the dangerous nature of the route being taken by the young driver. Deputies located the vehicle just after 10am parked on Lowry Street in the Larson Community, a residential area near the former Larson Air Force Base. A schoolboy led deputies in Washington State on high-stakes car chase of almost 160 miles before he was finally taken into custody. Pictures, Interstate 90 through Snoqualmie Pass (Washington). The central mountain is Snoqualmie Peak. As deputies approached, the boy sped off, leading police on a brief but tense pursuit through residential streets. The chase ended near Randolph Road and State Route 17, in a more open area near the Grant County airport, when deputies executed a PIT maneuver, safely immobilizing the vehicle. The PIT maneuver is a police tactic where a pursuing police vehicle intentionally causes a fleeing car to spin out and stop safely. 'The area is marked by curved streets, so the boy didn't get a lot of speed,' Foreman explained. 'When the road opened up, deputies acted quickly to prevent any further danger.' The boy was unharmed in the maneuver and taken into custody without incident. He was booked into the Chelan County Juvenile Justice Center on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle and felony eluding. 'It's remarkable that this situation didn't end in tragedy. The quick actions of law enforcement ensured the safety of the boy and the community,' Foreman said. A Massachusetts man allegedly killed his 80-year-old roommate over an argument while preparing their Thanksgiving meal. Richard Lombardi, 65, is accused of involuntary manslaughter after admitting to shoving his roommate Frank Griswold, 80, because he was standing too close to their food in the kitchen. Lombardi called 911 to their home in Marshfield, Massachusetts on Wednesday, where police said they found Griswold laying unconscious in a pool of blood. The alleged killer told police that his elderly roommate was prone to sneezing, and had warned him not to go near to the food as he was preparing it. He said he even drew a physical barrier using salt and pepper, but when Griswold crossed the threshold, Lombardi said he lost his temper and grabbed the pensioner by the collar. He then 'threw (Griswold) to the right, tossing him over the side', prosecutor Joseph Presley said at Lombardi's first court appearance Thursday. 'The defendant did surmise that Mr. Griswolds feet got tangled up and that he fell and hit his head on the floor,' Presley said. Lombardi's attorney said the two men had been friends since the 1990s and lived together since 2001. He said his client was 'devastated' when he found out Griswold had died, and was only told the next morning. Richard Lombardi, 65, is accused of involuntary manslaughter after admitting to shoving his roommate Frank Griswold, 80, over an argument about preparing their Thanksgiving meal Lombardi was charged by the Plymouth County District Attorneys Office with involuntary manslaughter and assault and battery on a person over the age of 60 causing serious injury. He claimed that Griswold's death was an accident, and said it came after the two had an argument earlier in the day about their Thanksgiving preparations. Lombardi revealed to detectives that they argued over Griswold's habit of sneezing, and told his longtime roommate that he didn't want him to 'contaminate' the food ordered him to stay out of the kitchen, court records said. After leaving a salt barrier the 80-year-old was not to cross, Lombardi said he left the kitchen and returned later to find Griswold washing dishes. The sight of Griswold ignoring him and washing up right next to their food angered Lombardi, and he confessed to grabbing the elderly man and throwing him to the side. Court records noted that Griswold was found 'laying face-up on the floor in the kitchen in a pool of blood', and also had several cuts on his face. Presley added that it 'appeared that the victim had sustained a broken nose as well as an injury to his neck.' Lombardi's attorney said the two men had been friends since the 1990s and lived together since 2001 (their home in Marshfield, Massachusetts is pictured) Lombardi admitted to shoving his elderly roommate but claimed it was an accident, and his attorney said he has been left 'devastated' by the loss of his longtime friend and roommate Lombardi's attorney, Marshall Johnson, told the court at his first hearing: 'It sounds like an accident based on what the evidence was that was revealed in court.' 'What I heard and what I'm sure some of you heard in the courtroom was as close to an accident and nothing more as I have heard in a long time.' Lombardi has been left devastated by the death of his friend of over 30 years, Johnson said, adding that they first knew each other in the 1990s when they worked in finance at Charles River Management. He said Griswold previously served as the CIO of insurance firm John Hancock, but since the pandemic Lombardi had been helping him with most of his daily life. 'To the extent that friends care for each other, yes. I wouldn't say that he was a medical care proxy or personal care attendant, anything like that,' Johnson added. Johnson said police didn't even tell the 65-year-old Griswold had died. 'He's resigned,' Johnson told WBTS on Friday. 'Hes shocked because no one had told him that his friend had passed away until I told him this morning. So naturally thats had quite a devastating effect on him mentally.' Lombardi was held without bail, and his next court appearance was scheduled for December 4. A high school secretary and her husband were shot dead in a murder-suicide due to a 'domestic disturbance' that also left their 21-year-old daughter severely injured. Brandy Manville, 46, a Portage High School employee and her husband, Charles, 45, were found with gunshot wounds by deputies from the Portage Police Department on November 29. Police Chief Mike Candiano later confirmed that the couple's daughter Hayleigh, who had also been struck three times, was transported to a hospital for treatment of her injuries - which they believed to be life-threatening, according to The Chicago Tribune. At around 7.41pm, officers responded to 911 call made about a 'domestic disturbance' from a house in the 6300 block of Monument Avenue. The caller told dispatchers that her father was armed, intoxicated and throwing items inside the house. At that moment, 911 operators heard Charles yell in the background, 'everyone's going to die,' followed by gunfire. When the first responding deputies approached the property, they also heard several gunshots from inside the residence. 'A team of officers from several responding police agencies forced entry to the home, where they discovered Charles Manville, 45 years old, deceased inside the residence with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Brandy Manville, 46, a Portage High School employee and her husband, Charles, 45, were found with gunshot wounds by deputies from the Portage Police Department on November 29 Police Chief Mike Candiano later confirmed that the couple's daughter Hayleigh, who had also been struck three times, was transported to a hospital for treatment of her injuries - which they believed to be life-threatening 'A second victim, Brandy Manville, 46 years old, was found deceased inside the residence with apparent gunshot wound injuries. 'A third victim, a 21-year-old female, was found alive inside the residence with apparent gunshot wound injuries,' the Department wrote in Facebook post. The survivor was first transported by the Portage Fire Department medical personnel to a nearby hospital and then taken to a trauma center by a Lutheran Air medical helicopter. A day later, Mayor Austin Bonta clarified that the Hayleigh was 'alive and stable' and busted reports about her false death. 'The third victim of last night's domestic shooting is alive and stable. I'm not able able say much more at this time, but the police will have another update later today. Sharing this because there were some incorrect claims made by some people online last night that she had died. 'If you pray, please continue to pray for her and for the family, friends, and neighbors impacted,' he said in his Facebook post. Officials further confirmed that there were no other people inside the house and none of the officers discharged their weapons. The Department also reassured community members that the shooting was an 'isolated incident' and there is no mass safety threat. In a statement to the Portage High School community released on November 20, Portage Township Schools described Brandy as someone who 'always gave a welcoming smile to all visitors to the main office, offering many of our students a listening ear and words of encouragement each day' At around 7.41pm, officers responded at 911 call made about a 'domestic disturbance' made from a house in the 6300 block of Monument Avenue In a statement to the Portage High School community released on November 20, Portage Township Schools described Brandy as someone who 'always gave a welcoming smile to all visitors to the main office, offering many of our students a listening ear and words of encouragement each day. 'Our school community is deeply saddened and impacted by this tragedy as Mrs. Manville touched the lives of so many of our students and staff. Our hearts are with her family and everyone grieving this loss', according to The Chicago Tribune. High School Principal Michael Stills also spoke fondly about Brandy and told WGNTV: 'I have 2,200 kids. Almost everyone of them know who Mrs. Manville is, so as you might understand, its going to be whatever the kids need as much. As we preach education, it will be secondary this week.' A GoFundMe has since been launched by Brandy's best friend Olivia Chelich for both Hayleigh and her brother Ethan. 'There is so much I could say about Brandy. She was the absolute best mother in the world to her children. There was nothing in this world that meant more to her than Ethan and Hayleigh. Being a mother was her favorite job, and she was the best person for it. Her children always felt her love and knew they had her in their corner. 'Brandy was also the PHS secretary for over the last decade. She knew that school like the back of her hand. The children that passed in those hallways knew she was an advocate for them and none of them walked away from her hungry or without a smile on their face. A GoFundMe has since been launched by Brandy's best friend Olivia Chelich for both Hayleigh and her brother Ethan 'Brandy was the perfect person for her job and always had the office laughing with her no-nonsense attitude and infectious laugh. 'She would never want to be described as the person who lit up a room, but rather the person who would be in the corner ready for a well-timed and hilariously inappropriate one-liner. 'Unfortunately, Brandy was taken from us way too soon in a senseless act of domestic violence that none of us will ever be able to comprehend or recover from. Our hearts are broken, and we will forever have a hole in our hearts. 'Now her daughter has the fight of her life ahead of her. Hayleigh was also involved and struck three times and is currently in the ICU in critical but stable condition. 'We are hopeful that Hayleigh will make a solid recovery but has a very long road ahead of her. We know everyone is concerned about her and wants to know how she is, but please respect her privacy,' the description read in part. As of now, the crowdfunding page has raised $26,713 out of its $75,000 goal. A moment of silence was also held at Portage High School on November 30 in remembrance of Brandy. An Aussie dupe of an American grocery store to the stars has influencers clambering to dig deep into their pockets to afford the eye-watering prices. Evra Marketplace in Newstead in inner-city Brisbane, opened its doors for the first time last week with many customers already comparing it to Los Angeles' upmarket grocery store Erewhon. The store stocks health products and hot and cold takeaway foods paid for by the gram, similar to Erewhon, a favourite among A-list celebrities including Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Hailey Bieber and Aussie expat Miranda Kerr. Among product such as 'memory-enhancing' mushroom sprays, seaweed flakes and $1000 vinegars, their range of $17 smoothies have already proven to be a fan favourite, despite the hefty price tag. Evra's website boasts that its smoothies contain 'carefully selected ingredients with no gums and other fillers for maximum health benefits'. The bestseller is the Playa Papaya which have an extensive list of ingredients including maca, hemp seeds, cacao nibs, nut butter and coconut kefir. Superfoods such as CBD, creatine, mushrooms, collagen peptides, colostrum and nut butter can also be added to the smoothies for $1 each. The store has been inundated with online praise from local health and fitness influencers who have taken to social media to claim it's close enough or even better than its American counterpart. A grocery store inspired by American store loved by the stars, Evra (pictured), has launched in Brisbane offering fresh produce and foods for eye-watering costs Influencer Madeleine Storace told TikTok followers that she returned to Evra twice on opening day to enjoy the selection of hot foods. 'I'm so happy I don't have to fly all the way to LA for this,' she said. 'I've been to the LA one, and it's so so similar, the shelves look the same, the fruit looks the same.' 'No lie the buffalo cauliflower was even better than the real Erewhon!' In the video, Ms Storace ended up 'spending a pretty penny' - more than $60 - for just over a kilogram of food from the hot bar but claimed it was 'so so worth it'. Fellow influencer Sarah Watson was also proud to show off her smoothie purchase. 'In my smoothie era,' she captioned the photo. Among fan favourites in the first week have been the store's range of $17 smoothies (pictured) which many influencers are already raving about But not all customers are raving about Evra. One local described the store, in particular the smoothies are 'definitely a bit expensive ... but they are a bit of a status symbol'. Customers can also purchase fresh produce grown from Evra's 'state-of-the-art rooftop farm' advertised to be 'chemical-free, pesticide-free, and preservative-free'. While many online have been left gobsmacked by the prices, Evra co-director and head chef Kelvin Andrews hailed opening week as a success. 'We've created a space where the community can come together to enjoy fresh, sustainable food while supporting local farmers and producers,' he told the Courier Mail. Aussie influencers who have gone to the American counterpart Erva was inspired by, Erewhon, have praised the store for being close to or if not better. Pictured is Madeleine Storace raving about the buffalo cauliflower Mr Andrews added that we 'need to unlearn what we've been taught about food and relearn ancient farming techniques'. 'Our rooftop farm, marketplace, and menu reflect our core values of quality, integrity, and connection to the land.' The store's website goes on to spruik its pantry as an 'extension of a life well lived' by connecting customers with 'products defined by quality, sustainability, and ethical sourcing'. 'Our space serves as a portal to discover, encouraging exploration, learning and a deeper connection with every aspect of daily life, offering you an opportunity to make informed choices on what you put in your body, that benefit you forever.' CCTV has captured the dramatic midnight raid where police arrested a man accused of fatally stabbing his parents at their family run burger bar. Police swooped on a Canley Heights home in south-west Sydney early Sunday to arrest Allan Chiem, 31, who has since been charged with two counts of murder over the deaths of Hoa Tek Chien, 69, and his wife Heang Kim Gau, 68. The footage showed officers tackling Chiem in his front yard. 'Get on the ground, get on the ground,' an officer is heard yelling. Startled occupants inside the house run out demanding to know what the commotion was. 'What are you doing? That's my brother!' a man can be heard yelling. A concerned woman can be heard asking: 'What? What's wrong?' The man then says: 'Allan! What are you doing bro?' Later police were seen bagging evidence and it is reported they also broke into a safe inside the house. CCTV captured police tackling Allan Chiem, 31, in his front yard nine hours after he allegedly murdered his parents Hoa Tek Chiem, 69, and Heang Kim Gau, 68, were allegedly killed inside Buzzy Bee's Burger House at Cambridge Park on Saturday The property belonged to his parents Mr Chien and Ms Gau, who were allegedly killed inside Buzzy Bee's Burger House at Cambridge Park in Sydney's west nine hours earlier on Saturday morning. The couple's older son called the police after he came across the grim discovery of his parents' bodies at the venue. Chiem will spend Christmas behind bars after he was refused bail in Parramatta Local Court on Sunday. His matter was adjourned to Penrith Local Court in January. Chien's lawyer Mohamed Sakr from Truth Lawyers has asked corrective services conduct a mental health assessment on his client before he faces court again in the new year. He later confirmed that his client was filmed on the roof of the burger bar on Saturday. 'Every accused deserves representation,' Mr Sakr told Nine News. That footage showed Chiem dressed head-to-toe in black and climbing onto the roof of the takeaway shop before later jumping down and walking away. Chiem's lawyer has confirmed that his client was the black-clad figure filmed on the takeaway shop's roof on Saturday morning Police were called to the burger bar after the couple's bodies were discovered inside by an older son NSW Detective Inspector Michael Cantrell later confirmed that officers were investigating the footage. Hoa Tek Chien and his wife were well-known for their dedication to their business, which was open seven days a week. It's understood the couple were making plans to retire shortly before their deaths. Former employees of Buzzy Bee's Burger House Nine News the couple were more like family than bosses. A number also worked alongside their son accused of the couple's parents were struggling to come to terms with his arrest. Buzzy Bee's Burger House was shut on Sunday as flowers and cards piling up outside it paying tribute to the hard-working couple. 'They dedicated themselves to this place. I pray that you both rest easy,' one card read. Hoa Tek Chien, 69, and his wife Heang Kim Gau, 68 were well respected small business owners Owner of a nearby bakery Thanh Tran, recalled seeing the couple's family while officers cordoned off the shop on Saturday. 'About 9.30am the eldest son visited the store and then the youngest came and the two hugged and cried for an hour,' Mr Tran said. 'Police got them milk crates to sit on and they hugged and sat down and cried, and they looked so sad, it was so sad. 'And the police stood around and watched them (as they talked and cried).' Britain was warned of Russian attempts to garner support among Mauritian politicians for a claim over the Chagos Islands, it has been revealed. According to a source close to the discussions, government ministers were told Vladimir Putin's officials attempted to 'undermine UK interests' by encouraging Mauritian claims to the Chagos Islands. A former Whitehall source told The Telegraph that Russia is 'actively prompting' the case for 'Mauritian sovereignty' in an attempt to make the UK look weaker. But the source claimed Government officials have not taken the warnings seriously. 'It is absolutely extraordinary that the Government has not taken two and two and made a very obvious four,' they said. Responding, the government's Foreign Office said it was 'well aware' of the tactics made by 'malign actors' regarding the Chagos deal, but they were taken into consideration when the treaty was negotiated. Sir Keir Starmer is looking to handover control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius before Donald Trump returns as US president. The deal would see the UK give up its claim to more than 60 islands, including Diego Garcia, where the military base is located, and also the surrounding ocean. According to a source close to the discussions, government ministers were told Vladimir Putin 's officials attempted to 'undermine UK interests' by encouraging Mauritian claims to the Chagos Islands The Foreign Office said it was 'well aware' of the tactics made by 'malign actors' regarding the Chagos deal, but they were taken into consideration when the treaty was negotiated - pictured is PM Sir Keir Starmer The deal would see the UK give up its claim to more than 60 islands, including Diego Garcia, where the military base is located, and also the surrounding ocean Labour made the shock announcement in October that it was going to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, which has been a British overseas territory for more than 200 years. As part of the arrangement, the Diego Garcia base will remain operational for at least 99 years. But the president of Mauritius who agreed it, Pravind Jugnauth, was ousted in the election and the deal has yet to be officially signed. Serious doubt has been cast over the deal's future following criticism of its terms by the new Mauritian prime minister and opposition from allies of Trump. American support is crucial for the deal as there is a joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in what is formally known as the British Indian Ocean Territory. Meanwhile, the newly-elected Prime Minister of Mauritius has ordered a review of the new agreement signed by his predecessor. Mr Ramgoolam and his allies accused the then-prime minister Pravind Jugnauth of 'high treason' and described the agreement as a 'sell-out' motivated by desperation. Mr Ramgoolam said he 'would like to have more time to study all the details of the agreement with a panel of legal advisers' and has asked for an independent review of the confidential draft agreement with Britain. The UK has argued the deal would safeguard Diego Garcia, but critics have questioned that argument. The former head of MI6, Sir Richard Dearlove, said the Russian influence of the Chagos Islands handover 'fits their playbook precisely'. Newly-elected Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam met with Jonathan Powell, who is Labour's incoming national security adviser and the UK envoy behind the agreement Serious doubt has been cast over the deal's future following criticism of its terms by the new Mauritian prime minister and opposition from allies of Mr Trump Meanwhile, Ed Arnold a senior research fellow for European security at RUSI, told The Telegraph: ' The worry is that this deal benefits China so in this case it might be that the Kremlin is actually doing Beijing a favour by acting on their behalf.' Former PM Boris Johnson this week claimed giving up sovereignty of the Chagos Islands was akin to 'spectacularly shooting ourselves in the foot'. 'Its driven by pure Lefty politics and its a tragedy that Starmer has bought into this nonsense,' he told a podcast. 'I dont know what the Trump administration will do with it now, but perhaps they will find a way of impeding it.' Foreign Secretary David Lammy this week hit out at 'politicking' over Labour's agreement to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. He insisted the sovereignty pact was a 'very good deal' as he played down claims it was on the verge of an embarrassing collapse. Speaking to MPs on the House of Commons' foreign affairs committee, Mr Lammy dismissed growing criticism of the agreement. 'I'm very, very confident that this is a deal that the Mauritians will see, in a cross-party sense, as a good deal for them,' the Foreign Secretary said. A teenage OnlyFans star will face court following a 'dust up' at one of her multiple homes in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Paris Ow-Yang, 19, was charged with assault, stalking and damaging property following the alleged incident in early November. The daughter to high-profile Sydney neurosurgeon Michael Ow Yang and his wife Amanda was initially issued with an apprehended violence order before being slapped with the charges. The AVO restricts her from going near two family members within 12 hours of drinking alcohol or taking illicit drugs, the Daily Telegraph reported. Ow-Yang is also barred from assaulting, threatening, stalking or harassing the two relatives. She will appear in Waverley Local Court on December 11. Solicitor Michael Bowe confirmed he would be representing the teenager for her next court date but would not comment on the charges when contacted by the publication. Ow-Yang gained a massive social media audience - with more than 1.6million followers across Instagram and TikTok - before turning to OnlyFans the day after she turned 18. OnlyFans star, Paris Ow-Yang (pictured) will face court after being charged with assault and stalking over an alleged incident at one of her homes in Sydney's east suburbs Within months of starting the account on the adults only platform, she was able to quit university and purchase her first of many properties in Sydney's affluent eastern suburbs. Her OnlyFans content has also continued to grow ever since and is now placed in the top 0.02 per cent of creators on the platform in the world. Ow-Yang comes from a very wealthy background, having attended the prestigious Frensham School - a $33,000-a-year all-girls boarding school in the NSW Southern Highlands. Her dad is a highly qualified medical expert with extensive experience in neurosurgery. Ow-Yang now attracts more than 40,000 views per post on the subscription adults-only content site. The 19-year-old (pictured) has built a property 'empire' after starting OnlyFans the day after she turned 18 and is now among the top 0.02 per cent of creators on the platform globally She recently revealed that OnlyFans has allowed her to 'create an empire' for herself. 'For me, it's been an incredible journey which has allowed me financial freedom and control over my career,' Ow-Yang told the Daily Telegraph. Ive been able to create an empire for myself, on my own terms, and Im extremely proud of investing in numerous properties around the eastern suburbs. A search on ABN lookup and similar sites finds that Ow-Yang Property Pty Ltd has purchased five homes in some of Sydney's most lucrative locations. Her father is listed as the main shareholder. Paris Ow-Yang (pictured) will appear in Waverley Local Court on December 11 It is unclear if any of these assets are owned by the teen herself. Ow-Yang Property Pty Ltd was registered as a business in 2022 and procured one property in 2023. Four more properties were purchased this year, managing to add $7million to the portfolio. Recent property purchases include a two bedroom, two bathroom unit in Bondi, which includes a rooftop overlooking the ocean. A former MasterChef contestant claims Gregg Wallace asked her to tell a colleague at the BBC that she was a 'sexy b****' and said he told a fellow contestant she was 'handling fish like a rapist'. Scottish broadcaster Aasmah Mir took to social media to make the bombshell claims which detailed her uncomfortable encounter with Wallace during her stint on the show in 2017. It comes after a 'sexual comments' probe saw the MasterChef host step away from presenting on Thursday. Posting on X the Times Radio host said: 'In 2017 I took part in Celebrity MasterChef. I put my first dish down in front of the judges and the cameras paused to reset. 'In front of everyone, Gregg Wallace told me to tell a colleague at the BBC "that she was a sexy b****." 'No-one said anything. And yes I did complain.' She added: 'I left the competition first. But two female contestants including Ulrika Jonsson told me afterwards that he had told another contestant that the way she was handling fish "looked like a rapist doing foreplay".' Ms Mir also posted a cryptic post of herself standing in an apron next to the iconic MasterChef logo while she was on the show. Former MasterChef contestant Aasmah Mir claims Gregg Wallace asked her to tell a colleague at the BBC that she was a 'sexy b****' Gregg Wallace has been accused of taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to 'give her a fashion show' and talking about his sex life to others Wearing a Matt Hampson Foundation t-shirt as he filmed himself for his Instagram story this morning Wallace lashed out at 'middle-class women of a certain age The picture was captioned: ' Always keep your receipts.' Thirteen people, including Kirsty Wark, have complained about Wallace's conduct while working with him over a 17-year period across five shows, from 2005 to 2022. This morning the disgraced MasterChef star lashed out at 'middle-class women of a certain age' in a rant online after he was accused of sexist behaviour. Wearing a Matt Hampson Foundation t-shirt as he filmed himself for his Instagram story Wallace said he has worked with people of 'all different ages, all different backgrounds and all different walks of life'. Speaking about the complaints against him, he said they are 'coming from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age' and declared 'this isn't right'. He went on to ask: 'Can you imagine how many women on MasterChef have made sexual remarks or sexual innuendo?' Last night it emerged that the BBC was reportedly warned about the 60-year-old's alarming behaviour in 2008 but 'nothing was done'. Former contestant Dr Kate Tomas, 42, said she complained about Wallace's treatment of her on the show 16 years ago, claiming he 'sexually harassed' and 'bullied' her. Dr Tomas, a spiritual mentor to the stars, slammed him as 'disgusting and repulsive'. Wallace, 60, has also been accused of taking his top off in front of a female worker saying he wanted to 'give her a fashion show', and talking about his sex life to others. Other allegations include telling another young colleague he wasn't wearing any pants. Ms Mir also said Greg Wallace told another contestant the way she was handling fish looked like 'a rapist doing foreplay' Posting on X, Times Radio presenter and 2017 Celebrity MasterChef contestant Aasmah Mir said today: 'Always keep your receipts' Recorded episodes of MasterChef: The Professionals featuring Gregg will still be shown as planned despite the development. The company said: 'While this review is underway, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully cooperating throughout the process. 'Banijay UK's duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set. 'Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met, are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.' Ms Walk claimed that on two occasions Wallace told stories and jokes of a 'sexualised nature' in front of contestants and crew while filming Celebrity MasterChef in 2011. She said his gags and comments were 'really, really in the wrong place'. 'There were two occasions in particular where he used sexualised language in front of a number of people and it wasn't as if anyone engaged with this. It was completely one-way traffic. 'But I think people were uncomfortable and something that I really did not expect to happen', she said. The BBC claims that Wallace walked away from MasterChef today after BBC News sent a letter to his agent on Tuesday, setting out allegations from 13 people and giving him a right of reply. They say he was warned after a complaint was raised in 2018, but new historical claims emerged over the summer of 2024. Wallace is 'committed to fully cooperating throughout the process', the show's production company Banijay UK said. Aasmah Mir has been contacted for comment. China has slammed the US for hosting the president of Taiwan on American soil, and vowed to implement 'resolute countermeasures' against the sale to the island nation of arms worth nearly $400million. The U.S. State Department approved the potential sale, worth an estimated $385 million, of spare parts and support for F-16 jets and radars to Taiwan, the Pentagon said on Friday. The sale was announced hours before Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te left on a visit to Taipei's three diplomatic allies in the Pacific, with stops in Hawaii and the U.S. territory of Guam. The sale sends 'a wrong signal' to Taiwan independence forces and undermines U.S.-China relations, China's foreign ministry said in a statement. The ministry said in a separate statement that it firmly opposes any official exchanges between the U.S. and Taiwan and 'strongly condemns' the U.S. for arranging the transit. China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and the most important issue in its relations with Washington, strongly dislikes Lai, calling him a 'separatist'. The United States is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties between Washington and Taipei, to the constant anger of Beijing. War has no winners and peace is priceless, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Saturday in Hawaii after visiting a memorial to the attack on Pearl Harbor on a trip to the United States that has angered Beijing. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te arrives at the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency during his visit to Honolulu, Hawaii, on November 30, 2024 F-16 jets escort the plane of Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te who embarked on a trip to visit Taiwan's allies in the Pacific, on November 30, 2024 Lai is making a sensitive two-day trip to Hawaii that is officially only a stopover on the way to three Pacific island nations that maintain formal ties with Taiwan, which China claims as its territory. Speaking to members of the overseas Taiwan community and Hawaii politicians, including members of Congress Ed Case and Jill Tokuda, Lai referred to his visit to the USS Arizona Memorial earlier in the day and laid a wreath in memory of those who died in the 1941 Japanese attack. 'Our visit to the memorial today in particular reminds us of the importance of ensuring peace. Peace is priceless and war has no winner. We have to fight - fight together - to prevent war,' Lai said in English, in a speech carried live on television in Taiwan. China's foreign ministry lodged 'stern representations' over the transit, China's Taiwan Affairs Office said in a statement. 'We are firmly opposed to official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan, and we are firmly opposed to the 'transit' of leaders of the Taiwan region to the United States under any name and for any reason,' it said. Security sources said that China could launch a new round of war games around Taiwan in response to his visit, his first overseas trip since assuming office in May, having won election in January. China has staged two rounds of major war games around Taiwan so far this year. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te greets people at the Kahala Hotel and Resort Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024 in Honolulu Military salute at the Chinese flag during the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, on Sept. 23, 2023 In his speech Lai switched to Taiwanese, also known as Hokkien, and said that by uniting together, all difficulties could be overcome. 'Taiwan's democracy can become a model for the international community,' he said. Lai and his government reject Beijing's sovereignty claims and say they have a right to visit other countries. After Hawaii, Lai will go to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau. He will have with another stopover in the U.S. territory of Guam. Hawaii and Guam are home to large U.S. military bases. Sir Keir Starmer has seen an eight-point drop in his approval ratings with more than half of the public disapproving of the Prime Minister's job performance, a new poll has revealed. Little more than a fifth of voters (22 per cent) approve of Sir Keir's perfomance as premier, compared to 54 per cent who disapprove, the Opinium survey showed. This gives the PM a net approval rating of -32 per cent, which is down eight points from a fortnight ago. Amid the continuing backlash to her recent Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is also similarly viewed with a net approval rating of -31 per cent. It comes as Sir Keir prepares to stage a major reset of his premiership in the coming days as he delivers a speech outlining a 'plan for change' with milestones set in key policy areas. The PM, who will have spent five months in No10 on Thursday, has suffered a rocky start to life in Downing Street. The speech will be seen as an attempt by Sir Keir to get his stumbling premiership back on track following the widespread anger at Labour's tax plans and his 'freebies' row. His first months in No10 have also seen the PM forced to sack Sue Gray as his chief of staff amid Downing Street infighting. And Sir Keir suffered a further blow in recent days with the resignation of Louise Haigh as transport secretary when it emerged she had a criminal conviction. Sir Keir Starmer has seen an eight-point drop in his approval ratings with more than half of the public disapproving of the Prime Minister's job performance, a new poll has revealed Amid the continuing backlash to her recent Budget , Chancellor Rachel Reeves is also similarly viewed with a net approval rating of -31 per cent Sir Keir suffered a further blow in recent days with the resignation of Louise Haigh as transport secretary when it emerged she had a criminal conviction Opinium carried out an online survey of 2,055 UK adults from 27 to 29 November The PM will use the speech to announce the markers for his 'missions' that No10 say will allow the public to hold Sir Keir and his team to account on their promises. The milestones will run alongside public sector reform, Downing Street said. This will include a focus on reforming Whitehall, spearheaded by the as-yet-unannounced new Cabinet Secretary, so it is geared towards the delivery of Labour's missions. The same focus will also influence decisions for next year's spending review, it has been suggested. Writing in The Sun on Sunday, the PM compared 'focusing the machinery of government' to 'turning an oil tanker' and said that 'acceptance of managed decline' has 'seeped into parts of Whitehall'. 'The British people aren't fools. They know a ruthless focus on priorities is essential,' he wrote. The Sunday Times reported that one of the milestones would focus on early education, with the aim to raise the number of children who are ready for school, educationally and socially. Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden said that 'it's estimated that more than a million school days worth of teacher time each year is spent dealing with' children who are not prepared for school. Labour's missions, as laid out in their July election manifesto, focus on economic growth, energy security and cleaner energy, the NHS, childcare and education systems, as well as crime and criminal justice. Mr McFadden this morning rejected the suggestion that the Government's plan for change due this week is a reset. Asked on the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme whether the announcement would be a 'bit of a reset' following anger over the Budget and Louise Haigh's resignation, Mr McFadden said: 'No. We've been working on this since the early days of government.' He added: 'We knew that government would always have events that buffet you around from week to week and things that would cause a lot of heat in the newspapers, you have to deal with those. 'But alongside those you have to look at the long-term too.' Speaking to Sky News earlier, Mr McFadden said the plan the Government will publish this week 'will talk about migration' but declined to say whether there would be a 'target number' on figures. He said that 'numerical targets on migration have not had a happy history in recent years'. Pushed on whether the document would include migration, he said: 'Fear not, the document that we're going to publish this week will talk about migration, both legal and illegal.' Asked whether there would be measurable metrics, Mr McFadden added: 'I don't say we'll give you a target number, but we will certainly talk about migration, both legal and illegal when we publish the document later this week.' Ahead of his speech, Sir Keir said in a statement: 'This plan for change is the most ambitious yet honest programme for government in a generation. 'Mission-led government does not mean picking milestones because they are easy or will happen anyway it means relentlessly driving real improvements in the lives of working people. 'We are already fixing the foundations and have kicked-started our first steps for change, stabilising the economy, setting up a new Border Security Command, and investing 22 billion in an NHS that is fit for the future. 'Our plan for change is the next phase of delivering this Government's mission. 'Some may oppose what we are doing and no doubt there will be obstacles along the way, but this Government was elected on mandate of change and our plan reflects the priorities of working people. 'Given the unprecedented challenges we have inherited we will not achieve this by simply doing more of the same, which is why investment comes alongside a programme of innovation and reform.' The so-called 'missions' outlined in Labour's election manifesto focused on five key policy areas: kickstart economic growth; make Britain a clean energy superpower; take back our streets; break down barriers to opportunity; and build an NHS fit for the future. Tory MP Nigel Huddleston, the party's co-chairman, said: 'Keir Starmer's 17th relaunch will do nothing to hide the chaos Labour have unleashed on the country. 'In four short months his Labour Government has been engulfed in a cronyism row, cut the winter fuel payment for 10 million pensioners, hit farmers with the family farm tax and hammered businesses and working people with higher taxes. 'While Keir Starmer has serious questions to answer about why he let someone serve in his Cabinet who he knew had a fraud conviction. 'The British people will rightly be wondering why they have been short changed by the party that claimed to offer change.' Adam Drummond, head of political and social research at Opinium said: 'After a brief improvement post-budget, Keir Starmer's ratings are back below -30 and Labour's scores on various issues are down. 'That being said, Starmer still leads Kemi Badenoch as 'best prime minister' and the Conservatives remain behind on most issues. 'Five months after the country sacked the last government, it simply seems they don't notice much in the way of improvements and are losing faith in the replacements they hired. 'Voters, and the Government, must be hoping that things can only get better.' Opinium carried out an online survey of 2,055 UK adults from 27 to 29 November. Iran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi said Sunday he will leave Tehran for Damascus to deliver a message of support for Syria's government and armed forces, state media said, after a lighting advance by rebels. Tehran has been a staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad during the civil war that broke out in 2011. Iran maintains it does not have combat troops in Syria, only officers who provide military advice and training. Iran-backed Hezbollah, of Lebanon, has for years fought on the side of the Syrian government. 'I am going to Damascus to convey the message of the Islamic Republic to the Syrian government,' Araghchi said, emphasising Tehran will 'firmly support the Syrian government and army,' the IRNA state news agency reported. Islamist-led rebels on Saturday seized Aleppo's airport and dozens of nearby towns after overrunning most of Syria's second city Aleppo, a war monitor said. Syria's army confirmed that the rebels had entered 'large parts' of the city of around two million people and said 'dozens of men from our armed forces were killed'. Araghchi again called the surprise rebel offensive a plot by the United States and Israel, which was earlier said to be preparing for a scenario where it would need to act if the situation deteriorates. Intelligence chiefs have reportedly told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 'the collapse of the Assad regime would likely create chaos in which military threats against Israel would develop.' Smoke billows in the distance as damaged cars are seen at the site of Syrian regime airstrikes targeting anti-regime fighters in Aleppo, in northern Syria on November 30, 2024 Anti-government fighters patrol in central Aleppo on November 30, 2024. People check the damage at the scene of a Syrian regime airforce strike that targeted a neighbourhood in Syria's rebel-held northern city of Idlib on December 1, 2024 'The Syrian army will once again win over these terrorist groups as in the past,' the foreign minister added. An Iranian news agency reported earlier that a general in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was killed in Syria on Thursday during the fighting. On Saturday, Iran's foreign ministry said its consulate in Aleppo had come under attack, but staff members were safe. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Araghchi who will visit Ankara for consultations with Turkish officials after his stop in Damascus. Since 2020, the rebel enclave in Syria's northwestern Idlib region has been subject to a Turkish- and Russian-brokered truce that had largely been holding despite repeated violations. But the insurgents' launch on Wednesday of a surprise offensive against the city of Aleppo shattered the truce, the same day a fragile ceasefire took effect in neighbouring Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah. The Syrian government had regained control of a large part of the country in 2015 with the support of its Russian and Iranian allies, and in 2016 the entire city of Aleppo. The officer who shot dead terrorist Man Monis to end the Sydney Lindt Cafe siege has finally been unmasked as he recalled how the worst moment in the aftermath when he learned the hostage who died in his arms was killed by a police bullet. Ben Besant, whose identity was suppressed for almost 10 years, told Channel Seven's Spotlight that his world came crashing down when then NSW Assistant Commissioner told officers that a round of bullets fired ricocheted off and killed lawyer and mother-of-three Katrina Dawson, 38. Mr Besant, who watched Ms Dawson die in his arms only hours earlier after leading the elite NSW Police Tactical Operations Unit (TOU) into the cafe on December 16, 2014, said the news shattered him. 'When I heard this I remember I felt like vomiting,' he told reporter Chris Reason on Sunday night's program. 'I was just completely overwhelmed, like my world just closed in around me.' After that Mr Besant said he started seeing Ms Dawson, who was killed by a ricochet, 'everywhere', particularly if a woman had the same hair colour. 'Every time I saw a blonde lady, I'd just completely saw it as her,' Mr Besant said. 'I'd have a panic attack in that moment.' Ben Besant shot dead terrorist Mon Monis to end the 17-hour siege at Sydney's Lindt Cafe in December 2014 The then undiagnosed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was so bad that Mr Besant would walk around the police centre with his hand on his gun at all times. 'I was ready for the next fight, next threat,' Mr Besant said 'I'd even picture other police officers as I walked around just being shot, not shooting at me or me shooting them. 'I just saw them being shot and bleeding out in front of me. I was in a dark place there for quite a long time.' Mr Besant revealed when he and his Alpha team of TOU officers stood around the corner waiting for the order to storm the cafe, they believed Monis had a bomb in a large backpack he was wearing, which later turned out to be a ruse. Sydney barrister and mother Katrina Dawson was killed by a ricochet from a police bullet in the cafe When three hostages escaped from the cafe prompting to Monis to fire a shot, which missed the fleeing trio, Mr Besant expected to hear the order to storm in. 'I completely believed going in would mean my death,' Mr Besant said. 'We joked about this was the last last job we're going to do and how we're all gonna get blown up .... but, and then it got real and we all went quiet. 'That's when we started text messaging our partners and getting certain photos of our kids and saying our goodbyes.' Then pregnant with their second child, Mr Besant's wife Lisa switched on the television to follow the terrifying drama unfold, which happened directly across from Seven's Sydney studios in Martin Place. The couple's toddler made a startling observation about the officers, whose faces were almost completely hidden behind their helmets. The little girl was able to recognise Mr Besant from his blue eyes- the only facial feature that was visible. 'She said 'look, there's daddy',' Lisa said. A number of hostages fled the Lindt Cafe before the tactical response team stormed the cafe Lisa then received a farewell message from Mr Besant with a request of a picture of their daughter. 'I wasn't quite sure he'd meet our other child ... that wasn't good to think that,' Lisa said. Despite Alpha group tensing for the order to go in, it did not come until after 2am the next morning after three other groups of hostages had made a run for it and Monis had executed cafe manager Tori Johnson with his shorn-off pump action shotgun. It was only then when officers finally stormed the building, 16-and-a-half hours after the siege started. Mr Besant, who led the charge along with an officer holding a bullet shield, said he looked across the cafe straight at Monis and focused the torch light mounted on his gun and laser site on the terrorist. 'I remember seeing his shotgun pointing straight at us,' Mr Besant said. 'We were looking straight into each other's eyes.' Mr Besant said as in the movies time slowed down 'so much' at the crucial moment. Lindt Cafe manager Tori Johnson was executed in cold blood by Mon Monis during the horrific event 'I knew the only way to potentially save anyone else in that cafe was for me to kill him,' Mr Besant said. 'I remember looking him in the eyes and I remember thinking 'I'm gonna kill you'.' 'I believe I got one or two shots off at the start. And then, yeah, the huge muzzle flash (as Monis fired back). 'I remember just flinching and just waiting for it to impact on me, but it didn't.' He kept moving towards Monis and firing. 'I was completely fixated on shooting him,' Mr Besant said 'He's still not down. And I know I was hitting him, my laser pointers on him and he still hasn't gone down. 'So that's when I raised up my laser pointer up his neck and started firing at, at his head. I needed to get him down. I needed to stop him detonating the bomb.' Terrorist Mon Monis claimed to have a bomb in a backpack he was wearing during the siege but this turned out to be a ruse Finally the shooting stopped. 'I remember standing with my gun looking down at him and oh yeah, I became acutely aware that he was no longer a threat,' Mr Besant said 'The sinking in of me standing over this man that I just violently shot and killed.' However, there was something even more traumatic to come as police cleared out the six remaining hostages. Mr Besant said as he searched the space he looked underneath some tables. 'I can see that the top of what I believe is someone's head,' he said. ' realised it was, it was a blonde-haired lady in like a business suit, ends with a ponytail.' The next moments as he cradled Ms Dawson, a Sydney barrister, in his arms are something Mr Besant said he sees 'daily' 'I was just looking into her eyes,' he said. 'Each breath she was taking was, was less and less. 'I knew in this moment that I couldn't do anything. A coronial inquiry into the siege was scathing about the NSW Police response, particularly waiting so long to send the tactical team in 'I desperately wanted, I was just willing her to take, to take another breath.' 'Within myself, I'm like, 'please, please just take another breath, please'. 'Each breath got shorter and, shorter and shorter and then she stopped breathing. 'Something I will never forget, she literally died in my arms. The saddest moment of my life.' A coronial inquiry into the siege in 2015-16 was scathing about the police response to the siege, particularly waiting so long to send in the TOU assault team. Throughout those proceedings, Mr Besant's name was suppressed and he was given the label 'officer A'. It took a nine-year NSW Supreme Court battle backed by Seven for Mr Besant to be finally able to reveal his identity. The near decade suppression impacted Mr Besant's PTSD and he claimed it cost him his career and his marriage to Lisa. 'It's become such a big issue for me to be able to get my name back,' he said. After the PTSD became too overwhelming to stay in the police force, Mr Besant found a second career as a carpenter. A 'reckless' British Army captain has been slapped with a huge fine and lambasted for his 'pure stupidity' after he kept grenades and flares in his room. Captain Adam Phenix-Norman had to pay 2,000 after a stash of smoke grenades, a flare pistol, over 50 blank rounds and mini flares were discovered in his accommodation in Bulford, Wiltshire. The 32-year-old had held on to the ammunition for 18 months after a training exercise, a court martial heard. Phenix-Norman - a member of the the Mercian Regiment - put others' safety at risk by failing to hand them back, a judge said. The officer - who did not offer an explanation why he had kept the unused ammunition - was fined after pleading guilty to one charge of neglect of duty. Prosecuting, Captain Thaddeus Rasbash told Bulford Military Court, Wilts: 'It was reported to the service police that the defendant was in possession of ammunition within the confines of service accommodation.' A search warrant was obtained, and three smoke grenades, a flare pistol, 56 5.56mm blank rounds and a pack of mini flares were found in his unlocked room. Capt. Rasbash continued: 'He had them from an exercise 18 months previously and hadn't handed them back at the appropriate time, or any time.' He conducted exercises afterwards in which he would have had reminders about his duty to return the ammunition which was put in his room some time prior to October 1 2024. Captain Adam Phenix-Norman (pictured) has been fined 2,000 after he was found with a stash of smoke grenades, a flare pistol, over 50 blank rounds and mini flares in his room He kept the ammunition after an exercise out of 'pure stupidity' in his accommodation for 18 months, a court martial heard Prosecuting, Captain Thaddeus Rasbash told Bulford Military Court, Wilts: 'It was reported to the service police that the defendant was in possession of ammunition within the confines of service accommodation'. Pictured: Bulford Military Court The prosecutor said: 'He will have been reminded of this duty every time he did his duty.' The hearing was told divorced father-of-two - whose regiment is based in Bulford - will be leaving the Army later this week after seven years of service although his lawyer said the decision was not connected to the court martial. For the defence, Laura Deuxberry told the court: 'Really, this was pure stupidity and he should have known better given his rank. 'He knew the correct procedure, he has admitted he didn't follow it.' She added there was no suggestion these items left his room. 'They were in his room in a secure camp,' Ms Deuxberry said. Sentencing Capt. Phenix-Norman, Assistant Judge Advocate General John Atwill said: 'Rather than dispose of the excess properly as you knew you should, you retained these items in the accommodation in a clear breach of policy.' He said that the Captain had let his 'high standards down' in a 'reckless way'. 'You put the safety of yourself and others at risk,' added Judge Advocate Atwill. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle won't join the rest of the Royal Family for Christmas this year as they have reportedly not been invited to the festivities. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex haven't received an invitation to the royals' Christmas at Sandringham, it has been reported. They are expected to spend the festive holidays in America instead with their children Archie and Lilibet. Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, haven't spent Christmas with the Royal Family in the UK for six years. They were also not invited to Trooping the Colour in June of this year for the King's birthday/ Prince William, Kate, and their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are set to spend Christmas at Sandringham. Meghan Markle previously revealed how the Sussexes celebrate the holidays at their home in California since she and Prince Harry stepped down from the royal family in 2020. Meghan stressed the importance of making 'room at your table for your friends who don't have family' such as feminist icon Gloria Steinem, who once joined the Sussexes' Thanksgiving party. The former Suits actress, who married Harry in 2018, added it is important to the couple that Archie and Lilibet experience the 'magic' of festive traditions such as putting out 'carrots for the reindeer' at Christmas. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle won't join the rest of the Royal Family for Christmas this year as the Sussexes have reportedly not been invited. They are pictured on Christmas in 2017 Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, haven't spent Christmas with the Royal Family in the UK for six years. They are pictured on Christmas Day in 2018 at the Church of St Mary Magdalene The Wales's at the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church on December 25, 2023 According to People magazine, the Sussexes will spend the holidays in America again this year. In 2019, they spent Christmas in Canada and just two weeks later, they announced their decision to step back as working royals. They haven't returned to Sandringham for the holidays since. Meghan and Harry joined the Royal Family for the annual Christmas Day service at Sandringham for two years - 2018 and 2019 - before they announced they were quitting the Firm and moving stateside. The Sussexes released the first picture of their daughter Lilibet, who turned three this year, in a family Christmas card that was released on December 23, 2021. The photo features Lilibet's older brother Archie seated on the Duke's lap, with Meghan holding the smiling toddler. On Friday, The Mirror reported that William and Kate, both 42, will join senior members of The Firm for the annual Christmas Day Service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham on December 25. It will be a special Christmas for the family as they come together after what has been a difficult year following Charles, 76, and Kate's back-to-back cancer diagnoses. Sources told the newspaper Charles, who is currently in Sandringham, is 'delighted' that the whole family will be together for the holidays - with the monarch reportedly overseeing the planning himself. The Princess of Wales chats with well-wishers after attending the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service last year Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte at the Christmas Day church service, Sandringham, 2022 Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, Prince William, Prince Philip, Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend Christmas Day Church service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on December 25, 2017 One insider said: 'The King is embracing the Christmas period already and really getting into the spirit. Staff who have seen him this week remarked how happy and healthy he was looking.' Charles and Camilla are reportedly spending the weekend at the Norfolk estate, with one source explaining how Charles is 'enjoying time outdoors' as he continues his cancer treatment. Charles was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer earlier this year while undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate. William previously described 2024 as the 'hardest year of my life' as the future King opened up about the health challenges faced by his father and wife. Kate was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer after she was admitted to the London Clinic in Marylebone for an abdominal operation in January. While Charles is still undergoing treatment, the future Queen announced she has completed a preventative course of chemotherapy - and will make a gradual return to public life following the diagnosis. Reports about the Royal Family's Christmas plans come days after it was reported that Kate will undertake her most significant public engagement since she began cancer treatment as she welcomes the Emir of Qatar for his official state visit to the UK next month. King Charles, Camilla, and Prince George on Christmas Day in 2022 Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Kate at the Christmas Day service at Sandringham Church in 2022 Kate will accompany her husband Prince William to officially greet the Emir and his wife, Sheikha Jawaher, at their residence on December 3 and accompany them to Horse Guards Parade for a stunning ceremonial welcome. The King and Queen will be waiting to greet the guests before accompanying them back to Buckingham Palace. It is expected that the princess, who announced in September a slow and measured return to public life after the completion of her preventative chemotherapy treatment, will join the Royal Family at the palace for lunch. But it has been confirmed that she will not attend a glittering State Banquet in the evening. A royal source described the announcement of her attendance at some elements of the visit, however, as 'good news'. The princess has attended a number of high profile events such as Trooping the Colour, Remembrance events and Wimbledon over the last eleven months since she effectively withdrew from public life to focus on her health. A senior Cabinet minister today suggested Britons might have to pay for assisted dying in England and Wales following MPs' historic vote in favour of new laws. The House of Commons on Friday approved the second reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill by 330 votes to 275, majority 55. If it completes its passage into law, the Bill will allow terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to seek an assisted death with the approval of two doctors and a judge. But it is unclear whether assisted dying will be fully publicly funded - and there are fears it will heap pressure on Britain's already-struggling NHS and courts system. Some MPs who backed the Bill hinted they could yet change their minds as the legislation passes through Parliament, amid concerns over palliative care provision and safeguarding. Those opposed to the Bill also said the legislation could be voted down at a later stage if MPs are not satisfied with changes, with one saying: 'There's a very strong sense that it's not over.' Pat McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, did not rule out Britons having to pay for assisted dying as he pointed to the example of Switzerland, where nearly 350 have ended their lives at the Dignitas facility. Pat McFadden did not rule out Britons having to pay for assisted dying as he pointed to the example of Switzerland, where nearly 350 have ended their lives at the Dignitas facility The House of Commons on Friday approved the second reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill by 330 votes to 275, majority 55 Campaigners gathered outside Houses of Parliament on Friday to demonstrate their opposition to assisted dying Asked whether assisted dying would be publicly-funded in England and Wales, if MPs pass the legislation, Mr McFadden told Times Radio: 'Look, I think all that still has to be considered. 'As you know, people currently have to pay for this themselves if they go to Switzerland. 'So all those questions of costs, safeguards, all the issues that have been raised have to be considered during the committee stage, the clause by clause examination of the Bill. 'And that's the right way to do it because it's a huge change. And you could see that on the faces of the MPs who are voting for it or against it on Friday.' Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran told the BBC yesterday that while she voted for the Bill, concerns surrounding existing palliative care provision in the UK remained. 'I think all of us want this to be a good Bill,' she said. 'I would hope that colleagues across the House, especially those who voted for it, reserve the right to vote no at further stages.' Senior Tory MP Sir David Davis another backer of the Bill used his House of Commons speech to ask ministers for more time to scrutinise it, to 'give us the time to get this right'. He told the Commons: 'I'm going to vote for it today, but I want the Government to help me be able to vote for a good Bill at the end of this.' Labour MP Chris Webb suggested his position on the issue may change as the proposed legislation progresses through its parliamentary stages. He said a statement he believes 'this Bill deserved to progress to the next stage for further robust scrutiny and debate' and he 'will consider my position again in the ensuing stages'. Tory MP Danny Kruger, who led opposition to the Bill in the Commons on Friday, told The Sun there were 'a couple of dozen people who could switch their votes if they aren't satisfied with the final shape of the Bill'. 'There's a very strong sense that it's not over - which is very encouraging,' he added. The Bill has been introduced by Labour backbencher Kim Leadbeater as a private members' bill and the Government has taken a neutral stance on the proposed legislation. A string of Cabinet ministers - including Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood - voted against the Bill on Friday. This has led to questions about how the Government might enact the legislation, if it is passed into law. The Sunday Times reported that Cabinet ministers have privately warned legalising assisted dying will eclipse the Government's priorities and heap pressure on the NHS and justice system. One cabinet minister told the newspaper: 'I really feel for Wes. 'Irrespective of anyone's personal views on this issue, there will be a huge pressure on him as this Bill progresses to establish both an assisted dying service, while reforming palliative care, which will absorb a lot of time, energy and resources.' Another Government figure said: 'This will consume a lot of Government time and energy on top of the challenges we already face to bring down the NHS waiting lists and deal with the court backlog. 'Now we are expected to add to that the creation of a new service, which will undoubtedly divert focus from the government's key priorities.' A Whitehall official said: 'It will create costs, obviously, and stretch a court system already at breaking point. There are only a finite number of judges.' Georgia has been plunged into a full-on civil revolt as countless protesters overran Tbilisi and clashed with police in the third night of violence following the government's decision to shelve its EU accession bid. The country's parliament building was set alight by furious rioters who threw fireworks and stones, while an effigy of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the shadowy founder of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party, was stuffed on a stake and set alight to whoops and cheers from the crowd. Fireworks were also thrown as riot police, with one video showing a lone protester taking aim at cops with a firework 'machine gun'. Police were accused of brutalising protesters. Witnesses reported seeing protesters in Tbilisi being chased and beaten by police as demonstrators rallied in front of the country's parliament. One video showed a woman lying weakly on the ground and a police officer kicked her head, before she collapsed as a second cop ran up and kicked her. Observers could be heard screaming as they witnessed the violent scene. Officials said that 44 people were hospitalised by police-deployed water cannons and tear gas. The country's interior ministry has since confirmed that around 107 people were taken into custody following the violent clashes on Friday. The number of people arrested last night is still not known. Georgia's prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who was re-elected in the October election, said president Salome Zourabichvili would have to leave office at the end of her term this month despite her statement that she will refuse to do so. Police use tear gas to disperse Georgian opposition supporters protesting in front of the Parliament building in Tbilisi, Georgia, 30 November 2024 Georgian opposition supporters launch fireworks towards the police during a protest in front of the Parliament building in Tbilisi, Georgia, 30 November 2024 Georgian opposition supporters burn effigy of Georgian Prime Minister Kobakhidze, during a protest in front of the Parliament building in Tbilisi, Georgia, 30 November 2024 Zourabichvili said on Saturday she would stay in office because the new parliament was illegitimate and had no authority to name her successor. Kobakhidze warned that 'any violation of the law will be met with the full rigor of the law'. 'Neither will those politicians who hide in their offices and sacrifice members of their violent groups to severe punishment escape responsibility,' he said at a briefing on Sunday. He also accused unspecified 'foreign entities' of working on the 'Ukrainisation' of Georgia with a 'Maidan-style scenario' - a reference to Ukraine's 2014 Maidan revolution which ousted the country's Moscow-friendly president and unleashed a decade of momentous change for Ukraine, eventually leading to its current war with Russia. Mr Kobakhidze also dismissed the US State Department's statement on Saturday that it was suspending its strategic partnership with Georgia. The statement condemned Georgia's decision to halt its efforts towards EU accession. 'You can see that the outgoing administration is trying to leave the new administration with as difficult a legacy as possible. They are doing this regarding Ukraine, and now also concerning Georgia,' Mr Kobakhidze said of the US. 'This will not have any fundamental significance. We will wait for the new administration and discuss everything with them.' Since the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party claimed victory in October elections which the opposition said were fraudulent, the government has stoked outrage by delaying EU membership talks, a move that has caught the ire of more than 100 serving Georgian diplomats, who signed a letter decrying the government's decision. 'We believe that removing the opening of EU accession negotiations from the political agenda until 2028 contradicts the requirements of Article 78 of the Constitution of Georgia,' the diplomats said in a joint statement. Police officers escort a demonstrator during a rally of opposition parties' supporters, who protest against the new government's decision to suspend the European Union accession talks and refuse budgetary grants until 2028, in Tbilisi, Georgia November 30, 2024 Protesters light a fire at the base of a makeshift barricade erected in a street in Tbilisi during demonstrations against the government's decision to delay European Union membership talks Demonstrators build a barricade during a rally outside the parliament's building to protest the government's decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years in Tbilisi, Georgia, early Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024 Demonstrators burn an effigy of former Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili during a protest outside the parliament on November 30, 2024 in Tbilisi, Georgia A demonstrator holds a placard reading "We are here" during a protest against the new government's decision to suspend the European Union accession talks and refuse budgetary grants until 2028, in Tbilisi, Georgia November 30, 2024 The country's parliament building was set alight by rioters 'We remain committed to Georgia's course of European and Euro-Atlantic integration', they added. But the election was marred by accusations from observers that voters, particularly public sector workers, were pressured into voting for GD, with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) accusing the party of ballot stuffing and vote buying. The party was originally forecast to get just 35 per cent of the vote in last months election, but managed to later walk away with 54 per cent of the vote. The European Parliament this week voted to 444-72 to declare the parliamentary election results in the South Caucasus country invalid, claiming they 'do not serve as a reliable representation of the will of the Georgian people.' It also called for the election to be re-run within a year under international supervision. But Kobakhidze also ruled out holding fresh parliamentary elections amid a post-election crisis that has seen his legitimacy questioned both at home and internationally. 'Of course not,' he told journalists when asked whether the ruling Georgian Dream party, which claimed victory in the contested October elections, would agree to hold a new vote as demanded by the country's president, opposition, and the European Parliament. Zourabichvili said her country is becoming a 'quasi-Russian' state and that Georgian Dream controls the major institutions. Demonstrators shoot fireworks at the police during a protest outside the parliament on November 30, 2024 in Tbilisi, Georgia Demonstrators rally outside the parliament's building, center left, to protest the governments' decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024 A supporter of Georgia's opposition holds a European Union flag while attending a rally to protest after the government halted the EU application process until 2028 Thousands of Georgian protesters gather outside the parliament building to oppose the government's decision to delay European Union (EU) accession negotiations until 2028, in Tbilisi, Georgia on November 28, 2024 Demonstrators rally outside the parliament's building, center left, to protest the governments' decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024 Police were seen brutalising protesters in Tbilisi 'We are not demanding a revolution. We are asking for new elections, but in conditions that will ensure that the will of the people will not be misrepresented or stolen again,' she said. 'Georgia has been always resisting Russian influence and will not accept having its vote stolen and its destiny stolen.' According to opinion polls, becoming a part of the European Union was a popular choice among many in the country, with joining the diplomatic mission being a part of Georgia's constitution. But Kobakhidze said he would be utilising a 'diplomatic response' if the EU tried to interfere in Georgia any further. Kobakhidze said that his government is committed to facilitating Georgia's integration into the EU by the desired 2030 timeline. He said: 'Our approach to this goal is through peace, dignity and prosperity, not blackmail. We will not tolerate manipulation or attempts to divide our society through artificial means.' The EU granted Georgia candidate status in December 2023 on condition that it meets the bloc's recommendations. But it put its accession on hold and cut financial support earlier this year after the passage of a 'foreign influence' law widely seen as a blow to democratic freedoms. People gather in protest outside the parliament on November 29, 2024 in Tbilisi, Georgia A demonstrator takes part in a protest against the new government's decision to suspend the European Union accession talks and refuse budgetary grants until 2028, outside parliament in Tbilisi, Georgia November 30, 2024 Many fear the government plans on moving away from the EU and building a closer relationship with Vladimir Putin and Russia, and that the state's use of violence is a reflection of this deepening relationship with autocrat Vladimir Putin. Police were cowering behind their shields as fireworks are blasted nearby in the country's capital of Tbilisi amid the post-election crisis. Officers were last night seen retaliating with force against protesters using water cannons. Heavy force was also used against members of the media as well as loudspeakers being utilised to shout profanities and insults at the crowds on Friday. Keir Starmer has been accused of trying to bring the Mayor of London 'to heel' after introducing new rules. The Prime Minister pushed through a rule change which critics say will limit the freedom of Labour mayors. Mayors such as Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham will have to seek sign-off from party leaders for a range of moves, including running again for election and having report cards on their work. They will also have to hand over a portion of their salary to Labour HQ for disciplinary action. A Left-wing member of the National Executive Committee said this is meant to 'bring the mayors to heel'. They think its a result of disagreements between the PM and mayors on the Ulez scheme and the Middle East war. The news follows trade unions accusing the Prime Minister's senior staff of ousting Louise Haigh. Another critic slammed the move as 'top-down control freakery' where leadership wants to 'take away popularity'. Keir Starmer has been accused of trying to bring the Mayor of London 'to heel' after introducing new rules. They are pictured together in St James Park on May 1, 2024 Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, during a meeting with English regional mayors at No10 Rachel Reeves, with Transport Secretary Louise Haigh and the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham travelling to Stalybridge station by electric train The member of the NEC told The Telegraph: 'It's a move to bring the mayors to heel. That's concerning because they're some of the most popular figures in the Labour party. 'Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham are threats to Keir Starmer, who doesn't have a great approval rating. Ulez and Gaza were huge issues. Mayors were much more outspoken than the front bench would have liked them to be.' In 2023, Khan and Starmer had a public spat over the expansion of the London Mayor's Ulez scheme. And when Labour came under scrutiny over calls for a ceasefire in Gaza last year, Khan launched a direct challenge to Sir Keir. The London mayor became the most high profile figure to back calls for a complete break in fighting between Israel and Hamas that has claimed thousands of lives since the Palestinian terrorists' brutal raid. Sir Keir called for a 'humanitarian pause' in fighting but also backed Israeli's right to defend itself and retrieve hostages taken by Hamas. It sparked a full-scale Labour battle, with a quarter of his MPs joining Khan in calling for an end to fighting to let aid into the besieged enclave. In a video, the London mayor said: 'Thousands of innocent civilians have already been killed in Israel and Gaza. With the humanitarian crisis set to deteriorate even further, I'm calling for a ceasefire.' Khan and Starmer have had public spats over the expansion of the London Mayor's Ulez scheme, Gaza and Trump Angela Rayner's department is preparing to roll out an expansion of regional mayors in the coming years. The rule changes approved by Labour's NEC will ensure the new batch are subject to the leadership's wishes, Left-wing opponents claimed This May, Khan urged Keir Starmer to 'call out' Donald Trump branding him a 'racist, sexist homophobe'. The London Mayor risked derailing Labour's efforts to extend an olive branch ahead of the presidential election in November, which Trump won. Khan told Politico that the UK should not be 'rolling out a red carpet' for Trump - with whom he has a long-running feud. I'm quite clear, I understand on Trump,' the mayor said. 'He's a racist. He's a sexist. He's a homophobe. And it's very important, particularly when you've got a special relationship, that you treat them as a best mate. 'If my best mate was a racist, or a sexist or a homophobe, I'd call him out and I'd explain to him why those views are wrong.' Khan added: 'I worry about a Donald Trump presidency,' 'You know, I've been speaking to governors from America. I've been speaking to mayors from America. Of course, we'll have a relationship whoever the president is. But we shouldn't be literally rolling out a red carpet for a state visit. 'It's really important that we of course, have good relations with Democrats and Republicans. But I lost count of the amount of Republicans I've spoken to who are also worried about a Trump presidency.' Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at a reception during the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool Andy Burnham leaves following his roundtable meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer Khan also taunted Mr Trump about his own election victory, when he trounced Tory rival Susan Hall to get a third term. The mayor said: 'Listen, I've got more latitude as a mayor to just to say what I feel about Trump, and I make this point. He called me a 'stone cold loser'. I've won three. How many has he won?' Angela Rayner's department is preparing to roll out an expansion of regional mayors in the coming years. The rule changes approved by Labour's NEC will ensure the new batch are subject to the leadership's wishes, Left-wing opponents claimed. It comes as the Labour Left is in revolt over what it regards as a 'political hit job' on former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh by allies of Sir Keir. The anger over extraordinary claims that No 10 briefed the media to force Ms Haigh's resignation threatens to overshadow the Prime Minister's 'relaunch' of his Government this week. Ms Haigh resigned from the Cabinet last week when it emerged that she had pleaded guilty to a fraud offence a decade ago. She told police in 2013 that she had lost her work mobile phone in a mugging, only for it to emerge later that the device had not been taken. In a new twist last night, Sky News reported that police officers who investigated Ms Haigh's 'stolen' phone believed a photo she submitted of the handset had been taken after the alleged theft. Sources close to Ms Haigh denied that a photo was submitted. It came as her supporters made the extraordinary claim that allies of Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir's Chief of Staff, tried to 'take out' Ms Haigh during the General Election by using a secret backchannel to the Tory campaign to brief them about the conviction but they couldn't track it down in court records. Supporters claim that after Labour won the election allies of Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir's Chief of Staff, found out more about the offence and when Ms Haigh annoyed the leadership by pushing a Left-wing agenda, they briefed it to force her out Pictured: Ms Haigh's letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer The supporters claim that after Labour won the election McSweeney allies found out more about the offence and, when Ms Haigh annoyed the leadership by pushing a Left-wing agenda, they briefed it to force her out. The claims are strongly denied by Mr McSweeney. However, Ms Haigh's allies believe she became vulnerable after former Chief of Staff Sue Gray was ousted from No 10 in the autumn amid a power struggle with Mr McSweeney. Ms Gray's son, new-entry Labour MP Liam Conlon, was appointed as Ms Haigh's parliamentary private secretary immediately after the election. Last night, friends of Ms Haigh accused the PM of 'looking weak' by not standing by her. They insisted she had had no intention of quitting on Thursday night until Mr McSweeney told her she had to go with Sir Keir agreeing that she should resign. That came as a 'big shock', one friend said, because Ms Haigh had given Sir Keir full details of her conviction when he appointed her to his Shadow Cabinet in 2020. 'It's made Sir Keir look very weak,' the ally added. However, this has been contradicted by No 10 sources, who claimed last week that 'more information had since come to light'. This video is no longer available This video is no longer available A young man has faced court hours after an alleged late-night violent rampage which ended in police Tasering him twice while he was naked. Bizarre footage filmed by shocked bystanders shows Puhi Clark, 23, in his birthday suit wearing nothing just socks while surrounded by police in Perth's busy nightclub precinct in Northbridge on Saturday night. Dozens of stunned revellers watched on as Clark allegedly attempted to open the door of a stationary Uber and enter the vehicle while the driver was still inside. Footage showed Clark on top of the driver, grabbing the steering wheel with both hands while surrounded by police and bystanders attempting to drag him out of the rideshare vehicle to detain him, Seven News Perth reported. Clark is heard shrieking in pain after he was Tasered. He's also accused of earlier assaulting a female police officer. A male officer fired their Taser at him before Clark allegedly struck his female colleague in the head and face, who suffered minor injuries. Wild footage has emerged of police using aTaser on a 23-year-old man on an alleged rampage while naked in a popular nightclub area in Perth on Saturday night Dozens of stunned revellers watched on as Puhi Clark allegedly attempted to carjack a stationary Uber while the driver still inside. Pictured are police and bystanders pulling him from the vehicle Clark then took a swing at one of the male officer's male colleague and a member of the public before running down the street with one of the handcuffs still attached to one of his arms. Clark also appeared to stick out his tongue and taunt shocked onlookers. He was eventually chased down by additional officers called to the scene and members of the public. He allegedly tried to steal the Uber before five officers and several bystanders eventually pulled him out of the vehicle and eventually managed to detain and subdue him. Clark was charged with a string of offences, including disorderly behaviour in a public place, obstruct police officers, assault public officer and attempting to steal a motor vehicle. He spent a night in custody before appearing in Perth Magistrate's Court on Sunday, where the prosecutor described the allegations as bizarre. Clark was granted bail and must adhere to a strict 9pm curfew He refused to reveal while he was naked as he tried to shied his face when confronted by reporters while leaving court. A man has been arrested on suspicion of raping a woman in The Groucho Club. Scotland Yard said the alleged attack took place on Wednesday, November 13. A 34-year-old man was taken into custody last night after being detained at a Hertfordshire address on suspicion of rape. He remains in custody. Police do not believe any staff were involved in the alleged offence. It was revealed this week that the famous club in London's Soho had been closed with immediate effect at the request of police. A Met Police spokesperson said today: 'On Tuesday, 26 November, a Westminster Council licensing hearing ruled that the licence for The Groucho Club should be suspended for up to 28 days until a full hearing can take place. A man has been arrested after a woman was allegedly raped in The Groucho Club (file pic) A notice on the front of The Groucho Club this week which confirmed that it had been forced to close after its licence was suspended Scotland Yard said the alleged attack took place on Wednesday, November 13 'The initial hearing was held following an application by the Met which raised concerns that the venue had breached licensing conditions and had been the scene of the serious criminal offence set out above.' The investigation is being led by officers at the Met's Central West Public Protection Team. The female complainant is being supported by specialist officers. Two documents detailing why Scotland Yard wanted a review of the celebrity haunt's licence were heavily redacted by Westminster City Council. The documents requesting a 'summary licence review' for the club under Section 53A (1) (b) of the 2003 Licensing Act were drawn up by the Metropolitan Police on Friday and Saturday last week. A spokesperson for Westminster City Council told MailOnline this week that the decision to suspend the club's license at the request of the police was made at a licensing committee meeting. The issue about the club which opened in 1985 was the only item on the agenda at the meeting which was held in private this week. A New York City influencer shocked her jean-clad family members with the extravagant outfit she wore to Thanksgiving dinner. Brigette Pheloung, 27, has racked up millions of views on her holiday outfits videos where she stuns her guests with the lavish threads she dons at the casual gathering. She previously made headlines for revealing that she and her twin sister share one bra and all of their underwear between the two of them. For Turkey Day this year, she wore a $9,000 one-of-a-kind hand knit sweater dress. Pheloung posted videos detailing her getting ready process - as she put on and accessorized the outrageous outfit with a fur headpiece and delicate white gloves. 'This is 100 percent hand knit by a really cool designer who just graduated from Parsons and I just cannot even get over how cool it is,' she said. 'This outfit is giving Barbie on top of the cake meets Christian girl fall.' She made a dramatic entrance to her dinner that prompted lots of smiles and laughter from her doting family - who were all wearing casual jeans and sweaters. Brigette Pheloung, 27, shocked her jean clad family members with the extravagant outfit she wore to Thanksgiving dinner For Turkey Day this year she wore a $9,000 one of a kind hand knit ginormous sweater dress Her cousins lined up to take photos with her - and she posted one hilarious video where a child mistakes her dress for a blanket. Pheloung also revealed she plans to keep up with the tradition and will wear another over-the-top outfit on Christmas. The influencer's comment section was flooded with people appalled by the costs of the dress, that they say looks like cheap blanket. 'So you made thanksgiving about you,' one person said. Another said, '$9,000 for literally a sweater dress is insane!' 'You couldve just cut a hole into a blanket,' a third person said. A fourth person added, 'I dont often say this but girl you got too much money.' 'Hey so I have a blanket that looks just like this from target,' said a fifth person. Others loved the elaborate dress - and thought it was fun that she dressed up for a laid-back occasion, making the day memorable for her family. Her cousins lined up to take photos with her and she posted one hilarious video where a child mistakes her dress for a blanket She previously made headlines for revealing her and her twin sister share one bra and all of their underwear between the two of them 'The best part is you can eat however much food you want and no one would know,' one person said. 'I love that its basically a cozy sweater (something most people wear to thanksgiving) but in ball gown form,' said a second person. 'Forget the turkey, youre the main event every year! The excitement on your familys face is priceless,' said a third. Britons using cash-only nail bars, barbers or car washes are 'feeding the problem' of illegal migration and could be creating more victims of slavery, a top Home Office official has warned. Bas Javid, the director general of immigration enforcement, said that working in the UK's black economy is a 'pull factor' for those coming to the country illegally. This includes those who make perilous journeys in small boats across the Channel after people-smuggling gangs sell Britain as 'the land of milk and honey'. Mr Javid, a former top police officer and the brother of Tory ex-home secretary Sajid Javid, told the Sunday Times: 'People should recognise they are contributing to it and if they are, they are feeding the problem. 'Part of our job... has to be to educate the wider public that if you do use illegal car washes or go to illegal nail bars then you are feeding the problem, and at the end of that there are victims.' Although he said there were legitimate reasons for some businesses to only accept cash, Mr Javid urged customers to 'look at the conditions and the way that people operate'. 'I think we've got to strike the balance of making sure that people are cognisant and aware that this environment of illegal working activity and exploitation exists,' he added. Britons using cash-only nail bars, barbers or car washes are 'feeding the problem' of illegal migration and could be creating more victims of slavery, a top Home Office official has warned A group of people crowd an inflatable dinghy in an apparent attempt to cross the Channel after leaving Ecault beach in Saint-Etienne-au-Mont, northern France, on October 30 Your browser does not support iframes. Bas Javid is a former top police officer and the brother of Tory ex-home secretary Sajid Javid New figures from the Office for National Statistics showed net migration - the difference between the number of people arriving and leaving the country - hit a record 906,000 in 2023. Mr Javid told the newspaper there was no exact figure for the number of illegal migrants in the UK, but said the majority - about two-thirds - arrived through legal routes rather than on small boats. More than 33,000 illegal migrants have crossed the Channel this year - including more than 20,000 since Sir Keir Starmer has been Prime Minister and already above the 29,437 total for 2023. 'A lot of people who come into the UK who end up being here illegally, the large majority arrive through legal routes,' he said. 'A good portion of those people arrive entirely legally and then during their time here, for one reason or another - that could because they turn to criminality, or it could be they just overstay their visa - they become illegal.' Mr Javid said this includes people who apply for student visas for top universities and deliberately overstay. Following the release of the ONS migration figures on Thursday, Sir Keir Starmer used a Downing Street press conference to claim the previous Tory government had overseen a 'one-nation experiment in open borders'. The Prime Minister promised to set out plans to reduce immigration and reform the UK's post-Brexit points-based system. A senior Cabinet minister this morning confirmed that the Government's new 'Plan for Change' - to be announced this week - would mention both legal and illegal migration. But Pat McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said a 'numerical target' for migration numbers would not be part of the announcement. Sir Keir will use a major speech to set out milestones in key policy areas, to try and achieve the missions laid out in Labour's general election manifesto. Mr McFadden was asked by the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme whether the announcement would include a target on reducing net migration. 'Targets for net migration haven't worked very well,' he said. 'What's happened is it's gone up an awful lot in recent years. We do want to bring it down. 'The exact number that you need will always ebb and flow depending on the needs of the economy.' He added: 'We're not going to have a numerical target for net migration. 'But we are going to make sure that we do more to train our own workforce and do more to get long term sick people off benefits and into work.' This is the moment a pro-Palestine protester seemed to perform a 'Nazi salute' in front of Jewish counter-demonstrators. The Met Police want to speak to the man for an alleged public order offence in central London following Saturday's protests. The elderly man man can be seen wearing a dark flat cap, a dark brown jacket, dark brown scarf and black rucksack as he allegedly performed the salute on Coventry Street between 1pm and 4pm. A video posted by counter-protesters Stop the Hate shows the man in a crowd appearing to salute. The group said on X: 'When we tell you these are hate marches, when we tell you that British Jews are frightened to enter central London when they come to town - THIS IS WHY. 'A Nazi salute in full view of officers and directed at Jews. 'How many more instances like this do Jewish Londoners have to endure before you do something to stop these hate marches?' Metropolitan Police had warned a heavier than usual presence would be apparent yesterday as the protests coincided with the start of Christmas shopping and Winter Wonderland festivities. This is the moment a pro-Palestine protester seemed to perform a 'Nazi salute' in front of Jewish counter-demonstrators The elderly man man can be seen wearing a dark flat cap, a dark brown jacket, dark brown scarf and black rucksack as he allegedly performed the salute on Coventry Street Counter-protesters from Stop the Hate gathered on Coventry Street near Piccadilly Circus on the route of the PSC demonstration to urge marchers to 'stop supporting terror' Bemused shoppers took photos as the streets around Piccadilly Circus in central London were flooded with Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstrators. The march from Park Lane to Whitehall marked their 21st protest since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. Meanwhile counter-protesters from Stop the Hate gathered on Coventry Street near Piccadilly Circus, on the route of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) march, to urge the marchers to 'stop supporting terror'. The pro-Palestine protesters and counter demonstrators hurled abuse at each other as they met at Coventry Street, but were kept apart by metal barriers and a line of police officers. Met Police has warned that expressing support for Palestinian group Hamas and Lebanese militants Hezbollah is a criminal offence, because both are proscribed terror organisations. Offences include chanting slogans, wearing clothing and displaying articles such as flags, signs or logos that express support for those groups. The pro-Palestine march was also blocked at Piccadilly Circus when a group of men holding a banner ran into the middle of the road. They were pushed out of the way by police after a brief struggle. Counter-protesters from Stop the Hate gathered on Coventry Street near Piccadilly Circus Thousands participated in a pro-Palestine march through central London on Saturday However, Met Police posted on X later in the afternoon that the PSC march had 'passed the Stop The Hate counter-protest without incident'. PSC speeches took place in Whitehall, including from independent MP Jeremy Corbyn, with the assembly finishing by 4.30pm. The group, which has been at the forefront of organising pro-Palestine marches across the country, is demanding an end to 'British complicity in Israel's genocide and apartheid' of Gaza. Saturday's demonstration follows the agreement on Tuesday night of a 60-day truce between Israel and Iran-backed militants Hezbollah to suspend hostilities, with both sides withdrawing from southern Lebanon. Last week, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister, and Hamas's military chief, accusing them of crimes against humanity in connection with the war in Gaza. The UK would respect the process set out under domestic legislation when it comes to the arrest warrant, Downing Street said. The new year is going to start with a Wednesday, then a Thursday, then a Friday, which some on social media joked means 2025 is kicking off with a 'WTF.' An Instagram post by a popular meme account called 'todayyearsold' showed a screenshot of January 2025 on a calendar and circled the first three days of the year. 'Should we be worried that 2025 begins with a 'WTF,' the account wrote in a post that got more than 355,000 likes and over 1,200 comments. Many people pointed out that 2020 also started with a 'WTF' - an acronym for 'what the f**k' - and suggested this is a bad omen. 'Urmmmm the last time we started the year wtf it was 2020,' one person wrote. Others said this is 2025 reacting to the various woes seen last year. 'Its saying wtf was that referring to 2024 lol,' one wrote. 'Maybe thats 2025s response to 2024,' another wrote. Some clearly weren't as superstitious about particular dates. 'Every damn week ends in WTF,' someone pointed out. This post joking that 2025 will start with 'WTF' sparked a variety of reactions from social media users Even though this is clearly a light-hearted joke, there are plenty of indications that 2025 may be a tumultuous year. Perhaps most alarming is the recent escalations in the Russia-Ukraine war. The conflict has been brewing since 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea and exploded into all-out war in February 2022 when Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to invade Ukraine. In recent weeks, US President Joe Biden gave Ukraine the green light to blast targets inside Russia with US-supplied long-range missiles. The United Kingdom's Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has given Ukraine the same permission with British missiles. In response, Putin and his government have threatened nuclear war, racking many with acute fears of World War III breaking out. Close Putin ally Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council, said NATO and the US are now at 'full war' with Russia after the West crossed 'all red lines.' Another hotbed is in the Middle East, where dozens of armed conflicts threaten to plunge the world into a wider war. Israel has been at war with Hamas since October 7, 2023, when the terrorist group and other Palestinian contingencies launched a surprise attack on the Jewish country. A Ukrainian serviceman fires a rifle during a training exercise held at an undisclosed location in the Donetsk region Mourners attend a Ukrainian soldier's burial on November 30, 2024 in Kyiv, Ukraine More than 1,200 people were killed, most of them innocent men, women and children. Hamas also took 254 hostages that day. About half of the 101 foreign and Israeli hostages still in Gaza are thought to be alive. In Gaza, more than 44,000 people have been killed and more than 104,000 wounded in the nearly 14-month war, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Despite Israel and Hezbollah managing to agree to a ceasefire, there is no such deal on the table between Israel and Hamas. When he takes office in January, President-elect Donald Trump is expected to be staunch ally of Israel and its prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Slightly northeast of Israel is Syria, which continues to be one of the most dangerous countries in the world. Syria has been embroiled in a civil war since March 2012, after the country's leader Bashar al-Assad viciously cracked down on pro-democracy protests in his country during the Arab Spring. The war has been between the Syrian government and various rebel groups, some of which are backed by the United States. More than 507,000 people have died in the over 13-year-long war. Of that number, 164,000 of them were civilians. The war's outcome is more uncertain than ever now that rebels have captured Aleppo, Syria's second largest city. Pictured: Destroyed buildings in the central Gaza Strip following Israeli airstrikes An anti-government fighter stand near a Syrian regime tank abandoned along a road in the eastern part of Aleppo province on December 1, 2024. Syrian rebels took over Aleppo and drove out government troops Economic uncertainty is brewing around the world thanks to President-elect Donald Trump's wide-ranging tariff plans There also fears that massive changes are coming to the world economy thanks to advances in technology and new policies. As artificial intelligence become more powerful by the day, experts increasingly believe it will upend the entire labor market and make many jobs completely obsolete. Sam Altman, the man behind ChatGPT, has been blunt in his predictions that AI will radically alter the labor market, and eliminate some kinds of jobs. 'A lot of people working on AI pretend that it's only going to be good; it's only going to be a supplement; no one is ever going to be replaced,' he said last July. 'Jobs are definitely going to go away, full stop,' the OpenAI CEO added. In the more immediate term, Trump's tariff plans - which are increasing in scope - has many around the world worrying that they will trigger a worldwide trade war and raise prices for ordinary consumers. New analysis suggests if Trump follows through on all of his proposed tariffs, they will cost the average American $3,200 per year as foreign importers seek to hike prices to compensate. More than $1.3 trillion-worth of goods were imported in to America from the three countries last year, according to US Census Bureau data. That means goods ranging from cars, gas, smartphones and appliances to pharmaceuticals and apparel could go up in price, experts have warned. Only time will tell what the world's fortune will be in 2025. And in just 31 days, there may be a clearer answer. Donald Trump ally Steve Bannon has accused Ellen DeGeneres of 'infesting the Cotswolds' after she fled America following the election. The former White House chief strategist, 71, accused the talk show superstar and her wife Portia De Rossi of 'whining like little children'. DeGeneres is living in an idyllic multi-million pound farmhouse in the region after deciding to emigrate from the US in protest at Trump's impending presidency. The 66-year-old and De Rossi, 51, who donated money to Kamala Harris's doomed campaign, decided to 'get the hell out', apparently vowing to never go back. But Bannon has hit back and said 'they're all infesting the Cotswolds'. Speaking from his home in Arizona, he told The Sunday Times: 'F*** them. They're not resilient They had every advantage of state power. 'They had the high ground. And guess what, we broke them and now they're whining like little children.' Bannon eye-catchingly predicted that Maga would govern for the next 50 years in America if Trump delivers on his economical promises. Donald Trump ally Steve Bannon has accused Ellen DeGeneres of 'infesting the Cotswolds' after she fled America following the election Ellen, 66, and her wife Portia, 51, left the US where they lived in California after Donald Trump secured the presidency - and have moved to start a new life in rural England And he thinks Trump's pal Nigel Farage will be Britain's next prime minister with Reform UK overtaking the Tories at the next general election. Bannon was convicted in 2022 to two counts of contempt of Congress in 2022 for refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena related to a January 6 Capitol riot investigation. He was released in October having been incarcerated for four months at a Danbury, Connecticut, correctional facility. 'The four months in federal prison not only didn't break me, it empowered me,' Bannon said on his podcast. DeGeneres and De Rossi are said to have 'fallen in love' with the picturesque estate set in acres of rolling Cotswold countryside which also includes a helicopter pad and swimming pool. But the area around the couple's dream home this week was swamped by astonishing flooding just days after they moved in. The couple were left virtually marooned just days after moving into their new home after a tributary of the River Thames broke its banks. It came after the area was battered by days of torrential rain and winds of up to 80mph. And Bannon thinks Trump's pal Nigel Farage will be Britain's next prime minister with Reform UK overtaking the Tories at the next general election Bannon was Trump's White House chief strategist during the first six months of his first term Ellen and Portia have reportedly fallen in love with their Cotswolds life in the UK countryside The couple's dream home this week was swamped by astonishing flooding just days after she moved in Originally built as a farmhouse, it was converted into a modern luxury home more than 15 years ago but still retains its old-world charm, with the outlying barns connected to the main building via glazed passageways. In total there are six bedrooms, and four bathrooms and council records show the previous owner installed an eco-friendly heat pump to supply heating to the house and pool. There is also a five bay garage and a separate one bedroom cottage. A source in the Cotswolds said: 'It really is a beautiful house. 'It's so quintessentially English which as Americans they have fallen in love with, although they can forget about any glamorous southern California nightlife and weather. 'The area itself is very quiet, some might even say boring as there's not much to do, especially in the colder months but there are lots of celebrities in the area.' In Australia, it's estimated over a million people use a vape every single day. While nicotine in any amount is unsafe to consume, an Australian woman was horrified to find out just how many cigarettes her "vape is equal to" after an eye-opening Google search. Social media personality Cassie told followers online this week how she was curious about the volume of nicotine in her IGET vape, so she embarked on a quick search. "I googled the nicotine content in the vapes I usually consume tell me why, apparently, one IGET Bar is equal to 230 cigarettes," she said. "230! I go through two of those a week what the f**k," the young Aussie said in astonishment at the fact she apparently smokes the equivalent of 460 cigarettes in seven days. Experts say that though vaping and smoking cigarettes each produce nicotine, the delivery methods differ, as does how much an individual will consume. ADVERTISEMENT A typical cigarette contains around 10-12 milligrams of nicotine, with a smoker inhaling about 1-2 milligrams per cigarette. Vapes, on the other hand, can have nicotine concentrations ranging from three to 50 milligrams per millilitre of e-liquid. The amount of nicotine a user absorbs depends on their vaping habits, such as puff frequency and duration. Both can lead to addiction and harmful health effects. While the result of Cassie's search is plausible, nicotine delivery ranges depending on individual usage patterns, and different vapes and cigarette brands have varying nicotine levels. Such comparisons are more like rough estimates rather than precise equivalents, according to the federal government. Social media users make 'insane' discovery about their vapes Earlier this year, another vaper based in the US made a similarly concerning discovery after his friend exhaled in his electric car. ADVERTISEMENT Back in August, the driver shared his shock at realising the air quality inside the vehicle drastically decreased after the exhale. Astonished, he took to social media, showing a view of his control panel which revealed the quality rating went from "good" to "very unhealthy" almost instantly after exhaling. "Oh my God," he said in the video. "And people drive around with their kids in the car? That was insane. I am so thankful that my car has that feature, because it has just opened my eyes". Speaking to Yahoo News Australia at the time, Deputy Chair with the Royal Australian College of Practitioners (RACGP) Victoria, Dr Aadhil Aziz, said this technology increased in prevalence after the pandemic, and while generally helpful, readings shouldn't be taken on face value. He questioned the accuracy of sensors in vehicles altogether, particularly as some don't even specify proper measuring units. ADVERTISEMENT "They've always had filters, but filtration systems became much more advertised in a post-Covid world. I think Tesla calls it biohazard detection or something like that, so they're very much around," Aziz told Yahoo News. He said the sensor may be perceived a good thing because it essentially warned the man that "vaping is bad". But he more generally warned Australians against relying on this kind of technology when it comes to genuine air quality measurements. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. A woman has died and another rushed to hospital after an incident at a nightclub, with the police launching a probe into what happened. Emergency services were called to the Lux nightclub on Dunbar Street in Belfast at 2.20am this morning. There were reports that two women had fallen unconscious. Sadly one woman - who was in her 20s - could not be saved, but the other was taken to hospital for treatment. Police have launched an investigation into the death and asked anyone with information to come forward. A Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) spokesperson told The Mirror: 'Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the sudden death of a woman in her 20s at a night club in Belfast city centre during the early hours of this morning, Sunday 1 December. 'Police, fire crews and paramedics were called to the venue at around 2.20am following reports that two women had fallen unconscious. Emergency services were called to the Lux nightclub on Dunbar Street in Belfast at 2.20am Sadly one woman - who was in her 20s - could not be saved, but the other was taken to hospital for treatment 'Sadly upon the arrival of the emergency services, one of the women was found to have passed away. The other was taken to hospital where she remains undergoing treatment.' Sinn Fein MLA Orlaithi Flyn said she was 'shocked and deeply saddened' to hear of the incident. She called it an 'absolute tragedy' and expressed her condolences to the young woman's family and friends. Apple Martin has been accused of having a 'mean girl' moment at her debutante ball in Paris. The daughter of Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay's Chris Martin made her debut at the glitzy event on Saturday. Martin, 20, was among around 20 young women who were presented at the prestigious Le Bal des Debutantes held in the $1,000-a-night Hotel Shangri-La. The Vanderbilt University student stunned in a strapless sky blue Valentino Haute Couture gown, especially created for her by Creative Director Alessandro Michele. However, many people were left shocked by her behavior after a clip emerged of her stealing the spotlight from another girl who was having her picture taken. The other debutante was seen taking her turn posing for the camera when Martin appeared from behind and sashayed into the shot. A source close to Martin's mom has since said the footage was taken out of context and that she would, 'never mean to take the spotlight from anyone'. Posing with her hands on her hips, Martin edged her way into the frame - forcing the other girl out. Apple Martin has been accused of having a 'mean girl' moment at a Paris debutante ball The other debutante could do nothing but look on with an awkward laugh, as Martin proceeds to pout and pose for several photos. Eventually, she finishes and steps out of the way - almost cutting off another debutante who is waiting for her turn for a picture in the process. The move did not go down well on social media after the footage, taken by French outlet Paris Match, was shared on TikTok. 'How Obnoxious and entitled she is,' one viewer wrote. 'Oh wow, why did Apple do that? Let the other girl have a moment,' another added. 'Not a good behavior for such an event,' a third person agreed, while another described it as 'giving Regina George' in reference to the notorious queen bee in the movie Mean Girls. However, not everyone was bothered and some even suggested that the Martin and the other debutante know each other. 'That looked obnoxious, but she probably was joking,' one person said. 'Oh gosh they're obviously friends and the girl in black was stepping out of frame anyways. She's acting her age,' another added. Martin, who attended the glitzy event with mom Gwyneth Paltrow, was seen cutting off another girl who was getting her picture taken Martin's mom has previously praised her daughter's 'sense of entitlement,' saying it helps her break down gender inequalities. 'They have, and I mean this word in the best possible way, a sense of 'entitlement' that's beautiful,' Paltrow told People, talking about her daughter and her friends. 'It's not spoiled, [they] are here for what the boys are going to get too,' Paltrow explained. 'I find it very uplifting and heartening that we all seem to be going in this direction together.' The Shakespeare in Love actress was in attendance at Saturday's event along with her ex-husband and their son Moses, 18, as well as her mom Blythe Danner. Another clip showed Martin glaring at a woman who was encroaching on a family photograph. The family joined an exclusive list of attendees who are all personally invited by the ball's host, Ophelie Renouard. Renouard invites her guests based on their appearance, intelligence, and family connections. The event is billed as a charity fundraiser and will benefit two entities connected with children's health, according to Hello! Debutantes on the list of attendees include European royalty as well as the daughters of A-list celebrities. The Vanderbilt University student has mostly kept out of the public eye, but has decided to begin a new chapter in her life according to Vogue (Pictured in Paris in January 2023) Apple's dad Chris Martin, 47, and brother Moses, 18, also attended the event wearing custom Valentino tuxedos (Pictured in New York City in October) Ava Philippe, 25, the daughter of Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Philippe, attended in 2017. Emily in Paris star, Lily Collins, 35, made her debut in 2007. Each debutante is accompanied by a male partner, known as a chevalier, who is also typically from a prestigious family. Martin was accompanied by Count Leo Cosima Henckel von Donnersmarck. Georgia's controversial prime minister has accused 'foreign instructors' of being behind the violence that has consumed Tbilisi for the last three nights, as a British man was arrested for breaking into the country's parliament building. Georgia plunged into a full-on civil revolt as countless protesters overran Tbilisi and clashed with police, following the government's decision to shelve its EU accession bid. The country's parliament building was set alight by furious rioters who threw fireworks and stones, while an effigy of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the shadowy founder of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party, was stuffed on a stake and set alight to whoops and cheers from the crowd. Fireworks were also thrown as riot police, with one video showing a lone protester taking aim at cops with a firework 'machine gun'. Police were accused of brutalising protesters. Witnesses reported seeing protesters in Tbilisi being chased and beaten by police as demonstrators rallied in front of the country's parliament. One video showed a woman lying weakly on the ground and a police officer kicked her head, before she collapsed as a second cop ran up and kicked her. Observers could be heard screaming as they witnessed the violent scene. Officials said that 44 people were hospitalised by police-deployed water cannons and tear gas. At a press conference today, Georgia's prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze claimed without evidence there was a 'British citizen who illegally broke into the parliament building.' Protesters clash with police during a demonstration against the government's decision to delay European Union membership talks amid a post-election crisis, outside the Georgia Parliament in Tbilisi, early on December 1, 2024 Protesters light a fire at the base of a makeshift barricade erected in a street in Tbilisi during demonstrations against the government's decision to delay European Union membership talks amid a post-election crisis, early on December 1, 2024 Protesters holding Georgian and European flags clash with police during a demonstration against the government's decision to delay European Union membership talks amid a post-election crisis, in Tbilisi, early on December 1, 2024 'We may be dealing with foreign instructors who organize violent groups', he added. MailOnline has contacted the UK's Foreign Office for comment. The country's interior ministry has since confirmed that around 107 people were taken into custody following the violent clashes on Friday. The number of people arrested last night is still not known. Kobakhidze, who was re-elected in the October election, said president Salome Zourabichvili would have to leave office at the end of her term this month despite her statement that she will refuse to do so. Zourabichvili said on Saturday she would stay in office because the new parliament was illegitimate and had no authority to name her successor. Kobakhidze warned that 'any violation of the law will be met with the full rigor of the law'. 'Neither will those politicians who hide in their offices and sacrifice members of their violent groups to severe punishment escape responsibility,' he said at a briefing on Sunday. He also accused unspecified 'foreign entities' of working on the 'Ukrainisation' of Georgia with a 'Maidan-style scenario' - a reference to Ukraine's 2014 Maidan revolution which ousted the country's Moscow-friendly president and unleashed a decade of momentous change for Ukraine, eventually leading to its current war with Russia. Mr Kobakhidze also dismissed the US State Department's statement on Saturday that it was suspending its strategic partnership with Georgia. The statement condemned Georgia's decision to halt its efforts towards EU accession. 'You can see that the outgoing administration is trying to leave the new administration with as difficult a legacy as possible. They are doing this regarding Ukraine, and now also concerning Georgia,' Mr Kobakhidze said of the US. 'This will not have any fundamental significance. We will wait for the new administration and discuss everything with them.' Since the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party claimed victory in October elections which the opposition said were fraudulent, the government has stoked outrage by delaying EU membership talks, a move that has caught the ire of more than 100 serving Georgian diplomats, who signed a letter decrying the government's decision. 'We believe that removing the opening of EU accession negotiations from the political agenda until 2028 contradicts the requirements of Article 78 of the Constitution of Georgia,' the diplomats said in a joint statement. Georgia's prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze (pictured) claimed without evidence there was a 'British citizen who illegally broke into the parliament building' Police use tear gas to disperse Georgian opposition supporters protesting in front of the Parliament building in Tbilisi, Georgia, 30 November 2024 Georgian opposition supporters launch fireworks towards the police during a protest in front of the Parliament building in Tbilisi, Georgia, 30 November 2024 Police officers escort a demonstrator during a rally of opposition parties' supporters, who protest against the new government's decision to suspend the European Union accession talks and refuse budgetary grants until 2028, in Tbilisi, Georgia November 30, 2024 Protesters light a fire at the base of a makeshift barricade erected in a street in Tbilisi during demonstrations against the government's decision to delay European Union membership talks Demonstrators build a barricade during a rally outside the parliament's building to protest the government's decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years in Tbilisi, Georgia, early Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024 Demonstrators burn an effigy of former Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili during a protest outside the parliament on November 30, 2024 in Tbilisi, Georgia A demonstrator holds a placard reading "We are here" during a protest against the new government's decision to suspend the European Union accession talks and refuse budgetary grants until 2028, in Tbilisi, Georgia November 30, 2024 The country's parliament building was set alight by rioters 'We remain committed to Georgia's course of European and Euro-Atlantic integration', they added. But the election was marred by accusations from observers that voters, particularly public sector workers, were pressured into voting for GD, with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) accusing the party of ballot stuffing and vote buying. The party was originally forecast to get just 35 per cent of the vote in last months election, but managed to later walk away with 54 per cent of the vote. The European Parliament this week voted to 444-72 to declare the parliamentary election results in the South Caucasus country invalid, claiming they 'do not serve as a reliable representation of the will of the Georgian people.' It also called for the election to be re-run within a year under international supervision. But Kobakhidze also ruled out holding fresh parliamentary elections amid a post-election crisis that has seen his legitimacy questioned both at home and internationally. 'Of course not,' he told journalists when asked whether the ruling Georgian Dream party, which claimed victory in the contested October elections, would agree to hold a new vote as demanded by the country's president, opposition, and the European Parliament. Zourabichvili said her country is becoming a 'quasi-Russian' state and that Georgian Dream controls the major institutions. Georgian opposition supporters burn effigy of Georgian Prime Minister Kobakhidze, during a protest in front of the Parliament building in Tbilisi, Georgia, 30 November 2024 Demonstrators shoot fireworks at the police during a protest outside the parliament on November 30, 2024 in Tbilisi, Georgia Demonstrators rally outside the parliament's building, center left, to protest the governments' decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024 A supporter of Georgia's opposition holds a European Union flag while attending a rally to protest after the government halted the EU application process until 2028 Thousands of Georgian protesters gather outside the parliament building to oppose the government's decision to delay European Union (EU) accession negotiations until 2028, in Tbilisi, Georgia on November 28, 2024 Demonstrators rally outside the parliament's building, center left, to protest the governments' decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union for four years in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024 Police were seen brutalising protesters in Tbilisi 'We are not demanding a revolution. We are asking for new elections, but in conditions that will ensure that the will of the people will not be misrepresented or stolen again,' she said. 'Georgia has been always resisting Russian influence and will not accept having its vote stolen and its destiny stolen.' According to opinion polls, becoming a part of the European Union was a popular choice among many in the country, with joining the diplomatic mission being a part of Georgia's constitution. But Kobakhidze said he would be utilising a 'diplomatic response' if the EU tried to interfere in Georgia any further. Kobakhidze said that his government is committed to facilitating Georgia's integration into the EU by the desired 2030 timeline. He said: 'Our approach to this goal is through peace, dignity and prosperity, not blackmail. We will not tolerate manipulation or attempts to divide our society through artificial means.' The EU granted Georgia candidate status in December 2023 on condition that it meets the bloc's recommendations. But it put its accession on hold and cut financial support earlier this year after the passage of a 'foreign influence' law widely seen as a blow to democratic freedoms. People gather in protest outside the parliament on November 29, 2024 in Tbilisi, Georgia A demonstrator takes part in a protest against the new government's decision to suspend the European Union accession talks and refuse budgetary grants until 2028, outside parliament in Tbilisi, Georgia November 30, 2024 Many fear the government plans on moving away from the EU and building a closer relationship with Vladimir Putin and Russia, and that the state's use of violence is a reflection of this deepening relationship with autocrat Vladimir Putin. Police were cowering behind their shields as fireworks are blasted nearby in the country's capital of Tbilisi amid the post-election crisis. Officers were last night seen retaliating with force against protesters using water cannons. Heavy force was also used against members of the media as well as loudspeakers being utilised to shout profanities and insults at the crowds on Friday. Police failed to solve a staggering 31,980 domestic burglaries - three in every four - across England and Wales in the three months leading up to June this year, it can be revealed. New data from the Home Office has revealed that the majority of perpetrators are getting away with the crime, which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in custody. Homeowners in typically richer suburban areas are being disproportionately hit, the figures reveal. Warwickshire, Surrey and Wiltshire are among nine police forces which reported that at least 80 per cent of all burglary cases remained unsolved. But Hertfordshire Police have the worst record on the issue, with 561 out of 669 burglary investigations unsolved - equivalent to 84 per cent. In the City of London, meanwhile, the force admitted that every single investigation was completed without a single suspect being identified in the quarter leading up to June. Overall, just 2,494 charges were brought forward out of 42,488 investigations where an outcome was recorded. This is equivalent to just six per cent. Police failed to solve a staggering 31,980 domestic burglaries - three in every four - across England and Wales in the three months leading up to June this year, it can be revealed Lisa Smart MP, pictured with Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, said it was 'a national scandal that the majority of burglaries remain unsolved' The Liberal Democrats, who uncovered the data, branded the figures a 'national scandal' and called on ministers to guarantee all domestic burglaries are attended to and investigated. They have also blamed the previous Conservative government for reducing the number of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) by 4,500 since 2015. Lisa Smart MP, the party's Home Office spokeswoman, said: 'It is a national scandal that the majority of burglaries remain unsolved, leaving thousands of victims without justice. 'After years of failure and ineffective resourcing from the previous Conservative government, our police forces have been stretched to the limit. 'These figures are a stark reminder of the problems that causes. We are urging the new Government to not repeat the same mistakes. 'Everyone deserves to feel safe in their home - and that means implementing our Burglary Response Guarantee and delivering the proper frontline policing our communities deserve.' The issue of unsolved break-ins has plagued previous governments, despite ministers taking action to crack down on the epidemic. National policing guidance issued last year says officers should prioritise attending the scene of a domestic break-in within an hour of the report, increasing the chances of solving the case. In 2023, former home secretary Suella Braverman said every force must investigate every theft and follow all reasonable leads to catch offenders. But the Police Federation, which represents 145,000 police officers in England and Wales, said at the time that forces simply don't have enough resources to render such a promise viable. A National Police Chiefs' Council spokesman said: 'Burglary is an incredibly invasive crime which we know has a significant impact on victims. 'Not every burglary report is the same and like every effective emergency service, police control rooms across England and Wales must assess the threat, harm and risk associated with every call they receive to ensure attendance is effectively prioritised. 'The focus of initial attendance at residential burglaries is about capturing best evidence and supporting victims of crime but there are occasions when an immediate response may not be possible due to resourcing or appropriate if the resident is away or does not want us to attend.' In opposition, Labour set out plans to put 13,000 more neighbourhood police and PCSOs back on the beat and to recruit more detectives. A Home Office spokesperson said: 'Too often when someone reports a crime, no one comes and nothing is done. 'That is why this Government will restore patrols in town centres, recruit thousands of extra police officers, PCSOs and Special Constables, and ensure every community has a named local officer to turn to. 'We also welcome the police's commitment to attend the scene of every home burglary and to pursue all reasonable lines of enquiry to ensure more offenders are caught and justice is delivered for victims.' Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is being blasted for putting a photo of himself and his wife in an airport's free children's coloring book - while the city is facing a nearly $1 billion budget deficit. As millions of people traveled through the Windy City's airports for the Thanksgiving holiday, travelers were quick to notice the man dubbed America's 'most hated mayor' inserted himself into a kid's activity book. Chicago is on the brink of a shutdown with its state-mandated budget deadline just one month away and the mayor and city council members unable to find common ground, according to the Chicago Tribune. Johnson's $17.3 billion 2025 budget has a $982 million gap which he as proposed filling through increase property taxes and cutting city jobs. His initial $300 million property tax hike was struck down by every city council member in a 50-0 vote in November. The city must agree on a budget by December 31 or they could experience credit downgrade and service shutdowns. Travelers were outraged to see Johnson prioritized getting himself and his wife in the Chicago airport's free coloring book while there is a looming budget deadline. The book is available at the visitor information booths in both O'Hare and Midway airports. There are three different books - Chicago Airports, A is for Airport and Welcome to Chicago - as well as a Spanish version of Chicago Airports. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is being blasted for putting a photo of himself and his wife in the airport's free children's coloring book Johnson and his wife introduce themselves on the first page of Welcome to Chicago and include their picture in a Spot the Difference game Johnson and his wife introduce themselves on the first page of Welcome to Chicago and include their picture in a Spot the Difference game. Furious flyers took to social media to call out Johnson - who has a 14 percent approval rating - for inserting himself into the book. 'Brandon Johnson is now using tax dollars and/or airport fees to publish his own personality cult books for kids. The city clearly has TOO MUCH money to spend,' one person said. 'My sister just flew into midway and got this free coloring book. Im wondering if the difference between the pictures are that one has a balanced budget and the other doesnt,' said another. A third person said, 'That is so painful to see. The city is imploding and this is what they waste our money on?' 'Ridiculous!!!!! Wasteful ! Shouldn't be allowed!!! We want our money back,' said a fourth. The Chicago Airports Activity & Coloring Book is free to pick up and is paid for by Flychicago, the city's Department of Aviation. According to the Department of Aviation website, City of Chicago taxes do not fund the airports. Johnson's $17.3 billion 2025 budget has a $982 million gap which he as proposed filling through increase property taxes and cutting city jobs The airports are funded through a variety of sources such as passenger facility charges, non-airline funding sources and airline rates and charges. Johnson initially proposed the $300 million property tax hike as a way to cover costs of dealing with migrants that have flooded the city over the past year. A heated city council meeting culminated in a unanimous rejection of the plan after locals expressed their fury in vicious outbursts at the mayor in . The furious residents accused Johnson, who has been branded the country's 'most hated mayor,' of prioritizing undocumented immigrants over the city's own citizens and resent paying more in property taxes. Labour's tax bomb budget has sent confidence crashing to its lowest levels since Covid as business leaders mourn the loss of their 'natural optimism'. The shocking new findings published in a survey of the Institute of Directors (IoD) reveal the entrepreneurs are unhappy at Chancellor Rachel Reeve's record tax rises and shrinking economy. Among the grievances cited are also the cutting off of investment plans and the slashing of pay rises to cope with a 25bn increase in National Insurance. News of the discontent has been compounded by other blows to Starmer's government over the last week which include the resignation of his transport secretary Louise Haigh after details of a previous fraud conviction came to light. And they also include the Prime Minister being criticised for spending a substantial time overseas in countries like Azerbaijan, Brazil, France and Hungary rather than focussing on issues at home. Andrew Griffith, the Conservative business secretary, said the survey showed 'a catastrophic loss of business confidence under this Government to an all-time low, bar the pandemic'. He added: 'Business leaders tend to have a natural optimism, but the summer of "trash talking" the economy, Labour's "jobs tax" and the trade union-inspired Employment Bill are knocking the stuffing out of their confidence. 'It is jobs and investment that will pay the price.' Charities have also urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to spare them from her 25billion hike in employers National Insurance The IoD's optimism tracker plummeted to minus 65 in November - sharply down from minus 52 in October and the lowest score since April 2020 The IoD's optimism tracker plummeted to minus 65 in November - sharply down from minus 52 in October and the lowest score since April 2020. Sir Tim Martin, Wetherspoons boss, said: 'All democratic governments need to manage the relationship between an economic horse and a public services' cart society needs both. This Government has disincentivised and discouraged the horse, as the IOD survey shows.' Only last week, the first economic figures published since the Chancellor's damaging tax raid on employers showed that the private sector was shrinking. It came after Ms Reeves hiked the rate of employer National Insurance contributions to 15 per cent and reduced the threshold for paying the tax from 9,100 to 5,000 despite an election pledge not to increase National Insurance 'for working people'. And more than 80 retail bosses wrote to the Chancellor to warn that the move would cost jobs and lower wages. In the first half of this year, the UK enjoyed the strongest growth in the G7 group of advanced economies. But after Labour took office growth shrank to just 0.1 per cent in the third quarter, the joint second-worst in the group. Charities also said they would be forced to axe services, lay off staff and even shut down following the budget announcement. They urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to spare them from her 25billion National Insurance hike. After Labour took office growth shrank to just 0.1 per cent in the third quarter, the joint second-worst in the group Ms Reeves acknowledged that businesses would have to absorb the costs of paying more national insurance or giving out smaller pay rises. Conservative former minister Sir Desmond Swayne warned MPs: 'Investment requires a measure of optimism, not the collapse in business confidence that (Ms Reeves) has engineered. She would have done better to stress some of the positives that she inherited, wouldn't she?' Ms Reeves replied: 'It's good to be explained how to do my job by one of the members opposite who crashed our economy. '63.5 billion of investment into the UK were announced at our international investment summit, investment in life sciences, investment in data centres and digital, investments in clean energy, because businesses have confidence that this Government is bringing stability back to our economy, and working with businesses to seize the opportunities. 'I am really excited about doing that in all parts of our country and working with business to do so.' A separate survey by the London Chamber of Commerce and Innovation (LCCI) also shows collapsing business confidence in the Government's economic programme. One in five family businesses surveyed by the trade body said they would close rather than pass on their business to the next generation, due to the inheritance tax changes. Meanwhile just one in four LCCI members said they had confidence the Government would deliver growth. Minister for defence procurement Maria Eagle said that departmental costs would increase by 216million as a result of changes outlined in the Budget Tory MP Dr Caroline Johnson accused Labour of having 'given with one hand and taken away with another' after almost 10 per cent of its defence budget boost was shown to have been cancelled out by the increase in employers' National Insurance contributions Anna Leach, chief economist at the IoD, told of how the Budget risked wiping out private sector economic growth. She said: 'Far from fixing the foundations, the Budget has undermined them, damaging the private sector's ability to invest in their businesses and their workforces. 'The clash between government intentions to address inactivity and the sharpness of the increase in employment costs is jarring. There's now a significant risk of growth stalling across the private sector due to the extent of the reset required by business.' Karim Fatehi, chief executive of LCCI, said: 'This snap survey has confirmed our worst fears; the business community views the combined package of increased employer National Insurance cntributions, cuts to business rates relief and the Employment Rights Bill as a serious threat to their operations over the coming years.' Last month, the British Medical Association issued a strongly-worded statement calling for GP practices to be given funding to cover the full extra costs of the NI increase. It said the BMA was 'astonished at the suggestion that GPs are not part of the NHS family and recognises the existential threat to NHS general practice across the UK by the significant increase of the National Insurance and national living wage burden on general practice after many years of under-investment'. And another of the latest victims of the tax raid to emerge is the UK's defence budget boost - with a 10th of this being wiped out, the Mail exclusively revealed. Ministers admitted the 1.2p rise would impact the Ministry of Defence directly costing the underfunded department 216million in 2025-26 of its 2.9billion defence budget boost. A FTSE 100 retail chief told The Telegraph the Labour Government was not living up to its promises to restore stability and growth. He added: 'If you take 25bn out of business profits and reduce tax relief for entrepreneurs and British farm businesses and threaten new labour regulations making it riskier to employ people, it would be amazing if confidence went up. 'Labour promised stability and growth and so far have produced gloom and surprise. I do not think it is too late to repair the damage but it requires a significant change of tone and a lot less PR posturing. 'There is nothing fundamentally worse about the UK economy, but confidence in its stewardship is draining away.' President-elect Donald Trump announced for the second time in two days he will name a family member to a top government post. This time, Trump says he will bring on Massad Boulos, the billionaire father in law of Tiffany Trump, as a senior advisor on the Middle East at the White House. Boulos played a role in Trump's effort to win over Arab American voters in battleground states, touting his efforts to end wars in Arab language interviews with Lebanese media. He was born in Lebanon, moved to Texas as a teenager, and ran his family's business conglomerate in Nigeria. Now, he will be providing counsel to his powerful relative at a time of proliferating conflict around the Middle East, including the ongoing conflict in Gaza and a rebel group's stunning seizure of Aleppo in Syria. 'I am proud to announce that Massad Boulos will serve as Senior Advisor to the President on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs,' Trump posted on his Truth Social site. 'Massad is an accomplished lawyer and a highly respected leader in the business world, with extensive experience on the International scene. He has been a longtime proponent of Republican and Conservative values, an asset to my Campaign, and was instrumental in building tremendous new coalitions with the Arab American Community.' Trump called him a 'dealmaker' and 'unwavering' supporter of Middle East peace. The announcement comes just a day after Trump made the shocking announcement he will nominate son-in-law Jared Kushner's father Charles as U.S. ambassador to France. Donald Trump announced that Massad Boulos, the father in law to daughter Tiffany Trump, will serve as a senior advisor on the Middle East Trump pardoned Charles Kushner in the last days of his administration following his conviction of federal tax and campaign finance crimes. He had been sentenced to two years in prison for tax fraud, serving 14 months. He was also sensationally charged with hiring a prostitute for $25,000 to seduce his brother in law, then sending a videotape of the event to his sister. He later pleaded guilty to witness tampering. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who prosecuted the case as a U.S. Attorney, said at the time: 'No matter how rich and powerful you are or poor and unpowerful, if you have violated the federal law in the district of New Jersey or if you are corrupting our political system, this office will bring you to justice.' He called Charles' crimes the 'most loathsome, disgusting crimes' he had ever prosecuted. Trump hailed Kushner, who he worked with as a fellow real-estate developer in New York, as a 'tremendous business leader, philanthropist, [and] dealmaker, who will be a strong advocate representing our Country & its interests.' 'Congratulations to Charlie, his wonderful wife Seryl, their 4 children, & 14 grandchildren,' the family-first politician wrote. 'Together, we will strengthen Americas partnership with France, our oldest Ally, & one of our greatest!' Jared Kushner and daughter Ivanka Trump were key White House advisors during Trump's first term. The pair have mostly stepped back from his campaign. MARLA MAPLES, MICHAEL BOULOS, TIFFANY TRUMP, MICHAEL BOULOS PARENTS SARAH BOULOS AND Dr. Massad Boulos Trump, 78, announced on Saturday afternoon that Charles (pictured here with sons Josh and Jared) will serve as the US Ambassador of France. The former president pardoned Charles in 2020. The father-of-four was sentenced nearly two years in prison for a tax fraud conviction Son Donald Trump, Jr., serves as an honorary chairman of Trump's transition, and as an advisor helped push Trump's selection of J.D. Vance as his running mate. Tiffany Trump, a lawyer whose mother is Marla Maples, married Michael Boulos in 2022 at Mar-a-Lago. Barron, Trump's son with former first lady Melania Trump, has been at his side at Mar-a-Lago, along with 'adopted' son Elon Musk, the world's richest man. The Syrian army has rushed in reinforcements to strike Idlib in an attempt to halt the advance of rebels who have retaken Aleppo from murderous dictator Bashar Al-Assad over the weekend. The insurgents, led by Salafi jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, took over most of Aleppo on Saturday and claimed to have entered the city of Hama. There was no independent confirmation of their claim. The swift and surprise offensive is a huge embarrassment for Syrian President Bashar Assad and raises questions about his troops' preparedness. It also comes at a time when Mr Assad's allies - Iran and groups it backs and Russia - are preoccupied with their own conflicts. But despite this, Russia has provided significant support in the form of deadly missiles, which today killed eight civilians in Idlib, including two children and a woman. The missiles also injured over 50 people. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will travel to the Syrian capital, Damascus, later today. He told reporters that Tehran will back the Syrian government and army. Arab leaders, including Jordan's King Abdullah II and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, expressed their solidarity with Damascus in calls with Mr Assad. Turkey, a main backer of Syrian opposition groups, said its diplomatic efforts had failed to stop Syrian government attacks on opposition-held areas in recent weeks. The UK Foreign Office said the situation is the fault of Assad for relying on Russia and Iran as it called for a Syrian-led political solution to the conflict. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said nearly 400 people have been killed since Wednesday, including nearly 50 civilians. Smoke billows after airstrikes in Idlib, northern Syria, 01 December 2024 A view of a vehicle on fire in the aftermath of what the White Helmets say is a strike, in Idlib, Syria, released December 1, 2024 Armed groups opposing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime seized control of much of Aleppo's city center in Syria on November 30, 2024 Turkish security officials said a limited offensive by the rebels was planned to stop government attacks and allow civilians to return, but the offensive expanded as Syrian government forces began to retreat from their positions. The insurgents, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which includes Turkey-backed fighters, launched their offensive on Wednesday with a two-pronged attack on Aleppo and the Idlib countryside, before moving towards Hama province. In Aleppo province, they captured a strategic town that lies on the highway linking Aleppo with Damascus and the coast. Rebel commander Colonel Hassan Abdulghani said that despite the government counter-offensive, his fighters are making gains in Aleppo. He said they took control of Sheikh Najjar, also known as the Aleppo Industrial City, Aleppo's military academy and the field artillery college. He added that 65 Syrian troops were taken prisoner in eastern Aleppo. Elsewhere, he said the insurgents advanced in the Idlib countryside, putting all of the province under their control. The United Nations special envoy for Syria said the shock push by the rebels poses a risk to regional security and called for resumed diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. 'I have repeatedly warned of the risks of escalation in Syria, of the dangers of mere conflict management rather than conflict resolution,' Geir Pedersen said in a statement. People check the damage at the scene of a Syrian regime airforce strike that targeted a neighbourhood in Syria's rebel-held northern city of Idlib on December 1, 2024 Smoke billows in the distance as damaged cars are seen at the site of Syrian regime airstrikes targeting anti-regime fighters in Aleppo, in northern Syria on November 30, 2024 Anti-government fighters patrol in central Aleppo on November 30, 2024. He added that the reality is that no Syrian party or grouping of actors can resolve the conflict via military means. According to Syrian state news agency Sana and a war monitor, the army pushed back insurgents in the northern countryside of Hama province overnight. Syrian state media said government resupply included heavy equipment and rocket launchers, while Syrian and Russian air strikes targeted weapons depots and insurgent strongholds. Britain-based opposition war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said government reinforcements created a 'strong defensive line' in the northern Hama countryside. Syrian state television claimed government forces have killed nearly 1,000 insurgents over the past three days, without providing evidence or details. Government air strikes in Idlib on Sunday killed at least three civilians, including two children, and injured 11 other people, said the Syrian Civil Defence, known as the White Helmets, which operates in opposition-held areas. Among the targets were the Aleppo Hospital University in the city centre, though there was no word on casualties. The insurgents vowed to push all the way into Damascus, but life in the Syrian capital remained normal with no signs of panic. In his first public comments since the start of the offensive, released by the state news agency on Saturday evening, Mr Assad said Syria will continue to 'defend its stability and territorial integrity against terrorists and their supporters'. He added that Syria is able to defeat them no matter how much their attacks intensify. Referring to his enemies as terrorists, Assad also declared: Terrorism only understands the language of force, and that is the language which we will break it and eliminate it with. The 2016 battle for Aleppo was a turning point in the war between Syrian government forces and rebel fighters after 2011 protests against Mr Assad's rule turned into an all-out war. After appearing to be losing control of the country to the rebels, the Aleppo battle secured his hold on strategic areas of Syria, with opposition factions and their foreign backers controlling areas on the periphery. Items likely belonging to a missing seven-year-old were found in the icy waters of a Wisconsin river early Sunday morning. The discovery, confirmed by Two Rivers police, comes as officers continue to search for Jacob Baer. The boy vanished the day before from a park in Two Rivers set just next to the river, around 4:30pm. The find in the West Twin River, moreover, came several hours later - after agents from the Coast Guard Ice Search and Rescue Team and the Wisconsin National Guard began aiding the search. The latter provided aerial searching with a helicopter at altitudes of 600 feet, flying over a specific part of the river near Veterans Park. In a statement, cops told citizens to keep an eye out around this stretch of the waterway - not yet confirming the child had fallen inside. The belongings pulled from the river, moreover, were not specified, but investigators Sunday were still said to be perusing the area - now 'an area of interest' - for more clues. Two Rivers is the same town where three-year-old Elijah Vue went missing back in February - before being found in a shallow grave in September three miles from the home of a man now being charged in his death. Items believed to belong to missing Jacob Baer, 7, were found in the icy waters of a Wisconsin river early Sunday morning, cops confirmed in a statement The discovery, confirmed by Two Rivers police, comes as officers continue to search for the child, who disappeared from this park just adjacent to the river 'Law enforcement located several items believed to belong to Jacob in the water of the West Twin River last night,' the Two Rivers Police Department wrote around 3:40am in a statement published to Facebook. 'Early this morning the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) identified an area of interest in the water near these items during their search. 'A search of this area of interest and additional resources are being coordinated for operations later this morning. 'We will update you with further information as it becomes available. Thank you for your patience.' About two hours earlier, cops issued an update revealing how DNR agents were on the scene, joining the already deployed Coast Guard and state national guard. Law Enforcement and local emergency personnel, at that point, were still searching the river, the statement read. The Coast Guard and national guard, other statements showed, arrived on the scene about an hour earlier, as temperatures neared 20F. An update issued just after midnight indicated the Wisconsin National was 'providing aerial searching with a helicopter' - an assertion confirmed by data showing the helicopter's flight path. An update issued just after midnight indicated the Wisconsin National was 'providing aerial searching with a helicopter' - an assertion confirmed by data showing the helicopter's flight path The search of the waterway, meanwhile, comes on the cusp of the town's cold season, set to start Monday. Around this time, parts of the river are known to ice over, with some ice already seen when the boy went missing. Pictured, the section of the river being searched during winter Numerous volunteer and local fire departments and other law enforcement outfits were also present for the search, officers in Two Rivers said - with the boy still yet to be found after almost 24 hours. The search of the waterway, meanwhile, comes on the cusp of the town's cold season, set to commence Monday morning. Around this time, parts of the river being searched are known to ice over, with some ice already seen the night the boy went missing. At the moment, it remains unclear what items were retrieved from the river, and why cops believe they belong to the missing boy. The circumstances of his disappearance, moreover, are still somewhat shrouded, with cops only saying the boy - who is 3'5" tall - was last seen wearing a black jacket with bits of green on the hood with a black and gray hooded sweatshirt He is described as having blue eyes and blonde, shaggy hair. A 61-year-old man has been charged with murder after a woman was found stabbed to death at her home in south London. Officers were called to an address on Greenland Quay, Surrey Quays, at about 3pm on Friday after reports of a woman attacked, the Metropolitan Police said. They arrested a man, Andrew Cunningham, from Rotherhithe in connection with the incident and have confirmed that he has now been charged. The woman who was killed has also been identified by police as 57-year-old Margaret Cunningham. She had been taken to hospital following the attack but died later that evening. Mr Cunningham has been remanded in custody and will appear at Croydon Magistrates Court on Monday December 2. Officers launched an investigation after a woman was stabbed to death at her home in Surrey Quays, London Police cordoned off the property and arrested a 61-year-old man in connection with the incident A police cordon remained in place at the scene on Saturday evening, and forensic officers were still at the waterfront property. Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn, leading the investigation, said: 'We received multiple calls from members of the public close to the scene with concerns for the victim yesterday afternoon. 'Officers, together with the London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance, responded quickly but, sadly, the woman in her 60s died in hospital yesterday evening. 'Our specialist crime command are continuing inquiries today and, at this stage, we believe that this was an isolated incident with the man and woman known to each other.' Ashley King didn't think much of it when she ordered a 'tropical' cocktail from a bar in Kuta on her last night out. Ashley King was left fighting for her life after she drank a 'tropical' cocktail at a Kuta bar. Source: The Project A tourist has detailed the horrifying moment she woke up gasping for breath and struggling to see after sipping on an innocent-looking tropical cocktail while on holiday in Bali. Speaking out following the suspected mass methanol poisoning in Laos that claimed six lives, Ashley King said she hadnt thought much of it when she ordered an ordinary mixed vodka drink at a bar in Kuta. The American woman said was living in Australia in 2011 when she decided to visit the busy holiday hotspot for a handful of days, and made an easy, yet potentially deadly split-second mistake on her last night out. [It] was no different from any other night that I had gone out, she told The Project on Sunday night. However, she began to feel increasingly unwell over the next two days as she travelled to New Zealand. ADVERTISEMENT When I finally got to my accommodation I went to bed and when I woke up the next morning, I noticed that it was really dim lighting in the hostel, which I just chalked it up to cheap, hostile lighting, she explained. And about 10 minutes later I was unable to breathe and I was gasping for air. Ms King said it took doctors some time to realise she had a large amount of methanol in her system. Source: The Project. Ms King said by the time she was rushed to the nearest hospital she was in the dark, blind. It was something that [the doctors] hadnt seen before, and it was kind of a bit of a conundrum for them to figure out what was wrong, she said, adding they eventually realised she had a large amount of methanol in her system. Methanol is a dangerous byproduct of the distillation process that has no odour and on occasion isnt properly removed when bootleg spirits are made, and in turn, poisons unwitting patrons. While rare, methanol poisonings have been an obscure and ugly offshoot of capitalism in Bali, with Colin Ahearn, a well-known safe drink advocate, telling Yahoo News on Friday that drinking any liquor in the holiday destination is not worth the potential risk. ADVERTISEMENT Aussie mates Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles died following suspected methanol poisonings in Laos. Picture: Supplied. Bali tourist left blind after 'traumatic' methanol poisoning While in hospital, Ms King said her parents received a terrifying phone call urging them to get on the next flight to New Zealand because there was a very good chance she wasnt going to survive. Miraculously, she did, but still suffers from the effects of the poisoning 13 years on. Im blind now. Ive got about 2 per cent of my eyesight, and it was by far the most traumatic and hardest thing Ive ever had to go through. I had to learn how to live my life all over again. Losing your eyesight and gaining a disability is really difficult, she told The Project, sharing her compassion for the families of Melbourne teens Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles. ADVERTISEMENT I know how easy it is to say yes to a drink at the bar and not think anything bad is going to happen to you, Ms King said, claiming that the only reason shes alive today is because she ingested the methanol on her last night and was able to reach a first world hospital by the time she was severely ill. The travellers warning to others comes after three more staff from a hostel at the centre of the Laos scandal were arrested by police. Local authorities have now moved to prohibit the sale and consumption of Tiger vodka and Tiger whisky over concerns they could be a health risk. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. X users have slammed Alyssa Milano for deactivating her account amid her feud with Elon Musk. The Charmed actress has been sparring with the tech mogul for years and even traded in her Tesla in protest at his ownership of the brand. She decided to shut down her personal account on the social media platform just weeks after Donald Trump's election win, which was hugely aided by support from Musk, 53. A notice on Milano's personal X account now reads that it has been deleted, while the profile for her podcast Sorry Not Sorry directs users to BlueSky. It comes after Milano, 51, vowed in 2022 that she would not leave the Musk-owned platform, likening it to a 'turf-war'. Her decision to delete her account has since been mocked and criticized by X users. 'Alyssa Milano is the latest celebrity not able to handle social media,' one person wrote. 'After saying she'd never leave because 'surrendering is pathetic', guess she had a change of heart,' another added. X users have slammed Alyssa Milano for deactivating her account amid her feud with Elon Musk The Charmed actress has been sparring with the tech mogul for years and even traded in her Tesla in protest at his ownership of the brand 'If Elon's X has a door, I hope it doesn't hit Alyssa Milano on the way out,' one person said. 'A list of the most unlikable people are fleeing - bye,' another added. Milano was previously mocked on X, formerly Twitter, after she revealed she had swapped her Tesla for an electric Volkswagen following her moral outrage at Musk. 'I'm not sure how advertisers can buy space on Twitter,' she wrote on X in 2022. 'Publicly traded company's products being pushed in alignment with hate and white supremacy doesn't seem to be a winning business model.' However, the irony of purchasing a VW was apparently lost on the actress. VW was established as a German state-owned automobile company in 1937, while the country was under the leadership of Hitler's Nazi Party. It's unclear what type of car Milano bought, although the only electric VW available to purchase in the United States appears to be the firm's ID4 SUV, which retails from $38,000. It comes after she vowed in 2022 that she would never leave the platform, likening the situation to a 'turf war' Milano, who publicly endorsed Kamala Harris, has become the latest celebrity to bail on X in the wake of the election. She followed in the footsteps of Star Wars actor Mark Hamill, who decamped from X in favor of BlueSky. Similarly, Gabrielle Union left X on November 15 stating that her commitment to 'engaging in spaces that truly value inclusivity, respect, and integrity in the digital world', prompted the move. Her departure came a day after that of Jamie Lee Curtis, who announced her decision with a brief prayer. 'God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. Courage to change the things I can. And the wisdom to know the difference,' she said. Author Stephen King also deleted his account, stating the 'atmosphere has just become too toxic' and urging fans to follow him over on Threads. The celebrities are among those who have expressed concern about the rise in hate speech on X since free-speech warrior Musk took over. Americans are increasingly being pulled to the southern United States, with five states in particular attracting the most transplants. Florida and Texas had the most people move within their borders in 2023, according to a new migration survey from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Florida saw a net inflow of 372,870 people last year, while 315,301 went to Texas, according to the report, which analyzed US Census data. North Carolina welcomed 126,712 new residents in 2023, and has been established previously as another fast-growing state. Home to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina gained 91,853 more people last year. Georgia rounded out the top five, adding 88,325 people to its growing population. Tennessee came in at number six with a net migration of more than 76,000, followed by Arizona (57,814), Alabama (36,128) and Oklahoma (31,967). Ohio came in tenth and was the only state north of the Mason-Dixon Line to make the list, after drawing in a net migration of 28,718. Florida saw a net inflow of 372,000 people last year, according to a study by the National Association of Realtors. (Pictured: Clearwater Beach, Florida) The study found that Texas welcomed a net 315,301 new residents in 2023. (Pictured: Austin, Texas) North Carolina, another fast-growing state, welcomed 126,712 new residents in 2023 Much of the dialogue around Americans moving south assumes they are searching for warmer temperatures and sunnier skies, but that isn't the entire picture. According to the report, only one percent of those who moved said they did so because of climate-related reasons. The most common things that got people to pack up and go were 'housing reasons' (42 percent), 'family reasons' (26 percent) and 'employment reasons' (16 percent). There is a housing crisis all across the country. Between 1995 and 2023, the median household income rose 2.3 times from $34,076 per year to $80,610. Over the same time period, the median home sales price jumped 3.4 times from $114,600 to $389,800, according to figures from NAR. That has led to many Americans being priced out of the market, with the average age of a homebuyer surging to 56 this year. That's up from 49-years-old last year. Mixing in stubbornly rising prices with historically high mortgage rates has produced the perfect recipe for housing unaffordability. Still, there are bargains to be found but mostly in the southern US. South Carolina, home to Myrtle Beach (pictured), gained 91,853 more people last year Georgia rounded out the top five, adding 88,325 people to its growing population The typical home price in California ($791,000) and New York ($459,000) is much higher than in Texas ($303,000) and Florida ($415,000), according to Zillow. California and New York also happen to be the two states with the most people fleeing, as both states have high income taxes and stricter business regulations. Florida and Texas have no income tax. North Carolina does have an income tax, but it's much lower than New York's or California's. About 16 percent of clients surveyed in the NAR report said they moved for lower taxes and the plurality of them moved to the south. A greater chunk, 30 percent of clients surveyed, moved to be closer to family and friends. A third of that group moved to the south. This phenomenon is being driven in part by seniors relocating near their adult children who have kids of their own. These older Americans often help with childcare, which has gotten exorbitantly expensive in recent years. Between January 2020 and September 2024, the price of daycare and preschool rose about 22 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The South has become the most populous region in the US, thanks almost entirely to Florida and Texas. Despite New York having the most populous city in the US, it is a state where many lifelong residents are fleeing for cheaper real estate (Pictured: The sun rises over 42nd street in Manhattan in a phenomenon known as Manhattanhenge on November 30, 2024) The same is true of California, which has lost hundreds of thousands of people since January 2020 (Pictured: The downtown skyline of Los Angeles and surrounding neighborhoods) California has been the most crowded state in the union since 1964, when it overtook New York. New York dropped back to third place in 1994, when Texas surged past 18.1 million people. Florida later surpassed the Empire State. And data suggests that this trend will only become more stark as the decades roll by. A February study from moveBuddha projected that Texas and Florida would be the first and second biggest states, respectively, by 2100, followed by California, Georgia, North Carolina, and New York. California has been steadily losing hundreds of thousands of citizens since 2019, before posting a moderate gain in 2023. This first ever population decline in California came after the COVID-19 pandemic, when the state imposed some of the strictest lockdown measures in the country. From January 2020 to July 2022, California lost well over half a million people. Florida, by contrast, had more lax pandemic restrictions. The state allowed restaurants and other businesses to open with no mask mandates by September 2020, far before most other states did the same. Drivers falling foul of Scotlands controversial Low Emission Zones have been hit with fines worth an astonishing 10million. New analysis shows the heavy price paid by drivers of older petrol and diesel cars under the LEZ schemes which have been running in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee since June, as well as in Glasgow, where the system has been in force since summer 2023. Aiming to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions in city centres, the zones are enforced by fining motorists who enter the designated areas in vehicles which remain legal and road-worthy but are deemed too polluting. According to official data from the city councils, a grand total of 113,862 penalties have been issued so far. Detailed figures for Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee show motorists have been slapped with fines worth a whopping 8,461,200. And although only partial data is available for the scheme in Aberdeen, figures suggest the value of fines issued in the Granite City is around 2.2million - taking the overall total for Scotlands LEZ penalties above 10.6million. Last night politicians warned that the huge value of fines was proof cash-strapped councils were using LEZs as money-raising schemes. Scottish Conservative shadow transport secretary Sue Webber MSP said: Hard-pressed motorists are continuing to pay the price for the SNPs financial incompetence. Edinburgh 's Low Emission Zone came into force in June Drivers of vehicles which fail to meet minimum emission standards face fines in the LEZ cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen With fines having topped an eye-watering 10million, its clear many have no option but to enter low emission zones to get to work or visit friends and family. Low emission zones are nothing more than a cash cow for councils desperately seeking funds to make up for the SNPs savage cuts to their budgets. If ministers want to encourage people out of their cars, they should use some common sense and deliver reliable public transport services, rather than hitting motorists as a result of their own financial incompetence. The figures suggest the zones are succeeding in their stated aim of banishing older vehicles from city centres - as the number of fines has dropped month on month in the four cities with the scheme. In June the countrys LEZs issued a total of 17,391 fines. But by September the number had fallen 21 per cent to 13,795. The Tories warned the drop in fines could also mean a drop in visitors to the city-centres - which could be bad for shops and companies within the LEZs. Webber added: Not only are the low emission zones punishing motorists, they are also harming struggling city centre businesses. But Government agency Transport Scotland hailed falling numbers of fines as proof the LEZs were improving air quality - while insisting there was no evidence the schemes were reducing numbers of shoppers or visitors. A spokesman said: We would expect to see the number of Penalty Charge Notices being issued decline over time as drivers of non-compliant vehicles realise they will be caught if driving in Low Emission Zones (LEZs). We are pleased to hear that early indications from Glasgow show that the LEZ is contributing to air quality improvements in the zone. We are not aware of evidence that the LEZ has had a negative impact on footfall within the zones. He added: Data from Aberdeen actually showed an increase in footfall the week following enforcement of the citys LEZ. The severity of penalties depends on how often a driver infringes the LEZ - from 60 for a single breach to a maximum of 960 for driving a non-compliant vehicle into the zone five or more times. Overall, 2,069 of these maximum fines have been issued, worth 1.99million - almost a fifth of the total amount levied. Monthly data on fines issued for LEZ contraventions, including a breakdown of how many drivers are hit with each level of fine, is published by councils in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee. Scotlands first LEZ was set up in Glasgow and between June 2023 and October 2024 the city issued 56,970 fines worth 5,348,700. Edinburghs zone was introduced in June this year - and in the five months to October 24,791 fines worth 2,230,980 were issued in the capital. Over the same period, Dundee issued 8,101 fines worth 881,520. Aberdeen does not routinely publish its statistics, but in response to a Freedom of Information request, the council revealed that exactly 24,000 fines were issued between June and September this year, the first four months the citys LEZ was operational. Over the same period the average value of individual fine issued in the new-established Edinburgh and Dundee LEZs was 94.63 - suggesting the total value of the 24,000 Aberdeen fines is likely to be around 2.26million. Under LEZ rules, vehicles are banned if they fail to meet minimum emission standards - meaning, generally speaking, diesel-engine cars from before 2015 and petrol cars from before 2006 do not comply. A network of number-plate recognition monitors vehicles entering each of the LEZs. Under the terms of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 cash raised from LEZ penalties can only be used to fund measures aligned to the environmental aims of the scheme - which can include a broad range of health and transport projects. A teenage mother has been charged with murder after her newborn baby was found dead at a home in Georgia. Police say Leticia Rodriguez, 17, used a 'sharp knife' to remove the umbilical cord of her son's neck, wounding him in the process. She then allegedly used a pocket-knife to cut out his heart. Police said relatives found her digging a hole in her backyard in Marietta, on the north-west outskirts of Atlanta, and the infant was found dead inside the home. Rodriguez was charged on Wednesday with murder, aggravated assault, concealing a death, abuse of a dead body and abandonment of a dead body. Marietta PD said officers responded to an address on Gramling Street around 3pm on Sunday, and found the baby boy 'clearly injured' inside the home. Speaking at a news conference on Monday, MPD Public Information Officer Chuck McPhilamy said Rodriguez gave birth alone at home. McPhilamy added that officers found Rodriguez digging a hole in the backyard, but she had not buried the baby. Rodriguez admitted to police that she used a 'sharp knife' to remove the umbilical cord from her newborn's neck, 'causing a large laceration' on the boy, according to her arrest warrant. Police say Leticia Rodriguez, 17, used a 'sharp knife' to remove the umbilical cord of her son's neck, wounding him in the process. She then used a pocket-knife to cut out his heart Relatives found her digging a hole in her backyard in Marietta, on the north-west outskirts of Atlanta, and the infant was found dead inside the home Rodriguez was charged on Wednesday with murder, aggravated assault, concealing a death, abuse of a dead body and abandonment of a dead body She also admitted to using a pocket-knife to 'cut out the deceased infant's heart', per the document. The warrant adds that Rodriguez gave birth in her bed before concealing the baby's death for around six hours. A family member found her digging the hole in the backyard, per the document. 'Investigators worked throughout the evening to determine what exactly caused all of this,' McPhilamy said. 'The family has been cooperative with us through this entire investigation, and certainly, our hearts go out to them... We can't imagine the trauma that they are going through.' After her arrest, Rodriguez was taken to Wellstar Kennestone for medical treatment. She was then booked without bond into the Cobb County Adult Detention Center on Wednesday evening. An airport 'meet-and-greet' driver was jailed after killing an 84-year-old grandmother when he lost control of a customer's Range Rover. Naeem Shahani, 39, from Dagenham, London, was sentenced to more than two years in prison and disqualified from driving for more than six years this week. Mr Shahani was working as a 'meet and greet' driver, employed to move and park customers cars at their arrival to the departure terminals at airports. He lost control of the Range Rover around a bend near Stansted Airport in Essex and collided with a Mitsubishi Shogun which was travelling in the opposite direction. The crash took place in the village of Takeley at 3.20pm on September 26, 2022. The front seat passenger, Phyllis Willis, 84, died at the scene, while the other driver spent almost two weeks in hospital after she sustained multiple injuries. Shahani had denied two charges of causing death by dangerous driving and serious injury by dangerous driving. He was found guilty of both offences at the conclusion of a five-day long trial at Chelmsford Crown Court on October 25. Naeem Shahani, 39, from Dagenham, London, was sentenced to more than two years in prison after losing control of a customer's vehicle and killing one person and severely injuring another The front seat passenger, Phyllis Willis, 84, died at the scene, while the other driver spent almost two weeks in hospital after she sustained multiple injuries Shahani appeared at the same court earlier this week where he was jailed for two years and four months. He was also given a driving ban for six years and four months and ordered to take an extended driving re-test. Phyllis's family paid tribute to her after the crash and said: 'Our family is devastated by the sudden loss of our mother. She was a mother to five boys and grandmother to many grand / great grandchildren.' Detective Sergeant Sam Nason from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: 'This was a tragic collision that took Phyllis away suddenly from her loved ones. Today, my thoughts remain with Phyllis's family and friends.' The Coast Guard is frantically searching for five people who went missing after a fishing boat capsized in icy Alaskan waters. The vessel overturned near Point Couverden, a cape near Hoonah, on Sunday. Rescuers are bracing for the worst following the discovery of cold-water safety gear and emergency items near the spot where the boat vanished. Officials received a mayday call at 12:10 a.m. from the crew aboard the 50ft fishing vessel Wind Walker reporting they were overturning. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter was scrambled from the Coast Guard's Sitka station, along with a 45ft boat from Juneau. A passing ferry overheard the broadcast and offered to assist in the search. The Hubbard state was first to arrive on the scene. Seven cold-water immersion suits and two strobe lights have been located in the water in the search area. Officials said they had received reports that five people were aboard the vessel, however the number could change. The Coast Guard is frantically searching for five people who went missing after a fishing boat capsized in icy Alaskan waters Point Courverden is around 24 miles south west as the crow flies from the Alaskan capital of Juneau. Rescuers are battling six foot seas and icy 27 degree conditions amid the search. There is a winter storm warning in place which has already seen large amounts of snow deposited in the area as well as howling 60mph winds. The stormy conditions are expected to continue until Monday morning when the warning expires. According to MarineTraffic.com, Wind Walker's last known position was in the Gulf of Alaska more than 13 hours ago. Anyone with information about this situation should contact Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska at 907-463-2980. This is a breaking news story, please check back for updates... Sir Bradley Wiggins has paid an emotional tribute to fellow Olympic gold-winning cyclist Sir Chris Hoy, saying the way he has handled his terminal cancer diagnosis will help a lot of people. The former Tour de France champion also hailed the Scot as one of our greatest - both as a person and as a sportsman. Father-of-two Sir Chris, 48, recently revealed has been told by doctors that he has between two and four years to live after his prostate cancer spread. He has chosen to take a positive outlook as he sees it as a time to adapt and look for opportunities. Now five-time gold medallist Sir Bradley, 44, described the news of Sir Chriss prognosis in a glowing tribute to his fellow track star. He said: That hit everyone quite hard that, and those of us that know Chris know what an absolute gentleman he is, what a heart of gold. The worst things happen to the best people - and he truly is a great, great person. I spent all my Olympic career with Chris. When we were young, I remember sitting in dope control in Athens, where we both won gold - he won the first night, I won the second night - and he was sat there in dope control having just won the kilometre and he was going, Do you want to touch my medal?. Sir Bradley Wiggins has praised fellow Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy for the way he has handled his terminal cancer diagnosis Sir Chris has not allowed his illness to stop him raising funds for those in need - most recently for a children's charity in Cambodia I said, No, Chris, Im going to try and win mine tomorrow night. I thought it would give me bad luck. And he was the first person who congratulated me when I won mine - he came across the pen - and when I won my fifth in Rio he was there with Steve Redgrave at a BBC interview. Sir Bradley added in an interview on the High Performance podcast: Its tragic, it really is. Hes one of our greatest in many ways, not just on the bike, because what I think hes doing, and the way hes handled it, is going to help a lot of people. And his lasting legacy is going to be infinite. Sir Chris has recently completed a 255km cycle ride across Cambodia to raise money for impoverished children. He said he is currently feeling well and committed to the challenge in the Far East for childrens charity ISF Cambodia. The athlete led a five day ride between the cities of Phnom Penh to Siem Reap which helped raise more than 500,000. ISF provides educational and sporting opportunities for underprivileged children living in the country and Sir Chris has been supporting the charity since 2020. He was joined by fellow Olympic cyclist Jason Queally and Paralympic rower David Smith as well as enthusiastic amateurs on the sponsored trip. Sir Chris said: What a week. Over half a million pounds raised from our bike tour across Cambodia and last weeks dinner in Hong Kong. All funds go directly to help children living in extreme poverty to get access to education and sport. Over 700 kids have benefited over the years and this fundraiser will help to continue the amazing work of the charity. Vladimir Putin has approved a record military budget in a bid to end the Ukraine war as he dictates a third of Russia's 2025 GDP to 'national defence'. Around 32.5 per cent of the budget posted on a government website Sunday has been allocated for national defense, amounting to 13.5trillion rubles (over 99billion), up from a reported 28.3 per cent this year. Lawmakers in both houses of the Russian parliament, the State Duma and Federation Council, had already approved the plans in the past 10 days. It comes after Russia lost more than 2,030 troops in just a day on the frontlines of Ukraine, Kyiv officials claimed - a figure that if true represents a record daily high in the near-three-year-long war. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine since February 2022 is Europe's biggest conflict since World War II and has drained the resources of both sides. Kyiv has been getting billions of dollars in help from its Western allies, but Russia's forces are bigger and better equipped, and in recent months the Russian army has gradually been pushing Ukrainian troops backward in eastern areas. New European Council President Antonio Costa and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas arrived in Kyiv on Sunday, marking their first day in office with a strong message of support for Ukraine. Their visit comes as doubts are deepening over what Kyiv can expect from a new US administration led by Donald Trump. Vladimir Putin (pictured) has approved a record-high military budget for Russia's 'national defence' next year Russian servicemen jump off a T-90M Proryv tank during a combat training for assault units in an undisclosed location A serviceman of 24th Mechanised brigade named after King Danylo of the Ukrainian Armed Forces fires a 2s5 'Hyacinth-s' self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops at a front line 'From day one of the war, the EU has stood by the side of Ukraine,' Costa posted on X, together with a photo of himself, Kallas and EU enlargement chief Marta Kos. 'From day one of our mandate, we are reaffirming our unwavering support to the Ukrainian people.' Speaking at a news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky, Costa reiterated the EU's recent commitment to help Ukraine continue through the war, including 3.7billion to support Ukraine's budget and 1.4billion of assistance every month from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets. Asked whether the EU would step up funding if Trump withdrew support, Costa said the block would 'stand for Ukraine as long as necessary.' Zelensky said that any future ceasefire negotiations with Russia would need to include representatives from the EU and NATO, because Ukraine seem its future security in both alliances. However, he said he failed to see what any such negotiations would focus on, adding that Ukraine would 'never legally recognise any occupation of our lands by the Russian Federation.' Zelensky urged the outgoing Biden administration to use the remaining two months in office to exert influence 'over those few European skeptics about our future'. 'I see nothing, I personally see no risks, and most NATO countries see no risks from the recommendation regarding the positive future of Ukraine's membership in NATO,' he added. Zelensky said Friday that an offer of NATO membership to territory under Kyiv's control would end 'the hot stage of the war'. It comes after Putin vowed to use 'all means of destruction available to Russia' if the West gives Kyiv nuclear weapons. The Russian President asked on Thursday: 'If the country which we are essentially at war with now becomes a nuclear power, what do we do? 'In this case, we will use all, I want to emphasise this, precisely all means of destruction available to Russia,' Putin continued during the press conference in Astana, Kazakhstan. 'Everything: we will not allow it. We'll be watching their every move.' 'If officially someone were to transfer something, then that would mean a violation of all the non-proliferation commitments they have made,' Putin concluded. A grab taken from handout footage released by Russia's Defence Ministry on March 1 purports to show the test firing of an ICBM belonging to the country's nuclear deterrence forces The moment Russia used the Oreshnik for the first time to strike Dnipro, on November 21 Ukrainian troops survey the site of a Russian missile strike on the city's Kyivskyi, November 25 Putin also said it was practically impossible for Ukraine to produce a nuclear weapon, but that it might be able to make some kind of 'dirty bomb', a conventional bomb laced with radioactive material in order to spread contamination. In that case, Russia would respond appropriately, he said. Putin also made a direct threat to Zelensky as he warned Moscow could soon begin to strike 'decision-making centres' in Kyiv if Ukraine continues to hit targets in Russia with US and UK missiles. Russian attacks have not yet struck government buildings in the Ukrainian capital which is heavily protected by air defences. But Putin claims Russia's new 'Oreshnik' hypersonic missile, which it fired for the first time at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro last week in response to the first ATACMS and Storm Shadow strikes in Russia, is incapable of being intercepted. The debris from the medium-range ballistic missile that was fired at Dnipro on November 21 is now being studied by Ukrainian investigators as it historically became the first time such a powerful weapon has been used in the war. Ukraine said the weapon reached a top speed of more than 8,000mph as it headed towards Dnipro. On the ground in Ukraine, three people died in the southern city of Kherson when a Russian drone struck a minibus on Sunday morning, regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said seven others were wounded in the attack. Meanwhile, the number of wounded in Saturday's missile strike in Dnipro in central Ukraine rose to 24, with seven in serious condition, Dnipropetrovsk Gov. Serhiy Lysak said four people were killed in the attack. Moscow sent 78 drones into Ukraine overnight into Sunday, Ukrainian officials said. According to Ukraine's air force, 32 drones were destroyed and a further 45 drones were lost, likely having been electronically jammed. In Russia, a child was killed in a Ukrainian drone attack in the Bryansk region bordering Ukraine, according to regional Governor Alexander Bogomaz. Russia's Defense Ministry said that 29 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight into Sunday in four regions of western Russia: 20 over the Bryansk region, seven over the Kaluga region, and one each over the Smolensk and Kursk regions. A former MasterChef contestant has claimed the multiple allegations made against Gregg Wallace are just the 'tip of the iceberg'. The contestant, who did not want to be identified, alleges that he was so 'horrified' by the 'toxic environment' during filming for the show that he wanted to quit on his first day. It is yet another person to level allegations against Wallace who this week stepped down from MasterChef after nearly 20 years of hosting the popular cooking show amid a probe into accusations of sexist and inappropriate behaviour. There are 13 people, including Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark, who have formally complained about Wallace's behaviour over a 17-year period across five shows, from 2005 to 2022. The presenter faces various allegations of making 'inappropriate sexual jokes', asking for the phone numbers of female members of production staff, and undressing in front of and standing 'too close' to women working on his shows. Wallace has hit back at the allegations, posting several videos on his Instagram account to defend himself. The former greengrocer sparked a major backlash today by blaming 'middle class women of a certain' age for his downfall. His lawyers say 'it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature'. But in another setback for Wallace and MasterChef bosses, a former contestant today shared their experience on the show, telling Sky News: 'I was horrified. I'd never seen anything like it, genuinely, I was really quite shocked at that really toxic environment.' Gregg Wallace this week stepped down from MasterChef amid a probe into his behaviour. Today he lashed out at 'middle-class women of a certain age' in a rant on his Instagram story Former Newsnight host Kirsty Wark, right, is among 13 people who have accused MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace, left, of making inappropriate sexual comments 'What I witnessed... as a contestant was that there was a systemic problem that was larger than just him, in my view. 'Gregg... would occasionally crack jokes that in different ways felt inappropriate but he wasn't the only one.' The contestant, who alleged the 'abuse' on the show went further than Wallace, added: 'I think it's good that these things are coming out and I'm glad that people are speaking up, it's brilliant. But I do think it's the tip of the iceberg. 'I think if you were to really unravel and look at what was going on in that culture at large you'd see a lot more, you know, abuse.' The contestant told Sky News they regret not leaving on the first day, but that they felt too embarrassed to walk away. They said the only way they felt they could leave was by cooking something awful and being thrown off - but they did not follow through with this because their pride got the better of them. The contestant shared how offensive language was routinely used by camera crews and producers but that Wallace was the 'least offensive'. He also claimed that he heard inappropriate comments being made to another contestant. Social media users took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to make fun of his post as they joked about his lawyers and PR firm's reaction to the video Comedian David Baddiel joked: 'It's not often that the internet gets behind middle-class, middle-aged women these days, but thanks to Gregg Wallace for making it happen.' The whistleblower claims that contestants were forced to sign nondisclosure agreements, forbidding them from speaking about 'anything that goes on'. They said that they had seen 'too much behind the scenes' to be able to watch the programme anymore. And they also remember wondering if the BBC were aware of what was going on or if that was just how the industry operated. A BBC source said: 'While we are not going to comment on individuals or any internal processes, particularly when there is an ongoing process in place being run by Banijay who have the direct contractual relationship with Gregg Wallace, it would be wrong to report the BBC has done nothing if or when matters have been raised with us not least because it is already being widely reported there were interventions in both 2017 and 2018 where action was taken. 'We continue to urge caution about pre-judging any of this, particularly the involvement of BBC staff members and any inference they have not acted appropriately.' It comes as Wallace today fanned the flames by claiming accusations about him making sexual comments towards staff and guests have come from 'middle-class women of a certain age'. In a post on Instagram on Sunday, the 60-year-old said: 'I've been doing MasterChef for 20 years, amateur, celebrity and professional MasterChef, and I think, in that time, I have worked with over 4,000 contestants of all different ages, all different backgrounds, all walks of life. 'Apparently now, I'm reading in the paper, there's been 13 complaints in that time. 'I can see the complaints coming from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age, just from Celebrity MasterChef. The BBC has said it is taking the issues raised about Wallace 'seriously' after he stepped down from the programme 'This isn't right. 'In 20 years, over 20 years of television, can you imagine how many women, female contestants on MasterChef, have made sexual remarks, or sexual innuendo? Can you imagine?' In a third video, Wallace claimed 'absolutely none' of the people he had worked with on his shows had made a complaint about him. The Sunday Times reported that BBC executive Kate Phillips raised concerns Wallace's behaviour was 'unacceptable and cannot continue'. The intervention came after broadcaster and former Celebrity MasterChef contestant Aasmah Mir, said she complained about inappropriate comments during filming when she appeared on the show in 2017. In an email forwarded to Ms Phillips in November 2017, Ms Mir said: 'Should anything happen in the future, I don't want to feel guilty when people say, 'Why wasn't anything said before?', or for producers or editors to claim they didn't know.' Ms Mir, who presents the breakfast show on Times Radio, later wrote in an email that was copied to Ms Phillips: 'This must not happen again to another woman.' In a post on X, she described a moment on the show which led to her complaint. While waiting for cameras to reshoot a scene, she claims Wallace said to 'tell a colleague at the BBC 'that she was a sexy b****''. Ms Mir claims that no one did anything despite it being said 'in front of everyone' which is why she complained. She added: 'I left the competition first. But two female contestants including Ulrika Jonsson told me afterwards that he had told another contestant that the way she was handling fish "looked like a rapist doing foreplay."' The newspaper claimed he received another warning the following year after a complaint was raised about his behaviour on the quiz show Impossible Celebrities. The Sunday Telegraph reported producer Georgia Harding, who worked on MasterChef between 2014 and 2015 and later Eat Well For Less, claimed she raised concerns about 'inappropriate' behaviour from him while working on the show. She alleged the presenter undressed in front of colleagues and 'made inappropriate sexual jokes' in front of the crew and people appearing on the shows, and said 'nothing was done' about concerns raised, claiming there was 'an acceptance' of his behaviour and 'nothing was done'. Wallace on MasterChef with co-host John Torode. A re-emerged clip from the 2013 series showed Wallace making a 'innuendo-laden remark' at contestant Katy Brand Harding also said he stood 'too close' to contestants on set and 'spoke about sex a lot and would get changed on set even though he had a changing room'. Meanwhile TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp also claimed Wallace made an inappropriate sexual joke to her. She wrote on X: 'Within 1hr of meeting Gregg Wallace he told me of a sex act that he & his partner at the time enjoyed 'every morning', she'd just left the room, we were filming a pilot. Did he get off on how embarrassed I was? It was totally unprofessional.' She added: 'Why say nothing? Because you feel, in no particular order, embarrassed, a prude, shocked, waiting for a male colleague to call him out, not wanting to 'rock the boat', thinking it's better to plough on with the day, assuming you misheard/misunderstood or just don't get the joke.' Former Celebrity MasterChef star Emma Kennedy, who won the 2012 series, has said she never saw Wallace as a 'sexual predator', but did witness 'inappropriate behaviour'. Speaking to Times Radio, she said: 'I went into the studio and it was me and Gregg and the photographer's assistant and the photographer's assistant was a young woman, very attractive young woman, and she was bending over dealing with some equipment. 'And as she was bending over, Gregg in front of me went and put his hands over her buttocks and then turned to me and went core and then was laughing as if this was a great joke.' When asked to confirm that Wallace's hands were on the young woman's bottom, she continued: 'I think I, now the angle that I was at, I cannot say for 100% but she did instantly react, so I do believe that he touched her. Yes. 'It was like a combination of things. I think initially I was just agog that he felt comfortable enough to do that to a woman in front of another woman. But I think, and I am going to make this distinction, I don't think he did it as an act of sexual aggression. I think he did it because he thought it was funny.' She continued: 'And I can only speak about my experience with Gregg and although I saw quite a lot of inappropriate behaviour, I never sort of felt, "Okay you're a sexual predator'" I never thought he was evil. But what I did think, but what I did think was that he just doesn't understand that some behaviour is completely inappropriate. 'And I said to him at the time, you can't do that stuff, Gregg. And it sort of went in one ear and out the other I think.' An anonymous woman who appeared on Eat Well For Less also claimed that Wallace stood 'too close' to her, made 'inappropriate' sexual comments, and said Wallace asked why guests were not laughing at his jokes, and told them they should because he was the 'talent'. Wallace has been mocked on social media for blaming 'middle class women of a certain age'. Some said Greg Wallace has 'done himself no favours' and 'made things worse' for himself by taking aim at the 13 women who have made a complaint, while others accused him of a 'blatantly misogynistic response' to complaints about his allegedly sexist behaviour. Many people took to 'X', formerly known as Twitter, to make fun of his post as they joked about his lawyers and PR firm's reaction to the video. One post read: 'Whichever PR firm advised Gregg Wallace to take on 'middle-class women of a certain age' clearly hate him as well.' Bosses at the corporation are said to have hauled the MasterChef co-host into a meeting in 2018 following allegations of 'inappropriate sexual comments' and told him to 'change his behaviour' Another featured a meme of Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation hammering his mobile phone with the caption: 'Gregg Wallace's lawyers driving to his house right now to remove his phone and laptop.' Radio presenter Julie Hartley-Brewer wrote: 'Spare a thought for Gregg Wallace's PR agent waking up this morning,' with a meme of Chandler from Friends shouting 'What did you just do?' Comedian David Baddiel joked: 'It's not often that the internet gets behind middle-class, middle-aged women these days, but thanks to Gregg Wallace for making it happen.' A BBC spokesperson said: 'We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them. We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated. 'Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them. 'It would be inappropriate for us to comment on anything that could form part of Banijay's ongoing investigation or otherwise influence it.' Banijay UK, the show's production company, said the complaints were made to the BBC this week by 'individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with Gregg Wallace on one of our shows'. The company said Wallace was 'committed to fully co-operating throughout the process'. 'Whilst these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate,' the company said. 'While this review is under way, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully co-operating throughout the process. 'Banijay UK's duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set. 'Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met, are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately.' MailOnline has contacted Wallace's representatives for comment. Do YOU know the woman in the video? An unhinged woman was captured spewing vile racist attacks at a man and his family on a United Airlines shuttle bus. Renowned photographer Pervez Taufiq recorded the woman harassing him on a crowded shuttle bus in Los Angeles last week. He said the woman started making racist comments toward his son during their flight, but the situation escalated when she told his kids 'shut up' while they were all on the shuttle. The woman wearing a green striped shirt stuck both her middle fingers up at Taufiq as he started to film the altercation. 'Your family is from India, you have no respect for the rules, you think you can push everyone... that's what you think you are. You guys are f*****g crazy,' she said. Taufiq questioned her, 'Indian people are crazy? You told me to have some more curry, right?' 'I'm going to record your f******g tandoori a**... your tandoori stinky a**,' the woman said. He asked security to removed the woman and she interrupted saying, 'She doesn't care that I'm a racist, you're racist towards me. I'm American.' An unhinged woman was captured spewing vile racist attacks at renowned photographer Pervez Taufiq on a United Airlines shuttle The woman wearing a green striped shirt stuck both her middle fingers up at Taufiq as he started to film the altercation 'So are we,' he replied. 'You're not American,' she insisted. 'Not originally no, you're from f*****g India.' 'I was born in America,' Taufiq said. 'No you weren't, that's not on your passport,' she replied. Taufiq said, 'Yeah, you want to see my passport? Is that going to make you happy?' A United employee came on the shuttle and started talking to the woman as other riders shouted asking her to take the woman off the bus. Another passenger told the employee, 'She is out of line, she's drunk and we need her off the bus.' 'She's been on the bus cussing and screaming, she started calling racist slurs at this nice family. They didn't do anything, she doesn't need to be on this bus.' Afterwards, the father uploaded the altercation to Instagram expressing his disbelief and frustration. The woman targeted photographer Pervez Taufiq and his family, hurling racist comments towards them and insisting they were 'Indian, not American' A United employee came on the shuttle and started talking to the woman as other riders shouted asking her to take the woman off the bus 'My blood is boiling right now, I honestly can't even believe this. We were just in this altercation with this lady who was giving us a really hard time,' he said. '[She was] telling my kids to shut up and I lost it and said you don't have a right to talk to my kids like that.' United Airlines told DailyMail.com that they 'dont have any additional information to share'. Outgoing US president Joe Biden has pardoned his son Hunter Biden, sparing him a possible prison sentence for federal felony gun and tax convictions and reversing his past promises not to use the extraordinary powers of the presidency for the benefit of his family. The Democratic president had previously said he would not pardon his son or commute his sentence after convictions in the two cases in Delaware and California. The move comes weeks before Hunter Biden was set to receive his punishment after his trial conviction in the gun case and guilty plea on tax charges, and less than two months before President-elect Donald Trump is set to return to the White House. Joe and Hunter Biden pictured in Massachusetts last week. Source: Getty It caps a long-running legal saga for the younger Biden, who publicly disclosed he was under federal investigation in December 2020 a month after his fathers 2020 victory and casts a pall over the elder Biden's legacy. Biden, who time and again pledged to Americans that he would restore norms and respect for the rule of law after Trump's first term in office, ultimately used his position to help his son, breaking his public pledge to Americans that he would do no such thing. Unexpectedly, the move prompted a wave of anger online. Incoming president Donald Trump was quick to react to the news, blasting the move and calling it an abuse and miscarriage of justice. Read more here. Concerns about the toxic culture at a rape charity were ignored by SNP ministers, it has been claimed. The Scottish Government has confirmed that officials were told in September that the Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis (GCRC) was on the brink of disaffiliation from Rape Crisis Scotland (RCS). GCRC announced more than one month after the talks that it had formally severed ties because it wanted to provide a single-sex service staffed by an all-female workforce. The inaction from SNP ministers has led to claims that its warnings were ignored. RCS chief executive Sandy Brindley apologised in September after another centre in Edinburgh - run by a trans woman - failed to provide single-sex spaces for 16 months. Scottish Conservative equalities spokesman Tess White said: This damning revelation raises serious questions for SNP ministers. It is clear Glasgow Rape Crisis had serious concerns about the leadership at Rape Crisis Scotland but appear to have been ignored. That speaks volumes about the attitude of SNP ministers who helped to foster the toxic culture within Rape Crisis Scotland. They should have acted immediately upon these concerns, rather than leaving it to Glasgow Rape Crisis to take a principled stance on their own weeks later. Mridul Wadhwa, stepped down as the chief executive of Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre after a damning report Rape Crisis Scotland has been mired in controversy over its gender stance The current leadership at Rape Crisis Scotland is not fit for purpose. The chief executive must do the honourable thing and resign if there is any hope of rebuilding trust with brave women and girls. The Scottish Government gives RCS funding which it distributes to a network of branches. The Glasgow centre, which supports nearly one in three of all survivors who receive a service from the Scottish rape crisis network, will get its annual funding directly from the Scottish Government after announcing its withdrawal from RCS on October 24. When it announced its decision, it said it wanted to provide a single-sex service delivered by an all-female workforce but this was at odds with RCS. In response to a freedom of information request, the Scottish Government confirmed that GRCC had made contact with it to discuss concerns about its relationship with RCS. The FOI response said: Glasgow Rape Crisis contacted Scottish Government officials on 26 August 2024 to request a meeting, which was held on 19 September 2024. During the meeting, Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis informed the officials that its Board was considering disaffiliation from Rape Crisis Scotland due to feeling that the two organisations were no longer aligned. The Scottish Government said it had not received any correspondence from other rape crisis centres about concerns about RCS. Harry Potter author JK Rowling praised the split, posting on X: Glasgow has a single-sex rape crisis centre again. The split came after a review earlier this year found that Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre (ERCC) had failed to provide women-only spaces and that its chief executive - a trans woman named Mridul Wadhwa - had not acted professionally or understood the limits of her authority. RCS has said that all rape crisis centres must provide women-only spaces within their service but how they define them is for individual centres to decide. It also says its priorities are meeting survivors needs, improving societys response to sexual violence, and working to prevent such violence. A Scottish Government spokesman said: The Scottish Government has no remit to interfere with the operational running of any independent charitable organisation. The Scottish Government continues to fund Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis Centre. Britain's 'Jihadi Jack' has pleaded to be repatriated to Canada so he can 'rot in jail' there instead of staying in a Syrian prison camp. Jack Letts, 29, a Canadian originally from the UK who has been detained for seven-and-a-half years among suspected Islamic State members in northeastern Syria, was found by a television crew in a prison near Raqqa. The bombshell interview with CTV News' W5 programme is the first time Letts has appeared on camera or been allowed to speak to media since 2019. The Muslim convert had held duel UK and Canadian citizenship but declared himself an 'enemy of Britain' after fleeing his Oxfordshire home to fight in Syria in 2014. After being captured by Kurdish authorities in 2017, he begged to be allowed back to the UK. In Saturday's interview, Letts denied he had ever been an IS member, but told how there were things he couldn't say as he was still behind bars. Speaking to W5's Avery Haines, the prisoner said he would have 'no problem' being taken back to Canada - even if it meant he had to spend 100 years in jail. 'At least let me rot in a prison in Canada,' he said. Jack Letts, 29, a Canadian originally from the UK who has been detained for seven-and-a-half years among suspected Islamic State members in northeastern Syria The bombshell interview with CTV News' W5 programme has now become the first time Letts has appeared on camera or been allowed to speak to media since 2019 Letts, a muslin convert, had held duel UK and Canadian citizenship but declared himself an 'enemy of Britain' after fleeing his Oxfordshire home to fight in Syria in 2014 Letts's mother, Sally Lane, who has been calling for the Canadian government to repatriate all of its own citizens held in Syrian camps and prisons, told Middle East Eye that there seems to have been a clear deterioration in his condition in the past five years. 'I was shocked at Jack's condition, and how distressed and clearly traumatised he is,' said Lane. 'I am so angry at the Canadian and British governments that they think it's okay to completely destroy him as a human being. Jack is going to die if they don't repatriate him. 'They know this, and still they do nothing'. Haines revealed in a W5 report that when she and her team located Letts after a days-long search, she was led 'blindfolded and handcuffed' into a basement 'soundproof interrogation room' by masked guards, noting that Letts was shoeless upon arrival. Asked by Haines if he had been a member of IS, Letts replied: 'Was I an ISIS member? No. A lot of things I said a long time ago because I was scared. 'I can't say everything because I am still in prison.' He said that 'naivete had played its role' in his decision to go to Syria, saying he had been motivated by watching 'videos of people being blown to pieces' and a desire to help people. 'I spoke to people who gave me the impression that ISIS wasn't what people said it was As soon as I got there, I realised they weren't what I thought,' he said. Letts said he had become an enemy of the group. He had been imprisoned three times and told he would be killed. 'Without exaggerating, more than 20 of my close friends were killed by ISIS,' he said. After converting to Islam at 16, Letts travelled to the Middle East in 2014, where he married an Iraqi woman The prisoner told W5 that after so many years in detention, he no longer gave any thought to what would happen in the future. 'It's like being in a desert. Every time you come to a dune, there is another dune after it. So I stopped thinking,' he said. After converting to Islam at 16, Letts travelled to the Middle East in 2014 aged 18, where he married an Iraqi woman. He was captured and jailed in 2017 by forces fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) terror group. In an interview with Sky News in 2019, Letts confessed to fighting against the Syrian regime but said he regretted being with the 'wrong people'. He also said he felt guilty for what he put his parents through, after they were found convicted of funding terrorism after they sent him cash. They were sentenced to 15 months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. Sally Lane and John Letts, who is Canadian, had sent 223 to their son while he was in Syria despite learning he had joined IS, and later tried to send a further 1,000. They said: 'We've been convicted for doing what any parents would do if their child was in danger.' Letts is one of tens of thousands of people, many of them foreign nationals, detained by Kurdish-led forces in formerly IS-controlled Syrian territory and held in camps and prisons for years without charge. He has previously said he was tortured in detention, but Kurdish authorities say they operate in compliance with international human rights laws. Sally Lane (pictured with young Jack Letts), the mother of British-born Islamist 'Jihadi Jack' Lane (right), a former Oxfam fundraiser, and father John Letts (left), 62, became the first British parents to be charged with terrorism offences after sending money to their son in Syria Letts' case is similar to that of Shamima Begum, the 15-year-old from Bethnal Green, east London, who fled to Syria to join ISIS. She was one of three schoolgirls who travelled to Syria to join ISIS - was stripped of her British citizenship after she was found, nine months pregnant, in a Syrian refugee camp in February 2019. The Londoner fled the UK in February 2015 and lived under ISIS rule for more than three years where she married a Dutch jihadi. She now lives at the al-Roj camp in northern Syria, run by the Syrian Democratic Forces, which she described as 'worse than a prison' in her desperate bid to be re-accepted into Western life. A 12-year-old girl who went missing when she left her school in London, may be with a man in his 20s, police have said in an urgent appeal. Isabelle Lindsay-Nandra, known as Bella, was last seen at 3.30pm on Tuesday, November 26. She did not return to her home in Bexleyheath when she left school and has not been seen for since. Now police have said she may be with a man in his 20s and have released descriptions of him and another man. A spokesperson for the Met Police said: 'Officers believe that she caught a bus to Woolwich and then travelled to King George V DLR station, arriving at 10pm. 'She has been missing before, but never for this period of time. 'She may be in the company of a man, described as Black, in his 20s with a small beard. 'He may be called Marshall or another name beginning with M. Isabelle Lindsay-Nandra, 12, known as Bella, was last seen getting on a bus on Tuesday It is believed she caught a bus to Woolwich and then travelled to King George V DLR station, pictured, arriving at 10pm 'She may also have been in the company of another man, described as South Asian, who had a physical fight with the other man. Isabelle is 5ft 3ins in height. 'She was wearing school uniform with a black Canada goose coat and blue suede boots with bows on the back.' Police say enquiries are ongoing to identify the men and locate Isabelle, including analysis of available CCTV. Anyone who may have seen Isabelle or who has information about her whereabouts or the people with her is urged to call 101 and quote REF 01/1130151/24. For an immediate sighting, dial 999. Sir Keir Starmer was under fire last night for not including cutting migration among his targets as the number of people crossing the Channel on his watch reached 20,000. Official figures are expected to confirm on Monday morning that the milestone was reached yesterday. Two dinghies with dozens of migrants on board were picked up in the early hours and brought to shore after setting off from France, Sky News revealed. It came after a fortnight without any crossings, during which the number of crossings recorded stood at 19,988 since Labour won the election on July 4. The Home Office tally for the year so far is 33,562. And it comes after shock figures last week revealed the true scale of people arriving in the UK legally, with revised Office for National Statistics data showing that net migration hit a record 906,000 in the year to June 2023. Yet a Cabinet minister admitted yesterday that cutting migration numbers either legal or illegal will not be in the measurable milestones to be unveiled by the Prime Minister in his new Plan for Change this week. Pat McFadden told Sky News: I dont say that targets dont work in any circumstances. But numerical targets on migration have not had a happy history in recent years. He said that the Government will set out this week what it wants to achieve in critical areas like education, health, crime, housing, energy and living standards. Over 20,000 migrants have crossed the Channel since Sir Keir Starmer came to power Migrants being escorted by Border Force officials into the Port of Dover on November 16 An inflatable dinghy carrying 65 migrants crossed the Channel Told that this did not include migration, which many people put among their biggest concerns, Mr McFadden insisted: I dont say that well give you a target number, but we will certainly talk about migration, both legal and illegal when we publish the document later this week. Asked why, he replied that there was no magic number, adding: The amount of migration that you need will ebb and flow depending on how your economy is doing. But we do want legal migration to come down. We do want to train more of our own workers. We do want to get more people off welfare and into work. Last night Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp told the Mail: It is shocking that dramatically reducing legal immigration and ending illegal immigration is not even one of Starmers priorities. It is certainly the priority of the British people and it is my priority as Shadow Home Secretary. But Starmers lack of concern is no surprise. It was Starmer who described immigration laws as racist in the past and it was Starmers Labour Party who voted 134 times in the last parliament against measures to combat illegal immigration. They also scrapped the Conservative plan to further tighten up rules on dependents coming into the country in April next year. I call on Starmer to urgently reinstate this measure. A RNLI lifeboat assisting migrants in a dinghy in the Channel, before taking them to a beach in Dungeness Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. The Tories are also calling on Labour to reinstate the policy of trying to send illegal migrants to Rwanda as a deterrent, which Sir Keir scrapped on his first day in office. Last week he announced a new deal that will provide funding for Iraqs law enforcement agencies to tackle the problem of people-smuggling upstream before it reaches Britains shores. Cutting immigration is not among Labours five missions: growing the economy, an NHS fit for the future, safer streets, secure power through clean energy and opportunity for all. However setting a new Border Security Command was one of the six First Steps announced soon after the election. A New York City influencer has divided the internet with her hot take on corporate holiday party invites. Piper Phillips, a self-employed content creator who previously worked in the corporate world, posted a video to her 93,000 TikTok followers ranting about a friend's work Christmas party that does not allow them to bring a plus one. 'They get dressed up in attire that is fancy, dresses, whatever, and they do not bring their significant others. I think this is weird,' Phillips said, recalling a conversation she had with a friend. She imagined as a 24-year-old woman it would be awkward to get dressed up and go to a party where an older male boss is also attending without their partners and have unfettered access to alcohol. 'Where there is an open bar, when there's alcohol, I mean especially in conservative, more male dominated industries, I think it seems strange knowing that there's less young women in their 20s there and there's going to be your bosses in positions of power with an open bar and no other significant others, no wives,' Phillips said. 'It seems really uncomfortable to me, especially with the way our society has glorified the Christmas party, open bar, it just seems really inappropriate.' Her comment section was divided - with some people arguing it is normal to not invite others because it is a bonding event for colleagues. 'I dont think this is weird at all. Its just a good way for coworkers to connect,' one person said. Piper Phillips (pictured) posted a video to her 93,000 TikTok followers ranting about a friend's work Christmas party that does not allow them to bring a plus one The content creator imagined, as a 24-year-old woman, that it would be awkward to get dressed up and go to a party where an older male boss is also attending 'I think its normal and I dont want to be a single person hanging out with my coworkers spouses,' said another. A third person said, 'This is normal. Why would your spouse need to be at a WORK event with you?' 'This is super normal. Id think someone who cant go to a work event without their significant others supervision is in a very toxic relationship,' said a fourth. Some pointed out it is expensive for companies to put on these events and they save money by not allowing guests. 'Holiday parties are expensive and not everyone has a partner so if you cut partners out you save money and often more people attend,' one person said. 'That's weird. Glad my work isn't cheap,' said another. Others agreed with content creator Phillips stating their time outside of work hours is meant to with their family and if they can't bring their partners they will not go. 'If I'm getting dressed up in anything but my normal work clothes (or a silly sweater), or if it's anything more formal than a happy hour, it's inappropriate/cheap to not offer plus ones,' one person said. Recent polling found that 87 percent of workers would choose a Christmas bonus or gift card over a staff party A second person said, 'I would not go to a corporate party without my partner. Why would I spend my free time with coworkers?' 'I agree, I hate a corporate Christmas party and I know it costs more to bring guests but lets just skip the party and give out a Christmas bonus,' said another. 'I think it would just be so much more fun and interesting to meet and bring partners. I see my coworkers daily already,' a fourth person said. Recent polling found that 87 percent of workers would choose a Christmas bonus or gift card over a staff party. Surprisingly, when asked if they wanted any kind of work celebration at all 63 percent said no. With an increasing number of office workers based at home for at least part of the working week, the art of socializing and mingling with colleagues appears to be dying. The Chancellor is facing calls to reveal whether she inadvertently tipped off a Labour MP with a 2,200-acre family estate about her inheritance tax raid on farms. The parents of Henry Tufnell, elected in July in Mid and South Pembrokeshire, transferred ownership of Upper Colne Farm and Stud directly to his brother Albermale 20 days before the October Budget. The move means that the new 'family farm tax' won't be due on the land - thought to be worth more than 20million - when they pass away, provided they live until October 2031. It has raised questions over whether Mr Tufnell, known as the party's 'poshest' MP, was informed about these changes in advance to avoid the levy. Shadow Financial Secretary Gareth Davies has now written to Rachel Reeves about the 'incredibly serious reports that have now emerged'. He said: 'As I am sure you are aware, the Daily Mail has reported this weekend Mr. Henry Tufnell's 2,000-acre family estate undertook a series of sudden and drastic tax avoidance measures before you delivered your first Budget. 'This included moving thousands of acres of land, including hundreds used for agricultural/arable purposes, from his parents to his brother, and the setting up of a trust for their property.' He has asked whether any ministers, special advisers or Treasury officials let Mr Tufnell know about the changes in advance. Mr Davies also queried the content of the 'briefing sessions' held with Labour MPs ahead of the Budget, and whether any information slipped out this way.' Rachel Reeves has been urged to reveal whether she inadvertently warned Labour MP Henry Tufnell about her inheritance tax grab on farms (pictured together) Mr Tufnell's parents transferred ownership of Upper Colne Farm and Stud directly to his brother Albermale 20 days before the October Budget (pictured: Henry Tufnell) The MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire, is one of the recent intake of MPs representing Sir Keir Starmer's Labour He added: 'You have said large estates must pay their share. Do you believe that Mr. Tufnell's actions are consistent with the Government's position? 'I am sure you will appreciate that these are not trivial matters. At a time where tens of thousands of farmers across the country are raising the alarm about the damage this policy will do to their livelihoods and their children's futures the prospect that one of your MPs, potentially acting on inside information, has moved to protect their interests is highly troublesome. 'Without fulsome answers to these questions the British public might rightfully conclude that there is a pattern of deceitful behaviour in the Labour Party and a lack of transparent permeating all levels of your government.' Mr Tufnell has denied any inside information, while a source close to his family said the Tufnells were simply preparing for a tax raiding Labour government more generally. The MP said: 'I appreciate that it looks bad, but there's nothing that I can do about it. I guess the point is that your family is your family, and Dad has taken tax advice and spoken to financial advisers and has started succession planning. 'But it's not because of something I told him.' Henry Tufnell successfully campaigned for election via social media videos about his rural upbringing. In one he declared: 'I come from a farming background and I have strong connections with rural communities' Mr Tufnell denied having been given any inside information, with a source close to his family suggesting tax planning may have been done in anticipation of a tax-raiding Labour government more generally Labour did not respond to a request for comment. A Treasury spokesperson did not address the claims directly but said: 'Our commitment to farmers remains steadfast - we have committed 5 billion to the farming budget over two years, including more money than ever for sustainable food production. 'Our reform to Agricultural and Business Property Relief will impact around 500 estates a year. For these estates, inheritance tax will be at half the rate paid by others, with 10 years to pay the liability back interest free. 'This is a fair and balanced approach that fixes the public services we all rely on.' The Cabinet Minister responsible for slashing Winter Fuel Payments for millions of pensioners last night faced calls to return money she claimed for her own energy bills from the taxpayer. Liz Kendall, who lives in a 4million mansion in Notting Hill, west London, used 3,182 of public money to pay off energy costs for her second home in her constituency between April 2023 and July this year, as revealed by The Mail on Sunday. At the same time, her decision to axe the annual winter fuel payment of between 100 and 300 for all but the poorest pensioners will force 100,000 people into poverty by 2027, according to an assessment by her own department. She faced widespread condemnation last night from campaigners and MPs, with some calling for her to hand the money back. Dennis Reed of Silver Voices, which represents senior citizens, said: She should pay all that money back to a charity after the mess that her Department has caused. It does strike me as extreme hypocrisy for the SoS [secretary of state] to be the one who is presiding over cuts in Winter Fuel for over ten million pensioners but at the same time, claiming from the taxpayer. People will be quite rightly very angry about this because it is one rule for them, and one for the rest of us plebs. It leaves a sour taste. Liz Kendall has not given us a face-to-face meeting to discuss what we can do to tide pensioners over - Ive asked for an urgent meeting for over two weeks and Ive not even had a response. This is an emergency situation - and this news makes me even more angry. Labour MP Liz Kendall is being urged to return taxpayers' money used to heat her second constituency home in Leicester Ms Kendall bought the three-storey London townhouse with financier James Ind (pictured) for 3.9 million in January 2021 Ms Kendalls decision to claim the money was also branded hypocritical by MPs. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: The hypocrisy of the Labour Government knows no bounds. I will not be claiming a penny in expenses for my heating. His party colleague Lee Anderson commented: Whilst living in a 4million mansion in Notting Hill this Minister on over 160k a year is claiming hundreds of pounds of tax payers money to pay for energy costs in her constituency home. 'This is on the back of her taking away the Winter Fuel Payment from 11million pensioners. 'It was Liz Kendall and co that said up to 4,000 pensioners would die if the Winter Fuel Payment was taken away. These wicked Labour MPs should hang their heads in shame. Tory environment spokesman Victoria Atkins told GB News: The fact is that the reason this is in the news is because of Labours decision to remove winter fuel payments from pensioners. That is the mischief...thats why we forced the vote on Labour MPs, thats the hypocrisy that we are focused on. Fellow Tory frontbencher David Simmonds added: This revelation will be a kick in the teeth for the ten million pensioners facing choosing between heating and eating this Christmas because of Labour and Liz Kendalls political choice to cut the winter fuel payment. While Liz Kendall is living a life of luxury the country is facing real life consequences of Labours ill-thought-out decisions. A source close to the minister said last night: The accommodation costs budget is designed to meet costs incurred by MPs as a result of working from two permanent locations. MPs of all parties are entitled to this, and they continue paying their utility bills for their own homes like everyone else. Ms Kendall is understood to have bought the three-storey London townhouse for 3.9million in January 2021. The west London property boasts four bedrooms, four reception rooms and three bathrooms, with a magnificent gilt-framed painting and a large fireplace in the living room. But Ms Kendall is not the only frontbencher using taxpayer cash to warm their homes. In 2021-22, Chancellor Rachel Reeves claimed 382 for help towards paying the energy bills at her second home. This shot up to 1,186 last year. Chancellor Rachel Reeves claimed 382 towards paying the energy bills at her second home in 2021-22 Energy Secretary Ed Millibands claims also shot up from 650 to 1,100, while Education Secretary Bridget Phillipsons surged from 1,052 to 1,896. In total, 11 Cabinet ministers claimed 7,187 towards their gas and electricity bills in 2021-22, which soared to 12,620 for the first three-quarters of last year. There is no suggestion that those who have made claims have broken any rules. The Government announced in July that access winter fuel payments would be restricted to people claiming pension credit, with the aim of saving 1.5billion a year. Of the 11.4million pensioners previously eligible, only 1.5million meet the new criteria. A mother has revealed the frantic messages she swapped with her allergic son after he realised a snack he had just eaten contained walnuts. Louise Cadman, 56, urged her 25-year-old son George Cadman-Ithell to get immediate help after he began feeling unwell. But he had to run for eight minutes to his home as he was not carrying the adrenaline pen prescribed to tackle severe allergic reactions, having never suffered a serious attack before. Despite paramedics performing CPR, two months on the university graduate is in a vegetative state in hospital with his family fearing he will not recover. His mother yesterday revealed Mr Cadman-Ithells heartbreaking situation to raise awareness of how people with even previously mild food allergies can become catastrophically ill. He bought a bag of saucissons secs salami in Sidcup, south-east London, on September 20 and messaged his mother to say they were nice. Seconds later he sent her a second text reading: F*** they contain walnuts! Mr Cadman-Ithell likened to an absent-minded professor by his family had overlooked the words aux noix meaning with nuts in French printed on the salamis packaging. George Cadman-Ithell, 25, is in a vegetative state in hospital with his family fearing he will not recover after he ate a snack including walnuts Louise Cadman, 56, has revealed the frantic messages she swapped with her allergic son He bought a bag of saucissons secs salami in Sidcup, south-east London on September 20 and messaged his mother to say they were nice It also had with walnuts written in English further down. He was diagnosed when aged five with an allergy to tree nuts which includes cashews, walnuts and almonds. His worried mother sent him a series of messages asking if he was okay and urging him to get medical help. Mr Cadman-Ithell ran home, where his husband Joe Nolan, 25, administered his EpiPen. But he went into cardiac arrest and his brain was deprived of oxygen for 26 minutes, causing severe brain damage. He remained in a vegetative state at a rehabilitation unit at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, north-west London, yesterday. He is able to open his eyes and breath independently but is incapable of communicating. Its just destroyed us, his mother said yesterday. I cant bear the thought of this happening to another family. Mr Cadman-Ithell was diagnosed when aged five with an allergy to tree nuts which includes cashews, walnuts and almonds Mrs Cadman, a former bank manager from Upminster, east London, said his first allergic reaction came as a child after eating a Guylian seashell chocolate at his grandparents house. He did his best to avoid nuts, she told the Sunday Times, but experienced attacks on 15 occasions. Each time his symptoms eased upon taking antihistamine tablets and he never used his EpiPen. Mr Cadman-Ithell graduated with a first-class degree in urban planning, design and management from University College London two weeks before the reaction and was saving to study for a masters degree. Saying she hoped discussing her sons life-changing experience would help prevent similar tragedies, Mrs Cadman added: If youve got an allergy, it can go from being relatively mild to fatal from one attack to the next. This is a time of year when people are trying new foods and eating out and going to peoples houses, and they perhaps become complacent like George did. A GoFundMe page to help support Mr Cadman-Ithells recovery had exceeded 13,000 last night. Prostitutes have gained the right to maternity leave, sick days and pensions in Belgium under the first law of its kind in the world. They will also be given the right to refuse clients and to say no to specific acts and cannot be sacked for these refusals under the rules. The legislation, which was approved by the Belgian parliament in May and came into force yesterday, also establishes rules on working hours, pay and safety measures. Sex work was decriminalised in Belgium in 2022 and it is legal in several countries including Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and Turkey. But the law meaning prostitutes can now sign formal employment contracts and gain labour rights on a par with those in other professions is a global first. The Belgian Union of Sex Workers described the law as 'a huge step forward, ending legal discrimination against sex workers' and said it will help clamp down on abuse and exploitation. However feminist organisations have criticised the legislation and described it as 'catastrophic' for young girls and victims of trafficking. The new law also states that employers of prostitutes must provide clean linen, condoms, and hygiene products and install emergency 'panic buttons' in workspaces to keep women safe. Sex work was decriminalised in Belgium in 2022. Pictured: Red Light District, 'Glass Alley', in Ghent, Belgium Prostitutes have gained the right to maternity leave, sick days and pensions in Belgium (pictured: Demonstrators hold placards written 'sexwork is work' during a protest against the closure of sex work activities in Brussels, Belgium in March 2021) It also dictates that pimps must now obtain a licence to run brothels and meet background requirements, including having no prior convictions for sexual assault or human trafficking. Prostitutes or their pimps will also be able to request a government-backed mediator to come in and settle any employment-related disputes. Erin Kilbride, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, described the law as 'radical', telling the BBC: 'It is the best step we have seen anywhere in the world so far. We need every country to be moving in that direction.' However Julia Crumiere, a volunteer with charity Isala which helps Belgian sex workers, said the majority of women involved in prostitution want help to leave the profession and get a 'normal' job, not employment rights. 'It is dangerous because it normalises a profession that is always violent at its core,' she said. The legislation was approved by the Belgian parliament in May and came into force yesterday (pictured: A demonstration organized by the UTSOPI collective to protest against the closure of sex work activities in March 2021) Isabelle Jaramillo, co-ordinator of Espace P, an advocacy group involved in drafting the legislation, described it as 'an incredible step forward'. She said: 'It means their profession can finally be recognised as legitimate by the Belgian state. 'From the employer's perspective, this will also be a revolution. They'll have to apply for a state authorisation to hire sex workers. 'Under the previous legislation, hiring someone for sex work automatically made you a pimp, even if the arrangement was consensual. Now, they'll have to apply for state authorisation to hire employees.' Former transport secretary Louise Haigh took a photo of her supposedly stolen mobile phone to submit to police after the date of the alleged theft, officers believe. Police have suggested metadata attached to the photo shows that it was taken after the reported crime. Ms Haigh claimed the phone was stolen when she was mugged but admitted to finding it later. The Sheffield Heeley MP resigned from the cabinet on Friday morning after details of her 2014 conviction, which she got after pleading guilty to making a false report, emerged. The saga has led to questions for the Prime Minister on how much he knew of the conviction especially as he made a point of highlighting misconduct from the previous Conservative government, saying in opposition that one cannot be a lawmaker and a lawbreaker. Nigel Huddleston, co-chairman of the Conservative Party, said the Prime Minister needed to address what he knew about Ms Haighs conviction directly, adding: Keir Starmer appointed Louise Haigh to Cabinet to run a 30billion budget, despite knowing she had a fraud conviction. Pat McFadden was unable to answer what Starmer knew and when. This serious question needs to be answered and its time for Keir Starmer to come clean. But last night, Chairman of the Duchy of Lancaster Mr McFadden defended Sir Keirs appointment of Ms Haigh to the frontbench. Police believe former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh took a photo of her phone to submit after it was supposedly stolen Ms Haigh, pictured with Sir Keir Starmer in 2021, resigned from the cabinet on Friday morning after details of her 2014 conviction, which she got after pleading guilty to making a false report, emerged Starmer (pictured with Haigh on April 25) said in his acceptance of her resignation: 'Thank you for all you have done to deliver this Government's ambitious transport agenda' He told the BBC: Its not the case that anyone whos ever broken the law ever cant serve in Parliament. Im sure if you looked around Parliament, youd find more than one. I dont know everybodys background. He also praised Sir Keir for the speed at which the issue was dealt with, telling GB News: She said in her resignation letter she didnt want this to go on and be a long, drawn-out saga. And I think thats quite a contrast between the way this was dealt with and the way some of these things have been dealt with in the past, where they have dragged out. 'They have become a big distraction. It shows that he [Sir Keir] wants to act on these things when they come to light. Ms Haigh, who was replaced by Heidi Alexander shortly after resigning on Friday, said she stepped down partly because this issue will inevitably be a distraction from delivering the work of this government. The timing of the leak has also raised questions about whether it was planned in advance to oust the ex-transport secretary, who was seen as one of the more Left-wing figures in the Cabinet. Pictured: Ms Haigh's resignation letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer Starmer accepted her resignation, thanking Haigh for all she had done and saying 'I know you still have a huge contribution to make in the future' And some trade union figures have suggested Sir Keirs all-powerful Chief of Staff, Morgan McSweeney, is responsible for her downfall. Last night, veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott accused Sir Keir of throwing Ms Haigh under the bus, adding: He knew that she had this problem with her claim for her mobile phone. He knew it from the beginning, and now to throw her under the bus like this, I dont get it. She was one of our more effective Cabinet ministers. Ms Haigh did not respond to a request for comment last night. If you're hoping to have a kiss under the mistletoe this Christmas, you're in the right place. Its that magical time of year again. The Christmas trees are going up and decorations are being hung in homes and streets across the country. Some people may even be lingering under the mistletoe hoping for a romantic rendezvous. While most probably picture such a moment occurring under a sprig of evergreen foliage like a scene out of a cheesy American movie, the reality looks a lot different in Australia home to almost 100 species of the magical and mysterious plant, all of which are semi-parasitic. Australia is particularly rich in mistletoes, botanist Dr Kevin Thiele told Yahoo News, adding we have the most species out of any country, although none grow in Tasmania. I think were one of the most diverse continents in the world for mistletoes, but they are cosmopolitan so you get a few in Europe hence the whole Christmas thing but only a few species, and I must say theyre not wildly interesting looking. ADVERTISEMENT That does not apply to the dozens of native varieties found Down Under, with Western Australia home to more species than any other state, including the particularly interesting Nuytsia Floribunda, otherwise known as the Christmas tree due to its bright yellow or orange flowers that bloom every December. The Christmas tree mistletoe is famous for its bright orange and yellow flowers. Source: Auscape/Universal Images Group via Getty It's a famous tree in the southwest, Dr Thiele explained. Unlike other mistletoes, it forms a tree so its roots are in the ground, but the roots actually creep along underground and find other plants and then wrap around the root and puncture it, stealing its water and mineral nutrients. In fact, in WA if theres a Christmas tree growing in the middle of a paddock where a farmers growing carrots, it will parasitise the carrots. All other native mistletoes including the commonly found amyema nestor grow on hosts, hanging from their branches. Photos of an amyema nestor in bloom in remote Morawa, about four hours north of Perth, were recently posted online, showing its signature fluffy, soft red flowers ADVERTISEMENT It is frequently seen in the rangelands of Western Australia and exclusively grows on Acacias, Dr Thiele said. Entering the world of 'partial parasitic' native mistletoes Mistletoes are sort of partial parasitises and will target a particular host to help keep them alive. Some species only grow on wattles, others only go on Kurrajong, some only grow on eucalypts theyre very picky, Dr Thiele said. The plants spread thanks to the help of mistletoe birds, which eat their sweet and very sticky berries before wiping the seeds on other trees. Amyema nestor mistletoes are commonly found in arid areas of Western Australia. Source: Leonie Aspin/Morawa Visitors Centre A seed will germinate and grows a little sort of peg that is able to stick onto the branch of a host tree, he told Yahoo. Then it punctures down through the bark of the host and it finds the tissues in the host branch that transport water and mineral nutrients from the soil up to the leaves of the host. ADVERTISEMENT Theyre very specialist plants. They've figured out a trick for doing this. The host obviously doesnt really want to be parasitised, so theres a sort of a competition between the host and the mistletoe. Most of the time, mistletoes and their hosts get along quite well, some plants will die if they are already under distress and loose further nutrients, therefore also killing the decorative vine. There are a couple of cases of a mistletoe that parasitises another mistletoe, that parasitises a host so you get these very special plants that only live on other mistletoes, Dr Thiele. Talk about a Christmas miracle. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. The BBC allowed Gregg Wallace to remain on air despite at least four complaints being made against him. The MasterChef host has been the subject of a growing slew of allegations about inappropriate behaviour on set. Last night BBC bosses were under mounting pressure to explain why they did not act sooner. And the presenter yesterday faced a further backlash after dismissing his accusers as a handful of middle-class women of a certain age. A former culture secretary said the controversy was a test for the whole BBC system and said the apparent lack of curiosity was depressing. MPs are now set to raise the matter with the BBCs director general Tim Davie and chairman Samir Shah. It came as Wallace, 60, yesterday went on an extraordinary Instagram rant against his middle-class accusers. He said he had been on MasterChef for 20 years and worked with 4,000 contestants, but apparently there had been only 13 complaints. His comments sparked a furious reaction from critics who accused him of thinly veiled misogyny. Broadcaster Kirstie Allsopp yesterday came forward to accuse Wallace of having made a comment to her about his sex life. Gregg Wallace, 60, yesterday went on an extraordinary Instagram rant against his middle-class accusers MPs are now set to raise the matter with the BBCs Director-General Tim Davie (pictured) and chairman Samir Shah Broadcaster Kirstie Allsopp yesterday came forward to accuse Wallace of having made a comment to her about his sex life A total of 13 people complained about Wallace's conduct while working with him over a 17-year period across five shows, from 2005 to 2022, the BBC revealed Meanwhile a former MasterChef contestant claimed the allegations were the tip of the iceberg. The unnamed whistleblower, speaking to Sky News, claimed there was a systemic culture problem on the show, adding: I was horrified. Id never seen anything like it, genuinely. I was really quite shocked at that really toxic environment. They said Wallace would occasionally crack jokes that in different ways felt inappropriate, but he wasnt the only one. Wallace stepped aside from MasterChef last week after claims were made of inappropriate behaviour and sexual remarks. This included allegations of inappropriate sexual jokes, undressing in front of women and standing too close to them. Celebrity MasterChef winner Emma Kennedy told The Sunday Times she may have seen him inappropriately touch a camera assistant during a shoot for the 2012 final. She said: The photographer had a young female assistant and she bent over in front of me. Gregg went over and went Corr! with his hands over her a**e. It emerged yesterday that the BBC had previously received complaints about the stars behaviour on at least four different occasions between 2017 and 2022. It is thought that at least another four complaints were raised with staff working for the producers of MasterChef, which is owned by the company Banijay. Among the allegations that emerged over the weekend was that Celebrity MasterChef contestant Aasmah Mir had warned the BBC about inappropriate comments by Wallace in 2017. According to The Sunday Times, BBC executive Kate Phillips responded by raising concerns that Wallaces behaviour was unacceptable and cannot continue. Former Celebrity Masterchef winner Emma Kennedy revealed she reported Wallace 12 years ago after she allegedly witnessed him grope a camera assistant during a photoshoot for the 2012 finals The grocer turned broadcaster has insisted that it is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature MPs are now set to raise the matter with the BBCs Director-General Tim Davie and chairman Samir Shah (pictured) The following year he was warned about his behaviour on the quiz show Impossible Celebrities amid allegations of inappropriate sexual comments. A letter was also sent to the BBC in 2022 laying out a number of allegations which is said to have referred to a pattern of behaviour that failed to meet sexual harassment and bullying standards. In the letter, sent by producer and director Dawn Elrick, he was accused of making lewd comments and asking for the personal phone numbers of female production staff. She said the BBC had recommended that each individual would have to make their own direct complaint to the corporation and did not receive further contact. Last night she told the Mail: TV has a sexism, racism and classism issue, but there is no consistent HR a lot of time those you can directly complain to have a vested interest to not rock the boat. 'If nothing else, the BBC should have paid attention to the letter, because this is what freelancers have been talking about for years. It is also claimed that in the same year, Nestle contacted the BBC about the stars behaviour after he filmed at one of its factories for Inside The Factory. Staff were said to have been upset by his jokes about their weight. One senior BBC source said it was wrong to suggest the corporation had done nothing about these complaints, adding it has been reported there were interventions in 2017 and 2018. They added that the claims by Nestle were also probed and Wallace then left the show. Last night there were reports of the BBC facing a mutiny from its staff over bosses being aware of the allegations for several years. Insiders told the Daily Telegraph the BBC seeks to manage risk rather than deal with problems, which leads to monumental f***-ups. Nicky Morgan, the culture secretary between 2019 and 2020, told the Mail this latest case is a test for the whole BBC system.' She added: 'The lack of curiosity and follow-up to the complaints made is both depressing and unsurprising. Tory Caroline Dinenage, the chairman of the Commons culture, media and sport committee, said: The committee will, I expect, be looking for some kind of reassurance that the right systems and processes are in place that would ensure staff are properly protected and allegations are always properly investigated. A BBC spokesman said: We take any issues raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them. We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected... will not be tolerated. Wallaces lawyers said: It is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature. Spokesmen for Wallace and Banijay declined to comment. Incidents of anti-Semitism are happening on a daily basis at the BBC and have become 'normalised', a whistleblower has claimed. The experienced member of staff, who is Jewish, has given a detailed account of the anti-Israel attitude of many at the corporation and how concerns have been dismissed by managers. Writing anonymously for The Telegraph, the staffer said: 'Anti-Semitism exists in the newsrooms of Britain's public service broadcaster. It has done for years, and it is alive and well today, refuelled by the events of Oct 7 and after. 'I have experienced it first hand, too much, in my career at the corporation, both before and since the Hamas attacks.' The writer also accused director general Tim Davie of failing to tackle the problem, despite emailing all staff in February to say there was no place for racist abuse of any kind at the BBC. The whistleblower wrote: 'To regain the confidence of Jewish employees, a start would be for the BBC board to issue a clear directive to staff that using the term Zionist negatively in the workplace is unacceptable but that would risk uproar.' The writer added that recent incidents showed the 'BBC does not have zero tolerance for anti-Semitism', adding that 'it has more of a lackadaisical policy.' During the summer, 200 Jewish employees across the BBC co-signed a letter to the board expressing 'very serious concerns about anti-Jewish racism' and provided documentary evidence to back it up. The experienced member of staff, who is Jewish, has given a detailed account of the anti-Israel attitude of many at the corporation (file image) Cars abandoned in the road near the Nova festival in the aftermath of the October 7 atrocities Hamas swept into Israel on October 7, killing some 1,170 people and taking 251 hostage 'The response of Dr Samir Shah, the BBC chair, was to accept that 'on a small number of occasions, staff conduct has fallen below expectations,' but dismissed the signatories' call for a formal investigation. In other words, nothing to see here, you're overreacting.' The whistleblower did not include the 'severest examples' of abuse for fear of identification, but gave details of treatment even before the October 7 massacre that triggered the war in Gaza. While getting coffee, the whistleblower claimed one journalist said to the writer's face: 'My sympathies lie with the Palestinians.' The whistleblower commented: 'Would anyone say to an Indian colleague: 'My sympathies lie with Pakistan,' or vice-versa? Of course not, it would be unthinkable.' On another occasion, the whistleblower said a senior reporter told an editor: 'Israel is an apartheid state. It's a fact.' The whistleblower added: 'The editor accepted the statement without so much as a raised eyebrow. Israel, of course, is no such thing, and as a Jew to hear it said with conviction at such a level of seniority is deeply offensive, stomach-churning.' A BBC spokesman said: 'We are deeply concerned to read this article about the experiences of a member of staff; it's unacceptable that anyone should face this in their workplace. We deplore anti-Semitism and all forms of discrimination or harassment. 'We urge the writer to discuss this with their manager, or if they feel unable to do so, to contact our confidential bullying and harassment helpline or use our whistleblowing service so that these issues can be investigated and addressed, and the staff member can receive the appropriate support.' An overheight truck sparked commuter chaos for hundreds of Aussies after it blocked access to the Sydney Harbour Tunnel and forced the closure of its southbound lanes. Live Traffic NSW made the announcement at 8.30am on Monday, urging drivers to use alternative routes to access the city. 'Use the Harbour Bridge instead and allow extra travel time as traffic is heavy,' a Facebook post read. Aussies were left furious and took to the social media page to vent their anger. 'Why didn't they have a red light for all traffic BEFORE the turn off point?' one wrote. 'It will cause a small delay for everyone but the truck can then easily be detoured without having to stop everything for an hour just so it can be backed out.' 'Why truckers do this is beyond comprehension when they know they aint gonna fit,' another added. A third said: 'Who gave him/ her licence? In all seriousness this could've been prevented knowing height restrictions.' Sydney Harbour Tunnel has been closed to southbound traffic after an overheight truck became stuck An update was provided at 8.50am revealing that the southbound lanes had been reopened. 'Southbound traffic remains heavy so continue to allow extra travel time while conditions return to normal,' Live Traffic Sydney wrote on social media platform X. As parlour games go, the subject of who has stepped in to fund Prince Andrew's future in the white-stuccoed grandeur of Royal Lodge, Windsor, has been the only one in play for weeks. Since the revelation that the Duke of York had secured a cash lifeline for the 30-room mansion, the hunt for his mysterious benefactor has consumed London society. Who, everyone wants to know, has the resources to go up against King Charles, following his demands that his brother downsize to the more modest Frogmore Cottage, once the home of the Sussexes? Wealthy names from the Middle East to the Russian steppes have been in the frame, but now I can reveal there are some in aristocratic circles who believe the Prince's secret patron is someone far closer to home. In fact, he may own a rather grand property right next door. They suspect the 'eviction' threat is an elaborate double bluff by the King. I have heard from multiple sources that, far from cutting Andrew off, Charles has personally cleared his errant brother's bills for his upkeep and promised his Royal Lodge woes are taken care of, enabling him to stay there for the foreseeable future. The question isn't how he's done it, but why. Why would the monarch cut through the chaos of Andrew's finances and social life to salvage his brother's position in the wake of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal? The first person to suggest the King has opened his private purse on behalf of his brother was someone once close to Andrew. King Charles with Prince Andrew. Charles has demanded his brother downsize from Royal Lodge to the more modest Frogmore Cottage Royal Lodge is crumbling on the outside and cluttered on the inside, much reduced from its glory days as the Windsor residence of the Queen Mother 'He [Andrew] just doesn't have that many friends any more. He barely goes out, he's not that welcome anywhere,' says the source. 'So it's got to be family, and the obvious person is the King. I mean, why would anybody who's not family want to give him money when they're not going to get anything out of it except a lot of flack?' Gone are the days when Middle East moneymen could bail out the Prince as the disgraced Turkish banker Selman Turk once did to the tune of 1.4 million (which Andrew repaid in 2021). With wealthy investors giving Andrew a wide berth, his money is likely to come from the Windsors, and with Prince William reluctant to indulge his uncle, enter Charles. I would barely have believed it had the same story not been shared at another glamorous and usually ultra-discreet dinner table just a few days later. 'Charles has paid for it all,' revealed someone who's been a guest at Royal Lodge in years gone by. 'The King has cleared it. It's all done.' For clarity, my companion was adamant the funds were not from the public purse but from the monarch's personal pocket. 'Private funding,' they confided. Royal Lodge is crumbling on the outside and cluttered on the inside, much reduced from its glory days as the Windsor residence of the Queen Mother. It was there that Charles sought the company of his grandmother when his relationship with his parents was at a low ebb. So could it be that this house has an emotional claim on him, which pre-dates his brother's acquisition of the 75-year lease in 2003? Is it that Charles is protecting a place that is precious to him? The Mail's story last month If that is true, could the King's reasons for financing Andrew be less brotherly than practical? He's known for his passionate interest in architecture and conservation. Charles knows that a lengthy stand-off over Royal Lodge, one that sees Andrew refusing to budge but unable to maintain the Grade II listed 19th- century mansion, could do irreparable damage to its fabric. Finally there's the argument put forward by the first person to share this claim with me: Charles simply can't betray his brother. We know the late Queen secured her eldest son's happiness by asking her subjects to accept Camilla as Queen Consort. Is it the case that Charles has shown similar generosity to his brother, and is honouring the wishes of their late mother, which were that her second son should be looked after? Were this correct, there's probably a trail leading to the Duchy of Lancaster. That's the property empire that provides the monarch with their personal wealth. While the Sovereign Grant, the official mechanism for supporting the King, is transparent, the Duchy is a more private matter between him and his accountants. The net surplus of the Lancaster estate was 27.4 million in 2023/24, according to accounts published last July. That would be ample to cover Andrew's costs. My colleague Robert Hardman revealed last month that the King had stopped paying his brother's personal allowance, thought to be in excess of 1 million a year, and his 3 million security bill. Andrew's expenses include the annual Royal Lodge rent of some 260,000, plus the estimated 400,000 needed to 'repair, renew, uphold, clean and where necessary rebuild' the property. If my sources are to be believed, and Charles has taken personal financial responsibility for these lesser sums, it would be a double bluff worthy of a le Carre novel. We may never know the truth, but royal watchers will shortly be able to gauge relations between the brothers. On Christmas Day there will be the traditional walk on the Norfolk estate. If Andrew is present at the invitation of the King, we can assume that blood blue blood, of course is proving thicker than water. Young people have long given up on being able to afford a house with a backyard on a single income - but there are towns where the Australian dream is still alive and investors can find great value. Earning six figures no longer guarantees getting on the property ladder, even in regional areas where $100,000 is now the minimum required for a home loan. And you can forget about buying a house in a capital city on that salary, with the median price now well above the $1million mark. However, there are remote pockets of Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia with prices not seen in Sydney and Melbourne since the early 1990s. Some of these towns with a median house price under $200,000 are just a two-hour drive from a major capital city. Rundown homes are also available for only $8,000 - less than the price of a used car. The typical house is so affordable even a part-time worker earning less than the full-time minimum wage has a chance. All they need is a 20 per cent deposit of $40,000 and an ability to set aside $1,000 a month in mortgage repayments, which is easily possible on the full-time minimum wage of $47,622. Australia's young people are struggling to afford a house in any capital city or town by the coast (pictured are schoolies on the Gold Coast) Wongan Hills, just 174km or a two-hour drive north-east of Perth, has a median house price of $202,000 even after an annual increase of 15.2 per cent Wongan Hills, just 174km or a two-hour drive north-east of Perth, has a median house price of $202,000 even after an annual increase of 15.2 per cent in an area with wheat, sheep and pig farming that is home to fewer than 900 people. Peter Gavalas, the director of West Australian-based buyers' agent Resolve Property Solutions, says these ultra-cheap towns usually have one industry - farming or mining. 'In terms of the amount of work, I suspect apart from farming there's probably not a lot else going on there,' he tells me. 'There could be some good value if there's demand - if there's people there who want to buy or rent.' Kambalda West, 625km east of Perth, has a very affordable median house price of $183,027 and is just 20km from the St Ives gold mine. Property values here rose by 8.9 per cent in the year to October, CoreLogic data shows. Despite that, it's still possible for someone with a 20 per cent deposit of $36,605 to buy a house on a very low income of $28,158 - which is well below the full-time minimum wage of $47,622. Last year, in nearby Kambalda East, on the other side of the Goldfields Highway, a three-bedroom house sold for just $8,000. Kambalda West, 625km east of Perth, has a very affordable median house price of $183,027 and is just 20km from the St Ives gold mine Last year, in nearby Kambalda East, on the other side of the Goldfields Highway, a three-bedroom house sold for just $8,000 Western Australia has several very affordable small towns, with Kellerberrin, 202km east of Perth, having a mid-point price of just $195,000. A block of land sold there last year for just $33,000. Mr Gavalas said very cheap towns often lack population growth, with the number of residents in some of these areas even falling, based on census data. 'You need that population growth or demand in that area to get prices,' he says. 'You might get a good return in terms of rent, but then you may not get the capital growth. There's not enough demand in the area.' Cooper Pedy, an opal mining town 526km north-west of Adelaide, has bargains for under $100,000. In November, a three-bedroom house sold for just $65,000. Cooper Pedy, an opal mining town 526km north-west of Adelaide, has bargains for under $100k Tara, a four-hour drive 300km west of Brisbane, has a median house price of $193,893 even after a 12.7 per cent annual increase Mr Gavalas explains there is risk investing in mining towns, where the fortunes of the economy and employment are tied to commodity prices. 'It's probably a one-trick pony reliant on one industry to keep them going - certainly not going to be people moving there for lifestyle,' he says. 'There needs to be jobs that drive the interest. 'You've got to look at how many properties actually sell in that area per year, how many are on the market. 'I suspect they wouldn't sell a lot of properties.' Southern and central Queensland also have pockets of affordability. Tara, a four-hour drive 300km west of Brisbane, has a median house price of $193,893, even after a 12.7 per cent annual increase. Central Queensland also has some very affordable towns inland from Rockhampton, with Dysart having a mid-point price of $217,023 - and that's after an annual increase of 12.4 per cent. Western Australia has several very affordable small towns with Kellerberrin, 202km east of Perth, having a mid-point price of just $195,000 Blackwater, east of Emerald, has seen an 18 per cent increase - but prices are still affordable at $229,603. Investors are advised to look at bigger regional centres with at least three industries and a population of at least 20,000 people for longer-term capital growth. 'Something that's got more than one industry - I see a port, railway line, highway, a bit of infrastructure,' Mr Gavalas says. Geraldton 429km north of Perth, with a population of 38,595, has an affordable median house price of $401,676 and is home to a harbour that exports iron ore and lobsters. Prices have climbed by more than 20 per cent during the past year with Western Australia by far the nation's best-performing state. Its a moment thats been depicted countless times in science fiction but what would actually happen when extraterrestrials make contact via a signal picked up on Earth? The moment could come as early as the end of this decade: if aliens receive signals sent by NASAs Deep Space Network (DSN) to the Pioneer 10 satellite in the 70s, for example. When the moment comes, the signal is most likely to be received by large ground-based telescopes such as FAST in China, the Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico and the Parkes Telescope in Australia, says former NASA expert Sylvester Kaczmarek. Day One There is no universally agreed rule on how scientists or governments would respond - or on questions such as whether aliens would have rights. But extraterrestrial-focused organisations including the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) drew up a framework in 2010. Rather than immediately announce the finding to the world, scientists would work to confirm it was real - first ruling out interference from earth such as satellites and radio transmissions. A mysterious signal at the Parkes Radio Telescope in the 90s was discovered to be a microwave oven in the staff canteen. Kaczmarek says: For a signal to be considered potentially extraterrestrial, researchers would typically require multiple layers of confirmation and analysis, often over several weeks or months. The signal is most likely to be received by large ground-based telescopes such as the Parkes Telescope in Australia (pictured) 'The signal would need to demonstrate properties inconsistent with natural astrophysical sources and human-made interference. In SETIs Declaration of Principles Concerning the Conduct of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, published in 2010 with the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), the guidelines suggest discoverers should collaborate with other institutions to be sure the signal is real. Nothing would be announced until confirmed, although the scientists would respond to media queries if news leaked. Week One (after confirmation) Scientists at the observatory would notify organizations such as the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Kaczmarek says that while organizations such as SETI have their own strategies for first contact in the event of sudden contact, organizations with expertise in space communication like NASA, and the ESA would almost certainly get involved. WEEK ONE: Once scientists are certain, the discovery would be shared - probably through a public announcement including a press release and scientific publication, telling the world aliens have been discovered Seth Shostak of SETI, which has a plan for what will happen when an alien signal is received Kaczmarek says: Governments would also become quickly involved, particularly those with advanced space programs or defense capabilities, like the US Space Force or equivalent agencies. 'However, in such a scenario, there would likely be confusion and competing interests before a unified global strategy emerged. Once scientists are certain, the discovery would be shared - probably through a public announcement including a press release and scientific publication, Kaczmarek says, Kaczmarek says: This transparency could be delayed depending on geopolitical or security concerns, especially if governments or defense agencies got involved.' But once the secret is out, it's bound to leak so governments will likely try get ahead of the panic and confusion that would ensue. Week Two One of the first things would happen would be to protect the frequency the signal was received on to ensure more signals could be received. WEEK TWO: Chaos erupts across the globe after learning about the alien signal Scientists would use emergency procedures within the World Administrative Radio Council of the International Telecommunication Union. SETIs guidelines suggest establishing a Post-Detection Study Group to analyze the signal and start discussions of how to respond. At this point, its likely that the United Nations would become involved in deciphering the signal and working out how to respond. Kaczmarek says, In principle, the United Nations would play a central role in any coordinated global response. Sylvester Kaczmarek is a former NASA space and AI expert 'The UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) is the most likely body to lead, as it oversees the peaceful use of outer space and has existing treaties, like the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, that cover international cooperation in space.' Scientists and governments would work together at this point to understand where the signal came from, what it means - and whether or not to respond. Week Three The response to alien contact would vary according to what form it took: a visit from a spacecraft would require a direct response, says Kaczmarek. But a signal received from the depths of space would require long-term planning to respond to. Its likely that responding to such a signal would be a global decision, according to the Declaration of Principles Concerning the Conduct of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. Rather than the scientists or any one group formulating a response, the scientists would seek guidance from global groups such as the United Nations. The document says, In the case of the confirmed detection of a signal, signatories to this declaration will not respond without first seeking guidance and consent of a broadly representative international body, such as the United Nations. With Black Friday still in full swing and Travel Tuesday happening next week, weve rounded up some of the best offers available. If youre in the mood to spoil loved ones with an unforgettable Christmas gift or itching to book your next getaway, these top-notch deals from trusted brands may have the holiday sparkle youre looking for. UK DISCOUNTS Spa savings HALF PRICE: Enjoy a spa break at Champneys Luxury Health Spa resorts and hotels, now offering 50 per cent off one-night stays at any of its eight locations with rooms from 87.25pp. Unwind amid spectacular pools and delicious dining. Includes: Unlimited spa access, lunch, three-course dinner and breakfast. Book by December 2 for stays in 2025 (champneys.com). Have a relaxing break at a Champneys Luxury Health Spa resorts and hotels Safari staycation HALF PRICE: Squeeze in a UK break at Port Lympne and enjoy up to 50 per cent off selected stays. Includes: Treehouse or Pinewood Pod accommodation. Half-price animal encounters and safaris available for an extra fee. Book by December 8 for 2024 stays, using code BF2024 (aspinallfoundation.org). 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Destinations include the Canary and Balearic Islands. Book by December 3 for travel until October 31, 2025 (iberostar.com). Iberostar's El Mirador hotel in Costa Adeje European getaways SAVE 30 PER CENT: Stay at a Park Plaza Hotel in Europe and enjoy 30 per cent off in destinations like the UK, Croatia and Hungary. Radisson Rewards members can nab an extra five per cent off. Book by December 4 for breaks from December 12 until the end of 2025 (parkplaza.com). Park Plaza Histria Pula hotel in Croatia SAVE 30 PER CENT: Members of Hotels.com can access discounts of 30 per cent or more on hotel stays. Book by December 4 for travel until December 15, 2025 (hotels.com). THRIFTY TOURS Adventure awaits SAVE 30 PER CENT: Longing to witness Chinas iconic landmarks, wander Japans sacred sites or hike to Perus Machu Picchu? Lock in your ultimate getaway for less with WeRoad, offering up to 30 per cent off selected tours. Eleven nights in China is now from 1,329pp down from 1,899pp. Includes: All accommodation and activities, travel on tour and some meals. Book by December 2 for travel until the end of 2025 (weroad.co.uk). Peru's Machu Picchu can be explored with WeRoad, which is offering up to 30 per cent off selected tours SAVE 30 PER CENT: With up to 30 per cent off tours to suit all travel styles, you can bag a bargain with G Adventures. Spend eight days touring Indias Golden Triangle from 475pp (was 679pp). Or a 12-day tour of Vietnam is now from 461pp (was 769pp). Includes: All accommodation and activities, travel on tour and some meals. Book by November 30 for selected tours (gadventures.com). Visit the Taj Mahal in India with G Adventures on its eight-day tour costing from 475pp SAVINGS AT SEA Seas the moment SAVE 600: Celebrity Cruises is offering up to 600 off per stateroom on all voyages (excluding the Galapagos), including Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia. Includes: Complimentary breakfast, lunch and dinner. Book by December 3. Or for up to 75 per cent off your second guest cruise fare with return flights to Europe from 199pp, book by December 9 (celebritycruises.com). Starboard on a Celebrity Cruises ship Ship shape SAVE 40 PER CENT: Explore a farflung corner of the world with ROL, with up to 40 per cent off. For instance, 16 nights all-inclusive onboard the Seven Seas Navigator is now from 6,989pp (was 7,209pp). Calling at ports in the US, Mexico and Honduras. Includes: Return flights, drinks, speciality dining and up to 120 excursions. Book by November 30 (rolcruise.co.uk). See the world on a Seven Seas Navigator ship Anchor down SAVE 25 PER CENT: Embark on an Ambassador cruise and get up to 25 per cent off selected suites and balconies. Options include a four-night Irish adventure, now from 359pp. Includes: Free drinks for two guests. Book by December 2 for selected sailings (ambassadorcruiseline.com). Strictly's Pete Wicks chocked back tears after he avoided the dance off and made it through to next week's semi-finals on Sunday, amid claims his less than polished perfomance could actually see him win the show. The TOWIE star, 36, and partner Jowita Przysta, 39, sailed onto the next round despite being bottom of the leaderboard during Musicals Week - leaving some viewers to brand the results unfair and demand he 'resign' from the competition. As a result Montell Douglas and Tasha Ghouri were pitted against each other in the dance-off, before the Gladiators star and Johannes Radebe were given the boot. After learning he'd made it through and emotional Pete spoke with close Claudia Winkleman saying: 'I am speechless every week, especially this week'. Thanking the public for saving him he joked: 'I think they might be playing a cruel joke on me' before gushing 'I am so humbled'. Strictly's Pete Wicks, 36, chocked back tears after he avoided the dance off and made it through to next week's semi-finals on Sunday (pictured with partner Jowita Przysta) The TOWIE star and partner Jowita Przysta, 39, sailed onto the next round despite being bottom of the leaderboard during Musicals Week As a result Montell Douglas and Tasha Ghouri were pitted against each other in the dance-off, before the Gladiators star and Johannes Radebe (pictured) were given the boot Racing to X fans fumed: 'Whoever is voting for Pete over Montell needs to take a long hard look in the mirror': 'Pete is not on the level of any of them not fair to have Montell & Tasha in the dance off! It should've been Pete going!': 'Every dancer has improved. Some more than others. Pete should be out': 'Pete's act is tired and tiresome. If he really wanted to be the humble bloke he pretends to be he should do the right thing and RESIGN'. Meanwhile a source told The Sun: 'It seems that when it comes to Pete, there's been a surge in backing among the viewers at home who see him as a potential 'People's Champion'. 'After years of complaining about people with dance experience excelling on Strictly, he is someone who's obviously a complete amateur who's thrown himself into the contest and embodies the spirit of the show. 'They don't seem to want perfection, they want contestants with real heart and perseverance.' Sunday saw Montell and Johannes perform their Rumba to I'm Here from the musical The Color Purple, followed by Tasha and Aljaz's Argentine Tango to Ex-Wives from Six. After both couples had danced their hardest, it was down to the judges to deliver their verdicts with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke all choosing to save Tasha and Aljaz. While head judge Shirley Ballas agreed with her fellow judges, and said that she would have also decided to send Montell and Johannes home. Despite narrowly missing out on a place in the next week's semi-finals, Montell gushed about her experience on the show, as she described how her confidence had grown, while Johannes had become her 'friend and brother'. After learning he'd made it through and emotional Pete spoke with close Claudia Winkleman saying: 'I am speechless every week, especially this week' Pete collapsed into tears after the news was announced and threw his arms around Jowita Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard: Week Eight 1. JB Gill and Lauren Oakley - 37 2. Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec - 37 3. Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe - 36 4. Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal - 36 5. Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola - 33 6. Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell - 33 7. Wynne Evans and Katya Jones - 32 8. Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas - 30 9. Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu - 30 Advertisement She said: '[Johannes] has been amazing. Strictly has touched me in ways I never knew possible. 'I'm an Olympian and a Gladiator, but I have honestly struggled with confidence my whole life and being on the show, with the beautiful crew, the judges, the cast has just been such an honour.' Addressing his partner, Johannes praised: 'I am so proud of you, because you are a non-dancer. But the one thing that you have done every single week is turn out beautiful dancing. 'So I want to say to you, thank you for respecting our art form of Ballroom and Latin. The way you handled it was like a true pro. You're my winner.' In response, Montell emotionally told him: 'I have to say thank you to you because I really have found a friend and a brother in this man. I mean it from the bottom of my heart, I hope he's in my life forever, because we have something very special.' Their exit comes after fans blasted Strictly as they accused bosses of 'setting Montell up to fail' with the 'wrong dance and song' - after she had already landed in the dance-off two weeks in a row. Even before taking to the dancefloor, viewers were convinced the Olympian was doomed after she was tasked with dancing the notoriously difficult Rumba to the song I'm Here from The Colour Purple. The Rumba is widely considered to be one of the most challenging of ballroom dances, while Montell and Johannes were scheduled to go on second, which several fans have called the 'death slot'. The pair had only survived by the skin of their teeth for the past two weeks, after facing off potential eliminations against Wynne Evans and Katya Jones, and Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas. While week seven also saw them in the bottom two, where they were mercifully saved over Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin. Fans slammed producers for giving Montell 'the kiss of death' this week, as they argued their favourite dancer was being purposefully pushed out of the competition. Fans slammed producers for giving Montell 'the kiss of death' this week, as they argued their favourite dancer was being purposefully pushed out of the competition. The Gladiators staand her professional partner Johannes Radebe landed in the bottom two of the public vote for the third week in a row, up against Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec Despite narrowly missing out on a place in the next week's semi-finals, Montell gushed about her experience on the show, as she described how her confidence had grown, while Johannes had become her 'friend and brother' While they seemed in absolute awe of the star's routine, they were convinced the song was very 'slow' compared to the zesty dance - a point noted by several of the judges, who gave her a score of 32 points out of 40. Viewers quickly took to X sharing their opinions, praising the athlete's 'beautiful' dance but also sharing fears she will be next go get the chop. They commented: 'The BBC are so obvious with who they want out. I mean, this is practically a 'tell me you want Montell out without actually telling me' situation. 'It's ludicrous to give a rumba on Musicals week to a contestant who's been in the bottom three times?; 'Worried for Montell with a rumba this late in the series and her being in the bottom 2 so many times'. 'montell in the death slot with her rumba when i catch you producers; Voted for montell she was stitched up this week; They've only gone and put montell in the death slot with a rumba' Strictly Come Dancing returns live on BBC One and iPlayer on Saturday 7 December at 6:30pm. The results show will air on Sunday 8 December at 7:20pm on BBC One and iPlayer. Rebecca Judd has long been a beacon of ageless beauty, spruiking skincare brands, facials and non-surgical treatments for her plump visage. For two decades, she has denied having any plastic surgery or cosmetic procedure done, instead pointing to healthy living and expensive skincare as her saving grace. However, fans of the AFL WAG, 41, became sceptical on Monday when an influencer watch dog account on Instagram began sharing before and after photos of Bec. The images cast doubt on her 'natural transformation' over the past 20 years following her impressionable debut at the 2004 Brownlow Medal in a now famous red dress. Stepping out on the red carpet that fateful night, Bec flaunted her genetically blessed features enhanced by a glamorous smoky eye and glossy nude lip. A comparison photo shared by before.after_influencers showed the socialite still enjoys a nude lip, but now appears to rock a fuller pout. Rebecca 'Bec' Judd, 41, has long been a beacon of ageless beauty, spruiking skincare brands, facials, and non-surgical treatments for her plump visage. Pictured in (L) 2004 and (R) 2024 Another side-by-side snap of the Jaggad co-founder saw her cheeks looking a touch rounder and more defined as she flashed a pearly white smile. But perhaps the most notable feature of all is the complete absence of lines on Bec's flawless complexionparticularly around her eyes. Whether she is laughing or striking a sultry pose for the camera, it appears the WAG has stopped time in its place as she rocks the same tight visage from her youth. Followers have long been sceptical of her 'no surgery' claims, with one person writing beneath the comparison photos: 'I guess that upper lip just grew itself.' 'I always wonder what she's had done! Does anyone know?' another curious user asked. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Rebecca's representatives for comment. Despite the ongoing speculation, Bec has always remained firm on the claim she maintains her glowing complexion using faces peels and skincare products. Bec has been an ambassador for The Skincare Company since 2016 and a customer since 2014, often touting it online as her go-to for flawless skin. Fans of the AFL WAG became sceptical about her 'no surgery' claims on Monday when an influencer watchdog account on Instagram began sharing before and after photos of Bec One person writing beneath the comparison photos: 'I guess that upper lip just grew itself' The WAG also gets regular non-surgical cosmetic treatments from the Flawless Rejuvenation clinic in Melbourne. These include: EXION RF microneedling, hydrafacials, laser genesis, fraxel laser treatments (which in 2017 Bec said felt like a 'blow torch' to the face), and LED masks. According to the Geelong Advertiser, Bec became the face of The Skincare Company range eight years ago 'at a stylish event in Southbank', when she was 26-weeks pregnant with her twins, Tom and Darcy. The cosmeceutical skincare and make-up products are specifically formulated to repair, maintain and restore skin using clinic-grade raw materials, according to the brand's website. The AFL 'Queen of WAGs', who shares four childrentwins Tom and Darcy, eight, daughter Billie, ten, and Oscar, 12with husband Chris Judd, has always firmly denied having any plastic surgery. In 2008, she famously told NewsCorp: 'Every year after the Brownlow I get, 'You've had something done,' or that I'm anorexic.' 'It's funny. I think my boobs look bigger in 2004 than they are now. I've got the tiniest nose, why would I have a nose job? I'd have to get a nose job to make it bigger.' 'I have put a lot of time, effort and cash into [my skin] so it's nice for people to notice the improvement,' she also wrote on her website in 2013. Perhaps the most notable feature of all is the complete absence of lines on Bec's flawless complexionparticularly around her eyes 'I get lots of little lumps and bumps here and there if I don't stay on top of things and I have shocking eye bags sometimes,' she added. However, Bec has sporadically spoken about undergoing different non-surgical skin treatments for face shaping, 'collagen boosting', and tightening purposes. In a video shared to her Instagram in 2020, Bec revealed the unusual $250 treatment that she swears by for keeping her visage free from wrinkles and jowls. Bec could be heard telling her clinician her problem areas were around her mouth and lower cheeks. The Diamond Polar Facial, which uses laser to rejuvenate the skin, uses heat to boost collagen production and reduce the appearance of fine lines. 'You'll need a treatment every two weeks for a course of six, and it will give you that long-term collagen production,' the facialist said to Bec in the clip. According to a statement on Flawless Rejuvenation's site, the clinic where Bec had the treatment, there is no downtime following the procedure, one commonly used to treat 'the face, neck, decolletage hands and body'. Kim Kardashian is being slammed for reinstating her eight-year-old son's YouTube account exactly one month after taking down the profile. On Saturday, the mother-of-four took to Instagram to plug Saint's reinstated account, sharing a screenshot of his username '@SwFortniteclan' atypical compared to the star's regular posts. 'This is Saints YouTube. Follow and Subscribe,' she penned in the caption. And the account was created on November 6 a week after Saint's initial account as deleted, according to the channel's history and currently boasts 7k views. Saint has shared one 12-second video of Fortnite gameplay and two Shorts written from Kardashian's point of view, but fans speculate they were actually penned by the youngster. Back in late October, the SKIMS founder, 44, was forced to remove her eldest son's platform after two posts critical of Vice President Kamala Harris were shared on the account. Kim Kardashian is being slammed for reinstating her eight-year-old son's YouTube account exactly one month after taking down the profile; seen in December 2023 On Saturday, the mother-of-four took to Instagram to plug Saint's reinstated account, sharing a screenshot of his username '@SwFortniteclan' atypical compared to the star's regular posts One Short asks users to 'Please subscribe to my sons Fortnite channel on YouTube,' noting, 'He will pick the best players to be in his clan.' Kardashian's Instagram post plugging her son's controversial account received mixed reviews from her 359M followers. Some praised the ex-wife of rapper Kanye West for using her platform to help her son, while others speculated whether or not she was even behind the post. One user referenced the eight-year-old's previous social media fail, writing, 'i'm weak... not again.' 'Kim would never post like this,' another penned, questioning the post's authenticity. Another accused Saint of using his mother's account, writing, 'Put your mom phone DOWN!!!!!' One user joked with the youngster, asking him to reveal his model mum's personal credit card information. They wrote: 'Saint quick, what are the numbers on your mom's Amex??' Another comment quipped that Saint was using all of his nepo-baby resources. A 'nepo-baby' is a term used to describe someone who has found success in their career due to their parents' fame derived from the term 'nepotism.' Another comment quipped that Saint was using all of his nepo-baby resources Back in late October, the SKIMS founder, 44, was forced to remove her eldest son's platform after two posts critical of Vice President Kamala Harris were shared on the account; seen in October Various other users praised the SKKN founder for pushing her son's newfound hobby, dubbing her as a 'mama bear' for the sweet gesture Other users said that Kardashian is the 'next Kris Jenner,' comparing the reality star to her mother, the self proclaimed 'momager (mom/manager).' Another joked: 'Saint, do you know the power your mom possesses from this one shoutout, your channel is set fa life.' Various other users praised the SKKN founder for pushing her son's newfound hobby, dubbing her as a 'mama bear' for the sweet gesture. 'Mama bear is really building up her son's future career, good for them fr,' one penned. 'Love this. Let your kids create,' another chimed in. Another account jokingly recreated how Saint could have asked his mother for the shoutout, writing, 'Was he like "hey mom shoutout my YouTube please.'" One user added, 'Seeing nepotism happen and its supporters is hilarious.' Back in October, the reality star revealed she made him sign and agree to a contract with special terms and conditions, if he wanted a channel on the platform. And it appeared as though the eight-year-old breached the terms of the deal just a week before election day by sharing posts poking fun at Vice President Harris. One post showed an image of a cartoon character claiming he 'stepped in sh*t' with an image of Vice President Harris on the bottom of the shoe. According to social media posts, Saint had purportedly posted a meme that depicted a picture of Harris in an inflammatory manner in late October Kardashian last month posted an image of the contract that on her social media platform Kardashian has ties to both candidates amid her criminal justice reform efforts in recent years and had a meeting with Harris at the White House this past April Kardashian worked extensively with Republican Donald Trump on previous efforts; seen in June of 2019 Various users on social media tied Saint's posts to his father's longstanding support for Trump. Kardashian who shares daughters North, 11, and Chicago, six, and sons Saint, eight, and Psalm, five, with ex-husband Kanye West , 47 has ties to both presidential candidates amid her criminal justice reform efforts in recent years. She had a meeting with Harris at the White House this past April and worked extensively with former president and Republican Donald Trump on previous efforts. Kardashian initially went to the White House in 2018 on behalf of Alice Marie Johnson, a woman who received a life sentence in 1996 over nonviolent drug charges. Robert Irwin has given fans a rare glimpse into his personal life, opening up about his aspirations to find love and reflecting on growing up without his father Steve Irwin. Speaking candidly to Stellar magazine this week, the wildlife warrior, 21, shared heartfelt insights into his hopes for the future and the influence his family has had on his values. The young conservationist revealed his longing for a meaningful relationship, inspired by the love stories of his parents and sister. 'My mum and dad were just this incredible power couple. And then I look at Bindi and Chandler, and it's like they're literally the same person. They're made for each other. I mean, if that isn't your couple's goals, what would be?' Robert mused. While he's eager to find the 'perfect person,' Robert insisted he's not rushing into romance. 'I really want to find the perfect person, but I'm not in any rush for it. I'm very open to it. The thing that I've come to discover in that space is you've just got to let it happen,' he said. Robert Irwin has given fans a rare glimpse into his personal life, opening up about his aspirations to find love and reflecting on growing up without his father Steve Irwin Robert also reflected on the challenges of growing up without his legendary father, Steve, who tragically passed away in 2006 when Robert was just two years old. Milestones like his 21st birthday amplify the absence, but he expressed gratitude for the unwavering support of his family, particularly his mother, Terri. 'It can be heartbreaking. I can't beat around the bush. It's really hard, particularly when it's those milestones. It's difficult navigating that without a father figure,' he admitted. 'But I have to really praise my entire family, and particularly my mum, on the way in which she's stepped up, to make sure that while there will always be part of myself missing and I'll never be complete I never felt like I missed out on anything.' In the accompanying photos, Robert showed off his muscular arms and biceps as he flexed his arm for the camera. The conservationist also dressed to impress for another photo in a brown shirt with the top buttons open and black pants as he struck a pose. Robert and his ex girlfriend Rorie, 20, are believed to have started dating November 2022, and went Instagram official almost a year later in August 2023 before splitting in February this year. The pair had made their red carpet debut at the Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One premiere in Sydney. The young conservationist revealed his longing for a meaningful relationship, inspired by the love stories of his parents (pictured) and sister Read the full interview with Robert in this week's issue of Stellar Magazine The duo were last seen together in January looking smitten as they jetted out of Melbourne following their appearance at the Australian Open. At the time, Robert couldn't take his eyes off his girlfriend as the pair waited in the terminal. Rorie reportedly completed an Irwin-approved 'wildlife warrior boot camp' before she and Robert became an official couple. In December, Woman's Day claimed that Rorie had to win over the family by having a willingness to get out into nature. The couple went on crocodile research trip together where they uncovered 'critical data' for the Wildlife Warriors' Worldwide foundation. Robert's mother Terri had been impressed by Rorie's dedication to Australian wildlife. An insider claimed Rorie was 'determined to not let Robert down and show him - and his mum and sister - that she's not just some puff piece. And she blew them away'. The pair were in a long-distance relationship, as Robert is based at Australia Zoo in Queensland while Rorie lives in Perth. Robert and Rorie, who is the niece of legendary Australian actor Heath Ledger, both grew up in the public eye after suffering the devastating loss of a family member. Heath was at the top of his Hollywood career when he was tragically found dead in January 2008 following an accidental prescription drug overdose. Katie Holmes showed off her chic style as her daughter, Suri, also enjoyed a solo outing in New York City on Saturday. The Dawson's Creek alum, 45 - who recently headed back to Broadway for Our Town performances after celebrating Thanksgiving - stepped out for an errand run in the chilly temperatures. Her 18-year-old daughter - whom she shares with ex-husband Tom Cruise - was seen on an excursion of her own while visiting her mom in the Big Apple during a short holiday break from college. The actress put on a stylish display wearing a black turtleneck sweater as well as a pair of black trousers. Holmes layered the outfit with a long, black fuzzy coat and easily carried a light, tan-colored purse in her right hand. Katie also balanced a black tote bag filled with a few items in her other hand as she made her way down a street in the bustling city. Katie Holmes, 45, showed off her chic style as her daughter, Suri, 18, also enjoyed a solo outing in New York City on Saturday The star's dark locks were pulled back into a low up do, while a gray-printed cap was placed on top of her head. She opted for minimal accessories during the lowkey outing, and sported a pair of fashionable, brown-rimmed sunglasses. Suri - who notably dropped the last name of Cruise amid her estrangement with father Tom - stepped out in NYC in a dark green puffer jacket that was fastened at the front. The college student additionally wore loose-fitting, denim jeans as well as a pair of sneakers that were secured with laces. Her dark, brunette hair was pulled back into a simple ponytail and she easily carried a brown, leather purse over her left shoulder. She is currently a freshman at Carnegie Mellon University located in Pittsburgh - and a source told DailyMail.com back in August that her father Tom is 'paying for her $65k-a-year college tuition.' 'Tom is indeed paying for Suri's tuition, he has always paid for her schooling and would never stop as he is a stand-up guy.' The insider added at the time, 'He has never hesitated paying his daughter's child support and expenses. He does not go back on his word. He is fulfilling his obligation.' Holmes layered the outfit with a long, black fuzzy coat and easily carried a light, tan-colored purse in her right hand Suri - who notably dropped the last name of Cruise amid her estrangement with father Tom - stepped out in NYC in a dark green puffer jacket that was fastened at the front That same month, Holmes made a rare comment about her daughter officially starting college and moving to Pennsylvania. During an interview with Town & Country, the Batman Begins actress expressed, 'I'm proud of my daughter. Of course, I will miss the close proximity, but I'm really proud of her and I'm happy.' 'I remember being this age, this time of beginnings. It's exciting to learn about yourself, and I loved that time, so it makes me happy to think about it like that.' And in June of this year, Suri notably dropped the last name of Cruise and changed it to Noelle - which is her mother's middle name. Katie has been keeping busy and was spotted heading back to Broadway for a performance of her current show, Our Town, following the Thanksgiving holiday. Previews for the production began in September at the Barrymore Theatre, and officially opened last month. Dates are set to run through January 19, 2025. Our Town - a play written by Thornton Wilder - returned to the Broadway stage for the first time in over 20 years. The revival features a total of 28 actors, including Holmes, Jim Parsons, Zoey Deutch, Ephraim Sykes, Julie Halston and Michelle Wilson. She is currently a freshman at Carnegie Mellon University located in Pittsburgh - and a source told DailyMail.com back in August that her father Tom is 'paying for her $65k-a-year college tuition' And in June of this year, Suri notably dropped the last name of Cruise and changed it to Noelle - which is her mother's middle name; Tom seen with Katie and Suri in 2007 The premise follows the 'timeless tale of a small town' as 'a stage manager narrates the daily lives of its locals, depicts a childhood friendship turn into marriage, and sets the stage for magnificent truths of what it means to be alive,' per the official Broadway website. Earlier this week on Wednesday, Katie looked incredibly youthful as she made an appearance on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon. She discussed her role of Mrs. Webb in the Broadway show - and revealed what she did when she forgot her line during one of the performances. 'I was in the middle of a scene and I just...I said the whole line except the last word and I couldn't, I couldnt remember it.' 'I made something up, but it didnt make sense and then I got so red, because Jim Parsons is on stage most of the time because he's the stage manager. I go, "Oh my God. Jim knows, he's watching,"' the star recalled. 'So I get red, real fast and I got flustered, so I just said my lines so fast after that and got off stage,' Holmes explained. However, she remembered, 'Jim gave me a hug after. He was like, "I've never seen anyone say their lines so fast and remove themselves!"' Before heading to the theater before each performance, Katie also revealed that she will make a stop at a Starbucks located on 8th Avenue. 'They are so lovely, every time I go in. They know me and I know them and they wish me a great show.' She discussed her role of Mrs. Webb in the Broadway show - and revealed what she did when she forgot her line during one of the performances; seen on Wednesday on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon The First Daughter actress added, 'Then I go to the stage and I do my lines like twice. I do my lines like three times at home.' Not long after the interview was uploaded to social media, fans were quick to share their thoughts on Katie's youthful appearance. One penned on Instagram, 'She doesn't age!' while another added, 'She aged like fine wine' followed by a red wine and red lipstick emoji. Holmes is set to reach another milestone in a few weeks and will celebrate her 46th birthday on December 18 - just days before Christmas. Jordana Brewster is remembering her Fast & Furious co-star Paul Walker on the 11th anniversary of his tragic death. The 44-year-old actress who recently flaunted her slender bikini body took to her Instagram page to pay tribute to the late actor with various candid images of them and their fellow co-stars. She also penned a heartfelt note in memory of the actor, who died at age 40, reminding fans to be grateful for life and recalling Walker's amiable qualities. 'I woke up so edgy today. Annoyed by EVERY. Little. Thing. Then I remembered. My stomach dropped. Someone isnt here who should be. The one that lifted up everyone around him. The one who worked his ass off but didnt let it show. The one with grace and humor. #11years. Miss you forever @paulwalker,' she wrote. The actress also tagged the late actor's 26-year-old daughter Meadow Walker, who he shared with ex-girlfriend Rebecca Soteros. '@meadowwalker is carrying on your legacy through her beauty and strength,' Brewster wrapped the caption. Jordana Brewster is remembering her Fast & Furious co-star Paul Walker on the 11th anniversary of his tragic death She also penned a heartfelt note in memory of the actor, reminding fans to be grateful for life and recalling Walker's amiable qualities In response the actor's daughter wrote, 'I love you ,' earning nearly 3K likes. Brewster's carousel of photos saw the two filming Fast & Furious 6 and Walker posed alongside pals on a plane. It also showed the dame group sitting on the airport terminal floor with the hunky actor. She included a throwback image of Walker lifting up his daughter when she was a baby. November 30th marks the 11th anniversary of Walker's devastating passing in a horror car accident in Santa Clarita, north of Los Angeles. At the time, he and his financial advisor Roger Rodas who was behind the wheel were on their way to a charity event to benefit victims of Typhoon Haiyan in a cherry-red Porsche Carrera. Fans found his cause of death eerie due to his role in the Fast & Furious franchise that followed a group of friends who competed in illegal street racing and heists. At the time, his publicist Ame Van Iden and team confirmed his death via Facebook and email. Van Iden wrote: 'Sadly, I must confirm that Paul did pass away this afternoon in a car accident.' Soon after, his Facebook page read: 'It is with a truly heavy heart that we must confirm that Paul Walker passed away today in a tragic car accident while attending a charity event for his organization Reach Out Worldwide.' DailyMail.com also obtained the late star's autopsy reports, revealing the actor survived the initial crash impact, but was burned alive one minute later after the Porsche burst into flames. Miss you forever @paulwalker,' she wrote; seen in April 2013 Brewster's carousel of photos saw the two filming Fast & Furious 6 Walker posed alongside pals on a plane The same group of pals sat in an airport terminal She included a throwback image of Walker lifting up his daughter Meadow, now 26, when she was a baby Walker's team also revealed that the fiery accident also cost Rodas his life. 'He was a passenger in a friend's car, in which both lost their lives,' the statement continued. 'We appreciate your patience as we too are stunned and saddened beyond belief by this news. 'Thank you for keeping his family and friends in your prayers during this very difficult time. We will do our best to keep you apprised on where to send condolences. - #TeamPW.' The Celebrity edition of The Apprentice is reportedly set to return to BBC One in late 2025 to mark the show's 20th anniversary. It's the first time the spin-off from the BBC One business contest, which is fronted by Lord Alan Sugar, 77, has been staged in 16 years. Producers of the show are reportedly hoping to sign some big names including Cheryl Tweedy and Piers Morgan, as they have appeared on celebrity spin-offs before. A TV insider told The Sun: 'Execs want to get A-list stars involved for this very special version of The Apprentice, and signing up Piers, in particular, would be TV gold as there's a long-running stand-off between him and Lord Sugar.' 'Few celebrities have been approached yet as the show is still at the early stages and they want to take their time carefully selecting the right mix for the programme.' The celebrity version is likely to go out towards the end of 2025, and the show will reportedly air just before the release of the 20th series. The Celebrity edition of The Apprentice is reportedly set to return to BBC One in late 2025 to mark the show's 20th anniversary (Lord Alan Sugar is pictured) Producers of the show are reportedly hoping to sign some big names including Piers Morgan, as he has appeared on celebrity spin-offs before It was also reported that they are hoping to sign Girls Aloud star Cheryl MailOnline has contacted the BBC for comment. The first episode of the UK's Apprentice, which was hosted by the then Sir Alan Sugar, aired on February 15, 2005, and it was almost an instant hit with viewers. Then came the celebrity spin-offs in 2007, first for Comic Relief, featuring Piers, Cheryl, Maureen Lipman and Karren Brady, who went on to star in the 'civilian' version of the show alongside Lord Sugar. In 2008, Sport Relief produced a celebrity spin-off and the lineup included Alan Carr, Jonathan Ross, Michelle Mone, and Patsy Palmer. In the same year ,Piers went on to star in the US version of the show when the now President of the United States, Donald Trump, was fronting the contest. It was also the cementing of a personal relationship between the two men. Meanwhile, the nineteenth series of The Apprentice will air on BBC One early next year and 18 brand new candidates will battle it out to win Lord Sugars 250,000 investment and mentorship. According to TV Zone, its win or luge as the candidates will hit the slopes, kicking off the series in the Austrian Alps tasked with selling tour packages. For the candidates who survive the first boardroom with Lord Sugar, an array of challenging tasks will lie ahead. The celebrity version is likely to go out towards the end of 2025, and the show will reportedly air after the release of the 19th series (Karren Brady, Lord Alan Sugar, and Tim Campbell) Across the series they will be creating a virtual popstar, turning a ton of potatoes and tomatoes into cash, and designing and marketing Easter Eggs. And not forgetting Interviews Week, when the final five will face the grilling of a lifetime from some of Lord Sugars trusted business associates. With 18 determined entrepreneurs battling it out for Lord Sugars investment and guidance, The Apprentice remains one of the toughest business competitions around. For the candidates, this is a make-or-break moment, where winning the process could change their lives and catapult their business to the next level, but one wrong move and those dreams will come crashing down. Comedian, writer, and actor Tom Allen, 41, will return as host of The Apprentice: Youre Fired, which will air each week on BBC Two and iPlayer, straight after the main show. Tom will be joined by a host of celebrity fans and business professionals to dissect and debate the candidates' progress through each task. The Apprentice will return to screens for series 19 in 2025. Lauren Dunn turned heads at Showpos Yacht Club launch party on Sydney Harbour as she posed alongside Below Deck Down Unders Captain Jason Chambers on Wednesday. The event, held aboard the luxurious OneWorld yacht, provided a picture perfect backdrop for the launch of Showpos chic new coastal-inspired collection. Married At First Sight bride Lauren, 34, looked stunning in a white maxi dress featuring delicate straps and a plunging neckline that highlighted her effortless summer style. She accessorised with layered gold necklaces and trendy black sunglasses, with her relaxed yet sophisticated look perfectly embodying the nautical vibe of the event. Meanwhile, Jason, 50, opted for a casual navy knit tank and cream trousers, exuding laid-back charm as he sipped champagne and mingled with other high-profile attendees. The dynamic duo appeared in high spirits, smiling and laughing as they posed for photos against the backdrop of Sydneys glittering harbour. Lauren Dunn turned heads at Showpos Yacht Club launch on Sydney Harbour as she posed alongside Below Deck Down Unders Captain Jason Chambers The star-studded guest list included some of Australias most recognisable influencers such as Vakoo Kauapirura and Cassidy Mcgill The afternoon soiree marked the official launch of Showpos Yacht Club collection, a line that blends nautical themes with effortless elegance. The star-studded guest list included some of Australias most recognisable influencers and celebrities, such as Evelyn Ellis, Ellie Gonsalves, and Ella Cervetto. All the attendees dressed to impress in outfits from the brand's new collection. MAFS star Evelyn was seen posing for photos alongside CEO Jane Lu. The party wasnt just a fashion spectacle; it was also a luxurious experience as guests enjoyed picturesque views, an upbeat DJ set, and a selection of fine cocktails and canapes as they celebrated in style. Adding to the exclusivity of the event, 10 key influencers were treated to an overnight stay aboard the yacht prior to the party. Activities included a candlelit dinner under the stars, a private movie night, and a mimosa brunch. The immersive pre-party experience perfectly captured the essence of Showpos newest line. MAFS bride Evelyn Ellis was seen posing for photos alongside CEO Jane Lu The kings and queens of Sydney radio are costing networks so much money that they are scrambling for ways to cut costs, according to a new report. A collective $35million dollars a year is spent to keep the likes of Kyle Sandilands, Jackie 'O' Henderson, Ray Hadley, Deb Knight and Ben Fordham on the air, the Daily Telegraph claimed this weekend. The report places KIIS FM star Sandilands' salary at $10million a year, while his co-host Henderson is touted as earning the same amount. It goes on to claim 2GB host Hadley brings in $3million, while station mate Fordham is on around half that at $1.5million. Hadley will leave the network at the end of the year as he retires, which is set to save 2GB much of their expenditure on talent. Knight is at the bottom of the pile but still paid a sizeable $300,000 a year for both work on 2GB and Channel Nine, the report claims. A collective $35million dollars a year is spent to keep the likes of Kyle Sandilands, Jackie 'O' Henderson, Ray Hadley, Deb Knight and Ben Fordham on the air, the Daily Telegraph claimed this weekend. Kyle and Jackie pictured The top earner at ABC is said to be Craig Reucassel, who is at $220,00 for Breakfast on ABC Radio Sydney. The costs of keeping such a pricey stable of stars has some stations looking for ways to trim the fat, the Daily Telegraph reports. KIIS star Mitch Churi was recently made redundant while over at Triple M, Gus Worland and Jude Bolton are among those who have departed. He will finish up at the end of the year, the Daily Telegraph claimed last month. He has hosted The Night Show with Mitch Churi since 2019, and co-hosts The Pick Up with Brittany Hockley and Laura Byrne. The decision was made for 'financial reasons', the paper alleged. 'Mitch is shattered and completely blindsided,' the publication quoted a 'colleague' of the radio star as saying. It comes after Sandilands made a shocking confession about his eye-watering radio earnings. The report places KIIS FM star Sandilands' salary at $10million a year, while his co-host Henderson is touted as earning the same amount. It goes on to claim 2GB host Hadley (pictured) brings in $3million, but he is set to retire During an episode of Kyle & Jackie O show earlier this year, the 53-year-old shock jock revealed that his annual salary is much higher than his reported $10million. While the initial reports of their recently-signed contract suggested Kyle and his co-host Henderson would make $200million over the next ten years, Kyle said their contract will actually see the duo earn $300million - meaning they will each take home approximately $15million every year until 2034. 'I can't live with the lie, it's under-reported. It's actually about another $50 million dollars each,' he said of their 10-year contract. Kyle was unashamed about revealing his salary negotiations, taking aim at his radio rivals by saying, 'We get that because we're good [at radio].' Meanwhile, the radio duo revealed the surprising amount they were paid for their first industry gigs. The pair were discussing radio announcer salaries when they compared how little they made in their first jobs. Kyle recalled how he took his first job for less than the government benefits he received while he was homeless. 'When I first started in Townsville, I had to take a pay cut from the homeless allowance. So the government were paying me a homeless allowance. I took a pay cut for an $11,000 a year job to get my foot in the door,' said the shock jock. Hadley's station mate Fordham (pictured) is on around half that at $1.5million, the report alleges The costs of keeping such a pricey stable of stars has some stations looking for ways to trim the fat, The Daily Telegraph reports. KIIS star Mitch Churi (pictured) was recently made redundant Co-host Jackie, 49, revealed that she had a similarly paltry salary when she signed her first radio deal. 'I took it for 10 grand. It was because you loved the job,' said Jackie. Reflecting on their early career, Kyle also explained why people like him and his co-host would take such a low salary when they started out. 'You're limited because people like me and Jackie, there's not many other options. Talk s**t for a living or be on the dole,' Kyle said. Jackie agreed, but suggested she might have pursued another profession. 'Oh no, I could have been a prostitute!' Jackie joked. 'Probably, you're right,' said Kyle, 'Low end, $300.' In November 2023, the Sydney-based radio duo signed a record-breaking $200million, 10-year deal live on-air - keeping them on the airwaves until 2034. Along with the 10-year radio deal, it's been reported one unique clause in the contract gives them the ability to broadcast the show from 'anywhere on the earth'. Kyle has often worked on the KIIS FM show from Los Angeles and other places, so the new contract will give the flexibility to continue broadcasting from wherever he chooses. In a statement to celebrate the historic contract renewal, Sandilands said, 'Fans of the show will be stoked to hear that this 10-year deal is the longest radio deal in Australian history. 'Love us or loathe us, Jackie and I will be continuing with our politically incorrect nonsense for a long, long time.' He added, 'We want to thank the listeners. Staff. All the clients. Even senior management, I'll give a nod to. They actually did something brilliant.' The duo are hoping to dominate markets outside their Sydney-based audience and extended their reach into Melbourne for the first time. Sean Wilson revealed he was axed from Coronation Street earlier this year over an unfounded sex claim. The actor, 59, who played Martin Patt on the soap, was due to return to the cobbles in recent months and had already filmed scenes with ex screen wife Gail (Helen Worth). Sean was told he was being axed from the show pending a police inquiry into an allegation of indecent assault from 1997 - and was not told any of the details. He was cleared by police 10 days ago with authorities reportedly saying no further action would be taken over the claim - made by a woman with links to the soap. Sean has since said it has 'been hell' after his 'whole world blew up' and his 'reputation ruined'. Now MailOnline takes a look into Sean's life away from the ITV soap as he rebuilds his life. Sean Wilson revealed he was axed from Coronation Street earlier this year over an unfounded sex claim. Now MailOnline take a look into Sean's life away from the ITV soap Secret split Sean 'secretly split' from his actress girlfriend Susie Fenwick after the pair started a relationship back in 2016. Representatives for Sean confirmed in August that the soap star and the Britannia High actress are no longer dating. Recent reports from The Sun revealed the relationship ended 'a few years ago' while a spokesperson for Sean confirmed to OK! that he and Susie split 'a long time ago'. Sean started dating Susie three years after his marriage with wife Gaynor, who he shares two children with, ended. Speaking about the new romance at the time, Sean said: 'Well I have met somebody new actually. We've only been seeing each other for a short amount of time but I am very happy. I feel good at the moment.' Sean has been quietly dating girlfriend Carol Hammond for around four years. Sean began a relationship with Carol just before the pandemic hit in 2020, with both sharing loved-up snaps together on social media. MailOnline can reveal over the past four years, Sean has been in a relationship with Carol - with both parties openly sharing photos cuddled up together on social media. While they have kept their relationship out of the public eye, Carol has accompanied Sean to cheese fairs, where has sold his award-winning dairy products. Sean 'secretly split' from his actress girlfriend Susie Fenwick (pictured) after the pair started a relationship back in 2016. Sean has been quietly dating girlfriend Carol Hammond for around four years Sean was married to wife Gaynor for 16 years and they shares two children together; pictured 2006 New career After originally leaving Coronation Street in 2005, because producers informed him of a storyline where he would date an underage girl which he did not agree with, Sean went on to appear in several over UK television dramas, including Waterloo Road. However soon leaving acting behind Sean trained as a chef and cooked in several Michelin-starred restaurants. He also became a cheesemaker and started his own business Saddleworth Cheese Company alongside then wife Gaynor in 2009. Sean went on to publish a cookbook called The Great Northern Cookbook in 2012 and the accompanying TV series was shown on Channel 5 in 2013. In 2018, Sean dissolved his cheese company and reprised his role as Martin Platt in Coronation Street for a few episodes. After leaving Corrie in 2005, Sean trained as a chef and cooked in several Michelin-starred restaurants. He also became a cheesemaker and started his own business Saddleworth Cheese Company in 2009 Sean went on to publish a cookbook called The Great Northern Cookbook in 2012 and the accompanying TV series was shown on Channel 5 in 2013 Axed It was announced in July that Sean was returning to Coronation Street after 19 years for a Christmas storyline involving the departure of wife Gail. But ITV later confirmed his shock exit from the show but only said that he departed for 'personal reasons'. Sean had agreed to a four-month 10 episode contract and was looking forward to returning to the soap, which he starred on from 1985 to 2005, along with a brief return in 2018. But after just two weeks of filming, Sean got an email from bosses on August 1 requesting a meeting with him at Coronation Street studios. The email partly read: 'This is to discuss a historical allegation of a sexual nature which has been made about you in the past few days relating to when you were previously under contract to the programme. We will realise this will come out of the blue for you as it has for us.' Sean went to the studios for the meeting and quickly called his partner of five years Carol Hammond and agent Katherine Stonehouse who joined via Zoom. The actor said three executives told him they had received an allegation that Sean put his hand up a woman's skirt and that the police had also contacted them and said they had referred the case to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Sean revealed he was axed from Coronation Street earlier this year over an unfounded sex claim The actor who played Martin Patt on the soap, was due to return to the cobbles in recent months and had already filmed scenes with ex screen wife Gail (Helen Worth) He was cleared by police 10 days ago with police reportedly saying no further action would be taken over the claim - made by a woman with links to the soap Sean was not told the name of the person who made the allegation, only that it happened in 1997 and the person worked in connection with the show. He hired two lawyers to track down the police officer dealing with the complaint to find out of he was under investigation and also hired a media lawyer to help deal with the speculation around his departure from the show. Sean said he attended a voluntary meeting with a detective constable on October 25 and was surprised to be told the allegation was that he had touched someone's backside while they were wearing jeans; different to what ITV had told him. He said the police told him they never contacted ITV and it couldn't have been passed to the CPS because an officer hadn't even been assigned to the case at that point. They also told him the name of the person he was accused of assaulting but he didn't recognise them, saying 'hundreds' of people have worked on Coronation Street. Sean was relieved when, on November 21, police told him no further action would be taken and said he cried on the call. The actor detailed the fall out from the allegation, saying he struggled to tell his children Callum, 26, and Maisie, 24, and hiring lawyers also came at a great financial cost. Sean fears the allegation could damage his career, saying he'd hoped his Coronation Street return would lead to a wider showbiz comeback with potential panto appearances or maybe even an appearance on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! He now feels he is 'persona non grata' and described his career as being 'in tatters'. The actor was angry about the complaint and also said ITV got their facts about it wrong. Sean had been due to be back on screens from October but the ten scenes he filmed were all cut. His storyline was replaced with one featuring another former partner of Gail's - Jesse Chadwick (John Thomson). MailOnline has contacted ITV representatives for comment. David Beckham shared a snap of the family Elf On The Shelf as the family got back into the festive spirit on Instagram stories on Sunday. The former Manchester United star, 49, tagged his former Spice Girl wife, 50-, in a post as he showcased the return of their famous little guy. In the snap, the elf was sat on the side of the counter in front of a cardboard fireplace cut out, holding a mini sign reading: 'I'm back, I missed you.' Leading up to the scene were creative little snow prints on the wooden board and a couple of wrapped presents. Tagging his wife, David penned: 'Here we go again'. The couple are parents to Brooklyn, 25, Romeo, 22, Cruz, 19 and Harper, 13, with the youngest two still living at the family's London home. Victoria has somewhat of a reputation for her Elf On The Shelf set ups, having created one of her most memorable scenes during Covid. David Beckham shared a snap of the family Elf On The Shelf as they got back into the festive spirit on Instagram on Sunday The former Manchester United star, 49, tagged his former Spice Girl wife, 50, in a post as he showcased the return of their famous little guy She gave the little chap a twist in 2020, by sticking a mask to his face, all for the benefit of her daughter Harper, then nine. Meanwhile other celebs have also continued the festive trend as Stacey Solomon created her own helper, Joe, craftily made from the inside of a toilet roll and named for her husband Joe Swash. She shared a snap of the DIY project sat on festive-decorated table holding a sign reading: 'I'm back'. Stacey shared the post to her Stories and penned: 'Here we go... it always starts out well. I'll do my best this year but no pressure if I miss a few days/weeks I'll just send him to the North Pole to help Santa.' And fellow home-influencer Mrs Hinch also jumped back on the trend as she upped her game and introduced two elves this year. Posting a black and white snap to her Stories she shared a snap of two little elf dolls alongside a sign which read: 'Hello Ronnie and Lennie, I'm back!... 'But this time with my bestfriend! Remember... we're watching you xxx' Jamie Lynne Spears has also got back in the festive spirit as she shared a snap to her Stories of the doll sat on a little bean bag in front of a tiny door on the wall. Meanwhile other celebs have also continued the festive trend, as Stacey Solomon created her own helper Joe, craftily made from the inside of a toilet roll Stacey named her elf after husband Joe Swash to amusement of their kids - Zachary, 15, Leighton, 11, Rex, four, Rose, two, and one-year-old Belle And fellow home-influencer Mrs Hinch also jumped back on the trend as she upped her game and introduced two elves this year Posting on her story, she shared a snap of two little elf dolls alongside a sign which read: 'Hello Ronnie and Lennie, I'm back!... Jamie Spears has also got back in the festive spirit as she shared a snap of the doll sat on a little bean bag in front of a tiny door on the wall The little figurine was sat next to a little while white note which featured a red velvet bow and 'Ivey' penned on the front. Alongside the snap, she penned: 'guess who's back...' The Elf on the Shelf is a Christmas tradition centered around Scout Elves who fly to the North Pole each night. Scout Elves arrive at homes in a keepsake box set that features a storybook. Graziano Di Prima has returned to London with his wife Giada Lin to teach a dance class - four months after he was sacked from Strictly Come Dancing. The Italian dancer, 30, was axed from the show in July over reports he verbally and physically abused his celebrity partner Zara McDermott during last year's series. He fled the UK when the scandal broke to his native Italy with his wife Giada - who is a professional dancer on the Italian version of the series. But Graziana has returned to British soils for the first time since leaving, being spotted arriving for a dance class in London on Sunday. Graziano and Giada looked all smiles as they strolled with the capital city, matching in all-black ensembles. Giada looked chic in a long black wool coat and chunky lace-up boots while Graziano sported a leather jacket and dark jeans. Graziano Di Prima has returned to London with his wife Giada Lin to teach a dance class - four months after he was sacked from Strictly Come Dancing Graziano fled the UK when the scandal broke to his native Italy with his wife Giada - who is a professional dancer on the Italian version of the series The former Strictly pro broke his silence following his sacking last month as he teased his return to the spotlight. Graziano took to social media to share he is raring to get back on the stage, posting a moody video of himself walking on a bridge at night time, before being joined by Giada. Alongside the clip, Graziano wrote: 'Dance has always been the center of my life, my greatest passion, the path I chose and dedicated years of study, sacrifice, and love to. After a period of reflection, I feel stronger than ever and eager to return to what I love most: dancing.' He continued: 'The future is a whole world of new open windows, ready to welcome new dreams and new challenges, and I'm excited to continue this journey with even more determination and inspiration.' Speaking to his fans, Graziano added: 'A heartfelt thank you to everyone who is always there for me. I'm thrilled to dance again with the same enthusiasm and dedication as always. 'See you soon, whether on stage or through new projects that I will be very excited to share with you.' According to The Sun, Graziano has now 'called in top lawyers to sue the BBC ' in a bid to clear his name. Barristers from Whitestone Chambers have 'already read thousands of text and WhatsApp messages' and believe the Italian 'could sue for unfair dismissal'. In July, Graziano was sacked, accused of 'kicking' his celebrity dancing partner Love Island star Zara McDermott during their time together no the show (both pictured) But Graziana has returned to British soils for the first time since leaving, being spotted arriving for a dance class in London on Sunday A source said: 'Graziano feels he wasn't allowed a fair opportunity to give his side of the story so has been heartened to hear the legal team think he has a case for unfair dismissal.' They added: 'They've also looked at his BBC contract and believe there are grounds to sue. He is weighing up his options but remains hopeful he can clear his name.' MailOnline contacted Graziano's reps and the BBC for comment at the time. Strictly production staff raised concerns about Graziano's conduct last year, but bosses only went as far as to issue quiet warnings to him. The group expected him to be sacked instantly. They are said to be furious that their complaints were ignored, meaning the abuse towards Zara was allowed to continue and Graziano was even signed on for the upcoming 2024 series of Strictly . It was not until staff got hold of a video allegedly showing Graziano repeatedly hitting Ms McDermott nine months after their initial complaint that he was fired. Graziano later confirmed and regretted his actions against Zara. Addressing his exit from the show, a 'devastated' Di Prima wrote on Instagram: 'I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly . Graziano and Giada looked all smiles as they strolled with the capital city, matching in all-black ensembles 'My intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime.' 'While respecting the BBC HR process, I acknowledge it's only right for the sake of the show that I step away. I am saddened that I wasn't allowed to offer a quote to the online news stories, and I take on board the sensitivity of the situation. 'There's more to this story that I am unable to discuss at this time, but I am committed to being strong for my family and friends. I wish the Strictly family nothing but success in the future.' Graziano joined Strictly in 2018 and was last year partnered with the former Love Island star but they were eliminated in week six. He was previously paired with presenter Vick Hope, Loose Women star Judi Love and in 2022 and he reached the quarter-final with actor Kym Marsh. Daniel Craig has revealed he initially rejected the chance to play James Bond as he was fearful it could limit other opportunities for him in the movie industry. The actor, 56, portrayed 007 in five movies spanning from 2006's Casino Royale to 2021's No Time To Die, but admits he had reservations about taking the part of the legendary spy. When asked if he was nervous about accepting the Bond role, Daniel told The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter Podcast: 'Yes, for sure. That's why I turned it down - I mean, I said, "No". There wasn't a script at the time, so again, my arrogance was unbelievable, but I was just like, 'Well, until I see a script, I couldn't possibly make a a decision.' 'And it was fear, exactly what you're talking about, of that thing and many others, how it would flip my life. I was making a pretty good living at the time, so if I spent my life doing what I was doing at the time, I would've been more than happy. 'But it was really one of those things where - I mean to be typecast as James Bond? Boo-hoo.' Daniel took on other film roles between Bond movies - such as Defiance and Cowboys and Aliens - but explained that his attempts to showcase his versatility as an actor left him burnt out. Daniel Craig has revealed he initially rejected the chance to play James Bond as he was fearful it could limit other opportunities for him in the movie industry The actor, 56, portrayed 007 in five movies spanning from 2006's Casino Royale to 2021's No Time To Die , but admits he had reservations about taking the part of the legendary spy He said: 'I think I felt that I had to prove myself. And after a while I just realised that I didn't have the energy to do that. 'It's not knocking movies like 'Defiance', because I'm very proud of them. But Bond is your life when you're doing it - each movie is about two years out of your life; you're away from home for over six months; and the idea of fitting someone else in because of the need to prove to the world that I've got range, it's kind of ridiculous, so I stopped doing that. 'There's some movies I did do that I was incredibly proud of. But I was exhausted while doing those films. It was better just to concentrate on the Bonds.' It comes after Daniel teased who the next James Bond could be when he made a cryptic joke at 2024 Governors Awards on Sunday. The actor, 56, who played 007 for five films from 2006 until 2021, weighed in on the ongoing debate while presenting an award on stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles . As he honoured producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson with the Irving G Thalberg Memorial Award he said 'the next James Bond could be in the room.' Previous reports suggested Aaron-Taylor Johnson and Theo James could be next in line to take on the iconic role. Daniel recently teased who the next James Bond could be when he made a cryptic joke at 2024 Governors Awards on Sunday 'Lets just get something out of the way,' Daniel began. 'If you came here this evening to find out who the next James Bond is, dont look at me, but he might be in the room. Im just joking. Maybe Im not,' PEOPLE report. Daniel hung up his bowtie and tux three years ago and has been leaning into more experimental roles since, ranging from a fun camp gentleman sleuth with a Southern drawl to a man who falls in love with a drug addict in Mexico City, in the 1940s. He will next star in Queer which is an adaptation of a novella by American writer William Burroughs. The actor plays an American, William Lee, living in Mexico City who becomes sexually obsessed with a former sailor, Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey). Photo Credit: ESPN Saturdays Week 14 edition of College GameDay featured the weekly kicking contest hosted by Pat McAfee, where two very different level of contestants took part in a chance at a significant amount of prize money, one of which coming from the popular YouTube group Dude Perfect. For those unaware of Dude Perfect, it is a group, all of which graduated from Texas A&M, the site of GameDay in Week 14, with a longstanding YouTube channel dedicated to trick shots. Whether it be throwing or kicking several different kinds of balls, the group has a ton of experience in sports-adjacent content. Tyler Toney of Dude Perfect wasnt the main participant in McAfees kicking challenge. That was an Air Force student by the name of Payne, who won the raffle to take part in the contest. However, Toney did come on to kick before Payne in an effort to raise his potential earnings by $100,000. McAfee stated ahead of Toneys kick that if he made the kick, he would raise Paynes winnings to $250,000 instead of the standard $150,000. Toney put $100,000 of his own money on the line if he missed the kick. So either way, Payne would be kicking for $250,000. Toney would save his own money, nailing the field goal attempt to get the Texas A&M crowd excited. Tyler from Dude Perfect hits a $100,000 kick for charity in Pat McAfees Kicking Contest. #CollegeGameDay pic.twitter.com/1aCs2chdoV Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 30, 2024 Holy hell, its good, screamed McAfee as the Dude Perfect members and holder Kirk Herbstreit celebrated in excitement. The entire purpose of the kicking challenge of McAfees is to first and foremost give back to charity. ESPN regularly matches the proceeds given away to those who make the kicks and gives whatever the amount is to a number of charities. The other purpose, however, is to enforce that kicking isnt quite as easy as it may look on TV Unfortunately, Payne would realize this all too well, with his kick for $250,000 in earnings and $250,000 for charity shooting left into the crowd of spectators. Please enable JavaScript to view the poll powered by Disqus. Snapped the kick, he snapped the kick, said McAfee. Well still donate $250,000 He almost killed a guy. Almost took his head off, added Kirk Herbstreit. The next attempt in Pat McAfees Kicking Contest was from the contestant, Payne, and didnt go as well. pic.twitter.com/ifVtlarQQ4 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 30, 2024 Payne unfortunately went home both empty-handed and likely embarrassed after his kick came nowhere close to going through the uprights. But at least money still went to a good cause with ESPNs donation to both Texas A&M charities and the Hurricane Helene relief fund. [Awful Announcing on X] Kim Kardashian sparked a conversation after she posted a photo from her recent special screening of Wicked with none other than Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in attendance. Numerous fans blasted Kim over her 'privilege' after she posted a snap from the screening to her Instagram on Sunday. The reality star hosted a Wicked 'slumber party' at her LA mansion back in October, a month before the film was officially released. Kim, 44, was joined by sisters Khloe, 40, Kourtney, 45, and Kylie, 27, along with their children and mom Kris Jenner, 68 for the screening - which came complete with gifted movie merchandise including shirts, pajamas, dolls, and a pink and green buffet, as well as a green carpet entrance. 'Wicked pajama party,' Kim wrote in the caption. The family were slammed over the lavish event when Kris first posted snaps from the event last month - but fans couldn't restrain themselves from reminding Kim of her wealth as they weighed in in the comments. In a short comment summarizing their thoughts, one said: 'The privilege is real.' Kim Kardashian sparked a conversation after she posted a photo from her recent special screening of Wicked with none other than Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in attendance 'I hate being poor,' one joked with a laughing crying emoji. 'Lol the privilege,' one wrote. 'I mean, if I had the mula, I would do the same thing... us peasants will just live vicariously thru this pic...I do wonder how much money they spent to make this happen...' one wrote. Another offered this biting response: 'How much did that cost? Probaby more than a homeless shelter.' 'People actually get sick of you all flaunting your privilege during these times. Why not flaunt your giving back in some real and meaningful way?' one remarked. 'It's KIM Kardashian Money..' another posted. 'This the type money you have to have to have the main characters at ur wicked themed sleep over,' another wrote. Wicked, starring Ariana and Cynthia, was released in theatres on November 22 - and the star hosted their star-studded extravaganza in late October. Fans didn't restrain themselves from reminding her of her wealth as they weighed in in the comments Kris Jenner previously shared snaps from the bash to her Instagram back on October 23, prompting fans to weigh in with similar 'privilege' comments at the time. The decision by Universal Pictures to allow the advance screening for celebrities as a marketing tool angered fans - who argued the film should have been seen first by children studying theater, rather than the reality star family. One fan wrote at the time: 'The level of obscene privilege is willlld'. Others wrote: 'It grosses me out how this family continuously gets things they shouldnt be able to have but just because theyre rich the get a pass. You want Marilyn Monroes dress? Sure. You want the Wicked Movie an entire month before its officially out? Why not. 'There is no marketing angle to wicked hosting a private movie night for the kard*shians other than showing the extreme wealth.' The Kardashian family were slammed online in October after getting a luxury private screening of the new Wicked movie - one month before its release date The billionaire family were called out for an 'obscene level of privilege' in October as they posed up with the film stars Ariana and Cynthia at the screening - held at Kim Kardashian's LA mansion The superstar pictured at the LACMA Art +Film Gala last month 'THIS. the kardashians aren't even remotely connected to theater and if they rlly wanted the kardashians to watch it, then they should've invited them to one of their influencer screening like they did with trisha. theater kids deserve the princess treatment, not icky billionaires.' 'why didnt they set up a private screening of wicked in a musical theatre school for kids in a low income neighborhood or something. like why the kardashians? that cannot have been the best PR move like truly i dont get it.' 'Not one person in your family deserved this. 'Meanwhile, us common folk are working to keep the lights on. Advertisement Sir Elton John has confirmed his eyesight has gone after addressing guests at London's Dominion Theatre on Sunday evening, where he was among guests for the red carpet launch of The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical The legendary musician, who was accompanied by husband David Furnish, made the surprise admission as he took to the stage, weeks after revealing an infection had left him partially sighted. He said: 'As some of you may know I have had issues and now I have lost my sight. I haven't been able to see the performance but I have enjoyed it.' Sir Elton, 77, was assisted offstage by Furnish, 62, with the icon crediting his husband for helping him since his eyesight faltered. He added: 'To my husband whos been my rock because I havent been able to come to many of the previews... its hard for me to see it but I love to hear it and it sounded good tonight OK. Thank you for coming!' Sir Elton John has confirmed his eyesight has gone after addressing guests at London's Dominion Theatre on Sunday evening, where he was among guests for the red carpet launch of The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical (pictured with husband David Furnish) The legendary musician, who was accompanied by husband David Furnish (R) made the surprise admission as he took to the stage, weeks after revealing an infection had left him partially sighted. He said: 'As some of you may know I have had issues and now I have lost my sight. I haven't been able to see the performance but I have enjoyed it' The musical previously legend revealed he lost eyesight in his right eye in the summer in France and as a result can't see, read or watch anything. Speaking to ABC News about his new documentary Never Too Late, Elton admitted he wasn't sure about his ability to record any new music, as he puts all his focus on his health. He said: 'It's been a while since I've done anything. I just have to get off my backside. I unfortunately lost my eyesight in my right eye in July because I had an infection in the south of France. 'It's been four months now since I haven't been able to see. And my left eye is not the greatest. So there's hope and encouragement that it will be okay, but I'm kind of stuck at the moment. 'Because I can do something like this, but going into the studio and recording I don't know, because I can't see a lyric for a start. 'We're taking an initiative to try and get it better, but at the moment that's really what we're concentrating on.' The acclaimed singer-songwriter candidly went on: 'It's never fortunate for anything like this to happen. And it kind of floored me and I can't see anything, I can't read anything, I can't watch anything.' However, showing his inherent positive attitude, Elton voiced his gratitude for his life, saying: 'I'm so lucky, I'm the luckiest man in the world. Sir Elton, 77, was assisted offstage by Furnish, 62, with the icon crediting his husband for helping him since his eyesight faltered He added: 'To my husband whos been my rock because I havent been able to come to many of the previews... its hard for me to see it but I love to hear it and it sounded good tonight OK. Thank you for coming!' Elton was supported on his big night by famous friends Donatella Versace (L) and Anna Wintour (R) who joined him for snaps alongside show star Vanessa Williams (far left) The musical legend previosuly revealed he lost eyesight in his right eye in the summer in France and as a result can't see, read or watch anything (pictured with show star Vanessa Williams) Speaking to ABC News about his new documentary Never Too Late, Elton admitted he wasn't sure about his ability to record any new music, as he puts all his focus on his health (pictured with Vogue boss and rumoured show inspiration Anna Wintour) (L-R) Vanessa Williams, Donatella Versace, Sir Elton John, Dame Anna Wintour and David Furnish He said: 'It's been a while since I've done anything. I just have to get off my backside. I unfortunately lost my eyesight in my right eye in July because I had an infection in the south of France (pictured with Donatella Versace) However, showing his inherent positive attitude, Elton voiced his gratitude for his life, saying: 'I'm so lucky, I'm the luckiest man in the world The Rocket Man hitmaker, who played his final shows last summer, revealed his eyesight issues in September with an Instagram post, explaining how he spent the past few months 'recuperating at home' As well as his current sight issues, Elton has faced a multitude of other health issues, after he had both knees replaced as well his right hip following a fall, which forced him to delay his farewell tour in 2021 (pictured in 2022) 'I'm so proud of the documentary, I'm proud of my sons, I'm proud of my attitude towards myself and what's going on. I'm just very lucky and very grateful.' As well as his current sight issues, Elton has faced a multitude of other health issues, after he had both knees replaced as well his right hip following a fall, which forced him to delay his farewell tour in 2021. The Rocket Man hitmaker, who played his final shows last summer at Glastonbury, revealed his eyesight issues in September. He took to his Instagram with a lengthy post, explaining how he spent the past few months 'recuperating at home.' Elton wrote: 'Over the summer, I've been dealing with a severe eye infection that has unfortunately left me with only limited vision in one eye. 'I am healing, but it's an extremely slow process and it will take some time before sight returns to the impacted eye. 'I am so grateful for the excellent team of doctors and nurses and my family, who have taken such good care of me over the last several weeks.' Elton concluded: 'I have been quietly spending the summer recuperating at home, and am feeling positive about the progress I have made in my healing and recovery thus far.' It comes after the EGOT winner admitted 'I don't know how much time I have left' as he opened up about death in his new documentary last month. In a scene from Never Too Late, Elton pondered his own mortality as he confessed he often thinks about life and death. The Mirror revealed one scene from the film sees the musician sitting in the dressing room on his final tour and looking at his possession. He then admits: 'I wonder what is going to happen to all of this stuff when I finish? This is the latter time of my life. I don't know how much time I have left. 'You think about that more when you get to my age. You think about life and death. You think, 'Well, I just want to be where I want to be now'.' Sir Elton (centre) later posed with the cast following the show All the cast, the crew and orchestra joined the Rocket Man singer on stage The much anticipated show, which is based on the 2006 comedy starring Meryl Streep , saw a throng of A-listers hit the red carpet including Elizabeth Hurley, her dashing son Damian Lily Collins, 35, (L) and Vogue boss and rumoured inspiration for the original novel Anna Wintour, 75 (R) were also in attendance Actress Elizabeth looked sensational in an eye-catching semi-sheer beaded gown gown which boasted a plunging neckline and teased a glimpse of her jaw-dropping figure beneath She opted for chic jewellery as well as gold accessories as she slipped her feet into a pair of towering platform heels while toting her essentials for the evening in a metallic clutch Meanwhile Damian, whose god father Elton John , 77, wrote the show's music, cut a dashing figure in all black ensemble, which boasted a long black leather trench and matching trousers Damian looked the spitting image of his famous mother As part of the celebrations at the afterparty MINI delivered a striking and stylish entrance, with its iconic installation of the car and famous red stiletto heel, setting the stage for the star-studded arrivals Emily In Paris star Lily, 35, who is appearing in West End play Barcelona, looked sensational as she slipped into a very revealing Vivienne Westwood Couture sequinned gown The stunner put on a very leggy display in the eye-popping look The gorgeous gown boasted a racy thigh-high split as well as a cleavage enhancing Bardot neckline Lily forwent jewellery and let the dazzling gown speak for itself She oozed old Hollywood glamour as she showed off her hourglass figure She was joined on the red carpet by dashing husband Charlie McDowell, 41, whom she wed in 2021 The couple put on a loved up display as they held hands Vogue's Anna looked effortlessly stylish in a navy bejewelled gown and satin emerald overcoat She completed the ensemble with dazzling diamonds and her trademark dark glasses Co-star Emily Blunt said the Oscar winner did not use the Vogue editor as inspiration: 'Meryl didn't actually base it on Anna Wintour. Well, she told Anna that. She based it on two men in Hollywood that she knew (Meryl, left, pictured in the movie with Anne Hathaway, right) He added: 'I don't have to work after this. I will work and do records and putting radio shows together but travelling takes so much out of you. 'It is very tiring. I am used to it. I am a veteran at it but this is where you start to think about mortality.' The musical features an original score by Sir Elton, lyrics by Shaina Taub, and book by Kate Wetherhead. Reflecting on why he decided to write the musical's score, the musician told RadioTimes.com: 'The film is a classic and it's aged brilliantly and fashion and music go together so well, so there were so many scenes in the film that were crying out for music. It was a no brainer for me. 'It's fantastic to be able to write for this kind of musical because it's not Shakespeare, it's absolutely so much fun. 'It's got fantastic costumes, an incredible cast, and brilliant choreography.' While Sir Elton's career as a musical theatre composer is slightly less famous than his singing, he is responsible for some of the best musical theatre scores in history. The Lion King, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, earned him an Oscar, as well as the original West End run of Billy Elliot in 2005. The much anticipated show, which is based on the 2006 comedy starring Meryl Streep, saw a throng of A-listers hit the red carpet including Elizabeth Hurley, her dashing son Damian, Lily Collins and Vogue boss and rumoured inspiration for the original novel Anna Wintour. Actress Elizabeth, 59, looked sensational in an eye-catching semi-sheer beaded gown gown which boasted a plunging neckline and teased a glimpse of her jaw-dropping figure beneath. She opted for chic jewellery as well as gold accessories as she slipped her feet into a pair of towering platform heels while toting her essentials for the evening in a metallic clutch. Meanwhile Damian, 22, whose god father Sir Elton wrote the show's music, cut a dashing figure in all black ensemble, which boasted a long black leather trench and matching trousers. Emily In Paris star Lily, 35, who is appearing in West End play Barcelona, looked sensational as she slipped into a very revealing Vivienne Westwood Couture sequinned gown. The stunner put on a very leggy display in the eye-popping outfit which featured a racy thigh-high split as well as a cleavage enhancing Bardot neckline. Lily forwent jewellery and let the dazzling gown speak for itself as she posed up a storm with dashing husband Charlie McDowell, 41, whom she wed in 2021. Vogue's Anna, 75, looked effortlessly stylish in a navy bejewelled gown and satin emerald overcoat which she wore with dazzling diamonds and her trademark dark glasses. Fans of the hit film The Devil Wears Prada have long assumed that Meryl Streep's fashion editor character Miranda Priestly was based on Anna, which in the musical is played by Vanessa Williams, 61. However back in 2019 co-star Emily Blunt said the Oscar winner did not use the Vogue editor as inspiration and told the NPR podcast: 'Meryl didn't actually base it on Anna Wintour. Well, she told Anna that. She based it on two men in Hollywood that she knew who will remain nameless, but I know who they are. That's all.' The film, which was based on Lauren Weisberger's book of the same title, was said to be loosely based on the author's real experiences of working at glossy fashion magazine. Donatella showcased her timeless beauty a the skimpy sequinned mini dress and leather platform boots David Walliams, 53, and beloved mum Kathleen attended to support the actor's close pal Sir Elton John Little Britain star David was dressed to impress in a sparkly pin-strip suit Love Island and West End star Amber Davies, 28, set pulses racing in a raunchy black leather dress and knee-high boots She added a little extra drama to the outfit with leather opera gloves and draped a long coat over her shoulders Amber accentuated her features with glam make-up including a classic pillar box red lip Lulu, 76, cut a quirky figure in an all black ensemble which she wore with eye-catching red top hat She posed alongside Hollywood hunk Luke Evans, 45 The Welsh actor looked dashing in a black wool coat which she accessorised with a bejewelled broach Luke (L) was joined by hunky boyfriend Fran Tomas (R) Construction project manager Fran (R) looked equally smart in a suede jacket and plaid trousers The Blindspot star Jaimie Alexander, 40, flaunted her flawless figure in a cut-out purple gown The outfit showcased her jaw-dropping abs and boasted a train The film took over 250 million at the box office, earning Meryl Streep an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of the glacial fashion magazine editor, with rumours of a sequel in the works. Elsewhere on the red carpet Claire Sweeney broke her silence exclusively to MailOnline about her split from Ricky Hatton - as she made a glamorous appearance on the red carpet. The couple recently ended their relationship of eight months, which saw them date in secret after starring on ITV's Dancing On Ice and enjoy a Tenerife holiday in May. But since their summer getaway, the boxer, 46, and former Brookside actress, 53, have parted ways months after Claire spoke about how they bonded over humour and their joint love of TV sitcom Only Fools and Horses. The pair were last pictured together on November 13 in Manchester while attending the musical version of the hit sitcom, which is currently on a UK tour. But speaking about the split for the first time she told MailOnline: 'I'm great - we're still friends, we were friends, we dated and now we're friends again. It's all good!' At the event she turned heads in a busty white sparkling dress which she wore with a matching sheer cape and silver heels. Amelia Dimoldenberg flashed her toned abs in a chic black crop top and suede skirt The Chicken Shop Date host looked fresh faced and wore her glossy blonde tresses in loose waves Singer Beverly Knight, 51, looked incredible in a plunging sparkly corset and figure-hugging velvet maxi skirt Elsewhere on the red carpet Claire Sweeney broke her silence exclusively to MailOnline about her split from Ricky Hatton - as she made a glamorous appearance on the red carpet The couple recently ended their relationship of eight months, which saw them date in secret after starring on ITV's Dancing On Ice and enjoy a Tenerife holiday in May At the event she turned heads in a busty white sparkling dress which she wore with a matching sheer cape and silver heels Speaking about the split for the first time she told MailOnline: 'I'm great - we're still friends, we were friends, we dated and now we're friends again' Claire had been single following her separation from ex-Daniel Reilly, with whom she shares son Jaxon (seen together) Social media star Dylan Mulvaney, 27, looked gorgeous in a leggy fringed gown RuPaul's Drag Race UK judges Graham Norton and Michelle Visage were both suited and booted for the glitzy premiere Lady Victoria Hervey, 48, left very little to to the imagination in a sheer floral gown with perfectly placed embellishments to retain her modesty She wore dazzling diamond earrings and carried an oversized pink leather handbag Music icon and former The Who star Pete Townshend, 79, was joined by wife Rachel Fuller (L-R) Clara Amfo, Elaine Paige, Dame Arlene Phillips, Dame Darcey Bussell all looked chic in black She wore her blonde tresses styled into a perfect bouncy blow dry and opted for a pop of red lip for the night out. Coronation Street actress Claire previously explained she and Ricky had known each other for 25 years before sparks flew between them while the boxing champion said it was 'nice' they were able to connect following the end of their respective relationships. Claire had been single following her separation from ex-Daniel Reilly, with whom she shares son Jaxon, in 2017, and Ricky, who has three children, was a free agent after his romance with beautician Angela Blemmings ended two years ago. Elsewhere on the red carpet Arlene Phillips, 81, who was famously a Strictly Come Dancing judge for four years, voiced her admiration for Pete Wicks. Giving her thoughts on the remaining contestants, she admitted she was a big fan of 'fearless' comedian Chris McCausland and 'stunning' Love Island star Tasha Ghouri. And despite ending up at the bottom of the leaderboard for three week in a row, Arlene defended Pete's efforts and praised his ability to poke fun at himself, as she referenced his infamous pink latex trousers during Blackpool Week. Speaking to MailOnline at the star-studded musical premiere, she said: 'I actually admire [Pete]. He is trying so hard and anyone who will wear pink trousers - so tight, bare chest, come on! That's hilarious! And he doesn't mind sending himself up.' CBB and West End star Marisha Wallace teased a glimpse of her lingerie beneath a semi-sheer black gown The stunner beamed ahead of taking her seat in the theatre Loose Women's Linda Robson, 66 (L) attended the premiere with her Birds Of A Feather co-star and pal Lesley Joseph, 79 (R) WAG Lizzie Cundy, 56, ensured all eyes were on her in a saucy red mini dress and devil horns She completed her eye-catching outfit with a faux fur shrug and opera gloves Ex EastEnders star Charlie Brooks, 43, caught the eye sparkly sheer top and tulle skirt She added extra sparkle with gold jewellery along with bright red lipstick and a matching manicure The 2024 Dancing On Ice star was joined her pro partner Eric Radford X Factor star Lucie Jones, 33, oozed sophistication in a plunging black gown with wet look hair Clare Balding, 53, looked chic in a velvet blazer and smart trousers (L-R) Kathryn Drysdale, Tina Barrett, Mary Charteris, Kelly Hoppen Scissor Sisters star Jake Shears, 46, who co wrote Elton's most recent Broadway flop Tammy Faye was also in attendance Dame Zandra Rhodes cut a very quirky figure as she hit the red carpet with a male pal American fashion designer Betsey Johnson, 83, put on a very animated display in a dramatic silver dress and blue faux fur shrug She later left onlookers stunned after dropping into the splits (L-R) Jackie St. Clair dazzled alongside RuPaul's Drag Race UK finalist La Voix Christopher Biggins, 75, was in great spirits as he posed on the red carpet alongside husband Neil Sinclair (R) Also on the VIP guest list was british actor and movie director Dexter Fletcher, 58 Fashion designer Pegah Pourmand went braless beneath a gold chainmail gown The look, which was adorned with bows, left very little to the imagination Influencer Eitan Broude was another guest to display their unique fashion sense Discussing the upcoming final and who she was placing her bets on to nab the Glitterball, Arlene said: 'I am excited. I think anyone could win. 'I love Chris because he's so fearless and Tasha's stunning. But they're all great and anyone can win, because it's all about who the public fall in love with.' While the movie's original cast hasn't been confirmed to return yet for a sequel, the reported plot description hints that both Meryl Streep (Miranda Priestley) and Emily Blunt (Emily Charlton) would be back, according to Variety. The sequel's story will follow Priestley and her career in present day as traditional magazine publishing is on the decline. She squares off with Charlton, who is said to be a high-powered executive for a luxury group, as Priestley is chasing that company's ad dollars. None of the reports have mentioned if Anne Hathaway would return as Andrea 'Andy' Sachs, or if other supporting cast members would return such as Stanley Tucci, Simon Baker, Adrian Grenier, Gisele Bundchen and Tracie Thoms. Jennifer Lopez looked chic but sexy as she enjoyed dinner with friends Saturday night in Beverly Hills. The multi-hyphenate, 55, who took fans on a pictorial tour her her $68 million mansion, showcased her curves in a sheer sparkling long sleeve silver top and a chocolate brown leather midi skirt. She stepped out in some knee high brown boots and carried a brown leather handbag. The Second Act star's hair was styled in loose, straight waves and her makeup looked camera ready but natural with a soft neutral lip. The A-list star was seen enjoying her dinner at Cipriani with her manager Benny Medina, 66, and a few other friends. Medina was seen escorting Lopez to her waiting car in video from the scene. Jennifer Lopez looked chic but sexy in a sparking sliver top as she enjoyed dinner with friends Saturday night in Beverly Hills Lopez has been promoting her work in the film Unstoppable, which has garnered a lot of buzz for the upcoming Hollywood awards season. The Emmy nominee stars as the mother of wrestler Anthony Robles, an athlete with one leg, who was as unstoppable in her support for her son as the young man was in his ambition to succeed, 'Its not often that you have a movie like this,' the actress said in an interview of Variety's Awards Circuit podcast. 'I identified with her. I understood the upbringing they had, the struggles, the relationships, and the sacrifices Judy made for her son,' the actress explained of Judy Robles, the woman she portrayed. 'She realized, early on, that if she didnt accept her child, how would he ever accept himself? That moment of love and growth its universal.' 'I hope the story resonates with people not just as a Latino story, but as an American story of triumph and love.' The fact-based film will open in select movie theaters December 6 in order to qualify for awards consideration. 'This is an American story. Its about family, resilience, and the idea that no matter what youre up against, you can overcome it. Those are themes everyone can relate to,' the actress maintained. The multi-hyphenate, 55, showcased her curves in a chocolate brown leather midi skirt. She stepped out in some knee high brown boots and carried a brown leather handbag The actress has been promoting her next film, Unstoppable, which opens in theaters December 6. Her role as the mother of wrestler Anthony Robles in this fact based story has garnered a lot of awards buzz for Lopez 'This is an American story. Its about family, resilience, and the idea that no matter what youre up against, you can overcome it. Those are themes everyone can relate to,' the actress said on the Variety Awards Circuit podcast Unstoppable was scheduled to debut on the Amazon Prime streaming platform January 16. Lopez gave her fans a peek at the trailer in November. 'Telling Anthony and Judys inspiring story is an honor,' she wrote. The Billboard Icon Award winner also spoke about her efforts to break down barriers in Hollywood. 'When I started, there werent a lot of roles for Latinas. I was auditioning for parts with accents and stereotypes. I kept thinking, "Why cant I just play a romantic lead? Why cant I be the girl next door?" That beliefthat conviction that I belonged was what helped me break those molds,' she asserted. Montell Douglas finally fell foul of the dance-off on Sunday night, as she became the tenth celebrity to be sent packing from Strictly Come Dancing during Musicals Week. The Gladiators star, 38, and her professional partner Johannes Radebe landed in the bottom two of the public vote for the third week in a row, up against Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec. First to take to the floor, Montell and Johannes performed their Rumba to Im Here from the musical The Color Purple, followed by Tasha and Aljaz's Argentine Tango to Ex-Wives from Six. After both couples had danced their hardest, it was down to the judges to deliver their verdicts with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke all choosing to save Tasha and Aljaz. While head judge Shirley Ballas agreed with her fellow judges, and said that she would have also decided to send Montell and Johannes home. Despite narrowly missing out on a place in the next week's semi-finals, Montell gushed about her experience on the show, as she described how her confidence had grown, while Johannes had become her 'friend and brother'. Montell Douglas finally fell foul of the dance-off on Sunday night, as she became the tenth celebrity to be sent packing from Strictly Come Dancing during Musicals Week The Gladiators star, 38, and her professional partner Johannes Radebe landed in the bottom two of the public vote for the third week in a row, up against Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec First to take to the floor, Montell and Johannes performed their Rumba to Im Here from the musical The Color Purple, followed by Tasha and Aljaz's Argentine Tango to Ex-Wives from Six She said: '[Johannes] has been amazing. Strictly has touched me in ways I never knew possible. 'Im an Olympian and a Gladiator, but I have honestly struggled with confidence my whole life and being on the show, with the beautiful crew, the judges, the cast has just been such an honour.' Addressing his partner, Johannes praised: 'I am so proud of you, because you are a non-dancer. But the one thing that you have done every single week is turn out beautiful dancing. 'So I want to say to you, thank you for respecting our art form of Ballroom and Latin. The way you handled it was like a true pro. You're my winner.' In response, Montell emotionally told him: 'I have to say thank you to you because I really have found a friend and a brother in this man. I mean it from the bottom of my heart, I hope hes in my life forever, because we have something very special.' Their exit comes after fans blasted Strictly as they accused bosses of 'setting Montell up to fail' with the 'wrong dance and song' - after she had already landed in the dance-off two weeks in a row. Even before taking to the dancefloor, viewers were convinced the Olympian was doomed after she was tasked with dancing the notoriously difficult Rumba to the song I'm Here from The Colour Purple. The Rumba is widely considered to be one of the most challenging of ballroom dances, while Montell and Johannes were scheduled to go on second, which several fans have called the 'death slot'. After both couples had danced their hardest, it was down to the judges to deliver their verdicts with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke all choosing to save Tasha and Aljaz Despite narrowly missing out on a place in the next week's semi-finals, Montell gushed about her experience on the show, as she described how her confidence had grown, while Johannes had become her 'friend and brother' Their exit comes after fans blasted Strictly as they accused bosses of 'setting Montell up to fail' with the 'wrong dance and song' - after she had already landed in the dance-off two weeks in a row The pair had only survived by the skin of their teeth for the past two weeks, after facing off potential eliminations against Wynne Evans and Katya Jones (pictured), and Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas. The pair had only survived by the skin of their teeth for the past two weeks, after facing off potential eliminations against Wynne Evans and Katya Jones, and Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas. While week seven also saw them in the bottom two, where they were mercifully saved over Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin. Fans slammed producers for giving Montell 'the kiss of death' this week, as they argued their favourite dancer was being purposefully pushed out of the competition. While they seemed in absolute awe of the star's routine, they were convinced the song was very 'slow' compared to the zesty dance - a point noted by several of the judges, who gave her a score of 32 points out of 40. Viewers quickly took to X sharing their opinions, praising the athlete's 'beautiful' dance but also sharing fears she will be next go get the chop. They commented: 'The BBC are so obvious with who they want out. I mean, this is practically a 'tell me you want Montell out without actually telling me' situation. 'It's ludicrous to give a rumba on Musicals week to a contestant who's been in the bottom three times?; 'Worried for Montell with a rumba this late in the series and her being in the bottom 2 so many times'. 'montell in the death slot with her rumba when i catch you producers; Voted for montell she was stitched up this week; Theyve only gone and put montell in the death slot with a rumba' The Rumba is widely considered to be one of the most challenging of ballroom dances, while Montell and Johannes were scheduled to go on second, which several fans have called the 'death slot' Following Montell's exit, there are only five celebrities left in the competition, with only one more week to go until the final four will be revealed 'I fear Montell has received the kiss of death; I see you Strictly producers, I see you. Montell deserves better! I would've loved to have seen a Charleston from team Jojo this week! 'They stitched up Shayne and now they're stitching up Montell. The difference though is that Montell is too good to leave this early. She should be a finalist! I'm fuming!' 'The producers sticking Montell in the death slot with a Rumba so they can drag their precious Chris and Pete through to the final I feel ill #Strictly'. Sundays results show featured a phenomenal performance of The Schuyler Sisters from the acclaimed musical Hamilton, and a dazzling group number from the professional dancers to As If We Never Said Goodbye from Sunset Boulevard. Following Montell's exit, there are only five celebrities left in the competition, with only one more week to go until the final four will be revealed. The last five couples will take to the dancefloor next week for the semi-final, where they will each perform two dances. Strictly Come Dancing returns live on BBC One and iPlayer on Saturday 7 December at 1830. The results show will air on Sunday 8 December at 1920 on BBC One and iPlayer. Strictly viewers branded Sunday night's dance off a 'travesty' and raged that neither Tasha Ghouri nor Montell Douglas deserved to be in the bottom two. Gladiators star Montell, 38, and her professional partner Johannes Radebe were eventually sent home but fans were not happy as they reacted on social media. They claimed Montell and Love Island star Tasha, 26, were some of the better dancers in the cohort and were confused why others were voted for by the public to keep in. They penned on X: 'Tasha and Montell shouldve been stood next to each other in the final not against each other in the dance off strictly.', 'Honestly I had a feeling Tasha was at risk this week only because the voting public enjoy watching a journey during the competition. Gutted for her since shes a talented dancer and its sad to see others who shouldve left weeks ago still here #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing.', 'Montell deserved better than being in the bottom multiple times this season tbh, but that was such a powerful last dance. her and Jojo should be proud #StrictlyComeDancing #Strictly2024.', Strictly viewers branded Sunday night's dance off a 'travesty' and raged that neither Tasha Ghouri (seen) nor Montell Douglas deserved to be in the bottom two Gladiators star Montell, 38, and her professional partner Johannes Radebe were eventually sent home but fans were not happy as they reacted on social media 'She didnt deserve to go home. Fools. #StrictlyComeDancing.', 'Montell and Johannes deserved to go all the way to the final. Its actually a travesty to be honest. #StrictlyComeDancing.' 'Why do the judges waste time scoring dances if their points mean nothing? Tasha was Joint top 2 on the leaderboard but in the dance off #Strictly.', 'If this was a Pete Vs Montell Dance Off - Montell would've gone straight through the Semi Final surviving her 4th Dance off. There's no way the judges are sending Tasha home. My heart hurts for Montell & Johannes #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing.', 'i genuinely think montell getting eliminated is one of the biggest injustices in the shows history. neither her or tasha should have been in the dance off. montell going home when worse dancers get to continue is an absolute joke #strictly.', 'tasha should be nowhere near this dance off Im so annoyed #strictly.' First to take to the floor in the dance off, Montell and Johannes performed their Rumba to Im Here from the musical The Color Purple, followed by Tasha and Aljaz's Argentine Tango to Ex-Wives from Six. After both couples had danced their hardest, it was down to the judges to deliver their verdicts with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke all choosing to save Tasha and Aljaz. They claimed Montell and Love Island star Tasha, 26, were some of the better dancers in the cohort and were confused why others were voted for by the public to keep in They penned on X: 'Tasha and Montell shouldve been stood next to each other in the final not against each other in the dance off strictly' After both couples had danced their hardest, it was down to the judges to deliver their verdicts with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke all choosing to save Tasha and Aljaz While head judge Shirley Ballas agreed with her fellow judges, and said that she would have also decided to send Montell and Johannes home. Despite narrowly missing out on a place in the next week's semi-finals, Montell gushed about her experience on the show, as she described how her confidence had grown, while Johannes had become her 'friend and brother'. She said: '[Johannes] has been amazing. Strictly has touched me in ways I never knew possible. 'Im an Olympian and a Gladiator, but I have honestly struggled with confidence my whole life and being on the show, with the beautiful crew, the judges, the cast has just been such an honour.' Addressing his partner, Johannes praised: 'I am so proud of you, because you are a non-dancer. But the one thing that you have done every single week is turn out beautiful dancing. 'So I want to say to you, thank you for respecting our art form of Ballroom and Latin. The way you handled it was like a true pro. You're my winner.' In response, Montell emotionally told him: 'I have to say thank you to you because I really have found a friend and a brother in this man. I mean it from the bottom of my heart, I hope hes in my life forever, because we have something very special.' Their exit comes after fans blasted Strictly as they accused bosses of 'setting Montell up to fail' with the 'wrong dance and song' - after she had already landed in the dance-off two weeks in a row. Even before taking to the dancefloor, viewers were convinced the Olympian was doomed after she was tasked with dancing the notoriously difficult Rumba to the song I'm Here from The Colour Purple. The Rumba is widely considered to be one of the most challenging of ballroom dances, while Montell and Johannes were scheduled to go on second, which several fans have called the 'death slot'. The pair had only survived by the skin of their teeth for the past two weeks, after facing off potential eliminations against Wynne Evans and Katya Jones, and Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas. While week seven also saw them in the bottom two, where they were mercifully saved over Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin. Fans slammed producers for giving Montell 'the kiss of death' this week, as they argued their favourite dancer was being purposefully pushed out of the competition. While they seemed in absolute awe of the star's routine, they were convinced the song was very 'slow' compared to the zesty dance - a point noted by several of the judges, who gave her a score of 32 points out of 40. Viewers quickly took to X sharing their opinions, praising the athlete's 'beautiful' dance but also sharing fears she will be next go get the chop. They commented: 'The BBC are so obvious with who they want out. I mean, this is practically a 'tell me you want Montell out without actually telling me' situation. 'It's ludicrous to give a rumba on Musicals week to a contestant who's been in the bottom three times?; 'Worried for Montell with a rumba this late in the series and her being in the bottom 2 so many times'. 'montell in the death slot with her rumba when i catch you producers; Voted for montell she was stitched up this week; Theyve only gone and put montell in the death slot with a rumba' 'I fear Montell has received the kiss of death; I see you Strictly producers, I see you. Montell deserves better! I would've loved to have seen a Charleston from team Jojo this week! 'They stitched up Shayne and now they're stitching up Montell. The difference though is that Montell is too good to leave this early. She should be a finalist! I'm fuming!' 'The producers sticking Montell in the death slot with a Rumba so they can drag their precious Chris and Pete through to the final I feel ill #Strictly'. While head judge Shirley Ballas agreed with her fellow judges, and said that she would have also decided to send Montell and Johannes home Sundays results show featured a phenomenal performance of The Schuyler Sisters from the acclaimed musical Hamilton, and a dazzling group number from the professional dancers to As If We Never Said Goodbye from Sunset Boulevard. Following Montell's exit, there are only five celebrities left in the competition, with only one more week to go until the final four will be revealed. The last five couples will take to the dancefloor next week for the semi-final, where they will each perform two dances. Strictly Come Dancing returns live on BBC One and iPlayer on Saturday 7 December at 1830. The results show will air on Sunday 8 December at 1920 on BBC One and iPlayer. TV insiders say Lisa Wilkinson will struggle to find more work in commercial television when her contract with Channel 10 draws to an end ahead of the New Year. The ex Project host, 64, hasn't been on the network's screens for more than two years, but remains on the payrollfor a reported $1.7million a yearuntil the end of this month. The Australian claims Wilkinson has 'absolutely torched' her bridges at three major networksTen, Nine and Seven. The publication said it was 'hard to see' how Wilkinson could have 'any kind of future in commercial television in Australia' following the disastrous recent years of her career. Wilkinson allegedly burned her first bridge at Nine following her shock split from the network amid reports of a salary dispute. The former Today breakfast show host announced her departure from the program in October 2017 to take an offer from a rival network as host on Ten's The Project. Lisa Wilkinson, 64, (pictured) will allegedly be hard-pressed to find more work in commercial television when her contract with Channel 10 draws to an end ahead of the New Year Wilkinson was said to be the glue that held the Today show together when Karl Stefanovic became 'a turn off' for female viewers'. Wilkinson had seen 'secret market research' that showed she was the popular morning show's biggest asset, media commentator Peter Ford told Kyle and Jackie O days after her sudden exit. 'Karl had become... a bit of a turn off for women, and she was keeping it all together and was kind of carrying him,' he said at the time. Wilkinson quit after Channel Nine were allegedly unable to match her salary to that of co-star Karl, who was believed to be earning close to $3million a year at the time. A report from The Australian published in 2016 claimed Stefanovic signed a contract worth up to $9 million over three years, depending on ratings. The report also claimed Wilkinson's contract was only worth $1.1million per yearjust under a third of what Karl could earn. Sources at Nine told The Daily Telegraph negotiations saw Wilkinson's salary reach $1.8 million, but Wilkinson reportedly demanded $2million and rejected the $700,000 pay rise. However, Wilkinson's move to Ten seven years ago ended in tears in 2022 when she quit The Project, citing 'the relentless, targeted toxicity by some sections of the media'. Wilkinson allegedly burned her first bridge at Nine following her shock split from the network when she quit Today amid reports of a salary dispute. Pictured with form co-host Karl Stefanovic In 2023, she sued Ten for more than $700,000 worth of legal fees after hiring defamation specialist Sue Chrysanthou SC to defend her in Bruce Lehrmann's defamation case. During the civil claim against the network, Wilkinson maintained she was not solely responsible for the Logies speech that derailed Lehrmann's rape trial in 2022. Ten and Wilkinson won the defamation case against Lehrmann after Justice Michael Lee found, on the balance of probabilities, the former Liberal staffer raped Brittany Higgins in Parliament House. Wilkinson also took aim at Seven in 2023 when she lodged an official complaint with the Spotlight program which ran an interview with Lehrmann. The television host filed the complaints last June alleging Seven's broadcast breached commercial television standards. It comes after reports earlier this year suggested Wilkinson wants to make a return to TV screens following months of inaction and five tedious weeks spent in a courtroom. The Channel Ten star and former darling of breakfast TV was keen to get back to delivering more 'blockbuster interviews' in the New Year, friends told the Weekend Australian. Wilkinson quit The Project in November 2022 and despite remaining on the Ten payroll until the end of 2024, she hasn't appeared on the channel for two years. Wilkinson's move to Ten seven years ago ended in tears in 2022 when she quit The Project, citing 'the relentless, targeted toxicity by some sections of the media'. Pictured with former colleagues Steve Jacobs, Sylvia Jeffreys and Richard Wilkins Despite her lengthy hiatus from the network, Wilkinson has remained in the public eye through her role in the highly-publicised Lehrmann defamation trial. She was embroiled in a case with Lehrmann who was suing Network Ten and Wilkinson over an interview with Brittany Higgins that was broadcast on The Project and online. Friends of Wilkinson said her court appearances played in her favour by giving the TV star 'a constant stream of publicity'. 'Yes, she's been off air for a while but I don't think anyone will have forgotten her,' former Seven and Nine executive Peter Meakin told the Weekend Australian. 'I'm sure her loyal followers will remain loyal.' Network Ten maintained at the time that they were in talks to develop 'other projects' with Wilkinson. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Wilkinson and Ten for further comment. Sophie Delezio welcomed her first child with her fiance Joseph Salerno earlier this year. And the brave burns survivor has revealed details of baby Frankie's complicated birth to her fans on Sunday. In an Instagram Q&A, the 23-year-old shared that her delivery 'definitely didn't go to plan'. Frankie was delivered via 'unplanned C-section, but thankfully not emergency' wrote Sophie. 'All that mattered on that day was that Frankie came out in the safest way possible,' added the new mother. Delezio then gave a glimpse into her new routine with Frankie. Sophie Delezio welcomed her first child with her fiance Joseph Salerno earlier this year. And the brave burns survivor has revealed details of baby Frankie's complicated birth to her fans on Sunday When asked what she got up to most days, Sophie shared an image of her walking Frankie in a stroller on a sunny day. 'We try to go for daily walks if the weather cooperates,' she captioned the image. 'Other than that we just try to make it to the end of the day without too many tears.' In September, the double car crash victim posted to Instagram Stories to share sweet black and white images of herself cuddling her bundle of joy. 'Thank you all for the kind words and well wishes!' she captioned one adorable photograph. 'We're soaking in every moment with out little one and feeling like we're on cloud nine' she continued. She additionally posted a glimpse at the little boy's well decorated nursery, which includes a wooden crib and monogrammed blanket. 'I can't believe he's finally here, and this room is now being used!' Sophie wrote. Delezio then gave a glimpse into her new routine with Frankie 'It's been such a wonderful journey watching it come together throughout my pregnancy. I love it so much.' Sophie earlier announced the jovial news of the new arrival as they shared a sweet picture of their newborn son - and revealed his adorable name. They previously confirmed they were set to welcome a baby boy and on Friday she gave birth to their bundle of joy. 'Welcome to the world, Frankie. Our hearts are so full,' Sophie wrote next to a photo of her hand holding her bub, and added a blue love heart to confirm it was a boy. They were quickly flooded with congratulatory messages from their friends and loved ones as they celebrated their exciting news. 'Oh my gosh!!! Frankie!!!' gushed heavily pregnant reality star Alisha Aitken-Radburn. Meanwhile, celebrity disability advocate Carly Findlay wrote, 'Congrats' and Bree Lenehan added: 'Awh!! Congratulations, you did it mama! Enjoy the newborn bubble.' Just weeks before welcoming her first child, Sophie had confirmed she was set to have a baby boy as she hosted a gender reveal party. In September, the double car crash victim posted to Instagram Stories to share sweet black and white images of herself cuddling her bundle of joy She shared a video of the moment she popped confetti to reveal she was having a son, with Sophie looking thrilled over the news. 'It's a BOY!! We can't wait to welcome you to the world little man! Your mum and dad are so excited to meet you,' she gushed in a caption at the time. '@thetroseph and I are beyond grateful for the love, laughter, and amazing memories made with friends and family near and far. Our little bubba is already so loved.' Sophie shared the wonderful news of her pregnancy on social media in April alongside a gallery of celebratory images. In the first picture, Sophie and her partner Joseph were seen proudly posing on the beach in Sydney's Manly. The couple look elated as they both cradle Sophie's growing baby bump. 'The greatest gift of all coming in September!' she wrote alongside a baby face and heart emoji. Sophie has been in a longtime relationship with her partner and childhood friend Joseph and the pair got engaged in April last year. Pictured with fiance Joseph Salerno He popped the question on Valentine's Day in a surprise proposal, after he made her a scrapbook with a photograph of a ring on the final page. 'I had no idea,' Sophie told The Australian Women's Weekly at the time. 'Our go-to song is 'Be My Baby' so I just asked if Sophie would be my baby and luckily she ticked the box on the back of the scrapbook that said yes,' Joseph added. The couple first met in a swimming class when she was six years old before the pair eventually became close in high school when she was 14. The two then reconnected after Sophie moved back to Sydney in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, and they became a couple in 2021. Australia rallied around Sophie when a car crashed through the window of her daycare in 2003 when she was two, trapping her underneath. Burns covered 85 per cent of her body after the tragedy, which also took both of her feet, several fingers and her right ear. Three years later, tragedy struck again when the five-year-old was hit by a car near her home in Sydney's northern beaches while out with her nanny. The impact launched her 18 metres out of her wheelchair, leaving her with a broken jaw, broken collarbone, nine broken ribs, punctured lungs, two fractured vertebrae and a brain injury. Sophie suffered a heart attack during the ordeal and doctors at Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick asked her family twice if they would like to turn off her life support. She made another remarkable recovery and only a month later she left the hospital and went back to school. Michael Rowland has announced his retirement from ABC News Breakfast. The 55-year-old broke the news to viewers on Monday morning's show, revealing his last show would be on Friday, December 13. 'I'm leaving News Breakfast,' Rowland announced. 'I'm sorry to the viewers out there for the short notice. I'm not one for long and drawn out farewells and I wanted minimal fuss. 'I love the job, it's the best job I've had in the ABC. In fact, anywhere. But after 15 years of 3am starts my body is screaming "enough!". And so too is my wife. 'It's been an immense privilege to be here for 15 years presenting the news to our viewers. That, to me, has been by far the most important part of the job for me.' Michael Rowland (pictured) has announced his retirement from ABC News Breakfast Rowland has been co-host of News Breakfast since 2010 after first joining the ABC in 1987. Despite leaving News Breakfast next week, he will remain at the network and return in mid-2025 for 'exciting future projects'. 'It has been a thrill interviewing everyone from prime ministers to Hollywood superstars,' Rowland said in a statement. 'On what other program can you switch from presenting hard news to diving into a chilli-eating competition or dancing the Nutbush (badly)? 'I will miss the fabulous Brekky team, but I will miss our viewers even more. I am intensely proud of helping build the News Breakfast audience over the years. Thank you all sincerely for entrusting me with your mornings. 'I'll be taking a long break to catch up on sleep and unhook myself from the relentless news cycle for a little while.' Rowland began his career at the ABC as a news cadet in 1987 and spent five years as a political reporter in Canberra. He later spent four years as the ABC's correspondent in Washington as a business reporter and covered four US presidential elections as well as the global financial crisis, the Black Summer bushfires and floods in New South Wales and Victoria. The 55-year-old broke the news to viewers on Monday morning's show, revealing his last show would be on Friday, December 13 'I love the job, it's the best job I've had in the ABC. In fact, anywhere. But after 15 years of 3am starts my body is screaming "enough!". And so too is my wife,' he said The veteran journalist anchored the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings and coverage of the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Rowland has also served as Lateline's economics correspondent and state political reporter in both New South Wales and Victoria. ABC Director, News Justin Stevens, said in a statement: 'Michael has been central to News Breakfast's success over the past 15 years, a familiar and trusted face for viewers each morning. 'His ability to traverse serious reporting as well as lighter topics, and do it on live TV for three hours every morning, shows what a hugely talented broadcaster he is. 'We'll miss him a lot on the News Brekky couch but we can't wait to see what he does next for the ABC after a well-deserved rest.' Meanwhile, Rowland's ABC News Breakfast co-host Bridget Brennan said it has been 'an honour and a privilege' sitting alongside him. Rowland began his career at the ABC as a news cadet in 1987 and spent five years as a political reporter in Canberra 'I've been able to watch firsthand his enduring dedication to strong journalism and public service,' Brennan said in a statement. 'After 15 years, Australians will miss his presence each and every morning enormously, but I know we all appreciate the incredible effort he has given to News Breakfast for such a long time. 'Michael, I hope this next chapter brings long sleep-ins and more time to stay up late and watch your beloved Doggies!' ABC will announce Rowland's replacement at a later date. The Coast Guards drug seizure near Andaman islands underscores the ongoing challenge of tackling transnational syndicates engaged in illicit trafficking near the Indian coast Heeding to their motto of Vayam Rakshamah (We Protect), the Indian Coast Guard personnel executed a befitting operation in the Andaman and Nicobar waters to mark one of the largest drug busts in Indian maritime history. The haul of nearly 6000 kgs of the banned Methamphetamine near Barren Islands (150 km away from Port Blair) is estimated at around 36,000 crores in the international market. The picture-perfect operation was triggered by the presence of a suspicious trawler (Soe Wai Yan Htoo) in the Indian waters by a Coast Guard Dornier reconnaissance plane which then swooped down and asked the trawler to lower its speed, whilst informing the base. Soon enough, fast patrolling vessels of the Coast Guard were tasked to the place, and they towed the six Myanmarese crew trawler to Port Blair, for further investigations. Ongoing interrogations reveal the presence of an unyielding, trained and secretive crew with the presence of a satellite phone that has all the hallmarks of a major and international drug syndicate. But for now, it marks the ever-vigil capabilities of the Indian Coast Guard in ensuring the integrity of our maritime borders and policing against transnational crime. While the geographical location of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands naturally lends itself towards fructifying Indias strategic Look East opportunity (as also dominates the sensitive and narrow Malacca Straits that facilitates 40% of global trade) it is also in the crosshairs of Myanmar, the largest producer of illegal methamphetamine, which is then exported to markets in the US, Europe to Eastern countries. The restive Shan State of Myanmar (bordering China with an ethnic Han-Chinese populace and multiple insurgent groups widely believed to be supported by China) is also home to the infamous Cantonese Chinese drugs syndicate, Sam Gor (popularly known as The Company). This notorious set-up is involved in global drug trafficking and is said to be in control of over 40 per cent of Asian-Pacific trade in substances like methamphetamine, heroin, ketamine, fentanyl etc. This lucrative trade is believed to generate earnings up to a staggering $8 billion, annually. Currently, it is believed to be headed by a Chinese gangster called Tse Chi Lop, who is also widely known by the moniker El Chapo of Asia. Even though Tse Chi Lop is currently in custody and facing trials in Australia his organisation Sam Gor and its affiliated operations are continuing, unabated. Ironically, he could have created such a vast drug infrastructure and empire in a region contiguous to the Chinese mainland, where the Chinese have many beholden armed militias, but he never got targeted or arrested by the Chinese authorities. Also strange is the fact that he never attempted to ship his produce towards the Chinese mainland, raising serious doubts if he were to have enjoyed some sort of official patronage from the Chinese authorities. Unsurprisingly, Tse Chi Lops rise has not been marked by the usual stories of violence and gore of drug lords but by the unusual route of steady industrialisation and establishing well-maintained networks of key international partnerships, which are impossible without some sort of sovereign backing. And the Chinese are the masters of asymmetric subterfuge in that they patronise proxies and bad elements, as long as they do the bidding of the Chinese government, and do not direct their illicit trade towards the Chinese mainland.While it is too early to confirm the exact hand behind the recent cache in the Andaman and Nicobar waters, the quantity/value of drugs involved, the location of the trawler arrest, and the nationality of the trawler crew, all point to origins that seem disconcertingly familiar. That the restive Myanmar mainland (with areas like Shan State that are no-go zones to even the Myanmar military) is closer to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands than the Indian mainland, makes the threat real and perennial. It is a testy region given too much Chinese intrigues and ambitions in fact, the Myanmar-owned Coco Coco Islands (barely 50 km from the northernmost tip of the Andaman Islands range) were believed to have had Chinese militaristic assets, but the same was never proved. The Chinese have planned substantial investments in Myanmar via its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which includes projects like the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) or even the development of the deep-sea port of Kyaukpyu, in Myanmars Rakhine State. The Chinese have a vested interest in keeping their footprints in the region and it is not beyond them to oscillate from making pure investments in the Myanmar Government to patronizing rebel militias or even drug lords, towards its objectives in the region. India must safeguard its interests and strategic imperatives that beset its distant outpost in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Sadly, it is not the first and it wouldnt be the last such operation. Situational status suggests that this specific haul was destined for Thailand, which typically sees a surge around the onsetting festive season, but this too is in the realm of conjecture, as yet. And the real concern is not if this consignment was the handiwork of the Chinese Sam Gor gang (or of the El Mencho-run Jalisco New Generation Cartel), but of the murky linkages with the Chinese authorities, which is always a possibility. (The writer, a military veteran, is a former Lt Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Puducherry. The views expressed are personal) A day after Delhi Congress president Devendra Yadav hinted that the party will go solo, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal, on Sunday, announced that his party will not form an alliance with the Congress for the upcoming Delhi Assembly polls, scheduled to take place in February. Kejriwals statement comes despite both parties being a part of the Opposition INDIA Bloc and having contested the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi together earlier this year. However, their joint effort yielded no results, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) winning all Lok Sabha seats in Delhi. Responding to a query during a press conference, Kejriwal made it clear, saying, There will be no alliance in Delhi. This development is significant, as it clears the way for a triangular contest in the Delhi Assembly polls, with the AAP, Congress, and BJP vying for power. Kejriwals decision also comes on the back of major poll drubbing of the Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra this month, which Congress is also a part of, drawing criticism from its allies. The INDIA Bloc has adopted a flexible approach, contesting elections jointly in some states while going solo in others. According to AAP insiders, Congress is a divided house in Delhi so there will not be any split in Muslim and Scheduled Caste voters. Muslim will vote for AAP as they have no option. Similarly a large part of Scheduled Caste voters will vote for AAP. To further strengthen its vote bank, AAP has inducted stalwarts of Congress, insiders say. Besides, the AAP strategy is focused on the Congress vote bank here. The AAP and Congress had also attempted to form an alliance ahead of the Haryana Assembly polls in October but failed to reach a seat-sharing agreement despite multiple rounds of talks. The Congress and AAP had contested the Lok Sabha Elections this year in Delhi in alliance with each other under the umbrella of the INDIA Bloc. Both parties had even campaigned for each other. Kejriwal, who was then out on interim bail for the election campaigning, had also campaigned for the Congress and had sought votes for its Opposition party (in the Delhi Assembly). The AAP had contested on four seats while Congress contested in three seats out of seven parliamentary constituencies in Delhi. However, neither of the two parties could open their accounts, as the BJP swept all seven seats in the city. However, in contrast to Delhi, the AAP had contested all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab on its own, ditching the Congress in the state. The AAP is in power in Punjab with a huge majority. In 2022 Assembly polls in Punjab, the Kejriwal-led party had swept the state winning 92 out of the 117 seats, dislodging Congress from power. Soon after Kejriwals major announcement, the BJP took a friendship with benefits jibe at the AAP and Congress and underlined the loopholes in the Opposition unity in the state and at the national level. In the Lok Sabha Elections, their relation was Hum saath saath hain (we are together). Today, that relation has changed to Hum aapke hain kaun (who am I to you?). There is no mission or vision in the INDIA Bloc, they only have a thirst for position and obsession for Modi, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said. They fight in the states and show unity in Delhi. This is the same situation of the INDIA bloc everywhere, but they show friendship in Delhi. They have a system of friendship with benefits, he added. The internal assessment of the Congress suggests a potential threefold increase in its vote share-from around 5% in the 2020 Assembly elections to more than 15% in the upcoming elections. Of the 63 seats the AAP won in the last Assembly elections, 49 were secured with more than 50% of the votes, leaving only 14 seats where the victory margin was less than 50%. Even among these 14 seats, the party won 9 with more than 49% of the votes. After the early selection of candidates by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for 11 Assembly seats in Delhi, party chief Arvind Kejriwal is reportedly working in full swing to retain at least 50 constituencies in the 70-seat Assembly. In 2020, the party swept the elections, winning 63 seats. A court in Bangladesh has set December 3 as the date for the bail hearing of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das arrested last week on sedition charges, according to a media report. Tuesdays hearing will be conducted by Metropolitan Sessions Judge Mohammad Saiful Islam, according to Additional Deputy Commissioner Mofizur Rahman of the Chattogram Metropolitan Police. A Chattogram court official said that the date for the hearing had already been set but the announcement was delayed due to a boycott and work abstention by lawyers on Wednesday and Thursday. The hearing will take place on December 3, bdnews24.Com reported. Das, a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, was arrested from Dhakas Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday for alleged sedition. He was denied bail and sent to jail by a Chattogram court on Tuesday, triggering protests by his supporters. A lawyer was killed during violence in Bangladeshs southeastern port city of Chattogram over his arrest. On October 30, a sedition case was filed against 19 people, including Das, at Chattograms Kotwali Police Station, accusing them of disrespecting Bangladeshs national flag in Chattograms New Market area during a rally of the Hindu community. Bangladeshs authorities on Thursday ordered freezing for 30 days the bank accounts of 17 people associated with International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), including its former member Das. Maharashtras outgoing Chief Minister (CM) Eknath Shinde on Sunday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will decide on the new CM and assured his full support while ruling out differences among Mahayuti allies over the government formation. Amid speculations that Shindes son Shrikant Shinde might get the Deputy CMs post and Shiv Sena is keen on the Home portfolio, Shinde said the Mahayuti allies, BJP, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Shiv Sena, will decide the government formation through consensus. Notably, more than a week after the Mahayuti clinched a massive victory in Maharashtra polls with the BJP emerging as the single largest party with 132 seats, the new government is yet to be sworn in. BJP is moving cautiously as aspirations of its allies, especially Shiv Sena, are high after the massive poll victory. Interestingly, the BJP legislature party meeting to elect the leader, who will be the partys chief ministerial pick, is yet to be held, even though Shiv Sena and NCP allies have elected their respective leaders. The BJP has announced that the oath-taking ceremony of the new Mahayuti government will take place on December 5 evening at the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend it. According to BJP sources, Devendra Fadnavis, who has been CM twice and was Deputy CM in the last Eknath Shinde-led government, is the front-runner for the CMs post. A senior BJP leader said that the legislature party meeting may be held on December 3 or 4. The Mahayuti constituents will jointly decide whether only the CM and Deputy CMs will take oath on December 5 or ministers will also be sworn in, a senior leader of the alliance said. Shinde had left for his native village in Satara district on Friday amid speculation that he was not happy with the way the new government was shaping up. He developed a high fever in his village. Talking to reporters in his village on Sunday before leaving for Mumbai, Shinde said that he has already talked about a decision on CMs post taken by the BJP leadership that will be acceptable to me and Shiv Sena and will have my full backing. On speculation that his son and Lok Sabha member Shrikant Shinde will be made a Deputy CM in the new government and whether Shiv Sena has staked the claim for the home portfolio, Shinde replied, Talks were on. A meeting took place in Delhi last week with (Union home minister) Amit Shah, and now we three alliance partners will discuss the nitty-gritty of government formation, he said. Responding to a query on his health, the Shiv Sena leader said he was fine now and had come to his native village to get some rest. I always come to my village. Why should there be any confusion when I made my stand clear last week, he added. Senior BJP leader Raosaheb Danve on Sunday told a news channel that the name of the chief minister has been finalised and a confirmation is awaited from the party leadership. NCP chief Ajit Pawar on Saturday said the chief minister will be from the BJP, while there will be deputy CMs from NCP and Shiv Sena headed by Shinde. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray claimed the Mahayutis inability to decide on a chief minister and form government more than a week after the announcement of assembly poll results was an insult to Maharashtra. Thackeray also sought to know why the Presidents rule has not yet been enforced in the State. Targeting the BJP, which is the largest constituent of the Mahayuti, Thackeray claimed that to declare the swearing-in date unilaterally without even staking claim to form government is pure anarchy. The National Capital is witnessing a staggering increase in the circulation of illicit drugs. In 2024 so far, Delhi has witnessed over 6,000 per cent rise in cocaine seizures while more than 7,000 per cent rise in charas in comparison to 2023, reflecting on the increased mobility of drug traffickers in the city. During the current year till November 15, Delhi Police has arrested 1,520 Narco-offenders in 1,121 NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, ) cases. It has recovered about 1293.3 kgs of cocaine in the given period as compared to 21.14 kgs of the drugs recovered in 2023, including the recent big seizure of Rs 7,000 Crores worth of cocaine in October. In comparison to 2023 when only 0.684 kgs of Charas was recovered, the police seized 50.5 kgs this year till November 15, a police officer said, adding that 73.3 kgs of heroin, 4257.3 kgs of Ganja, 103.7 kgs of Opium, and 80.5 kgs of poppy head were also recovered. In light of Delhi witnessing such a surge in drugs and to prevent the public from falling in this trap, the Delhi Police on Sunday launched a One-Month Comprehensive Campaign as a Pilot Project with the vision to eradicate drugs from the city within three years. With the campaign in action, the Delhi Police on Sunday claimed to have recovered Rs 3 Crore worth of Charas and dismantled an international drug syndicate involved in smuggling drugs worth crores into the country using the dark web, cryptocurrency and fake documents with the arrest of its mastermind. In the first instance of a sustained effort in making the city drug free, Delhi Polices Crime Branch dismantled a narco-syndicate indulged in supplying Charas with the arrest of five key operatives including three Nepal nationals. The syndicate was indulged in supply of drugs from Nepal and Kasol, Himachal Pradesh to Delhi-NCR. A senior police official said that on November 20, a tip off was received regarding supply of Charas by a Nepal national in the Majnu ka Tila area, to a local drug trafficker Mohd. Jameel. Accordingly, a raid was conducted and two persons namely 32-year-old Prem Thapa and 35-year-old Mohd Jameel were arrested, while they were dealing in Charas in a hotel and 1192 grams of Charas classified as a commercial quantity under the NDPS Act was recovered from them. The investigation led to the arrest of three more traffickers including Ganga, who was indulged in supplying Charas at Sangam Vihar, Wazirabad. She was nabbed with 712 grams of Charas and later on, 13.766 Kg Charas was recovered from her bed room of her house. Ankit Buddha alias Thakren was also arrested, who was arrested from Kasol in Himachal Pradesh and is the main source who used to provide Charas to Prem Thapa. Police also arrested Pradeep Kumar, who used to buy Charas from Prem Thapa and supply it to drug addicts of Faridabad and Ballabgarh. In the second instance, the police nabbed mastermind Lokesh Dhingra on Friday, whose syndicate imported 48 kg of marijuana worth Rs 20-25 crore in over three months, strategically avoiding detection of commercial quantities of the contraband. According to the police, the illegally acquired assets worth Rs 1.5 Crore were also seized. Police started tailing members of the gang after a parcel containing 1.5 kg of hydroponic marijuana valued at Rs 1 Crore was seized at the RK Puram post office on October 18. More searches led to additional seizures worth Rs 2 Crore in transit. An FIR was registered under the NDPS Act, police said. The mastermind Lokesh Dhingra alias Loki and his associates, Vivek and Mansher Singh fled after the initial seizures. Vivek was arrested in November 2023 after returning from Thailand. Dhingra and Singh were traced to a Gurugram flat owned by one woman who was arrested for harbouring the fugitives, Deputy Commissioner of Police (crime branch) Satish Kumar said, adding that the syndicate used fake SIM cards, privacy tools and fake IDs to avoid detection, distributing contraband in Noida and Gurugram. Dhingra, a habitual offender, has been detained and sent to jail, he said. The ninth State Level Committee meeting of National Narcotics Coordination Portal (NCORD), was convened on November 20, at Delhi Secretariat. Subsequently, a review meeting was held on November 26, at Raj Niwas, Delhi, under the chairmanship of the LG where he emphasized upon inter-departmental coordination, timely reporting, and strict compliance with directives for making Delhi drug free in three years. In the campaign, they have decided that they will focus on targeted locations for surveys, awareness programs, and raids including 200 hostels, 200 schools, 50 colleges, 200 pan shops, 200 pharmacy shops, 200 bars/pubs/clubs/restaurants, all shelter homes, all railway stations, three ISBTs, and other public places. It was also decided that there will be random checks on auto-rickshaws, taxi drivers, Courier/Parcel services, and e-Commerce Company(ies) suppliers, to curb drug trafficking involvement. Police will also involve hostel wardens, school principals, and university administrators to prevent drug-related incidents on their premises. The LG also directed to give away handsome Cash Rewards to the general public for providing information related to Drug Trafficking, with the assurance to keep his name secret. He emphasized upon leveraging various platforms like print/visual media, social media, radio, and DTC buses/public transport to enhance public awareness, a police officer said. In the campaign, police will also collaborate with celebrities, influencers, NGOs, and community leaders to help ensure that the message resonates across all sections of society. All departments have been directed to appoint a Nodal Officer of the rank of Deputy Secretary or above, with clearly defined responsibilities. Further, all stakeholders will submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) by January 5, 2025, detailing the quantifiable outcomes of the December 2024 campaign. In Ludhiana, Punjab, Angels Only stands as a distinguished atelier of bespoke infant fashion, redefining luxury wear for the youngest members of our families. Nestled at 486 G, B.R.S. Nagar, Ferozepur Road, this boutique epitomizes craftsmanship, elegance, and creativity. Every piece created by Angels Only is not merely an outfitits a heartfelt expression of love, care, and artistry, tailored to perfection for your little ones. Garima, the ingenious mind behind Angels Only, seamlessly fuses academic brilliance with artistic finesse to create a brand that resonates with discerning parents seeking exquisite, high-quality apparel for their infants. A proud alumna of Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School in Ludhiana, Garima honed her design sensibilities at the prestigious National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Kangra, earning a Bachelor of Design in Fashion. To complement her creative expertise with entrepreneurial acumen, Garima pursued a Master of Fashion (Entrepreneurship) from the globally acclaimed Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Melbourne, Australia. This unique blend of design innovation and business strategy enabled her to craft Angels Only into a beacon of trust and sophistication in the realm of infant couture. Where Elegance Meets Comfort Angels Only prides itself on creating meticulously tailored outfits that harmonize style, comfort, and functionality. Every garment, from its playful floral ensembles to its intricately embroidered masterpieces, is a celebration of childhood, capturing the joy and innocence of lifes most cherished moments. Timeless Festive Wear: Vibrant Raksha Bandhan dresses honor tradition with a touch of modern flair. Dreamlike Creations: Whimsical designs like the 'Piece of Magic' dress inspire awe, channeling fairytale enchantment. Uncompromised Comfort: Crafted with premium, skin-friendly materials, each outfit ensures optimal comfort for delicate infant skin while exuding luxury. A Testament to Excellence Garimas passion for her craft, coupled with her intuitive understanding of the unique needs of infants and toddlers, has cultivated a loyal clientele. The brands Instagram handle, @angelsonly.in, serves as a delightful portal into its world, showcasing a gallery of meticulously designed outfits and radiant customers. Every post is a testament to the love and dedication infused into each creation. Why Choose Angels Only? 1. Bespoke Craftsmanship: Every outfit is a custom-tailored masterpiece, celebrating individuality and ensuring the perfect fit. 2. Premium Materials: Only the finest fabrics are used, guaranteeing comfort and durability without compromising style. 3. Artistic Excellence: Each design is a bespoke narrative, reflecting thoughtful creativity coupled with diligent detailing that justifiy the uniqueness of your child. For parents who demand nothing but the finest for their children, Angels Only offers a curated treasure trove of timeless elegance. Visit the boutique in Ludhiana or explore their Instagram to witness the magic firsthand. Transform your childs wardrobe with creations that embody love, sophistication, and individualityonly at Angels Only. When the big walks, the lesser leaves the space. This is what happens here in the tiger reserve Palamu. Leopards and deer have taken asylum in some more safer areas in the vicinity of the Betla National Park following movement of the tigers said sources. P K Jena deputy director north division of the PTR told this correspondent today "There is a strong movement of the top predators. The lesser one the leopards and deer have 'dispersed' in safer areas over the last three or four days." Betla National Park has around 10 leopards while the count of the deer is 5,000. Deer used to be as close to the state highway 9 as possible. There is just a boundary wall of the Betla National Park that keeps the deer indoors. "With the tigers around, these deer have left living in great visibility and are back in dense forests so as to keep themselves at bay from the tigers" reiterated Jena. On being asked if the presence or movement of the leopard or tiger is heralded by the langurs and the monkeys Jena said "Langurs and monkeys are the great announcers to the presence of the tiger." Langurs and monkeys make different calls in excitement or distress when they sight leopard and tiger. "I some weeks ago heard a call of the langurs. It was for a tiger. I and my people went in some direction only to find a tiger basking in the Sun. The Langurs were precisely accurate for the presence of the tiger." recalled Jena Langurs and the monkeys do espionage to the movement of the tiger and leopard from atop the tree. About a 'sixth' tiger coming over to the PTR in the past two weeks Jena said "I too have read somewhere about the 6th tiger. Well I won't be tempted to call it sixth." "All that I can say with authority is that a tiger did come here from Balrampur side of Chhatisgarh. It reached our Kutku Range too." he added. "We found its hair, its kill and pug marks all very positively suggestive of its presence." Jena continued to explain. "But there is no camera trap of this Chhatisgarh visitor. A camera trap image helps us to distinguish its stripes from other tigers. Stripes are very distinctive feature" Jena elaborated. Jena said "I will not be engaged in the number of the tiger 5th or 6th or whatever you media people create but there is a definite movement of the tiger but to exclude that this movement is not of the old residing one rather of this new arrival of Chhatisgarh, I will refrain from hazarding any guess." Too many tigers will mean lots of prey. The north division of the PTR has a considerable number of prey in comparison to the south division. Deer is very scanty in the south division. A sight of deer in the south division is seen as a lucky charm said the villagers. Deputy director south division of the PTR on the other hand said " We are replenishing our stock of the deer in the south division." "Between November 18 and 30, we have brought in 100 deer from Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park Ormanjhi. We are to transport another 150 plus deer from Ormanjhi to the south division of the PTR." About the coming over of the tigers here from Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh via Chhatisgarh Ashish said "There is a strong surplus of the tigers in the Bandhavgarh tiger reserve. There is a question for territorial supremacy to the tigers there." "The tiger there at Bandhavgarh that has not been able to cope there with the territorial fight for supremacy is trickling down to our PTR for some longer days of stay here." said Ashish. On being asked that these days tigers in PTR are having longer venturing out like 50 or 60 sqkms to which Ashish said "A normal resident male tiger has 25 sqkm territory while a resident female 10 sqkm territory but these visiting tigers are making double walking down." They are not settled in any location of the PTR as they one fine morning may love to return to their old location in MP conceded Ashish. Their coming and going will go on till these visitors adapt to the eco friendly tiger reserve where its own prey base is limited while farmers' cattle abound in a couple of lakhs in the contiguity of the tiger reserve. PNS Ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls slated to be held early next year, the Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Sunday said that the party will take out 'Parivartan Yatra' from December 8 across all 70 constituencies in the city. The 'Parivartan Yatra' will be launched simultaneously in all seven Lok Sabha constituencies in Delhi and cover all assembly segments till December 20, said Satish Upadhyay, convener of a committee formed to supervise the campaign. He said that the yatras will commence from prime religious places in assembly constituencies at 10 am and conclude at 8 pm with a corner public meeting. Sachdeva emphasized that this will be a Paad Yatra (foot march) rather than a vehicle procession, allowing one-to-one interaction with 20,000 families in each constituency. When you meet an individual and talk you reach his or her family, he said, adding that the BJP has a history of reaching the masses through such campaigns, and this yatra will be a major effort to connect with people on a large scale. Upadhyay criticized the current government in Delhi, alleging corruption, extortion, threats, and attempts to create fear among citizens. He said, Delhi is now ready for a change of power, and people are determined to oust the Kejriwal-led government, which he described as anti-national. He mentioned that the procession will include participation from national BJP leaders. During the Yatra, the BJP plans to interact with local social organizations, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), NGOs, senior citizens, key voters, sportspersons, distinguished individuals, and women. The days Yatra will end with a public gathering in the evening. The BJP is fully prepared for this campaign, he said. In addition to engaging with social media and traditional media, the party has also planned district-level outreach programs. Out of power in Delhi since 1998, the BJP is making all-out efforts to wrest power from the AAP. In the 2015 and 2020 Delhi Assembly polls, the AAP won 67 and 62 seats respectively. Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has issued an official order prohibiting its students from involving in protests, dharnas or slogan-raising against constitutional authorities without prior approval on the campus. The authorities have warned of disciplinary action against the offending students otherwise. In an official order dated November 29, it said, It has been brought to the notice of the Competent Authority of the University that some students are involved in raising slogans without the permission or intimation to the University authorities against the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India and other law enforcement agencies of the country on the issues which are not related to the academia as well as to the University. This order came in response to the protest by students during which slogans were raised against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Recently, students from JMI and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) held huge protests against the recent killings of five people belonging to the Muslim community in Uttar Pradeshs Sambhal. The university emphasized that any such activities are not aligned with its academic environment and must be avoided. Attention is invited to the Office Memorandum No. Gen-4/RO/(Estt-T)/2022 dated 29.08.2022 wherein students of the University were advised not the hold such meetings/gathering/dharna or raised slogans in any part of the university campus without prior permission of the University authorities, the order read. The authorities warned students from participating in any such protests or dharnas or they will have to face actions as per the rules of the university. The order added, It is once again reiterated for the information of all students of the University that no protests, dharnas, raising slogans against any constitutional dignitaries shall be allowed in any part of the University Campus, otherwise disciplinary action against such erring students shall be initiated as per provision of the University rules. It asked all Deans of Faculties, Heads of the Departments and Directors of Centres to bring this to the notice of the students of their respective faculty / department/Centre. In 2023, JNU has also introduced stringent rules in its revised Chief Proctor Office (CPO) manual, prohibiting wall posters, dharnas, or protests within 100 meters of academic buildings while it mentioned that violation of this rule can result in fines up to Rs 20,000 or expulsion. Following the orders in JMI, it drew sharp criticism from the All India Students' Association (AISA) and calls for students to unite against the order. AISA also accused the university administration of succumbing to political pressure from the ruling regime. The student body claimed that the Jamia Millia administration had become a mouthpiece for the BJP-RSS agenda. This is part of the Sangh's larger agenda to strip universities of their autonomy and transform them into factories of conformity. We will not let this legacy be hijacked by the Sangh's foot soldiers in the administration, AISA added. The university, which has often been seen as a hub of student activism, witnessed several massive protests, like the Anti-CAA protests in 2019 or BBC documentary screening protests in 2023. In December 2019, the students led massive protests against the passing of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the Parliament. To control the situation, the police entered the campus, which led to violent clashes and widespread condemnation of the alleged excessive use of force. These protests continued into 2020, with students organising solidarity marches with other universities opposing the CAA-NRC policies. In February 2023, the students planned to screen the controversial BBC documentary, which was critical of the Indian government. The administration had disallowed the screening, which led to clashes and detentions. The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has announced a series of initiatives aimed at revitalizing the cultural landscape of Lutyens' Delhi, promoting art and culture in the area. Speaking at an open dialogue on Art and Culture at Triveni Kala Sangam in Mandi House, NDMC Vice Chairperson Kuljeet Singh Chahal emphasised the importance of integrating heritage with modern development, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of "Vikas Bhi aur Virasat Bhi" (Development with Heritage and Art), an official statement said. Chahal announced a series of programs designed to transform Lutyens' area into a global cultural hub, offering platforms for artists to showcase their talents and enhancing the city's aesthetic appeal, the statement said. "This initiative provides an opportunity to collaborate with artists and enhance the city's beauty while preserving its rich cultural heritage," Chahal said. It includes the revival of the Srijan Art Gallery at Nehru Park, the beautification of streets through vibrant street art, and the launch of a "Music in the Park" series at Nehru Park rom February 2025. Plans are also in place for the organisation of art exhibitions in Connaught Place subways, a proposed annual Mandi House Art Festival, and the establishment of an art plaza at prominent locations like Khan Market, according to the statement. Additionally, the civic body plans to create rehearsal spaces in schools and support emerging artists by easing permissions for street performances and nukkad nataks (street plays), it added. As per the statement, prominent artists and cultural figures like Shri Rameshwar Broota, Ms. Prathibha Prahlad, and Shri Amar (Director, Triveni Kala Sangam) participated in the event, offering suggestions on enhancing the city's cultural infrastructure, including the establishment of public art installations and digital promotion of art. Chahal's announcement signals NDMC's commitment to fostering a vibrant cultural ecosystem in Delhi, with the aim to make the national capital a centre of artistic excellence and cultural pride for India and the world, it added. On the instructions of Ranchi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Manjunath Bhajantri, the district administration is issuing a WhatsApp number 9430328080 for the complaints of the general public, in which the public will be able to register their complaints. This number will start from Monday. Bhajantri has become active after taking charge. He is continuously holding meetings with the officials and discussing the problems of the public. The DC has also given many instructions to the officials to ensure that the people who reach the Collectorate with complaints do not face any kind of problem. The people of Ranchi will be able to complain 24*7 on this number of DC. The concerned department will take immediate cognizance of the problems of the people and resolve them. For this, two employees and officials have been deputed in three shifts. The complaints of the public will be reviewed on Saturday of every week. In this, the complaints received from the people will be sent to the concerned department for timely resolution. Reports related to the action taken on the complaint will have to be made available from time to time. On the instructions of Bhajantri, the District Public Grievance Cell has also been set up. The District Public Grievance Cell is in Room No. 220 of Block-A of the Collectorate. The DC has appealed to the general public to submit applications to the Ranchi District Public Grievance Cell regarding their complaints. He has also asked the public to take the receipt of the application. After this, the cell will take action on the received application as soon as possible as per the rules. RIMS Director Dr Raj Kumar said that animals need to be treated with similar seriousness, sympathy, empathy and healthcare facilities like human beings. They have the same right to disease prevention, diagnostic tools and clinical facilities and animal health cant be seen in isolation, he added. Addressing a symposium on Futuristic approaches for animal health, management and welfare: challenges and opportunities and alumni meet at College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry of Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) on Friday, Dr Kumar stressed on synergistic relationships and collaborations of researchers of different branches, policy makers, Governments and bureaucrats for animal welfare. The RIMS Director said Patliputra emperor King Ashoka had established the worlds first animal hospital equipped with diagnosis, treatment, shelter and quarantine facility. He said the time of Lord Buddha was the most glorious when India's geographical boundary was widest. He said alumni meet is a moment of rejuvenation and rare opportunity to reconnect college mates and youth days friends, recount golden forgotten memories associated with the alma mater and have fun and frolic. On the occasion BAU Vice Chancellor Dr SC Dubey stressed that human, animal, plant and ecosystem health professionals need to work together for the health, happiness and overall well being of all living things and the planet. He said India is facing a lot of problems due to exotic diseases and pests and WHO recommended international standards protocol must be followed in investigation and diagnosis for acceptance of results at international level. Traditional knowledge is the backbone of modern science and a happy mix of both will work better for farming community, the VC added. Dr DK Singh, an alumni of RVC and former Principal Scientist, Division of Veterinary Public Health, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly presented key note address on Brucellosis in India: diagnostic and control strategy. A compendium of research papers on the symposium title and a book entitled 30 Iconic Vets was released on the occasion. Earlier, welcoming the guests Dr Sushil Prasad, Dean Veterinary said buildings of Ranchi Veterinary College and RIMS were constructed simultaneously in early sixties. He said number of teachers has dwindled from 105 to 32 in the college and BAU is the countrys only farm varsity where right of recruitments rests with the State Public Service Commission, rest all the universities make recruitments themselves. Dr Praveen Kumar, Head, Department of Veterinary Medicine and organizing secretary of the event proposed a vote of thanks. Dr Vishakha Singh and Dr Pragya Priya Lakda anchored the programme. About 350 alumni are participating in the event. Illustration: Liu Rui/GT (Global Times) As the first Virginia-class nuclear attack submarine, USS Minnesota, deployed to Guam, arrived on Tuesday local time, the US Navy issued a press release referring to Guam's nuclear attack submarines as "the tip of the spear." The statement claimed that this deployment is part of the US Navy's strategic laydown plan for naval forces in the Indo-Pacific region, emphasizing that the security environment in the region requires that the US Navy station the most capable units forward. The release also mentioned promoting "a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region." While the US military continually stabs at the peace and stability of the region with its "tip of the spear," it simultaneously talks about promoting Indo-Pacific peace and prosperity. This double standard is truly ironic. This is not the first time US nuclear submarines have been deployed to Guam, but it does mark a clear military buildup. In terms of numbers, before November 2021, only two attack nuclear submarines had been deployed to Guam. With the arrival of Minnesota, the total number reaches five. In terms of capability, the previous submarines stationed at Guam were Los Angeles-class attack nuclear submarines, while this deployment upgrades to the fourth-generation Virginia-class. The other four nuclear submarines in Guam will also be replaced by Virginia-class submarines once they retire. Some media have claimed that these deployments bring the "tip of the spear" significantly closer to China, reducing the distance by thousands of kilometers. Deployment of the Minnesota further confirms that the US plans to turn Guam into a "weapon" piercing regional peace and stability. In recent years, the US Department of Defense has put over $1 billion annually to enhance Guam's military readiness, with some saying that the US aims to turn it into a so-called "unsinkable aircraft carrier" on the "second island chain." What's even more noteworthy is that this military buildup carries a strong sense of targeting a hypothetical enemy and preparing for actual combat, making it one of the direct triggers for escalating regional tensions. In recent years, the US has been vigorously promoting its so-called "Indo-Pacific Strategy" in the Asia-Pacific region. By strengthening the "Five Eyes Alliance," advancing the "Quad mechanism," assembling various exclusionary "small cliques," and frequently conducting military exercises aimed at China, the US attempts to fragment the Asia-Pacific into several mutually defensive blocs. In April, the US Congress passed a $95 billion supplemental military aid and expenditure bill, with $8.1 billion earmarked for countering China in the Asia-Pacific. It can be said that the US has gone to great lengths in pursuing its "Indo-Pacific Strategy." The deployment of Minnesota exposes the hypocrisy of the US' so-called "managing differences with China" narrative. It demonstrates that Washington's true intention is to compel China to fully accept its coercion and suppression without any response, thereby reducing the risks and costs of its provocative actions. At the same time, the US aims to bolster its military deployments to convince its allies that following US' provocations and containment of China poses no risks, thereby accelerating the process of NATO's Asia-Pacificization. However, China will not indulge Washington's reckless behavior on this issue, precisely because China is committed to upholding and safeguarding regional peace. Washington seems to have become somewhat obsessive in its fixation on "containing China," to the point where it has trapped itself in a vicious cycle of "only escalation, never de-escalation." This dynamic is placing an increasingly heavy strategic burden on the US, and many within the country are already aware of this. Over the years, the rhetoric used by the US to pressure China has undergone multiple shifts - from "decoupling" to "de-risking," and now to "responsibly managing differences" - revealing that Washington is well aware of the prevailing sentiments in the international community. The strong regional desire for peace and stability clearly makes it uneasy. Yet, driven by the inertia of "political correctness," it is heading in an increasingly dangerous direction without control. In recent years, the relationship between China and the US, including their military ties, has experienced ups and downs, yet dialogue and cooperation have taken place, achieving a general state of stability. However, this hard-won stability remains fragile and requires significant effort from both sides to maintain and strengthen. China harbors no strategic hostility toward the US and hopes that it will meet China halfway, refraining from unconstructive actions such as deploying weapons here and establishing bases there. Instead, the US should focus on initiatives that are genuinely needed and welcomed in the region, embodying the responsibility and demeanor expected of a major power. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Sunday, announced that the Uttar Pradesh government has successfully facilitated 3.84 lakh marriages under its mass marriage programme in the last seven years with the number expected to exceed four lakh by the end of this wedding session. Addressing a gathering at a mass marriage ceremony held on the Hindustan Urvarak and Rasayan Limited premises, Yogi stated that the state governments mass marriage programme, organised by the Social Welfare Department, symbolises both social equality and a strong stand against the dowry system, a deeply ingrained social ill. He emphasised that the programme is inclusive, with no restrictions based on caste, religion, region or language. Hindus, Muslims and followers of other faiths are all uniting in marriage according to their respective traditions. The programme also serves as a government-led campaign against dowry, child marriage and untouchability, he asserted. At the ceremony, 1,200 couples, including Hindus and Muslims, were married. Chief Minister Yogi praised the couples for setting an example by not accepting or giving dowry, emphasising the governments commitment to ensuring that no daughter remains unmarried due to dowry. The chief minister remarked that good governance leads to positive changes. He mentioned key initiatives launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, such as the Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao campaign, free LPG connections, and individual toilets in every village to protect womens dignity Additionally, free ration and housing were provided to those in need, and Ayushman cards were issued to ensure medical treatment coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh, he added. Chief Minister Yogi emphasised that before these initiatives, the lack of toilets and the harmful smoke from wood and coal stoves compromised womens dignity and health. With LPG cylinders now available in every home, this issue has been resolved, and the government also provides free cooking gas cylinders during Diwali and Holi, he stated further. The chief minister noted that the governments welfare measures, such as the establishment of Atal Residential Schools offering free education to workers children and the provision of an annual pension of Rs 12,000 to one crore people, including the destitute and disabled, benefit all sections of society. Under the Kanya Sumangala Yojana, a package of Rs 25,000 is being provided to empower 20 lakh daughters, he added. Chief Minister Yogi, who attended the ceremony along with several public representatives, called the mass marriage programme a grand festival. He remarked that while it is rare for him to attend individual weddings, this event is unique, with the administration personally inviting the couples. At the ceremony, the chief minister blessed the newlyweds and presented gift kits to ten couples. He also visited the main pavilion to inspect the arrangements and extended his best wishes to the newlyweds and their families. Noticing children among the baraatis, Chief Minister Yogi smiled and handed out chocolates and gave his blessings to them. The ceremony was attended by Mayor Dr Manglesh Shrivastava, Chillupar MLA Rajesh Tripathi, Pipraich MLA Mahendrapal Singh, MLA Fateh Bahadur Singh, Vipin Singh, Dr Vimlesh Paswan, Pradeep Shukla, Sarwan Nishad, Bharatiya Janata Party district president Yudhishthir Singh and metropolitan president Rajesh Gupta, among others. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths commitment to security and transparent governance has redefined the states industrial landscape over the past seven years, evident in the remarkable growth figures. This was admitted even by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar who commended the Yogi governments progressive industrial policies during the UP International Trade Show in Greater Noida on September 25, 2024. He highlighted Uttar Pradeshs rapid transformation into a leading enterprise hub, crediting Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's proactive governance. Chief Minister Yogi is playing on the front foot, ensuring good governance, which has brought about a 360-degree transformation in the state. Today, UP is a top choice for global investors, thanks to its world-class infrastructure, including airports, expressways, and highways, Dhankhar had remarked. Noida and Greater Noida have emerged as benchmarks for industrial development, with the upcoming Jewar International Airport set to propel the region further. The area is poised to become a premier global investment destination, attracting interest from multinational corporations. Similar growth trajectories are visible in Bundelkhand and Purvanchal, which are driven by enhanced connectivity and infrastructure. Bundelkhand, now a solar energy hub, is witnessing a defense manufacturing corridor boost. The governments ambitious plan to develop 33 villages across 36,000 acres between Kanpur and Jhansi under the Bundelkhand Industrial Development Authority (BIDA) aims to surpass Noidas industrial scale, marking the beginning of a new era of economic prosperity in the state. The Yogi government has established the State Capital Region (SCR) by integrating five districts around Lucknow, modeled after the National Capital Region (NCR). Plans include a 1,162-acre textile park on the Lucknow-Hardoi border and a 40-acre industrial hub in Lucknows Amausi Industrial Area, featuring an IT Park, STP Park, incubation centre and state data centre. This development aims to position the SCR on par with the NCR in the coming years. In Bundelkhand, the government is linking the Bundelkhand Expressway to Chitrakoot via a new expressway, with a sanctioned budget of Rs 13 billion. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath prioritises the development of Bundelkhand and Purvanchal, envisioning a prosperous future through initiatives like the defence manufacturing corridor. Additionally, the revived Gorakhpur fertiliser factory, now with enhanced production capacity, symbolises the regions industrial resurgence. Further boosting Gorakhpurs industrial growth, an 800-acre corridor along the Gorakhpur Link Expressway is underway. Plans for a new 5,500-acre industrial city in Dakshinanchal aim to transform barren lands near Dhuriyapar into a thriving investment hub, positioning Gorakhpur as a key economic centre between Patna and Kathmandu. The Yogi governments special incentive scheme for industrial development focuses on Bundelkhand and Purvanchal. Industrial corridors along state expressways will provide significant benefits, particularly with projects like the Bundelkhand-Chitrakoot Link Expressway and Purvanchal-Gorakhpur Link Expressway, driving regional economic growth and prosperity. Some investment-related figures are proof of how keen industrialists from the country and the world are to invest in UP. They include MoUs worth more than Rs 4.68 lakh crore signed and projects worth more than Rs 4 lakh crore implemented in UP Investors Summit; work has started on about 1,500 projects worth Rs 10.11 lakh crore in Groundbreaking Ceremony 4.0; 28,029 MoUs were agreed in UP Global Investors Summit, with investment proposals worth more than Rs 40 lakh crore. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday urged officials to adopt a sensitive approach in addressing public grievances, stressing that no injustice would be tolerated. Addressing people at a 'Janta Darshan' held at the Gorakhnath Temple, Adityanath reiterated the government's commitment to fairness and transparency in handling public issues, a statement issued here said. "No injustice will be tolerated. Every individual will get justice," he said while directing officials to ensure prompt and satisfactory resolutions to complaints. Adityanath said that the government stands firm in its resolve to address every grievance, the statement read. He directed officials to adopt a sensitive approach while resolving issues, according to the statement. The chief minister advised mediation for family disputes, suggesting legal action if reconciliation efforts fail, it said. He also ordered strict action against illegal land encroachments by influential individuals. Several people sought financial assistance for medical treatments. Adityanath assured them of full support and directed officials to expedite the process of estimating treatment costs and forwarding the proposals to the government for approval. For cases involving police and revenue matters, he called for impartial and transparent handling, ensuring that justice is ensured to all. Over 300 people attended the Janta Darshan seeking the chief minister's intervention in various issues. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned businessman Raj Kundra, the husband of actor Shilpa Shetty, for questioning in a money laundering case linked to the alleged illegal distribution of pornographic movies, official sources said on Sunday. They said Kundra has been asked to depose before the investigating officer of the case on December 2 or any other day of the week in case he is not able to appear on Monday. Some others involved in the case, including a businessman from Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh, have also been summoned during the week, the sources added. The central agency raided the premises of Kundra in Mumbai and those of other persons located in some cities of Uttar Pradesh on December 29. Kundra said on Saturday that he was "fully complying" with the ongoing investigation that has been unfolding for the last four years. Shetty's lawyer has told PTI that the action was not against the actor and that Kundra was "cooperating in the investigation for the truth to come out". The money laundering case of May 2022 stems from at least two Mumbai Police FIRs and chargesheets filed against Kundra and others. The businessman and some others were arrested in the case and later granted bail. This is the second money laundering case against Kundra. Early this year, the ED had attached assets worth Rs 98 crore of Kundra and Shetty in a cryptocurrency case. The couple, however, obtained relief from the Bombay High Court against this attachment order. The businessman told a local court in 2021 that there was not even an iota of evidence with the prosecution (Mumbai Police) that would connect the app 'Hotshots', used in the alleged porn films racket, with an offence under the law. According to the probe agency, the 'Hotshots' app was being used by accused persons for uploading and streaming obscene content. Kundra had claimed there was no evidence of him being "actively" involved in the creation of alleged porn content. He had claimed he was falsely implicated and was not even named in the FIR and was dragged by the respondent (police) in the case. The businessman claimed in the plea that he is being made a "scapegoat" for reasons best known to investigators. The police had filed FIRs on the basis of complaints received from two women, while another woman had submitted a complaint at the Lonavla police station, around 120 km from Mumbai. During the investigation, it came to light that some small-time artistes were lured with the promise of giving them breaks in some web series or short stories, police had said. These actors were called for auditions and were asked to act 'bold' scenes which later turned out to be semi-nude or nude scenes, which were against the wishes of the actors, officials had said. During the police investigation, it also came to light that there are many 'porn-like apps' (applications) operating in cyberspace. The police had told the court that its probe found that Kundra set up Armsprime Media Pvt Ltd, which, through the London-based Kenrin Pvt Ltd, bought the Hotshots app to upload "objectionable videos" on social media. Kundra's phone contained WhatsApp chats regarding Kenrin and its financial transactions. These conversations also revealed that he had discussed selling 119 adult films to a person for USD 1.2 million, police had said. Amid tight security, members of a judicial commission on Sunday visited the Shahi Jama Masjid here and other areas which witnessed violence over a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era mosque. Panel head retired Allahabad High Court judge Devendra Kumar Arora and retired IPS officer Arvind Kumar Jain were the two members of the three-member Commission which visited the areas that witnessed violence on November 24. The panel's third member, ex-IAS officer Amit Mohan Prasad, was not present during Sunday's visit. The Commission members, however, did not respond to any media queries during the visit in the morning hours. They were accompanied by Moradabad Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh, DIG Muniraj G along with the Sambhal District Magistrate Rajendra Pensiya and Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar. Arora and Jain had reached Moradabad a day ago while Prasad was expected to join them in Sambhal, the divisional commissioner had said on Saturday. Violence erupted in Sambhal on November 24 during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, killing four persons and injuring many others. The survey was linked to a petition claiming that a Harihar temple once stood at the site of the mosque. The Commission formed via a notification on November 28 has been directed to complete its probe within two months. Any extension of this timeline will require government approval. The panel has been entrusted with the task of examining whether the clashes were spontaneous or part of a well-planned criminal conspiracy, as well as the preparedness of the police and the administration in handling the situation. The Commission will also analyse the circumstances leading to the violence, and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring in the future. BJP leader Raosaheb Danve on Sunday said the name of Maharashtra's new chief minister has been finalised and a confirmation is awaited from the senior party leadership. The people of Maharashtra know who will be the next CM, former Union minister Danve said without taking any name. The oath-taking ceremony of the new Mahayuti government in Maharashtra will take place on December 5 evening at the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend it, state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule said on Saturday. While there was no announcement yet on who would be the chief minister, BJP sources said Devendra Fadnavis, who has been chief minister twice and was deputy CM in the last Eknath Shinde-led government, was the frontrunner for the post. Maharashtra's caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde headed to his native village Dare in Satara district on Friday, amid speculation that he was not happy with the way the new state government was shaping up. Shinde, who suffered from high fever in his village, was recovering and will return to Mumbai on Sunday evening, a close aide said. Danve in an interview to a regional news channel said, "Even people know who is going to be the next chief minister of Maharashtra. We are waiting for finalisation of the same person's name by the senior leaders of our party." On the ongoing discussions without an announcement of the chief minister's name, he indicated the public has a good idea of the candidate. "We are waiting for official stamping (approval) on the name," the BJP leader added. On the composition of the cabinet, Danve said, "It is the chief minister's prerogative on whom to include in the state cabinet." Asked about Shinde's visit to his village in Satara, Danve said the caretaker CM's health does not impede functioning of the state administration. "When a chief minister visits his native place, we see pride in it," the BJP leader said. "When Manmohan Singh was the country's prime minister of the country (during the previous UPA government), he underwent heart surgery. The administration continued to function," Danve added. After two days of counting, many in the Nemo Rangers count centre were feeling their age, but at 81, Bill Ring was, chronologically at least, the oldest person on the count staff. The Bishopstown man said he worked on his first count in the St Francis Hall on Sheares Street in December 1972. That was the count on the referendums on the proposed fourth and fifth amendments to the Constitution. Mr Ring - the same as Christy but unfortunately no relation said the shape of politics was very different in Cork in those days, remembering the old five-seat Cork Borough constituency, which was abolished in 1969, replaced with Cork City North West and Cork City South East, the precursors of the current Cork North Central and Cork South Central. That was the time you had Peter Barrys father [Anthony] and the Fianna Fail man Gus Healy fighting always for the last seat. One fella would win it one election and the other fella would win it the next election, he said. The change since then has been unbelievable. When you consider the length of the papers now to the length of the papers when I started, you couldnt believe it. He recalled long counts, and longer recounts, with one particular election etched in his memory. Bill Ring (81) from Bishopstown has been counting elections for 52 years. Picture: Chani Anderson You could have a recount, but normally your count could go on two days, maybe a third day, but that would be the maximum. But then you had the famous recounts between John Dennehy and Kathy Sinnott in 2002, you had three counts. Kathy Sinnott was initially ahead by three votes in Cork South Central in that election, but eventually lost by six votes after two recounts. That was some count, let me tell you. The decision to stop the count and go home, or to keep going into the night, has always been in the gift of the returning officer, Mr Ring said. Sometimes we would be here until 1am, it would vary, it would depend on whether he thought he could get it over with, or he could adjourn it till the morning. Mr Ring isnt sure he will work in another election count. I was thinking myself this will probably be my swansong. "Im 81 years of age now. In five years time, 86, I mightnt even be around, sure you never know, he said, before seeming to reconsider his options. Mind you, I suppose if I managed the six days of the European elections last June, I could manage anything. To return to the subject of Mr Rings first count, the fourth and fifth amendments to the constitution were both passed in December 1972. The fourth amendment lowered the age of voting from 21 to 18, while the fifth amendment removed from the Constitution the recognition of the special position of the Catholic Church in Ireland, and the recognition of other major named religions. Some 52 years on from that count, on a weekend when Ireland has seen democracy at work in all of its messy complexity, Mr Ring was still hard at work in the count centre. And with a presidential election due this time next year, one of our electoral systems most faithful servants isnt quite ruling out another count just yet. The count in Cork North West was like a game of musical chairs, with four contenders vying to occupy three Dail seats. It took 18 hours of counting at the Mallow GAA complex for Aindrias Moynihan and Michael Moynihan, of Fianna Fail, and John Paul OShea, of Fine Gael, to be elected at 3am, without reaching the quota at the end of the sixth count after 18 hours. Gaeltacht Mhuscrai-based candidate Aindrias Moynihan topped the poll with 8,047 first preferences. He had predicted that it would be tight, after last years redraw of the constituency. That had led to the loss of Ballincollig to Cork North Central and the inclusion of areas in the northern half of the constituency, but the Moynihan machine left no stone unturned to offset any disadvantage. The finish line is in sight and, as you say, its been a very long campaign and a huge credit to the team that were out, Mr Moynihan told The Echo shortly before the result. The encounter in Twohigs supermarket in Kanturk between Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach, Simon Harris, and the care worker Charlotte Fallon had been pivotal during the campaign and had shortened the Harris hop, but did not impact local Fine Gael candidate OShea and the partys vote in Kanturk was up on previous general elections. Fine Gael candidate Councillor Michael Creed, Cork North West at the count centre in Mallow GAA. Picture: Eddie O'Hare Having been pipped at the post in 2020, when he first stood for Fine Gael and, previously, having tasted defeat after a breakthrough performance in 2016 as an Independent, Mr OShea will savour this moment. This is my third time of asking for the Dail, Mr OShea said. Ive worked really hard on the council for the past 15 years, representing the people of my area as best I could in that time. . Ive always looked to be elevated to the Dail and, thankfully, it has worked out. Michael Moynihan, who has been a TD for Cork North West since 1997, was prepared for every eventuality, should he lose or retain the seat, when he spoke with The Echo earlier in the evening. He eventually finished with 9,057 votes and the final seat. The contender left without a seat was the Fine Gael candidate and veteran Macroom councillor, Michael Creed, who was just 250 votes short of the leading pack after the first count, but none of the seven candidates who finished below him were going to be able to help him bridge that gap in transfers. The councillor was disappointed, without a doubt, but gracious nonetheless. Its been a long campaign: Ive been campaigning now with over eight weeks, but its been a pleasure and Ive met some very decent people. I had a go, I gave it one good try, and just came up a small bit short this time. (Photo: Courtesy Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land)Evangelical Lutheran School of Hope Ramallah's 2015 Christmas play. The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem have this year supported the commemoration of the religious observances of Advent and Christmas in the midst of the continuing regional war after they were suspended a year ago. "Last year, as a means of standing in solidarity with the multitudes suffering from the newly erupted war," said the church leaders in a Nov. 22 statement, "We, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem, took a mutual decision to call upon our congregations to forego the public display of Christmas lights and decorations, along with their associated festivities. "While our intentions in doing so were good, many around the world nevertheless misinterpreted this call to signify a 'Cancellation of Christmas' in the Holy Landthe very place of our Lord's Holy Nativity." The latest tensions in the Middle East erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, with an attack by Hamas in Israel. On the anniversary, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, "Today marks one year since the horrific events of October 7th when Hamas launched a large-scale terror attack in Israel, killing over 1,250 Israelis and foreign nationals, including children and women. More than 250 people were abducted and taken to Gaza, including many women and children. "The October 7th attack scarred souls and on this day, we remember all those who were brutally killed and suffered unspeakable violence including sexual violence as they were simply living their lives. This is a day for the global community to repeat in the loudest voice our utter condemnation of the abhorrent acts of Hamas, including the taking of hostages," said Guterres. The church leaders said that because of their unique witness to the Christmas message of light emerging out of darkness (John 1:9), it was diminished worldwide and also among their own people. For this reason, for the coming Advent and Christmas seasons, the Jerusalem church leaders said they are encouraging their congregations and people to fully commemorate the approach and arrival of Christ's birth "by giving public signs of Christian hope." "At the same time, we also call upon them to do so in ways that are sensitive to the severe afflictions that millions in our region continue to endure," said the church leaders. T "These should certainly include upholding them continuously in our prayers, reaching out to them with deeds of kindness and charity, and welcoming them as Christ himself has welcomed each of us (Romans 15:7). In these ways, they said they would echo the Christmas story itself, where the angels announced to the shepherds glad tidings of Christ's birth during similarly dark times in their region (Luke 2:820), offering to them and to the entire world a message of divine hope and peace. (Image by Studio Incendo via Wikimedia Commons)Hong Kong anti-extradition bill protest, August 18, 2019. Jailed pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Lai has dismissed as "impossible" the idea that the Chinese government could be overthrown during testimony in his Hong Kong national security trial on Nov. 28, as foreign governments continue to call for his immediate release. "To think about overthrowing the CCP [Chinese Communist Party], I think it's out of the dimension of any discussion. It's impossible," Lai said in the same week that the US National Catholic Register newspaper called out the Vatican for staying silent on trial. "Do you think sanctions [and] blockade would overthrow the CCP? It's more than ridiculous," Lai told the court. The 77-year-old British national made the statements during what was his sixth day of testimony in a high-profile national security trial that rights groups and foreign governments have rejected as politically motivated. Lai stands accused of collusion with foreign forces and sedition under a Beijing-imposed national security law. He rejects the charges but, if convicted, faces life in prison, VOA reported. Political leaders, a United Nations body, and human rights groups have publicly spoken out in defense of Lai, the Catholic Hong Kong media mogul. In contrast, the Vatican and senior Church leaders continue to decline to make public statements on the case, according to the National Catholic Register. Lai has persistently denied the charges, which have so far revolved around a series of articles he wrote in his Apple Daily newspaper in 2019 and 2020, which were critical of a clampdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong. The national security law was enacted to punish what China considers to be subversion, secession, terrorism, and working with foreign powers, but critics say it is being used to quash dissent by removing civil liberties and free speech. The founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily newspaper Lai has in solitary confinement since late 2020. His court appearance, the first time he has been allowed to testify since his arrest and incarceration, came on the heels of the jailing this week of 45 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists for up to 10 years in a separate national security case. According to the advocacy group Hong Kong Watch, although Lai is the most famous political prisoner, there are more than 1,800 political prisoners as a result of the crackdown over the past five years, including democratically elected legislators, activists, and journalists. Coming to Lai's defense have been more than 100 politicians from 24 countries who wrote a joint letter Nov. 19 condemning China over his "arbitrary detention and unfair trial." They "urgently" demanded the immediate release of Lai, 77, who has been held in solitary confinement at a maximum security prison in Hong Kong. In September, it was reported that he had been denied the right to receive Holy Communion since last December. President-elect Donald Trump has drawn attention to Lai's case, telling radio host Hugh Hewitt last month: "100%. I'll get him out. He'll be easy to get out." Amnesty International added its voice, reiterating its stance that Lai is a prisoner of conscience and similarly calling for his immediate and unconditional release. "In contrast, the Vatican has continued its silence on Lai's plight," commented the Regiseer. "Asked by the Register Nov. 22 if Cardinal Stephen Chow, the bishop of Hong Kong, would be adding his name to those critical of Lai's and the jailed activists' treatment, a diocesan spokesman said, 'As the matter is still in judicial proceedings, the Diocese of Hong Kong has no further reply. However, Cardinal Chow prays that Mr. Lai, a brother in Christ, be at peace.' "This silence, not only in the case of Lai but in the face of all of China's human rights abuses, is also aimed at preserving a path forward following the Vatican-China provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops. Earlier this month, it renewed the 2018 accords for another four years." An Elma contractor and property owner with a history of environmental violations is once again in the crosshairs of regulators, after neighbors accused him of dumping lead-painted blocks in a ravine on their property. But the contractor, Todd Huber, says the complaints by his neighbors are just another in a long pattern of false accusations against him that have never amounted to much more than harassment. Huber, whose Building Solutions company has done extensive work on several properties along the Seneca Street corridor, allegedly allowed or directed company employees to unload cement blocks coated with paint into a deep ditch behind Seneca, which includes a narrow wetland that runs into nearby Cazenovia Creek just to the south. The ditch is shared by Hubers former Merry Mart property at 6150-6170 Seneca now home to Montemaggiore Italian Restaurant and by his neighbors, Robert Gross and Lori Weidner, who live at 11 Northrup Road, on the other side of the ravine. The couple who have feuded with Huber for years reported the developer to authorities after Gross witnessed one of Hubers employees drive a Bobcat construction loader, lift a bucket of bricks in front of him, and dump it into the ravine two weeks ago. A Buffalo News reporter visited the site on Sunday and observed a cluster of a dozen blocks about 15 feet below the rim of the ravine. Weidner said a large boulder had also been pushed into the ravine, breaking a culvert pipe. Clear results The bricks match the color and style of a derelict cement-block garage across the street that Building Solutions is demolishing or rebuilding as part of a project involving a house on the property at 6175 Seneca and 60 Old Pound Road. At least two of the blocks tumbled onto Gross and Weidners property, so Gross retrieved one of them. He purchased a $14 home test kit for lead paint at Lowes, and the result came back positive for lead, so Weidner emailed photos of the blocks and the test kit to the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Erie County Health Department. The results are clear, she wrote in an email, copied to The Buffalo News. These blocks are painted with lead-based paint and Mr. Huber is dumping them into the ravine and then he covered them up. All three agencies sent investigators, but did not take any immediate action against Huber. Town Code Enforcement Officer Joseph Colern Jr. said the town referred the complaint to the DEC. DEC spokesman T.J. Pignataro confirmed that this matter remains under investigation by the departments Division of Materials Management, but did not elaborate. The couples call to the Erie County Sheriffs Office did yield some results, Weidner said, after a deputy visited the site. Later that afternoon, Huber sent four employees to put up construction fencing on his side of the ravine to hold back the debris, blocks and backfill from crossing the property line and hitting the bottom. But Christopher Horvatits, a spokesman for the Sheriffs Office, said several different Erie County Sheriffs Office deputies investigated the complaints and told the couple that nothing criminal in nature has occurred, and they would have to pursue the matter civilly. Alleging harassment Huber acknowledged that the blocks and other material are from his projects, particularly the double-lot across Seneca Street, where he is rebuilding a structure. I have every right to do that, he said. Its my property. I own the property that the material is placed on. He said the blocks were broken, so he was legally using that as fill material to prop up the side of the ravine as he works to construct a higher berm on the edge of the ravine that would shield his properties from Gross and Weidner. Im making a berm, so that itll block their view of me and me of them, and hopefully itll then shield the valley so that they can just see the back side of a hill, he said. They can have closure and Ill have closure. That, and Im probably going to build a fence. He said he was not aware of any lead paint on the blocks. I am not putting anything there that is of harm, period, he added. And he said his neighbors constant complaints amount to harassment, saying they are unfairly and falsely tarnishing him, while overwhelming regulators and wasting their time with over 200 calls over the last three years, including two to three a day for the last three weeks. Theres been all kinds of false accusations, none of which have been credible, period, Huber said. This is the latest skirmish in an ongoing battle between the couple and Huber. The couple who said theyre not opposed to development claim his plans will damage the environment, flood their land and pollute the creek, which drains into the Buffalo River. Theyve accused Huber of illegally dumping waste in the 50-foot-deep ravine which includes a narrow band of federally protected wetlands at the bottom and of improperly tapping into the county sewer system under Seneca to drain water into the ravine from a horse farm he owns across the street. Thats already caused erosion and mudslides on their land, they say. Elon Musks attorneys filed for an injunction against OpenAI and Microsoft on Friday accusing the two of anticompetitive practices and seeking to stop OpenAIs conversion to a for-profit company. The filing, spotted by TechCrunch , also names OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, OpenAI President Greg Brockman, Microsofts Dee Templeton and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman as defendants. Musk first sued OpenAI earlier this year for allegedly violating its founding mission of building AI for the benefit of humanity, but withdrew the lawsuit a few months later. He then filed another lawsuit against OpenAI in a California federal court in August, and recently added Microsoft as a defendant . The new motion accuses OpenAI and Microsoft of telling investors not to fund OpenAIs competitors, such as Musks xAI, of benefitting from wrongfully obtained competitively sensitive information or coordination through its relationship with Microsoft, and other alleged antitrust violations. OpenAIs path from a non-profit to for-profit behemoth is replete with per se anticompetitive practices, flagrant breaches of its charitable mission, and rampant selfdealing, it states. Allowing this course of conduct to continue until final disposition will seriously harm Plaintiffs and the public at large. Sunday, December 1, 2024 Hallelujah! Bible Sales Boom 22% as First-Time Buyers Seek Comfort and Hope in Troubled Times, Says America's Leading Media Expert, Michael Levine: Bible sales are enjoying a significant resurgence, driven by first-time buyers and innovative new editions in a remarkable twist for the publishing industry. According to data from Circana BookScan, Bible sales in the U.S. have surged by 22% through October, far outpacing the less than 1% growth of total U.S. print book sales during the same period. America's leading media expert, Michael Levine, attributes this trend to economic uncertainty, international conflicts, and the U.S. election. "In uncertain times, people instinctively search for stability, guidance, and hope," said Levine. "The Bible, with its timeless messages and emotional resonance, becomes a natural touchstone for millions." Publishers also credit highly focused marketing campaigns and modernized designs for drawing in a younger, diverse audience. Jeff Crosby, president of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, explained: "The rise in Bible sales reflects a collective need for assurance and the rediscovery of faith amidst anxiety over issues like artificial intelligence, social divides, and global instability." "Bible publishers have responded creatively, introducing visually appealing editions and targeted campaigns that resonate with younger generations. From minimalist aesthetics to devotionals tailored to specific life stages, the Bible's evolution in presentation has helped broaden its appeal," said Levine. Whether fueled by personal faith journeys or a response to external pressures, the Bible shines as a bright spot in the book market this year. For publishers and retailers, it's a "hallelujah moment," offering commercial success and a message of hope to an increasingly anxious world. Some people wait to figure out what they want to do with their lives. Others, like Richard Branson, dive right in, making the most of every opportunity that comes their way. Richard Branson is the epitome of an early startersomeone who began planning his future as a teenager, laying the groundwork for a life full of adventure, innovation, and success. At the age of 16, while most teens were focused on schoolwork, Branson started his first business, setting himself on a path to become one of the most iconic entrepreneurs of our time. Today, Branson is known as the charismatic founder of the Virgin Group, a conglomerate that includes more than 400 companies across diverse industries. But it all started with a small magazine and a big dream. Lets dive into Richards story to see how starting early and believing in himself helped him build an empire. Born in 1950 in Surrey, England, Richard Branson grew up in a family that encouraged risk-taking and thinking outside the box. However, school was never easy for him. Richard struggled with dyslexia and found traditional academics to be a challenge. But what he lacked in classroom success, he made up for with creativity, resourcefulness, and an unyielding determination to follow his own path. Despite his struggles in school, Bransons parents supported his interests and encouraged him to pursue his passions. And he didnt waste any time. By age 16, he decided to leave school and jump into the world of business. Many people thought he was crazy to drop out, but Richard saw it as the best way to build a life on his own terms. As he once said, If you dont have time to learn something properly, the best thing you can do is get out there and start doing it. Bransons entrepreneurial journey began with a simple idea: to create a magazine for students. At just 16 years old, he founded Student magazine to give young people a voice on topics like music, politics, and culture. The magazine was not just about making money; it was about creating a platform where students could express themselves and connect. Despite not having formal training in journalism or business, Richard was confident in his vision and eager to learn as he went along. To get the magazine off the ground, Branson had to be creative. He cold-called companies to secure advertising deals, convincing them that Student magazine would be a hit. He even borrowed a phone booth from a school hallway to set up a makeshift office. His efforts paid off, and by the age of 17, the magazine was thriving, with distribution across the UK. In Bransons own words, The best way of learning about anything is by doing. This hands-on approach became the cornerstone of his career. By taking bold steps early on, Richard learned the ropes of business and marketing without waiting for the perfect moment or formal education. He let his passion drive him and didnt let fear of failure stop him from trying new things. Bransons success with Student magazine fueled his ambition, and he quickly set his sights on bigger projects. In 1970, at the age of 20, he founded Virgin Mail Order, selling discounted records to students. This venture was the beginning of what would eventually become Virgin Records, one of the most successful independent record labels in the world. At a time when the music industry was dominated by big players, Branson saw an opportunity to challenge the status quo. He opened his first Virgin Records store in London in 1971 and used his profits to build a recording studio. By taking risks and believing in his vision, Branson was able to sign legendary artists like the Sex Pistols, which put Virgin Records on the map. It wasnt long before Virgin became synonymous with innovation and boldness, expanding into everything from airlines to space travel. One of Bransons most famous quotes captures his approach perfectly: You dont learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over. This fearless attitude is what allowed him to push boundaries and keep growing the Virgin Group, even when others doubted him. Bransons journey wasnt always smooth sailing. There were plenty of times when things didnt go as planned, and he faced failures along the way. But what set him apart was his resilience. Whether it was narrowly avoiding bankruptcy during the early years of Virgin Atlantic or tackling the challenge of launching Virgin Galactic, Branson never let setbacks define him. Instead, he viewed them as opportunities to learn and improve. Business opportunities are like buses; theres always another one coming, Branson often says. This mindset allowed him to take risks that others might shy away from, leading to a career filled with adventure and unexpected successes. Start Early and Take Risks: Branson didnt wait for the right time to start working on his dreams. He jumped in, took risks, and figured things out along the way. His story shows that starting early, even when you dont have everything figured out, can set you on a path to success. Believe in Your Vision: Branson faced countless naysayers who thought his ideas were too bold or impossible. But he stuck to his vision and turned his dreams into reality. The lesson here? Believe in yourself and dont let others doubts deter you. Learn by Doing: Instead of waiting to gain more experience or knowledge, Branson took He learned by doing, making mistakes, and using those mistakes to grow. His story is a reminder that real-world experience often trumps book knowledge. Embrace Failure: Branson never saw failure as the end; instead, he saw it as part of the He teaches us that if something doesnt work out, its not the end of the roadits just a lesson on what to try next. Richard Bransons story is a shining example of how starting early and believing in your passions can lead to extraordinary success. His journey proves that you dont need to wait for adulthood to begin chasing your dreams. You can start today, right where you are, with what you have. The prime minister is said to be in 'listening mode' after concerns were privately raised to him regarding the controversial farm inheritance tax changes. The NFU has met privately with Sir Keir Starmer at Number 10 where restrictions to agricultural property relief (APR) were high on the agenda. While the details of the private meeting are confidential, the union said that the impact of the changes, made in the autumn budget, was discussed. Dubbed the 'family farm tax', the proposal will see a 20% inheritance tax placed on agricultural assets worth more than 1m, starting in April 2026. But industry bodies have persistently warned that it could lead to the destruction of many of the UK's family farms. Up to 75,000 individual farm business owners are likely to be affected by the changes, according to the latest industry analysis. That equates to an annual figure more than five times the governments prediction, based on calculations by the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV). The changes have triggered numerous protests across the UK, mostly notably in central London, where over 10,000 farmers converged on the capital last week. Other issues impacting the farming industry, such as food security, post-Brexit trade deals and unfair pricing were also on the meeting's agenda between the NFU and Sir Keir Starmer. Following the discussions, which happened earlier this week, NFU President Tom Bradshaw concluded that the prime minister was "very much in listening mode". I welcome the prime minister asking to hear directly about farmers concerns, and I am grateful to him for taking the time to do so. I hope we can work together towards a resolution on this issue. He added that the NFU had been able to "present our side of the discussion around what the changes to APR and BPR are going to mean for your family and your future". "The PM engaged with us and made the time to hear our story and I really hope this marks a moment where we can move forwards and get to an outcome that works for everyone." Kim Kardashian is promoting her son Saint West's YouTube channel again after it was recently reinstated. Kim Kardashian asks millions of followers to subscribe to son Saint West's YouTube channel The Skims founder seemingly took down her eight-year-old boy's account on the video-sharing platform after he shared two anti-Kamala Harris videos, but a week later, on November 6, the page was back up and running under the new handle, @SWFortniteclan, and Kim is now encouraging her millions of followers to subscribe to the channel. She posted to Instagram on Saturday (30.11.24) alongside a screenshot of his username and subscriber count: "This is Saints YouTube. Follow and Subscribe." The 44-year-old reality star - who also has North, 11, Chicago, six, and five-year-old Psalm with ex-husband Kanye West - allowed her second child to launch a social media presence in September but asked him to agree to a lengthy string of rules he had to abide by. Come November, @TheGoatSaint was removed from the site. Before the account was deleted, Saint shared one video which featured 'Saved by the Bell' characters appearing on screen saying "dumb", "stupid", "crazy", and "dangerous" as Donald Trump's election rival's photo appeared in the background, and another one in which Kamala's picture appeared on the bottom of a cartoon character's shoe as they said: "I stepped in s***." When looking for Saint's account on YouTube, a message read: This page isnt available. Sorry about that. Try searching for something else." Kim revealed in September that she had "finally allowed" her eldest boy to launch an account on the platform but compiled a strict list of rules for his posts first. The 'Kardashians' star shared the handwritten contract on her Instagram Story and wrote: "Saint signed a solid contract for his YouTube Channel. He better not breach." The document - which was signed by Saint - acknowledged the youngster agreed to follow moms rules. It stated: I am not allowed to comment any personal family information. I am not allowed to film any personal information. I am not allowed to film while North is recording music. Kim's caption then obscured the next few sentences, but it then continued: I must show my mom or guardian all videos before I post them. I give permission to any grown up if mom says to delete my video for any reason. And if Saint breaches the terms, the youngster's stint on the video platform would be up. The contract concluded: "If I don't listen to all of the rules, mom could make my page private or delete my account." Meadow Walker has paid tribute to late father Paul Walker on the 11th anniversary of his passing. Paul Walker has been remembered on the 11th anniversary of his death by his daughter Meadow Walker and 'Fast and Furious' co-star Jordana Brewster The 26-year-old model was just 15 when the Fast and Furious actor was killed in a fireball car crash on November 30, 2013, aged 40, and his offspring has led tributes to Paul more than a decade on from his devastating death and admitted she misses him "every day". Sharing a series of throwback pictures of her father from over the years, she wrote on Instagram: "Easter (1999), Pops in the Bahamas, in front of your old office on the universal lot (2024), fast (2001), goofballs. 11 years without you. I miss you everyday. I love you so much. (sic)" Paul's 'Fast and Furious' co-star Jordana Brewster also took to social media to remember him and revealed she had been feeling "so edgy" and "annoyed" and didn't know why - until she realised what day it was. The 44-year-old actress penned: "I woke up so edgy today. Annoyed by EVERY. Little. Thing. Then I remembered. My stomach dropped. Someone isnt here who should be. The one that lifted up everyone around him. The one who worked his a** off but didnt let it show. The one with grace and humor. #11years Miss you forever @paulwalker "@meadowwalker is carrying on your legacy through her beauty and strength (sic)" Meadow commented: "I love you." Last year, Paul's daughter said she was convinced she still receives signs from her dad, telling E! News: For me, its numbers four and seven are my dads favourite numbers. And I swear whenever Im doubting anything or whenever Im in an argument with someone or anything, I start seeing four and seven everywhere. So I always know that its him. Even yesterday, I was having a moment and then the clock bells started ringing. And I was like, OK, its all good, its gonna be OK. Meadow honoured Paul by playing a flight attendant in 2023's Fast X the 10th film in the Fast and Furious franchise. The average price of coats imported from China by the United Kingdom has shown a consistent decline over the last three years. The price dropped 11.92 per cent to $14.26 per unit in the first eight months of the current year. The lower average price of imports reflects the significant pressure on exporters to secure export orders. It is worth noting that geopolitical unrest and sustained high inflation have dented consumers purchasing power in the UK and other importing countries. The average price of imported coats was recorded at $16.19 per unit in 2022, which decreased to $15.07 per unit in 2023 and further declined to $14.26 per unit between January and August 2024. Previously, the average price was $17.88 per unit in 2021, $15.90 per unit in 2020, and $16.76 per unit in 2019, according to Fibre2Fashion's market insight tool TexPro. UK's coat imports from China have steadily declined in value and volume over recent years, with the average price per unit dropping 11.92 per cent to $14.26 in Jan-Aug. Inflation and geopolitical unrest have pressured exporters and reduced consumer purchasing power. Total coat imports from the world fell, with the UK importing 10.685 million units at an average price of $15.37 per unit in 2024. During January-August 2024, the UK imported 2.661 million units of coats from China, valued at $37.951 million. In 2023, it imported coats worth $104.123 million, a 27.27 per cent decrease from imports valued at $143.500 million in 2022. The value of coat imports was recorded at $350.933 million in 2021, $281.251 million in 2020, and $366.488 million in 2019. The UK imported 6.909 million units of coats from China in 2023. The volume of imported coats was 8.861 million units in 2022, 19.631 million units in 2021, 17.691 million units in 2020, and 21.488 million units in 2019, according to TexPro. The UKs coat imports from the world totalled $164.190 million in the first eight months of the current year. It imported 10.685 million units of coats from the world at an average price of $15.37 per unit. In 2023, it imported 24.555 million units of coats with a total value of $378.568 million. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL) Bangladesh and Germany recently signed financial and technical agreements on development cooperation worth 180.807 million ($190.43 million). Technical cooperation will be worth 45.8 million and financial cooperation will amount to up to 135 million, an official release said. Bangladesh and Germany have signed financial and technical agreements on development cooperation worth 180.807 million ($190.43 million). Technical cooperation will be worth 45.8 million and financial cooperation will amount to up to 135 million. The cooperation areas include renewable energy and energy efficiency, and socially and environmentally sound supply chains, trade and infrastructure. The cooperation under these agreements will take place in the areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency (up to 50.5 million), sustainable urban development (up to 95.5 million), technical and vocational education and training (up to 5 million), socially and environmentally sound supply chains, trade and infrastructure (12 million), protection of biodiversity (up to 6.0 million) and for a project on combating domestic violence against women and children (up to 7.0 million). Germany has been providing financial and technical assistance for the development of Bangladesh since 1972, which amounts today to a total of over 3.5 billion. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) Vietnam witnessed a 5.2-per cent month-on-month (MoM) rise in its total foreign merchandise trade turnover in October this year; exports went up by 4.6 per cent MoM to $35.64 billion and imports increased by 5.8 per cent MoM to $33.60 billion. Therefore, the trade surplus in the month was $2.03 billion, according to Vietnam Customs statistics. Vietnam saw a 5.2-per cent month-on-month (MoM) rise in its foreign merchandise trade turnover in October; exports rose by 4.6 per cent MoM to $35.64 billion and imports by 5.8 per cent MoM to $33.60 billion. For textiles-garments, it was up by $233 million MoM. Exports were up by $43.59 billion YoY to $335.63 billion in October; textiles-garments exports rose by 10.5 per cent to $30.57 billion. The foreign trade value of textiles and garments was up by $233 million MoM in October this year. On a year-on-year (YoY) basis, exports were up by $43.59 billion to $335.63 billion in the month. Exports of textiles and garments went up by $2.90 billion, or 10.5 per cent, YoY in the month to $30.57 billion. In the first ten months this year, the countrys trade-in-goods totaled $647.91 billion in value terms15.8 per cent higher year on year (YoY); exports value went up by 14.9 per cent YoY to $335.63 billion and imports value rose by 16.8 per cent YoY to $312.28 billion. So the trade surplus in the ten months was $23.35 billion. The total trade value of companies with foreign direct investment (FDI) reached $46.19 billion in Octoberdown by 1.9 per cent MoM; exports were worth $25.26 billion and imports were worth $20.92 billion leading to a trade surplus of $4.34 billion. Between January and October, trade in goods by FDI companies totaled $438.83 billionup by 14.2 per cent YoY; exports were worth $240.13 billiona rise of 12.9 per cent YoY, while imports were worth 198.70 billionup by 15.8 per cent YoY. As a result, the trade surplus of such companies was $41.43 billion during the ten-month period, an official release said. The biggest countries importing textiles and garments from Vietnam during the period were the United States (up by 10.7 per cent YoY to $13.30 billion), the European Union (up by 10.2 per cent YoY to $3.54 billion), Japan (up by 7 per cent YoY to $3.55 billion) and South Korea (up by 2.6 per cent YoY to $2.73 billion). Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) The "Switzerland Loyalty Programs Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics Databook 50+ KPIs on Loyalty Programs Trends by End-Use Sectors, Operational KPIs, Retail Product Dynamics, and Consumer Demographics Q3 2024 Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Switzerland's loyalty market is expected to grow by 10.2% on an annual basis to reach US$1.28 billion in 2024. In value terms, the loyalty market in the country has recorded a CAGR of 11.6% during 2019-2023. The loyalty market in the country will continue to grow over the forecast period and is expected to record a CAGR of 8.8% during 2024-2028. Loyalty market in the country will increase from US$1.16 billion in 2023 to reach US$1.79 billion by 2028. The loyalty program landscape in Switzerland is characterized by rapid evolution, driven by technological advancements, changing consumer preferences, and regulatory shifts. Companies increasingly adopt personalized and technology-integrated solutions while exploring cashback options to enhance customer engagement. The launch of innovative programs by major players signifies a competitive market focused on delivering value to consumers. As the regulatory environment becomes more stringent, businesses must navigate these changes carefully to ensure compliance and maintain consumer trust. The future of loyalty programs in Switzerland appears promising, with significant growth potential as firms continue to innovate and adapt to the needs of their customer base. Senior executives must monitor these trends, ensuring their loyalty strategies align with market dynamics and regulatory requirements to achieve sustained success. Explore the Evolving Trends in Loyalty Programs The loyalty program landscape in Switzerland is undergoing significant transformation, driven by changing consumer preferences and the increasing importance of customer engagement strategies. Key trends shaping this market include: Growing Adoption: Loyalty programs are becoming more prevalent across various sectors, including retail, hospitality, and financial services. The desire for rewards and discounts propels consumer participation, particularly as competition intensifies. Personalization and Customer Experience: Brands leverage data analytics to create tailored loyalty experiences. Personalization is crucial, as consumers expect rewards and communications that resonate with their preferences and shopping behaviours. This focus on customer experience enhances satisfaction and fosters loyalty. Technological Integration: The rise of mobile technology and digital platforms has transformed loyalty programs in Switzerland. Many brands now offer mobile apps that enable consumers to track points, receive personalized offers, and redeem rewards seamlessly, improving overall engagement. Sustainability Focus: Swiss consumers are increasingly attracted to brands that demonstrate social responsibility. Loyalty programs incorporating eco-friendly practices or supporting local communities resonate well with consumer values, enhancing brand loyalty. These trends indicate a dynamic and evolving loyalty program landscape that resonates with the diverse preferences of Swiss consumers. Highlight the Launch of New Loyalty Programs Recent months have seen the introduction of several innovative loyalty programs across Switzerland, reflecting strategic responses to consumer demands. Migros Cumulus Enhancements: Migros, one of Switzerland's largest retailers, has revamped its Cumulus loyalty program to offer more personalized rewards and discounts based on customer behavior. The program now includes partnerships with various merchants, enhancing its value proposition. Coop Supercard Expansion: Coop has expanded its Supercard loyalty program, allowing customers to earn points across its various retail formats, including supermarkets, department stores, and home improvement stores. This initiative aims to enhance customer loyalty and drive sales across its brands. UBS Rewards Program: UBS, a leading Swiss bank, has launched a loyalty program that rewards customers for using their banking services. Members can earn points for transactions, which can be redeemed for various products and services, promoting customer engagement. Swiss International Air Lines' Miles More: Swiss International Air Lines has enhanced its Miles More loyalty program, offering flexible earning and redemption options for flights and partner services. This initiative caters to frequent travellers and aims to strengthen brand loyalty. These initiatives reflect a competitive landscape where businesses continuously adapt their loyalty strategies to meet the diverse needs of Swiss consumers. Analyze the Cashback Loyalty Program Trend Cashback loyalty programs are gaining traction as a preferred alternative to traditional point-based systems in Switzerland. Key aspects of this trend include. Immediate Financial Benefits: Cashback programs provide instant rewards, appealing to consumers who prefer immediate gratification over delayed rewards associated with points. This immediacy enhances the attractiveness of these programs. Enhanced Value Perception: As consumers become more price-sensitive, cashback offers are viewed as a way to enhance perceived value, particularly in competitive sectors like retail and e-commerce. Cashback programs can effectively drive customer loyalty by providing tangible savings. Integration with Digital Payment Solutions: The rise of digital wallets and payment platforms has facilitated the implementation of cashback programs, allowing for seamless transactions and easy reward redemption. This integration aligns with the increasing reliance on digital payment methods among consumers. Market Differentiation: Companies utilize cashback programs to differentiate themselves in a crowded market, driving customer acquisition and retention through attractive offers. This strategy is particularly effective in sectors where competition is intense. This trend underscores a shift towards more flexible and consumer-friendly loyalty solutions that cater to the evolving preferences of shoppers across Switzerland. Examine Recent Regulatory Changes Impacting Loyalty Programs The regulatory environment surrounding loyalty programs in Switzerland is evolving, with significant implications for businesses. Data Protection Regulations: Stricter regulations regarding consumer data collection and usage require loyalty programs to adopt transparent, permission-based models. Compliance with these regulations is essential for maintaining consumer trust and safeguarding personal information. Consumer Protection Laws: New laws safeguarding consumer rights may necessitate clearer communication regarding loyalty program terms and conditions, enhancing transparency and fairness. This regulatory focus ensures that consumers are fully informed about their rights and the benefits of participating in loyalty programs. Financial Oversight: For loyalty programs linked to financial services, regulatory changes may impact reward structures and consumer communication, emphasizing clarity and equity in member benefits. These regulatory changes compel businesses to adapt their loyalty programs, ensuring compliance while maintaining customer engagement and satisfaction. Companies must align their loyalty strategies with legal requirements while delivering value to consumers. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 117 Forecast Period 2024 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $1.28 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $1.79 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 8.8% Regions Covered Switzerland For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/8vja4y About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241128577555/en/ Contacts: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 Atlanta, Georgia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 1, 2024) - Atlanta-based injury law firm Monge & Associates is extending its services to include comprehensive legal representation for wrongful death and catastrophic injury victims in Duluth, East Point, and Warner Robins. Recognized for its winning strategies in personal injury law, the firm is committed to providing top-tier legal support for families and individuals affected by severe injuries or the tragic loss of loved ones due to negligence. Monge & Associates extends services to Duluth, East Point, and Warner Robins, offering dedicated legal support for wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases. Wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases often involve complex legal challenges and require meticulous attention to detail. These cases demand extensive resources to uncover negligence, secure critical evidence, and present compelling claims for fair compensation. Monge & Associates is uniquely positioned to meet these challenges with a dedicated team of personal injury attorneys specializing in wrongful death lawsuits and catastrophic injury claims. Victims and their families can access a free consultation by visiting www.becauseyouwanttowin.com or calling (888) 477-0597. Motor vehicle accidents often lead to traumatic injuries that can alter the course of a victim's entire life. From spinal cord injuries to severe brain injuries, the physical and emotional toll on personal injury victims can be immense. Such cases often require the expertise of catastrophic injury attorneys, who work alongside medical experts to assess the long-term impact of injuries, such as nerve damage and cognitive function impairments. These professionals meticulously review accident reports and medical records to ensure that the responsible parties are held accountable. The firm's wrongful death lawyers and personal injury attorneys have a proven track record of success, advocating for accident victims to obtain justice and hold negligent parties accountable. Whether dealing with severe injuries resulting from vehicular accidents, workplace incidents, or medical mistakes, Monge & Associates is focused on securing fair compensation. The firm pursues a wide range of damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, punitive damages, and compensation for emotional distress caused by wrongful actions. Wrongful death actions require a comprehensive understanding of legal procedures and the standard of care owed by the responsible party. The attorneys at Monge & Associates assist families in navigating these complexities with sensitivity and professionalism, ensuring their claims are handled with precision. Legal action in such cases often seeks compensation for types of damages such as funeral costs, loss of companionship, and other financial hardships arising from the untimely loss of a deceased victim. By holding negligent parties accountable, the firm aims to prevent similar wrongful actions and promote higher standards of care across industries. In catastrophic injury cases, victims face life-altering consequences, including permanent disabilities and devastating injuries that require long-term medical care. Monge & Associates helps accident victims recover compensation for medical records, ongoing treatments, rehabilitation, and future care needs. Common types of injuries addressed by the firm include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and severe burn injuries, often resulting from workplace accidents, defective products, or unsafe premises. Wrongful death attorneys also play a critical role in helping grieving families pursue justice, ensuring that negligent actions are addressed with the seriousness they deserve. The personal injury lawyers at Monge & Associates are well-versed in handling cases involving emotional distress and physical suffering. With a focus on upholding the duty of care owed to accident victims, the legal team employs a strategic approach to ensure favorable outcomes for their clients. Trial verdicts obtained by the firm demonstrate its ability to achieve justice for injured parties and their families, even in cases involving complex liability or criminal charges. Victims suffering from internal injuries or requiring extensive medical treatments often face mounting medical bills and a significant financial burden. Catastrophic injuries may necessitate assistive devices, ongoing rehabilitation, or long-term care, all of which impact the victim's quality of life. In such cases, a personal injury lawsuit can provide a pathway to financial compensation for both economic losses and non-economic damages, such as mental anguish and diminished enjoyment of life. For families navigating this difficult time, wrongful death claims may address funeral expenses and other costs associated with the loss of a deceased person. The long-term impact of these injuries can be profound, affecting not only physical health but also the emotional and psychological well-being of victims and their loved ones. Accessing proper medical attention and obtaining support from a catastrophic injury attorney are essential steps in reclaiming stability after a life-altering incident. Through diligent representation, legal professionals work to secure financial resources that allow victims to focus on recovery and adjust to their new realities. By extending its reach to Duluth, East Point, and Warner Robins, Monge & Associates seeks to bring its winning approach to more communities in Georgia. The firm's legal team is equipped to handle a diverse range of cases, including personal injury claims, catastrophic injury claims, and wrongful death lawsuits. Through its expansion, the firm reaffirms its dedication to providing compassionate and effective legal representation for families facing the aftermath of negligence. Listen to the "Inside Monge & Associates: Scott Monge on Legal Leadership and Client Service" episode on "The Attorney Post - If you don't know your rights, you don't have any!" show. Georgia's trusted injury law firm, Monge & Associates, now advocates for wrongful death and catastrophic injury victims in Duluth, East Point, and Warner Robins. About Monge & Associates Injury And Accident Attorneys Monge & Associates focuses exclusively on personal injury law, helping clients maximize compensation after serious injuries. With expertise in cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, slip and fall incidents, defective products, and more, the firm builds each case as if it will go to trial. Monge & Associates operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning no fees are charged unless the case is won. They also offer a Big Settlement Guarantee and a Client Satisfaction Guarantee, ensuring clients are confident in their legal representation. Press Inquiries Monge & Associates Injury And Accident Attorneys https://www.becauseyouwanttowin.com/ Justin West justin@rankwithnews.com 8205 Dunwoody Pl Building 19 Atlanta, GA 30350, United States To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231685 SOURCE: Monge & Associates Injury And Accident Attorneys Elaborating on the incident, the victim alleged that the actor had called her to his house, during which he tried to misbehave with her, and also forcibly touched her inappropriately read more A case has been registered against actor Sharad Kapoor, who is known for Josh, LOC Kargil, Lakshya and others, for alleged misbehaviour and inappropriately touching a woman. As per the Khar police in Mumbai, a 32-year-old woman filed a case. Elaborating on the incident, the victim alleged that the actor had called her to his house, during which he tried to misbehave with her, and also forcibly touched her inappropriately. The victim said that she came in contact with Sharad Kapoor through Facebook, after which she spoke to him through video call, Sharad told her that he wanted to meet her to talk about the shooting. After this, he had sent his location through the phone, she was asked to come to the office in Khar, but on going there, she found that it was not his office but home. Advertisement When she reached the house on the third floor of the building, a man opened the door and Sharad from inside gave a voice and asked to come to his bedroom. In the evening, Sharad sent a WhatsApp message to the woman and used foul language. The victim narrated the entire incident to a friend, who then approached the nearby Khar police station and lodged a complaint against the actor. No statement has been issued from the actor with regards to the incident. An FIR has been registered against Sharad Kapoor under section 74 (Assault or use of criminal force against a woman), 75 (sexual harassment) and 79 (insult the modesty of any woman) of Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita. In an interview with The Free Press Journal, Sharad broke his silence and said, I did not know when the case was filed against me. I had just returned from New York. The police contacted me, but right now, I am in Kolkata. The incident did not occur; how can I take anyones name forcefully? With added inputs from agencies A project to revive the diminishing number of medicinal leeches was launched by the London Zoo and it has been successful. These leeches played a major role in treatments ranging from hysteria to syphilis in the 18th and 19th centuries. Here is why their revival is good news read more Leeches were imported in Britain and Ireland from Europe, Russia and Africa in the 19th century. Pixabay As we tidy away the Dracula capes and glow-in-the-dark plastic fangs for another winter, one notorious bloodsucker has had a particularly good year. For the first time, the medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis has been bred in captivity at London Zoo, part of a longer-term project to help this fascinating if unloved creature. Once widespread in the UK, the medicinal leech is now rare due mainly to habitat loss and historic collecting for medical use. Advertisement In Ireland, the leech was driven to extinction in the 19th century. Their vulnerability is recognised in international conventions and biodiversity audits. You may have heard about leeches being used indiscriminately to treat all kinds of illnesses, from cancer to mental illness in the 19th century. The discrediting of general bleeding as a treatment for everything from hysteria to syphilis in the 19th century largely put an end to this history. Leeches made a medical comeback as hirudotherapy in 1960s. Pixabay However, in 1884 leech saliva was identified as an anticoagulant, called hirodine. Surgeons still use leeches to improve the success rates of surgery, such as when reattaching severed fingers as their saliva prevents post-surgery blood clotting inside veins. What were the uses of medicinal leeches? The medicinal leech was once widespread in Britain and Ireland. Their popular use in medicine resulted in a lucrative international market in the 18th and 19th centuries. They seem to have been a bit of a luxury treatment, too expensive for the poor. The use of leeches to treat all sorts of ailments goes back to at least 1500BC, appearing in Egyptian tomb decorations. Leeches were imported in Britain and Ireland from Europe, Russia and Africa, but some of these leeches werent what they seemed. For example, the less effective leech, Hirudo decora, was passed off as the more effective medicinal leech. H decora, which was imported, does not bite as deep and so was less effective at draining blood. Declining leech numbers and increasing prices led to attempts at leech farming, which seem to have failed although commercial stock are farmed today and at least one Welsh leech merchant has survived since 1812 and still supplies the NHS and vets. At the same time as their population declined so did their medical use in Britain, fading away in the early 20th century due to cost, rarity and changing medical treatments. Why leeches are used for medicinal purposes? Leeches made a medical comeback as hirudotherapy, starting in the 1960s and widely used since the 1980s. Researchers have found over 100 substances in leech saliva useful to medicine, such as anti-inflammatory agents, antibiotics and pain relievers. The main focus though is plastic surgery, where tissues are being reconnected, such as skin grafts or detached ears, noses (and other bodily extremities prone to variations in blood flow). Advertisement Sometimes in reconstructive surgery, blood pools in the veins and cant flow back to the heart and lungs, which can cause tissue death. Thats when leeches would be applied straight to the wound site. When they bite, their saliva transfers anticoagulants into the patients bloodstream, which helps increase blood flow. The comeback is the result of the leechs remarkable ability to take a blood meal without the blood coagulating inside it, which would be fatal to the leech. These fascinating creatures have tiny sensory structures all over their body called sensilla. Pixabay Other chemicals increase blood flow to the bite area and the person bitten often does not notice as the leech releases anti-inflammatory and pain-killing substances. Leech saliva also has anti-microbial properties, which protect the wound it leaves from infection. Advertisement Hopefully I have convinced you it is a good thing that 40 baby medicinal leeches were born this year at London zoo, a modest number but a breakthrough given these are from one of the remaining native populations in the UK. The baby leeches offer hope of boosting fragmented wild populations. As a slithery, blood sucking creature of pools and wetlands, leeches can be a hard sell to the public. And humans have long distrusted the mud and ooze of its wetland home. There was even a 1959 black-and-white horror film, called Attack of the Giant Leeches, playing on our fear of them. Advertisement But I would argue leeches have a sense of mystery and excitement. All about leeches I suspect anyone who has ever run a pond dip (trawling a pond with a small net) with children will have heard a similar shriek of delight as a leech is spotted in the catch, although these are more likely to be one of the 16 other freshwater leeches that live in the UK that the medicinal leech. And our aversion to them is misplaced as most of the 600 species worldwide are not bloodsuckers, at least not the blood of humans. These fascinating creatures have tiny sensory structures all over their body called sensilla that are thought to help them detect water motion and light. Some leeches, including medicinal leeches, have as many as five pairs of eyes on their head although some have just one pair. They are more caring than most invertebrate parents and some pass nutrients to their young across their bodies a bit like a placenta. Some even starve themselves to feed their babies when food is hard to come by. So, remember that appearances can be deceiving and leeches are our friends. Humans have a complicated history with leeches but it looks like they are here to stay if we let them. Advertisement Mike Jeffries, Associate Professor, Ecology, Northumbria University, Newcastle This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh led to violent protests and chaos. It has once again raised questions about the safety of Hindu minorities in the country. All this and more in our weekly wrap from around the world read more Policemen charge baton to disperse the supporters of Bangladeshi Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu after they surrounded police van carrying their leader at the court premises, in Chittagong in southeastern Bangladesh, on Tuesday (November 26). AP Its been a tense week in Indias neighbourhood. Unrest gipped Bangladesh after Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu was arrested on November 25 (Monday). This led to protests by minority groups, which ended in clashes with the police. India too has condemned the arrest. Pakistan also saw massive protests by supporters of Imran Khan. Its capital Islamabad was under lockdown as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party backers took to the streets. The demonstrations turned violent as protesters clashed with police, bringing life to a standstill. As security forces launched a midnight raid on November 26 (Tuesday), the PTI supporters retreated. Advertisement This week gave West Asia some hope of peace. Israel and Lebanon agreed to a ceasefire, which went into effect on Wednesday (November 27). Is a similar deal with Hamas on the cards? We tell you all about it. With each passing day, we are getting more insights into what the Trump presidency will look like. He has pledged to impose tariffs on the three largest trading partners of the US Canada, Mexico, and China. India has found no mention yet and that could just be a temporary relief. Australia grabbed headlines, as it became the first in the world to ban social media for children below 16. And the UK debated a bill on assisted dying. All this and more in our weekly roundup of explainers from around the world. 1. In Bangladesh, tensions are on the rise once again after the arrest of Hindu priest Chinmoy Das in Dhaka. His supporters clashed with police as he was brought to court in Chittagong. Amid the violence, a lawyer died. As India has raised concerns over the arrest, there is growing scrutiny over the security of Hindus and other minorities in the country. But why was the monk arrested and what has been the fallout? We explain. Advertisement 2. In Pakistan, supporters of Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) marched toward Islamabad on Monday (November 25) demanding his release. The capital remained under lockdown, the internet was shut down and security measures were heightened. But violence erupted as police and rangers cracked down on the protesters, leaving at least eight dead and dozens injured. In the end, PTI supporters retracted. But with the former prime minister in jail, how does he continue to wield influence over the country? Pakistani Army soldiers stand guard over a shipping container used to block the road leading to the parliament house, to prevent an anti-government protest rally by supporters of the former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khans party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) demanding the release of Khan, in Islamabad on Tuesday (November 26). Reuters 3. After months of conflict in West Asia, there is a lingering hope for peace. Israel and Lebanon accepted a ceasefire deal which would bring an end to fighting with Hezbollah. It calls for a 60-day pause in the conflict. But whats in the pact? And what does this mean for the militant group? We answer the questions in this explainer. Advertisement A view of a destroyed building in southern Lebanon, after the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, as seen from Israels side of the border with Lebanon, on Friday (November 29). Reuters 4. Since the Russia-Ukraine war passed its 1,000th day last week, there has been an escalation. There were unfounded murmurs about World War 3. On Thursday (November 28), Russia launched a comprehensive attack on Ukraines energy grid. President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that cluster munitions were used by Moscow. What are these controversial armaments? A car passes next to residential buildings during a power outage, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv. An attack against Ukraines energy infrastructure on Thursday (November 28) left more than a million households without power. File photo/Reuters 5. Its official! Australia will ban children under 16 from using social after its parliament approved the first such law in the world. The ban will come into effect only after 12 months and could see tech companies fined up to AUD 50 million if they fail to comply. But how will this ban be implemented? Advertisement 6. Donald Trumps America is likely to be starkly different from the country we have seen under Joe Biden. His infamous mass deportation programme has created fear among many. Universities are worried too. They are now asking foreign students to return to campus before Trump takes oath on January 20. Heres why. 7. Trump continues to deliver surprises with his controversial choices of people who will help him lead the country. This week, he picked Indian-origin Dr Jay Bhattacharya as the director of the National Institute of Health, the countrys medical research agency. The Standford University professor and health policy expert is a critic of pandemic-induced lockdowns; he has opposed mask mandates and booster shots. Heres everything you need to know about him. Advertisement Thats all from us this week. Hope our reading list keeps you up-to-date with the news. You can find more such explainers here. PS: Its World Aids Day today. Heres an interesting story about how the red ribbon became synonymous with Aids activism Today, the red ribbon is globally recognised as the symbol of support in the fight against Aids. But how did this folded little piece of six inches of ribbon become an international sign? read more A woman with a red ribbon symbolising the fight against Aids in Kyiv, Ukraine. The red ribbon ha been a symbol of Aids since 1991. File image/Reuters Almost 65 years after the worlds first Aids case was documented in Kinshasa in what was then the Belgian Congo, the red ribbon has become the symbol of support for this condition. Celebrities, activists and the common man across the world wear the ribbon to show their solidarity for those afflicted by the disease. But how was the red ribbon chosen to serve this purpose how did it become one of the worlds most recognisable symbols and what exactly does it mean? Advertisement The Aids crisis In the mid-80s, the world was battling a health crisis that no one wanted to talk about; it was Aids. For many at the time, it was known as the gay disease, because gay men were one of the primary groups afflicted. Many newspapers carried reports of gay men being admitted to hospitals in New York with severely compromised immune systems. Such was the situation that on May 25, 1983, the New York Times published its first front-page article on Aids. The report had the US governments top health official saying that the investigation of Aids had become the No. 1 priority of the United States Public Health Service. It was amidst this crisis that a group of artists, known as Visual Aids which later grew into a global movement that used art to raise awareness about the disease. Birth of the Red Ribbon In 1991, this collective met in New York with the idea of creating a meaningful symbol to show support and compassion for those with AIDS and their caregivers. The artists wanted to get people talking about the illness that was decimating their professional and social network. As Allen Frame, one of the 12 who was at the meeting told BBC, Even in New York, we were very aware of how many people couldnt talk about it, or were oblivious, or were going through it themselves but ashamed to talk about it. We wanted to make people feeling isolated more supported and understood. People walk past a giant red ribbon set up on the facade of the Birds Nest during a World Aids Day event in Beijing. File image/Reuters Their inspiration came from the yellow ribbons tied to trees to denote support for the US military fighting the Gulf War. And thats how the red ribbon was born. Tom Sokolowski, one of the founders of Visual Aids recounts how the idea of the red ribbon came about. I remember, in 91, during the Kuwait War, I was doing grand jury down in lower Manhattan, so Id take the subway down. One day, there are all these old duffers on the subway wearing these corsages made of yellow ribbon, because there was that song that goes back many years, Tie the yellow ribbon round the old oak tree to show that you had some member of your family in the military. I thought, Maybe we can do something [wearable] in terms of Aids. Advertisement I told the story [at the next meeting], and someone said, Well come up with something, and at the next meeting, they came back with the red ribbon. I remember a lot of people said, Oh I like that, and I said, I think its sort of cheesy, but everyone went for it. University students hold red ribbons at a photo opportunity during an HIV/Aids awareness rally in Chengdu, Sichuan province. File image/Reuters They decided on red and rejected pink and rainbow colours because they were too closely associated with the gay community, and, according to them, Aids went well beyond it. Red was something bold and visible. It symbolised passion, a heart and love, said Frame. They further decided on the ribbon because it was easy to recreate and wear. The original instructions as per Visual Aids were to cut the red ribbon in six-inch length, then fold at the top into an inverted V shape. Advertisement Red Ribbon gains fame Initially, the red ribbon was restricted to members of Visual Aids and its supporters. However, its big moment came in June 1991 at the Tony Awards. To date, actor Jeremy Irons is credited as being the first celebrity to wear the red ribbon. Others at the awards show also wore the ribbon. But no one explained the ribbons on air. According to rumours, the network threatened to go to commercial break if anyone tried to talk about Aids. Turns out, this degree of mystery provided some incredibly good press, and the next day, newspapers were buzzing about these mysterious red ribbons and what they meant. Many celebrities such as David Beckham have been seen with the red ribbon. File image/Reuters Soon, the red ribbon became renowned as a symbol of Aids and celebrities were seen wearing the red ribbon at the Emmys, the Oscars and the Grammys. Demand increased significantly and Visual Aids had to use a charity working with homeless women to make the ribbons. In 1992, the red ribbons travelled across the Atlantic and were distributed to all in attendance at an Aids benefit concert in Londons Wembley Stadium for Freddie Mercury, who died of Aids-related bronchial pneumonia a year ago. Advertisement Simple and free According to the creators of the red ribbon, its success can be attributed to its simplicity. The red ribbon took off because of its aesthetic and constructive simplicity. It was easy to make, elegantly understated, and visually arresting. As Sokolowski told Medium: We wanted people to be able to do it themselves and for it not to cost something. We imagined that it would need some kind of text explanation, so the first time that we gave them out, we created these little texts, and then we realised I dont know at what point but we realised that the text was superfluous. Condoms form the red ribbon, which represents the international symbol for Aids at a wall of establishment in Sao Paulo, Brazil. File image/Reuters Something interesting about the red ribbon is that it was never trademarked. Some believe that if they did the symbol would not have been embraced so universally. The spirit of the project was that everyone had permission to use it. Advertisement Sokolowski speaking on the same was quoted as saying: We had some discussion about whether we should copyright the ribbon. Enough of us felt that if we did that, there would be all sorts of paperwork, and we wanted the ribbon to go viral it was metaphorical for HIV, of course, going viral. But if we trademarked, youd have to ask for permission, so we just said no, this is the kind of ribbon youd use, this is the kind of pin you use, go and do it. And others did. Today, breast cancer is symbolised by the pink ribbon. The US Postal Service also issued a 29 cent Red Ribbon stamp. Criticism of the Red Ribbon But as with all things, even the red ribbon symbol has some critics. Some believe that wearing the red ribbon is an easy way out. Some argue that by wearing the red ribbon you can show you care about Aids and people who suffer from it, without having to do anything else. But the artists behind the red ribbon differ and as Hope Sandrow, an artist and early member of Visual AIDS, said: The red ribbon brought us all together to say, Were all in it together. It didnt matter that I wasnt HIV positive. I could still wear the ribbon and identify with the group. It was critically important that we all identified as a group, and that the people that were suffering werent singled out. The purpose of the red ribbon was a unifier. With inputs from agencies Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Sunday that his party will not be part of any alliances for the Delhi Assembly Polls next year, delivering a major blow to the INDIA bloc read more In a major blow to the INDIA bloc, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday that his party will not be in any alliances in the Delhi Assembly polls, which is slated for next year. The remarks from the AAP supremo came at a press conference on Sunday. The political landscape of Delhi has changed dramatically in recent months ahead of the polls. The union territory has already witnessed several high-profile defections, with many Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders jumping ship to AAP. AAP will have no alliance for assembly polls in Delhi, the former Delhi CM responded to a query at a press conference, PTI reported. Advertisement It is pertinent to note that AAP and Congress have been part of the opposition INDIA bloc and fought the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi together earlier this year. Both parties drew a blank, with the BJP winning all seats. The cracks were visible The cracks between both parties were visible after they failed to reach a seat-sharing agreement ahead of the Haryana Assembly polls in October, despite several rounds of talks. This year, AAP was marred by a plethora of legal cases, which put the partys top leaders behind bars. After getting bail in the liquor policy case, Kejriwal resigned from the office of Delhi Chief Minister and passed on the baton to Atishi. Hence, the Delhi elections will likely test AAPs governance credentials against the BJPs efforts to expand its influence in the capital. Meanwhile, the Congress will now try to find its existence in the state, which the party lost in 2013. This is not the first time AAP rejected allying with Congress. Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Kejriwal had ruled out a tie-up with the Congress in Punjab and announced that his party would contest all 13 seats on its own. In Delhi, the ruling party currently holds 62 seats in the 70-member legislature. Earlier this week, AAP announced its first list of 11 candidates. Interestingly, 6 leaders out of them switched from BJP and Congress and joined Kejriwals party. During the Sunday presser, the AAP chief also addressed the incident in which a liquid substance was thrown at him during a padyatra on Saturday. Advertisement He slammed the Central government and said that the incident indicated a complete breakdown of the law and order situation in the city. I had this expectation that Home Minister Amit Shah would take some action after I raised the issue (law & order) But, instead of that, I was being attacked during my padyatra. Liquid was thrown at me, it was harmless, but it could have been harmful, Kejriwal exclaimed. Congress and the INDIA bloc are yet to respond to Kejriwals decision. With inputs from PTI. On January 20, next year, as the 47th President of the United States of America, Donald Trump is set to take centre stage in world politics. There is a lot of churning happening in the power corridors of great and emerging powers as to how his policies will impact the region they belong to. The Indo-Pacific is one such region. In his earlier term, Trump has shown a remarkable zeal to enable Indo-Pacific security as a chief concern in world politics. Indo-Pacific is a near entrant in the strategic lexicon. Three main factors constitute its rapid development in the strategic landscape; one is the return of manufacturing hubs eastward, which has caused an increase in the sea lines of communication. The second reason is the rise of Eastern economic and strategic powers, including China, India, and Japan. The third reason is Chinese belligerence in the region, which increased manifold after Xi Jinpings ascent to power. Advertisement The Indo-Pacific region has also historically seen an all-out war in the Cold War. These few concerns are central to the development of the US strategy for the Indo-Pacific. Unlike NATO, which has been an anchor for European security during the Cold War period, the US here relied on making bilateral alliances commonly known as the hubs and spokes arrangement. Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Australia had security ties like this with the US during the Cold War period. After the end of the Cold War, the liberal economic development led towards close cooperation in the region and enabled the growth of two nuclear-armed neighbours, India and China. It was all going hunky-dory until the Communist Party of China appointed Xi Jinping as its leader and the leader of China. His nationalist revisionist stances problematised the security calculus in the region, prompting the other powers in the region to take a stance against it. During the first term of President Trump, it was clear that the Indo-Pacific would be a central focus of American foreign policy priorities. The 2022 Russia-Ukraine war and the 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict have indeed kept the foreign policy mandarins of the US busy, but President Trumps aggressive stance against China in trade-related areas is visible; it can very soon translate into areas of strategic importance such as the Indo-Pacific and the South China Sea. The South China Sea continues to play a pivotal role in Chinas regional dominance strategy. Island dredging, making and militarising artificial islands, and the stationing of coast guard vessels in disputed territories have created a volatile security situation. Such actions undermine the sovereignty of countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam and undermine the UNCLOS. Trumps policies might challenge Chinas grey-zone tactics in disputed waters, such as maritime militias and artificial island construction. Enhanced defence agreements, like the US-Philippines Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), may be used to project power in the region. However, Trumps transactional diplomacy and sometimes neglect of multilateralism could leave holes in a unified regional strategy. Advertisement Other than the South China Sea, Taiwan also complements the security calculus of the Indo-Pacific. Trumps first term has seen a significant escalation in arms sales to Taiwan, including advanced weaponry such as F-16 fighter jets, Stinger missiles, and coastal defence systems. A second term could accelerate this trend, focusing on providing Taiwan with asymmetric warfare capabilities to counter a potential Chinese invasion. Such assistance might include increased sales of drones, cyber defence systems, and naval vessels. Advanced missile systems such as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) would strengthen the capacity of Taiwans deterrence against possible amphibious attacks. By looking at this complex picture, one can assess that there might be ample possibilities of a highly militarised Indo-Pacific, considering the threats from China. The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is one such initiative led by the dominant powers of the region, except China, which works as a balancing strategy for the potential threat. Quad members, Australia, Japan, India, and the US, have tried to develop an institutional structure that, in case of any threat, can be used. Advertisement Nevertheless, it is not as institutionalised as NATO which binds the member states for collective defence against any threat. Many times, China has accused the alliance by naming it Asian NATO working against it. Nevertheless, the Quad countries have reiterated that they promote ASEAN centrality for a free and open Indo-Pacific, which effectively translates into enabling the smaller states of the Indo-Pacific to have their own vision for the Indo-Pacific. In September 2025, India will host the Quad Summit, which will be attended by President Trump. There is a high chance that the roles of Quad might get redefined. The collective naval capabilities of the Quad are critical to freedom of navigation and countering Chinas grey-zone tactics. Already, joint exercises, such as the Malabar naval drills, demonstrate the Quads ability to operate in contested waters and project power in the region. The Quad can strengthen the maritime capabilities of the smaller Southeast Asian nations. Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia can be offered training, equipment, and surveillance technologies to be effective against Chinese coercion. Advertisement Having said that, to conclude, Trump 2.0 will likely exacerbate the competitive dynamic between the US and China, challenging the Indo-Pacifics precarious balance. Although his hardline posture may discourage Chinese assertiveness, inconsistent multilateral engagement might alienate Southeast Asian states. In this case, Quad may rescue him. The future course of US influence in the region will depend on Trumps ability to navigate alliances in a manner that counters Chinas ambition but promotes regional stability. Nevertheless, the region is going to be volatile for the next few years. Harsh Pandey is a PhD Candidate in the Centre for European Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Advertisement Till now the nuclear threat was being used politically, but now we are getting closer to its military use read more A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile being launched from an air field during military drills in Russia. According to a statement from the Defence Ministry, the exercises are in response to "provocative statements and threats of certain Western officials regarding the Russian Federation". File image/AP President Vladimir Putin confirmed that among rising tensions created by the US and UK clearing their supplied missiles for long-range strikes into Russia, Moscow tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) named Oreshnik in an assault on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Till now, Washington had banned Ukraine from using high-precision Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to strike targets in Russia. Joe Biden, the outgoing US president, had recently reversed that decision and given the green light to Ukraine. Moscow said six US-made ATACMS missiles were launched at Russia on November 19, and Anglo-French MBDA Storm Shadow/Scalp-EG cruise missiles and US-made HIMARS were fired at the country on November 21. Moscow said this makes Western countries direct participants in the conflict. The Russian missile was known to have multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) capability. Advertisement What are ballistic and cruise missiles? Ballistic missiles are powered initially by a rocket or series of rockets in stages, but then follow an unpowered trajectory that arches upwards before descending to reach its intended target. Ballistic missiles can carry either nuclear or conventional warheads. There are four general classifications of ballistic missiles based on their range, or the maximum distance the missile can travel. These are short-range tactical (less than 1,000 kilometres); medium-range theatre (1,000 to 3,000 kilometres); intermediate-range (3,000 to 5,500 kilometres); and long-range, ICBMs, or strategic ballistic missiles (more than 5,500 kilometres). Ballistic missiles have three stages of flight: The boost phase begins at launch and lasts until the rocket engine(s) stop firing and the missile begins unpowered flight. Depending on the missile, the boost phase can last three to five minutes. Most of this phase takes place in the atmosphere. The midcourse phase begins after the rocket(s) stop firing. The missile continues to ascend toward the highest point in its trajectory and then begins to descend toward Earth. This is the longest phase of a missiles flight, and for ICBMs, it can last around 20 minutes. During the midcourse phase, ICBMs can travel around 24,000 kilometres per hour. Re-entry to the Earths atmosphere is at very high velocities, on the order of 68 kilometres per second (22,00029,000 km/h). The terminal phase begins when the detached warhead(s) re-enter the Earths atmosphere and ends upon impact or detonation. This phase can last for less than a minute. Internal computers keep the missile aligned on a pre-programmed trajectory. Many ballistic missiles reach hypersonic speeds (i.e., Mach 5 and above) when they re-enter the atmosphere from space. However, the term hypersonic ballistic missile is generally only given to those that can be manoeuvred before hitting their target and dont follow a simple ballistic trajectory. The missiles with the worlds heaviest payloads are the Russian SS-18 and Chinese CSS-4, and as of 2017, Russia has developed a new heavy-lift, liquid-propellant ICBM called the Sarmat. Other ICBMs include the LGM-30 Minuteman III, Russian RS-24 Yars and R-36 (SS-18), Chinese DF-31 and DF-41, North Korean Hwasong-18, Indias Agni-V and Agni-VI, Israels Jericho III, among many others. Countries like Iran have IRBMs with ranges of up to 1,500 kilometres. Advertisement Cruise missiles are unmanned vehicles that are propelled by jet engines, much like an airplane. They can be launched from ground, air, or sea platforms. Cruise missiles remain within the atmosphere for the duration of their flight and can fly as low as a few meters off the ground. Flying low to the surface of the earth expends more fuel but makes a cruise missile very difficult to detect. Cruise missiles are self-guided and use multiple methods to accurately deliver their payload, including terrain mapping, global positioning systems (GPS), and inertial guidance, which uses motion sensors and gyroscopes to keep the missile on a pre-programmed flight path. As advanced cruise missiles approach their target, remote operators can use a camera in the nose of the missile to see what the missile sees. This gives them the option to manually guide the missile to its target or to abort the strike. Advertisement What is MIRV? The MIRVs were developed to permit a missile to deliver multiple nuclear warheads to different targets. These warheads can be released from the missile at different speeds and in different directions. Some MIRVed missiles can hit targets as far as 1,500 kilometres apart. Russia has a MIRV missile under development that can carry up to 16 warheads. MIRVs are much more difficult to defend against than traditional missiles and are considered effective ballistic missile defence (BMD) countermeasures. The development of MIRV technology is not easy. It requires the combination of large missiles, small warheads, accurate guidance, and a complex mechanism for releasing warheads sequentially during flight. The United States was the first country to develop MIRV technology in 1970. The Soviet Union had a similar capability by the end 1970s. The United Kingdom, France, and China have MIRVed ICBMs. India tested its MIRV capability on the Agni V missile in March 2024. Though India has a No First Use nuclear policy, its MIRV test caused alarm about a potential first-strike instrument in New Delhis inventory. Indian analysts feel that Indias MIRV test aims to make a qualitative technological advance to catch up with and increase deterrence against China and strengthen the no-first-use doctrine. Advertisement North Korea and Pakistan are both experimenting with MIRV technologies and could soon have such capability. In fact, North Korea did announce in June 2024 that it had successfully tested a multi-warhead missile. The US assessment is that it was a premature statement. The MIRV is a new arms race, and the growing MIRV club is a globally worrisome nuclear arsenal trend. And could drastically reduce crisis reaction instability. Possession and possible use of MIRVs with nuclear payloads have very significant deterrence dynamics. MIRVs make great first-strike and second-strike weapons and therefore will be the first to be targeted by an adversary. If a first-strike attack were to destroy a nations MIRVed missiles, that nations ability to retaliate would be disproportionately damaged. Advertisement Advantage hypersonic and MIRV Weapons travelling at hypersonic speed give little time for reaction to air defence systems. If the weapon is manoeuvrable, then it is difficult to ascertain the targeted destination. MIRV can hit multiple targets largely spaced apart, complicating defences. Some decoy missiles could also be launched to confuse the adversary and reduce chances of interception of the main warheads. It would be very expensive to maintain a viable defence against MIRVs. Ukraines claims of having shot down many hypersonic Kinzhal missiles are highly questionable. The MIRV - Oreshnik The Russian hypersonic Oreshnik missile is based on the RS-26 Rubezh ICBM. It can carry six warheads. Videos posted to social media showed the missile breaking into six warheads. Kyiv claimed that Russia had used the ICBM along with a barrage of other missiles at Dnipro. Putin said that even the modern air defences cannot intercept the Oreshnik. Putin also stated that Russia will address the question of further deployment of intermediate and shorter-range missiles based on the actions of the United States and its satellites (friends in Europe). Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow was in no doubt that Washington had understood that the strike on Dnipro was a warning. Such actions cannot remain without a reaction from the Russian side, he added. The director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists said, To my knowledge, yes, its the first time MIRV has been used in combat. Ukraines Main Intelligence Directorate said it was fired from the 4th Missile Test Range, Kapustin Yar, in Russias Astrakhan region and flew 15 minutes before striking Dnipro. Much weakened, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned of a clear escalation. NATO reaction NATO held an emergency meeting with Ukraine at the alliance headquarters in Brussels immediately to discuss Moscows use of the missile. The NATO Ukraine Council is a grouping of NATO ambassadors and their Ukrainian counterparts. Both Moscow and NATO have so-called red lines that could trigger outright war between them if crossed. Bidens last-minute permission to strike deep inside Russia had actually divided Europe. Britain and France have long insisted on a more aggressive posture, but Germany refused to give Taurus missiles to Ukraine. The Russians reaction was known, but the ballistic missile attack sent shockwaves across the world and rattled strategists and nuclear experts. Anti-Ballistic Missile System An anti-ballistic missile (ABM) is a surface-to-air missile designed to counter ballistic missiles (missile defence). The term anti-ballistic missile is a generic term for a system designed to intercept and destroy any type of ballistic threat; however, it is commonly used for systems specifically designed to counter intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). American Ground-Based Midcourse Defence (GMD) system, Israels Arrow 3, Russian A-135 ABM system, and the Indian Prithvi Defence Vehicle Mark 2 are some examples. The THAAD, or Aegis, or Patriot defences provide shorter-range defence against incoming projectiles. Many American systems are placed for the defence of Europe and also South Korea and Japan. Russias S-500 and the US Integrated Air and Missile Defence Battle Command System (IBCS) are among the latest systems. The Aster is a family of missiles jointly developed by France and Italy, capable of ballistic missile defence. France, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands, the HYDIS (HYpersonic Defence Interceptor Study) was announced on June 20, 2023, and is a project led by MBDA. Israels Davids Sling, designed to intercept tactical ballistic missiles. China has the Fan Ji (FJ) series of missile interceptors and the XianFeng missile-intercepting cannon. The HQ-9 SAM, S-400 system, and the HQ-19, similar to the THAAD, are some of them. The HQ-29 is a counterpart to the MIM-104F PAC-3. The technology and experience from the successful anti-satellite test using a ground-launched interceptor during January 2007 were immediately applied to current ABM efforts and development. China is the second country after the US that demonstrated intercepting a ballistic missile with a kinetic kill vehicle; the interceptor missile was an SC-19. On February 4, 2021, China successfully conducted a mid-course intercept anti-ballistic missile test. Indias Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) is an exo-atmospheric interceptor system. On 6 December 2007, the Advanced Air Defence (AAD) missile system was tested successfully. The Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) is designed to take out the target missile at altitudes above 150 km. India successfully launched AAD, renamed Ashwin, and now the BMD test program is complete and awaits operational deployment. India also has the S-400. Indias current BMD range is 2,000 km, and Phase 2 will increase it up to 5,000 km. ABMs against all-out attack and MIRVs Difficulties that had already made an ABM system questionable for defending against an all-out attack combined with MIRV. One problem was the low-earth orbit-based Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS) that would give little warning to the defence. Another problem was high-altitude EMP (whether from offensive or defensive nuclear warheads), which could degrade defensive radar systems. A large number of interceptors will thus be required. The Reagan-era Strategic Defence Initiative (often referred to as Star Wars), along with research into various energy-beam weaponry, brought new interest in the area of ABM technologies. That may be the future for ABMs. Space-based ABM, such as Brilliant Pebbles", consisted of a thousand very small, intelligent, orbiting satellites with kinetic warheads. The many small interceptors would cooperatively communicate among themselves and target a large swarm of ICBM warheads in space or in the late boost phase. Such programs could be revived. To summarise The largest ballistic missile attack in history took place on October 1, 2024, when the Iranian Revolutionary Guard launched about 200 missiles at Israel, a distance of about 1,500 kilometres. The missiles arrived about 15 minutes after launch. It is believed that Irans Fattah-1 and Kheybar Shekan missiles were used, which both have a range of about 1,500 km. Most or many of these were intercepted by Israeli and American ABM systems. Use of a ballistic missile by a major nuclear power like Russia has different connotations, more so with a clear threat to those who possess nuclear weapons. During a televised address to his country, President Putin stated that the country was entitled to use their weapons against those who supplied weapons to Ukraine to hit targets in Russia. He added that countries that would be targeted would be given advance warnings to evacuate to safety. Undoubtedly it was an escalatory decision by the significantly weakened outgoing US presidency to allow the already losing Ukraine to fire Western weapons on targets in Russia. Russia has the largest inventory of nuclear weapons. As it is, many felt that Russia had been pushed into invading Ukraine by creating conditions for Ukraine to join NATO. Currently Russia is fighting the economic and military might of the very powerful West. Putin had no choice but to use the nuclear threat card. Till now it was being used politically, but now we are getting closer to its military use. In every act, Putin is scoring points, if not wins. Restraint is needed on both sides. After Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the power of atomic weapons has grown many thousand times. Nobody wants WWIII. The writer is former Director General, Centre for Air Power Studies. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Human memory is a strange thing. It can be very selective, allowing entire communities to remember only what is convenient to them and happily forgetting difficult aspects. It can also enable people to cling to one element of the past even at the expense of their future. Recent days have seen both aspects of human memory being demonstrated in a small town of western Uttar Pradesh. To a visitor, Sambhal is chaotic and unremarkable, just one more dot on a crowded map. This otherwise ordinary place has been making headlines, for all the wrong reasons. Advertisement The story is new, yet its nature is old. The focal point is a mosque, which is said to have been built on the site of a pre-existing Hindu temple devoted to Lord Vishnu. A recent petition filed in a lower court resulted in a survey being conducted at the site, to ascertain if it was once a temple. However, when a team went to do a second survey of the structure on November 24th, local Muslims indulged in street protest and violence. The police stepped in strongly. Lives were lost in Sambhal, headlines were made nationally and there was uproar in Parliament. Amidst all the noise, we try to make some sense of the varying theories flying around. Front view of the mosque at Sambhal As per media chatter, the origin of this conflict lies in the 16th century. A familiar name comes up, evoking a sense of deja vu - Zahir ud-Din Muhammad Babur, founding father of the Mughal dynasty. The number of times he makes headlines in the modern world is inverse proportion to the time he spent in India, dying in less than five years of his conquest of the northern plains. One set of historians attributes the construction of this mosque to a nobleman called Mir Hindu Beg, who apparently served both Babur as well as his son Humayun. Scholar Catherine Asher in her book Architecture of Mughal India states that the Sambhal mosque is the first extant Mughal building in India. Note that she describes it as being older than even the masjid built by Babur at Panipat itself. She further describes the mosque as The complex is entered through a gate on the east that opens to a large walled courtyard. The prayer chamberis rectangular with a large square central bay. Its entrance is set into a high pishtaqthe chamber is flanked on either side by three-bayed double-sided side wings. A single dome surmounts the central baythe mosques pishtaq and other features, resembling 15th century Sharqi structures in nearby Jaunpur suggest a reliance on local artisans and designers. Asher also mentions later that as per Hindu lore, Sambhal is the place where the tenth and last incarnation of Lord Vishnu is destined to appear. This belief in the foretold appearance of Kalki is strong in the local Hindu community, which today is barely 30 per cent of the total population here. And it is this belief that led to Prime Minister Narendra Modi laying the foundation of a Kalki Dham at Sambhal, earlier in 2024. Advertisement The Archaeological Survey of Indias (ASI) Agra Circle lists a Jami Masjid at Sambhal and makes no mention of a temple. When the recent chaos erupted, most right wingers in India believed that this was one more case of a Babur-era nobleman knocking over a temple to replace with a mosque, like in the case of Ayodhya. Painting of a mosque at Sambhal - painted in the late 1780s by the famed Daniell duo In the middle of this stepped the popular social media handle True Indology, whose research, on past topics, had proved factually correct on more than one occasion. The handle makes the following points: Abul Fazal in Ain-I-Akbari: This scholar of Emperor Akbars time, writing decades after Baburs death, mentions a Hari Mandal temple at Sambhal in the present tense. No further mention of a temple or mosque at Sambhal is found anywhere until the late 19th century. 1879 report of archaeologist Campbell Carlyle: The report is based on field work and conversations with locals in 1871-72. It mentions the mosque being the most prominent building at Sambhal, containing inscriptions dating the structure as being made in the time of Babur. However, in an all-important part, the report also states that these inscriptions within, are a forgery done by local Muslims to establish their claim on the mosque and that this forging was done as recently as the mid-19th century. Hindu design elements were covered and sculpted parts repurposed. True Indology was taken on by left wing history scholars who stated that the mosque also contained 17th century CE inscriptions which mentioned its repair, so the theory of a temple being changed into a mosque in the mid-19th century did not hold true. Referring to the Places of Worship Act, 1991, status quoists have opposed all efforts to rethink of the mosque as a temple, regardless of the past. This law maintains that barring Ayodhya, status quo as on August 15, 1947, will have to be maintained for religious structures across the country. However, status quoists have conveniently forgotten that the Act does not encompass historical monuments remember, the Sambhal Masjid is on an ASI list. Advertisement Also, in 2023, the Supreme Court had allowed a survey at Varanasis Gyanvapi Masjid, and the then Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud had argued that the Places of Worship Act does not debar ascertainment of the religious character of a place of worship. In September 2018, long before the storm arose, this author made a trip to Sambhal and the region around. I was struck by a sight at the back of the mosque. While many medieval structures stand on high platforms, the Sambhal mosques base seemed more like a large, covered mound than a carefully built platform for a place of faith. I wondered as to why such an ugly base would be given to a Jami Masjid. Even back then, no photography however harmless was allowed inside the mosque. Advertisement When I arrived at Sondhan Muhammadpur, just 17 kilometres from Sambhal, it was startling to see a heated discussion between two religious groups in progress. The topic once more - was the original religious character of a medieval mosque. Since we have not heard anything more from that place, one hopes that the dispute has reached an amicable conclusion. The Sambhal dispute is simmering, with any further probing of the structure for evidence of its origin being a matter for the courts to decide. Theories are buzzing, with one pointing to a local Turk-Pathan political issue as the trigger. A Mughal era caravan sarai, supposedly an ASI protected structure, at Sondhan Muhammadpur, near Sambhal But the larger question is how to go forward from here. The number of temples converted to mosques is believed to number in the thousands. Do we sit around waiting for every fissure to erupt like Sambhal or does one try to find a lasting solution? Is covering up and pretending the past never happened a solution? Or will our lawmakers find a balance between majoritarianism and minority appeasement is such a balance even possible? Advertisement Perhaps a starting point can be made on historical structures which are with the ASI. They could probe their records and make them public. Truth always makes a good starting point to resolve a dispute and reconcile opposing viewpoints. Medieval mosques and ancient temples cannot be allowed to hold back a better future for Indias Sambhals! The author is a heritage explorer by inclination with a penchant for seeking obscure sites. A brand consultant by profession, he tweets @HiddenHeritage. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. PM Irakli Kobakhidzes comments come at a time when Georgia is reeling through a post-election crisis that has seen his legitimacy questioned both at home and internationally read more Georgia's PM has ruled out any re-poll of the contested vote. Reuters Georgias Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Sunday (December 1) flat out refused to hold fresh parliamentary elections. His comments come at a time when Georgia is reeling through a post-election crisis that has seen his legitimacy questioned both at home and internationally. In the contested October elections this year, the Georgian Dream party, which had nominated Kobakhidze to his current post, had claimed victory. President refuses from stepping out Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, the countrys opposition, and the European Parliament have all asked that a new vote be held. There have been allegations of Russian interference in the polls. When asked by journalists whether the ruling Georgian Dream party would agree to hold a new vote, Kobakhidze said, Of course not. Advertisement Kobakhidze has also said that Zourabichvili would have to leave the Presidents office at the end of her term this month. Zourabichvili, a critic of the Georgian Dream party, had said on Saturday (November 30) that she would stay in office because the new parliament was illegitimate and had no authority to name her successor. Ongoing protests in Georgia Meanwhile, there have been protests in Georgia for three consecutive days now. The ruling Georgian Dream partys disputed victory in the parliamentary election was widely seen as a referendum on the countrys aspirations to join the European Union. Following the elections, the government decided to suspend accession talks with the EU. It has sparked major demonstrations and led to an opposition boycott of the parliament. The decision came hours after the European Parliament adopted a resolution that condemned last months vote as neither free nor fair. Tens of thousands of people have shown up for the protests, and clashes with police have become rampant. With inputs from agencies At least three Bangladesh aircraft carriers have decided to cut off their daily flights between Kolkata & Dhaka/Chittagong after the flyer count between the two nations sees a major decline read more At least three Bangladesh carriers cancelled daily flights to and from India as the passenger count continues to nosedive. While two daily flights between Kolkata and Dhaka were cancelled, one carrier also decided to stop daily flights between Kolkata and Chittagong. Several aircraft companies have recently witnessed a decline in flyers opting to visit Bangladesh amid growing unrest in the country. The attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh and curbs on travel due to Indian visa restrictions also did not help the cause. According to The Times of India, Bangladeshs flag bearer, Biman Bangladesh, has cut operations between Kolkata and Dhaka from twice daily to a single flight a day. Advertisement Meanwhile, the countrys private carrier, US-Bangla Airlines, has also reduced the frequency to Dhaka from twice daily to once. Given the decline in the flyer count, the company has also discontinued the flight to Chittagong. While Indian carrier IndiGo still continues to operate its twice-daily schedule, sources told TOI that the Indian aircraft company is also monitoring the situation in Bangladesh. The number of flights from Kolkata to Dhaka/Chittagong sees a major dip According to TOI, the overall number of flights between Kolkata to Dhaka/Chittagong has seen a major dip from 125 in September to just 97 by November. As a result of this, the count of departing passengers has also reduced from 15,479 in Sept. to 12,747 in Nov. Meanwhile, the number of arrivals to Kolkata from Bangladesh has also seen a dip from 114 in September to 96 in November, resulting in a drop in passenger count from 12,540 in September to 10,121 in November. The overall number of flights between the two nations has been down by half since July. One of the major reasons behind this decline is the unrest in Bangladesh which ultimately led to the demise of former PM Sheikh Hasinas administration. As per the report, Bangladesh carriers have been hit the worst by this decline. Biman Bangladesh flights from Kolkata are down from 59 in July to 28 in November while US-Bangla Airlines has seen worse with flight departures down from 84 in July to 24 November. In contrast to this, IndiGo flight departures have been down from 62 in July to 45 in November, while arrivals during this period are down from 64 in July to 44 as of now, TOI reported. The decline in flyers has also affected the hospitality industry in both countries with a decline in Hotel occupancy by 20 per cent. Advertisement With inputs from agencies.